Morning Devotions: 3/15/10

Genesis 34-35

I love roller coasters. Unfortunately, the older I become the more my body tells me that it's a bit wiser to keep my feet on the ground. Similarly, there's a maturity of faith that comes upon us in time as we grow with God. This mature faith keeps us grounded in the security of God when everything seems to be rushing dangerously through the more dramatic ups and downs of life.

This text for today has all the elements of a roller coaster. From Jacob's perspective, in just two chapters he has learned of the following dramatic lows:
The rape of his daughter, Dinah
The foolish retaliatory vengeance upon Shechem from his sons
The incest committed by his oldest son, Reuben
The death of his beloved wife, Rachel
The death of his father, Isaac

At the same time, however, this text has revealed to Jacob the following dramatic highs:
God speaks directly to Jacob for the first time.
God's protection from further retaliation from Shechem
God speaks to Jacob a second time
God passes to Jacob His most sacred blessing.
God renames Jacob and calls him Israel
The birth of his 12th son, Benjamin

As we read this text, we get the feeling that Jacob has moved through all these highs and lows at such a pace that our heads are dizzy at the end of reading it. But, there's one thing from beginning to end that keeps Jacob grounded---his faith in God. Jacob's faith, if you recall, has come a long way. He was once the opportunistic, self-centered, insecure youth that was flying through life by the seat of his pants. Now, we see him as the father who has learned much about himself and God from his past mistakes. He is older, wiser, more secure and his faith in God has grown much more mature. Now, it is his mature faith that keeps him grounded through all of these dramatic highs and lows.

Consider the highs and lows that you're facing right now, how is your faith keeping you grounded in God?

Lord God, thank you for remaining with me through all the highs and lows. Thank you for using the mistakes of my past to help grow my faith into something more mature today. Empower me to respond to life with the same patient security with which you have responded to me over the years. Let me face this day's high and lows with your grace. In Jesus' name...Amen