READ: John 7:1-13
Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior! – Isaiah 45:15 (NASB)
Hiding and flourishing is a godly practice. God Himself hides from us! Why does God hide from us? Because of our pride and presumption. It humbles us and makes us seek Him until we find Him. Learning to hide is to become an imitator of God. Have you ever wondered why the Bible teaches, “Remove thy foot from thy neighbour’s house lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee?” (Proverbs 25:17) The more you are seen, the more you are despised. That is why removing your foot from your neighbour’s house is important. You are more respected and valued because you hide yourself !
Hiding and flourishing will protect you from premature exposure in the ministry. Today, most pastors love to advertise and show their faces to the world. Advertisement is good and it has its positive effects. But when you are loud when you should be silent, you are endangering your very life and ministry. A certain level of exposure is not necessary all the time. When Jesus’ ministry was exposed it was just a matter of time until He was killed. This is the reason why He limited His exposure until a certain point. Do not think that you need to be seen and known by everyone all the time. There is a time to be quiet and silent and there is a time to be seen.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I DO NOT GO UP TO THIS FEAST BECAUSE MY TIME HAS NOT YET FULLY COME.” HAVING SAID THESE THINGS TO THEM, HE STAYED IN GALILEE. John 7:7-9 (NASB)