# 28 2023 Dev. Gen.30:2. A Dysfunctional Home Life! Read all of chapter thirty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Gen.30:2 “ Jacob became angry with her (Rachel) and said, ‘Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?’”

Gen.30 This chapter tells us where Laban’s deception has taken his family. God’s blessed Jacob’s work and Laban’s flock increased exponentially, he wanted to keep Jacob around. Tensions increased when God allowed Leah to bear children and Rachel did not bear any in the five years since the marriage. In those days barrenness was considered the worst curse on women. Jealously was not only on Leah’s part, because Jacob loved Rachel more but Rachel was jealous of her sister’s children. Jacob’s household was one in conflict.  

Vs.1-8 Rachel demanded children from Jacob, hence his reply, “am I in the place of God?” In Nigeria, where polygamy is common, the second wife and consequent wives are referred to as “mai Kishia”, one of jealousy. In desperation Rachel did what Sarah did, she gave her handmaid to Jacob, a common and legal arrangement in the day. She bore Jacob two sons, Rachel’s response, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” 

Vs.9-24 Leah, not to be outdone gave her maidservant to Jacob as well. She also bore two sons. Jacob seems to be ok with all this, but then, children, especially sons in that day were God’s gifts, “happy is the man whose quiver is full.” When Ruben, Leah’s eldest come home with mandrakes plants Rachal wanted them. Mandrakes were thought to increase fertility. She got them by allowing Jacob to sleep with Leah, Rachel, apparently dictated who would sleep with whom. “God  listened to Leah, and she became pregnant…” twice in a row and had two more sons. Leah’s response, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor…” Later she also bore a daughter, Dinah. But God did not forget Rachel. “She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace.’”

Vs.25-36 Jacob had fulfilled his promise of fourteen years and wanted to return to his own land. But Laban, practiced divination and besides, what he had seen with his own eyes, wanted more of the blessings God bestowed on his family because of Jacob. “What shall I give you? He asked.” Jacob’s answer, “every speckled or spotted goat.” Laban, agreed but that day he removed all the speckled and colored  goats from his flock and sent them away in the care of his sons. 

Vs.37-43 but Jacob also practiced some kind of divination, or witchcraft in order to outsmart Laban. Jacob was not dependent on God, not yet. He thought to outwit Laban with his witchcraft using the pealed branches. It seemed to work for him but only because God was directing his path, the results would have been the same without the pealed  branches. That is what this chapter is about, God controls our lives in spite of us and blesses in his own way. Thanks be to God.   

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# 26 2023 Dev. Gen.29:19. True Love! Read all of chapter twenty nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Gen.29:19 “Laban said, ‘It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.’ 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”

Gen.29 This chapter sets the stage for a love story. It goes on around a well. How many times doesn’t a major event in scripture happen at a well? Obviously it is love at first sight. It appears that Jacob in he eagerness to please Rachel, breaks the rules of watering the sheep. 

Vs.1-13 Is an introduction, we see God’s hand in the events that follow. Certainly, God’s hand is in all things, but some are more obvious than others. When something unusual happens or unexpected we often say: “It’s a  God thing!”

Vs.14-19 I think at this point Laban starts his deception. “Tell me what your wages should be.” After a month, I’m sure is was obvious who Jacob was in love with.  “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’”  To Jacob, “ they seemed like only a few days.” Seven years, hard to imagine waiting in celibacy while in daily contact. Marriage  is sacred and it should be regarded as such, and still is by a few couples, but we live in a different world today to the detriment  of the institution of marriage. Amen!

Vs.21-25 “So Laban brought together the people of the place and gave a feast. But Laban exchanged Leah, his order daughter for Rachel.” It is not hard to imagine that such an exchange was possible. Brides were totally covered and vailed, and in the heat of the moment, in total darkness it was possible. But the sisters had to have been in agreement. Jacob the deceiver had met his match. 

Vs.26-28 the excuse was; “Laban replied, “it is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.” The whole thing was a scam, Laban knew very well that Jacob would work for an other seven years to also have Rachel. Fourteen years, no pay but room and board and two wives vying with each other. But God is in control, all this comes back to haunt Laban who was not the richer for all of his scheming. A word to the foolish and the wise!

Vs.31-36 “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.”  Leah had four sons in a row, the desired gender in those days but Rachel had none. Judah is the fourth child, it is of note that Judah is in the direct line of Jesus Christ. God is still in control, thanks be to God! 

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# 25 2023 Dev. Prov.18:24 Enduring Friends! Read all of chapter eighteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18 puts emphasis on communicating, our use of words. By now we know that Proverbs are a series of couplets about the way God wants us to live. In chapter 18, almost all couplets complement each other, one line reinforcing the other, both negative and positive statements. Proverbs is about a way of being and a way of becoming, either good and better or bad and worse. For Christians, our lives involve both good events and bad that God uses to shape us into who He wants us to be.

Vs.1-9 reminds us of foolish actions and foolish words, as well as wise words and actions. “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels… The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream… The lips of fools bring them strife… The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” 

Words to pay attention to for today: Unfriendly, selfish, wisdom is a rushing stream, strife, a gossip, a slacker, one who destroys.  Words  for the wise and the foolish!

Vs.10-19 reminds us of wisdom: Compare v.10 with v.11. “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower… The wealth of the rich is their fortified city…” The difference here is simple; trust, to self-confidence and a fortified tower to imagined walls.  “The heart of the discerning  acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. A gift opens the way…” Does the author mean a gift or bribe? “Casting the lot settles disputes… A brother wronged  is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of s citadel.” A word to the wise and the foolish!

Vs.20-24 reminds us of what the author is telling us in this Proverb. “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled… The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Fruit: death or life. Choose life in Jesus! “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” Amen and Amen! “The poor” and  “the rich”  The poor reach for mercy, the rich reach for brutality. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” What does this ending mean for us today? We have Messianic Psalms, could this be a Messianic Proverb? I believe it is, Jesus sticks closer to us than a brother.  Amen! 

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# 24 2023 Dev. Gen.28. The Second Blessing! Read all of chapter twenty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Gen.28:1 “So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram,[a] to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.”

Gen.28  Isaac comes to his senses in that he realizes that Jacob is the one chosen by God to carry on in the legacy of Abraham. He is not to marry any of the local women as Esau had done, he was to go to Paddan Aram to Rebecca’s family and Isaac’s family. God appears to Jacob on the way and gives him the blessing of Abraham.

Vs.1-5 After Rebekah complains to Isaac about Esau’s Hittite wives, Isaac calls Jacob, nothing is said about the deception. Isaac blesses him again. The blessings is not recorded here but it may have been very much like the blessing given to Isaac and Abraham.

Vs.6-9 Esau comes to the realization that his wives are a source of grief to both Isaac and Rebekah. It is surprising that Isaac was not more proactive in Esau choices, we are not told one way or the other. Now Esau tries to correct his mistakes by marrying one of the daughters of Ishmael.

Vs.10-15 Jacob starts his journey to Paddan Aram and spends the first night near Luz. During the night God appears to Jacob in a dream, the famous Jacob’s ladder most of us know about. God talked to Jacob directly; 

“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[d] 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 

God assured Jacob of His care, unconditional care. God gave him the same blessing He gave to Abraham. God also added, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring”, a  direct reference of the blessings of salvation in Christ Jesus. 

Vs.16-20 The next day Jacob anointed his stone pillow and called the place Bethel, the house of God. Jacob makes a vow that is completely conditional when compared to God’s blessing that is unconditional. Jacob does not follow God unconditionally until he wrestled the angel of God at Peniel when he realized he needed to depend on God and not on himself

That is what we need to realize as well. Only Jesus! Only Jesus and His work! Trust in Him alone! We live in a broken world, bad things happen to good people, there are no guarantees. Whatever happens, good or bad, by trusting in Jesus, God uses what happens to us to form us into who He want us to be and to become. Thanks be to God.  Amen!

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# 23 2023 Dev. Prov.17:3 Works of Silver, Gold and God! Read all of chapter seventeen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 17:6 “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”

Proverbs 17 are series of couplets about the way God wants us to live. In this chapter of couplets almost all lines complement each other, one line reinforcing the other, both negative and positive statements. Proverbs is about a way of being and a way of becoming, either good and better or bad and worse. For Christians, our lives  are preparation for our work in heaven. 

Vs.1-5 Are negative couplets. “Peace and quiet” better than strife. “A prudent servant will rule… but the Lord tests the heart… a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue…  Whoever mocks the poor… who ever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.” Hate Loses!

Vs.6-10 are both positive and negative couplets. “Children’s children are a crown…and parents are the pride of their children.” Children are  God’s gifts. “Eloquent lips are unsuited to the godless fool – how much worse lying lips to a ruler!… Love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. A rebuke impresses a discerning person…” Love wins!

Vs.11-16 Are negative couplets. “Evildoers foster rebellion against God…a fool bent on folly…one who pays back evil for good.” Don’t Start a quarrel… drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. “Acquitting the  guilty and condemning the innocent – the Lord detests them both. Fools… are not able to understand it (wisdom).” This is a word for today.  Rebellion and injustice is all around us! 

Vs.17-25 are both positive and negative couplets. “A friend loves at all times… One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge… whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper… there is no joy for the parents of a godless fool… A cheerful heart is good medicine… The wicked accept bribes in secret.. A discerning person keeps wisdom in view… A foolish son brings grief.”  A word to the wise and the foolish!

Vs.26-28 sums up the admonitions of this Proverb; “If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,surely to flog honest officials is not right.”

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”  We all need to think, twice, before we speak and allow the Spirit to guide our ways! 

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# 22 2023 Dev. Gen.27. The Blessing! Read all of chapter twenty seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Gen.25:23 “The Lord said to her (Rebekah): ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.’”

Gen.27 is about the struggle between Esau and Jacob, There was a major flaw in Isaac and Rebekah’s family life; they each favored one of their sons, Isaac -Esau and Rebekah -Jacob. Rebekah had received the word of the Lord concerning Jacob; he would be stronger and Esau would serve him. It would seem that Isaac must have been aware of God’s words to her. Yet, he was determined to give Esau the blessing and Rebekah was determined to get a blessing for Jacob.

Vs.1-4 Isaac decided to bless Esau. The preparations were made but Rebekah overheard the arrangement.

Vs.5-29 Rebekah and Jacob colluded to get the blessing first. Jacob was reluctant, if they could not pull this off he would be cursed instead, but Rebekah took that curse upon herself. In her defense, she had the word of the Lord, but she acted to make it come true, even so, her faith wained and she was not willing to wait upon the Lord. Jacob and Rebekah were successful in their deception but at great cost. She would send Jacob away and she would not see him again nor his family. 

Vs.30-41 We have to wonder if Isaac suspected the deception and went ahead anyway based on the prophecy given to Rebekah. We also wonder why there was no blessing for the other son. Here also Esau had to face his own short comings, he did after all  despise his birthright. In any case, Isaac blessed him but it was a blessing that was the opposite of Jacob’s blessing, he would serve Jacob “but when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.” Esau held a grudge, and would have killed Jacob after Isaac’s death but Rebekah intervened.

Vs.42-46 Rebekah was grievously troubled with the Hittite women who Esau had married, she wanted Jacob to go back to her father’s house to find a wife. Abraham did that for Isaac and we wonder why Isaac was not more proactive in that regard. In any case, God used Rebekah to accomplish His purpose. As it is, God uses our short comings to advance His kingdom. Thanks be to God. 

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# 21 2023 Dev. Prov.16:3 Love and Faithfulness! Read all of chapter sixteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16 is about the way God wants us to live, it is summed up in verse 6 “Love and Faithfulness.” In this chapter of couplets almost all lines complement each other, one line reinforcing the other, both negative and positive statements. Proverbs is about a way of being and a way of becoming, either good and better or bad and worse.

Vs.1-9 The Lord is in control of our lives. He gives “the proper answer… motives are weighed… will establish your plans… detests all the proud of heart.”

V.6 We are all sinners, we strive not to sin and we ask for forgiveness when we do sin. Can sins be undone? Yes and no! When we ask for forgiveness: they are removed “as far as east is from the west” Further, “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.” Thanks be to God!

“When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way…” They are blessed.“With righteousness… their steps are established…” God controls our lives when we trust Him.

Vs.10-15 Kings (leaders Rom 13) are ordained by God. “The lips of the king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.” That is true when a leader is upright and truthful.  He demands, “honest scales (honest justice)…detest wrongdoing (is not corrupt)…takes pleasure in honest lips…is a messenger of death (is not lawless)… When the king’s (God’s) face  brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.”

Vs.16-23 Wisdom, “How much better to get wisdom than gold… The highway of the upright avoids evil… Pride goes before destruction… better to be lowly in spirit… whoever gives heed to instruction prospers… the wise of heart are called discerning…prudence is a fountain of life… their lips promote instruction.”

Vs.24-30 A kind word: “Gracious words are a honeycomb… There is a way that appears to be right… The appetite of laborers works for them… A scoundrel plots evil… A perverse person stirs up conflict…A violent person entices their neighbor… Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity…” Our words and actions affect all those we come in contact with.

Vs.31-33 These three verses are a summary: Righteousness, patience, God in control: “ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.” Amen and Amen!

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# 20 2023 Dev. Gen.26. Rehoboth, God Makes Room! Read all of chapter twenty six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Gen.26:12 “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him.”

Gen.26 God renews the Abrahamic covenant with Isaac. Isaac makes the same mistakes as Abraham but God uses them to protect him. Further, this chapter is a summary of Isaac and Rebekah’s life after the death of Abraham. By the time of Esau’s marriage Isaac is 120 yrs. old.

Vs.1-6 There was  famine that caused Isaac to think about moving down to Egypt as Abraham did. God intervened and told him to stay in Gerar. God makes the same covenant with Isaac He made with Abraham. “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed…” This is a reference to the impact of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.

Vs.7-11 Isaac, like Abraham was worried about his life because of his beautiful wife. He was found out and it gets him into trouble with the leaders. Thanks to God’s grace the leader makes a pronouncement: “Anyone who harms this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

V.12-16 God blesses Isaac as he did Abraham, he became so rich there was not enough room in the land of the Philistines for Isaac’s people, and herds. 

Vs.17-22 So Isaac moved and reopened the wells Abraham had dug but were filled by the Philistines. Isaac dug a well in the valley but Abimelek herders claimed it, so Isaac moved on and dug another well but they claimed that one as well. So Isaac moved on and dug yet another well and no-one claimed it so he named it Rehoboth, “the Lord has given us room.” This also happened to Abraham, but he confronted Abimelek about it, Isaac was content to move on.

Vs.23-33 Again Isaac moved on to Beersheba, there God appeared to Isaac, God assured him: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you: I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Isaac built an alter there and called on the name of the Lord. He also started to dig another well. 

Abimelek, decided that it would be in his interest to make a treaty with Issac, God intervened, Isaac now had the upper hand, since Abimelek approached him and Isaac pointed out his hostility. Isaac made them a feast and the next day the men swore an oath that they would not harm each other.  That  day Issac’s servants came and told him ‘We’ve found water!’” Isaac called it Shibah: meaning oath or seven. The place is called Beersheba. Today it is a city in southern Israel of over 200,000 residents and has archeological sites from 1200 to 600 BC.

Vs.34-35 When Esau was forty years old he married two local women. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. That sets the stage for the next chapter.  One thing is clear, for 120 years God is taking care of Isaac, his family and his people with him. God is faithful! Amen.

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# 19 2023 Dev. Prov.15:1-2. The Eyes Of The Lord! Read all of chapter fifteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 15:1-2 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stores up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”

Proverbs 15 is about patience, a soothing tongue, the lips of the wise, the discerning heart, and many more character traits. Much of Proverbs is a series of opposing couplets of opposite ways of thinking and living. In this chapter there are 9 verses that stand alone where the second line reinforces the first line. 6 verses are positive, 3,23,24,30,31and 33. 3 verses are negative, 10,11, and 12. Proverbs are about  ways of living that is  pleasing to God and is contrasted with ways of living that is not pleasing to Him.

Vs.1-2 “A gentle answers turns away wrath… The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge…” The answer for a peaceful life!

V.3 stands alone, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” We don’t think much about the fact that God is everywhere 24/7. 

Vs.4-9 What is positive in these verses? “The soothing tongue, life… heed correction, prudence… the righteous, treasure… the lips of the wise, knowledge… prayers of the upright pleases Him, He loves those who pursue righteousness.” What is negative? “A perverse tongue crushes the spirit, one who spurns discipline, a fool… the wicked, ruin…hearts of fools, not upright…the Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked, the Lord detests the way of the wicked.” The Lord decides what is good or bad!

Vs.10-12 These verse are negative: “Stern discipline, who leaves the  path; the one who hates correction will die.” There is a second death. “Death and destruction lie open before the Lord- how much more the human heart”! The eyes of the Lord are on us! “Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.” Wisdom is a gift we cultivate. 

Vs.13-22 These verses are about well-being as opposed to a life of turmoil and conflict. A positive life: “the face cheerful, knowledge, a cheerful heart, fear of the Lord, love, who is patient calms a quarrel, the path of the upright is a highway, a straight course, joy, success.” A negative life: “Heartache… the mouth of the fool feeds on folly… oppressed… turmoil…hatred… conflict… blocked with thorns… a foolish man despises his mother…no sense… lack of counsel.” The positive life and the negative life are choices we make!

Vs.23-24 are positive, standing alone. “A person finds joy in giving a an apt reply-and how good is a timely word. The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.” A word for the wise!

Vs.25-29 The care of the Lord: “the Lord tears down the house of the proud, but sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. The Lord… detests the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. The greedy bring ruin… but the one who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.” Wisdom is to seek the Lord!

Vs.30-33 These 4 verses sum up Ch.15:  v.30  Good news “brings joy to the heart…gives health to the bones.” v.31 “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” Amen! 

V.32 “Those who disregard discipline (teaching) despises themselves.” Amen!

 V.33 “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear (to seek and listen to) the Lord, and humility comes before honor. Amen and Amen!

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