God's response

I'm still thinking about Jacob.

Here we have a man who is not honest and who has not developed a relationship with God. He tricks his brother out of his inheritance and he has to leave home. Even so, God desires to be in partnership with him. God wants to bless him. God has hopes of him being a blessing.

So at Bethel, Jacob comes face to face with God. God makes promises to him:

13And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that 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 promised you.’ Genesis 28:13-15

How does Jacob responds? He bargains with God and practically throws his gift of grace in back into God's face. Does he show evidence of transformation? Would we say that this meeting with God at Bethel has changed him? I'm not sure that we would.

We talk in class about God being close. He passes by, and we feel the breeze. God is closer than we think. Does that always make a difference? When we feel God's breath, are we always changed? Or are there times, when, like Jacob, we recognize God, but close ourselves off from the change.

So how does God respond to this?

How did God respond to Jacob? Did God turn his back in a huff, saying that Jacob deserved whatever he got? No. God keeps his word. He stays with Jacob. In fact, in one of the lectionary readings for this week, God wrestles with Jacob (Gen 32:22-31). God decides that Jacob is worth the trouble, even if Jacob turns his back on God.

Does God do the same for us? I pray he does.