Just prior to these verses God has spoken some incredible promises to Jacob in a dream. Basically, God repeated the covenant He made with Abraham and Isaac, confirming the promises and blessings that would be fulfilled through Jacob, as well as committing His presence and protection over Jacob. Sadly, Jacob seems to honour the place more than he does the Person who has just spoken words of His plan, provision and promises over his life. Jacob needed to understand that God is with him everywhere and that He will never fail to fulfill His words to us. There is nowhere we can go that His presence is not with us. Every place we step is a Bethel (Gen 28:19, Ps 139:7-12).
Jacob's conditional reply can often be similar to our response to the Lord. We want to see to believe. We treat God's word as if it isn't enough. Instead of receiving in awe and believing in trust all that God has spoken, Jacob appears to be negotiating a deal. Essentially Jacob responds, Lord if I see You do this...then I will do this.
Heavenly Father, how I long to believe Your word fully and completely. When You speak it's as good as done. Why is it so hard to trust? You proclaim an incredible word to our hearts, and then we often go about trying to fulfill the outcome ourselves instead of waiting on You.
Lord, You call us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Our tendency is to be sight-walking-people. It's interesting that we will receive salvation by faith, confident of our eternal home with You, yet in our day-to-day we struggle to trust. We want evidence to eliminate all unknowns. We ask You to grow our faith yet we don't want the situations that are needed for You to answer that prayer request.
Help me be like David in Psalm 11 as He considers Your sovereignty and greatness and realizes that trusting You is the safest response. He lifted his eyes to You to find faith in times of uncertainty. Father help me to know that You can be completely trusted; yes because Your word never fails, but also because of Your great love for me. Once again I pray that my response of faith will be the greatest evidence of my love for You.
1 comment:
"You proclaim an incredible word to our hearts, and then we often go about trying to fulfill the outcome ourselves instead of waiting on You. "
Yuck. So true! Why is it so hard to trust? Why must I insist on grasping for control?
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