Tag: genesis

Our Refuge is God Alone

On By CarmenLeave a comment

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your current circumstances or even afraid of what may lie ahead, take solace that God is in control.

He is on top of what seems out of control in your life or around you.

Whether it’s finances, family issues, loss of a job, health concerns, addictions, or any other adversity—you can count on God to help you and bring you out of the hardship for the better.

The Bible tells us that God is with us and guiding us through each difficult situation we encounter.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8  

One of the many blessings I have received from reading God’s word is that I have learned about many keepers of the faith who were able to overcome dire circumstances because God loved them and provided the answer, the way out, and the peace to keep moving along with Him.  

When I walked through difficult situations in the past, my mind would immediately go to heroes such as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Esther, David, and Daniel, just to name a few. I recalled how faithful God was to them, and I believed that He would do the same for me.

Why did I believe this? Because His word tells us that He does not show favoritism, but rewards those who follow Him and gives them peace (Romans 2:9-11).

It is our faith in God that allows us to see His supernatural power at work.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

He majestically guides, protects, and transforms us while changing our situations. He helps us overcome our adversary because He loves us and created us for His purposes.

God called Abraham to leave his home and follow Him to a better place to live that he knew nothing about nor how to get there. As God instructed him every step of the way, He encouraged him with promises for a good future for him and his descendants. Abraham, although not perfect, believed God even when he could not see how He would work it all out. God was pleased with Abraham’s faith and considered him righteous and called him a friend (James 2:23). Abraham lived many years and received all the promises God made to him in his lifetime and beyond—and it is because of Abraham’s faith that we are blessed today (Genesis 11–25).

Joseph was hated by his older siblings who sold him into slavery and was taken to a foreign land where while continuing to be obedient to God through difficult circumstances, he was thrown in prison. But God was with him even in prison and orchestrated his release and swift promotion to governor of Egypt, second in power only to Pharoah. Even though Joseph suffered greatly from his own family and fellow Egyptian citizens, God had a divine purpose for him—to save his family and the future nation of Israel (Genesis 37–50).

Moses was transformed from a shepherd in the desert to a great leader who led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and up to the Promised Land. He led hundreds of thousands for approximately 40 years, many of whom complained, rebelled, and threatened to kill him. Moses had the responsibility to protect, feed, find water, teach, judge, build a mobile sanctuary, discipline, train for war, intercede for, and forgive the entire way. For a mortal man this would be impossible, but God was there with Moses, guiding him and performing miracles for and through him (Exodus–Deuteronomy).

Joshua took over when Moses died and was responsible for leading Israel, numbered in the millions, across the Jordan River into the Promised Land inhabited by Canaanites. Joshua had to trust God that he could not only lead this great nation, but that he could also defeat the Canaanites as instructed by God to gain possession of the land. He had to trust God for his very life and for the livelihood of his people (Joshua 1-24).

Esther was a young Jewish woman taken from her home to compete against many other beautiful women for wife of King Ahasuerus in Persia. Her beauty and intelligence won the favor of the king, and she became Queen of Persia. She had to learn a new language and culture, and with this new role, she had to learn and execute the court life of royalty. When the Jews were threatened to be killed by an evil senior nobleman of the court, Esther had to lay her life on the line by going into the king unannounced. She called for a fast and prayer within her Jewish family and community to win the favor of the king as she went in for a special request. She could have been killed if the king wished by her unannounced appearance. The king granted her entry and request for a special dinner where she planned to expose the evil nobleman intent on annihilating her and her fellow Israelites. God was with her in this all the way and gave her the wisdom and favor she needed to succeed in order to save the Jewish nation (Esther 1-10).

The God of yesterday is the same God as today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)

I can also attest to God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Because I trusted in Him, he took me from uncertain days and nights wondering whether I would be able to overcome trials to leaving all my concerns to Him in prayer.

Also, I realized that I had to be content with having JUST my Savior Jesus by my side. I had to place Him first in my life.

And how could I not? He loved me so much that He gave His life as a ransom for me.

I was not perfect along the way, but I trusted God and I set my life goal to seek after Him. I no longer put my faith in people or circumstances. I dove into His word and believed Him for a victorious life.

I made myself available to serve Him in the doors of ministry that He opened for me, and I found purpose in helping others instead of being focused on myself and my troubles.

God in His faithfulness heard my prayers and brought me gradually to a life filled with many blessings—some I asked for over the years, and others I never even dreamed of.

God is faithful!

I would like to share another Scripture verse I learned that helped transform me from being unsure about my future to knowing that God was with me, helping me every step of the way despite difficult circumstances.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.  Psalm 121

There is nothing our heavenly Father would not do to help His children overcome adverse situations and reach His purpose for their lives.

Following the ways of this world will not bring peace, joy, and fulfillment. Only God can.

If you are experiencing difficulties and don’t know what to do or can’t see your way through, I urge you to trust in God, surrender your life to Him (if you haven’t already), and seek after Him. You will be astounded by His perfect love, and you will find His will for your life.

May you be blessed as you listen to this song about how great and powerful God is.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

The Little Foxes

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I want to write about something that we all as Christians need to be reminded of.

This “something” is to be obedient to our LORD God by following His commands, no matter what.

Let me share a personal story that will explain today’s message.

As I was reading and studying the Bible this morning, I found that I could not concentrate clearly as I usually do. I was struggling to keep a fluid understanding of what I was reading.

I stopped and prayed that God would help me to refocus and be able to comprehend His message for me.

I was reading in 1 Samuel 12 which is not hard to understand if you have read previously from Genesis to 1 Samuel.

I believe that God did indeed help me to focus after I asked Him, and I then fully understood why I was faltering.

I had committed once again a sin He’s been working on me about for a while. I will explain later what this sin is.

First, I want to share what I came across that snapped me out of my muddled state.

If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.

1 Samuel 12:14-15

This statement by the prophet Samuel to the Israelites was to remind them that they and their newly chosen king Saul were to obey the LORD in all they do.

Up until this time, God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt, fed them, protected them, gave them His laws for their well-being, brought them into the promised land, defeated their enemies in battle, and showered them with countless blessings.

Did the Israelites obey the LORD after this warning? No. Not completely.

The Israelites wanted to be like their neighbors—they wanted a king to rule over them.

Samuel, being a man of God, was greatly displeased over this; but God told him to go ahead and anoint a king for them, one that He would choose.

God let them have their way, even though this was a rejection of God Himself to rule over them, especially after all He had done for them.

They had severe consequences that followed. If you’re interested in knowing what happened as a result of their disobedience, feel free to read the remainder of 1 Samuel—and the rest of the Bible for that matter.

As Christians, also God’s chosen, we are told to follow God’s word.

God expects our full obedience to Him and His ways.

The apostle James, tells his fellow Christ followers the same.

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save our souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:19-25

As for me, the awkward feeling of not being able to feast on God’s word clearly was enough for me to go in prayer to the LORD.

He revealed to me that I was harboring unforgiveness toward a neighbor for something that I was truthful about after she kept wanting to know why my husband and I were or were not voting a certain way in the 2024 presidential election. Consequently, she decided that she wanted nothing to do with us anymore. There is more, but I’ll just leave it at that.

The LORD impressed upon me that it doesn’t matter what others do to me or say about me, it is my responsibility to forgive and give it over to Him.

As Christians, we cannot be effective in our service to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ with a wrong attitude.

It is an entryway for Satan to step in and create chaos and destruction in our lives.

We must instead trust God, be obedient in our thoughts, speech, and actions, and leave it with Him.

We will be happier, more focused and competent to carry out God’s plan for us daily.

I must say that immediately after I repented, I felt better, and I was able to continue in my reading and understanding of His word.

Often, it’s the small things, what we consider the small sins—the little foxes—that trip us up. God is concerned just as much about these sins as what we would call big sins.

Sin is sin to God. He doesn’t measure how big or how small. Even the slightest disobedience to Him is sin.

“Catch the foxes for us,
The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards,
While our vineyards are in blossom.”

Song of Solomon 2:15

In this scripture verse from the Bible, we learn that the little things spoil the overall progress of what is planned.

In this case, our wrong thoughts become our actions if we don’t reign them in. These negative actions harm our testimony as Christians and could keep us from what God has planned for us.

So, we must be content to let go of hurts or wrongs done to us, and depend upon His grace, love, and sovereignty.

He loves us and will bless us immeasurably when we follow Him completely.

I pray that this message blesses you today.

Below is a song that echoes my thoughts about my place in God’s kingdom.

“Who Am I?” – Casting Crowns

 

Israel—Chosen by God: A Blessing to All

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The nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a blessing to all people.

In my nine previous posts, the Israel—Chosen by God series, scripture has been clear about this promise God made to Abraham, the father of Israel, and to every generation of Israel until the end of time.    

God chose Israel to be His nation, to follow His ways (which results in blessing), and to provide the ultimate blessing—a Savior.

This promise was first made to Abraham in Genesis.

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

                                                                                                             Genesis 12:1-3

This same promise was reiterated by God to Isaac, Abraham’s son of promise in Genesis 26:2-5, and later to Jacob, Isaac’s son, in Genesis 28:13-15.

Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel when he was on his way back to Canaan. Israel means “he strived with God and prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-31)

So, it is from the nation of Israel that the blessed promise was given to all mankind.

This promise is salvation through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

                                                                                                           Matthew 1:1-17

Jesus’s birth was planned from the beginning of time. The Bible is about the creation of the world, sin, redemption, and defeating evil.

Jesus Christ is the center theme of the Bible and He was with God the Father at the creation of the world. (John 1:1-3)

Jesus is our redemption that was promised and prophesied throughout the Old Testament by the prophets, and He is the God man who left the throne-room in heaven and came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem of Judea in Israel.

He came to this world to teach truth, love, and forgiveness, but most importantly, to be the sacrificial Lamb.

The apostle John who walked with Jesus during His ministry here on earth testifies to this.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

                                                                                                                 1 John 2:1-2

The only perfect human to live on this earth was destined to become the sacrifice for our sins—perfection taking on the iniquity of the whole world.

This is how God the Father planned the redemption of mankind, past, present, and future.    

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

                                                                                                               John 3:16-18

Jesus did not come to this earth to condemn it, but to save the world through drawing the lost to Himself.

He is the fulfillment of the Law given by Moses, not the replacement of the Law, as some may think.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” 

                                                                                                         Matthew 5:17-18

One of the godly men that I have followed over twenty years is John F. McArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church and host of Grace to You, national Christian media ministry.

He explains Matthew 5:17-18 stating, “Jesus was neither giving a new law nor modifying the old, but rather explaining the true significance of the moral content of Moses’ law and the rest of the OT…Christ was indicating that he is the fulfillment of the law in all its aspects. He fulfilled the moral law by keeping it perfectly…And he fulfilled the judicial law by personifying God’s perfect justice.”

McArthur further clarifies, “Christ was affirming the utter inerrancy and absolute authority of the OT as the word of God—down to the smallest stroke or letter…This should not be seen as supplanting and abrogating the OT, but as fulfilling and explicating it.”

Therefore, the ceremonial requirements of the law (Colossians 2:16-23) were fulfilled by Jesus Christ and are no longer required to be followed by Christians. However, other mandates of the law are not to be abolished and very much remain as a standard of scriptural truth in the New Testament. 

Because Jesus obeyed His Father in heaven and died for our sins—the whole world’s sins, we are resolved of our past wrongs if we surrender our lives to Him, ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, and abide in Him.

Jesus’s sacrificial love for us along with our personal acknowledgment of His deity and following Him in obedience shields us from eternal damnation.  

We are indeed blessed through Israel; if from Israel we were given Christ, what better blessing can we acknowledge?

From the twelfth chapter of Genesis, we have been called to bless Israel.

We should certainly want to because of what God has given us through the nation of Israel: Our Lord and Savior—and with Him, forgiveness, freedom, blessings, and eternal life with God.

If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who gives us eternal life through His loving sacrifice, I hope you will do so today.

I will be happy to help you in making your decision for Christ in any way that I can. Send me a message in the comments and I will respond.

I hope this series has been a blessing to you and has helped you understand why we should bless Israel.

Join me next for Why Stand with Israel?

Below is a song that glorifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May it bless you.

“Thank You Jesus for the Blood” – Charity Gayle

Israel—Chosen by God:  Jacob – Part 3

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This week we continue the story of Jacob’s life after he marries both Leah and Rachel.

If you remember from “Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 2,” Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah by his uncle Laban. He had worked seven years for whom he thought was Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. He woke up the morning after the wedding ceremony and found out it was Leah who was with him. He was not at all happy about this and confronted Laban who insisted that he had to marry his oldest daughter first. Laban offered Rachel to Jacob in marriage for another seven years of work and Jacob accepted this offer because it was Rachel whom he loved.

Messed up!

And this is in the Bible? Oh yes, and it is true.

The good news is that God can take our human mess and use it for His purpose and for our good.

Let’s continue the story.

Jacob’s children

Jacob fathered 12 sons and 1 daughter by Leah, Rachel, and their handmaids. His first four children were born to Leah—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel had been without a child for a few years and was quite upset about this, so she gave her servant Bilhah to him so that she could conceive a child for her. Bilhah gave birth to Dan.

Once again, we witness a chosen and loved wife feeling insecure about not having a child of her own. You would think that this lesson would have been passed down and learned from Sarah and Abraham. Instead of taking her concern of being barren to the LORD, Rachel became jealous of her sister Leah and devised a way of having children through her handmaid.

We cause ourselves a multitude of problems when we do not trust God and lay our sensitive issues before Him.  

Not long after Dan was born, Bilhah gave birth to another son named Naphtali.

Then Leah could not conceive, so she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife in hopes of having more children. Zilpah gave birth to Gad and then to Asher.

I personally cannot imagine sharing my husband with any woman, let alone three other wives with their own children. I guess you could say that I have a righteous jealousy. I wouldn’t be able to live this way, not to mention the chaos that comes with all of this.

This was not God’s design.

No matter how one may explain or even excuse this behavior, God created one woman for one man (Genesis 2:20b-24).

Eventually Leah became pregnant again and bore Issachar; and then again with Zebulun; and again, with a daughter, Dinah.

Finally, Rachel was able to conceive and gave birth to Joseph. Later after Jacob’s return to Canaan, Rachel gave birth to Benjamin.

Jacob Becomes Successful

After many years of shepherding in both Canaan and Haran, Jacob was very knowledgeable in the breeding and raising of sheep and goats.

He lived in Haran and worked for Laban fourteen years, completing his commitment for his wives. During these years, all his children except Benjamin were born in Haran.

Jacob decided to leave and return to his family in Canaan. He spoke with his uncle about his intentions, but Laban wanted him to stay and offered him whatever he asked. Laban knew that God was with Jacob and had blessed him through Jacob’s work these fourteen years.

Jacob wanted nothing from Laban and told him so, but he decided to work with him a while longer to show his uncle once again his loyalty to him.  It turned out that Jacob stayed another six years.

During this time, Laban tried to make it as difficult as possible for Jacob to be successful and separated Jacob from him a distance of three days travel.

But God was with Jacob and he became even more successful.

Instead of being grateful for Jacob’s success, Laban and his sons became jealous and began accusing Jacob of cheating them and stealing from them.

At this point, God was ready for Jacob to return to his family in Canaan.

And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 31:2-3

God’s timing is perfect!

We need to remember this when we are feeling down and disappointed with the difficulties in our lives. We may not see it, but God is always working on behalf of his children.

Our focus should always be on serving and following God—no matter what.

In the famous words of Dr. Charles Stanley, one of my lifelong mentors in the LORD, “Obey God and leave all the consequences up to Him.”

We will have success when we wait upon the LORD. It may not be easy and it may be a long wait, but God has only the best intentions for us. We may not understand it at the time, but if we will trust Him and walk in obedience to Him, we will one day understand why God allowed difficulties in our lives. Sometimes, we perpetrate these hardships, other times we are being refined and groomed for God’s purposes.

After God tells Jacob that it’s time to leave Haran, he immediately speaks to Leah and Rachel to let them know that they will be leaving for Canaan. Jacob reminds them of how he served their father, Laban, faithfully all these years and was loyal to him. He reminds them how their father cheated him again and again, and is now becoming hostile toward him. He also tells them that God has seen all this and has made him successful anyway, and is now telling him to leave for Canaan.  

Jacob’s wives respond in favor of leaving.

Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

Genesis 31:14-16

Imagine trying to convince your spouse to leave their family and the only home they’ve ever known under such circumstances. Jacob had to convince two wives who were sisters, jealous of each other and who worked against each other.

When God is in it, He makes the way possible!

Jacob leaves Paddan-aram (Haran) without notifying Laban, and heads toward Canaan with his wives, children, servants, and livestock. The Bible tells us that he was wealthy, and in those days, this meant a lot of people and flocks were part of the caravan leaving Haran. This was going to be a long, slow journey.

Join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 4

Wishing you God’s abundant blessings as you walk with Him.

Below is a beautiful song about how God always makes a way for us when He is in our battles.

Don’t give up following God—He is with you and for you!  

Way Maker – Leeland

Israel—Chosen by God:  Jacob – Part 2

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If you read my previous post, “Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 1,” you know that Jacob received the family blessing by deceiving his father Isaac and his brother Esau.

He is now fleeing Canaan to live with his uncle Laban in Paddan-aram, also known as Haran. He is running for his life, away from Esau who was planning to kill him as soon as their father dies. He is sent there by his father and his mother Rebekah. They not only want to protect Jacob, but also want him to choose a wife from his uncle Laban’s daughters.

Isaac blesses him and instructs Jacob before leaves.

“You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!”
Genesis 28:1b-4

On his way to Haran, Jacob stopped for the night and found a place to rest. While sleeping, he had a dream about a ladder that reached all the way up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down the ladder, and then the LORD stood above the ladder and spoke to him.

“…I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring 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.”
Genesis 28:13-15

Jacob woke up and realized that God was there with him, so he took the stone that he used for a pillow and poured oil over it as a landmark to honor God and named the place Bethel, which means house of God. Jacob vowed to worship God and tithe all his earnings if God would protect and provide for him, while leading him securely along the way to Haran and back again to his father’s house.

Jacob undoubtedly remembered the blessing that his father Isaac pronounced over him and he had great expectations. In those days, a family blessing was taken very seriously and believed word for word.

This is why it’s so important for us to speak words of blessing and goodness to our children and teach them about God’s faithfulness. We can achieve our goals if they align with God’s will. 

Jacob continues his journey east to Haran and stops at a well where the local shepherds were watering their sheep. He talks with the shepherds about Laban whom they know and is told that he is well. At that moment, a young lady, Rachel, comes to the well with her father’s sheep, and the shepherds let him know that she is Laban’s daughter.

He is very happy that he finds his family that he traveled so far to meet, and tells Rachel that her father is his mother’s brother. She runs to tell her father Laban who then goes to meet Jacob and embraces him and invites him to stay with him. They share stories and Laban recognizes that Jacob is truly his kinsman. He invites Jacob to stay with him a while, so Jacob begins to work for Laban.

When we belong to God, He is faithful and orchestrates our future—just as He did for Jacob.

After a month’s work, Laban asks Jacob what he wants as wages in return for his work. During the time that Jacob works for Laban, he falls in love with Rachel whom the Bible describes as beautiful. He tells Laban that he will work for him for seven years for Rachel to be his wife. Laban agrees.

It’s important to know that Rachel has an older sister named Leah.

So, Jacob stays and works for Laban for seven years. When this time is completed, he goes to Laban to ask for Rachel in marriage. Laban plans a big wedding feast and in the evening after the ceremony, he takes his eldest daughter Leah to Jacob.

I am not sure why Jacob doesn’t recognize that Leah is with him instead of Rachel—maybe it was too dark for him to see her on their wedding night. The Bible doesn’t give an explanation.

When morning comes, Jacob realizes that he’s been deceived by Laban! The cheater has himself been cheated!

I hate to say it, but “what goes around, comes around.”

Jacob confronts Laban and is told that it is their custom for the eldest daughter to be given in marriage first. He tells Jacob to stay and complete the marriage week with Leah, and then he will be given Rachel for another seven years of work.  

Laban is all too eager to keep Jacob, because he knows God is with him and blesses him in all that he does. Laban reaps these benefits with Jacob working for him and wants to keep him as long as he can.

No doubt Jacob loved Rachel, but now he had to trust Laban once again.

The Bible tells us that Jacob stayed and worked another seven years, and was finally given Rachel to marry.

God is faithful

…when we have been betrayed

…when we cannot see the path forward

…when we ourselves have sinned against Him and others

If we belong to God, He has a plan for our lives— just as he had for Jacob.

We must be willing to trust Him even when the news is bad, or when everything seems like it’s going in the wrong direction.

I have included a song below that speaks to God’s faithfulness. I hope you enjoy it.

“Faithful” – Chris Tomlin

Please join me next for Israel—Chosen by God:  Jacob – Part 3

Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part I

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If you remember from my previous post, “Israel—Chosen by God:  Isaac,” Jacob’s name means “he cheats.” His name perhaps came from his struggle in the womb with his brother Esau to be the firstborn. The Bible says he came out holding onto Esau’s heel.

When Jacob is a young man, we learn that he cheats Esau out of his blessing and lies to his father, Isaac.

Isaac was old and losing his vision, so he called for Esau to give him his blessing. He told Esau to first go out to hunt and bring him back some of the wild game prepared the way that he loved. His mother, Rebekah, overheard the conversation and quickly told Jacob to go out to the flock and bring her two goats so that she could prepare a delicious meal for Isaac and for Jacob to take it to him. Her intention was for Jacob to receive the blessing while Esau was out hunting.

Jacob was concerned that his father would know it was not him, because he and Esau were very different. First, Esau was hairy and Jacob was not. Esau liked to hunt and often smelled like the outdoors in the field where he liked to hunt; Jacob liked to stay around home. Their voices were distinct as most of our voices are compared to our siblings’.

Jacob was further concerned that his father would curse him for trying to fool him, but Rebekah was not about to let Jacob miss the blessing, and she was willing for the curse to be on her if Isaac found out. She told him to put on Esau’s clothes and she put goat’s hair on his body as a disguise.

Jacob took to his father the food Rebekah prepared, and Isaac was suspicious because he had brought him the food so quickly. Isaac may have been old and nearly blind, but his mind and other senses were still good.

So he went to his father and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?" Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up an eat of my game, that your soul may bless me." But Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He answered, "Because the LORD your God granted me success." Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not." So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said, "I am." Then he said, "Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you." So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 
Genesis 27:18-25

The goat skin he felt on Jacob seemed to convince him that it was his son Esau, so Isaac asked him to come closer to give him a kiss and then blessed him.

So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” 
Genesis 27:27-29

A father’s blessing was and still is very important to his children. And the blessing of passing on the family leadership meant everything to the child (usually the eldest) who received it.

So, Jacob lived up to his name and cheated his brother Esau out of his blessing.

Esau, on his part, was not an exemplary son; when he was younger, he had sold his birthright to Jacob for food, and had since married women from the Hittite tribe which greatly distressed Isaac and Rebekah. Just as the patriarch Abraham was very careful in ensuring Isaac would marry from his own family, Isaac should have done the same with Esau. Perhaps he contested these marriages with his eldest son, but Esau nevertheless married outside of the family. He clearly was not following God’s plan for his life and the blessing of the family legacy was taken from him.

When Esau returned from his hunting trip, he cooked the stew that his father had requested and went to see him for the family blessing. Isaac told him he had already given the blessing to whom he thought was Esau, but was deceived. They were both distressed and Esau pleaded with his father to give him the blessing. Isaac informed Esau that he could not reverse the blessing and that his future would be less than what it should have been and that he would serve his brother Jacob until he (Esau) broke away from him.  

Esau hated Jacob for this and plotted to kill him after his father died. As soon as Rebekah learned of this, she told Jacob to leave for Haran, where her brother Laban lived. She told Jacob that she would send for him to return when Esau had enough time to get over his anger toward him. Rebekah also wanted Jacob to find a wife from her family and not from any of the Hittite women that lived in Canaan.

Isaac then called for Jacob and told him to go his uncle Laban’s house and marry one of his daughters. He gave strict instructions for Jacob to marry within the family and not from the Canaanites. Isaac blessed him and sent him to Paddan-aram where his uncle lived.

Join me next for Israel—Chosen by God:  Jacob – Part 2

I have included a beautiful song below for your listening pleasure.

“I Am Not Alone” – Kari Jobe

Israel—Chosen by God: Isaac

On By Carmen1 Comment

Abraham fathered Ishmael and Isaac who both would be leaders of many nations. Isaac, however, was chosen by God to be the covenant heir and direct bloodline of Israel through Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

After Sarah died, Abraham sent the elder servant of his household on a journey back to his country to find for Isaac a wife. It was important that Isaac marry only from Abraham’s family and not from the Canaanites where he lived.

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 
Genesis 24:1-4

Abraham’s servant was concerned whether the young woman suitable for a wife for Isaac would refuse to leave her family and land to be Isaac’s wife. Abraham assured him that he must go and seek out a wife for Isaac from his family and that the LORD would direct his steps to the chosen woman. Abraham believed God would be faithful and provide a wife for Isaac.

The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Abraham said to him, “see to it that you do not take my son back there. The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, “To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 
Genesis 24:5-8

It was customary for parents to choose spouses for their children in those days, so Abraham summoned his servant to go search for a wife for Isaac instead of sending Isaac himself. There was a covenant to be fulfilled and Abraham would not risk sending his son Isaac to the land that God told him to leave years before in search for a better land.

As Abraham’s servant traveled back to Mesopotamia, he asked God to let the woman he asks for a drink of water who gives him and his camels water, be the woman He has chosen for Isaac’s wife. The servant eventually stops near a spring for water and finds Rebekah. He asks her for water and she said that she would give him water to drink and also draw water for his camels. He was grateful that God led him to Rebekah and then asked her if there was room at her father’s house to stay for the night. She invited him to her home where he met her family. Abraham’s servant found out Rebekah was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. The servant meets Bethuel, Nahor’s son and Rebekah’s father, and is intent on settling his business in Mesopotamia. He tells Bethuel and Laban, Rebekah’s brother, how he was sent by his master Abraham to seek a wife for his son and what happened at the spring with Rebekah. He tells them that his master Abraham is very wealthy and asks if they would be willing to let Rebekah go back with him to be Isaac’s wife. They acknowledge the request to be from the LORD and gave their consent.

“…Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD. And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 
Genesis 24:48-53

It’s important to add that Rebekah accepted the proposal as well and was willing to leave with Abraham’s servant the next day, as he wanted to waste no time in returning to Isaac with Rebekah.

When Rebekah reached Canaan she sees a man in a field in the distance, and asks Abraham’s servant who he is. He tells her that the man is his master Isaac, so she jumps off the camel and runs to meet him. The Bible tells us that Isaac falls in love with Rebekah, marries her, and is consoled of his mother’s death.

Isaac prayed to the LORD for children because Rebekah could not conceive. God answered his prayer and Rebekah becomes pregnant with twin sons, Esau and Jacob. These two brothers were very different and fought against each other even while in the womb. Rebekah was concerned about this and asked the LORD why this was happening.

And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” 
Genesis 25:23

Esau, the eldest was named as such because he was red and hairy. Jacob came out of the womb holding onto Esau’s heel and was therefore given his name which means “he cheats.” In Hebrew, “heel catcher” means supplanter which means “to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

As Esau grew up, he became a hunter of wild game and was Isaac’s favorite. Jacob was the opposite and preferred to be at home and was Rebekah’s favorite.

Once when Esau was out hunting, Jacob was home cooking stew. When Esau returned, he begged his brother for some of his stew because he was hungry and exhausted. Jacob tells him, of course! But first, you must sell me your birthright. Esau’s rashness led him to comply because he said what good was a birthright when he was going to die of starvation. Jacob made Esau swear to give him his birthright, which he did, and God despised Esau’s lack of gratefulness.

A famine in the land where Isaac lived became severe, so Isaac went to Abimelech, the king of the Philistines for help. Then the LORD spoke to Isaac.

And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” 
Genesis 26:2-5

Isaac remained in the land of Gerar and became very successful and wealthy. Even with success, Isaac experienced trials with his neighbors and continued disappointment in his children.  

Join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob

For additional information, look for Israel—Chosen by God: Abraham

In the meantime, I pray that God blesses you and reveals His truth to you.

I have included the song below for your listening pleasure and to encourage you in your walk with God.

“Waiting” – Healing Place Worship

Israel—Chosen by God: Abraham

On By Carmen3 Comments

The nation of Israel represents the people that God chose to be His very own which started with a promise to the patriarch Abraham.

In Genesis 11, we find Abraham, originally named Abram, descended nine generations from Shem (son of Noah). When Abraham was around 70 years old, he was called by God to leave his country in Mesopotamia to go to a land that God promised him where He would make of him a great nation. This promise is known as the Abrahamic Covenant.


Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3

So, Abraham believed God and left the land of Ur. Abraham followed God through many lands and trials because he trusted God for the promise. God reiterated His promise and told him he would be called Abraham which means “father of many nations.” 

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.  And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you and throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”  
Genesis 17:1-8

Because Abraham and his wife Sarah, originally named Sarai, were very old, they had a difficult time believing that God could give them a child. Instead of trusting God, they decided to “help” Him. Sarah gave her Egyptian handmade, Hagar, to Abraham so that she could give them a child. Hagar conceived through Abraham, and a son was born whom they named Ishmael. Abraham loved Ishmael very much, but soon trouble started between Sarah and Hagar. Arrogance and jealousy between the two women ensued because Hagar looked down upon Sarah who was without her own child. This was difficult for Abraham, but he held on to Ishmael as if he would be his covenant heir.

However, Ishmael was not God’s choice, as Abraham had hoped. God said that He would provide through Sarah the promised son who would be named Isaac.

And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.” 
Genesis 17:15-20

As God promised, Sarah became pregnant in her old age and gave birth to Isaac, the covenant heir. Abraham was overjoyed with Isaac and still loved Ishmael very much. As Isaac grew, trouble in the family started again—this time between Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael made fun of Isaac and Sarah became enraged, telling Abraham to get rid of Hagar and her son. Ishmael was Abraham’s first son and he was very displeased by this reaction from Sarah.

God appeared to Abraham and assured him that Ishmael would be okay and that he should send him away with his mother. 

But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wondered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 
Genesis 21:12-14

Why did God make a covenant with Abraham through Isaac?

From the beginning of time, God had a plan for eternal redemption through the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These patriarchs are through whom Jesus was born. Our heavenly Father wanted the Israelites to be separated physically and spiritually from the other nations that worshiped false gods and performed ungodly practices. God called the Israelites to be righteous and to follow His ways which He gave to them in the form of laws.

When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this. 
Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Does this mean that the Israelites always followed God’s laws?

No.

The Israelites would sin against God time and time again, but God was faithful to His word, forgave the Israelites, and vowed to bring His promise to fulfillment until the end of time here on earth.

Join me next week for the next part of this blog post where we will focus on the continued lineage of Jesus Christ through the nation of Israel.

May God bless you as you seek His truth for your life.

I have included a song for your listening pleasure.

“Promises” – Maverick City