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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

[15]

WRESTLING WITH GOD

JACOB'S BLESSING

Read Genesis 31–32

Then Jacob prayed, "O God …“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.” Genesis 32:9a, 10a NIV
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After years of hardship and deception by Laban, God miraculously increased Jacob’s wealth, and caused Laban to allow him to leave. Then, alone at night, after sending his family on ahead, God once again spoke to Jacob… A man approached him and they began to fight. Jacob wrestled all night long–evidently realizing this was a heavenly visitor. Jacob said to him, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." … So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."(Genesis 32:26b–30) This strange encounter with the Lord left Jacob with an outward limp that would always remind him and his descendants that his blessings came from God.
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Lord, I can see in this story of Jacob how much You value humility. If we are to be blessed, that blessing will come from You, not from our own struggles. You are Jehovah Jirah, our provider, and like Jacob I will say God has been gracious to me, and I have all I need. (33:11)
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The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon. Genesis 32:31–32 NIV
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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

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 HIS OWN PURPOSE

RACHEL AND LEAH
 
Read Genesis 29:1–30:24
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Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25b NIV
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No one can read this account of Laban’s blatant deception without feeling sorry for Jacob and Rachel, and especially for Leah. Some would say Jacob deserved to be tricked, since he had done the same to Esau.
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But through it all, in spite of the actions of sinful men, God’s plan moved forward: Jesus came from the tribe of Leah’s son Judah, and God used Rachel’s son Joseph to save his people from extinction.
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Looking at this whole story in hindsight we can say with the apostle Paul, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began–" (Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy
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Lord, help me to think in terms of the big picture, even when I can’t understand why things happen the way they do. Grant me the faith to believe that You have a much larger purpose in it all, which will work for our good and Your glory, even for generations to come.

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… and when she (Leah) gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah … Then God remembered Rachel … She gave birth to a son and named him Joseph … Genesis 29:35; 30:22‑24a NIV
3 comments Tags: leah, rachael, jacob, god's purpose, israel's history

THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

JACOB

Read Genesis 28:10–28:22

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. Genesis 28:10–11 NIV

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After cheating Esau out of his birthright, Jacob was forced to run for his life. Stopping to rest for the night, Jacob had a dream in which he met God personally…he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above the ladder stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying." (28:12–13)
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Up to this time, Jacob had no idea that God had a personal plan for his life, or that he would become the ancestor of Messiah. When he awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it."( 28:16)
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Dear Father, I thank You that You have a plan for my life, and even when I am not aware of it –You are with me. I know that You also have plans for our children and grandchildren. Help us to train them in godly principles and lead them to a personal relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah.
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"All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:14–15 NIV

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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

12]

 ISAAC AND ESAU

Read Genesis 25:19–28:9
 
Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:28 NIV
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Isaac, as an old man, was tricked by his son Jacob into giving him the firstborn blessing. His older son, Esau threatened to kill Jacob after Isaac died; so Rebekah told Jacob to flee until Esau's temper cooled. To Isaac she said, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, my life will not be worth living." (Genesis 27:46) So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother." (28:2)
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It is interesting to note that Isaac had never indicated his disapproval of his oldest son's marriages, or suggested that God might have a Hebrew bride for Esau. Then Esau, who wanted to please his father, married the daughter of Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had. How sad that Isaac, whose wife had been chosen by God, did not instruct his son in how to choose a godly wife. Today, this story could read: 'Isaac who loved sports, favored his athletic son, but neglected to teach him how to make godly choices.'

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Lord, help us to faithfully teach our children to seek Your will in making important decisions.
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Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac…so he married Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael…In addition to the wives he already had.
Genesis 28:8-9 NIV
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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

11]

ISAAC AND REBEKAH

 
Read Genesis 24
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“… (if) she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' – let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. Genesis 24:14-15 NIV
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Abraham wanted to find just the right wife for his son Isaac – someone from his own people, not from the Canaanites among whom he lived. So he sent his most trusted servant on a journey to his home country. Both Abraham and his chief servant believed that God would lead him to the right young woman. Abraham said, "The LORD, the God of heaven…who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land–He will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there." (Genesis 24:7)
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It is so important to pray for our children’s future spouses. What better time to start than now, while they are young, covering that child and his parents in prayer throughout their lives.
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Lord, help us to teach our children to seek Your wisdom in every small or large decision. You know the future and You have a plan for each one of them. Help them as they step out into life to make choices according to Your perfect will.
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Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying …“As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey”   Gen 24:26-27 NIV
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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

ABRAHAM AND ISAAC

Read Genesis 22

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     And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide Himself a Lamb”   Genesis 22:8 KJV

     "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"   John 1:29 NKJV
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     After waiting so long for his promised son, Isaac, Abraham was asked to give him back as a sacrifice. This request had no basis in anything God had done with His people. False gods required human sacrifices, not Abraham's God.
 
     The author of Hebrews gives us some insight into Abraham’s response: "Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." (Hebrews 11:19) But still he was required to go through this test to show that God was first in his life–even before his beloved son.
 
     Sometimes God brings us to a place in our lives when we must make a choice about something or someone He has blessed us with. Is there anything in my life that has become more important than my relationship with Him?
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     Lord, I pray that I will always put You first in my life. Not first as in being at the top of a priority list, but first in regard to everything on that list. I cannot have a right relationship with anyone else if I am not right with You. Thank You for providing Your Son, the Lamb of God, to make that relationship possible.
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     "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life " John 3:16 NKJV
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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

Read Genesis 17:1–18:15
Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Genesis 18:13–14a NIV
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At the age of ninety nine, God once again appeared to Abraham to confirm His covenant promise: He said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife … I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." (Genesis 17:15a–16) By this, Abraham knew that the promise was not for Hagar’s son, Ishmael, but for a son that God would give him through Sarah.
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We are not told the reason why God waited so long to fulfill His promise to Abraham. It may be that He and Sarah had to come to the end of themselves and their own efforts. Unfortunately, their impatience caused great heartache for them and the generations that followed.
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Lord, help me to be patient when Your answers are long in coming. I know that nothing is too hard for You, but sometimes my thoughts and actions don’t reflect that belief. Give me discernment to know when I should move ahead and act, and when I should just wait on You. Take away the anxiety I experience when things seem out of control and grant me the peace that comes only from You.
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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:6–7 NIV
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Message in a leaf

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This morning my 17 year old grandson arrived early to mow our lawn. As I opened the front door he said, "look at this Nana."  Although this picture doesn't do it justice, (click to view larger) we were amazed at what looked like a leaf but on further inspection was a leaf bug. All the intricate veins were there, just like a leaf. If it had been on a plant we wouldn't have noticed it at all. We both had the same reaction: "How can anyone say there is no Creator?"

There are amazing things all around us and often we don't stop to notice. But since neither of us had seen one of these, it was an extra blessing to start our morning. Now if that kind of bug is destructive, I probably won't be so blessed. But I just thought I'd snap this picture to share with you.

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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

HAGAR

Read Genesis 15:1–16:15; Genesis 21:8–21
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She (Hagar) gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her:" You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the one who sees me." Genesis 16:13 NIV
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The story of Hagar is bitter-sweet. Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant forced to become a surrogate mother for Abraham and Sarah; she had few choices in life. So after she bore Abraham's son, she became disrespectful to Sarah. Hagar's teenage son reflected her attitude by mocking Sarah’s son, Isaac and causing distress in the family. Hagar was told by an angel that her son would become a “wild donkey of a man”– and yet, God cared about her – He never left her alone, even when Abraham and Sarah drove her away. God actually spoke to Hagar the Egyptian maidservant and promised her that He had long range plans for her son and his descendants, the Ishmaelites.
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Lord, when life seems out of control and family conflicts arise, help me to remember that You see it all. Help us to seek your wisdom in raising our children so that they will be followers of Christ, not “wild donkeys.” Give us the wisdom to discipline and teach them Your ways. Bless our family Lord, even to our children’s children.
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"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13,16b NIV
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THROUGH THE BIBLE - Genesis

[6]

THE TOWER OF BABEL

Read Genesis 11:1–9

"Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." Genesis 9:1 NIV
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In the very beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28) Then after God judged the earth and wiped out all but Noah's family, He once again told them to be fruitful and fill the earth. Many generations later, in rebellion against God, the people of Babel built a massive tower and said, "Let us make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." They failed to take into consideration our sovereign triune God, whose plans will not be thwarted. He said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth. (Genesis 11:4, 7–8)
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Lord, it seems apparent that the only way to true success in life is to seek Your will when we make our plans. Give me a willing heart to listen and obey the principles in Your Word. Help us to seek after You as a family, asking You for the gift of wisdom in every decision
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"That is why it was called Babel–because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world and scattered them over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:9 NIV
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