SCRIPTURE: Genesis 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God renews His commitment to us again and again, despite our flaws and follies. God has chosen to live among His chosen servants, i.e. the house of God (Beth-el) is with us, in us, among us (John 14:23). The amazing this is that this is true even despite us. Jacob and his family…
Author: Norm
God must weep
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God must weep. Rape, deception, use of His covenant seal for evil purposes, slaughter and pillaging. This is the world that we have made. This is the world that we live in, and the world that lives in us. Even though we may not be guilty of these specific sins, we have…
seeing God
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 33 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God works ahead of us, without our even knowing it. Jacob was driven by fear, not faith. He was certain that Esau was still out to get him, and that is a logical assumption. But he did not reckon on God. God is at work in situations that we think are impossible….
God stoops
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: People who live by their own wits eventually bump up against something too big for them to handle. God uses these moments to humble us, to show us His strength and our dependence. Even so, the default habit of relying on self usually kicks in. Jacob is afraid of Esau (rightly so,…
eyes to see
A friend recently showed me this very interesting video clip. One that makes us think. Have a look, then let us know what you think.
the jezebel spirit?
“Can you tell me if you’ve ever heard of the “Jezebel Spirit”, and if so, what you know of it?”
God provides and protects
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 31 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As God’s much-loved children, we can be assured of His provision and protection as we fulfill our task for Him. God calls Jacob back to his purpose, to bring God’s blessing to the world from the promised land. He has multiplied his wealth. He has given him a large family. God has…
God smiles, sadly
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 30 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This scene is almost comical, and sad. Here we have Rachel and Leah scrambling to have babies. Imagine this in fast-forward, and poor Jacob bouncing between these women, with baby after baby being presented to him – another boy! Rachel and Leah bartering bed time and mandrakes. And the kids being named…
reaping what we sow
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 29 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What goes around, comes around. Those who live by deception are caught by deception. Jacob the trickster is tricked! Paul speaks about reaping what we sow (Galatians 6:7-10). This story shows that even though our hope is in the Lord, His presence and purpose with us, that our actions have consequences, and God…
still with me
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 28 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jacob goes through life as one blessed by God. This is not because he is such a good person, but because God decided even before he was born to work out His plan of salvation through Jacob. Unfortunately Esau doesn’t understand that blessing comes from God. At first he flaunts his firstborn…