“Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.”
1 Kings 12:24, KJV
You can never accuse the Lord of being cold, distant or aloof. He doesn’t detach Himself from the needs of His people. He doesn’t ever disconnect and isolate Himself from you. On the contrary, He is constantly thinking and acting on your behalf. He is a God that is always involved in the little things inside you.
The God of the Bible is always intensively aware of you.
What we see as a muddled-up mess is actually His work. Perhaps in eternity we’ll see and understand. We see the backside of the tapestry now but (I assure you) we’ll know the beauty of His handiwork.
“For this thing is from Me.”
He directs a confused king who has significant issues. (Sound familiar?) God decides that the civil war between Judah and Israel is wrong. In 1 Kings 12, He sends His prophet Shemaiah to stand before the king of Judah, and speak out a word to the nation. The Lord is involved, and it is He who is actively enmeshed in this issue.
“For this thing is from Me.”
There is something here that can mystify and perplex the best of us. He begins to weave and guide His active presence into the confusing issues of that time. He isn’t absent, but He is intensely involved. He initiates and directs the very things that concern His covenant people.
“For this thing is from Me.”
The text clearly opens up this extremely ugly situation. In the midst of this bizarre issue, God has assumed control. His prophet Shemaiah carries this a Word of power into a room of possibly explosive personalities. Now the arrogance of the king can be a strong and strange thing. But God decides and moves wherever He wills. Kings are never an issue when God enters in. They must serve now, like anyone else.
Dear one, He is incredibly involved in your life.
You may not see Him, perhaps He is working offstage, from the shadows, but He is there.
He draws you and He wants you to understand that He’s intricately focused on your situation. “For this thing is from Me.” and that truth opens up His purposes to our desperate poverty. We may try very hard to try to maintain control and direction.
But God directs and superintends. He has assumed control. There is enough wisdom and power to do everything that is needed to draw you to Himself. In those times when you can’t see His hand, look at His heart.
He is totally aware of every little detail about you.
He is big enough to touch and direct my very inconsequential life. I will only get confused if I try to sidestep His watchful lordship over me.
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.”
Psalm 139:17-18
Broken Believers 