WELCOME
The Salt Newsletter

Welcome to The Salt Newsletter, a weekly email where I aim to provide insight from scripture and teach you how to teach this to someone else. 

In Acts 1:1, Luke states that in his gospel he wrote about all that “Jesus began to do and teach.” An important model for us all because it isn’t just important for us to do what scripture says. We should be quick to teach it to others as well. Why? Because we’re the salt of the earth and that’s how you and I will make disciples of all nations!

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THIS WEEK
Can Your Restlessness Disrupt God’s Timing?

read time 6 minutes

The struggle between God's promises and our restlessness is a recurring theme in the tapestry of life. A theme that is all too common in the lives of Biblical figures (think Jacob and Esau - which we’ll unpack) and resonates deeply within our own experiences.

Think about it. Even though you and I know God has a plan for our lives such as who we will marry, what job we’ll have, what kind of ministry we’ll steward, there’s still an inclination within us to intervene or to take matters into our own hands. Don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t want us to be paralyzed by inaction in this life. However, He also doesn’t want us getting in the way of the divine unfolding of His will.

Genesis 25 records a compelling story of Jacob and Esau, two brothers bound by destiny to lead great nations. God revealed before their birth that the older, Esau, would serve the younger, Jacob. The birthright, the promise, was bestowed upon Jacob, the son born just moments after Esau. A revelation known not only to the parents, Isaac and Rebekah, but to all. It wasn’t a secret by any means! They all knew what the fate of their children would be and as uncommon as it might have felt, it was still something beautiful to look forward to.

Yet, human restlessness got in the way. Isaac, despite the divine revelation, resolved to bless Esau, the older brother. Rebekah, in an attempt to align with God's will, used trickery to ensure her favorite son, Jacob, received the blessing. Esau, totally blind to the value of the birthright, traded it for a bowl of soup. And so, the dominoes of human interference began to fall. I’d encourage you to read this tonight, but you’ll notice one thing sticks out: Restlessness disrupts God’s plan for your life.

I don’t think it’s possible for our restlessness to destroy God’s plan, but it can lead to us taking a longer and difficult road to what the Lord already has in store for us. 

The intentions of Jacob, Esau and their parents weren’t inherently evil. One person was hungry (well… he rejected his birthright), the other wanted to be blessed, the next wanted to see God’s Word fulfilled and the father had his own preference. Still, all of this leads to profound repercussions.

Jacob was forced to leave. Rebekah, the orchestrator of the plan, would never see her beloved son again. Jacob, in a twisted turn of fate, faced 14 years of exploitation, mirroring the deceit he had unleashed upon his father. The garments used by Jacob to deceive Isaac became the same strategy employed by Jacob's sons to inform him of Joseph's demise decades later.

This intricate web of consequences paints a vivid picture: when we fail to see beyond the present moment, we forfeit our future. God's intentions and His will for Jacob to carry the birthright were clear. Yet, human impatience and an eagerness to manipulate the course of events led to chaos.

It's a narrative that extends beyond biblical proportions, echoing in our lives. The call to oppose or rush the divine will is a choice many grapple with daily. Each decision, a thread woven into the larger fabric of our existence. Still, we see that in the end God’s plan prevailed over man. You can’t out-God the Creator, afterall. But my plea to you (and myself) is to not try.

In our pursuit of God's promises, we must learn the art of patience. The promises are there, tucked away in the recesses of our spirit, waiting to be unwrapped in God's time.

So, let us keep the promises of God in our hearts, while learning to step back and trust in His strategy.

Every note and every pause in your life has been crafted with precision. Don’t despise it. The right man will come. The right woman will come. The right job will come. The right friends will come. Your only responsibility in the journey is surrender.

stay salty, my friends.

TEACH THIS LESSON TO OTHERS

1. Read Genesis 25: As you read, pay close attention to everything God promises, and analyze the decisions of those involved. You’ll begin to see that every decision was to try to expedite the original promise of God. Then discuss with your friend or family member the ways we do this daily.

2. Ask Questions: Ask what areas of life your friend has rushed things. Out of loneliness did they enter into a relationship they shouldn’t have? Out of a lack of resources did they take jobs that did not honor God?

3. Pray: Don’t judge or make the other person feel bad. Simply remind them that Jesus loves them and wants them to come back into alignment with His will for them. Pray together and help them to see that they are not rejected from God’s plans because of their mistakes once they’ve repented.

A PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

I thank you for the incredible promises you’ve laid aside for us. Your word tells us that your plans for your people are to prosper, to give us hope and a future. Even when it gets muddy, difficult, and discouraging, please give us strength to keep our faith in you. Help us to not run to try to fix our problems in our own knowledge. Rather, place Godly counsel around us to discern when we should go, stop, or wait. Bless my readers and shower them with your favor.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen