May 19th, 2023
by James Turnes
by James Turnes
This past week the Lord gave me the word position. According to Oxford Languages, position is defined as "a place where someone or something is located or has been put." As followers of Jesus Christ we are placed/put into a position. Here are just a few for example.
While these positions are automatically given to those who believe, there are other positions that God is trying to get us to. I think of Abram and Sarai. God was trying to move them from a physical location, the Ur of the Chaldees, to another location/position called the Promised Land in Genesis.
- Placed in a position of authority (Luke 10:19)
- Positioned/seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
- Placed in a position of grace (2 Timothy 1:9)
While these positions are automatically given to those who believe, there are other positions that God is trying to get us to. I think of Abram and Sarai. God was trying to move them from a physical location, the Ur of the Chaldees, to another location/position called the Promised Land in Genesis.
Genesis 12:1-3
"1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who [c]curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
"1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who [c]curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Along the way though, Abram and Sarai got out of position. Just a few verses down in Genesis 12:10-20, a famine hits them while on their journey and they ended up changing positions and headed down to Pharaoh's house in order to find provision. Because of changing their position from where God had them to a new position with Pharaoh, they found themselves in some trouble. God sent plagues upon Pharaoh's house and he sent them on their way. We find Abram and Sarai being pushed back into the position that God had placed them - on track to the Promised Land.
Not too long after, Abram's son Isaac finds himself in a similar situation. Another famine hits the land. The difference we see between the father and son is God is involved. We are not told if Abram even spoke to God about changing positions. I assume he didn't because of the lies he told about his wife and the fact God sent plagues into the land as a result of his lies.
Here is what the Lord said to Isaac.
Not too long after, Abram's son Isaac finds himself in a similar situation. Another famine hits the land. The difference we see between the father and son is God is involved. We are not told if Abram even spoke to God about changing positions. I assume he didn't because of the lies he told about his wife and the fact God sent plagues into the land as a result of his lies.
Here is what the Lord said to Isaac.
Genesis 26:2-3
"2 The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.
3 Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham."
"2 The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.
3 Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham."
The Lord told Isaac not to go to Egypt, but to go where He would tell him to go. Isaac was to stay in the position the Lord showed him and the result is blessings.
Too often we find ourselves outside of the position the Lord desires for us. When we change positions without consulted the Lord, situations can arise as a result of the change. Maybe you find yourself in a position like Abram and Sarai. Maybe you made the choice to change position without consulting the Lord and you are now facing the consequences. If that is you, there is good news!
God is a God of grace and even though we make the mistake of stepping out of the position He would have for us, there is a way back. Abram was forced out of his position at Pharaoh's house and sometimes we are too. But then there are times where we are more like the Prodigal Son.
The Prodigal Son wasn't forced back home. He simply came to his senses.
Too often we find ourselves outside of the position the Lord desires for us. When we change positions without consulted the Lord, situations can arise as a result of the change. Maybe you find yourself in a position like Abram and Sarai. Maybe you made the choice to change position without consulting the Lord and you are now facing the consequences. If that is you, there is good news!
God is a God of grace and even though we make the mistake of stepping out of the position He would have for us, there is a way back. Abram was forced out of his position at Pharaoh's house and sometimes we are too. But then there are times where we are more like the Prodigal Son.
The Prodigal Son wasn't forced back home. He simply came to his senses.
Luke 11:7
"7 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!"
"7 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!"
The Prodigal Son realized it was better to be a hired man in his father's house then to eat with the pigs. Upon his return, the father didn't punish him, didn't make take him on as a hired man, or even turn him away. Instead the father threw a huge party and restored him into the family as his son.
God does the same for us when we step out of the position that God had us in. He restores us back to our position that He originally gave us. Sons/daughters of the Father. The way back is simple. We just have to realize it is better to be in the position God placed us in than in the house of Pharaoh or in a pig pen.
God does the same for us when we step out of the position that God had us in. He restores us back to our position that He originally gave us. Sons/daughters of the Father. The way back is simple. We just have to realize it is better to be in the position God placed us in than in the house of Pharaoh or in a pig pen.
Acts 3:19
"19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"
"19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"
Pull up a seat at the table and let's have a conversation. Comment below to get started.
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1 Comment
That was a GREAT read. 1. I knew the Bible stories you were referring to, and 2. I've never heard it told this way. I was able to understand it more now, as you compared the story of father & son.
I took fur granted, that of course Abram spoke to God about going to Egypt.. I mean.. why wouldn't he? He was supposed to be following God's plan... and without any questions, they followed him ! ( & that's a whole other discussion....)
It wasn't until you spoke about his son, Isaac that I realized, although Abram & Sarai had good intentions.... they weren't staying on the position (direction), that God specifically told them to. And when they made that choice, the Lord gave them a very BIG lesson to learn.
So grateful for these two stories shared by you showing them as comparisons. Because, for me personally, I start on a very clear understanding of the "position" I'm on, and slowly the original position in which I was headed is now, off aways to the side... I guess that's why they say " you got sidetracked"!! Staying on the right path has always been my intention. But making small "adjustments" (choices) along the way, on my own, without consulting with God, definitely created some not so much fun consequences for sure. That's the other wonderful gift God gave us! Our agency!
And what great life experiences I've had!! And you are so right when you say there's great news!!! So, for those of us who have made the choice(s) to change position(s) without consulting the Lord.. it's great news that God is a loving God. We ask, with a forgiving heart and He forgives. He can restore us. Through Christ and his atonement for our sins, I can return and continue in the position I was originally set on.
And It is a choice. A realization and a wonderful journey. This earthly life has had many stories and adventures for me, and today, I can say that I'm grateful for them all. They have made me who I am today and because of them, I am able to share with others what I've learned, giving them a little more insight to hopefully guide them on their own life's journey. And as I think back to my life's "positions" each choice i made, had a lesson I needed to learn.
I don't regret them, and I know I could have done better. The Lord knows me best, and it's through His love for me, that I am able to continue on my journey.
Maybe I need to get rebaptized, as you shared with the congregation last Sunday. I'll have to check in with you and see how the stairs installation is going and what dates you've chosen for baptisms.
I really enjoy these articles and being able to pull up this chair and have this conversation with you Pastor James!!
Sooooo, thank you very much!!☺ï¸ðŸ™‚☺ï¸