Fri.’s Devo - Israel -

Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20 Jacob divided his flocks and servants into two groups and put his family in the third group. He instructed the first group to tell Esau that they were a gift from Jacob. The second group was to tell Esau the same. *** That night an angel from the Lord came and wrestled with Jacob all night. When it became light and the angel had not won, so he touched Jacob’s hip socket and put it out of joint. Jacob would still not let go of the angel until he blessed him. The angle gave him a new name. Instead of Jacob, his name would be Israel, because he had wrestled with God and with men and had won. Jacob named the place Peniel which means “the face of God” because he had seen the face of God and was still alive. *** Jacob limped from that day on and the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh in honor of him. *** Jacob saw Esau coming and sent his first gift ahead of him. Then his children were behind him. He bowed seven times before his brother, but Esau came running to meet him. He embraced him and they both cried for joy. Jacob introduced his family to Esau and insisted that Esau take the first gift he sent ahead to him. Esau finally agreed and offered to escort Jacob and his family. Jacob didn’t want to slow him down so he told him to go on without them. Jacob came to Shechem and bought his first piece of land in the Promised Land for 100 pieces of silver. He erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel which means “God, the God of Israel. He had promised God he would make God his God and give a tenth of all he owned when he came to the land. *** Jacob’s daughter, Dinah caught the eye of the prince of Shechem who the city was named after. He defiled her then wanted to marry her. Jacob’s sons were very upset and planned a way to get back at the prince and his family. They promised them that if all the men in Shechem got circumcised, then they would intermarry and become one people. The men of Shechem agreed, but three days after their surgery, Levi and Simeon (Dinah’s blood brothers) attacked with their men and killed Shechem and all the men of the town. *** When Jacob found out, he was upset they had harmed his reputation and threatened his safety in the land. Simeon and Levi felt justified because what Shechem had done to Dinah. *** In Matthew, Jesus asked the people why they went out to see John. He answered it. They went out to see a prophet. John was the one the prophets had predicted would prepare the way for the Messiah. *** They criticized John because he wouldn’t drink wine and ate locusts and wild honey and they criticized Jesus because he did drink wine and ate regular food. Jesus made the point that they were never satisfied. *** Jesus denounced the cities where he had done the most miracles and yet the people found fault in him because he wasn’t what they were expecting of the Messiah. *** Jesus called all to him who were tired and had labored long. He told them to take his yoke on them and learn of him because then they would find rest for their souls. *** Lord, when we feel overwhelmed with life, may we remember that we do not have to feel this way. We can stop and meditate on who you are and how light your yoke is, and breathe. May we learn of you, that you are love and comfort and so willing to help.