Isaac has two personal encounters with God. During a time of famine, God commands that Isaac stay in the land of promise and not go down to Egypt. The blessing given to Abraham is extended to Isaac, provided that he 'abides" where he has been positioned (26:4). Isaac persists to live in the land during times of difficulty. He is patient with those who become jealous of his prosperity. His adversaries cover up and steal what they imagine to be the source of his prosperity. He patiently digs them out again and pursues a path of peace, proving that it is the Lord who prospers him. The Lord appears to Isaac a second time (26:24) and renews the promise He had made with his father, Abraham.
Jacob, who is born in Canaan, is sent back to Abraham's old tramping grounds, the household of his grandfather Bethuel in Paddan-aram, to marry one of his uncle Laban's daughters rather than a Canaanite. It proves to quite an ordeal. And Laban proves to be one misery-making father-in-law!
While Jacob is on his journey, a long way from home, he has his unique experience with God:
"He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said,
"I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, 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 have promised you." (Genesis 28:11-15)
Wow! What grace! Jacob's name means, "supplanter" or "cheater" and we have already seen how Jacob's behavior has been consistent with his name as he cheated his brother Esau out of the birthright, even though God had a plan that the birthright would come to him. But God's purpose is not thwarted by our failures. His promises remain intact. They are promises that have been anchored to a covenant and the obedience of Another!
Notice the repetition of the word "Behold" in Jacob's encounter with God:
BEHOLD- THE ANGELS OF GOD (2)
BEHOLD- THE LORD (3) STOOD ABOVE IT AND SAID
BEHOLD- THE PROMISE (4) I AM WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP YOU WHEREVER YO GO AND BRING YOU BACK, FOR I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNTIL I HAVE DONE WHAT I HAVE PROMISED YOU.
(1) The ladder is a picture of unbroken communion with God. We see this fulfilled in Jesus (See John 1:51).
(2) The angels are "ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation." (Hebrews 1:14)
(3) The Lord Himself is the best part of the vision. In fact only He is mentioned when references are later made to this experience (Gen 28:16; 35:1,7; 48:3)
(4) Jacob is not only given the promise of blessings in the future (28:13-14) protection in all places (28:15) but the guarantee of His presence.
Let us remember God's faithfulness to do what He promises: "I will not leave you until I have done what i have promised you." (Gen 28:15)
Jacob only expected to be away for a few days. Unlike with Isaac, the father did not send a messenger out to go before him and chose the bride. Jacob would not get back to the promised land for another 20 years! (31:38). But God proved to be with him!
What strikes me about the rest of the story is Jacob falling in love with Rachel. It is a tender story yet one that, like most love stories, faces all kinds of obstacles.
"So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her." (Gen 29:20). How wonderful to see how there are brides worth winning. There are brides worth waiting for. This makes me think of the Lord's patience as He waits for His bride!
NEW TESTAMENT READING: MATTHEW 9:18-38
What divine appointments will there be for us while we are about our business today?
I often preach on Matthew 9:35-38 and did so on my recent mission in Brazil. Why? Because in this account we have such a relevant picture of Jesus beholding the unfinished task of reaching and discipling the nations. Our prayer should be: Lord help us to see people as You see them (distressed and dispirited, like sheep without a shepherd, those with problems so great that they don't know where to turn for help- Matthew 9:36). Help us to feel the way You feel- to have compassion on them; to pray as you pray, to the Sovereign Lord of the harvest, that we might do what you told us to do- Go where you send us, and make disciples of all nations.
THE PROVERB FOR THE DAY
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NASB)
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
One of the great sanctifying agents of the Lord is the way He deals with us!
