Missing God

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

Genesis 28:16

A SCENE FROM THE 1999 MOVIE October Sky depicts high school student Homer Hickam winning the national science fair. Following the presentation, people rush to congratulate him. One is Wernher von Braun, Homer’s scientific hero and the man heading up the rocket team at NASA at the time. But Homer doesn’t recognize von Braun or know that the man who shook his hand was the great scientist. He misses his hero.

God was in Haran—far from Beersheba—and Jacob almost missed Him. In those days, people believed in territorial gods, who were present only in certain locales, so a person could move beyond a god’s reach. Jacob thought that because he had traveled to Haran, he had left God in Beersheba. Jacob was wrong. God was in Haran, too.

Like those people who missed their chance to board the Titanic, we will never know how many times God has been watching over us, protecting us, and we didn’t even recognize Him. Sometimes we drown out God’s voice with our complaining. Other times we are so caught up in busyness and personal pursuits that we don’t notice God’s gracious acts of love. And then there can be times of suffering when we grow despondent and cold, faithlessly giving up on God and forgetting that it takes the fallow ground of winter for the bright blooms of spring to unfold. In our loneliness and despair, God is trying to break through. Look for Him. Listen for Him. Don’t miss Him.

BOTTOM LINE

God is always watching, always working, always preparing, and always communicating. We need to learn to pay attention. We need expectant faith.

Moment of Strength: Exodus 33:14