A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.’” Genesis 28:12-13, ESV
Theme: The God of Abraham and Isaac revealed Himself to Jacob in a dream. He also wants to be in a personal relationship with us, not just be known as “our fathers’ God.”
NOT QUITE KNOWN OR UNKNOWN
Have you ever been to an extended family event where you were completely baffled by the number of people you should know? Or maybe you are joining your girlfriend / boyfriend / new spouse in their family’s gathering. You may have heard of Great Aunt Martha, but which one is she? Who are her children? Which one married the hero from WWII? You may know about them, but you don’t know them, even when you are introduced (or re-introduced!). It is quite a different matter than meeting up with your spouse, sibling, or parent, who you know intimately.
CALLING JACOB BACK
Remember Jacob, who acted deceitfully to steal his brother’s birthright? Who then, with his mother’s persuasion and assistance, stole the blessing of the firstborn from Esau? Jacob totally splits the family. “Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob’” (Genesis 27:41, ESV). Rebecca heard the threats and sent Jacob away.
As he is fleeing to his Uncle Laban’s place in Haran, Jacob stops for the night and lays down to sleep. He took a stone for his pillow (so maybe I can understand why he didn’t have a good night’s sleep). Anyway, Jacob dreamed and saw a ladder or stairway, going from earth to heaven. On it, angels descended and ascended, from heaven to earth and back again! Then the Lord God appeared. “And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. … Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you’” (Genesis 28:13, 15, ESV).
PERSONAL ENCOUNTER
It was not enough that Jacob knew of the God of his fathers. God introduced Himself personally to Jacob. He made promises to Jacob about his inheritance, his offspring, and his future. More than that, God promised to be with Jacob and accomplish all that He has just committed to do.
On Jacob’s awakening, he expressed surprise to find God in that lonely place. We need to remember that God sees us, when we are lonely or feel forsaken, when we are on the run from our troubles. Then Jacob was struck with fear. He was both terrified of the holy place and wanted to commemorate the encounter. He took the stone which he had used for a pillow and stood it upright. He poured oil on it and promised later to come and build a proper altar, and he gave the place a new name: Bethel, the house of God. Hosea mentions this amazing event: “He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us—” (Hosea 12:4b, ESV).
JACOB’S RESPONSE
Jacob’s encounter moved him to action: he made personal vows and commitments to God. At first, we might be surprised at them, because they seem conditional: “If you will, then I will.” But it was an act of faith. He had heard from the God of his fathers and entered his own covenant with Him. He is repeating back to God His commitments, but Jacob does not sound entitled. He lessens them. He doesn’t claim the land and nations: he claims daily provision and protection. And Jacob tells God he will trust Him to do all He promised and bring him back to his people in peace in some future day. Finally, Jacob commits to showing that trust by giving a tenth (a tithe) of all he has now and in the future to God as an offering.
Make It Personal: Has God made Himself known to you in some way? Have you received commitments from Him, through His Word or a message? Have you responded back in gratitude, awe, and with actions? God wants you to know Him personally and have a relationship with His Son through the Spirit. If He is just the “God of your fathers” and not your own God, now is the time to seek Him. He is anxious to be known by you.
Pray: Lord God, thank You that You want to be known by me, that You desire fellowship and community with me. Thank You for sending Jesus to make that relationship possible, a bridge between sinful humans and a holy God. Thank You for the Spirit, which dwells within all believers. How much more intimate could You be with us? I am in awe of Your presence and power. Thank You for seeing me in the lonely and desolated places and making Yourself known, again and again. I love You and I worship You. I make commitments to serve and honor You all the days of my life. Amen.
Read: Genesis 28:10-22; Psalm 22:24-25, 61:4-5, 27:3-5
Weekly Memory Verse: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6b, ESV