Move Forward
Stop. Take a deep breath—3 seconds in, 6 seconds out. Good. Now do it again. Keep breathing deeply. Gracious God we ask you to help us examine our hearts and lives throughout this devotion time. Amen.
Listen. Genesis 32:22-23 22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
Reflect. Jacob has really gotten himself into it. Here he is at the Jabbok River which serves as a divide for him. On one side is his Uncle Laban where he has stayed for the past 20 years, whom he has tricked out of a lot of livestock and wealth. Jacob is not welcome on Laban’s side. On the other side is his brother Esau, whom he fled from 20 years ago after stealing his blessing from their father Isaac. Jacob fears he is not welcome on Esau’s side. There has been a lot of back and forth across the Jabbok in this story and I honestly don’t know if Jacob sent his family ahead of him to the side where Esau was or behind him to the side where Laban was.
But I do know this—Jacob cannot return to what once was. The road ahead (Esau) looks quite unpleasant but it’s the only option. Jacob has to leave Laban and his life of 20 years behind. Next weekend is Reformation Sunday. The church reached a Jabbok River of sorts. Martin Luther wasn’t trying to start a new church but as he looked back he saw the sale of indulgences and the accumulation of merit by good works and he struggled to see Jesus in it. As he looked forward he saw a challenging road but it was a faithful step to cross the river and walk into God’s promised forgiveness and grace through Jesus Christ.
Phyllis Tickle says that every 500 years the church has a giant rummage sale—sorting through doctrine, traditions, and practices that no longer serve God’s kingdom or people. As we think about Jacob and Luther, is there anything you need to leave behind? Is there something that no longer serves you or your neighbors? Perhaps it’s time to name that thing (or things), step over the Jabbok River, and move forward trusting that God will lead, protect, and love you… trusting that what lies ahead is better than what we’ve left behind.
Pray. Gracious God, as we rummage through the garbage of our own lives, help us to discard the accumulated junk from our lives. Help us to simplify. Help us to lighten our burdens. Help us to let go. Help us to follow you. Amen.
Carry On. Sort through your things. Maybe just one closet. Bring a donation to your favorite charity.