Recognizing His Presence

A sequel to: "GOD IS THERE / GOD IS HERE"

In my earlier devotional, I presented a thought that we could be oblivious to the fact that God's presence is with us, when we are in a time of crisis.

And this thought stems right out of that concept, to emphasize that it is indeed very much possible to recognize His presence, during such times - though often times we fail to see Him then.

Here's a couple of thoughts on how we can break that trend, and see Him when we need Him the most.


We pick up on Jacob's story again after he rued the fact that he hadn't recognized God's presence earlier - cf. Genesis 28:16b - "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it"


4 chapters later ... Jacob is now returning back to his hometown, the land of Canaan (Genesis 31:17,18), after spending a few years working for his Uncle, Laban - who now becomes his father-in-law.


Genesis 32:1,2 - "Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, 'This is the camp of God!'".

It's an interesting passage, because here's a man who didn't recognize God .. but in this particular instance, without any introduction from the angels, he recognized them as God's hosts.

And a few hours later that night in vs.22-31 (*26) - we see that Jacob recognized God, who appeared in the form of a man and wrestled with him.

So, herein lies the assurance that it is very much possible to move from a place of NOT recognizing God, to a place of seeing Him no matter how He appears or reveals Himself.

The disciples reveal an attitude in that they found it hard to believe in Jesus, when He appeared in a form that was not familiar to them (cf. Mark 4:41; 6:49).


How was that possible, with Jacob?
Things hadn't changed much with him on the outside.
The departure scene had nothing much to ride home about, as Jacob fled without bidding proper farewell (31:20,21) - in fact, he was running away from his father-in-law, when he had gone to shear his sheep (31:19).
And his wife Rachel, stole her father's household gods (vs.19), which Jacob didn't even know about (vs.32).
So, overall it was NOT a very pleasant atmosphere in that household - height of deception, cheating, lying, etc.

And the trend with Jacob seems to continue on, in that he is selfish and looks for his own personal gain.

But, what went right for Jacob this time around - which enabled him to see the presence of God with him?

I think the key is in a restored relationship, which should be pursued in God's spirit.
Let me explain.

In chp.28:16 - Jacob didn't realize God's presence, as he just comes from a strained relationship with his brother, after having deceived him in at least a couple of occasions - once when he made him sell his birthright to him and secondly, when he received the blessing from his father Isaac, pretending to be Esau.


But over the years of staying with Laban, he had proved faithful to his Uncle, and served all those years for his wives .. and now eventually, at God's Word (cf. 31:3), he's headed back to the land of his father.
Jacob headed back to his hometown, on the basis that God told him to do that.
So, the first principle in recognizing God is doing what God wants us to do.

- Are we doing what He is asking us to do? If so, the chances of recognizing Him are very high.


The second principle is setting relationships right.

Jacob had a couple of relationships, which he needed to work on:
a) with Laban, his father-in-law (31:45-55).
- Though this relationship mend came about Laban taking the initiative and his submission to God's dream in vs.24 - nevertheless, it was set right now.

b) with Esau, his brother (32:1-21)
- with Esau he had just made up his mind to set things right, by paying a price (32:13-21).


Not surprisingly, on both occasions when the relationship was restored or when it was on the verge of being restored, he was able to recognize the presence of God.


The question is obviously, are we running away from a strained relationship as Jacob did in the first place, when he failed to see His presence; or
Are we in the process of setting things right .. and as a result seeing the very presence of God in our day-to-day routine and/or circumstances?

God is There / God is Here

As we enter into the Advent season, we all will get very familiar with the word "Immanuel" ~ God with us!
Is this notion, just during this season or is God always with us?
Though we emphatically proclaim that "He is with us", do we realistically live that during the rest of the time?

Scores of references in the Scripture would suggest that people found it difficult to realize that God was with them.

Mark 6:45-56 (*49) - when Jesus walked on the water and came towards them at the 4th watch of the night - the disciples didn't recognize the Saviour!

Luke 24:13-31 (*16) - the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Him and talked with Him, but didn't realize that it was the Messiah, that they were talking with!

Luke 24:36-49 (*37,41) - the 11 disciples saw Jesus appear in their midst in the upper room and thought He was a ghost!

Matthew 11:1-15 (*2,3) / Luke 7:17-28 (*19,20) - John the Baptist, who so authoritatively proclaimed or introduced the Messiah into the world (cf. John 3:22-36), also had his share of doubts!


From times immemorial such questions lingered in the hearts of people, which is why God revealed Himself through His Name - JEHOVAH SHAMMAH ~ The Lord is there!
(cf. Ezekiel 48:35).


In response to this doubt, the Psalmist and many other OT prophets uttered the very Words of God to assure us of His presence with us.

Psalm 46:5-7 - "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her ... The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge"
Zephaniah 3:17 - "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with singing"
Zechariah 2:5 - The Lord Himself declares, "I will be under her a wall of fire round about, and will the glory in the midst of her"


And the classic example of all these is found in Genesis 28:16, right at the beginning of life after the covenant promise - "When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it".

How is it possible?
How come Jacob didn't recognize God's presence?

These are some of the questions we can ask when we read this story.
But there's more to it, than just this verse - Jacob was actually running away, after having deceived his brother, and was quite taken aback when He felt God's presence.

But don't we do the same thing with our life today?
Do we see Him there? Do we recognize His presence with us?
Or, are we running away too and are pleasantly surprised that He is still with us!


The Lord's presence is very much with us, not just during this advent season .. but at all times, as per His promise.

And I am reminded of the famous story of the "Footprints in the Sand" to reinforce the thought that He never leaves us nor forsakes us.



Click on the picture to the left to see an enlarged version of the same for clear visibility.

God looks beyond our crisis

My last devotional ended with a thought that "At times of crisis in life, it will become clearer as to who we are going with".

A crisis situation, is when we are NOT in total control, as we would like it to be.
We are caught in the muck and are struggling to get out, if there is a way out.
Usually that's when we doubt our faith, our vocation, our belief in God & the promises we hold on to, etc. etc. etc.

We are now in the book of Genesis, where God initiates the covenant promise with Abram.
All is not well with Abram as he sojourns with God.

After his nephew Lot had chosen the best lot (cf. 13:11) - God gave Abram the whole lot (13:13-17), as we saw in the earlier devotional thought.


In chp.15, we see Abram struggling to accept the promise which the Lord gives him.
vs.1 - "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward".

And that's because he is caught in the muddle here. He cannot look beyond his present situation.
Abram is well advanced in years .. perhaps 85 yrs. old (16:16 - Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born to Hagar).
It's a good 10 years from the time when the promise was first given to Abram in 12:1-4, that He will make him into a great nation.
At this stage, Abram is not even a father to ONE, let alone a nation!

Coming back to Chp.15 - Abram now thinks that this promise 'to be his heir', could be for his servant, Eliezer. But the Lord assures him otherwise in vs.4 - "This man will NOT be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir".

That's an encouraging factor .. but then he misinterprets that in Chp.16, when his beautiful wife Sarai, suggests that he takes his maid and has a son - who could be his heir.
Sounds a cheeky advice .. but the promise of the Lord was still a bit vague, as He had said it will be a son coming from his own body - note: no mention of Sarai here!


However, going back to chp.15:8 Abram still confused about this particular promise. And this is where God re-assures Abram of what He is going to do.
God puts Abram to sleep (vs.12 f.), and He allows a dreadful darkness to come over him and then He speaks what is to happen several centuries later - with the children of Israel going into captivity, followed by the redemption under Moses, which is 8-10 generations later.

Now, here is Abram struggling to get a hang of what is going on right now .. and God is assuring Him of something which is going to happen way beyond him.
Abram didn't find a direct answer, but in God's big picture, is the answer to Abram's immediate.
And it took another 14 years or so, before the promised son, Isaac - comes about.


Moses, in Deut. 9:4-6 highlights this very assurance to the 2nd generation of Israelites who are about to go in and possess the promised land. So, what God assured Abram is now being fulfilled and along the way, the promise to Abram is also fulfilled.

I tend to look for solutions immediately for my nagging problem or my current crisis. But when God gives me an answer into the distant future, I don't like it .. as I want something now.

When I went in for a corrective surgery on my leg a few years ago, I had 3 people confirm through dreams they had about me that I was walking around and playing with my kids at the end of it.
When I heard about those dreams, I didn't make much of it as it sounded a bit odd - as I didn't expect anything untoward to happen to me.
But little did I realize, that things would take a massive turn during the course of my hospitalization, and it ended up being a dreadful path.
But through that time, I was assured of the fact, that God is in control .. as I had an answer that I would be walking around again - though it's different - I am walking nevertheless!


How about you?
Are you in a crisis right now?
Are you hearing God talk to you something into the immediate or distant future, which you don't understand now?
Don't worry - the answer to your current situation is in that, as well as a hope for your future.

Let's not give up - there's light at the end of the tunnel, because God is there.

He certainly looks beyond our current situation which you and I can't see.
Let's go with Him / let's trust in His promises and see the fulfillment.