What has God done for you?

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. (Genesis 35:15)

I came across this chapter this morning in my daily Bible time. I noticed that this chapter is filled with tragedy in Jacob's life - tragedy that started in the previous chapter (Genesis 34:30) , where Jacob's sons made a choice which ruined Jacob's reputation among his neighbors. Tragedy continued then, as Jacob buried his mother's nurse under an oak tree (Genesis 35:8) , losing perhaps the only tie he had had with his mother for many years. Tragedy continued as his beloved wife Rachel died giving birth to a son (Genesis 35:19), and continued yet again when Jacob, after years of separation, arrived at his father Isaac's bedside only to have him die, too (Genesis 35:29).

Jacob was going through valley after valley.

Have you been there? Have you had times in your life where nothing seemed to go right, when every prayer seemed to bounce from the ceiling, and when every situation was bleak?

Well, the good news is, there is more than tragedy in this chapter. Notice also how prominent a role God played in Genesis 35. Jacob spent some time here remembering what God had done for him in the past - he went back to Bethel, the scene of a wonderful experience with God in his past. He spent some time worshipping God, and He spent some time listening to the promises God had for his future.

May I suggest, my friend, that when "Genesis 35's" occur in your life, try Jacob's 3-fold solution:

1. Go back to Bethel - remember how God has always taken care of you in the past. What has God done for you?
   
2. Worship God - no matter what is going on in your life, worship God.
3. Listen to God - get into His Word and see the promises He has for you. Promises like "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)