No lie

DEVOTION

GENESIS

NO LIE

Gen 26:7-11

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."

NIV

There are two striking thoughts about this narrative. We see that Isaac commits the very same lie his father did in the very same place. We have to wonder if Abraham had ever spoken of this offense he committed to his son Isaac. It would seem because Isaac has done the same thing, Abraham had kept silent about this matter to his son. This begs the question whether it is a good thing to expose our failures to our children in hopes they will be aware of those temptations and thus be able to guard against them. This would have to be done in the most delicate of manners as not to lose the respect of our children. But this might have prevented Isaac from repeating the sin of his father. Yet the respect issue has much value and perhaps it is best not to be completely transparent with our children, even as they become adults. Plus there might be another reason to keep our failures to ourselves. If we confess our failure, sin to our children then it might offer them a good reason to follow suit. If dad or mom did it, then would be alright if I did it. Yet this is exactly what Isaac did, with or without the knowledge of his father’s same offense. Yet how often as children we have observed the bad behavior of our parents and perhaps swore within we would never be like that, yet sometime later did in fact begin to behave similarly. It does give thoughts to perhaps Isaac was not oblivious to Abrahams faults. Yet that is no reason to lie to Abimelech that Rebekah was his sister. She was his cousin and thus family, but not his sister, as Sarah was to Abraham, so this was really an outright lie. This lie was again, as stated in the narrative, to protect himself from harm. It does seem strange this version uses the word caressing when describing the actions Abimelech observed Isaac and Rebekah involved in. The original word means more of sporting, laughing out loud, to play or to toy with. Perhaps this was done in a romantic way, which gave Abimelech the insight Rebekah was actually his wife and not his sister. The point of his whole lie, the resulting behavior and the finding out of the truth is that their sin was found out. They could not keep up this lie completely without being found out.

Num 32:23-24

23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

NIV

Although God was speaking to the children of Israel this truth applies to all of us today. It is without question God knows when we are sinning, when we are living a lie so to speak. We cannot hide our sin from him. We might attempt to hide our sin from others, even those close to us, but that will not last hidden for long either. Isaac and Rebekah could not keep this lie going forever and they were found out, not just by God, but by other people. This is not just an Old Testament truth that we can live by. Jesus said:

Luke 12:1-3

"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

NIV

Although it may not be the wisest of things to confess all our sin before our children in hopes of giving them insight or perhaps giving them permission to commit the same errors, we can be sure that God sees us for who we truly are. Our only saving grace is that we are in Christ. This is what will be revealed. Yet we need also to see we need to keep our lips from lies. We should not be like the Pharisees, being hypocrites. Appearing to be so super spiritual while still failing to be perfect human beings. Are we not all sinners saved by grace? Pretending not to have any sin is in fact a lie. Thinking more of ourselves then we should is living a lie. It is true that some of us might have a larger grasp of the scripture then others. Some of us might have an education in biblical studies, knowing chapter and verse of many of the books of the bible. Some of us might have extended knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek languages which may give better insights into certain truths. Some of us may have been saved for many years, while others are new to the faith. But the fact remains, there are none righteous, no not one for we all have sinned and are in need of a Savior.  Sooner or later our sin will find us out. Certainly by God, but also by those we live among. No matter how hard we try, we cannot keep up a lie our whole life. It would be good to be who we are, sinners saved by grace. Now that does not mean we should just go on sinning, go on lying about our life to God or others. We should endeavor to be truthful in all we do and say. We need to be the man or woman of God we say we are. Yet not pretend we are sinless either. We might think a little white lie is alright if it keeps us from harm, such as telling that officer we did not see the speed limit sign or some other seemingly small offense. Although some of us may believe we never lie, and not only ascribed that honestly is the best policy, but behave that way, it is good not to become judgmental about those who may have been caught in a lie. No matter the sin, if we are guilty of one we are guilty of them all, at least according to the law.

James 2:11

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

NIV

James goes on to say that judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who does not have mercy. We are all guilty under the law, but praise God, Jesus fulfilled the law and thus we are free from that guilt and shame because we are in Christ. Nevertheless we still need to live the truth, not a lie.  

The good life

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE GOOD LIFE

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

There are times when we make plans based on the physical circumstances around us. Here because of another famine it appears Isaac is thinking about heading down to Egypt as his father before him had done. When times get tough the tough get going, or at least the saying goes. But this going was not the type the saying implies. He was going to leave the area to find a better environment to live in. Famines tend to make it difficult to both have food for himself and all his servants and feed the flocks and herds which represented a man’s wealth. When Isaac headed out he first went to Gerar where the king of the Philistines, Abimelech ruled. This is still in the land of the Canaanites, sort of close to the modern day Gaza strip. He had not yet gone very far on his journey to escape the famine when God intervened in a vision giving him specific instructions as what not to do. Just because there is a famine in the land is no reason to leave it as it will be your land and your descendants land and you and they will be blessed. This is the basic message God gave to him.  Stay put no matter what the circumstances look like for God will surely take care of it. We are going to see Isaac make the same mistake his father made with the same king, or perhaps another king of the same name. This certainly was not the intent of God by telling him to stay put.  But our lesson is in this intervention of God. There are many times in our lives when our physical circumstances seem to be difficult and we might decide to try to change our circumstances by making major plans to move, or change jobs, or get married or divorced, in an attempt to just run away from it all. What we need to know is what does God want us to do and not to do. Isaac was looking to inward to rescue himself rather than looking to God. But God would not have that, so he appeared to Isaac to insure him of the correct plan for his life.

Prov 19:21

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

NIV

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

NIV

Both these Proverbs say the same thing in different ways, but illustrate for us the fact God has a better way for us then we might think. When the situation is difficult to live in, we try to escape it with our own thinking. But God needs to be counseled with to determine what his plan in our life is. It may well be that he wants us to stay in the midst of a difficult situation so that he can bless us and people will see God at work rather than man. The ungodly live with their own choices and make their way for their own betterment. We need to live God’s way so that our choices are his choices and then he will get all the honor and glory for our betterment, even in difficult situations. This is not to say the only course or action is to stay put, as he commanded Isaac. But this is to say whatever we do in any circumstance needs to be at the hand of God. Sometimes we might think God is not giving us any specific instructions regarding our choices in situations. But that might be because we are not listening. We can be assured he will answer our prayers, but we need to listen. The world is screaming with so much noise it does make it difficult at times to hear that still small voice of the Lord. But the point is we should not rush to judgment regarding any change until we hear that still small voice of the Lord giving us our instructions. Then we can live with the confidence he will bless us, even in a difficult situation. In the case of Isaac he told him directly not to go down into Egypt but to stay in the land of Canaan. In our case God might say the same thing, or he might tell us to get up and go someplace. We cannot put him in a box and think he will always give the same instructions to everyone. What we can do is make sure we listen for the specific instructions for us. When we get them, then it is time to execute them without hesitation.

Prov 1:7

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

KJV

Hesitation, once hearing from God, causes us to lose out on the blessings he intends for us to have. So here we are, doing and living as God desires, being where he wants us, doing that which he has instructed and being content in our lives, knowing we are in the will of God. How better can life be? Life in Christ is good. It is the ultimate good life. 

Family

DEVOTION

GENESIS

FAMILY

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

There is something to be said about divided parenting within this text. It certainly is clear that Isaac favored Esau because of the type of man he had become, a skillful hunter. This would mean he was bringing home fresh game he had hunted which someone, perhaps one of the servants would prepare for the family to eat. Isaac surely enjoyed the taste and must have felt very proud of his firstborn. But Rebekah favored the quiet demeanor of Jacob, in fact Jacob was even becoming a chef. Surely a trade a father would not think is very manly. We are not told of all the intricacies of the family interactions, but this one point of favoritism by each parent toward one of their sons give us enough to know this is not a good thing. Looking forward, knowing what is going to happen between these two bothers we know they had a relationship that was not built on mutual affection. There was tension within their relationship because of the favoritism shown by their parents. This should give us pause to consider if we have failed in that same area, showing one of our children more approval then another. We also have to reflect as to if we encouraged each of our children to become the person God had designed them to be. Because we are knit together by God within our mother’s womb, he has created us with certain traits, certain personalities, certain abilities. We cannot mold our children into what we want them to be, it simply will not work out for the best. We need to see them for who God created them to be and encourage them to fulfill their God given talents and that means both parents working together, believing for the best for each of their children. Because of this tension between Jacob and Esau we see in this text the beginning of a very difficult time between these two. It appears Esau was unsuccessful in his hunting endeavors or at least he had been out hunting for a long time, and without a fire to cook any game, he was famished when he came into camp.  He asks Jacob for a little of the stew he was cooking. Now Jacob being the loving tender brother he was, offered Esau some right away, not! He saw an opportunity to get even with Esau because of the favor their father showed him. Parental favoritism led to sibling rivalry. Both Esau and Jacob knew that Esau was considered the firstborn and thus would inherit all of their father’s wealth. Esau had to have carried himself with that kind of thought, almost looking down on his gentle chef of a brother, who did not really act like much of a man, hunting spending time in the great outdoors. But Jacob was not a dumb man, he had the chance to get even for all those years. He bargains the birthright of Esau for a bowl of stew. What does this say about Esau? His stomach was more important than his birthright. Surely he was not that famished that he was about to die. How could he have made it from the great outdoors to the camp? Surely there must have been some other food within the camp other than this lentil soup Jacob was making. But here we are with this conflict and Jacob makes the most of it. Do we learn our lesson from Esau or from Jacob, or from the tension that exists between them? Do we identify with Esau or Jacob having already identified with one of the parents for our first lesson? Do we take advantage of our siblings? Do we plot for our own benefit? Do we allow our sibling to trick us into doing something we know is not right? There is much we could compare with, but the point is siblings should not have this kind of tension between them. Each of us must come to the realization that we each have been created by God with whatever gifts, abilities, traits that we have and we should love each other for who we each are. The family structure was created by God. A healthy family is focused on God, a dysfunctional family is not centered on God, but on each member looking to serve himslef. What we see in this text is not a healthy family. What we do with that is the question. Have we made mistakes in the past? Maybe and we cannot go back and change that, but we can move forward with a determination to be a God centered family.   

Ask

DEVOTION

GENESIS

ASK

Gen 25:19-28

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. 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.

NIV

We begin this complete and complex narrative regarding the relationship between two brothers, with their conception, their time in the womb, their birth which leads to their adult attributes. But we have some truths as well. First we see that Rebekah was barren. She was not conceiving any children, which in those days were one of the main reasons for a man to marry, so he could have sons, heirs to carry on the family. This still seems to be important to many men today so their family name will continue. But Rebekah was not giving Isaac any sons, or daughters for that matter. So Isaac prayed on behalf of his wife. Now was he praying so he would have a son? It would seem if that were the case, we would have been told. But he was praying on her behalf. He knew the importance she placed on providing sons for her husband. Although we are not told of her emotional or mental state, we could imagine she felt a bit worthless as a woman not able to provide her husband with a son. This does not imply they did not love each other greatly, for we were told Isaac loved her and we would also have to conclude Rebekah loved Isaac. Yet no children, barren was her state and this had to bear upon her heavily. So Isaac, loving his wife, prayed on her behalf. So often we go to the Lord for our own needs, and there are many times when we lift others up before the lord, in intercession, or intercessory prayer. It is a truth that we should pray for our own needs, but it is also a truth we need to pray for the needs of others, especially our spouse. This kind of prayer could contain some self-concerns which then mingles the lines between prayer for self and intercessory prayer. We are not told Isaac had concerns about having sons, but we are told he interceded before God for his wife, for her needs, her emotional, mental state, about feeling good about herself being able to bear children for her beloved Isaac. We see, as always, God answers prayer. Rebekah becomes pregnant. God never leaves a prayer unanswered. There has been sermons preached about what kind of answer God gives. Some preachers have said he might say, yes, or no, or wait awhile. But we cannot find enough scriptural evidence to support that type of teaching. True we have not because we ask not, or because we ask with wrong motives. But that is not God saying no. It is us not praying correctly. When we pray in accordance with the will of God, believing that which we ask for, we will receive, he freely gives. He always answers yes. He answered the prayer of Isaac on behalf of his wife and she was no longer barren. Plus, God gives abundantly as not just one son, but with two. This seems to be the first and maybe the only account in scripture of twins. Women carried babies within since the beginning of man’s time on earth, with Adam and Eve. But we have never been told about a woman bearing twins and how the two babies within struggled for space. It would seem, Rebekah knew Isaac had prayed on her behalf and that God had answered his prayer as she was with child, while actually with children. This must have been a blessing for her, yet she also must have felt very uncomfortable with the twins jostling within her. So she goes to God, and asks, why did you do this to me? Couldn’t you just answer normally, why did you have to make this happen to me? God does not answer with condemnation for her asking why. It is alright to question his ways, not in the sense of being above him, with the right to judge his answer. But to ask for clarification that this is the way he intends to work in our lives. We really are not told her motives for asking why. But she did inquire of God, why is this happening. Again, God does not answer with yes, no or wait, but he answers with clarification, with perfect truth, with exact information regarding the two sons within her womb. It would appear she did not know of twins, as we have concluded, twins were never before born. So God reveals to her the reason she feels so much turmoil within is because she carries two sons. He also reveals a truth about these two.  Was this truth he revealed to Rebekah predetermined by him, or had he foresaw it? This could be a rather lengthy discussion. But the point is God not only answered her inquiry, he gave her specific information. We need not have to guess what God says. This reasoning of his answer might being, yes, no or wait could be nothing more than a copout for disbelief. All the evidence we encounter within the scripture of individuals praying, inquiring, seeking God, we find him answering as asked, plus more. This does not preclude his will, as we also have enough evidence to know that when we ask, it is also appropriate to include, nevertheless your will be done. We should always want his will to be done in our lives, but we also have these truths that show us we can pray, even if we do know or want his will, but pray for our needs as well as for the needs of others, or on their behalf. Isaac did not include in his prayer, nevertheless your will be done. There is so much we could say about prayer, it would take a book rather than a devotion. But the point is, God does answer. We have not thought anything about the twins as adults and the type of men they became and the somewhat undivided love of the parents. Perhaps we should leave that for later. Let us simply remember it is good to ask God, and it is appropriate to expect a response. 

Hostility

DEVOTION

GENESIS

HOSTILITY

Gen 25:13-18

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

Keeping his promise to Hagar, God blessed Ishmael with twelve sons who became clans or tribes or nations unto themselves. They are referred by the genealogy experts as the princes of Ishmael. This whole group are primarily those who settled the Arabian Peninsula. We have to remember prophesy about Ishmael, that his hand would be against everyone and everyone’s hand would be against him. Yet we do not see the fulfillment of this in the original text but only in certain various English translations. What do these translators know that we do not? This last verse is somewhat of a puzzle in that in the original text it merely says in the presence of all his brethren he died. This is the exact same phrase used back in the early account when he was said in the presence of his brethren he lived. This is where they say he lived to east of the rest of his relatives, the families of Isaac. Today it requires a great deal of research to determine which nation or nations in the Middle East are the descendants of Ishmael to be exact in considering if they are fulfilling that prophesy. We will leave all that for the scholars to determine for it does not serve us as a lesson to explore the geopolitical positions of the Middle East. What this passage does serve to show us is first, God kept his promise to Hagar, as he always keeps his promise. We should also note that although many of Ishmael’s descendants left God to serve gods of their own making, they are still his people, his creation, and he still desires they come to know him and his son Jesus Christ in order to find salvation. Although men give up on God, God never gives up on men. But this hostility thing is difficult to come to grips with as the original text seems not to voice that exactly as it is in English. But again we should yield to those Hebrew Scholars in this point as it was also part of the prophetic words spoken about him. This is an attitude or lifestyle which we cannot ever allow to infiltrate our way of thinking. What exactly is being hostile, or acting with hostility? This does not mean to be at war, although war is considered a hostile act. But as a hostile behavior we might engage in, it would be a state of unfriendliness or opposition. A hostile state, condition or attitude. Enmity or antagonism. It is even defined as opposition or resistance to an idea, plan or project. This would more or less fall in line with always wanting our own way, or demanding our own way. It would seem being hostile is the opposite of what love is defined as:

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

NIV

If we are not fulfilling these qualities or living them out in our relationships with others, then we might well be living with this attitude of hostility. It would be good for us to remember the qualities of living out love rather than hostility. 

Rejoice

DEVOTION

GENESIS

REJOICE

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

Here we have more children of Abraham through this woman, whom is called in our language a wife, but in the original language it implies woman, and is not properly expressed in our English. Yet later she is expressed as his concubine or there were other woman whom Abraham had relations with who bore him sons that are not recorded. Here we have six sons of Abraham whom Keturah bore him. We are also told that two of those sons, Jokshan and Midian had sons and of some other sons of theirs. Now we have Ishmael, Isaac and these six sons, all the offspring of Abraham. Although we will not be able to follow all the descendants of all these sons, we are told of more of the descendants of Ishmael, but we will continue through the line of Isaac until we reach Christ. This is why Abraham left Isaac everything. He was the one and only son born to him through his beloved wife Sarah as a promise of God.  Surely because of Abraham these other sons which became clans, tribes and some into nations were blessed in some sense. But not every nation on the earth would be blessed except through the line of Isaac. But our lesson in not in all this genealogy, but rather in the statement about the life of Abraham. When he breathed his last, he died as a good old age, an old man full of years. We should note although there had been a struggle between Isaac and Ishmael when they were young causing Abraham to have to send Hagar and Ishmael away. It was these two sons who buried their father next to his wife Sarah. Whatever their differences, the death of their father brought them together. This could be a great lesson for all of us in the time of the passing of one of our loved ones. But the lesson here that catches our thoughts is about Abraham living to a good old age, an old man and full of years. The original language makes a little more of this full of years. It means satisfied, pleasant. All the days of his life at least from the calling of God on his life, Abraham walked with the Lord, did what he was commanded to do, not without some detours, or sin, as he was not a perfect man. But nevertheless he believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. He was a man of faith and he lived his life to the fullest being satisfied in his old age ready to breath his last, knowing his journey was to take him to God. This is how we need to see our lives. We need to live them with satisfaction, without worry, without anxiety, without frustration or contempt, envy, jealously, rage, malice, or bitterness.

Eph 4:29-32

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

NIV

All these attitudes can do nothing but destroy us, bring us down from the glorious satisfied life we should be living in Christ. We need to see how blessed of a life we have because of Jesus Christ and live our lives to the fullest extent possible so that we live to a good old age, and full of years. Those bad attitudes can actually shorten our lives. When we live in Christ being kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, we are like Christ. Forgiveness brings years of joy rather than bitterness.  

Prov 17:22

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

NIV

Prov 15:15

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

NIV

We are assured a cheerful heart gives us a better live, full of years of satisfaction rather than living with dried up bones or being oppressed by life and thus wretched. Who would want to live wretched with dried up bones, when a merry heart, which is caused by our faith in Jesus Christ, gives us full years of satisfaction?

Phil 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

NIV

Rejoice! And live a life full of years of satisfaction to a good old age. 

Comfort

DEVOTION

GENESIS

COMFORM

Gen 24:62-67

2 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

Why are we told where Isaac was living? Was he not a part of his father’s household? Abraham was living among the land of the Canaanites and here we are told that Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi in the Negev. As we look at the maps of that region during the time of Abraham we do discover the Negev was a part of the land of the Canaanites. Although some scholars indicate thier land might have been farther north, most agree the land of the Canaanites encompassed modern day Lebanon, Syria, Jordon and Israel, which the Negev was a part of. Whether Isaac was in the exact same encampment all the time as his father, from the rest of the text we see he is close enough to enter his mother’s tent to marry Rebekah. Although none of this is actually germane to our lesson, it is interesting information. We have several issues that bear a little thought. When Rebekah knew the man she was coming toward was going to be her husband, she pulled up her veil to cover herself. What purpose was this veil as she was going to be his wife and have the most intimate relationship with him? Today we still use this veil in our marriage ceremonies, although it hides nothing at all as in many cases today intimate relations occurred before the use of the veil. But at the least, the bride attempts to make herself as beautiful as she can for her husband. But in those days it was the custom of woman to use a veil to indicate chastity, modesty, and submission. This is how Rebekah wanted to meet Isaac. There was no command of God for this practice and in all reality no real reason for woman today to emulate Rebekah, although the teaching of Paul many years later regarding women covering their heads in church out of respect to God is practiced in certain churches and societies. But this should still serve women in some way in regard to their relationship with their husbands, which we should leave for the women to interpret for themselves. What we can gain from the man’s perspective in this text is in the meeting of his future bride, Isaac was respectful of her. Although all the events the servant experienced, which we have seen recorded for us twice, are not again repeated, he did tell Isaac all that happened. This would have taken some time all the while Rebekah would have remained silent and covered with Isaac most likely being intrigued even more about her. There is a great discussion about the custom of marriage in biblical times. Later in scripture we certainly have evidences of marriage contacts, such as the one the servant of Abraham made with the family of Rebekah. We also have the consent of Rebekah. We also have evidence of marriage feasts, such as the wedding Christ attended when he turned the water into wine. Although we have no mention of this feast in this text, it well may have occurred. Yet the marriage would not have been consummated until the couple engaged in the most intimate of acts. This is the portion of the narrative we are taken right to. Isaac took Rebekah as his wife and entered the tent of his mother and they became one flesh. He loved her and he was comforted by her after his mother’s death. Here we see there is a special relationship between a man and a woman. Sons, although trained to be men by their fathers, have a special connection with their mothers. We see this in the relationship Rebekah had with her son’s Jacob and Esau, but especially with Jacob. Isaac found comfort in the arms of his wife. Today men should find comfort in the arms of their wives. Although the lines of roles in our culture has mingled with both woman and men engaging in roles that were never before crossed, there still should be this special relationship where we men can find comfort in the arms of our wives. We can move forward in the scriptures to the lessons about the responsibilities of each husband and wife as outlined for us which we should pay close attention to, but for now even in the midst of being the man of God and the woman of God that we are directed to be in our marital relationships, we must also know that it is in the arms of our wives we can find comfort. When the pressures of life, the pressures of our responsibility as men are great, we can always find comfort in the arms of our wife. This should also serve as a lesson for the wives. To also be there with comfort for their husband.