His Plan For His Own

Hindsight is always 20/20 or perfect vision. So, when the decision comes for God to share or not to share any part of His Plan for my life with me, I plead with Him to grant me a break every now-and-then and allow me to see and understand His upcoming events.

Every time I pray this, I am reminded He may or may not choose to answer in the positive, but realize this is the age of Faith. Scripture says of faith - 

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1). 

So, from this confidence, hope and assurance I stand and inquire about His Plan For His Own.

I would like to think and believe that many people and believers accept the idea of the all-knowingness of God. Some individuals, like those who ascribe to Deism, believe God created everything then stepped back and has watched everything unfold ever since with little to no involvement.

This is not who Christians worship. When joining the concepts of God's supreme knowledge, His design of all things and humanity's feeble minds - many Christians will recall Isaiah 55:8-10 -

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God has a design, a plan for the history of humanity and creation. However, He also has a detailed, purposeful, individualistic plan for each of us, especially His own. God's knowledge and involvement on everybody's individual plan is seen in Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:13 states, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb."

All this foreknowledge by God of His plans for creation, history and our personal lives places believers in the position to ask - what are your plans for me God?

To begin answering this question we must first address another question - what are our plans, especially concerning a relationship with God?

David or whoever is writing the Psalms between 20:4 and 94:11 must have had a change of mind and heart about the quality of human planning. Psalm 20:4 prays for “all your plans to succeed”, while Psalm 94:11 attests to the faultiness of our plans by stating – “He [God] knows they are futile.”

Proverbs 16:1 declares, "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue." Notice that for humanity, our source of planning from the start is our own heart. This is dangerous. Remember what Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

However, if the Lord is our source of understanding and planning, then what finally flows from our mouths is pure, holy and true.

In addition, Proverbs 19:21 states, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." All of us can be busy-bodies at times. Our minds can race a million miles per hour about additional things even when we just checked off all things on our current agenda. Know that God is going to have His way, so yielding to His Plan up front is wise.

Since we walk by faith and not by sight, not having His plan for our lives revealed beforehand, what can we grasp from Scripture about His Plan For His Own?

One of the most well-known and beloved passages of The Bible assists believers in this regard, Jeremiah 29:11 - 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Plans = the original word for plan is machashabah (makh-ash-aw-baw). This word means intention, imagination, invention, purpose or thought.

Prosper = the original word for prosper is shalom meaning to not only “bless with peace”, but with safety, welfare, prosperity, and wholeness.

Hope = the original word hope is tiqvah (tik-vah), meaning “an assured expectation”, a cord to hold on to; expectation, yearning or person/place/thing that we long for or look forward to.

My paraphrase of this Scripture is as follows - For I know the thoughts I have toward you, thoughts, intentions and purposes that are designed to deliver safety, welfare, prosperity, peace and wholeness to you, not any sort of harm and intentions to instill in your lives more than just a sense of getting by, but an assured expectation that is promised manifestation from the Creator, which will surely bless your future now and later.

Something that I would like to stress or magnify here that James does so beautifully is -

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17) 

With God's grand design, His individual plans or thoughts that are infinitely higher than ours - comes nothing but perfect goodness and love toward His own. So, while we live our lives, how do we execute His Plan?

Micah 6:8 gets right to the points on this question. One translation says - do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. This is great, but I really like the New International Version of this verse, which reads - 

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Acting justly shows the development of God's integrity in the Christian's life. Loving mercy is to display God's heart to all and to receive mercy because we chose to give it. Walking humbly with God is the opposite of a prideful life - to always live in a state of ascribing credit where credit is due. 

To live like this means the believer accepts his/her original "wiring" that was rejected but now is activated and in full operation with the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior and the help of the Holy Spirit.

The instruction Jesus gave on the lifestyle of living out God's Plan was - 

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40).

However, besides Micah's contribution and the instruction of Jesus, what take-home handles can the Christian implement in their daily faith journey to assure God's plan is honored in our lives? 

First, "commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans." (Proverbs 16:3). This means verbalize or pray your list or agenda for each day to the Lord. For example, "Lord, today I have much on my plate. I have...." You are praying not just to show Him your list but to include Him first thing in everything.

Secondly, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-7). Within this passage there are three challenging instructions - (1) trust in the Lord with everything you have, (2) do not depend on your own smarts and (3) in the small things, big things and everything in between submit how you would do it to Him. The result is He will align your plans and ways with His because you consulted Him first and followed these directions.

Now that the believer has committed his/her day to the Lord at the onset, the Christian needs to submit his/her agenda. This submitting is equal to signing your name at the bottom of the paper with the list of things that need accomplishing, praying over them, then sliding it across the table to God and going about your day in a surrendered spirit, trusting in Him.

Lastly, obey. Obedience will cover a multitude of efforts toward knowing and living out God's Plan for our lives. Within His call for obedience I believe forgiveness is a huge player. Speaking to His followers and believers, Jesus said,

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

The Christian's salvation is not in question here if the believer does not forgive someone. However, there is a loss, the Christian loses the daily forgiveness of mistakes and favor or the graces of God until the believer forgives the original offense. Obedience in every area, especially this one will go a long way in providing a daily handle for executing His Plan for the believer's life.

Jesus did guarantee that following Him would not be easy. But He also promised that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). In addition, Jesus has made some other promises that Christians world-wide hang their hopeful hats upon. These promises and the arrival of Christ's first visit itself has all been part of His Plan from "go". God had Isaiah say it like this -

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do." (Isa. 46:10-11)

The personal involvement of Yahweh proves God's plan has never been reactive but always preemptive, harkening back to the words of Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13. This means every unborn child is not an accident, but a precious creation of The Creator, who desires a relationship with that person for eternity and has a plan for their life should they accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

What a joy to know that like a builder that sits down before he constructs his house or structure and determines the worth of the labor involved, so too did God count the cost before creation and salvation and deemed worthy His Plan For His Own (Luke 14:28-33; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20).

Whose I Am

Legacy. Mom always taught me to leave a place better than how you found it. Accomplishing this, people will think highly of me and possibly invite me back. Why should I care about the thoughts and perception of other people? Because of whose I am.

My first reflection I desire to leave on people is my best impression of a Christ-like life. My second impression I hope to attain is a great projection of my blood family's values they have instilled in my character.

I know I have messed up in both arenas, in my representation of God and my representation of my family, but thank God, both are forgiving. This is the huge key in continuing to acquire forgiveness in life - you have to give it first.

However, after getting right one with the other - What would my Mom and Dad say about me if they were to testify of my person, my character? 

How would God tackle that same endeavor? Do I make Him proud? I know God is faithful and just to forgive me as long as I confess and forgive others (1 Jn. 1:9; Matt. 6:6:14-15) Do I put a smile on His face? Do I walk in forgiveness and the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)?

When I reflect on my youth, I find it interesting that Mom and Dad did not push, force, or even direct me toward a life-goal or certain hobby. I entertained sports, piano, chorus, even thought about the Navy. However, I was not the next All-Star in any sport, famous singer on any stage or actor in any movie.

I have lived what I consider a "normal" life and am grateful. However, with this normal life has come two written books, a written and video blog I maintain, teachings in the church I have been honored to give, mission trips I have traveled on, choir participation and solo performances - all while attempting to share God's Light to my friends around me.

Many times I feel like there is so much more to do and what I have done already is simply - Standard. Perhaps none of my actions in-and-of-themselves are "special", but when I begin feeling this way I remember who I do this for and why and it carries me through till the next time I can show Whose I Am.

The Kingdom of Imperfect Fishermen

Someone once said, "God still uses cracked pots." - referring to the utilization of broken people to accomplish His will. I believe this with all my heart.

To acknowledge we are not perfect I think is one of the major steps of great wisdom in life. The next step is ascribing who is perfect and lived the perfect life - God in the flesh, Christ Jesus, Father God's only Son.

Because of Christ and His life, believers are victorious in and through the many challenges that life presents, even when death arrives. Because of His perfection, our striving for perfection is not necessary. Christians find their everything, their perfection in Christ, The King of The Kingdom of Imperfect People.

However, within this imperfection and in spite of it - God uses His believers. Writing in his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul stated the idea like this - 

"But he [Christ] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Cor. 12:9

When anyone performs a study on Team Jesus, commonly known as the disciples, they will discover many of these cracked pots, these people with weaknesses or imperfect individuals. 

The twelve disciples that Jesus called to be close to Him during His ministry were not top notch scholars of Scripture with great insight on the signs of the time and full disclosure on who Jesus was and what His plan would entail. The individuals Jesus selected were normal, flawed people with regular jobs. 

The Disciples had all kinds of differing personalities and occupations ranging from fisherman to businessman to tax collector to zealot or political revolutionary and treasurer.

However, one particular job attracted Jesus in His pool of selection. At least seven out of the twelve belonged to the Guild of Fisherman. Among these fishermen were Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee according to Matthew 4:18-22. After the resurrection of Jesus - Thomas, Nathaniel and Philip were found fishing, so they also may have been fishermen (John 21:2-8). At least they knew how to fish.

Why fishermen as a focus trade to pull from the possible candidates of disciples? Recall the Lord's summoning of Simon and Andrew in Matthew 4:18-20 -

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'And I will send out you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed Him."

Why would Jesus need people with a fishing mindset? Because when Jesus used this occupation in a spiritually metaphorical manner, the true disciple of Christ and his duties comes to life and can be understood. 

Disciples are active believers of Christ Jesus, living out the lifestyle of Jesus and spreading His good news of His kingdom to the uninformed while helping equip the saints for better living. 

As Christ Jesus ascended to the right hand of Father God in Heaven, His believers, His disciples became His hands, feet, voice and ministry - His Fishermen. Said another way, Jesus is the Carpenter King who is building a Kingdom of Imperfect Fishermen. These fishermen then fish for or recruit more souls into the Kingdom, who in turn get added to the Guild and Kingdom of Imperfect Fishermen.

Let us place one of these imperfect fishermen, one of the disciples under the microscope to examine. Let us observe Peter. This disciple struck me as a bold person who always wanted to experience the new thing with Jesus.

He tried walking on water with Jesus and was successful for a bit, but failed when fear took over. He declared Jesus, the Son of God and the next minute was influenced by Satan trying to stop Jesus' plan of salvation. Peter was one of the three men who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus but then suggested three booths of honor for - Moses, Elijah and Jesus - instead of just one for Jesus. He denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus restored him.

All this from a disciple who was a major role in the Jerusalem church, wrote new testament letters and requested to be crucified upside-down. This was certainly a tried, true and beloved cracked pot.

Jesus used a bunch of imperfect people whose majority occupation was fisherman to change the type of bait, type of tackle, type of waters and fish to that of human souls.

Christ's heart has always been for the next person to come into an intimate relationship with Him. This happens through the disciples of Christ. The power in the sacrificial blood of Christ and the testimony of the believer are the main instruments the Imperfect Fisherman for Christ will use (Revelation 12:11). Whether you like or dislike physical fishing, disciples must spiritually apply this fishing imagery process for more men and women of the Lord.

Similar to the motif of farming (the planter, waterer and reaper) the duties of fishing can be divided up. Some can carry the fishing pole. Some can carry the bait. Some can bait the hook. Some can cast the line into the waters. Some can scoop up the fish with a net. All of us, from all walks of life, inadequate as we come, have a role to play alongside the perfect King in The Kingdom of Imperfect Fishermen.

Consult The Coach (The Holy Spirit)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I find that as I age, along with the world beside me, not only do the problems that are guaranteed in life come but they seem to transform or at least jump a level to that of "Woes".

The results of the "Woes" of life are a very bad attitude and even worse perspective on everything. Our focus, my focus, is not only turned from the "silver lining" in people, places and things, but God is missing from the beginning in the picture also.

Like a batter in baseball who has gone into a slump and finally emerges from that slump with the realization that all along he was not consulting his coach on the third-base line who was there throughout the slump - so should Christians turn to the Holy Spirit all the time, but especially during their "woes".

"Woes" in life, like slumps in baseball, have a powerful influence, they place us in a "woe is me funk". There is that negative turn of perspective and attitude again. Remember, before this occurs and anytime the slump begins or you start to really feel the woes of life - Consult The Coach (The Holy Spirit).

His Creative Mind

In Job's life the devil was a major influence, but God was sovereign over all the details. God used the Behemoth and the Leviathan in His discussion with Job to display His power over everything. Pointing out the incredible, descriptive details about those creatures, God naturally asked Job and all of humanity - Who then can compare to me as The Creator and Sustainer? If humans cannot stand against such fearsome and awesome creatures as the Behemoth and Leviathan, what success does one think he/she might have with The Creator and Sustainer of these beasts and all creation?

Later in the New Testament, Paul would echo this strong declaration of Creator and Sustainer-God when he said -

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27

Only Yahweh is Omni or All. But God has always been and still is personally invested and involved with His creation. He was so invested He made us in His image, originally like Him in character and desire to create.

The human has been doing this throughout history up to the present - they create. There have been Christians and non-believers that have made major contributions to inventions throughout history that have not brought God any glory. There have been others that do give God the credit for their inspiration and creativity of the idea. 

Whether acknowledged or not, humanity cannot escape the evidence of God in the details of creation and life. Scripture speaks to God being in the details of nature and humanity when it says -

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." - Job 12:10

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." - Romans 1:20

And ever since God placed man in the Garden of Eden, He has been guiding humanity visibly or invisibly, audibly or by inspiration to bless us with the inventions that have changed and made such an impact on the entire world throughout the ages.

Just some of the areas of jumps in creativity that we have made are - travel, cooking, city/home plumbing, washing and making of clothes, electricity and the lightbulb, the phone, trains, flight and automobiles.

Much of this has come in a rush of time - the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. I believe Daniel was told about the times we are living in now when the angel said to him - "But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4)

Everything can always be improved upon. People, places and things are in an eternal state of a work-in-progress. The moment we believe we have plateaued or arrived, that is the moment we have lost. The question is - what will humanity now use their creativity to make?

For the believer in Christ, we have a helper - the Holy Spirit. He was sent after Christ ascended to the right hand of Father God to be our advocate, counselor and help. He is the one that will continue to develop the inventions in us and bring out His Creative Mind.

Healing Process

When belief in healing for what seems to be the "normal things humans battle with" comes before God, I do not observe His direct involvement. I believe I can safely say, in most cases, God allows the natural healing process to occur like medicines, doctors, rest, fluids in addition to our request to be healed totally by God in prayer.

At this point in my walk with King Jesus and His Holy Spirit, I believe Christians should use their God-given common sense when sicknesses arrive or a major disease attacks or surgeries are required. Wellness has been practiced for a very long time. Luke was a physician and even the Lord goes by the title Great Physician as depicted in Luke 5:31.

I see healing as two fold - (1) a gift God has available to give according to His purpose and (2) an act of faith on our part whether it be as small as a mustard seed or a leap of faith to acquire the healing.

But alongside common sense should be the believer's faith. In Mark 10:52 a blind man sees due to faith in Jesus as the miracle-worker. 

In Matthew 9:22, the woman with the issue of blood simply desired to touch Jesus for her healing to manifest. Her faith was married to her action but Jesus credited her faith. 

In Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26, on either side of the event of the woman with the issue of blood is a father who reaches out to Jesus in faith, fame of Jesus and fear of losing his daughter. However, Faith moves him to seek and ask Jesus for the miraculous.

In Matthew 9:27-30, two blind men were asked by Jesus concerning their healing - "Do you believe I am able to do this?" They replied, "Yes, Lord." Jesus said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." Their faith was enough and their sight was restored.

In addition, there were times in Scripture when Jesus rebuked His disciples because they did not have enough faith. One such instance is found in Matthew 17:14-21. 

There was a father whose son by all appearances had epilepsy because of the terrible, physical fits that he would display. Apparently at this point in time the disciples were out on their own and could not heal the boy. When the boy was brought before Jesus, the condition was revealed to be worse than epilepsy, the boy was demon possessed and Jesus rebuked the demon and it fled, returning the boy to his right mind and the boy to his father. 

After finding out it was a demon, the disciples ask Jesus, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" - in essence, why could we not heal this boy? 

Jesus instructed his disciples - "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I can hear some say at this point, but if you tell someone they don't have enough faith you are condemning them and scripture says there is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This is a mis-applied verse and concept.

Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - needs to be read and understood in context. This verse and idea of condemnation must be followed by the remaining paragraph of Paul - 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

This "condemnation" therefore is speaking to the sin humans are under until they accept God's love-gift of Christ's life, death and resurrection for their eternal security with Him. This "condemnation" is not talking about, nor should it be applied to - the amount of faith for healing.

This being said, the amount of faith someone has is not the sole criteria for the healing needed. Sure, the measure of faith in Christ will influence a needed healing, but I believe the most important aspect is The Will of the Lord.

Some people believe the second that you vocalize an issue you give birth or more energy to it. This is nonsense. The problem was already there waiting for you to recognize it and do something about it. Speaking about it is not going to make it worse, it is going to aid in the healing process and provide steps for overcoming your condition or situation. Acknowledgement of a physical, mental or spiritual ailment or challenge is not the same as surrendering to it.

This fact of recognizing the issue then doing something about it is what makes seeking out God's Will during our dilemma so important. What do you think confessing our needs and shortcomings one to another within the family of believers is all about in James 5:16? Healing. Also 1 John 5:14 states - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us."

Notice a few things here. Because of our relationship with Christ, believers are privileged to boldly come before God's throne in prayer. 

Secondly, no request is unreasonable, but the petitions that really get His attention are the one's that align with His will. 

Finally, "he hears us". Our request has been heard, now the answer and the timing thereof must be totally entrusted in the hands of The King.

"Paul himself had a physical ailment that the Lord declined to heal (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
The twelve apostles did not heal everyone, either. Often, there were Christians left unwell in spite of the apostolic power. Paul says to Timothy, “Use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). Why didn’t Paul just lay hands on Timothy and heal him? It wasn’t because Timothy didn’t have enough faith; it was because it was not God’s will to heal Timothy that way. The healing ministry was not for anyone’s personal convenience; rather, it was a sign from God—to the Jews of the Old Covenant primarily—of the validity of the apostles’ message."
[https://www.gotquestions.org/God-heal-everyone.html]

In conclusion, mental, physical and spiritual healing is helped tremendously by -

1. Seeking God first and His will; petition Him about it. There is no name it and claim it, otherwise we all would be well all the time.
2. Use your God-give common sense to utilize God's aids or helps He has given us at our fingertips. In other words, take your medicine.
3. Surround yourself with faith bolstering people, music, places and things. 

We all live in a fallen, imperfect world with imperfect bodies, demanding more attention as we age. For me, I have no issue of trusting God. My struggle is God withholding wisdom and understanding many times concerning the "why" of my experience or delay in healing. 

I whole-heartedly believe if I had a grasp of this why part to the equation I could make sense of my suffering and accept it more. But I look at Job's life and I am in awe at his response to all that happened to him. He lived before Christ and Christ's promises and yet said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21)

The matter boils down to acceptance of God's sovereignty despite what challenges we all are in the middle of and outcome we may be praying for. This reverts back to a trust in God's will and His healing plan. His plan and trust in it must be center to our prayer-life.

Until that healing comes, whether it is this side of Heaven or the other, I find myself, like the father with the convulsing boy doing what I can in the here and now and seeking Jesus, as the dad did, saying to Christ - "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Moving Day

Moving Day, this is a stressful time and a joyful time - at the same time. Whether you are applying this title to Saturday of a golf tournament or moving from one house or work location to another, Moving Day can quickly test you in a lot of different areas. Change tends to do that.

While I am certain of other Biblical testimonies of moving days, the biggest of which is The Exodus, in reading chapters 34 and 35 of Genesis recently, I witnessed the specifics of another Moving Day unfold. The difference in all these moving accounts was not the devil in the details, it was God in the details and Holy decisions by the lead character.

There is usually a catalyst to Moving Day. In golf, if you have made it to Saturday for a tournament that begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday, Saturday means you better make your move to position yourself for the win on Sunday.

The stimulant that drove Jacob and his family to move was an attack on his family - a daughter was raped. The fathers met and the offending father pleaded for anything to be done so that the daughter and other daughters of Jacob might be married to their family and community. The sons of Jacob demanded circumcision from the community. The town council agreed and all males of the area were circumcised. For three days the newly circumcised were in great pain and Jacob's furious sons took advantage of this time and killed every male in the town, including the offending family.

Not only did they kill every male, they looted many precious possessions and brought back women into their camp as well. This did not sit well with Jacob and he told his sons what they had done was way over the top and because of this, the family now has a target on their backs, from the surrounding rulers because of their reaction. 

The good news is God was watching, intervened and reminded Jacob of His promise to watch over him in a previous encounter (Gen.28:15). The Lord actually appeared to Jacob as before and instructed him to move to Bethel. Jacob obeyed. 

Incentives to move have a story as I have just retold from Genesis 34. However, the actual moving, the journey has plenty of stories to tell also.

Some highlights about this trip to Bethel were that Oak trees were important. Jacob instructed that idol gods that were being kept in secret be buried at the base of an oak tree before they left. Then upon arrival at Bethel, Rachel's nurse died and they buried her at the base of an oak tree.

Jacob's obedience was rewarded by God personally visiting him, giving him a name change to Israel, and blessing him with the birth of his last son Benjamin. This meeting with God was a confirmation from Him of the Abrahamic Covenant continuing to pass through Israel's descendants. The Lord also blessed him personally. "Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him." (Gen.35:13)

However, there were losses on the journey and at the end of it. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Rachel's nurse, as mentioned earlier, also died. In addition, after getting to spend some time with his father Isaac, Israel and Esau buried their father at the ripe old age of one hundred and eighty.

To my friends, family and strangers - I encourage you if any sort of Moving Day is upon you. God is in the details, especially if you "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt. 6:33) Just like Israel and others like Joshua and Caleb, be strong and courageous, trust in the Lord as you tackle Moving Day.