Monuments Sample

//Jacob’s Altar//

Has anyone ever told you who you would become? I was a lazy student, and my parents had no problem telling me that I would get the life that I had earned. 

Now, imagine being named thief by your parents at birth. Jacob’s name literally meant, “takes from others.” Born the younger brother, he always felt a step behind, but every move he made only made things worse. Soon, he had become a thief and a liar and was fleeing for his life from his older brother, Esau. The choices that he had made to better his life were about to end it. This is not the sort of person that we would think of as inspirational, but something changed.

One night, Jacob had an encounter with God and received the promise that God would always be with him. The next day Jacob built an altar, a monument to what God had promised him. It was not a magnificent monument, but a single stone, an altar as small as he felt, and at this private monument, he swore to give God the glory if He blessed him. 

Over the next few years, Jacob worked hard to build a life for himself. Even though his employer was deceitful, Jacob always responded with honesty and respect, and God blessed him for his choices. Eventually, Jacob was ready to begin the journey to restoration with his brother. As he travelled home, He would have another encounter with God one night. This time he physically wrestled with God all night long but would not give up. In the morning, God gave Jacob a new name, Israel. 

No longer would be known by a name that meant thief, but by a name that meant “fighter of God.” Jacob had wrestled with God not just that night, but for his whole life. First, he had wrestled against God to be his own source of provision. Then, he had wrestled against the world as he relied on God to be his only source of provision. This wrestling had taken him from who the world had told him that he would be, to who God had promised him that he would be. Later God would call Jacob to return to his private monument. This time he built an altar large enough to show everyone how great God's promise and faithfulness truly are.

THINK ABOUT IT! Life is a struggle, but have you ever actually picked a side in the fight?

APPLY! What can you do to remind yourself of the promise and show others the provision?

PRAY! God, help me to remember your promise to be with me. Help me to find you in the midst of the struggle. Help me to share what you have done with others so that they can find you also.