By The complexity of life and the intricacy of any relationship can baffle up anyone to keep on guard about anything. This could make one to be doubtful and distrustful even to a Divine Words being promised. For a faithless one doubting God’s promises happens uncontrollably as hardships in life surround him. The best promise recorded is one uttered by the Author of life. The Bible has all His promises but one that exceeds them all is the promise of His abiding presence in your life. Haven’t you doubted God’s promises? Do you have a what if’s in dealing with His promises?
The Promise:
This script is a continuation to the first one written about the life of Jacob in this article …. stairway-to-heaven-not-a-dream-anymore. Here then is the great PROMISES of God made to Jacob in his dream while asleep. This promise was a covenant made to his fathers and passed on to him. God’s promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15):
• I am the LORD God.
• I will give to you.
• I am with you.
• I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken.
“And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I AM WITH THEE, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Genesis 28:13-15 ASV
A Vow of a Doubtful Jacob:
(Genesis 28:20-22) Jacob’s vow unto God:
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “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. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
Jacob’s vow to God:
• If God will be with me.
• And keep me, in this way that I am going.
• If He Give me bread and clothing.
• So that I come back to my father’s house.
• THEN the LORD shall be my God.
Of all the Bible Patriarchs, Jacob has a realistic “what if’s” in his vow made to God. Bargaining to the words directly spoken to him by God . The idea here is best described as if he doubted the promise of God. “If God will be with me:” God gave him a promise, yet he still tried to bargain with God, even promising God money if He fulfilled His promise. The way Jacob prayed, it was evident God’s mere word was not enough for him. He had to see God do it before he would believe. We should not be the same way, but we often are. God says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). He says “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him,”. We should believe these things, even before we see them.
It would have been much better if Jacob had prayed like this: “Because You promised to be with me and to keep me and to provide for all my needs, and to bring me back to the land which you swore to give to my fathers and to me, I will be completely Yours, God.” God was gracious enough not to take His covenant back when He saw such an unspiritual response from Jacob. Instead, He was willing to be called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6). Instead of doubting the promise specially made for you one must take it as privilege:
“That God should give to Jacob bread to eat and raiment to put on was much, but it is nothing compared with ‘I am with thee.’ That God should send his angel with Jacob to protect him would have been much; but it is nothing compared with, ‘I am with thee.’ This includes countless blessings, but it is in itself a great deal more than all the blessings we can conceive of” (Spurgeon).
God’s blessing and faithfulness to Jacob is seen in the several ways that His presence is described in Jacob’s life:
• Behold, I will be with you (Genesis 28:15) — This describes present blessing, and the indescribable blessing of God’s presence.
• I will be with you(Genesis 31:3) — This describes the wonderful promise of God’s future presence and blessing.
• The God of my fathers has been with me (Genesis 31:5) — This was Jacob’s testimony of God’s faithfulness and presence with him.
• God will be with you (Genesis 48:21) — This was Jacob passing on the blessing of God’s presence to the next generations.
In this perilous end times holding on to God’s Word is crucial. It goes with having faith in all the promises He has made specially for you. “I AM WITH THEE, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Believe without doubts and trust without “If’s”! Worship God for who He is, not of the things you have received. Know that His presence in your life is more than enough to imagine you already have it all!
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“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5 ASV
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Isaiah 41: 10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
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Deuteronomy 31: 8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
References:
Blue letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
David Guzik Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Bible Commentaries
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