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Six Stops - A Poem


This is a poem based on the stops Jacob had in his journey. May it throw light to our journey as well. 

Bethel was life changing for Jacob
House of God, where angels were going up and down
The ladder which reached from earth to heaven
But he received the promise and moved on
The house of God has become some stop, 
Where you are rejuvinated, have an experience and go
The church has thus become a Bethel
Be blessed and go your way. 

Jacob moves to Paddan Aram, his uncle's place
20 years of toil, being cheated and hard work
Where he is busy, building his own life
His own empire, his own possessions

Moving from Paddan Aram, he reaches Mahanaim
He names it so, saying this is the camp of God
Seeing angels of God, he might have remembered Bethel
And recommitted his life, did he. 
And thence he is motivated to reinstate with Esau
An old sin, that had been pricking him
He didn't know how, but he went ahead
With his own wisdom, and God enabled. 

He reaches Peniel, that is where he encountered God really
Saw Him face to face, he humbled
He surrendered all his strongholds
Empty handed he came without anything
Unless there is a face to face encounter with God
There is no change, there would be the same old Jacob
Arrogant, defiant, deceitful, possessive, transformed to 
Humble leaning on to a staff

Jacob returns to Bethel, as God says
Built an altar, reinstate your commitment
Replenish your relation back with Him
And be reinstated into His bosom

Finally we see Jacob in Egypt
With all the blessing, with all the possessions
But nothing in his hand he comes to Egypt
As a sojourner, as a pilgrim

Meeting God in Bethel
Toil and hardwork in Paddan Aram, where again cheated and hoarding futile things. 
Triggered back in Mahanaim
Personal encounter with God in Peniel
Returning back to Bethel
Living a life as a sojourner in Egypt. 

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