Take Me to Bethel (Part 3)

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Today’s Text: Genesis 28:10-22

Key Verse: Genesis 28:16 (NLT): “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

Throughout generations past, God continued to reach out to mankind. Unfortunately, every effort to reach man —through priests, prophets, judges, kings and the law — meets with failure, not on the part of God, but on the part of man. Despite this, God continues to seek relationship with us; through self revelation and in diverse ways. He always wants us to have personal knowledge of Him. That is why He reaches out to us in spite of our weaknesses and failures. Jacob was pursuing a selfish course when God revealed Himself to him. He least expect the encounter, and he did not merit it.

It is a disaster to go to church and other religious centers and not encounter the God of the house. Like many today, Jacob was at Bethel, the house of God but was totally ignorant of the presence of God. Seeking God where he is and not finding Him is worse than seeking Him where He is not. It can be so unsettling. But the good news is that God wants us to experience Him. And, nothing offers us a better personal intervention in our life than a genuine encounter with God. The result is always liberating and humbling.

The text reveals how Jacob bowed in worship. He raised a memorial altar before the Lord. We too must respond adequately to each divine moment of opportunity and revelation. We must strive not to miss our spiritual landmarks. For all it represents, missing Bethel is far worse than a mile setback.

Quote for the Day: “Whether we are in the darkness of the stormy night or in the brightness of a most sunny day, God still reveals Himself and seeks personal relationship with us.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer:  Dear Lord, still every wind of my life and let them drive me to the cover of your wings — in Jesus’ name. Amen.

With all my Love and Prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families and Christian churches]

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