From Pillows to Pillars
Today’s Verse:
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. ~Genesis 28:22
Jacob set off for a journey to find a wife in the country of his uncle Laban. On the first night of his journey, he stopped to rest. He chose some stones that he used as a pillow for his head. That sounds somewhat hard on the neck and head for me, but that’s what the Scripture tells us. He had an incredible dream that night of a ladder that stretched from earth to Heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder was the Lord Himself. Jacob awoke from the dream and realized that the Lord had met with him. What Jacob did next serves as the devotional thought for this morning. He took the stones he had used for his pillow and set them up as a pillar.
We see the sleep.
Jacob went to sleep that night without a care in the world. Spiritually, he was asleep to the fact that he needed God to be first in his life. He was asleep to the priority of salvation. Jacob was a very deceitful man who took advantage of his brother, Esau. He was asleep in his conscience that he was a sinner who needed to be saved. He was also asleep to his purpose in life. As a descendant of Abraham, the promise of the promised land and becoming a great nation would pass to him. We must be careful of being asleep to God’s purpose for our life.
We see the stirring.
“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” Jacob’s dream and the Lord speaking to him through that dream was very real to him. It stirred him in his faith. Jacob was moved to place his faith in God for his salvation. It stirred him about his future. He said, “This is the gate of heaven.” It made him realize that we must prepare to meet God one day. It stirred him about his fellowship. He said, “This is none other but the house of God.” He correlated that God desired to have fellowship with him. The house of God represents where man meets with God for fellowship.
We see the switch.
Jacob took the stones he used for pillows and set them up for a pillar. He made an important switch, or trade. He traded convenience for conviction. He traded foolishness for faith. He traded trusting in self for trusting in God. A pillar represents support and strength. The pillar became a testimony of his faith and dependence upon the Lord. It testified that he needed God’s help for the remainder of his life. It told the Lord that he meant business with Him and took responsibility for living for the glory of God.
We see the sanctuary.
He called the pillar Bethel, or the house of God. That location was hallowed as a place of priority. It is where we assemble with God’s people for the public worship of God. We should desire to be in God’s house. It is also hallowed as a place of prayer. The Lord said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer.” It is also hallowed as place of presentation. Jacob said, “Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” God’s house is the storehouse for tithes and offerings. Jacob made a major decision when he took the stones that he used as pillows and set them up to be a pillar. When he saw the Lord at the top of the ladder, he realized that the Lord should be at the top of everything in our life. Are you resting your life on a pillow of personal comfort when you should be stirred about the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth?
Have a prioritized God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Nehemiah 10-11