January 6th – “Return”
Then God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God…” Genesis 35:1
Jacob is known theologically as the “rascal or rogue” of the Old Testament. He was the schemer/trickster,
the man who thought he could live by his own intelligence and efforts. He went out trying to deceive
everybody and ended up being deceived himself. His family became dysfunctional by him playing
favourites, indulging one son over the others (Joseph). His daughter Dinah was sexually assaulted, his
sons schemed against their own brother and sold him into slavery and the list goes on. Yet despite his
faults and dysfunction, Jacob is a great picture of sanctification and consecration. God confronts Jacob
and his lifestyle. In the same way God corners and confronts us until we surrender to Him. This surrender
is not only the prerequisite for a changed name but for a changed LIFE! After his encounter with God,
Jacob embraced life with an altered attitude. He no longer fears the faults of the past but trusts God’s
ability to work out all of his issues in his favour.
In Genesis 28, Jacob is getting ready to face his brother Esau after cheating him out of his inheritance. He
rests for the night at a place where he uses stones for a pillow and goes to sleep. God visits him in a dream
where he sees a ladder with angels ascending and descending and God proclaiming to be his God and
promising to bless him. Jacob is moved by this experience. He calls the place Bethel (House of God) and
makes a vow to God;
“If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and
clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.
22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, ( and of all that You give me I will
surely give a tenth to You.” Genesis 28:20-22
Genesis 35:1 takes place some 30 years later, and God reminds Jacob of his vow and calls him to return to
the place where he made the vow. Many of us are like Jacob today. We’ve been to the place where we’ve
met God and have made a vow to Him that if He would help with this or that, then we would live for Him
forever. However, troubles and trials have caused us to forget the vow. It was 30 years later, and Jacob’s
family was a mess and he needed God’s help. God calls Jacob to remember the vow he made and return
to that place.
In the same way, we must remember where the Lord found and saved us and return. His call is the same
to you and me. Thank God He will receive and restore us when we return to Him in humble repentance.
(1 John 1:9)
Reflect:
Remember and realize God deserves better than what He is getting from us
Prayer:
“Father, I remember Your goodness to me and the vow I made to serve You. I return to You with my
whole heart“
~Pastor Richard J. Brown~
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