God Is Everywhere 上帝无处不在
Dexu Xia
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. Genesis 28:16
Today's Scripture Genesis 28:10-17
Today's Insights As we read this story in Genesis 28, it’s helpful to bear in mind Jacob’s natural character. His name means “he deceives.” He’s the brother who connived to take from his own twin, Esau, what wasn’t rightfully his (see 25:29-34; 27:1-41). Although Jacob was Abraham’s grandson, there’s no indication that he gave much thought to God up to this point. Yet God had clearly chosen him before he’d been born (25:21-23). In today’s reading, this story marks a turning point. The morning after Jacob’s dream, he set up a stone pillar on the spot as an altar (28:18) to this God he now knew personally. No matter where we encounter God—when we meet Him, our past counts for nothing. Our decision to worship Him is what matters
Today's Devotional The unassuming violinist, donning a baseball cap and T-shirt, set up near Washington, DC’s L’Enfant Plaza subway station. He moved the bow across the strings, making melodious tunes. But commuters rushed past, oblivious. He played an entire music program with only a handful of people stopping to listen. If the crowd had only known they were rushing past Joshua Bell, one of the greatest virtuosos of our generation, who had played at the Library of Congress the night before. Bell played several of the most difficult, mesmerizing violin pieces in the world, all on a 1713 Stradivarius worth roughly $3.5 million.
It’s easy to be unaware, to miss wonders right in front of us. This was Jacob’s experience as he journeyed to Harran (Genesis 28:10). He stopped and set up camp in a simple spot that seemed like any other, just a place to lay his head for the night. God appeared to him in a midnight dream, however, telling him that his numerous descendants would bless “all peoples on earth” (v. 14). He also assured Jacob that He would “watch over [him] wherever [he would] go” (v. 15). When he awoke, Jacob said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (v. 16).
God is everywhere, “fill[ing] heaven and earth” (Jeremiah 23:24). He’s present in the most ordinary places. Our invitation is to keep our eyes and ears open, to watch and listen for Him.
Reflect & Pray
Where have you been surprised by God’s presence? How can you live more aware of Him?
Dear God, it’s so easy to miss You. I want to see You and hear You.
By Winn Collier今日经文：创世记 28章10-17节
今日心得：读创世记28章中讲述的故事时，记住雅各的本性会很有帮助。雅各这名字的意思是“他骗人”。他就是那个垂涎并夺走属于他同胞的哥哥以扫的东西的弟弟（见25:29-34；27:1-41）。虽然雅各是亚伯拉罕的孙子，但在此之前，没有迹象表明他曾认真思考过上帝。然而，上帝显然在他出生之前就已经拣选了他（25:21-23）。在今天的阅读中，这个故事标志着一个转折点。雅各做梦后的第二天早上，他在那里立了一根石柱作为祭坛（28:18），献给他现在亲自认识的上帝。无论我们在哪里遇见神，当我们与祂相遇时，我们的过去都无关紧要了。我们决定要敬拜祂，这才是最重要的。
今日灵修：一位谦逊的小提琴家，头戴棒球帽，身穿T恤，在华盛顿特区朗方广场地铁站附近安顿下来。他拉动琴弓，拨动琴弦，奏出美妙的乐曲。但匆匆而过的通勤者们却浑然不觉。他演奏了一整套音乐，只有少数人驻足聆听。如果匆匆而过的人群知道，他们是与当代最伟大的演奏家之一，约书亚·贝尔擦肩而过就好了。他前一天晚上刚在国会图书馆演奏过。在那地铁站，贝尔用一把价值约350万美元的1713年斯特拉迪瓦里小提琴，演奏了几首世界上最难演奏、最令人着迷的小提琴曲。
我们很容易对眼前的奇迹视而不见。这就是雅各前往哈兰的经历（创世记 28:10）。他停下来，在一个看似很普通，只是可以过个夜的地方扎营。然而，半夜里，上帝在梦中向他显现，告诉他，“地上的万族必因你和你的后裔得福”（14节）。上帝还向雅各保证，“无论你往哪里去，我都必保佑你”（15节）。雅各醒来后说：“耶和华真在这里，我竟不知道”（16节）。
上帝无处不在，“充满天地”（耶利米书23:24）。在最平凡的地方都有上帝存在。祂对我们的邀请是，要我们睁开眼睛，竖起耳朵，留心观察，聆听祂的声音。