We see God bless a trickster, Jacob. He's on the run from home when God meets him, head against a rock, in a dream. He marvels, "Surely the LORD was in this place and I was not aware of it."

In Genesis 22:1-14, we hear the horrifying story of Abraham binding his son Isaac on an altar to sacrifice him to God. Why would God ask this of Abraham? How do they respond? We'll see that God provides the sacrifice, both then and now: Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Today, we hear God's word from Galatians 6:1-10. Paul reminds the Galatians that some fo them have not been living the way of the Spirit by loving one another. They should work toward restoration, realizing that everyone falls short sometimes. The Spirit empowers us to love one another by doing good to all people, especially those in God's household.

Paul has some harsh words for those people who led the Galatians astray. Even they can't keep the whole law! The only thing that counts, says Paul, is faith expressing itself through love. That Spirit-filled reality means that our daily lives must show this kind of love.