Sacred Space

Sacred Space

(Genesis 28:10-22)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Glorious”

Series Title:  “Beyond the Noise”

September 8^th, 2024

Something to think about:

There are spaces and places throughout our lives that stand out as significant to us.  The place where we first fell in love, the place where our children were born, the place where you said “I do,” these are all special, and might I say, sacred, spaces that we think of with fondness and joy.  Upon our return to the places and spaces, there is often a sense of nostalgia that draws us back to the very moment we have logged in our memories for so long.  Even when we are not in those spaces, smells and sounds can take us back to those places instantly.

Today we come to a narrative in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament that illustrates the sacred space very well.  It’s the story of Jacob who was fleeing from his home – and his brother Esau – many, many miles north of where he was from in order to save his life and find a wife.  Having tricked his brother Esau out of the birthright and the blessing from his father Isaac, Jacob had weaseled his way to gain that which wasn’t his.  Because of his conniving, he left Beersheba a hated and miserable man and journeyed alone to Haran where his uncle Laban lived.  However, on the way, night overtook him and he lay in the open fields of a town called Luz (Bethel) and fell fast asleep.  This is where we pick up his story today.

Turn in your Bible to:  Genesis 28:10-22

What Jacob thought would be just a normal night of sleep, turned into a defining moment for him.  That night Jacob had an encounter with GOD that would forever change the course of his life.  That space became a sacred place to Jacob because GOD met with him there.

Key Point:  “There are sacred spaces where GOD meets to commune with us.”

Let’s break down the key elements of this passage:

• A  was established between GOD and Jacob.

Genesis 28:12-15 (NLT),  ¹² As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven.  And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.

¹³ At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac.  The ground you are lying on belongs to you.  I am giving it to you and your descendants.  ¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!  They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south.  And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  ¹⁵ What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go.  One day I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

• Jacob’s sacred space with GOD was  in his life.

Genesis 28:16-19 (NLT),  ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”  ¹⁷ But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is!  It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”

¹⁸ The next morning Jacob got up very early.  He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar.  Then he poured olive oil over it.  ¹⁹ He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.

• Jacob’s sacred space with GOD was a place of  and  .

Genesis 28:20-22 (NLT),  ²⁰ Then Jacob made this vow:  “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God.  ²² And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Something to take home:

Henri Nouwen, the late Dutch Catholic priest, professor, author, and theologian, wrote, “Without solitude, it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. … We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to Him.”[1]

Where is a sacred space where you spend time alone with GOD in solitude and silence?  Have you established one?  Maybe it’s a corner chair in a room somewhere in your house, maybe it’s a park bench at your favorite park, or maybe it’s a space in your backyard.  Wherever it is, make it a priority to meet regularly with GOD there.  Don’t fill the air with words; just listen for His still small voice.

Key Point:  “There are sacred spaces where GOD meets to commune with us.”

[1] Quoted in Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, (InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Illinois; 2010), 34.