Friday, May 8, 2015

Promise from the Lord

Genesis 28:1-22
Isaac sent Jacob on his way to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, and take a wife for himself from the daughters of Laban.
Isaac blessed Jacob be fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.
Jacob had a dream at Bethel, and god gave him promise.
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 fathers house, then the Lord will be my God, and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house."
The dream: Much was made of dreams in ancient Egypt and in Nanylon. There are significant dreams in the Old Testament, too - like this one. But there is no need for a special interpreter; God speaks clearly. The meaning comes with the dream.
The 'ladder; of some translations is a stairway, (were tales of the great ziggurat通靈塔 of Ur passed down to Jacob?), with angels going up and down it.
Why?
Jacob didn't know the way forward and what will happen to him, so God's promise let him safe and be encouraged.
Jacob's parting blessing, this time genuinely(真正) given, recognizes Jacob at last as the true heir to God's promise.
Jacob leaves, and at Bethel (House of God), as darkness falls, in a moment of unutterable loneliness, God stands beside him. God repeats to this unpromising man the promise made to Abraham and Isaac, adding a personal guarantee: 'I shall be with you to protect you... and I shall bring you back.' Scarcely daring to believe, Jacob responds with a promise of his own.
Dream is one of ways from the Lord to tell us his word.
How?
Under promise of the Lord, I won't fear and worry to much for I am son of God. O God, you are with me, you go before me.



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