The Lord, of course.

When signing a treaty with his uncle Laban, whom Jacob fled with his wives and children and flocks, the men built a large alter of stones, then pledged to maintain the peace and respect the new border between them.

Laban swore by the God of Abraham, the god of Nahor, and the god of their fathers, covering all his bases. When his turn came, Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Issac.

This particular name of the Lord is found only in this one place in the Bible. Fear of God—reverent awe—formed the basis of Jacob’s relationship with the Lord.

Later, the Lord instructed the children of Israel regarding this type of fear:

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Perhaps a good question to ask myself is, do I fear the Lord, or do I fear the gods of this world? What do I look upon in wonder and amazement and humility? Jacob, despite his history of deception, grew into a reverent awe of the Lord.

Perhaps I might grow in this direction as well.

Genesis 31 in reading through the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Andreas Wagner