The travails of Isaac

 Genesis 26 has an interesting tale about Abraham's second son

He had moved with his wife to Gerar (philistine territory) from Beer-lahai-roi (a desert), in response to a famine 

As if by dejavu, Isaac pretended his wife was his sister to preserve himself from possible death from those who would covet his wife (similar to what his father, Abraham, did a generation earlier 

It seems wife-snatching was a common occurrence in those days.

Perhaps this Abimelech (son of the former philistine king during Abraham's lifetime) knew Isaac was Abraham's son, and thus wary enough to keep a close eye, was able to figure out that Rebekah was Isaac's wife 

And so, Isaac became set apart (like Abraham) in Gerar

He cultivated crop, reaped 100-fold, and thereafter became very rich. So rich in fact that Abimelech expelled him from Gerar out of fear of being overpowered by Isaac's wealth 

Isaac therefore moved to the valley of the same city (Gerar) 

He encountered "bitterness" and "hostility", before he finally found "open space". 

After moving again, Abimelech himself and the old Phicol came to visit seeking an oath of peace and non-aggression, and thus Isaac (like his father) earned the respect of his foes through their recognition of God's hand on Isaac 

When witnessing hits home....

Jesus was quoted to have said in Acts 1:8 that his followers would be witnesses for him throughout the earth.

A witness is someone willing to swear an oath to the veracity of what they have seen

What that witness is swearing to may appear to be contentious in this particular context of witnessing. 

Is it a prior event, or a future event, that Jesus was referring to concerning the act of being a valid witness

Is a witness so named after testifying or before? Are you qualified to be a witness even if you haven't spoken of what you have seen?

In other words, is "seeing" the required act that "witnessing" describes, or is it "testifying" about it? 

In any case, it is one thing to witness farflung events, and quite another to witness them painfully in one's circumstance

Witnessing is passive. A call to see and take note. But when a witness is under attack, it can be hard to stay neutral and maintain the role of witnessing that Christ commanded.

Hence the topic of this post. Witnessing when one is the victim of the enemy.

The beauty of this is something else Christ said. "I am the good shepherd and my sheep hear my voice" 

Christ (the shepherd) has the uncanny ability to communicate with his sheep in a way that inspires full obedience

And so the act of witnessing actually holds true (ironically) regardless of the circumstance. Whether witnesses are the victim or not.

 

If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask

James 1:5-8

There are 3 points to note in the above statement 

1. Personal admission of our lack. You cant ask.for what you dont realise you lack 

2. God's liberal gift of wisdom. 

He literally gives wisdom to EVERYONE that asks, without refusing anybody.

This means that once you ask for wisdom, you receive it instantly. You need to be confident that this is the case, and that this wisdom is already influencing your thinking from that moment.

3. Confidence in the possession of God's wisdom henceforth.

There must be no doubt that divine wisdom is already at work in us immediately we ask for it.

Such doubt is what undermines our faith and renders the potency of our decisions ineffective

CONCLUSION 

Once we ask, we have received and the power is deposited within us. Doubt weakens us and renders us unable to utilize the power of divine wisdom already present within us.

The moment you decided . . . .

The moment you decide to act, something changes. Something shifts in the universe 

Your decision sets things in motion

When you choose to cast away your fears and walk in faith, there is a reaction in the supply of energy from unseen quarters 

“Safety” can be a hindrance to your growth

Being “pushed to the wall” can help to trigger a desire to do the impossible. Simply because you have no choice.

Embrace such moments because they are evidence of God nudging you.on the direction of your destiny. An atmosphere for miracles 

You will be my Witnesses

Christianity has long attributed the title of this piece to preaching the gospel worldwide 

Telling everyone we meet about Jesus and coaxing them to believe and accept his divinity and sacrifice on calvary 

For some years now, I have discovered another reality about what it means to be a witness

It's the literal secular interpretation. Being an observer 

Not having he ability to actually assist God in his work, but merely taking notice.

I have however been realizing that there may be yet another meaning of the word “witness” as attributed to Jesus 

A witness, beyond observing God's work, is an actual testament to that work. A witness to the world (without necessarily opening ones mouth to proseltyze) who displays God's awesome power, just as Jesus did, in a way that points to the majesty of the Creator

So witnessing not just in words, but in lifestyle (speaking much louder than any words can).

Jesus himself alluded to it (in John 10: 34-38) when he recalled the psalmist's admonitions to Israel (in psalm 82: 6-7) to his accusers, “ye are gods”.

In other words, displaying God's power is a demonstration (a witness) of God himself.

He keeps working relentlessly

God's work in our lives is continuous. He works through us, and He works in spite of us

There is little or nothing we can do to aid or hinder God's work in our lives.

Our perception will help us cease from feeling inadequate or perhaps even complicit in “hindering” God's work. 

It is impossible to hinder God's work

Abundance isn't given to self comparison

Abundance isn't in competition with others 

Needless to say, it doesn't compare itself with anyone. Abundance is a unique mindset 

It is completely reliant on God

Abundance has no need to keep score of wrong or hurt 

It doesn't place a limit on its capacity to absorb and reflect joy.

Who is responsible for the storm?

Let me ask you a question at this moment. 

What do you think is responsible for the storms you may have faced in the past, or may be facing right now? 

Your answer to this question says a lot about your attitude while the storm rages on

Who is responsible for the storm?

Is it your enemy?

Is it some unseen or faceless diabolical entity determined to ensure you and your loved ones suffer?

Or is it the Almighty God, Creator of everything in existence?

If your thoughts lead you to the first option (your enemy), it is then understandable if you were to constantly pray to God asking him to calm the storm and reverse the enemy's attacks

If, on the other hand, your thoughts settle on the Almighty as the origin of the storm, the entire equation changes.

Why (you may ask)?

With all that we know about God (who God himself says he is, and all that has been written about him in myriads of texts), then we know the following:

1. God is good

2. His thoughts towards us are of good and peace 

3. God loves us (He loved us even before he created us)

3. Nothing can separate us from God's love

Etc

To continue our train of thought, if we attribute the storm to God's doing, and since we know God is working for our good, it must also follow that the storm is also for our good! 

Sound confusing or perplexing? 

Don't let it be. God's ways are not our ways, and neither are his thoughts ours. His thoughts are higher than ours. He has far reaching sight and his plan for us is supreme

Once we realize that the sovereign Creator is the authority behind our storm, it clears the air, and gives us the resolve to weather it. We can even emulate Jesus and drift off to sleep in the boat while the storm rages!

Jesus asleep during the storm

In Matthew 8 v 23, Jesus had gotten on a boat with his disciples and a heavy storm began, appearing like it was going to sink it.

But Jesus was asleep!

His disciples were terrified, and  surpised that Jesus could sleep under such circumstances 

They woke him,  and he queried their fear. After which he calmed the storm

What is the lesson to learn from this passage?

Most will emphasize the value of calling out to Jesus when we are in trouble to “rebuke the storm” and rescue us

But if we look more closely, there is a deeper message here

Jesus was asleep in the boat while the storm raged. Why? Was he oblivious of the danger of a storm? Why sleep in a boat anyway, when the risk of a storm is so high? Was he that tired that he couldn't wait to arrive on land before falling asleep?

Jesus's action in permitting himself to fall asleep on the boat is significant.

It tells us that Jesus wasnt concerned about any eventuality that could happen. As far as he was concerned, it was a win-win situation whether there was a storm or not. His purpose would be fulfilled regardless of the circumstances along the way.

Jesus wasnt afraid for his life, because he knew that not a hair on his head could be harmed without the permission of his heavenly Father.

God has a purpose to fulfil in the life of everyone. And nothing can stop his purpose. Not the least elements which are completely under his control 

That storm? It was merely acting out its purpose from the Creator. It was a teachable moment that we all need to learn from

Fear has no place in our walk with God.

We need to be comfortable with any circumstance we may find ourselves, because nothing happens without God's say so.

Jesus rebuked the storm, and it subsided because that was God's plan all along. The disciples needn't have been scared.

And neither should we be scared when we face the storms of life.

Remember, nothing happens without God's permission, and His purpose will come to pass regardless of any situation we may find ourselves.

So the question to ask is this. Is our purpose aligned with our Creator? Because God's purpose for our life will always supersede!