Watched

When I get in my vehicle, the map opens by itself telling me how far it is to work. On Sunday, it switches to how far it is to church. Watching.

Today I shopped for an air purifier. The first time the tv was turned on, guess what was in the advertising banner? Yep. Air purifier. I had been watched.

I confess, I do use the navigations apps, I use Alexa, I shop online, I google for reviews, and probably do a lot of other things I don’t even realize enable the watching.

I am being watched.

Monitored. Tracked.

It is a little reassuring that I could be found should I get lost or hurt.

It certainly is a plus that people with mental deficiencies can be traced.

I use two apps on my phone that show where I am and where my connected family members are located. I can know not to call and bother them when I see they are at work, see when they are headed home etc. (One family member rejects being connected…. doesn’t want to be watched. Chuckle… ) There is an old song that used to bother me… ”There’s an all-seeing Eye watching you. Every day mind the course you pursue.” It wasn’t a comforting thought to me as a youngster. “Every step that you take, this great Eye is awake, watching you, watching you.”

The song and the teaching did me some good though. God was indeed watching and listening and would know what I did, what I said, and even what I thought. I might have behaved differently if I had not had that truth instilled. God will see and know because He is always watching.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10 NASB) When the words of that song were so unsettling to me, I was at an age to not be very wise, so my behavior being monitored by Someone other than my parents, Someone Who was all-seeing and all-knowing, being watched was not such a bad thing I guess.

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.”

(Psalm 139:2-4 NASB) Perhaps you have struggled like I have with His watching. How can He watch everything and not act to end it? Does He only watch me? Does He not watch the women and children in some cultures that are brutalized and treated so badly?

Does He not watch the corruption in our own culture? Does He not see the blatant disregard for following what He has said in scripture?

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.? (Proverbs 15:3 NASB) So yes. Scripture says that He watches the evil.

He is not blind to it, nor is he apathetic or indifferent. Judgment will come. His waiting is patience, not indifference.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly… the hearts of the sons of men… are given fully to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NASB) It is humans who have become indifferent, not the Creator of humanity.

He is watching. Wonder how He feels about the state of mankind?

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But…..’’

(Genesis 6:5-8 NASB) He didn’t give up on Adam.

He didn’t give up on Noah.

He won’t give up on any of us.

“Today, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts…” (Psalm 95:8 NASB) He is watching. With outstretched arms.