In reading Genesis 28 I was drawn to Esau. Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac, so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. v. 6-9.

Esau wanted to please his parents. Ishmael was not the son of the promise. Esau didn’t receive the blessing of the firstborn. What must it have been like to be the son of Abraham through whom the blessings for the nations would come; for Isaac to receive that blessing? Can you imagine the impact on those families to hear what God had done for them? The blessing was not handed down to Esau and yet, he loved his parents and wanted to please them. Esau’s heart.

As Jacob traveled to escape the turmoil in his family and in obedience to Isaac’s instructions, he had a dream. A stairway from heaven with angels ascending and descending and then this wonderful encounter: There above (or There beside him) it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” v. 13-15. God’s heart.

Jacob upon waking realized he had encountered the Lord, the One who was with his father and grandfather. It’s curious to me what he said in his vow to God…If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” v. 20-22. Jacob’s heart. If…then.

I kept thinking about that this morning. Do we ever realize how much God loves us? Food and clothes? Safety to return to what I want? For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19.

The Lord God, Creator of everything that is loves us. His love in us is the only thing that will light our path to Him. His heart. His love for us. Heart to heart dwelling in faith, hope, love. As I read His word, I share what I am learning because it’s too beautiful and wonderful not to share. He will speak to your heart and share with you His love and guide you faithfully to Him and your walk will be unique because He loves you and will speak to you in your language of life experiences. Take His hand and begin the best journey you will ever know; and know not only God’s heart but yours in Him.