turtle30cshell Daily Devotions

Covenant Stones
08/04/2016

Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris

Genesis 31:22-55 KJV
(22) And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
(23) And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
(24) And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
(25) Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
(26) And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
(27) Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
(28) And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
(29) It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
(30) And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
(31) And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
(32) With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
(33) And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
(34) Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
(35) And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.
(36) And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
(37) Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
(38) This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
(39) That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
(40) Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
(41) Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
(42) Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
(43) And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
(44) Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
(45) And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
(46) And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
(47) And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
(48) And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
(49) And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
(50) If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
(51) And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
(52) This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
(53) The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
(54) Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
(55) And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

There are time periods in our life that are marked by symbols, objects, people and dates. Are mind reflects for a moment upon seeing something the object of change, people we know, the reflection of symbols and dates. One says 1945 and we say the end of World War II. The Nazi symbol sends chills of distress to people around the globe and especially Israel. The other day I seen a mock image of nazi symbol on an airplane from a picture in amusement park. The fact that it would even be glorified on a ride horrified me until I realize it had to do with snoopy and the red baron. Then I remember something more, the kids of this generation unless they seen movies no not about these symbols or things.

The very idea of Rachel hiding gods in her saddle bag under her menstrual cycle makes me wonder what type of gods were these she bowed too. The fact Laban daughter had taken his gods concerns me, yet what concerns me more is she hid it from her father. Jacob was leaving without saying good bye, but Laban daughter had stolen something precious to him. The agreement between Jacob and Laban was to bring peace. Perhaps this age old covenant could be said to be Masonic in nature. Because it represented not just Jehovah but Laban gods. Jacob only served one God but made this covenant with his father in law laying stones in a pile as a symbol of a covenant that was understood as a marking place of time. A covenant to represent peace and not war between to different groups connects by blood ties. That no war would be between these two groups of people. They were civil in life style.

Jacob had laid the stone pillow as a marker in his life and it was common practice between men, and Jacob spoke to His God as a man with the covenant of a stone used as a pillow. The pillow he rested his head upon and had the dream that God spoke to Him. Jacob did not wish to forget Bethel. Now Jacob did not wish to forget the agreement between his father in law and himself. Markers in life can be good and painful. No doubt this problem that occurred between Jacob and Laban would also be remembered, but the agreement of promise of peace was greater.

The symbols of faith in a person’s life can be meaningful or reminders of overcoming obstacles of faith. It just like reminders of sin can bring back hurt, but it can be overcome by reminders of change. We can either look at events as victorious or sadness. How symbols are displayed can effect meanings. If today everyone laid a pillar for a reminder there be no gravel left to move from a place. Hand shakes, trinkets were given to remind people of agreements.

The passages in scripture can be like a reminder of agreements between you and God, as he lays things on your heart to do and change in your life. To hear the world “lean not on your own understanding“, might remind you of a time you did not rely on God fully. Yet it might remind you of the change that took place in your heart and how you grew to rely on God and not yourself. The symbol of cross reminds of the sacrifice Jesus made for us when he died for our sins. A reminder of faith an emblem of faith easily made with sign or two sticks.

Let us not forget the emblems of faith as markers and why they are markers in our life. Let us hold to the memories of positive change in our world. Let us not forget the changes God made in our life for his glory and honor.

Dear Heavenly Father help us be reminded of the passing of time and the changes made that are positive in our life for your glory and honor. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Joshua 24:27 KJV
(27) And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.