Scripture points to several aspects of searching: the human search for satisfaction in the things of this world, the human search for God and God's search for lost humanity.
The human search for security in the world
The search for material well-being
Luke 12:16–19 See also Genesis 42:1–3; Ruth 3:1; Job 28:1–11; Lamentations 1:11
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
The search for comfort
Psalm 119:82 See also Exodus 14:10–12; Numbers 11:4–6; 1 Kings 1:1–4
My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
The search for success
Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 See also 2 Chronicles 18:9–12; Jeremiah 45:5
The search for security
Joshua 9:22–24 The Gibeonites resorted to deception in their eagerness to be secure. See also Exodus 16:2–3; Judges 18:7; 2 Kings 20:19 parallel Isaiah 39:8
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
The search for love
Proverbs 7:18 See also Judges 14:1–3; 2 Samuel 13:1–14; 1 Kings 11:1–3
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
The search for wisdom and understanding
Ecclesiastes 8:16–17 See also Ecclesiastes 7:24–29
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth — though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night — I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.
Instructions to search for God
Isaiah 55:6–7 See also 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7–8
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
God's search for lost humanity
Ezekiel 34:11 See also Luke 15:1–10, Luke 19:9–10
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out.
God searches a person's innermost being
Proverbs 20:27 See also 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 139:1–4; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 8:27; Revelation 2:23
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.