The LORD your God

A month or so ago, I decided I should read the Bible all the way through. Starting at the very beginning. I found a chronological reading plan and dutifully read the first couple of chapters on day one. Everything seemed very familiar. I had, after all, grown up hearing the Old Testament stories since cradle roll. What could I possibly learn this time through? 

While the year-plan had me reading three or so chapters a day, I quickly realized that I wasn't going to be able to finish in a year. The Bible translation I was reading made everything come alive and small details I'd never noticed before made each story much more vivid than I remembered. Suddenly the Bible was no longer a dry retelling of well-known events; now it had become a drama that had me eager to turn the page, curious to see what would happen next in the intrigue of romance, murder, lies, wars won, and animals marching into a gigantic ship on dry land. 

Questions flew into my mind. How did the fish survive the flood if Noah wasn't commanded to take them into the ark and the underground water sources were gushing forth mightily? Did Sarai get her servant Hagar in the land of Egypt or did she have her before? Was Lot's wife from Sodom and why was she turned specifically into a pillar of salt? Why did God make all the women in Abimelech's household barren when it was Abraham who had deceived the king? 

I began to underline, write comments in the margin, and cross-reference verses on my own. I looked at maps to connect geographical locations with places I was reading about. I read other commentaries to learn more about the background of traditions. I noticed repetitions of promises or confirmations that God made to people and how long it took them to believe Him.

Yesterday I read Genesis 27 and when I came to verse 20, I stopped. Why, when Isaac asked Jacob—whom he thought was Esau—how he was able to find the wild game so quickly to prepare his favourite dish, did Jacob reply, "Because the LORD your God put it in my path!" I wondered if there was a mistake in the Bible. Why did Jacob say your God? Did he not believe in God? 

Fast forward 24 hours and a chapter in the Bible. Jacob was on his way to Paddan-aram, running from a murderous brother and obedient to his mother's request to find a believing wife. Tired after a long day of traveling, he set up camp for the night with a stone pillow to rest on. That night he had a dream. God appeared to him at the top of a stairway connecting earth to heaven, identifying Himself as the God of Jacob's grandfather and father. Interestingly, He did not impose Himself as Jacob's God but He clearly outlined the patrilineal heritage that would validate His rightful claim should Jacob choose to accept Him. 

God began to outline the many blessings He would give to Jacob. He promised the ground Jacob was lying on, numerous descendants, blessings for all the families on the earth, to be with him, to protect him everywhere he went, and to bring him safely back to his father's land. After Jacob woke up and anointed his stone pillow as a memorial, he made a vow. Jacob vowed that if God kept His promises to be with him, protect him, give him food and clothing, and bring him safely back to his father, he would give God a tithe of everything. And here's the clincher. 

then I will make the LORD my God.

So I didn't read Genesis 27:20 wrong. Jacob had not yet accepted God as his God, even though he had grown up in a believing household. His grandfather and father were both strong believers in God. They had both been blessed tremendously with wealthy possessions and are mentioned in Hebrews 11 as having great faith. Jacob, however, was not convinced. He had received his brother's birthright, he had tricked his father to give him the blessing, but he did not yet have a personal connection with God. He didn't have his own promises. 

I wondered, What promises do I need to make God my God? Is it a one-time deal? Do I ask God for specific blessings and when He answers, I then know I can trust Him? What promises has God given me that He has or is fulfilling?

God promised Jacob that He would be with him until He had finished giving him everything He had promised. This implies an ongoing blessing rather than a one-time event which makes more sense when considered within the context of the Christian journey. If God were to give a blessing and then retreat from my life, I would find it difficult to believe He was anything more than a sanctimonious spiritual being who bestowed a blessing and then carried on with His other duties. Continual blessings, however, imply a God Who is intimately interested in my life and wants to bless throughout my life so I know He wants to connect with me in a meaningful way.

I'm not saying the Christian life is only one of blessings. If this were so, we would not long for heaven. However, when I think about a God Who blesses me continually, I understand more the concept of a loving Father. Jacob would eventually see God fulfill all the promises in his life. After wrestling with God and having his name changed to Israel, Jacob would return to his father's land, build an altar, and call it El-Elohe-Israel, meaning God, the God of Israel (Genesis 33:20). 

then I will make the LORD my God. 

El-Elohe-Maria