Life is a like a collection of chapters in a book. Every chapter has its own good and bad experiences. Those experiences mostly depend on our decisions. All through our lives, we encounter questions like, “What to do?”, “When to do?”, “How to do?” and “Where to go?” We often think that we are capable of making rational decisions which are good for us and for that we do rely on our gut instinct or common sense. But what decisions we take also depend on what understanding we have of our God. If we consider Him as the owner and Lord of our lives, we will like to make decisions that will please Him. Our thought for reflection this morning is, “Our God Reveals His Will and Helps Us To Make The Right Decisions In Our Lives”.
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you”
(Genesis 31:3).
We are not sure whether God spoke to Jacob by just seeing the agony of Jacob due to the ill treatment he experienced at his father in law’s house or when Jacob cried out to God explaining of his predicament. But one thing that we know is that God clearly revealed His will regarding the next step in the life of Jacob. From this incident we learn two key principles to know God’s will for our lives.
1. God CONVEYS His will through CIRCUMSTANCES.
If we look at the context of the passage in Genesis 31:1-3, we see that the environment at Laban’s house was not conducive for Jacob to continue to live in his father in law’s house. The Bible says,
“And Jacob notices that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been”
(Genesis 31:2)
And while speaking to Rachel and Leah, Jacob repeated the same (Genesis 31:5). God does speak through circumstances. Have we ever taken stock of our circumstances to find out what God is speaking to us through them?
2. God CONFIRMS His will through His COMMAND or WORD.
Two times Jacob quoted God’s command to leave Laban’s house and Paddan Aram and to go to his father’s land. Then the Lord said to Jacob,
“Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you”
(Genesis 31:3).
Later, while explaining to Rachel and Leah the reason why they should leave Laban’s house, Jacob quoted what God spoke to him in his dream:
“I am the God of Bethel…Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land”
(Genesis 31:13).
Do we have our regular quiet time to hear Him speaking to us? Are we sensitive to what God has been speaking to us during our quiet time through His Word?
Probably some of us are facing in-conducive circumstances and reflecting on making major decisions in our lives. Let us believe that our God is one who reveals His will and helps us to make the right decisions in our lives. Let’s pray:
“Dear Lord, Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble” (Psalm 143:10-11). Help me to be sensitive to what you are saying to me through circumstances and your Word. I know that just as you revealed your will to Jacob and guided him, you would guide me too. With that confidence I begin this day.
In Jesus’ name,... Amen!”