Going Home

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.” [Genesis 31.3]

I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me.  Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth. [Genesis 31.13]

What is it about going home?  I guess one cannot really address that question without first understanding what it is about 'leaving home.'

In Jacob's case, leaving home was about preserving his own life.  Had Jacob not left home, chances are good that, without God's direct intervention, Esau would have killed Jacob.  

Besides just to stay alive, it could also be seen that Jacob left home to start a career and start a family.  Both he did in Padan-aram, and then  afterwards, as testified in the verses above, God directed Jacob to go home to his family.

What was it about returning to family?

In Jacob's case, returning to family meant facing his indiscretions mostly toward his own brother.  Jacob's indiscretions were lying and deception.  But also, and consequently, returning to family meant that Jacob had to face his own faith that God was his source and keeper.  In the face of certain death, Jacob obediently planned his re-entry into the land of his people - the land of his family - knowing full well that it would take the hand of God to change Esau's heart toward him.

The beauty of the story, as will be read tomorrow (in the OYCB) I suppose, is that God did re-unite Jacob and Esau.  God made a place back in Canaan for Jacob and his new family.

Father, the story of Jacob finds relevance to me in my current state of decision-making.  How You do that remains a mystery to me...  But I find comfort as I read the Bible and it somehow speaks - from ancient stories and accounts - to my very situation today.  That is when I know that Your WORD has been transferred on and through the pages of the Bible!  Thank You for speaking - help me to discern what You are speaking TO ME!