Today’s Reading: Genesis 38 & 44; Psalm 86

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). – Matthew 1:1-3a

Jacob had 12 sons and God chose the lineage of Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, for the birth of the Messiah. Genesis helps us understand a little more about this far from perfect man, from whose descendants our source of salvation would be born.

When Joseph’s brothers were frustrated with his bragging and their father’s favoritism, it was Judah who came up with a plan to sell their little brother into slavery. Reuben planned to come back later and rescue Joseph from the cistern in which they had thrown him, but Judah planned to make some money at Joseph’s expense. He showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind.

Around the time of this betrayal, Judah chose to leave home and start his own family. He married a Canaanite woman and had three sons — Er, Onan and Shelah. Eventually, Judah arranged for Er to marry a young woman named Tamar. Er was wicked and the Lord took his life, so Onan took Tamar to be his wife as the law required. Tradition commanded him to have a son with his dead brother’s wife in order to produce an heir for the deceased. Onan refused and the Lord took his life. Next it was Judah’s responsibility to give Tamar to his youngest son, once he was of age, but instead Judah sent her away with a promise to bring her back some day.

Once more Judah showed himself to be disloyal, greedy and unkind. When Shelah came of age, he chose not to bring Tamar back to their family. This meant Tamar would have to spend the rest of her life in shame as the barren widow who had been rejected by her husband’s family.

Genesis 38 reveals the ugly details of how Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had sex with her father-in-law. When Judah found out she was pregnant, he demanded she be burned for her sexual sins. But Judah recognized the evil in his own heart when he saw his own seal, cord, and walking stick.

Judah recognized them immediately and said, “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.” And Judah never slept with Tamar again. – Genesis 38:26

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

The circumstances around this conception were shameful, but we serve a God of grace. God took the mess Tamar and Judah had created, and He wove their story into His plan of redemption for all mankind. God redeemed Judah’s story and chose for the Messiah to be born in the lineage of Tamar’s son, Perez.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me. – Psalm 86:5-7

When we fast forward to Genesis 44, we see a changed man. When it became evident that Benjamin would have to stay in Egypt because he was being accused of theft, Judah stepped forward. When it became obvious that his father’s heart was about to be broken over the loss of one more son, Judah stepped up.

“My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’ So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” – Genesis 44:32-34

WE SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.

Lord, thank you so much for taking this selfish and greedy heart and making something worthy of your service. Thank you for seeing a heart in need of transformation and patiently making me into the person you have created me to be. Reveal in me any self-serving attitudes and unkind opinions. Teach me, guide me, mold me, break me. May your transforming power continue the work you have begun in my heart and life. Amen.

Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death. – Psalm 86:11-13

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39; Isaiah 61

Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard. – Genesis 37:36

IS THIS GOD’S WILL OR IS IT GOD’S PLAN?

Have you ever felt an overwhelming panic that what is happening around you is not the will of God? One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that God has a plan even when the choices of others are outside of God’s will. When I rest in His sovereignty, I learn how to trust Him despite everything that is going on around me.

Joseph’s life was affected time and time again by the sinful decisions of others, but God was NEVER uninvolved. Joseph’s brothers sinned against him out of jealousy when they sold him into captivity, but God did not abandon Joseph.

GOD’S PLAN WAS TO USE THIS JOSEPH’S PAIN FOR GOOD.

A lot of good came out of the rest of Joseph’s life, even though the trajectory of his life drastically changed when his brothers sold him into slavery. I believe it was not God’s perfect will for Joseph to be sinned against, separated from his family, and sold into slavery, yet God’s plan was to use it for good.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 39:2-4

It was not God’s perfect will for Potiphar’s wife to lust after Joseph and lie about his integrity, causing Joseph to spend years in prison, but God’s plan was to use it for good. Joseph was far from his family and the life he loved, but he was never alone.

THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS UNAWARE OF JOSEPH’S SITUATION.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. – Genesis 39:20b-22

Joseph’s time in prison gave him the opportunity to interpret the dream of the chief cupbearer, who eventually (two years later) told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. As a result of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the lives of many were saved from the devastating famine ahead.

GOD IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN

I do not believe it is God’s will that anyone should sin or be sinned against, yet God is NEVER without a plan. Because He loves us and He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), GOD MAKES BEAUTIFUL THINGS come out of the sinful actions of man.

When we are wronged or sinned against or even suffer the consequences of our own sins, God has not abandoned us. Instead he works out a BEAUTIFUL PLAN OF REDEMPTION in the midst of this sinful world. God does not will for us to sin but neither is He surprised by it. He continues to plan HOPE for the hopeless and salvation for the lost.

Is it God’s will that an unmarried woman gets pregnant? No, scripture is clear that sexual relations should only occur within the marriage covenant relationship, but God has a plan for the unborn baby and for the parents. His love for them is deep, and God continues to draw them to Himself.

Is it God’s will when a drunk driver kills an innocent bystander? No, but God has a plan to provide healing for those who are left grieving and to use their healing to minister to others who have suffered loss. He comforts those who are brokenhearted and redeems their story in beautiful ways.

Is it God’s will that our culture should consider it a woman’s right to end the life of her unborn baby? No, but God has a plan to use the sin of abortion to bring many to repentance. God has a plan to use His followers to reach out to those affected by or considering abortion and show them the love of God. He redeems the stories of the post-abortive and gives them a crown of beauty for ashes.

Is it God’s will that anyone should be on the receiving end of prejudice, bullying, racism, sexism, ageism, discrimination, hatred, or injustice? Absolutely not! No, but God has a plan to use His children to speak out and to create change, so that the death of one man can mean salvation for all mankind.

Thank you, God, for taking all the details of my life and using them to accomplish something good. Lord, I trust you with the good and the bad, with the joys and the heartaches. I pray for a strong faith and daily reminders that you will never leave or abandon us. Even in the worst of situations, we can trust that you have a plan.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:1-3

Today’s Reading: Genesis 35:16-29; 37; Psalm 40

Jacob settled in the land of Canaan with his large family, the land that God had promised to give his grandfather, his father, and now him. He made this land his home, and his sons helped him by shepherding the herds of animals he had accumulated. God had blessed him in so many ways. He was finally neither paying off his debt to his uncle nor hiding from his brother. He was no longer looking back, but facing forward.

Jacob was surrounded by family and healing from the loss of his first love. Rachel had endured a long and hard delivery with her second son. In her last moment of life, she named her newborn son Ben-oni, which means son of my sorrow or son of my distress. God had answered her plea for another son, but she would not get to watch him grow up. She was dying and she knew it.

But rather than have his son’s name reflect the suffering of the past, Jacob named him Benjamin — son of my right hand. This new name would reflect the strength of his father rather than the weakness of his mother. In his grief, Jacob chose hope and joy for the future by giving his youngest son a name that would reflect what was ahead of him instead of what was behind. Perhaps this name also reflected a vow of Jacob’s to never let his youngest son out of his sight, but to keep him by his side.

Jacob had loved Rachel and he would love her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. In fact, Genesis 37:3 tells us that Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his sons. He gave Joseph a special gift — a beautiful robe which is now traditionally known as the coat of many colors. This gesture of favoritism caused his older brothers to hate Joseph and to speak unkindly to him.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. — Genesis 37:5-8

Joseph’s next dream prophesied that the sun, moon, and stars would bow to him. His brothers reacted in jealousy but his father pondered the meaning of the dreams. A short time later, Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers and return with a report on how they and the flocks were doing. He traveled to Shechem looking for them, but they were not there, so he traveled on to Dothan. When his brothers saw him approaching, they made plans to kill him.

“Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” — Genesis 37:19-20

Reuben talked his brothers into throwing Joseph into an empty cistern instead of killing him, because he intended to come back and rescue him. The brothers took off the coat that represented their father’s favoritism and threw Joseph into the cistern. Later, when they saw a group of Ishmaelite traders traveling by, they decided to sell their brother rather than to bear the guilt of his death. They sold their own flesh and blood for twenty pieces of silver, covered his beautiful coat with blood, and sent it back to their father.

Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep. — Genesis 37:33-35

Many of us grew up hearing about the coat of many colors and learning how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. But have you ever considered what it must have been like for all involved when they woke up the next morning. Did Joseph’s brothers wake up regretting their actions? Was there a moment of panic, or the impulse to try to catch up with the traders and try to buy their brother back? Was there any remorse on the part of Jacob’s sons as they watched their beloved father mourn?

What was it like for Joseph to wake up in chains? Perhaps the Dreamer was hoping to wake up to find the pain of yesterday was only just that — a dream. Perhaps he regretted how boldly he had bragged about the dreams, and how insensitive he had been to the reactions of his brothers.

Have you ever woken up the morning after a tragic life event with a short reprieve from the emotions of yesterday? And then the moment of peace is gone as a heavy blanket of reality weighs you down. What do you do when your dreams of what your life would look like suddenly take a turn? I pray that the words of Psalm 40 will minister to you right where you are at emotionally today.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord…

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me — too many to count!
My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me…

As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay. — Psalm 40:1-4a, 11-13,17

Today’s Reading: Genesis 33-34,36; Psalm 25

Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother;
when he became a man, he even fought with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.
He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.
There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him —
the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord is his name!
So now, come back to your God.
Act with love and justice, and always depend on him. — Hosea 12:3-6

Jacob’s story consisted of both good times and bad. Jacob was blessed with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and one daughter. He had acquired much wealth but his household had also acquired pagan idols. Jacob had to seek peace among his wives, peace with his uncle, and now it was time to seek peace with his brother, Esau. Life was difficult but God was present.

WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP TOWARDS RESTORATION

Then Jacob went on ahead. When he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. – Genesis 33:3-4

When Jacob cheated Esau out of his father’s blessing of the firstborn, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. His mother, whose deceptive plan had gotten him into this mess, came up with another plan — to visit her brother, Laban, until Esau cooled off, and to marry one of Laban’s daughters.

Now 20 years later, Jacob was returning home and Esau was coming out to greet him. Unsure of his brother’s intentions, Jacob fearfully approached Esau. He bowed to the ground seven times, a sign of respect given to a king. Emotions rose as Esau responded to his brother’s humility with grace and forgiveness. Introductions were made and gifts were extended, as they reclaimed their brotherhood.

“What a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” – Genesis 33:10b

WHEN YOU EMBRACE REVENGE

Consider this reunion between Jacob and Esau in contrast to the reaction of Jacob’s sons when their sister was wronged. Jacob set up camp with his family outside the town of Shechem. His daughter, Dinah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. The local prince saw Dinah, seized her and raped her. Afterwards, he expressed his love for her and tried hard to win her affection. He begged his father to work it out so that he could marry this beautiful daughter of Jacob.

A hand of friendship was extended to Dinah’s brothers, along with a request for the families to intermarry and live in peace. Jacob’s sons deceived Hamor and his son Shechem. They promised friendship while planning vengeance. They murdered all the men in the town, plundered their livestock and possessions, then led their women and children back to their camp as captives. Jacob chastised his sons and pointed out to them the danger they had put their whole family in by carrying out their revenge.

The weight of anger and bitterness is a heavy burden to carry through life. When we insist on justice and take matters into our own hands, we find ourselves choosing sin instead of grace, hatred instead of forgiveness. We hurt ourselves more than we realize as we carry the heaviness of grudges and hard feelings.

When Isaac realized that Jacob had deceived him and wrongfully taken the blessing that he intended to give to Esau, he gave his oldest son the gift of these wise words: “You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above. You will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck” (Genesis 27:39-40).

WHEN YOU DECIDE TO BREAK FREE

Isaac took this moment to teach his son that it was up to him to decide how long he would carry the burden of this wrong committed against him. It was his choice whether or not to be weighted down with anger or to choose the freedom of forgiveness. Choosing hatred would hurt Esau more than it would hurt the one who had wronged him. The day he forgave his brother would be the day he broke free from the bondage of unforgiveness and hatred.

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. – Colossians 3:13 (The Message)

Father God, will you forgive us for holding on to grudges and hanging on to hurt feelings. Will you give us the strength to let go and the wisdom to make peace. Will you give us the courage to have some difficult conversations and the integrity to offer the embrace of forgiveness to those who have wronged us or someone we love. Lord, will you set us free from the burdens we have carried for much too long. May others see the face of God where they once saw bitterness and anger. Amen.

Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you. – Psalm 25:16-21

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29-31, 35:16-29; Psalm 13

After having an incredible spiritual experience at Bethel, Jacob moved his family on toward Ephrath. His beloved Rachel was pregnant for the second time and she went into labor. Her pains were intense and the delivery was very hard. Finally she gave birth to a son and with her final breath named him Benoni, “son of my sorrow”, but Jacob called him Benjamin, “son of my right hand”.

A STORY OF LOVE

Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life. He first met Rachel when he arrived in Paddan-Aram. She was bringing her father’s flocks to the well, and Jacob moved the stone from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s flocks for her. Within a month, Jacob was asking to take her as his wife. He loved her so much that he agreed to work seven years in exchange for his bride. When his uncle deceived him and instead gave him her older sister, Leah, Jacob agreed to another seven years of labor in order to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

Now loving Rachel did not mean that marriage came easy. Jacob now had two wives, and drama quickly followed. When she was still unable to have children after her sister Leah had already given birth to four sons, Rachel had a choice to make. She could draw close to God and trust Him with the desires of her heart, or she could let jealousy and pride guide her action. Rachel chose the latter.

Instead of WAITING FOR GOD’S PLAN IN GOD’S TIME, Rachel began to manipulate her circumstances to get what she wanted. She gave her servant to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah gave Jacob two sons and Rachel declared, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” (Gen.30:8)

A STORY OF STRUGGLE

Apparently two can play at this competitive game because Leah gave her servant to Jacob and added two points to her score. Then the sisters began to barter for mandrakes, which were believed to aid in procreation. Again, Rachel was using manipulation and control to get what she wanted instead of going to the Giver of all good gifts.

Oh how I wish I could not relate to Rachel here! I wish I never had the tendency to panic and take things into my own hands, instead of trusting in God for provision! But unfortunately, I do see some of my own sinful habits reflected in the life of Rachel, so I lean in to glean wisdom from her story.

Leah gave birth to two more sons and a daughter, but Rachel remained barren. God eventually remembered Rachel in spite of her bitter heart, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

“God has removed my disgrace,” she said. And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.” – Genesis 30:24

A STORY OF DISSATISFACTION

Even in the first moments of holding her newborn son, a gift from God, Rachel was already asking God for more. It wasn’t enough to be loved by Jacob and to have a son of her own, surrounded by the obvious blessings of God; Rachel wanted more. Instead of clinging to the God who had answered her prayer and provided her with a son, Rachel chose to worship false gods instead of the one true God.

GOD’S WILL, GOD’S WAY, in GOD’S TIME — a lesson Rachel never seemed to learn. She gave birth to a second son, but she was not given the opportunity to raise him. In her struggle to always get more from God, Rachel lost all she had and Jacob lost his first love. Jacob had just renewed his covenant relationship with God at Bethel and now he was burying his sweetheart. Jacob built another stone pillar, this time over Rachel’s grave (35:20). He gathered his large family together and continued on. Jacob could have chosen anger and bitterness at the loss of his wife right after recommitting his life to God, but he chose to accept GOD’S WILL, GOD’S WAY, in GOD’S TIME.

A STORY OF ACCEPTANCE

At times I find myself with this expectation that God should answer my prayers because I have served Him well, almost as if I deserve His blessings. I reject that kind of thinking, but sadly I often identify expectations in my heart that need to be disposed of. I have to let go of my sinful accusations and let God do things HIS WAY in HIS TIME. When I ask God WHY, I hear Him once again reply, “Trust me.”

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

It’s all yours, Lord. Everything I want to manipulate and control – every situation, every unknown, every relationship, every heartache – it’s all yours. Thank you for the blessings you so generously pour out into my life each day. I praise you for all you allow in my life, both the good and the bad. TEACH ME THROUGH EVERY STRUGGLE and strengthen my faith in you. You are El Shaddai, God Almighty, and I trust you.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me. – Psalm 13:5-6

Today’s Reading: Genesis 28, 32, 35:1-15; Psalm 103

In order to find a wife, Jacob was sent away by his father to travel to the home of his mother’s brother. And as he set up camp and laid under the stars with a rock for his pillow, Jacob encountered God. This moment was a turning point in Jacob’s life — a moment when God let him know that He was not only the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, but He was also the God of Jacob. How wonderful it must have felt for Jacob in that moment when He heard God’s promise:

“I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!…What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised.” — Genesis 28:13b-15

ENCOUNTERING GOD

In this encounter with God, provision was promised — provision for Jacob and for his numerous descendants. God promised to both provide and protect. He promised to be with Jacob, and what could be better than the provision of God’s presence? So Jacob took the pillow God had provided and set it up as a pillar, pouring oil on it and named it Bethel. And in this moment, he made a vow to God just as God had made a vow to Him — If you are with me, then I am with you!

“If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.” – Genesis 28:20b-22

That day Jacob began a covenant relationship with God. He responded to God’s promise and committed to being present in the relationship. Just as God was reaching out to Jacob, Jacob was seeking after God. But life has a tendency to get busy, distracting us from our purpose and causing us to lose our focus on the directions God has given us. And that is what Jacob experienced in Paddam-aram.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

Fast forward twenty years to Genesis 32 and we find Jacob encountering God again. After two decades of being on the receiving end of his uncle’s deception, Jacob made peace with Laban, and now it was time for him to return home and make amends with his brother, Esau. Knowing all that Jacob was feeling, God sent angels to meet with him.

Fear set in when Jacob heard the news that Esau was on his way to meet him. He began dividing out his household in hopes of saving at least half of his family. Next Jacob began to pray to God, recognizing the kindness and unfailing love that God had so generously shown him over the years. He took the time to verbalize his fears, asking for the God of his fathers to rescue him once again.

Jacob positioned himself to be alone in the camp in order to spend some time with God. A man appeared and Jacob wrestled with him until dawn. When the man told Jacob to let go of him, Jacob demanded a blessing from the man.

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” — Genesis 32:28

HEARING FROM GOD

In Genesis 35, God called Jacob to return to the place where he had first encountered God. So Jacob returned to Bethel. Life had been difficult for Jacob, but it was evident that God had been present with him through it all. Jacob recognized that God had faithfully kept His covenant but that he, himself, was in need of renewing the promise He had made to God. The influence of the world around him had made an impact on Jacob’s family, and he needed to once again cleanse himself. He needed to bury the idols his family had accumulated and recommit himself to God.

The God of Jacob’s past faithfully appeared to him again and blessed him, showing Jacob that God was not only the God of yesterday, but the God of today and the God of tomorrow. And God reminded him that his identity had been changed; he was no longer Jacob with a rough past, but he was now Israel with a beautiful future.

Perhaps God is calling us back to the place where we entered into a covenant relationship with Him. This world we live in tends to have an impact on us with its stress and constant striving. There are moments when we recognize our need to RENEW our promise to God. This morning, let’s declare that the God of our yesterday is still who we desire to be the Lord of our today and the Keeper of our tomorrows. God has been faithful and will continue to display His faithfulness in our lives, daily transforming us into who He has created us to be.

I AM YOUR GOD AND I AM WITH YOU!
IF YOU ARE WITH ME, THEN I AM WITH YOU!

Lord, I choose to renew our covenant and desire to keep it fresh and growing stronger each day. I promise to look to you as the God of my past, to make you the Lord of my day, and to trust you to be the Keeper of my tomorrow. Thank you for making your presence known to me this morning. If you are with me, then I am with you. I love you and choose to act out of that love today, depending on you to provide and protect. Amen.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! – Psalm 103:1-5

Today’s Reading: Genesis 21 & 26; Psalm 34; 1 Peter 3:8-22

After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. — Genesis 21:32-34

When we think of the Philistines, we think of them as being enemies of the Hebrews, but their first appearance in the Bible shows an effort to coexist in peace. As we studied last week, King Abimelek reached out to make a covenant agreement with Abraham — a reciprocal relationship of integrity and peace between Abraham’s family and the Philistines. There had been a conflict over a well that Abraham’s servants had dug, but the two men stood before each other and peacefully resolved the conflict, creating clarity in order to ensure future understanding of who the well belonged to.

In chapter 26 of Genesis, we see history repeating itself. Just like Abraham had deceived King Abimelek into believing Sarah was his sister and not his wife, Isaac was deceiving King Abimelech regarding his wife, Rebekah. And in the same way that conflict arose over the possession of a well in chapter 21, conflict again caused unrest between the Philistines and Abraham’s descendants in chapter 26.

When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. — Genesis 26:12-15

How do we respond when others try to pick a fight with us? When King Abimelech saw the trouble that was brewing, he asked Isaac to take his family and leave the country. He saw how powerful the Hebrews had become and he wanted to avoid the battle that was looming ahead.

CREATING DISTANCE IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFLICT

So Isaac packed up his family and moved to the Gerar Valley, where he had spent his childhood. His servants opened up the wells his father, Abraham, had dug, which the Philistines had filled. With the faith of his father, Isaac renamed the wells according to the names Abraham had given them.

Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). — Genesis 26:19-20

Do you ever feel like trouble follows you? I imagine this is how Isaac was feeling by now. He had moved his family, his servants and his possessions to a new area in order to avoid the trouble that was brewing, and here he was facing a new group that wanted to pick a fight.

To avoid an ARGUMENT, Isaac walked away and went on to dig a new well. But soon the bullies were back and disputing the ownership of the well, so Isaac named the well Sitnah, which means hostility. To circumvent HOSTILITY, Isaac moved on and dug a new well. Thankfully trouble did not follow him this time, so Isaac named the well Rehoboth, which means open space.

CREATING OPEN SPACE IN ORDER TO RESTORE PEACE

Isaac gave God the glory for the OPEN SPACE He was providing. He was grateful to find a place to call home, despite those who were trying to make life difficult for him and his family. God was giving him a season of peace in which to rest after a season of running from conflict.

One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander… “We can plainly see that the Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant. Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the Lord has blessed you!” — Genesis 26:26-29

Isaac could have argued with the king about how he had been unfairly treated; he could have built a case around the injustice and bullying he had experienced. But instead, Isaac prepared a covenant feast to share with the king, and they ate and drank with each other. They promised not to interfere with each other, which resulted in the king and his people leaving in peace.

CREATING A TABLE FOR RESTORATION AND FELLOWSHIP

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. — 1 Peter 3:8-9

Father God, help me to remember this example in Isaac’s life when others try to pick a fight with me. Lord, I give to you those who have the desire to bully and those who have the tendency to argue. Give me the strength to walk away from conflict, and to trust you to create OPEN SPACE between me and others — a space where nothing stands between me and another person. I pray this morning for the day when I will feast in peace with those who have hurt me; I pray for the day when I will live in harmony with those I have forgiven or who have forgiven me. May your goodness and unfailing love follow me all the days of my life. Amen.

Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it. – Psalm 34:12-14

Today’s Reading: Genesis 25-27; Psalm 31

Since the beginning of time, there has been a fascination with twins. When a woman is pregnant with multiples, we consider her pregnancy special and we all lean in to see the similarity between her children. Scientists have studied the physiological implications of sharing a womb, and psychoanalysts have built theories around nature versus nurture through their study of twins.

While twins seem to tweak our curiosity, they often bring fear to the woman carrying them. The new mother can easily feel overwhelmed with the thought of carrying, and then caring for, two babies at the same time. For Rebekah, it meant calamity. It meant two siblings struggling with each other before they were even born. After struggling with infertility, the Lord heard Isaac’s prayer and blessed Rebekah, saying to her:

“The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.” – Genesis 25:23

Sure enough, Jacob was born pursuing his brother’s position as firstborn, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. As they grew up, their differences increased with Esau becoming a skilled hunter of wild animals and Jacob staying closer to home to tend his father’s tamed flocks.

Showing he had little regard for his birthright and that he was driven more by his physical desires, Esau traded his privileges as first-born when Jacob offered his hungry brother a bowl of stew for the precious inheritance. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left (25:27-34), only to eventually be hungry again. He gave up his blessed position for temporary pleasure, the consequences of which changed his life.

ESAU’S FEAR: Fear of not getting what he wanted when he wanted it caused Esau to jeopardize all that was rightfully his as the firstborn son.

Isaac also allowed fear to jeopardize God’s blessing. There was a time of famine and Isaac moved his family to Gerar. The Lord told him to stay there instead of going on to Egypt. God promised Isaac that He would be with him and bless his family. Just as He told Abraham, God promised to give this land to Isaac and to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Despite this promise, Isaac feared the Philistines would kill him in order to obtain his beautiful wife, so he told everyone that Rebekah was his sister (just like his father had done). Isaac’s fear of death put his wife in danger and God’s blessing in jeopardy. King Abimelech (not to be confused with King Abimelek who was deceived in the same way by Abraham) saw Rebekah in Isaac’s arms one day and confronted his lie. Instead of sending Isaac and his family away, the king declared protection over them. And once more, God blessed His people in spite of their great fear and small faith.

ISAAC’S FEAR: Despite the promise of God’s blessing, Isaac foolishly let fear guide his decisions. He risked God’s plan for the life of his family out of fear for his own.

Although Rebekah remembered the Lord’s prophecy that her older son would serve her younger son, her fear that Esau would receive the blessing of the firstborn from Isaac caused her to intervene and choose deception instead of faith. Jacob willfully followed Rebekah’s plan of deception, pretending to be Esau and tricking Isaac. When Esau learned of this, he grieved his loss, and a hate for his brother began to grow. For his protection, Rebekah sent Jacob away and probably never saw him again.

REBEKAH’S FEAR: Rebekah let her fear get in the way of her faith, causing her to lose what she loved most. If she had trusted God’s provision of His promise, she might have grown old watching Jacob receive God’s blessings. But instead of faith she chose fear, using manipulation and deception to pull God’s plan into place.

BUT GOD’S PLAN NOT GOD’S WAY IS NEVER GOD’S WILL

What areas of my life am I letting fear control? In what ways is my fear getting in the way of my faith? Is my fear of not getting what I want standing between me and God’s perfect plan for my life?

Lord, teach me to trust in you for every provision. May your promises and blessings on my life pour out directly from your hand. Teach me to let go of my attempts to control and manipulate the circumstances around me. Help me to simply open up my hands to receive what you want in my life. Forgive me for the many times I let fear get in the way of my faith. God, I trust you. You are my Provider and my Protector. In you I place my trust, giving you my family and my future. Amen.

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. – Psalm 31:7

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands. – Psalm 31:14-15a

So be strong and courageous, all who put your hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

Today’s Reading: Review Genesis 1-24; Psalm 82

As we near the half-way point of our journey through Genesis, we notice a common thread — that God blesses us in order to make us a blessing to other people. He has created us to give life to those around us, allowing Him to bless others through our lives.

GOD COMMANDS US TO BE LIFE-GIVING.

From the first chapter of Genesis, God’s command to mankind is to be fruitful and increase in number. He created plants, trees, animals, and people to be seed-bearing, giving each of them the ability to reproduce and multiply. He created us to be life-giving, not death seeking. But by the fourth chapter of Genesis, the first parents were grieving the murder of their second son.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” — Genesis 4:6-7

With sin comes negative emotions, and when we choose to embrace sin, we give the enemy the opportunity to influence us towards the next sinful decision. Then sin begins to multiply in our lives and in the lives of those around us, until what God created to be life-giving is a world full of wickedness.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” — Genesis 6:5-7

With God’s big do-over, the world had a fresh start to be fruitful and multiply, and to fill the earth (9:1). God’s command was clear to Noah and his family — they were not to end the life of another human being.

GOD COMMANDS US NOT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN.

“And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.” — Genesis 9:5-7

When God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham, He promised that he would make Abraham into a great nation. He made a commitment to bless Abraham, but he also declared that Abraham would be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).

GOD CREATED US TO MULTIPLY AND GROW LIFE IN OTHER PEOPLE.

God’s plan since the beginning of time has been for us to give life to others, not to take it. He calls us to live a life that multiplies and grows life in other people. In Genesis 14, we see an example of Abraham living out his calling from God.

When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. — Genesis 14:14-16

GOD CALLS US TO RESCUE OTHERS.

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked. — Psalm 82:3-4

This is what our compassionate God does. He showed grace towards Cain and allowed him to live, even though he had killed his brother. God provided an escape for Noah and his family during the flood. God healed Sarah’s womb and allowed her to give birth to Isaac. God answered the prayer of Abraham’s servant by providing a wife for Isaac. God showed mercy towards Hagar, who had been forced to have sexual relations with her master. God comforted Abraham as he mourned the death of Sarah, providing him with a place to bury his wife. This is the same God who calls us to multiply and grow life in other people.

Today marks 51 years of our nation devaluing the life of the unborn. But just because a courtroom decision says we have the right to do something does not mean we should. In a political battle between pro-life and pro-choice arguments, millions of men and women have been left wounded and grieving an abortion decision. Political agendas have left a trail of pain and mourning, and women have become pawns in a game where political power is the prize.

Surrounded by a society that no longer trusts in the sovereignty of God, we have a choice to make. Today is a good day for us to renew our covenant with God — to stand strong and commit that we will be image-bearers who multiply life in others and rescue the weak and needy. What is God asking of you? What is He calling you to do in response to the pain and woundedness of those around you?

TODAY I WILL BE AN IMAGE-BEARER WHO MULTIPLIES LIFE IN OTHERS. I WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO RESCUE THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice. — Proverbs 31:8-9

Today’s Reading: Genesis 24:16-67, Psalm 143

When asked by Abraham to travel back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s servant did so with an unwavering, obedient heart. He gathered together everything he needed for the journey and then set out to do as he had been told.

DELAYED OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE.

The servant responded not only in quick obedience to Abraham, but also to the God of Abraham. When he arrived at his destination, he took time to pray for success in carrying out the mission to which he had been called. The servant asked God for clarity and God answered his prayer. He asked that the woman God had chosen for Isaac would willingly give him a drink and also generously offer to water his ten camels as well.

Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder…Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”

“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” – Genesis 24:15-19

My study Bible says that ten thirsty camels could drink as much as 250 gallons of water. This generous offer showed Rebekah was hard-working and hospitable. And by remaining a virgin, Rebekah was also AVAILABLE for God’s plan for her life.

The servant waited patiently, watching God be God — taking in the moment when God was answering his prayer and making his journey successful. He then took time to praise God and to give honor to the God who had led him on this journey.

BECAUSE HE OBEYED WITHOUT DELAY WHEN GOD CALLED HIM, THIS SERVANT HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO SIMPLY WATCH GOD BE GOD.

The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” – Genesis 24:26-27

Rebekah’s family wanted her to wait 10 days before leaving but the servant did not want to delay the completion of his mission. Rebekah recognized the hand of God on her life and willingly went with the servant right away, rather than taking the time to say goodbye to her family as was traditionally allowed.

DELAYED OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE.

Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. — Genesis 24:62-65

It was while spending time alone in God’s presence that Isaac looked up and saw Rebekah. I love how our faithful God speaks to us and moves in our lives during our quiet times with Him. I believe there was no doubt in Isaac’s mind and no wavering of Rebekah’s heart that God had chosen to join them together for His purpose and His plan.

Lord, we pause and wait patiently for you. We take time this morning to pray and to praise. We are willing to be used by you today. Lord, prepare and equip us to accomplish your will. Give us wisdom to know where to strategically position ourselves and how to pray specifically. Speak to us and give us an unwavering, obedient heart for you. We love you and we praise you for unfailing love and faithfulness towards us each day. You are the God who provides and we look forward to watching you simply be God today. Lord, we echo the words of the psalmist this morning as we cry out to be heard. Helps us to trust in your unfailing love and walk the path you lay out before us.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. – Psalm 143:1

I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. – Psalm 143:6

​​Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you. – Psalm 143:8

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. — Psalm 143:10