Wednesday, March 14, 2012

In an insignificant place...

And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.
(Genesis 28:11, ESV)

Jacob leaves his father Isaac, his mother Rebekah, and his brother Esau in Beersheba and heads to Haran.  He cheated his brother out of his birthright and stole the blessing of his Isaac.  To save his life, Jacob heads to his uncle Laban in Haran.  He is encouraged by his mother to stay there until the dust settles in Beersheba.  This sets the context for the verse above.

There is not much said about Jacob's journey from Beersheba to Haran.  No significant cities mentioned.  No significant people that he met.  In fact, the writer of Genesis seems to be very intentional about making it known that the particular place that Jacob stops is a "certain place," or as other translations say, an "insignificant place."  But what happens in this place forever changes Jacob.  It is in this place, Jacob meets God and is reminded that God is with him and will be with him.  God reminds Jacob in this obscure place that He will also keep him.  What a wonderful reminder for Jacob who is on the run from a brother that is seeking revenge.

There are several places that I go to every week that seem to be obscure and insignificant places.  I could be driving on River Road.  I could be walking from the parking garage to the hospital.  I could be waiting in line to purchase a cart full of groceries.  All of these places and more seem to be insignificant places in the course of a normal week for me.  I don't expect to meet God in these places.  Where I do expect to meet Him is in places like hospital rooms and meeting rooms and sanctuaries...not in these insignificant places.  However, after reading this passage, I am reminded that God is not only found in the places that I expect to find Him but also in the places that I don't expect to find Him.  And when I seek Him in these certain places, I am reminded that even in these places, God is with me.  God is with me!  How significant that is to see God even in the insignificant places.

Join me today as we together hear the voice of our God remind us that even in the insignificant places, He is with us!

1 comment:

  1. What a wonderful reminder to start my day......He IS with me always......I only need to look for him.

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