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Sometimes, God tells us things that we don't immediately understand. Have you ever had a dream that seemed puzzling and made no sense? Did you pray and wait for insight, only to get nothing? Take a deep breath, everything is okay and you are not alone. There are times when God will give a message but purposefully 'veil' it's meaning. In such cases, He shares an important piece of information but doesn't provide the full understanding.
Jesus used this technique when discussing His impending death with His disciples. Luke 9:45 - But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. (BSB). The New Living Translation states, But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
Why would Jesus, and thus, the Lord, do this? Why tell the disciples something but not provide all the details or make the message completely clear?
Pay attention to the anchor scripture again. Notice that the disciples became afraid of what they heard? God is not in the business of inducing fear in people, which is why we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that we were not given a spirit of fear. To limit the spirit of fear's effect, the Lord may choose to reveal something without providing the full understanding. In such situations, the person will have some knowledge but it wouldn't be until the situation has come to pass that they'll realize God told them what was coming.
God is the Revealer of Mysteries and He does not want those who belong to Him to be surprised by what happens around them. Nevertheless, He may only give just enough information to keep them safe. He knows their brains can't yet handle the complete revelation, so they only get what they need. Sometimes, He will allow them to mature some more before releasing more understanding. And once what He warned about happens, His children will not be shocked because they'll realize they knew but just didn't fully comprehend what was revealed.
It is easy to think that such veiled statements are the same thing as parables. Yes, through Jesus, God used parables to teach people deep insights about His kingdom. However, there is a distinction between these two forms of communication. The veiled statement was made to Christ's believers and not unbelievers. It was given from a place of friendship and love to prepare them for what was to come. The parables Jesus shared were teaching tools shared with all who would listen. For the unbelievers, further understanding would never come.
This is why we are told in Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. God alone knows the secret things and He will only reveal them to His own and their children. Indeed, He reserves the best for them alone. Thus, as those who earnestly seek Him, we should not be upset or feel abandoned when He gives a veiled statement. We must instead be intentional to receive His additional insight and wait for Him to release it.
To achieve this, we have to become disciplined in creating time to meet with Him. We must be those who obey His instructions and do what His Son taught. We have to behave like His children - those who are led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14). Spending time to study the Bible and receive its deep secrets must also become an investment we are ready to make. And learning from those teachers He sends us to sit under is thus mandatory. May the Lord help each of us to take His call seriously. May He give us grace and help when we are weak. May we rest in the knowledge that He will provide understanding to every veiled revelation at His appointed time, IJMN, Amen.
As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider giving your life to Christ with the Altar Call video below and reading the following previous P&P messages:
