No employer pays a month's salary upfront to any employee before he or she starts his or her work at the beginning of the month. Without doubting but trusting that the employer would definitely pay the salary at the end of the month, the employee works for a month. But, when it comes to God’s Word or promises, we often doubt or find it difficult to believe them. That's because of our petty, immediate so called earthly concerns. The thought for reflection this Thursday morning is “Our God Wants Us to Focus on His Eternal Purposes as He Would Take Care of Our Immediate Needs.”
Then Jacob made a vow, saying “If God will be with me and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house”
(Genesis 28:20-22)
It is very surprising to find Jacob's doubtful response to God's assurance to provide, protect and to be present with him wherever he went. The conditional nature of Jacob's vow reveals that he was not really firm in his commitment to the Lord. It also shows two flaws in Jacob's character.
1. Jacob DESIRED only physical needs and failed to focus on God's eternal PURPOSES.
God was revealing His plan to bless all the families of the earth through Jacob and his offspring. But it is very sad to see Jacob only thinking about “food for himself to eat and clothes for himself to wear.” Is it not true that when we seek God’s eternal purposes and His Kingdom, all other physical and material needs will be met by God?
2. Jacob DOUBTED God's faithfulness in keeping His PROMISES.
God says,
“I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
(Genesis 28:15)
But Jacob seemed to doubt God. That is revealed through these words of Jacob:
“If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey."
(Genesis 28:20)
In spite of experiencing God's faithfulness all these years, are we still doubting His promises to provide food to eat, clothes to wear, money to spend to meet our needs, wisdom to go forward in business and grace to serve Him?
Preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon says,
“Every other crime touches God's territory, but unbelief (or doubt) aims at his divinity, impeaches His veracity, denies His goodness, blasphemes His attributes, maligns His character, therefore, God, of all things, hates first and chiefly, unbelief (or doubt), wherever it is.”
Let's pray:
“Dear Lord, forgive me for focusing only on my physical needs and ignoring your eternal, divine purposes. Pardon my sin of doubting you in spite of you being a faithful God all through my life. Help me to keepmy heart and mind fixed on your eternal purposes and plans. I determine not to doubt you but to believe in your Word and your promises all through my life!
Amen”