He’s Intentional

Have you ever read something and then had to reread it once or maybe even three times because you didn’t understand it?

That was me reading Genesis 38.  I mean Chapter 37 tells of Jacob’s sons selling their brother Joseph to a group of traders and ends with him being sold to Potiphar. Chapter 39 tells of Joseph’s time in Potiphar’s house and ends with him going to prison.  So chapter 38 being sandwiched in between confused me a little bit because why would God drop this in here “so randomly”

But God! He’s not random at all! Through my study time I learned God used Perez, one of the twin sons of Tamar and Judah to continue the lineage that would eventually lead to the birth of Jesus Christ.

I believe the narrative that is Genesis 38 was placed where it is, to show us the intentionality of God!

God is a God of intentions! He doesn’t do anything by accident.

I mean, can you honestly say that you’ve been okay with everything the Lord has done? Can you say that there hasn’t been anything He’s done or didn’t do that caused you to question Him? Just recently I asked God “why did you choose this for me?”  And then I followed up with another question about something completely unrelated and asked “why am I not receiving this?”

And His answer was simply “because I’m intentional!”

Everything God does is done with purpose in mind! And we must do as the Psalms say and delight ourselves in the Lord.  When we delight ourselves in Him, then He will give us the desires of our heart! I mean we are literally told to delight, to enjoy, to find pleasure in the Lord!

I believe delighting ourselves in the Lord means finding pleasure in who He is and what He wants and in order for us to do that we must know His will!

Psalms 143:10 says “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” God is teaching us, giving us knowledge of His will! And isn’t that the very sentiments of a relationship … gaining knowledge about the person you are in relationship with. Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we should ever have, so therefore we need to gain knowledge about His will. When we are knowledgeable about God, we will find pleasure in the Lord and then He will give us the desires of our heart, but it comes down to knowing His intentional will and being able to walk confidently knowing that God has a purpose for what He does in my life (and even what He doesn’t do)!