Our story begins as Jacob leaves Beersheba and sets out for Haran in order to find a wife from his father Isaac’s clan. In the days before hotel lodging, Jacob simply uses a stone for a pillow and camps out for the night. Jacob’s dream that night has been the topic of many children’s Sunday School stories as well as sermons. We see the famous stairway reaching the heavens with angels both ascending and descending. Yet I wonder if we notice the true story. For above the stairway stands El-Shaddai, the LORD God Almighty, and he has a message for Jacob. The message is both one of the blessing of offspring, and the promise of God’s watch-care.
Genesis 28:15 (NIV) 15“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
What small lesson can we glean from this story? Through the story of Jacob we catch a glimpse of God’s omniscience; that He is always very aware of the activity of all creation. Nothing is hidden from his sight, (c.f., Hebrews 4:13). We catch a glimpse of God’s omnipresence; that he is with us always, never will he leave us and never will he forsake us, (c.f., Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5). We have the assurance that God keeps his promises; his word will not fail, (c.f., Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33). What was Jacob’s response?
Genesis 28:16 (NIV) 16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
How does this relate to us today? We must ask ourselves, how often do I take the time to realize that my Heavenly Father is aware of my every thought, word, or action? Nothing I think, say, or do is hidden from his sight. Yet he also promises that he will never leave me nor forsake me...even during the times I am not aware of his presence in my life. He will never fail me. In a world where trust is hard to find; I can fully trust my Heavenly Father.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Too many times we forget to be aware of your presence in our lives. Please forgive us. Surely you are with us, even when we are not aware of it. Thank you for this precious promise.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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