Siblings,
I was drawn to the implicit promise in David’s proclamation. It offers real comfort that God never leaves us. The message was reiterated this morning, in another context, and I felt it was confirmation for us to spend some time reflecting on this. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Genesis 28:15 CEB
[15] I am with you now, I will protect you everywhere you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done everything that I have promised you.”
Emmanuel: God with us 1
Our brother Jacob was obliged to leave home after appropriating his divine inheritance unethically. Despite being a twin, Jacob was estranged from Esau and separated from the rest of the family. Having left home before they died, he might have heard of their passing but would have missed their burials. We might say he was all alone.
Siblings, a sense of loneliness can be the bane of our existence if we give room to it. And when we do – it’s only God Who can deliver us.
Self-Check
What do we do when we begin to feel lonely and alone?
Application
This was the start of Jacob’s journey. It is possible that he may even have entertained thoughts of returning the inheritance. Ironically, although he became the heir, thus fulfilling God’s word to his mother, at the time he ‘got’ the inheritance (by foul means), Jacob’s relationship with God was marginal. Yet, God not only allowed Isaac to honour Isaac’s action toward Jacob by blessing him and declaring that Esau would serve him; God also opted to meet Jacob on this singular journey away from home.
Siblings, this is worth pondering and applying to our own lives. God’s promises are ours even before we choose to accept them. God honours those promises long before we come into full knowledge of God’s nature and character. That’s because God designs the full extent of, and sees the end of our purpose way before we get to the beginningof God’s plans for us.
We also note that it was God Who self-revealed to Jacob. The pattern would have been similar enough to what his father and grandfather had experienced for him to know that it was God’s Who spake to him. It assures us that we can discern God’s presence and instructions based on patterns God had established way before our time. It just requires that we spend time in the Word learning about the patterns.
When we understand the patterns, we can discern God at work in our lives. This is also confirmed by God’s Spirit dwelling with and within us from the moment we choose to accept God’s Lordship over our lives. Truly, God is with us in all our life’s journeys.
Point to Ponder
What are we seeking God about in this season? Let’s spend some time learning how God speaks.
—
May all we seek be found in Christ
