AT THE TOMB
THE OPEN TOMB MEANS GOD IS ALREADY WORKING BEFORE WE ARRIVE.
Deuteronomy 31:8, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”.
Three times in Deuteronomy 31, the Lord speaks through Moses and tells Israel that He will go ahead of them; He will be with them. When God repeats himself, we need to take notice and pay attention. God prepares the way for us when we walk on the path that He has for our lives. We can trust that He has already thought out all the details and is waiting for us to follow in obedience and trust.
2 Corinthians 9:8-10, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
Paul shares with the church at Corinth that they can believe God will provide what His children need. We do not have to worry; we can trust Him because He knows what we need even before we need it. And He loves to bless His children, so that we can be a blessing to those in need around us. Living in this place of faith and sole dependence upon God is not easy, but it is so freeing when we are there. He provides for us and we do not have to worry.
Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
The Lord speaks through Isaiah to tell His people, Israel, that He has a plan for them - ways and thoughts that are far greater and more intentional than what they could imagine. God goes before His children, moving rocks, opening doors, doing whatever is needed for what He calls them to do.
Proverbs 16:9 “We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.”
As Solomon knew, he could make plans, but ultimately what happens is held in God’s hands alone. God does not force His will upon us, but He knows what eternity looks like and is already there.
WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE SET TO FOLLOW WHERE GOD IS DIRECTING US TO GO, WE CAN TRUST THAT THE PATH WILL ALREADY HAVE BEEN PREPARED. JUST AS THE WOMEN AND THE DISCIPLES FOUND THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY, SO WE CAN TRUST GOD TO REMOVE ANY OBSTACLES OUT OF OUR WAY. TAKE SOME TIME TO REST IN THIS TRUTH TODAY.
Psalm 34:8-10 “Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”
David knew well the goodness of God and how God went before him, clearing the way. David’s trust was so steadfast that he was able to recognize temptation from opportunity during the season when he was being hunted by Saul. This helps us see that as God goes before us and prepares the way, sometimes He allows our faith to be challenged to see if our trust rests fully in Him, or if we will try to do some path clearing ourselves.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
When God gives instruction to His children, His expectation is for them to step out in faith and to do their part as God does His. We are called to wait on His timing, and not get ahead of Him.
Is there something that God is calling you to do that has you waiting for God to do the work before you arrive? Are you trying to work things out in your power instead of waiting on His?
Read Genesis 22:1-18. What do you think of this example of waiting for God to provide in His timing? How might you have acted differently in this situation?
Abraham’s trust rested in the promise that God had given him. He knew that God had gone before him and one way or another, He would provide what was needed for the sacrifice. Can you think of other ways that God had been working in advance of Abraham arriving where he was called? How can this be an encouragement for your faith and wherever you are on the path God has laid for you?
Trusting that God is working through His power within us is something Elijah learned to do. We may not experience the same power, but we do serve the same God. The level of our faith followed by our obedience will determine what God can do through us.
Read 1 Kings 17:1-16.
What are the two ways that God went before Elijah in this passage? How might God be instructing you to wait for “the ravens” to bring what you need in this season of your life? Spend time with Elijah’s example and consider how God goes before you.
Can you think of another example in Elijah’s life where God was working before he arrived? If you cannot think of one, spend a little more time in 1 Kings reading the story of Elijah. Learn from his example how important it is to remember God’s faithfulness and provision in the past. Now, journal a prayer to God about where He is asking you to obey and do the work before you arrive.
As we look at one final example of God going before His people, we get to see how waiting and trusting results in a fulfillment of prophecy. Isaiah prophesied how the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem, and Jesus led the disciples to God’s provision of exactly what was needed to flesh this prophecy out for all to see.
Read Matthew 21:1-11.
Think about what the disciples might have thought as they went and found the donkey, just as Jesus had described. How might you have reacted?
Through this can you see why it is important to wait for God to work first? When we try to figure things out in our own power or force solutions, then we can bypass the glory that God would get from the fulfillment of what He has promised. As you reflect on the meaning of Easter this next week, write out a prayer asking God to help you to remember how God is working before you even arrive where He is sending you. How might He be calling you to rest in the waiting? Share what He speaks to you during this time with a trusted Christian friend or your small group so they can hold you accountable in the waiting.
