January 8-12, 2016

January 8, 2016

Genesis 31: 22-35 (summarized)

Jacob fled and took Leah, Rachel and all of his children with him. Laban was informed of the matter and he decided to pursue Jacob. Laban kept up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead but before they met God appeared in Laban's dream and warned him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."  Eventually, Laban and Jacob met. Then, the former asked of the latter on the reason behind his fleeing and also on God's appearance and words in his dream. Jacob responded that he did so because he feared that Laban might forcibly take Leah and Rachel away from him. Further, Jacob told Laban to search his tent and if he finds any of his gods there, Laban could take it back. The man did as told. Rachel who had stolen her father's gods hid the objects in the saddle and sat upon it. And as her father reached her tent, she made her menstruation an excuse for not standing as she saw him. Thus, Laban did not find any of what he was looking for.

Message:

God is in control of all and He will not forsake His people. Also, it is indicated here that Laban acknowledged Jacob's God, our God in words but not in deed, for despite God's appearance in the former's dream he still tried to find his gods which he thought were stolen by Jacob. Laban is no different from people who says they honor God but do otherwise. "Great numbers will acknowledge the true God in words, but their hearts and houses are the abodes of spiritual idolatry. When a man gives himself up to covetousness, like Laban, the world is his god; and he has only to reside among gross idolaters in order to become one, or at least a favourer of their abominations" (Matthew Henry).

Application:

I acknowledged God in words and I will manifest such acknowledgement of Him in deeds.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me to manifest my belief in You, to make You known to others through my actions. Lord forgive me for reacting negatively to what happened yesterday. Yes Lord, I've realized the purpose of your letting it happen and I understood the message. I feel relieved today and prepared for any challenge that may come as I go on and pursue the fulfilment of my promises to You Lord for I know just like what You extended to Jacob, You will never leave me Father. Thank for that assurance. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

  

January 9, 2016

Genesis 32: 1-15

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.' " When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape." Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' " He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

Message:

Reading this part of the book gives me a better view of reconciliation. Jacob after praying, exerted efforts in an attempt to reconcile with his brother, Esau, actions which profoundly demonstrate humility and great dependence on God. Hence, he was listened to and his prayers were answered by Him (Gen. 31:22-30). This situation in Jacob's life reminds me that my actions affect God's response to my prayers. Matthew Henry forwards this thought, "God answers prayers by teaching us to order our affairs aright."

Application:

I will exert efforts to reconcile with people whom I have done wrong and I will try my best to do what pleases God.

Prayer:

Dear Lord You are worthy of my praise. More than anybody and anything else Lord, You're the one to whom I can fully depend on. Yes Lord I thank you for making me understand that reconciliation is vital in a relationship and that your response God is affected by my actions. Lord, Jacob did act in a manner pleasing not only to his brother Esau but, above all God, to You. Thus, You gave him his heart desires. Lord, teach me to do the same not just towards my siblings but to others as well. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

January 10, 2016

Genesis 32: 24-32

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.

Message:

I am reminded that praying is done privately and that intense prayers are listened to by God. Here Jacob was put to test physically and spiritually while he prays to God. The angel of the covenant (Hosea 12:4-5) appeared before him and wrestled with him but Jacob never gave up until the angel blessed him. Wesley explains, "he wept and made supplication; prayers and tears were his weapons." Jacob's vigorous faith and holy desire made him overcome the test. Matthew Henry, further says, " the fervent prayer is the effectual prayer."

Application:

I will practice Jacob's faith and manner of communicating to God.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for letting me understand the effect of manifesting vigorous faith and observing privacy in my praying time. Just like Jacob Lord there had been times that negative thoughts suddenly set in as I was praying, thus making me doubt on the effect of what I was doing and your response to my prayers. God, now that I understand that my faith may still be put to test even in praying time, I ask for your guidance Lord. Help me overcome certain temptations during praying time by letting me develop Jacob's faith and insistence. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

January 11, 2016

Genesis 33: 1-16 (summarized)

Finally, the meeting between Esau and Jacob came. Jacob bowed down seven times to the ground as he approached his brother who in return rushed to embrace and kiss the former. They wept. Then. Esau asked Jacob about his company and on a large group of animals that move with them. Jacob responded that the people were the children given to "thy servant" and the animals were a gift to please Esau. Jacob's brother refused the gift at first for he said he already had what Jacob was offering. The latter insisted, nonetheless. Thus, Esau eventually gave in. As Esau offered Jacob assistance in his journey to Seir, Jacob declined for he was considering the safety of his young children and the nursing animals. He said that the young children and the animals might not be able to bear the challenge of such a journey and that keeping up with Esau and his men might be difficult for them. Hence, he suggested Esau to go ahead and he would just follow. Esau even offered to leave some of his men for Jacob and his family's protection but the younger brother, again, refused. Jacob expressed his trust in God and His guidance in their journey, with this Esau left.

Message:

The verses pointed out the demonstration of humility as Jacob bowed down seven times before his brother Esau and total trust in God as the younger brother refused the elder brother's offer of protection. Jacob had God, thus making him avail of every thing he needed including the protection for the journey.

Application:

I will observe humility especially when I ask forgiveness for the fault or sin committed and because I accepted God and decided to walk with Him, I will not fear the journey that I am taking as I go through life. 

Prayer:

Jesus, the son of God and my savior I thank you for this reminder and the assurance of Your guidance as I take on duties and responsibilities as huge as Jacob's. Lord I ask forgiveness for the times that I expressed apologies before a person who has done me wrong and whom I have done the same in return, despite such act in my mind and in my heart I still had pride. Yes Lord just like Jacob my doubts on the person's sincerity remained even after my expression of apologies; thus, I'm asking you Father to overcome my totality, reign in my heart and in my mind Father for me to realize the significance of humility, forgiveness and trust. Make me forget my pride Lord that I may be worthy of your promises. This I pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

January 12. 2016

Genesis 33: 17-20

Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.  After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Message:

Apparently, this part of the book teaches us the idea that words alone are not enough as an expression of our thankfulness to God's response to our prayers, that we need to really exert effort in demonstrating our gratefulness to Him. Jacob, after obtaining God's blessing and provisions, built an altar in honor of "El - elohe - israel, God - the God of Israel: to the honor of God in general, the only living and true God, the Best of beings, the First of causes: and to the honor of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him" (Wesley, n.d.). He did it after setting up a tent, an act  which can be considered a demonstration of his consistent and progressive faith and communication with God. This I can relate to man’s need to be part of a church and worship God there. Jacob did not just put up a tent but built an altar as well for him to worship “the only living and true God” (Wesley, n.d.), an act which to me indicates appropriateness of worship. Yes, we can communicate with God anywhere but it is at the church, before the altar where we can earnestly speak to Him and heartily thank Him for all that He Has given us.

Application:

I will not only speak of my gratefulness to God but demonstrate it through attending services at the church and expressing my thankfulness before the altar.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for making me understand, through Jacob’s act, the importance of going to church, the value of expressing my gratefulness not only in words but through actions which are more pleasing to you. Lord, forgive me for the times that I prioritized other activities than meeting You at the church. Father, bless me today and enable me to reflect my thankfulness in my actions and association with others. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.