The God-Guided Life

The God-Guided Life…

Hey, that sounds like a good title for a book: The God-Guided Life. I’ve got dibs on it. Based on my googling of that title, it’s still virtually unused. (I thought of one called “The Purpose-Driven Life,” but it appears someone else has just barely beaten me to the punch on that one).

Seriously though, other than the small percentage of people who proclaim themselves to be atheists, I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to learn to live a God-guided life. With God as your Guide, you can’t lose. Anyone who actually believes in God (which is anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of people, depending upon how you ask the question) would have to see God as the best of all possible guides.

It is puzzling then, that so many do not turn to God for guidance. For most, when they do, it is usually under duress. We often spend our lives being guided by everything other than God until we have no where else to turn. This foxhole-faith usually lasts as long as the current crisis and then it’s back to leaning on people and things; anything but God.

In Genesis 24 we find something that is remarkable in its profound simplicity. This is a snapshot in Scripture of what embracing guidance from God can look like. It is part of a rather obscure story that involves an even more obscure character: Eliezer, the head servant in Abraham’s household.

Eliezer is tasked with finding a wife for Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac. Sarah had passed away years earlier and Abraham was too old to make the journey back to Mesopotamia, the land of his kin. So, Eliezer is sent 400-500 miles to select a wife for Isaac on behalf of his master. Abraham is intent on Isaac, now 40-years-old, staying in the Promised Land, so the job falls to Eliezer. It turns out to be a God-sized task.

The amazing part of the story is how thoroughly Eliezer leans upon God in order to accomplish the mission. The story seems to indicate that before this incident, God was Abraham’s God, but not Eliezer’s. Despite this, Eliezer finds himself in a situation where he must completely lean upon Him.

Through Abraham, Eliezer had a relationship with God and is obedient to Him. That’s where receiving God’s guidance begins: a relationship characterized by obedience. Then, he did 5 things in pursuing God’s guidance:

First, Eliezer took responsibility. He recognized that this undertaking was a team effort between him and God and that he had an important part to play in this partnership. Do you look for guidance from God and then expect Him to do everything? Take responsibility for your part.

Next, Eliezer trusted in the Lord. He had seen what God did for Abraham and exhibited great faith in God’s ability to provide. That is essential to receiving God’s guidance. It hadn’t been written yet, but Eliezer got the gist of Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

This is all graphically demonstrated when Eliezer talked to the Lord. His prayer was very specific and Eliezer wasn’t afraid to ask. God wants us to ask, and to be specific when seeking His guidance.

Eliezer also thought of a plan. It was a plan that seemed impossible apart from God. Why seek God’s guidance for things we can easily accomplish ourselves? Eliezer’s plan appeared so outlandish that when he told some pagans in the story about his success, one declared, “The thing comes from the Lord” (Genesis 24:50). When we truly allow God to guide us, it glorifies Him and some unbelievers will even take notice.

Finally, Eliezer thanked God. So often we call upon God for guidance (or protection in the foxhole) and then forget to thank Him when He comes through. You might want to start there. If you are seeking God’s guidance, start with thanking Him for the good things He’s done to get you this far.

“You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me” ─Psalm 31:3 nkjv