What a week we’ve had traveling through the early stories of Jacob, from his birth as a twin to his most recent ordeal of thinking he had married Rachel, only to wake up to discoverit was Leah he had married. We’ve seen him trick his twin brother, Esau, out of his birthright … deceive his father, Isaac out of the covenant blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau … leave home and family to look for a wife among his mother’s people – an unplanned trip prompted by Esau’s plan to kill Jacob … connect with his mother’s people, fall in love with Rachel, work for his uncle Laban for seven years on the promise of Rachel’s hand in marriage, and now realizing that Laban had deceived him just as he [Jacob] had deceived his brother and father. I think you would agree we’ve seen some pretty good examples of why we should choose God over the world – why we should walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.
During our second week we will explore the rest of Genesis 29 through Genesis 32 with a couple of side-trips through the New Testament as well as the Psalms and Proverbs. I hope you’ll stick with me on this journey through God’s Word – as we explore the ways and benefits of Choosing God Instead Of The World .
If you missed any of the posts – no need to search – you’ll find the links below.
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9
Observation:
The sequence of events…
Jacob dupes Esau, deceives his father, and because his life is in danger he leaves home to find a wife among his mother’s people. On the way he has an encounter with God in a dream – which leads him to both worship and commit himself to God, following the encounter he finds his mother’s brother,Laban… falls in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel … offers to work for Laban for seven years in order to marry her … works the seven years – but wakes up the morning after the wedding only to find out he had married her sister, Leah. Apparently, Laban had done to Jacob what Jacob had done to his brother and father. [Of course now we have an ‘elephant in the room’ – because the question begs to be asked, how in the world do you not know which sister you married until the morning after? While the answer isn’t given in Scripture the possibilities could be anything from “too much wine for Jacob, elaborate veils, cultural modesty, or Jacob’s wedding night nervousness caused him to miss this key fact, but we don’t really know1“.]
Just as Jacob’s deceitfulness had lasting consequences on his father, mother, and brother – as well as untold others – so it was with Laban’s trickery. The trick not only affected Jacob but Rachel and Leah and generations to come.
The Lesson
As we learn from Paul in Galatians 6:6-10, God’s grace does not negate the consequences of our choices and actions.
Application: How Then Should We Live?
According to the passage in Galatians, where Paul warns, “a person will reap what he sows”, and in light of Jacob’s experience, both as the one who deceived and the one who was deceived it is clear by God’s Word that we are to be careful with our choices – neither deceiving nor allowing ourselves to be deceived. This being true we must walk by the Spirit and not the flesh, and we would be wise to remember that while we may not aways see that what we do matters – it does. Therefore we must keep living in a way that agrees with our profession of faith. Or as Paul said to Timothy,
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12 ESV
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father – discipline is never easy and Your discipline is even harder to bear – in part because of the consequences we face but also because it grieves my spirit to know I’ve disappointed You. Thank You for the reminder to make good choices, to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, and to consciously live in a way that reflects my profession of faith. – In His Name and Power – AMEN!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from today’s reading?
Have you experienced times when God has clearly disciplined you?
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
Observation:
“Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran.” Isn’t it always in the “meanwhiles” of our lives that hope is most appreciated? Such is the case here with Jacob. Such a beautiful story of God introducing Himself to Jacob in a dream. God confirmed with Jacob the very thing His father had prayed over him would come to pass. The descendants and the lands and even more than Isaac asked or imagined … Jacob and his descendants would be the conduits of the blessings to all the families of the earth. God promised His presence and protection and to never leave him until all the promises had been fulfilled.
The beauty of the story doesn’t end with the promise of blessings that God speaks to Jacob but it culminates with Jacob’s response of worship and commitment to God.
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Genesis 28:18-22 ESV
Application: How Then Should We Live?
While we may not trick a family member out of their ‘birthright or deceive an aging father into thinking we are the one who rightfully deserves his blessing, or encounter God in a dream like Jacob did. We would be wise to listen and look for the daily blessings He lavishes on us that reveal His grace, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, just like it did Jacob’s. When we see this clearly like Jacob did we will be much more likely to respond like he did – with worship of and commitment to God.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Thank you for words of hope God. Whether we are fleeing for protection from danger or looking to find a mate – a job – or something else – These words fill us with HOPE that reminds us You are there – in control. You are with us and in Your goodness, You go ahead of us, and You are faithful to Your promises! – To Your name be all glory and praise – Amen!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from today’s reading?
How do you respond when God intervenes in your life?
Are you led to worship like Jacob was, or do you tend to explain His work as mere coincidence?
May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! 4 May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.” Genesis 28:3-4 NLT
Observation:
Jacob had tricked Esau, his brother, out of his birthright and deceived his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau, as the firstborn. which eventually led to the Covenant blessing that we find in chapter 28 and verse 4. In my human understanding I am blown away by Isaac’s prayer of blessing on his son even after all Jacob had done. In spite of the trickery, manipulation, and deception Isaac blessed Jacob with all of “the wealth and political power” that was his to give1 and ultimately he prayed for God to bless Jacob with the descendants and the land that had been promised to Abraham.1
Jacob will leave Isaac’s household with both Isaac’s blessing for wealth and political power and the covenant blessing of God with Abraham for multitudes of offspring and possession of the land.
1 Bibleref.com commentary on Genesis 28:4
In this ‘covenant blessing, Isaac acknowledges that God is in control. He recognizes God’s promises that Abraham’s descendants would be vast and acknowledges Jacob will be the one to possess the land promised to God’s people.
He prayed words that spoke of trusting God to be in control. Regardless of the way things appeared, Isaac trusted God to keep His promise. He kept his eyes on God and did not lose sight of the covenant He had made with Abraham.
Application: How Then Should We Live?
Trust God It’s not always easy, some might say it’s one of the most difficult parts of the Christian life – but it is none-the-less the example Scripture gives us – trust God, don’t lose sight of His promises. Trust Him even when things appear to have worked out wrong, trust Him when you’ve been wronged, and trust Him when you can’t see any hope that His promises will come true. In other words, when life and people disappoint us – we should still trust God.
I believe the key to trusting God is to keep our eyes on Him. The prophet Isaiah said, God would keep in perfect peace those who trust in Him, those who fix their thoughts on Him. In the New Testament, after giving instructions to not worry about anything but to pray about everything, Paul encouraged the believers to fix their thoughts on God – to think – not about things that had them worried or upset, but rather to think about things that are true and honorable, and right and pure, lovely and admirable, or excellent and worthy of praise. When these are the thoughts we dwell on, regardless of our circumstances, not only will we know God’s peace but our prayers will undoubtedly be less frantic and more like the Covenant blessing that Isaac was able to pray over his son. A prayer of hope and faith in His God and in the promise He had made of future blessing – even though his son’s actions had changed the expected path of God’s promise to Abraham.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, thank You for the reminder of Your complete control but even more how we are to respond in the midst of what doesn’t go the way we thought it was supposed to. Help me to keep my eyes on You and Your promises – and to pray accordingly. – Yes and amen!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from today’s reading?
Do you believe God will provide for you without your help?
In what ways do you depend on your own strengths or cleverness instead of depending on God?
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Observation:
Sight, sound, touch, hearing … our senses are catalyst for desires. From things we need to things we enjoy to things we’ve never tried but know someone else enjoys – from the time of the garden – our desires have been an issue. John’s warning about these desires is simple – they are not from God but from the world. He also reminds his readers that the world will one day come to an end while God’s kingdom and all who choose His will over the world’s- will live forever.
Seems like an easy choice, right? So why is it that, like Eve, we see something and it looks pleasing to the eye so we ignore what we know to be the right choice and go for the desirable? We all know the eyes aren’t the only culprits, all of the senses we have get involved and pull our attention in all sorts of directions that ultimately lead to desires and choices that may not line up with God’s will. Oh that we would consider John’s warning and check our desire against His Word before we take a bite of what the world is offering, which in Esau’s case was food versus his birthright.
He was famished, and most likely depleted of strength and energy to make the right choice or to care about anything other than his hunger. This is obvious by his reaction to Jacob’s proposition of the bowl of stew for Esau’s birthright. Esau certainly wasn’t about to die – he simply valued and desired the appetite of his flesh more than his birthright as Isaac’s oldest son.
Application: How Then Should We Live?
1 John 2:15-17 is a perfect companion, though an antithesis of sorts, to the example of Esau and Jacob that we find in the Genesis passage. John teaches his readers “[don’t] love the world or the things in the world”. So sure is he of this teaching that He declares the person who loves the world “does not have the love of the Father in Him”. He zeroes in on the “desires of the flesh”, pointing out that “the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions” (NLT). These, John says, are not from the Father. BibleRef.com’s explanation of verse 17 says it best – concluding “John’s condemnation of worldly thinking. John notes that this world is temporary. The world is temporary for each person, since every person dies. The physical earth is also temporary, since God will make a new earth in the end (Revelation 21—22). As a result, the desires of this world are also temporary.” The bottom line to our question of application and how we should live is this, “Believers are to resist evil desires, following the example of Jesus” (Matthew 4:1–11).
My synopsis, Don’t allow ourselves to become so enamored with the desires, the teachings, the thinking, of this world that they overtake us– and change the focus of our faith and what’s important to God, our heavenly Father. Feed the Spiritual-self, actually saturate ourselves with the Word so we don’t fall prey to the desires of the flesh. Finally, value what the Father values so that we do not trade the will of the Father and “a life lived in fellowship with Him”, for the ways and things of the world. To be sure, “doing God’s will cannot save us, — We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice, when we put our – faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8–9). However, a natural outcome of salvation is a desire to do God’s will (Ephesians 2:10). This is a hallmark of the believer, and only the believer will live with God forever. — Doing God’s will or desires is to be the goal of the believer.”1
1quotes from Bibleref.com on 1 John 2:15-17
Having opened their eyes to the wrongness of loving the things of the world John drives the point home by making sure they understand the futility of choosing the world – since “this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever”.
MefromtheNsideout and 1 John 2:17 NLT
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, the world offers us much to love and to choose from – they are readily available and accessible – guard us from temptations of thinking, acting, and talking or living like the world. Help us to be so saturated with Your Word and aware of Your Presence so that we don’t fall prey to the deceivers of this world. – In Jesus’ Name!
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from today’s reading?
What does it mean to choose the things of God?
Can you choose the things of God and the things of the world? Why or why not?
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
Observation:
I love that our reading gives us a glimpse of Jacob’s story to go with our key verse. From the brief glimpse we learn not just that Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham, but I love that we also see that Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of Rebekah because she was childless. Not only did God answer Isaac’s prayer but He filled her womb with twins. We will look more at Jacob through the story in Genesis in the coming days but today we find a message delivered to “Jacob” by Isaiah the Prophet.
First let’s establish that Isaiah’s message is from God, then we should clarify who Isaiah is speaking to. While Isaiah references both Jacob and Israel, it is helpful to know that these names are now synonymous. This is because God had renamed Jacob Israel after he overcame his struggle with God (Gen 32:8). At some point the names also became the name of God’s people which can add some confusion when reading through certain passages. Suffice it to say for this passage, Isaiah’s use of the names are both in reference to the people.
A Message of Hope
So, here in Isaiah 43:1, God is delivering a message of hope through Isaiah to His people, the people He had chosen, or as stated here – those He had formed and called by name. A more in-depth reading of Isaiah 43 would reveal that God’s people would be scattered to other nations – thus the message of hope in verse one. God is telling them not to be afraid when troubles come because He would protect them, and as Isaiah goes on to say, God would gather them back together again.
While God sent this message specifically to the Jewish people, we can rest assured that it also applies to us who are believers in Jesus Christ. For according to Galatians 3:6-9, which we will look at on day five of our study, we are the children of Abraham, grafted in through our faith in Christ, (Rom 11:17).
In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 8What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”9So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
Galatians 3:6-9
This is one of my favorite truths of Scripture, as I imagine it brings me the same hope it brought to those in Isaiah’s day, to know that He calls me by name and will protect me, therefore I do not need to be afraid. Such truth and hope speaks peace to the fears, troubles, and concerns of this life.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, what an awesome God you are and have always been and always will be! You love with an everlasting love, grafting us in to Your family so that we can claim Your promises that are yes and amen in Jesus Christ. Thank You that we do not have to be afraid, for we know you are with us and will protect us because You have called us by name – we are Yours! Amen and Amen! In Jesus Name –
Your Turn:
Find a journal and jot down your thoughts/answers. I believe you will find it a great enhancement to the study.
Jesus is not an option for my life – He is the source of my life, my strength, and my access to God the Father. Without Him I can do nothing but through Him I can do all things (John 15:5 and Phil 4:13). To make Him an option is to put myself in a place where I can choose Him on some days or occasions and not others. This is a dangerous mindset for anyone but especially for the believer.
You see, as a believer we have become a new creation, according to Paul – the old has gone the new is here, (2 Cor 5:17)! Having been crucified with Christ we no longer live apart from Him. The life we now live – we live by faith in Him, the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us, (Gal 2:20). So you see – we NEED JESUS like we nee oxygen to breathe.
This is why I am inviting you to join me on this part of our journey through the Word. As we wait for the next trip withLove God Greatly to launch we will stroll through passages that remind us who Jesus is and why it is vitally important to stay connected to Him. invite a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor and join me for this 12 day journey, Monday through Saturday for the next 2 weeks. I believe it will be just the stepping stones we need for our trip, “Choosing God Over the World”, with LGG – launching August 8, 2022. Trip-tickets [aka -Journals] are available through the Love God Greatly site.
The women we’ve studied this week showed us that leaving a legacy of faith is important, not only for the lives of our own children but for the generations to come. From the mid-wives to the proverbs’ 31 woman we have seen that our faith has an impact on the lives of others. It became clear that it not only affects those close to us but the generations to come. This was especially evident in the lives of Lydia, Lois and Eunice, and excitingly evident in Mary Magdalene as she delivered perhaps the best news ever when she shared the news that Christ had risen, with her exclamation that she had seen the Lord!
.As with the other stories that we have read, they are certainly worthy of reading and sharing again and again. If for no other reason they will undoubtedly spark praise and joy in our own hearts as they refocus usnot only on the greatness of our God but on the important role He has called us to play in His plan.
Leaving a legacy of faith may sound daunting and undoubtedly will not be without it’s challenges, but has as been pointed out this week – if we fail to do so, we put all of the generations coming behind us in certain danger of being like those in the day of Noah, whom the LORD saw and said that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. The LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved His heart. Or, like the days when it was said of the Israelites that, after Joshua’s generation died, they did not know the LORD or any of the things he had done for Israel.
After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the LORD or any of the things he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:10
This is why I have said many times during the course of our study: Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life – only then will we truly live the beautifully surrendered life that God desires for His daughters. As we saw again and again over the past six weeks, the choice is ours. May we choose well – so that Jesus may say of us, “they chose the best part”.
“Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 NET
Want More?
If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link
If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 6 you’ll find them at these links:
As I have been announcing, our next LGG Study will begin on August 8, until then I hope you’ll stay in the Word with me. On this leg of our journey we will follow the map of Scriptures laid out by Thistlebend Ministries, in their study, Jesus, I Need You. The study is intended to help us deepen our relationship with Jesus – and who doesn’t need to do that? You’ll need your Bible or your favorite Bible app, a notebook and pen. Hope to see and/or hear from you Monday, July 25.
A woman who fears the Lord—she makes herself praiseworthy.
Proverbs 31:28-30 NET
OBSERVATION: What’s the story?
Can i be honest? Ever since my divorce I have tuned this verse out. Once seeking to strive for it but now no longer feeling qualified because of lacking the title – “wife”. So when I saw it on this week’s schedule and sat down to reread it and then write a devotional – let me just say there was some resistance. However, God is good and His Spirit gentle and swiftly brought peace and gave wisdom to delve into the passage from a different angle. This involved some “Google Searches”, namely, “can an unmarried person have noble character?”. To my delight I wasn’t the only one that had googled such a question and I found a wonderful answer that pushed me to another look at the passage. The author, Lauren Oquist, wrote:
…if you read Proverbs 31 closely, none of the skills she has depend on her husband or kids. She has these skills because she exercises wisdom in everything she does.
The standards for a “virtuous wife” are the same standards for a virtuous woman — single or married.
Can I Be a Proverbs 31 Woman if I’m Single? NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Lauren Oquist
She goes on to give a list of character traits that are seen in verse 13-25, including: trustworthy, hard worker, resourceful, Makes good use of her time, Good with money, generous, thinks ahead, and she’s wise. All worthy traits right, but here’s the quote that got me and freed me from the agony of hearing or coming across this passage again. (Don’t you just love the way the Spirit works?)
This is what will characterize us as a “Proverbs 31 Woman”: our fear of the Lord. Our genuine desire, from the core of who we are, to please Him.
Can I Be a Proverbs 31 Woman if I’m Single? NOVEMBER 27, 2017, Lauren Oquist
I truly believe that even if I were still married this go-round with P31 and the beautiful devotion by Lauren Oquist would have still brought the relief and encouragement I now feel. Of course this means I will also be purposefully honing some of these traits again – so then there’s that – LOL!
Application: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?
While fearing the LORD is the thing that characterizes us as being of ‘noble character’, or a Proverbs 31 woman, the character traits listed above are still important to our lifestyle. The good news is the stronger our “core desire to please Him” is, the easier – or perhaps I should say, the more natural, the traits will be.
PRAYER: RESPONSE to the Word
Father, thank You for hearing by prayer to guide me through this last and dreaded lesson. Your Spirit graciously did not let me lay it aside nor did He fail to open my eyes and mind to understand it better. Strengthen my core desire to please You and to be characterized as a “woman who fears the LORD – and makes herself praiseworthy.”
YOUR TURN:
What’s your take away from the Proverb 31 passage?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Why is it important to live our lives focused on Jesus?
How does this one simple choice impact all areas of our lives?
I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.
2 Timothy 1:5 NET
OBSERVATION: What’s the Story?
This story has many facets we can learn from, all of which revolve around “the faith”. That is, the faith we place in Jesus Christ which cleanses us from sin, unites us with the Father, and fills us with His Spirit. First and foremost we read in verse five that Paul confirms Timothy’s faith as genuine, meaning Timothy is connected to God through faith in Christ and the Spirit God gave him (5). Paul and Timothy are connected through the faith, which is made clear by Paul’s reference to Timothy as his son. A term most likely used because Paul led Timothy to faith in Christ (2), Then we see that Timothy is connected to the faith through his relationship with his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, through their living faith (5). This is the facet that is the focus of our study today as we continue to look at living beautifully surrendered to God. Lois and Eunice, grandmother and mother, planted seeds of faith as Timothy grew up. I believe that it’s important to note again the importance of Paul’s confirmation that Timothy’s faith was sincere – in other words it isn’t just a family thing but a transformation of His own heart. While Timothy’s faith was greatly impacted by his mother and grandmother, relying on their faith would not be enough to save him.
HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?
First of all, we must make sure our faith is genuine and not reliant upon someone else’s faith. Once this is settled, from our focus verse (5) it is clear to see that we are to live in such a way that our faith is obvious and active, like Lois and Eunice. This kind of faith passes on to our children and others for generations to come. However, we would be remiss to not also note and learn from the other facets in the passage. Namely, that we should not only encourage others in the faith as Paul is here with Timothy, to “rekindle” or “fan the flame” (6), but also we should stay in the habit of ‘fanning the flame” of our own faith. In other words to do things that strengthen our faith. In Timothy’s case it will be to serve others and preach the Word (2 Timothy). What about you? What has God called you to do with His gift of salvation? Whatever it is, step into it without fear for He has given you His Spirit of power, love, and self-control.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
PRAYER: RESPONSe to the word
Father, thank You for my own heritage of faith – passed on to me through my parents, my grandparents, and their parents before them. Thank you that You have, by Your Spirit – through Christ – made my faith genuine. Thank You for all the “Paul’s” You have placed in my life to encourage me to grow in my faith and to keep it burning bright. Thank You for the example of Lois and Eunice to live an active life of faith that is passed on from one generation to the next. I know of no greater desire of my heart than for my children and their children and all the children to come after them to know You and serve You all the days of their life. Let me live in such a way that my life fans the flames. – All glory and praise to You!
YOUR TURN:
What’s your take away from the story about Lois and Eunice?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Lois and Eunice were a grandmother and mother who had a great impact on the next generation as they passed their faith on to Timothy
Why is it important to be intentional about passing on our faith to the next generation?
Me From the Inside Out 