Displaced but Not Afraid

It seems to be a modern epidemic – displacement.  Whatever happened to job security has become the moan of fear and despair in millions of homes.  Some people, especially those over 50, have been displaced longer than at any other time in their lives and see little hope on the horizon.  Their roots have been torn up and their secure wells of provision have disappeared.  This happened to Isaac.

 “And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you.” (Gen. 26:24)  The people of the land were starting to “crowd him out”.  The wells he had dug were taken by others and he was constantly on the move looking for a place to dwell.  All his labors were coming to naught and he was distressed.  God came to him and simply said, “Fear not.” 

Now you might say, “But I’m not Isaac.”  That might be half true.  Physically you are not Isaac, but I hope that spiritually you are.  Isaac was the son of promise.  That means that he prefigures Jesus Christ.  He had an impossible birth.  Isaac was figuratively raised from the dead when the ram was caught in the thicket.  All God’s promises to Abraham were passed on to Isaac.  In Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham, all the promises of God are passed on to us as well. We are children of the promise of forgiveness by faith and called in the New Testament “children of Abraham”.  (Galatians 3:7)

God has not forgotten His promises.  He came to Isaac with a message.  It was the same message He had given to Abraham many years before, “Fear not.”  It was not the last time that He would have to encourage His people who found themselves displaced in this world.  He still extends that promise to all the children of Abraham.  I am among that great group of displaced and daily I have to remind myself that God has given great and precious promises.  One of the greatest is the simple message so oft repeated, “Fear not.” 

We need to remember the hand of God is not shortened that it cannot save.  We need to remember that the Lord is my Shepherd.  We need to remember that He will never leave us or forsake us.  There are a few words from an old Gospel chorus whose author I do not know that go simply, “Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter every verse, every line.  All are blessings of His love divine.  Every promise in the Book is mine.” 

They are, and we are assured by God Almighty Himself to “Fear not.” 

 

 

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

Visit my website at www.davidccraig.net for inspiring Christian books.  Coming this month is my newest book Taking Care of Joe.  This is the story of a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient.  See how God adds His grace in the face of this horrible disease and how living a life of love is living a life NOT interrupted.  You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at FEBC.org.  FEBC is a vital missionary outreach to many countries that are closed to traditional missionary work.