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Genesis 28:10-19a

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

By: The Rev. Craig Stephans

The Lord confirms to Jacob the promises that he made to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, including the promise, “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” Jacob has seen the vision of the stairway between heaven and earth and recognizes that God is present in that place. In the narrative of Jacob’s life, we will never see him abandoned by God, even though he later describes his life to Pharaoh, “Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life.” (Genesis 47:9) God continues to reveal his presence and providence in Jacob’s life. Jacob experienced an ongoing connection between heaven and earth.

Through the work of Jesus by the grace of God, Paul assures us that those who have believed in Jesus and received Him have received the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son. By that Spirit, we know that we are His children, and we know He is with us. Through the Holy Spirit, we not only dwell in the place of God; we become the place where God dwells. Paul writes, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:14-17)

Jesus tells his disciples that evil will continue to exist in the world, and the evil one will sow his seed and grow his weeds. Jesus suffers this evil for a while. He promises that at the proper time, “The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will collect out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:41-43)

Paul informs us that the Holy Spirit and all of creation, including ourselves, groan for the coming of that time when evil is discharged from creation and all things are renewed for the glory of God. This glory will overshadow any hardships we have suffered during our pilgrimage on earth. In the meantime, we can have the assurance, as we go through any trials, that God is our “Abba, Father,” and he is with us to bring us into his kingdom.

I think we, as preachers, have a calling and anointing from God to encourage people to have courageous faith that overcomes the fears that can rise up to undermine the sanctity of life. Too many members of our congregations are led by their fears and anxieties and a desire to avoid suffering rather than being led by the Holy Spirit. The same is true for us. I think it is important for us to demonstrate courage in challenging, even confronting, listeners about whom they follow-the Spirit of the Lord or fear.