Waiting, Hoping, Anticipating – Genesis 28:10-22
/Lectionary Readings for July 19, 2020
Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob’s Dream at Bethel v 15 “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…”
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 The Inescapable God
Romans 8:12-25 Sonship Through the Spirit / Present Suffering and Future Glory
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
Peace Quotes
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ~ E. M. Forster (1879-1970)
“I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something... It’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.” ~ Joyce Meyer
Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.
Preface to Today’s Scripture Reading
Today verses remind us of the ever-present connection between our Earthly existence and the Heavenly realm – even if we don’t see it. This famous painting from 1805 might be what we imagine. Or if you’re an electrician, Jacob’s Ladder means something entirely differently – although equally mysterious to Nikola Tesla and other pioneers of modern electricity.
So here’s the thing. Most of us remember today’s Scripture reading as the story of Jacob’s ladder. But Jacob has nothing to do with the ladder – he doesn’t build it, own it, or even get on it. In fact, the mere mention of the ladder – with NO accompanying explanation – has fueled millennia of speculation about the significance and meaning of how and why the ladder connects Heaven and Earth.
Our first verse says Jacob left Beer-sheba (also spelled Be’er Sheva) and went toward Haran. Sounds simple enough, until I pulled up a map and realized that he’s looking at walking around 600 miles!
Not only that, but the end of today’s story mentions that Jacob names the place where he slept “Beth-El.” There is GREAT speculation as to exactly where that is. But the general consensus is that it’s slightly northwest of Jerusalem – about 50 miles from Beer-sheba. Maybe he did it a few days.
But Haran? Why is Jacob planning to go so far – by himself, which was dangerous? Because that’s where his grandpa grew up – remember Abraham? It will take him 3 chapters, but Jacob will eventually make it to Haran.
Finally, why is Jacob on the run? Because he just cheated his younger brother Esau out of Isaac’s irrevocable blessing – a deathbed blessing that Esau fully deserved and Isaac intended to give him.
Jacob is a crafty fellow who has now conned Esau out of his birthright AND his blessing – a double wound that hurts so badly, Esau is trying to kill Jacob. And THAT is why Jacob has left Beer-sheba alone and in haste!
As you read today’s story, imagine Jacob – who is now 77 years old – tired, cold, hungry, and wondering if he’ll survive his escape.
Let’s open our ears, minds, and hearts to today’s readings as we read today’s passage.
Read Genesis 28:10-22
As with so many Sunday readings, today’s story is filled with multiple levels of cultural nuances. A ladder connecting heaven and Earth? Many Mesopotamian cultures of Jacob’s day believed in magical portals that connected our mundane existence on Earth with the spiritual realm – a concept that continues in today’s science fiction books and movies and even has some scientific merit with the astrophysics’ theory of wormholes.
Angels rising and descending? Again, a commonly held belief of Jacob’s time that angels (or spiritual beings) come to Earth with messages or tasks to complete and then return to the heavens with their reports. But in today’s story, God is not “just another angel.” God does not descend or ascend with common angels. God simply appears in a dream – unexpected and unannounced. There’s no “Hark the herald angels singing” here!
And while Jacob may not have anticipated this divine appearance, from his cultural upbringing, he would have understood dreams as one of the primary ways the Divine Creator communicates with humanity.
There are two sections of today’s reading I want to dig into: what God says and how Jacob responds.
As is so often the case with Biblical stories, God shows up in an overwhelmingly unexpected way, makes a declaration, and then… leaves. No conversation. No negotiating. Just… here’s the deal.
For Jacob, “the deal” was a confirmation and continuation of God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac. “your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad” in every direction.
As if that were not enough, God offers Jacob these additional words of comfort in verse 15, “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…” Know. KNOW that I am with you. And not just with you in a passive, disconnected way. I am with you AND will KEEP you (or protect you) wherever you go.
And just in case you think we may be overstepping our boundaries by applying this verse to each and every one of us today, be encouraged by the words of Jesus in John 14:18 when Jesus explains to his disciples, “I will not leave you orphaned.” Jesus spends that entire chapter telling his followers that Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit to be with us always.
What was true 4,000 years ago was true again 2,000 years ago and is true today. God knows each of us by name, knows what’s going on in our lives, knows our joys and stresses… in every way, God is ever-present in our lives and reaches out to us. But how should we respond? Jacob offers us some guidance in the TWO ways he responds.
First, Jacob acknowledges sacred space – he knows the importance of recognizing where a spiritual connection has occurred and may likely occur again. I love what he says in verse 16, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”
What are our sacred spaces?
While you may instinctively think of our Sanctuary – which is a wonderfully sacred space for many of us – I encourage you to think beyond that to your own personal, private sacred spaces. Maybe it’s a special spot down by the river or a hiking trail. Maybe it’s in your backyard. Maybe it’s listening to a particular song or looking at a painting or photo that helps you quickly connect with God. Recognize those times and spaces as holy; treasure them, protect them, and possibly invite someone else into them. Jacob named his spot Beth-El, House of God, and marked it with a stone. Name and mark your own sacred space. Where is your Beth-El?
Jacob’s second response is, well… interesting. He makes a vow. A generous interpretation of this section is that Jacob is simply repeating back his understanding of God’s promise and confirming his allegiance to God despite being surrounded by polytheistic cultures. AND he graciously offers God a free-will donation of 10% of all that he will one day have. That’s the “Jacob is a great guy” interpretation.
But everything we’ve read in the last few chapters paints a very different portrait. This is the first time Jacob is associated with anything resembling faith in the God of his forefathers. Jacob fights with his brother Esau in the womb. He’s born grabbing onto Esau’s heel – he’s taking the fight through the delivery process! Years later, he takes advantage of Esau’s hunger and withholds life-giving hospitality until Esau offers his birthright in trade for a bowl of stew. What a deal! Roughly 50 years later, Jacob colludes with his mother Rebekah on how to trick his dying, half-deaf, half-blind father Isaac into giving him the incredibly important and irrevocable blessing that was supposed to go to Esau – a blessing given after Jacob flat out lies to Isaac saying, “Yes, I’m Esau.”
And after having a personal, one-on-one encounter with the Divine Creator, Jacob is ready to cut yet another deal. God has promised him unlimited descendants and protection. But Jacob negotiates for his immediate needs: “Give me protection, food, and clothing, and THEN you’ll be my God. And when it’s all said and done, after you’ve lived up to your end of the bargain, I’ll give you a 10th of my future wealth.”
Ohhhh… this guy Jacob, he’s a piece of work. And yet…
And yet, God chooses Jacob, an imperfect vessel if there ever was one. God sees both the potential in Jacob AND the need for spiritual growth and humility, qualities developed through an upcoming wrestling match.
From this, we are reminded of God’s love, grace, and mercy. We are reminded that God can and will use anyone. We are reminded that our past should not define our future. And we are reminded that if God continues to love and see potential in the imperfect, the shattered, the selfish people around us, we too must work to do the same.
Years ago, I prayed repeatedly, “Lord, help me see what you see.” I was expecting rainbows and angels around every corner. In God’s loving mercy, God replied, “You can’t handle all that I see, but if you really want it, I’ll give you glimpses.” “Yes Lord, bring it on!” I cried out with enthusiastic ignorance.
For years now, God has opened my eyes to see people in new lights, to see both brokenness and potential – in myself and in others. When challenging people have entered my life, they often become the focal point for what are sometimes argumentative conversations with God about the value of their existence. (I’m just being real.)
Those impassioned discussions often end with, “Charles, if I can see the goodness that remains within my children, under layers of scar tissue, defensive walls, anger, and depression, can you?” “I’ll try Lord, I’ll try.”
“If I can see that goodness within YOU, can you accept that as well?” “That’s going to be harder Lord, but I’ll try.”
Isn’t it interesting that so often, it’s harder for us to love, believe in, and encourage ourselves than it is for us to do the same for others?
I’m not saying I’ve perfected this, but after many years and much effort, I have trained myself that before I attach any other positive or negative labels to someone, including myself, the first one I slap on them is “precious child of the Living God.”
In the coming hours, days, and weeks, I encourage you to think about Jacob; think about God’s relentless love and grace. Try your best to receive that love and grace for yourself, and do all you can to offer it to the people you meet – especially the people most likely to be ignored or rejected by society. People who desperately need to hear…
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.
Amen? Amen!