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Jan 30 Coming back to God

 30_Coming back to God Gen 35:1-4 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let’s arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me on the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. In a small village nestled in the Swiss Alps, a centuries-old church stands as the heart of the community. Within this church stood a famous pipe organ, its tones so enchanting that people from far and wide would come to hear it. But as years passed, the organ began to falter. Its rich melodies gave way to jarring notes. Nobody knew how to repair it. The organ was deemed beyond restoration. Frustration slowly turned into resignation. One day, an old man visited the village. Entering the church, he looked around for the organ. Noticing that it was no longer in use, he asked, “Why don’t you play the organ anymore?” “It has broken down, it cannot be repaired any longer,” came the reply. “Let me try,” the man said confidently. For the next two months, he worked over it in silence. He had many tools and materials brought in. His days were spent in delicately adjusting and repairing the organ. When he finally announced that it was ready, the church was filled with music even more beautiful than they remembered. The astonished crowd asked how he had achieved this. With a gentle smile, the man replied, “Fifty years ago, this organ was designed and crafted in my workshop. I know it in and out, and I’ve now restored it.” This story reflects our relationship with God. He is our Creator, the one who knows us down to our smallest details. When our lives fall into disrepair—when sin, regret, or sorrow creates discord—only God can restore us fully. Genesis 35:1-4 tells such a story, as God calls Jacob back to Himself. Jacob’s life up to this point had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Known for his cunning, Jacob relied on deceit and self-reliance to get ahead. Within a few years of living near Shechem, his family was marked by tragedy and chaos. His daughter Dinah was violated by the prince of the city, and his sons retaliated by a massacre and sack of the town. Jacob feared greatly that this act of revenge had put himself and his family in grave danger from neighboring tribes. He found himself at an impasse, overwhelmed by the consequences of his choices and inaction. It was at this low point that God spoke to Jacob. He was to complete