January 10th - Reflection

Genesis 35:1-15 (NRSV)
God calls and blesses Jacob

God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes; then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem.

As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them. Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El bethel, because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So it was called Allon bacuth.

God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan aram, and he blessed him. God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he was called Israel. God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him. Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

Reflection
It's time to put away selfishness and false gods and beliefs. It's time to change clothes and journey forward. God protected Jacob in his return journey. Those nations through which Jacob needed to travel left Jacob alone. And as Jacob arrived to the point that God intended for him to be, God reiterated the promise he has made with Abraham. A nation and a company of nations will come from you. A land is given to you.

As we put away our selfishness and our false idols and as we journey through life to the point that God directs us, we can have faith that God will journey by our side. As we turn to God day by day, we seek direction and instruction. Faith builds and we come to see the land that God is directing our steps towards. A land filled with blessing.

And along the way as we pause and turn to God. Let us never forget the blessings we have received. Let us give thanks and praise to God. For God is with us! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thanks for directing my steps. Thanks for the correction, for the instruction, for the healing, and for the blessings of all I have ever needed along the way. You are God! --- Amen