Hebraic Musing – Don't
pray for potatoes unless…
…you have a hoe in your hand. That has been a favorite saying
of mine over the years, sometimes as a reminder to those who believe that faith
alone will provide the things we pray for. Knowing that is my favorite
saying, my daughter gave me a plaque that says "Old Russian saying - 'Pray with all your might, but keep rowing toward
shore.'"
Jacob was faced with his
pending reunion with his brother Esau. The last Jacob knew was that his brother
wanted to kill him. Genesis 32:3 “Jacob
sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the
country of Edom.” Jacob did not
know if his brother was going to kill him, or would there be restoration of
brotherly love. God had made a promise to Jacob when he left Canaan – “I am with you and will watch over you
wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land”. (Genesis 28:15a).
Despite God’s promise, Jacob
made sure his family would be safe and could return to the Promised Land. Rather than relying on God’s promise alone,
Jacob did three things in preparation for a potentially dangerous reunion:[1]
1. He sent a generous bribe
ahead to Esau.
2. He prayed.
3. He spread his family out
strategically in preparation for war, if necessary.
Some may ask if it wasn’t
enough just to pray? In fact, even prayer may not have been needed since God
had already promised his safe return.
Was Jacob lacking in faith?
Ben Franklin said the bible
says “God helps those who help themselves”,
but I don’t find that principal stated that way. My way of saying it is – “God doesn’t want to bless us if we do
nothing, but He wants to bless the work of our hands”. My son, Joseph, says – “Even God can’t steer a ship that’s standing still in the water”.
Whether you are facing a
challenge or looking for direction in life, may I suggest you start by putting
forth a plan and start taking requisite action. Then God has something to
bless, correct, guide, etc.
Point to ponder
What is your major concern for which
you need God’s help?
And what are YOU doing about it?
And what are YOU doing about it?
Are you a moving ship that God can
steer?
Shalom
Aleichem December
18, 2012
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
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