50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.
Sometimes the Lord works in such a way that there is no doubt about who is doing the work. There are other times when you know it is NOT the Lord’s work. Sometimes it is hard to tell from our limited vantage point if this event is of the Lord. For the family of this young woman, they had no doubt. They knew somehow that this was the Lord’s doing. They rightfully submitted to His involvement. I think I have the hardest times in life when I am not sure, when I am in the middle somewhere. Some of the outward appearances seem to point to the Lord’s hand, and some point against. I am left to ferret out the direction. It is easy with the clear cut ends, either for or against the Lord’s involvement. It is that fuzzy middle that bothers me the most. There have been times in my life when I lived in the fuzzy middle, and I can bet you have had the same experience. In fact, I think much of life ends up in that middle. The Lord has not spelled out every contingency of modern life. We must make decisions out of our relationship with Him and with others. And I know that our listening to His will is not perfect. Sin clouds our vision and dulls our hearing. For Rebecca’s family, they had clarity at this moment. It is wonderful when we get to experience clarity of this kind. Remember that fuzziness is our problem. God always speaks with clarity. If it seems fuzzy, it is us. And you can bet sin is getting in the way of that clarity. So next time you feel like discerning the Lord’s will is difficult, pull in closer to the Lord. Get quiet before Him. Seek His face. Listen for His voice. Then obey. The Lord wants His will to be clear in our hearts and minds. Nothing makes Him happier than when we are benefiting from a close walk with Him.
The Arnold Journey 