Jacob muses

The Arc de Triompphe stands in Paris as a monument of victory honoring those who fought in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. Jacob put up a monument honoring God. Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, "God is in this place - truly. And I didn't even know it!" He was terrified. He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven."

In Genesis 28 Jacob is fleeing his home after “trading” a bowl of porridge for Esau’s birthright.  Abraham had blessed him and sent him on his way to get a wife. Nonetheless the bitter taste of guilt must have lingered on Jacob’s tongue long after the tang of the porridge left Esau. 

God appeared to Jacob in a dream. You remember the story. The angels were descending and ascending to heaven on Jacob’s ladder. God told Jacob, “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 promised you."

The verb there for “keep” is shamar, a covenant verb. The Old Testament Word Book defines it as “to exercise great care over.” 

I’m not altogether sure of the connection, but it is the verb used in Genesis 2:15 when God tells Adam to keep and cultivate the land. It is as if the Lord has seen that we cannot keep covenant, so He will. I like the notion that even though it was our job to keep and cultivate, God is the Keeper. 

When we studied Genesis 2:15 in church, our pastor said this verb is used more often to refer to how the Levitical priests KEPT the law. Shamar refers to the work of the Levitical priest in the Temple of God. They cleaned the tabernacle. They killed the animals for sacrifice. They chanted. They hummed. They prayed. They risked being killed if they entered the Holy of Holies haphazardly. 

I began to think of myself as a Levitical priest. I am to keep the temple: my body, my story, my life, my unique face. I am to love my story as my birthright. Esau despised his birthright. Will I despise mine?

This wonderful promise of God to keep reminds me that when I fail to keep, when I fail to obey what God commanded Adam to do in the Garden; God is keeping me. God is my Keeper.

Jacob’s response is the essence of musing. He said, "God is in this place - truly. And I didn't even know it!" He was terrified. He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven." Genesis 28:17, MSG

Jacob has seen God, albeit in a dream. Words almost cannot hold the experience. He is afraid. This word for fear is used 314 times in the Bible. The word for terrified, yare,  means to cause astonishment and awe or to inspire reverence or godly fear. 

The fear gives way to worship. He worships. He sets up the stone as a marker. 

To see God in a new way and utter forth mumblings in response is to muse. Muse with me all the great things God has done for us.

Comments

[WordGirl AKA Shannon]

Oh, my. Do I love my story as my birthright or despise it? Tough, tough question. I need to ponder on this.