Jacob: Peniel

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

JacobGenesis 32.  Jacob is at a crisis point in his life.  He has left his father-in-law behind and responded to God’s call to go back to Canaan.  He learns that Esau is preparing to meet him with a band of 400 men.  He fears this meeting greatly, and sends a great present of livestock on ahead of him in the hopes that he might appease his brother’s wrath.

That night, Jacob wrestles with a “man” constantly, and is injured on his hip joint.  The next morning the “man” reveals that Jacob is going to be renamed Israel – “he strives with God.”  He names that place Peniel, for, he says, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Have you had your encounter with God?  Keep striving with him until he blesses you.

LORD, we are hanging on, and we will not let go.  We want to encounter you, and live to tell about it.

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Jacob: Mizpah

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jacob_thumb1Genesis 31.  After 20 years of service to Laban, God had blessed Jacob with a large family and many possessions.  In fact, his wealth had increased so much that he was now seen as a threat to Laban.  Jacob leaves at the command of God, but does so secretly. Laban and his men overtake them after seven days.  The two make a treaty with each other, calling on the LORD to protect them from doing harm to each other.  It is unfortunate that after 20 years by each other’s side – these men find it hard to trust each other. 

LORD, make us people who generate trust and respect.  Forgive us for being such poor representatives of the God we confess.

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Jacob: envy and manipulation

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:31-30:43.  The Israelites in Moses’ day would look back upon today’s text and see how God orchestrated the events to produce Jacob’s family and prosperity.  Yet they would also see that their own existence was the result of human envy and manipulation.  Jacob’s wives battled with each other for sons so that they could win his affection.  Laban schemed to keep Jacob serving him so that God would continue prospering him.  In all of this, God’s sovereignty and his faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham is clear.  But also clear is the depravity of those with whom God is dealing.

LORD, forgive us for our envy of others and our schemes to get more by breaking the rules.

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Jacob: grace with consequences

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:1-30.   God is at work in the background of Jacob’s life, making sure that he stays with Laban long enough to cool down the anger of Esau, and so preserve Jacob’s life by his grace.  But God has not forgotten that Jacob had gained the birthright by deception.  So, he allows Jacob to be deceived in a similar manner.  Jacob wakes up with his new bride and discovers that it is the wrong sister.  No doubt it crossed his mind that not long ago he had pretended to be his brother in order to get what he wanted.  God remembered.

The Israelites in Moses’ day would read this passage and understand how it came to pass that the 12 tribes came from four different mothers.  They would also hopefully see that although God saves us by grace, there are consequences to sin in our lives.

LORD, we accept your grace and the total forgiveness you offer in Christ.  But we will not turn from you if you visit us with consequences of our past actions.

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Jacob’s ladder

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Jacob

Genesis 28:10-22.  It was either a ladder or a set of steps.  What matters is that it reached to heaven, and vice-versa.  Jacob saw it in his dream, and he saw God’s angels ascending and descending on it.  The LORD spoke to Jacob and assured him of his presence, and that he would fulfill all the promises that he had made to his grandfather Abraham, and his father Isaac.

This story does not highlight Jacob’s commitment to God.  Jacob is immature and his faith is very conditional at this point in his life’s journey.  But God’s commitment to Jacob is unconditional.  He is with Jacob and he will keep him wherever he goes, and he will bring him back to his inheritance at Canaan.  He will do what he has promised.

LORD, thank you for your unconditional love and commitment to us.  Thank you that Jacob’s ladder was not one of those aluminum portable things.

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Jacob: a wife for the master’s son

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Jacob

Genesis 27:41-28:9.   Rebekah did not want her son, Jacob, marrying like Esau did.  The Hittite women Esau married had made life bitter for her and Isaac.  But the real reason she wanted Jacob to move back to Paddan-Aram to stay with Laban is to allow Esau time to cool down.  Esau had been planning to murder Jacob – and was just waiting for Isaac to die.  Esau married another wife, from the family of Ishmael.   Centuries later, his marriages will place his descendants in the land God tells the Israelites to conquer.  By having Jacob marry among Rebekah’s kin, the Holy Spirit avoids making Israel’s conquest of the holy land a civil war.

LORD, we don’t always understand why things happen as they do.  Help us to trust you to see the big picture. 

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Isaac: blessing the “wrong” son

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 27:1-40.  What lesson could the Israelites possibly take from this story?  It is about how their ancestors Jacob and Rebekah deceived their ancestor Isaac, causing him to give his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau.   But perhaps the lesson is not about the deception.  Maybe it is about how God frustrates our plans ands expectations and visits his grace upon those he chooses to love.  God is at work, and he always gets his man.

If grace only came to the deserving, it would not be grace.

LORD, we celebrate your grace today.  We thank you that you chose us – though  we were the “wrong” choice.  You have determined to make us Jacobs your Israel.

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Isaac: Esek and Sitnah

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 26.  During a famine, Isaac and his family resettle in Gerar, where Abraham had sojourned before.  He re-dug some of the wells that Abraham had dug, because the Philistines had stopped them up.  Two of the wells he named Esek (contention) and Sitnah (enmity).  The names of these wells show the unsteady relationship that Isaac’s people had with the inhabitants of Gerar.  Esau and his Hittite wives also “made life bitter” for Isaac and Rebekah (35).

God does not promise that a life of faithfulness to him will be an easy life.  But he does promise blessings now, and eternal life at the return of Christ. It is worth it.

LORD,  give us the courage to be faithful even in an environment that is often hostile to you and those who claim you.

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Isaac: surprises

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Isaac

Genesis 25:19-34.  Isaac waited sixty years to hold the answers to his prayers.  He knew that God was going to bless him as he did his father, Abraham.  But he didn’t know that he would have to wait like Abraham did.  He also did not expect that his sons would be in conflict, like he was with Ishmael.  Jacob and Esau were twins, but exact opposites.  He favored Esau, the skillful hunter.  Jacob was his mamma’s boy.  Isaac was in for another surprise when it came time to pass on the spiritual blessing.  Jacob had cheated his brother out of the inheritance.

LORD, our expectations are often way off the mark.  We are surprised by what happens to us in this life.  Help us to trust you even when the unexpected happens. May your will be done.

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Isaac: other sons sent away

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IsaacGenesis 25:1-18.  Here we learn that Abraham had another concubine besides Hagar.  Her name was Keturah, and God gave Abraham five sons through her (1).  Like Ishmael, these sons of Abraham are significant historically, but they do not figure into the promise of spiritual blessing that will come through Isaac alone. They are not to be ancestors of Jesus. Isaac was to be his spiritual legacy.  For that reason, Abraham “gave gifts” to each of these sons and sent them away before he died. 

At 175 years old, Abraham breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.  He was buried alongside Sarah in the cave at Machpelah, where they both await the resurrection of the Righteous.

LORD, like Abraham, we are temporary beings.  As we contemplate what we will leave behind after we die, help us to make sure we establish a spiritual legacy.

 

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