Bible Chapter: Genesis 35

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Finally, Jacob returned to his homeland.  And, in the process he ordered his family to get rid of the foreign gods they had collected.  How sad that this was necessary.  They had fallen way down spiritually and there were many negative effects of their fall.  They had to do a major house cleaning. Purification and change were needed.  God’s holiness leaves no room for spiritual compromise and filth.  This is a good lesson for believers today.  The downward spiritual spiral is so easy to join.  Evil is all around.  It would be helpful for all to do as Jacob’s family did - commit to personal holiness, clear out anything that is offensive to God, recommit to a strong fellowship with God and do all to follow the teachings of the Bible.
    God appeared to Jacob again.  Growing close to God in obedience will bring us into His presence and we will sense Him.  These thoughts have been in my mind much lately.  It is too easy to travel on a spiritual cruise control.  We must be accelerating spiritually and pursuing all that God had for us. God has an awesome adventure for us.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Closeness to God and obedience to Him does not mean that all events in life will be perfect.  It was after Jacob’s spiritual renewal that his wife, Rachel, was giving birth to a son.  It was a difficult delivery and she died in childbirth.  Benjamin was born but she passed away.
    They finally got to where Isaac was.  He lived a hundred and eighty years and then passed away.  Jacob and Esau buried him.  How much was missing from their lives because of deceit.  The family was separated for decades because of selfishness.  This is a good lesson to learn.  Don’t let anything get in the way of family relationships.  It’s not worth it.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the benefits of doing things God’s way, even when we don’t fully understand all the details. Godly principles are the best way to live.  They will prevent many problems and make life better.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 34

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    This is another story that shows what happens when sinful hearts are given control.  It also shows what happens when people don’t do what they know God wants them to do.  Jacob was supposed to return to the land of his father.  Instead, he went to Succoth and then settled near Shechem.  He even purchased property and settled in.  They were there for years.  The influence of the heathen residents was making a negative impact on his family.  Jacob’s granddaughter, Dinah, went out to get to know the women of the land.  She was raped by one of the men who then said he loved her and wanted to marry her.
    Jacob’s family was invited to intermarry with the locals and just become a part of what they were.  This is always a dangerous sign.  Two of Dinah’s brothers pretended to go along with the invitation to live there and mingle with the locals.  But, they had a scheme and they killed many people in revenge to what was done to their sister.  This shows the long term impact that decisions can have.  If Jacob had done what he was supposed to do in the first place and return home, they wouldn’t have been there and the rape wouldn’t have happened.  If Dinah had not gone out to associate with the heathen women, this wouldn’t have happened.  If her brothers had done a better job of protecting her, this wouldn’t have happened.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    One of the things I used to tell my sons as they were growing up is this: do what you are told the first time you are told.  God wants us to do the same.  We need to do what the Bible says and not wait to “learn” lessons over and over again.  These kinds of stories in the Bible are frustrating to me.  It is sad they need to be included.  They need to be told so we can learn.  It is sad that people who should have known better got involved in such things.  These stories are frustrating because the people involved should have known and applied God’s directives.  The application of these stories, of these lessons, is that I must do what I know to do and is pleasing to God.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people not only know what the Bible says, what God wants them to know, but to learn to apply what the Bible says in daily life.  It does no good to know something if it is not applied to real life.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 33

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    A family reunion.  Finally.  These brothers had been separated for twenty years.  I have to wonder if there had not been many times of disgust in their minds as they thought of the events of the past and developed plots of revenge.  I have to wonder what was going through Esau’s mind for many years.  Did he scheme with delight the suffering he was going to inflict on Jacob when he had the opportunity?  At what time did his thinking begin to change and long to see Jacob again?  This is an awesome lesson on forgiving those who hurt us.
    When these two large groups of people traveling towards each other got close, Jacob was afraid and he tried to appease Esau with gifts.  They weren’t necessary.  Esau’s heart was changed.  Changed hearts make all the difference.  I have read of cultures that pass on hatred from generation to generation.  In one instance, a man was called a thief because several generations before one of his ancestors was a thief.  When people allow their hearts to change towards others, restoration can occur and problems avoided.  God forgives.  He wants us to learn to do the same.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Change and restoration is possible.  People can change.  This is true through the work of God in a person’s heart.  Growth and change must continue to happen throughout life.  We can always become more of what God wants us to be.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Don’t hold a grudge.  Be willing to forgive and get on with life.  One of the principles I have learned is that when God tells us about forgiving people, it is more for ourselves than the other person.  Bitterness is a caustic root that destroys.  Learn to turn the revenge over to God.  Forgiving sets us free.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 32

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Jacob continued on his journey to return to the land where he grew up.  He had been gone twenty years.  He sent messengers ahead to let his brother, Esau, know he was on his way.  Jacob began to panic when he learned that Esau was coming to greet him with four hundred men.  The only thing Jacob could think was that Esau was coming to get revenge for the deception of twenty years earlier and they would all be killed.  I think this is another good illustration of the dangers of deceit.  Jacob prayed for God’s protection.  It seems that scary moments lead people to pray.  Jacob split up his family and all his wealth into groups.  The first ones he sent were part of a large gift, (a bribe?) to get to Esau first.  His goal was to appease him.
    The night before they met, Jacob sent his family ahead and spent the night alone.  A man showed up and they wrestled all night.  Towards the end Jacob asked for the man to bless him.  It is at this point that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel.  He had been a deceiver all his life.  He was transitioning to be the man God designed him to be, a leader of his family that would become a great nation.  Jacob was finally learning that his life was dependent on God, not his own efforts and manipulation.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Jacob learned total submission to God.  It took him a long time.  My observations in life include the fact that most of us take a lifetime to learn to really trust God.  We trust Him and then we have to learn to trust Him to a higher level.  Being willing to trust God and being faithful to Him are valuable lessons to learn.  We are always better off the more we trust God.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people learn to trust God.  Some of the roads we travel will be difficult.  Yet, God never leaves us in the hard times.  He comes through in amazing ways.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 31

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The saga continued in the lives of those in this family who sought wealth by whatever means it took.  This family had many problems.  After living with and working for Laban for twenty year, when Jacob could take it no more, he planned and took his family and all his possessions away secretly.  Laban was gone for a few days and Jacob took this time to leave, heading back to the land of his father.  It seems as if everyone was most concerned about their wealth.  Rachel and Leah were complaining that they didn’t have their inheritance.  Laban had changed Jacob’s wages ten times.  If God had not intervened, who knows what would have happened to Jacob when Laban caught up with him.
    Again we see that God had His hand on His plan and protected Jacob.  Even though deception and greed were in many hearts, God’s plan would not be thwarted.  Jacob and Laban finally came to a  truce and parted ways.  Jacob worked for Laban for twenty years and was finally able to return home.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Wealth is not a problem.  It is not a sin to be wealthy.  In the Old Testament God often used wealth as a sign of His blessing.  The problem comes when people resort of unethical means to obtain and keep it.  When people become in love with wealth, trouble comes.  Which leads to the verse that says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  In these chapters we see many examples of this truth.  Being wealthy is never a “problem” I have had to deal with personally.  But, even if a person doesn’t have much, they can be in love with what they have.  I believe an important principle here is to keep the proper focus on material possessions and honor God with whatever a person has.  God will take care of the rest.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see and obtain wealth that cannot be taken away or taxed.  It is the wealth of eternal life.  Jesus is preparing an inheritance for all who believe in Him.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 30

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Does God know what He is doing?  Absolutely.  At the beginning of His Book we find that He said marriage should be a man and a woman.  He never promoted polygamy.  We see that people quickly got into it.  And, we see the problems.  This chapter is filled with the rivalry and one-upmanship that comes from doing what God never told them to do.  It caused fights that never should have occurred.
    In spite of all of this, God provided for Jacob and his family.  We remember that Laban had always been attracted to wealth.  Jacob worked out a deal for cattle with Laban.  Jacob was familiar with breeding and developed a strong and healthy herd.  The chapter ends with the statement that Jacob increased exceedingly in his wealth.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Obedience is something that my parents strongly emphasized as I was growing up.  They had some pretty strong ways to get the point across.  They wanted me and my brothers to do well in school and get good grades.  But, obedience was more important.  I look at all of the problems that could have been avoided if the folks in this chapter would have obeyed God.  Even though God helped them, and it could be argued that they had a good life, they would have been better through obedience.  What could they have been and accomplished through obedience?  We will never know.  Human nature always seems to want to do the opposite of what God wants.  I, and all who call on the name of Jesus, must make the specific choices necessary to be obedient to God.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people see the negative effects of rejecting God’s best.  I recently read an article about a web site that is aimed at people who call themselves Christian, and yet live in a lifestyle that is sinful.  It was amazing to read.  Basically, this site was acting as a pimp to bring “Christians” together for immorality.  And, they quoted scripture to justify their actions.  These folks are in for a rude awakening when they stand before God as judge.  I want to help people see that they will be blessed for obedience to God’s Word.

Bible Chapter: Genesis 29

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    This is another chapter where the Bible clearly tells the whole story, as the expression says, warts and all.  Even though God used people to accomplish His purposes, some of them did things against God’s plan.  The chapter opens with Jacob on his travels finding his family.  He first met Rachel as she was watering the flock.  She told her father, Laban.  He was excited to see his sister’s son.  The last time Laban was mentioned he was young and we saw he was in love with material wealth.  Here we see he is a manipulator.  Laban told Jacob that he should receive wages for his work and they agreed he would work seven years for Rachel.  For some reason Laban deceived him and gave Jacob his older daughter, Leah.  When Jacob protested, Laban said he could also marry Rachel for another seven years of work. So this is what happened.  Jacob was a deceiver and he reaped deception in his own life.  The principle of planting and harvesting is true.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    When God created the world He also revealed some principles He expects people to follow.  Following God’s principles really makes life better.  One of them is what marriage is to be.  God created marriage  for one man and one woman.  Many cultures did not follow that, and some still don’t.  Here we see some of the problems inherent in polygamy.  It creates jealousy and competition.  Jacob really never wanted to marry Leah and never loved her.  He wanted Rachel.  When he ended up with both, he showed his preference.  This brought competition and strife to the home.
    The more I live the more I see the importance of doing things God’s way.  And the more I see it is a battle because of the pull of the flesh.  As this story is unfolding, now in the third generation of this family, we see how negative behavior impacts not only the people involved, but is passed on to future generations.  Reading history has shown so many family lines that make society better and others are destructive.  This comes from whether or not God’s plan is followed.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Don’t be a manipulator.  This is one of the lessons people must learn.  While deception might seem productive, it eventually leads to problems.  As I am reading these chapters I wonder how things would have been different if the main characters had done things right the first time.  This is a good thought for people to ponder as they make choices in life.