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I never noticed that before.
Café Terrace at Night is a painting by Vincent van Gogh from 1888. At first glance, it appears to be a beautiful summer evening on a city street, with people gathered around tables, enjoying a meal beneath warm lights.
But when we look closer, we might begin to see something we hadn’t noticed before.
Notice the number of men seated at the tables, dining together.
Notice the waiter serving them, dressed in white.
Notice the window positioned behind the server.
Some scholars suggest that when you examine the painting more carefully—along with the artist and the historical context—there may be a deeper meaning hidden within the scene.
The twelve men seated could represent the twelve disciples.
The window behind the waiter could resemble a cross.
The waiter dressed in white could symbolize Jesus Himself, serving His disciples.
When I looked at the painting again with this perspective, I thought, “Well, I’ve never noticed that before.”
And here I am again, having the same experience as I read Scripture this morning.
Galatians 4:21–31 presents a powerful comparison. Paul addresses those who believed obedience to the Jewish law was necessary in addition to faith in Christ. To refute this belief, he draws from the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah.
Paul contrasts life enslaved to the law, represented by Hagar, with life lived in freedom through God’s promise, represented by Sarah. These women illustrate two covenants—one rooted in human effort and bondage, the other grounded in divine promise and freedom.
God does not condone polygamy. He designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. Yet humanity has free will, and we often make choices that fall short of God’s design. Abraham’s decision to bring about God’s promise in his own way is one such example.
Still, God used those flawed choices and imperfect people to accomplish His greater purposes. And we are given the privilege of seeing this unfold through Scripture.
The Bible is unlike any other book. It is the living Word of God. From page to page, it tells a story filled with history, love, war, betrayal, and redemption. You may admire other authors or literary works, but no other book reveals the Author’s love for you the way Scripture does. The more deeply we engage with it, the more clearly we understand who God is and who we are in Him. It is alive. It works within us. It transforms us to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
No matter how long you have been reading or studying the Bible, there will always be moments when you pause in awe and say, “I never noticed that before.”
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