call:
The Lord be with you.
response:
And also with you.
call:
Today’s symbol shows Jacob’s ladder. God came close to Jacob, even when Jacob ran away.
response:
Thanks be to God!
Scripture reading : Genesis 28:10-16 (or Genesis 28:10-22)
Jacob was Abraham’s grandson, but he wasn’t someone you might pick out as a hero. He was younger than his twin brother Esau by just a few seconds. But older brothers—even if they were older by ve seconds—got their father’s blessing back then, and the best part of all of their family’s things. So Jacob tricked his father and stole the blessing, by dressing up as Esau in disguise! Esau was so angry that Jacob had to run away.
Even though Jacob lied, and cheated, and ran away from his family, God was with him. In a dream, God reminded Jacob of the promises he had made to his grandfather Abraham, and his father Isaac. And God told Jacob that those promises were for him, too! Cheating, sneaky Jacob woke up and knew that God was still close to him. Jacob may have tried to run away, but God would not let him go.
pray:
Ever-present God, you never leave us alone. You remind us, over and over again, that we are a part of your family and that your promises are for us, no matter what we do. Thank you that we belong to you. Amen.