Others

DEVOTION

GENESIS

OTHERS

Gen 37:31-36

31 Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe." 33 He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces." 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said, "in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son." So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.

NIV

After Reuben tried and failed to save Joseph and return him to their father, it seems he falls into league with the plan devised by the other brothers. His hopes of doing the right thing are gone and now he must accompany the rest of the brothers back to their father without Joseph. They, of course, have sold him, keeping his coat of many colors. Their idea is to imply they just found it, never ever seeing Joseph, but just this coat. They did not even have the courage to tell their father they knew it was Joseph’s coat. They ask him to examine it and see if it is the coat he made for Joseph. These brothers were really a deceptive bunch, including Reuben. He was now willing to save his own hide as well. So much for being the responsible, do the right thing, guy. However, had he spoken up about the truth, he would have to had faced the anger of ten brothers and he knew what kind of ruthlessness they were capable of. Yet still to watch their father mourn do deeply over Joseph must have hurt them, particularly Reuben. Although the narrative here is taking us along the path of Joseph we find our lesson in the attitude of these brothers. They acted out of jealously and hatred toward Joseph, being completely concerned about their own feelings with no concern about how their father was going to react to the news of Joseph being devoured by a wild beast. What a bunch of lairs, as they even tried to comfort him in his mourning. How could they possible comfort him? They could only cover up their own lies with more lies. When we act solely out of self-motivated thoughts, it is very possible we might cause someone else some pain. Every action has a reaction. If those brothers would have had the command of God to love their neighbors as themselves they surely would not have done what they did to Joseph and ultimately to their father. We have that command and yet there are times when we may cause others pain because of our behaviors or actions. It is difficult to always think about the other person, to put their needs above ours. We have to always be aware of what we do and how will that affect those around us. That is mostly a foreign concept to the way the world operates. We have been taught from infancy to think about ourselves, to gain as much as we can, to be the best we can be. Even the little prayer we teach our children has seven I’s or my’s in it:

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if should I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

Everything is about I and my and that is the way we were raised. The brothers were certainly all about I and my, without regard for what would happen to Joseph or their father. We cannot afford to be all about ourselves as it will certainly not please God first and foremost, but it also will most likely hurt someone we profess to love or are supposed to love, such as our neighbor. This takes work, effort, continuous awareness. This takes being a Spirit controlled person. This takes the strength of the Spirit, for our flesh is surely too weak to accomplish this type of living on its own. This takes the first part of this command about loving our neighbor as our self. This takes loving God with all our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength. We cannot even do that without the Spirit. We know what the fruit of the Spirit are as outlined for us in the letter to the Galatians. They are opposite that which is outlined as a life controlled by self, the sinful nature. If we are filled with the Spirit, walking with the Spirit, then we should be in step with the Spirit. This should be a life not about self, but about others. The fruit does the tree no good, it is for others to come along and enjoy it. Instead of causing others pain, as these brothers did, let others enjoy the fruit of our lives. 

Respect

DEVOTION

GENESIS

RESPECT

Gen 37:21-30

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. 22 "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe — the richly ornamented robe he was wearing —  24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?"

NIV

It appear Reuben and Judah had different plans for Joseph. For some reason Reuben felt a certain responsibility toward his brother or a respect for his father, that he did not want any harm to come to Joseph. His plan was to return Joseph to his father, but was that the plan of God? We already saw how Israel sent Joseph into a known dangerous situation, knowing the jealously and hatred his other sons had for Joseph. We made that parallel to our living in a dangerous world. But now an attempt to rescue him by Reuben is thwarted by Judah. He decides to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. His life was spared by Reuben, but he is still gone from the family. His brothers will no longer have to put up with their younger brother, the dreamer. We know God used Joseph in a mighty way in Egypt and ultimately was the salvation for Israel and all the clan during one of the greatest famines in the land. But want about Reuben? Why was he on the side of Joseph? Why was he so upset about Joseph being sold? It certainly appears Israel had placed a great deal of responsibility on him being the firstborn. He was the oldest brother, the one who would inherit all that was his fathers as well as receive the blessing of the firstborn. Although he felt the same way about Joseph as the rest of his brothers, he might have been thinking about his position in the family. He knew his father would hold him responsible for this outcome. Reuben overcame his jealously and hatred for Joseph out of respect for his father and his responsibility as the firstborn or it may have been a self-preservation decision to plan to return Joseph to his father. Either way the idea is that even though there was no love lost between Reuben and Joseph, he was going to do the right thing as the firstborn. Outside the plan God had getting Joseph to Egypt and saving his family, we still have a lesson in the character of Reuben. There may be times we are faced with situations in life when we have a choice. We might find ourselves in uncomfortable situations as Reuben found himself. He was torn between his feelings against Joseph and his responsibility as the firstborn. We might find times when we are uncomfortable with our life. When we want to rid ourselves of a situation. That might be in a personal relationship or in a current place we are in, such as a job, or a home or neighborhood, town or state. This state of discontentment might cause us to take extreme measures such as Judah and the other brothers took in selling Joseph. We have to believe Reuben's motivation was responsibility. This should be our motivation as well. Those decisions we face should always be treated with respect, motivated from our responsibility to God, and thus our responsibility to our family. Judah and the others were only thinking about themselves, with no respect for their father. Whenever we are motivated out of self-centeredness, we act without respect for God and thus our family. Just as Reuben had to set aside his personal feelings about Joseph in order to do what was right, we need to set aside our personal feelings to do that which is right. Jesus always showed respect for the Father, should we do any less? 

Very well

DEVOTION

GENESIS

VERY WELL

Gen 37:12-20

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father's flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them." "Very well," he replied. 14 So he said to him, "Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me." Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, "What are you looking for?" 16 He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?" 17 "They have moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. 20 "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams."

NIV

Israel kept the matter of Joseph’s dreams in his mind. He knew his other sons were jealous of Joseph and they hated him because he told them of his dreams. So why then did Israel send Joseph to his other sons? He was the favorite son. It is true that Joseph had given bad reports about his brothers before so maybe Israel thought this would be the case again. Maybe his other sons were loafing on the job. Maybe they were not doing such a good job tending to the flocks. But still wouldn’t Israel think Joseph would be in trouble out there all alone with his brothers that hate him? It does seem strange a father who favors this son would send him into a possible dangerous setting. Joseph on the other hand, thinks nothing of it and tells his father, sure thing, I will go. We are starting to get a picture of the character of Joseph here. Although we were not sure as to the tone of his voice or attitude when he told of his dreams, we are starting to see that it might well have been with a certain innocence, simply a truth telling, without any malice or self-righteousness. Here we see he is an obedient son even though he is more than aware of his brother’s attitude toward him. Joseph surely knew his brothers would not be pleased to see him. We know this is true as we are told they hated him so much when they saw him coming toward them, they plotted to kill him. Once again we are spending time with another dysfunctional family. But let us take our lesson from Joseph today. Is it possible that God would ask us to go somewhere that it might be dangerous for us? It certainly is possible missionaries serve in areas which are dangerous. But it seems we are not all called to the mission field, at least in some foreign land. However, that is exactly what we are. We are all called to the mission field in a foreign land. Are citizenship is in the kingdom of God and we are now living in a foreign land, this world.

1 Peter 2:11-12

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

NIV

Just as Joseph’s brothers determined to wage war on Joseph, taking his life, the world wages war on us, trying to take or kill our soul. Yet God has called us into the world, to go after it, or rather into it, but not as citizens of it, but as ambassadors of him. Israel sent Joseph to be his representative, to determine the condition of his brothers and the flocks. God has sent us into the world as his representatives. But the world is a dangerous place, far more dangerous than staying cooped up in the church.  It has many traps set to destroy our soul, to entrap our spirit, our mind and our heart. It calls to us, come closer, look what I have to offer. It plots against us with all its pleasures and ideologies, its intellectualism, its materialism as well as a host of other temptations. It plots to kill us, but God still calls us to go into it, to tell the world about him. We need to respond as Joseph, “Very well”. 

Listen, Speak

DEVOTION

GENESIS

LISTEN, SPEAK

Gen 37:1-11

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." 8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

NIV

Here we are introduced to Joseph, a major player in the plan of God for all of Israel. We will be with Joseph for many days to follow and surely lessons for us will be readily available. In this beginning narrative we are told that Jacob loved Joseph more then all his other sons because he was born to him in his old age. Yet didn’t Benjamin come even later in his old age? Could it be that Jacob did not look that favorable on Benjamin because his birth also took the love of Jacob’s life, Rachel? Nevertheless this love for Joseph may also have been the plan of God all along for he would bring Israel into Egypt. We have to know God had a plan, even much later in this story of Joseph’s life he confesses that what his brothers intended as bad, God intended it for good. But of course we are getting way ahead of ourselves here. First we should deal with the situation at hand between Joseph and his brothers. Because Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph all his brothers were jealous of him. We would think of all the people, Jacob would not have shown favoritism. He was raised with his brother Esau being their father’s favorite. He knew how that all turned out, yet here he is favoring Joseph to the point of making him a coat of many colors. That is how the Hebrew text reads and what the playwrights used. Then to make what seems to be matters worse, Joseph has these dreams, visions. Again from the rest of this story we know these dreams were sent to Joseph from God. They were indeed prophetic messages. But his brothers hated him even more because of their content. We do not know the spiritual well-being of all the sons of Israel. We do not know their faith or connection to God. But what we do know is they were not happy about Joseph having this contact with God, having these dreams which indicated they would be bowing down to him. It does serve to show us the dislike people can have for one who is connected to God. We are not sure with what kind of tone Joseph told his dreams. Was he boastful about them? Was he tender, humble, kind in his manner when expressing what God had revealed to him? We simply do not know how he told these dreams, but the result was more hatred toward him. Although we are not told of his tone this could be our lesson. When we express any truth about God, about salvation, about revelations which God has revealed to us, do we verbalize it with humility or with boastfulness? What is our manner when we speak about God? Do we act like a know it all? We can be certain what Joseph told was the truth, there could be no other way of seeing it. But when we talk about the truths of God, it seems everyone has their idea of what the truth is. There was no debating with Joseph about the interpretation of his dreams, they all understood what his dreams meant, although they did not like them. Today everyone has their own truths and somehow we all are somewhat unwilling to accept the others rendition of the truth. There is but one truth, which is for certain. Who has that truth should be able to express it in a manner others will not reject it, or become violently opposed to it. That also applies to how we share the gospel message. It might not be the best approach telling people they are going to hell. It also might not be the best approach telling them God loves them. The idea here is that Joseph received a dream from God and was telling his brothers what the dream was. Whenever we express words about God, we should first hear from him. It is one thing to share our ideas of what the truth is, but it is entirely a different thing to express what God has revealed to us. It is far better to speak from a revelation from the Spirit then from an idea of the mind. Listen to God first, then speak. 

Ideologies

DEVOTION

GENESIS

IDEOLOGIES

Gen 36:1-43

36:1 This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom). 2 Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite —  3 also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. 4 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel, 5 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan. 6 Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. 7 Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. 8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir. 9 This is the account of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath. 11 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz. 12 Esau's son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau's wife Adah. 13 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath. 14 The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon,whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam and Korah.  15 These were the chiefs among Esau's descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in Edom; they were grandsons of Adah. 17 The sons of Esau's son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath. 18 The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah. 19 These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs. 20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs. 22 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan's sister. 23 The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam. 24 The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon. 25 The children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah. 26 The sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran. 27 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan. 28 The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These were the Horite chiefs: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs, according to their divisions, in the land of Seir. 31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned: 32 Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah. 33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king. 34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. 35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith. 36 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king. 37 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king. 38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Acbor succeeded him as king. 39 When Baal-Hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. 40 These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied.

This was Esau the father of the Edomites.

NIV

This is the whole of the account of Esau. We will see records of him in the future but not as it is here. This is all his sons and descendants that became kings and dukes. His clan became a nation called the Edomites. He became a great nation onto himself. There does not seem to be a place where we can find a truth as a life lesson among all the “who had this son and the names of the following sons along with names of wives”. The only record here that might serve us as a lesson is in the move of Esau and his reasoning. First we remember how he took wives from the Hivites and Hittites which is what angered his mother Rebekah. This is why Isaac had to send Jacob to take a wife from their own clan, from his mother’s brother Laban. The hatred Esau had for Jacob has been settled and they have once again gained their brotherly relationship. But with both of them being a rather large clan of their own and with all the herds and flocks the land could not support them both, so Esau decides he will be the one to leave to a new land. That was rather nice of him since he had been living here all along while Jacob was working for twenty years in the household of Laban and has now just recently returned with all his livestock. This surely shows a changed man in Esau. One who hated to the point of wanting to kill, now has not only forgiven, but allows Jacob to have the land he had been living in while Jacob was gone. What once was a great division between brothers seems to have been resolved. But we know the future of their descendants. In the final analysis of it all, the Edomites were always at war with Judah in some form or another. David attacked the Edomites and killed thousands of them. The Edomites attacked Judah and carried off many prisoners. All throughout the rest of the Old Testament the two have been at war. Why? Esau left with good relations with his brother Jacob. Esau’s intentions seemed honorable. Yet it still comes down to who was Esau, what god or gods did he serve. Although he was raised in the household of Isaac and Rebekah who served the Lord God most high, he married women who served false gods. We are never told Esau became a believer in the Lord God, but most likely he and his descendants served these false gods of his wives. What Esau did was not influenced by God but rather by his humanity. While Jacob was gone, he became a very wealthy man in his own right with many servants in his household. He now had no reason to be jealous of Jacob. Yet with what we know happened between the descendants of Jacob and those of Esau always being at war, we have to assume this is because Esau serving these foreign gods instilled this kind of attitude toward Jacob and so as they both grew into nations, their descendants waged war. It always comes down who serves the Lord and who serves false gods. The two can never have a lasting treaty. They have no common ground. What does the righteous have in common with the unrighteousness? We should learn this well. We cannot make lasting treaties with those who do not serve the Lord God. Either they become believers or we will ultimately be at war with them in some manner. Surely not in the sense of war as armies or nations wage. But we are in an ideological war and will forever be throughout the generations. It will forever be about differing ideologies.  

In Step, or full of years

DEVOTION

GENESIS

 IN STEP

Gen 35:21-29

21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Rachel's maidservant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Leah's maidservant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

NIV

Several things are happening in this passage, the first of which is regarding Reuben. This text, as well as the Hebrew text indicate Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah. However, some rabbinical scholars have another take using older Aramaic text other than the Septuagint Hebrew text. They believe Reuben went in and turned her bed over in anger, as after Rachel’s death, his father had Bilhah's bed near him, preferring her over Reuben’s mother Leah. This view is collaborated by the blessing Israel gave to Reuben on his death bed that we will see in chapter 49. The blessing contains verbiage about Reuben going to his father’s bed and defiling it. This would combine the bed of Bilhah with his father.  The difference in views would be significant. If Reuben had relations with Bilhah, he would have been very wrong in his actions, and we would expect the text to indicate she became pregnant, as was the usual case in such intimate behavior, unless God had closed her womb, which we also are not told. If he simply turned the bed over in anger then his actions would be more acceptable and perhaps even honorable. But we are left with what it says here and then it simply moves on. God does not give any commentary regarding his actions. Jacob with his twelve sons now return to his father Isaac’s household. We remember Isaac well as the obedient son who carried the wood upon the mountain with his father Abraham where he was to be offered to God. This is where he learned the provision of God. He had the promise renewed to him which was given to his father. He lived a peaceful and productive life. However with having twin sons, we remember his family life with Rebekah was a bit tumultuous. There was a great deal of hardship between Jacob and Esau which appears has now been resolved in their meeting on Jacob’s journey home. The expression of his account, giving us once again all his sons, and who their mothers were gives us the idea the blessing or promise God bestowed upon Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was now fulfilled and is being carried on into these twelve sons of Israel. But our lesson is in the statement about the age and death of Isaac. We are told he lived to a good old age, old and full of years. Now we also have a lesson in the fact both Jacob and Esau maintained their brotherly connection because they both buried their father. It is important to put aside any sibling rivalry or attitudes which destroy good relationships. This is not fitting in the eyes of God and we should make every effort to reestablish any lost or broken relationships. This is especially helpful at the time of putting a parent to rest. The grieving process is better shared then not and who better to share it with then a sibling. The other truth here is in the full of years with which Isaac lived and died. It is interesting these men lived so long, till old age, the completion of their years. Sickness or disease never seems to be the cause of their death. Perhaps some men at that time met death early in years, but that was by the sword, not by illness. Why do so many men today die from so many things other than old age and full of years? What has changed? Some would say it is our diet. Foods that contain preservatives, growth hormones, pesticides and such. They say there are foods today which actually cause illness, cause cancer. Although it is true those men of old ate foods without all this added chemicals, it is also true they lived with the blessings of God in them. They were not, by any means, perfect men. They had their share of sin in their lives, but they also had the promise of God. They walked with God. The reason these men’s lives are recorded for us is twofold. Most of them are in the line which Christ will arrive here on earth. The second is because they are examples of men who walked with God, how he led them, how they followed. They show us how God matured them spiritually, how they grew in their understanding of God. This should serve as a lesson to us who desire to live to an old age full of years. Perhaps we do need to return to as natural a diet as is possible in this day and age, but the greatest value to living full of years is in our walking with God. If we are so distracted trying to walk with the ways of the world, we might not see the fullness of years we could, or should. It certainly does not have anything to do with wealth or the lack of it as many of these men gained much in their lifetimes. There was a lot of normal day to day living producing the needs of life. Yet when God called upon them, they responded. Their focus was on God. This is where real life exists. What we do in the temporal day to day is important in producing a living for ourselves and our family, but what we do in our eternal life has a greater bearing on our temporal life. Walking with God is far better than walking with the world. Who are we in step with?  

Fear Not

DEVOTION

GENESIS

FEAR NOT

Gen 35:16-20

16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you have another son." 18 As she breathed her last — for she was dying — she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.   19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb.

NIV

Although we have little to no information from the Bible about Rachel’s age, her birth or age when she was married to Jacob, some rabbinical scholars believe she was thirty-nine when she gave birth to Benjamin and breathed her last. Their studies included the customs of those times as well as some non-biblical writings. Young by any account to die. It is certain Jacob mourned her passing although we are not told so. Yet now the twelve sons of Israel are complete and it was fitting that Rachel would be the woman to complete them. She was Jacob’s first and everlasting love. Benjamin would hold a special place in his heart because of his mother being Rachel and dying in childbirth. What do we learn from this? It is in the words of the midwife? It must have been an extreme childbirth as we are told she was having great difficulty. Women were giving birth since the beginning of time and we have yet to see any reference to them have great difficulty. It is true, because of Eve, women would experience pain in giving birth, but never before have we been told of their having great difficulty to the point of dying as a result. Perhaps Rachel knew this birth would bring her death, her pain was so great, so extreme. The midwife assures her not to be afraid for she has delivered another son for her husband. This could have been a reassurance not to fear the coming death that was upon her. Did her midwife know God? She would have been a part of the household of Israel hearing all that God has done for him. She would have heard of the encounters with God, his promises to Jacob, his changing his name to Israel and of Israel’s faith in God. Were they aware of eternal life? Did God provide this prior to Christ’s sacrifice? We know Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness which could only be seen as the gift of eternal life, for Christ is our righteousness who gives us eternal life. Therefore God could grant eternal life to whomever he pleased whenever he pleased at that time. That being the case would they have been aware of that? We just do not know for certain, yet from this narrative it would appear Rachel should have nothing to fear in breathing her last. Prophetically speaking she had completed the design of God to have the twelve tribes of Israel. This is bore out in Jesus selecting twelve he called to be Apostles, as well as in the Revelation showing us the twenty-four elders, twelve and twelve representing the tribes and the Apostles. It all fits together. Scripture is complete in itself, lacking nothing. But the point here is that Rachel should not fear death, nor should we for we know to whom we belong. We know to where we will go. We know what awaits us in the other side of this life. We also can understand that even in difficulty, great difficulty we should have nothing to fear, for our God is with us. We may not be guaranteed a smooth transition from this life to life eternal. We might have great difficulty in the time of our breathing our last. Sickness or disease could bring the reason for our last breath. We may not simply leave of old age, although that would also be possible. We have been told some of the men of old lived to a good old age when they died. Either way we fear nothing, we do not need to be afraid. The midwife assured Rachel she had given Israel a son. We do not need to be afraid for we are in the Son of God, we are in Christ. Fear not! We have been given tidings of great joy. A Son is born.  

Meeting with God

DEVOTION

GENESIS

MEETING WITH GOD

Gen 35:6-15

6 Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. 8 Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. So it was named Allon Bacuth.   9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel. 11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you." 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.  

NIV

This was the first place God had appeared to Jacob when he was fleeing from his brother Esau after stealing his blessing. So he comes home more or less as he had been commanded to go back to the land of his father. We do not know why we are told about Deborah’s death and burial. She was the wet nurse who nursed Joseph. Perhaps a stronger bond to the family than just an ordinary maidservant, although two of them gave birth to son’s for Jacob. But our truth is in the meeting of God and Jacob. It appears God has to have several meetings with Jacob during his spiritual journey from being Jacob to being Israel. Although he had already received the name Israel when he struggled with God, his spiritual journey has been more or less like a roller coaster. Here God meets with him and renews the fact his name is now Israel and for the first time God affirms he is the God Almighty and blesses Israel telling him to be fruitful and increase in number, as he did with Adam. We shall see this all come to pass. When Israel goes down to Egypt there are seventy-two souls in his household. When the children of Israel leave some hundreds of years later they number over one million, all descendants of Israel. But our truth, our life lesson is in the meeting with God, and the need of it for the spiritual growth of Jacob to Israel. Our spiritual growth at times most likely looks like a roller coaster as well. We have dry periods, times when we lose sight of our direction or get distracted by various temptations. But God is always available to meet with in order to bring us along in our spiritual journey to the place he desires us to be. He may not come down from heaven as he did here with Jacob, but he is here with us in several ways. First and foremost he has given or sent the Spirit to dwell within us, to not just meet with us, but to live with us, in us. Then he also has given us his word, written by various men whom he either dictated to or inspired by the Spirit to pen. We have as much, if not more, opportunities to meet with God then men like Jacob. Although Jacob went about living a normal life, in fact, a lot of normal living took place, God always was there when he needed to make a change in Jacob. We too do a lot of normal living, each and every day, just doing life, but God is always there to intervene in our day to day lives when we need to make a change. But we have to be ready to listen. We have to not be so involved with the normal living we do not notice when God is speaking. He may not appear in some supernatural event, but simply speak in a still small voice, as he did when he spoke to Elijah. At least Jacob knew without a doubt he was meeting with God, as he stood before him. But we too can know without a doubt we are meeting with God every time we open his word and every time we go to prayer. Jacob built an altar where God had met with him. Some churches have built altars to symbolize a place in which to meet with God. But we build an altar in our hearts and minds for that is where God is actually meeting with us. How awesome it is to meet with God. 

Purified

DEVOTION

GENESIS

PURIFIED

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

Why has it taken Jacob so long to have all the people under his authority to rid themselves of all their foreign gods? Which people were they who had these gods? It was not just Rachel who has stolen her father’s gods. Now they had taken all the woman and children from the city of Shechem after killing all the men to avenge Dinah. They plundered all the homes, so there may have been foreign gods among this plunder. Some of the maidservants and manservants, we are told, were Syrians and those may have brought along some of their gods when they were taken into service. Whatever the case, Jacob, now hearing God, declares it is time to rid the clan of all foreign gods and have but one God. They are also to purify themselves changing their clothes. What a lesson in this act. First we need to make sure we do not have any other gods in our household. What things or thoughts can serve as foreign gods to us? Many material objects can serve as gods. Our homes, cars, boats, RV’s, clothes, shoes, travel and yes, gold, money itself. But hobbies which take up our time can become gods if we are not careful. Yet even our thoughts, our desires, our dreams are subject to being a sort of god. Anything we place value on can serve as a god if we allow it to consume our thoughts and/or our lives. Weight control, exercise, diets, good health, our bodies in general can become gods. The list of do’s and don’ts can become a god, living under the law as it were. We are to rid ourselves of all this which can serve as a god and change our clothes. This is more or less a change in our heart, a change in our attitude, a change in our lives. God declared:

Ex 20:3

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

NIV

Jacob was making sure there were none in his household and we need to make sure there are none in ours. Then as he set out to follow the directions of the Lord everywhere he traveled on his way to Bethel, the fear of God fell upon all the towns around him so they would not pursue him. His sons had just killed and plundered this city of Shechem and Jacob was concerned about the people of that land joining forces to attack his household, his clan. Although we have not killed anybody and plundered all that was theirs, the world would attack us, it does attack us with its ideologies and its materialistic concepts. We need to know the terror of God is before us. He can bring terror in their hearts so they do no influence us in any way, as long as we are following his directions and building an altar to him and him alone in our hearts. The world cannot touch us, if we are worshipping our God with all our heart, our mind, our strength and our spirit. It is when we lose sight of this, the world feels free to attack. When our heart is divided and our mind is distracted, our strength is misused, our spirit is weakened. Let us forever keep purified in Christ, clothed in our white robes, following the directions of our God.

Whose it about

DEVOTION

GENESIS

WHOSE IT ABOUT

Gen 34:25-31

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

Although Jacob is not pleased with his two sons because of their actions, he is not concerned so much about what they did to those people as he is about what might happen to himself as a result. Simeon and Levi surely enacted revenge upon Shechem and Hamor for their disrespectful actions toward their sister. We have already seen God making it a point that we should leave room for his wrath by not taking revenge upon those who do us harm. Yet it seems this was appropriate actions as it was recorded without commentary from God. Perhaps God instructed them, or inspired them to do such a thing without giving us those details. We may never know if this is the case or they acted strictly in the flesh. Nevertheless what Hamor and Shechem thought would happen to them, adding all of Jacob wealth to them, turned out the exact opposite. After Simeon and Levi did what they did, the rest of the brothers plundered the city. Everything which belonged to Hamor now was all theirs. There should be a lesson in that for us. Greed will bring disaster upon the greedy. We also see Jacob once again thinking only about Jacob. Perhaps that is why he is referred to by his former name rather than his new name Israel. We will have to see if this plays out throughout the rest of his life. Whenever he acts in the manner of his former self does God use his former name? Jacob should have agreed with his sons, because Dinah was his daughter and she was defiled. But his greatest concern was his small numbers and that other peoples of the land would retaliate against him. Has he not learned to trust God yet? If Simeon and Levi acted without the consent of Jacob, then he is innocent of their actions and he should be able to go to the Lord and ask forgiveness for his sons, and seek the protection of the Lord from any actions by the peoples of the land. But Jacob was only thinking about Jacob. That is what he does best. It seems his sons had a greater respect for their sister then Jacob did for his daughter. They acted to defend her honor, although they were very deceitful in the way they went about it. Jacob doesn’t even care about how his sons acted deceitfully, but only what the result might be to him. Again, we learn life is not always about us. We are not the center of the universe. The world does not revolve around us. Not everything is about us. It is easy to become introspective, thinking how everything will affect our lives. Our whole society is structured toward making us think about how we can get more. Every ad, every commercial is about what we can do to improve our life. Self-centered is the way of the world, but God tells us to not think more highly of ourselves then we should. God instructs us to put others before ourselves. Jacob has yet to learn that lesson, have we? 

The cost of self

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE COST OF SELF

Gen 34:13-24

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.

NIV

This was an act of revenge that is certainly due, at least it seems in the eyes of men. Whether God would have them exact this revenge on Shechem and the entire tribe is entirely a different thing. God has said that revenge is his.

Rom 12:17-20

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge , my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

NIV

Yet here these brothers of Dinah are doing exactly that what the Lord would not want us to do. How did they get away from the anger of the lord for such a deceitful act of revenge? Knowing what they do next stirs this thoughts, but we should first deal with the truth that presents itself to us here. It is not about the sons of Jacob here, but rather about Shechem and his father Hamor. This man is even more deceitful then the sons of Jacob. Because his son wants what he wants, a woman who he should not have, they deceive the whole of the town people. We do not know the exact size of this city, this encampment of Hamor, who was the ruler of that area. But after agreeing to the terms the sons of Jacob put forth, they convinced all the men of his realm to get circumcised. The method of this convincing was one of material gain. His son wanted this woman and he proposed that if all the men would be circumcised then all the wealth of Jacob would be added to their wealth. How that would benefit each man is difficult to understand. Yet he also convinced them they could take daughters from the tribe of Jacob. We do not know how many other daughters there were in the tribe of Jacob other than Dinah. But Shechem wanted what he wanted no matter the cost to everyone else. This is a prime example of self-centered, self-seeking pleasure. Of course not one of them understand how much pain they would be in and for how long it would last. Yet the thought of having all of Jacob’s wealth added to theirs plus being able to take woman for themselves from his family was more than enough to do this circumcision. It always seem men are motivated by some kind of personal gain, even at the cost of others. The sons of Jacob seeking revenge certainly goes against the principles of the Lord. Yet this act of deception by Shechem and his father Hamor affect all the people of the land for the purpose of self-pleasure, which also is against the principles of God. First, as we have seen before, we should not seek revenge against someone who acts in some way against us, whether that be physical, mental or emotional. But we also see that we should not attempt to use others for our own purpose. We should not manipulate people using untruths, to gain something for ourselves. Even if we do not us untruths, but propose they will also again something, just to get want we want when we want it is not the way of God. If we love our neighbors as ourselves we will also deal with them in pure honesty and integrity putting their needs before ours. Shechem was putting his needs before his peoples. Ultimately they all paid the price for it, death. Surely it would seem that if we were to live in that same manner, always putting our needs before others, we might pay the same price, for that manner of living is not one of a believer in Christ. Let us learn this lesson well. Let us always be concerned about others, even at the cost of self. 

Disgraced

DEVOTION

GENESIS

DISGRACED

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

The advantage of having read this many times is we know how this story is going to end and it is not well for Shechem, son of Hamar the Hivite, nor his father and all the men of that land. But we need to break this narrative up so to deal with some truths as the whole unfolds. What right did Shechem think he had in taking her by force? Did he take her by force? We are told that he loved her and spoke tenderly to her. How long of a time did they spend together for him to love her? The Hebrew word gives us a clue here. This love implies an affection sexually or otherwise. Perhaps the translators should have inserted the word lust instead of love. Yet he did speak tenderly to her, he seduced her. She was an innocent young lady, a virgin, and this man took advantage of her and violated her virginity. There are cultures today this type of behavior toward women is totally permissible. Perhaps this type of behavior was also permissible among the Hivites, but it was certainly not within the clan of Israel. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing. We remember how Jacob worked seven years before he ever had this type of physical relationship with Leah and a week later with Rachel, although he promised to work another seven years for her. This man just took Dinah, then he decided he wanted to marry her. It certainly seems our society is moving more toward this behavior as well, although not so much the man simply taking a woman, but it is more of a mutual uniting of bodies without the bonds of marriage. From the response of Jacob’s sons and what they demand we know it is due to the haness action of Shechem against Dinah, yet there is something else here as well. The command not to intermarry has yet to been given. God instructed the Israelites on different occasions regarding different foreign clans not to take their daughters or give their daughters in marriage. Although this was not the motivation behind what the sons of Jacob demanded, it still complies with the design God had for them. Under the new covenant we, who are now the true Israel have been commanded not to be unequally yoked, not to marry an unbeliever, not to become romantically involved with an unbeliever. We also not only have social laws, but God’s command not to take any woman without her consent. But the truth here is about this marriage outside the clan, outside the right bloodline, not to be unequally yoked. Although Laban was a polytheist he was still within the family clan and his daughters were appropriate for Jacob. We will see others, such as Moses who marries outside the clan which seems to be allowed. But not here. What is the difference, why does God allow it sometimes and not others? We have to believe it always comes down to God accomplishing his plan for each of us. Yet we have very specific rules for living as believers concerning our relationships with unbelievers. We need to be on good terms with them in order to plant the seed of faith in their hearts and minds. But this intimate type of behavior is strictly off limits. Jacob’s sons act deceitfully for a purpose we are going to see. But they demand the Shechem and all the men of that land become like them. That is in order for them to intermarry with the people of this land, they must be the same as the people of Israel. Again it appears, no believer should be with an unbeliever. First the unbeliever must become a believer, then marriage can happen. Does this always happen, absolutely not. How do we reconcile that? We do not have to, it is up to God. Yet this rape, this violation of Dinah, God will not tolerate and he uses the sons of Jacob as his tool to act against it. God will not be disgraced. 

Face of God

DEVOTION

GENESIS

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

Surely this is an act of graciousness by Esau to want to accompany his brother on his journey, and having been refused, offering some of his men as an escort. But first let us look at this gift giving of Jacob. It would seem he is very pleased to have had a very friendly encounter with the brother who have vowed to kill him forcing him to escape their father’s household. Yet when we think about that, was it the providence of God all that happened? Because of his escape he found Laban and married both Leah and Rachel and now has eleven sons and one daughter with one more son to come. He has become an extremely wealthy man. Surely he must know by now God has protected and provided for him all along. So he insists that Esau keep all the gifts he sent ahead of him in an effort to appease Esau. He makes this strange, but yet very profound statement about the face of Esau looking like the face of God. What did he mean by that? This was the man who carried a grudge, who vowed to kill him, yet now he was hugging and kissing him, accepting him favorably with forgiveness. Jacob, with all his gifts, and with his advancing toward Esau bowing seven times showing true repentance, as it were, and Esau showing grace, mercy and forgiveness we have our story with God. If we live as Jacob did, trying to deceive God, trying to steal a blessing so to speak, living outside his grace, being self-reliant, we are at war with God, and thus we will perish. In so many words, he has vowed to kill us, we will experience the second death. But if like Jacob here, we come with a repenting heart, bowing down as we greet him, he will forgive our sin, and greet us with hugs and kissing, throwing his arms around us, welcoming us home. This is why Jacob tells Esau looking upon his face is like seeing the face of God. Esau also is showing us another trait of God, he wishes to accompany Jacob on the rest of his journey. When Jacob gives some excuse why he should not, he offers some of his men. We see God wanting to accompany us on our journey through life. Of course we do not refuse him, but in addition perhaps he sends some of his messengers, his angels to travel along with us. We certainly have the protection and provision of God as we travel through this life. But we too should offer him gifts, a portion of all we have, as we see Jacob did to Esau. We do not know the exact percentage these gifts were of his whole wealth, but he offered them. It is not so critical the percentage of our wealth we offer to God, in fact we are to offer him ourselves as living sacrifices. That would be one hundred percent of our self. We are told a house divided cannot stand.

Luke 11:17

17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

NIV

He was refuting those who accused him of driving demons out by the power of Satan. Yet the truth is still the truth. If we live divided within ourselves we will fall. If we try to serve God while attempting to serve ourselves we will fall. As Jacob offered gifts to Esau we offer God the gift of our self. We give him all of it, bowing down not just seven times, but continually, humbling ourselves before him. This is the story of repentance at its finest, and the act of mercy as a response. Let us always have a heart bent toward God and not toward self, then we shall see 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

All appears well now between these two, but is it really? It does seem as though Esau has discovered forgiveness. He runs and embraces his brother Jacob, except we thought God has renamed him Israel. So why now is he called by his old name rather than his new God given name? Could there still be a bit of the old nature at work in this meeting? Jacob divides up his children, who by the way, we do not know their ages at this point, by his wives. He puts the maidservants first then Leah and he puts Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He puts them in the order of importance to him. So then goes out in front to meet his brother and his four hundred men. Certainly there is some great significance to his bowing seven times as he approaches Esau. It would suggest a most humble attitude, a lowly position, showing honor to Esau. Not knowing the heart of Esau, we do still see a heart of forgiveness expressed as he runs and embraces Jacob, kissing him, showing an affection surely Jacob did not expect. So we have these two brothers weeping at their reunion. Alas the family is once again together, but not for long. We will see Esau offer to leave men to be a vanguard, an escort to ensure safe passage back to the family encampment of Esau. He was expecting Jacob to return to the same area as he lived. But we see Jacob refuse such an offer. Was it because he now knew the protection of God? Was he now relying on God more then on men? Perhaps he is a new man after all. We must wait until we get to that portion of the narrative. For now we must learn from this meeting, this heart of Esau. At one time he was so angry, so filled with hatred toward Jacob, he vowed he would kill him. We were told Esau carried a grudge.  Twenty years have passed and he has lived a good life, he has prospered well, as he comes to meet Jacob with four hundred men in his service. Surely he had more taking care of his family encampment and all his flocks and herds. He was a wealthy man in his own right and maybe his anger has been tempered with all his blessings and the passage of time. Then again, his heart could very well have been softened by God. The point being, from all we are told here, Esau had forgiven Jacob. With as much frustration that Jacob caused Esau, he found it in his heart to forgive. It did not appear he was either jealous of Jacob or looked at him with contempt. He ran throwing his arms around Jacob’s neck and kissed him. Pure forgiveness as shown here. This is how we need to live. When we are mistreated, no revenge, no fighting back, no anger, no hatred, no hurt feelings, just forgiveness. That is so much easier said than done. Sometimes it feels good to be angry with someone. At least we think it feels good. We want to exact some form of payback, perhaps withholding any affection, or even communication. But this is not from the heart softened by God. This sort of attitude comes from the old nature, which is supposed to be dead. Why do we resurrect it? Let the dead bury the dead, leave it dead and move on living up to our new name, which is written down in glory. Let us live with a heart softened by God, living with a heart of forgiveness. God has told us over and over again that he will forgive us as we forgive.

Matt 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

NIV

We certainly want the forgiveness of God, yet here it is, his forgiveness comes with our forgiveness. So let us live rightly in the sight of God, forgiving as he forgives, pure and without hesitation. Let us run to those who have caused us harm, throwing our arms around their necks and kiss them, weeping together with joy. 

New Name

DEVOTION

GENESIS

NEW NAME

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

The final touches of a regenerated life are at hand. Jacob has surely been a man who has relied on his abilities and his strength throughout his life. From outsmarting his brother of the birthright, deceiving, with the help of his mother, his father for the blessing, working diligently for fourteen years for his two wives, and then another six for all his flocks and herds and to now devising this plot to appease his brother, he has demonstrated a self-reliant man. Although he has prayed and has some sense of God, and his power, he has yet to completely affirm his total reliance on God. Now we come to the place where God shows him his need for this complete reliance. From the narrative we are left with none other than the belief Jacob wrestled with God himself who appeared to him in the form of man. This was no angel, but almighty God who took on the full force of Jacob’s strength in a wrestling match. It appears from the narrative that God could not overpower the strength of Jacob, so he merely touched him and dislocated his hip. This dislocation of Jacob’s hip hindered his strength as the thigh is the pillar of a man’s physical strength. Without the ability to use his leg he now had to cling onto God in order to even stand. The transition is complete. He knew with whom he had been wrestling with and he knew he cannot stand without him. He asks for a blessing, he does not want him to go without blessing him. He is asked his name, and of course he responds, “Jacob”. This carries all the significance of the deceiver, the supplanter, the self-reliant, the self- seeker, the former man. God informs him he has given him a new name, and it is Israel. When God does a work in a man and brings him to the place of total reliance on him, he is a new man with a new name, one that implies he is now with God. Jacob, Israel could not even walk with this dislocated hip, so in the blessing, God restores his ability to walk, but with a limp, to remind him, he is no longer able to rely on his own strength but must rely on God for all aspects of his life. Have we not had the same lesson? So often we hear the unsaved and even some believers claim that God has given us a brain and he intends for us to use it. We might also think God has given us a strong back to forge our way in life, with great abilities. But it is too easy to become self-reliant, to look to our humanist abilities leaving God to be this abstract uninvolved force,  who once created us, leaves us to fend for ourselves, with what we were created with. But this is not the case. God comes to us in many ways. In the past he walked with Adam in the garden. He visited with Abraham, speaking about what he was going to do. He took Lot by the hand to safety. He shows himself to men in various ways. He wrestled with Jacob. God wants to be personally involved in our lives. He reveals himself to us in different ways, so we can know without a doubt that we need to be completely reliant on him. When we think about the fact there is a new name written down in heaven, and it is mine, Oh yes, it is mine, is it the name we were born with? There is a new name, God has given us a new name which signifies we are with him. The past life still exists within us, but we live in the new life. Israel and Jacob are both the same man, and sometimes he is called by one name or the other. There still is the man Jacob within Israel, although the transformation from self-reliant to God-reliant should have been clear to him. We need to see we too can fall back to being that old nature if we are not careful to keep watch over ourselves and understand it is God who has given us this new name which we should be living up to.