Hedged

How do you feel about the word hedged? More succinctly, how do you feel about being hedged in? Does it cause you to squirm and find the first available way out? Or, does it cause you to feel a sense of security? For me, it depends on the circumstances. Over the years my first inclination has been to push back and find a way out of the hedge (perhaps this comes from being the youngest girl after four older brothers, who only, always wanted to protect me). But, as I continue to journey with Jesus I am learning to appreciate God’s hedge in whatever form he presents it.

Imagine what Job must have felt when he realized God had removed his hedge of protection from around the entirety of Job’s life. Ten verses in, in the first chapter of a book I have read numerous times, and I wonder, why does the word hedge stand out to me now? I did a little digging into the rich, dense soil of God’s word and discovered that the word hedge can mean God’s providential protection and comprehensive guardianship—over person, household, and possessions.* This type of hedge certainly feels like a good thing. And it is! I believe God places a hedge of protection around every believer in Jesus. Now the question is, why does God allow negative things to happen to righteous people? (Righteous because of Jesus not self-righteous because of self).

Perhaps it connects to the other half of the meaning of the word hedge-His corrective restraint.* A short backstory on Job. God considered Job righteous in His sight. One particular time, the devil entered heaven with the angels. God told the devil to consider his servant Job. To which, the devil-in my mind whined-to God how could he touch Job when God had a hedge of protection around him?

There are probably infinite reasons why God would hedge us in as a corrective restraint. Perhaps to draw us closer to Him, to rely on Him more, and not the world or people, to show us the things that may linger from our life before Jesus that need healing and deliverance.

In Job’s story, he endured great loss and grief and great blessings and restoration. His entire story is also about a heart soft enough to receive correction from the Lord, in spite of the tremendous affliction he suffered.

This brings us to our own lives. The prosperity and safety we experience is not random but comes from the intentional divine hedging of God. Will you choose to remain hedged even when it hurts? Even when it may bring grief? Even when the question on your lips might be, “why, Lord. Why me? Why my family?”

May we all live more like Job-holy and set apart in God’s sight-even in the hedging.

Shalom!

*bible hub 7753.suk