Surrounded By God

And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
Genesis 35:7

Jacob had spent twenty years scheming his way back to the Promised Land; land that had already been promised to him – while his mother was pregnant with his twin and him. He had finally had enough of conning after those twenty years of Laban conning him. He had benefited from the relationship. Things had mostly benefited him. He had gained wives, children and wealth, but the cost had been high. As he became weary of always tricking people his awareness of God’s participation in his life broke through.

Jacob passed through the site where God had met with him to assure him that He would protect Jacob from Esau and bless him. Jacob had a realization. When he had been fleeing his brother he named the place Bethel which means “House of God”. Beth is “house” and El is “God”. Now he finds God waiting for him. Jacob had accepted God following him to protect him. Now he found that God not only was his rearguard but that He was going ahead to clear the way. Now he knows God is the reason for his success not all of his scheming. He calls the place literally “God house God”. Jacob recognized God is the one who has brought blessing into his life.

Here, after He has wrestled with God, Jacob finds the only thing worth clutching is Him. All the grasping after things has just brought him conflict with his family while God has blessed him in spite of his selfishness. After this Jacob changes. He makes himself vulnerable to his brother, insists that Esau take the gift he offers, and is honest with him. Finally he gets that God is leading him. Despite his best efforts to get his way he finds himself fulfilling God’s plan. From this day, Jacob begins to cooperate with God’s plan. He becomes Israel and prepares his twelve sons, the patriarchs, to fulfill their roles to be the nation God blesses the whole earth through as he promised Abraham.

Are we struggling with life and clutching things instead of wrestling with God and clinging to Him? Have we come to the place in our lives where we realize God is surrounding us? Instead of trying to get Him to bless our plans, are we willing to cooperate with His? Can we name our place God before me/God behind me?

Holding On To Him,

Pastor Jason