Hi sisters,
God showed me two phrases within days of each other and they both keep replaying in my mind.
The first comes from a story about Issac in Genesis 26.
“Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.”
(Genesis 26:1-3).
Isaac, being blessed by God, was successful in farming and raising flocks/herds. As Isaac prospered, the Bible says the Philistines “envied” him. Then Abimelech went to Isaac and told him to leave the area.
Isaac obliged and left to find room for his people and flocks. He had to “move” a few times because the Philistines kept getting into petty arguments with Isaac. He finally settled in Beersheba where God appeared to him again and affirmed His promise. This is what happens next:
“When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you.”
(Genesis 26:26-28a)
Isaac never played the bickering games the Philistines tried to play. He trusted God would fulfill His promise regardless of how the Philistines treated him. He never fell into their trap to bait him into their toxicity.
This also reminded me of a story in Acts. Read Acts 4:1-12 for the backstory, but here’s the cross reference:
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13
The people plainly saw Jesus through the lives of John and Peter. So the question I raised to myself: Do people plainly see that God is with me? Would they identify me as being with Jesus? Do I play into the toxicity of gossip, selfish ambition, petty arguments, etc. Or do I boldly share wisdom, treat people with dignity, am I open to reason, sincere, etc.? Is there plainly a difference in the way I do life?
The second phrase comes from Genesis 28. Jacob is traveling through the land and lays down to sleep. He has a dream where he sees a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above it and spoke to Jacob to confirm His covenant.
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:15-16)
Jacob is living his life and is traveling to find a wife. But along the journey, God shows up. God was in Jacob’s midst. He was in that place. Yet, Jacob didn’t know it!
This made me wonder: how often am I going about my life, in pursuit of good things, but completely miss God? How often do I miss seeing His hand at work because I’m too engulfed in my own world?
This also led me to recall a story from the life of Jesus. The full story is found in Luke 7:36-50. When “a woman of the city” came to the feet of Jesus, a Pharisee looked on with judging eyes. Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Do you see this woman?”
Of course the Pharisee physically saw her, but Jesus is asking do you notice her? Do you “see” more than just her flaws and mistakes? So I ask myself, do I “see” others around me? Do I take time to “notice” them? Or again, am I too wrapped up in my own world that I miss others?
Therefore this is what keeps coming to mind: Walk with Jesus with all my heart, mind, and strength so that others can plainly see God is with me and will be drawn to Him. Be intentional about seeing where God is at work in this place (knowing He’s here) and keep my eyes open to others.
What about you? Do people plainly see God is with you? Have you been unaware of how God is working in your community, city, workplace, etc.? Have you been unaware of a woman God has placed in your path?
I hope these phrases impact you as they have me!
By the River Together 