Nougat 2

Greetings

It’s the first day of the last month; we’re still alive, we can still praise. Because it’s the first day, we may wish to take stock of where we are on our own journey – in Bethel, or stuck in Shechem. Not sure which is us – consider today’s Holy Nougat and the reflection.

“So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.

So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem.” Genesis‬ ‭35:2, 4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All this time!

So a) when Laban chased after Jacob for his idols and Rachel lied; she probably wanted them for herself; and b) Jacob knew that his folks worshipped other Gods and had no issue!

My people, this is hard to grasp – all the time Jacob was away from home; all the many conversations with God and neither he nor his household had made a real commitment to worship God! Yet HE, not Esau, was God’s chosen. Which leads me to surmise that we can be IN God’s house and uncommitted. Not only can we forget what we promised, but it’s possible for us to be at Shechem paying lip service to God, thinking that we’re living the good (worshiping) life.

{Ironically, while in Shechem, we’re still under God’s Grace, even though life isn’t as unbearable as Jacob’s. And it is a Grace so amazing! For while in Shechem, Jacob enjoyed the respect of the community. But even under God’s Grace, we realize that the enemy of our souls still seeks to stir us. Hence the time of trials may not just mean that we’re missing God’s mark; it can also be just a time of trials.}

When we are in Shechem, God is likely to send a nudge or two for us to return. It’s a matter of audibility. For God still speaks to us as with Jacob and the others of old. Individually and collectively. To hear; we ought to listen. And like Jacob, we shall receive our directions to Bethel.

God’s call to each of us is unique, with the nuances of our personality accounted for. With consideration for where we are, and what we are undergoing. Even when we are in Shechem.

To move forward, we’ll need to get rid of the idols tho.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .