What other biblical figures concealed information for God's purpose? Saul’s Discreet Silence 1 Samuel 10:16: “Saul replied, ‘He assured us that the donkeys had been found.’ But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the matter of the kingdom.” Saul’s newly anointed kingship was too weighty to expose before God’s chosen moment. His silence sets the stage for a wider biblical pattern: at pivotal junctures the LORD often guides His servants to hide or withhold information until the appointed time. Why God Sometimes Works Through Concealment • Protection of life or promise • Prevention of premature conflict or opposition • Preservation of humility and dependence on the LORD • Precise timing so that divine revelation comes when hearts are ready Snapshots of Others Who Hid Information for Divine Reasons • Moses’ Parents – Exodus 2:2-3; Hebrews 11:23 – They “hid him for three months” to safeguard the deliverer of Israel. – Their concealment flowed from faith, not fear. • Rahab – Joshua 2:4-6, 15; James 2:25 – She hid the two spies, then let them down by a rope. – Her strategic silence safeguarded Israel’s entry into Canaan and placed her in Messiah’s lineage. • Gideon – Judges 6:27 – He tore down the Baal altar “by night” to obey God while avoiding needless bloodshed. • Samuel – 1 Samuel 16:1-2, 5 – When Saul still reigned, Samuel said he came to sacrifice, keeping the true purpose—David’s anointing—hidden until the right time. • Jonathan – 1 Samuel 19:2-3 – “Jonathan told David, ‘My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; hide and stay in secret.’” His discretion preserved the future king. • Jehosheba – 2 Kings 11:2-3 – She concealed the infant Joash for six years, protecting the Davidic line from Athaliah’s slaughter. • Esther – Esther 2:10; 3:13; 4:14; 7:3-4 – Initially kept her Jewish identity hidden at Mordecai’s counsel. Later revealed it at the precise moment to expose Haman’s plot and save her people. • Nehemiah – Nehemiah 2:12, 16 – “I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.” He surveyed the walls in secret before rallying the builders. • Jesus – Matthew 16:20; Mark 1:44; 5:43; 9:9 – Frequently commanded healed individuals and disciples “to tell no one,” ensuring His mission unfolded according to the Father’s timetable, not popular enthusiasm. • Joseph in Egypt – Genesis 42–45 (esp. 42:7) – Concealed his identity from his brothers to test their hearts, then revealed himself to preserve the family. • Paul – Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-29 – Withheld his Roman citizenship until strategic moments, leveraging it to protect the gospel’s advance. Key Takeaways • Concealment in Scripture is not carte-blanche for deceit; it is a measured, Spirit-directed tool to accomplish God’s purposes. • The pattern underscores God’s sovereignty over timing: revelation withheld until hearts, circumstances, and nations are ready. • Faith sometimes speaks boldly; at other times it wisely stays silent, trusting the LORD who “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). |
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