“Do Hard Things”

January 25, 2024

January 25, 2024

Read Genesis 31-33, Psalm 25

What are some of the hardest things you have ever had to face? Was it a difficult course in school, a circumstance or relationship you had to endure? Maybe it was something physical like competing in a race or competition. As you read these three chapters in Genesis you pick up the theme of conflict. The tension between Jacob and Laban and again between Jacob and his brother Esau were probably not the most fun things that Jacob looked forward to. Jacob had served Laban for 20 years and apparently Laban was not the nice uncle that everyone loves at family gatherings. God told Jacob it was time to go and that’s what he did. He may not have handled it in the best way, but we do not know all the details that Jacob faced. God intervened and stopped Laban from taking matters in his own hands. “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.” v. 29.

In Genesis 32 this whole idea of struggling comes to a head when Jacob wrestles with God. All his life has been surrounded with fighting and struggle. His struggle from birth with Esau, His struggle with Laban, and now he wrestles with a man we later discovery is God. In the struggle, God changes his name from Jacob to Israel. “Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” v. 28. The name Israel means he struggles with God. After this point Israel over comes the struggle and his life is much different than it was before. Finally meeting his brother Esau again, there is no more strife between the brothers even though Israel has his doubts.

What else do you see in these chapters? What repeated words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Write your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Certain Place”

January 24, 2024

January 24, 2024

Read Genesis 28-30, Psalm 24

What are some special places for you that hold a special place in your mind or heart with a spiritual connection? Maybe it was a church or a time away at a camp. Maybe it was somewhere out in nature where you felt the presence of God with you. In Genesis 28 we find such a place for Jacob. On the run from his brother Esau Rebekah suggests that Jacob should head to the land of her family to find a wife for himself. Along the way Jacob stops at Bethel. Jacob has a dream and sees a staircase going up to the heavens and then God speaks to Him in his dream. “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” v. 13. God confirms with Jacob the same promise that He gave to his father Issac and his grandfather Abraham. Jacob will return to this place later and God is not through with him yet.

In chapter 29 Jacob makes it to Paddan Aram and much like his father Isaac secured a wife it centers around watering animals at a well. Jacob meets Rachel and asks for her as a wife and is willing to work for her father Laban for seven years. I love the summarization of Jacob’s work time for the seven years. “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” v. 29. Chapter 29 is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis. This is for a reason to draw the reader to the main story of the book. God has blessed Jacob with children that will become the twelve tribes of Israel. In this chapter we can also see the problems that arise from having multiple wives that fight over the love of Jacob. It is an interesting thought to think that no where in these verses does God command Jacob take more than one wife, but despite human choice God brings forth the 12 tribes of Israel.

In chapter 30 not only do Jacob’s wives and children increase but so do his flocks. Jacob and Laban make an agreement to split the flocks between them because Laban recognizes the blessing that have come from Jacob. In a stripes or solids game of division Jacob uses some sort of plan to increase the numbers of striped animals that he will keep for himself. What are we to make of Jacob’s strange breeding practices?  “He took fresh-cut branches… made white stripes on them by pealing the bark and exposing the white inner wood” v. 37, “placed them in all the watering troughs” v. 38, and “they mated in front of the branches” v. 39. There are 4 different thoughts from various opinions on this. 1. He was engaging in superstitious magic or as a rouse to appear so. 2. Some scientific explanations have to do with some medicinal properties we are unaware of.  3. They had no effect – Only God prospered Jacob. 4. Jacob was following God’s instructions (see verses 10-13).  

Psalm 24 starts with a declaration of David. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” vv. 1-2. We might have a certain place that is special to us, but the whole of creation belongs to the Lord. David declares that for all seek the Lord, the “God of Jacob” v. 6 they will receive a blessing. There is a repeated question in this chapter, “Who is this King of Glory?” Each time David response with the answer “The Lord strong and mighty” or the “Lord Almighty.” No matter if we are in or near our special place, we can take comfort knowing that the whole earth is the Lord’s.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you? What do you notice about the relationships within families in these chapters? Add your thoughts below?

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Posted by John Weldon