Unexpected Move

Genesis 27:43 – So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. (NLT)

We hadn't planned on moving again until I retired … but things changed.

The landlady was coming to pick up the rent cheque. Finding an affordable place to stay in a safe section of town had been a chore four years previously. We finally found an owner of a townhouse in a nice subdivision who said that she'd lease. After she checked our references, we moved in. For three more years, we renewed the lease and hoped that we'd do it for six more. No such luck.

After she picked up the rent cheque, we received the news. We'd have to move. Our landlady was selling the townhouse. She and her husband were getting older and wanted to get everything out of their names. Our hope that she'd sell it to us on contract fell through as well. So, we were doing what we didn't want to do: making an unexpected move.

Jacob found himself making an unexpected move as well. He had schemed and tricked his entire life. Now it was catching up with him. He had stolen his older brother's birthright and final blessing. After hearing that her older son was scheming to kill her favoured son, Jacob's mother, Rebekah, sent him on an unexpected move to his uncle's house.

Unexpected moves can be enjoyable if a person likes change, but human nature usually bucks against unwanted change. I wasn't looking forward to packing up our belongings and moving — even though our move would just be one subdivision over. Jacob probably wasn't excited about the prospect of leaving his mommy either.

Unexpected moves can come because of poor decisions that we've made — as in Jacob's case — because of decisions that others make — as in our case — or because of the wacky way that the world turns due to its infection with sin. Confession is in order if a sinful decision has led to my unexpected move. If another's actions — or a sinful turn of the world — has led to my move, I must accept it with a joyful attitude and be content in the new place that God puts me.

Regardless of why I'm in a new place, God is with me. He promises to guide my steps, and He'll do the same for you. We may change places, but God never leaves our side.

If life has taken you on an unexpected move, take God along.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being by our side, regardless of where life takes us. Amen.

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