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.