A Chinese spy balloon has overflown the United States until it was finally shot down by US Air Force F-22  near Myrtle Beach, SC.  The balloon traversed the United States, overflying some sensitive military installations, including the Air Force Base near my home.  Authorities believe the purpose of the spy balloon was not so much to take pictures but to eavesdrop on sensitive military communications. 

Understanding how such balloons work is far above my pay grade.  However, if the balloon did take pictures while overflying my house, it would have seen sensitive objects I would prefer the world not know, such as the kayak I borrowed from a friend last October, the trimmings from bushes I cut back that I have not yet picked up, and weeds growing out of last year’s garden. 

Several of my friends offered to shoot the balloon down in service to our government.  One was trying to figure out the ballistics of shooting down a balloon with a .50 caliber magnum rifle.  I told him I didn’t think the bullet would reach 66,000 feet.  He replied it would be no problem; he had a buddy who had a Cessna who would take him up to get a better shot.  Rednecks with guns and planes are a dangerous combination. 

The politicians, of course, quickly pounced on the issue.  Those jockeying to run for President quickly said they would have ordered the balloon shot down as soon as it entered US air space.  Keep in mind the balloon was the size of three buses.  If it came down on an interstate highway, imagine the chaos.  The Pentagon leaked that other balloons have been released and have flown over the United States.  Maybe Carl Fredericksen from the Disney movie “UP” had a few escape. 

Spying is nothing new, of course.  President Eisenhower ordered spy balloons to be sent over the old Soviet Union disguised as weather balloons.  The U-2 spy planes regularly overflew the Soviet Union until one was shot down in 1960.  Satellites largely ended the need to fly over enemy territory to gather intelligence.  I’m sure the Chinese have their own reasons why they thought they could send a balloon over the United States, knowing we would notice. 

There are a few stories about spies in the Bible.  Moses sent spies into the Promised Land.  They brought back a report that the land was fabulous, but the people of the land were strong.  The people of Israel chickened out and demanded to go back to Egypt.  The data you develop from spying can psych you out. 

Later, Joshua sends two spies into the city of Jericho.  Word gets out, and they hide in Rahab’s house.  Let’s just say a lot of men went to Rahab’s house because she managed a late evening business.  The spies made a deal with her; she and her family were spared when Jericho was destroyed.  Rahab winds up marrying an Israelite, and later, one of her great, great, great-grandchildren winds up being King David.  This might have been a case of “The Spy Who Loved Me.”        

When David’s son Absalom rebels against him, David sent back Zadok, the priest, and his sons to spy on Absalom and send messages back to him.  He planted Hushai as a spy in Absalom’s court.  Espionage is a very old art. 

God needs no spies.  We are told in Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,  keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”   God knows what the Chinese are up to; he decodes the codes faster than they can be coded; the secrets nations try to hide are plain to him.  I am not sure if God has a brain, but if he did, can you imagine how amazing his brain would be?

 Perhaps more frightening is Hebrews 4:13: “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”  God knows what you look like naked, and it does not scare him.   

When I was growing up, my mother tried to frighten me with the thought that God sees everything I do, so I had better behave.  I admit I was scared for a while; however, the power of temptation can make you forget good theology.  As I grew older, I realized God knowing everything was a good thing.  It means God can prepare me for what is ahead; he knows my weakness and strengthens me, and because he knows what is happening in the world, he can intervene on my behalf in events half a world away.  God’s knowledge is one more reason I can trust him. 

Theologians call this God’s omniscience.   To me, it is a reminder I am not doing my life alone, and that my Heavenly Father has a deep and personal knowledge of me and the world I live in.  My life is best when I trust his knowledge and lean not on my own understanding.  My God does not need a spy balloon to know what is going on.