Read Genesis 32:1-21

Chipping Away At Self-Sufficiency

Did you notice anything in Genesis 32 that is out-of-character for Jacob? A man who has trusted in his own power for so long, even after meeting God in a vision (Genesis 28:10-22). A man who relied on cunning and deception to get what he wanted (or what he thought he needed). But now, he prays to God. Facing what he expected would be the wrath of his brother Esau, Jacob turns to the One whose power had blessed him time after time.

Observe what Jacob says about himself in this prayer. “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown” (Genesis 32:10). Is that a hint of humility we see?

“I am not worthy”—words that all of us should utter to the Lord every morning when we wake up, and every night as we lay down!

“I am not worthy”—words that we should remember before we approach the throne of God in prayer!

“I am not worthy”—words that should stifle every complaint before such vibrates the vocal cords and leaves our lips!

Finally, Jacob acknowledges the grace and mercy of God. Finally, Jacob concedes his own weakness. Perhaps he has not yet reached the final destination in his journey of faith (who among us has?), but finally he is on his way.

Jacob confesses to God that he is afraid. “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children” (Genesis 32:11). What a blessing it is to be able to give God our concerns, even when those concerns show a lack of trust and faith. Jacob had already rehearsed God’s promise (Genesis 32:9), but he still feared for his life.

Jacob follows the exact pattern of prayer that Peter suggests: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Do you follow this pattern in your prayers?

Read Genesis 29:15-30

The Deceiver Deceived

Karma, or “moral causation,” is basically the idea that “what goes around comes around.” It is a fundamental teaching in both Buddhism and Hinduism, but has permeated many other religions as well as the everyday life of many who are not religiously active. In Buddhist and Hindu theology, both of which involve some sort of reincarnation, one’s actions in this life will determine the quality of their existence in their next life.

Obviously, the Scriptures do not teach that one will come back and live another life of flesh-and-blood existence after he dies. “And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Yet, the idea of “what goes around comes around” is not entirely foreign to inspiration.

Consider the words of Paul, who wrote, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8; cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6). No, our good and bad deeds will not follow us to the “next life” in the sense of reincarnation (rather they will follow us to the Judgment), but in this very life we will reap good and bad consequences based on what we choose to do.

What does this have to do with Jacob? Consider what we know about him prior to coming to Laban’s house in Haran. He had taken advantage of his brother Esau in a time of need and secured the birthright that rightly belonged to his brother. Then he deceived his father Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing. His life was marked with selfishness and dishonesty, using others to get ahead.

And now, Laban does the same to Jacob, tricking him into seven years of labor to receive a wife; Jacob thought he was working for Rachel’s hand in marriage, but woke up the day after his wedding to find Leah as his mate. Jacob was understandably upset about his uncle’s deception and had to work another seven years to marry Rachel.

Jacob, a man whose life to this point had been about deception, was now the victim. “What goes around comes around.” Or, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” What are you sowing?

Read Genesis 29:1-14

Do What Needs To Be Done

When Jacob met the shepherds near the well, they were waiting for more to arrive so they could remove the stone from the mouth of the well to water their sheep. When Rachel arrived with Laban’s flock, there were still not enough men to move the stone. The very sight of Rachel, however, motivated Jacob to try it himself, and he succeeded. No doubt, God was with him and provided the strength he needed for the task, though Jacob did not acknowledge such.

Do you ever see things that need to be done, and wonder why no one is doing them? There will be times that more people may be needed, but sometimes the lack of activity is due to apathy. “We’re too small and weak” may be nothing more than an excuse. When we read the Scriptures and we see the love of God demonstrated through the death of Jesus (Romans 5:8), shouldn’t we be motivated to try harder?

There are many things to be done in the kingdom that do not require miraculous strength. When is the last time you sent a note to a Christian brother or sister to encourage them? How many neighbors have you invited to study the Bible with you? Have you offered to pick up groceries or prescriptions for an elderly couple? Or asked if you can bring them a homecooked meal? These are relatively small tasks in the grand scheme of things, but they can be extremely uplifting to the recipients of such kindness.

Here’s the point: if you see something that needs to be done, don’t wonder why someone isn’t doing it. Do it yourself! Encourage others to help you if needed, but don’t let someone else’s apathy hold you back.

In addition, though, acknowledge God’s part in whatever you accomplish. This was a failure on Jacob’s part. Even after the heavenly vision at the end of Genesis 28, Jacob still relied on himself more than God.

We can learn all sorts of lessons from people of faith. They serve as good examples many times, but occasionally we can learn from their shortcomings and resolve not to repeat those mistakes in our own lives.

Read Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob deceived his father and received the blessing that Isaac intended to give his brother Esau. Moses records, “So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, ‘The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob’” (Genesis 27:41). The twins’ mother is understandably concerned and sends Jacob away to her brother’s house until Esau cools down.

On his journey, Jacob stops to rest and has a vision. “Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:12). Is it not fascinating how God works in the lives of His creation, and we are entirely unaware of the specifics of it? These angels were presumably departing heaven to do the will of God, then returning when their tasks were completed. God was giving Jacob a glimpse into His providence and provision.

God repeated to Jacob the vow that He had made with Abraham and Isaac. The land would be given to Jacob’s descendants, and through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed. But God adds a little extra to ease the more immediate troubles in Jacob’s mind. This man was on the run from his brother who wanted to kill him. He left his home, his family, and everything he knew. God told Jacob, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (Genesis 28:15).

God cared about Jacob and told him that He would bring him back home to see his family again. Even though he had done nothing to deserve such love (and who among us has?), Jacob was comforted by Jehovah. He was a swindler and a deceiver, but God had something better in store for Jacob.

We have all done things in our past that we regret. We have all sinned. But God has something better in store for us. He is working in our lives and putting people in place to help us grow closer to Him. Are you listening? Are you verifying the words you hear from others with the Word of God? Are you growing closer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

Read Genesis 26:17-22

“The Lord Has Made Room For Us”

No one likes to be mistreated. Sometimes, however, it is better to pick up and move on rather than stand your ground and fight over trivial matters. Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley over which a dispute arose; the herdsmen of Gerar claimed ownership of that well. Rather than go to war over it, Isaac’s servants dug another well. The same thing happened. A third time, the servants dug a well, but this time there was no dispute. God took care of His servant; Isaac named the well Rehoboth and said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land” (Genesis 26:22).

The first two disputes may have happened because that is not where God wanted Isaac. God, through providence, uses the situations of this life to put people where He can use them in His service. Queen Esther rose to a position of power, perhaps so she could exert some influence over her husband on behalf of her people. In the first century, when Onesimus left his master Philemon and came to Paul, the apostle pointed to the possibility of providence at work. “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (Philemon 15-16).

We do not always see the providence of God while it is happening. Isaac may have really struggled with the quarrels over the wells. He may have felt discouraged or perhaps angry. But he had faith in the Lord to take care of him, just as He took care of him on Mount Moriah when he was bound and laid on the altar. Isaac believed in God’s provision and in God’s providence, and instead of fighting over material possessions, he picked up and moved on until he was where God wanted him to be.

It hurts when we are mistreated, but we must remember that the Lord can use even our pain to further His cause, though we may not understand it fully at the time. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who loved God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). If you love God and are a part of His family in Christ, He will take care of you; He will make room for you, and you can be fruitful.

Read Genesis 23

Respect

Have you ever enjoyed a meal at a restaurant with someone, and when the check comes, a friendly “argument” ensues over who will pay? You certainly do not want your friend to pay for your meal, rather insisting that you pay for his. It is a sign of respect to offer to pay for each other’s food. We see a similar situation play out in Genesis 23, as Abraham requests a burial place for his wife Sarah when she died.

The sons of Heth offer Abraham “the choicest of our burial places” (Genesis 23:6). Abraham requests the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to Ephron, and insists on paying the full price. Ephron and Abraham go back and forth a bit, Ephron insisting that Abraham take the land, and Abraham insisting on paying for it. In the end, Abraham gives Ephron 400 shekels of silver and buries Sarah “in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan” (Genesis 23:19).

Why was Abraham, who described himself as “a foreigner and a visitor among you” (Genesis 23:4), treated with such respect? No doubt his character had been on display before these men for many years. They told him that he was “a mighty prince among us” (Genesis 23:6). He was treated with respect because he treated them with respect. He did not expect special treatment; he did not feel entitled to anything. He did not demand that they change their customs to accommodate him. Rather, he attempted to live at peace with them.

Is that not how we should treat our fellow man today? The apostle Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Our character, which defines how we conduct ourselves, should demand respect of all who are around us—even non-Christians. In fact, elders in the church “must have a good testimony among those who are outside” (1 Timothy 3:7). A person who has put on Christ in baptism must live lives of integrity.

Will you always receive the respect you deserve as a moral person attempting to live according to God’s Word? No, but another person’s action does not change what the Word says. We must give as much respect to others as we can muster; we must be at peace “as much as depends on you” (Romans 12:18).