Read: Genesis 28:10–17
Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 14–15; Luke 22:21–46
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Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. Genesis 28:16
Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden knew what it felt like to be on the
far side of the moon. For three days back in 1971, he flew alone in his
command module, Endeavor, while two crewmates worked thousands
of miles below on the surface of the moon. His only companions were the
stars overhead that he remembers as being so thick they seemed to wrap
him in a sheet of light.
As the sun went down on the Old Testament character Jacob’s first
night away from home, he too was profoundly alone, but for a different
reason. He was on the run from his older brother—who wanted to kill him
for stealing the family blessing normally given to the firstborn son.
Yet on falling asleep, Jacob had a dream of a staircase joining heaven
and earth. As he watched angels ascending and descending, he heard the
voice of God promising to be with him and to bless the whole earth
through his children. When Jacob woke he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:16).
Jacob had isolated himself because of his
deceit. Yet as real as his failures, and as dark as the night, he was in
the presence of the One whose plans are always better and more
far-reaching than our own. Heaven is closer than we think, and the “God
of Jacob” is with us.
Father, thank You for using the story of Jacob to show us that the glory of Your unseen presence and goodness is far greater than we could imagine.
God is nearer than we think.
© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries
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