The meeting of Jacob and God occurs in a dream. Is this the only way or place that Jacob is open to God? The world of Jacob while he is awake is one of plotting against anyone and anything that he comes into contact with during his waking moments. This must be a fearful and lonely place for Jacob.
Does God use the only means available to move into Jacob’s world? One would think an empty-handed fugitive would have been more open to receiving assistance.
God promises to accompany Jacob on his journey and bring him back to this place. God accepts Jacob as he is warts and all. God waits for him to develop spiritually. God uses what God has available at the present moment. At this stage in Joseph’s spiritual development, God can only promise his presence.
Is God willing to wait until we are spiritually ready before God uses us?
Are we content with God’s presence until we become prepared to follow God to the next phase of our journey?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Jacob Controls the Situation
“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you” (Genesis 28:15).
After God has promised to provide to be Jacob’s guide, guard, and provider if only he will be faithful, Jacob makes a vow. “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21).
Why does Jacob bargain with God for a better deal? Jacob has affirmed what God had promised him. He is accepting God’s offer, but on his own terms. Jacob will continue only if God will meet his requirements. He has to be in charge. Is he serious when he says, “Surely God is in this place-and I did not know it”?
This is the same old Jacob, always in first place; always working to remain in charge of every situation. Do we see ourselves in the Jacob character?
After God has promised to provide to be Jacob’s guide, guard, and provider if only he will be faithful, Jacob makes a vow. “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21).
Why does Jacob bargain with God for a better deal? Jacob has affirmed what God had promised him. He is accepting God’s offer, but on his own terms. Jacob will continue only if God will meet his requirements. He has to be in charge. Is he serious when he says, “Surely God is in this place-and I did not know it”?
This is the same old Jacob, always in first place; always working to remain in charge of every situation. Do we see ourselves in the Jacob character?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
God Surprises Jacob
We are left with the question of why God chose Jacob. We can examine the conditions of Jacob’s experience. Jacob is on the run because he does not wish to face his brother. Jacob is seeking safe place not an experience with God. Jacob does not expect to have a religious experience. The place where he stopped did not even have a name until this time.
The first thing we notice about Jacob is that he was at his most vulnerable moment while he was asleep. The second thing is that Jacob is not in charge at this moment. He is usually aware of his situation which is a change of always being in control at every moment. This experience is controlled by God and not Jacob. This is a drastic change for him, because he is usually in control of events and planning ahead.
God appears in an unexpected place and at an unexpected time. This is not the place where Jacob would expect to encounter God. Does God surprise us with encounters at times and places where we do not expect? If Jacob had expected to encounter God, he would have had a plan to control the situation. Does God come to us when we do not expect God to be present? Is this how God presents God agenda before we have an opportunity to set the agenda?
The first thing we notice about Jacob is that he was at his most vulnerable moment while he was asleep. The second thing is that Jacob is not in charge at this moment. He is usually aware of his situation which is a change of always being in control at every moment. This experience is controlled by God and not Jacob. This is a drastic change for him, because he is usually in control of events and planning ahead.
God appears in an unexpected place and at an unexpected time. This is not the place where Jacob would expect to encounter God. Does God surprise us with encounters at times and places where we do not expect? If Jacob had expected to encounter God, he would have had a plan to control the situation. Does God come to us when we do not expect God to be present? Is this how God presents God agenda before we have an opportunity to set the agenda?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Choosing Jacob
Why would God pick someone like Jacob to promise the land or the future of the family of God? How could God trust the family to someone like Jacob?
God promises Jacob that God would be a guide, guard, and provider if Jacob will be faithful. From this story, we have no evidence that Jacob would be a is faithful. He continues the conniving ways in his relationships with others.
Jacob begins his bargaining with God. If God will be his guide, provider, and do this list of requests, then God could be his God. If you will provide for all of my wishes, you can be my God.
Mark asks if this sounds familiar to us. If you will come through for us, you can be our God. If you do all the things we want, we promise to be whole hog for you. Jacob was bargaining for a better deal. Are we like Jacob, always looking for a better deal?
God promises Jacob that God would be a guide, guard, and provider if Jacob will be faithful. From this story, we have no evidence that Jacob would be a is faithful. He continues the conniving ways in his relationships with others.
Jacob begins his bargaining with God. If God will be his guide, provider, and do this list of requests, then God could be his God. If you will provide for all of my wishes, you can be my God.
Mark asks if this sounds familiar to us. If you will come through for us, you can be our God. If you do all the things we want, we promise to be whole hog for you. Jacob was bargaining for a better deal. Are we like Jacob, always looking for a better deal?
Monday, July 18, 2011
“Real Estate or The Real Estate”
Genesis 28: 10-19a
Sunday morning we listened as Mark describes the difference between real estate and the real estate as we hear the story of Jacob. He ask how God could choose a person like Jacob to receive God’s promise and ending with a question of how God could choose persons like us to receive God’s blessings? We must follow the story to find our place in the real estate.
Jacob was forced to leave home for several reasons. First, he had stolen Esau’s birthright when he traded a bowl of stew for the birthright. Second, he received the blessing of his father by pretending to be Esau. Third his mother wanted to keep the blood line pure. So he should return to land of their ancestors to find a wife.
So we have Jacob fleeing because of the fear of his brother and to please his Mama. Either of these reasons could be enough reason to get out of town.
Jacob comes to Bethel where he receives a promise from God. God promises that Jacob and his descendents will inhabit the land that God had promised them.
God promises to be Jacob’s guide, guard, and provide the physical needs so Jacob accepts God’s offer.
Mark asks the question: Why would God pick Jacob? He is asking us to consider the question of why God would pick us.
Genesis 28: 10-19a
Sunday morning we listened as Mark describes the difference between real estate and the real estate as we hear the story of Jacob. He ask how God could choose a person like Jacob to receive God’s promise and ending with a question of how God could choose persons like us to receive God’s blessings? We must follow the story to find our place in the real estate.
Jacob was forced to leave home for several reasons. First, he had stolen Esau’s birthright when he traded a bowl of stew for the birthright. Second, he received the blessing of his father by pretending to be Esau. Third his mother wanted to keep the blood line pure. So he should return to land of their ancestors to find a wife.
So we have Jacob fleeing because of the fear of his brother and to please his Mama. Either of these reasons could be enough reason to get out of town.
Jacob comes to Bethel where he receives a promise from God. God promises that Jacob and his descendents will inhabit the land that God had promised them.
God promises to be Jacob’s guide, guard, and provide the physical needs so Jacob accepts God’s offer.
Mark asks the question: Why would God pick Jacob? He is asking us to consider the question of why God would pick us.
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