Monday, 17 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Unexpected Encounters

And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you. Genesis 35:11-12

There’s something really beautiful about these verses. Not only does God extend the same promise to Jacob that he’d given to his grandfather Abraham and to his father Isaac, He also repeats the same command He gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to be, "fruitful and increase in number."*

This is a new beginning.

FOOTNOTE:
* Genesis 1:28

Friday, 14 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Unexpected Encounters

After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechemi in Canaan and camped within sight of the city... There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. Genesis 33:18 & 20

Tonight, as he sets up camp, Jacob expects to find God in this random place. So he sets up an altar of worship calling it ‘El Elohe Israel’, which means "God, God of Israel."

Now, this only makes sense if you know that God, a chapter before, had given Jacob a new name of Israel.* But here, at the end of his journey, Jacob is saying that God is his God.

FOOTNOTE:
* Check out Genesis 32:28

Thursday, 13 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Unexpected Encounters

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God. Genesis 28:20-21

Have you heard someone say, "I'm only 90% sure about God, so I'm not ready to commit yet"? In any other part of life we’d bet on that 90%, but not with God...

Why do you think that is?

Jacob's had this amazing experience of God, yet he's still full of doubt. So he starts his relationship with God with an "if" statement. We can do that too you know.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Unexpected Encounters

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:16-17

Jacob didn't expect to meet God. Not only was the venue not right, he was not right. He had just conned his father (Isaac) into giving him his brother’s (Esau's) birthright and was now running for his life from his vengeful brother.

However, the Bible tells us God often unexpectedly appeared to sinful people like Jacob.

You might not be feeling "right" before God today, but he still wants to meet with you.

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Unexpected Encounters

Jacob left Beershebaa... When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway... There above it stood the Lord... Genesis 28:10-13

In Jacob's day people believed gods only met people at religious sites. So the seemingly insignificant detail about Jacob stopping at "a certain place" is hugely important. It tells us this God is different!

This God appears at rest stops, park benches, cafes and even school playgrounds.

This God is not confined to religious buildings, such as churches or temples. This God can appear to you anywhere.