Hey everyone! If you are reading this and it is somewhere between 6:00am and 12:30am then we are somewhere between Our pillows and Disney World! We wish that you were coming along, but maybe next time!
Genesis 38
1 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.
3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.
4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
6 Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.
8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”
9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.
16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”
18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”
22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”
23 Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”
24 And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”
25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”
26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.
27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”
29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.
30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.
Wow, another chapter that I would have never imagined in the Bible... this sounds like a story right off Jerry Springer. I mean think about it: A Dad (Judah) chooses whom his son will marry, Well, then the son dies, so the Dad hooks up his daughter in law with his other son... well that doesnt work out too well either, and he is killed as well.
So Judah tells Tamar the "daughter in law" To live in his house until his little son is old enough to marry... well that is when it really gets bad. Tamar pretends that she is a prostitue so that she can have a child and her customer is Judah. Well, Judah never knew it was her, but when he found out that Tamar was with child, he said, bring her here so that she can be burned.
Well, as you know Tamar was smarter than that... because she had proof that the man that got her pregnant is the man that is now trying to punish her for being pregnant. BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT!!! Well, that is the story and as you can see here it is not a very nice one. But the truth is: When sin is involved the story will never be a nice one.
FRIDAY, September 19th, 2008
Well, tomorrow we will be leaving Bright and Early to go to the Magic Kingdom! I am so excited!!! I have BREAKING NEWS: I have been able to talk Pastor Chip into going to Disney with us!!! Yeah!!! Don't forget we will be meeting at the church at 6:15AM tomorrow morning! Bring $50.00 and money for food! We are going to have a great time!!!A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Jessica B: I am sorry about Lola!! Poor Birdie!
Mommabeals!!!! It was so good to have you join us!! I love it when adults get involved too! There are several other adults that do this each day, but they dont usually post... thanks for posting!!
Jessica M: I hope you feel better soon! I hope that you are feeling well for Disney tomorrow!!
Jonathan M: at some point you have to let go what happened "years ago" I am sure it is hard, but imagine how hard it was for Esau to forgive and forget... Jacob ruined his entire life!! Yet, Esau forgave him. Don't let that ruin yours! Besides, I am thankful that you are in my youth group!!
Michael: I am excited to hang out all day tomorrow! Just so you know.... I will not be growing a tail anytime soon!
Taylor... or Brooke... or whoever you were: I am glad you came on taylor... I could tell that was brooke, because she always types like that! :) But I am very glad that both of you came on again! Keep it up!
Amy: I am so excited about Dale and Derek!!!! They are really sharp guys! You should tell them to get on the devotional blog with us! :)
Ryan: Call me: 941-258-0719, I need to know if you are going to Magic Kingdom with us tomorrow!!! Let me know TODAY!
Rachel: We love you! Wish you came last night, but we figured that you had a good reason why you werent there.
Genesis 37
1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.
4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.”
14 Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.
15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”
16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”
17 And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.
18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.
19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming!
20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.”
22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him.
24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.
26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.
28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”
31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.
32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
36 Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Once again, the deceiver, Jacob is deceived. Ever heard the phrase you reap what you sow? Well, you will reap the actions that you sow, just as we see Jacob reaping his past decisions! It is sad to see how often he is deceived and how the rest of his life is determined by that decision that he made.
Well, let me start at the top of this story... we see the chosen child "Joseph". Joseph is probably the closest example that we see of Christ in the Bible. Let me explain, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, He was unjustly put in prison, and falsely accused as we will read over the next few days.
This is one of the most powerful stories in the Bible. We see that in spite of the way that Joseph was treated, He forgave his brothers. (as we will see in a few days)
Think about how you would react if you were Joseph? What would your reaction be about your brothers? We fight with our siblings because they watch someting on TV that we dont like, or because they pick the bigger cookie... Joseph did not get cought up in silly stuff, He simply forgave and looked for the lesson that God was trying to teach him through these trials.
One lesson we can learn from this is probably the only thing that could be said that Joseph did wrong in the Bible, and that is: He seemed boastful about his position in the family... He would tell the whole family about his dreams, and He would tell on his brothers all the time...
We should not be that annoying person that is always telling everyone how "we are right and they are all wrong" instead we should all be humble!
Have a special day!! :)
THURSDAY, September 18th, 2008
Tonight!
6:00PM
CHURCH PARKING LOT...
SPORTS NIGHT
I had a great time with all of you last night! Congratulations to Brooke!!!! Our Suncoast Ninja Warrior! She ate 8 healthy, jumping, crickets!! Wow! Special Honorable mention to Brandon and Sarah Watkins for both eating their fair share of crickets too!! You guys made the night exciting last night! Thanks!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Jessica B: I am so excited about Disney too!!!!!
Pastor Chip: You should come to the Magic Kingdom with us!!!!
Mallory: Where were you yesterday girl! I missed you (on the devo blog that is)
Tyler: I am thankful for you and glad that you are going to be on my team.
Alex: I am glad that we got to talk last night! I am thankful that you did you devos! Stay faithful!
Genesis 35
1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”
4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him.
10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel.
11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him.
14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
Death of Rachel
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.
17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”
18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it.
Jacob’s Twelve Sons
Jacob’s Twelve Sons
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;
24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin;
25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali;
26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.
Death of Isaac
27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
There are many applications in this passage but one specific message that stood out to me above the rest. I think this is such a good picture of real life. There are so many time in our life when things seem to be going well, even good. We realize how blessed we are with family, friends, our relationship with God... Everything seems great and then BAM!!! TRAILS HIT LIKE A BRICK ON YOUR FOREHEAD!
That is exactly what happens in this chapter as we look at Jacob or "Israel". Jacob has a wonderful encounter with God, He tells his people to get rid of their Gods, Jacob makes several offerings to God, Jacob even talks with God and then sets up an alter to show his relationship with God, and then it seems like Jacobs world falls apart.
Before the chapter is even finished He has lost his favorite wife (Rachel), and his father (Isaac). It would be easy to ask WHY? God Why would you take me through this when I am serving you? But that is not the right question: The right question is, God what are you teaching me about yourself through this?
We often think... Why would God bring these trials right when I am getting closer to Him... But I think the fact is that God brought us closer to Him because He knew we are about to face these trials, and God does not want us to face these trials on our own.
This is so important, because I know of many people who have gotten bitter at God because of Trials, but we MUST understand that no matter how hard the trial, no matter how difficult the situation: Our God is Good, and our God has everything under control!
The Psalmist put it this way: I had fainted, UNLESS I believed to see the goodness of the Lord.
You too will faint, fail, fall away, unless you remember that Our God is Good, and He is in Control!!!
See You Tonight!!
WEDNESDAY, September 17th, 2008
Well, what do you think of the new header? That is the group of teenagers that won our first Devotaional reward activity! Today is another Wednesday and it is the final night of our NINJA WARRIOR SERIES!!! Make sure that you come and be a part of the exciting events that we will be taking part in tonight! You will not regret it!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Mrs. W: I am thankful that you come on here each day!
Michael: I would be glad to pick you up for church ANYTIME you need a ride, just call me and let me know!
Josh: I am glad that you are back on here to STAY!!! Now get Alex on here TO STAY!!!
Jessica M: Very Beautiful Pictures! Where are the rest, I only saw like 2.
AMY!!!! YOU BETTER BE IN CHURCH TONIGHT!
Jonathan, sorry that you had a bad day yesterday! Just remember: MAGIC KINGDOM IN JUST 3 DAYS!!!!!!
Ryan: I need to talk to you about something tonight! Dont leave until you talk to me... it is a good thing, not a bad thing!
Mallory:" WHAT IS THIS MAYBE ALL ABOUT?!?!?!?!?! YOU BETTER BE HERE!!!!!! (if you know what is good for you)
Rachel: We love you and several of us have been praying for you!
Genesis 34 [Wow! I bet you would have never expected to read a story like THIS in the Bible]
1 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her.
3 His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman.
4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came.
6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
9 And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves.
10 So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”
11 Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give.
12 Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”
13 But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
14 And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
15 But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,
16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17 But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”
18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son.
19 So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father.
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:
21 “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
23 Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”
24 And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
25 Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
28 They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field,
29 and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”
31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”
Wow! Where do we begin? Lets start at the very beginning... So we see Dinah, the daughter of Jacob is out walking around and a man named Shechem saw her and took her away, and raped her.
Shechem was wrong in this decision OBVIOUSLY, but he wanted to make things right and go back to her father and her fathers family and ask them to allow Dinah to be his wife... Well what happens?
Jacob and his family agrees that it would be ok, as long as every male is Circumcised. Let me discretely explain why this is important. This is a practice that some people have done to their baby boys whenever they are born, God also used this practice for hHis people to show that they were dedicated to Him... Well, the sons of Jacob knew that this was an EXTREMELY PAINFUL practice... I mean, lets just say, once they were circumcised they were down for a while...
Well, two of Dinahs brothers, Simeon and Levi, decide that this is a perfect opportunity to get back at Shechem and all of his people. They decide to wait three days after the circumcision, and then they both go into the city and kill every male and destroy all of the city, taking the wives and children captive.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?? How dishonest! What a poor testimony of God.
Let me tell you the lessons I learned from this passage...
1. Schechem made ONE WRONG CHOICE and that choice led to the destruction of his entire city!
We too make choices every day, and when we choose to sin, or to live for ourselves, many times we are one poor choice away from destroying our future. I have talked to 3 different people in the last 24 hours who have made one bad choice that has the potential to change/destroy their life. Dont Sin! You WILL NOT WIN!
2. Jacob was willing to forgive these people as he had been forgiven, but his sons, jhowever had other plans in mind. Simeon and Levi did not respect their fathers wishes, they took matters into their own hands and they caused big problems.
Do you see... they were JUST AS GUILTY OF WRONG as the Rapist was... I think many times we as Christians are quick to judge others and justify our own wickedness. We are quick to "hate" the sinner instead of Hating the sin, we are so quick to think highly of ourselves, as we think low about everyone around us... We must understand something that Simeon and Levi did not get: "When we justify our wickedness we are just as sinful as people who do not claim to know Christ."
Dont live like the lost! Live like you are saved by the blood of Christ!!!!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Mrs. W: I am thankful that you come on here each day!
Michael: I would be glad to pick you up for church ANYTIME you need a ride, just call me and let me know!
Josh: I am glad that you are back on here to STAY!!! Now get Alex on here TO STAY!!!
Jessica M: Very Beautiful Pictures! Where are the rest, I only saw like 2.
AMY!!!! YOU BETTER BE IN CHURCH TONIGHT!
Jonathan, sorry that you had a bad day yesterday! Just remember: MAGIC KINGDOM IN JUST 3 DAYS!!!!!!
Ryan: I need to talk to you about something tonight! Dont leave until you talk to me... it is a good thing, not a bad thing!
Mallory:" WHAT IS THIS MAYBE ALL ABOUT?!?!?!?!?! YOU BETTER BE HERE!!!!!! (if you know what is good for you)
Rachel: We love you and several of us have been praying for you!
Genesis 34 [Wow! I bet you would have never expected to read a story like THIS in the Bible]
1 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her.
3 His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman.
4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came.
6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
9 And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves.
10 So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”
11 Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give.
12 Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”
13 But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
14 And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
15 But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,
16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17 But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”
18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son.
19 So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father.
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:
21 “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
23 Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”
24 And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
25 Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
28 They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field,
29 and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”
31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”
Wow! Where do we begin? Lets start at the very beginning... So we see Dinah, the daughter of Jacob is out walking around and a man named Shechem saw her and took her away, and raped her.
Shechem was wrong in this decision OBVIOUSLY, but he wanted to make things right and go back to her father and her fathers family and ask them to allow Dinah to be his wife... Well what happens?
Jacob and his family agrees that it would be ok, as long as every male is Circumcised. Let me discretely explain why this is important. This is a practice that some people have done to their baby boys whenever they are born, God also used this practice for hHis people to show that they were dedicated to Him... Well, the sons of Jacob knew that this was an EXTREMELY PAINFUL practice... I mean, lets just say, once they were circumcised they were down for a while...
Well, two of Dinahs brothers, Simeon and Levi, decide that this is a perfect opportunity to get back at Shechem and all of his people. They decide to wait three days after the circumcision, and then they both go into the city and kill every male and destroy all of the city, taking the wives and children captive.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?? How dishonest! What a poor testimony of God.
Let me tell you the lessons I learned from this passage...
1. Schechem made ONE WRONG CHOICE and that choice led to the destruction of his entire city!
We too make choices every day, and when we choose to sin, or to live for ourselves, many times we are one poor choice away from destroying our future. I have talked to 3 different people in the last 24 hours who have made one bad choice that has the potential to change/destroy their life. Dont Sin! You WILL NOT WIN!
2. Jacob was willing to forgive these people as he had been forgiven, but his sons, jhowever had other plans in mind. Simeon and Levi did not respect their fathers wishes, they took matters into their own hands and they caused big problems.
Do you see... they were JUST AS GUILTY OF WRONG as the Rapist was... I think many times we as Christians are quick to judge others and justify our own wickedness. We are quick to "hate" the sinner instead of Hating the sin, we are so quick to think highly of ourselves, as we think low about everyone around us... We must understand something that Simeon and Levi did not get: "When we justify our wickedness we are just as sinful as people who do not claim to know Christ."
Dont live like the lost! Live like you are saved by the blood of Christ!!!!
TUESDAY, September 16th, 2008
Hey Guys! I want more people to do their devotions! Call anyone that you know who has ever done them and tell them to come on TODAY!!!! This is important! We must stay in the Word of God daily!!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Rachel: Hey Girl, call me today and let me know how your grandmother is! We are praying for her and your family! Sorry you had such a tough day yesterday! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Michael: I missed you Sunday man! Sunday Night Mr. Wutka preached on Creation and it was GREAT! I really wish you would have been there!
TAYLOR!!!!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE ON HERE!! STAY FAITHFUL AND I WILL SEE YOU WEDNESDAY! :)
Brooks: I am glad you are back! I have missed you on here!
Amy: Thanks for your encouragement! Are you coming Thrusday night?
Jon! Preach it SON!!!!! Wow! What an incredible devotions yesterday! Good Job!
Jessica! Preach is SON!!!!!! (I mean Daughter) :) Wow! Great Devotion Yesterday!!! By the way: That was a great sentance!! :)
KACEY!! Hey Girl! I missed you on Sunday! Will you be here tomorrow night?
RYAN: Hey man! Good to see you!!! :)
Olivia: Great Insight!!!! I am thankful that you reminded me of that message! I too heard brother Gibson Preach that! I love that man!! :) Glad you came on to visit! :) I hope things are going well for you way over in Japan.
Genesis 33
1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6 Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.
7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
11 Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”
13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.
14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
15 And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
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.
Jacob Comes to Canaan
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.
I Love Happy Endings! This story is definitely a good one! Think about this! Jacob obeyed God, EVEN WHEN IT WAS HARD!!! And God rewarded Him for it. Even up to the last moment, Jacob must have been scared to death. He saw his barbaric brother Esau coming toward him with 400 other men. He must have thought that He was toast!!! But instead of taking matters into his own hand and coming up with a plan to attack Esau before Esau attacked him, HE SIMPLY TRUSTED GOD!!! And GOD PROVED FAITHFUL! God took care of Jacob and softened the heart of Esau.
What an incredible family reunion that must have been! All of those horrible broken memories of the past were healed that day. Jacob was able to sleep easier that night knowing that his brother had forgiven him and his brother loved him! Thank God for FORGIVENESS!!!
Esau definitely made some mistakes in his time, but this was a great turnaround for him. I know many people who would have let that bitterness DESTROY their life because they would not have been willing to JUST FORGIVE like Esau did.
Have you ever had a broken relationship? Have you ever had to forgive someone that wronged you? Well, if you have then you know just how much joy that Jacob and Esau are experiencing here! Maybe you need to forgive someone, but you have not? Well, if that is you REMEMBER: Bitterness is the only poison that destroys the container that holds it!! Biterness will destroy you if you hold on to it. Let it God with FORGIVENESS ** NOT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST!! God forgive someone TODAY!!!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Rachel: Hey Girl, call me today and let me know how your grandmother is! We are praying for her and your family! Sorry you had such a tough day yesterday! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Michael: I missed you Sunday man! Sunday Night Mr. Wutka preached on Creation and it was GREAT! I really wish you would have been there!
TAYLOR!!!!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE ON HERE!! STAY FAITHFUL AND I WILL SEE YOU WEDNESDAY! :)
Brooks: I am glad you are back! I have missed you on here!
Amy: Thanks for your encouragement! Are you coming Thrusday night?
Jon! Preach it SON!!!!! Wow! What an incredible devotions yesterday! Good Job!
Jessica! Preach is SON!!!!!! (I mean Daughter) :) Wow! Great Devotion Yesterday!!! By the way: That was a great sentance!! :)
KACEY!! Hey Girl! I missed you on Sunday! Will you be here tomorrow night?
RYAN: Hey man! Good to see you!!! :)
Olivia: Great Insight!!!! I am thankful that you reminded me of that message! I too heard brother Gibson Preach that! I love that man!! :) Glad you came on to visit! :) I hope things are going well for you way over in Japan.
Genesis 33
1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
6 Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.
7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
11 Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”
13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.
14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
15 And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
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.
Jacob Comes to Canaan
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.
I Love Happy Endings! This story is definitely a good one! Think about this! Jacob obeyed God, EVEN WHEN IT WAS HARD!!! And God rewarded Him for it. Even up to the last moment, Jacob must have been scared to death. He saw his barbaric brother Esau coming toward him with 400 other men. He must have thought that He was toast!!! But instead of taking matters into his own hand and coming up with a plan to attack Esau before Esau attacked him, HE SIMPLY TRUSTED GOD!!! And GOD PROVED FAITHFUL! God took care of Jacob and softened the heart of Esau.
What an incredible family reunion that must have been! All of those horrible broken memories of the past were healed that day. Jacob was able to sleep easier that night knowing that his brother had forgiven him and his brother loved him! Thank God for FORGIVENESS!!!
Esau definitely made some mistakes in his time, but this was a great turnaround for him. I know many people who would have let that bitterness DESTROY their life because they would not have been willing to JUST FORGIVE like Esau did.
Have you ever had a broken relationship? Have you ever had to forgive someone that wronged you? Well, if you have then you know just how much joy that Jacob and Esau are experiencing here! Maybe you need to forgive someone, but you have not? Well, if that is you REMEMBER: Bitterness is the only poison that destroys the container that holds it!! Biterness will destroy you if you hold on to it. Let it God with FORGIVENESS ** NOT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST!! God forgive someone TODAY!!!
MONDAY, September 15th, 2008
Hey Everyone! I hope that you had a great day of School Today! We had a fun time in Sunday School Yesterday! If you were not there then we missed you!
Genesis 32
1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”
6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
9 Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.
11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”
17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’
18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’”
19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
Wrestling with God
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Wow! There are two main parts of this chapter... first we see Jacob going back to the land of his father, and he knows that he will have to face his brother Esau. Jacob sends his messenger to tell Esau that He is soming. I love the way that he approaches his brother. He does it very wisely!! Does Jacob have the right to call Esau his servant and march into town like he owns the place? Well, yes, he kind of does. Even God Himself told their family that the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob).
But Jacob does not come into town on a high horse. Jacob comes to his brother with humility. With a LOT OF HUMILITY as a matter of fact. He comes close to the town and sends messengers to tell esau that Esau's servant Jacob is coming into town. Did you see that? Jacob who was the master called himself the servant!! Well, maybe the Bible is correct when it says that the first shallbe last and the servants shall be the chiefs!
When we want to mend a relationship like Jacob is doing here, we should not go in focusing on how great we are and how much better we are than others, instead we should focus on being as humble as possible. By focusing on humility we will not lift ourselves up, but we allow Christ to lift us up.
The second part of this chapter is where Jacob wrestles with God. This is an incredible story where Jacob wrestled with a man all night long. If you do your research you will realize that this passage is actually telling us that Jacob wrestled with an angle all night long sent from God. Why? I dont know. But that is probably something I should know so I am going to do more research on it when I am done here. But we do see that Jacob is passionate and persistent about being victorious and receiving a blessing! What is Jacob would have given up in this fight? Well, I dont know that He would have been blessed like he was. Because he trusted God and obeyed God, and asked for a blessing, God Blessed Jacob! and Gave him a new name... He was now to be Called Israel. Have you ever heard someone say the "Children of Israel" ?? Well, now you know what they are talking about! Literally they are saying: The children of Jacob!!! (and grand children, and great grandchildren and so on)
Well, I hope this chapter spoke to you about taking the low road, being humble but also serving God with passion and the desire to never give up but to be victorious!!
Genesis 32
1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”
6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
9 Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.
11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”
17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’
18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’”
19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
Wrestling with God
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Wow! There are two main parts of this chapter... first we see Jacob going back to the land of his father, and he knows that he will have to face his brother Esau. Jacob sends his messenger to tell Esau that He is soming. I love the way that he approaches his brother. He does it very wisely!! Does Jacob have the right to call Esau his servant and march into town like he owns the place? Well, yes, he kind of does. Even God Himself told their family that the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob).
But Jacob does not come into town on a high horse. Jacob comes to his brother with humility. With a LOT OF HUMILITY as a matter of fact. He comes close to the town and sends messengers to tell esau that Esau's servant Jacob is coming into town. Did you see that? Jacob who was the master called himself the servant!! Well, maybe the Bible is correct when it says that the first shallbe last and the servants shall be the chiefs!
When we want to mend a relationship like Jacob is doing here, we should not go in focusing on how great we are and how much better we are than others, instead we should focus on being as humble as possible. By focusing on humility we will not lift ourselves up, but we allow Christ to lift us up.
The second part of this chapter is where Jacob wrestles with God. This is an incredible story where Jacob wrestled with a man all night long. If you do your research you will realize that this passage is actually telling us that Jacob wrestled with an angle all night long sent from God. Why? I dont know. But that is probably something I should know so I am going to do more research on it when I am done here. But we do see that Jacob is passionate and persistent about being victorious and receiving a blessing! What is Jacob would have given up in this fight? Well, I dont know that He would have been blessed like he was. Because he trusted God and obeyed God, and asked for a blessing, God Blessed Jacob! and Gave him a new name... He was now to be Called Israel. Have you ever heard someone say the "Children of Israel" ?? Well, now you know what they are talking about! Literally they are saying: The children of Jacob!!! (and grand children, and great grandchildren and so on)
Well, I hope this chapter spoke to you about taking the low road, being humble but also serving God with passion and the desire to never give up but to be victorious!!
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
Hey guys! What is going on? We need to really get back on track!! Yesterday was an all time low on how many devotions were done! I hope that you guys will be faithful!! As you will see in todays devotions: God rewards the faithful!!
DO YOUR DEVOTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Genesis 31
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”
2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.
3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock,
5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father.
7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.
9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.
11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’
12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money.
16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.
18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.
20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.
21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.
24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?
27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?
28 And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.
29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’
30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’
32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them.
35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me?
37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!
38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.
39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.
41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
Laban’s Covenant with Jacob
43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?
44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed,
49 also Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.
50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me.
52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.
Well, this is a long passage and an interesting story. I think there are a few very important lessons that are important for us to learn. God will always take care of his children... Jacob has served Laban for MANY years. faithfully!! Now the time has come that God is sending Jacob back to the land of his fathers and Laban is not happy about it.
As we saw yesterday... Laban knows that when Jacob leaves he will not be blessed nearly as much because of the testimony of Jacob. Laban loved to have Jacob around, because God blesses his children!
God will bless you! If you are faithful then God will go as far as to make animals have spots or streaks if it will help you! God wants you to succeed and God will make your succesfull!!
There are many other very interesting parts of this story... I especially thought it was great when Laban and Jacob made a covenant and Laban told Jacob if you ever hurt my daughters or if you ever marry another woman then God will be a witness of How I am going to tear you up!!
I think that is funny... If I have a daughter, I will respond the same way!!
Well, God blesses the faithful! So I want to be faithful!!!
DO YOUR DEVOTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Genesis 31
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”
2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.
3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock,
5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father.
7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.
9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.
11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’
12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money.
16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.
18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.
20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.
21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.
24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?
27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?
28 And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.
29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’
30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’
32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them.
35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me?
37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both!
38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock.
39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes.
41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
Laban’s Covenant with Jacob
43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?
44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed,
49 also Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.
50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me.
52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.
Well, this is a long passage and an interesting story. I think there are a few very important lessons that are important for us to learn. God will always take care of his children... Jacob has served Laban for MANY years. faithfully!! Now the time has come that God is sending Jacob back to the land of his fathers and Laban is not happy about it.
As we saw yesterday... Laban knows that when Jacob leaves he will not be blessed nearly as much because of the testimony of Jacob. Laban loved to have Jacob around, because God blesses his children!
God will bless you! If you are faithful then God will go as far as to make animals have spots or streaks if it will help you! God wants you to succeed and God will make your succesfull!!
There are many other very interesting parts of this story... I especially thought it was great when Laban and Jacob made a covenant and Laban told Jacob if you ever hurt my daughters or if you ever marry another woman then God will be a witness of How I am going to tear you up!!
I think that is funny... If I have a daughter, I will respond the same way!!
Well, God blesses the faithful! So I want to be faithful!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
