Consider this:
‘I know that God is in my mind … but not yet in my heart‘ . Maybe it is time to open up further?
The Stone of Beth’el
We are talking here about the realm of the ‘conscious mind’ . Here at Beth’el Jacob was able to give his mental assent to idea of God. At this point in Jacob’s life God was still on the outside. This is what Jacob had and knew with El Shaddai (God) at Beth’el.
Genesis 28
When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”
Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, and he called that place Beth’el, though previously the city had been named Luz.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”
In short, at Beth’el, Jacob was ‘deal making’ with God. Ever done this?
The Place Called Peni’el
Genesis 32
In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Penuel (or Pniel, Pnuel; Hebrew: פְּנוּאֵל) is a place not far from Sukkoth, on the east of the Jordan River and south of the river Jabbok. It is also called Peniel “Face of God” by Jacob:
- “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Gen. 32:30 NIV)
Difference for Jacob with El Shaddai (God) between Beth’el and Peni’el ?
Jacob Meets the G-D of His Fathers
Here Jacob wrestled (Gen. 32:24-32) “with a man” (“the angel”, Hos. 12:4) “till the break of day.” This episode resulted in God (or the angel) changing Jacob’s name to Israel (Gen. 32:28) which literally means, “He who struggles with God.”
Unconscious Mind – Whoever believes in their heart … This is Jacob coming to a face to face, heart to heart with El Shaddai (God) at a place known as Peni’el (Penuel)
Jacob in difference to what happened with God at Beth’el is now at Peni’el taking El Shaddai (God) – inside his heart!
The Living Presence of God, who is God, has now been received inside of Jacob by a subconscious (heart) decision made by Jacob.
MC Maladetz Journey:
Eternal Birthright vs Temporary Porridge 