“At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock.” (Gen 28:11, C.E.V.)
A reflection on the present always reflects something of our past and often looks forward to our future, at the same time.
As we prepare to celebrate a new day each morning, we can reflect upon what we have done and where we have been.
What was our yesterday like?
We wonder why we see no method to the fast-paced troubles and trials that happen to us. I have looked back and thought, “Why on earth did I have to suffer so much these last few months? Why did this, or why did that ever happen? It doesn’t even make sense, let alone seem fair.
I noticed in this text how Jacob came to “a certain place;” and stayed there all night because the sun had set.”
Now Jacob had no mattress, no covers, and a rock for a pillow. Jacob must have wondered what on earth was going on too; and why God had led him there, and apparently “left” him in such a place to sleep for the night. Sound uncomfortable at the very least.
It is quite likely that Jacob had intended to try to reach the city of Luz that day, but because the sun had set, he ran out of time, and had to stay put for the night. With the dark of night coming on, it could have been quite dangerous for him to try to reach the city then. I can imagine how that Jacob was worried about the big city being too dangerous at night.
Like Jacob’s experience, I walked into a few places recently where I was thinking maybe I had run out of time, that some issues had gone unanswered, and had left me in tatters; yet, when I saw this sunset tonight, the thought crossed my mind that another day is promised.
This day, like the setting sun is indeed ebbing away, yet reflected in the beauty and colors of this sunset, the new tomorrow will arise, with a chance to do things differently; and maybe even better.
I find myself wanting to praise the Lord for the Light, and the color that He puts into my life. Sometimes it is through the people He sets in my path, sometimes He communicates the assurance I need through what He has created, like this sunset.
I intend to enter today, this new day, praising God for the answers He has given me, and for the moments of Light, and colors He has gifted me with, and for
“when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)
God’s covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac was also offered to Jacob. But it was not enough for Jacob to be Abraham’s grandson; Jacob had to also establish his own personal relationship with God.
God has no grandchildren; each person must have a personal relationship with him. It is not enough to hear wonderful stories about Christians in your family. You need to become part of the story yourself. (Ezekiel 14:14,20, 1 John 5:11-12, 1 John 1:1-3)
Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose so it is with you also]. [Gen 15:6]
Gal 3:7 So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7, AMP)
Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the LORD; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man). (Gen 15:6, AMP)
Jacob had a very uncomfortable place to sleep that night, not unlike many of us at various points in our life. Things are uncomfortable. Maybe even dangerous. As the text reveals, God had Jacob stay there for a good reason.
Jacob had the stones for his pillows and the heavens for his canopy; no heat, very much exposed to the elements; and yet, the hardship of this night seemed to make him forget that he was fleeing for his life from his own brother. The dream he had in verse 12 reflects the amazing assurance Jacob had in this divine protection. (Rom 4:1-5)
I can see myself, climbing Jacob’s ladder. Each promise of God that I claim seems to be one more step up that ladder. Each promise is one step closer to Heaven, (2 Pet 1:3-4)
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
I believe God has good reason for whatever I have experienced, for all the pain, the frustration and where I have had to be in recent days. I do not really know what that reason is right now that my suffering intensifies, but it does not matter. The “times of refreshing” have helped me through it all. They tell me that Jesus is here. He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Heb 13:5)
Partakers of the Divine Nature simply means for us today that we must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has ransomed. We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through wrong desires. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful desire or evil propensity. Eph 2:1-6. {7BC 943.1}
Great and precious promises refers to the numerous offers of divine provision found throughout Scripture. These promises offer us the glory and virtue of Christ as the basis for our growing participation in the divine nature. (2 Pet 3:18).
We have Christ within us, as He promised (John 14:23), to enable us to become increasingly Christlike (2 Cor 3:18). Because we have become new creatures in Christ, (2 Cor 5:17), we have already escaped the corruption (the moral ruin) that is in the world through perverted desire.
“In Christ,” through His precious promises, shows how we can make our escape from this world’s ways evident to all by our godly behavior (Acts 4:13), and by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). These promises are the fourth resource (compare also 2 Pet 1:1,2 Pet 1:3) upon which believers today may draw for sustaining help. (Isa 12:3)
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isa 12:2-3)
Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God (Rom 4:1-5). We, too, can have a right relationship with God by going to Jesus just as we are, and by trusting Him.
Our outward actions, such as church attendance, prayer, good deeds, none of that will ever in or of themselves make us right with God.
A right relationship for me to have with God is based on the shed blood of Christ,(Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13),accessed by our exercised faith. Faith — the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. (Isa 28:12, Acts 3:19)
The God who began a good work within us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place.
His work within us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God every time I remember you. And I always pray for all of you with joy. I thank God for the help you gave me while I told people the Good News. You helped from the first day you believed until now. I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. I know I am right to think like this about all of you because you are so close to my heart. This is because you have all played such an important part in God’s grace to me (Phil 1:2-7, ERV)
No matter where you end up having to lay your head for the night, it is my prayer that you also experience this inner confidence that “…He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Phil 1:6)
Prayer:
Father In Heaven, draw me close to You, never let me go. I lay it all down again before You. To hear you say that I am your friend
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen