Tag: Jacob

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

His Name is Changed

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Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d4

Read: Genesis 27:19-29 and 35:9-15; SOAP: Genesis 35:11

Then God said to him, “I am the Sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation–even a company of nations–will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants!

Genesis 35:11

As we move on our journey, remember that God promised to make Abraham’s family a great nation. Here we meet one of Isaac’s sons, Jacob. Jacob’s name means ‘deceiver,” and he lives up to his name.

On our journey this week, we have been introduced to or reacquainted with Abraham and his son Isaac, and today’s passage introduces the third patriarch, Jacob. Jacob was one of the sons of Isaac and a twin brother to Esau. If you’ve read their story, then you know that in his younger years, Jacob was both a manipulator and a deceiver. Not only does he manipulate and deceive his twin, Esau, by tricking him into giving Jacob his birthright for a measly bowl of stew, but he also tricks and manipulates his father, Isaac. into giving him the blessing of the firstborn son, which was rightfully Esau’s.

The LGG Journal entry says it best:

Jacob is one of the most unlikely people God could use to bring glory to His name and from whom the promised Rescuer would come. But God is in the business of doing the impossible.

Later in Genesis 35, God meets Jacob and changes his name to Israel. God reaffirms the command to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply as well as the promise to Abraham that his family would be a great nation.

God would keep His promise and provide Jacob with twelve sons. These twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Here again, God gives us another puzzle piece to find the Savior. Now we know that He would be an Israelite.

You may read this and feel similarly to Jacob. You may feel like the most unlikely candidate for God to use. Remember, you were born with a purpose, and God uses the most unlikely of people, places, and things in His story of redemption.

LGG Journal, From the Beginning to Forever/p181

Because I know all too well who I was before God changed my name, every time I read this story, I am reminded how good it is to know that God redeems even the worst of us! Even me.

Friends, if you read this and find yourselves feeling like the most unlikely candidates God to use – remember these final words of encouragement from today’s journal:

Remember, you were born with a purpose, and God uses the most unlikely of people, places, and things in His story of redemption.

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

O’ Come Let Us Adore Him!

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Based on the LGG Advent Study, The Promised Messiah – w3d2

Scripture: Isaiah 9:7; Zechariah 9:9; Matt 2:1-2 and 27:37; John 12:12-13 / SOAP: Luke 1:32-33

Ah! This descriptive picture of Jesus is far more pleasing than the one of His suffering that we looked at last week. These promises of who He would be, His title, His throne, His reign, His forever kingdom are all a far cry from the stable we picture with cattle and hay at His birth or the scene of the suffering Savior weighed down with sins not His own. Yet all are descriptions of promises fulfilled or yet to come, and all of them leading us – pleading for us even – to worship Him – the infant, the crucified, the risen and ruling King!

My mind cannot fully grasp the truths of this announcement but my heart rejoices with Mary at the message Gabriel brought her. It was a message of a Messiah promised long ago, a message of hope that would change the world. Born a child and yet a King, born to die but yet to live – and to reign forever. Son of the Most High God yet born to man. Born in a lowly stable but given the throne of his father David. May every heart receive Him and every tongue confess the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

I do not own the rights to this music

How are you worshipping Christ during this Advent season?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Leah: Praise the LORD

Day 2, from week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-35, 30:9-21; SOAP Genesis 29:35

Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.

Genesis 29:35
Observations:
This Time

Leah had already been blessed with three other sons and with the first two births she acknowledged they were from the Lord. With the first two and the third she also made mention of the situation with her husband, how she was unloved and hoping that because of the children he would love her more. However, with the birth of the fourth son, her words were different, “This time I will praise the LORD!”, perhaps indicating a different attitude – as though not so woe is me. Whatever the difference meant, the noted praise was more intentional and direct.

Worth Noting

It is worth nothing that this fourth son, Judah, is the one God names as the tribe from which His own Son, The Lion of Judah, will come. 

The Lion of the tribe of Judah is a symbol found in Genesis and Revelation. In Genesis, Jacob blesses his son Judah, referring to him and his future tribe as a lion’s cub and a lion (Genesis 49:9). In Revelation, this symbol is seen again when the Lion of the tribe of Judah is declared to have triumphed and is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is the One who is worthy to open the scroll (see John 5:22). Therefore, Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. https://www.gotquestions.org/lion-tribe-Judah.html
How Then Should We Live?

We should be quick to acknowledge God’s work in our lives – or even in the lives of others. Direct and intentional praise brings glory to God – which is something we should strive for. After all, we were created to for His glory.

Bring all who claim me as their God,
    for I have made them for my glory.
    It was I who created them.’”

Isaiah 43:7
One Other Note

I feel I would be remiss if I failed to mention this one other observation that I believe is a point worth imitating. Leah commemorated all of the births as blessings of God by naming them with names that would remind her what God had done. I can’t help but think this is something to consider, not necessarily in the naming of our children but capturing the gifts in a journal, or with a photograph, or a conversation … the special ways God reveals Himself to you throughout your life. The Israelites used stones on a variety of occasions as memorial markers, such as in Genesis 28:1-22 and Joshua 4, Leah used names, what can you use?

Prayer Response:

Father, we are quick to say, “God did this”, but let us never fail to be intentional to genuinely praise You! Let us find ways to remember what You have done, so that they remain testaments of Your goodness and Your faithfulness – that we may never cease to praise You. May our praises bring You the glory and pleasure You are due! – Amen!

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from Leah’s story?

Reflection Questions:

In the midst of feeling unloved by her husband, we see Leah praising God for blessing her with her children.

  • What does this story teach us about Leah and her relationship with God?
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Faithful Love: Wk 5, Wednesday Wrestle or Surrender

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READ: HOSEA 12:1-8, JOEL 2:13; SOAP: HOSEA 12:5-6

Hosea 12:1-8 New Living Translation

The people of Israel feed on the wind;
    they chase after the east wind all day long.
They pile up lies and violence;
    they are making an alliance with Assyria
    while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

 Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah.
    He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways,
    and pay him back for all he has done.
3 Even in the womb,
    Jacob struggled with his brother;
when he became a man,
    he even fought with God.
4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.
    He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.
There at Bethel, he met God face to face,
    and God spoke to him—

The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,
    the Lord is his name!
6 So now, come back to your God.
    Act with love and justice,
    and always depend on him.

7 But no, the people are like crafty merchants
    selling from dishonest scales—
    they love to cheat.
8 Israel boasts, “I am rich!
    I’ve made a fortune all by myself!
No one has caught me cheating!
    My record is spotless!”

Jacob lost the fight and wept. He came to the place where he knew God had beaten him, and all he could do was hang on to God and plead for a blessing.

Read the full LGG devotional here

Joel 2:13 New Living Translation

Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
    but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
    He is eager to relent and not punish.

WORSHIP WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE: DOES ANYTHING FROM TODAY’S READINGS CAUSE YOU TO WORSHIP GOD? IF SO, PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO SHARE IT IN 5 WORDS OR LESS