Slices
Prepare
Recognise that God is an ever-present reality in your life. Sit quietly and allow yourself to become aware of his presence with you now.
Bible passage
43 Laban answered Jacob, ‘The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.’
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 He said to his relatives, ‘Gather some stones.’ So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me today.’ That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, ‘May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you ill-treat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.’
51 Laban also said to Jacob, ‘Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. 53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.’
So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.
55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
Explore
How do we settle our differences, especially when there is suspicion and mistrust? Perhaps we don’t bother and just let things drift on. Jacob and Laban are determined to have clarity. So they make a covenant, a binding agreement. Today we might have solicitors draw up a document to remind us and to ensure that there will be no misunderstanding later. Their equivalent is a pillar and a heap of stones, acting as a permanent reminder and making the boundaries very clear. Then they have a meal, because that is how in their world you ratify an agreement (v 54). If there are things you need to resolve with others, why not make a plan to do it?
God is the ultimate witness (v 42) who sees all that they do (v 49). God is the final judge who will hold both parties to account (v 53). There is a sacrifice acknowledging that everything has taken place in the presence of God (v 54).
No doubt there were times when Jacob wondered what God was doing, but he never completely lost sight of God who had been ever-present, leading, directing, sustaining, protecting, providing. This is no less true for us. How far are we aware of it?
Respond
Pray that throughout this week you will know that God is with you in every situation. Pray that others will see it and take note.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 7,8; Colossians 2
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the children in primary schools who are taking part in Rooted sessions run by Faith Guides, and for Rooted conversation spaces launching in secondary schools. Ask that these may open up many opportunities for children and young people to discover Jesus.
