Obscure?
Matthew 4:13-16 KJV
(13) And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
(14) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
(15) The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
(16) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
I recently heard someone giving a passionate description of a baseball that had been signed for them by a professional player they considered to be the best ever. Not only did this baseball have the name of the player, but it also had a small note that included this person’s name. Some of the letters of their names were the same, and this was described as so special that right there on that baseball was a similarity between the two. What was particularly most impacting, though, was that, for one moment in time, this famous person had actually thought of him. He seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by the concept that he could really have been in the thoughts of this idolized famous athlete.
While reading Matthew’s account of this, another fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus’ life, it occurred to me just how special these people from Zabulon were. Long ago the most famous person ever actually had them in His thoughts as He inspired His prophet to write a short note about them. Then, the fulfillment of this prophecy would be the presence of His flesh and blood, His very own son. More than an afterthought or just a spontaneous reaction to circumstances, it was so much in His thoughts that He had planned for and put it into motion long ago. In this note was also much more than a similarity of letters; there was a connection of hearts in a commitment that was so sure and established in its original declaration it was already in the past tense. There is an incredible sense that for these people living in obscure place in the world where very of the masses would even know they existed, the Creator of the Universe, their heavenly Father, was not only thinking about them at the time of writing, but was eternally committed to thinking on and bringing the light of His promise.
The tendency is to feel alone, not thought of, obscure, and ill-considered. Ok, maybe this isn’t a continual obsession, but the reality of how much we are actually in the loving thoughts of our Father is never fully realized and just as these people probably weren’t even aware that there was a fulfillment of God’s note going on in the presence of Jesus, so there is rarely an awareness of how very near is the movement of God’s promise towards us. He, with His thoughts specifically on each one of us, has long ago made declarations of encounters with us that He is bringing to pass even this day. His love and His light is shining right into the otherwise obscurity of our world to dispel darkness and surround with comfort and love. More than just common letters in our names, He has given us His own name for an identity that will forever remove insignificance as it establishes us as royalty by His side. He saw and is seeing right into the world that is ours and has prepared for our rising with the presence of Jesus. What a privilege it will be throughout this day to acknowledge and honor this Light with a receptive and transformed heart of worship.
