January 3-7, 2016

January 3, 2015

Genesis 29: 7-13

Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. There he saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied. He said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" "Yes, we know him," they answered. Then Jacob asked them, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is," they said, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

Message:

Here, I am reminded that no matter what happens, God's will prevails. Just like what happened to Jacob, he proceeded with his journey without knowing his exact destination. All he had was faith in God in accord with what took place previously. Then, before he knew it he was already at the place destined and before a woman God has appointed him to marry. This is a clear manifestation of the Divine Providence. Wesley explains, "The Divine Providence is to be acknowledged in all the little circumstances which concur to make a journey or other undertaking comfortable and successful. If, when we are at a loss, we meet with those seasonably that can direct us; if we meet with a disaster, and those are at hand that will help us; we must not say it was by chance, but it was by providence: our ways are ways of pleasantness, if we continually acknowledge God in them."

Application:

I was born out of God's purpose and that purpose is to be realized according to His will. Thus, I must pray about each of my activities continually and trust Him for everything, no matter what.

Prayer:

Father, the mightiest of all I thank you for this reminder and for all the manifestations of my belief in You Lord. Thank you for leading me back to my family and relatives. Lord forgive me for the times that I despised them, for the times that I was plagued of jealousy concerning my mother's attention for each of us. Lord now that You let the connection among us restored, I ask for Your guidance Father. Make me a good spiritual influence to my siblings. Let me demonstrate Christlikeness before them, strength in times of trials, wisdom in times of decision making and humility in times of togetherness. Lord, You fulfilled your vow to Jacob because he completely relied on You. I'm doing the same God. I entrust all my concerns to You Father; I pray for my readiness and acceptance for every thing that You will for me and my family. Like what happened to Jacob, let your will be done on me. This I pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

January 4, 2015

Genesis 29: 31-35

When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

Message:

These last verses of Chapter 29 refreshed my memory on a matter concerning the object of my praise. Here, Leah manifested God's favor by being fertile. Hence, she bore four sons for her husband whose love she sought over the years. She praised God because God was the reason for all that she had. Yes, the reason behind all that I have and all that I am now is God, thus my making Him the center of my praise. Both Henry and Wesley stressed, "All our praises must centre in Christ, both as the matter of them, and as the Mediator of them."

Application:

I have to make Jesus the center of my praise, always, for without Him I am NOTHING.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for this reminder - making You the center of my praise because You are the reason for every single thing I own and every piece of my being. Lord forgive me for the instances that I focused my act of worship on those that You have materially extended me. Father, I ask for your guidance today as I pursue the reason of my creation. In every instance Lord, in every provision make me remember You and set my focus on You. Provide me Lord the kind of character and wisdom I need today for me to deal with every situation accordingly. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

January 5, 2015

Genesis 30: 1-24 (summarized)

Rachel demonstrated envy against her sister Leah whom God favored with four children. Thus, Rachel gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob and let him sleep with her. Jacob had two children by Bilhah. Leah, on the other hand, observed that she was no longer bearing a child so she gave her maidservant Zilpah to Jacob who agreed to sleep with the latter. Zilpah bore Jacob two sons. The harvest season came and Reuben, Leah's son had brought mandrake for his mother. Rachel saw him and asked Leah to give her some of it. Leah refused as she expressed anger towards her sister. Rachel's reaction gave Leah an opportunity to sleep with Jacob again, an event which provided the latter two sons and a daughter. Rachel prayed to God and she was listened to and later was given a son, whom she named Joseph.

Message:

This part of the book made me understand that envy causes people to go against their fellows. It brings about actions which results grief, not only to those involved but above all to God. Rachel's act - making her maidservant sleep with Jacob - is a manifestation of envy. Things got even worse when she saw Leah having mandrake that the former let the latter sleep with Jacob. This act furthered the idea about Rachel's inability to control her wordly desires, wanting of material things, something which I myself manifest whenever I confront situations similar to this. Rachel seemed not to notice that God had readily favored her when Jacob chose to love her over Leah. Sometimes I feel the same way as I tend to desire for more without taking notice what God had readily provided me. These according to the bible are all because of bitterness, envy, and discontentment. Also, this part of the book reminds me that unceasing communication with God and demonstration of humility through prayer brings about forgiveness of sins. Rachel prayed to God and she was forgiven. She was bestowed upon a son who would be a man of God as his race continues to live.

Application:

I will always remind myself to value what God has given me and to not use others to fulfill my desire for something else. Further, I won't cease praying not only because I need something but above all because such act pleases God.

Prayer:

Dear God, the mightiest of all I thank you for making me understand the dangers that envy, bitterness and discontentment bring to me should I let those overcome me. Lord, had I demonstrated actions like that of Rachel and Leah, forgive me. Lord, as I desire to demonstrate the opposite of such a situation, I ask for your guidance Father. Remove from my vocabulary the word envy and bitterness. Send your Holy Spirit to tap me and remind me that I need to be thankful and be content of your provisions. Make me manifest thankfulness and contentment today, and the days ahead. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

January 6, 2016

Genesis 30: 25-43 (summarized)

Jacob informed Laban of his departure and did not ask for any equivalent of what he worked for besides his wives and children. However, having learned that he himself became profoundly blessed and provided because of Jacob, Laban insisted on making Jacob stipulate the amount of labor the latter had exerted so that the servant would be accordingly paid. Jacob refused to do so, instead he asked his master to allow him as a servant to go on tending the ship, thus giving him the opportunity to set a bargain before Laban. The latter agreed.  Jacob did his job and enabled himself to obtain greater number of sheep out of strategy unknown to Laban. So, Jacob became wealthier than Laban.

Message:

This part of Genesis, made me understand that selfishness breeds misery as honesty and dependence on God bring about abundance. Also, I am reminded that wisdom coming from God is the best weapon against all deceptions.

Here, Knowing his master’s deceptive character and selfishness, Jacob responded otherwise when asked by his master about the stipulation of his compensation on all the efforts that he exerted in serving the man. He presented a bargain nonetheless and as he was doing his job, he executed a strategy unknown to Laban– cross breeding the animals (JASA 3, 1951 as cited in Schepp, n.d.). The peeled branches of almond and plane trees which exuded an aroma served as an aphrodisiac for the animals: thus, as he placed them on the trough as the animals in two different colors drink water from it, they mated, hence producing streaked or spotted young animals. With that, he made himself wealthier than his master. Matthew Henry preaches, Jacob’s act “was done by intimation from God, and as a token of his power. The Lord will one way or another plead the cause of the oppressed, and honour those who simply trust his providence.”

Application:

I must keep on practicing honesty and dependence on God in everything that I do.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for reminding me that I need to demonstrate honesty and dependence on You all the time. Forgive me if there had been times that I depended on my very own capability in coming up with decisions that concerned not just me but others as well. Lord, bless me today with the wisdom that you provided Jacob so that I may deal with circumstances in accord to your will. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

January 7, 2016

Genesis 31: 44-55 (summarized)

Laban suggested a covenant between himself and Jacob, to which the latter consented. Jacob took a stone and set a pillar that would serve as a witness between the two of them. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me." Further, Laban said "May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.

Message:

These verses made me understand more the importance of keeping peace with people around us, especially with our relatives. Laban and Jacob had common ancestors and common God. Jacob was from Isaac, the son of Abraham (Genesis 18:1) and Laban was from Nahor (The father of Terah, who was the father of Abraham ( Genesis 11:22-25). Here Laban apparently acknowledged the truth that they have the same God who will bear witness of all that they do and will be judging them if ever any of them defies the covenant. They have the same God (despite the fact that Laban had been worshiping gods other than his father's), thus there must be no hatred between them. And as Laban let God judge the two of them depending on their actions, my trust on God's judgment has been strengthened. As Wesley says, "God is judge between contending parties, and he will judge righteously, whoever doth wrong it is at their peril."

Application:

I will always remind myself to keep peace with everyone and put my trust in God where matters of judging is concerned for it is guaranteed that God sees and knows everything, and He is righteous.

Prayer:

Lord the mightiest of all, I thank you for reminding me about keeping peace with people whom I deal with every day. With these verses Lord, You strengthened my bond with my family and relatives as well as with my fellow Christians. You gave me more reasons Lord to associate and relate with them. Dear God I ask forgiveness for the times that I did something wrong to any of my family members and friends. If I did something that caused them pain. Lord, bless me today and let me demonstrate peacekeeping not only to my family, relatives and fellow Christians but above all Lord to those who have not yet developed full belief in You Father. Make me a blessing today Lord. This I pray, in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.