Week 9: God stays with us, wherever we go.

The reading plan for this week is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Corinthians 1-2
* Monday (the Law): Genesis 32-35
* Tuesday (history): Judges 17-21
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 24-26
* Thursday (poetry): Job 17-18
* Friday (prophecy): Isaiah 45-50
* Saturday (gospels): Matthew 23-25

There are some tough parts of scripture this week, especially the description of two "rapes", one of the concubine of a Levite in the last chapters of the book of Judges - which in my opinion is probably one of the darkest part of scripture, if not the darkest part. And the other rape concerns Dina, Jacob's daughter, and the revenge by her brothers, another dark part in the history of God's people. The Bible is honest about this, and does not cover up these dark stories, but uses them as life lessons for us to teach us wrong from right.

For this week's soap analysis we look at Jacob's encounter with God in Genesis 35:

Scripture
Genesis 35:3: "We are now going to Bethel where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has stayed with me wherever I have gone."

Observation
In this chapter of the book of Genesis, we see Jacob return to Bethel -- which means "House of God" -- where he had his first encounter with God, over 20 years ago. At that time, he was on the run for his brother Esau who wanted to kill him because Jacob had betrayed him. He ran away from his elderly home to his uncle Laban with just a staff in his hand and clothes on his body.

Now, more than 20 years later, he has established himself as a patriarch: Father of 12 sons and at least 1 daughter, and grandfather of many. Owner of a huge livestock. Wealthy. God had given him rest and brought him back to the Promised Land. God had answered all his prayers, and had delivered him from the distress he was in. Most recently, in Chapter 33, God had delivered him from the wrath of Esau. Jacob was still under the impression that Esau wanted to kill him, even after 20 years. Jacob cries out to God in Gen. 32:11: "Oh God, please rescue me from my brother Esau..." And God answers this prayer as well. Chapter 33 always touches me, when Jacob and Esau reconcile, and the two brothers show "real love" for one another, probably for the first time in their life.

Then comes chapter 35. In verse 1, God instructs Jacob to go back to Bethel to settle there, to build him an altar, and to worship him. Jacob responds right away, because he remembers his vow to the Lord in Gen. 28:20-22 all to well: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the LORD my God. This memorial pillar will become a place of worshiping God, and I will give God a tenth of everything he gives me."

God gives him a "friendly reminder" that now is the time to fulfill that promise, and Jacob responds in 35:3. I just love that verse: "... the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has stayed with me wherever I have gone."

Application
God is a God who keeps his promises, no matter what. He stays with us, wherever we go. And he answers our prayers, especially when we are in distress. Many times I forget who God is and His power to deliver me when I'm in distress, but even so many times, God will give me a "friendly reminder" of who he is, and how he is there to deliver me from whatever situation I'm in. I hope you can relate and that you can tell your own stories of the times God has answered your prayers. In response, we worship him for all he has done, just like Jacob did at Bethel.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for answering our prayers when we are in distress. We thank you for your friendly reminders in the good times, to not forget who you are, and to continue to worship you. Help us to never forget. You are worthy of all our praise. In Jesus' name - Amen.

Have a great week.
In Him,

Dick