Intuition & the Holy Spirit
Many psychologists, neurologists, sociologists, cult leaders, employers, and spouses have tried to understand where intuition comes from. Some say it comes from deep within our subconscious; others from our sleeping patterns or hidden defensive mechanisms. Some talk about it as a “sixth sense”; others a developed skill. Some say that intuition is shaped through a collection of our varying experiences, while others claim it is God's purest and simplest gift. Some believe that we should trust intuition solely as if it is God's voice, while others quickly dismiss it and put it in the “deleted items” folder in their lives.
Most of us only experience intuition in hindsight, and unfortunately, we are left to deal with the consequences of ignoring it. But no matter where our intuition comes from, whether we ignore or embrace it, we can’t deny that from time to time, there are times when we feel…intuitive. The challenge for us is not to need to know where intuition comes from but to spend some time investigating it.
There is a crucial time in scripture that, if this incident had played out differently all those years ago, it would have dramatically affected much of what is happening in the Middle East today. The story is read in jarring slow motion because the main character ignores his intuition at the cost of a great deception.
The man’s name is Isaac. In Genesis 27, Isaac is coming to the end of his life, and it is time to offer his family blessing to his eldest son, Esau. However, some sibling rivalry was going on in their home - most of it initiated by parents who were playing favorites. Isaac had lost his eyesight in his old age, and before passing on the blessing, he sent his elder son Esau out hunting to prepare a feast. While he was away, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, told her favorite son, Jacob, to dress up like his brother and receive the blessing while Jacob was hunting. The elaborate plan included wearing clothes from his brother’s wardrobe and placing goat hair on his skin to make his arm more hairy! As we read this slow and painful story, we see several times when Isaac ignored his intuition at the cost of enormous conflict.
There were three “intuitive moments” that Isaac ignored.
1 His questions reveal an uncertainty (Vs. 18 & 24).
As Jacob walked into the room, Isaac believed something was not quite right. He had to ask his son, “Who are you?” (vs. 18). While I have never experienced blindness and my faculties remain strong, I have seen people whose faculties and sight have diminished and, unusually, don’t recognize their children. Isaac had enough of his wits about him to know what he was doing and, therefore, probably enough to recognize which of his kids was which. Even after a significant conversation, he circles back to this question and asks again, “Are you sure that you are my son Esau?” (vs24). When we find ourselves asking questions, the same questions over again, and we become aware of an uncertainty, it is worth investigating our intuition.
2 His timing reveals an anomaly (Vs. 20).
Something feels off to Isaac. His son has returned so quickly from his hunting expedition—unusually quickly. Something out of the ordinary has happened, and the timing of the situation triggers some more questions in Isaac (vs. 20). One way to investigate our intuition is to timeline events and see if they fit into a logical sequence. Isaac neglected to do this even though he sensed something was amiss.
3 His senses revealed a discrepancy (Vs. 22)
“His voice is like Jacob’s, but his hands are like Esau’s”. A conflict had begun in his senses. His sense of hearing said one thing, while his sense of touch said something else. Which was he to believe? Either way, the confusion should have caused him to stop and investigate things further, but he didn't… and blessed the wrong son and created a conflict that still affects millions of lives today.
Once he realized what he had done, we read that this Old Man trembled violently (vs. 33). Why? -Because he had ignored his intuition. Regardless of where our intuition comes from, and I am more than willing to credit God for it, we are foolish to ignore it. The challenge to the “wanna-be-wise” folks like me, and hopefully you, is to take some time and investigate our intuition.
Are your questions revealing uncertainty, your timing an anomaly, or your senses a discrepancy? If so, it’s time to take a moment and investigate your intuition. Doing so could not only prevent a whole lot of trouble in the future but also create a brighter one for you.
Investigate your intuition!
Most of us only experience intuition in hindsight, and unfortunately, we are left to deal with the consequences of ignoring it. But no matter where our intuition comes from, whether we ignore or embrace it, we can’t deny that from time to time, there are times when we feel…intuitive. The challenge for us is not to need to know where intuition comes from but to spend some time investigating it.
There is a crucial time in scripture that, if this incident had played out differently all those years ago, it would have dramatically affected much of what is happening in the Middle East today. The story is read in jarring slow motion because the main character ignores his intuition at the cost of a great deception.
The man’s name is Isaac. In Genesis 27, Isaac is coming to the end of his life, and it is time to offer his family blessing to his eldest son, Esau. However, some sibling rivalry was going on in their home - most of it initiated by parents who were playing favorites. Isaac had lost his eyesight in his old age, and before passing on the blessing, he sent his elder son Esau out hunting to prepare a feast. While he was away, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, told her favorite son, Jacob, to dress up like his brother and receive the blessing while Jacob was hunting. The elaborate plan included wearing clothes from his brother’s wardrobe and placing goat hair on his skin to make his arm more hairy! As we read this slow and painful story, we see several times when Isaac ignored his intuition at the cost of enormous conflict.
There were three “intuitive moments” that Isaac ignored.
1 His questions reveal an uncertainty (Vs. 18 & 24).
As Jacob walked into the room, Isaac believed something was not quite right. He had to ask his son, “Who are you?” (vs. 18). While I have never experienced blindness and my faculties remain strong, I have seen people whose faculties and sight have diminished and, unusually, don’t recognize their children. Isaac had enough of his wits about him to know what he was doing and, therefore, probably enough to recognize which of his kids was which. Even after a significant conversation, he circles back to this question and asks again, “Are you sure that you are my son Esau?” (vs24). When we find ourselves asking questions, the same questions over again, and we become aware of an uncertainty, it is worth investigating our intuition.
2 His timing reveals an anomaly (Vs. 20).
Something feels off to Isaac. His son has returned so quickly from his hunting expedition—unusually quickly. Something out of the ordinary has happened, and the timing of the situation triggers some more questions in Isaac (vs. 20). One way to investigate our intuition is to timeline events and see if they fit into a logical sequence. Isaac neglected to do this even though he sensed something was amiss.
3 His senses revealed a discrepancy (Vs. 22)
“His voice is like Jacob’s, but his hands are like Esau’s”. A conflict had begun in his senses. His sense of hearing said one thing, while his sense of touch said something else. Which was he to believe? Either way, the confusion should have caused him to stop and investigate things further, but he didn't… and blessed the wrong son and created a conflict that still affects millions of lives today.
Once he realized what he had done, we read that this Old Man trembled violently (vs. 33). Why? -Because he had ignored his intuition. Regardless of where our intuition comes from, and I am more than willing to credit God for it, we are foolish to ignore it. The challenge to the “wanna-be-wise” folks like me, and hopefully you, is to take some time and investigate our intuition.
Are your questions revealing uncertainty, your timing an anomaly, or your senses a discrepancy? If so, it’s time to take a moment and investigate your intuition. Doing so could not only prevent a whole lot of trouble in the future but also create a brighter one for you.
Investigate your intuition!
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