“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.”
Genesis 21:33 (NIV)
As we prepare to receive the message of Amos 5 this coming Sunday, we notice in verse 5 that they are told not to journey to Beersheba, which brings to my mind this question - “Why would the Israelites want to journey to Beersheba?” Beersheba was located to the south of the southern kingdom of Judah, whereas Bethel and Gilgal were in the southern part of the northern kingdom of Israel. To go to Beersheba was a significant journey, and according to Amos 8:14 it was a place of false worship. Although we have no information about the details of the type of worship at Beersheba - it is a reminder to all of us how easily people who “seek” a right relationship with the only true God, can end up with a system of worship that is a perversion of true worship and results in our destruction rather than our salvation. It happens so quickly when the form and place of worship becomes more important than the One we worship. Genesis 21 details for us how Abraham worshipped God at Beersheba, by planting a tree at the site of his well and calling on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. Genesis 26 details for us how Isaac returned to this site under similar conditions that his father endured, and that God met Isaac there and promised His protection, His Presence and His blessing. Perhaps the people of the northern kingdom so longed for God’s protection and God’s blessing, that they thought this place was the place to be. Unfortunately for them, Amos makes it clear that they had forgotten to seek His Presence. Seek God, don’t go to Beersheba! Put your trust in God, not in a place, nor a system.
What about us friend - do we seek His face or do we seek His hand?
Do we cling to superstition about certain places being better places to meet with God than other places?
Friend God will meet us wherever we seek Him - as long as it is Him we seek.
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