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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: LEAVE (11/16/23)
Jehovah-Raah: The Lord My Shepherd

We as born-again Christians must rely on God to direct our paths. We can’t go wrong with God leading and preparing the way for us. We can get so comfortable in a place, that we may become resistant to change. It can be hard to leave one place to go somewhere new. God may command us to leave or to stay in a particular place or situation.

In Genesis chapter 12, verses 1-2, God tells Abram to leave his homeland. “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing,” (Genesis 12: 1-2). Like Abram, God may call us to leave a place, in order, to bless us with something greater. We may be asked to leave a place by others because of God’s strong measure of protection on our lives. God is not only Jehovah Jireh-Our Provider, but he is also Jehovah-Sabaoth-The Lord of Hosts (believerweb.org). He will send his angels to protect us and to lead us out of danger. God does this for Lot and his family, (his wife and his two daughters), before the angels destroyed the city of Sodom. The angels commanded Lot to leave Sodom along with his family. “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:” (Genesis 19:12).

Isaac was dwelling in Gerar, a land of the Philistines (Genesis 26: 1-6). God had instructed him to dwell in this land, so he could bless Isaac. Isaac became too prosperous in the land of Gerar, so much that the Philistines envied him,” (Genesis 26:14). “And Abimelech (King of the Philistines), said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there,” (Genesis 26:16-17).

This reminds me of when Jesus was asked to leave/depart out of the country of Gadarenes, “which is over against Gailee,” (Luke 8:26). He was asked to leave for healing a demon possessed man. The demons in the man asked to be sent into the swine (Luke 8: 27-32). The swine as a result “ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked,” (Luke 8: 33). Because of what happened to the man and the swine; the people of the country pleaded with Jesus to leave (Luke 8: 34-37). “Then the whole multitude of the country of Gadarenes round about besought him (Jesus) to depart from them for they were taken with great fear:” (Luke 8: 37).

In Genesis chapter 27, verses 42-46, Rebekah, Jacob’s mother, warned him that Esau, his brother, sought to kill him for stealing his blessing. She told Jacob to leave the land of Canaan to flee to Laban, her brother’s home, until Esau’s anger turned from him. Isaac also asked Jacob to leave the land of Canaan, to go to Padan-aram, unto Laban’s house, Rebekah’s brother to find a wife. Isaac didn’t want Jacob to marry the “daughters of the Canaanites,” (Genesis 28: 1-5).

Moreover, Elisha and the Shunammite woman is another example of Jehovah Jireh, our provider. God warned the Shunammite woman to leave her home because of the famine that was to occur in Israel for seven years, through his prophet Elisha. This is the same Shunammite woman who showed great hospitality to Elisha when he passed through the land (2 Kings 8: 1-6). God provided for the woman and her household during the famine in the land of the Philistines. We know this because the woman and her son were still alive after the end of the seven years famine (2 Kings 8: 2-3).

In contrast, God told Hagar, the first time she fled from Sarai, not to leave Sarai and Abram, but to go back to Sarai after Sarai had dealt with her harshly. God commanded Hagar to go back and submit to Sarai’s will (Genesis 16: 6-10).

God may tell us to leave a place or stay in a place for our own benefit. He is always and is willing to provide for our daily needs. He loves us and only wants the best for us.
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This article has been read 315 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Philippa Geaney
11/24/23
I read this article as a nicely thought-out dossier on the topic.
It proves beyond doubt that each situation is unique, and we need to know His voice.
It's comforting to know He guides and provides.
Thank you.
Naoma Bird
11/24/23
I enjoyed reading your article. This was well researched and written with many examples of Scriptures examples.
I would have liked to see a few examples of those called out by God following the writing of Scripture and how God used them.
Keep writing!

Evelyn Alexander
11/24/23
Good teaching concept of how God sometimes tell us to stay, go or leave, and we need to do so. But oh how difficult it can be too! It reminded me of when God told me to STAY in a job situation that everyone else was telling me I should leave. Years later I found out why, and I'm so thankful I obeyed God and not others. Thank you for the reminder. Well-researched piece too.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/27/23
This has great potential for a Bible study or discussion group. You did a fine job of delivering a message while writing on topic. Instead of using several Bible stories, you might want to pick just one and focus on it by sharing the verse along with a real, relatable incident that showcases your point. In the end, you could use some of the other verses as a discussion or study. Have the group look up those verses and have people share a time when they can relate to that verse. This is also a nice foundation for a sermon. You might need to smooth out the transitions some though. You have a great ending and it touched my heart. Good job.