Sat.’s Devo - Birthing the Tribes of Israel

Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs; 3:13-15 When Rachel couldn’t get pregnant, she complained to Jacob who blamed it on God. Instead of going to God for an answer or help, Rachel gave him her maid as a concubine to have children for her. Through Bilhah (which means “timid”) Rachel had Dan which means “to judge”. Rachel believed that God had judged her and vindicated her. Bilhad had another son which Rachel named Naphtali which means “my wrestling”because she had wrestled with her sister and won. Leah, not to be outdone, gave Jacob her maid Zilpah (which means “to trickle like myrrh”). She had a son that Leah named Gad (which means “an invading troop”). Jacob now had children from four different women - imagine the dynamics of that household! Zilpah had another son and Leah named him Asher which means “happy and blessed”. Rueben found some mandrakes and brought them home to his mother, Leah. Mandrakes were called “love plants” and “Satan’s apple” because it possessed stimulating and narcotic properties. When Rachel found out about it she traded her night with Jacob for the mandrakes. Leah took it and got pregnant with another son she named Issachar which means “he will bring a reward”. He had been her reward for giving her mandrakes. Leah then had a daughter named Dinah meaning “justice”. God then remembered Rachel and she had her own son and named him Joseph which means “let him add”. This son did something to Jacob because he finally wanted to leave Laban and go back home to his own land. He went to Laban and asked for his wages. In Matthew, Jesus gave his twelve disciples authority to cast out unclean spirits and heal all manner of sickness and disease. The twelve disciples were Simon Peter, Andrew his brother, James and his brother John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot. He sent them to the city of the Samaritans and told them to find the Jews and preach to them that the kingdom of heaven was near. They were to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils and give as they had been given. They were not to take money or provision. The people of the places they went were to house them. If they didn’t receive them or their message then they were to shake the dust off their feet of that city and go to the next. That city would be judged at the judgment day. Jesus then looked far into the future even to us. When we are brought before the governors and kings for teaching about Him, the Holy Spirit will speak through us. Brothers will deliver up his own brother, and fathers will give up their own child. The children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. We will be hated of all men because of Christ. Those who endure to the end will be saved. We can see some of this happening right now but it is not close to how it will be in the end. Lord, may we preach your kingdom until the end. May we use the authority you have given us to heal the sick and raise the dead. May we have no fear.

Fri.’s Devo - Jacob’s Journey

Read: Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12 To save Jacob’s life, Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram and marry one of Laban’s daughters. Laban was Rebekah’s brother. His father Bethuel was Abraham’s brother making him a grandfather. He reminded Jacob that the land he was living in was the land God had promised to his descendants and was his to own one day. Esau realized that Jacob was being sent away and told not to marry one of the Canaanite women like he had. To please his father he went to Ishmael’s and married one of his daughters. He chose Mahalah which means “sickness”. Jacob left Pandan-aram and stopped to sleep along the way. He found a stone for his pillow and dreamed of a stairway to heaven. Angels were going up and coming down the stairway. The Lord was at the top. The Lord spoke to him and told him that the land he was sleeping on was his also and he would one day return to this land with many children. He awoke in awe and called the place Bethel which means “house of God”. It had been named Luz which means “perverse”. Jacob promised God that if he did bring him safely back he would give the Lord a tenth of all he owned. God prospered Jacob and he found a daughter of Laban at the first well he came to in the land of Haran. Her name was Rachel. Jacob watered all of her flock and went home with her to meet Laban. Laban was so happy to meet him and gave him a job working with his animals. He wanted to pay Isaac so he asked him his price. Jacob said he would work seven years to marry Rachel because he loved her. Laban agreed. Laban had another older daughter named Leah who was still unmarried when the wedding took place. That night Laban slipped in Leah instead of Rachel so Jacob slept with Leah. When Jacob found out what had happened he was irate. Laban told him it was their tradition that the older daughter had to marry first. He told Jacob that he could marry Rachel in a week but he would have to work another seven years for her. Jacob agreed. God has a way of disciplining us and conforming us into his image. Jacob was a trickster and a deceiver. He was given a father-in-law who was even more cunning than him. He was the sand paper to Jacob’s rough edges. Jacob had to learn obedience through the things he suffered just like it said Jesus did. So do we. God rewarded Leah with an open womb. She had four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. With each son, Leah proclaimed something about getting Jacob’s love until the forth where she only praised the Lord. She then stopped baring children for a while. In Matthew, Jesus was met by two people who needed his help. One was a Jewish woman who had bled for 12 years. The other was a Gentile daughter who was fatally sick. They were pictures of the two covenants. The first was to the Jew and the next was to the Gentile. The Jewish woman was drowning in blood. The Jews were full of sacrifices and yet they were still sinners. The Gentile girl was dying and hopeless. She stood for the Gentiles who had no hope except she die and be risen in Christ. Jesus healed the Jewish woman and raised the Gentile girl. He came to save the Jew and the Gentile. Jesus then healed a deaf and dumb man who had been kept that way because of demons. Jesus cast out the demons and he could speak. The Jewish leaders had decided that there were three tests that the Messiah must fulfill and this was the last. The other two were to heal a man born blind and to cleanse a Jewish leper which Jesus had already done. When Jesus did this third test, all the people looked at the leaders to see what they would say. They refused to name Jesus as the Messiah so they said he did his miracles through the power of the prince of demons. They were pretty much saying that Jesus was the Anti-Christ. Jesus left and went to teach in the small towns and villages. He continued to heal and prayed for more harvesters because he could see the great harvest of people that wanted to know God. Lord, may we not have boundaries around you and your power. May your kingdom expand in our lives and in our hearts.

Thurs.’s Devo - Getting the Blessing

Read: Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10 Isaac reopened the wells that Abraham had dug plus he dug a new well of fresh water in the Gerar Valley. The Philistines argued that it was in their land. Isaac named the well Esek (argument) and moved on. He dug another which the Philistines argued over also. He named it Sitnah (hostility) and moved on and dug another. This time they didn’t argue over it and he named it Rehoboth (open space). Isaac moved to Beersheba where the Lord appeared to him and told him not to be afraid that the Lord would bless you. He said he would multiply his descendants and they would become a great nation. Isaac built an altar and worshiped the Lord. One day, Isaac got a visit from King Abimelech’s army commander and adviser. Isaac asked them why they had come since they had kicked him out of their land. They wanted to make a treaty with Isaac since he was becoming so big and powerful. They wanted to make sure he was on their side. Isaac prepared a feast to celebrate the covenant they were making. Then they parted ways. That very day, Isaac’s men told him they had dug a new well and named it Shibah meaning “oath”. Meanwhile, Esau married two Hittite wives that made life for Isaac and Rekekah miserable. When Isaac realized he was close to death he called for Esau to bless him. He asked that he kill some game and cook it. After he ate he would bless him. Rebekah heard it and told Jacob to go get two goats from the flock and she would cook the meal. She put animal skins on Jacob’s arms so he would feel like Esau then he sent him in to Isaac. Isaac recognized Jacob’s voice and three times Jacob had to lie to get his blessing. Isaac blessed him with many nations becoming his servants and all of his brothers bowing down to him. All who cursed him would be cursed and all who blessed him would be blessed. As soon as he had finished blessing Jacob, Esau returned from hunting. He prepared his meal and took it to his father, Isaac. Isaac shook when he realized what had happened. Esau begged his father for a blessing and finally Isaac told him that he would live away from the goodness of the earth and live by the sword. He would serve his brother but the he decided to break free he would shake his yoke from his neck. Esau hated Jacob so much he planned to kill him once Isaac died. Rebekah heard of his plan and sent Jacob away to Haran and his uncle Laban’s house. In Matthew, Jesus went back to his home town and was brought a paralyzed man. He told the man that his sins were forgiven and the teacher of religion were so upset. They called “blasphemy”. Jesus asked them which was easier to tell someone their sins were forgiven or to tell a paralyzed man to stand and walk. To prove that the Son of Man had the authority on earth to forgive sins he turned to the paralyzed man and told him to stand, pick up his mat and go home. He did. As Jesus was walking by a tax collector’s booth, he saw the tax collector, Matthew and told him to come and follow him. He did. Matthew invited Jesus and the disciples to his home as dinner guests along with his friends. Among them were other tax collectors and disreputable sinners. The Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with sinners. Jesus told them that healthy people didn’t need a doctor, sick people did. He came to show mercy and to call the sinners to righteousness. One of John the Baptist’s followers came and asked Jesus why his disciples didn’t fast like John’s did. Jesus told him that it was because they had the bride groom with them. One day he would be taken away and then they would fast. Then he gave him an example of mixing the Old Testament way with the New way. It wouldn’t mix. New wine that Jesus was bringing had to go into new hearts and a new system. Lord, give us new hearts for your new system. May we welcome the new and understand the authority you have given us to forgive and heal.

Wed.’s Devo - We are Satan’s Greatest Fear

Read: Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8 Once Abraham’s servant heard that they believed he was sent by God, he was ready to get back home with Rebekah. They tried to convince him to stay for 10 days but Rebekah said she was ready to go so they returned to the land in the Negev. Isaac saw the camels coming and walked to meet them. Rebekah got down from her camel and walked to meet him. Isaac brought Rebekah into his tent and loved her deeply. Abraham married another woman named Keturah and had six children. He gave everything he owned to Isaac but gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Abraham died at the age of 175 and was buried with Sarah. Ishmanel had 12 sons who became princes of their areas. Ishmael lived for 137 years and then died. His descendants lived in the area of Asshur and lived in open hostility to their relatives just as was prophesied. Rebekah was barren but Isaac prayed for her to bear children and God heard his prayer. She became pregnant with twins who battled in the womb. God told her that there were two nations in her womb and they would be rivals. The older one would end up serving the younger. When she gave birth, Esau came out first. He was red and hairy like an animal. Jacob came out holding on to his heel. Esau grew up to be Isaac’s favorite because he was a hunter who killed wild game and Isaac loved to eat it. Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite because he stayed at home and helped her. One day while Jacob was cooking some stew Esau came in from hunting famished. Jacob would feed him only if he gave him the right of the first born. Esau was so hungry he pledge an oath, thus despising his birthright. A famine came that drove Isaac and his family to Egypt. God told him to live there as a foreigner but this was his land in Canaan. God would multiply his descendants He told Rebekah to tell everyone she was his sister to save his hide just like Abraham had done. Abimelech happened to see Isaac being intimate with his wife and called him in to rebuke him for lying. Isaac told him he was afraid he would be killed for his wife. Abimelech issued a public proclamation saying if anyone touched Isaac’s wife would be killed. Isaac harvested his crop and made a hundred times more grain than he planted. He became so rich that the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that Abraham had dug. Abimelech finally ordered Isaac to leave and go somewhere else because he was becoming too powerful. In Matthew, Jesus and his disciples were on their way across the Jordan to the land of the Gadarenes. Both times they tried to go to this area, Satan sent a storm to stop them. Both times Jesus rebuked the storm and they made it safely to the other side. This time their mission was to take the principality of the region who lived in a man. Jesus rebuked the demons and sent them into a herd of pigs and they ran off the cliff to drown in the water. The men watching the herd ran into the town telling everyone what had happened. The entire town came to chase Jesus away. In both the Old and the New Testament we see the fear Satan has of God’s people. When we become who we are suppose to be, we will cause the devil to tremble. Lord, may we become the sons of God who know our inheritance and walk in power and authority.

Tues.’s Devo - Finding a Wife for Isaac -

Read: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6 Sarah died when she was 127 years old and Abraham wanted to bury her in Canaan. He went to the Hittites who owned the land and asked to buy a piece of land in Machpelah to use as their burying ground. They agreed that Abraham pay Ephron 400 pieces of silver for the land. Machpelah was near Mamre also called Hebron. This land became a city of refuge years later. Abraham was very old and wanted to find a wife for Isaac so he called in his servant and told him to go to his home land and bring back one of his own relatives to marry Isaac. He asked if he should take Isaac there if no woman was willing to come back with him and Abraham said no, God would send his angel ahead of him and find a wife. If she was unwilling to come back then he was free from this oath. The servant went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled in and sat by the well waiting for the women to come to draw water. He asked God to give him success that day and looked up and saw Rebekah. She was beautiful and a virgin. He asked her to draw water and she drew water for him and his camels. This was the sign the servant was looking for so he gave her bracelets and a nose ring.Then he asked her who’s daughter she was and if her father had room to board him for the night. She told him she was the daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah. She told them they had plenty of room for them. The servant worshiped the Lord for making his mission successful. Rebekah ran home and showed her brother, Laban her bracelets. He went to meet the servant and brought him home with him. The servant told Laban and Bethuel his story of why he was there and how the Lord had led him to Rebekah. He then asked them for an answer. They could not deny that it was the Lord who brought him to them. What a great example of being led by the Spirit. In Matthew, Jesus healed a Jewish man of leprosy. This was something that had never happened before. He told the man to go to the priests and show them as a public testimony. Jesus then returned to Capernaum where he met a Roman officer who had a servant who was in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain. Jesus was going to go to his house when the Roman officer told him he didn’t need to do that. All he had to do was to use his authority and say it and he would be healed. Jesus was amazed that this man understood the power of authority and how it worked in the natural and in the spiritual. Jesus commented that he had not found this kind of faith among the children of Israel but the Gentils would come from all over the world and find the Kingdom. Jesus then turned and told the officer to return home because his servant had been healed. When he returned he found that he had been healed at the exact time Jesus had proclaimed it. That evening, many demon possessed were healed with a simple command. When we realize the authority God has given us over demons and sickness, we will be dangerous to Satan’s kingdom. Lord, may we grow in our faith and expand our spiritual view to see the power you have given your body and may we use it to restore your kingdom to earth.

Mon.’s Devo - The Making of Nations

Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12:Proverbs 2:16-22 It is easy to want to judge Abraham for his foolish decisions but we are watching how God teaches and grooms his leaders. Abraham didn’t have a written law about God. He learned about him through his life experiences and today we see him learning how to have faith in God and how much he had grown in that faith. Abraham feared the nations he traveled in so he had told Sarah to tell everyone she was his sister so his life would be spared. It sounds very chauvinistic to us but if something happened to him, Sarah wouldn’t stand a chance. Sarah was taken into Abimelech’s harem and both Sarah and Abraham had to be tested by God. God did come to their rescue in such a powerful way. He put the fear into Abimelech and he gave Abraham back his wife with a sharp rebuke and gave him 1,000 pieces of silver compensation. Abraham prayed for Abimelech’s family to not be barren and what he prayed for them came true for Sarah as well. She became pregnant with Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old and circumcised Isaac when he was 8 days old. Hagar and Ishmael made fun of Isaac and Sarah had had enough. She insisted that they leave. This made Abraham sad, but he did as Sarah wanted. God assured him that this was the right decision and promised Abraham that Ishmael would also make a nation of his descendants of Ishmael because he was his blood. Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away with food and water. They wandered in the wilderness until the water was gone. Hagar prepared her mind to die. God spoke to her and told her not to be afraid because he was going to make a great nation from Ishmael’s descendants. He showed Hagar a well full of water. Ishmael became a skilled archer and lived in the wilderness of Pagan. His mother arranged for him to marry an Egyptian woman. Abimelech came to pay a visit to Abraham and to make a covenant with their peoples. Abraham got back the well in Beersheba in the covnenant. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba Years later, Abraham was tested again. He was to take Isaac to a mountain that God would pick out and sacrifice him to the Lord. Abraham immediately obeyed. Isaac was a teen-ager by now. He questioned why there was no lamb but soon found out he was the lamb. He, like Jesus laid down his life willingly on he altar because he so trusted his father. God called out to Abraham and stopped him with his knife in the air. He told Abraham that he had passed the test and showed him a ram in the thicket that he could sacrifice in Isaac’s place. Abraham anted the place Yahweh-Yireh which means “the Lord will provide”. God promised Abraham that he would bless him and multiply his descendants beyond number. They would conquer the cities of their enemies and through his descendants, all the earth will be blessed. All of this was because Abraham obeyed him. Abraham got news that his brother Nahor had had eight sons from his wife Milcah and four others from his concubine, Reumah. One of his sons was Nahor who would have a daughter named Rebekah. She would become the wife of Isaac. Jesus told us how to recognize a false prophet. It was not like in the Old Testament where the litmus test was whether his prophecy came true. The litmus test now was the fruit of the prophet - his actions. Many will not be exposed until the judgment day. Lord, may we welcome our testing because we know that testing makes us stronger.

Sun.’s Devo - Destruction of Evil

Read: Genesis 18:16-19:38; Matthew 6:25;7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Provers 2:6-15 The Lord and his angels got up to go to Sodom. God decided to share with Abraham what his plans were. He was going to destroy both Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins. Abraham asked if he would kill the righteous with the wicked. Then he began to bargain with the Lord. He began with asking if he would save the city if there was fifty righteous people in it. He ended up with ten. God said if he found ten righteous people he would not destroy the city. He already knew the answer. The angels were met in the square by Lot who brought them to his house. The men of the town came that night to command him to give them the men to have sex with them. Lot tried to negotiate his own virgin daughters for the men but the angels grabbed Lot and brought him safely into the house and blinded the eyes of the men outside. They commanded Lot to take his family and escape that night and not look back. Lot’s daughters had finance’s who only laughed and refused to leave. Lot’s wife turned back to look and was turned into a pillar of salt. The whole city was destroyed with hail stones and sulfur. Lot was told to go to the mountains but begged to go to a little town near by. When he got there, the men of the town scared him so much he ended up going to the mountains after all. After living there for a while, Lot’s daughters decided the only way they would be able to carry on their family line was to have a child through their father. They got him drunk and each had sex with him and both got pregnant. The older daughter gave birth to a son. She named him Moab where we get the Moabites and the younger daughter gave birth to Ben-Ammi where we get the Ammonites. Too bad they didn’t hear Jesus’ sermon. He told the people not to worry about anything, that God would provide. God could have provided a wife for Lot and husbands for them if they had waited on the Lord. If we seek God’s kingdom, everything we need will be added to us. We are told not to worry and not to judge others. We are told to judge ourselves and walk in righteousness and love. We are to keep asking and seeking because we will find what we need in our loving Father. The way into his kingdom is a narrow gate. Lord, help us to not hesitate to ask you about everything and keep asking till we get your answer. Thank you that you do answer us and provide all we need and more.