Returning Home

O.T.#72  "Returning Home"
June 19, 2012
Genesis 35-Part 2
And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blesssed him.
Genesis 35:9

LET IT GLOW

We struck out on our own, the four of us, back in 1980. Our children were ages 3 and 1. We were following God's leading for our lives. The first step was to get a  college degree while serving in
the pastorate. We were gone 17 years from our home area, our home church where we were both baptized and we were married, and the area where our two children were born. That was a long
time, 17 years, yet it flew by, too. We had so many lessons to learn about our God and life in general. We were excited when God led us back to a church in that area. We have still remained
here 16 years, serving God in the same church and association. Oh the experiences we have experienced! Yet, if we had never stepped out in faith, we would not have experienced them. I
don't regret any of it. How faithfully our God provided! I wonder if Jacob was excited to return to Canaan. Shall we see.

Finally, Jacob gets back to Bethel. It's been a long time coming, his getting back into God's will.
I recon he learned a few lessons while out there on his own-went to Haran, worked 14 years for 2 wives, had 12 sons and at least one daughter, endured a deceiving father in law, sorrows and trials, and got homesick (maybe).

God appeared to Jacob again, in verse 9. This time, God:

• reaffirmed Jacob's new name-Israel;
• told him a nation and a community of nations would be from Jacob;
• said kings would be in his lineage;
• gave the land given to Abraham and Isaac to Jacob and his 12 sons.

Jacob built an altar, a pillar of stone, offered a drink offering and poured oil upon it. He worshiped at Bethel and renewed his fellowship with God.

Doesn't it help encourage us when we hear about the promises of God for His children, about our future home in heaven? Are you walking by faith where you are?


LET IT GROW

Jacob traveled three times in chapter 35 (verses 5, 16, 21). God had called him to go "back to Bethel"
after being gone 20 years. What is so special about Bethel? It was the place of the Jacob's vision
and vow.

When a person is backslidden,(as Jacob was) there is nothing else for him to do but go back to the place of dedication and renew his vows. The only place for sin is in the grave. (Wiersbe)

There are four graves mentioned in this chapter:

1. the grave of the idols (verse 4) Before Jacob could take his tribe, family, back to the altar,  they had to clean house-get rid of the idols and jewelry associated with heathen worship by burying them.
2. Deborah's grave (verse 8) She was Rebekah's nurse; Jacob's mother was Rebekah.; when Rebekah left her home to go marry Jacob's father, she took her damsels with her. That's all all I could find about Deborah. She must have been in the family so long that she was like family. She must have been important for God to mention her in His Word.
3. Rachel's grave (verse 19) Rachel gave birth to her second son, Benoni, and then she died. (Joseph was Benjamin's older brother.) Jacob called the boy Benjamin. Benoi means son of   my pain or son of my misfortune; while Benjamin means son of my right hand. (Falwell)    The memorial of Rachel could still be seen in Moses' day, about one mile north of Bethlehem    (verse 20). (MacArthur)            
4. Isaac's grave (verse 29) Isaac was Jacob's father; Isaac's funeral brought Esau and Jacob together once again. Isaac was 180 years old when he died. 

Why mention these four graves? It puts the family into perspective-no idols were taken back to Bethel, only God is worshiped; the older generation passed away-Isaac; Jacob's beloved Rachel
is gone. Who does that leave? Israel, (Jacob's new name) and his 12 sons, later known as the     Twelve Tribes of Israel, and their 3 mothers.

It is a hard thing, burying a loved one. Yet, we learn to carry on without them. Does it make our
faith stronger or weaker?

LET IT GO

Cling to God's promises; daily hunt for them in His Word.

Trust the Lord with my family.

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



         

Time to Clean House

O.T. #71 "Time to Clean House"
June 18, 2013
Genesis 35-Part 1
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Genesis 35:1
*Please pray for our son today. He is having some health issues.
If he has surgery, we can't go on our mission trip Friday. He works at our tire shop. Trusting God today; His will be done.
LET IT GLOW

Guess what? I got a new vacuum cleaner for Mother's Day. I know it was a strange gift, but I actually did need one since the old vacuum stopped working. I really didn't consider that my
Mother's Day gift, although we purchased it that weekend. My husband did, however, so I let it be. I'm happy because it is light and easy to maneuver around things and does a great job cleaning.
Now I have no excuse for not cleaning the floors. Yes, every week, it's time to clean house. Did
you know Rachel and Leah were told to clean house? Are you curious? Read on dear friend. (It wasn't exactly in those words.)

Let's review for a moment. Jacob ran away from Esau and from Laban. Laban pursued Jacob and after a week caught up with him. Laban was looking for his idols, which Rachel had taken and did not return to her father. Laban and Jacob made a boundary agreement and separated on good terms. We recall that Esau had sworn to kill Jacob after deceiving their father into giving his first-born's (Esau) blessing to the younger son (Jacob). Jacob wasn't sure how Esau would treat him after having 20 years to stew on it. They had a good reunion and departed on good terms.

Jacob was told by God to return to Bethel, but he settled in Shechem instead. That's where his daughter Dinah was raped and two of his sons massacred all the men of the city. Now we're up to date. If only Jacob had obeyed completely, it would not have happened.

God spoke to Jacob again in chapter 35. This is the 5th of 7 times that is recorded of God speak-
ing to Jacob (31:3, 11-13; 32:1-2, 24-30; 35:1, 9-13; 46:1-4). God had intervened with directions
and defense in Jacob's life, just as God had promised. Now it was time for Jacob to hold up his part of the bargain-God would be his God.

Jacob was told to:

• arise and go to Bethel and dwell there; (Jacob's dream about the ladder occurred there in chapter 28); where God confirmed the Abrahamic covenant to Jacob;
• make an altar unto God, a place of worship of the one true God, Jehovah.

Jacob realized that God had answered him in his day of distress and was with him those 20 years.
Isn't God so faithful!

Am I listening for God's voice to speak to my heart? When was the last time we heard Him give
us directions, friend? Have we totally obeyed the last thing God told us to do?

LET IT GROW

What did Jacob tell  his household after God spoke to him?

• Put away the strange gods that were among them; Rachel had brought her father's idols with them whenever they left Laban.
• Be clean (bathe) and change their garments; This pictured both cleansing from defilement      by idolatry and consecration of the heart to the Lord; it was time to clean up heart and soul.

They gave Jacob their idols in their hands and earrings in their ears; (earrings were probably idolatrous significance as in Exodus 32:2-3). Jacob buried the idols and earrings under an oak tree near Shechem.
The tribe of Jacob was traveling again. This time it was a good thing-returning to a place where
God met Jacob and Jacob met God.

Are we willing to get rid of any ungodly thing in our house or any idols we've made in our life?
Is there anything that has taken God's place in our heart that we need to remove? A good time to ask Him.

LET IT GO

Take inventory and clean house, my life of any idols.

Bury those things that are more important than my God.

Follow Jesus wherever He says go.

Obey fully, not half-heartily.

Don't Answer That Door

O.T.#70  "Don't Answer That Door""
June 17, 2013
Genesis 34-Part 1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.  Genesis 34:1

LET IT GLOW

She was about 14 years old, Dinah, when she went into town. She went to see the daughters of the land, scripture tells us. she just wanted some girlfriend talk time.
I remember being 14, naive to the ways of the world. I didn't think about the possibility of anything bad happening to me. I trusted everyone because I thought everyone could be trusted. But I didn't have to go anywhere to find out otherwise. The untrustworthy knocked on my door when I was
home alone. He was Dad's friend, so I knew him. We talked for a few minutes, then he wanted to come inside and wait for Dad. I refused and he left. It must have been God protecting me from harm, for I didn't realize his intent was to have his way with me. Dinah's story didn't have a good ending, though. (I learned to not answer every knock at the door.)

Jacob was told to go back to Bethel by God, but he didn't. He put his family in a place of temptation. I wonder if he regretted that decision. Do you regret any decisions you made in the
past? Do we care about where our children/grandchildren go and who they are with?

LET IT GROW


Why didn't one of Dinah's brothers accompany her to town? What about older brother Joseph? Maybe that would have prevented her rape by Shechem, a prince and son of Hamor.
Anyway, as it turned out, Shechem loved Dinah and wanted her for his wife. So the two fathers talked. Keep in mind that Jacob's family was not supposed to intermarry with the heathen people.

Sad to say, Jacob's sons were liars like their father. In fact, they used the sacred rite of circumcision to accomplish their wicked scheme. (Wiersbe)

What happened was two of Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, took their swords and killed all the
men of the city, including Shechem and Hamor, while they were healing from their circumcision.
But that wasn't enough, they captured their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of
theirs in the city and fields, including their families. Also, they returned Dinah to their father.
(When the guys were down, the brothers took advantage.)
When Jacob found out what his sons had done, he was more concerned with his own safety and welfare than he was with the sins of his family.

Vengeance exacted meant retaliation expected. Total loss of respect and peaceful relations put
both him and them in harm's way with survival being highly unlikely. (MacArthur)

Murder and theft, what a reputation for children of God; along with a daughter being raped and reputation as a harlot. Jacob had reason to be concerned for his family's safety. Weren't they
testing God's promise of safety?

What will happen next?

LET IT GO

Forgive and forget, letting go of hurtful past things, then go on with Jesus.

Don't take advantage of people when they are down.

*Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads.

Let By Gones Be By Gones

O.T. #69  "Let By Gones Be By Gones" 
June 14, 2013
Genesis 33-Part 2
Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.  Genesis 33:15c

LET IT GLOW

My family is not a close knit family. If we see each other years down the road, it seems to make everyone happy. I miss them, though. My husband's family is close, so it makes me wish mine
was. But because of hurt feelings, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime. Why can't people let
by gones be by gones? Forgive each other and go on with life. Life is too short to harber hurt feelings, don't you think?
When Jacob left home, it seemed that he and his twin brother would never have a happy meeting again, but it did happen. Want to check it out?

Jacob had a good visit with his twin brother Esau. The years of seperation must have mellowed
Esau. Time has a way of doing that. Jacob must have felt badly about all the deception and trickery he had used in order to their father to give him the first-born blessing instead of Esau. Jacob had
sent a large, generous gift of 550 animals from his flocks and herds to Esau as a peace offering
before their meeting, but Esau refused it the first time. Then Jacob insisted on his brother taking the gift when they met. It was Jacob's way of saying he was sorry. When Esau accepted the gift, it was his way of saying Jacob was forgiven. Their relationship was mended.

How far are we willing to go in order to mend relationships that are injured?

LET IT GROW

When it was time for the brothers to move on, Esau suggested he accompany Jacob (heading back
to Bethel). Jacob made an excuse of the baby animals and mothers would die if they moved too quickly. He stated that he'd have to go softly, which means gently. Then Esau offered to leave some servants with Jacob to lead the way, help with the herd, and protect them from any enemies. Jacob refused the offered escort, for he didn't intend to live next door to his brother. So Esau headed south.

Jacob wanted to have favor, grace, in his brother's eyes. Do I desire to receive grace from God?

Jacob's intention to meet up with his brother in Seir didn't materialize. He first stopped at Succoth, which is east of the Jordan River. Then he stopped at Shechem, which was 20 miles west of
Succoth, and 65 miles north of Jerusalem. Well, Jacob ended up north while Esau ended up south.
Jacob ended up in the land of Canaan, but not at Bethel, where God told him to return. It sounds
like partial obedience to me.
Jacob bought some land and settled in with his family and animals. He put up an altar and
called it El Elohe Israel, which means God, the God of Israel.

Approximately ten years time may have elapsed in Succoth before Jacob went to Shechem. Jacob erected an altar as Abraham had on his arrival (12:7). El Elohe Israel  indicates that Jacob was confessing, using his new name Israel, that El was his God, "a Mighty God is the God of Israel." (Falwell)

Do I go softly, gently, on my way? Do I try to justify my partial obedience? Is the God of Israel
the God of you, too?

LET IT GO

Confess my sins and make relationships right with others.

Deal softly and gently with others.

Keep God first place in my life; seek grace, not discipline.

Forgive and forget.

New Shoes

O.T.#68  "New Shoes"
June 13, 2013
Genesis 33-Part 1
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.  Genesis 33:12

LET IT GLOW

Since I try to stay faithful to my exercise regiment of walking more than 5 miles a week, my shoes get rather worn down and thin over time. So I bought a new pair to take on our mission trip. I sure don't want to forget to take them with me. I'll be on my feet a lot, teaching Bible stories, prayer walking, etc. so I knew it was needful for my journey. One thing I don't want to forget to take on my journey is Jesus. Instead of sitting around, I know He wants me to go with Him there and share the love of Jesus with children.  I am trusting Him to go before me, leading and keeping me safe. This was the similar thing Jacob told Esau in our lesson.

We left Jacob in a wrestling match with the Lord Jesus. Jacob had to admit his sins of deceiving
and scheming when asked his name. Then, God weakened him by touching his thigh joint. All
Jacob could do was cling to the Lord when asking to be blessed.
Once Jacob faced himself and confessed his sin, he was changed.
God gave him a:

• new name-Israel means he will rule as God, prince with God, a god-governed man;
• new walk-limping; in the spirit, not the flesh; walking by faith and not by sight;
• new beginning (surrendered to God) and a new power with God; broken by God but his      limp was a mark of power and not weakness;
• new position with God; 
• a new day-as the sun rose, he limped out to meet Esau with God's help.

Do you have a new name-Christian?
It can be a good thing to have an infirmity, such as a limp, to remind us that we need our God all the day long. We we are weak, we can be strong in faith with Jesus living in and through us. Then
we are given a new day with a new hope.

LET IT GROW

Wouldn't it have been wonderful if Jacob had lived up to his new name and new position with God? But he didn't. Chapter 33 begins with Jacob, the old name, not the new name Israel, lifting up his
eyes and saw Esau coming with 400 men. Again, he was walking by sight and not by faith.
Jacob lost because he did not claim his spiritual privileges:

• his limp-He bowed 7 times before Esau instead of facing him man-to-man; The prince with God cringed before a man of the world; better to limp by faith than to bow in self-trust;
• his power-Jacob was scheming and bargaining with the enemy; he didn't ask for God's power;
• his testimony-Jacob lied to Esau about the flocks and traveled in the opposite direction; the two didn't meet again until they buried their father;
• his tent-Jacob built a house and settled in Succoth;
• his vision-He moved again and pitched his tent toward the city of Shechem, not unlike Lot (13:12); he lost the vision of God's city (Heb. 11:13-16).
• his daughter-Jacob put his family in a place of temptation (she was violated when she investigated the city).

Jacob was a backslider. Yet, don't we do the same things? On Sunday we get filled with the Spirit, determined to do right, then on Monday we walk by sight and take on the ways of the world.
Do we learn lessons from our own sins and Jacob's life?

It was obvious to Jacob that God had changed Esau from hate to brotherly love. He could tell by Esau's expression on his face.
Can people tell by our expression that we have been with the Lord?

In verse 12, Jacob said to Esau, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
Aren't we on a journey through life? Are we going with Jesus or our own way? Do we a let Him
lead and we follow?

[Resources: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

LET IT GO

Surrender to God and He will make all things new in my life daily.

Walk by faith, not by sight.

Walk in the Spirit, not the flesh.

Go with Jesus where He leads; walk with Jesus.

A Battle of Wills

O.T.#67  "A Battle of Wills"
June 12, 2012
Genesis 32-Part 1
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Genesis 32:24

LET IT GLOW

Our daughter was a strong willed child growing up. Maybe that was because she was our first born. Well, she met her match-her father. He always told her that he would win if she wanted a battle of wills. Sometimes she would challenge him, other times she would surrender without a fight. Oh,
he would listen to her side, but he had the ultimate say so. She would try hard to win her case,
but lost. Jacob was the same way, but he too met his match-Jesus. Want to watch a good wrestling match?

Jacob went on his way. He had left one relative (Laban, his father in law) and now was going to
meet another (Esau, his twin brother). Somewhere in between the farewell and hello, Jacob encountered the angels of God again. Didn't he wonder why they were there? Why didn't Jacob
stop and inquire of them? At least, why didn't he ask them what was going on? God sent His angels, messengers to him, so something why didn't they get his attention?

Jacob even named the place of encounter-Mahanaim, which means double camp. Jacob began in obedience to God's command (return to Bethel), and he was met by God's messenger to encourage him. Naming the place this name possibly referred to his camp and the angel's camp.

Jacob's mind was focused on his upcoming meeting with Esau, instead of meeting with the Lord.
Esau was coming and Jacob was about to meet up with his forgotten past. Would Esau forgive him
or fight him? Would Jacob loose everything he had schemed to acquire? How tragic it is when the past catches up with sinners. Geography could not erase Jacob's past nor cold twenty years of history change it.  (Wiersbe)

Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac and received the blessing of God instead of Esau. Jacob pretended to be his twin brother. If you aren't familiar with the story, read chapter 27-28.

This was Jacob's first recorded prayer since his encounter with God at Bethel enroute to Laban
 (28:20-22). (MacArthur)
Twenty years is a long time to go without praying, don't you think?

What would we do if our past caught up with us? Would we run away or face it? Would we devise
a scheme to manipulate it or yield to it and confess our sins?

LET IT GROW

Before Jacob met Esau, he three other meetings:

1. He met God's angels (verse 1-20). Back in chapter 28 at Bethel, Jacob first saw these angels. They should have reminded Jacob that God was in control. However, he failed to put his faith in God who promised to protect him, years ago. Psalm 91:11-13 says For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, least thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Jacob divided his company into 2 groups and ignored the protecting angel army. He was afraid and distressed. He tried to bribe Esau with gifts. Here we go again-Jacob and his scheming. Is his flesh going to rule   over God's Spirit? Jacob sent his family and possessions across the Jabbok River for protection. (Esau had 500 men with him.) Jabbok means for wrestled.
2. He met the Lord (verses 21-26). After Jacob took his steps in carnal confidence, then he asked for God's help. Doesn't that sound like us? When all else fails, ask God to help, pray. "Prayer based upon God's promises assures answers; God's Word never fails!" says Liberty Bible Commentary. Why don't we go to Him first in prayer? When Jacob was alone, he wrestled   with the preincarnate Christ. Have you been wrestling with Jesus? If it's a battle of wills, He will win every time. His will will be done. May as well yield at the start. Jacob was defending himself and refusing to yield for a while. What will it take for us to yield our will?
3. He met himself (verses 27-32). Jesus crippled Jacob, placing his thigh out of joint, so he wouldn't win the match. Jacob received the blessing after he admitted who he was-Jacob means deceiver, supplanter. His name was changed to Israel, which means God's fighter or may God strive. Jacob had to surrender first, admitting his sins. Jacob had been broken by  God. Pride didn't win this match. The conflict wasn't against Esau or Laban, but against    Jesus. Jacob's self-sufficiency had to be redirected to God.

(Resources: Wiersbe's Expositiory Outlines on the Old Testament, Liberty Bible Commentary)

Are you wrestling with Jesus? Will you surrender and let Him be Lord of your life? What will it require? Will it require a breaking your heart before you surrender to Jesus?

LET IT GO

Quit hanging onto the flesh and grab hold of Jesus.

Stop bribing, deceiving, and scheming-pray instead.

Yield to Jesus so He wins the battle of wills so I don't have battle scares.

Who Done It?

O.T.#66  "Who Done It?" June 11, 2013
Genesis 31-Part 3
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.  Genesis 31:23

LET IT GLOW

Jacob talked to Rachel and Leah, his wives, in a field for privacy and told them God said to return
to Bethel. They agreed and the clan packed up and left while Laban was sheering his sheep. They were gone 3 days when Laban was told about the departure. Laban and his company high tailed it after them. Actually, scripture uses the term persued in verse 23.
Persued means run after, (usually with hostile intent), chase, put to flight, persecute. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

It wasn't because he didn't get to kiss the grandchildren bye or tell his two daughter farewell. Oh
no, it was more serious than that. Someone had taken Laban's household idols and HE WANTED THEM BACK!

They caught up with Jacob and everyone after a week of hard traveling. One of Jacob's wives was the thief. Can you guess which one? You have a 50/50 chance of getting it correct.  If you guessed Rachel, you would have been right. Verse 19 says so.

Hidden sin led to more sin as Rachel, the thief, lied to her father and her husband, while angry
Laban examined everything in the caravan. (Wiersbe)

Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban, while Rachel stole away the idols of Laban.

Jacob sneaked away into the will of God instead of departing in triumph. (Barnhouse)

Probably, this made Laban think Jacob took his precious idols.

Rachel took her father's household idols (teraphim). Why did she do it?
David Guzik's Commentary on the Bible suggests:

• she wanted them to worship and didn't want to leave without the idols,
• she did not want her father to inquire of them, using them as tools of divination to catch them, as he had previously done in 30:27,
• or perhaps it was because such idols were often used as deeds to property and she thought this was her inheritance,
• maybe Rachel felt her father had mistreated her,her husband, and her whole family,
• she wanted to keep her father from idolatry (tradition says).

It was nearly 300 miles from Haran to the mountains of Gilead. Jacob left his place of safety for 20 years, where he was a comfortable servant, to go to a place where God had called him, but into a dangerous enemy territory (including his brother Esau who swore to kill him).

Psalm 34:14 says, Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it.

What am I pursuing after? Is it wealth, material goods, love of God, peace?

LET IT GROW

Jacob's company thought they were going home scott free-not going to happen. We don't know
what kind of bad intent was in Laban's heart at that time, but God did. In a dream, God told Laban to
be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad. (verse 24)

Laban made the accusations (NIV):

• What have you done?
• You've deceived me.
• You've carried off my daughters like captives in war.
• Why did you run off secretly and deceive me?
• Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to music of  tambourines and harps?
• You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by.
• I have the power to harm you, but last night the God of your father said to me, "Be careful     not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."
• Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's house.
• But why did you steal my gods?

Whew! What a greeting! Poor Jacob didn't know there was any issue with Laban's idols. He was innocent. He had no earthly idea what Laban was taking about, nor who took them. So what  did Jacob say in haste? If you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live. (verse 32a)

Laban searched all the tents, but found nothing. Rachel had put them inside her camel's saddle and was sitting on them. How uncomfortable it must have been riding that way. She lied to her father, giving an excuse of being on her period, the reason she didn't stand in respect of her father. (It would have revealed her guilt.)

Well, Jacob reviewed all the good things he had done for Laban those 20 years. It was the truth that Jacob spoke. It got to Laban, so he agreed to make a covenant with Jacob, called Mizpah Blessing, which means God was watching. The two men agreed to not go past the heap of rocks they set up, in order to harm the other one. Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and fed Laban a meal. the next morning, Laban kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them, then returned home.

So the idols were not found at that time, nor Rachel's  lie revealed.
The only redeeming thing in Jacob's angry speech is that he gave God the glory for his success
 (verse 42). (Wiersbe)

Isn't it sad when family members cannot trust each other? Do we draw line of boundaries in our mind or heart and they better not cross them? Do we do that with God? Not allow Him into certain parts of our life or into rooms of our heart?

LET IT GO

Be truthful; my sins will find me out.

Depart from evil do good; pursue and seek peace.

Allow God into all areas of my life.

*Thank you for the birthday wishes. I spent with day with 2 friends. We drove to another church and picked up fantastic things for ours to use this summer in Vacation Bible School. It's wonderful when sister churches help each other out. We had lunch together, even shopped.