# 315 Where Do You Want To Spend Eternity?

Genesis Devotion

Day 315

Ge 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.  18 Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.  19 And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money.  20 Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.

It’s interesting to look at a map and see where each brother ended up. Esau returns to Edom, and becomes the father of the Edomites. Jacob travels a mere five miles to the west where he builds himself a house and some shelters for his livestock. He stays there for an unspecified length of time and then travels another 20 miles to the west to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, (the promised land) So at this point, Jacob has officially returned to his home country, the country of his inheritance. We know it’s official because the Scripture says “Then Jacob came safely from Padan Aram, or Haran, which is where he had stayed with Laban for the past 20 years. The stopover at Succoth didn’t count as the end of his journey. It wasn’t until he was within the borders of Canaan that he had successfully concluded his journey. NOW he can erect an altar of thanksgiving for he has officially and safely returned.

The purchase of this property is noteworthy. Shechem is right smack dab in the middle of the promised land. This chunk of real estate would later be allotted to the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, and it was the place where Joseph desired to be buried.

It came to pass 400 years after Jacob purchased this land, that Joseph’s bones, (which had been carried with the Israelites) were buried. (See Josh 24:32) This purchase then, is a reminder of the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises!

Now you may say, “ I don’t have 400 years to wait on God to keep His promises.” Well neither did the Israelites, it’s this thing called “mortality.” We all have it. And we all also have this thing called eternity for our souls, and the question is, where do you want to spend it? There is one promise of God that really matters, and that promise is eternity in the bliss of heaven for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Hitch your wagon to that promise, and all will be well!