Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 32:1-22 which covers Jacob’s fear of Esau and the anticipated meeting and Jacob’s prayer to God for deliverance. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32&version=NASB

I will quote the following verses.

“The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”

Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”

So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau:” Genesis 32:6-13.

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What strikes me about Jacob’s prayer is how Jacob treasured the promises of God and based his request of deliverance on them.

As Reformed believers, our faith and salvation are based on the promises of God summarized in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. These promises are “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistable Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”. And yet, too often, we neglect these glorious promises.

We should treasure these precious and magnificent promises of God and base our prayer requests on them.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 31:22-55 which covers Laban’s pursuit of Jacob. Laban was upset that Jacob deceived Laban and fled away taking his daughters, his grandchildren, and his gods. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31&version=NASB

I quote just about all of it in four paragraphs:

“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.”  Genesis 31:22-24.

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?” Genesis 31:25-30.

“Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? Though you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks. That which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself. You required it of my hand whether stolen by day or stolen by night. Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” Genesis 31:36-42.

“Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? So now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, and Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain. Early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.” Genesis 31:43-55.

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Today’s Scripture shows us that God protects us in different ways.

God controls the hearts of our potential adversaries. Here, God directly spoke to Laban in a dream. But, whether it be by direct words or by the more subtle memory of Scripture or by even more subtle life’s experiences that God gives to our potential adversaries, God controls the hearts of all.  “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1.

God sometimes allows the parties to fully state their case against each other, and thus “blow off their built-up steam” . Here, we see both Laban and Jacob fully state their case against each other, face to face. “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.” Matthew 5:23-25.

God provides connections between the parties. Here, Jacob’s wives were Laban’s daughters, and Jacob’s children were Laban’s grandchildren. “Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? So now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” Verses 43 and 44.

Between Christians, God is at work, knitting our hearts together in love and providing other encouragement to both parties. “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:1-3.

The covenant in today’s Scripture is “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.” God not only takes care of both parties while they are “absent one from another”, God takes care of both parties while they are together.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 31:1-21 which covers Jacob’s evaluation of his situation with Laban, God’s words to him, and Jacob’s decision to leave Laban with his family and all of his property to return to Canaan, the land of his fathers and relatives.

Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+31&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“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.” Genesis 31:1-3.

“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.’” Genesis 31:13.

“And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 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 31:20-21.

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Jacob remembered what happened at Bethel.  The memory helped Jacob trust God and gave him hope and courage to leave Laban to return to the land promised to him and his decisions.

Here is what happened at Bethel.

“He (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Genesis 28:12-22.

We should also remember what God has said to us and done for us.

“Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. …”  Exodus 13:3.

“you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:”  Deuteronomy 7:18.

“Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,”  1 Chronicles 16:12.

“Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,”  1 Chronicles 16:15.

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You.”  Psalm 22:27

“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.”  Psalm 77:11.

“Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth,”  Psalm 105:5

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands.”  Psalm 143:5.

We should do things that will help us remember. There are many things that we can do.

We can diligently read God’s word.

We can attend worship services to hear songs proclaim God’s wonderful deeds and to hear God’s word preached.

We can partake of communion, a powerful God-ordained means of grace and memory.

We can write down what God has said to us and done for us.

We can preach and teach and simply tell others what God has said to us and done for us.

We can put up pictures in our home with key verses.

We can even set up a pillar of stones as Jacob did or build something temporary or permanent as a reminder.

We can go back and visit places where God has done extraordinary things for us.

We can talk to our elders to ask them what God has done for them as a way to help us remember similar things that God has done for us.

There are other things we can do.

But, even when we do not remember on our own, there is hope!  God is gracious and helps us remember, like He did with Jacob:  “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me.”

“He has made His wonders to be remembered;  The Lord is gracious and compassionate.”  Psalm 111:4.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 30:25-43.

“25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” 28 He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29 But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?” 31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32 let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. 33 So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.” 34 Laban said, “Good, let it be according to your word.” 35 So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36 And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 Moreover, whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so that they might mate by the rods; 42 but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.” Genesis 30:25-43.

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Wisdom is a gift of God. Wisdom is a blessing. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5.

And, we can see and appreciate the wisdom that Jacob showed in today’s Scripture. Hopefully, that wisdom (and the prosperity which wisdom brought to Jacob) will motivate us to seek wisdom, to ask for wisdom from God with faith, and to learn and understand principles of wisdom taught in Scripture.

First, we see the wisdom of Jacob in his answer to Laban in verses 29 and 30, and then after Laban’s persistence, Jacob showed wisdom again in verses 31 through 33. Jacob could have just abruptly said: “No.” to Laban. But, Jacob was wise in giving a soft, soothing, and reasonable answer to Laban.

“1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:1-4.

Second, we see Jacob’s wisdom in his ability to understand the science of mating and to increase productivity and his wealth.

The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom and the benefits of wisdom. Here are examples.

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,” Proverbs 1:5.

“6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.” Proverbs 2:6-9.

“13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.” Proverbs 3:13-16.

“19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.” Proverbs 3:19-23.

“12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15 “By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.” Proverbs 8:12-16.

“4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 10:4-5.

“Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.” Proverbs 13:16.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20.

“3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:3-4.

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29.

“A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.” Proverbs 14:6.

“The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 14:35.

“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth                                                                                                                                         And adds persuasiveness to his lips.” Proverbs 16:23.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1.

“A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.” Proverbs 20:5.

“Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.” Proverbs 20:18.

“There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.'” Proverbs 21:20.

“3 By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled                                                                                                                                           With all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4.

“Prepare your work outside
And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.” Proverbs 24:27.

“He who tills his land will have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.” Proverbs 28:19.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 30:1-24 which covers the jealousy between Rachel and Leah. Rachel was jealous that Leah bore children for Jacob, whereas she (Rachel) was barren. Leah was jealous that Jacob loved Rachel more than her. This Scripture shows the competition between them to bear more children for Jacob (and thus win Jacob’s favor and preference) directly by themselves or through their maids. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+30&version=NASB

We will focus on the following verses.

“Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.” Genesis 30:22-24.

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Reproach is defined in part as “a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace”. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reproach

Specifically, Rachel felt disgrace (reproach), because she did not bear children for Jacob.

More generally, the cause of reproach is our sins.

“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us.” Daniel 9:16

Only God can take away our sins, and thus only God can take away our reproach.

But, there is hope!

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23.

God has taken away our reproach. Indeed, we were predestined for this. Praise God!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. …” Ephesians 1:3-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 29 which covers Jacob arriving at the land of his relatives, meeting his future wives Rachel and Leah, and the deception and hard bargain of Laban. Here is a link to it – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+29&version=NASB

I will quote the following verses from this chapter.

“15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 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?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 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.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33 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. 34 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. 35 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 29:15-35.

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If we don’t remember the context and the content of this Scripture, we may be inclined to be unduly dismayed and disturbed.  We may think:  “How unfair of Laban to require 7 years of labor from Jacob, and even more, deceive Jacob and drive an even harder bargain of another 7 years of labor!!”

We may forget the context of the Genesis Chapter 27 in which Jacob deceived his father Isaac and stole the blessing away from his brother Esau. “Turn around is fair play”?

We may forget the content of this Scripture which shows the grace given to Jacob to endure the years of labor and the deception and hard bargain.

We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verse 20. “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.”

We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verses 27 and 28 that although Jacob had to serve another 7 years, Jacob received Rachel after only the first week of that 7 years.

We may forget the grace shown to Jacob in verses 31 to 35 that Leah bore four sons for Jacob from whom one-third of the tribes of Israel would descend and be named.

In our own lives, we may forget the context of the hardships that we experienced. We may think we are totally innocent. But, we are not totally innocent.

“10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;

11 There is none who understands,

There is none who seeks for God;

12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good,

There is not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave,

With their tongues they keep deceiving,”

“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,

17 And the path of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18.

In our own lives, we may also forget the content of all that we experienced. God gives us grace to endure hardships even when we are responsible for the hardships that we experience.

“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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10.

In briefest summary, putting these two points together, it helps us to be understanding and patient and even thankful when we realize: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 28:10-22.

“10 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. 12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, 21 and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Genesis 28:10-22.

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“It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psalm 127:2

God gave this wonderful dream and these wonderful promises to Jacob while Jacob slept.

From the beginning, God gives to His beloved while they sleep. Think of what God gave Adam while Adam slept! “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:21-22.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24

We certainly do not earn what God gives us; let us be “child-like” and thank and trust God like a child thanks and trusts His father.

God loves us, protects and provides for us, and we rest secure in Him!

“About Benjamin he said: `Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.’” Deuteronomy 33:12b.

With even a stone as a pillow, Jacob was able to rest and even fall into a deep sleep.

We may hundreds of worries as pillows. We may be as skittish as sheep, but our Good Shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures …” Psalm 23:2.

“For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 28:1-9.

“1 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.

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; 9 and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.” Genesis 28:1-9.

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“… the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them (foreign wives), nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. …” 1 Kings 11:2.

“The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ” Judges 3:5-7.

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.” 1 Kings 11:1-5.

“Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel.” “Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” Ezra 10:10-11.

This command is not just in the Old Testament applicable only to the nation of Israel.  The command has been expressed in the New Testament in the following terms with the following reason for us today. 

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 26:34 through all the following chapter, Genesis Chapter 27, which covers Esau’s relationship with his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, and the “stolen blessing” obtained by Jacob from his father Isaac, through the instigation of his mother Rebekah, at the end of the life of Isaac when Isaac could not see whom he was blessing. Here is a link to Genesis Chapter 27 – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027&version=NASB

I will quote Genesis 26:34-35 and the key verse for today’s 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.

“Isaac said to his son (Jacob), “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?”  And he said, “Because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me.” Genesis 27:20.

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We don’t think much of the actions of anyone in today’s Scripture.

Esau and his wife “brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.”

Rebekah instigated the deception by Jacob.

Jacob carried out the deception.

Isaac was negligent in blessing the “wrong” person.  (“Wrong” from Isaac’s viewpoint in that Isaac blessed the person that he did not intend to bless and “trembled violently” because of that mistake;  but right from God’s viewpoint in that Isaac blessed the person whom God intended to be blessed).

Esau planned to kill Jacob.

Just like interactions by humans through history.

“10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;

11 There is none who understands,

There is none who seeks for God;

12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good,

There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-12.

But, there is truth to what Jacob stated:  “Because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me.”  Even though everyone’s actions were improper, God caused the blessing to be given to Jacob rather than to Esau.  As it is stated in the following Article 13 of the Belgic Confession, “nothing happens in this world without his appointment: nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed.”

Article 13: Of Divine Providence.

We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment:  nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed.  For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly.  And, as to what he doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into, farther than our capacity will admit of; but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God, which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which he has revealed to us in his Word, without transgressing these limits.  This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father; who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust;  being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us. And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.  Belgic Confession.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 26:26-33.

“26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’” 30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. 32 Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac’s servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.” Genesis 26:26-33.

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How wonderful for Isaac to hear: “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you” and “You are now the blessed of the Lord”!

How wonderful for Isaac to experience such respect and peace!  “Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace.” Verses 30 and 31.

This all happened after Abimelech sent Isaac away. “Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there.” Genesis 26:16-17. This all happened even after the quarrel over the wells described in Genesis 26:18-22.

There is a good descriptive saying that I will modify and apply to what happened to Isaac and to what happens to us. “God has our back.” Even when our backs our turned and we contribute nothing to our protection or well-being, God protects us and God otherwise also provides for us. “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.” Romans 8:28.

“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20.

“And it will be said,

“Build up, build up, prepare the way,

Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

 Isaiah 57:14.

For the wicked, there is no such protection or provision or peace.

“But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20-21.

For the righteous, God’s people, “God has our back”.

“5 You have enclosed me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the dawn,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand will lead me,

And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,

And the light around me will be night,”

12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,

And the night is as bright as the day.

Darkness and light are alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.

When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:5-18.