Thank you for following along in our "Shelter Me in Place" devotional adventure. This will be our final installment in this series. I pray each of these have been an encouragement and a blessing to you. Pray for me, I'm still working on our next series. Today, I want to share a few thoughts with you about isolation from the Bible.
As I read the story of Adam, I wonder if he was alone longer than what we might imagined.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it..... - Genesis 2:15 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. - Genesis 2:20
Before meeting his wife, Adam was assigned by God to give a name to every creature in the Garden. Creation scientists report there were somewhere around 35,000 species at that time. I believe they're right. So, how long do you think it might have taken him?
We find the story of Adam in the first book of the Bible. And in the last book of the Bible, we read what the apostle John wrote while he was living in exile on the island of Patmos.
So just think about this, the Bible begins with a person in isolation and ends with a person in isolation.
Maybe isolation isn't as abnormal as we might think....
Adam’s son, Cain, was sentenced to isolation.
Noah and his family had to isolate themselves from the rest of the world by taking refuge in the ark.
Abram left everyone he knew in his homeland except his wife and nephew.
Joseph spent many years isolated from his family while in Egypt.
David ran for his life from King Saul and hid in a cave.
Elijah ran for his life from Queen Jezebel and hid in a cave.
Jeremiah was placed in a cistern to separated him from preaching to the people of Jerusalem.
Jesus spent forty days of isolation while in the wilderness.
Paul served multiple sentences of isolation while in prison.
Maybe there’s something more normal about isolation than I had originally realized.
We are not alone in our isolation.
At times, most of the great people in the Bible and the great people of Christian history have experienced it. Even the Greatest Man to ever live, our Lord Jesus, experienced it. Now, because of the corona virus, we get to say that we too are joining them. Maybe the question is, "Will we come out great on the other end of this?"
Here’s what the Lord has to say on the subject:
Scripture for today
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Please lean in to this time! The Lord is with you, and He is faithful!
What’s even better is, “...He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability…”
We’ll all be out of this isolation soon enough and in God's timing!
Prayer for today
Thank you Lord for this time of separation together.
I know I’m not really alone.
And I know it won’t last forever. I know You are with me.
During this time, do in me what You want to do. Use me to reach out to others who are feeling truly isolated and alone, and be an encourager to them.
In Jesus’ name, amen