Remember God

Remember God: Don’t forget about God when the lockdown is finally lifted.

Scripture reading: Genesis 35:1-15 
Focus verse: Genesis 35:1, 6, 7 – Then God said to Jacob, “Get up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” 

Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar and called the place El Bethel, because it was there that the Lord revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. After he stole his brother’s blessings, Jacob faced the threat of death from his brother Esau. His mother Rebekah realizes Esau’s plan to kill his younger brother (Jacob) and as a result she advises him to flee at once to his brother Laban who lived in Haran. Jacob was to stay there until when his brother’s fury subsides. So he solemnly sets out for Haran in order to escape death. Darkness catches with him and he decides to take a night rest in the desert he was traveling. As he lays his head on a stone on the lonely place, God appears to him in a dream. He talks to him and promises Jacob that he will be with him all the days of his life, He will bless him abundantly and will protect him from all his enemies. Jacob wakes up and makes a vow to God saying, “if God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone which I have set as a pillar will be God’s house, and all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” 

Just like Jacob, life sometimes faces us with a rough side. Often we may feel overwhelmed with fear, discouragement, rejection, war threats, isolation, diseases, family burden, hunger, conflicts, and divorce among other challenges. Today the world is going through various challenges which some are life threatening. Sometimes during these hard moments we may be tempted to make vows to God as Jacob did. We may promise to serve with renewed efforts or even give to the Lord our tithes, offerings or commit to do a particular thing to the Lord as a way of appreciating Him for his hand on us. The biggest question is whether we remain faithful to honor our vows to God. God always wants us to be faithful to our words. Jacob remembered to come back and build a house for God. He became faithful to his words and as a result God blessed him more and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. He took all his family and made them know the Lord who met him when he was running away from the fury of Esau. We too need to let our loved ones know the Lord deliverers our lives. He didn’t forget about God when the anger of his brother had resided. God is pleased when we don’t forget about Him after he takes us out of any life disaster. Let our hearts seek God more even after he sets us free. Psalms 124:2-3 – if the Lord was not on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive. The flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Psalms 116:12-14 – How can repay the Lord, for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Director of Bethesda Faith Ministries