The Presence of God

Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, was on the run because he had cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright. He hoped to find his mother’s family, but for the moment he is landless and rootless, with no prospects other than the birthright he received by deceit. It was late, the sun had set, and he lay down to sleep with a rock as a pillow. During the night he dreamt of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels moving up and down. “And the Lord stood beside him?”(verse 13)

God came to this man who had cheated in a major way and reiterated the promise made to Abraham years before; the promise of a homeland and descendants and, “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (verse 15)

We, like Jacob, have done many things we ought not to have done, and yet God forgives and has promised neither to leave us nor forsake us; we are God’s loved and forgiven children. Like Jacob we can declare, “Surely the Lord is in this place?”

Lord God, help us, restore us, hold us in your loving embrace. We praise you for forgiveness. Surely you are in this place. Amen. — REJ