Scripture Focus:
“And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and
they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.” Genesis 35:5
Jacob and his family had made several poor choices. He delayed obedience. He settled in
Shechem when he should have gone to Bethel. Dinah went out unprotected, and a terrible
incident followed. His sons acted rashly in vengeance, and Jacob remained too silent for too
long. But after all that mess, they finally obeyed and journeyed to Bethel, and here’s what
happened: God stepped in. The terror of God fell upon the surrounding cities. No one could
touch them.
Now, let’s be clear; did they deserve that protection? Not entirely. But God didn’t wait for them
to be perfect before He defended them. He disciplined them, yes. He allowed pain to push
them. But He didn’t hand them over to be destroyed. In fact, God renewed His covenant with
Jacob, reminding him of all His promises (Gen. 35:11). This is the heart of the Father.
So no, disobedience does not give the devil unlimited access to your life. Your Father may allow
discipline, but He draws the boundary line Himself. He’s not turning you over to Satan. Your
mess is an internal affair between you and your Father, don’t let guilt or the enemy convince you
otherwise.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being both just and merciful. Even in my mistakes, help me trust that You
are correcting me in love, not abandoning me. Amen.
Further Reading: Genesis 35:1–5, Psalm 103:8–10, Hebrews 12:6.