Today’s Devotion
Topic: The God of Bethel (Part 2)
Text: Genesis 31: 13
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’” Amen.
Yesterday we begun a beautiful series about the GOD OF BETHEL. In our discussion we realised that whatever it was, legitimate or illegitimate, that made Jacob snatch his elder brother’s ‘birthright’ blessings, had also made him a fugitive. His brother who obviously could not come to terms with his loss would do anything to revenge. Jacob, upon the counsel of his mum had to run from home and head for his uncle Laban’s abode in Paddan Aram (about 500 miles from where they were living in Beersheba).
He journeyed on “till he reached a place and stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and He said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Gen 28: 11- 15)
“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel. Then he made a vow, saying, “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 household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Gen 28: 16- 22).
Beloved, we have no indication from earlier text that Jacob prayed to the God of his father’s before embarking on his journey. Yet the presence of the Lord was with him and he didn’t even know. By reason of the covenant God had with Abraham, and the blessings that had been recently conferred upon him (Jacob) due to that same covenant, God revealed Himself to Jacob in a dream and confirmed His commitment to the covenant. Promising to give him the land where he had taken a nap, bless him with many descendants and be with him on his journey till he’s back safely on that land.
What a covenant keeping God. Beloved, God is faithful to every promise He has made to you in His word. He has seen you embark on this all important journey called 2017 and beyond, and He is not going to leave you staggering through. He promises to bless and multiply you on this journey, to lead you in the path of righteousness for His name sake, to be beside you like a mighty warrior, to guide and protect you every side on the way, to be with you even through fire and inspire you unto greater heights. To supply every provision needed for a successful trip and to bring you to an expected end.
No wonder Jacob was in awe when he woke up. In spite of his imperfections, God still loved him this much? He raised an altar and called the place BETHEL for he said, this is the house of God. He also vowed that if the Lord watches over him on his journey as He says He would, then he (Jacob) will bless God with a tenth of all the Lord blesses him with. Beloved, you may not have to vow, but rather have the consciousness to bless God with your life, tithe and substance as a token of love for His faithfulness in your life through this year. That is never too high a demand and it’s about time you stopped coming up with excuses when it comes to Seed Sowing.
He is the God of Bethel, the Lord who remembers his word to us even when we have forgotten. The one who forgives our past and walks us through life to fulfil His good pleasure. Never be found wanting this year when you must do anything to His honor. Even when it costs you, let it be your sacrifice to Him for all His faithfulness.
Tomorrow, we will research to see if God kept His word to Jacob as He promised He would and what that must mean to us. THE GOD OF BETHEL!
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