Read: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47:14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10
Joseph changed his mind about keeping all the brothers. He only kept Simeon and let the others return home to get Benjamin. Joseph had planned for them to come right back but Jacob wouldn’t let them for fear that he would lose more than Simeon.
They found the silver in their sacks which was meant as a blessing but their guilt couldn’t see it as a gift. They felt that everything that was happening was their fault for what they did to Joseph, and it was. Joseph was testing them to see if they were repentant.
When they ran out of grain again, Jacob had to send them back. Rueben talked Jacob into letting them all go, promising that he would take full responsibility for their safety. Jacob had no choice, so they all returned with Benjamin. They offered double the silver but instead were told to keep their silver and invited for lunch. They were still afraid that any moment would turn into their own demise, but that was not Joseph’s intention at all. He sat them in the order they had sat all their lives - in birth order. When Joseph saw Benjamin, he had to leave the room to cry but came back composed. When the food was served, Benjamin was given 5 times as much as everyone else.
When I read this part of the story what sticks out to me is the way their guilt kept them from seeing the grace being extended to them. When we live in guilt, we will not understand others’ motives because we will see it through eyes of guilt and fear and condemnation. Only Jesus can take away our guilt of sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In the end, they did feast and drink freely so they were finally able to relax and receive. That is the position of a person walking in grace: we can eat and drink with the Lord freely with no condemnation.
In Matthew, Jesus told one last parable about the end time harvest and judgment. He explained that every teacher gives new revelation and old.
When Jesus came home, the people couldn’t accept the fact that one of their own could do such miracles. They took offense with him. Jesus explained that it is hard for a prophet or teacher to be accepted by those in his own hometown. It is hard for them to not see past the flesh.
John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. Because John had condemned Herod of taking his brother’s wife, he had imprisoned him. Herod enjoyed talking with John and respected him but his wife couldn’t stand John because he made her feel guilty. She tricked Herod into killing him. Once again guilt caused deception which lead to death.
When Herod’s officers heard about all the things Jesus was doing, they told Herod that it sounded like John had risen from the grave. I bet that had Herod’s wife shaking in her boots.
Funny, they thought that Jesus got his power to do miracles from John, but it was vice versa!
Lord, help us to shed any guilt we might have. Thank you for your blood that cleanses us and makes us righteous. May we continue to walk with clean hands and pure hearts.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
Mon.’s Devo - Double Fruitful
Read: Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6
Pharaoh told Joseph his dream about the skinny cows eating the fat cows and remaining skinny. Joseph explained that the fat cows stood for years of plenty followed by the skinny cows which were the years of famine. He suggested that he store up during the years of plenty so that the people would be preserved during the days of famine. The king thought it was a brilliant idea and set Joseph in charge of making it happen. Joseph was given authority to rule and promoted to second in command to the king. He was given a Gentile bride who gave him two sons during the days of plenty. The sons were named Manasseh, which means “causing to forget”, and Joseph which means “double fruitful”. God was causing Joseph to forget the pain of his past and see his great blessing now.
Jesus has chosen a Gentile bride in his church and we have caused him to forget the rejection of his own people. He is double fruitful through the church. When we become a Christian he does the same thing for us. He causes us to forget the shame of our past and see the blessing of our future.
The famine hit and spread across the land to Canaan. Joseph’s brothers were starving but heard that Egypt was selling grain so Jacob sent his 10 sons to Egypt to buy grain. Benjamin stayed home.
Joseph recognized them but his identity stayed hidden from them. He questioned them about their family and they told him about their father and Benjamin. Joseph tested them to see if they had changed. He accused them of being spies and held them as prisoners. He planned to send one of them home to get Benjamin. He kept them for three days so they got to experience the prison that he had lived in for years. We are called to identify in Jesus’ sufferings.
In Matthew, Jesus told them many parables. The first one had to do with good seed that God sowed and bad seed that Satan sowed. They would both produce. God’s good seed would produce people represented as wheat and Satan’s seed would produce his followers represented by tares. They were to remain on the earth until the end of time when the angels will harvest them. The wheat will go in God’s barns in heaven and the tares will be burned in the fires of hell.
The next two parables meant the same thing. The seed and the yeast were examples of how the kingdom of God would start small but it would grow and many would come into it.
The next two parables had to do with the Jews and the Gentiles. The believing Jews were the treasure hidden in the field. The Gentile Church were the pearl of great price. Jesus died to save the whole would just to recover the treasure and the pearl. They both are hidden throughout the earth but God bought the whole earth with the price of the blood of his son to unearth them for all the see.
Lord, thank your for your great plan! May we walk as treasures and pearls in this earth displaying your glory so others can come to the light of your salvation.
Pharaoh told Joseph his dream about the skinny cows eating the fat cows and remaining skinny. Joseph explained that the fat cows stood for years of plenty followed by the skinny cows which were the years of famine. He suggested that he store up during the years of plenty so that the people would be preserved during the days of famine. The king thought it was a brilliant idea and set Joseph in charge of making it happen. Joseph was given authority to rule and promoted to second in command to the king. He was given a Gentile bride who gave him two sons during the days of plenty. The sons were named Manasseh, which means “causing to forget”, and Joseph which means “double fruitful”. God was causing Joseph to forget the pain of his past and see his great blessing now.
Jesus has chosen a Gentile bride in his church and we have caused him to forget the rejection of his own people. He is double fruitful through the church. When we become a Christian he does the same thing for us. He causes us to forget the shame of our past and see the blessing of our future.
The famine hit and spread across the land to Canaan. Joseph’s brothers were starving but heard that Egypt was selling grain so Jacob sent his 10 sons to Egypt to buy grain. Benjamin stayed home.
Joseph recognized them but his identity stayed hidden from them. He questioned them about their family and they told him about their father and Benjamin. Joseph tested them to see if they had changed. He accused them of being spies and held them as prisoners. He planned to send one of them home to get Benjamin. He kept them for three days so they got to experience the prison that he had lived in for years. We are called to identify in Jesus’ sufferings.
In Matthew, Jesus told them many parables. The first one had to do with good seed that God sowed and bad seed that Satan sowed. They would both produce. God’s good seed would produce people represented as wheat and Satan’s seed would produce his followers represented by tares. They were to remain on the earth until the end of time when the angels will harvest them. The wheat will go in God’s barns in heaven and the tares will be burned in the fires of hell.
The next two parables meant the same thing. The seed and the yeast were examples of how the kingdom of God would start small but it would grow and many would come into it.
The next two parables had to do with the Jews and the Gentiles. The believing Jews were the treasure hidden in the field. The Gentile Church were the pearl of great price. Jesus died to save the whole would just to recover the treasure and the pearl. They both are hidden throughout the earth but God bought the whole earth with the price of the blood of his son to unearth them for all the see.
Lord, thank your for your great plan! May we walk as treasures and pearls in this earth displaying your glory so others can come to the light of your salvation.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Sun.’s Devo - Understanding Mysteries
Read: Genesis 391-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35
Joseph was sold to Potiphar who was chief of the executioners for the Pharaoh. Right away he noticed that Joseph was blessed with administration and that everything he touched prospered. Potiphar entrusted everything he had to Joseph and didn’t worry about a thing. Potiphar worked out of town much of the time so Potiphar’s wife started noticing Joseph when Potiphar was away. She tried to seduce him to have sex with her but he wouldn’t do it. She was relentless and when she was spurned the last time, she lied and said he had tried to force himself on her.
When Potiphar came home, she told him her lie. He must have seen through it because it would have been nothing for him to execute Joseph since that was his job. Instead, God intervened and Joseph was put in prison.
Joseph stayed there for years. One day both the king’s cook and wine taster were put in prison. Someone must have plotted to poison the king since they were in charge of what he drank and ate. They were put in prison till an investigation could be made to find out which one or if both were guilty.
God gave them both a dream on the same night and Daniel interpreted them both. The cup bearer would be restored to his job in three days. In three days, the baker would be hanged and the birds would eat his flesh. Joseph asked the cup bearer to please remember to mention his plight to the king and get him out because he was innocent. The cup bearer forgot about Joseph until years later when the king had a dream and it needed to be interpreted. Then the cup bearer told him about Joseph. Joseph was brought out of prison and shaved his head and changed out of his prison clothes. Joseph was wise enough to know that if he was going to appeal to an Egyptian, he needed to relate to him as much as possible.
When Joseph was asked by the Pharaoh if he could interpret his dream Joseph told him that God would tell him what it meant. Good answer!
Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph and faked his death as a picture of the Jew’s killing Jesus on the cross. Jesus was resurrected and sold to the Gentiles where he prospered and help them prosper. The Gentile church went through tough times when they had to go underground as Joseph was in prison but he came out of prison to rule over the Gentile world. We are living in that season right now but soon the Jewish eyes will be opened and they will realize that their Messiah has been alive all this time.
In Matthew, Jesus’ mother and brothers came for him. I am guessing that Joseph must have just died and they expected Jesus to come home and take over the family business. Jesus explained that his spiritual family was much bigger and just as important to him as the ones in his own house.
He didn’t go home, he followed his heavenly Father’s will. Jesus stood in a boat and told the crowd the most important parable of all. To understand all the other parables, you must understand this one. It was the one of the seed and the sower. He explained it to his disciples, who asked, what it meant. The key to understanding anything about Jesus and his kingdom has to do with the soil of your heart. If the soil is not ready and willing to receive the seed, the seed will not live. The seed is the Word of God. The farmer, God, throws out seed everywhere but it will only grow where the heart is ready and wanting to receive it. The more seed you devour, the more seed will be given you.
Lord, make us hungry for the seed of your Word. Remind us that your mysteries are for us to understand. Open our eyes to your kingdom.
Joseph was sold to Potiphar who was chief of the executioners for the Pharaoh. Right away he noticed that Joseph was blessed with administration and that everything he touched prospered. Potiphar entrusted everything he had to Joseph and didn’t worry about a thing. Potiphar worked out of town much of the time so Potiphar’s wife started noticing Joseph when Potiphar was away. She tried to seduce him to have sex with her but he wouldn’t do it. She was relentless and when she was spurned the last time, she lied and said he had tried to force himself on her.
When Potiphar came home, she told him her lie. He must have seen through it because it would have been nothing for him to execute Joseph since that was his job. Instead, God intervened and Joseph was put in prison.
Joseph stayed there for years. One day both the king’s cook and wine taster were put in prison. Someone must have plotted to poison the king since they were in charge of what he drank and ate. They were put in prison till an investigation could be made to find out which one or if both were guilty.
God gave them both a dream on the same night and Daniel interpreted them both. The cup bearer would be restored to his job in three days. In three days, the baker would be hanged and the birds would eat his flesh. Joseph asked the cup bearer to please remember to mention his plight to the king and get him out because he was innocent. The cup bearer forgot about Joseph until years later when the king had a dream and it needed to be interpreted. Then the cup bearer told him about Joseph. Joseph was brought out of prison and shaved his head and changed out of his prison clothes. Joseph was wise enough to know that if he was going to appeal to an Egyptian, he needed to relate to him as much as possible.
When Joseph was asked by the Pharaoh if he could interpret his dream Joseph told him that God would tell him what it meant. Good answer!
Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph and faked his death as a picture of the Jew’s killing Jesus on the cross. Jesus was resurrected and sold to the Gentiles where he prospered and help them prosper. The Gentile church went through tough times when they had to go underground as Joseph was in prison but he came out of prison to rule over the Gentile world. We are living in that season right now but soon the Jewish eyes will be opened and they will realize that their Messiah has been alive all this time.
In Matthew, Jesus’ mother and brothers came for him. I am guessing that Joseph must have just died and they expected Jesus to come home and take over the family business. Jesus explained that his spiritual family was much bigger and just as important to him as the ones in his own house.
He didn’t go home, he followed his heavenly Father’s will. Jesus stood in a boat and told the crowd the most important parable of all. To understand all the other parables, you must understand this one. It was the one of the seed and the sower. He explained it to his disciples, who asked, what it meant. The key to understanding anything about Jesus and his kingdom has to do with the soil of your heart. If the soil is not ready and willing to receive the seed, the seed will not live. The seed is the Word of God. The farmer, God, throws out seed everywhere but it will only grow where the heart is ready and wanting to receive it. The more seed you devour, the more seed will be given you.
Lord, make us hungry for the seed of your Word. Remind us that your mysteries are for us to understand. Open our eyes to your kingdom.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Sat.’s Devo - God Always Finds a Way
Read: Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32
Today we begin the story of Joseph who was a type of Jesus. He, like Jesus, had to learn obedience through the things he suffered. He got on his brother’s wrong side when he tattled about what they were doing wrong. (Notice that it was the son’s of Jacob’s concubines who were tattled on.)
Joseph was also their father’s favorite from his favorite wife. Jacob had a beautiful coat made for Joseph to show his favor. But, the thing that topped it off for the brothers was Joseph’s dreams. This showed them that even God favored Joseph over them.
They understood how important dreams were and did everything they could to kill Joseph and his dreams. They thought they had found a way to make some money and get rid of him too, but little did they know it fell right into God’s plan. Reuben, who had planned to save Joseph, wasn’t around when they sold Joseph. They came home with Joseph’s coat they had covered in blood to leave Jacob to his own conclusions. Jacob was left distressed and Joseph became a slave.
In the middle of Joseph’s tale we have the story of Judah and Tamar. Judah left the home of his father and went to live in the city of Adullam and married a woman there. They had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah found a wife for Er named Tamar. Er was so wicked that God killed him! By Mosaic law, Tamar would be married to Onan and their first son would carry on Er’s line. Onan didn’t want to carry on his brother’s line so he refused to impregnate Tamar. God saw his wickedness and killed him also. Judah told Tamar to wait until Shelah grew up and she would be give to him. It is important to remember that having babies and carrying on posterity was most important then.
When Shelah grew up, he was not given to Tamar so Tamar took matters into her own hand. She disguised herself as a shrine prostitute and waited for Jacob to walk down her road. His wife had died by then and he took the bait. He left his staff, seal and its cord in lieu of payment.
God blessed Tamar and she became pregnant. When Jacob found out she was pregnant, he wanted to have her burned to death until he realized she was carrying his offspring. She bore twins and was paid back for both of Jacob’s sons who never gave her children. When birthing them. an arm came out first so they tied a scarlet thread around it. But when the first baby came out it didn’t have the thread on it. It had broken through to be first. This is a constant theme throughout the Bible. The first born stands for our natural sin-natured self. The second born stands for our born-again nature of God. It is the one that has been washed in the blood.
In Matthew, we have a dividing line drawn. The Pharisees had been following Jesus to see if he was the Messiah like all the people were saying. They had their own litmus test for the Messiah. He had to cleanse a Jewish leper, heal a man born blind and and open the mouth of a dumb man. He just did the third one and the Pharisees had to make a statement about whether he was the Messiah or not. Their jealousy would not let them pronounce Jesus as the Messiah so they said he got his power from Satan. This was the final blow to the religious order. Jesus cursed them with spiritual blindness which will remain on their people till the time of the Gentile’s is over. Many Jews have come to know Jesus as their Messiah, but as a nation, they are still blind. One day their eyes will be opened.
Lord, help us to walk with eyes that see and ears that hear you. Thank you that you always find a way!
Today we begin the story of Joseph who was a type of Jesus. He, like Jesus, had to learn obedience through the things he suffered. He got on his brother’s wrong side when he tattled about what they were doing wrong. (Notice that it was the son’s of Jacob’s concubines who were tattled on.)
Joseph was also their father’s favorite from his favorite wife. Jacob had a beautiful coat made for Joseph to show his favor. But, the thing that topped it off for the brothers was Joseph’s dreams. This showed them that even God favored Joseph over them.
They understood how important dreams were and did everything they could to kill Joseph and his dreams. They thought they had found a way to make some money and get rid of him too, but little did they know it fell right into God’s plan. Reuben, who had planned to save Joseph, wasn’t around when they sold Joseph. They came home with Joseph’s coat they had covered in blood to leave Jacob to his own conclusions. Jacob was left distressed and Joseph became a slave.
In the middle of Joseph’s tale we have the story of Judah and Tamar. Judah left the home of his father and went to live in the city of Adullam and married a woman there. They had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah found a wife for Er named Tamar. Er was so wicked that God killed him! By Mosaic law, Tamar would be married to Onan and their first son would carry on Er’s line. Onan didn’t want to carry on his brother’s line so he refused to impregnate Tamar. God saw his wickedness and killed him also. Judah told Tamar to wait until Shelah grew up and she would be give to him. It is important to remember that having babies and carrying on posterity was most important then.
When Shelah grew up, he was not given to Tamar so Tamar took matters into her own hand. She disguised herself as a shrine prostitute and waited for Jacob to walk down her road. His wife had died by then and he took the bait. He left his staff, seal and its cord in lieu of payment.
God blessed Tamar and she became pregnant. When Jacob found out she was pregnant, he wanted to have her burned to death until he realized she was carrying his offspring. She bore twins and was paid back for both of Jacob’s sons who never gave her children. When birthing them. an arm came out first so they tied a scarlet thread around it. But when the first baby came out it didn’t have the thread on it. It had broken through to be first. This is a constant theme throughout the Bible. The first born stands for our natural sin-natured self. The second born stands for our born-again nature of God. It is the one that has been washed in the blood.
In Matthew, we have a dividing line drawn. The Pharisees had been following Jesus to see if he was the Messiah like all the people were saying. They had their own litmus test for the Messiah. He had to cleanse a Jewish leper, heal a man born blind and and open the mouth of a dumb man. He just did the third one and the Pharisees had to make a statement about whether he was the Messiah or not. Their jealousy would not let them pronounce Jesus as the Messiah so they said he got his power from Satan. This was the final blow to the religious order. Jesus cursed them with spiritual blindness which will remain on their people till the time of the Gentile’s is over. Many Jews have come to know Jesus as their Messiah, but as a nation, they are still blind. One day their eyes will be opened.
Lord, help us to walk with eyes that see and ears that hear you. Thank you that you always find a way!
Friday, January 17, 2020
Fri.’s Devo - Bethel
God told Jacob to go back to the angel’s camp where he saw them climbing the ladder from heaven to earth and where he wrestled with one of them. There, in Bethel he was to build an altar. Bethel means the “house of God”.
Yesterday we read where Levi and Simeon ticked off the whole region by killing all the men of Hamor but today we read that God put terror in the land so that no one pursued them.
God told Jacob to get rid of all their foreign gods and when he built the altar in Bethel, Rebekah’s nurse died and was buried there. Jacob hadn’t been able to mourn his mother’s death, but he was able to mourn his mother’s maid who was probably like a mother to him.
When Jacob returned to Bethel, God changed his name to Israel and told him that nations and kings would come from his descendants. He built another altar there and poured oil on it. Upon leaving Bethel, Rachel went into labor and died having Benjamin. She named him Ben-Oni meaning “son of my trouble”, but Jacob changed it to Benjamin meaning “Son of my right hand. She died outside of Bethlehem, the place where the Son of God’s Right Hand would be born many years later. Jacob buried Rachel in the same cave that Abraham, and Sarah, were born. (See Genesis 49:31) Jacob stayed with Isaac in Hebron till he died at the age of 180. Both Esau and Jacob buried their father then parted.
We have a list of Esau’s descendants who formed the Edomites, their kings and their chiefs. They ruled in the hill country of Seir in Canaan.
In Matthew, we find the Pharisees wanting Jesus to conform to their law. They considered picking heads of grain to be “work” so the fact that the disciples were picking the grains of corn because they were hungry made them breakers of the law. Jesus reminded them that the priests were exempt from that law because they ate the shewbread and lived. He was trying to explain to them that priests were anyone who believed he was the Messiah and followed him. He was the Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus got to demonstrate what was to happen on the Sabbath in the next town. There was a man there with a shriveled hand and the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus explained that to do good on the Sabbath was not work it was good works. He healed the man’s hand and the Pharisees left to plot his death. (This is looking a lot like Congress!)
Lord, help us to see the bigger picture and put our confidence in your plan. It is always good!
Yesterday we read where Levi and Simeon ticked off the whole region by killing all the men of Hamor but today we read that God put terror in the land so that no one pursued them.
God told Jacob to get rid of all their foreign gods and when he built the altar in Bethel, Rebekah’s nurse died and was buried there. Jacob hadn’t been able to mourn his mother’s death, but he was able to mourn his mother’s maid who was probably like a mother to him.
When Jacob returned to Bethel, God changed his name to Israel and told him that nations and kings would come from his descendants. He built another altar there and poured oil on it. Upon leaving Bethel, Rachel went into labor and died having Benjamin. She named him Ben-Oni meaning “son of my trouble”, but Jacob changed it to Benjamin meaning “Son of my right hand. She died outside of Bethlehem, the place where the Son of God’s Right Hand would be born many years later. Jacob buried Rachel in the same cave that Abraham, and Sarah, were born. (See Genesis 49:31) Jacob stayed with Isaac in Hebron till he died at the age of 180. Both Esau and Jacob buried their father then parted.
We have a list of Esau’s descendants who formed the Edomites, their kings and their chiefs. They ruled in the hill country of Seir in Canaan.
In Matthew, we find the Pharisees wanting Jesus to conform to their law. They considered picking heads of grain to be “work” so the fact that the disciples were picking the grains of corn because they were hungry made them breakers of the law. Jesus reminded them that the priests were exempt from that law because they ate the shewbread and lived. He was trying to explain to them that priests were anyone who believed he was the Messiah and followed him. He was the Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus got to demonstrate what was to happen on the Sabbath in the next town. There was a man there with a shriveled hand and the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus explained that to do good on the Sabbath was not work it was good works. He healed the man’s hand and the Pharisees left to plot his death. (This is looking a lot like Congress!)
Lord, help us to see the bigger picture and put our confidence in your plan. It is always good!
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Thur.’s Devo - The Face of God
Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Provers 3:19-20
Yesterday, we read that Jacob was met by angels sent from God. There must have been so many, he called it the camp of God. (Gen. 32:1,2) Jacob stayed there while he came up with his strategy for meeting Esau. He chose 550 animals to send ahead as a present to Esau. That night he wrestled with one of the angels of God’s army. They wrestled until dawn to get a blessing and when the sun started to come up the angel gave in. He had to hurt Jacob to get away, but he gave Jacob his blessing. Jacob named the place Penuel which meant “face of God”.
I have a feeling that that blessing had to do with his meeting with Esau. He was blessed in that Esau was not mad any more. He was convinced to take Jacob’s gifts as a peace offering for all Jacob had done to him and then they parted ways. Jacob went to Succoth which is symbolic for the tabernacles the people would make for the Feast of Tabernacles years later. Jacob had made it home. Jacob bought his first piece of land in the Promise Land of Canaan for 400 pieces of silver. It was right outside of Shechem. That was the same price that Abraham bought his first piece of land in Canaan. Jacob set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel which means “Mighty is the God of Israel”.
Leah had a daughter named Dinah who went into the city of Hamor to visit the women of the land. The ruler of the area whose name was Shechem saw her and took her and violated her. Then he decided he wanted to marry her so he went to Jacob to make a covenant with their people. Dinah’s two blood brothers, Levi and Simeon heard about what Shechem had done to Dinah and were furious and wanted revenge. They came up with a plan to get back. They told them they would only make a covenant with their people if they would all be circumcised. The men agreed and got circumcised. Three days later, Simon and Levi came into their city and killed all the men and looted their city. When Jacob found out he was not happy. He was afraid that what his sons did made him a threat to the other nations. I wonder if God didn’t allowed this to happen so they wouldn’t make a covenant with the people of the land. They were not to join them but subdue them.
In Matthew, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for not having spiritual eyes to see. The prophets were sent to lead the people back to God, yet the kings killed them. John was the last of the Old Testament prophets and he was the greatest because his job was to welcome the Messiah. They killed him also. They were always coming up with a reason for not liking the prophets but Jesus said, no matter what God sent them, they rejected. So God hid his best treasure from them and revealed it to children. The only one who really knew God was Jesus and whoever he chose to let see. No one knew Jesus, except God.
He gave the invitation to all who were tired and heavy to come to him. His laws were easy and light and he would teach them with kindness and love.
Lord, thank you that you reveal yourself to all who will diligently seek you. We seek your face.
Yesterday, we read that Jacob was met by angels sent from God. There must have been so many, he called it the camp of God. (Gen. 32:1,2) Jacob stayed there while he came up with his strategy for meeting Esau. He chose 550 animals to send ahead as a present to Esau. That night he wrestled with one of the angels of God’s army. They wrestled until dawn to get a blessing and when the sun started to come up the angel gave in. He had to hurt Jacob to get away, but he gave Jacob his blessing. Jacob named the place Penuel which meant “face of God”.
I have a feeling that that blessing had to do with his meeting with Esau. He was blessed in that Esau was not mad any more. He was convinced to take Jacob’s gifts as a peace offering for all Jacob had done to him and then they parted ways. Jacob went to Succoth which is symbolic for the tabernacles the people would make for the Feast of Tabernacles years later. Jacob had made it home. Jacob bought his first piece of land in the Promise Land of Canaan for 400 pieces of silver. It was right outside of Shechem. That was the same price that Abraham bought his first piece of land in Canaan. Jacob set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel which means “Mighty is the God of Israel”.
Leah had a daughter named Dinah who went into the city of Hamor to visit the women of the land. The ruler of the area whose name was Shechem saw her and took her and violated her. Then he decided he wanted to marry her so he went to Jacob to make a covenant with their people. Dinah’s two blood brothers, Levi and Simeon heard about what Shechem had done to Dinah and were furious and wanted revenge. They came up with a plan to get back. They told them they would only make a covenant with their people if they would all be circumcised. The men agreed and got circumcised. Three days later, Simon and Levi came into their city and killed all the men and looted their city. When Jacob found out he was not happy. He was afraid that what his sons did made him a threat to the other nations. I wonder if God didn’t allowed this to happen so they wouldn’t make a covenant with the people of the land. They were not to join them but subdue them.
In Matthew, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for not having spiritual eyes to see. The prophets were sent to lead the people back to God, yet the kings killed them. John was the last of the Old Testament prophets and he was the greatest because his job was to welcome the Messiah. They killed him also. They were always coming up with a reason for not liking the prophets but Jesus said, no matter what God sent them, they rejected. So God hid his best treasure from them and revealed it to children. The only one who really knew God was Jesus and whoever he chose to let see. No one knew Jesus, except God.
He gave the invitation to all who were tired and heavy to come to him. His laws were easy and light and he would teach them with kindness and love.
Lord, thank you that you reveal yourself to all who will diligently seek you. We seek your face.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Wed.’s Devo - God’s Way is the Best Way!
Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:26-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18
Jacob fled with everything he had. He had worked 14 years for his wives and 6 for his flock. Laban found out three days later and took off after Jacob, catching him on the seventh. The night before, God had given Laban a warning in a dream not to speak harmfully or good to Jacob.
He did speak his mind and he was not happy that Jacob left without telling him, and he was most unhappy that he had taken his household gods. Jacob told him he fled because he was afraid of him and that whoever took his gods would not live. He had no idea that his beloved Rachel had taken them.
Household gods were idols. It would cost Rachel her life and she would not get to see Jacob’s promised land or her boys grow up.
Jacob and Laban made a covenant and set a stone as a witness and a dividing line. Neither would cross it and God would be their witness as to how they lived their lives. They offered a sacrifice and ate their last meal together. Laban left but he was only the first of Jacob’s obstacles. The next one would be Esau. Jacob sent messengers to Esau that he was coming. In response, Esau came to meet him with 400 men. Jacob was sweating bullets. He decided to divide his people into three groups. He would send out the first group and if Esau attacked them, the rest could escape.
Jacob reminded himself that he had come with nothing and God had blessed him with a huge company of servants, wives and children. God had also given him a promise to bless him and multiply him as the sand of the seashore. Now, his faith would be tested.
In Matthew, Jesus continued to encourage them of the persecution that was to come. He told them not to be afraid of men who could kill their body because they couldn’t kill their eternal soul. They had to choose who was going to be their master. They had to choose Jesus over family, friends, reputation and their own life. To follow Christ would cost them everything but the reward would be great in heaven. Heaven is for eternity, this life is a fleeting moment.
John the Baptist was still waiting in prison for Jesus to come and rescue him. He had prophesied that the Messiah would open the prison doors and set the prisoner free. Why hadn’t he done that for him? Jesus knew John’s heart and told his men to report back to John the things he was doing. He was giving sight to the blind, walk to the lame, life the the dead and preaching the good news to the poor. Then he said, “Blessed is the man who does not fall on account of me.” In other words… Jesus was telling John to look at the things he was doing instead of the one thing he was not doing.
We all tend to judge God by what he does for us instead of praising him for who he is. God’s ways are not our ways but his are always the best. John would never get out of that prison, but when Jesus was resurrected, he would be released and rewarded for everything he did. John had done what he was sent to do and got his promotion early. He fulfilled his mission of preparing the way for Jesus. Well done, John.
Lord, help us to accept your will as the best for our lives and rest in your love. You are always right!
Jacob fled with everything he had. He had worked 14 years for his wives and 6 for his flock. Laban found out three days later and took off after Jacob, catching him on the seventh. The night before, God had given Laban a warning in a dream not to speak harmfully or good to Jacob.
He did speak his mind and he was not happy that Jacob left without telling him, and he was most unhappy that he had taken his household gods. Jacob told him he fled because he was afraid of him and that whoever took his gods would not live. He had no idea that his beloved Rachel had taken them.
Household gods were idols. It would cost Rachel her life and she would not get to see Jacob’s promised land or her boys grow up.
Jacob and Laban made a covenant and set a stone as a witness and a dividing line. Neither would cross it and God would be their witness as to how they lived their lives. They offered a sacrifice and ate their last meal together. Laban left but he was only the first of Jacob’s obstacles. The next one would be Esau. Jacob sent messengers to Esau that he was coming. In response, Esau came to meet him with 400 men. Jacob was sweating bullets. He decided to divide his people into three groups. He would send out the first group and if Esau attacked them, the rest could escape.
Jacob reminded himself that he had come with nothing and God had blessed him with a huge company of servants, wives and children. God had also given him a promise to bless him and multiply him as the sand of the seashore. Now, his faith would be tested.
In Matthew, Jesus continued to encourage them of the persecution that was to come. He told them not to be afraid of men who could kill their body because they couldn’t kill their eternal soul. They had to choose who was going to be their master. They had to choose Jesus over family, friends, reputation and their own life. To follow Christ would cost them everything but the reward would be great in heaven. Heaven is for eternity, this life is a fleeting moment.
John the Baptist was still waiting in prison for Jesus to come and rescue him. He had prophesied that the Messiah would open the prison doors and set the prisoner free. Why hadn’t he done that for him? Jesus knew John’s heart and told his men to report back to John the things he was doing. He was giving sight to the blind, walk to the lame, life the the dead and preaching the good news to the poor. Then he said, “Blessed is the man who does not fall on account of me.” In other words… Jesus was telling John to look at the things he was doing instead of the one thing he was not doing.
We all tend to judge God by what he does for us instead of praising him for who he is. God’s ways are not our ways but his are always the best. John would never get out of that prison, but when Jesus was resurrected, he would be released and rewarded for everything he did. John had done what he was sent to do and got his promotion early. He fulfilled his mission of preparing the way for Jesus. Well done, John.
Lord, help us to accept your will as the best for our lives and rest in your love. You are always right!
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