Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. Genesis 28:16 (NKJV)
Pearl Bailey said, “People see God every day, they just don’t recognize Him.” We sleep through much of our life, simply ignorant of all that he Lord is doing for us, unaware of His presence and leading. The above verse tells us of when Jacob awoke to reality and discovered the Lord’s presence with him.
There is a difference between saying “God is everywhere” and saying “God is here”. The Psalmist stated:
…Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
God is everywhere present. But He is also here with us, “in this place”. God wants to relate to each one of us – even Jacob.
Jacob was living his life as if God were not there. He had deceived his father and stolen the birthright and the blessing from his brother. He was running from his brother Esau and was caught between a rock and a hard place. His past was a mess and his future uncertain. In that unexpected, lonely, hard place Jacob realized God was there. He declared, “How awesome is this place!”
In a testing time the Psalmist also said:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)
To be aware of the presence of God is the most beautiful, adventurous experience in a person’s life. He is closer than our very breath. In fact:
…in Him we live and move and have our being… Acts 17:28 (NKJV)
May we ‘awake’ to a full awareness of God’s promise, provision and presence in our lives!