GROWTH

by Barbara Chadwick

“Salvation is the miracle of a moment. Growth is the labor of a lifetime.”
(Posted on the marquee at the First Baptist Church, Sitka, Alaska)

Genesis tells this story of Jacob.  (Genesis 27:5-29 and 28:10-22

Jacob stole Esau’s blessing and Esau vowed to kill him so Jacob fled.  On the way he had a dream: There was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven… and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…The Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you…

Then Jacob made a vow saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…And of all that You give me I will give a full tenth to You.”

See how selfish and cynical he is?  IF God will be with me – IF God will give me bread to eat – IF God will give me clothing to wear – THEN the LORD shall be my God!

Well, as Kenneth says, he hadn’t had much experience with God yet. But let’s follow him a little.

Jacob goes to his uncle Laban, works seven years for Rachel and Laban gives Leah to him. He works seven more years for Rachel. Fourteen years the man worked for these two wives and in addition six years for his flock. Then we see that, the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.  (Genesis 30:43)  Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3)

Jacob leaves, sneaking away in the night from Laban with wives, servants and animals.  Laban catches up and accuses him. They have it out and finally made a covenant,  Then  Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me to do harm.” (Genesis 31:51-54)

Well, trouble follows this man. He was going to travel through the country of his brother, Esau. He was afraid. He sent messengers ahead with gifts and this message: “I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.” (Genesis 32:3-5)

The night before he was to meet his brother he divided his camp into two camps so that if Esau attacked one camp then the other camp could escape. Then he prayed:

“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord…I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps…”  (Genesis 32:9-10)

The selfishness and cynicism apparent when he first encounters God, changes to thankfulness and trust through the growth he experiences.

“Growth is the labor of a lifetime!”