I’ve chosen a longer passage today, so let’s jump right in. Anybody else loving Genesis right along with me? Reading it in pieces really makes new wisdom stand out. Want to share what you see? The comments are open!
Genesis 28:14-15 (GW)–Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendants, every family on earth will be blessed. Remember, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land because I will not leave you until I do what I’ve promised you.
So, Jacob is on the run from his brother Esau. He’s just left behind everything and everyone he knows, even the mother who likely spoiled him slam rotten. He has his father’s blessing, but what good is it going to do him when he can’t even be there to receive it?
Ah… but what he doesn’t realize is he not only has his father’s blessing, he has the Father’s blessing. And as he rests, the vision of a ladder to heaven appears, and he hears the voice of God… blessing him. Yeah, Jacob messed up big time. He lied. He ran. He did flat wrong. But God actually lets him hear His voice and says, “Hey, you’re running now, but guess what, Son. I’m going to bring you right back here. And I’m going to make you a blessing to every single person on the earth.”
Wow. Can you imagine? Jacob’s at his lowest point… and he gets his highest vision.
If God’s mercy and grace isn’t evident right there, I don’t know how you can see it anywhere else. He doesn’t let Jacob wallow and suffer, even though the man deserves it. He shows right up and blesses him, gives him hope, shows him a plan so much greater than Jacob, who was, as it turned out, right where he needed to be.
See, we can’t screw up so bad God can’t find us and still lead us right where we need to be. We can’t run away from Him, because He finds us and brings us back… if we’re willing to follow. And as one who has had to fall on His mercy more times than I can count, aren’t we glad there’s grace? That we don’t have to ever hear him say, “Sorry. You messed up so bad I’m finished with you.” Oh, Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
-JB
Tina Hunt says
So encouraging. Thanks for the reminder! Blessings.
Jodie says
Thanks, Tina!
Deb Young says
Wow! Powerful message…how many of us don’t or can’t do what God did? If God is willing to give someone a second chance who are we not to? Everyone “screws” up and we (many of us) are so quick to judge. It’s very powerful to say to someone who everyone has given up on “We’re going to care about you (believe n you) until you can care (or believe in you) about you. Isn’t that what God does? I can’t count the number of times a patient/client/consumer has said that “so and so said they forgave me but they said they will never forget.” What does that say about the other person’s relationship with God. God knows our heart. He forgives us and forgets our “screw ups.” He gives us a second, third, fourth…..and more chances because He knows we are human and we make mistakes. The key is to learn from our “screw ups” and not repeat them…which is the definition of insanity. However asking God to let His will be our hearts desire…leads us to peace and serenity. God is so awesome. I wish more people would pray for willingness. 24/7/365 God is with us and He will always love us, regardless, even when we can’t love ourselves. God is so good! Yea God!
Jodie says
I love this comment. Forgiveness is tougher than it seems, more than saying the words. It’s an effort, and way more complicated with our human, hurting hearts than we imagine it will ever be.
Dawn Lucowitz says
As a military spouse I find I cling on to verse 15. “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.
I love this first for family. We move all the time. In the almost 8 years I have been married I have lived in NY, TN, KS and VA, and that is nothing compared to many of my friends. Every few years we pick up, move and start over. Don’t get me wrong, there are so many parts of this that I love. Talk about reinventing yourself. As I have grown spiritually, moving has helped keep me focused and on the right path. People and things that I allowed myself to be negatively influenced by have been removed from my life just because we have to move. Parts of me that I am not so happy with, people at a new location don’t know, so they don’t ever see or know that part of me (unless I want them to) and I get that fresh. Start.
I have been able to see God with me in each and every move. Sometimes I see him while he is right there, and sometimes I look back and see where he was in different situations. It is fun and amazing to see that he really is always present.
The other part that I cling on with this verse is for my husband when he is away. I love that God is in control. That God will be watching over him and bring him back home. Of course I pray that “home” is back with me, but I know that if that is not God’s will, our other home is the greatest place to end up. Please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t know what I would do if my husband were to be taken from me, but I also know that he something could happen to him here in VA as easily as it could happen away at war. We never know when our time on earth is going to be over. What is comforting to understand that no matter how long or short that time is, God is there holding on to us, watching over us, and never leaving us.