I am sure that you remember that GOD has eyes. And sees. He sees far more clearly, more deeply, and much wider in scope than any human's ability, comprehension, or explanations.
The Bible teaches that the eyes of our Father run to and fro the earth, searching for any man/woman whose heart is perfect toward Him, that He may show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). When you go through an excruciating experience, for instance, God's eyes never overlook such. Mother Sarai's Egyptian maid was the one from whom we had learnt the name - El Roi. It is one of God's names. It means "The God Who sees me" | Genesis 16:13. Hagar was a young, vulnerable single mother! Life had thrust this role onto her. Now, she had run away from a very harsh, distressing situation, albeit brought upon herself by her own poor decisions. You can read the entire saga in Genesis 16 — and adjoining chapters. The Bible has nothing to hide: Hagar had been very rude to her boss. Bossy Sarai had dealt her an excruciating blow. Hagar had ducked and taken to her heels with her son, Ishmael. Famished and about to die due to exhaustion caused by thirst in the desert, God had sent an angel to her to help her locate a miracle water-well in the midst of the dusty, dry desert! The angel then instructed her to return to her mistress and submit wholeheartedly.
Possibly, you too are on the run. Running from an inhospitable position that your lack of moral guidance or rectitude had caused. And you may be close to extinction. FatherGOD's eyes have located you now - and sent me with a word for your recovery: Go back and submit wholeheartedly.
Young David was another classic example that perfectly fits this write-up. His father, Jesse, had impregnated a Moabite lady. I would conjecture that he had contravened God's injunction to disallow the Israelites to intermarry with the Moabites — alongside six other tribes/clans. Anyway, Jesse had had a sharp arrow that he had shot into this beautiful but poor Moabitess’ heart: Lone birth David was the result.
David had six other older brothers. His few childhood years had been spent away from the shielding influence of his mother. All he knew were the malicious brothers and an overburdened, weak parent. Possibly young David too had been a mocker. A child we would refer to as a very annoying, eerily cheeky lad. Their home was in Bethlehem. Dad Jesse was an early retiree. Why, we wouldn’t know. Many times, the home was prevalently noisy with eight men who refused to go to work. Possibly finances were tight too. Young David soon was nicknamed 'The Duckling among Geese'. That must have stung sore: Nicknaming people negatively just because they are different to us is always a sore thumb — and too far a cry.
Very soon, his brothers convinced Dad to relegate young David to the scraggy, rugged hills surrounding Bethlehem to watch over the few sheep that ‘they’ possessed. After all, he was younger and fresher than them all; sarcastic, arduous, tenacious, and wild.
God will use those characteristics that others had wrongly labeled you with to achieve His eternal purpose in your life. It was on this rugged terrain that God's eyes had found a shepherd boy, whom He would choose to be the King of Judah and Israel someday.
It was at the back side of the desert that GOD had grown David! And he had matured quickly; faster than any of his age mates. The desert would be his living/work/play—station for the next six years until he would be employed by the palace as the musical entertainer to soothe the mental ill—health of King Saul!
If you doubted it, music — in particular, worship music — possesses healing virtues that would forcefully drive demons out of their hiding places!
What qualities have been formed within you in the adverse seasons of your life? These are they that will feed you in the times of famine: Pay full attention to them! Watch David’s:
1.) Rejection was deliberately turned to the pursuit of God.
2.) Teenage years met him in the backside of the desert. He grew muscles there.
3.) He grew to know God personally there.
4.) He grew in confidence in GOD and in himself. He exchanged his rejection by his brothers and father with spending time in solitude with God. That’s how spiritual giants are developed.
5.) He manufactured the majority of the musical instruments with which he had worshipped God at the backside of the desert.
6.) He self—taught to play those instruments there.
7.) He grew in faith in the hostile environment.
8.) He soon learned that his little hands — anointed from his mother’s womb — would tend the few flock of sheep, and bring home to his dad and brothers pasteurised milk and cheese. (Pastoral and financial management qualities were being acquired).
9.) On different occasions, he learned that he was not alone. God was with — and had anointed him. He had smitten a bear with bare hands and torn a lion’s jaws asunder that had attempted to steal away the lamb/sheep.
I pray that you receive the words of this blog in your spirit man. I shall continue to the second part in the latter edition.
_________________________
This blog was written by Dr. Sammy Joseph. If you have any inquiries about what you have read - or you would love to write for us, contact us today at 'admin@harvestways.org'
Our reading suggestion for summer 2026 is 'Overcoming the spirit of Diotrephes'. Visit our PULSE Publishing House store at the secure link: https://www.harvestways.org/product-page/overcoming-the-spirit-of-diotrephes-leadership-series to order your life-changing copies of the title.
You will also find Dr. Joseph's teachings at Harvestways Everywhere: Youtube.com/c/HarvestWays
Please subscribe to our channel.
WE THANK YOU for your custom!
