SCRIPTURE: Genesis 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” [Genesis 26:16]
Abimelek does not know what to do with Isaac; he is obviously blessed by God, and yet he is a threat to Abimelek’s own sense of security.
He fears Isaac, but he does not trust him.
He drives Isaac away, but he still comes to him for a treaty: Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” [Genesis 26:27]
Abimelek knows that Isaac is close to God – and that both draws and repels him.

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. [Mark 5:15-17]
People had the same issue with Jesus, they were drawn to Him and repelled by Him.
When they saw His power, they were filled with wonder and awe, but it also scared them – they did not know what to do with Jesus.

Sad to say, many people today still feel that way.
They like many things about Jesus, but they do not trust Him.
He gets too close, our sense of security is compromised because He asks things of us that make us uncomfortable.
Many of these people consider themselves ‘christians’, but like Abimelek, want a qualified relationship with Him.
Close, but not too close.
Sometimes these people spend much of their lives ignoring God, or keeping Him in a safe place (church on Sunday), but then when issues arise, they go running to Him.
I can imagine the Lord saying the same thing to them, that Isaac said to Abimelek.
“Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” [Genesis 26:27]

It is not until we embrace the Lord, with both fear and trust, and risk our own sense of security by entrusting our lives to Him, that we experience God’s blessing.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God [John 1:11-12].
We must receive Jesus for Who He is, even when that gets uncomfortable for us.
Do not shut down when He starts dealing with sensitive stuff in our lives, He wants to set us free from the legion of demons oppressing us.
He wants to restore us to the status of children of God, blessed like Isaac.
There is not middle ground – keeping Him close enough to get the blessing, without risking having Him come to close and jeopardizing our own interests.
God wants to give us a place (Rehoboth) in this world, but He cannot do that unless we give Him a place in our hearts and lives.
Will I receive Him today, or will I drive Him away?

PRAYER:
Lord, as much as I can, I open my heart to You. Help me to make room for You!