A couple of things hit me today. Isaac is told to stay in the land of Israel, even though there is a famine. He could have went to Egypt where there were supplies and food, but God said to stay. So he does, even though there is a famine. God multiplies his money and family, and then blesses his crops. While there is a famine. But then, he has conflict with the people around him, because they are jealous of him being blessed. So, he sent away with his crew. As they try to find a new place to settle, every time they get to a well, someone argues with them about whose well it is. Instead of fighting, Isaac moves on, until finally he hits a well and no one fights with him about it. Who cares, right? Think about it a bit. The famine, the crops, and the well are all of the needs of life. It equates to our jobs, homes, food, bills, and money. Same idea. Isaac is in trouble with his needs. They are going to starve. God says stay put and trust me. Don't fix it yourself, but trust me. He does. God blesses him. Then, because God took care of him, it causes conflict. His obedience cost him in his relationships. He moves on, without causing problems, and again faces issues of need (water). Continuing to be a peacemaker, God provides. How often in life when we need something do we simply devise a plan to fix it and move on, without ever asking God? That would have been like Isaac moving to Egypt. Problem solved. But God had different plans, and different blessings for Isaac. Do we miss the same types of blessings when we don't stop and ask God what we should do?
Secondly, Isaac's kids. Geesh. Esau is this all guy, hairy, drives a truck with a gun rack, shoots everything in sight, makes quick decisions, and let's his temper guide him type of guy. Jacob stays home with mom, would rather cook than hunt, and is always trying to leverage things to go his way. Parenting those two? What a nightmare. Both are seen as kind of jerky. But God still uses them to accomplish his plans. The parents screwed them up, both boys did their own things, yet God worked in and through them. It's so good to know that none of us are past God's dreams and His reach.
The stories of this family are like a weird, but true, soap opera. I encourage you to take some time and read them for yourself. And then ask, where am I in this story?
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1 comments:
If Jacob were in How to Train Your Dragon, He would be Hiccup.
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