Genesis 31:49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
Mizpah in Hebrew means “watchtower”. Laban the father-in-law of Jacob made a covenant with Jacob at Mizpah. Jacob fled from his father-in-law with his wives and wealth to his hometown but Laban pursued him to bid farewell to his daughters and grandchildren. Laban took an undertaking from Jacob. “If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me” (vs 50). Jacob set a pillar and heaped stones around it and made a covenant with Laban. Laban was an Aramean and his daughters had no relatives in Canaan. Hence, Laban took a pledge from Jacob with the Lord God as a witness between them.
The Lord is the just judge who watches over His children. The same God of Jacob watches over you and me from Mizpah, the watchtower. He watches over every detail of our life. He will not allow anyone to mistreat us or misuse us. If we are ever abused, oppressed or marginalized, the Lord who is our witness will overrule the injustice and overthrow the oppressors from His holy watchtower, Mizpah. For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye (Zachariah 2:8b). The Lord will watch over us and will be a witness between us and our tormentors and abusers.
Mizpah – the watchtower of heaven:
1. Watch: Don’t be discouraged if your hard work is not recognized or rewarded by people. God is watching over everything that we do in obscurity from His Holy Mizpah, the watchtower of heaven. He who watches our sincerity in secret will reward us publically.
2. Witness: The Lord is our witness and He rules with the scepter of justice. People might fail us but the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy (Psalm 140:12).
3. Warrior: People may fail us but we are not alone. God our mighty warrior will fight for us and will deliver us.
The divine eyes from the watchtower Mizpah are watching over you and me.
Prayer: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your watchful eyes from Mizpah is more than sufficient for me. Amen.
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