TODAY’S BIBLE READING:

Genesis 28:1–29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12

TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Genesis 28:16 (CSB) “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.'”

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The context of our Verse for Today reveals that Jacob had left his family and his home. He took his brother’s blessing by deception and his brother, Esau, now wanted to kill him. So, his father and mother sent him on a 600 mile journey northeast of all that is familiar to him.

We must read between the lines of the text to determine what Jacob may have felt on that journey. But, it would seem to me that he was sad, anxious, feeling guilty, and so much more.

In fact, as he was on this journey that was only necessary because he had done some really bad things, he was battling loneliness. No one was taking the journey with him and he knew absolutely no one in the towns he passed. In fact, he didn’t even understand their language. He was all alone.

It seems to me that he would have felt utterly destitute.

But, then he went to sleep.

Genesis 28:10-12 (CSB) “Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. And he dreamed: …”

In this dream, he saw a stairway to Heaven. Angels were walking up and down on it. And then He heard the Lord affirm that he would eventually own the land he was sleeping upon, his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the sea, and He would not leave him. God was going with Jacob on the journey!

In the dream, God said:

Genesis 28:15 (CSB) “Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

That’s when Jacob woke up. He realized that he wasn’t alone. The Lord was with him and was guiding his steps. His loneliness dissipated. His anxiety went away. He was now a man on a mission with the clear knowledge that God was his companion.

Genesis 28:16 (CSB) “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.'”

Friend, if you are a Jesus-follower, you have so many things that are true of you!

  • God is always with you (Hebrews 13:5).
  • God’s Holy Spirit indwells you (Romans 8:9).
  • God has promised to work everything out for your good (Romans 8:28).
  • He has promised to forgive and completely cleanse you whenever you own up to your sin and seek His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
  • Nothing can happen to you unless God wills it or allows it (Ephesians 1:11).
  • Etc., etc., etc.

Friend, it may seem that God is nowhere near you. You may feel like Jacob on that long journey before he had that dream. You may feel sadness, worry, guilt, loneliness, and so much more.

But, God is with you. He is in you. And He has made so many precious promises about you that He will fulfill.

So, read your Bible. Note carefully the promises that God has made that apply to you. Then, live in victory resting on the truths of God’s Word.

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