Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 31:22-32.

“When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.  God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

Laban caught up with Jacob.  Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead.  Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?  Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre;  and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters?  Now you have done foolishly.  It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’  Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house;  but why did you steal my gods?”  Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.  The one with whom you find your gods shall not live;  in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.”  For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.”  Genesis 31:22-32.

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God protected Jacob, and Jacob was aware of God’s protection.  Jacob confessed to his wives, Leah and Rachel in the Scripture that we covered yesterday:  “Yet your father (Laban) has cheated me and changed my wages ten times;  however, God did not allow him to hurt me.”  Genesis 31:7.

And yet, we read in today’s Scripture that Jacob was afraid and was also ignorant of who stole Laban’s gods.  “Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.”  Verse 31.  “…  For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.”  Verse 32.

We also remember Jacob’s deceits with the last one being the primary cause of Laban’s displeasure.  “And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.”  Genesis 31:20.

But, God still protected Jacob through a dream.  “God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”  Verse 24.

Here are two lessons that we can gain from today’s Scripture.

First, God still is faithful and protects us, even bearing our weaknesses, despite our wavering faith, fear, deceits, and ignorance.

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Second, as God shows mercy to us, we should also show mercy to others even though they may also be weak in faith.  

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”  Romans 14:1.

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”  Romans 15:1-2. 

Today devotion comes from Genesis 31:1-21.

“Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”  Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.  Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”  So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me.  You know that I have served your father with all my strength.  Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times;  however, God did not allow him to hurt me.  If he spoke thus, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled;  and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped.  Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.  And it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled.  Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’  He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled;  for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.  I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me;  now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”  Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?  Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners?  For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price.  Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children;  now then, do whatever God has said to you.”

Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels;  and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.  When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.  So he fled with all that he had;  and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.”  Genesis 31:1-21.

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Jacob recognized God’s guidance, protection, and blessing as I have highlighted in bold italic font above.  

Regarding God’s guidance, Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and said to them that God told him:  “now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.”

Regarding God’s protection, Jacob told them:  “God did not allow him (Laban) to hurt me.”

Regarding God’s blessing, Jacob told them:  “Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.”

So, Jacob trusted God and took action based on His faith in God.  “So he fled with all that he had;  and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.”

We eagerly read the Scriptures and learn God’s short summary promises to all of His elect, a few of which are below, but we also learn from the longer histories of our fathers according to the faith as from today’s Scripture.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  …  

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28 and 31-32. 

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 29:31-35 through Genesis 30:1-24.  Here is a link to the Scripture which I do not quote which is in chapter 30 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2030&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.  Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my affliction;  surely now my husband (Jacob) will love me.”  Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.”  So she named him Simeon.  She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”  Therefore he was named Levi.  And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.”  Therefore she named him Judah.  Then she stopped bearing.”  Genesis 29:31-35.

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The LORD gave sons to both Leah and Rachel and even to both their maids.  But, we focus on the verses above and note Leah’s recognition:  “the LORD has seen my affliction;  surely now my husband (Jacob) will love me.”;  “the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.”;  “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”;  and “This time I will praise the LORD.”.

Although the following Scripture was quoted in Galatians 4:24 as applying to Sarah, I think it also applies to Leah because Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (Genesis 29:30) and the LORD saw that Leah was unloved (Genesis 29:31), so he opened her womb and gave her more children than Rachel.  

More broadly, the following Scripture gives hope and encouragement to those called (elect) that although they may feel unloved and afflicted, God sees their affliction and has compassion and shows lovingkindness to them.    

“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords
And strengthen your pegs.
3 “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.
And your descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities.

4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 “For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
6 “For the LORD has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
Says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8 “In an outburst of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the LORD your Redeemer.” Isaiah 54:1-8.

Today’s devotion from Genesis 29:21-30.

“Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.”  Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.  Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him;  and Jacob went in to her.  Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.  So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!  And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?  Was it not for Rachel that I served with you?  Why then have you deceived me?”  But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.  Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.”  Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.  Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.  So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.”  Genesis 29:21-30.

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“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:7-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 29:1-20.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+29&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.  Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.  Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house.  Then he related to Laban all these things.  Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.”  And he stayed with him a month.

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing?  Tell me, what shall your wages be?”  Now Laban had two daughters;  the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.  Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”  Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man;  stay with me.”  So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.” Genesis 29:10-20. 

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“Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart;  for God has already approved your works.  Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.  Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;  for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

“3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:3-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 27:46 to Genesis 28:9.  Here is a link to the Scripture in Genesis chapter 28 that I am not quoting – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2028&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth;  if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.  2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father;  and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.  3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.  4 May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.”  5 Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.”  Genesis 27:46 to Genesis 28:5.   

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Why was Isaac so eager to bless Jacob again so quickly? This question arises, because of the following considerations. First, at least in the beginning Isaac apparently favored Esau more than Jacob. Second, Jacob had deceived Isaac. Third, Isaac had recently already blessed Jacob so fully.

We remember:   “Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”  Genesis 25:28, and we remember that Jacob, by deception, obtained Isaac’s blessing that Isaac had intended to go to Esau.  Isaac said to Esau:  “… “Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.”  Genesis 27:35.

Here are some questions that may lead to possible reasons why Isaac was so eager to bless Jacob again so quickly.

Did Esau’s wives take away at least some of the prior favor that Isaac had toward Esau so he was willing to bless Jacob again?  Not only do we have verse 46 above in today’s Scripture, we remember the prior Scripture:  “When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;  and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.”  Genesis 26:34-35. 

Did Isaac’s violent trembling reaction at being deceived (see Genesis 27:33) naturally subside like Rebekah said (see Genesis 27:44) Esau’s anger toward Jacob would subside? 

Did a natural fatherly concern and love and desire to bless his children combine to overwhelm Isaac’s emotions for a son who was being sent away?

Did God cause it to happen? We remember that when Isaac sent Esau out to hunt game and Jacob deceived Jacob by presenting food that Rebekah had prepared, “Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he (Jacob) said, “Because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me.” Genesis 27:20.

“They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD,
And their descendants with them.” Isaiah 65:23.

It maybe be one or more of these reasons, or even different reasons, why Isaac so blessed Jacob in today’s Scripture. In any event, here are two hopes upon which we can meditate from today’s Scripture.  

First, there is deep love and tender care that parents give to their children even though their children may disappoint them at times.  “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.  Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:7-8.  

Second, more generally, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30.