Scripture:

Obadiah 19-20
19 Then those of the Negev will possess the mountain of Esau,
And those of the Shephelah the Philistine plain;
Also, possess the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria,
And Benjamin will possess Gilead.
20 And the exiles of this host of the sons of Israel,
Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
Will possess the cities of the Negev.
NASU


Thoughts:

Israel will go through exile, but ultimately will possess even more land.  These verses list lands of their enemies that will become theirs.  Even today, the nation of Israel has been reborn after hundreds of years without a home.

It may seem strange how God calls us to look further ahead, past our circumstances.  So often He doesn't deal with the current discomfort we feel, but challenges us to trust Him for a greater end that He is working.  We know this is not due to a lack of caring on His part, but because He is working in us something greater than solving our current dilemma:  the growth of our faith in Him.

God is of course infinitely wise in this as in everything He does.  If He were to solve all of our problems as soon as we encountered them, would there be a deepening of our relationship with Him?  No, instead we would be spiritual babies, who only knew to cry out when they needed something, and to keep crying until they received it.  We would not enter into a deeper and real trust of God that is patient and believes, even when outwardly, it may seem foolish to do so to those who don't know Christ.


Prayer:

Oh God, my priorities are so often different from Yours.  I am so many times fixated on my current circumstances, and not on the grander, and more important work of my growing faith in You.

Transform my mind.  Help me to see as You see.  To look ahead to the greater purposes You are working in my life.

Amen