Title This is not going to happen
Contents
Hymn: 412 'We always betrayed the Lord' / Meditation: Give thanks for the grace you have given us. And he called the name of the land Succoth, because he built a house and built a barn for his cattle” (Genesis 33:17).
Word: For Jacob, Esau's problem was an unsolved homework. Then a miracle happened to him. Esau, running to kill him, embraces him and embraces him in tears. It is God's grace. The word 'grace' came out of Jacob's mouth nonstop.
But after that, Jacob's actions confuse us. First, he built a house “for himself,” and then he built a cage “for the beast.” Why? As he wandered through the wilderness, he said, “God, just let me return to my father’s house in peace, and the Lord will be my God. And I will build the temple first. I will give a tenth of my income to God.” And they entered the land of Canaan in ‘peace’. However, when the problem was resolved, God, who had given him grace, was pushed to the background. God's temple has been reduced to something less than his own house, or even a cage. I forgot all the prayers I had offered to God during difficult times.
We too have problems and cling to God with all our hearts, but when the problems are solved, we forget what we prayed for. Of course, Jacob said in verse 20 that he “built an altar”. However, he became self-centered and his religious life was formal. It is because they are worshiping God with their mouths, but they have no attitude of gratitude for the grace that God has given them. At this time, Jacob encounters an unexpected incident in which his daughter is raped (Genesis 34). This is no coincidence. We are in need of God's grace more in the future than the grace we have received. No, they are in need of greater grace than before.
We still have the old nature of Jacob. In times of hardship and difficulty, we seek God and pray, but when problems are resolved, we often forget His grace and act like Jacob. Don't forget that we need God's lasting grace. Pray for the amazing grace that God pours out. I need God's grace more and more, and I hope that I will be able to stand as a person who can receive greater grace before God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are in need of your grace. Please help me to live longing for greater grace. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord's Prayer