Hi
When God intervenes in our ‘ordinary’ situations, the temptation is to chalk it up to ‘luck’. But it isn’t just luck, is it? In fact if we changed one word in the title of Tina Turner’s Hir, ‘What’s Love Gotta do with It?’., we might find we’re closer to getting a better sense of who we are and what we possess through God.
As you consider today’s Holy Nougat; remember the events surrounding this moment, ie Jacob’s abrupt departure from Laban’s employ; and Laban’s attempted confrontation.
“While Jacob left on his way, the angels of God met him. Then Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp,” and he named that place Mahanaim.” Genesis 32:2-3 TLV
To many, Jacob’s life would be considered ‘charmed’ or lucky; as it seems he gets rescued from scrape after scrape just like that. And while it may seem like I’m splitting hairs or that it’s just semantics, I wish to argue that Jacob was blessed; anointed even; but he was nether lucky nor charmed. You see my dears, we must remember our Source.
It was God Who determined Jacob’s steps – that he going to be heir to the Promise, and that God’s favour would rest upon him. And Jacob tended to hold steadfast to who God said he was; even when he attempted to offer God a hand. We also see God accompanying Jacob each step of the way, protecting and delivering him from death time and again. And, time and again, after each escape, we see God meeting with Jacob, or sending angels to minister to him (lest he lose faith; or worse yet – assume that he (Jacob) rescued himself).
My dears, I’d like to propose that God seeks to meet each of us individually also; with the express goal of reminding us of Who and Whose we are as a Child of the Living God. I know, I know –
there be days
when Life’s stresses, the wretched voice in our head, or even others around us would say otherwise.
But
God
Calls
You
&
Me
God’s Child
and blessed us; just as Jacob has been blessed. And God desires to speak with us each step of our journey. And, if we stink with sin like Jacob; obviously we are not exempt from God’s Grace. And that point in our journey, when God ministers to us after (and throughout) our crisis is our Mahanaim – the place of ‘two camps’ – where we personally experienced God’s presence in trying circumstances.
I pray we each see and hear God with us each step of our journey and are assured of our identity as a Child of God.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
