Genesis 28:10-22
Tuesday, 09 April 2024
“I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” -Genesis 28:15
Jacob was running away!- from his near and dear; everything that was familiar; from the security of his home…running away from facing the wrath of his brother, Esau whom he had wronged. Heading for the land of his mother’s relatives, he had a long distance to cover, in those times by foot and so it must have looked to him- a stepping into the unknown! As he pitched camp for the night- in the stillness of night as he lay resting his head on a cold stone probably feeling the regret of all his past actions, Jacob must have felt all alone, lost and definitely needed a word of reassurance. In that lonely, deserted place Jacob was not forgotten. GOD had a plan for Jacob the runaway and He speaks to him in a dream.
• God’s Reassurance (Vs.13-15)
Exhausted and with no strength to process all that was happening to him, he heard what God had to speak to him. In a nutshell, God told Jacob:
“I will be with you!”
“I will bless you!”
“I will accomplish my plan for you!”
Jacob would have had a sense of loss and lostness and had a reassuring word from His Creator who knew the end from the beginning. Job 23:10 says, “But He knows the way that I take…” Our life is an open book before our God who knows everything about us and assures us from time to time that our lives are in His hands even when we go through desperate situations.Jacob did go through tough years and faced consequences of his foolish actions yet God used all those years to mould him and make him a better person before he returned. Our God is a God of second chances!
• Jacob’s Response (Vs.16-22)
Jacob would have been startled when he woke up from the dream! His first response: “Surely the LORD is in this place…” He named the place “Bethel”- the house of God. He set up the stone he had pillowed his head on as a memorial and poured oil on it and gave himself in worship. Here makes a vow to the Lord to follow Him and give a tenth of all that the Lord would give him. Years later when he returns we see him coming to Bethel and make an altar to the LORD and offer his worship along with his people (Genesis 35:7).Here is the lesson for us- like Jacob and many others in the Bible, God is interested in us in spite of all our “imperfections!” When He knit each of us closely in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13)- He had His grand master plan! Yet if we do not yield to the Potter’s hands with willingness, the beautiful vessel He intended of your life and mine, will become purposeless. He is willing to give us a second chance— to lay down our rebellion and our rejection of Him so that He can make us anew! If we like Jacob who recognized God and responded to Him would consent to let Him have His way in us, we just need to watch how He will unfold His plan in each of our lives. We become vessels of His mercy and grace!
Friend , are you like Jacob running away from God , or like Jacob even after he encountered God continued living life on his own terms? It’s not too late to return. God is waiting for you so that he could fulfill the plans He has for you written down even before the foundations of the world.
Jacob’s total surrender became our blessing.This one man became known as Israel out of whom came the nation as its known today ’ISAREL.’ God used this nation in seinding His Son to save the world, so that we Gentiles would receive mercy, grace and forgiveness of sin.
Would you lay down your rebellion and rejection of Him so that He can make you anew to become His vessel of mercy and grace to the world around you?
Think on: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” - 1Thessalonians 5:24
Listen: 'Grace '