God is Faithful to His Promises

Jacob had a pretty big disagreement with his brother, Esau. Jacob had lied to his father to steal a blessing away from Esau, and now Esau was ready to murder him because his anger was so great.

Even though Jacob was guilty of lying and stealing God was still going to use him. In addition to those sins, Jacob did not even claim God as his own; just recently as part of the plot to steal Esau's blessing when Jacob showed up with food so quickly, he told his dad that it was because, "the Lord, your God, gave me success." Genesis 27:20 Jacob said it was Isaac's God, not my God; he didn't even say our God! However, God remained faithful to his promise to Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob would be blessed, but the road would not be easy.

Jacob would have to leave for a while. God didn't fix everything for him so that he could just walk back to his parents and brother and live happily ever after - Jacob went away. He was gone so long that he would not see his mother again, but God made a promise to Jacob the first night he was gone:

Genesis 28:15New International Version (NIV)

15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Jacob was gone for a while, but God was going to bring him back. It took more than a month, more than a year, more than a decade... Jacob would not return to that location for twenty years, but went he did come back it was with a dozen kids and large herds of animals that now belonged to him.

Maybe the times you are going through are pretty easy, and that is great - a reason to be thankful and praise God! However, try to remember in the hard times that God will not break his promise to be with you always to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20  He has a great future for you, even if it's hard to see in the midst of difficult times.

May God bless you with His Peace for the journey ahead.