Divine Journey II (27-jan-2013)

DIVINE JOURNEY - II

 

Today we are going to meditate the second part of last week’s message - Divine Journey.

 

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

 

Genesis 28:15

 

As we saw earlier, Jacob undertook an ordinary journey but God spoke with him very clearly of his safe return.  Jacob started a journey like others but God changed it to a Divine One.  Like Jacob, we are also involved in the life journey and God is promising that He is going to change it to a Divine one and will lead us to Eternity.

 

Jacob’s journey had many junctions (meeting points) where he halted.  We are going to see the places where he stopped over and the interesting Divine Incidents which he encountered on his way.

 

1. DIVINE WATCH

 

“also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.”

Genesis 31:49

 

As we could see here, Jacob halted at a very important place which he called Mizpah. The Hebrew meaning for Mizpah is Watch Tower.  What he meant by naming that place Mizpah is that God was watching the dealing he made with his rival.

 

Like how God watched Jacob it is also certain that God is watching us too.  There is a Divine Watch or Divine Observation for our life’s journey too.

 

Man without knowing his future fixes things based on his present situation but God knowing the future of man determines his present.  So God is watching us and our families.  We just need to come to Mizpah (under God’s direct observation by prayer) so God may watch us always.

 

2. DIVINE ENCOUNTER

 

So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim

Genesis 32:1, 2

 

Here in this place, Jacob encountered the angels.  He named it Mahanaim which meant ‘Dual Camp’, a place where according to Jacob the dual hosts of God stayed.

 

Jacob might have been thinking he was on his journey all alone.  But God told him that His Host of Angels are with him during his journey.  The host of God are innumerable and that is why he named it ‘double camp’.

 

God says the same Host of God which surrounded Jacob is also surrounding us to lead and to guide us.  We need to pray God to open our spiritual eyes in order to see the heavenly host (Mahanaim) which God has sent to protect us.

 

3. DIVINE RENEWAL

 

And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.

Genesis 32:22

 

When Jacob crossed Jabbok river, he would have been in much pressure and struggling in his heart since he needed to face his brother Esau.  He wanted to be alone so that he may spend some quality time with God in order to handle this untoward situation.

 

Jabbok means evacuation, dissipation and wrestling.  God makes evacuation and emptiness in the life of Jacob at the ford of Jabbok and because of that he drew near to Him.

 

Likewise God makes emptiness at certain times in our life and expects us to draw near to Him too.  You would have experienced things being blessed earlier but now they seem worse.  It is because God allowed emptiness in your life so that He may fill it to the fullest.  A Divine Renewal will happen through the emptiness when you come to Jabbok and God will fill it once again with His goodness.

 

Without having gone through Jabbok’s experience, Jacob would not have drawn near to God and got blessed.  We are also expected to come to Jabbok so that we may be lifted up in due time by our Lord.

 

4. DIVINE VOICE

 

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

 

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.

 

And he called the name of that place Bethel;but the name of that city had been Luz previously.

Genesis 28:12, 13, 19

 

Jacob came to a place where a very special incident took place.  He dreamt a dream wherein which Angels ascended and descended the ladder and the Lord stood above it.  He named it Bethel which means the House of God.  God spoke from the top of the ladder and Jacob heard His voice.

 

We need also to come to Bethel, the church, in order to hear the Voice of God.  There are some Festival Christians who come to church only on special occasions.  Our inner spiritual man will get weakened when we are like them since it lacks its food - the Voice of God.  Voice from Bethel was the Spiritual boost for Jacob.  So also voice from the Church should be the Spiritual Manna for the Christians.  Never miss church gatherings.

 

5. DIVINE APPEARANCE

 

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Genesis 32:30

 

Jacob came to a place which he later named Peniel meaning the face of God.  In Bethel, God was on the top of the ladder speaking to him but in Peniel He came down the ladder and spoke with Jacob face to face.  So a special incident took place in Peniel where he saw a Divine Appearance of God.

 

Many Christians stop with the experience of Bethel (just hearing the voice of God alone).  But God expects us to undergo the experience of Peniel (seeing him face to face).  Only with the experience of Peniel one can communicate with God more closer.  We need to have a burning desire to see the face of God.

 

6. DIVINE PRESENCE

 

Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.

Genesis 35:27

 

From Peniel, Jacob now reached Hebron, which means fellowship.  When God gives the experience of speaking with Him face to face He makes his Presence visible.  He fulfilled the promise he made to Jacob of making him reach his destination.  In other words, he restored all the things Jacob lost while he was in a foreign land.

 

God will restore you the things you have lost in your life’s journey as well.  He will restore your fellowship with Him once again and make you travel your life journey until you reach your final destination, the Heaven.

 

May God give us his grace and enable us to experience these Divine Blessings in our life.