God's Vision: Going Places Devo

August 12th, 2018

Devotional

“God’s Vision: Going Places” - Genesis 28: 10-22

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Monday: “Certain Place” - Genesis 28: 10-11

Jacob is on the run. He has angered his brother, Esau, and now with the blessing on his parents he is on the way to stay with his mother’s brother, Laban. Along the way, he grew weary, and at a certain place he stopped to spend the night. 

And at that certain place, God showed up in a mighty way in the life of Jacob. God came with a vision. It may have been a certain place for Jacob, just somewhere to lay his head, but for God it was a holy place, sacred, and set apart for such a moment as this. 

How many places that we go throughout our days, feel just like certain places? Those places we find ourselves day in and day out - the grocery store? The school? The laundry mat? They seem so ordinary, yet with God they are holy places - set apart for Kingdom work, if only we open up our eyes and spirits for the movement of God. 

Where are some every day places for you where God shows up?

How does God transform those places?

Prayer: Most Holy and Precious Lord, we thank you that you walk with us throughout our days. We ask, O Lord, that you interrupt our ordinary moments with your extraordinary grace. We ask for new eyes to see as you see and new hearts to perceive, so we can serve you wherever we may find ourselves. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Jacob’s Ladder” - Genesis 28: 12-14

Jacobs Ladder is many things - a movie. A wooden game. A song. But above all it is what this scripture is describing - the connection between heaven and earth that Jacob experienced that night long ago with the dream he had. A dream with a promise and a call upon Jacob’s life. 

Perhaps Jacob grew up hearing his father talk about his grandfather, Abraham and his grandmother Sarah. Maybe he grew up hearing the tale recounted about how God was going to make his family more numerous than the stars. But even if he heard it before, God came and reiterated it this point in time, saying: I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

I was recently talking to a friend who said that the story of the Bible seems to be about people forgetting - forgetting about God and stumbling into sin. Forgetting that they are God’s people. And in the case of Jacob in this scripture, I would add, forgetting the generational promises of God. Sometimes we need profound experiences in our lives to remind us of those promises so we can cling anew to the grace of our God. 

What are some of the promises of God that you cling to?

Prayer:  Lord, we confess that sometimes we are a fickle people. Sometimes we so easily seem to forget the promises you have for us. Prompt us to explore your word, anew, so we can cling to your promises contained there for us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “With You” - Genesis 28: 15

God gave Jacob this amazingly large vision - his descendants would be like the dust of the earth - spreading out everywhere and through those numerous descendants, too numerous to count, the nations would be blessed. 

Notice how God follows up with that vision - reassuring Jacob that God was both with him and will protect him wherever he may go.

I was once told that we know that a vision is from God when it seems so big that is beyond our comprehension and it scares us a little. It is beyond our comfort zone and it takes courage to live into. Visions from God require us to trust God - both trusting that God is with us now and God will be with us in the future. 

What does your trust in God lead you to do?

What are some visions that you have been called to by God?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for promising both Jacob and us that you will be with us and will protect us. We know that your protection does not mean that things will always be easy, but it does mean that you will never leave us alone. Help us to trust you more and more each day, Precious Lord. Amen. 

Thursday: “In this Place” - Genesis 28: 16-19

I am struck by how Jacob responded to this vision by God. His first response isn’t to ask what just happened. Or to start to doubt what took place. Instead, it was to praise God. To proclaim that the Lord was definitely in this place. 

We live in a time when it seems like we doubt big visions that come from God. We worry about what other people will think. Or how will answer the questions they may have for (let alone the questions we may have as well). We start to make excuses about why the vision can’t come to pass - that we don’t have enough or that we aren’t are enough. But Jacob reminds us that our first response when we receive a vision from God is to praise God - to proclaim that the Lord is definitely in this place. 

What are some of your responses when you have a holy moment or a holy call upon your life?

Prayer: Lord, you thank you for inviting us to be part of your Kingdom work. We thank you, O Lord, for the times you call us to do new things and reach out to new people with your Word. Embolden us to praise you, O God, for your call and vision in our lives. Use us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “The Promise” - Genesis 28: 20-22

Jacob goes on after praising God to make a promise with God - that if God lives into God’s promise to protect Jacob on this journey then Jacob promises that he will worship God. As a sign of that promise he made a stone pillar - declaring this area to be a holy place. 

What promises do we make to God? Do we promise to follow God? Or to worship God? Or to listen to God? And how often do we not live into our promises, when we become distracted or busy or things don’t go our way? 

Let us say with our entire beings that we, too, will worship God, simply because God is worthy of our worship!

Why do you worshipGod?

What promises do you make to God? Do you find it difficult or easy to keep these promises?

Prayer: God, you are worthy of our praise and worship just because of who you are! Let us bow down before you this day and sing your praises to all we meet! In Jesus’s name! Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “God’s Vision: It’s Not Always Easy” - Genesis 31 and 32. 

Family Activity: There is a Spiritual written about Jacob’s Ladder. Sing the song together and talk about what lessons it reminds us of about this week’s scripture lesson:

We are (we are)

Climbing (climbing)

Jacob's ladder

We are (we are)

Climbing (climbing)

Jacob's ladder

Soldier (soldier)

of the cross

Ev'ry round goes higher higher (x2) / soldier of the cross

Sinner do you love my Jesus (x2) / soldier of the cross

If you love Him why not serve Him (x2) / soldier of the cross

Do you think I'd make a soldier (x2) / soldier of the cross

Faithful prayer will make a soldier (x2) / soldier of the cross