Genesis 31:13: “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.”

October 16th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God appeared to Jacob in a dream and reminded him of their earlier encounter at Bethel, when Jacob had the dream of the ladder between heaven and earth, and the angels going up and down it with Jesus at the top. We remember that the name Bethel comes from the Hebrew word beth, meaning “house,” and el, meaning “God.” It was at this same House of God that Jacob’s grandfather Abraham had also built an altar to worship the Living God. God was sending Jacob back to the place he first learned to worship the Lord. For God’s purposes to be fulfilled in us and through us, He must occasionally move us geographically. Jacob’s time was over at Haran and God wanted him to change course. So Jacob gathered his wives, children, and all his belongings, and ran away from Laban.

Genesis 29 through 31 covers the 20 years of Jacob’s life after he fled from Esau. The dominant theme seen in these chapters is how God is actively involved in His children’s lives. Although He may be unseen, He is not removed and distant. This encourages us to hold on to the truth that even when we are unaware of God’s presence, He is working to accomplish His purposes and protection. God is still actively working in His children’s lives by guiding, disciplining, and blessing them. All these things are His hand prompting us in the right direction. His preferred method of prompting us is through His word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet / And a light to my path.”

“Word of God, speak to us this day as we seek to hear Your voice for direction; give us a deeper love and hunger for Your word.”