05/05/2009
Jacob faced a life or death situation. He was returning home after many years. Earlier he had cheated Esau and had fled to Haran fearing his brother’s wrath. Years later he was married with children and on his way back. He did not know how his brother would respond to his coming back. Esau had started out to meet him with four hundred men. Death seemed inevitable.
In times past he had found a way out of situations but at this moment in time he had nowhere to run. He had tried everything and was left out of options. He was left to himself to face what he feared was the worst. He was desperate at the point of hopelessness.
It was at this point Jacob met God or God met Jacob. Jacob wrestled with Him the whole night and would not let go until he was assured that he would be blessed. Jacob had turned his desperation into a place of intense battle with God Himself seeking a blessing. God did not disappoint and blessed him according to his petition. Not only did Esau spare Jacob’s life, he (Jacob) was blessed immensely afterward.
Even in our lives, at times we reach places of great trial which lead to desperation. While those places are hard and very difficult to walk through, they present themselves with priceless opportunities to encounter God. Not only that, if we beseech Him long enough during such times, He will answer us in our place of need. Our answer and encounter with God however greatly depends on how we respond in times of despair.
Do we turn to God during such times are do we try and drown our sorrows and fears in things other than Him. Do we channel our desperation towards God or towards people or things? If the later we will be like a wave tossed to and fro, missing a great opportunity in encountering God and Him blessing us in that encounter.
The word of God is filled with promises for those who beseech him with all their heart. Psalms 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. Psalms 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 27:14 – Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalms 77:1 – I cried out to God with my voice; To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. Deuteronomy 4:29 – But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
If you are in distress, turn your sorrows toward the Lord and take a hold of His promises to you. If you can’t see the way and there is confusion and turmoil seek Him who is the God of counsel and peace. If you are lacking His presence and power in your life, humble yourself before Him in surrender. Pursue him till you find Him. God will not fail to answer, when we pursue Him in the pathways He has set before us.
There was this young man in Russia who got desperate after God. There was no one around to guide him nor show him the right pathway. He only knew one thing, which was to seek the Lord till He was found. He simply believed the promise of the Lord that if we will seek Him with all our heart we will find Him. Seek Him he did for a period of time, with a holy desperation. God answered his hearts cry by meeting him in Person and communing with him for a season.
Brethren, God is not a respecter of persons. If anyone will follow after Him with all his/her heart, they will find Him. Today, the reason why we don’t see God answer us as before is because our hearts are bent toward other things than Him. We seek Him but our lusts and passions also control us. Our devotion towards Him is therefore divided.
We should never get satisfied with little nor should we stop in pursuit of Him till He answers us. If we can come to that place where we look toward Him with all that is in us, then surely nothing will be held back from us. He is waiting for us to learn His ways and walk in them.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) . Surely , He will answer the cry of the desperate! The Lord is near to the broken hearted and all who call upon Him in truth.
