What has God promised us? Do we trust him to keep those promises? Earlier in Genesis, Abraham stopped in Shechem. God promised him to bring his descendants to that place (Genesis 12:6). Then Abraham built an altar to the Lord and worshiped.
Jacob could see the city of Shechem. God had kept his promise to Jacob to bring him safely home. Jacob purchased land, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. When Jacob worshiped God he named the altar: “mighty is the God of Israel.” Jacob was not depending on his grandfather or father’s faith. As “Israel,” he had prevailed with God. He worshiped God there.
Years ago, I made my way back to Claiborne County Tennessee. My Great Grandfather had left there as a twelve-year-old boy. His grandfather had planted churches in the Powell River valley after the Civil War. One evening, I found the Cedar Grove church where he worshiped. I sat down on the steps of the church and watched the sun set over the ridge of trees beside the river. I thought how my great-great-great grandfather watched the same sun set over the same ridge by the same river and worshiped the same Savior. Thinking of Psalm 121, I lifted my eyes to the Cumberland Mountains and beyond, worshiping the Maker of heaven and earth. God has always been faithful to me. He has always kept his promises. You, too? Yes!
