“Going the wrong way!?”

50 Days to Freedom: Day Four

Gen 27:46-29:30

Jacob won the blessing, but lost his family.  As the heir to the promise, he puts the fulfillment of the promise in jeopardy by leaving the land.  

But before Jacob leaves the land of promise, God wants to meet with him.  He meets with him in a dream and through the dream, God renews the promise that He made to Abraham and Isaac to the next in line--Jacob.  As far as we know it, until that point, God was the God of Jacob’s father and grandfather.  Now, He is the God of Jacob.

Each generation needs to acknowledge God for themselves.  It is not enough for us to worship the god of our fathers.  God, if he is real in our life must be our God.  But do you also see how God takes advantage of the transition in Jacob’s life in order to draw him back.  Jacob was leaving the comfort of his mother and the safety of his father’s house, he was on his own and ready to come back to God.

We must be watchful through the transitions in our life, from school to work, beginning a dating relationship, marriage, kids, jobs, moves, and the empty nest.  These are all opportunities for us to draw nearer to God and HIs freedom or to slip away from God towards bondage.  The upsetting of circumstances gives us an opportunity to take the newfound chaos and to entrust it into God’s hands ordering it for Him.  Or, we can take the newfound chaos and find something other than Him to order it around.  

What opportunities lie before you in this season to take vulnerable places of transition in your life and entrust them to God?  What competitors to God lie out there to steal your trust, hope and sense of order?

Click on the title above to comment, I'd like to hear your thoughts!

Posted by Marc

"Isn't he rightly named Jacob!"

50 Days to Freedom, Day Three

Gen 25:19-34, 27:1-45

That was Esau's cry to his father on account of his brother’s final betrayal? “Jacob” in Hebrew means “he takes by the heal” or “he cheats.” Jacob stole himself into Abraham’s line of blessing.The hope of the world is going to go through a deceptive and manipulative man. If the Bible was here to prove the superiority of God’s people over the nations, it is off to a bad start.  Abraham struggles to tell the truth, Isaac does the same. Rebekah fools her husband and Jacob has done nothing but repeatedly do whatever necessary in order to swindle himself into the first-born status. Not impressive from a religious perspective!  

Can we be honest in saying that this isn’t fair, at least from our perspective? Sure, Esau is foolish and a brute, but Jacob is a scoundrel! His mother isn’t any better. Should not there be at least some points for Esau as far as Isaac’s intention for his blessing?  

This underscores yesterday’s passage that teaches us that the extension of God’s grace is based upon His promise and not our merit. Jacob will feel the consequences of his character soon enough; but, what we see here is that favor comes to him in spite of his manipulations his unworthiness. 

What a comfort this reality can be to us! If God listens based upon our merit, we would have no hope for freedom. Quite often it is as we fail and feel and the brokenness of consequences and sin that we cry out for freedom with the most sincerity. 

What is commendable about Jacob is his desire to have the blessing, and his lack of shame in seeking it. Makes me think... Do I pray shamelessly for God’s blessing? Am I bold in His presence? Many of us are polite with God, thinking that it honors His holiness; yet, isn't our politeness really a cover for our distance. And aren't we distant because we don’t really believe in His grace... to believe that He will listen to us and generously give us, His children, what we ask for in His name according to His will?  

I'd love to know your thoughts - just click on today's title and it'll take you right to the comment section.  Thanks for reading today!

Going the wrong way!?

50 Days of Freedom: Day Four

Gen 27:46-29:30

Jacob won the blessing, but lost his family.  As the heir to the promise, he puts the fulfillment of the promise in jeopardy by leaving the land.  But before Jacob leaves the land of promise, God wants to meet with him.  He meets with him in a dream and through the dream, God renews the promise that He made to Abraham and Isaac to the next in line--Jacob.  As far as we know it, until that point, God was the God of Jacob’s father and grandfather.  Now, He is the God of Jacob.

Each generation needs to acknowledge God for themselves.  It is not enough for us to worship the god of our fathers.  God, if He is real in our life must be our God.  But do you also see how God takes advantage of the transition in Jacob’s life in order to draw him back.  Jacob was leaving the comfort of his mother and the safety of his father’s house, he was on his own and ready to come back to God.

We must be watchful through the transitions in our life, from school to work, beginning a dating relationship, marriage, kids, jobs, moves, and the empty nest.  These are all opportunities for us to draw nearer to God and His freedom or to slip away from God towards bondage.  The upsetting of circumstances gives us an opportunity to take the newfound chaos and to entrust it into God’s hands ordering it for HIm.  Or, we can take the newfound chaos and find something other than HIm to order it around.  

What opportunities lie before you in this season to take vulnerable places of transition in your life and entrust them to God?  What competitors to God lie out there to steal your trust, hope and sense of order?

Let us know what you think by clicking on the title and commenting. Thanks for reading!

Posted by Mark