Light second purple candle - The Peace Candle
Our television was set to the local CBS station, midmornings when we weren’t in school. The camera would scan the studio audience, most of whom were dressed up in hilarious costumes, then the announcer’s voice would ask, “Would you make a deal to trade up to five hundred dollars in cash for one of these three doors, knowing behind one of them is $3,254 in cash or valuable merchandise? Several people may have to make that decision during the next few minutes as we bring you The Marketplace Of America: “LET’S MAKE A DEAL!” Hosted by legendary Monty Hall, “Let’s Make a Deal” was a long-running American game show where contestants made deals with Monty to exchange valuable prizes for potentially better prizes, or for a “zonk,” a worthless item. The core gameplay was all about risk and reward, as contestants were forced to decide whether to stick with their initial prize or trade it for something unknown. In today’s reading, we’ll watch an episode of “Let’s Make a Deal with God” and Jacob, a regular contestant. Who is Jacob, you might ask? How about I catch you up a bit:
After being spared from certain death on a sacrificial altar, Isaac grows into an adult, marries Rebekah and after many years of trying to have a baby, the Lord blesses the couple with twin boys, Esau and Jacob. There is a son for each of the parents, and neither hide their preference; Rebekah was closest to Jacob, while Isaac preferred Esau. Jacob and his mom concoct a grand scheme to take not only the birthright from his elder brother, but Isaac’s blessing intended for Esau as well.
Understandably, Esau sees red and is intent on killing Jacob, so Isaac and Rebekah hurriedly send Jacob to her brother’s family under the guise of finding an acceptable wife. Jacob sets out that first day and goes as far as his legs will carry him in order to get as much distance between him and Esau as possible. While his heart is still beating out of his chest, the sun dips down over the western horizon and he realizes that he can’t go one step farther. It’s here that we pick up the story in our reading for today:
* Read Genesis 28:10-22
So Jacob falls asleep with his head on a makeshift pillow of stone and has the most amazing dream, “A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.” (v 12) Henceforth known as Jacob’s Ladder, this bridge between heaven and earth revealed that God was still committed to making the earth his dwelling place and would use the family line He had chosen to fulfill this promise. Jesus would later recall this story in John 1:51, as He called Phillip and Nathanael to join his growing collection of disciples, “Then he said, ‘Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” Jesus would be a greater way of access to God than the heavenly ladder on which angels traveled between God and Jacob, for certain.
In his dream, The Lord was right beside Jacob, reiterating the promise of descendants, blessings and land made to Abraham and Isaac; now that promise would continue to run through Jacob’s line. Jacob awakens and recognizes that he is on some type of holy ground. He pours oil on his pillow rock and names the place where he slept, Bethel, Hebrew for “house of God.” Interestingly, Jacob does not build an altar, indicating he has not yet fully accepted the Lord as his God. However, if The Lord God accepts and makes good on Jacob’s challenge - to be with him, protect him on his journey, provide for all of his needs, and finally return him to his family safely - “then the Lord will be my God.” (v 21) God accepts Jacob’s challenge, but blesses him beyond his wildest dreams, returning him to that very spot years later, a wealthy father of twelve sons and one daughter. This Jacob is not the same foolish young man who arrogantly thought he could negotiate and make a deal with the God of the universe. No, this man had been humbled over and over again, even pinned to the ground in a wrestling match, resulting in a mature patriarch who was even given a new name…Israel.
* Sing O Day of Peace(see page 38 for lyrics)
* Reflect
* When I read of the deal that Jacob made with the God of the universe, I get nervous. Who did he think he was?
And yet I remember as a young 20-something, following two miscarriages, asking God, “If I do such and such, will you allow the next pregnancy to result in a live birth?” How about you? Have you tried to make deals with the Lord, promising changed behavior if He gives you what you want?
* Pray and thank God that He is sovereign over everything and you are not! “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” (Col 1:16-17)
