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Between Close Encounters

Words of Faith Final

Between Close Encounters
Words of Faith 6-10-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 32
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. [2] When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.

Have you ever noticed that God always shows up at the right time, right on time, and for a purpose? This is a great example. Jacob was finally heading out for Canaan. He had been seeking to serve God as faithfully as possible for over twenty years, but it hadn't been easy! Laban had been the poster boy for lousy fathers-in-law!
Things had been tough. But Jacob had always been reassured by the truth that God had spoken into his life at Bethel: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
But that was a long time ago. After a few years of hardship, Jacob might have wondered if God was still there. But now, a bunch of angels of God showed up. The encounter is only briefly described, but it is significant for several reasons.
The angels that Jacob met on the way back to Canaan represent increasing access to the reality of God. This was not the "reviving" of an old God experience. It was a movement to a whole new level of encounter with God. Jacob's experience at Bethel (28:10-22) was a dream in which the angels came to him in his sleep. Jacob had been guided similarly concerning Laban through a dream (31:10-13). But this time, the angels of God actually met Jacob. This was a close encounter of the third kind-- actual contact.
Jacob declared that this was the "Camp of God." He named the place Mahanaim, which means "two camps." He probably saw the camp of angels as a source of comfort and reassurance to his own camp as he prepared to return home after 20 years. He had come full circle.
There is an exact parallel in the Hebrew between the declaration as Jacob left the land of Canaan and as he re-entered. What took place at the naming of Bethel on Jacob's way out of the land now took place at the naming of Mahanaim on his way back into the land. The presence of the angels of God assured him once again of the divine protection that was accompanying him. The angels welcomed him on his return to the land of promise. This reassurance came at a time when Jacob sorely needed it.
We may often long for a mighty visitation of God in our lives. We may think that true spirituality will mean regular divine encounters or visits by angels. But far more often, the spiritual journey is marked by years of hard work between high points. We can commune with God daily, but such communion will more likely be characterized by quiet faithfulness than by the rushing of mighty winds.
The lack of visitation by angels during the 20 years Jacob spent in Haran in no way indicated that God was no longer interested in Jacob or was unconcerned for His welfare. We should also notice that the journey of Jacob was progressing. There was an intensity that was growing in his encounter with God. God did not recreate the meeting of twenty years ago; He moved Jacob to a whole new level, at the right time, right on time, and for a purpose.
Have you been longing for an experience with God? Hoping for a closeness that you experienced in the past? Hang in there. Be faithful. Keep working. God will be there at the right time, right on time, and for a purpose. And it won't be a backward step.

Father, I am seeking to be faithful. I continue to listen and serve. Breathe upon me with the fresh wind of Your Spirit. I trust that You will be here at the right time, right on time, and for a purpose. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.