Samuel, who was 4, had finished eating his dinner and asked if he could
be dismissed from the table. He wanted to go outside to play. But he was too
young to be out alone, so his mother said, “No. You can’t go outside by
yourself. You need to wait for me to finish and go with you.” His quick reply:
“But, Mommy, Jesus is with me!”
Samuel had learned well from his parents that the Lord is always by his
side. We see in our Bible reading today that Jacob had learned that lesson too.
His father Isaac had blessed him and told him to find a wife from among his
mother’s family (Gen. 28:1-4). He followed that directive and traveled
toward Haran.
As Jacob slept, the Lord came to him in a dream and said, “I am with you
and will keep you wherever you go . . . ; for I will not leave you” (v.15).
When he awoke, he knew that he had heard from God, and said, “Surely the Lord
is in this place” (v.16). Confident of God’s presence, he committed himself to
following Him with his life (vv.20-21).
If we have received Jesus as our Savior (John 1:12), we can be confident
and take comfort in the truth that He is always present with us (Heb. 13:5).
Like Jacob, may our response to His love be wholehearted devotion.
Our loving God is always near – forever by our side. (RBC)
