Welcome.

I am really enjoying the Come Follow Me Book of Mormon chapters this week. Zenos’ allegory, which Jacob related, is twisted with treasures on many levels from personal to collective, and it’s just so fun to grapple with it and, under the tender tutoring of the Holy Spirit, uncover gems galore.

This year, however, I’ve especially enjoyed the following chapter, chapter 6, of Jacob. After testifying that the words of Zenos (who lived sometime after Abraham and before Isaiah) about the house of Israel and the olive tree “must surely come to pass” (Jacob 6:1), Jacob offered some really beautiful words as they relate to the work and character of God.

Perhaps you would like to, with me, consider them carefully and thoughtfully.

“And how merciful is our God unto us,

for he remembereth the house of Israel,

both roots and branches;

and he stretches forth his hands unto them

all the day long;

and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people;

but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be

saved in the kingdom of God.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you

in words of soberness that ye would repent,

and come with full purpose of heart,

and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.

And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you

in the light of day,

harden not your hearts.”

(Jacob 6:4,5)

Did you notice some true jewels? Here are some that really spoke to my heart this week.

…for he remembereth…

Is this not so reassuring? We are not forgotten of God! Ever. Man may forget. God does not. He promises, and He remembers all His promises. They are fulfilled in wild and unimaginable ways sometimes, but His declarations are brought to pass for the righteous. Such ones have both the prerogative and the duty to call upon God for their bestowal in His own way and own time. He remembers the house of Israel, which is all of us. He remembers! This is just an absolutely glorious truth in a fallen world where so many forget. God does not forget. I am so buoyed up by this profound certainty. It is life sustaining water in the desert of waiting and yearning.

…both roots and branches…

I love the downward of roots and the upward of branches. God’s got it covered in both directions. Roots, life sustaining attachments, bring nutrition upward and branches are the expression of that sustenance extending outward. We are connected to what helped us spring forth, and we have a divine commission to spread outward in every noble way. God has purpose and plan for both roots and branches, and He remembers and nourishes both. I love this.

…he stretches…

Two words but they are so powerful and so lovely on the heels of one another. As I read and pondered Jacob 6, I thought I would look up the word “stretch” just to see what insights a google search of the word would yield. I really liked this definition and found it instructive: “straighten or extend one’s body or a part of one’s body to its full length, typically so as…to reach something.” (On line dictionary, Stretch) Or in our case, someone. Here is God (and Christ, for that matter) extending Their full beings, Their full love, Their full mercy, Their full EVERYTHING so as to reach us. This kind of Deity to man stretching is all encircling. It touches us at every human point and well into what is possible beyond finite living. This is a stretch of light years away, one that bridges the gap, a reach that makes it possible for us to connect, to feel as if you have literally touched a heavenly hem on frequent occasion. Can there be anything more precious than this heavenly reach, this perfect stretch of Himself? All for the purpose of reaching us. What evidence of His love is found in His stretch.

…shall be saved…

Thus saith God. It is written in heaven and declared on earth. It shall be. God’s work is to save us! From death. From sin. From ignorance. From the Devil. And if you are too much like me, from myself. It is declared! It is His work, after all, to bring to pass our living after dying and our eventual exaltation with Him (Moses 1:39). The perfect unselfishness of God! Herein again manifest.

 …he cleaveth…

Another two-word combination that packs a seriously powerful, to the heart punch (in a good punch kind of way…is there such a thing?). Come Follow Me this week said this about cleave: “One meaning of the word cleave is to adhere to or stick to something firmly, closely, and unwaveringly.” God is firm in His decrees, strong and steady in His love, as close as we will permit Him to come, and there is zero wavering with Him. He cleaveth. That truly is soul filling.

…his arm of mercy is extended towards you…”

In my life, God’s mercy seems to have been extended my way far more than his punishment. Possessing the ability to punish and reprimand, He chooses mercy and pardon if there is any way it can be justly dealt. He does not punish without first warning. I am amazed at how much He loves to extend His mercy. His arm is an extension from His heart, brining uncapped amounts of mercy and pouring them into every part of our lives. His arm is extended because His heart is full – of mercy, that is.

Unto all the world: Our God remembers both root and branches, He stretches, He has declared our salvation, He cleaves unto us, and His arm…oh that glorious arm…is always and forever extending mercy. Father, thank you!