The Lord is Here
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How often during the day do you stop to become more aware of God’s presence? Have you ever been afraid to come into God’s presence? Would you live any differently if you always knew that God was right there with you?
Our passage today tells us of a time when Jacob unexpectedly experienced God’s presence.
Genesis 28:10–17 (NIV84)
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “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. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Jacob thought he was far from God
Jacob thought he was far from God
Stolen his brother’s birthright
He had deceived his father
Was leaving the land promised by God
Was not seeking God
God sent a dream
God sent a dream
God initiated the emcounter
God spoke to Jacob
God spoke to Jacob
Did not rebuke Jacob
Reaffirmed the promises of land and descendants
All peoples will be blessed through you
I am with you – to guide
I will watch over you – to provide and protect
I will bring you back – which He did, 30 years later
I will do what I have promised
God was there with him
God was there with him
He did not realize it
Fear/awe - terrified
Set up the stone as a pillar – reminder of the experience
Gate of heaven
Gate of heaven
Access to God
God is here with us
God is here with us
Even when we don’t realize it
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
In our midst when we gather in Jesus’ name
In us by the Holy Spirit
Will keep His promises
When Crowfoot, the great chief of the Blackfoot confederacy in southern Alberta, gave the Canadian Pacific Railroad permission to cross the Blackfoot land from Medicine Hat to Calgary, he was given in return a lifetime railroad pass. Crowfoot put it in a leather case and carried it around his neck for the rest of his life. There is no record, however, that he ever availed himself of the right to travel anywhere on the CPR trains.
The promises of God are often treated in this way by Christians. They hang them on their walls in beautiful plaques; they treasure them in little promise boxes that play invitingly, “Standing on the Promises of God.” But they do not claim the promises for themselves in times of need. Of what use are they on plaques and in boxes if they are not in our hearts?