Our Father in heaven cannot be hidden or taken away from us

Dear Lord, open our hearts and our minds to the power of Your Word, which as we read, we may know, understand, and obey Your Word for us today.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  (Author unknown)

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL – Wednesday, May 10, 2023

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Today’s daily reading:

[Our Father in heaven cannot be hidden or taken away from us]

STOLEN GODS

Scripture reading:

Household gods, small portable idols, which Rachel probably stole because she thought they would bring her protection and blessings.  Or perhaps she wanted to have something tangible to worship on the long journey ahead . . .

Now that Jacob had acknowledged God as the source of blessing and was about to reenter the promised land, the Lord acknowledged Jacob as his servant by changing his name.  Jacob/Israel, the nation of Israel got its name and characterization: the people who struggle with God (memorialized in the name Israel) and with human beings (memorialized in the name Jacob) and overcome.  God later confirmed Jacob’s new name.  (NIV)

Genesis 31:19-21; 32:22-30 – When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.  Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.  So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.  After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.  So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.  Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”  But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?”  Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Today’s story is by:  Tim Gustafson

You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.  –Genesis 32:28

A carved wooden figure—a household god—had been stolen from a woman named Ekuwa, so she reported it to the authorities.  Believing they had found the idol, law enforcement officials invited her to identify it.  “Is this your god?” they asked.  She said sadly, “No, my god is much larger and more beautiful than that.”

People have long tried to give shape to their concept of deity, hoping for a handmade god to protect them.  Perhaps that’s why Jacob’s wife Rachel “stole her father’s household gods” as they fled from Laban (Genesis 31:19).  But God had His hand on Jacob, despite the idols hidden in his camp (Genesis 31:34¹).

Later, on that same journey, Jacob wrestled all night with “a man” (Genesis 32:24).  He must have understood this opponent was no mere human . . .

This God—the one true God—is infinitely larger and more beautiful than anything Ekuwa could have ever imagined.  He can’t be carved, stolen, or hidden.  Yet, as Jacob learned that night, we can approach Him!  Jesus taught His disciples to call this God “our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9²).

[If you would like to journal, reflect, meditate, or pray on today’s reading:]

– How would you describe God?

– How might your ideas of Him be too limited?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for seeing You as smaller than You really are.  Help me embrace the reality of who You truly are.

Scripture reference:

¹) Inside her camel’s saddle . . . sitting on them, indicating the small size and powerlessness of the household gods.  (NIV)

Genesis 31:34 – Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them.  Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.

²) The phrase “Our Father in heaven” indicates that God is not only majestic and holy but also personal and loving.  The first line of this model prayer is a statement of praise and a commitment to hallow, or honor, God’s holy name.  We can honor God’s name by being careful to use it respectfully.  If we use God’s name lightly, we aren’t remembering God’s holiness.  (NLT)

Matthew 6:9 – [Jesus said] “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. . .”

https://odb.org/US/2023/05/10/stolen-gods

Here is the link for Our Daily Bread website: https://odb.org/