13/11/2021 - JACOB GOT UP

• 
• 
• 
• 

Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. Genesis 29.1

After being visited by the Lord in a night vision, Jacob decided to walk to Haran, where he would meet his future wife. He did not know her, but he knew that by honoring his parents and obeying the Most High, he would be guided at every step. His faith increased when God assured him that He would be with him and would keep him. Nothing would stop him from achieving the success for which he was destined. In this he was right!

Heavenly power directed the future patriarch. His faith said that was the direction, for it only depended on his perseverance for his blessing to come. The prophet Isaiah stated: so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55.11). Believing in the Word will make you receive the promises.

Jacob decided not to ride on an animal, but to walk, because step by step he would see the fulfillment of what he had been told. It is important to walk “on foot” through the Scriptures, in order to understand them, without paying attention to what people say about God’s deeds. The blessing is like a child: either you do the work yourself, or it won’t really be yours. Put your feet on the Path and stay on it. Go all the way!

No one knows how long it took the servant of God to reach the well, near Haran. However, he was joyful and certain that the Lord’s words would be confirmed. The Bible describes faith in the following terms: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11.1). It is the proof that a certain gift belongs to you.

How many promises are not fulfilled because of the disbelief of those who hear them? Jesus spoke about this when commenting on the episode of the fig tree that withered: [...]Have faith in God.  [...] whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says (Mark 11.22,23). Believe!

Whoever has said yes to the Lord’s call needs to put himself on the Path and be determined not to stray from it, neither to the right nor to the left (Proverbs 4.27). The child of God should never get involved in the affairs of this life, because he has been rewarded with the best and greatest vocation offered to anyone: to be part of the great and eternal divine work. The pleasure of participating in the glory of the Creator in the salvation of mankind – is incomparable. Hallelujah!

The heir to the promises made to his grandfather found comfort in the journey, because his attention was in obeying God. Now, to participate in the plan of the Most High is the greatest privilege we can receive. However, some do not allow the Holy Spirit to guide them and fail to obey. How sad! They will be left out of the Kingdom of Heaven! Never accept the offers that come to take you away from your calling. Always be faithful!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares