Making a Vow

Wednesday, March 3

Making a Vow  

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. Genesis 28:20-21

Motivational speaker Les Brown says “You need to make a commitment, and once you make it, then life will give you some answers.” Even better than that Jesus says in Revelation 3:15 to the church at Laodicea “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” Although blinded by their wealth and love for material things, Jesus still loved them and provided an opportunity for repentance. Although Jacob was so focused on getting ahead that he lost himself in the process God still had mercy on him and provided a way of escape. The same is true for us today. He stands at the door and knocks; the question is will you make the decision to let Him in?

In Genesis 32:22 when Jacob says I’m finally ready to take off Esau’s clothes and tell you who I really am, he has as the Prodigal Son, come to his senses. It was through the struggle that God developed Jacob into this person who could now be used by God. It is not always your success which makes you available, it’s often the struggle that defines you and shapes you into a person God can use.