◄ What Does Genesis 28:15 Mean? ►

Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Genesis 28:15(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

What heartening encouragement is given to every child of God, as we are reminded so emphatically that the Lord of God cares for us and watches over us no matter where we go or what we do. What a great comfort it is to discover that He will be with us always and will certainly fulfil every promise and pledge that He has purposed towards us: "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go," is God's promise to His servant Jacob, "Behold, I will bring you back to this land for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

This precious promise was given to Jacob, at Bethel, as he fled in fear from the fury of his twin brother. Jacob had defrauded Esau of his inheritance, by deceiving his father into giving him the family blessing instead of his older, twin brother. As the young man slept with his head on a stone, the Lord spoke to him in a dream and renewed the wonderful promise He had given to both Abraham and Isaac, so many years before.

The promises of God cannot be broken, and despite Jacob's deceptive behaviour, the Lord not only promised to be with him wherever he travelled, but that He would one day bring him back to his homeland and that the Lord would never leave or forsake him until His promises were fulfilled. Jacob was the son through whom would be born the promised Seed of Abraham. It was to be through the offspring of this man that all the families of the earth were to be blessed.

The promise Jacob received that night was one that would pass to his yet-to-be-born children, who would become the Lord's chosen nation of Israel. The promise given to Jacob that night, was made by the God of Israel, the Creator of the Universe Who neither slumbers nor sleeps, Whose Word is sure, Whose promises are guaranteed, Whose statutes are binding, and Whose covenants will never fail - for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

When God wants to make an important point in Scripture, or grab hold of our attention, He will often use the word 'BEHOLD'. Behold, I am with you! Behold! I will watch over you wherever you go! Behold! I will bring you back to this land! Behold! I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised!

But somehow the magnitude of meaning and immense significance of this expression is lost in our translation. But God restates in the strongest possible terms that He will be with Israel - that He will keep Israel and bring her back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What an amazing God we have, to realise that this magnificent pledge to Jacob and the nation of Israel, who fell into incredible and ongoing apostasy during their history and even crucified their Messiah and King, still stands today. The God that stands fast on His promises to Israel is the same God that will honour His promises to the Body, which is His Church.

Should this not rejoice our hearts and fill us with such assurance that His promises and pledge will similarly stand fast and surely be fulfilled. Should this not reassure us, knowing that His gifts and calling to the Church will also stand fast forever and ever, to his praise and glory, AMEN.

Behold: we have a God Who has promised to watch over US, who are His Body. He has pledged to protect us, provide for us, keep us, and cherish us.

Behold: we have a Saviour Who gave His own life for us so that our sins are forever forgiven and we are covered in Christ's glorious righteousness.

Behold: we have the promise of an eternal home prepared for us, in heaven.

Behold: we have a Bridegroom (Who is currently sitting on the right hand of the Father) Who is coming soon to take us home to be with Himself, before He draws Israel as a nation back into His loving arms (as He promised) when He will set up His glorious kingdom on earth, for in that day the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word and Your never-failing promises both to Israel and the Church. Thank You for this peep into Jacob's dream in which he saw a stairway to heaven and for the blessed promise You gave him that all peoples of the earth would be blessed by his descendants and that You would not leave him or forsake him. May I be faithful in my service to You, my wonderful faithful God and Father, knowing that You will never leave me or forsake me. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.