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†. Gen 28:20-21 . . Jacob then made a vow, saying: If God remains
with me, if He protects me on this journey that I am making, and
gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safe to
my father's house-- Yhvh shall be my God.
What's he saying? That the Lord has not been his god up to this point? Not
necessarily. It wasn't uncommon in those days for people to worship other
gods right along with Yhvh. This practice was later strictly forbidden by the
first of the so-called Ten Commandments. (Ex 20:1-3)
Jacob's uncle Laban (the very father of his beloved Rachel) was notorious for
polytheism. On the one hand, he recognized Yhvh's divinity (Gen 24:50 and
31:29) while on the other hand he harbored a collection of patron gods in his
home (Gen 31:19 and 31:30). In the ancient Semitic world; patron gods
were equivalent to Catholicism's patron saints-- objects of devotion
venerated as special guardians, protectors, and/or supporters; viz:
alternative sources of providence.
Jacob knew about Abraham's god and believed that He existed (Gen 27:20).
But that's merely an educated consent, and nothing personal. It's like
knowing and believing that Mr. Barak Hussein Obama is the President of the
United States. But so what? Has the President ever come to your home for
coffee or dinner? Have the two of you been to a movie together or to a
picnic? Where was he when you were sick, down and out, and/or feeling
helpless, hopeless, despondent and depressed? See what I'm saying?
Lots of people glibly venerate the Bible's God. But very, very few can
honestly say: The Lord is my friend, He cares about me, He cares about my
life, He protects me and provides for me wherever I go. I am His, and He is
mine. We are one; we are together.
Jacob's vow reflects a personal decision of his own volition to make Yhvh the
sole object of his religious devotion to the exclusion of all the other gods
that people commonly venerated in his day. So we could paraphrase Gen
28:20-21 to read like this:
"If God remains with me, if He protects me on this journey that I am
making, and gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safe
to my father's house-- then Yhvh shall be my only patron."
NOTE: Rome puts on an impressive show of piety with its accessories, its
costumes, its pageants, its literature, its architecture, its art, and its rituals;
yet, ironically, is grossly lacking obedience to the most important of all the
commandments.
"And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that
He had answered them well, asked Him: What commandment is the
foremost of all?
. . . Jesus answered: The foremost is: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is
one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark
12:28-30)
When people devote all their heart, all their soul, all their mind, and all their
strength to their love for God; there is nothing left for His competitors; viz:
nothing left for patron saints except paganism.
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†. Gen 28:20-21 . . Jacob then made a vow, saying: If God remains
with me, if He protects me on this journey that I am making, and
gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safe to
my father's house-- Yhvh shall be my God.
What's he saying? That the Lord has not been his god up to this point? Not
necessarily. It wasn't uncommon in those days for people to worship other
gods right along with Yhvh. This practice was later strictly forbidden by the
first of the so-called Ten Commandments. (Ex 20:1-3)
Jacob's uncle Laban (the very father of his beloved Rachel) was notorious for
polytheism. On the one hand, he recognized Yhvh's divinity (Gen 24:50 and
31:29) while on the other hand he harbored a collection of patron gods in his
home (Gen 31:19 and 31:30). In the ancient Semitic world; patron gods
were equivalent to Catholicism's patron saints-- objects of devotion
venerated as special guardians, protectors, and/or supporters; viz:
alternative sources of providence.
Jacob knew about Abraham's god and believed that He existed (Gen 27:20).
But that's merely an educated consent, and nothing personal. It's like
knowing and believing that Mr. Barak Hussein Obama is the President of the
United States. But so what? Has the President ever come to your home for
coffee or dinner? Have the two of you been to a movie together or to a
picnic? Where was he when you were sick, down and out, and/or feeling
helpless, hopeless, despondent and depressed? See what I'm saying?
Lots of people glibly venerate the Bible's God. But very, very few can
honestly say: The Lord is my friend, He cares about me, He cares about my
life, He protects me and provides for me wherever I go. I am His, and He is
mine. We are one; we are together.
Jacob's vow reflects a personal decision of his own volition to make Yhvh the
sole object of his religious devotion to the exclusion of all the other gods
that people commonly venerated in his day. So we could paraphrase Gen
28:20-21 to read like this:
"If God remains with me, if He protects me on this journey that I am
making, and gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safe
to my father's house-- then Yhvh shall be my only patron."
NOTE: Rome puts on an impressive show of piety with its accessories, its
costumes, its pageants, its literature, its architecture, its art, and its rituals;
yet, ironically, is grossly lacking obedience to the most important of all the
commandments.
"And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that
He had answered them well, asked Him: What commandment is the
foremost of all?
. . . Jesus answered: The foremost is: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is
one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark
12:28-30)
When people devote all their heart, all their soul, all their mind, and all their
strength to their love for God; there is nothing left for His competitors; viz:
nothing left for patron saints except paganism.
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