Is it fair to a child, to be the known favorite of a parent? Consider Joseph, a favorite son of Jacob-Israel. Joseph was given preferential treatment and his ten older brothers were left out. Joseph “told on” some of his brothers, how loving was that? His father, Jacob-Israel did not hide the fact that […]
Jacob moved his household, his children, wives, servants and livestock to Bethel… because God told him to. The LORD told Jacob to build an altar to God who appeared to him years before as he was running away from Esau, his brother, 20 years before. Genesis 35:1 Jacob knew some in his household had brought […]
Genesis 35:1-29 Have you made any circles in your life? Going back to where you started? Jacob was told by God to go back to Bethel, where Jacob first encountered God as he was fleeing from Esau, 20 years before. God told Jacob to build an altar to Him, the living God. Jacob told his […]
Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul… with my mind, with my emotions and with my will, with all my being, bless the LORD. All that is within me, bless His holy name. The name which saves me, the name in whom I trust, His name is Jesus Christ. Bless the LORD, O my […]
Genesis 32:1-32 Jacob was going home! He had two wives, twelve sons and at least one daughter. He had servants and lots of livestock. He left home 20 years before under the threat of death from his brother Esau. Going back took courage… and God telling him it was time. Jacob sent a messenger […]
Jacob had had it! He was done! He called his two wives, they were sisters, into a field so they could have privacy. He had worked for his uncle for 14 years, seven years for each of his wives. Jacob also overheard his brothers-in-law scheming that Jacob was cheating Laban on the livestock. Uh-oh, trouble […]
The world is filled with all kinds of people, people who deceive and take advantage of those first stepping out on their own. Jacob was about to meet such a person, a close relative at that! Beware, and be aware, of people and their promises. Genesis 29:1-35 Jacob was looking for his mother’s people. He […]
Genesis 28:1-22 When you finally leave your family, that first night out can be liberating, or filled with fear. For Jacob, it probably was a relief to get away from his brother’s anger. It may have been relief mixed with fear. After all, he was going far away to where his mother’s family lived. He […]
God’s viewpoint Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice,” Esau’s point of view Bitterness is filled with pain, unpleasant emotions. Esau expected to be blessed with the best blessings, even though Jacob, his younger twin, received that blessing through deception. […]
Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross for your sins and mine and Jacob’s. Deception and lies are sins. Real sins for which Jesus died. He took the punishment our sins deserve before the Holy God. God the Father never took away the pain and suffering Jesus endured for you and […]