God Understands

Heb. 2:17-18  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Often times when discussing our tests, trials or afflictions with others we say, "You don't understand."  Others are not experiencing what we are.  They are not feeling what we are.  How could they possibly even begin to understand what we are experiencing or feeling?  And, truthfully, they can't.  Unless they themselves have had the same experiences or feelings and as much as they try to console or comfort us, it's hard for us to accept their consolation having the knowledge that they don't and can't really understand.  Their understanding is not borne out of their experience.

These two verses from Hebrews, tell us of a God who completely understands.  When Jesus came to earth, He was fully man and fully God.  His human nature allowed Him to understand tests, trials and afflictions by His own experience just like we do.  His understanding of our suffering was indeed borne out of His own. 

Jesus, as a man, was despised and rejected by others (Isa. 53:3), acquainted ("yada") with grief (some translations say sickness or disease) (Isa. 53:3), treated badly and unfairly (Isa. 53:7), misunderstood by His own family (Mt. 3:21), falsely accused (Mt. 11:15, 26:59) and even had unreliable friends (Mt. 26:40).  He knew suffering.

In Scripture, we see the words "know" or "knew" translated from the Hebrew word "yada" which means to understand, particularly through or by experience.  For example:

Ps.103:14  For He knows (understands) our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

Jesus understands us because in all things He had to be made and to suffer like us.

Take comfort in the midst of your test, trial or affliction because although those around you may not understand it, God understands!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  He understands our suffering because He suffered.