Friday, January 13, 2017

Fri.’s Devo - Jacob Takes a Wife; Jesus is Rejected

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12
Isaac must have forgiven Jacob because he called to see him and gave him strict warning against marrying a Canaanite. Esau had Canaanite wives and they led him into idolatry. He sent Jacob to his grandfather, Bethel’s house to find a bride. This was also Abraham’s birthplace.
On his way he slept on a rock and had a vision of heaven. God promised to go with him and bring him back to this land and give him all he had promised. Jacob called that place Bethel which means “House of God”.
Jacob reached the land of his forefathers and saw a well. At this well, he met Rachel, his wife. Rachel was the daughter of Laban. Laban was her mother, Rebekah’s brother. Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel only to be tricked into marrying Leah. Jacob had met someone as crafty as himself. Seven days later he was able to marry Rachel but he had to work another 7 years for Laban. Leah started having children: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. Rachael was barren.
In Matthew, Jesus had performed the third sign they were looking for - a dumb man could speak. The miracle about the man born blind was not recorded in Matthew, but it had already happened. Now the Pharisees were in a box. They had to make a decision about Jesus. They decided that he must be doing his miracles by the power of Satan. That was the decision that made Jesus change his ministry. The nation of Israel had rejected him and he was rejecting her.
Lord, thank you that you are on your throne and it is your decree that will stand.

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