Go Back to Bethel

O.T. "Go Back to Bethel"
May 31, 2012
Genesis 28-Part 3
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.  Genesis 28:22

LET IT GLOW

In our home church, my husband and I surrendered to the ministry, missions was our calling, we felt. We went off to college and served the Lord in various capacities. He attended seminary, as well as pastored churches. It was 17 years later that God returned us to that home church, not in a serving capacity, but my husband preached in view of a call for another church. We went back to our Bethel. God brought us full circle. We still serve in that same church, only 10 miles from the place where we surrendered to the Lord's will.

What was the Father telling Jacob that He was willing to do for Jacob as a part of the Abrahamic covenant?

• First, God identified Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac when He spoke to Jacob. 
• God would give Jacob and his descendants the land on which he was lying, spreading out in all directions.
• Jacob's descendants would be as many as the dust of the earth.
• All peoples on earth will be blessed through Jacob and his offspring.
• God will be with Jacob wherever he goes and will watch over him.
• God will bring Jacob back to this land.
• God will not leave Jacob until He has done what He promised.

the Holy Land belonged to the Jews, even though they didn't possess all of it at that time. The last three promises were unique to Jacob. He was assured that God would gave him a wife. (age 77) Jacob would be wondering around, but God promised to be with him. God had a plan for Jacob's life, and He would see to it that His plan was fulfilled.

Are you trusting in God with your offspring? Do you believe that He will be with us wherever we go?

LET IT GROW

Jacob arose early that morning, used the stone he had place under his head, and Set it up as a pillar, poured oil on top, then called the place Bethel, which means house of bread.
This is the first recorded vow in the Bible, made by Jacob.

Jacob realized that his dedication to God meant nothing unless his material goods were under His control as well. Before the Law was given, Abraham practiced tithing (14:20) Wiersbe

Do we have a Bethel in our life, a place where we met God in a serious way and made some commitments to Him? If we have gotten away from the Lord, we can always go back to Bethel and renew our dedication. It was not until 20 years later that the Lord summoned Jacob and led him back to Bethel. (chapter 15)

Our Bethel may not be a physical place, but a spiritual place that we need to return to God. Go back to the last thing you were told to do.

LET IT GO

God always keeps His promises; have I kept mine?

Return back to my Bethel, if need be.

Be faithful in tithing.

A Pillow as Hard as a Rock

O.T. "A Pillow as Hard as a Rock"
May 30, 2013
Genesis 28-Part 2
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set;
and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that
place to sleep.  Genesis 28:11

LET IT GLOW

When we go on a trip, I usually take my own pillow along. Experience has taught me that most motels' pillows are usually too soft, so I need two, but two are too high for my neck and one is too low. so in order to be comfortable, I use my own. I used to sleep with two pillows until I figured
it out that they were the cause of my neck hurting in the morning. Now I sleep on only one pillow
and it isn't as hard as a rock, but soft, yet firm. Jacob's pillow was as hard as a rock because it was
a rock. Enough about pillows. Shall we continue?

Got your hiking boots on? Isaac, Jacob's father, sent his son to Laban, Rebekah's brothers' house
to find a wife. In reality, it was another scheme of the mother of Jacob, so Esau wouldn't kill him for taking his birthright and blessings.
Jacob traveled about seventy miles from Beersheba to Bethel, a three-day journey. He was away
from his aging and mild father, scheming mother, and jealous brother. Was he alone or did he take servants with him for the journey? The Bible doesn't say.
But that night...

• He lighted in a certain place and tarried there all night. Lighted has several meanings in the Hebrew, but the ones that fit this verse refers to fall upon, to lay. I like that word lighted.    Does it matter where we light for the night? Apparently so. (Jacob later called the place  Bethel, which we will discuss later.) Where have you lighted? Where do you pitch the tent? Where did you hang the shingle out, calling it home? Our decisions are important. Are we living and working in the places that are in God's will or our will? Are we willing to move when God says or are our roots down too deep?
• It was a certain place, identified as Bethel in verse 19. Located about 50 miles north of Beersheba and about 6 miles north of Jerusalem, Jacob spent the night in an open field. (MacArthur)
• The name of the city was called Luz at first. Jacob called it Bethel, which means house of bread. Jacob's experience that night not only changed him, but it changed the name of the  place where he slept. Does our presence change things? Are we taking Jesus with us    wherever we go? What was so special about this place? Jacob was away from all his family's influence. He encountered God there. Let's look further into it.

LET IT GROW

It's night and Jacob is tired from the traveling. All he wants to do is make camp, eat a bite, and get some sleep. He looks around and finds some rocks to use for pillows. It doesn't sound too comfortable to me, but whatever works. And it worked because it put him right to sleep.
This was a significant place and a significant night.
What happened next?

• He dreamed. He dreamed about a ladder. It's not just any ladder, but one (longgggg ladder)  that reached from heaven to earth.

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament explains:

The ladder symbolizes Jesus Christ. Jacob is a picture of the lost soul in darkness, fleeing for his life, away from the father's house, burdened with sin, and ignorant of the fact that God is near him and wants to save him. The ladder pictures Christ as the only way from earth to heaven. He alone can take us to heaven. Jacob thought he was in a lonely wilderness and awakened to discover he had been at the very gate of heaven!

• The ladder was was a ramp or staircase. (Falwell)
• Angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  
• Jesus stood above it.
• Jesus spoke to Jacob in his dream.

In tomorrow's lesson we will see what Jesus told Jacob.

Am I expecting to encounter Jesus today? Am I quiet before the Lord, listening for his Spirit to
speak to my soul?

LET IT GO

Let go of comfort and come to The Rock, Jesus.

Be still and know that He is God.

Listen and obey His voice.

Sent and Went

O.T. #57  "Sent and Went"
May 29, 2013
Genesis 28-Part 1
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Genesis 28:1

LET IT GLOW

At first the empty nest is too quiet, too  slow of a  pace, and a little lonely. I found that to be true when our youngest left home. Now it has been just the two of us for 17 years so we are used to it.

Here we go...Jacob is sent away and Esau went away. Isaac and Rebekah had an empty nest.
Before Jacob left, Isaac blessed him and charged him. One of the meanings of the word charged
is give a command. (Thayer's Lexicon)

What was the blessing and command that Isaac gave to Jacob?

• Take not a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Go to your Uncle Laban and marry one of his daughters. (verse 2)                                                                                                          (Apparently the genes were not messed up by intermarrying back then.)
• God Almighty (El Shaddai) bless you. (verse 2)
• God almighty make thee fruitful and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people. (verse 2)
•  God give Jacob the blessing of Abraham to him and his seed, so they would inherit the land; the Promised Land given to Abraham was given to Jacob and his descendants. (verse 4)
• Isaac sent away Jacob (verse 5).
• Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and went to Padan-a-ram (where his mother's     relatives lived). (verse 7)

I noticed that nothing is recorded about the deception and Esau's threat to kill Jacob. I wonder if
they all realized what a mess their sinful, selfish ways made.
The real reason Rebekah engineered Jacob's departure from home was to avoid the anger of Esau (27:41-46), but her excuse was that she wanted Jacob to find a godly wife (24:1-9). Faith is living without scheming. (Wiersbe)

Were Rebekah's family believers in God? We know that the Canaanites were not. That's why the Israelites were told to not intermarry with them. They worshiped idols.
Maybe this family would get things straightened out after all, or not.

Do we try to make amends with family members? Do we need to confess our sins to God and get back on the right road He has for us?

Isn't it wonderful when a child can leave home with their father's blessing? Jacob was about 77 years old when he began to walk on his own. I think it was about time.

James 4:17 says, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.


LET IT GROW

Jacob was sent away while Esau went away on his own. Esau heard the charge Isaac gave to
Jacob-do not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Esau learned how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac, so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, in addition to the
wives he already had.

Esau did not recognize that Ishmael had been separated from the house of Abraham by God Himself. His intention may have been good, but he did not really improve his position, either with his parents or with God. There is no record that Esau put away his heathen wives, though.
(Liberty Bible Commentary)

Sometimes we just dig in deeper the mess we made by trying to fix things our self.

LET IT GO

Check with God's Word before jumping into a situation.

Ask the Lord Jesus what He wants us to do when confronted with a decision.

Trust and obey.

Weaving Tangled Webs

O.T. "Weaving Tangled Webs"
May 28, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 5
The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.
Genesis 27:41b

LET IT GLOW

Oh, what tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive.

Have you been weaving any webs lately? Been deceiving lately?
I recalled that jingle.

My treadmill is sitting in front of the south window. One summer I watched a huge black spider
with a yellow spot on her back weave a humongous web connecting the air conditioner with the overhang of the house. She started from the outside, then spun the inside. Did you know that substance used to spin the web actually comes out her behind, not her mouth? My first inclination was to tear it down and kill her so she didn't reproduce baby spiders. but I actually began to enjoy watching her busy at work while I walked 45 minutes daily.
Sometimes an insect would get caught in her web and she would devour it. Sometimes the wind
and rain would knock it down and she'd have to start over. She actually completed the web in spite
of the obstacles.
Rebekah and Jacob were like that spider, spinning their web of deceit.

We left off the action with the deceiver Jacob receiving the blessings from Isaac, who ate the
venison flavored goat. Jacob received the three elements of Abrahamic covenant: land, see, and blessing. After Jacob the tents, in comes Esau with his real venison, offering it to his father
(verse  30). He didn't have a clue what occurred while he was out hunting deer.
Oh, dear me, or is it deer me. Sparks are flying, everywhere.

How did Esau react to the news of Jacob receiving the family blessing of God? (He's 77 years old.)
He cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry. Then he asked for a blessing.

The devil tries to take away our blessings and turn them into hurtful things.

Father Isaac blessed Esau in a different way:

• He would dwell away from the rich, fertile land of the Mediterranean.
• It would be dry land where he lived.
• He would live by the sword.
• He would serve his brother Jacob.
• He would grow restless and throw his yoke from off his neck.
• Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. (verse 41)
• After Isaac died, he planned to kill Jacob for what he had done, leaving him high and dry.

It must have been God speaking through Isaac, for Esau's descendants live in the desert, dry Arab nations today. Don't they need Israel for food? Aren't they in conflict over the land of Israel which was promised to Abraham years ago?

Esau retaliated by plotting to murder his brother, and he deliberately hurt his parents by stirring up trouble with his marriage to heathen wives. The grace of God did not fail, but Esau failed the
grace of God. (Wiersbe)

How should we react whenever we are mistreated or taken advantage of?

LET IT GROW

The whole family suffered because of their unbelief and disobedience, scheming and plotting against each other so they could get their own way.
If he didn't leave, Esau's anger would put Jacob's neck on the chopping block and he'd be one dead
bird if he hung around any longer.
Rebekah plotted again and sent Jacob to her brother Laban for protection from Esau. Don't you
know Jacob got on that camel and rode, as fast a camel can go, first gear all the way without pit
stops. Jacob was only going to stay there until his brother's fury subsided. Mom would send word when the coast was clear, Esau cooled off, and Jacob could return home. Things just don't seem to work out like we have plan. Rebekah never saw her beloved son Jacob again.

Rebekah used the excuse of sending Jacob away to look for a wife, instead of marrying a Hittite woman, like Esau.

How many restless nights did Mom spend, missing her son Jacob? Did anyone ever confess their
sinful ways? Even on her deathbed, Rebekah didn't get consoled by Jacob.

Well, Jacob will reap what he sowed later. Are we prepared to reap what we have sowed?

LET IT GO

Stop taking life in my own hands and yield to God.

Learn from the mistakes of characters in the Bible.

Don't weave tangled webs of deception; be truthful, forgiving, asking forgiveness.

Deceiver

O.T. #55  "Deceiver"
May 27, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 4
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou
badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 
Genesis 27:19

LET IT GLOW

It's easy to sit back and point fingers at Isaac for trying to run things his way as he planned to give Esau the family blessings, interfering with God's plans; at Rebekah for scheming how to get those blessings upon her favorite son Jacob, and doubting that God could handle it; at Esau for keeping quiet about selling his birthright to Jacob for a pot of stew.

Don't they say that when you point two fingers at someone, you have three pointing back at
yourself. Yes, I think we can all admit to being like at least one of the members of this family.

Shall we take a look at Jacob, whose name means supplanter, heel-catcher (overcome), schemer, deceiver.

Who was Jacob?

• He was the second-born twin of Isaac and Rebekah.
• He was not hairy like his twin bother Esau.
• He was the quiet man, a stay-at-home kind of guy, which was the opposite of Esau, the   hunter.
• He liked to cook, thus bargained Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew.
• He was his mother's favorite child.
• He know God's promise for his life, yet he listened to his mother instead of to God.
• He lied to his father, deceiving him in order to be blessed.

God confirmed the Abrahamic covenant with Isaac, emphaizing the same three elements as
before: land, seed, and blessing (26:3-5). Isaac's prayer-wish called for prosperity and superiority
and ended with a repeat of God's words to Abraham (verse 29 and 12:1-3). The words indicated
that Isaac thought the covenantal line should have continued through his eldest son, Esau.
(MacArthur)

In spite of the scheming parents, Jacob received the blessings of God.

• He would inherit the Promised Land;
• His seed would become a great nation;
• He would be a blessing to others.

Are we blessing our children with faith and obedience to God? Do they know the story of their Christian heritage? Is Jesus the head of our families?

LET IT GROW

Why do we remember Jacob as a deceiver? He pretended to be Esau by wearing his brother's
clothes and goat's skin around his neck and arms, then taking goat meat that Rebekah cooked to taste like venison, to Isaac. He lied to his father, pretending to be his older twin. Isaac was
prepared to give the family blessing to Esau.
 
Isaac used his senses of smell, hearing, and touch instead of his heart to identify this son.
As soon as the blessing had ended, in walks Esau with his deer meat. Isaac was shocked when the scandal was uncovered . He realized the blessing was final, and could not be reversed.

Esau sought the blessing with tears, yet found no place for real repentance for his sins. (Wiersbe)

Hebrews 12:16-17 NIV explains Esau: See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like
Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no
change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

When things are written in stone, they must be carried out. God's Will will be done.

Are we accepting or rejecting ?

LET IT GO

Submit to God's plans and not my own.

Don't scheme to get my way.

Trust God to bless me and my family as I am faithful to serve Him.

Admit my sins, repent, and turn from repeating them.

Learn from this family.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Let's give thanks to our God for those who gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedoms and be protected from the evil ones. So many have died, from the Revelotutionary War to the Civil War,
to the World War I & II, to Korea, to Viet Nam, to the Persian Gulf War, to the terroriests attacks.

Love does that-it gives whatever is needed in order to protect loved ones.
I am thankful for my dad's buddy who marched out of line, in Dad's place, and was shot by a
snipper in France. Later, Dad stepped on a mine in the field there and lost his left leg below the
knee. Although he suffered greatly throughout the years, he said he'd go again if his country needed him. A 23 year old whose life was changed forever and his family's, too.

So stay in the spiritual battle, friends. It will one day be over, and we win. Jesus will triumph over evil! We will be forever changed and taken to a new home in heaven.

Have a restful weekend, friends. Stay safe. Praying for our Oklahoma neighbors and soldiers in
Arab countries.

In His Love,
Linda

Bad Habits

O.T. #54  "Bad Habits"  May 24, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 3
And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.  Genesis 27:10

LET IT GLOW

It seems that children often pick up the bad habits of their parents instead of their good ones. A
critical spirit may override a grateful heart. Pride may reign in the place of humility.

Now we have the sequel to "Like father, like son," which is "Like mother, like son."
Isaac was planning to sneak in the family blessings of God for his family, upon Esau. But first he

sent Esau to hunt down some deer and fix his favorite meal of venison. (Earlier, Esau had

forfeited his birthright to his brother Jacob in exchange for a bowl of stew.)

 

Neither father or mother in this family could wait on God. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, had been told by God while she carried the twins, that the oldest would serve the youngest. The youngest, Jacob,
was her favorite son. She wanted him to have the family blessing. When Rebekah overheard Isaac's plan, she quickly devised her own plans. This doubting mother went to Jacob with her scheme.

So what encouragement can we get from this chapter with disbelief and disobedience?
In looking at verse 8, I realize that God wants of  us is to obey His voice according to what He
commands. Isn't this what pleases God? Isn't this what He has for us? Is this where the blessings

are found? We have God's Words to us in the Bible to read and we have His Holy Spirit to speak

to us with specific instructions. The thing is, am I reading and listening? 

 

LET IT GROW

 

Okay, we know about Isaac's plans, now let's look at Rebekah's plans:

• She told Jacob to go fetch two good kid goats.
• She would cook the meat for Isaac and make it taste like Esau's venison specialty. This is a puzzle to me because venison has a definite wild taste unless you soak it in vinegar or a cola.
• She clothed Jacob with his brother's garments, and put the skins of the goats upon his hands and neck. This was because Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was not; she wanted Jacob to smell and feel like his brother when Isaac was with Jacob instead of Esau. What a deception.

Am I like this mother? Do I take things into my own hands, lacking faith to trust God with a situation? Do I plan, manipulate others so I can have my way?
Our next lesson will discuss Jacob and his deception.

LET IT GO

Accept God's ways as my ways.

Read God's Word and listen to the Holy Spirit's instructions.

Be obedient.

 

 

Overhearing

O. T. #53  "Overhearing"          
May 23, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 2
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Genesis 27:8


LET IT GLOW

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? You were minding your own business and
overheard a conversation? What did you do with it?
Rebekah heard what Isaac, her husband,  said to Esau, their son. She was listening (NIV); she overheard (NLT). Maybe she was in the back room of the tent folding up clothes and overheard
the conversation.
I noticed that Rebekah didn't talk to her husband Isaac about it, nor did she discourage Esau.
Instead, she started her scheming immediately.

Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament, said this:

Rebekah had been told by God that Jacob would receive God's blessings, yet she schemed and plotted to make sure that Esau was left out. Instead of going to God in prayer as she had years before, she depended on her own plans, a practice that would be characteristic of Jacob in later years. Rebekah paid dearly for her sin: she never saw her son again (verse 44-45). Esau deliberately acted to hurt her; and her bad example before Jacob cost him twenty years of trial. 

What did Rebekah overhear?

• Isaac said he was old (137 at the time) and didn't know the day of his death. (He actually     lived 43 more years.)
• Isaac told Esau to get his quiver and bow, then go out hunting and bring him some wild game to eat. Venison is what the KJV says, which is deer meat.
• He told his son to prepare him some tasty food that he liked.
• Isaac was prepared to give Esau the family blessings that God gave to his father, Abraham.

I wonder how God would have taken care of the situation had Rebekah not interfered.
Do we know scheming people? The ones who manipulate others and situations in order to get
their way.
Are we one of them? Are we patient when waiting for God to act or impatient?

LET IT GROW

Rebekah spoke to Jacob, her favorite son, and told him what she overheard Isaac telling Esau, his twin brother. She told Jacob to listen carefully and do what she told him. Here is a 77 year old son, doing what mamma wants.

Certainly Jacob knew God's promise for his life, yet he listened to his mother instead of to God.
(Wiersbe)

Did Jacob make the right choice? Tomorrow we will discuss it.
To whom do I listen, other or God?

To his credit, Jacob objected at first. The differences between him and Esau would surely not fool his father and might result in the blessing being replaced with a curse as a fitting punishment for deception.  (MacArthur)

Rebekah was willing to accept full responsibility and any curse that might result from their scheming. Jacob followed his mother's instructions.

Do you recall another woman scheming we've read about? She told her husband to unite with her
maiden servant so they could have a child? It was Sarah, who wouldn't wait 25 years for God's     plan to take place. She plotted and it turned out disastrous.

LET IT GO

Resist scheming and plotting to have my way.

Do things God's way.

Surrender to do the Lord's will, no matter how long it takes for His plan to happen.

What If

O.T. #52  "What If"  May 22, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 1
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. Genesis 27:2

LET IT GLOW

Few people know the date of their death, no do they want to know it. Personally, I would like to know it so I could do those last minute preparations. Unless the Lord blesses me with that
information, it will remain unknown to me. I have had a few close calls, though.
Isaac must have been thinking about death. Look at chapter 27 with me, if you will.

Isaac was feeling his age (137) at the time of this chapter. His health was declining.
What do we know about Isaac?

• His eyes were dim, so he couldn't see well.
• Evidently, he thought death was around the corner waiting for him for he was making preparations. Yet, we know that he lived 43 more years, to age 180 (35:28).
• Isaac depended upon his senses (feeling, eating, smelling).
• His impatience to give Esau the blessing suggests that he was following his own carnal      plans, not God's will. Around here, they'd call it jumping the gun.
• His twins' ages was 77 at this time. (I always thought of them as being teenagers, but not       so.)

For some in Moore, Oklahoma, yesterday was their last day of life (91 as I write). I wonder how many were prepared to meet their God. How many children had heard about the love of a Savior, Jesus? To Him be the glory.
Are we preparing for our last day of life? What if it were today? What would we do differently?
Bringing it on down to where the rubber meets the road, what if a tornado had taken my family or
my life yesterday, was I prepared?
I am always ready to meet Jesus, but is my house in order? Are my loved ones ready?
How about you?

LET IT GROW

Did Isaac forget some important things?

• The words of god to Rebekah, (Genesis 35:23) when the Lord told Rebekah that the elder     son would serve the younger son.  Was he trying to change God's plan?
• Esau had bartered with his birthright, giving it to his brother Jacob in exchange for stew, feeding the flesh.
• Esau married heathen women (26:34). (Recall the pains his father Abraham went to in       order to get his wife, Rebekah from among related believers in God.)

Isaac was intent on treating Esau as the eldest and granting him the blessing of birthright, and so arranged for his favorite meal before bestowing final fatherly blessing on his favorite son. (MacArthur)

Was Isaac blind to his situation, to the truth of the matter?
Do I let my feelings blind me to God's will? To the way things really are?
What if God's plans are different from what I want? Would I accept them and follow them, or
manipulate them to my pleasing?

Tomorrow we will discuss a turn of events on which that Isaac did not plan.

LET IT GO

Ask God to show me His perspective of my situations before jumping in with both feet and doing things my way.

Prepare for the what if's in my life.

Surrender to God, letting Him be in control.

May 21, 2013
Please pray for the families of the 30 who lost their lives in the tornado at Moore, Oklahoma. It is only a 3 hour drive from us. We had an hour to prepare for the storm here yesterday. At 7pm the sky got dark, sierens going off, no traffic on the highway. I took down the chimes, flowers, hummingbird feeder hanging on the porch. What a mighty wind! Trees were swaying and lightning was flashing. What a might God we serve!

My family, friends, and house are fine. I checked on friends around the Oklahoma City area and they are ok. Today the thunder is rolling and rain continues to fall. It's another day of no sun; yet I have the Son in my heart.

I'm sure that in Little Rock, our denominational rescue team is packing the trailer to take to Moore. They have a shower trailer and a food kitchen, so they can serve thousands of meals. We also have a clean up crew that helps with the after math. These will be sharing the love of Jesus to hurting hearts.

I'm praying for salvation to the survivors.

Just wanted to update you, friends.

In His Love,
Linda

Well, Well, Well

O.T. #51  "Well, Well, Well"
May 21, 2013
Genesis 26-Part 2
 
LET IT GLOW

Cool, sweet, well water. Unfiltered, uncloudy, non-flavored, no smell. You can't beat it. Actually,
it doesn't taste sweet, I just prefer it to filtered city water. (Sulphur water has a smell and taste life rotten eggs. )

Usually, we have an ample water supply, here on the farm, that never ends. Dad certainly picked
the right spot to drill the well, some 65 years ago. When I was a child, this same well furnished enough water for 2 chicken houses, 30 head of cattle, and a household of a family of 5. We didn't have any problems back then as I recall. Water was alway available.
Then it begain to happen last January, a cold, winter day. I could tell there was a problem. The
water pressure was low, spitting it out irregularly. I didn't dare use the dishwasher or washing machine while someone was showering.

The water was there, but the pump was wearing out and couldn't bring it up to us. Well, we had to
replace the old pump with an expensive new one. Now there's no problem. We maintain the air pressure and have sweet water at the touch of a handle. I am happy again.

I said all of that to show that there can be well problems (for you city folks). And Isaac had a well problem. He had a lot of stock that needed to drink water daily, and more than once a day. So to
solve the problem, his servants dig a well in the valley. There he found a well of springing water.

In John 4:14, Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman said, But whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a
well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

Jesus Christ is referred to as the living water which is symbolic of eternal life mediated by the Holy Spirit from Him. (MacArthur)

Wells of water speak of the divine resources of God for the spiritual life. The spiritual wells at
which our fathers drank have been taken from us by the world. How we need to get back to the
old wells(such as prayer, the Bible, the family altar, the church). Isaac not only opened them again, but he called them by the same names that Abraham had used. Then he went on to dig some new wells to meet the needs of the day. (Wiersbe)

Is Jesus your spring of living water? Is His Holy Spirit springing up within you? Two other translations use the word bubbling. Is He bubbling down in your soul, providing refreshment to others.

In Strong's Concordance, a well is a pit; springing refers to alive, fresh, running.
So the water from the well that Isaac's servants dug was fresh, running water for the animals and people. 

LET IT GROW

Okay, you knew there was going to be a problem with the well situation, didn't you? Those Philistines! These wells Isaac dug was named the same names that his father Abraham used. They were in the same place. The herdmen of Gerar claimed the water was theirs. To keep peace, Isaac moved on.

Water was so precious in that desert land that wells were essential. Plugging someone's well was ruinous to them and constituted serious aggression, often leading to war. Isaac could have
retaliated, but he did not; rather he dug new wells. (MacArthur)

Isaac dug a second well and the same thing happened. He dug three wells in all. Were those Philistines trying his patience? Isaac must have been an easy-going sort of guy.

When Isaac went to Beer-sheba, God appeared unto him, and again confirmed the Abrahamic covenant. So he worshiped there by building an altar. (Falwell)

This was the same place Abraham built an altar to God (12:7) to mark the spot of God's appearing
to him. Later, Jacob, Isaac's son, did the same at Shechem (Gen. 33:18-20). (MacArthur)

Remember the Philistine king Abimelech? He made an oath with Isaac, in spite of the conflict
over the wells, for they saw how God had blessed Isaac's crops 100 fold. Instead of responding in bitterness, or retaliating, Isaac let it slide by and made peace with those who had wronged him.

We are to do likewise as Christians. do I let comments or insults slide by or do I have to straighten them out? Often it is hard to turn the other cheek, to forgive and go on. I heard years ago that forgiveness was acting as if it never happened. Hmm.

Well, well, well. What a good lesson for us. Now to apply it.

LET IT GO

Don't fight over trivial things; forgive and let it go.

Let God handle the situation. He can do it better than I can.

Let Him spring up in me like bubbling, living water.

Here's a camp song, The Gush Song, I learned years ago. Perhaps you know it:

Spring up O Well, (Gush, gush, gush, gush)
 down in my soul;
Spring up O Well, (Gush, gush, gush, gush)
 and make me whole;
Spring up O Well, (Gush, gush, gush, gush)
 and give to me,
that life, abundantly. Gush! Gush! Gush!
(Hands go up as if water is gushing up.)

Keep the Water flowing through me.

A Blessed Mess

O.T. #50 "A Blessed Mess" May 20, 2013
Genesis 26-Part 1
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred-fold: and the
LORD blessed him.  Genesis 26:12 KJV


LET IT GLOW

Saturday night my guys did a traditional father-son thing-they went to see the new Star Trek movie
on its debut, first appearing. Mind you, they have been doing this for umpteen years now. I'm glad they spend some fun time together because they also work together five days a week in our
business. (Sometimes they go to the local college ballgames.) Besides, I don't care for those kinds
of shows and it gives my husband someone with whom he can discuss them.

You've heard of the old adage, Like father, like son? Not only does it apply to my guys' taste in movies, but it seems to apply to Abraham and his son Isaac as well. Are you ready to peek into the human side of Isaac?

I think the glowing part of our chapter is that God blessed Isaac so much that the Philistines envied him. We see it in verses 12-17. Although Isaac disobeyed God, he sowed crops in their land and and reaped a hundred fold, or he harvested 100 times more times than he had planted. The Philistines recognized that God had blessed Isaac. Their king Abimelech (probably a different one than in Abraham's day 97 years earlier) told Isaac to leave them because the Israelites were much mightier than they were. (verse 16)

Can we look around us and see how God is blessing us? Do we give God the glory for all we have?
Do others realize that we are God's servants and He is blessing us? What am I sowing? Is the fruit
that I am harvesting good or bad? Am I allowing the fruit of the Spirit to be in me?

LET IT GROW

Here's where Isaac repeated his father's sin (verses 6-11).
Abraham was not told what to do when the famine hit his area, yet Isaac was. The Lord
specifically told Isaac to not go down into Egypt.

God forced Isaac to trust in His ability to provide, not to do the natural thing that everybody else would be doing.  (Falwell)

So even though we see Isaac's disobedience. God still blessed him to God's glory and honor. Abraham's son received the same promises as his father. In spite of all of that, Isaac became afraid
for his life,  worried that his enemies might want Rebekah, and thus killing him to get her, so he thought. Isaac told them that Rebekah was his sister, like his father had done about his mother.

Life's events took a turn for the worse (in Isaac's eyes). One day, Abimelech saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah and confronted Isaac about the situation. Isaac admitted that he was afraid of loosing his life on the account of his wife. (verse 9) Some husband! So the Philistine men were forbidden
to molest Isaac or Rebekah or they'd die. (verse 11)

What a mess! Amidst the mess, God blessed. Isn't that a blessed mess!
Don't we sometimes get ourselves into a mess like Isaac? Then we cry out to God to help us, and
He does. Why can't I just seek God's will before jumping in with both feet? How much better it would be to do things His way instead of my own.

LET IT GO

Be thankful for what I have and give God the credit for providing it.

Bless other with God's blessings upon me.

Seek God's will first, then obey.

Stop rushing out ahead of God. Wait for an answer.

Let go of the flesh and live in the spirit.

Grow spiritual fruit.

Visitors and Friends,

I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to everyone who visits my blog, either on a regular basis or for the first time.

Because my blog is a Bible study, I ask that you not comment using foul language. I have faithful friends, including myself, who do not want to hear your opinions using such bad words.( I will try to block these as spam.) If this continues, I will have to take further measures.

I am trying to honor the Lord Jesus with my writings and do not want anything taking away from that.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

In Christ's service,
Linda

Stewing Over Stew

O.T. #49  "Stewing Over Stew"
May 17, 2013
Genesis 25-Part 2
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him : and he sold his birthright
unto Jacob.  Genesis 25:33

LET IT GLOW

When deer season comes, our son goes, out to the woods, that is. He puts on all his garb and gear
and takes off walking across the fields. Of course, before it is time to go, he prepares the gun, purchases amo, scouts the area for signs of the game activity, clears his schedule, and then goes.
He spends hours just sitting, quietly waiting for the deer to cross his path or deer stand. Sometimes all
this pays off and he brings home the kill, sometimes not. Either way, he brings home an appetite.
I think this particular day in chapter 25 was similar for Esau. Shall we see what happened?

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was
a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but
Rebekah loved Jacob. (NIV verse 27-28)

These twins were totally opposites in personality and interests. Here we have one who was an outdoors man, a muscular expert marksman, while the other was a chef, indoors type,
experimenting with various foods and spices.

Let's zoom in on the boys this particular day. Jacob is stirring the pot of stew outside the tent, on a campfire. He tastes it with a spoon. Mmmm. Mmmm. Good. Here comes Esau trapesing into
camp, He is hot and tired from the day or two of hunting, only no wild game over his shoulder this time. He hadn't eaten all day so Esau was famished, weak in the knees, hungrier than all get out.
Perhaps this had happened before, but today was different.

 I wonder if Jacob had plotted a plan for the next time Esau came in demanding a bowl of stew
that he had slaved for hours over the hot fire cooking and stirring. Maybe Jacob's mind was
stewing over stew, getting angry at his brother always taking advantage of him. Keep in mind that Jacob's name means schemer.

At any rate, it was Esau that tells Jacob to feed him; he is faint, famished, hungry. Jacob didn't
offer the stew before Esau demanded it, this time, anyway.

Do I find myself stewing over stew? Rehashing an insult, words exchanged, a problem, a
situation, while cooking, stirring the pot; getting angrier at someone by the minute? Been there,
done that, as they say.

Where is the forgiveness in my heart? Isn't the love of Jesus down in there? Do I let my emotions
get the better of me? More times than I care to think about.

So where's the encouragement in all this? I think it's a good thing to see it in others so we can see
it in ourselves. Then we can prevent or deal with it. At any rate, I know I need to turn to the Lord
Jesus for help. I think Jacob allowed jealousy to rule his heart and head.

LET IT GROW

Zooming into the boys, we find the twins hovered over the stew pot. Jacob is a schemer. He tells Esau, the first-born son of Isaac, to sell him Esau's birthright. Esau considered himself about to
die so the birthright would do him no good. Esau took an oath, selling his birthright to Jacob.
(verse 33) After that, Jacob gave Esau some bread and stew. He ate and drank and got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.

(That doesn't settle things between the twins. We will hear about them later concerning this
birthright, only their parents are involved then.)

Do we know of any schemers? Am I one? How about you?
Is it hard for us to accept things as the Lord's will? Do we manipulate others in order to get our
way?

LET IT GO

Keep the past in the past. Forgive and live.

Ask God for wisdom in situations. Accept or change according to His leading.

Don't stew over stew.

Do things God's way, not my way.

Saying Good Bye to Dad

O.T. #48  "Saying Good bye to Dad"
May 16, 2013
Genesis 25-Part1
And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.  Genesis 25:11

LET IT GLOW

It's a hard thing, having to say bye to your father. I was only 32 when mine passed away. It was a sudden thing, a heart attack took him early one Saturday morning. We say that he died in his sleep.
I am grateful that he didn't suffer a stroke and linger for days. It was much easier on him that way.
Though it was hard on my family, not getting to say our farewells.
Now it's time to say good bye to another father, the Father of our Faith, our patriarch, Abraham.

What do we know about the latter part of Abraham's life?

• Abraham lived another 35 years after Isaac married Rebekah. He remarried and had 6 more sons by Keturah. He gave these sons gifts and sent them away from Isaac. Doing this insured no competition or threat from his half-brothers to Isaac as the rightful heir. These guys    became various Arab tribes to the east of Canaan.
• Abraham died at age 175. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the same tomb as Sarah.  This may have indicated that they had been reconciled.
• Abraham would have been able to be with his twin grandsons, Esau and Jacob. (Rebekah     was barren for 20 years, as was Sarah.) The Covenant blessing was not inherited by the first-born sons Ishmael and Esau, but the chosen sons Isaac and Jacob inherited it.
• Abraham had at least 7 grandsons and 3 great-grandsons.
• Though faith cannot be passed on as an automatic transfer, Abraham could share the faithfulness of God throughout his life. I'm sure he retold the stories of his walk of faith       with their God to his grandsons.
• Finally, Abraham got to see the city he looked forward to, the one with foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb. 11:10)
• Abraham died in peace (15:15); he died full (satisfied), and he died in faith (Heb.11:13).     This is the heritage Abraham left his son: his godly example (18:19), the tent and altar (26:25), the wonderful promises of God (26:2-5). These spiritual blessings mean far more to a son than any material wealth. (Wiersbe)

Can you imagine the reunion in heaven when Abraham joined Sarah?
I am looking forward to being with my parents in heaven. How about you? Have yours gone on
ahead too?
Am I sharing my experiences of God's faithfulness with my family? Have they heard about our
walk of faith with God? Actually, I think I should write them down as a legacy of faith to leave
them.

LET IT GROW

Isaac was the son of a famous father (Abraham), and the father of a famous son (Jacob), and sometimes we "lose" him as we study the book of Genesis. His life was less exciting, but he lived longer than any of the other patriarchs. It is unfortunate that Isaac's faith seemed stronger at the beginning of his life that at the end.

For the first 20 years of their marriage, Rebekah was barren. Isaac was 40 when he married
Rebekah, so that made him 60 when his twins were born. Can you imagine being that age and
having newborns?  We see that Rebekah had faith in God because she prayed (verse 22). The
struggle of the unborn children perplexed Rebekah, so she asked God about them.

In verse 23, the Lord revealed what was happening as the two boys struggled inside her, indicating their future:

• They would become two nations.
• They will be separated.
• One people will be stronger than the other.
• The older will serve the younger.

As it turned out, the twin boys were opposites in appearance and temperament.
We can describe Esau:
* the firstborn,
*was hairy and red headed,
* a man of the world, full of vigor and adventure, a skillful hunter,
* no spiritual appreciation, despised his privileges as the firstborn and chose to serve the flesh, *probably had no tent nor altar,
*was loved by his father, Isaac, who had a taste for game.

On the other hand, Jacob:
*whose name meant the heel-gripper (supplanter, schemer, deceiver),
* was a quiet man who stayed at home,
*His mother Rebekah loved him.

I'm going to leave it there for today. Tomorrow we'll see how these two interact with each other.

Do you have children who opposite in their personality?

LET IT GO

Keep serving the Lord in the latter years.

Share with my family the faithfulness of God in our family's life.

Pray for my grandchildren and future generations.

Their Eyes Met

O.T.#47  "Their Eyes Met"
May 15, 2013
Genesis 24-Part 3
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
Genesis 24:64

LET IT GLOW

Eliezer, Abraham's servant, was still conversing with her father and brother. They recognized that the situation of Rebekah going to be Isaac's wife was the thing that proceedeth from the LORD: they could not speak bad or good to Eliezer about the matter. The guys asked Rebekah if she would go with this man (verse 58).
What was her reply? "I will go," she said.

Rebekah changed from being a servant to being a bride, from the loneliness of the world to the joy
of love and companionship, from her poverty into Isaac's wealth. (Wiersbe)

The trip was long and difficult, as was the decision to go. Isaac was a pilgrim without a settled
home and she had to leave her loved ones along with her home. But what Rebekah saw and heard convinced her that she must go.

Similarly, with lost sinners today, the Spirit of God speaks and shows them the things of Christ, sufficient for them to make a right decision. Will you go to the Savior?

Are we willing to go wherever God leads and do His will? Are we willing to leave our family,
our home, our life as we know it now for something unknown to us? Stepping out in faith is
difficult. We must deny our self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus where He leads. Should we
do anything less with our life, for our Savior gave His life for us?

LET IT GROW

All right, Rebekah and her nurse packed their bags, loaded up the camels, and headed on down
the road she had never traveled before, with Eliezer and his men, strangers. Being a woman, don't you know she asked a million questions while on the journey.

Meanwhile, back at the camp, Isaac decided to go out in the field one evening to meditate. This is the guy whose life pictured Jesus going to Calvary to die for us, then returned to heaven to wait for
His bride. When Isaac lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming. Did he run to meet them?

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. (verse 64)
She asked Eliezer who the man in the field coming to meet them was. It was the servant's master, Isaac. Rebekah the covered herself with her veil. Through the veil, their eyes met. Was it love at
first sight?

Can you see it as a movie? The bride-to-be watches as her man runs to see his new, expected bride.
Sorry gals, we have no details of the wedding nor her truso.
The servant told Isaac all he had done. Then Isaac brought Rebekah into Sarah's tent and he
married her.
So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
(NIV verse 67b)

Rebekah's faith was rewarded. Her name was recorded in God's Word; she shared Isaac's love and wealth, and she became an important part of God's plan. Had she refused to go, she would have
died an unknown woman. (Wiersbe)

Rebekah's decision is a good example for us to follow.

1 John 2:17 NKJV says, He who does the will of God abides forever.

LET IT GO

Open my hand and let go of the trinkets I possess, giving them to God.

Open my heart and let go of the lack of trust and faith, giving them to God.

Surrender my will to His, doing things His way, not mine.

Yes, Lord, You lead and I will go-wherever.

Whose Daughter are You?

O.T. #46 "Whose Daughter are You?"
May 14, 2013
Genesis 24-Part 2
The I asked, "Whose daughter are you?"... Genesis 24:47 NLT

LET IT GLOW

When you haven't got a pray, pray anyway. When the nest is empty and and the house is quiet,
when all looks bleak, pray for those who have flown the coop, your little birdies who have grown
up. I pray for those mothers who lost their children in Connecticut and Boston and all whose
children have disappeared, snatched from their arms, tragically taken from their lives-pray. God is
a God of comfort and strength to go on. For those who miss their mother's voice, touch, hug, phone call, cooking, pray for those who have their mothers and they will cherish each moment. Give a
hug to them, call them, bake something, send a card, pray for them. Be a mother to the motherless,
a daughter to the daughterless.
How did Rebekah's mother feel when she was told that she decided to go with an old man,
Eliezer, to marry a stranger? Probably her mother never saw Rebekah again, never hugged her one
more time, never sat down to tea and a chat anymore, wasn't there when she had her babies. I
never thought about Rebekah's mother until now. That mother must have encouraged her to go, to
step out and walk by faith, or ride a camel.

Of all the young ladies, Rebekah was the chosen one to be Isaac's wife. Eliezer did not know
where to go and what to do in order to find this special gal. He just pray step by step. So when he
pulled his camels up to the well to fill them up (with water), he prayed a beautiful prayer. Let's
take a look at it.

O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that
the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and
she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness
unto my master.

The prayer:

• was directed to Jehovah, the LORD God
• asked for success in his mission
• asked for God to be faithful to his master, Abraham, His servant, to show unfailing love to Abraham
• noted where he was standing, a well where the young women of the town came to draw     water
• made a request of test to know which gal was the chosen one
• was answered when Rebekah offered to water his camels also
• followed a prayer of thanksgiving in verse 27

How is our prayer life? Are we specific or general in our prayers? Eliezer asked Rebekah, "Whose daughter are you?" He wanted to know if she was a relative of Abraham so he could continue the hunt for Isaac's wife.

If you were asked that question, how would you answer? I am a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords-Jesus.

LET IT GROW

Rebekah is described here as being:

• hospitable to Eliezer, for she offered him straw and feed for the camels and a guest room       for him to spend the night
• was a relative of Abraham's
• was very beautiful
• old enough to be married and still a virgin
• took the gifts of a large nose ring and 2 large gold bracelets for her wrists
• the sister of Laban.

So Eliezer went to the house of Bethuel, explained his mission, and said, So tell me-will you or
won't you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and
then I'll know what to do next.

What was the answer of Laban and Bethuel, Rebekah's brother and father?
The thing proceedth from the LORD: ...take her and go, and let her be thy master's son's
wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Eliezer worshiped the Lord again. Then he gave Rebekah jewels of silver and gold, raiment, and
also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. The men folk wanted Rebekah to stay
with them ten more days before going to Isaac, but Eliezer did not want to wait.
Rebekah was asked, Are you willing to go with this man? (verse 57, NLT)

Rebekah had to make an important decision: would she stay home with her family and continue
to be a servant, or would she by faith believe the words of the servant and go to be with Isaac, a
man she had never seen?

Tomorrow we will discuss her answer and the consequences of it.

What would you do if you were confronted with the same situation? If you knew it was God's will for you to go, would you?

LET IT GO

Pray about the step I take and the decisions to be made.

Listen for God's answer.

Trust Him with the details and my future.

Act like a daughter of the King.

A Camel Ride

O.T.#45  "A Camel Ride"
May 13, 2013
Genesis 24-Part 1
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Genesis 24:4

LET IT GLOW

It's not easy riding on a camel. A couple of years ago, we visited the local safari with our grandchildren. One of the attractions was a camel ride. So my granddaughter and I
climbed in the saddle and hung on. (Actually, we had to go up stairs to reach it.) Give me a horse
any day. You could feel each step, swaying back and forth. I can't imagine riding across a hot
desert or plain on one. Ten minutes was long enough for me. And to be 85 years old-whoo!

Well, we  had a funeral, now a wedding. Before we get to the wedding march...
In the meantime, back home in Mesopotamia, Abraham's brother Nahor had 12 children, one of which is a Bethuel, who had a daughter named Rebekah. (Gen. 22:23) (The brothers had not seen each other in 60 years.)

In David Wilkerson's book, Knowing God By Name,he says: 

At the very moment Abraham was raising the knife over Isaac, his nephew Bethuel was raising the girl whom God would eventually give to Isaac as a wife. Isaac would not meet Rebekah for another several years down the road. But this passage proves the nature of Jehovah Jireh, the provider: Even before we call out to Him, our God answers. Long before we are even born, He is at work forming and shaping the circumstances of our lives.
 

Eliezer, at 85 years of age, had risen to steward, or "chief of staff," a position of substantial
authority. He would have received all Abraham's wealth if he had no son. But Eliezer faithfully served Abraham and Isaac. Another thing, it was apparently customary to marry one's first cousin.
but Abraham's higher motive was to prevent Isaac from marrying a Canaanite pagan after
Abraham's death, possibly leading the people away from the true God.
 (MacArthur)

The hand under the thigh and oath was the customary gesture indicating the seriousness of this agreement.  They solomized the oath in the name of God. The mission Eliezer was sent on was to find a wife for Isaac. He packed up the camels and set off. Can't you see them-a train of camels
going across the desert?

Here we see a picture of the Heavenly Father choosing a bride (the church) for His Son (Christ).
The servant is a picture of the Holy Spirit whose work is to bring the lost to Christ and thus make
up His bride.

What can we learn from the servant?
The servant's example of devotion is seen as he:

• thought only of his master and his master's will
• received his orders from his master and didn't change them
• believed in prayer
• knew how to wait on the Lord and trust His leading
• did not delay once he knew the God's will
• carried with him a portion of his master's wealth (verses 10, 22, 30, 53)
• thought more about finishing his task than food (verse 33)
• reported to his master when he returned home (verse 66). (Wiersbe)

The servant is an example for us as we seek to serve the Lord. How content and intent are we to
do God's will? Do we change it to suit us? Are we faithful in prayer? How long will we wait and
trust in the Lord? Do we delay to obey? On day we will all give an account to Christ. Is my way a willing way?

LET IT GROW

Eliezer lived to please his master, Abraham. The first mention of the word master is found in
24:9. It is used 22 times in this chapter. Master designates a controller, ruler, owner.

Who is our master? Who owns us-the bank, boss, or Jesus? Who rules us, making the decisions
for us? Does God control everything we have and are? Things to ponder.

The servant asked God to be faithful to His servant Abraham and provide for him. God did show chesed, covenant-faithfulness, kindness. He lead Eliezer to the right woman for Isaac.
The servant gave credit to God for this in verse 27. He said that he got in the way. Do we?

LET IT GO

Let go of the reins of my life and let God lead.

Be a faithful servant.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus.

Pray.
*To all you mothers-Happy Mother's Day on the day after. You are special and you are loved by
the King.

Plotting a Plot

O.T.#44  "Plotting a Plot" 
May 10, 2013
Genesis 23-Part 1
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Genesis 23:4

LET IT GLOW

When you get older, usually one makes plans for their funeral and burial. Some people make
preparations while others don't want to even think about dying. Some make all the arrangements
in advance, while others make none.  My parents are buried in my hometown, where we live.
However, both sets of my grandparents are buried in 2 different cemeteries. They chose the area around which  they lived or grew up. I suppose we will do the same. Nothing like the present to prepare for the hereafter. Have you plotted your plot yet?

Today's lesson is a bitter-sweet one. We encounter the death of sister Sarah, who lived in a tent, wandering with her husband, who was headed for the Promised Land. They had no permanent
home here on earth, yet an eternal one in heaven. So where was Abraham going to bury his sweetheart? He had no plot of land.

Sarah died at age 127. She is the only woman whose age at death is recorded in Scripture. This
might suggest her importance in God's plan. (MacArthur)

Abraham went looking for a place to bury his beloved. We read of the negotiations of Abraham
for a cave to serve that purpose. He had been promised land for an inheritance, but had not
acquired it as of yet.

Hebrews 11:13 NIV says, All these people were still living by faith when they died. They had
not received the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.
And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the
country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.

The land of Canaan is "a land of hills and valleys" (Deut. 11:11); the Christian life has both its
sorrows and joys. Yet in both, Abraham walked by faith. In this chapter, he is a mourner, one who sorrows yet not "as others which have no hope." (1 Thess. 4:13) What a testimony he was before
his lost neighbors! How strange that the first plot of ground Abraham possessed in Canaan was a
tomb! Genesis 49:31-33 indicates that six people were eventually buried there. (Wiersbe)

The six buried in this cave that Abraham acquired were Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah,
and Jacob. (Gen. 25:9, 49:31, 50:13)

Abraham insisted on paying for the burial place. Ephron insisted on selling the entire unit, field,
cave, and trees. (Trees served as a border.)

Abraham was called a mighty prince, nasi, which designates an official who has been elevated in
or by the assembly. Abraham lived in the area for 62 years.

Rank and reputation accorded Abraham a place of leadership and respect, leading his neighbors
(the Hittites) to freely offer their best sepulchers to him. (MacArthur)

Have you given an thought to the hereafter? I pray that you have made preparations for your
eternal home.

LET IT GROW

In our key verse, Abraham called himself a stranger and a sojourner in the Promised Land.
According to Strong's Concordance, stranger refers to a guest, a foreigner; a sojourner is a
dweller, a temporary inmate or mere lodger, inhabitant.

Abraham recognized that he was not the lord of the land or even a small property owner. A
family sepulchre would not be a legal claim to the possession of Canaan, but it would be a
prophetic sign. Give me does not mean give without payment. Abraham was only a resident alien, requesting the right to acquire property in perpetuity. Likewise, Ephron did not offer a free gift. (Falwell)

Jesus another person who did not have a place to be buried. It was provide by another. Luke 23
tells about it.

Well, we got that settled, Sarah buried. After a funeral comes a wedding, so come back tomorrow.
It will be more uplifting.
Have you settled where you will spend eternity? Another one has provided the way-Jesus Christ.
Our new home in heaven is free to us. Jesus paid the price so we could spend our life there forever
after we die, if we are His child.
John 14 tells us that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. 

LET IT GO

Don't put too much in this old house I'm livin' in.

Look forward to the mansion that Jesus is building for me in heaven.

Tells others how they can have a home in glory.

God Provides

O.T. #43 "God Provides"   May 9, 2013
Genesis 22-Part 2
My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  Genesis 22:8

LET IT GLOW

A few years ago, at my husband's family reunion, his siblings and the two of us hiked a trail in a  state park. We went climbed up and down  hills, through wildlife, by a river, under a waterfall,     and even  returned on a paved road. This took place in June so it was rather warm. At our age, we
were exhausted and enjoyed it all, especially the air conditioning inside the cabin. Ours was a
hike that we will never forget. How I enjoyed God's provision in nature. So was Abraham's hike
up Mt. Moriah.

So get your hiking boots on. We're going up a mountain with Abraham and Isaac today. (If you    missed yesterday's post, it would be helpful to you reading it first.)

How does chapter 22 apply to us?

• Abraham pictures God our heavenly Father;
• Isaac, Abraham's only son of promise, pictures Jesus Christ, God's only Son and the Lamb      of God;
• The donkey that carried the wood pictures us weighed down with sin;
• It was a 3 day journey to Mt. Moriah (Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days.);
• Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain with the donkey carrying the wood for the burnt offering;
• Abraham laid Isaac on the wood for a sacrifice to God. (Jesus was laid on the wooden         cross as the sacrifice for our sins.);
• Abraham believed in the resurrection, which meant killing Isaac, he would rise from the     dead (Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days.);
• When asked by his son where the lamb for the offering was,Abraham replied, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Indeed he did.
• God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac, (Jesus was our substitute, paying for our sins) which is the idea of substitutionary atonement introduced.

LET IT GROW

Abraham called the place that all this happened, Jehovah-Jireh, which means the Lord will see
to it, thus He will provide. (Falwell)

God not only provided for Abraham, but He has provided for us Jesus. Christ actually died,
while Isaac was spared. However, in God's sight Isaac had "died." (Wiersbe)

Abraham was prepared to do anything for God, even giving up an convictions and traditional
beliefs.
After all that took place, Jesus appeared to Abraham to bless him and his descendants again.

What's a lesson for us?

• Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light. Abraham obeyed without         delay. If we do the one thing God tells us to do, he will reveal the next step when the right    time comes.
• True faith is always tested. God did not want Isaac's life; He wanted Abraham's heart.
• Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but God tests us to help bright out the best.
• True faith is always proved by obedience. The proof of saving faith is an obedient life. (Wiersbe)
• It was in an act of obedience to a specific command of God that God knew Abraham's         heart was fixed to love and trust Him. It is never what we say to God but what we do       toward God once He has spoken to us!
• What God was looking for was one who feared God. (Deut. 10:12-13, 20-21) To God,        when one "fears" Him, it is because he knows Him by firsthand experience and in that experience has come to know His love.  (Blackaby)
• Gentiles, us, who have the faith of Abraham are the "heirs" of Abraham through grace. (Romans 4:16-25)

Do we recognize the voice of God speaking to us?
Are we on mission with God today?
Are we reading the Word daily and listening for Him to speak to us?

LET IT GO

Obey God, no matter the cost.

Love God with all my heart.

Listen to the Holy Spirit.

Mountain Climbing

O.T. #42  "Mountain Climbing"
May 8, 2013
Genesis 22-Part 1
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into
the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains
which I will tell thee of.

LET IT GLOW

Mountain climbing-you need special gear, strong lungs and legs along with determination to
climb a mountain. I have climbed a few mountains in my short lifetime. Some mountains were physical, and others were spiritual. It's a challenge to not look down or look back, but keep
looking up or ahead; to keep going when the going gets tough; to not give up and back down;
to hang on or hang in there with all you've got; to keep thinking that you can reach the top while
being patient with each step. Oh the view from the top of the mountain-indescribable,
breath-taking, peaceful. Sometimes it's lonely at the top and sometimes a few folks are with you.
God is always cheering you on, lending a hand, waiting for you at the top to share the view.
When the climb is finally over, you realize that all the struggles were worth it.
Climbed any mountains lately?
Abraham had a mountain to climb. It was in Moriah. It was one that challenged his faith. Check
it out with me. Get some boots first.

Verse 1 says that God did tempt Abraham...The word tempt used here is better expressed by
proved or tested. God does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13); but in certain instances
He does test, try, or prove us (James 1:2; 1Peter 1:6-7). (Falwell)

Abraham's test number three was from the Lord. Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but
God tests us to help bring out the best. It is the saint that walks closest to the Lord that God tests
the greatest for His glory. (Wiersbe)

What were the instructions God gave Abraham?

• Take now his only son Isaac, whom thou lovest;
• Go to the land of Moriah;
• Offer Isaac there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which God would tell him.

Hebrews 11:17-19 says, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that
had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it is said, That in
Isaac shall thy seed be called; Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; from when also he received him in a figure.

*Isaac was called Abraham's only begotten (monogenes), which refers to status.
*A man's offspring by a slave woman were not ordinarily given the rights that belong to the son
  born of his wife.
*Isaac was the only son of promise; he was the son who had brought Abraham joy for 15 years.
*Abraham demonstrated complete trust in the God whom he had known in life for 40 plus years.
*Love is where the heart is, and the faith God was looking for must be faith in the heart, as
  pure as refined gold. Abraham was to hold on to nothing, but release everything to God who
  had loved him so completely.
*The best evidence we have is that the place for the sacrifice of his son was very near Calvary,
  where Jesus would become God's Lamb offered and sacrificed for the sin of the world.
*Put your faith in the God who delivers those He chooses, calls, and sends into our world.
*At age 115, Abraham was still climbing mountains, physically and spiritually.

[Resources: Created to be God's Friend by Henry Blackaby; Liberty Bible Commentary, Jerry Falwell; Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

LET IT GROW

How did Abraham respond to God's instructions? Did he say no, You're asking too much of me?
Did he ask why? Did he ask for details first?  Did he ask how it would turn out at the end? Did
he ask for a sign to make sure he heard correctly? Did he doubt? Did he argue or plead? Did he bargain Did he ask his wife's opinion?

Henry Blackaby has this to say in his book, Created to be God's Friend:

1. Abraham obeyed God. He rose up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. His    obedience was immediate. There was no arguing or pleading, only faith. Obedience is a    choice based on real commands from God.
2. Abraham prepared two servants, donkeys, wood, fire, and his son, with no hesitation or    delay. Obedience is not easy, but it does require pure faith in God who calls.
3. They traveled three days when Abraham saw the place afar off. He told the servants to stay there, he and Isaac were going yonder to worship and and would come back. Absolute assurance was in Abraham's heart. An Abraham  kind of faith is immediate and thorough in its obedience.   
4. When Isaac asked where the lamb for the burnt offering was, his father reassuredly replied, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." The two went on     together.  
5. Reaching the designated place, Abraham placed the wood in order, bound his son, laid him    on the altar, and took the knife to slay his son! Obviously, Isaac was trusting God, too. They  believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. Figuratively, he did receive Isaac from the dead. In his heart, Abraham had already made the decision to make the sacrifice of his son. 
6. A Divine intervention came after a step of faith. God spoke and provided a ram, stopping it all.   He saw into Abraham's heart, who withheld not his only son from God. So Abraham offered the ram instead of Isaac.

The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

Are we living by faith? Walking by faith? Obeying by faith?
*The next post will explain the symbolism.

LET IT GO

Trust God. Obey God. Live by faith.


 

Mending Fences

O.T. #42  "Mending Fences"
May 7, 2013
Genesis 21-Part 2
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host
spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.  Genesis 21:22  KJV

LET IT GLOW

Last year, our calves were going onto our neighbor's land. He came to our house and told me
about it. We had no idea that this was happening, because they have trees on their side. I
apologized and the fence was mended. Do you mend fences that are broken down with your neighbors? I'm talking about relationships here. I like to be on good terms with my neighbors.
Who is my neighbor? Neighbor means the one near or close to, according to Young's
Concordance. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to Love our neighbor and enemies.
Shall we see what's happening to Abraham?

In chapters 21 and 22, we read of three tests that came into the life of Abraham.
1. A test from the family (21:1-21) concerning Isaac and Ishmael. Abraham had to send his son
    Ishmael away due to conflict and jealousy of Isaac.
2. A test from the neighbors, Abimelech and his servants over a well to water the animals
    (21:22-34)
3. A test from the Lord, (22:1-24) dealing with Abraham's love for God and Isaac.
[Resource: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament by Warren W. Wiersbe]

In 21:22, an unsaved neighbor, Abimelech, recognized Abraham's relationship with God-God is
with thee in all that thou doest.

Do others see that I am serving the Lord Jesus? Is righteousness, love, humility, fruit of the Spirit
evident to my neighbors and yours? Am I surrendered to Him in all I do, at home, at work, at
church, in my community?

Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5 say, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  
What a promise!

LET IT GROW

So the two guys, Abraham and Abimelech, made a covenant with each other at a place they
called Beersheba, which means well of the seven, or of the oath. It probably means seven, and
the closeness of the root meaning to swear would not go unnoticed. (Falwell)

Beersheba is about 45 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Abraham set seven ewe lambs aside by themselves as a witness that he dug the well there and
their covenant. He planted a grove of tamarisk trees.

This tree functioned as a reminder of the treaty between two, well-known contemporaries, and
also as a marker of one of Abraham's worship sites, the Everlasting God (my emphasis). A
divine name appropriately signifying to Abraham the unbreakable and everlasting nature of the covenant God had made with him, notwithstanding his being only a resident alien and a
sojourner in the land (23:4).  (MacArthur)

This treaty guaranteed the proper control and sharing of the region's limited water supply and equitable treatment in the future.
How do we settle problems in our neighborhood or business? Is it in a Christian way? Am I
willing to compromise when needful?
1 Corinthians 14:40 says, Let all things be done decently and in order.

LET IT GO

Release my pride and mend the fences with my neighbors.

Compromise.

Love my neighbors and my enemies.

Make sure God is with me in all I do.

Thank You Lord Jesus that You never leave me nor forsake me.

Going down the Wrong Path

O.T. #40  "Going Down the Wrong Path"
May 3, 2013
Genesis 20
Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all
that are thine. Genesis 20:7

LET IT GLOW

Yes, I've almost blown it several times in my life. I won't go into details, but I am thankful that
God opened my eyes so I could see what was happening. My life could have ended up very
different from the way it is. Certainly, I haven't been perfect. Somehow, I think I am not alone
and have company. I can't point a finger at Abraham and condemn him for going down the
wrong path when I have headed down that same road.

Abraham-a friend of God, one who left home following God and not knowing where he was
going, promised more blessings than he could see, given a new name by God, declared a
prophet of God, yet...

Here is the first mention of prophet. A prophet is an individual who received a call from God to
be God's spokesperson, often connected with some crisis that was about to occur, and then
announced God's message of judgment and /or deliverance to Israel and the nations.
(Study Light .com)

God's affirmation of Abraham:

• God declared Abraham a prophet.
• God declared Abraham to be His friend.
• Abraham's prayer of intercession saved many lives (Abimelech, family and servants)
• As a servant of God, Abraham's presence was very serious; his presence meant God's                presence.
• The life of faith, as God develops it, has a profound effect upon others, Abraham learned.
• God answered Abraham's prayer for Abimelech. (verse 17)
• God protected Abraham even in his sin.

This pattern of faith lived out by Abraham is true of all that walk this same way with God.
The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. James 5:16 RSV
Tremendous power is made available through a good man's earnest prayer. Phillips
Translation

How's your prayer life, friend? Is it as powerful as Abraham's was? Are you praying for others
going down the wrong path? Are you on the wrong path? Can I pray for you, sweet one?


LET IT GROW

Is there a character flaw that keeps repeating in your life? A character flaw does not mean God
rejects a person, but often it is repeatedly passed on to the generations that follow. Earlier,
Abraham deceived Pharaoh by telling him that Sarah was his sister. He repeated this deception
and lack of trust in God with Abimelech. God didn't interrupt Abraham's decision, however,
this time God intervened dramatically in a dream.

Had Abimelech taken Sarah for his wife, Isaac, the son of promise, would not have been born
and Israel's history would have been changed. (It was time for her to get pregnant.)Twenty-five
years of faith would have gone down the drain, so to speak. Our decisions or actions can have a significant effect on the future generations of our family. God will open our spiritual eyes if we
will let Him.

So we know how it all turned out-God stopped Abimelech from sinning with Sarah. Abraham
prayed for Abimelech and family; he gave Abraham land and silver and his wife. How many
times do we almost blow it doing things our way, not trusting in God?

LET IT GO

Confess our sins and let them be covered in the blood of Jesus, forgiven forever.

Thank God for keeping His hand on my life.

Pray for others on the wrong path.

*Sorry for the technical problem, resulting in not posting this sooner. Perhaps it was me that
needed to reflect on the past.