Short Devotion - An Old Story - Genesis 35:14-15

Genesis 35:14-15        Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him, Bethel. (NIV)

            As a schoolboy, I was taught that the stone pillar which Jacob placed at Bethel thousands of years ago, was somehow transported to Scotland and became known as The Stone of Destiny. When ancient Scottish kings were crowned, they sat on a coronation throne which was built around the stone, supposedly conferring God’s blessing on their reign. Eventually, during the wars between Scotland and England, the English king took it as a victor’s trophy and had it placed below the coronation throne in Westminster Abbey. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth was crowned on the same throne over the stone. As a gesture of goodwill to the people of Scotland, she returned it in 1996 and had it placed in Edinburgh Castle, where it occupies the same room as the Scottish Crown Jewels.

            It’s a delightful story, but it really doesn’t date back to Jacob’s time. A group of geologists has studied the stone and they believe it is part of the red sandstone which is found around Scone Palace in Scotland, where the Scottish kings and queens were officially crowned. It seems that the Scots have a touch of what the Irish call ‘blarney,’ when it comes to telling tall tales.

            In the Bible, Jacob set up the original stone pillar as an everlasting witness to God’s grace in preserving him and his family, as well as for the promises of posterity which would be fulfilled in the multitude of the future Hebrew people and formation of a Jewish nation in the Promised Land centuries later. It was a turning point in Jacob’s life which allowed him to settle in God’s country with a divine blessing that would not be broken.

            As we each look over our lives, remembering where we came from and looking forward to the times that lie ahead, let’s not forget to be thankful to God for sustaining and blessing each and every day of our lives. We may not fully know what lies ahead, but of this, we can be certain, the God who holds us dearly in His hands today, also holds every tomorrow in His hands.

Point to ponder

What Bible stories do I remember from my childhood? How do those stories still affect my faith today?

Prayer:            Gracious God, we thank You for the fulfillment of Your promises over the centuries and across the world. We have faith today simply because You arranged it long ago. Help us to be mindful of how we pass on our faith to the younger generations in our lives. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Scottish designs called ‘Caledonian Soul.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Soul.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Daily devotion: Dream On - Genesis 28:12

Genesis 28:12             Jacob 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. 

            I had a dream last night that troubled me. It was a mixture of the past, present, and future. When I look back on it this morning, I realize that there were many symbols in the dream of what I care about most. I won’t go into details because I’m still pondering over what it means, but it has left me unsettled.

            I’m no interpreter of dreams, but I know that they have a way of bringing our hopes and fears to the surface. I can still remember a few dreams from childhood that terrified me, as well as a couple of dreams from adolescence that solidified my faith in God. Even although it has been decades since those dreams occurred, they are still with me, which mystifies me at times. Why would something that didn’t really happen still stay within my heart and mind?

            Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:10-15 was amazing. He was on the run from his brother who wanted to murder him and from his father who would have cursed him. He didn’t have a place to call home and no doubt he was carrying a lot of fears and troubles within him. We can only guess how those traumatic circumstances affected his faith in God. He was at the lowest point in his long life. If ever he needed a sign or a symbol of reassurance, then this was the time that God had to show Jacob that He was real.

            So Jacob dreamt of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. He was apparently at the mystical point where Heaven and Earth actually meet. And then he heard the great voice of God confirming the covenant that had been made with his father and grandfather. God was personally reassuring Jacob that his life had a purpose and that the LORD’s promises would be fulfilled through this runaway. It was the most important crossroads in Jacob’s life. From that point on, he personally knew that God was always with him.

            I believe that God still speaks to us in dreams, simply because the world cannot interfere or cause distractions in the middle of them. I firmly believe that God also takes a deep personal interest in each of our lives, so that when we ask Him for guidance, assurance, and a calling, He will listen to our hearts and speak to us in our dreams. Perhaps, in the midst of all of the pressures, stresses, and troubles that we presently endure, the best advice may just be this: sleep on it.

Questions for personal reflection

When and how do I hear God speaking to my heart and mind? Do I really listen to what He is saying to me?

Prayer:            Lord God, through the blessing of Your Son Jesus Christ, we know that You are with us each day until the fullness of our lives and the end of all Time. Speak to our hearts and minds this day and help us to actually hear Your voice. Give us a calling of our hearts and a mission of Christ’s work. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest sunflower drawings. It’s called “Garden Glory.” A larger version can be viewed at the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7607009436_906976cd09_b.jpg