I have been reading in Genesis recently and was struck by the words used as a title of this entry. These words were spoken to Abraham when he approached the Hittite elders to buy a burial ground for Sarah, his wife who had died.

Abraham was a stranger and a foreigner among the Hittites. He was sojourning in their land. He was a Hebrew – a man from beyond. He did not belong to any of the etnic groups of the land of Canaan. He had no property. He had no house to dwell in. He was not part of any city or community. He was only sojourning in the land God had promised to give to him and his decendants. He had no public function or position among the people of Canaan.

Still he was called an honoured prince of God among them by the elders of the land. Wow! What an honour. What a standing he had earned for himself among the people of the land. They recognized him as a prince of God among them. They recognized the blessing of God upon him. They realised that God was with him. He lived in a tent only. He was a nomad or rather a pilgrim, sojourning the land, but the presence of God marked him. He was God's friend. He lived in the presence of God. People recognized he was different. He was not a prince of the land. He belonged not to the nobility of the land. But the people and their leaders realised that he was a prince of God.

I wonder how people around us look at us? Do they recognize our real identity? Can they sense the presence of God in our lives?

The big question is: Am I a prince of God among the people?