“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:5-6
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
When we fight, when we compete, when we are in the middle of tough times, we may win or we may lose, but giving up is not an option. It’s a choice to fail. You don’t fail when you lose after giving it everything you got and then some. You only fail when you don’t keep trying. It’s not over ‘til it’s over. I think it was Yogi Berra who said that. Our natural human instinct is to think we can’t go on and we won’t make it when it seems everything is pressing in on us, and no matter what we do we can’t seem to get through it. Every effort we make falls short and time is running out. But somewhere along the way, if we don’t give up, but choose to dig deep and find some way to just trust God and not let go of that trust we will ultimately win.
“Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth.”Genesis 26:21-22
In Genesis 26:12-31, we read the story of how Isaac’s men re-dug the wells, which his Father Abraham had dug, in the Valley of Gerar, but the Philistines disputed over them twice in two different places, but they just moved on each time and dug another well. The third time they dug a well there was no dispute and they called it Rehoboth meaning wide spaces, roominess. The Lord has made room for us.
The remarkable thing about this story is how Isaac’s men responded to the disputes over the wells. They had more than one opportunity to get discouraged, to bemoan the fact that their efforts had been for naught and all their hard work re-digging and restoring the wells, would now be benefiting someone else who did not deserve it, did not work for it, just took it from them after they had done all the labor to build it. But they didn’t get discouraged and they didn’t quit. They just picked up, packed up and moved on.
Are you kidding me? No. As remarkable as it seems, that’s what they did and not just once, but twice. Were they acting on the authority and the leading of God? Yes. Did they have a legal claim to the land and the wells? Yes. So, why didn’t they just take their stand and fight? Because they were seeking the place of rest and peace and they were determined to find it no matter how many wells they would have to dig. They were not willing to stop one well short of a blessing.
So, they dug a third time and there they found rest, peace and blessing in that place. So they called it Beersheba, the well of the oath. Because it was there that God swore to bless him and multiply his descendants for His servant Abraham’s sake.
Similarly, Moses was told to go down to Egypt, to Pharaoh and demand that he let the people of Israel go. Then he was to bring the people out of slavery and bring them up to the mountain of the Lord from where He would take them into a land flowing with milk and honey. But his first 7 tries failed to free the people and only resulted in harder bondages for them. Surely Moses had many opportunities to think he had missed God and was destined to failure. Again and again he was rebuffed by Pharaoh. Even after seven plagues he would not relent and let the people go. But Moses pressed on because he was convinced that God was not only with Him, and being with him, Moses was assured that God’s intended purpose would be fulfilled.
When we are led by God’s word, by His promises and His commandments, we will guide our affairs, our businesses, our homes, our families, ourselves with discretion. We will not be discouraged, we will not give in to despair when we experience one set back after another, nor will we lose heart though all around us things seem hopeless, nor will we give up one well short of a blessing. We will continue to walk in the faith of God’s Word and wisdom until we see the fulfillment of His promise to us.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4
When you are disappointed, discouraged by the unrighteousness deeds of men, offended, falsely accused, overlooked for the promotion, mistreated, belittled or unduly criticized by those you are committed to serve, swallow your pride, humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and He will exalt you in due time. Render unto no man evil for evil. Love your enemies.
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Luke 6:27-28
Finally, remember that flesh and blood is not our enemy. The one enemy of God and man is the devil. So give him no place, but resist him steadfastly. What he promises he can never fulfill. What he attempts to destroy us with, will come to naught. His weapons have no power against us if we refuse to give in to his lies.
Hear, believe, receive and act only by faith in the Word of God. That Word alone will stand forever.
We don’t give up, but we press on ‘til we win, because in Jesus Christ our Lord we have already won!
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