Fulfilled Promise

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FULFILLED PROMISE

Gen 28:10-15

10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

NIV

Do these truths only apply to Jacob, or can we take that promise of the LORD personally? He is still the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. Because Jesus came through this lineage, all the peoples on earth, which includes us, are blessed through Jacob's offspring, meaning Jesus. Is there any blessing greater than Jesus? How could we live with peace in our hearts if it were not because of Jesus? How could we experience eternal life without Jesus? If Jesus had not paid the price for us, going to the cross in our place, we would be stuck here on earth until the time when the fiery furnace awaited us. The LORD's promise to Jacob has already come true; in fact, in the realm of heaven, all things have already come true. That truth is beyond our full understanding; nevertheless, it is still true. However, that means whatever the LORD promises will always happen, because it has, because with God there is no time. We are the only ones who are created by God who live under the constraints of time. The LORD promised Jacob that he would bring him back to this land and that he would not leave him until the LORD had done what he had promised him. Jesus promised us that he would come back for us and take us back to the place we should be, where he is, and that he would never leave nor forsake us until he has done all that he promised us. Because he promised we will be with him, we will never be without Jesus. We can now live in perfect peace knowing Jesus is always with us. The LORD always fulfills his promise. Jesus is God's fulfilled promise. 

Division vs Unity

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

DIVISION VS UNITY

Gen 28:1-9

28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. 3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. 4 May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham." 5 Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. 6 Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, "Do not marry a Canaanite woman," 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; 9 so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.

NIV

As dysfunctional this family appeared to be, with the division between Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob, and the conflict between the two brothers, there was some unity. The two Hittite women that Esau took as wives were a source of grief to both Isaac and Rebekah. She did not want Jacob to follow Esau by taking a local foreign woman as a wife; she must have talked this over with Isaac, so he called Jacob in to greet him, bless him, and give him instructions on where to obtain a wife. He had to go within his mother's family, to her brother Laban. We know what happens there, but we should focus on Jacob's and Esau's personalities. From what we know, Jacob is somewhat of a gentle being; we might say, a mother's son. Yes, he deceived his brother out of his birthright and his father to obtain the firstborn blessing, but he was also obedient to his mother, and now he is being obedient to his father. Esau continues to show a mean streak, angry at his brother for agreeing to relinquish his birthright just because he was hungry. He was the one who despised his own birthright, yet he allowed his jealousy and anger to get the best of him to the point of wanting to kill his own brother. So, on a united front, Isaac sends Jacob away with the blessing God gave to Abraham. Isaac wanted him to be fruitful and increase in number until he became a community of people, which we know he became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. However, Esau's anger or hatred for his brother, and now against his parents, led him to take another wife, this time from his Grandfather's son, Ismael's family. Esau caused more division among his father's household. We should learn this lesson well: we cannot allow anger, jealousy, or envy to drive us to hatred or revengeful thinking or behavior. If we live in obedience to our Lord, our lives should always be driven by love, which covers a multitude of sins. It would take years for Jacob and Esau to reconcile. We must reconcile any conflict immediately, not allowing the enemy of our souls to gain a foothold or create division among us. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord, and our love should reflect the unity of God. 

Worthiness of Life

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

WORTHINESS OF LIFE

Gen 27:42-46

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?" 46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living."

NIV

There are two concepts to ponder within this text. First, we wonder why Rebekah thought that she would lose both sons if Esau's hatred drove him to want to kill Jacob. If Esau killed Jacob, wouldn't Jacob be the only one she would lose? However, when Noah came out of the ark, the LORD commanded him that whosoever sheds the blood of man, by man will his blood be shed. So it would seem right that a blood relative of Jacob would be obligated to avenge his death by killing Esau, which could have taken place the very same day that Esau took the life of Jacob. The truth God revealed in that command was that man is made in his image, and therefore the life of all men should be sacred. It would be good for us to consider the sacredness of each other as seen by the Lord. Another example is the hurt Esau caused his mother when he married two Hittite women. We are told she was disgusted with living because of those Hittite women in her household. Were there cultural differences that great; were they completely incompatible? Research suggests they worshipped many deities, were polytheistic, and believed in some form of communication between the living and the dead. Is it any wonder that Rebekah could not tolerate them practicing their religion within her household? She served the One  True God, the only God, the creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them. This should give us enough to ponder how many concepts in the culture we live in are so completely incompatible with the ways of God, which should be our ways. However, we should not adopt the same disgust Rebekah felt; instead, we are told to love one another, for all people were created in God's image. That does not mean we should approve of those corrupt ways in this world's culture. However, we also cannot let the world's ways influence our lives so much that we become accustomed to them and begin to accept them as normal, or possibly even adopt some of them without realizing it. Although Rebekah thought that if Jacob took a Hittite wife, her life would not be worth living, we know without a shadow of doubt that because He lives, we can face tomorrow; in other words, we know our lives are worth living. We should never give in to disgust, despair, or disappointment, because He lives, and He holds our future, and life is worth living. 

Who Is in Control?

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

WHO IS IN CONTROL

Gen 27:38-41

38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud. 39 His father Isaac answered him, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above. 40 You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless,  you will throw his yoke from off your neck." 41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Jealousy and envy turned Esau into a man of hatred, enough to want to kill his own brother. Isaac's prophetic words to Esau were hurtful because his blessing was more of a curse: as Jacob received the heavens' dew and the earth's riches, Esau's dwelling would be away from both. He would receive nothing good. Instead, he would become a restless man, throwing off the headship of his brother. Yet, this hatred that would drive him to want to kill Jacob is the story of life. Jesus made the lesson clear that to hate is the same as murder. Although Jesus used the word angry, which is not as harsh as hateful, to even get angry at someone means judgement by Almighty God. Anger is an emotion driven by self-centeredness, thinking of oneself more highly than one should. We are told that if we forgive those who offend us, the Lord will forgive us, but the opposite is also true: not forgiving means we have no forgiveness from God. Esau was in danger from the judgment of the LORD, as his anger was driving him to desire murder. We cannot allow anger to enter our minds, for as a man thinks, so is he. If we allow that anger a foothold in our minds, it will bring ruin upon our spirits. How can we be in fellowship with God while we allow anger to control our spirits? There is a difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the self. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control, which means that if we are in control of ourselves, we would not allow anger, as well as envy, jealousy, or pride, to control us. Esau was out of control, lost to his selfishness, and allowed anger to control him. We cannot afford that luxury of giving in to our selfish, self-centered life. When we turn our lives over to Jesus and call him our Lord, we give him control. So the question is always before us: who is in control?  

Limited and Unlimited

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

LIMITED AND UNLIMITED

Gen 27:30-37

30 After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing." 32 His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I am your son," he answered, "your firstborn, Esau." 33 Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him — and indeed he will be blessed!" 34 When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me — me too, my father!" 35 But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." 36 Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" 37 Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?"

NIV

Esau receives his due reward for despising his birthright for a bowl of stew. There is no question that he is upset because Jacob deceived their father into giving him the firstborn blessing, and Esau understands the meaning of his brother's name, accusing him of being no better than a thief. Esau is upset and angry about not getting what he thought he should. Was he now envious of Jacob? Was he jealous because Jacob is now the lord over him, instead of him being lord over Jacob? Isaac asked Esau what he could possibly do for him as his son. With men, at least during those times, there was only one firstborn blessing that was for the prosperity of the blessed. Isaac could not give Esau a blessing of prosperity; however, we will see the type of blessing he does get. It will be away from the very things Jacob will receive. Our story is about the blessing not from an earthly father to his son, but from our Heavenly Father through his Son. As sons and daughters of God, we all have been blessed through Jesus coming to earth in the form of man for the express reason to take our place on the cross, the punishment for sin. If that were all he blessed us with, that would be enough. However, he continues to bless us in so many ways. Of course, the blessing of abundant life refers to eternal life. Still, it could also mean a life here and now filled with his presence, and the power of the Holy Spirit empowering us with his gifts,  manifesting his fruit within us, and leading us to walk the way he leads. That is the greatest way to have a fulfilled, happy, content, satisfied, blessed life.  Isaac was limited in what he could do for Esau, but our Heavenly Father is unlimited in what he can do for us.  Man is limited; God is unlimited. 

The Dew of Heaven

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE DEW OF HEAVEN

Gen 27:18-29

18 He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?" 19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing." 20 Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God gave me success," he replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not." 22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied. 25 Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me." 27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said,

"Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 28 May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness — an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."

NIV

Although the deception is complete, God's will for Jacob remains the same, as he received the firstborn blessing. He was due this blessing because Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. Even though he deceived his father at his mother's direction, Jacob still had the right to the firstborn blessing. Having our mind, or rather our spirit, settled on the matter of Jacob's rightful due of the blessing, we should focus on truth within it. What does it mean to have heaven's dew? To understand the significance of heaven's dew, we need to understand the land of Israel. Because that area generally has only two rainy seasons, the morning dew refreshes or supplies enough moisture to sustain the vines and other crops. However, the spiritual significance lies in the relationship between heaven's dew and earth's richness. This earth is our temporary residence, which is sustained by the Lord God of Heaven and earth. This brings us to our relationship with the Lord. Without the dew of heaven, the abundant supply from heaven, which can be seen as Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we could not flourish. We could see Jesus as the dew of Heaven, who supplied us with the life-giving moisture, the living water. Without the dew of heaven, we could not have the richness of life. The dew could also represent the Holy Spirit, who was poured out from heaven upon us who believe. How could we flourish in this dry land unless we are filled with the dew of heaven, the Holy Spirit? A land void of truth is nothing but a wasteland, with no ability to produce any fruit. However, as the Spirit is poured out on us, we flourish with an abundance of fruit. This is one of those transcultural truths that speaks to all peoples in all times. We are blessed by the dew of heaven so we can flourish spiritually because of Jesus, who gives us the life-giving water, and the Spirit leads us into all truth. Let us flourish in the dew of heaven. 

Trust and Obey

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

TRUST AND OBEY

Gen 27:5-17

5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the LORD before I die.' 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies." 11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I'm a man with smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing." 13 His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me." 14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.

NIV

This is the beginning of the deception Rebekah conceived and directed so her son, Jacob, would receive the firstborn blessing. We know Jacob was meant to father the twelve tribes of Israel. We know the LORD spoke to Rebekah concerning her younger son and that the older son would serve him. So then, was this a deception or following the leading of the LORD? How can the will of God be considered achieved through deceiving Isaac into giving Jacob the firstborn blessing? We wonder if Rebekah ever revealed what the LORD said to her while the twins jostled within her. Did she tell Isaac that the older would serve the younger? We are not told, yet Isaac loved his firstborn son, which would have been natural. The oldest son would inherit all the father's possessions. However, God's plan must be fulfilled, and he will direct the paths of his people to accomplish his will. It seems we are but pawns in his hands, doing whatever and however he desires. Yet we have a choice; Rebekah could have let the knowledge revealed to her slip by the wayside, but then she would have been outside God's will. Still, it does not seem right that God would want us to lie about anything; however, that was the case when Jacob deceived his father into believing he was Esau. Yet, Jacob was being obedient to his mother, honoring her plan as it was revealed to her concerning him. Did she tell Jacob about the word of the LORD that came to her? Again, we are not told; however, her plan was based on the revelation she received from the LORD. We know that God's plan and purpose will always be accomplished in our lives because he is sovereign. His ways are not our ways, and our ways are not his ways. We must know that this plan for Jacob came through God's sovereign hand, Rebekah's obedience, and Jacob's trust and obedience to her. That is the lesson for our lives. God has a plan and purpose for our lives, and it may not look like we think it should; however, he will reveal in due time what we are to be, what we are to do, and we simply need to trust and obey.  

Here I Am

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HERE I AM

Gen 27:1-4

27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. 2 Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your weapons — your quiver and bow — and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."

NIV

This marks the beginning of Jacob's deception at Rebekah's direction, though she acted on the LORD's word that the older would serve the younger. She knew in her heart that Jacob was to be the leader, the one who should receive the father's blessing, for he had already received the Father's blessing. But we are not at that point in this long narrative about Isaac's blessing of his firstborn. However, Isaac does send for his son Esau, whom he loved, and sends him out to kill some wild game and prepare a tasty meal for him.  Our story is about the father's call and the son's response. Of course, we could go to the call of our Heavenly Father and Jesus's, the Son's, response. Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to gather his people to himself, in the same sense that Isaac sent his son to gather him a tasty meal.  When Isaac called for Esau, he answered, "Here I am." When God called Moses from the burning bush, Moses answered, "Here I am." When God called Samuel, he answered, "Here I am." In one of his psalms, David responded, "Here I am."  The writer of Hebrews repeats those words, but they refer to Jesus telling his Father, "Here I am; I have come to do your will." But the personal story is about us being called the sons of God. When our Father calls, we have only one proper response: "Here I am." As we respond to God's call on our lives, we also need to complete that statement as we follow Jesus by adding, "I have come to do your will." What good is being a son or daughter of God Most High if it is just for the blessings we can get? Would we be like Peter, asking, "What's in it for me?" We wonder whether we are more concerned about our lives than about God's will for our lives. We know he has a plan and purpose for us, and maybe sometimes we do things in what we think is right, but that might not be his plan, but ours. If we are seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we have only one correct response: "Here I am; I have come to do your will." 

Nothing In Common

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

NOTHING IN COMMON

Gen 26:26-35

26 Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27 Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?" 28 They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us' — between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD." 30 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31 Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. 32 That day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!" 33 He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba. 34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

NIV

The reason Abimelech wanted a treaty with Isaac was very simple: they could see that the LORD was with him. This made Abimelech fear Isaac, because who can fight against the LORD's anointed? Who can wage war against someone whom the LORD is with? Because the LORD was with Isaac, Abimelech could not miss it. This should give us a clue about how our lives should reflect the Lord's glory. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and became a new creature in Christ, we were also baptized with the Holy Spirit, which means we are no longer alone; we live with the Lord's presence. So others should see that the Lord is with us. We do not want people to fear us, as Abimelech feared Isaac, which is why he sent him away in the first place, because Isaac had become too powerful. However, we are certainly more powerful than the enemy whose intent is to destroy our souls. He cannot win the battle against us, because the Lord is with us. Abimelech wanted a treaty with Isaac out of fear. He wanted Isaac to know that he did not molest Isaac, so he is asking for this agreement that Isaac will not molest him. "Let's agree," was the plea. Isaac agreed, treated Abimelech to a feast and sent him on his way in peace. Again, we are told to love others as we love ourselves, and even to love those who are against us, to pray for them. Still, we cannot make a treaty with anyone who does not live for the Lord, but lives under the influence of the evil one, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? What fellowship can light have with darkness? There can be no treaty between a believer and an unbeliever, for what agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? This is the meaning of not being yoked with unbelievers; yet Isaac agreed to this yoke of a treaty with Abimelech. However, they remained separate entities and did not live together, but did not wage war against each other. We should not wage war against the wicked, but also not live among them, accepting their ways as ours. There is this other truth we should note. Because Esau married foreign women, he grieved Isaac and Rebekah. Sometimes when members of our family live outside the reverence for God, it causes us grief. That is natural; Esau was Isaac's brother, yet he was not living according to God's way, but we are not told that Isaac tried to correct his son, just that Esau was a source of grief, because although they had nothing in common, he still loved his son.The truth is that Isaac had nothing in common with Abimelech or Esau. 

Too Powerful

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

TOO POWERFUL

Gen 26:16-25

16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us." 17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. 19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.   22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land." 23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." 25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

NIV

We could focus on the three wells, each with the names Isaac gave them; the Hebrew words mean dispute, opposition, and room. That is the story of three wells. However, we could focus on the LORD's appearance to Isaac, telling him not to be afraid, for He is with him. That is a great life lesson, because we know the Lord is with us; in fact, the Holy Spirit lives within us. Still, the Lord is our shepherd, and he will never leave us, nor forsake us. Shepherds never leave their sheep alone, for the wolves are always looking to devour the sheep. His rod and his staff, they comfort us; he always leads us to still waters and to green pastures, and he has restored our souls. Although the LORD appeared to Isaac, as he did to Abraham, blessing them both about the number of their descendants, both had built altars and called in the name of the LORD. We might consider the front of our churches as altars, such as the prayer railing, or some similar place, but the true altar to the Lord should be in our hearts. Within our hearts is where we worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. Our hearts represent our spirits and minds, for that is where our worship resides; in our spirits, and truth is in our minds. Still, there is this one truth that we may not think about much. Abimelech told Isaac to move away because he had become too powerful. We may not think we have much power, but because the Lord is with us, we are filled with God's power. Because we are so powerful, another enemy wants us to move away from him. Abimelech feared Isaac because he became powerful through the LORD's blessings. IF we are living in the blessings of the Lord, the enemy of our soul may just want us to move away from him. All too often we think that Satan has some power or influence over us, but that is not true. His only power is whatever the Lord allows him. We have the power of God available within us, for he dwells in us, and so we have power over Satan. We have Jesus' authority and can tell him to move away, not because he is too powerful for us, but because we are too powerful for him.  We simply need to resist him, and he will flee from us. That is the power of God at work within us. There is no question as to who is too powerful. 

The Lord's Blessing

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE LORD'S BLESSING

Gen 26:7-15

7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." 8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." 10 Then Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." 11 So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." 12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.

NIV

We could focus on the idea of "Like father, like son." But that is not a truth we would want to learn as a life lesson, other than not to repeat our ancestors' mistakes. That could translate into not living by the traditions our former believers established or following the traditions of their ancestors because, somewhere, some established them because of their culture, but they may not have been altogether biblical. However, our story today is about Isaac receiving a hundredfold harvest because the LORD blessed him. Jesus taught about receiving hundred times more, or in that parable about the sowing of the seed, the word of God, when planted in the good soil, produced a crop multiplying thirty, sixty, even a hundred times. However, that too would be due only to the Lord's blessings. How could we expect to increase in any way, physically, emotionally, but especially spiritually, on our own, or without the Lord's blessing? We may never attain the material wealth, as Isaac did, but we surely will be spiritually wealthy because the Lord blessed us.  However, that does not mean the Lord will not bless us materially, providing all our needs. Although that might be true for some in our culture, the content of that material blessing could differ across cultures. When the Philistines stopped up the wells that Abraham's servant had dug, it could apply, in some sense, to a lesson we should ponder. There will always be those who would want to stop up the well of God's truth, filling it in with dirt- that could be false teaching, or false doctrine, traditions rather than truth, or maybe even attitudes that become actions, like unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, pride, or even gossip. There is a fountain flowing deep and wide, or, in another way, there is a fountain flowing with our Savior's blood. Let us never allow anything to stop it. The Lord blesses us hundredfold. 

Our Way or His Way

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

OUR WAY OR HIS WAY

Gen 26:1-6

26:1 Now there was a famine in the land — besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time — and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

NIV

Once again, we see the LORD's faithfulness as he directed Isaac's path and blessed him. Issac thought he should go to another land because of the famine where he was living, but the LORD had other plans. The Lord told him to live in the land he told him to live in, to stay where he told him to stay. As a result of doing what the LORD said, he would be with him and bless him. Although the LORD gave Isaac the same blessing about his descendants that he gave to his father, Abraham, the great life lesson lies in the LORD's will for Isaac. "Do not go." "Live where I tell you." Stay when I say stay." These were very specific instructions with the bonus of the LORD's blessing. All throughout the lives of these men of old, we see the pattern: when they make their own choices, things do not go well with them, but when they listen to the LORD's plans and obey, things go well with them. Should we not learn from that pattern? Why would we insist on making our own choices in life, when we know our choices will not go well,  for they are usually, if not always, self-centered? Why would we not want to live a God-centered life, simply following His leading, His direction, to not go, live here, stay where he wants? If we are listening, if we have ears to hear, then we will know where we are to go, where we are to live, and how long we are to stay. We made the confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, which Lord means overseer, leader, supreme authority; so then should we not follow his instructions to a T? Again, that would require having ears to hear and listening to his voice, for as we stop talking, we would hear his commands, and as we follow, he will bless us far more than we could imagine or do on our own. We can see the incredible blessing on Abraham because he obeyed and kept his requirements, commands, decrees, and laws. It comes down to either living poorly or richly, our way or his way. 

Follow His Plan

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FOLLOW HIS PLAN

Gen 25:27-34

27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

NIV

This narrative presents two truths, or two identities, in Esau and Jacob. Esau is shown as a man's man, a skillful hunter, representing the ideal man of the times, a warrior-type man, living in the open country. Jacob is shown as a gentle man, a cook, someone who stays home. We also see a somewhat dysfunctional family: Isaac loved his hunter-class son, while Rebekah loved her gentle, quiet son who learned the homely skills. Yet our story is about Esau's birthright. As the firstborn, he was entitled to inherit all his father's estate. Everything Isaac owned would belong to Esau; as the inheritor, his bloodline would be the family's proper lineage. However, the LORD had other plans, as Jacob was the chosen man through whom Jesus would come into the world. Was it the LORD who caused Esau to despise his birthright, to not care about it, to sell it for a bowl of soup? Jacob is known for his deceitful actions, first toward his brother, then his father, yet this is still the plan of God, so Jacob would be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Of course, he did not deceive Esau, yet Jacob cherished the birthright. That appears to be the hand of God at work in his heart, so that the LORD's plan would be accomplished. This gives us a clue to life. Sometimes we might think situations that happen in our lives cause us some trouble or hardship. Sometimes we experience good things, but our lives should reflect God's plans for us. We can bring harm upon ourselves by making bad choices without God's counsel. We can bring pleasures upon ourselves, also without God's counsel.  However, if we want to live as God intends, then we better not make a move without first consulting him. This would require ears to hear and eyes to see the way we should go. He directed the paths of both Esau and Jacob to carry out his plan and purpose. He will direct our path for his plan and purpose; we only need to follow his plan. We remember a television program years ago, "Father Knows Best," but now we know our Heavenly Father always knows what is best. We just need to follow his plan. 

Asked and Answered

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

ASKED AND ANSWERED

Gen 25:19-26

19 This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.

23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.   26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

NIV

Now we look at part of Isaac's life. There is no question this man is special in the eyes of the LORD, as he was the one promised to Abraham and Sarah. What is notable about both Isaac and his wife Rebekah is that they both inquired of the LORD. First, Isaac sought the LORD on Rebekah's behalf because she was barren. They could not conceive a child. As always, the LORD heard Isaac's prayer, answered, and Rebekah became pregnant. We can be assured that the LORD always hears, always answers, but we first must ask, then listen. We can also learn that the answer may take time, as Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah and sixty when Rebekah gave birth to the two sons. However, we do not know the time frame between when Isaac prayed and when Rebekah became pregnant. The time could have been within a day, a week, or a year; we are not told. However, we are told the LORD answered, and all this was according to his will. There is no logical reason the LORD would simply ignore a prayer, ignore our request, our petition, for he has done it so many times, demonstrating that it is his nature to hear and to answer. We see he did the same for Rebekah when the twins Esau and Jacob jostled each other within her, although she did not know until the LORD told her she would have two sons. He answered her and gave her specific information about the twins within her. We learn that the LORD did not want Rebekah to be in the dark about what was going to happen with her two sons. This gives us another truth about the LORD. It is not his nature to keep his people in the dark, but to shine the light of his truth upon them. He has already told us what will happen; he has assured us that his will concerning his people has been recorded for us. Yet, there are those times, those individual moments in our lives, as it was with Isaac and Rebekah, when we need a specific answer to a special need in our lives. The Lord does not turn a deaf ear to our prayer, and he does not hear and do nothing, as he will always answer in some way. How often do we use the excuse that he might say no or later because we do not see the result we want? No, we cannot make an excuse for God. His will is always accomplished in our lives; at the same time, he will always answer our prayers if they align with his plan and purpose for our lives. Still, we can ask about what he wants to do within us and through us, and he will always show us. It comes down to asking and being answered. 

Fulfilled

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FULFILLED

Gen 25:12-18

12 This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. 17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

NIV

The twelve tribes of Ishmael inherited their hostility directly from the hostility Ishmael felt toward Isaac during the feast Abraham held in Isaac's honor.  He and his mother, Hagar, were sent away, and they have been away from the grandson of Abraham, Jacob, to this day. The twelve sons of Ismael settled in the northwest part of the Arabian Peninsula, just a little northeast of Egypt. This makes them the ancestors of the Arab nations, which means Mohammed is a descendant of Ishmael, fulfilling the prophetic word that they lived in hostility toward all their brothers. The Islamic people hate the Israeli people and are determined to destroy them. This hatred has driven the Islamic people to want to destroy all people who do not serve Allah, their name for God. Although the Arabic word for God has its roots in words that make up the name Allah and believe he is the creator of the universe, their theology is not compatible with the character of God Almighty. The Lord God is not a Divine God who drives hatred for others, but He is the God of love; in fact, God is love. It is God's very word that the descendants of Ishmael would live in hostility toward all their brothers. How then could people who serve God Almighty live in hostility to others who serve God Almighty? We wonder: if those who live with Islamic beliefs are united in hatred toward non-Islamic people, why are those of us who serve the triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not united in love toward our brothers? Although their hatred or hostility is the prophetic word of God, written and recorded by 40 different authors over a span of 1500 years, Islam is from the mind of one man, one author who wrote the Koran over a period of 23 years. How can a book of hatred compare with a book of love? However, the point remains: we are seeing God's word fulfilled. That should also give us faith, believing that God Almighty's word is always fulfilled concerning us. 

A Good Old Age

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A GOOD OLD AGE

Gen 25:1-11

25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. 7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

NIV

Interestingly, Abraham took another wife who bore him six sons, who gave him seven grandsons, and three great-grandsons, all of whom became different people groups; the story is still about Abraham. Abraham had eight sons, including Ishmael and Isaac, but he left everything he had to his promised son Isaac, the one son whom Sarah bore according to the word of the LORD. Abraham also gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, who were different from the sons of his wives, Sarah and Keturah. However, our story is about Abraham, who lived to a good old age of one hundred and seventy-five years, an old man full of years. This is a blessing from the LORD, who blessed Abraham, for his believing the LORD and being obedient, to live to be a man full of years. The Hebrew word sabea’ means satisfied, or full, as in satisfied years. In some sense, that could mean Abraham lived out his life satisfied, blessed by the LORD. In another sense, it could mean the years of his life were full, or finished as determined by the LORD, as in all our days are numbered, or determined by the Lord. Living to a good old age is simply a blessing from the LORD. But the point is that all our days should be good if we are in relationship with the LORD. Even if we experience some troubles, whatever kind they might be, our days are good because we belong to the Lord, the master of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. We live in the palm of his hand, as Jesus promised that no one can snatch us from the palm of the Father's hand. Then can we say that all the days of our lives are good and that, whatever the number, we will have lived to a good old age? 

Two Become One

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

TWO BECOME ONE

Gen 24:62-67

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

NIV

This last portion of Abraham's servant bringing a wife for Isaac includes two main events. First, we are told that Isaac went into a field to meditate. The word ponder may better capture the Hebrew word used. We wonder if Issac recalled that moment when his father took him up to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him in obedience to the LORD, and how the LORD provided the substitute, the ram in the thicket. It makes us ponder the fact of our guilt and how we should have been put to death, but how the LORD provided Jesus as our substitute, who took our punishment on the cross. Although that is the one or primary truth for our lives, there is this event when Isaac takes Rebekah into his mother's tent, and she becomes his wife. Although we are not told anything about any ceremony, or that Isaac presented his bride before his father, Abraham, in the original Hebrew text there is no word for "married,” as this translation uses. It just says that he took her into his mother's tent and she became his wife. We know that in Jesus' time, Jewish people had large wedding feasts that could last several days, such as the wedding at Cana. However, we do not know whether there was any type of feast or celebration. Isaac simply took Rebekah into the tent, and she became his wife. This takes us back to creation when God formed Adam and Eve, and they were one flesh: a man and his wife, the suitable helpmate. God chose Eve for Adam, and in this story we are told the LORD chose Rebekah for Isaac. It is not by chance that all the events happened, but by the hand of God. This is the divine will of God: that a man should leave his parents and be united with his wife, and that they should become one flesh, a union decided by the will of God. There have been times when parents arranged the marriage of their sons and daughters; however, in our current culture, we make our own choices, although that may be a misnomer, as our unions- the one whom we marry could still be by the will of God. He could have led us to the right one, and that is still the truest sense of rightness: a man takes his bride to become his wife; one man, one woman, and the two will become one. That is not to say we cannot make mistakes when we operate outside the will of God, which leads to such a high rate of divorce, even in the church. The world and all its alternative ways of union are certainly outside the will of God. Let us praise the Lord, as he has worked his plan for the two of us to become one. That is also, in some sense, a mystery: that the two of us, Jesus and us, have become one, as He and the Father are one. 

I will Go

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

I WILL GO

Gen 24:54-61

When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master." 55 But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." 56 But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." 57 Then they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said. 59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

NIV

We know the LORD's hand was in all that was done for Abraham's servant, for he was serving his master and went to the exact place at the exact time so that he would find Rebekah. We are not sure why Laban and her mother wanted her to stay at home for 10 days. However, the servant asked them not to detain him. The question was then asked of Rebekah, and her answer gives us our clue for life: "I will go." But we should also consider another truth. Laban and her mother's blessing was for her to prosper as a wife, a mother of descendants of thousands upon thousands, and that her offspring would possess the gates of their enemies. This prophecy foretold what would happen: through Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. But it is this, "I will go," that strikes a chord in our hearts. Although God has a plan and purpose for our lives, and he may bring certain circumstances into our lives to motivate us toward his plan, or he may even bring us a direct message either through his word, a messenger, a vision, or by his very own spoken word into our ears or heart, we still need to say, "I will go." Jesus wants us to follow him, just as he said to James and John. We do not know whether, because we do not know the inflection of Jesus's voice, he told them to follow him in a commanding tone, or if it was more like a gentle nudge on their hearts. When the Holy Spirit came into our lives to convict us of our need to repent, he did not command us, but gave a gentle nudge on our hearts. Could that be how God moves us in accordance with his plan and purpose for us? Could He just gently nudge our hearts toward where and what we are to do? However, when the Lord speaks to us, we still need to respond, "I will go." 

A Precious Gift

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A PRECIOUS GIFT

Gen 24:39-54

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' 40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you — you will be released from my oath.' 42 "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," 44 and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.' 45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' 46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. 47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." 50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed." 52 When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

NIV

Abraham's servant recounts the events at the well, telling Laban it was the LORD's work. He finally asked for a yes-or-no answer so he would know what to do next. Laban agrees that his sister should be Isaac's wife, and Abraham's servant responds by bowing down to the ground before the LORD. How gracious the LORD was to Abraham's servant. Was it because he was the servant of his master? Was the LORD gracious to the servant because he served Abraham, whom the LORD had promised that he would have a son, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars?  Was the LORD simply gracious to the servant for being faithful to his master? What we know is that the LORD has been gracious before, was gracious at this time, and has been gracious to us. The LORD's faithfulness has never been in question, for he has been and will always be faithful to his word. He has shown his kindness and faithfulness to Abraham's servant, and he has always bowed down before the LORD, being thankful for the hand of the LORD working for the good of his master. We do not serve an earthly master, although if we are employed, we are responsible for serving our employer faithfully and working diligently for his benefit. However, we do serve our heavenly Father, although he is also our master, as he is the Master of the Universe, the Great I AM, who created all that is created, and formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and breathed life into his lungs. Yet, he also formed us within our mother's womb, knowing us before we were ever formed. How could we not respond by bowing down to the ground in complete reverence, with a heart of thankfulness for his wonderful grace, mercy, compassion, love, and faithfulness to us? Because the LORD was gracious to Laban and approved Rebekah as Isaac's wife, the servant gave precious gifts to Rebekah, her brother, and her mother.  However, what precious gift can we give to the one who gave us life? How can we give the LORD any gift that is worthy of the LORD? The only gift we can give is ourselves, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to our Lord for his grace toward us. We are the only precious gift we can give him. 

Blessed by the Lord

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BLESSED BY THE LORD

Gen 24:28-38

28 The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." 32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," [Laban] said. 34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'

NIV

First, we find it interesting that Rebekah runs to her mother's household. It is possible that Bethuel, the girl's father, was dead because her brothers conducted the business. Laban formally invites Abraham's servant to their home. Laban calls him blessed by the LORD as he extends hospitality to the servant and his men. This is the first time we learn that other menservants who traveled with Abraham's servant. Once he was in the family home, he explained his purpose: to fulfill his duty to his master, Abraham. Although Laban called him blessed by the LORD, the servant only spoke of how much the LORD had blessed his master with so much wealth, and that it had been passed on to his son; everything had been given to Isaac. He said this deliberately to let Laban know his sister would be the wife of a very wealthy man. However, our lesson is not about Isaac's inheritance or his father giving him everything he owned. This is also foreshadowing the Father giving his Son everything he owns. Before leaving them, Jesus told his disciples that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Although the Son was obedient to the Father and always wanted to do the Father's will, the Father gave the Son all authority. Jesus told the seventy-two he had sent out that he gave them the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy. However, they were not to rejoice in that authority but to rejoice because their names were written down in heaven. This is also our greatest joy, to know our names are written down in heaven. However, we also have the authority in the name of Jesus over the power of the enemy, the one Jesus saw fall like lightning from heaven. Satan is a fallen power, but he has power over anyone who rejects Jesus. Like Bob Dylan's song, "You gotta serve somebody, either you're gonna serve the Lord, or you're gonna serve the devil, but you gotta serve somebody." Because we have decided to serve the Lord, we are assured of two truths. First, our names are written down in heaven, and second, we have authority over the enemy of our souls. Simply by resisting him, he must flee from us. We are blessed by the Lord.

 

Bowed Down

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BOWED DOWN

Gen 24:22-27

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.   23 Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" 24 She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor." 25 And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night." 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

NIV

The LORD had directed the path of Abraham's servant to the exact place, at the exact time, and to the exact circumstances so that his will for Isaac would be accomplished. When the servant realized what the LORD had done, leading him to where he was supposed to be, and finding the perfect lady from the same family as his master, he bowed down and worshiped the LORD. His thoughts and prayers focused on how the LORD had not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to his master, Abraham. He praised the LORD for the kindness and faithfulness for someone other than himself. Of course, he was thankful that the LORD led him on the journey to his master's relatives' house, but his prayer focused on his master, Abraham. This should teach us a truth about our prayers: not to focus constantly on ourselves, our needs, our wants, or on being thankful for how much God has done for us, in us, and through us. Although all that is true, he has blessed us beyond measure by human calculations. How could we possibly thank him enough? In fact, our lives should reflect his blessings so that others would see God in us. Unfortunately, our humanity gets in the way, and our reflection is sometimes tarnished, or at least dulled. However, let us also remember that we ought to pray thankfully for the kindness and faithfulness he has shown those whom we serve, those who are in the family of God, our relatives in the Lord. We should be glad and praise God for how he treats others with such kindness and faithfulness. We wonder how much we bow down when we praise him. Have we become too casual with our prayers, too familiar with God, that we do not bow before him, recognizing him as the King of the universe, the Great I AM, the Creator of all that is created,  the One who saved us by His grace? We think of the Pharisee and the tax collector and how different their attitudes about God were. Of those two, who are we most like? Do we stand and make a show of our religiosity, or do we bow low, not worthy enough to even look up to the heavens, because we are but sinners saved by grace? Do we bow down either physically or in our hearts to worship?

Answered Before Asked

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

ANSWERED BEFORE ASKED

Gen 24:10-21

10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. 12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' — let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." 15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. 17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar." 18 "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

NIV

After the servant swore to his master Abraham, he set out to where Abraham insisted he go to look for a wife for Isaac. The first truth we notice is that he prayed for the LORD to show kindness to his master, Abraham. We do not live in a culture of masters and servants; however, we do have employees and employers. So, as employees, we should pray that the LORD would show kindness to our employers. We also have other areas in our culture where others are in charge, such as the officials of our cities, states, and national offices. Of course, the government is supposed to be by the people, for the people, and of the people, yet we have elected them, and we should pray that the LORD would show kindness to them.  It would also be right to pray that the LORD would show kindness to each person we know. Second, we notice the servant's prayer is very precise about what he expected the LORD to show him: the perfect woman to be Isaac's wife, and exactly how that would be shown to him. Did the LORD set up the circumstances in accordance with the servant's prayer, or was he praying in accordance with the guidance of the LORD? We believe the LORD had inspired the servant's prayer to accomplish his plan in Isaac's life. Third, Rebekah showed up even before the servant had finished praying. This leads us to believe the LORD's plan all along was for her to be Isaac's wife. He directed her to show up at the exact moment she did and fulfill the conditions of the servant's prayer. This gives us the truth about our prayer life. We should pray in accordance with God's will, and the only way we will know that is by spending more time listening than talking. Although God is interested in what we say or pray, he does not want us to babble on like the pagans or the Pharisees, trying to impress others with our many fine-sounding words. The servant was exact in his prayer, and it was short and sweet; then he sat waiting for the answer, which, of course, came before he finished praying. God will always answer. He will show us the answer if we listen and watch. All too often, we babble off a short prayer, with all the right words, then get on with what we have to do, and never wait for the answer. The servant saw his prayer answered, so should we. He answers even before we ask.

Blessed In Every Way

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BLESSED IN EVERY WAY

Gen 24:1-9

24:1 Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac." 5 The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?" 6 "Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said. 7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land' — he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there." 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

NIV

This is the beginning of one of the great stories about the lives of Isaac and Rebekah; however, even though Abraham's servant's oath is important, one truth stands out above all else. Abraham was well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. How many ways could the LORD have blessed him?  How many ways has the LORD loved Abraham enough to bless him in every way? Was it higher than the mountains, wider than the ocean, higher than the highest sky, deeper than the deepest sea? Was that how much he loved Abraham, that he blessed him in every way? However, the Lord has blessed those who are in Christ in every way, for Jesus is the only way. How can we be blessed any more than to know Jesus, accepting him as our Lord and Savior, having all our sin washed away, cleansed completely, even from the sin we have yet to commit? We could recount all the ways the LORD blessed Abraham by going back over his life, just looking for those times of blessing. But we could recount the many times the LORD has blessed us if we went back over our lives. Sometimes we could forget all the ways he has blessed us, especially when we are going through a difficult time, but that is exactly when we need to recount past blessings. Remembering all the ways the LORD has blessed us over our years gives us encouragement, strengthens our faith, and helps us believe that the LORD will see us through this particular stretch of difficulty. We might change in our faith, wondering where he is and why he hasn't healed or helped us through, but then we need to see that one set of footprints in the sand, as he is always there, and at those times, he is carrying us through. We also need to remember the LORD never changes; he is always looking to bless us in every way. 

See You In The Morning

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

SEE YOU IN THE MORNING

Gen 23

23:1 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. 3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4 "I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead." 5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead." 7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf, 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you." 10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11 "No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead." 12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, "Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there." 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead." 6 Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. 17 So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre — both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field — was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.

NIV

It seems we have to include this entire story of Sarah's death and burial. It is amazing that she lived to 127. From what we know from early in their story, Sarah was about ninety when Isaac was born, so that would mean he was now thirty-seven and still living in his father's household. But the story here is about Abraham mourning over the death of his dear wife and securing the place for her burial. This would have been a sad time in Abraham's life, but yet, it is the way of life. All of us who are married will face that moment sometime; it is inevitable. We also have Jesus' promise that as long as we remain in him and he in us, although we die, we will live. Still, burial is a human practice. Abraham needed to secure a place, and the process then was very different from today's practice. He wanted to pay; they wanted to gift; he insisted on paying; they agreed, and the bargain was made. But the story is still about Abraham having to put his wife to rest in a tomb. One of the hardest times in life is when, after so many years together, you have to say that final farewell. So often, we never think about that moment or consider it when we start our journey together. With so much life ahead of us, we look at all the many years Abraham and Sarah spent together, most likely more than any of us will ever achieve, and it was right for Abraham to mourn and weep over her. This should give us a truth, a lesson to learn. Let us use the time we have been given to love and cherish each other, to honor each other. Of course, the husband is commanded to love his wife, and she is commanded to respect her husband. Yet, older women are to teach younger women to love their husbands. They are also to train younger women to be self-controlled, kind, and subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God. That would mean the older women have learned those traits. What a joy to have that kind of marriage, which we are sure existed between Abraham and Sarah because we have been given so much of their lives as an example for us. Let us reflect on how to live together before that time comes. Yet, we will not say goodbye, but "I will see you in the morning.” 

Blessed

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BLESSED

Gen 22:13-24

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." 19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba. 20 Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel." 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham's brother Nahor. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maacah.

NIV

Abraham called that place "The LORD Will Provide," as we noticed before, but here is where he hears from the angel of the LORD a second time. The LORD said that he swears by himself regarding Abraham and all his descendants. No one else can make that statement. We cannot say that we swear by ourselves, yet isn't that what a promise is? When or if we say, "I promise," aren't we swearing by ourselves? Jesus said that just because long ago men made oaths, we are not to swear at all, either by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or our own head, for we cannot make one hair on our heads white or black; the only thing that is left is to let our yes be yes, and our no be no. James reiterates those words of Jesus. Let us learn this lesson well. We should not ever ask someone to promise us they will do something for us, for we would be asking them to disobey our Lord.  It might be acceptable to ask if they will do something, but we must accept their yes or no without objection or requiring them to clarify their answer. Only God can swear, and he only swears by himself because he is the only one who can always fulfill what he swears he will do. Secondly, the reason the LORD swore that he would bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore, and through his offspring, who will be Jesus, all nations on earth will be blessed, is because Abraham obeyed him. Our response to that blessing is that we are blessed because of Jesus. However, at the same time, are we not also supposed to obey the LORD as Abraham did? Of course, we could say that we would not withhold our child from the LORD. If he determined we should give him our child, not that we would sacrifice them as a burnt offering, but if the LORD wanted to take our child, we should not be angry with him, but love him, knowing he has a plan and a purpose for all that he does. Our response should always be to obey him, first because we are already blessed, secondly, because as we obey him, he will continually bless us beyond our wildest dreams. 

God Provides

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

GOD PROVIDES

Gen 22:6-14

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that

NIV

This experience of Abraham's is not complete, as the LORD will speak to him again, but this part of his story has much to consider. As we had already noticed, Abraham now places the wood on Isaac to carry up to Mt Moriah, the place the LORD showed him where he was to offer a burnt offering. Of course, Jesus carried his wood through the streets of Jerusalem, built on Mt Moriah; there he offered himself for our sins; there at Calvary he took our place on the cross, where we should have been slain. Isaac did ask that important question, noting they had the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham's answer was both an act of complete faith in the LORD and a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus as the Lamb God would provide. The fact that Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on the altar of wood gives us another foreshadowing of Jesus. Isaac did not resist being bound or laid on the altar. Jesus did not resist being arrested, and later put on that altar of wood, to be the Lamb of God, slain for the world. Abraham did not withhold his only son from God; he intended to go through with the sacrifice of Isaac, even though he had told his servants that both of them would return. However, God would not allow Abraham to complete the task; just as he lifted his arm with the knife in hand, God called out to him by name. Abraham had passed the test, and now God was going to provide the offering by showing Abraham a ram stuck in a thicket by its horns. Was it not there before? Did Abraham notice it before? Did the ram appear from God's hand, or did He open Abraham's eyes to see the ram, as He did for Hagar so she could see the well? In both cases, God provided as he always does. There are two ways in which we are unable to provide for ourselves. First, in the natural, where we sometimes find ourselves in a difficult situation, either financially or emotionally. Second, and most importantly, we cannot and never will be able to provide our own salvation. We will never be able to have any righteousness within because we are simply all sinners; that is, not one person is righteous- no, not one. We are blessed because God provided His Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus, to redeem us and secure our salvation. How could we ever doubt? God has always provided and will always provide. 

The Test

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

 THE TEST

 

Gen 22:1-5

22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

NIV

This is one of the most famous stories from Abraham's life. God, 'Elohim,' tested Abraham, although we are not told what the test was for. Was it about Abraham's faith, or his obedience, or both? We know the story and how it ended, but several truths in this first portion stir thoughts in our hearts. First, Abraham was to take his only son Isaac, whom he loved. We know God considered Ishmael, for he heard his heart's cry and opened Hagar's eyes so she would see the well and give her son the water of life. But God said to Abraham that Isaac was his only son, whom he loved. Of course, we know this foreshadows God giving His only Son, whom He loves. He led Abraham to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him there, the very place where Jesus was sacrificed, as Jerusalem sits on Mt Moriah today. As this story unfolds, we know Abraham put the wood on Isaac to carry to the place of Sacrifice, as Jesus carried his wood, the cross, to the place of sacrifice. Yet Abraham demonstrated his faith in Almighty God by telling his servants that he and the boy would go up there to worship and then return to them. It is thought that he felt that although he would sacrifice his son, Isaac, God would restore him to life, or that God would provide the sacrifice. That is what we are told in the next conversation between Abraham and Isaac. But our story today is about the fact that although Abraham was a man of God, although he had been visited by God, talked with him about Sodom, and had the promise of a son, received that promise, God still tested him. We are told not to put God to a foolish test, but could God test us? We certainly cannot compare ourselves to a man like Abraham, yet we try to live in accordance with God's way. We try to do whatever he directs us to do. We believe God and have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We endeavor to serve him in any way that he leads us, yet does he test us? Personally, I know I have been tested several times, and I hope I have passed, as Abraham did. Does God test us all at some point in our lives to prove our faithfulness, our trust, our obedience? We know that if or when God tests us, he does not do so for us to fail, but for us to pass.