Genesis 28 tells us of the beginning of Jacob’s walk with God. He has just stolen Esau’s blessing and now is being sent to a land far away to find a wife. Importantly we read that “Jacob obeyed his parents” and loaded up and headed out. Esau – very ticked at the situation – responds equally but in the other direction: “When Esau realized how deeply his father Isaac disliked the Canaanite women, 9 he went to Ishmael and married”. Jacob travels to the land where his mother grew up and sets up camp. As he sleeps, he has a dream of a “stairway” to heaven and God gives him a number of promises. Check these out:
I’ll stay with you
I’ll protect you
I’ll bring you back to this very ground
I’ll stick with you
I’ll do what I promised you
Talk about a personal relationship. God is a personal God. He wants a personal relationship with you and me. And He offers it freely – the only stumbling block is us. He is there, available and ready to connect. We need to follow Jacob’s lead and recognize Him and just talk with Him and give Him his due. Jacob ends the chapter with these words: “And everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you”. Are you a tither? It is part of having a relationship with God. It shows the status of our heart and the recognition that God is indeed in control and the owner of all things. We are His steward and manager, not the owner. Huge lesson to learn.
Posted by asorensen 
