Surprised by God’s Presence

Devotional Reflection, Friday,  January 3, 2025

Friday of the first week after Christmas

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from the Genesis reading:

28:10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13And the LORD stood beside him and said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; . . . .

16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!’

You will find the full text of today’s Genesis reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Devotional Readings (BCP, 940)

AM Psalm 68; PM Psalm 72

Gen. 28:10-22; Heb. 11:13-22; John 10:7-17

David's Reflections

Frederick Buechner's novel, Son of Laughter vividly and skillfully narrates his version of the life of Jacob.  Buechner spins an enchanting, powerful, and readable fictional biography, told in the first person from Jacob’s point of view.  After the vision of God and the ladder from heaven that we find in today's reading, Buechner's Jacob reflects.

"Ever since, in my heart, the stone stairs have stood no less for my hedging and bargaining, and it was my beloved's firstborn who many years later told me the best and deepest of the stairs' meaning.  It was far from home, in the Black Land, that my son Joseph told me, teller of dreams to the Shepherd King.

'"Heaven has to do with earth," Joseph said, 'and earth with Heaven.  As prayers and offerings rise, the God descends.'"

"'The end is light.'"  +

Jacob's entire life was a sort of wrestling and grasping.  He had tricked his older brother out of the firstborn's greater status and blessing.  He was to trick his uncle Laban out of wealth and livestock.  He ultimately found himself in an all-night wrestling match with an angel of God, a dramatic symbol of his entire life journey, but he was unable to trick a blessing out of the angel.

In this passage, he was fleeing for his life from his older brother's wrath over his trickery.  God appeared to him and promised him that he would have countless descendants and would possess the land on which he was sleeping.  Jacob was fleeing, but God was pursuing.  Few biblical moments are more filled with God's undeserved love, God’s unique seeking grace.  Jacob responded with a sense of dread.  "Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it."

How many such places have you known in your life, rock-pillow nights and all, places of flight and fear?  In those moments of shame and inadequacy we feel far from God.  Yet, like Jacob, you may discover God's presence in that very place of shame and retreat and fleeing away.  God seems to specialize in finding us when we do not want to be found and in loving us with an absolutely profound and undeserved lavishness.

Buechner's Jacob reflects at the end of his life on the nature of this God.

(Buechner's characters refer to God as The Fear.)  "There are those who give them (note:  that is, their gods) their firstborn even, the child bound to the altar for knifing as Abraham bound Isaac till the Fear of his mercy bade the urine-soaked old man unbind him.  The Fear gives to the empty-handed, the empty-hearted, as to me from the stone stair he gave promise and blessing, and gave them also to Isaac before me, to Abraham before Isaac, all of us wanderers only, herdsmen and planters moving with the seasons as gales of dry sand move with the wind.  In return it is only the heart's trust that the Fear asks.  Trust him though you cannot see him and he has no silver hand to hold.  Trust him though you have no name to call him by, though out of the black night he leaps like a stranger to cripple and bless." *

• Frederich Buechner, Son of Laughter (New York: Harper, 1993), pp. 93-94.

•  Son of Laughter, p. 184.

(Note:  Another fascinating book about Jacob is John A. Sanford's The Man Who Wrestled with God, [Paulist, 1987])

Collect of the Day, The First Sunday after Christmas Day

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 213)

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For the Election of a Bishop or other Minister

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese (or, rector for this parish), that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your

people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 818)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Old Testament Reading, Genesis 28:10-22

28:10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13And the LORD stood beside him and said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’

16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!’ 17And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’ 18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer