HIDDEN: The Season of Preservation by Nicole Webb
"This is the part of your process you can't post about yet." –Neil Malcolm McKnight
To be honest with you, I wasn't sure why it was hitting deep in my spirit at first. I didn't really see how the current season in my life or process wasn't "postable" for the 'Gram. But then in preparation for this current entry, this quote started to minister to me.
"This is the part of your process you can't post about yet."
I started unpacking this and what eventually came to mind was the action of being preserved.
Well, why do things need to be preserved?
To make sure they don't go bad, right?
Well, why does GOD preserve us?
I think there's more to His protection and preservation of us when it comes to certain spaces, people, and things than just making sure that we don't "go bad."
So, let's explore seasons of preservation in the Word:
One of my favorite texts in the Bible that really displays not only GOD's ability to provide at all times, especially in the midst of uncertainty, but also His preservation, is the story of Abraham and Issac on Mount Moriah–the place where Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his beloved son, whom GOD gave him through promise in old age.
Despite being instructed by GOD to give up something that he loved so much, Abraham trusted GOD. While traveling up the mountain fully aware that he could lose his son–the one that he and his wife Sarah had prayed so hard for, Abraham was still obedient and trusted that if GOD could give him a son once, He could do it again; Abraham trusted that GOD knew what was best.
The part that hits me even deeper though was Issac being completely oblivious to the fact that his father was about to sacrifice him. As they are traveling up Mount Moriah, the text says,
"Issac turned to Abraham and said, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son?' Abraham replied. 'We have the fire and the wood,' the boy said, 'but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?' 'GOD will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,' Abraham answered. And they both walked on together." (Genesis 22:7-8)
Issac was aware that he and his father were about to make a sacrifice unto the Lord, but he had no idea that the sheep needed for the burnt offering was supposed to be him. He had no idea of the order GOD gave his father the day before telling Abraham to take his son, his only son–whom he loved so much–up to the land of Moriah and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering (v. 2). Issac had no idea of the plan to kill him...because he was being PRESERVED.
All Issac knew was that he and his father were going to make a sacrifice of worship unto the Lord, and he obeyed his father when Abraham told him where they were going and what they were going to do–make a sacrifice.
Abraham did not tell his son the details of the sacrifice because he was PRESERVING his son.
Could it have been out of fear that his son might run away that Abraham did not tell his son Issac that he was the sacrifice?
Could it have been out of fear that Abraham chose not to tell his wife what GOD had instructed him to do with their only son, the one that she bore and sacrificed her life to birth?
Or could it have been that maybe, just maybe, Abraham trusted GOD enough that he knew even if GOD were to take his son's life that GOD had already PRESERVED something far greater than his heart's desire?
Could it have been that despite the order to sacrifice his son, maybe Abraham trusted that GOD would PRESERVE Issac?
Because that's exactly what GOD did (Genesis 22:10-14).
GOD not only PRESERVED Issac, but He PRESERVED the dream He gave to Abraham about Issac and Abraham's future generations (Genesis 15:5), continuing Abraham's lineage through Issac–the son given to Abraham and Sarah in old age–all the way through to the Savior of the world himself, Jesus Christ.
Let's take the story of Ruth as another example of GOD PRESERVING the ones He chooses:
Ruth's husband dies, and instead of leaving her husband's mother, Naomi, to find another husband, Ruth stays; she tells Naomi, "Where you go, I'm going, too...your people will be my people, your GOD, will be my GOD" (Ruth 1:16).
Eventually, Naomi and Ruth's journey leads them into Boaz's field where Ruth begins to work. While there are many women working in this field, Boaz recognizes Ruth–he asks his field overseer about her, whom tells Boaz about Ruth's story and how hard she's has been working the field.
Boaz then approaches Ruth, showing her favor and acknowledging what she had done for her mother-in-law since the death of both Ruth's father-in-law and her own husband. Boaz orders his men to look after Ruth and to make sure that she takes some of the crop she picks back to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and he orders them to make sure no one gives her a hard time (Ruth 2:1-15).
Later on in this same chapter, after Ruth recalls her encounter with Boaz to Naomi, the mother praises Boaz's decision to keep Ruth working in his field, ordering Ruth to stay with Boaz saying, "you might be harassed in other fields, but you'll be safe with him" (v. 22).
As a mother with great wisdom, Naomi seems to make this order not only in hopes of seeing her daughter married off and married off well, but to PRESERVE her–PRESERVING Ruth's safety and lineage.
Meanwhile, GOD was PRESERVING both His daughter and His good and perfect plan.
While Ruth was working, GOD was working out His plan. While Ruth was working, GOD was setting up something bigger than she could have imagined. While Ruth was working, GOD was PRESERVING her for that something bigger.
Ruth was hidden in the fields, working the ground, but GOD opened Boaz's eyes to notice her. There were many other women in the field picking grain, but Boaz noticed Ruth. Ruth was doing the exact same thing that these other women were doing–who in fact had been doing this work longer than Ruth had–but Boaz noticed Ruth.
Ruth was hidden in the fields, but GOD uncovered her at the right time, in the right place, for the right man. At any moment, the overseer or any other one of Boaz's men could've taken an eye for Ruth and chosen her to be their wife, but GOD PRESERVED her for Boaz.
And as GOD's plan would have it, it was through Ruth that Obed was born, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of the great king David, whose generational line makes way for the birth of Jesus. Ruth was being PRESERVED not just for a husband, but because through her womb the lineage of the Savior would come.
GOD might have you hidden in this season because He is PRESERVING you for something great.
He may not be telling you of all the details the sacrifice will require (Genesis 22:7-8) because He knows if He does, you will not go to the mountain of your sacrifice.
He may not be telling you all the details of the sacrifice needed for your destiny because He knows you've got trust issues when it comes to knowing that He will always provide (Genesis 22:10-14).
He may have you hidden from the eyes of certain people because He is PRESERVING you for the right time, the right place, and the right thing (Ruth 2:5-15).
He may have you hidden because He is PRESERVING your virtue.
So, this part may not be the part you can talk about with to your friends.
This part may not be the part everybody will understand.
This part may not be the part you post on the 'Gram.
This part may have you hidden–moving in silence.
This part may have you hidden–not moving at all.
This part may have you hidden–being prepared for a sacrifice on the mountain, waiting to be PRESERVED.
This is the part of the process that doesn't make sense yet, beloved.
But in due time it will.
GOD will uncover you and promote you at the right time (1 Peter 5:6-7).
GOD will provide.
Stay hidden until His preservation is complete.
And stay encouraged, fam,
Nic.
Comments
Post a Comment