Do you ever find yourself, like Jacob, giving God a list of things for Him to do, instead of asking, “What will you have me to do?”
We concluded our last lesson with the facetious statement, “How big of Jacob to let God be his God!” What Jacob actually said was this: “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God” (Gen 28:20-21). If, says Jacob, God travels with me, feeds me, clothes me, and brings me home safely, I’ll let Him be my God. But how often we find this attitude in our own hearts. Enjoying the blessings seems to be more important than enjoying the Blesser. But the Lord is not in heaven to do our will; we are on earth to do His will. I believe it was Florence Nightingale who said, “I must constantly remind myself that God is not my private secretary.” Notice however that, in an action rich with symbolism, Jacob not only lifted his stone pillow into a pillar, he also “poured oil on top of it” (v 18). Why would he do this? The oil of course was olive oil, and olive oil was a useful commodity in that land. It was used for food, warmth, light, healing and anointing. These are the ministries of the Holy Spirit, who is often represented in Scripture by the symbolism of oil. He is the one who feeds us with the nutritious Word of God. He provides the warmth of Christian fellowship, being the bond between believers. He shines the light of divine guidance on life’s pathway, and is the Comforter who helps us in our hours of trouble. And of course, His anointing equips us for ministry, gifting us to serve the Lord. Beautiful, isn’t it! The Father sits enthroned in glory. The Son is pictured in the ladder, our only link with heaven. The Spirit poured out is seen in the oil, and now the picture is complete.