In the concluding part of the series on God’s omniscience on the basis of Book of Malachi, let’s focus on yet another subtle sin, which had taken root in the Jewish theocratic system, before concluding with that “positive” part of God’s omniscience, which goes beyond merely seeing only our secret sins…
Tithing…
What’s the big deal about Temple construction, if you do not care a hoot for its Priests and their maintenance (giving them the boot?) God seems to be asking, equating the sin of the laity of not giving tithes to outright robbery (Mal 3:9). Not till Nehemiah’s return from his official duties in Persia (he had briefly gone there –Nehemiah 13:6,7), did any other leader bother about taking this problem “by the horns”. This once again reiterates the theme that while man may turn a blind eye to a spiritual malaise, the omniscient God doesn’t. This also once again leads us to a subject within a subject.
Interwoven in all of God’s creation is the principle of balance and inter-dependence, as though Creation itself were one big celestial scale. One doesn’t have to look beyond the reverse breathing order of the animals and plants to arrive at this conclusion. Our God who is a God of “balance” has applied the same principle of inter-dependence between the clergy and the laity. If the clergy are to spend all their resources in learning about God’s word and instructing the laity in the same, the laity who are at liberty to pursue any profession unlike the clergy have to support the former. Said a wise soul “If we are paying surgeons lavishly who extend our lives at best by some years by performing bypass surgery of our hearts, what about our obligation to a Pastor who moulds our hearts in order we inherit eternal life”? Even though, I am a full-timer and an associate pastor, when convicted by His Spirit, I had no other choice but to start paying tithes (or should I say tithe of a tithe) to my local church (Numbers 18:25-26).
As I wind down, let it be stated here that just like God doesn’t like the wicked to perish (Ezekiel 18:23) but rather delights in their repentance, in the same way he doesn’t like to be critical just for the sake of it- Jesus’ wholesome appreciation of the Churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia (Revelation 2:8-11, 3:7-13) is a case in point. However when His people are poised for a freefall, he very much likes to take things into his hand by way of a severe rebuke, for their own good very much like a good surgeon who nips cancer in the bud by way of a painful surgery, lest it should spread.
The other side of the coin…
In conclusion, can any study of God’s omniscience be ever complete till we look at “both sides of the coin”? If the omniscient God calls us to account, when we “sin secretly”, far away from public spotlight then it follows that the all-seeing One will also see all our charitable acts done faraway from public limelight and reward us suitably. So be encouraged, if you are sincerely serving Him, “behind the curtain”, far away from any public gaze, without any public recognition. No one in the early Church knew about the generous Cornelius or his good deeds, no not even Peter who was going to baptize him shortly but look at the salutary greeting of the angel as it approached this silent hero, used to shunning limelight “…’Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!” (Acts 10:31-NLV). Should I need to say more? Time we praised our omniscient and a great God, who is also fair and just to the core. HALLELUJAH! What price any theology, which doesn’t end with doxology!
Prayer: Father, how encouraged we are to know that you see all our good deeds done in secret and reward us suitably. We praise Thee once again in Jesus Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
(To access the entire “Omniscient God” mini-series, please click here.)