DOES GOD CARE WHERE YOU LIVE?
In many verses God refers to the home and the house. God talks about shelter. Godly people, in the old Testament, followed the rules that were set up for the home and the house they lived in. At one point Joshua says; "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Joshua 24:15c. Joshua was referring to his household and not the structure.

When Sarah died, Abraham purchased a cave which was on a piece of land that had grass and trees. A fair size piece of land, in order to purchase the cave of Machpelah, where he could lay Sarah to rest. The Real Estate Agent was Ephron, the son of Zohar who was the owner of the land. After some discussion it was agreed that Abraham could purchase this land to bury Sarah and for others in his family including himself. Did God plan for Abraham to purchase that particular land? I don’t think so! Sarah passed away and this land was convenient, however it was in the land of Canaan that God had already promised to Abraham.

When we decided to move out of California, Jim chose Oregon because I had family living there. The change would be easier for me! I laid fleece out three different times to our Lord when it came down to actually selling our house. One, that if God wanted us to move, my sister’s house would sell first. Found out from a neighbor that the person who bought my sister’s house had asked to see ours first but the Real Estate Agent couldn’t show it that day. The second time I asked the Lord, if He really wanted us to move, our house wouldn’t sell until school was out. The day after school was out the house sold. Then I asked the Lord; "Let Jim be laid off so that he wouldn’t have to quit. That way he could collect his unemployment." He was laid off the same day our escrow closed. Did God want us to move to Oregon?

It was our decision to move to Oregon but God blessed us all the way. God doesn’t care where we live or how fine our home is. God cares whether we will serve Him wherever we live. Many times a move is made and a home is purchased only to discover that this is not working out. So the house is resold and the seller packs up all their belongings and returns to where they had been living. Does that mean that God didn’t want them to move?

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11a Many take this verse to mean that God leads us around so that the plan He has for us can be fulfilled. "Plans for welfare and not for evil." Jeremiah 29:11b It is true that God loves us and wants us to do good and leave evil alone "To give you a future and a hope!" Jeremiah 29:11c God’s plan for us is eternity with Him. That’s it in a nutshell! In the next few verses God says when we seek His face we will find Him. When we lose our way, He will restore us. God says He will bring us back to the place from where we have moved from. That place is right beside Him!

Some believe that the Old Testament is basically for those who were living then and not for us today. Some believe that the New Testament is what we are to follow. I believe that God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. His directions are clear, but we are to; "Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not upon our own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 Who is your Real Estate Agent? Jane Ann