Dear Christa—
It doesn’t really appear that Jacob was
concerned with God. He seemed to be far more focused on duping his brother and
acquiring the inheritance of his father. But, as actions always have a way of
catching up to people, he eventually found himself alone—far from his conniving
mother’s advice and protection—fleeing the disappointment of a father and the anger
of a brother.
Perhaps for the first time, Jacob had to grow
up. It appears he’d gone quickly—before Esau found out he was leaving.
Now, it was night—dark, desolate—no city lights
for comfort and assurance. Just the perfect place to find God—or for God to
find him.
Note that God does not claim to be his God at
this moment. He tells Jacob, “I am the LORD,” the God of your father and
grandfather. He promises Jacob the land and the inheritance—for it was truly
only God’s to give in the first place. Who but God controls our future? He
promises to stay with Jacob and foreshadows becoming Jacob’s God as well.
When Jacob awoke, he was a changed man. Neither
proud nor self-seeking, he was simply afraid (Gen. 28:16). If Jacob had never
taken God seriously before, he certainly does now. He worships there and makes
a vow—a commitment to God—that if God only watches over him and brings him safely
home, God will be his God too—far less than what God had just promised him.
Though Jacob’s words have the impression of a
condition, from this point forward we see Jacob’s growing dependence on God.
Perhaps that’s always true of a real encounter with God—a shift from depending
on our own control to a reliance on God’s eyes to watch over us and never to
leave us. And, to bring us safely home.
—the
parishioner who doesn’t do anything
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