God Will Always Take Care of You
In the book of Genesis we read the story of Jacob who left his
father’s home because he feared the anger of his brother Esau. As you may
recall, Esau regretfully had sold his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a
bowl of “soup,” and subsequently Jacob had cheated Esau out of his father’s
blessing. So at this point, Jacob most likely feared for his life. Genesis
28:10 takes up the story:
10. Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached
a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one
of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream
in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to
heaven, and the angels of God we
re ascending and descending on it. 
13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord,
the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your
descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you
will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All
peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 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.”
13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord,
the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your
descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you
will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All
peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 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.”
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and
will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and
clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the
Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s
house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
I
think it is good to recall that Jacob was not a perfect man, and had not always
acted uprightly. God knew all of this and could have reminded Jacob of his many
shortcomings. But, He didn’t. Instead, He pronounces phenomenal blessings on
him. Then, He leaves him with the promise that He will never leave him until He
has done all that He has promised. Jacob ruminated on all that had occurred in
this encounter with God and then he responded with a vow of his own. If God
would be with him
and take care of all of his physical needs and safely lead
him back to his father’s country, then he promised to give to God a tenth of
all that he obtained. Then we are told that Jacob
proceeded on his journey . . .(29:10). One
commentator stated that he proceeded cheerfully
and briskly on his journey.
and take care of all of his physical needs and safely lead
him back to his father’s country, then he promised to give to God a tenth of
all that he obtained. Then we are told that Jacob
proceeded on his journey . . .(29:10). One
commentator stated that he proceeded cheerfully
and briskly on his journey.
To proceed on his journey meant that he had 400 miles of unknown
terrain ahead of him. He faced unknown challenges such as sore and blistered
feet, bad weather, wild animals, robbers, intense loneliness, hunger/thirst,
and sickness. Yet, he could face them
cheerfully and briskly because of his personal encounter with God and the
promises his sovereign God had made to him.
I believe there are lessons for each of us as God’s children in
this story, but perhaps especially for you widows. You see, with the death of
your husband, you too began a journey to a new life. Your journey has been, and
perhaps continues to be, no less arduous than was Jacob’s. Unlike his journey
of 400 miles, yours may be a journey lasting a lifetime, and one filled with
perils and hardships that sometimes almost overwhelm you. Let me assure you
that, just like Jacob, God has made some phenomenal promises to you. Let me
share a few of them:
Do
not take advantage of a widow or an
orphan. If you do and they will cry out,
I will certainly hear their cry.
Exodus 22:22-23
He
executes justice for the orphan and the widow . . . . Deuteronomy 10:18
Pure and
undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans
and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27
The LORD
protects the strangers; He supports the
fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked. Psalm 146:9
. . . and
let your widows trust in Me. Jeremiah 49:11
Give proper recognition
to those widows who are really in need. I Timothy 5:16
Lastly, did you notice that Jacob made sure that he showed his
appreciation to God by giving back a tenth of all that God blessed him with?
Even the smallest amount of money or the most ordinary deeds done for others
doesn’t escape His notice. Even in your widowhood, you are extending love back
to your heavenly Father who so tenderly loves and cares for you.
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| Message by Shari Hervold |
God Will Take Care of You by the Oak Ridge Boys
God Will Make A Way by Don Moen
