BULLETIN ARTICLE
1 December 2019
GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES
“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” (Gen 45:7-8).
In 2019 we have been studying the book of Genesis. A large part of the book covers the lives of the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The location of Beersheba would also have been mentioned when the patriarchs visited the place at different points in time. Beersheba is at the southern edge of Canaan and the extent of the promised land of Canaan stretches from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. The location of Beersheba is important to various characters and it hold lessons for us as well.
Abraham agreed to make the proposed covenant with Abimelech at Beersheba when approached but made mention of his servants’ seizure of the patriarch’s well. Abimelech maintained his innocence and received a tribute from Abraham. This signified that the patriarch had indeed dug the well and had legal rights to it. Abraham had physical proof that the Lord was going to give his family the promised land of Canaan and so enabled him to set up permanent residence there. Beersheba means “well of the oath,” reminding everyone that Abraham’s family had a just claim to the region. In like manner, when a person believes in Jesus as Saviour, he becomes a child of God. He receives the inheritance of sonship and the abundant life. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:13-14).
God’s mandate to Abraham and the Israelites was to possess the promised land of Canaan. Jacob was very apprehensive to leave Canaan and to go to Egypt to meet up with his lost (dead) son Joseph, his favourite son. Along the way Jacob went via Beersheba to make sacrifices. God spoke to Jacob. He assured Jacob that he would be with him and re-affirmed the promise to make Abraham’s line into a great nation – “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.” He further gave Jacob the assurance that: “I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” What encouraging and comforting words at this point of Jacob’s indecision. Often we are at points of indecision, wondering if we should be taking one course of action or another. We need to come to Beersheba, as it were, to seek God for direction. He promised: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa 41:10).
As 2019 comes to a close and standing at the threshold of 2020, we need to be reminded that we have a loving heavenly Father. No matter what the future holds, he is in control of everything. We are to walk by faith and trust in the sovereign control and providence of the Lord God Almighty. He always provides.
