Since Jacob could not stay home because of what he had done to his older brother, he left for Haran, where his uncle lives. But before he left, Isaac was able to bless and send him away. Despite stealing his brother's birthright, God graciously chose him to be the channel in which God's promise to Abraham would be fulfilled. However, God was going to change Jacob's heart because, at this point, Jacob was a deceiver, and everything was for himself. As he was in the wilderness resting, he fell into sleep, and God spoke to him through his dream. God told him that his descendants would be great and that the place that he was resting would be a place for his descendants. God promised him that He would be with him wherever he went and that He would bring him back to this place (Genesis 28:10-17).
When Jacob woke up, he made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God." (Genesis 28:20-21). Jacob's vow was centered on himself and not on God's will. Jacob was vowing that if God would not provide everything that he needs, then God would not be his God. God would eventually humble him, but he would go through the painful and humiliating experience to help him realize that He had to surrender his life to God without any conditions.
As believers, we need to accept God in our lives not because of what he can provide for us and can do for us, but we accept Him in our lives because He is the God who loves and saves us from our sin through His Son Jesus Christ. Many professing Christians stopped believing in God because God did not grant them their prayer requests. They want God to give everything that they want and not to be changed by God. God's goal in our lives is to make us the people He wants us to be and not just a provider. God wants to be God in our lives. He wants us to submit to His will because He knows what is best for us. He wants us to worship and adore Him because of who He is. Jacob would learn this principle the hard way. He would eventually believe in God without his conditions, but not without struggles. Day by day, God is working in our lives to help us surrender our lives completely to Him.
Ask yourself these questions: What does God want me to do in my relationship with Him? Why do I believe in God? Do I believe in God because of what I can get from Him, or do I believe in God because He is God who loves and saves me from my sin?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you that your goal in my life is to make me the person that worships you. You want me to submit my life to you so that I can bring glory to your name. Please help me to surrender my life completely to you because you know what is best for me. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.