The LORD Blesses Even When It Does Not Seem Possible

I know, this seems like something that I have studied and written on over and over again. I do agree that the LORD provides just what and when we need. And yes, all we need do is ask from our heart. But, do we obey when He challenges us to do so?

“¹Now 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. ²And the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.’” – Genesis 26:1-2 (ESV)

I look here this morning and see a couple of things going on. One, there is a famine and it is natural to look for ways of surviving. Two, Isaac does just that by working to make his way out of the famine area to one of more prosperous times. When looking at it all, it would be natural to make way to Egypt, an area where the Nile provides plenty of water for to survive, not just for the one or two, but for great numbers of people.

Isaac would be working to survive with his family and clan. So making way to Egypt would make complete and total sense. But God. He said no, stay where you are and I will make you prosperous and bigger than you can imagine as He promised Abraham.

“’³Sojourn 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. ⁴I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, ⁵because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.’” – Genesis 26:3-5 (ESV)

And so Isaac stopped his migration and settled where he was. And he dug wells and found water. Not just enough to survive, but to prosper. So much so, He became the premier family and clan in the area and was asked to leave. And he did, and settled in another area not far, dug wells and found more water in an area that needed it.

All of this prosperity was not of Isaac or luck, it was of God. Isaac was well aware of the generosity of the LORD. Here we find Isaac in an area of need. The LORD provided what and when he needed it. And even in this area of famine, the LORD’s provision was so great and continually giving. Everywhere that Isaac dug a well the water was found. And thanks solely to the LORD, Isaac was granted prosperity.

I have to remember that the LORD provides what and when I need. And to go along with that, He provided even when things seem impossible. Nothing is too big for God to do. When things seem the darkest it is my obedience to Him that sustains me. I obey and am rewarded.

What is your approach when things are the darkest? Are you looking to make things happen on your own? What if, even in those times that seem impossible, you were to obey the LORD and allow Him to provide?

The LORD Will Do Exactly as You Ask

It is something for the LORD to provide just what and when we need. It is something also when He does so just as we ask.

“¹⁴Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” “¹⁷Then the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.’ ¹⁸She said, ‘Drink, my lord.’ And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.’” – Genesis 24:14 & 17-19 (ESV)

Here we see the account of Abraham’s servant finding Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. The servant was tasked with selecting a wife for Isaac from the land Abraham had left as He followed the LORD’s direction. The servant asked the LORD to make it clear to him the woman by having her complete some specific tasks. And the LORD did so.

I often ask the LORD to speak to me plainly. I am terrible at getting subtleties. I need to be bopped on the head for me to get things. I am reminded that LORD wants to provide for me. He wants to ensure that I have all that I need. It is up to me to ask for things from the heart and I should be specific. The servant of Abraham, wanting to do right by his master, asks the LORD to bop him on the head to make it clear to him that the woman to be wife of Isaac would be found.

I am not sure that we as followers of Christ ask specific enough. Yes, the LORD provides what and when we need, but we also have to let Him know what we need. When the LORD finds that what we request is in alignment with His will, He will provide and do so just as we ask.

What is your view of asking specifically? Are you reluctant so as not to put too much restraint on the LORD or yourself? What if you asked for exactly what you NEED and allowed the LORD to provide, and do so specifically, knowing that when the request aligns with His will, He will grant it as you ask?

The LORD Will Provide Just What We Need

“⁷And Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ ⁸Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.” – Genesis 22:7-8 (ESV)

Here we have the scene of Abraham and Isaac headed off to make an offering to the LORD. Isaac is to be the offering. Yes, in case you did not know, the LORD had given direction for Abraham to offer his only son as a burnt offering. Isaac is curious as to what would be offered to the LORD as they did not bring an animal with them. It was not time for Isaac to know and so Abraham deferred to the LORD, knowing that He would provide just what was needed in that time.

The thing I see here is that Abraham was following the LORD to the letter. He went as he was commanded. He was willing to do the work God had for him, no matter the cost at the time. As I have written before, the LORD is always protecting us, even if we do not see it right now. We are to obey Him and know that He will protect us, and He will provide for us.

In the rest of the account, Abraham was about to follow through with the sacrifice of Isaac. He had his had raised with the knife and all. And the angel of the LORD stopped him and commended Abraham for obeying the LORD, regardless of the immediate cost. And as Abraham had told Isaac in verse 8 above, the LORD provided a ram to be sacrificed just when it was needed.

I am reminded here as I have titled, the LORD will provide just what we need. And I will add just when we need.

What are you doing in obedience to the LORD? Are you delaying your obedience because the cost may be too high? What if you just obeyed and approached knowing that the LORD will provide just what and when you need?

The LORD is Always Protecting You

It may seem hard to understand in the moment, but the LORD is truly always protecting you. This morning I am again in Genesis and am reading the passage of God protecting Hagar and Ishmael. If you remember the story a bit, Hagar was the slave of Sarai who gave birth to Ishmael to Abram. Hagar was shunned by Sarai and even in this, the LORD cared for Hagar and Ishmael through Abram. Fast forward to the birth off Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. Sarah again looks upon Hagar with disdain as she is irked that Ishmael and Isaac are now of the same lineage and by extension are heirs together.

Here is where God’s continued protection comes at a time when we may not understand. You see, God approved of and advised Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away into the wilderness. The two of them were sent out with some bread and water.

“¹²But God said to Abraham, ‘Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’” “¹⁴So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.” – Genesis 21:12 & 14 (ESV)

Things were looking bleak for Hagar and Ishmael at this time. And of course the water and the bread ran out and Hagar basically gave up. But God.

“¹⁹Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. ²⁰And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. ²¹He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.” – Genesis 21:19-21 (ESV)

The circumstances were dire and the LORD stepped in to protect. Although, when we look at the story God was always protecting, even as Hagar and Ishmael were cast out from Abraham. Hagar just did not know it at the time as I am sure that she was devastated as she departed.

The LORD knows what we need and will provide and protect us in our time of need. We are to obey Him with the understanding that He is protecting us, even when we may not see it or understand all of the reasons or timing.

What is your view of protection from God? Are you of the thoughts that all of His actions of protection should be overt and plain for us to see? What if we approached God with understanding that no matter the circumstance, He is always there protecting us?

The LORD Will Keep Us From Sin

This morning I am in the story of Abraham and Abimelech. Briefly, although I do encourage the reading of the story, Abraham came to the land of Abimelech’s rule. He did not mention Sarah to be his wife, but only his sister. Abimelech took Sarah intending for her to be his wife. The LORD came to Abimelech and let him in on who Sarah was. Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham along and also gave servants and livestock and silver. All was made well.

“³But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.’ ⁶Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.’” – Genesis 20:3&6 (ESV)

You see, The LORD did not stop Abimelech from taking Sarah, but He did keep him from sinning with Sarah, another man’s wife.

God will keep us from sin when we are seeking Him. I have to remember to each day focus on doing the will of God and when doing so, I will avoid doing those things that may be of the world.

I do have to remember though that I will still sin and need forgiveness. The sinning that God will keep me from will be those sins that are conscious to me. When doing the work of the LORD, I will be focused on His work and therefore will not be consciously thinking of doing those things that would be sins against Him.

Our work for the LORD gives Him our heart and He will dwell there and keep us from sin.

How are you keeping from sin? Are you working to do it on your own? What if you focused on doing the work of God and allowing Him to keep you from sin?

Intercede for Others

There are times when we there is a need for intercession. I am not always able to speak for myself in situations. An example is in the court of law, I am not a lawyer and would need someone to intercede with the court on my behalf.

With the LORD the same is needed in some situations. There are those that may not know that they are in need of help from the LORD. As such, Christians have a responsibility to help them out through intercession. Abraham understood this as the LORD was going to bring destruction to Sodom. The city was corrupt in many ways and God was going to deal with it with total destruction. Abraham began speaking with the LORD on their behalf.

“²²So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?’” – Genesis 18:22-24 (ESV)

Now, Abraham was being a bit selfish in his request as Lot, his grandson, was in the city of Sodom. But, even with that fact, Abraham started big asking for the LORD to spare the city if 50 were found to be righteous. And, the LORD agreed. And so Abraham kept with the negotiating and took things down to 10 righteous to save the city from destruction and the LORD agreed to the terms.

Now, the LORD knew that there were not 10 righteous in the city, yet He was willing to negotiate with Abraham because He knew his heart. Abraham knew Lot was there and I believe that although Lot was of the family of Abraham, there was no guarantee that the LORD found him righteous and Abraham was taking a flier to get some relief for them. Lot did not know what was coming and Abraham was interceding on his behalf.

There is another thing that I see here. The LORD listens to our requests and does as we ask, when it comes from our heart. In the complete passage, Genesis 18:22-33, God does not deny the request of Abraham. He listens to his heart and allows for the negotiation to take place. Here we find the dynamic of asking and you shall receive. Abraham asked and the LORD granted. It was the prayer of Abraham in intercession for the people of Sodom and the LORD listened.

I have to remember that my prayer is not just for me. I will need to intercede for others to gain, even when they are not even knowing or aware of their need. I am to come to the LORD with my open heart for others and ask the LORD for reprieve in specific ways.

When you pray, what are your prayers? Are you praying for your own wants and needs? What if you were to take the approach of intercession for others from your heart, knowing that God is listening and will grant your request?

Nothing is Too Big for God

Did you know that there is nothing impossible or too big for God? I keep having to remind myself that whatever God want to happen, will happen. We see miracles in the world all the time, and some of them may be explained through science (even though God controls it all even the science). And a good amount of miracles we come across are chalked up as luck (even though it is not luck and is all part of God’s plan).

“¹⁵And God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. ¹⁶I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’ ¹⁷Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’” – Genesis 17:15-17 (ESV)

Yes, you read that right, Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 yrs old and they were to have a child together. Another miracle that only God can make happen. Luck could not be, and the science does not add up. Only God could do such a thing as this.

Notice that even the man that followed God’s direction to leave his home and traverse to a land he did not know. The man that trusted God to lead him and trusted where he was being led was taken aback that God would give him a son by His wife that had not been able to do so for all these years. Abraham was astonished.

But, nothing is too big for God. If God wants it to happen, it will happen. Abraham is not out of bounds to be skeptical and when I look at myself, I see a lot of the same in me around this area. Abraham was not disobedient to God’s Word, but he worked to understand. His ability to have a conversation with God allowed him to get to the bottom of things and trust that God would do as He said.

In this world as in heaven, God’s will be done. We may not recognize that it is His doing, but it is. The science may work to explain some things away (remember God controls the science), and things may be counted as lucky (remember everything is of God’s planning). But ultimately God will do what God will do and nothing is too big for Him.

What is/has gone on in your life? Are you attributing those to the science or to luck? What if you looked at them as God done, knowing that nothing is too big for God?

There are Actions Required on Our End

I am continuing my study of the word “will” and am allowing God to lead me to what it is He would have me learn. This morning He has placed on my heart that I have actions to demonstrate my alignment and obedience with Him.

In Genesis, God made a covenant with Abraham to make him the “father of a multitude of nations”. God promised to make Abraham great and that great would extend into his immediate family and beyond.

“⁴’Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁵No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. ⁶I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.’” – Genesis 17:4-6 (ESV)

All of this was provided by God to the man who He was pleased with. God took big action in the covenant with Abraham as we would expect Him to do. But, what about the other side of the covenant. After all, a covenant is an agreement between two or more.

Covenant: “1: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement 2a: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action” – Merriam-Webster Online

So for the covenant to be active, there is action needed from both sides, and God had laid out His part. There is the obvious action from Abraham to seek and follow the LORD always, but there was also action to demonstrate understanding and obedience.

“¹⁰This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ¹¹You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹²He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,” — Genesis 17:10-12 (ESV)

And there is the action, circumcision. And not just for the future generations, but of Abraham and all in his house at the time. The LORD required bold action from Abraham to demonstrate he was all in with his side of the covenant with the LORD.

We have actions we are required to take in our relationship with the LORD. I have to remember this as there is a part of me that prays and waits for the LORD to fulfill. When in a lot, if not most of my requests, there is action needed on my end to demonstrate my obedience to Him. I may not be asked to circumcise those in my house, but there is action, bold action required of me.

What is your view of your relationship with the LORD? Are you of the mindset that God is there to do all the work at your request? What if you were to take bold action as a demonstration of obedience to Him and to fulfill you end of the agreement?

We Submit to God’s Will

It is hard. Submitting to God’s will that is. There are times when it is very difficult to see His will as it is obscured by the circumstances of the moment. Let’s take Hagar for instance.

“⁶But Abram said to Sarai, ‘Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.’ Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.” – Genesis 16:6 (ESV)

Hagar was a servant of Sarai and at the direction of Sarai, became the wife of Abram. They conceived a child and Sarai was none to happy, even though that was the plan in the first place. Hagar was in a difficult position and as such decided to flee the scene as she was unable to see just what the blessing and will of God was to be. Hagar had submitted to authority of her master and was put in a position that she was not necessarily prepared to handle.

That is when Hagar met up with the angel of the LORD and her eyes were opened to His will. The angel of the LORD let her know that where the times were going to be difficult, big plans for her and her child were to come. Hagar was to return to Sarai and Abram, give birth to the child and watch as he would be the beginning of a great number of descendants.

“⁹The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress and submit to her.’ ¹⁰The angel of the Lord also said to her, ‘I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.’” – Genesis 16:9-10 (ESV)

The situation had gotten in the way of Hagar seeing the will of the LORD. She submitted to the will of her master, but had not found the way to submit to her ultimate master, the LORD. Once she found herself alone with her thoughts, the angel of the LORD came to her and she was able to see the will of the LORD and found it to be wonderful, even if it would take time to play out.

I have to remember that I must submit to the LORD. He is my Father and master and His will is to be done. For me to be opened to His will, I have to be alone with my thought and allow the angel of the LORD to come to me and open my eyes to the LORD’s will. And then I will submit to His will to carry it out regardless of the time it takes.

What is you view on the LORD’s will? Are you willing to submit to His will, or are you even able to identify it? What if you were to find some alone time and allow the angel of the LORD to come to you and open your eyes to His will and then you submit to it more than you have submitted to your masters in this world?

The LORD Will Make You

Patience is a virtue as noted by William Langland in his poem “Piers Plowman”. And this is certainly true when following the LORD. The LORD says in His word that He will do or it will be given, but He does not indicate when. As with Abram and the LORD telling him to leave his home and that he would be made great.

“¹Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ²And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” – Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

The LORD told Abram to go and that at some point he would be made great. No mention of when, no mention of anything additional that was needed, just go and do. And so he did.

“⁴So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” – Genesis 12:4 (ESV)

Notice even here the age of Abram at the time. He had lived a pretty full life, reaching the age of 75 (at least by today’s life expectancy). Yet, he obeyed the LORD and went. He trusted that what the LORD was telling him was indeed what He was going to do. He was not concerned with the timing of things, only that the LORD was going to do that which He promised.

Do we trust and obey as Abram did? I wonder every day if I really do. I think about my Bible Study and the learning of God’s Word and the impact that it has on my life. I wonder if I am doing all that I am supposed to do as I have not seen great and overt reward from the LORD to this point. I wonder if I ever will experience the reward the LORD promises. Then, I think about the promise.

The LORD has promised eternity and glory in heaven. I am not there yet. I will be. And when I get there, I will be rewarded with all that He has promised. He promised and He will deliver. The LORD will make me into what He has promised, I have to remember the promise and that everything is in His time and not my own. Patience is a virtue and with the LORD, I have to remember that patience and know that I may not receive right now, but I will be made by the LORD in His time.

What is your view of being made by God? Are you impatient with what you are to receive? What if you remembered the promise of the LORD and remained patient for His actions to make you?