Over the past year, our family has gotten to know several Ukrainian families who came to the United States because of the war. They did not want to move to a new country, learn a new language, and start over. When we are walking through difficult seasons, it is easy to feel alone and wonder, “Does God care?”

The author of Genesis described Jacob as “a quiet man, dwelling in tents” (Gen. 25:27 ESV). Jacob was a homebody. Yet he had to flee home because his brother wanted to kill him (Gen. 27:42–43). There was another good reason to leave—to find a wife from his mother’s family (vv. 1–5) to avoid marrying the Canaanite as Esau had done.

As Jacob began his journey, he could not find anyone to show him hospitality for the night. He ended up sleeping under the stars with a stone for a pillow (v. 11). He may have wondered, “Has God abandoned me? Is God with me? Or am I all alone in this?” As he slept, Jacob had a dream of a stairway connecting heaven and earth (v. 12). Messengers of God were ascending and descending. From the top of this stairway, God proclaimed to Jacob that he was chosen to inherit the promise given to Abraham (vv. 13–14). God affirmed, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land” (v. 15). This encounter had a profound impact on Jacob (vv. 16–18). He vowed to commit himself to the Lord (vv. 20–22).

God has clearly affirmed that He is with us through the coming of Jesus, the Emmanuel (Matt. 1:23). Despite how we may feel at any given moment, we can trust God’s promise: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

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