This Bible study is all about how to remain where God places you, even if it’s difficult.
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Do you find yourself wanting to escape when placed in difficult circumstances? For Isaac, he wanted to leave the promised land when there was a famine, but God told him to stay. Maybe for you, there is a difficult family or work situation that you are looking for a way out of. Have you asked God what His will is for you in this situation? Does God want you to remain where He places you?
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Read about remaining where God places you, before reflecting on it below
Genesis 26-28
The difficult assignment to remain where God places you
There was another famine in the land, and Isaac does exactly what his father Abraham had done – packs up to leave. It can be so easy to be wrapped up in thinking that it is God’s will to go somewhere new – specifically if we don’t like the season we are in now – that we forget to ask God if His will is for us to remain where he placed us. Here, God tells Isaac that he will be blessed in the land that God promised to Abraham.
Do you find yourself wanting to leave one place to go to another? How do you know if it is God’s will to stay or go (James 1:5)?
Related Post: Embrace the Journey | Bible Journaling Through Genesis
The appearance of evil
When Rebekah tells Jacob of the plan to get Esau’s blessing for himself, Jacob agrees. His only concern is that if it fails, he will appear to be deceiving his father. Jacob did not want to APPEAR to deceive Isaac, he was more concerned with outward appearances than he was with his heart.
Are you more concerned with how you appear to others, or if your heart is right with God (1 Samuel 16:7)?
Trying to sidestep God’s plan
In Genesis 28, Isaac calls for Jacob and blesses him again. This time the blessing is not from a trick, but it is because Isaac was reminded of the will of God. There were different factors that led to God’s original promise of blessing Jacob that were not in line with God’s character. If Isaac had recognized that he could not undermine God and give the older son the blessing, many years of heartache and remorse could have been avoided. As it was, God’s plan still came about.
Have there been times in your life that you’ve tried to sidestep God’s plan? What was the result (Proverbs 21:2)?
Doing what God says without restraints
As Jacob is traveling to his new home, he has a dream in which God speaks to him, giving him the same covenant that he gave to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob responds almost in unbelief, saying that IF God will go with him, and IF God will provide food and water, THEN Jacob will serve. He tried to put human restraints on a promise that was already given by God. Jacob wanted to be in control rather than submit to the authority of his creator and promise giver.
When God gives you a promise, do you try to put human restraints on it (Isaiah 55:8-9)?
Reflect on remaining where God places you
Is there somewhere God has placed you and wants you to remain, either a physical location or a situation? How can you serve God where you are at right now (John 12:26)?
