Come in Peace

“So that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.” (Genesis 28:21, ESV)

The sons of Isaac, Jacob and Esau often created situations that led to turmoil, both in their family and in their own lives. Deception, selfishness, lack of spiritual growth, and spiritual laziness often set brother against brother and drew their parents into places of conflict and confusion. Peace was not a big part of this family!

After Jacob’s amazing encounter with God at Bethel, his heart began to change. He sought peace with his family and his God. Even though it was going to be a long-term process, peace in Jacob’s life was now a priority for him.

That’s one of the key results of coming face-to-face with God. Walking in God’s presence daily is the essence of what we call revival. Revival that revolves around the presence of God produces peace!

Has peace been elusive for you? Whether in your family, your workplace, or in your own emotional life, is peace a missing element? Many struggle to find peace and yet find that it escapes them. Look at what happened with Jacob. He was far from a man of peace until he encountered God. The God of peace brings peace with him. When you seek him and encounter him, his peace begins to flood into your life. A life of continual seeking after the Lord brings a life of peace.

Peace is found in the Father’s lap. A funny story from my childhood illustrates this. I was just a little boy at a family reunion. I was walking along the edge of the house of the family we were visiting. At the corner, I walked right into the big, old family dog. He was bigger than I was and startled me. I began to run. Now, I am sure the dog was thinking this boy was ready to play, so it came running after me.

This terrified me all the more. The only safe place I could think of was where my father was sitting in the front yard, full of relatives sitting in the shade. I hit the front yard running as fast as I could run with the dog at my heels. I saw my dad in his chair and launched myself in the air, landing right on his lap. The length of the leap might have grown with the telling through the years, but all I knew was that the only place of safety and peace was my father’s lap.

That is true of our heavenly Father’s lap as well. We draw near to him and he draws near to us (see James 4:8). In his presence is peace. It is a peace that not only transforms our own lives, but also impacts those around us. We say with Jacob, “I come again to my father’s house in peace.”

Since peace is found in the Father’s house, it is essential for you to draw near daily and confess your need to dwell in God’s house.

Prayer Points

• Praise God for the fact that he has revealed himself to mere mortals.

• Give thanks that the Lord has spoken plainly about himself and his will in his Word, which is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path (Ps. 119:105).

• Confess any failures in seeking the teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness that come from the inspired Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16).

• Commit yourself to being "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (3:17).

• Ask God to do good works through you.

• Thank God for faithful teachers in the church. Pray that they will be encouraged by the Spirit to communicate life-changing truths.