Skip to main content

13. Carrying on the Covenant


Genesis 35:9-15
Key Verse:  “And god said, "I am God almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body."
Genesis 35:11

 In yesterday's reading, when God met Jacob, Jacob's commitment was conditional. He stood at his altar, so sure of himself and said, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God." (Gen. 28: 21) If,..Then? Jacob seems to be in charge here.

What a difference a life makes. Today, he is back at the same place with a similar altar and a similar promise from God. This time, however, Jacob simply makes an offering and says nothing. What a difference the sanctification process makes when the Lord works in the life of His chosen.

Jacob knows who God is now.  God has walked with him and wrestled with him and changed his name from Jacob, (which means deceiver), to Israel, (which means one who wrestles with God). He has found his place in the messianic lineage. As his grandfather Abraham before him, Israel too has been molded and changed.

We are one sign post closer to Messiah.  How long, O Lord, how long?  Perhaps Israel is more contemplative now. He knows that he's not necessarily who he thought that he was. He sees the struggles that his family is going through and the problems they are creating for others. It is a humbler man who stands here, more useful in his submission to God's purposes.  He has learned how it feels to be deceived.  He has learned the value of commitment.

"After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him." (Gen. 35:9)  Earlier in his life, Jacob had used trickery to receive a blessing from his earthly Father.  Now, after many twists and turns, God, Jacob’s Heavenly Father, who cannot be deceived, comes to Jacob voluntarily to affirm His original blessing, to renew His covenant, and to encourage Jacob to keep on keeping on.  God knows everything about Jacob, but God still chooses him and calls him Israel to fulfill His purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us: "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance, for us to do."   Jacob lives this out and sets an example before us of God's faithfulness to mold us into usefulness for Him.  It's just amazing to consider!

Hymn: "O Worship the King" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more