When God is My God

Genesis 27: 20

Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord Your God caused it to happen to me.”

Jacob, when he was about to deceive his father Isaac, lied about his identity. Isaac, in his old age, relied on his touch and smell than his hearing. Jacob was familiar with the God of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. At this juncture, he was yet to acknowledge God. He must have heard stories about the faith of his grandfather Abraham and all the wonderful things God had done in his life. He also must have been familiar with his own father Isaac’s relationship with God. Isaac was a living testament of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises to both Esau and Jacob. Yet, both of them failed to acknowledge God.

When Isaac sat up to eat the game that Esau was supposed to cook and bring, Jacob, disguised himself in his brother’s clothing and offered the meal to his father. Suspiciously, Isaac questioned Jacob how he was able to find the game so quickly. In order to not expose himself he boldly told Isaac that Isaac’s God gave him success. Not Jacob’s God but Isaac’s God. This statement clearly indicates that Jacob was familiar with God Almighty and His ways. Yet, Jacob didn’t believe in Him.

Genesis 28: 20-22

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.

Jacob is on the run after deceiving his father Isaac and robbing Esau of his rightful blessing. Esau had vengeance on his mind. Rebekah urged Jacob to flee to Paddan-Aram to her brother’s house until situation calmed down. Jacob, while fleeing from Esau’s anger, he rested at a place called Luz, where he took a stone for a pillow. He sees the stairway to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. The Lord introduced Himself that He is the Lord of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. He promised him that He will watch over him where he goes and will bring him back to his father’s house. The Lord stood above and declared to him that the place where he was sleeping will be his. Just witnessing the dream, Jacob was in awe. He remembered how his father Isaac built altars whenever God spoke to him.

It is interesting to know that God doesn’t ask Jacob to obey Him. He just pronounced the promise that He will bless Him, unconditionally. What favor rested on Jacob! Jacob, on the other hand, instead of claiming that promise and believing in God, places a condition before God. His obedience or acknowledgment of God was conditional. If God blesses him, then he will believe and follow him.

Many of us are like Jacob. Despite God’s promises, His faithfulness, His provision, His blessings, His protection, we still place conditions before Him. If God solves my problem, then I will believe. If God takes me out of my trial, then I will follow him. We have witnessed numerous times how God always remained faithful but we fail to recognize His faithfulness. On the contrary, we place conditions before him.

Despite, Jacob’s arrogance, God was with him. He waited patiently, until Jacob realized that God was truly on his side. A deceiver, when deceived by his father-in-law Laban, understood the pain of being wronged. A once ruthless negotiator, when negotiating with Laban, was cheated out of fair wages. He must have realized the unfair way he negotiated his birthright with Esau for a bowl of stew. He now found himself running again away from Laban. He also realized that if he returned to his father’s house, Esau would kill him.

Jacob was at the crossroads of his life. If he turned to Paddan-Aram, Laban will not spare him and take away all his possessions, including his wives and children. If he forged ahead and returned to Canaan, Esau would kill him and his family and seize all his possessions. While he was agonizing, he wrestled with God. At this juncture, he didn’t let go of God. The God of Abraham and Isaac, now became the God of Jacob.

God changed Laban’s heart after God warned him not to harm Jacob. After God’s intervention with the situation with Laban, Jacob realized that he was at the mercy of Esau. However, God changed Esau’s heart as well. Two long lost brothers now embraced despite the animosity and past hurt. Jacob realized that when God became His God, situations turned favorable to him. When He realized that the God of his fathers was on his side, He worshipped Him.

Genesis 33: 29-30

Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. So Jacob named that place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”

Dear Saint of God, we may not wrestle with God and see Him face to face like Jacob. Are we conditionally acknowledging God? Or are we loving, Him, obeying Him unconditionally, just for who He is? Are we worshipping Him for who is or for what He can do for us? Let us lay aside our conditions and let us love Him and follow Him because He is our God. Let us make God our God because there is none like Him.