Genesis 28.20-21 observes, ‘If God…then I will choose Jehovah.’

Jacob had just received a dream where he saw God and His angels. In the dream Jacob received a promise from God of great blessing. Jacob recognized that God was present where he was so erected a monument to commemorate his encounter with God. In spite of all this, Jacob was not fully committed to the God Who showed Himself, rather Jacob required one more thing from God before he would make God his God.

It seems comical that a man would demand so much from his Creator or that the Creator would lower Himself to such demands but this is exactly what this story records.

We do the same thing with God though most likely none of us have seen God as clearly as Jacob had seen God. We are continually requiring God to do for us in exchange, we promise, for our loyalty only to require from Him again in exchange for another promise.

While we are faithless God is faithful.

How humble the Almighty is to allow people to make so many demands of Him in exchange for promises rarely if ever fulfilled.

God is Father Whose love for His wayward children surpasses our understanding so He plays this game in hope that we will one day truly understand His love for us and believe in Him. What a truly wonderful God, the One True God is Who exhibits such kindness and patience with people.

When will we stop trying to manipulate God in order to have our own way in the world and instead surrender to His care and control of our lives?

God loves us and has only good intentions for us but in this life we will have trouble. If we would know peace in this life we must allow God full control over our lives.