Trusting in TP in a Time of Crisis

Read: Genesis 28:10-22

To provide a little context to this chapter, Jacob has just deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing. He is now fleeing to escape his brother’s wrath, unsure of his future, and has stopped to rest for the night. Overnight, the Lord appeared to him, confirming the promise and plan He has for Jacob’s life. When Jacob awoke he realized “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

In today’s current climate, the fear and uncertainty we might be experiencing are the same that Jacob felt at this time. But God used the pain Jacob was feeling to serve as an open door for God to walk through and be present in Jacob’s life. God wants to do the same for you today. He wants to use your pain, your fear, your anxiety, and use it as a door to open the gate of heaven.

That brings us to our verses in Genesis 28:10-22 where Jacob makes this vow in response to God’s goodness;

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” -Gen 28:20-22

I believe this is a prayer we can pray today in regard to our current uncertain state of affairs;

• “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey” – Jacob’s prayer here is not for an easy journey, but that God’s presence be with Him on it. Our global circumstances today are not easy – but oh that we would change our prayers from asking God for better circumstances to asking God to allow us to experience His presence in the midst of them.
• “and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear” – Jacob places his trust in the fact that God will provide for his physical needs.
• “so that I return safely” – Jacob believes in the restoration to come once he has walked through this difficult season.
• “then the Lord will be my God” – Jacob states his gratitude for all of these things by committing his life and his loyalty to Him.
• “this pillar shall be God’s house” – You’ve probably heard more than once that “the church is not the building, it’s the people”. That is more true today than ever, and we are experiencing church similar to how the disciples must have in its early days – no buildings, no service times; but rather people meeting in homes to learn more about Jesus, reflecting Jesus in their actions by helping and serving others, and sharing the Gospel to those who aren’t yet aware. Let your house and your life be God’s house today.
• “all that you give me I will give you a tenth” – This one hurts a little in poor economic times! But as much as we are reminded to band together and purchase to-go meals from locally owned restaurants, buy gift cards from small businesses, and hire self-employed contractors during this time to keep our economy going, it’s important to also remember that God uses the tithe as a way to provide for local churches and non-profits so they can maintain the mission of providing hope, service, and encouragement to a hurting world, and of course jobs that families depend on, too. I encourage you to remain faithful in your trust in God – He has blessed you with all that you have, whether that’s a little or a lot, and He promised to keep blessing you if you return a small portion back to His house in gratitude. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take all the blessings I can get!

I feel it’s important to point out that as we read Jacob’s vow in our language today, it sounds like an if/then deal with God… “Lord if you do this, then I’ll do that.” But the original translation implies no doubt on Jacob’s part. This was not a deal with God, rather a statement of covenant that God WILL do these things, and I in return will do these things in gratitude, because I don’t deserve them. While Jacob’s future was uncertain, this vow held no uncertainty but rather anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promise. Jacob didn’t put his trust in a Costco-sized case of tp…he put his trust in TP…The Promise!

It’s also worthy of note that God appeared to Jacob while he was resting. In a time of anxiety and crisis, we scramble to do things to feel we are in control (such as buy illogical amounts of toilet paper?). Remember that HE is in control, and He is for you, not against you.

Pray this vow that Jacob made over your life today – ask God to open your eyes to His presence, thank Him for providing for your needs, believe in the restoration that is to come, BE the church, and stay faithful in what He’s asked you to do. This time of pain and uncertainty can be the door that God uses to walk into your life in a way you have never experienced before, in a way that can only be experienced when walking through the valley.

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