March 24th

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:7

This verse reveals the magnificent and unfailing love of our God. Jacob’s name means the deceiver. He was a liar and manipulator until God shook up his world. Yet, God was still with him and forgave him. He made the person of Jacob to be a mainstay in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This goes to show us that God can use us mightily even if we are far less than perfect.

God’s unfailing and magnificent love was with Jacob and enabled him to accomplish his intended purpose even though he had no intention of doing so. Jacob, for the most part, was thinking of himself and not the glory of the Lord’s purposes. This is a good example of how an all-powerful God can be our fortress despite our weakness and failures. When Jacob had deceived Esau and stolen his birthright, Jacob fled, fearing that Esau would take his life.

When he eventually returned years later, God told Jacob how to appease Esau; rebuilding and protecting Jacob from a trail of broken promises, deceptions and lies. If our God did this for Jacob, He can also prove to be a fortress of protection for us when we make mistakes and seek forgiveness.