Jacob stole his brother's blessing and then ran for his life. This is what happened next: " Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Dear God, who are you that you would give such pure unilateral promises to such a scoundrel like Jacob. Why was there no scolding, no threats if he did not change, no "time outs"? Who are you that you bless a sinner like him with such profound gifts in this life, in history and in heaven. How do you expect us to respect your justice when you freely forgive and bless a guy like that? Your prodigal love is too much to process. If I were God, do you know what I would do? I would .... I would ... uh .... I would make a mess out of everything because I would eventually judge all people to hell including myself. Oh, God, you are the most incredible God of grace, who keeps his promises when we are not keeping ours. I will let you be God and I will let you love me and the other stinkers around me. I plead with you, make us as gracious and constant as you are. Restore our relationships and renew our hearts in your purposeful life changing love. AMEN

"There is no power like God's love given freely to my heart when I least deserve it."