Wed.’s Devo - Visions and Miracles

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12 Isaac sent Jacob to his uncle Laban’s house to marry one of his daughters. He blessed him again with many descendants and reminded him that God had given Abraham the land they were living in. Esau saw that his father had blessed Jacob and sent him away and knew that Jacob disapproved of his Canaanite wives so he visited his uncle Ishmael and married one of his daughters. Esau had no idea how to get Jacob’s or God’s approval because he didn’t know God’s ways. On his way to Haran, Jacob stopped to camp for the night. He laid his head on a rock and had the most vivid dream of a stairway that reached up to heaven. God’s angels were going up and down the staircase. God was at the top of the staircase and spoke to Jacob. He told him that he was the God of Abraham and Isaac and the ground he was lying on was his and his descendants. They would spread out in all directions and bless all the families of the earth. He promised to go with Jacob and protect him and one day, bring him back to this land. He would not leave him until everything he promised him happened. When Jacob woke up he was very aware that God was in that place. He called it the house of God, the very gateway to heaven. He set up the rock he had used as a pillow as an altar and changed the name from Luz to Bethel. Luz means ‘perverted’ and Bethel means ‘house of God.’ Jacob promised that if all that came true and he returned to that place then he would give a tithe to the Lord. He continued his journey till he came to a well where many women shepherds were waiting for all of them to arrive. Then they would be able to remove the stone from the top of the well. Jacob inquired if anyone knew a man named Laban. They did and pointed to his daughter walking up to the well. When Jacob saw her, he removed the stone and watered all of her flock. He told her who he was, kissed her and she invited him to her house. Jacob worked for room and board for Laban. After a while Laban offered him wages. Jacob asked for Rachel as his wife and offered to work for 7 years for her. Laban agreed. After the 7 years Jacob asked for his bride. There was a wedding but instead of giving him Rachel, he was given Leah because she was the oldest. Laban told the very mad Jacob and he could have Rachel for another 7 years of labor. Jacob agreed. Leah started having children because God saw that she was not loved by Jacob, like Rachel was. Leah birthed Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. She never got the affection from Jacob that she wanted but by the forth son, she was able to praise the Lord. Then she stopped having children. In Matthew, a leader of the synagogue came to him and told him about his daughter who had just died. He told Jesus that if Jesus would go and touch her, she would come back to life. That was faith! On the way to see her, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched the hem of his robe and immediately received healing. Jesus felt healing leave him and turned to see the woman. He told her that her faith had made her whole. When Jesus arrived at the man’s house the mourners were wailing and Jesus told them to leave because the girl was only sleeping. They laughed at him but he went in and took her by the hand and brought her walking out to see the crowd. They stopped laughing. On his way home, two blind men followed him all the way into his house. He asked them if they believed he could make them see. When they said that they did, he touched them and their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone but they went out and told everyone. A demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. Jesus cast out the demon and the man could talk. The Pharisees had to make a decision about Jesus because he had done all their requirements for the Messiah. Instead of proclaiming that he was the Messiah, they said that he was a messenger of Satan. He did all his miracles through Satan’s power. Jesus continued to preach and heal and set people free. He didn’t need the approval of the religious Sanhedran. He had the approval of his heavenly Father. Lord, help us to realize that this world is not suppose to accept us or understand us. We will be misunderstood and hated by the world but we can rejoice because You have overcome the world!