Daily Devotions
Genesis
"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed - Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Text: Genesis 28:1-22
A SERIOUS EXPRESSION OF FAITH
Jacob did not make his vow carelessly. He intended to keep everything he promised! The second part of his vow revealed just how sincere and serious he was.
(Part 2 of Jacob’s Vow)
1. “Then the Lord shall be my God”
Jacob had never publicly confessed faith in God as his father Isaac did. He certainly could not say that he had built any altar to worship God as Abraham his grandfather did. Abraham had erected many altars, as an expression of his personal faith in God! If the Lord would meet all his needs, then Jacob would certainly and with great conviction acknowledge to the world the Name of the Lord his God! A firm commitment to own the Lord and to obey Him was in Jacob’s mind when he uttered this vow to the Lord!
2. “This stone… shall be God’s House”
Jacob looked forward to the day when he would return to Canaan. The way home would necessarily see him pass the city of Luz, or Bethel, as Jacob would have it! He would return to this very place, and it would be sacred ground for him. Bethel would always have a firm place in his heart and mind. Bethel would be for him – the House of God! He will always take time to worship Him in His house! Worship was very much in Jacob’s mind when he uttered these words!
3. “All that you give me, I will surely give a tenth to You”
Would God indeed provide for all his needs? Would He indeed bless him richly? If so, then it should be the most natural thing to offer something back in return! Jacob had nothing much to offer the Lord at all. He did not have in his possession even a lamb to offer as a burnt offering.
However, he looked forward to the day when the Lord would bless him with much. He would be more than glad to offer to the Lord a tithe! He would give to the Lord a tenth of all that he would possess! What was in Jacob’s mind as he uttered these words? Even as he spoke, Jacob was growing in his faith and in his understanding of God.
He knew that God needed nothing from him! He was the Lord! He was the One who said that He would give Jacob the land of Canaan! What could he offer in return? One tenth is NOTHING compared to what the Lord would bless him with! Jacob felt that it was right and proper to make this solemn vow to the Lord!
A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF GOD
Faith in God must grow apace with knowledge of God! The single encounter with God opened up a whole new vista of knowledge and insight as to who the Lord really was! In just one brief moment of time, Jacob learned much about God. In and through that experience, his faith in God deepened. Jacob would learn many more lessons about the Lord. He knew that his knowledge of God would directly affect his faith in Him!