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January 23rd
Our bible reading is in Genesis chapters 32,33,34.
Jacob and his large family and servants and cattle and flocks left the wilderness of Paddan Aram (northeast, in present-day Turkey) heading toward Canaan, the “promised land”, given by God in a promise to Abraham and his descendants...which included Jacob and his family.
Just a few miles into the journey, Laban and his sons and servants caught up with Jacob’s tribe. After an exchange of heated words and accusations, Jacob and Laban agreed to a friendly parting...confirmed by two piles of stones. In the days and years to come, when the children would ask about the stones piled up there, those that knew the story would tell of the promises that Jacob and Laban made to each other for the sake of their families.
The promises that were made between Jacob’s family and Laban’s...they were made and they were broken, many times, over many generations. We could say that the stones lost their meaning.
But there was a promise made and a stone nearby to testify to the keeping of it...a promise made by a young stonemason/carpenter in Judah years after Jacob and Laban died.
...a promise that was made and not broken...
...and there was a rather large stone that pointed toward an empty grave and the promise kept...for all who believed.
Jesus Christ said,
“I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he should die, yet shall he ever live.” John 11:25
Obviously we can't say it any better than the very words of Jesus as recorded in John...But maybe... a few lyrics of a song by Dallas Holm, written in 1978, will help you, just like it has helped Bev and me, for 42 years, to remember this promise and strengthen your faith for the days to come.
“Go ahead, drive the nails in my hands...Laugh at me, where you stand. Go ahead and say it isn't me,
The day will come and you will see...
Cause I’ll rise...again
Ain't no power on earth that can tie me down...
Yes, I’ll rise....again,
Death can't keep me in the ground.
Go ahead and mock my name...My love for you is still the same...
Go ahead and bury me...
But very soon
I will be free
Go ahead and say I'm dead and gone...But you will see that you were wrong...
Go ahead... try to hide the son
But all will see... that I'm the One.
Cause I’ll come... again
Ain't no power on earth can hold me back
Yes, I’ll come... again...
Come to take my people back.
Thanks, Lord...Your cross and Your empty grave...promise made and promise kept so we are inspired to believe that you're coming back...just as You have promised...halleluiah!!!
Some introduction right?
But the rest of the story is too encouraging to pull up now.
Back to the text...Jacob and his family continued toward home. There should have been excitement, but instead, there was great fear. Jacob feared that his brother still held a murderous grudge against him...and perhaps against his whole family.
Now, look what God did.
A band of angels...God’s warrior host... met Jacob on the way. Jacob was encouraged. He even named the next place where they stopped for the night...
Mahanaim...” two camps “...ours and God’s together.
Did that take all the fear away? No, didn't seem to...
So...look what God did next...
God Himself wrestled with fearful, confused, desperate Jacob all night....bringing Jacob to the humble end of himself...touching Jacob’s hip...dislocating it for the rest of his days...causing a limp of continual repentance for pride and belief in God’s strength and promises. God wrestled with Jacob until Jacob admitted his need for God. God blessed him with a limp and a new name...Israel...from selfish deceiver to prince with God.
And guess what happened after that...that’s the rest of the story. Thanks for being on this journey of Bible in a Year.
