Hi
Have you ever had a case of acute forgetitis? It often attacks saints of God, where we either make a promise TO God and forget; or we forget the promise God made to us. In today’s Holy Nougat we are looking at the promise before the onset of forgetitis.
“Then Jacob made a vow saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this way that I am going, and provide me food to eat and clothes to wear, and I return in shalom to my father’s house, then ADONAI will be my God.” Genesis 28:20-21 TLV
Isn’t it interesting – Jacob got Both the things he wanted and worked so hard towards, yet didn’t totally trust God to be with him or provide for him. We see the potential for forgetitis in the first word of Jacob’s response (in the Tree of Life Version) – ‘If’. Although if generally precedes a conditional clause (eg I’ll do X under specific circumstances and the if identifies the circumstances); there are times when If flags our uncertainty in a situation.
Rather than get deeper into the iffyness of Jacob‘s promise – that God had NOT asked of him; let’s pause for a few to explore Jacob‘s motivation. You see, for Jacob, the ‘winning’ of the birthright and eventually the blessing traditionally reserved for the eldest child was his own accomplishment. The desire might have been fueled by his mother’s stories (as she abetted him the last time), but the means were some of the most selfish and not aligned to God’s methodology.
We also note that his first encounter with God (recorded, that is) occurred AFTER he had already got the birthright and the blessing by not so fair means. It may be safe to say that Jacob didn’t personally Know God. And that matters, because we find that when we know God for ourselves as Our God, we are likelier to believe God will keep God’s Word. We might not get as iffy about God’s promises when there is an established relationship.
It’s important to note, that although Jacob doubted God’s integrity (hence setting his own terms); God did not send fire from Heaven to destroy him. Even when we begin to show signs of forgetitis; God remains constant and faithful. And God’s Grace sees Who we’re called to be. That applied to Jacob then; and to you and me now. God understands our doubts and fears, and even our forgetitis. God understands and offers Jesus Christ as our contingency. Our consistent antidote to modern forgetitis is Always accessible through prayer.
So whatever our fears or doubts that may push memories of God’s provision out the window; or if it’s the challenges presented by lack of a personal relationship with Jesus; I offer us Jesus our Redeemer and Reminder that God consistently keeps promises today, yesterday and always.
Stay blessed
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
