Honestly, I don’t like camping too much. I’m away from the comforts of home, living on simple food, risking my life with wild animals around, etc. I’m not an outdoor-type person. But did you know that God loves camping?
Here in Genesis 28, Jacob goes camping while on the way to his Uncle Laban’s place. It is here that God gets a hold of Jacob and is able to shake him out of his complacency.
There were others in the Bible who experienced God while camping: Moses experienced God while in the backside of the desert; David learned to trust the Lord while camping and moving from cave to cave when Saul sought his life; the Children of Israel camped as they followed God to the Promised Land; Jesus would often resort to the wilderness to go camping and get alone with His Father.
Why does God love camping? Three reasons:
1. God wants you to get away from the distractions of the world (vs. 10)
When Jacob left home, he was leaving behind his family and troubles. It was a fresh start for him. His problems were in the past. This was the moment when God could speak to Him.
We have all kinds of distractions today: radio, TV, smartphones, laptops, ipods, ipads, movies, books, games, and even friends. We need to get away from the distractions if we want to hear from God.
It was amazing to go up to camp and get away from all the distractions of the world. You can hear God so clearly when all the distractions are gone.
2. God wants to speak to you (vs. 12-15)
Jacob did not realize that He would get a personal message from Jehovah God. God had a great message of hope and promise for the selfish deceiver.
Do you realize that God wants to have some alone time with you? He wants to have an intimate relationship with you! But we are often too busy to give God our time. We need to unplug ourselves from everything in order to hear from God.
Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Explain: story of Elijah on Mount Carmel and his discouragement after it
I Kings 19:11-12, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
God often does not work in big dramatic ways. God likes to speak to us in that still small voice. Have you heard it lately? Or have you been too busy and distracted to hear God’s voice?
3. God wants to teach you to trust Him in the wilderness (vs. 20-22)
Because the Lord speaks to him, Jacob makes a vow. He states that if God will protect him and provide for him, then he will choose God and follow God. Jacob had to learn to trust God in the wilderness. From that day forward, the blessings of God surrounded Jacob. He eventually came to Laban’s place and worked for him for many years. After two marriages and a lot of boys, Jacob decides to go back to the place that God promised Him. Laban begs him not to leave. And why?
Genesis 30:27, “And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.”
God did what Jacob asked: He protected and provided for him. God will do the same thing for you. Life is a wilderness. Instead of complaining like the Children of Israel did, learn to trust the Lord. You might be asking, “Will God take care of me like Jacob?”
GOD WILL PROVIDE
Matthew 6:31-32, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
GOD WILL PROTECT
Psalm 5:12, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”
CONCLUSION
Is your Christian life boring? Is your relationship with the Lord stale? You need to get alone with God and hear from Him. Put away all the distractions and “go camping.” God loves camping because He wants you away from distractions, He wants to speak to you, and He wants to teach you to trust Him for your life. Tonight, make the same vow that Jacob made. “God, I know that you will provide for me and protect me. I choose you as my God. I will live for you.”
