Sun.’s Devo - Jacob’s Split with Laban

Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16: Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15 When Rachael realized she was barren she became envious of Leah and tried to blame it on Jacob. He told her that he was not God who had withheld children from her. Rachel could not be consoled. She gave Jacob her maid, Bilhah to have children bye her. Jacob and Bilhah had Dan and Naphtali. *** Leah got in the race and gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob and they had Gad and Asher. Rueben found some mandrakes and sold them to Rachel for a night with Jacob. They conceived that night and had Issachar. Leah had another son and named him Zebulun. Then she had a daughter and named her Dinah. *** God remembered Rachel and she bore Joseph. At that time, Jacob went to Laban and asked for him to start paying him a wage. When he first came there Laban only had a few sheep and goats but Jacob had worked the animals and they had ended up multiplying making Laban a very prosperous man. *** Jacob came up with a plan that all the spotted and speckled sheep would be his and all the brown lambs would be his. The rest would be Laban’s. Laban was quick to agree since spotted and speckled sheep were rare and he was clearly getting the better end of the deal. Jacob divided his out but still fed Laban’s flocks. Jacob had learned if you put the colors in front of the cows while mating their imaginations would produce what they saw. He put rods the color of the flocks he wanted them to produced. (You become what you behold.) *** When Jacob told Leah and Rachel what he had done, they were glad he had made a split with their father. He told them that an Angel of God spoke to him in a dream and told him to get out of this land and return to the land of his family. Rachel and Leah both wanted to leave and had no ties with their father since he had stolen from them also. They were ready to go with Jacob. *** In Matthew, Jesus sent out his 12 disciples to the cities in Israel. They were instructed not to go to the Gentile cities. They were to preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They were to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. They were not given money or any supplies. They were to go with the clothes on their backs. If they were received and treated kindly, then they were to bless the house with peace. If they were not received kindly then they were to take their peace with them. God would judge that house later. *** They were being sent out as lambs before wolves. They were told to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. If they were delivered up to the council, they were not to worry, the Holy Spirit with give them what to say. When they persecute you, go to the next city. *** Lord, may we remember the things you told your disciples as you sent them out. You are with us in every situation. May we be your witnesses that you are the only God.

Sat.’s Devo - Jacob’s Trials

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12 Isaac called in Jacob and blessed him again and sent him to Pandan Aram to take a wife from his family Laban. Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away and didn’t like his wives so Esau took a wife from the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s other son. Her name was Mahalath which means “making sick.” I wonder how that turned out? *** Jacob traveled and stopped for the night. He laid his head upon a stone and had a dream. He saw a ladder that reached to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above the ladder and told him that He was giving him the land he was lying in and his descendants would be like the dust of the earth. They would spread in all directions. Through them all the earth would be blessed. *** When Jacob woke up he took the stone that he had used as a pillow and poured oil on it. He named the place Bethel saying it must be the house of God and the gate to heaven. He vowed to God that if he would provide for him, he would return and God would be his God. This stone will be God’s house and of everything God gives to him he will give a tenth. *** Jacob came to the land of the East and stopped at a well. Shepherds were gathering to lift the stone and water their sheep. They waited till they all got there and the shepherds could lift the stone. Jacob asked if anyone knew his uncle Laban and they told him that Laban was doing well and his daughter was just arriving. Jacob lifted the stone by himself and watered all of Rachael’s sheep. He then kissed her and told her who he was. She ran home and told her father and Laban ran to meed him. He brought Jacob home to meet his family. *** Jacob worked for Laban for a month and Laban called him in and asked him what he wanted for wages. Jacob said he wanted Rachel for his wife. Laban said if he worked for him for 7 years, he could have her. He did but when the marriage feast ended in their consummation, Leah was given to him. It was dark and Jacob didn’t know until the morning light that he had been given Leah instead of Rachel. He was very upset, but Laban explained that in their culture, they couldn’t give the youngest daughter before the oldest. If he would continue his wedding week, he would be given Rachel. He would have to work another 7 years without pay. He agreed. Leah was very fertile and quickly bore four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. With each son she had hoped to gain her husband’s affection but with the last son, she praised the Lord. Then she stopped bearing. *** In Matthew, Jesus got called to come to the home of a 12 year old girl who was dying. On the way he was stopped by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Jesus healed the woman and woke the girl up from death. *** Then he heals two blind men and a mute man who was also demon-possessed. The Pharisees said Jesus had a demon. *** Jacob had stolen the birthright and the blessing and now he had to reap his actions from someone who was more trickier than him, Laban. God has a way of smoothing out all our rough spots and making us usable for his purposes. Jacob was still the one God was going to use which should be encouraging to us. God sees our hearts and whose hearts can be turned. Jacob’s heart could be and was turned toward him. *** Lord, may we learn from our trials to draw near to You and let You guide our lives and choose our path.

Fri.’s Devo - Trust the Plan

Read: Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10 Isaac moved from the land of Abimelech but still argued with the shepherds of the Philistines over water. Abraham had dug wells but the Philistines had filled them with dirt. He began to dig them again but the Philistines argued with them over them. They finally dug one they didn’t argue over in Rehoboth which means “room for all”. *** Abimelech came with his army officer and a friend named Ahuzzath which means “possession”. They wanted to make a covenant of peace with Isaac and his family since they were so powerful and big. They ate and made their covenant. Isaac’s men found another well with water and called it Beersheba. *** Esau married two Hittite wives which caused Isaac and Rebekah much grief. *** Isaac became so old he couldn’t see well and it was time for him to bless Esau, his first born. Esau had sold that right to Jacob so Rebecca had a plan to steal the blessing for Jacob. While Esau was out hunting for food for the blessing meal, she sent Jacob to get a calf from the fold. She prepared the food and wrapped fur around Jacob and put Esau’s clothes on Jacob so he would smell and feel like Esau. *** Isaac questioned Jacob’s voice and how quickly he had prepared his meal but when he felt his arms he believed he must be Esau. He had him come close to him so he could smell him before he gave him the blessing but he finally did. He blessed him with the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth and plenty of gain and wine. He said nations would bow down to him and he would be master over his brethren. Those that cursed him would be cursed and those who blessed him would be blessed. *** When Esau returned and found out what Jacob had done, he was distraught. He begged his father for a blessing and Isaac blessed him with prosperity also but to live by the sword. He would serve his brother for a while then break his yoke. *** Esau hated Jacob for what he had done and determined to kill him. Rebekah found out and wanted to send Jacob to her brother Laban’s house till Esau could calm down. Then she would send for him. She convinced Isaac to agree to it by saying she didn’t want him to marry one of the wives of the Hittites like Esau did. *** In Matthew, Jesus got back into his boat and went over to his own city. They brought him a paralytic and he forgave his sins first. This made the Pharisees very upset. He asked them which was easier to say your sins be forgiven or rise up and walk. So they would know he had the power to do both, he told the man to rise up and walk and he did. *** Jesus passed Matthew, collecting taxes and told him to follow him. Matthew got up immediately and did. Jesus had dinner with other tax collectors and sinners and the Pharisees rebuked him for that. He told them that he didn’t come to the people who were well and didn’t need a physician. He came to those that were meek. He came to call sinners to repentance. *** John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked why they had to fast and his disciples didn’t. Jesus told them that you don’t fast when you have the bridegroom with you. The day would come when the bridegroom would be taken from the and they would fast then. *** Jesus got called to come to the home of a 12 year old girl who was dying. On the way he was stopped by a woman who had *** Lord, may we trust your plan and not try to manipulate your hand. May we be happy for others when they prosper and realize we are all your children. Bless our nation and the nations of the world that honor you. Bless our families with faith and spiritual prosperity.

Thurs.’s Devo - Possessing the Gate of the Enemy

Read: Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8 The servant wanted to leave immediately with Rebecca and go back home but the brother wanted him to stay 10 days. They called in Rebecca to let her make the decision. She wanted to leave so off they went to meet Isaac. *** Isaac loved Rebecca and was comforted after his mother’s death. Abraham married Keturah and from her and her offspring had 16 descendants. Abraham lived to be 175 and was buried in the cave with Sarah. *** Ishmael had 12 sons which became princes over their land. He lived to be 137. *** Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebecca but she was barren. Isaac pleaded with the Lord for a son and God heard his prayer. Rebecca became pregnant with twins. They struggled in her womb and God said it was because they were two nations who would struggle when they came out too. The older would serve the younger. *** The first twin was Esau who was born with hair all over his body like fur. The second was Jacob. Isaac loved Esau because he hunted game and he loved to eat it. Rebecca loved Jacob because he was a homebody and helped her cook. *** One day, Esau came in from hunting and Jacob was cooking stew. Esau wanted some but Jacob bargained a bowl of soup for his birthright. Esau despised his birthright by giving it up for the stew. *** There was a famine in the land and Isaac went to the king of the Philistines, Abimelech. God told him not to go to Egypt but to stay here with the Philistines in Gerar. He told him he would multiply his descendants as the stars of heaven and bless the earth through them because of Abraham. *** Isaac told Rebecca to tell everyone there that she was his sister so they wouldn’t kill him for her. (Here we go again!) But the king saw them flirting together and called Isaac in and rebuked him for lying. Isaac told him why he did it ,so the king made it law that if anyone touched Rebecca would die. Isaac sowed seed in their land and reaped 100 fold. He became so prosperous the Philistines because jealous and afraid of him. He was becoming more powerful than them. They stopped up his water supply to drive him out of town. Abimelech met with him and told him they needed to leave because they were becoming too big. *** In Matthew, a scribe came to Jesus and wanted to follow him wherever he went. He answered the man saying that he didn’t have a permanent place to stay. This must have been a personal thing with this man. We don’t know if he followed Jesus or not. Another came and wanted to follow Jesus but first go bury his father. Another excuse that Jesus saw through. *** Jesus got into his boat to go to the other side. On the way over there was a storm. Jesus rebuked it and it became calm. The disciples were amazed. This was a precursor for what they were about to meet. *** On the other side were two demon-possessed men who lived in the caves. They recognized Jesus as the Son of God and begged to go into the herd of swine. Jesus sent them to the swine who jumped a cliff to get to water. This scared the people of the city so much they asked him to leave. *** Lord, thank you that you are in control of who rules the nations and you watch over your people and protect them. You are our refuge and high tower. May we possess the gates of our enemies.

Wed.’s Devo - The God of All We Need

Read: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6 Sarah died in Hebron and Abraham asked the sons of Heth if he could buy a cave in Machpelah to bury her in. They wanted to give him the land but Abraham insisted on buying it for 400 shekels of silver. *** Abraham was getting old but wanted to make sure Isaac had a wife from his family. He sent his oldest servant to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. He told him that if the woman refused to come then he would be released from his vow. *** The servant prayed to the Lord for help and laid out a fleece. He asked God that the woman he asked for a drink would also offer to feed his camels. He had no sooner prayed this when Rebecca came to the well. She fulfilled all his requests. He found out she was Abraham’s brother’s granddaughter. He gave her a nose ring and some bracelets and asked if he could stay at her house. *** Rebecca ran home and showed her gifts to her father and her brother, Laban. Laban came back with her to get the servant. When the servant told them his mission, they were very happy and agreed to let Rebecca go back with him. Mission accomplished. *** In Matthew, Jesus healed a man with leprosy, an incurable disease. Then he healed a man who was paralyzed without even going to touch him. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law and she immediately got up and served them. He did this all in one day, then went home and they brought the demon-possessed to him and he cast them out with a word and healed all who were sick. *** When the multitudes showed up, Jesus went to the other side of the lake. *** Lord, you are truly the God who provides everything we need. If you be for us who can be against us.

Tues.’ Devo - The Son of Promise is Born

Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12;Proverbs 2:16-22 Abraham had asked Sarah to tell everyone that she was his sister since she was so beautiful. He thought they would kill him to get her. Sure enough, when they came to Egypt, the king was told about Sarah and had her taken to his harem. *** God came to Abimelech in a dream telling him that he was a dead man because he had taken Abraham’s wife. He told him to restore Sarah to Abraham and he would pray for him because he was a prophet. *** Abimelech met with Abraham and they got everything straight. They made a covenant with each other. Abimelech gave Abraham a thousand pieces of silver for taking Sarah and Abraham prayed for Abimelech and God healed his wife and his female servants so they would be healed of their bareness. Sarah and Abraham could now conceive a baby also. Satan had lost the battle. *** Abraham and Sarah had their promised son Isaac and circumcised him on the eight day. On the day he was weaned, Abraham had a great feast. Ishmael scoffed at the attention Isaac was receiving. This made Sarah upset and she wanted to throw Hagar and Ishmael out. God told Abraham to listen to his wife and do what she wanted to do. *** So, Abraham gave Hagar bread and water and sent her and Ishmael away. She went into the Wilderness of Beersheba. When they ran out of water, God provided a well of water and preserved their life. They lived in the wilderness where Ishmael became an archer. Hagar found a wife for him in Egypt. *** Meanwhile, Abimelech and his army commander, Phichol met with Abraham. They wanted Abraham to swear he would not rise up against them and take over their kingdom. In return, Abraham wanted them to give him the well that he had dug but Abimelech’s men and seized. Abimelech didn’t know about the well but gave it back to Abraham and they cut a covenant of peace. When Abimelech left, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called upon the name of the Lord. *** Abraham received his greatest test. God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac on Mt. Moriah. Abraham left the next morning to obey. Isaac was old enough to object but he allowed his father to bound him to the altar. When Abraham went to slay him with his knife, God intervened. Abraham had passed the test and God provided a ram. God blessed him with descendants as the stars of heaven and the sand one the seashore. They would possess the gate of their enemies. Through his seed ass the nations of the earth would be blessed because he obeyed. *** Abraham’s brother, Nahor had 12 sons. *** Jesus told his disciples to beware of those who came to them looking like a sheep when they were really wolves. They would be exposed by their fruits. Not everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will enter his kingdom. They must do his will and not practice lawlessness. People will even cast out demons and do miracles in his name and not be his because they refused to stop practicing lawlessness. *** A wise man hears God’s word and obeys it thus building his life upon a rock of truth. This man will not be blown away in the storms of life. *** Jesus ended his sermon and the people were astonished at his teaching because he taught with authority like he knew and believed what he was saying. *** Lord, may we produce fruits of righteousness and please you.

Mon.’s Devo - The Destruction of Sodom

Read: Genesis 18:16-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15 Abraham had fed the three angels and as they rose to leave they looked toward Sodom. The Lord decided to tell Abraham what they were going to do since Abraham would one day become a great nation. The outcry of sin had risen to heaven and they had been sent to see how bad it was. Abraham knew what they would find so he started bargaining with the Lord. *** Would he destroy it if he found 50 righteous? 45? 40? 30? 20? 10. Surely there were 10 righteous. The Lord sent the other two angels down to see. They met Lot at the gate and he begged them to come stay with him. He knew it was not safe to stay in the square and he recognized them as angels. *** The wicked men of Sodom just saw them as men and came to Lot’s house to have sex with them. Lot offered his virgin daughters to the men but the angles saved Lot and brought him into the house. They struck the men with blindness and they couldn’t find the door. *** Early the next morning, the angels told Lot to hurry and take anyone in his family and flee the city because they were going to destroy it. They were not to look back. The only ones Lot could convince to come were his wife and two daughters. His wife looked back when it was being destroyed and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot escaped with his two daughters. Lot had begged to go to a city named Soar which means “insignificant”. But, Lot ended up living in the mountains of Zoar with his two daughters in a cave. *** His two daughters were afraid they would never marry so they made their father drunk and slept with him. They both got pregnant and had sons. The first born called her son Moab and he became father of the Moabites. The second daughter had a son and named him Ben-Ammi. He became the father of the Ammonites. *** Jesus’ words of comfort have been my go-to when I feel overwhelmed. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” In other words, ‘Don’t worry about anything!’ *** Jesus went on to warn us not to judge or we will be judged the same way. He told us to ask him for everything, seek for what we want to know and knock on his door for the answers. He will surely give us what we need, help us find knowledge and wisdom and open the door to his kingdom if we knock. He will help us find the way to life. *** Lord, thank you for your Word. It is the way to life. May we ask, seek and knock on your door for you are generous and give good things.