Sensing Something is Wrong

Sensing Something is Wrong

Genesis 25: ¹⁹ This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. ²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

 

²³ And the Lord said to her:

 

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

 

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Isaac’s genealogy starts off differently than Ishmael’s. It begins with trouble. Rebekah was barren. Isaac had his own relationship with the LORD, so he pleaded with HIM to provide a child. The LORD granted this plea. But then Rebekah, who never had children, knew something was wrong.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah, like Sarah, was barren and needed a miracle.
• Isaac, like Abraham, spoke to the LORD about children HE promised.
• GOD granted the plea and explained to Rebekah the spiritual ramifications of her children.

 

You would think that GOD’s promise would come easy. Sarah, baren. Rebekah, baren. Both needed GOD’s intervention, so this may be been a supernatural situation that both women faced. It required faith that only GOD could work this problem out. Isaac showed the same faith of Abraham by asking the LORD for favor. HE showed favor.

 

But there was another barrier. Something was wrong with the pregnancy. Even though Rebekah never had children before, she could tell something was wrong. She went to the LORD and asked “Why am I like this?” GOD explained what was going on with the struggle. GOD answered Rebekah.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD explain Isaac’s genealogy differently than Ishmaels’ to Moses?
• Has GOD made you a promise and you could sense something is currently wrong?
• If you sense something is wrong with the current situation, will you ask GOD to clear the path today?

Simple Things

Matthew 25: ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

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After minutes of belief in CHRIST, I ran into a snag. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my question. Years later, after walking away and returning to serving, I thought things would be easier, but they weren’t. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my cry again.

After serving the rich, powerful and aloof, I decided to follow GOD a little more and was let go. “For real LORD, what do YOU want me to do?”

• Sometimes I question GOD because I am not getting my way.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I thought things would be easier when I chose HIM.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I expect good things to happen and then something bad hits me in the face.

“What do YOU want me to do?” was more of a complaint versus a question. I could have really said “What do YOU want me to do NOW?” as if to say, I am tired of not getting my way. Sometimes I work really hard to please GOD when HE wants the simple things.

• I feed JESUS when I feed those who are hungry and outcast.
• I quench JESUS’s thirst when I give those who are thirsty a nice drink.
• I provide JESUS shelter when I invite people into my home and give them clothes.

JESUS gives me instructions for how to live. It is the simple things that please HIM. I don’t have to be wealthy or smart or accepted by those in power to serve JESUS. I don’t have to coerce or trick people, I just simply have to serve people because JESUS wants me to. It is the simple things that please GOD.

• Do you think you have to work hard to please GOD?
• Are you tired of not getting your way?
• Can you stop trying so hard to get your way and do something simple by serving someone today?

I want what’s mine

Job 41: ¹¹ Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.

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Bonus time was also the time in which they would announce promotions. “This is my year” I said to myself. I mean I worked very hard this particular year and my boss seemed to like me. When they made the announcement, I was elated. I got the promotion just like I thought, but it came with a twist. I was promoted to run one of the most unruly groups in the department. It was bittersweet.

• Sometimes I don’t know how to react to certain situations.
• Sometimes I don’t know whether to complain or praise.
• Sometimes I don’t know if I’m being punished or protected.

This unruly group was extremely challenging. They did not like each other or me. I asked GOD for wisdom and HE provided me with some advice.

• GOD said to me “Treat people the same, just like I do.”
• GOD said to me “Have patience and a plan for each person just like I do with you.”
• GOD said to me “Love each person as you love yourself.”

I had to stop thinking “levels” and start believing that GOD loves each person just the same. GOD sees something special in the person I feel is belligerent. When I met with each person one on one I got to know them and they weren’t so bad, in fact they had some great ideas and had not been listened to.

I did as GOD said in spite of some of their insults and tantrums and soon I was blessed with a cohesive team. I am slowly understanding that “Everything under heaven belongs to GOD” even situations I have yet to face.

• Are you complaining?
• Do you think you can change GOD’s mind by acting good?
• Can you ask GOD to open your eyes to HIS plan versus yours?
• Will you accept HIS will and move forward with faith instead of fear?

Asking Why

Job 3: Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,
    whom God has hedged in?

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After bargaining with GOD and blaming HIM, my thoughts went to questioning HIM as Job did in this passage. “Why” was the beginning of my question each time I went through something. Then I would add an extra helping of “Why” when I would compare my life to someone else’s.

• When I have gone through trouble I have asked “Why?” and received no answer.
• When I have gone through problems I have asked “Why?” and did not receive a sound.
• When I have gone through issues I have asked “Why?” and hear nothing.

“Why” is a question of clarity but it can also carry a tone of entitlement as if I could change GOD’s mind by making HIM reason HIS way into thinking like me. Does GOD owe me an explanation?

• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already shown HIS maximum love by dying for me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has already forgiven me.
• GOD does not owe me an explanation because HE has a plan for me that is HIS perfect will.

Sometimes I forget that GOD is supreme. I think HE can and should change HIS mind to think like me. I squirm and wiggle and HE stays steady. I then realize the struggle against HIS will is futile. The better question is “What” instead of “Why”. “What would YOU like me to do today?” “What is YOUR will and can you help me align to it today?”

Asking GOD “What” helps me accept the fact that Satan wants to thwart GOD’s plan. It makes me get up off the ground and fight another day. “Why” points to the past, “What” points to the here and now.

• Are you going through something?
• Have you been facing this problem very long?
• Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself by stopping your “why” question?
• Will you gain your life back by asking GOD “What” for a change?
• Will you receive HIS glorious power by being led by HIM today?