Title: God Who Sets the Limits of Residence
Contents
♡♥♡ God who sets the limits of residence / Genesis 15:7
*** Introduction
Do you know why you need to be here right now? And among the many lands, do you really want to live here? Besides that, why do we have to live in this country in this age? I think it's true that everyone is a philosopher in their own way. When we look back on our lives, there are so many questions.
As I look back on the past 8 years of Daebok Church, I thought of many things. There were happy and rewarding events, but there were also painful pains and tears. Sometimes there was a sigh of relief, ‘Why did you send me here?’ The words of the Lord that make us realize each time are simple. This is God's will, 'Because that is your place, and I am pleased.' So, this evening, I would like to ponder the word about ‘the God who sets the limits of dwelling’.
There is no ‘accident’ except through God on this earth and in the entire universe. Do you believe this too? If in doubt, read Job 38-41. There is no other place in the entire Bible where God's power is recorded in such detail. Without chance, all of our lives are of God. The text reminds us of that.
This short text of this hour is part of God's covenant with Abraham. The content is about the land that will be given to Abraham and his descendants. God said that the land of Canaan, where Abraham was staying, would be given to Abraham and his descendants as an inheritance. In order to confirm this promise, God Himself established the form of the covenant through the sacrifice.
1. God decides where people live.
God Himself made all things in the world and designated their dwelling place. Let's look at the days God created. “God made the expanse and divided the water under the expanse from the waters above it, and it was so”, “God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place, and let dry land appear.” And it was so. Let the earth bring forth herbs, seed-bearing plants, and fruits bearing fruit with seed according to their kind.” And it was so.”, “God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. And he made the stars, and God placed them in the firmament of the heavens to give light to the earth, and to rule day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and it was good in God's sight."
This is also true of people. God called Abraham and made him the father of God's people. It is still just the beginning, but it will become a great nation. God also made them explore the land where they would live for the future chosen people. God called Abraham to bring him to the land of Canaan, and made a sure covenant with him.
God said to Abraham, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as an inheritance." But Abraham asked God for a sure proof, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit this land?” God told us to prepare a sacrifice. The sacrifice was cut in the middle and placed face to face, and they waited for God.
In the evening when the sun went down, God put Abraham to sleep and God was present. God made Abraham aware of the future and passed through the sacrifice. Then he made a sure covenant with Abraham again. “I give this land to your descendants from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates… ” He determined the future residence of Israel’s chosen people.
What God did between the sacrifices was the ancient law of the covenant. The contract law of the ancient society divides the beast so that they face each other and then moves between them to complete the contract. This was an act of guaranteeing the certainty of the contract. It meant that if you broke the contract between you and me, you would die like this beast. What God did in this way was a guarantee and consideration for Abraham to have certain trust.
Let's look at Deuteronomy 2:4-6. “You shall also command the people, saying, If you pass through the borders of your people, the descendants of Esau, who dwell in Seir, they will fear you. I will not give you a single step of their land, for I have given Esau as an inheritance. With money you shall buy food from them, and with money you shall buy water from them and drink.” These are the words that Israel spoke when they passed through the land of Seir while walking in the wilderness after the Exodus. As such, God sets the limits of human habitation.
2. God guides life to the position of a saint.
About 500 years after God made the covenant with Abraham, the Israelites took possession of the land of Canaan. In the meantime, they wandered through various regions through the patriarchal period that followed Isaac and Jacob, and 430 years passed in Egypt. However, God's covenant has been passed down from generation to generation and eventually reached Canaan.
Let's take the example of Jacob. It was when Jacob fled to Paddan-aram after taking away the blessing that would be returned to his brother Esau, and spent the night in Bethel. Genesis 28:13-15. “… And behold, the LORD stood upon it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and to your descendants the land on which you lie, and your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, spreading to the east, west, south and north, and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed in you and in you and your descendants. I am with you, I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you. ” he said. This is the process in which God's covenant, which had been passed down to Abraham and Isaac, continued to Jacob. This is called ‘succession of the covenant’. This shows the process of keeping God's promises. This is so that we can trust and rely on God absolutely.
As we live our faith life, there are times when we have doubts about the Word of God and feel frustrated. This is especially true when the answers to prayers are delayed, the things we are doing do not succeed, and when pain and difficulties come. There are times when we cannot even pray because of conflicts of faith such as ‘Is this the right path I am taking?’, ‘Are you listening to my prayers?’, and ‘Have you forsaken me?’
Abraham believed and waited for God's promise to give him descendants, but the promise did not come true until it was impossible for man to expect descendants. In an impossible environment, the man of faith, Abraham, also collapsed. Genesis 17:17-18. “Abraham fell on his face and laughed, saying in his heart, ‘How can a hundred years old have children? Sarah is ninety years old. Nevertheless, God fulfilled the covenant.
Do not forget that the environment given to man comes from God. Impossibility is with man, not with God. God is the creator and sovereign ruler of all circumstances. Like Abraham, we also have doubts about our faith and sometimes we are frustrated, but let us always pray and stay awake so that we do not lose the place of faith.
Let's do our best with gratitude and zeal, believing that the place and environment we are given now comes from God. When the time set by God, it will surely come to pass. Those who trust in God who keeps His promises to the end are the victors. We conclude by reading Colossians 3:23-24. “Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as to the Lord and not to men. Knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord, for you serve the Lord Christ.”