Genesis 11/11/2017

GENESIS

November 11, 2017

By Pastor Kim Hickcox

(All Scripture taken from One New Man Bible unless otherwise noted)

 

“And Jacob settled in the land of his father’s sojourning, in the land of Canaan. ²These are the descendants of Jacob. Joseph, seventeen years old, was tending the flock with his brothers and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought to their father very evil reports about them. ³Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age and he made him a long tunic. ⁴And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” Genesis 37:1-4

 

Quite the introduction for the man to whom we see as an Old Testament picture of Y’shua, don’t you think? But try to remember this opening paragraph, as it will help explain things a little later his life.

 

The term “very evil reports” suggest dishonesty; perhaps [mere] exaggeration, perhaps slander, but none-the-less not accurate. And there is one other translation change in the One New Man that may seem off or different if you are familiar with this portion of Genesis:

 

The long tunic in verse 3 refers to what most other translations state as his coat of many colors. It was in fact, what we today call a poncho, the sides of which fell to the wrist and the bottom hem falling to the ground. The term coat of many colors was first found in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation made by seventy to seventy-two scribes in Alexandria, Egypt in 250 BC.

 

The Septuagint was a grand undertaking and was done for two main reasons: first to educate nominal Hebrews who did not, or could not attend synagogue regularly and secondly, it is the first known written attempt to guide the unbelieving world to know the One True God!

 

It was also VERY handy after Y’shua’s resurrection, when He told His disciples that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and upon the Earth. ¹⁹Therefore when you go, you must now make disciples of all the heathens, ²⁰teaching them to keep all the things that I have been commanding you: and behold I AM with you all the days until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) So – hats off to those scribes!!

 

At any rate, the original Hebrew reads long tunic in Genesis 37:3. Now, perhaps there were some different shades of color or tone in the tunic that was handed down by oral tradition the scribes were referring to, but none that I could find. Not that it makes great deal of difference; I’m just a stickler for details as you know.

 

So we will now move on to what brought Joseph’s initial downfall as far as his family was concerned, which would perhaps be his teenage cockiness or over confidence in his father’s favor. At any rate, I am speaking of the dreams which, although the Lord gave him, he seemingly unwisely shared.

 

“And Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more. ⁶And he said to them, ‘Listen, now, to this dream which I have dreamed. ⁷For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field and then my sheaf rose and also stood upright. Then, behold, your sheaves stood all around, and paid homage to my sheaf.’⁸And his brothers said to him, ‘Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?’ And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.⁹And he dreamed yet another dream and told it to his brothers and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed another dream and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars paid homage to me.’ ¹⁰And he told his father and his brothers. His father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to you on the earth?’ ¹¹And brothers envied him, but his father kept the saying in his heart.” Genesis 37:5-11

 

Poor Joseph, the victim of his own immaturity.  Although at the age of 17, he was viewed as a man in the ancient world, he definitely has not been touched with Godly wisdom as of yet. But he will. And one of the things I truly admire about God’s Word is that He does not hide His people’s scars, wounds, flaws or indiscretions. I mean, how discouraging would it be to only know the triumphs of our Bible heroes and none of the setbacks along the way?

 

For as He told us in 2^nd Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made complete in weakness.” And this, my dear friends, is an eternal truth! And may just as accurately be read: My grace always was, always is and always will be sufficient for you. For My power is made complete in your weakness.  Let’s think about that for a while. From Adam to now this is true. And how can it not be? How can God’s power manifest itself in a way that will always accomplish His purpose as He told us it does in Isaiah 55:11, save for our weaknesses on display in one way or the other?

 

“So My word will go forth out of My mouth: it will not return to Me empty-handed, but it will accomplish that which I please and it will succeed wherever I send it.”  And this includes our hearts. Be they personalized or printed for the whole Body or prophesied to one of His or a whole group, HIS WORDS will succeed wherever He sends them!

 

Now, as sure as I know and believe that, I can also tell you with the same confidence that:

1.     When you are waiting on the Lord, He will NEVER come when you think or want Him to. I’ve been waiting 27 years since He first told me that I would go into full time ministry. But then am I?...

 

2.     More than likely, He neither come how nor in the way you expect Him to. …Because on the other hand, I instantly started teaching Sunday School, will be His as often as I can, and have been in a field for years that has opened up all kinds of opportunities to show His love to the least of these. So am I waiting for the picture that only I am expecting or is it still coming and all this is prep for the grand finale?

 

3.     And things could very well get much worse before they get better. Life lived for the Lord is much more of a roller coaster than life lived without Him. Getting saved puts an instant target on our back! We are now on the devil’s hate list. But what better place to be! We will soon look at everything Joseph went through before he got his ‘breakthrough’.

 

But all that being said – what we [also] need to remember is that WE (believers) are the only ones on earth who can safely hang on to our hope – because ours is the only eternal hope that is real.

 

So no matter how dark it gets we know:

 

“There will not be any man able to stand before you all the days of your life: as I was with Moses, so shall I be with you. I shall not fail you or forsake you….Have I not commanded you? Be strong! Be of good courage! Do not tremble! Do not be in dismayed! For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5&9

 

So “you must now hold to our Lord the Messiah in reverence in your hearts, always prepared with a reply for everyone who questions your report about the hope within you.” 1^st Peter 3:15

 

Because “The LORD your God is mighty in your midst! He will deliver! He will rejoice enthusiastically over you with joy! He will rest in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

 

Be of good cheer – Jesus LOVES you!!! Always has – always will!! He holds all of creation in His hands by the power of His word! He will NOT let you down!

 

SHALOM

Genesis 11/4/2017

GENESIS

November 04, 2017

By: Pastor Kim Hickcox

(All Scripture taken from One New Man Bible unless otherwise noted)

 

Chapter 36 of Genesis consists of the descendants of Esau. Why? Well, obviously because the Lord thought it was important. So let’s discover why.

 

Although we know that Esau was born first (Genesis 25:24-26), his twin brother Jacob received Isaac’s blessing of the first-born, which was the lion’s share of the estate. This we also know was the Lord’s plan as He told their mother Rebeccah, “Two nations are in your womb and two kinds of people will be separated from your body, and the one people will be stronger than the other people and the elder will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

 

Esau, as the Lord knew before hand, totally disrespected his birthright more than once. He sold it to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew of all things (Genesis 25:29-34) and he also married into the heathen Canaanite people, totally disrespecting God and his parents. And his mother seemed to take it especially hard. “And Rebeccah said to Isaac, ‘I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these of the daughters of the land what good will my life do me?’” (Genesis 27:46) Now this may seem a bit melodramatic at first, but when you consider the religious connotations, I’m sure it was quite disconcerting.

 

Esau took three wives; the first two were Canaanite and the third was one of Ishmael’s daughters (perhaps an attempt to ease his mother’s trauma).

 

“Now these are the descendants of Esau, who is Edom. ²Esau took for his wives from the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite and Ohoibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, ³and Basemat, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.” Genesis 36:1-3

 

Now the Hittites and the Hivites are common names to those familiar with the Old Testament, as they are often listed as Israel’s enemies; and this is why I love the book of Genesis; we can see how things started and get back to the origins. Not only do we now know that Israel and Edom have family ties, but so do the Hittites ad Hivites!

 

It makes the term the Family of Man so much more literal, or real (at least to me) when we can see that, even though as believers we know that we ALL came from Adam and Eve and then all nations branched out from Noah’s three sons, but I love tracing civilization back to its origins, and where else can this be done except in the book that its Creator wrote for us?

 

So then; the daughters of Heth descended from Ham (Genesis 10:15) as did the Hivites (Genesis 10:17) and of course the Canaanites (Genesis 10:6).

 

Verses 6-8 of Genesis 36 tell us that after Esau and Jacob met up again, Esau travelled so they wouldn’t crowd each other and they seemed to have a very amicable relationship while the two patriarchs were alive. However, we know that as the centuries went by, this was not to last. It is no wonder that Proverb 17:17 says that “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.”

 

“And Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the people of his house, his cattle, all his beasts, and all his possessions, which he had gotten n the land of Canaan, and went into the country from the presence of his brother Jacob. ⁷For their wealth was too great for them to stay together and the land in which they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle. ⁸So Esau lived in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.” Genesis 36:6-8

 

Note that even though they were the third generation to live in the land they were still considered strangers. Land was not solely inherited in ancient times, it was conquered and/or integrated. The Promised Land (which was Canaan) remained in the hands of its ancestors until the Hebrews, under the leadership of Joshua came in and conquered it. So unless you could trace your family back to where there were no inhabitants in the land at all, which would have been when the Tower of Babel stopped and “the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the entire earth…” (Genesis 11:8), anyone else was a stranger.

 

So Esau went to Mount Seir to settle which was just south of Moab and obviously where he was comfortable, perhaps even where one of his wives came from.

 

The rest of the chapter is devoted to the Chiefs of Edom and ends with his legacy: “And these are the names of the chiefs who descended from Esau according to their families, after the places, by their names; Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,⁴¹Chief  Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, ⁴²Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,⁴³Chief Magdiel, Chief Iram: these are the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlement in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of Edom.” Genesis 36:40-43

 

The Horites were mentioned also, but due to all the intermarrying between Esau’s sons and daughters and the natives of the land, they eventually blended. And it was because of the spiritual strain this [should] cause, that the Lord didn’t want His people to intermarry. If you’ll remember, Jacob’s father-in-law was an idol worshipper, as Rachel stole his household idols when she left and he came in hot pursuit after them.  

 

But Rachel worshipped her husband’s God, YHWH (Yah Weh, the One True God, our Father) and did not keep the idol worship she grew up with. Obviously her cousin Rebeccah did not worship the idols of her brother either, at least not after she married Isaac. The Lord, knowing this, did make a few exceptions over the years, and two of the women are mentioned in Y’shua’s human genealogy: Rahab of Jericho (Joshua 2 & Matthew 1:5-6) who married Salmon, had Boaz who, following in his father’s footsteps married Ruth, a Moabitess (Ruth 4:13-17) and both women were of course ancestors of King David, which eventually led to Y’shua. But of course with His omniscience, there are no accidents, no mistakes and no confusion. He KNEW. And His grace toward ALL of mankind is shown through these women who put their faith in Him and were blessed by Him with such honor as being part of their Savior’s heritage!!

 

Edom however, had no such revelation, so their story does not intersect the New Testament.

 

Throughout the remainder of chapter 36 of Genesis, Midian and Amalek were mentioned as well as Uz, which is the name of the land that Job was from. And one of Esau’s descendants was named Baal-Hanan. So we know who was worshipped. The Canaanites worshipped a total of 360 idols, but Baal was the common denominator so to speak, of idols among all of the heathen nations in the middle east.

 

I only found one other OT reference of Esau’s descendants via their tribe’s name: in Job 4:1, we see that Job’s friend Eliphaz was a Temanite, fitting as we also just learned that the land of Uz was in Edom also, so Job was probably an Edomite too, although we are never told one way or the other. We just know that “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was honest, unsophisticated, and upright, and one that revered God and turned aside from evil.” (Job 1:1) And now that we know were the land of Uz was that was probably a rare thing!

 

Anyway, I’m going out on a limb and suppose that Esau’s family finally just solidified into the Edomites, as they are mentioned en masse, as it were, 107 times in the Old Testament – and none of them in good light once Esau left the scene.  

 

So why did the Lord want us to see the descendants of Esau? To learn that Job was an Edomite? To learn that brothers, even twins, are not alike in every way, even though they were raised in the same home and in the same environment? To see that Esau was loved and blessed also?

 

What did the Holy Spirit give to you? I was reminded that God’s grace and love extent to ALL Mankind. I never realized that Job lived in Edom. I’m going to read that book again. I can now get a greater insight as to how or perhaps why nonbelievers formulate their opinions about our God. I hope today’s message spoke to you too. Let me know.

 

SHALOM

Genesis 10/28/2017

GENESIS

October 28, 2017

By Pastor Kim Hickcox

(All Scripture taken from One New Man Bible unless otherwise noted)

 

The remainder of chapter 35 of Genesis in my version is subtitled The Lord Prophesies to Jacob. He also revealed another one of His names, so let’s read what the Lord’s prophecy to His chosen patriarch was:

 

“And God appeared to Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-Aram, and blessed him.¹⁰And God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob. Your name will not be called Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel: and He called his name Israel.’ ¹¹And God said to him, ‘I AM El Shaddai (God Almighty)! Be fruitful and multiply! A nation and a company of nations will be out from you, and kings will come out of your loins. ¹²And I shall give to you the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, and I shall give the land to your seed after you.’ ¹³And God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. ¹⁴And Jacob set a pillar in the place where he talked with Him, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering on it and he poured oil on it. ¹⁵And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beit-El.” Genesis 35:9-15

 

Here the Lord uses I AM, the name He gave Moses and El Shaddai! We have learned that I AM is the very powerful Hebrew word Anokhi that the Lord uses when He is giving a very definite and deliberate statement. Basically this is when the Lord says,Because I AM. And in my humble opinion, this is when all questions should stop and His majesty and holiness should be recognized. This is the main reason why I still stand in amazement that the Roman troop didn’t turn tail immediately and run when confronting Y’shua at His arrest when He answered them with His Name I AM as opposed to the affirmation I am when asked Who He was. Only John records this: “Then Y’shua, since He knew all these things that were coming upon Him, went and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ ⁵They answered Him, ‘Y’shua of Nazareth.’ He said to them, ‘I AM.’ And Judas, the one who was giving Him over had also stood with them. ⁶Then as He said to them, ‘I AM,’ they went into those behind and they, the entire arresting party, fell to the ground.”  (John 18:4-6)

 

Now I have felt that power of God personally. It is called being slain in the Spirit, and it is literally a power force that knocks you completely flat without a human touch! Youfeel His power and you know that you cannot stand in its midst! It’s not scary at all, in fact, it’s quite loving, being given such personal attention. It’s about as close to a physical display of His power and presence as we [usually] get here on earth.

 

It’s wonderful actually, and you don’t get up from it the same, obviously because you have now been touched by God – directly. You are healed or delivered or given the directive or decision that you have been praying about, etc. but you are changed!!

 

And, getting back to John, if I would have been in the arresting party, which numbered 600 men at least, I honestly believe I would have said my farewells and beat feet out of there! No captain, no Pilate, not even Caesar himself could have intimidated me anymore after that!

 

I digress, but I’m just saying that if you ever have questioned Y’shua’s mission and the love He voluntarily showed for you – just think about that scene. Do you think anyone in their right mind would have carried out that mission unless it had been preordained by God? That’s what I can only call unholy deception with a holy purpose. One of the most definitive displays of Romans 8:28 that will ever be seen!! And all because He couldn’t stand the fact that if He didn’t do this, He would have to spend eternity without you!

 

So – the Lord was gives Jacob a new identity: Israel (Yisrael in Hebrew) meaning,Prevailing with God. However, if you’ve noticed that unlike Abraham and Sarah, Jacob is often mentioned by both names throughout history and the Bible. We don’t know why, just a note. Perhaps a reminder that the Lord chooses us according to His pleasure and not because of what we’ve done or who we [think] we are.

 

So before there were any regulations written about an offering to God, way before Leviticus was written or any “standard” was set to honor God, Israel “set a pillar in the place where he talked with Him, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering on it and he poured oil on it. ¹⁵And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beit-El.” These offerings and this name came from Jacob’s heart and love for the Lord. And he named the place House of God.

 

So the Lord’s prophecy to Israel was actually a repeat of His promise to Abraham with a bit of a verbal expansion; reassuring Israel that he was on the right path, which he may have needed after Dinah and Shechem. We all need encouragement once and a while as the Lord knows.

 

There was another reason why the Lord knew that Israel would need encouragement. Right after this, we find out the Rachel is pregnant again and the last of Jacob’s 12 sons is about to be born. However, this birth will also take the love of his life from him, as Rachel will die right after she births her second son.

 

“And it happened when she was in hard labor that the midwife said to her, ‘Do not be in awe! For this is also a son for you.’ ¹⁸And it came to pass, as her life went out – for she died – that she called his name Ben-oni but his father called him Benjamin (Binyamin). ¹⁹And Rachel died, and was buried by the road of Efrat, which is Bethlehem, House of Bread. ²⁰And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.” Genesis 35:17-20

 

This is a passage of names. First let me refer to our Savior. He was born in Bethlehem, which is also called the City of David as it is where he was born and raised, but is also translated as House of Bread. Sound familiar? “Most assuredly I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸I AM the Bread of Life. ⁴⁹Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and they died: ⁵⁰this One is the Bread that descends from heaven, so that whoever would eat of it would not then die. ⁵¹I AM the Living Bread that descended from out of heaven: if anyone would eat of this Bread he will live forever, and also the Bread which I shall give on behalf of the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:47-51

 

Referring to His sacrifice of course, as He gave His life for ours and well as the torture of His body for us also.

 

Now the other names we see in our last passage of the day is Israel’s last son. Rachel named him Ben-oni which can either mean Son of My Mourning or Son of My Strength, we’re fairly sure her meaning was Mourning, as she knew she was about to die. Jacob changed, but didn’t change his youngest sons name to Benyamin. Yamin is a synonym of oni which means right hand or strength.

 

Therefore he could call his son Son of My Strength or Son of My Right Hand not disrespecting his wife’s choice, but also not being constantly reminded of her sorrow and death.   

 

So as always we see the Lord’s perfect timing. He personally spoke to and encouraged Jacob at just the time he would need it the most. Jacob’s legacy is now fulfilled in that he now has the 12 sons who are to be the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of the Lord’s nation. And he dear Rachel’s tomb is still being visited today. Although surrounded by myths over the centuries, it can also be noted that the Lord preserved the site throughout Man’s violent history to honor her, as she is called the mother of Israel throughout Scripture, because she had Jacob’s heart.

 

But Israel persevered, like all of us do. And I think today’s take-away should be that the Lord always knows what we need when we need it and will always provide it too! He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And His provisions cover absolutely everything we will ever need: emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and financially. Call on Him! You know He longs to hear from you.

 

SHALOM!!

Genesis 10/21/2017

GENESIS

October 21, 2017

By Pastor Kim Hickcox

(All Scripture taken from One New Man Bible unless otherwise noted)

 

After the ordeal with Jacob’s daughter Dinah, Genesis goes straight to where he received a word from the Lord to move. But Jasher covers the battle in more detail and in fact, brings Judah to the forefront. And as Judah is the tribe from which Y’shua comes, I think it would give us some insight as why He chose Judah, save for the fact that his name means Now I will praise the Lord (see Genesis 29:35).

 

So let’s review a little [Biblically recommended] recorded history before we go to God’s Word Itself – call it background if you will:

 

Before they slaughtered the entire city, which we read about it Genesis 34:27-31, Judah (according to Jasher) was asking his father why he was getting so upset about Simeon and Levi going in and killing all the men. He reminded Jacob that not only had they gone against the word of the Lord, but no one in the entire city tried to stop, question Shechem, or even thought that there was anything wrong with what he did!

 

Shechem did all this evil and not one of the inhabitants of his city interfered with him, to say, Why would you do this?...And now why are you afraid or distressed, and why are you displeased with my brothers, and why are you angry with them? Surely our God Who delivered into their hand the city of Shechem and its people, He will also deliver into our hands all the Canaanitish kings who are coming against us, and we will do to them as my brothers did to Shechem.

 

Now be tranquil about them and cast away your fears, but trust in the Lord our God, and pray to Him to assist us and deliver us, and deliver our enemies into our hands.

 

And Judah called to one of his father’s servants, Go now and see where those kings, who are coming against us, are situated with their armies. (Jasher pg 73, bold added for emphasis.) GO JUDAH!!

 

THEN Judah said to Simeon and Levi, and all his brothers, Strengthen yourselves and be sons of valor, for the Lord our God is with us, do not fear them. Stand forth each man, armed with his weapons of war, his bow and his sword, and we will go and fight against these uncircumcised men; the Lord is our God. He will save us.

 

THEN we read that Jacob went to his dad Isaac, who was still living in Hebron, recruited his servants and asked for his prayers too:

 

And Isaac the son of Abraham prayed to the Lord for his sons, and he said, O Lord God, You did promise my father, saying, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and You did also promise me, and establish Your word, now that the kings of Canaan are coming together, to make war with my children because they committed no violence.(Because they didn’t start it, they were just meting out justice.)

 

Now therefore, O Lord God, God of the whole earth, pervert, I pray, the counsel of these kings that they may not fight against my sons.

 

And impress the hearts of these kings and their people with the terror of my sons and bring down their pride, and they will turn away from my sons.

 

And with Your strong hand and outstretched arm deliver my sons and their servants from them, for power and might are in Your hands to do all this.

 

Then Jacob added his pray too: O Lord God, powerful and exalted God, Who has reigned from days of old, from then until now and forever;

 

You are He Who stirs up wars and causes them to cease, in Your hand are power and might to exalt and to bring down; O may my prayer be acceptable before You that You may turn to me with Your mercies, to impress the hearts of these kings and their people with the terror of my sons, and terrify them and their camps, and with Your great kindness deliver all those who trust in You, for it is You Who can bring people under us and reduce nations under our power.  (Jasher pg 74) This last statement was prophetic, as we can see when David was king.

 

And as if to back Jasher up, Genesis 35:5 says, “And they journeyed and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.” The prayers of Isaac and Jacob were answered!

 

But first, Jacob received an instruction, “Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, to up to Beit-El, and live there and there make an altar to God, Who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.’’’ Genesis 35:1

 

And so he did, but listen to what he told everybody, something that God didn’t even mention, “Then Jacob said to his household and to all that were with him, ‘Put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean and change your garments. ³And let us rise and go up to Beit-El, and there I shall make an altar to God, Who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went.’ ⁴And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hands and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was in Shechem.” Genesis 35:2-4

 

At first I found this kind of surprising that the Lord didn’t mention the idols that were stashed around the camp, but then it struck me that He trusted Jacob to get rid of them himself. After the quashing of their impending battle, Jacob’s resolve and faith, I’m sure, were elevated and in verse 3 when he says, “I shall make an altar to God, Who answered me in the day of my distress”, he could very well have been referring to their most recent dilemma with the Canaanite kings.

 

As far as the idols go, we don’t know if this was a revelation for Jacob, or perhaps they returned from the festival where Dinah was abducted with them, but it adds another layer as to why the destruction of Shechem was sanctioned, why they were told to leave that area and why Jacob’s prayers were answered, as he seemed to be ever strengthening his commitment to the Lord – with the help of his son Judah, who seems to have the Fire of God in him, burning for His Righteous Standards to be kept.

 

“So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan that is Beit-El, he and all the people with him. ⁷And he built an altar there and called the place El Beit-El because God appeared to him there, when he fled from the face of his brother. ⁸And Deborah, Rebeccah’s nurse died, and she was buried below Beit-El under an oak, and the name of it was called Allon-bakhut (Oak of Weeping).” Genesis 35:6-8

 

Jacob sought the Lord when he or his family were in trouble and he worshipped ad was obedient to Him when things were going well. His personal experience changed him. And He is still making Personal appearances today! Do you remember yours?

 

Mine was in 1990. He healed me at the beginning of a church service and saved me at the end of it. Life is never the same after encountering the Lord, is it?

 

This week, let’s take a little time out to remember. Remember everything He has done for you. Write your blessings down and rehearse them. You would be surprised what an uplift that is!

 

He is our every breath, our every heartbeat, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, being sent down by the Father of Lights, with Whom there is not one change or shadow variation.” Jacob 1:17

 

“A psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul! All that is within me, bless His holy name!

²Bless the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all His benefits! ³Who forgives all your iniquities! Who heals all your diseases! ⁴Who redeems your life from destruction! Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion! ⁵Who satisfies your old age with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

⁶The LORD executes acts of loving kindness and justice for all that are oppressed.

⁷He made His Ways known to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

⁸The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in loving kindness.

⁹He will not always chide, neither will He keep His anger forever.

¹⁰He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who revere Him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

¹³Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who revere Him.

¹⁴For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass: like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

¹⁶For the wind passes over it and it is gone; and that place will know it no more.

¹⁷But the loving kindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting, upon those who revere Him and His acts of loving kindness to children’s children.

¹⁸To such as keep His covenant and to those who remember to do His commandments ¹⁹the LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.

²⁰Bless the LORD, His angels, who excel in strength, who do His commandments, obeying the voice of His word!

²¹All His hosts, ministers of His who do His pleasure, Bless the LORD!

²²Bless the LORD! All His works are in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 103)

 

SHALOM!