Weekly Protein (06/25/22)

 “And Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. Perhaps my father will feel me, then I shall be as a deceiver in his sight; and I shall bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.'” (Gen. 27:11-12, NASB 1977)

Did you catch Jacob's faulty reasoning? He would be seen as a deceiver only if he was caught. (Listening to his mother's plan and then strategizing how to pull it off – that wasn't deception?)

Believers in Jesus cannot live that way. God's Word is clear: “Do not lie to one another . . .” (Col. 3:9).

Here is your weekly protein.

1.  Answer these questions.

• Have you recently resorted to deception, or considered it, in order to resolve a matter of concern? (If yes, how bothered are you by that admission?)

• On a scale of one to ten (ten being the highest), what number best describes how quickly you have been to act deceitfully?

• Why does acting truthfully sometimes seem harder than acting deceitfully?

2.  Read Genesis chapter 27.

3.  Communicate with your pastor. Relay that you want to to be more consistent at walking in the truth. Ask him or her, “Do you have any suggestions?”

"All These Things Are Against Me" (Gen. 42:36)

Read Genesis 42:36.

How one-sided life can easily become! 

Though there was much hardship, Jacob seems to have forgotten how blessed he was in spite of the pressure. 

That's what pressure does:  it puts your focus on what's wrong not on what's right; it puts your focus on the sacrifice, not the opportunity; it causes you to assume the worst (re: Benjamin, Simeon) about open-ended situations.

You are more blessed than you realize right now.

Hearing First (Gen. 27:22)

Read Genesis 27:22.

Any time you trust feeling over hearing, you're going to be in trouble.  When making major decisions, trust what you hear God is saying.  He will give you insight.  Don't let your senses overrule what your spirit initially receives.

My Prayer (07/19/17)

O Lord there is such a selfish, "Jacob" nature that is still too operative in me.  I'm unable on my own to change my nature and I know it doesn't please You. Work in me to suppress sin and stir holiness. Please forgive my self-sufficient tendency (constantly seeking my own gain).  Turn this Jacob into an "Israel."  Teach me the fear of the Lord.

Brevity, Bitterness and Blessing (Gen. 47:9-10)

By his own admission, Jacob had a short and hard life.  However, he blessed Pharaoh, the current authority in his life.

God is (or should be) the authority in your life.  Bless Him at all times, even when circumstances are less than ideal and even when you don't get all you wanted out of life.

Psa. 34:1.

The Blessing of Famine (Gen. 43:1-2)

Famine is a difficult time of limitation, frustration and pain.  As severity increases, so does your desperation.  You're brought to a place where you'll finally do whatever it takes.  Initially, Jacob refused to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt.  The famine intensified.  Jacob then allowed Benjamin to tag along with his brothers. 

God uses the pressure of hard times to position you to rely upon Him.  During hard times, when you're feeling pressured, you're more likely to be desperate.  Let that desperation move you towards obedience and submission.  Take that risk, make that hard decision, fully trust God.

Your "famine" situation is not about punishment.  This hardship is positioning you for God's greater provision within His larger purpose.

God Speaks When You're Overwhelmed (Gen. 34:30-35:1)

Expect God to speak when you're fearful, weak and overwhelmed.  Jacob didn't ask God to speak.  God just spoke. 

Speak today, Lord, into my life.  Thank You for taking the initiative.

Right Words, Wrong Deed (Gen. 30:1-6)

Jacob recognized the sovereignty of God (Gen. 30:2).  Only God grants children.  Jacob couldn't explain things beyond that.  His confession was right.

Jacob could've followed his father's example but did not.  Barrenness was in the family history:  Sarah (Gen. 18:11), Rebekah (Gen. 25:21) and now Rachel.  Abraham went to Hagar, Sarah's maid, for a child.  Isaac, on the other hand, prayed to God for Rebekah.  Jacob made the wrong choice.  Following Abraham's example he went to Bilhah, Rachel's maid, for a child (Gen. 30:3-5).  Jacob's confession (right words) didn't match his practical behavior.  His confession of sovereignty would've been a good springboard for prayer and trust.  Instead, Jacob jumped off another platform.

What do you believe about your situation?  Go ahead, say it out loud.  Now that you've heard yourself, is your theology correct?  If so, what practical behavior is required from such confession?  Let there be congruence between word and deed.