Week 5; Bonus Session 3 Genesis 35. Full Circle Like all of us, Jacob's story began before his birth, in his mother's womb. No--even further back, we trace Jacob's story to God's long-ago promise to Abraham. After all, he was indeed, one of the promised "many descendants." We find in the thread of his story, a circle, one which begins in Genesis 28, Jacob's flight from his home and the consequent dream at Bethel. The circle then closes in a rich finale in Genesis 35, his pilgrimage back to that location as a leader and promise-receiver himself. Where he began as a young man, fleeing from the wrath of his brother, he now returns as Israel--the one who has wrestled with God, father of a nation. Jacob has come full-circle and chapter 35 contains the story of that final journey to Bethel. We left an indecisive Jacob in chapter 34. He was distracted by the chaos of his surroundings, inattentive to the tensions existing in his own family. But chapter 35 opens with a replaced Israel, certain of his identity and to Whom he owes that. Jacob hears God and he quickly responds. Note the preparations Jacob orders--what are they? What is he asking his household to do? Why? Does anyone else identify with the story at this point? I notice in my own life, periods of productive activity, followed by seasons of feeling stuck and not responding to people or situations in the way I'd like to. I'm challenged with the validity of these real stories of real people who were doing their best to follow an unseen God. Even after his name-change, Jacob appears to waver and waffle sometimes. But God doesn't leave him there. And He doesn't leave us in our "stuckness" either. I notice the protection Jacob's family receives in verse 5. It's been there all along, but it seems to me to be especially significant because of Jacob's anxieties after the raid of the previous chapter. And Jacob arrives back at Bethel, at the place of God's revelation and promises. Read verses 6-15 again and make two lists-- one list of what Jacob does at Bethel, and a second list of what God promises Jacob. Again. The first time, God said to Jacob, "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Gen 28:15) Sometimes we have the hardest time believing for the things closest to us. For all of us with broken relationships, or failed marriages, or losses of income, or difficult diagnoses, or uncertain futures, He says He won't leave. And He will deliver what He promised. In Jacob's journey circle from and back to Bethel, we see promises given and promises fulfilled and it gives us hope that He will work with the same restorative power in our lives. God alone can take us from a place of fear and uncertainty and bring us back changed and certain of who we are and Whose we are. When we place our trust in the One who journeys along with us, we have His protection and peace. We know He is not afraid of our questions or doubts, but instead invites us to bring them to Him and wrestle until we can walk away changed. Until the day His promises to us are fulfilled. This is our full circle. Journal prompt: What do you long to see God bring full circle in your life? Write it down even if you’ve given up hope or think it impossible.
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