Bearers of Peace

In the Bible, there is a curious little story between Isaac and the rulers of Philistine (todays Palestine). After a disagreement with a King of Philistine, Isaac moved on in his nomadic lifestyle to another land. He again came into conflict with other groups of Philistines regarding who owned the wells in the land he moved to. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for many, many generations!

One day the King came to visit, along with his political advisor, and more ominously, the commander of his army. Isaac asked why he was coming to see him, since the King obviously didn’t want him around the last time they met together.

They answered “We clearly saw that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’ – between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm.’” (Genesis 26:28)

I cannot imagine a more unbalanced meeting.

Here was the King, his Prime Minister and General of the armed forces asking for a treaty so that that this one man wandering around, living in a tent, would not harm THEM!

While we may overlook the importance of God in the life of one man, they certainly did not. They clearly saw that God was with Isaac. In order to have peace in the land, they needed peace with Isaac, who was at peace with God. And so, Isaac prepared a feast, they ate, they drank and they swore peace to one another.

True peace, it would seem, comes not from power, or political might, but from the presence of God clearly seen in one person’s life.

This is a good reminder in the time of turmoil in which we live, that peace can be achieved by one person of peace. Imagine what peace you can share with those around you today, which might have a greater ripple effect than you even know. Imagine the peace you can share with a client today that can help bring peace to the tough situation they might be facing.

Let’s be bearers of peace as we strive to be, “The Hand of God in the Heart of the City.”

Peace,

Colin Bain
Director of Support Services, THHS