THE PLACE
Genesis 28:10-22

Regardless of where you are, or how long you have been where you are, there is a need to be awake for a recognition that the Lord is in place for you. Jacob in his running away for having stolen the blessings of Esau ran to a place of encounter with God. Are you in any situation that has kept you running and hiding? There is nowhere under heaven to hide because “The earth is the LORD’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1) Jacob thought the best way to run away from his brother Esau, was to go to a place where Esau could not reach him. Genesis 28:11, “So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.” The Bible called it a certain place, but every place where God is waiting to catch up with us is a place where the Lord is. In Jacob’s dream in that sleep, he saw heaven and the Lord re-pronounced His blessings that were pronounced on Abraham. After the Lord had spoken all of the blessings to Jacob the Bible said, “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16) Jacob had an encounter that led him to the center of his divine appointment. In your running and hiding have you slept over and missed your encounter? Out of every situation, God does have His set plan. He is a complete God whose goodness and mercy endures forever. God knew Jacob and God knows you and all the creations of His hand before they were born, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) In your running and hiding can you tell if you have missed His visitation or that you have failed to acknowledge His presence? When Jacob recognized, he acknowledged. Genesis 28:17, “And 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!” To recognize His presence and not acknowledge Him is to loose, and not gain from His visitation. Jacob having recognized and acknowledged His presence, went further and, “… Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.” (Genesis 28:18-19) In your situation, be awake and await His visitation. 
 
Prayer for today:
Ask God to deliver you from sleep that will cause you to miss your divine schedule.