Reading
SAA Notes
Jacob shows Abraham’s faith – God speaks and Jacob listens to the Word and does it. God gives Jacob the Covenant Promise to Abraham – and beloved Rachael dies in childbirth. This is a family that God loves. We are to see that the wider effects of sin within the world are so undiscriminating and life-engulfing that God had to act – Jesus had to come.
SJA Notes
* Father God in Heaven, You are the Creator God, Sustainer, Life-Giver. Please teach us of life today.
“Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.”
Jacob institutes a little revival here. Even if only for his (large) family, we see a change in practice. Gone are the gods and the symbols, the idolatry.
We know that these people didn’t magically become perfect. We know that much sadness is yet to come, and indeed we read of some of it here.
But Jacob puts his flag in the sand – I will follow the Lord, Him and Him alone.
This is something we can all do, and continue to do (need to do).
The world calls from around us, all around us. The temptation to swerve away is very real through all our days.
This is why we need Jesus. We cannot do this. We are not strong enough, smart enough, loving enough.
Only Jesus makes it possible for us to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that He is our King, Lord and Saviour.
Praise God for Jesus, Him With Us, Emmanuel!
* Mighty God,
May Your word resound in our ears, even when we are deaf, our hearts hard, our wills stubborn.
Please break our wills, remake our hearts, open our ears – That we might be Your people in spirit and in truth. This day and onwards.
Amen.