“The voice that called me out is one with the hand that guides me. God’s hand not only guides, it wraps around me, holding me fast, cradling me safe, and carrying me home.”- Tina Boesch
“Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”- Galatians 3:8-9 (NIV)
Tina Boesch concludes Chapter 2 of Given as she observes that Abraham also considered Canaan a foreign land. Because he viewed heaven as his ultimate, eternal destination. And Christ followers walking in the footsteps of Abraham also embrace their identity as strangers and exiles on earth. In addition, Tina cites John Calvin’s paraphrase of Abram’s call:
“I command thee to go forth with closed eyes . . . until, having renounced thy country, thou shalt have given thyself wholly to me.”
Most noteworthy, in Galatians 3:8-9 the apostle Paul refers to God’s blessing of Abraham as protevangelion. It’s a Greek word meaning the gospel beforehand. Therefore, we draw close to God through the same faith through which God blessed Abraham. However, if we partake of God’s blessing, we assume responsibility to be blessing bearers to the families of the earth.
Finally, the author reminds us of a popular Irish blessing that stresses God’s protective presence. Associated with Saint Patrick, Tina prayed her trimmed down version of her children many times. So as you read her version, relax, take a deep breath, and step out into the world:
“May the Lord go before you,/ May he guard behind you,/ May he walk beside you all along the way, / May his love live inside you all through the day.”
Today’s question: How do you see that God’s hand guides and wraps around you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Blessing begins with seeing – agape seeing”
