Have you ever felt like you were on a journey without a map, not knowing where life is taking you? One way or another we have all had that same feeling. Let's dive into the story of Jacob and discover the power of being "All In" when God says it's time to move.
Genesis 28:10-17
10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
We Don’t Know How…But We Know God
Life is full of uncertain journeys. It can bring unpredictability, challenges, and unforeseen detours. Yet, the beauty of this journey lies not in having a detailed roadmap but in trusting the One who holds the map—the One who orchestrates each twist and turn with purpose and wisdom beyond our comprehension.
As we navigate the life, the journey unfolds before us, revealing new opportunities and unfamiliar landscapes. We don't possess a crystal-clear vision of how each thing will play out. Yet, in the midst of this ambiguity, our anchor is the unwavering certainty of God's presence and guidance. Though we may not know the hows, we stand assured in knowing God.
Surrender Your Will
Pride, that subtle whisperer of self-sufficiency, often murmurs in our ears, "Do it by yourself. You've got this." We all have fallen into this trap of rely on our own understanding in times where we need to rely on God. Embarking on the road to Haran, surrender becomes the key that unlocks doors beyond our reach. The humility to give up our will opens opportunities, in our self-reliance, could never give us.
We Need a Personal Experience With Jesus
In Jacob's dream, he encountered God on the road to Haran. It wasn't just a geographical shift but a life changing experience.
In our own lives, we all hunger for a personal encounter with Jesus. It's more than a theological acknowledgment; it's a transformative relationship that breathes life into our journey. Knowing about Him is foundational, but a relationship with Jesus reshapes our lives.
When Jacob awoke from his dream, the realization dawned him—God was with him, bestowing blessings, and issuing a call. Such moments of encounter redefine our lives.
On our own roads to Haran, where uncertainty, pride, and the call for surrender intersect, God meets us. Like Jacob, in the midst of life's journey, His presence is the compass guiding you. Dear Heavenly Father, as we embark on the uncertain roads of life, help us surrender our need for certainty and control, trusting in Your unwavering guidance. In moments of pride, teach us humility, acknowledging that our plans are limited, but Yours are boundless. May our hearts be open to a personal encounter with You, transforming our journey from mere knowledge to a relationship that shapes our every step. In the midst of life's uncertainties, may we find assurance that, like Jacob, You are with us, directing our paths even when we are unaware. Amen.