In what ways can we trust God's guidance in our own life journeys? Camped on the Hills of Gilead “Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and when Laban overtook him, he and his brothers camped in the hill country of Gilead as well.” (Genesis 31:25) Jacob is standing on unfamiliar ground, surrounded by uneasy family tensions, yet exactly where God told him to be. The tents flapping in that Gilead breeze whisper a timeless lesson: God directs, protects, and completes the journeys He initiates. Tracing God’s Hand in Jacob’s Journey • Earlier, God spoke clearly: “Return to the land of your fathers… and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3) • He shielded Jacob from Laban’s anger: “God came to Laban… ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’” (Genesis 31:24) • He provided a peaceful resolution through covenant (Genesis 31:44–55). Jacob obeyed each nudge, and God turned a tense chase into a testimony of faithfulness. Why We Can Trust God’s Guidance Today • His promise of presence never expires ‑ “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) • His pathways are straight, even when they feel winding ‑ “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) • His voice is recognizable to His own ‑ “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) • His sovereignty turns every twist for good ‑ “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28) Marks of God-Directed Steps 1. Confirmation from Scripture – God’s Word anchors impressions and circumstances. 2. Inner peace that overrides outward turbulence – the “still, small voice.” 3. Providential doors opening or closing at the right moment. 4. God-honoring counsel from mature believers reinforcing the same direction. 5. Fruit that magnifies Christ: humility, love, integrity. Living the Lesson • Start each day with open-handed surrender—“Whatever hills You lead me to, I’ll pitch my tent there.” • Saturate travel plans, career choices, and relationships in Scripture; let the Word shape the map. • Move when He says move, stop when He says stop—obedience turns detours into divine appointments. • Recall past deliverances the way Jacob could point to Gilead; personal history with God fuels present courage. • Expect protection in conflict; God can warn a modern “Laban” as surely as He did centuries ago. • Celebrate small covenant moments—those milestones where God proves, again, that His guidance can be trusted. Just like Jacob, we may find ourselves on an unfamiliar hill, but when God guides, the ground beneath our feet is always the safest place to pitch a tent. |
    |