How God Builds Character

Today’s Scripture “Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway” (Genesis 28:11-12).

  Check out this map, which shows Jacob’s trek from his parents house to Laban’s house was 450 miles!

  Mandrakes are mentioned in the video; here’s a picture.

  Jacob’s vision (known as Jacob’s ladder) served a purpose to show Jacob that God was with him wherever he went. God reiterated to Jacob the covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac, promising land, descendants, and universal blessing through him. Worship was a natural response on Jacob’s part to his encounter with God. Jacob’s worshipful response included fear (reverence) for the Lord, erecting a memorial stone pillar, personal worship, the makings of a vow, and a promise to tithe.

  Over time, God uses circumstances, disappointment, and other people to build character in Jacob. Oftentimes, God does the same with us. God desires for us to be made in the image of Jesus. God works all things for our good in order for us to grow and develop into a spiritually mature person.

Here are three ways God builds character in Jacob and just might be doing the same for you:

• God motivates him to leave his father’s house and begin to focus on a family, that is, finding a wife and having children, to further the promise of the convent now in place with him. Oftentimes, God creates circumstances to motivate us to change our direction.

• Allowing Jacob to be deceived by others shows him what an undesirable character trait deceit really is. God teaches Jacob to be less selfish and to let go of the deceitful ways of his youth.

• God reminds Jacob of His continual presence. Once Jacob understands God’s love for him, he was then able to move forward to accomplish feats that required great faith in God.

  After Jacob’s dream, Jacob erected standing stones as a memorial (reminder) of God’s presence there. Like these physical stones that testified to the presence of God with Jacob there, we are also called to be “living stones” to testify to the greatness and presence of God in our lives.

  Is your life testifying to God’s presence as a “living stone?”