Direction and Purpose

I am with you and will protect you everywhere you go
and will bring you back to this land.
I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. -Genesis 28:15 (NCV)

Before we fully appreciate God’s Word in this verse, we need to study it in context. Jacob had received the birthright blessing from his father Isaac. Esau was tricked by his brother, and Jacob feared his brother’s retaliation. He was on his way to Haran.
He stopped at a place to spend the night.
In a vision (or dream), he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and saw angels descending and ascending on the ladder.
Then he saw the Lord standing at the top of the ladder.
He identified himself as the Lord of Abraham and Isaac—and of Jacob, too.
The promise made to Abraham—of making his descendants a great nation—was repeated to Jacob. In response, Jacob sat the stone he had used as a pillow, made an altar and called it Bethel—that is, Beth-el—the House of God.

God was in that place and Jacob knew it not until he had the vision.
Then Jacob made his own commitment to God at Bethel, promising to follow
Him, give him a tithe, and then asking God to protect, feed and give him peace. There in the wilderness, Jacob met God face to face.

The message God gave to Jacob on that long ago journey
is as much to each of us today as it was to Jacob.
I am with you.
I will protect you.
I will bring you back to this land.
I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
This is a promise from God of direction and purpose for our lives.
Will I, like Jacob, at the altar of my heart bow down and worship God?
In the light of God’s promise and revelation, will I pledge to follow God?
Here am I, Lord.
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of Your Master Plan for people.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; January 6, 2010