The Jesse Tree Series:
What does Saturday of the first week of Advent entail for our Jesse Tree:
THE EVENT/THEME: THE ASSURANCE OF THE PROMISE: During our reflection time today, let us ponder on and recall God’s faithfulness to us. We might also reflect on our own personal spiritual journey with God, as this assists us in acknowledging the power of God in our lives. Perhaps there have also been times in our relationship with God that we have been like Jacob, in that he set his conditions for accepting God into his life. It need not be as radical as Jacob’s stipulations, but our prayer life may at times resemble it. . We may wish to
ASSURANCE OF THE PROMISE
SCRIPTURE: Gen 27:41:28:22.
Chapter 27 of Genesis is the story of assurance of the promise to Esau
Jacob has already got possession of the birthright, but now he usurps Isaac’s blessing in a cunning and dishonest way, assisted by his mother who initiates the plan (verses 5-8). Their dishonesty seems even more appalling as in verse 1 we are told ‘Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see. Jacob has his reservations about his part in the plan initially, but his mother is determined to wear the greater guilt (vs 13). Later in the chapter he becomes fully immersed as he participates in the dishonesty, but suffers from it as Rebekah’s motivations reveal itself.
Also in this chapter, the prosperous life the agricultural community in the rich country of Canaan is promised to this nomad. Esau’s race will be established beyond the frontiers of Palestine and Edomites will be subject to Israel for a time. Later they will shake off the yoke and gain their independence.
What does this chapter say to us?
CHAPTER 28:
Fearing his brother’s vengeance, Jacob takes to flight and seek refuge in the land of his kinsfolk at Haran. Jacob wants to succeed in life and is not afraid to make use of all means, even dishonest ones to gain his end. For the moment he trusts only in his own strength and is far from being a docile instrument in the hands of God. Later on, after experiencing the power of God, he will subject to the Almighty and acknowledges God .Jacob’s dream is a symbolic representation of the relations between God and His people. How does this chapter speak to us?
THE PERSON:JACOB
Like all of us, Jacob had his personal flaws/sins and set conditions for accepting God into his life. However, he experienced the power of God and learnt to suspend his own will and placed God first in his life.
- Offer a prayer of thanksgiving recalling God's faithfulness in our own spiritual journey.
- Rediscover how God speaks to us in our dreams. These can be very powerful encounters, as we are receptive at our unconscious level to what God says. It is then that our spiritual consciousness is alert and awake.
- Make a practical commitment: As today's theme is the assurance of the promise, we may wish toexamine whether we trust our own strength or are we docile in God’s hands? We may wish to take a small piece of clay, close our eyes and allow ourselves to feel docile in God's hands as the clay is molded. Do we accept the promise of God offered to Jacob in vs 15 as our own also?
SYMBOL 7: LADDER
.The Ladder is a symbol of Christ and promise made to Jacob that was fulfilled through Christ. Let us remember Jacob and the assurance of the promise.
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