We’ve all wrestled with the concept of trusting the promises of God. Some of us are beginning the journey, wondering if God’s promises to us are true. We wonder if we can really trust him. Others of us are in the middle of the journey, knowing he has been faithful so far, but wondering what the next turn in the road will bring. Will he be faithful to his promises to me? And others are nearing the end of the journey, knowing his faithfulness, but fearful of how the story will end, and concerned if God will stick with us to the end. We wonder, will God provide? Will he protect? Will he guard what he gives? This is the lesson for all of us from Jacob’s story: What God promises, he provides, and what he provides, he protects. This is exactly what Jacob learns: What God promises, he provides, and what he gives, he guards. For 20 years Jacob has been in exile, but it is time to go home, and Jacob wonders if God will provide what he promised, and guard what he gives.