Is The Lord With You?

Daily Devotional – Monday, June 12, 2023
We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you.
Genesis 26:28 (NKJV)

During one of the severest droughts, Isaac went to live in the land of Gerar. Despite being in exile, “Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.” (Genesis 26:12). God was with his servant hence the success.

Go Away…

In addition, “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. Therefore, the Philistines envied him.” (Verses 13-14).

Isaac prospered despite the Philistines filling up with soil the wells that the late Abraham had dug. Realizing that these roadblocks were not effective in deterring Isaac from succeeding, King Abimelech told Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” (Verse 16).

Clinging to God, Notwithstanding

That is how some people react when God blesses you for honest labour and fidelity to Him. Instead of asking the secret of your success, they begin to sabotage you. If you continue flourishing in spite of their efforts to derail you, they eject you from their presence.

The story does not end there, though. When Isaac moved his family and herds to the valley of Gerar, the Philistines followed him and claimed the wells he was unblocking. In response, Isaac moved on to other wells until the Philistines grew tired of stopping him.

I am With You

Seeing the troubles Isaac was in and the resilience and courage he exemplified, God appeared to His servant and assured him, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” (Verse 24). Isaac built an altar there (in Beersheba) and pitched his tent.

Isaac’s faith in God, and his wisdom and courage in dealing with the Philistines, did not go unnoticed by his detractors. King Abimelech now visited Isaac with a delegation and confessed,
“We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you… You are now the blessed of the LORD.’ ” (Verses 28-29).

Is the Lord With You?

What a testimony from non-believers! Isaac’s godly character, tested in the furnace of oppression and rejection, had come out as gold. Had he behaved aggressively or vengefully with the Philistines, they would never have attested that God was with Isaac. When the Lord is with you, the world will notice.

How do you react under provocation? What can those who interact you attest about your character? Can they confess that the Lord is with you? Do they see any difference between themselves and you in terms of attitude, thought, speech and character? Is the Lord with you?

Prayer
Dear God, come and dwell inside me, and transform me so radically that the world will attest You are with me.