Recently, a friend has been facing a family crisis that may rob her of her only two grandchildren, for whom she has been the primary caregiver since their birth. Where is God in this situation? Another family lost a court battle, and the children they were in the process of adopting have been returned to their homeless, drug addicted birth mother. These situations break our hearts just watching them. Here is the comfort I have been leaning into.

Dear Husband and I have been studying Exodus 3 and 4, where God gives Moses the assignment of taking his people out of slavery. Below are God’s answers to painful experiences.
When it seems like evil is winning: “I have seen the misery of my people.” Exodus 3:7
When it seems like no one hears the cry of the innocent: “I have heard them crying out.” Exodus 3:7
When it seems like no one cares: “I am concerned about their suffering.” Exodus 3:7
When it seems like there is no solution: “I have come down to rescue them.” Exodus 3:8
When it seems like there is no hope: I will “bring them into a good and spacious land.” Exodus 3:8
God does see, he hears, he’s concerned, he comes to rescue, and he brings us to a better place.

I know what you’re thinking: Yes, but why did God let the slavery happen in the first place? And why did he wait so long to deliver them? We don’t know why God allows what he allows except that it serves a good purpose. And we don’t have control of God’s timing. Only he knows the right time for him to act.  So we must trust that he knows our situation and will intervene at the right time. We know that he is not oblivious. He is not blind or deaf. He will come to rescue. He will take us to a good and spacious land.

God used Moses, a man he chose, to rescue his people from slavery to Pharaoh.
God used Jesus, his Son, who became a man, to rescue us from slavery to sin.

Moses was a faithful servant in all of God’s house.
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.

But this is not true of my servant Moses;
 he is faithful in all my house.

With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.” Numbers 12:6-8

Jesus was a faithful son over God’s house.
“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”(Numbers 12:7) bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house . . .” Hebrews :5-6

Faithful servant and faithful Son. Moses was a prototype. He showed us what faithfulness looks like. He was bearing witness to what God would reveal later in Jesus.
Moses didn’t give up on his people in spite of their failings.
Moses interceded with God for his sinful people.
Moses asked God to provide for their needs.

Jesus didn’t give up on his people even when they failed. After his resurrection, he sought out Peter who had abandoned and denied him.
Jesus interceded with God for his sinful people. “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34
Jesus is God’s provision for our needs. “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:38

Jesus sees, Jesus hears, Jesus is concerned:
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, . . .  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” Jesus to the church at Ephesus. Revelation 2:2-3
“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!” Jesus to the church in Smyrna. Revelation 2:9
“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me.” Jesus to the church in Pergamum. Revelation 2:13
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Jesus to the church in Thyatira. Revelation 2:19
“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  Wake up!” Jesus to the church in Sardis. Revelation 3:1
“I know your deeds. . . I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Jesus to the church in Philadelphia Revelation 3:8
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.” Jesus to the church in Laodicea Revelation 3:15
Jesus sees. Jesus hears. Jesus is concerned. Jesus came down to rescue us. Jesus is taking us to a good and spacious land.

This is true historically. Jesus saw the misery of the human race. Jesus heard us crying out. Jesus was concerned about our suffering. He came down to rescue us by dying in our place. He is leading us to a good and spacious land called Heaven (and later, the New Earth).

This is also true experientially today. Jesus sees our miseries. . . the broken families, the illness, the loss. Jesus hears our desperate prayers. Jesus is concerned about our suffering. He is aware and he cares. He comes close to rescue us from our fears, our failings, our doubts. He gives us comfort from the Scriptures, from his gentle Presence, from others who love us. He gives us hope that this world, our shortcomings, and evil people won’t have the last word. We will leave this ‘vale of tears’ and enjoy a good and spacious land where all that was wrong is righted.  And in the meantime, we are heard, we are seen.  He cares.