I Knew It Not--Gen. 28

"And Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not" (Gen. 28:16).

Weary, doubting sinner, fleeing across wild, deserted sands, oppressed by wicked, diabolical insinuations that he has been cut off from God's mercy forever.

For one mistake.

Oh, how quick is the devil to prey upon our despair!

Jacob knew he had sinned. His heart was wrenched with the agony of guilt and remorse. As he fled from his brother, for his life, towards a new land and a wife, pain at his sin lashed his conscience.

Why? Why? WHY?

At the end of the second day, he drops to the floor of an uninhabited, rocky plain. On his knees, he confesses his sin with many tears and pleads for God to give him some evidence that he is not forgotten. Not forsaken.

No answer. God seems silent.

And Jacob's heart agony does not fade.

Finding a smooth stone, he lays his head on it and falls asleep as the shadows around him deepen.

But the night becomes bright. A ladder, touching earth and heaven in one, is revealed--a Savior. A Redeemer. A means of restoring guilty man to perfection. The import of the vision is understood but dimly by the "deceitful, blessed seer;" but he understands all he needs to.

The Lord speaks. Promises of blessing, of the promise to Abraham and Isaac, are repeated. And the Lord adds that He Himself will be with Jacob wherever he goes.

The Lord does look on the loneliness of our hearts with pity. And He promises Himself as a suitable companion to pass the time and miles with.

The bright ladder fades, the angels vanish, and Jacob is left staring at a vast expanse of stars. Awe and wonder fill his heart as the whisper leaves his dry throat: "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not" (vs. 16).

In life, we flee. We journey. Like Jacob, we traverse a vast and lonely wilderness, burdened with our hurts, our sins.

We collapse in a heap in the middle of a wild country, unable to go further. There is no one there--no one to help us, lift us up. No one to comfort with an encouraging word, a hug, or a smile.

There is nothing.

But we find this to be untrue.

For the Lord is there...though we know it not.

Yes. Even when you’ve come to a place that seems empty: devoid of any blessing.

You can rest assured that the Lord is there...and will make Himself known to you.

Though you see Him not.

And though you know it not.

Lord, help me to know You are there...not just speak of it, but know...