Jacob had done it. Maybe he felt shock and relief that he’d actually pulled it off, convincing Esau to surrender his birthright. Maybe he felt the knot of remorse in his gut as he laid down under the stars with a stone for a pillow. Perhaps he tossed and turned a little, regretting and second-guessing, as he drifted off to sleep as the new bearer of the family promise, his dreams filled with light and color.
Angels! Climbing a ladder, up and down. Hearing a voice his father and his grandfather spoke of so fondly, declaring, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac” (Genesis 28:13). And that same voice repeated His promises which included good land and countless descendants who would bless the whole world (vv.13–15).
This promise wasn’t new. His father Isaac heard it when God told him to stay in a strange land and trust Him through a famine (Genesis 26:1–6). Years before, this same promise led Abraham away from everything he’d known in Haran (Genesis 12:1–7), and he would continue to hear it again throughout his life (Genesis 17:1–8).
I can’t help but wonder about the years in between, the years of living off strange land and living with family who sometimes stirred up more trouble than blessing. In the midst of unfulfilled plans, each generation had the words of God’s promise passed down to hold onto. And God appeared again and again to unlikely, fallible people to repeat His promise.
“Look, I am with you,” God assured Jacob as the ladder evaporated into the space between dreaming and sunrise. “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15).
Most of us aren’t holding out for a plot of land and kings in our family tree, but it can be just as easy to miss God’s promises to us in our own lives. Over and over, as God repeated His promises, God’s people continued to live colorful lives, listening to God yet failing, repenting, and then breaking relationships, only to come home limping in shame—quite literally, in Jacob’s case.
Isn’t that all of us, though, in the great spiritual family of Abraham? We may not trace our blessings by bloodline, but we find them in Jesus, the One who lived a blameless life that only Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob could dream of. Jesus is the One who came to be God’s presence among us, showing us the way, sealing the promise, and blessing the whole world through His life, death, and resurrection.
Centuries after Abraham gazed at the stars and left his homeland behind, a former fisherman and friend of Jesus would repeat the promise one more time: “You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring” (Acts 3:25).
The ultimate blessing is so much more than land, power, influence, or wealth. The blessing is found in Jesus, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22–23), living and dying and defeating death to reunite His family and live with us forever.
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44 thoughts on "God Promises His Presence"
Reading the Old Testament and connecting with them on some level is very difficult- their context is so different – their daily reality was so far off of what we experience in 2024, but ultimately the our hearts are similar- we desire to be known and loved and the promise that it will all be ok. God has made that promise continually. It might not look that way at times but God always keeps his promises – Jesus being the best one ❤️
The promise of the covenant!
I love that God has promised his presence to us. As someone who has struggled with feeling alone and abandoned, knowing that God is with him has given me so much peace and comfort.❤️
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Thank you Donna for sharing !
“Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go…for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15). This struck me and brought so much joy to my heart. God is always with us no matter where we journey and he promises to stay by our side on this Earth until He brings us home. It’s so reassuring and comforting to hear that promise! I just wanted to thank all of you who prayed for my family member who has lost his way with Christ. God is working slowly in his life because my family member said he was thinking of coming to church with me!! My heart is full and I am so grateful for you women praying and God answering. Keep him in your prayers that God may continue to reveal Himself to my family member and will guide him back to Christ. I hope you all have a wonderful start to your week! ❤️
I am proclaiming victory in Jesus for our children! In Jesus name, I am proclaiming victory!
We are heirs! Hallelujah!
An image stood out to me was the man who dares to wrestle with God. And in some sources he wrestles with an angel. And Jacob prevails and got his blessing and a name change. Have you wrestled with God and His truth? Have you been sick and wrestled with the truth that by His stripes you are healed? Or wrestling with lack though He said the righteous will never beg for bread? There are moments of wrestling, more wrestling episodes that occurs even to the children of the promise, but by His grace, may we prevail and overcome to receive our blessings. There is a fighter spirit in Jacob that I see, and appreciate. Be blessed dear sisters.
To Sister She Donna Wolcott who shared a story from her woman’s devotional Bible of the artist dad & little daughter…so appropriate to the theme of His presence & overpowering love.
“This is the kind of love our God has for us. Fatherlove. The kind, gentle compassion of a dad who deeply cares for his sons and daughters. Maybe you never had a dad like that…. but you do have such a Father.
Let God’s big hand close gently over yours. With his help, even the discouraging scribbles of your life can become a masterpiece. Nothing would delight a father’s heart more.”
Donna ended with this encouragement. “Each of you dear sisters is a masterpiece in his eyes.”
How tender. How touching. Spoken truth. Thanks be to God. And thank you Donna for sharing the story.
Oh, I’m so glad that Emmanuel, God with us, came! His presence abides with us. Sometimes we have to silence our thoughts and focus on Him and what we have in Him! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude!
Good morning all, I would like to share a couple of lines from my Women’s Devotional Bible that a woman Joni Eareckson Tada wrote. I think it fits in with the theme of this study.
“Is God concerned about the details of your life? Does he care about the”little things “?” She then goes on to mention the many little things of daily life. Her dad was an artist an sometimes put his hand over hers and help her create something beautiful. The following came from this act. “This is the kind of love our God has for us. Fatherlove. The kind, gentle compassion of a dad who deeply cares for his sons and daughters. Maybe you never had a dad like that…. but you do have such a Father.
Let God’s big hand close gently over yours. With his help, even the discouraging scribbles of your life can become a masterpiece. Nothing would delight a father’s heart more.”
Each of you dear sisters is a masterpiece in his eyes.
What a blessing it is to have our savior with us! Happy Monday ladies. Praying for you all. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
Good Morning She’s!!! I am shouting the blessing is God within us today!!! Just a few take aways that I got from today’s reading- I couldn’t help but laugh at Jacob’s vow (genesis 28:20-21) and all “ifs” involved!! How often do I place “ifs” and stipulations with my promises ? J
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Deuteronomy 5:9 says “Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me.” We are told about generational curses here. BUT , the good new is, we can break those curses by declaring God’s redemption over those curses, we can change the trajectory of the next generation by serving God, obeying Him, speaking life and wholeness into the next generation. The curse can end with us. We have to know the truth and declare His blood over all the curses and defeat them in Jesus’ name. We have that power in Jesus Christ. Plead the blood of Jesus over your family. Live in such a way that is attractive to your family so they will desire the presence of God in their lives they way you do. We are not bound by these curses unless we let ourselves be defeated by them. There is power in the blood of Jesus to overturn these curses and blot them out of the generational line from here on out. Thank you Jesus!!!!
Powerful.
Fear not. For I am with you.
Thank You, God, for the many times you repeat these words throughout Scripture. Repeat them in my heart as I walk a dark path. Amen.
Wanted to share my notes from today…
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless.
*may I choose to live in Your Presence Lord and may I know with every fiber of my being that in Your Presence is HOLY and I should treat it as such!!! Amen.
Genesis 17:5 Your name will no longer be Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations.
*I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to be given a totally different name and to go by that name after having the same one for almost 100years!!! It just blows my mind!!! Makes me reflect on when God does something new He does it all areas and facets of our lives!! He doesn’t want us looking back or relying on the things we have known and are comfortable with, instead He wants us looking and moving forward!!! LIVING in what He has shown and promised us!!! Wow!!! This hits home DEEP!!! Very life-changing!!!
Genesis 28:15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
*Wow!! Such an AWESOME reminder!!! Thank You Lord for this!!
Genesis 32:28-30 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” He said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.”
But He answered, “Why do you ask My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.”
*another name change for yet another NEW WAY with God!!! God leaves nothing unchanged!!! This exchange helps me to realize that with/for everything new there is a struggle, whether it’s with ourselves, God, circumstances or situations.. there is always a struggle when something new is birthed forth!! But like a woman giving birth after the struggle/pain is over there is such JOY and rejoicing, …the challenges fade away for the gift now in front of you!! And lives are forever changed/never the same!! May we live in the newness God is constantly giving/revealing to us and face the challenges, trials and suffering with rejoicing as we know something new and wonderful is being fulfilled and changed (forever) in us!! Amen.
Acts 3:2 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.
*Wow!! Such an inheritance!! Thank You God!!
HAVE A BLESSED DAY DEAR SHE’S AND THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR ME AND MY DEAR FRIEND!! LOVE TO EACH OF YOU AND AM PRAISING GOD FOR THE GIFT THAT EACH OF YOU ARE!!! Xoxo
LAURA DIANNE – my family also has addiction in it. ADHD as well and usually they go hand in hand. My nephew drank himself to death at the young age of 30. His brother saw this and decided he was done with drinking. Praise God! He has never gone back to it. BUT he now is addicted to food. I pray that God will take that addictive personality away from him.
The ultimate blessing is so much more than land, power, influence, or wealth. The blessing is found in Jesus, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22–23), living and dying and defeating death to reunite His family and live with us forever.
Oh the day we live with God forever! To be reunited with those we love, especially my son.
God I pray you continue to hold me close. That I will always yearn for your word. To soak it in and live by it. That is a challenge in an ungodly world. But you have given us the Holy Spirit to tug on us when we are enticed by the world. To turn away and back to You time and time again. Thank you thank you thank you
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Beautiful devo, JEN YOKEL “The ultimate blessing is so much more than land, power, influence, or wealth. The blessing is found in Jesus, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22–23), living and dying and defeating death to reunite His family and live with us forever.” Thank You, Jesus!
SEARCHING ❤❤
JULIA C – Amen to your prayers… again! ❤
Amen
I too, have been pondering the pull of generational influence lately. I was having a conversation with my husband’s aunt about it. My husband’s family has a history of alcoholism and addiction. It has nearly destroyed them. But my FIL became a Christian when my husband was a teen and began to change the trajectory of his family. My husband became a Christian and married me, who came from deep Christian roots. My husband has wrestled with alcoholism, our daughter with addiction, and our FIL’s siblings and their kids have as well. But God…through the salvation of my FIL and his sister (the aunt), is starting to reverse the generational sin. God does that. He can stop what Satan has meant for evil in a family and turn it around. Our family is witnessing that. But it can only be done through the power of Jesus and His salvation. I am so grateful that our Father in Heaven cares about each and every generation. He follows us. He knows us. He loves us. And He is there for us when we call out to Him. I pray that my wayward daughter calls out to the God she knew as a child and is brought back to our family.
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I read a really awesome book last year called “Limping with God” by Chad Bird about the story of Jacob. I went back to the chapter this morning about him wrestling with God. How Jesus allowed man to prevail over Him. The author relates this to Jesus humbling Himself to the point of death on the cross, allowing man to prevail over Him for the sake of our freedom and reconciliation with Him. Jesus could have prevailed, yet He submitted for our sake…
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@Dee Dee- your post is encouraging ♥️ thankful to see the Lord encouraging both you and your husband Bob. ♥️
God bless you, Shes. ♥️ I pray we continue to pour out our requests to Him, knowing He who hears is faithful to remember… Just as He remembered His promises spoken to Abraham.
I just ordered that book!! I’ve read excerpts and know it will be a good one!
LAURA DIANNE – His good is our good ❤️
MARI V – Praying for peace, guidance, and provision for summer work.
DEE DEE – Continued prayers for you and Bob.
CEE GEE – His presence vs. His presents ❤️
KELLY (NEO) ❤️
ADA MCCLOUD, MARIA BAER, TARA B – Joining you in prayer for the next generation to know Jesus.
SEARCHING – Praying for wisdom in the decision-making concerning your elderly relative.
CHAR HIGHT – AMEN, He is faithful and will forever be! ❤️
“Jesus is the One who came to be God’s presence among us, showing us the way, sealing the promise, and blessing the whole world through His life, death, and resurrection.”
Amen and Amen, JEN YOKEL!
Genesis 17:1 – “I am God Almighthy. Live in my presence and be blameless”.
From Enduring Word: “After the proclamation of His name *El Shaddai*, God then told Abram what was expected of him. It was first revelation and then expectation. This communicates the principle that we can only do what God expects of us when we know who He is, and we know it in a full, personal, and real way. The word blameless literally means “whole.” God wanted *all* of Abram, a total commitment.
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Dear Father, God Almighthy…
You command us to live in Your presence and be blameless.
That is only possible through Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
He came to us to live the life we should have lived and to die the death we should have died.
Voluntarily. Out of love for us, His imperfect people.
May we know You in a full, personal and real way.
May we be able to grasp Your love, mercy and grace.
May we wholly commit ourselves to You.
AMEN.
”Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go”. I don’t know about anyone else, but I tend to forget this. Especially when I am in a valley. I am learning to hold on to my faith and remember this promise. And to remember his track record in my life and those around me. He is faithful and will forever be. ❤️
Lord, thank You for placing me in the arms of believers. May I never take it for granted that I was shown You from the beginning. But remind me always to be a light to others; to speak of You and Your love and goodness. I pray my family now and the next generation to know Your presence! In Jesus Name, Amen
As we read about God’s promise, I too think of the future generations in a world that leading them astray. There is a spiritual battle for our children and youth, and this sits so heavy in my heart. I do not have children, but one does not have to have children, to be troubled by the war being waged against this generation and future ones trying to separate them from Jesus. We must continue praying for them and also praying for counsel from the Holy Spirit to use us as a tool to protect our children.
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Yes, as someone who has 2 kids (19,17) and nieces and nephews this generation needs our prayers. They know things aren’t right and I think we will see revival. So yes let’s keep praying.
Amen and Amen, Maria.
Amen, KELLY (NEO). Thankful to be a child of God.
MARI V – praying for the Lord’s guidance for summer work.
LAURA DIANNE – so true, our definition of good versus God’s perfect plan for us, His good.
JULIA C – amen to your prayer yesterday
CEE GEE – His Presence vs presents ❤️
KELLY (NEO), CEE GEE and other praying for elderly relative situation – thank you, and appreciate continued prayers. One option was found, but only for about a year. Praying for wisdom on decisions.
The promise of Hour presence and blessing is almost too much to comprehend. I receive Your Truth and Tour promises Lord. In Jesus name, Amen
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Generations of the same promise. I’m pondering the power of generations. I am blessed to have generations of believers. My prayer is for the next generation to know God’s presence.
As a child of the promise through adoption by Jesus, may I be a blessing to those in my world.
Have a God-filled day, Shes
Thank you Lord.