Session 24

How to know God’s will

From Genesis: A 7-Week Devotional

Most of us would love to hear the audible voice of God. But let’s be real: Even if God spoke to us audibly, we would probably still hesitate in taking our next step.

What if that wasn’t God?

What if I misheard or misunderstood?

We can know if an opportunity is from the Lord by asking ourselves two questions: Does this decision line up with God’s Word? And, is this command in line with God’s character? God will never contradict Himself (Hebrews 13:8).  

In Genesis 31:3, God tells Jacob,  “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

Our obedience will always bring God glory.

Even though Jacob and Laban’s relationship had been strained, uprooting his family would not have been an easy decision to make. Jacob had to convince his wives to come. They had to gather the children, relocate the entire family. There were camels and possessions and sheep. And, Jacob had to do this while knowing that Laban would be upset by his move.

But, as Jacob told Leah and Rachel about what He heard God say, it became clear that the Lord had been paving the way for Jacob to make this move. The move lined up with what God had told Jacob previously when He said, “[I will] bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15). The move was also in line with God’s character. God had promised to watch over Jacob, and despite Laban’s best efforts to preserve his own legacy, Jacob had continued to prosper under Laban’s house.

Doing what God tells us to do isn’t always easy.

But how, exactly, do we hear from God? And how do we know it’s the Lord’s leading and not our own desires?

• By spending time in the Bible so we know God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12),
• By listening to the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17, Ezekiel 36:26-27),
• By speaking with trusted friends and advisers who speak truth to us (Proverbs 15:22),
• By attending church (Hebrews 10:25).

Doing what God tells us to do isn’t always easy. And sometimes God’s directions aren’t as specific as we’d like them to be. But our obedience will always bring glory to Him (Romans 11:33-36).

Reflect

• Is there one thing that the Lord keeps placing on your heart over and over again? What’s one step you can take this week to do what God is prompting you to do?
• Are you spending time with God every day? A reading plan is a great place to start.