Tues.’s Devo - Jacob’s Sons

Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15 Rachel was so distraught that she was barren, she took it out on Jacob and blamed him. Jacob told her it was God’s fault she wasn’t having any children. Rachel gave him her maid, Bilhah so she could have a child through her. Jacob slept with Bilhah and she did have a son. Rachel named him Dan which means “judge”. Rachel said that through Dan, God had vindicated her. Bilhah had another son and Rachel named him Naphtali which means “my wrestling.” Rachel named him this to prove that in her struggle with Leah, she was beginning to win. *** Leah realized Rachel might truly win, because she had stopped having children, so she gave her servant, Zilpah to Jacob. Zilpah had a son Leah named Gad. Gad means “my fortune.” Zilpah had another son and Leah named him Asher, which means “joy.” Leah was on top of the world. She was winning 6-2. *** Reuben, Leah’s firstborn found some mandrakes in the field and brought them home to his mother. Rachel saw them and begged to buy them. Mandrakes were considered an aphrodisiac. Leah argued that it wasn’t enough that Rachel stole her husband, but now she wanted to steal her son’s mandrakes. This was the exact opposite of what had happened. Leah had stolen Rachel’s husband and now Rachel asked to buy them, not steal them. Rachel told Leah that if she would just share some of them with her, Leah could sleep with Jacob that night. Leah agreed. *** Leah met Jacob coming home that night. She told him that he had to sleep with her because he had paid for a night with him. That night Leah got pregnant and later had Issachar which means “he will be hired: he will bring a reward.” She said that God had rewarded her for giving her servant to her husband. Leah had a sixth son and named him Zebulun which means “dwelling”. She felt that now that she had given her husband six sons, he would respect her and dwell with her. She later had a daughter and named her Dinah which means “judgement”. She had no statement about Dinah; maybe this was God’s statement. *** Finally, God opened Rachel’s womb and she became pregnant and had Joseph, meaning “let him add.” She was so happy that God had added another son to her. *** Jacob went to Laban and asked to be released from his contract with Laban so he could return to his homeland. He asked for a payment for all his work. Laban told him to come up with a plan for a salary. Jacob told him he would continue working for him for a while and his wages would be all the speckled and black sheep. Laban agreed so Jacob took his cattle out and set them aside. Then he had all the healthy strong cattle mate in front of something that was spotted and streaked. They produced what they saw which is a spiritual concept: we become what we behold. *** God spoke to Jacob and told him it was time to leave and go home. He asked Rachel and Leah if they would go with him and they both said they had no respect for their father. He had spent all their money, so all God had given Jacob of their fathers was legally theirs. They were more than willing to leave. *** In Matthew, Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and heal every kind of disease and illness. The disciples were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, the zealot, and Judas Iscariot. He sent these men out to the people of Israel to announce that the Kingdom of Heaven was near. He have them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the leper and cast out demons. *** Jesus told them not to take any money, extra clothes, or even a walking stick. They were to accept any hospitality given. When they came into a new town, they were to seek out the godly and stay with them. They were to bless that home if it was worthy, but to take back their blessing if it was not. *** They would encounter wolves who would take them to court, but they were not to worry because the Holy Sprit would give them a defense. It would be an opportunity to be a witness of Jesus. *** Lord, help us to remember that when we are being persecuted that we are being given the privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Our lives are but a vapor, but we are living for eternity.