The Terror of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE TERROR OF GOD

Gen 35:1-5

35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

NIV

When God said, "Go," Jacob left where he was and went where God told him to go. That alone is a lesson we need to take to heart. God wanted Jacob to return to the place He had appeared to him when he was fleeing from Esau. We should always go where the Lord tells us to go, or stay where he has directed us to stay. If we are believers and followers of Jesus, that means he leads. We are not supposed to make those choices about where to go or where to worship Him. We know that Rachel took her father's household gods, but we wonder how many others in Jacob's household had other gods, or idols. Another truth that stands out is that they were told to purify themselves and change their clothes. They were to prepare themselves to meet the living God. However, the one truth we should focus on is that as they traveled to Bethel, the terror of God fell upon the towns around them, so no one pursued them. That time might have been far more lawless than our culture today, since townspeople likely attacked travelers passing through. However, the terror of God fell upon them. We spend a lot of time talking about God's love, quoting John 3:16, but how much time do we spend considering the terror of God? That does not mean we would experience his terror, for we are his children, but as we walk through life, perhaps the world we pass through might be feeling the terror of God, so they do not even attempt to pursue us in an effort to do us harm. We are under the mighty hand of the Most High God. We are under his divine protection from evil. Jacob traveled freely to Bethel without interference from any of the towns he passed along the way; however, he was moving under the direction of God. That is the key to our living and moving freely without interference from this world. We should always walk under God's direction, and in doing so, God's terror will fall on anyone who desires to harm us. There is a huge difference between  God walking with us and us walking with God. Let him lead; we will follow, and we will see God's terror fall on all around us, protecting us as we go where he leads. 

Revenge Justified or Not

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

REVENGE JUSTIFIED OR NOT

Gen 34:13-31

13 Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. 14 They said to them, "We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. 15 We will give our consent to you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. 16 Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We'll settle among you and become one people with you. 17 But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we'll take our sister and go." 18 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19 The young man, who was the most honored of all his father's household, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to their fellow townsmen. 21 "These men are friendly toward us," they said. "Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours. 22 But the men will consent to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are. 23 Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us give our consent to them, and they will settle among us." 24 All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised. 25 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. 26 They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. 28 They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. 29 They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses. 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed." 31 But they replied, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

NIV

Did Hamar lie to the people of his city so his son could have Dinah? The reason he told all the males they needed to be circumcised is so the Israelites would settle in their land and the men could marry their women and they would marry their women. A mixture of peoples, which the God of Israel did not approve of. However, the brothers of Dinah were dealing deceptively with Hamor and Shechem, knowing that when adult men were circumcised, the pain would disable them for days. As it happened, Simeon and Levi killed every male, including Hamor and Shechem. Instead of Hamor's lie that all the Israelites' possessions would be theirs, the Israelites took all their possessions. What lesson does the narrative of deceit and lies teach? Was it right for Simeon and Levi to avenge their sister? We cannot judge the men of that time with the code of law we live by. However, Shechem did wrong by defiling Dinah, though we do not know whether he did so against her will or whether she was complicit in their act. We are told that Shechem took her and violated her, so it would seem it was against her will. Again, we come to the question of what we learn that applies to our lives. First, we can never behave deceitfully, yet what we do and how we behave comes from what is in our hearts. We would never take revenge as Simeon and Levi did, even though it may have seemed justified in their case. We wonder: even though we don't express or act on revenge, could we still think it? Could we think about wanting to get even with someone we think harmed us? They didn't do what we wanted, so we won't do what they want. They did not listen to us 

, so we will not listen to them. What about the person we do not even know who cuts us off on the road? Do we want to repay their rudeness? We can imagine a variety of scenarios that might count as revenge, either in thought or in action.  When we think or act that way, aren't we thinking more highly of ourselves than we should? Simeon and Levi certainly felt justified in their actions, but their father, Jacob, was not pleased. If we behaved or even had a thought of any form of revenge in our hearts, our Father would not be pleased. 

Honor, Honesty, Respect

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HONOR HONESTY RESPECT

Gen 34:1-12

34:1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her. 3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl as my wife." 5 When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled, his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he kept quiet about it until they came home. 6 Then Shechem's father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob. 7 Now Jacob's sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter — a thing that should not be done. 8 But Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9 Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You can settle among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade in it, and acquire property in it." 11 Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12 Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I'll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the girl as my wife."

NIV

How can a man violate a woman and then have his heart drawn to her and ask for her to become his wife? Did not the act itself make them one? But this was not how he sought Dinah as his bride. Jacob was not pleased; his sons were even more displeased with Shechem's disgraceful act with their sister. Now Shechem offered whatever they asked in exchange for permission to take Dinah as a wife. We know the cost will come later; for now, what can we learn? First, to live honorably, without offending others. Shechem did something dishonest, which went against God's principles. Jacob agreed to work for fourteen years to have his bride, but he got two, because Laban was not an honorable man. God has shown us through the lives of these men over the years: Adam, Cain, and Abel; Enoch, who walked with God and was no more; Noah; Abram, whom God changed his name to Abraham; and Isaac, for whom God provided a ram in the thicket; and Jacob, whom God named Israel and made the father of the twelve tribes. None of these men was perfect; many had flaws, but they worshipped the one true God. They encountered God or the LORD's angels. This truth shows that we should live humbly before God, living upright, honest lives among men. Jacob and his sons wanted to honor their sister and give her the respect she deserved, but Shechem did not; he disrespected her and her family. Let us make every effort to live in peace, to live an honorable life, even among those who do dishonorable and dishonest things. Shechem made a foolish mistake by telling Jacob and his sons he would pay whatever they asked, even though it would cost him his life. Let us live in a way worthy of the life Jesus gave us. Let us live with honor, honesty, and respect. 

The Face of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE FACE OF GOD

Gen 33:8-20

8 Esau asked, "What do you mean by all these droves I met?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said. 9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." 10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. 12 Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you." 13 But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. 14 So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir." 15 Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord." 16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. 17 Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth. 18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. 19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. 20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.  

NIV

Although this is simply a conversation between Jacob and Esau over the gifts presented, something stands out: the first refusal, the second attempt to give, and then the acceptance. Jacob said that because he found favor in Esau, when he looked at him, it was like seeing the face of God, now that he had received him favorably. Our first thought goes to the moment we take our last breath: when God receives us favorably, we will see Him in all His glory; we will be looking at God. We also remember that at their first meeting, Jacob bowed low, as did all his family. We will be sure that, as we meet God face to face, we will bow low. However, this truth also applies to seeing the face of God in a person, as Jacob did when he saw Esau. Because we are in Christ and He is in us, and we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us, whichever way we express it. The point is that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and He has brought His gifts and fruits to manifest in us and through us. Of course, Jacob and Esau were family, and that first applies within the church, where we are all God's family.  We wonder if we reflect the face of God to others. What do other believers see when they look upon our face? Do they find favor in us? Do we accept them as brothers and sisters, without judgement? Do they see the face of God when they see us? Do we see the face of God when we see them? We wonder what the church would look like if we lived in that manner. We wonder what the church, us, would look like to the world around us. Of course, there are sinners, but we all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Esau was not perfect, but Jacob saw him as if he were seeing the face of God. We cannot love sin or the sinful lives people live, but how can they see the face of God if we do not reflect it in their presence? People around the world, those who live a sinful life, accept each other and give credence to one another; yet how do we love them, reflecting the face of God to them, without accepting their sinful behavior? Then we think of Jesus, and while we were yet sinners, he died on the cross for us, for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Should we not love like that? Should we not reflect the face of God? 

Forgiveness

 

DEVOTION

GENESIS

FORGIVENESS

Gen 33:1-7

33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." 6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

NIV

How is it that Esau went from despising Jacob so much that he wanted to kill him to running and embracing him, kissing him, and weeping with his brother?  The only reason for this kind of change of heart is the LORD's work. However, it also meant that Esau was sensitive to the LORD, heard his voice, and submitted, so his heart bent toward reconciliation rather than revenge. This also meant that reconciliation is motivated by forgiveness. We cannot make peace with someone while harboring ill feelings and refusing to forgive. The word instructs us, through Paul's letters to the Corinthians and through the writer of Hebrews, to make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy, for without holiness no one will see the Lord. Esau forgave Jacob and made peace with him. We will see how that all played out next, but the lesson is well demonstrated, making it clear we cannot leave any conflict unresolved, but we must make all the effort, first with a heart of forgiveness, second seeking peace, throwing our arms around that person with love in our hearts. If we continue to live in the state of unforgiveness, it festers within and can even cause an inner rage that deepens the chasm between us and the Lord. How can we be holy and see the Lord when we harbor unforgiveness? No, our hearts must first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When we do that, everything else, the rest of our lives, will fall in line with the heart of God. If anyone had the right to hold our offenses against him, it would be the Lord, for we all have sinned against him. But Jesus came to pay the price for our redemption; God has completely forgiven us. How dare we not forgive, as we have been forgiven? Do we not pray that God will forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us? We know that if we do not forgive, God will not forgive us. Let us learn this well, and live with a heart of forgiveness.

Wrestled With God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

WRESTLED WITH GOD

Gen 32:22-32

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. 28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." 29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.

NIV

How does a man wrestle with God? Yet, could it have been Yahweh in human form? Could it be Jesus in human form, yet not fully human, as from a woman? Maybe this man was an angel of the LORD; however, angels do not have the authority to bless people; they are only servants of the Most High God, or act as His messengers. How was Jacob strong enough to hold on to God that He said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak?" Who else can touch a man's hip and dislodge it but God? Who else can change not only a man's name, but his very character? The name Jacob means heel-catcher or supplanter; however, God changed it to Israel, meaning he struggles with God. This is one of those great truths we should consider. We, too, have had our name and character changed. We have been renamed from sinner to saint, from lost to found, from self-reliant to one dependent on God. Jesus changed us from servant to friend.  Jacob asked this man whom he wrestled with what his name was. Why would you, brother, ask God his name, when you knew he was in the presence of the only one who could bless him? The one who could throw his hip out and heal it. The question is whether we ever wrestle with God. What would that look like? Do we have the right to wrestle with God? Because He is sovereign, can we struggle with Him, or do we just submit to his authority like a little helpless sheep? We are told that Jacob advanced and overcame all of Laban's deceptions because the LORD was with him. Yet, here is wrestling with God. We can wrestle with the Lord in prayer. We can seek his face, his blessing, his touch in our lives. Jacob had a physical sign that he had struggled with God, winning yet losing strength. Because of the condition of a man's hip, the very foundation of his strength, if we have a deformed or dislocated hip, we can no longer do certain physical activities. This makes us wonder if we show any signs of having been with the Lord or have wrestled with God over situations. Certainly, our self-reliance has been weakened to the point of being crippled, and the Lord's strength has overshadowed ours. He gives us the right to wrestle with Him until He blesses us. 

Servant

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

 SERVANT

Gen 32:13-21

13 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, "Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds." 17 He instructed the one in the lead: "When my brother Esau meets you and asks, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?' 18 then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.'" 19 He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: "You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 And be sure to say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.'" For he thought, "I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me." 21 So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.

NIV

Overall, Jacob sent many animals as a peace offering to Esau. The total numbered about 550, which he divided into 5 flocks and herds, each with manservants to tell Esau they were gifts from your servant Jacob. If he gave that many animals as gifts, it would seem he had far more, which would mean Jacob became extremely wealthy while working for Laban. Yet despite all his wealth and the manservants and maidservants under his authority, he presented himself to Esau as a servant. Was that simply out of fear because Esau was coming with 400 men? Did he do it because Jacob felt a sense of contrition or remorse for deceiving Esau out of his birthright? Had Jacob learned that lesson because Laban had deceived him many times? We are told that Jacob did this to pacify Esau, so fear was indeed his primary motive for all the gifts. Nevertheless, he still wanted to make peace with his brother, even though he wasn't sure why Esau brought 400 men. That may be the lesson we should take from the story. It is not about how wealthy or poor we are, or how powerful or powerless someone else might be; we should always be the one to pursue peace. Jesus taught that lesson by saying not to call anyone on earth "father," for we have only one Father in heaven, and not to call anyone "teacher," for we have only one Teacher, Christ. Then he said, "The greatest among you will be your servant, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." The idea is that a servant lives in humility before his master. Jacob's servants obeyed his commands. Although Jesus no longer calls us servants but friends, we are still subject to God's authority. However, since Jacob presented himself as his brother's servant, we should also learn to walk in humility with others, not thinking more highly of ourselves than we should, but thinking of ourselves as servants to our brothers.