Genesis 28

Bible Passage:  Genesis 28

The beginning of Jacob’s faith – Genesis 28

“If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21)

What were your thoughts as you read these words of Jacob?

Previously I commented on Genesis 27 that Jacob did not have a personal faith. When referring to God, he did not say He was his God, instead he said to Issac, “The LORD your God…” (Genesis 27:20)

He also probably only knew God at arm’s length, without really walking with Him. Which I mentioned was likely the reason why he had dared to lie using God’s name. He must have thought that God was somewhere “far away”.

In today’s chapter, I saw the humour of God in His mercy and grace towards Jacob.

I am the LORD

The first thing that the Lord said to Jacob was, “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.”

I am not sure about you, but reading this tickles me a little. It was as though God heard what Jacob had said (in Genesis 27:20), and is now using his own words on him.

“Yes, you know me as only the God of your fathers. And indeed, I am the LORD God of your fathers. But do you know that I want to be your God too?”

In today’s context, perhaps we have been brought to church by a friend, or a family member, or we might have been brought up from young in church, do we see God as merely the God of my mother, or the God of my friend XX?

Whether we are born in church, or we only come to believe later, I think that the beginning of one’s faith really starts when one is able to see God as his/her personal God. Have our faith really started in that sense?

The mercy and grace of God is also evident here. Even after Jacob had used His name in vain, He still appeared to Jacob in an attempt to establish his faith. And He reiterated His promises to Jacob.

I am with you

God also told Jacob, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

Again, I saw the humour of God here. It was as though God knew that Jacob had kept Him at arm’s length and was attempting to make him realise that He was always with Him, and will continue to be with him.

Jacob had not realised that up to this point in his faith, and in my opinion, even after he had woken up from this dream, he still did not get it.

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16)

He attributed the appearance of God to the place, but in actual fact, God was always with him.

It is quite amusing to see God use the exact two points that Jacob had failed in, in an attempt to establish Jacob’s faith. Every time I think about the extent that God would go for us in order for us to have faith in Him and be saved, four Chinese words come to mind: 用心良苦。 Why should He do all these? When I think about how small and insignificant I am, compared to so many people out there, I really marvel at how much God will do for me, just so that I can be reconciled with Him.

And so, with a God this merciful and full of grace, how shall we do to complete this beautiful picture? We know that it has to be a two-way thing. Even with God extending His hand of grace, we must also stretch out our hand of faith in order to have a complete picture.

Did Jacob pass the test? We are back to the first question I posted at the beginning.

“If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21)

I leave it to you to decide. But I can only say that his faith is only just beginning.