Mar 9

Genesis 28:1-22
Memorise Genesis 28:15
“If God will be with me….then shall the LORD by my God”

Although Jacob was brought up in a household that worshipped God, it seemed that he had never fully accepted the Lord as his God. Based on his actions in the past few chapters, he showed little evidence of one who was born again. He took advantage of his brother’s weakness to trade for his birthright, and then deceived his ailing father to receive his blessing. Although it could be argued that these were but in fulfilment of God’s covenant, yet that does not excuse his actions. He was still entirely culpable for the sins he had committed, and his brother justly exclaimed: “Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he hath supplanted me these two times” (Genesis 27:36), for Jacob means supplanter or usurper.

Now, he was to embark on a journey alone, away from the protection of his father’s house, to travel up north to seek for a wife. He was lonely, and probably afraid of his brother who had sworn to kill him. That first night, the Lord gave him a vision to encourage him, of angels ascending and descending from heaven. This signified to him that God’s involvement and work amongst man was continuous and on-going. God also appeared to comfort him in a dream, affirming his presence with him, and that the covenant to his father and grandfather would extend through him as well (Genesis 28:15). Yet the Lord was careful to note that whilst he was the God of Abraham and Isaac, he did not yet say that He was the Lord God of Jacob. When Jacob awoke, he did acknowledge the Lord’s presence (Genesis 28:16), yet his response was not one of worship and reverence, but of fear, for he exclaimed “how dreadful is this place!” (Genesis 28:17).

Instead of repenting and worshipping God, Jacob set up a stone of memorial to remind him of this event, and then made a vow to the Lord. Though the Lord had promised to be with him, yet he made a ‘bargain’ with the Lord, and gave the Lord certain conditions to fulfil, before he would regard the Lord as his God. How sad it was, that Jacob did not have the faith to take God at His word. He wanted to first experience God’s provision for himself first, before he would acknowledge that God is one who would keep His Word. Dear Teen, is that how we are as well?

Thought: Do we need to first experience God’s presence before we believe and acknowledge Him as our God?
Prayer: Lord, give me the faith to truly believe in You.