Read:
Genesis 32:23-30
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 25-27
Psalms 71:14-24
Hymn:
Sing hymn 1
One of the characteristics of the eagle that we learn from the School of
Disciples of the Redeemed Christian Church of God is its lonely
lifestyle. We learn the virtues of a solitary lifestyle because more
often than not, the crowd could be distracting. Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in our memory verse for today, demonstrated the need to withdraw and be
done with God periodically. The Bible says in Matthew 14:23:
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a
mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there
alone.”
What was Jesus doing alone? He was having fellowship with His Father and
probably the angels were ministering to Him as we read in Matthew 4:11
In our text for today, Jacob was facing a frightening situation and he
needed to sort things out with his Maker. So, he decided to be alone
after discharging his family to go before him. What he was doing could
be assumed in the light of verses 9 to verse 26. There are many lessons
we can learn from this story: Firstly, to be alone with God we must
separate ourselves from the crowd. Secondly, to be alone with God
requires denying ourselves the luxury of family fellowship and
affection. Jacob parted with family including the wife he laboured have
for fourteen years. The only time the Bible allows a temporary
separation between the husband and wife is when it comes to being alone
with God. The Bible says:
“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a
time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come
together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
The third lesson we can learn from this story is that solitary living is
of no use if you cannot get the best out of it. Jacob did not just
isolate himself from the crowd, he had a nice and meaningful with his
Maker, and he did not miss out the essence when he said: “…I will not
let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Genesis 32:26). I always pity
people when they come for big meetings like the Holy Ghost service,
Festival of Life, Holy Ghost Congress, etc. and they sleep all through
the programme, even while prayers are going on. These people left the
luxury of their beds and comfortable houses, only to come here and waste
their time in the presence of the Lord. Jacob did not do this; he went
for the best from his God. Another lesson we can learn here is that as a
result of this separation unto God, Jacob’s terrible past was erased
and he was mightily blessed. Finally in this story, we learn that we
don’t need the details of how God will perform our desperately needed
miracles. All we need is faith to believe whatever the Lord says
concerning us, either in His Word or through prophetic utterances from
His genuine prophets. Jacob asked for the name of the man with whom he
was wrestling and the man said that knowing his name was no necessary;
all he needed was miracles and blessings, so he blessed him. This is a
mighty reward of solitary living; being alone with God pays a lot. As
you choose to separate yourself unto the Lord and away from the world, I
pray that the blessings of the Lord shall characterise your separated
life in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise:
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a
mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there
alone.
Matthew 14:23
Action Point:
Decide to dedicate some solitary time for prayer and have meaningful fellowship with your Maker.
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