July 15, 2023

Dinah was Jacob's only daughter. Being the only girl among boys was probably difficult, so she set out to find some friends among the Canaanites and got into trouble. Things like that happen to young people all the time, but in this case, a young man got carried away and let his desire take over, defiling her. He fell in love with Dinah. Jacob found out about it and responded reasonably; however, her brothers were not as understanding. The two families tried to make a deal to join together, but that would require all the males in Shechem's family to become circumcised, and they agreed, not only for the sake of their son and Dinah but Shechem saw Jacob's wealth and thought it could benefit him. Unfortunately, Jacob's sons were hotheads and didn't see it the same way, and while all the men were recovering from their surgery, they came in and slaughtered all of them, took the women and children captive, and kept their belongings and cattle. Jacob was none too happy about what they had done and chastised them because now the land's inhabitants would see them as an enemy and cause problems for them in the future. 

Children can sometimes be an embarrassment and shame their families, especially when they don't follow their parents' steps and take the proper path. Jacob was humble and tried to settle things reasonably, as we saw with how he handled things with Esau, but his children sought revenge, causing trouble for their future. All we can do is raise our children the best we know how, pray, and hope for God's mercy. 

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. Genesis 34:30

July 14, 2023

When Jacob and Esau finally met again, Jacob came bearing gifts with his family in tow, but Esau brought his army. Esau saw his brother's submissive stance, which lowered his expectations of a battle to that of a homecoming. He embraced Jacob and welcomed him. That day, they went from being enemies back to being brothers. Jacob wrestled with God and won! Maybe that gave him confidence that God didn't put him in a precarious position by moving him away from Laban and would protect him from his brother as he drove his herds through the land near him.

I couldn't help but notice that they didn't get cozy. It doesn't say that they lingered or feasted together, but they were cordial with one another and could move on with their lives, having let go of the painful hurt of the past. Some people cause us pain and raw emotions, many of which are family. Jacob and Esau are excellent examples of how we should react to those who've hurt us; be polite but approach cautiously. We don't need to rehash old issues but should forgive and move on. God is faithful to help us heal from our past hurts. Ask him to show you how to mend broken relationships to help you move on with a healed heart. 

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Genesis 33:4

So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. Genesis 33:16-17

July 13, 2023

Have you ever wondered how Jacob wrestled with God and won? Me too! Impossible! It was an angel of God that he wrestled with and was a more powerful being than Jacob and could have easily taken him out; it proved to be true since he simply touched him and put his hip out of joint. What I didn’t recognize, and what Matthew Henry’s Commentary brought to light, was that he prevailed because of the power of God through Jacob’s faith in him. Jacob wanted God’s blessing and did not stop until he got it; we must pursue God this same way, unrelenting until we get what God puts in our hearts to go after. If God has given you a dream, follow it! If God puts it in your heart, and it’s a righteous endeavor, don’t stop until you get what He intends for you to have. God gives you your heart’s desires, meaning he is the one who puts those desires there, so don’t ignore them, wrestle with Him until you get them. Anything that God puts in your heart may take some time to achieve, but every moment spent going after it will be worth the change that happens within you during the process. God is so good to his children, so don’t give up; keep going!

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:25-26

July 12, 2023

God is aware of our government's hostility toward us and the flagrant taking of our money and using it to harm us or cover their misdeeds. The sooner everyone realizes they are against us, the sooner we can be re-compensated for everything they have taken from us. 

God watched as Laban, Jacob's uncle and father-in-law, changed his wages repeatedly. God told Jacob in a dream how to handle the situation, and Jacob listened and followed his instructions. God helped him enrich his wealth before sending him back to the land of his father. God showing Jacob how to build his wealth confirms that He is as concerned about our financial well-being as He is about our spiritual connection to him; they go hand in hand. This chapter of Genesis doesn't point to some ridiculous prosperity gospel; name it and claim it garbage; it takes a commitment to God through Jesus! It is a sincere, heartfelt love for Him. If you are not there yet, pray and study God's word until you are. Reach out to him throughout your day; make Him the most significant part of your life. He is not unaware of your struggle and will appreciate your including Him in everything you do. 

As far as what the government is stealing from us, we will get it back, just like Jacob did! It's a matter of time, probably sooner than later, because it is going downhill rapidly. Ensure you are right with God before things shift in our favor.

For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. Genesis 31:16

July 11, 2023

Rachael had trouble conceiving, and when Leah, her sister, Jacob’s other wife’s son, Ruben, came home with some Mandrake, a sweet-smelling plant, Rachael wanted them and offered that Jacob could sleep with her if she gave them to her. It reminds me of the television show, Sisterwives. As a plant person, I was curious to know why she wanted them so badly, so I looked them up. Come to find out, they have some medicinal purposes, as I have learned with many weeds growing in my own yard. This weed can cause hallucinations, but it is also an aphrodisiac that increases fertility. It’s probably outlawed in the United States because it can be used to treat cancer, among many other things. We are becoming wise to the plight of the pharmaceutical companies. I imagine that Rachael thought that it would help her conceive. There was a lot of rivalry between these two women; I can understand it because Jacob loved Rachael, but Leah produced sons. I found it surprising that Leah, rather than Rachael, is in the lineage of Jesus because Rachael seems to be the one that was favored in the stories. The remarkable thing I’m learning by going through these chapters one by one is that asking a few simple questions and using the internet to look them up can make the Bible come to life in an extraordinary way. Use your curiosity to drive your study of the scriptures; doing so will increase the depth of your research and help you retain it for future use.

By the way, the Bible is full of sex and intrigue. It’s not boring!

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. Genesis 30:14-15

 

July 10, 2023

Jacob saw his deceitfulness come back to haunt him. After working seven years for the hand of Rachel, on the night of his wedding, Laban, her father, tricked him into marrying Leah, the older of the two girls. There were a lot of gullible men in biblical days. First, Lot didn’t know he was sleeping with his daughters; Abraham was tricked into blessing Jacob because he was disguised as his brother. Now Jacob receives compensation for his scheme by being deceived into marrying Leah. Laban caused a lot of heartache and tears that day. Leah was heartbroken because she wasn’t loved; Rachael because she was deprived of her wedding day, and Jacob was expecting his beautiful bride, only to find out that it was her sister. If these things happened back then, does it still happen today? I wonder if we are like Jacob and are so gullible that we don’t notice that we are receiving the consequence for past sins. Does the devil take his portion? Jesus covers a multitude of sins and spares us from hell, but we may have to suffer some repercussions. Think twice about your dealings with others; hurting people could haunt you as they did Jacob.

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What isthis thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? Genesis 29:25 

July 9, 2023

When Abraham sent Jacob away to stay with Laban and choose a wife from the family, it doesn’t say that he sent him with provisions; when it got dark, he had to sleep under the sky and lay his head on a rock. During that weak moment, God gave him a dream of an open heaven where the angels ascend and descend between heaven and earth. God confirmed with Jacob the promise made to Abraham, which became a promise to him. God also told him he wouldn’t leave him until that promise was complete. It was a significant revelation; fear overcame him because he realized how close God was to him, and he memorialized that place. He called that place God’s house and vowed to give him a tenth of all he gave him. What does that mean to us? It makes it real that God is near us at all times. God sees and understands your troubles but is also close enough to see you when you sin. We don’t fear God enough. Yes, he is loving, but he’s also just, which means you won’t get away with sinning; he sees your every move and hears your every complaint. Because He is always near, we need Jesus all the more. Stay conscience of his presence.

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Genesis 28: 16-17

July 8, 2023

Esau sold Jacob his birthright for food. He was hungry, and Jacob gave him something to eat and placed no value on the birthright. When Isaac was near death, Jacob, with the help of his mother, disguised himself as Esau and stole Esau’s blessing and inheritance. I can see some similarities in this to us as Christians. We are like Jacob, coming to salvation as liars and thieves with no rights to the blessings of the Jews. However, they sold their birthright to us because they did not value it.

On the other hand, we as Christians see the value in the blessing of salvation through the Messiah, who was meant to save the Jews, but they rejected him, so he gave it to us. We stole their Messiah! Jacob, who sought the blessing by any means possible, placed more value on it than Esau. Those who have rejected Jesus will fill the tent of Isaac with their cries like Esau when they find out the consequences of their roofless decision. Esau then set out to try and kill Jacob; those who see how blessed we are will try any means possible to destroy us. However, Esau was unsuccessful in his pursuit to kill Jacob, nor will our enemies succeed because we have everlasting life. God help the dead so that they might return to life and accept Jesus before it’s too late.

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. Genesis 27:34-35

July 7, 2023

I’m spending a few days with my mother while my dad goes hunting with my brother and nephew. It is peaceful here, with no road noise or other chaotic sounds screaming in the background. The scenery is breathtaking; all I can see are a few fence posts and the edge of the Peace River swamp. We get so busy doing what we do that we forget to take a moment and enjoy what God has given us. 

Isaac had to move to Gerar because of a famine in the land. Isaac ventured back to the land where Abraham, his dad, had once occupied, where he had dug wells for water. Unfortunately, Isaac had to dig them again because the Philistines had filled them in with soil. Isaac couldn’t just linger wherever he wanted because he had a lot of people and flocks; he had to get permission from King Abimelech. Eventually, the king made them leave because he feared how big they had gotten. The promise remained, yet God had not given them access to it yet. Whether you realize it or not, we’re promised this land. Eventually, Jesus will sit on the throne of judgment, and every evil being and person will pay the price for what they have done to God’s people, and he will restore the land to its former beauty, and then we will inherit it. Until then, we must reach the point in our lives that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can say, it is well with my soul. Only Jesus can give you that kind of peace.

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; Genesis 26:2-3

July 6, 2023

The traditions from biblical times are much different than what is acceptable today, so the age of marriage might make you look upon the patriarchs differently. I believe Rebecca was very young when her family gave her away, and Isaac took her to be his wife; she had a nurse. However, she was old enough to understand, connect words and fill a trough for the camels. Her age at marriage could be why it was nearly 20 years later that they had Esau and Jacob. The Bible says she was barren, and Isaac prayed for God to bless them with children. It was God who made them wait to continue the promise. He was going to answer his prayer anyway but may have been waiting for him to ask. What are you waiting for? God may have plans to answer your prayers but is probably waiting for you to ask. Stop now and talk to God about what’s on your mind; he’s waiting to hear from you.

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:20-21

July 5, 2023

I love a good love story, but the story of Rebecca and Isaac is a bit different and a good comparison to our own love story with Jesus and possibly a bit of an example of what we should look for in a mate. Abraham sent his servant to get Isaac a wife, with very clear instructions that she should come from his family and not a Canaanite daughter in the land in which they lived. Some signs would let him know if she was the right one, and he listened. It took a lot of trust on both Rebecca’s and Isaac’s part. First and foremost, Abraham didn’t want him to go to the Canaanites because of their wicked ways; he wanted a wife for his son that was raised to love God, someone with whom he would be equally yoked with the same belief. I’m sure he wanted to avoid the struggle that can happen when you choose a mate that doesn’t love Jesus like you do. There was trust and faith involved in this. It’s similar to our never seeing Jesus, but because of what we’ve heard through the Bible and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we trust him with our life. It’s a great story and just the beginning of a well-laid plan in the lineage of Jesus. Read it if you get a chance. 

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Genesis 24, 66-67

July 4, 2023

With the weight of taxes and unjust laws, it hardly feels like we are independent and free. However, our freedom comes not from government but from God. If you are bound by the chains of your past, refusing to release them to God, you are not free whether you celebrate Independence Day or not. Accepting Jesus and his free gift doesn't set you free unless you hand all your encumbrances to him. If you are still mourning a loss, whether it be a failed relationship, a death of a loved one, someone intruding on your innocence, or some other trauma, it's time to bury it in the tomb of Jesus. He will deliver it to where it belongs and raise you to new life, but you are the one who must give it to him forever. Bury your burdens and water them with your tears, then pick yourself up and move on. He has paved the way for your true freedom, but it's up to you to walk in it. I'm not saying that you shouldn't remember, but that you shouldn't linger too long in the place of pain. He may be waiting to see what you do with it. Make him proud by defeating the enemy's hold. Bury those seeds and watch what grows in its stead. When you learn to turn it all over to him, you will have true freedom and independence. Abraham mourned for Sarah, but then he stood up. It's time to stand up.

And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Genesis 23:2-4

July 3, 2023

There are trials we must go through that will test our faith in God. Sometimes your testing comes from God, and other times it comes from Satan, but whatever the case may be, the outcome is the same. Will you pass that test, or will you go down in flames? Abraham knew who was tempting him because he heard his voice telling him to sacrifice Isaac; when God speaks to you and tells you to do something, you best do what he says. I found it interesting that Abraham had to think about what God said for the entire three-day journey and then go through all the steps, and at the very last second, God stopped him from killing Isaac and provided the ram for the sacrifice. That is some strong faith. Our faith builds as we see the hand of God working in our lives just as Abraham’s did. When you are tempted to go another direction, go back in your mind and remember how God brought you through some trials. Write it down, and keep a log if you must, so you never forget what God has done for you. Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily, especially the part that says, “Lead us not into temptations.” And remember, God will provide the escape you need from any temptation that comes your way. 

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22:12

July 2, 2023

It has been awhile since I spent a day at the beach, but God knew how much I missed it and provided the opportunity for us to enjoy good company and a beautiful view. I was overwhelmed to tears at how close I felt to our Creator as I soaked up the sun and breathed in the the salty air of the Gulf. As I was walking back up to the beach house, the sand had become scorching hot from the sun and I had to pick up my pace to get back to my shoes. When I got inside, God blessed me with the kindness of our friend who offered me a water to help me cool off. Imagine what it would have been like to not have easy access to refreshing water after a hot day. 

Isaac was born, and after he was weaned, Abraham threw a big party to celebrate. Hagar began to mock Sarah, probably because of her jealousy. It upset Sarah and asked Abraham to send her away. It grieved him, but God told him to comply. He gave Hagar water and bread and sent her away. She and Ishmael ran out of water before getting to their destination and thought they were going to die. Hagar left Ishmael alone because she couldn’t watch him struggle. Then she heard a voice of an angel who comforted her and open her eyes to see the well of water. They both lived and Ishmael became a great nation. 

When you are about to give up and feel you can’t go on, God has refreshments waiting. Look for his hand in your relief; he was there all along guiding you to your destination, even when the path became narrow. Don’t take your eyes off of him, even for a moment.

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. Genesis 21:19

July 1, 2023

God calls Abraham his prophet. Abraham knows God has promised him a nation of descendants, yet he still doesn’t trust him. Abraham pushed the boundaries of truth to help save himself from getting killed by King Abimelech. He and Sarah are indeed half siblings through their father; however, they were also married. Even though this seems repulsive to us, it’s in scripture. The Bible is not boring! So, even though Sarah was probably already pregnant with Isaac, King Abimelech took her away from Abraham. God visited him in a dream and told him he was a dead man for taking her. Of course,  Abimelech returned her before doing anything lewd with her. God had so much love for Abraham and Sarah that he stopped this man in his tracks and forced him to make restitution for his crime by giving them sheep, oxen, servants, and silver. Abraham blessed him a prayed for him, his wife, and their people. 

We know that we know that Jesus has saved us from the consequences of our sins, yet we still don’t trust him and continue to sin. If you have to lie, you don’t trust God to work out the details of a situation. That’s all there is to it. Yes, it’s difficult, but we need to learn to trust God from the lesson learned by Abraham.

Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. Genesis 20:10-12

June 30, 2023

Today's lesson is about being grateful for unanswered prayers. Abraham prayed a general prayer, and God still answered him. He started by asking for fifty righteous people to escape when God destroyed Sodom and finally ended by asking for ten. The Bible only tells us of four leaving, and none were very righteous, but God saved them because of Abraham's prayer. The men of Sodom were insane and knew of the angels visiting Lot. They were ravenous to get to them, but Lot offered his daughters instead. What kind of dad offers his daughters to strangers for sexual abuse? Why were those men so eager to get to the angels? It reminds me of the sickos wanting to sexualize children today. It's not a good idea to look back after God saves you from destruction; Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt, but that is a lesson for another day! Lot's daughters slept with him when he was drunk and got pregnant with sons; one became the father of the Ammonites, and the other was the father of the Moabites. They eventually caused trouble for the children of Israel. It's one of those prayers that, in hindsight, you wish God hadn't answered. It also makes you wonder; if they were considered righteous, how evil was Sodom? When God doesn't answer your prayers, maybe it's because of something like this! Be grateful for unanswered prayers!

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Genesis 19:29

June 29, 2023

Like many of you, I remember certain things that make an impression that I cannot shake. Many years back, I broke my leg and was in a cast, and maneuvering was difficult. We had a closing in a high-rise, and I was by myself because I was meeting Richard there. I got as close to the door as possible, but it would still be a long walk and nearly impossible to get inside. I was one of only a couple of cars on that particular floor of the parking garage. I was contemplating what I would do when a “security guard” appeared out of nowhere. He instructed me to park in the loading parking near the door. I looked away for a second, and he was gone. I never saw him again. I knew God had sent an angel to give me instructions. I will never forget it for as long as I live. I was in an impossible situation, and God sent help.

Abraham entertained angels. They were bringing news about Sarah becoming pregnant and on their way to visit Sodom and Gomorrah. They appeared in human flesh, which tells me it is possible and can happen again; it’s scriptural. The scripture also points out that one was Jesus because Genesis 18:1a says: “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre.” This verse uses all caps to indicate that one of them was Jehovah God. In verse 18:17, it also used LORD when he spoke about Sarah. 

Angels take on a human likeness because we would freak out if we saw them in their heavenly garb. Remember, nothing is impossible with God.

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Genesis 18:13

June 28, 2023

Thirteen years after telling Abram about his covenant, when he was 99 years old, God further explained his covenant, added another stipulation, and changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. He explained that his covenant to make him a great nation would be fulfilled through Sarah, who was 90. At the same time, he made it clear that his part in the covenant would be that all the males, servants, or family members were to be circumcised right away, and anyone born under his care from that day forward would be circumcised on the eighth day. Sarah was to give birth to Isaac a year from that day when Abraham was 100 years old! By waiting until they were very old, God made it clear that he was in control and that even though it seemed impossible, we learn that anything is possible with God. 

Because of Jesus, circumcision is now considered a heart issue. We are to die in the flesh so that we might live for Him. Doing that fulfills our covenant with Jesus. You cannot serve the god of this world and Jesus simultaneously. Though we must live in this world until he takes us to be with him, we must set our hearts to serve Jesus and not get too caught up in worldly affairs. 

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:6-7

June 27, 2023

We must avoid placing blame on others for the mistakes we make. Look at what happened to Sarai with Hagar. She and Abram tried to force God’s promise by making it happen in their time rather than God’s. Sarai offered her servant to Abram as a wife to produce children because she was barren, and it backfired. Of course, it backfired; they didn’t wait on God! Hagar got pregnant and then became nasty to Sarai, and Sarai blamed Abram. He had a part in it but didn’t jump into that fight and told Sarai to handle it herself, and she did. She began treating Hagar harshly, which caused her to run away. There had to be a check in their spirit about going forward with such a plan. Being Sarai was Hagar’s master, was there consent? The whole scheme seems wrong, and they had to have known. 

How do you know if it was God speaking to you or if you were trying to make things happen on your own? If you listen to the Holy Spirit, he will make clear the best way to proceed, and his impression will never go against scripture. 

And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. Genesis 16:5-6

June 26, 2023

Last year, I bought a mango tree and planted it in my yard. It had plenty of time to grow before this spring and had nearly doubled in size. It only produced new growth when it came time for it to bloom. I patiently checked it daily, but nothing. I watched my neighbor's trees bloom, leaving fruit hanging from their branches. I did everything I knew to do; I prayed, watered, fertilized, and was diligent in its care, but it failed me. It was probably of the variety that needs to mature before it fruits; nevertheless, I was expecting a large production of juicy sweetness. Because it's a fruit tree, there is the promise of produce unless it was the fig that Jesus cursed. 

God promised Abram an heir, and he believed him, but waiting on God to deliver on his promise was excruciating, and Abram became discouraged. God then made a covenant with him that his heirs would possess all the land surrounding him, including those already owned by others. God told him of all the trouble they would face but would judge the nations harshly that would oppress them. 

When God makes a promise, he keeps it. Though the waiting may be challenging, we can always count on him to deliver on his promise. I expect my mango tree will produce fruit, but I must wait for the right time. 

And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, Genesis 15:18