Posts Tagged ‘ Reuben ’

Tweets & Rants 14 March 2013: Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 8:18-39; Psalm 60; Numbers 31-32

believes that we find our greatest effectiveness for Christ’s kingdom when we accept His Lordship over His kingdom. Rom 8:30 @WeeManWest

believes that we show our understanding of Christ’s Lordship when we are willing to suffer all thing for His kingdom. Rom 8:37 @WeeManWest

is assured, if God is able to deliver 12K men from war harmless, so He is able to keep all who trust Christ in His hand. Num 31:49 @WeeManWest

Matthew 25:15 God gives each of us the responsibilities we have in this world on the basis of our ability. God has foreknowledge and knows us totally and He gives to us in accordance with what He knows we will produce. God entrusts those of us whom He knows will produce more for His kingdom more responsibility in His kingdom.

Matthew 25:27 God gives us His kingdom for the purpose of reproducing it. We are without excuse. He has not called us to preserve His kingdom, He promised to do that Himself. He has called us to cast the kingdom out like seed in a field, not store it in grain bins.

Romans 8:18 Our present suffering pales in comparison to the glory that God will reveal in us. He will certainly reveal His glory in us. This is part of our hope.

Romans 8:27 I’m glad to know that I don’t have to remember every prayer request in full detail. The Holy Spirit intercedes. I also know that I can lay before God the desires of my heart because I know that the Spirit intercedes for me in those desires that are in line with the will of God.

Romans 8:28 As far as the will of God is concerned and His people are concerned, all things work together to achieve His will and do good for His people. How willing are we to accept that our own death may be the best thing that ever happens to us and simultaneously the most productive thing for His kingdom in accordance with His will?

Romans 8:30 Unless we are in touch with the full sovereignty of our God this verse will make no sense. However, just like the parable of the talents, God knows who is going to respond to Him and how they are going to respond to Him. He knows this because He made each one of us as we are and know us intimately.

Romans 8:31 What does this mean? Does it mean we will have no more trials, troubles, persecutions, or martyrs in our midst? No! What it means is that in all those things God is working FOR us to bring about His will and kingdom through us. He is continually working on the side of His kingdom in accordance with His will. We must willingly accept whatever He has chosen for our role to be in that and fully embrace what it means for our lives…even if it means our own death.

Romans 8:37 In all what things? In tribulations, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, and even death as he quotes Psalm 44:22. No matter what Satan throws at us in order to destroy Christ’s kingdom it will be conquered through Christ. His will be done, His kingdom come. God sent His own Son to win this battle for His people. He will certainly use all things at His disposal to insure His kingdom come.

Psalm 60:4 Christ is God’s banner set up for us to flee to from our sinful, depraved, desolate and meaningless existence.

Psalm 60:11 All manner in which man tries to bring about his own salvation is worthless vanity. We cannot save ourselves. We must accept the salvation God has provided.

Psalm 60:12 As we go about daily, we are conquerors. Even if we give our lives we have the assurance that our blood will not have been shed in vain, but will have been shed in the accomplishment of His kingdom.

Numbers 31:16 Balaam still managed to turn a profit. He advised Balack to send the women of Midian among the Israelites to lead them astray so that maybe they would be defeated.

God’s kingdom prevailed.

Numbers 31:49 What a statement to God’s victorious power. 12,000 men go to war, 12,000 men return from war.

So it is with Christ, none who are in His hand will be snatched away by the enemy. Not a single one!

Numbers 32:5 The tribes of Reuben and Gad decide the land outside of the promised land is better for them. They ask for it. They swear an oath to continue fighting with all of Israel to conquer the promised land. Yet, their inheritance will be outside of the land.

How often are we driven by our sight to fall short of the promises of God!

2013
03/14
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Tweets & Rants 1 March 2013: Matthew 21:23-32; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 48; Numbers 1-2

is amazed at the power of God to save us and make us righteous, positionally and practically in Christ Jesus. Rom 1:16 @WeeManWest

is focused on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a fact changing everything by declaring Jesus to truly be God in power. Rom 1:4 @WeeManWest

Matthew 21:27 We try so often to negotiate with God and get Him to come to us on terms that work better for us and lead to less pain for us. If we are going to go to God we have to go on His terms, even if His terms lead to our harm.

Matthew 21:32 God’s terms are very simple and yet we make them complicated. He came to Israel with a Law they promised to keep and failed to do so. God sent His Son to keep the Law and bring everyone into the kingdom by faith. Yet, they still chose to ignore what God was doing.

Jesus showed them that even the dregs of their society, tax collectors and prostitutes, were receptive and yet they, the blessed of thier society were rejecting the message and would be denied.

Romans 1:4 Jesus is declared to be the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead. Jesus resurrection is historical fact. The declaration His resurrection makes is why so many try to disprove His resurrection. They don’t want to recognize Him as God.

Romans 1:14 We are under obligation to preach the gospel. Whether we preach to a Greek or a barbarian, a wise or foolish person, we are under obligation to preach the gospel wherever we may happen to be.

Romans 1:16 Salvation is the power of God. He has the power to save any person who will come to Him by faith. He will not only powerful impute on us the righteousness of Christ but He will also work in us to produce His righteousness in our lives. What a powerful God we serve.

Romans 1:17 God’s righteosness is revealed from faith to faith. We live by faith and that is our righteousness. Faith allows us to understand that all we see was crafted by one we cannot see.

Psalm 48:10 Our goal should be that the praise of God’s name due His righteousness would reach the ends of the earth. We must be committed and vigilant to that task till He returns.

Psalm 48:13 We shouldn’t focus only on our own getting the message out, but also on preparing the next generation to carry the gospel with them.

Numbers 1:3 God orders a census as part of a mustering campaign for the upcoming military conflicts in Canaan. God is mustering up His army.

Numbers 1:46 God musters an army of more than half a million people. One can’t help but wonder the size of the Hebrew community at this time. I would say at least double if not triple that number was probably the total size of the community including women and children. Probably around 2 million.

Numbers 1:50 The Levites were not to go to war, but were charged instead with the care and protection of the tabernacle.

Numbers 2:3 On the east side of the camp one is to have Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Leah’s kids, Judah the 4th born and Issachar the 9th, Zebulun the 10th.

Numbers 2:10 On the south of the camp is to be Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. Leah’s firstborn Reuben and second born Simeon with Zilpah’s first born Gad.

Numbers 2:17 The Levites and the tabernacle were to be in the midst of the camps, just as Christ is in our midst by faith. Leah’s 3rd born.

Numbers 2:18 On the west side shall be Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Rachel’s kids, Joseph, her first born, the 11th had Ephraim and Manasseh. Rachel’s lastborn Benjamin. The fist and the last.

Numbers 2:25 On the north side of the camp were to be Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Bilhah’s first born Dan and second born Naphtali who were 5 and 6, with Zilpah’s second born and 8th Asher.

2013
03/01
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Tweets & Rants 27 January 2013: Matthew 9:27-38; Acts 14; Psalm 22:12-31; Genesis 49

needs  eyes of Holy Spirit inspired compassion so that His kingdom will be preeminent. Mat 9:35-38 & Act 14:9 @WeeManWest

Matthew 9:29 The blind men had already expressed their faith (Matthew 9:28) and were now receiving this mercy from God. They asked for mercy (Matthew 9:27) not for healing. Jesus could verily have shown them the mercy of forgiveness without the added mercy of healing. They believed that Jesus was Lord and that He was able to heal them of their blindness. Jesus had mercy on them.

Matthew 9:30 The men disobeyed Jesus’ command. They spread His fame though all of that district. Our business is to be spreading His fame where we are.

Matthew 9:34 Jesus’ healing is attributed to demons by the Pharisees. They had already decided they would not believe Jesus and instead sought to relegate His healing to the work of demons. We must be very careful to test things out to see what they are from.

Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus had his eye to the preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus is said here to have healed every disease and affliction. Jesus was driven by compassion and we should see the people of this world the same way. We should be disturbed that we refer to them as idiots, or morons, but rather we should see ourselves and others as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” and act toward them with compassion.

We have a plentiful harvest. We should pray for laborers into the harvest. I’m hit with a similar thought from the Lord’s Prayer. If we pray that prayer we will be more aware of God and His agenda and our need. If we pray for workers for the harvest we are going to eventually see that we are to be workers for the harvest where ever we happen to be.

Acts 14:9 I’m amazed at how in tune with the Holy Spirit the apostles were. Whether it was Peter dealing with Ananias and Sapphira or Paul here, they were able to pinpoint where God was at work. Paul saw this man had the faith to be healed.

What this means is that Paul was listening to the Holy Spirit and saw God’s work in this man.

What this doesn’t mean is that if you are not healed that you do not have enough faith.

Acts 14:17 Natural Law itself indicates to us that someone had to have put those laws in place. The seasons, day and night, nature’s cycles all declare to mankind the compassion of the Creator/Designer.

Acts 14:19 I can’t help but wonder if the first mission trip was cut short due to Paul’s need to rest and heal from the injuries he incurred while being stoned nearly to death?

Acts 14:22 One thing we must come to grips with is the fact that we will face trouble if we are truly going to live as representatives of God in this day and age.

Psalm 22:12-18 The depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion continues. Surrounded by bulls and dog who are out to get Him like ravenous lions. His bones are out of joint, but not broken. His heart is melting with pain. He has no strength, his is thirsty. They pierced His hands and feet and cast lots for his clothing.

Psalm 22:19-21 We see a prayer for deliverance. He would be delivered from the grave in the resurrection.

Psalm 22:22-26 Jesus would proclaim God’s praise among His brothers for the afflicted would find their deliverance in God.

Psalm 22:27-31 All the earth shall worship God. Global worship is the eventual goal of Christ’s work. Global worship should be the goal of our work.

Genesis 49:2-3 Reuben is preeminent in dignity and power yet because of his instability in having gone into to Bilhah he has lost preeminence among his brothers.

Genesis 49:5-7 Simeon and Levis slew all the men of Shechem in their anger therefore they will be separated from one another in Israel. These two brothers are rejected as next in line for preeminence. The Levites would be scattered among  all the tribes.

Genesis 49:8-12 Judah will take the place of preeminence among his brothers. He is the one that the king’s line will come from.

Genesis 49:13 Zebulun would be a port region.

Genesis 49:14-15 Issachar is the working donkey would would take on slavery in order to rest from burden.

Genesis 49:16-18 Dan is to be a snake in the grass among the brothers. Keep this in mind.

Genesis 49:19 Gad shall be raided and shall raid.

Genesis 49:20 Asher will produce great food.

Genesis 49:21– Naphtali seems to be a free spirit.

Genesis 49:22-26 Joseph was fruitful even though attacked by his brothers. He will be blessed abundantly.

Genesis 49:27 Benjamin is described as a ravenous wolf…devouring and dividing the spoil. Keep this in mind as well.

2013
01/28
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Tweets & Rants 23 January 2013: Matthew 8:14-22; Acts 11:19-30; Psalm 19; Genesis 42-43

believes the way to bring social justice and end disease and starvation is to spread the Gospel and watch it work. Mat 18:17 @WeeManWest

is amazed that the people who planted the mighty church at Antioch are not named or credited for it in Scripture. Act 11:19-21 @WeeManWest

believes that Christian is what they were called, not what they called themselves, Christian is earned not taken. Act 11:26 @WeeManWest

knows that the core of Christianity is the realization that we are abysmal failures and desperately need a Savior! Psa 19:12-14 @WeeManWest

will say without a doubt that Psalm 19 and Psalm 110 just happen to be two of his favorite Bible passages. @WeeManWest

Matthew 8:17 Jesus healed people of many and various ailments. What is your battle today? Have you ever truly given in to Christ in full trust that He is able to overcome it? Jesus is able to heal, but is not required to heal. He most desires to heal us of our sinfulness. So many world problems would find resolution if mankind would humbly come before Christ for resolution for our sin problem.

You want to see social justice and a world without disease and starvation? Then work to spread the Gospel, everywhere the gospel has gone those things have followed. Jesus heals the world.

Matthew 8:18-22 Jesus modeled a lifestyle in which we was a wanderer and a vagabond. He owned no home and had to trust God for daily provision and nightly protection.

We must follow Christ when He calls, not at  a time of our own choosing. When He calls, He is ready to use us.

Acts 11:19-21 Finds it striking that the very people who planted the mighty church at Antioch, the very church that would send Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries, are left nameless in the pages of Scripture.

Many of God’s greatest works in His church have been brought about by the nameless saints who surrendered to the call of spreading the Gospel.

Acts 11:22-26 Jerusalem hears of this Antioch church and sends Barnabas. He was eyewitness to what God was doing at Antioch. He bring Paul to Antioch. While the nameless ones planted, Paul and Barnabas are watering this church and God is bringing the produce.

Acts 11:26 Christian was coined in Antioch. If you call yourself a Christian, such is where the word began. I so wish that we who are so called would truly live Christ-like lives as His true followers. We fall so short of this that I often am ashamed to even bear the label!!

Acts 11:27-30 God was still using prophets in the early church. Agabus would prophesy again later. Here he foretells of a famine for the sake of preparation for the church.

I believe that God can still send prophets to His people. However, I believe they come with specific purposes, just as the two times we will see Agabus prophesy in Scripture. The point of prophecy is the direction of God’s people. Prophecy should draw the believer to an ethical lifestyle and behavior.

Prophecy is NOT intended for vain chatter about what will happen or how it will happen, nor is it given to puff up the bringer of the prophecy. If such things occur I highly doubt the veracity of the message.

Jesus had no reason to warn His church about false prophets if prophets were no longer going to come to the church.

Psalm 19:1-6 We see that creation itself declares the glory of God. As I study the intricacy of the universe with my oldest son we are driven to worship the One who created all of it from nothing.

Paul quotes Psalm 19:3 as he discusses the spread of the Gospel. We are to spread this gospel from one end of the planet to the other.

Psalm 19:7-11 The understanding desribed here is found only by those who will spend time with God in His word. God’s law, especially the law of Christ Jesus, will heal this world one person at a time. I’ve seen this effect in my own life and in the lives of others.

Psalm 19:12-13 What people don’t understand is that a Christian, in their heart, is a sinner who has realized their need for a Savior. We have hidden faults that we don’t even know about and need kept back from presumptuous sins. Presumptuous sins are sins in which we knowingly commit a sin and in such commission we presume God’s grace and mercy will be applied to us. As Christians we are in great danger because we fall often into presumptuous sin for which we deserve to be castigated from among God’s people.

Yet His mercy continues. We are so unworthy of the abundant grace and mercy that Jesus shows us.

Psalm 19:14 We should daily pray that our words and motivations be acceptable. Our motivations and thoughts and words are so difficult to control. Yet we give them to the Holy Spirit recognizing that we CAN’T overcome them in our flesh. We NEED God to overcome them in us.

Genesis 42:1 So we begin to see the work of God. During the famine Jacob hears that grain is for sale in Egypt. God will cause us to hear and be motivated in accordance with His will if we are open to His leading.

Genesis 42:6 And we see Joseph’s first dream, of the stalks (Genesis 37:5-8), being fulfilled.

Genesis 42:9 Joseph remembers his dreams…not just the first dream but both dreams and he begins his plan to bring both to pass.

Genesis 42:17 We see another Christ type in that Israel, for their sin, have been placed in custody for 3 days just as Christ was in the tomb for our sin for 3 days. By faith we died in Him, we entombed in Him, and rose in Him.

Genesis 42:18-19 Joseph gave them life, Jesus gave His people life. Joseph gave them grain for their families, Jesus gives us bread from heaven. One remains imprisoned (type of Judas). This whole story serves as a type. We have the type of Christ sending His disciples out with the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 42:23 Joseph’s brothers didn’t know that Joseph understood them. So often, we don’t realize that Jesus understands us, right where we are.

Genesis 42:29 Joseph’s brothers return with their story to Jacob/Israel. Jesus’ disciples went to Israel with the Gospel.

Genesis 42:37 Reuben is still trying to earn Jacob’s favor. Tells Jacob to kill his own two grandchildren if he doesn’t bring Benjamin back. Reuben is rejected.

Genesis 43:1 The famine was severe, yet it was God’s means to bring His people into Egypt for provision.

Genesis 43:9 Judah steps up and offers himself in exchange for Benjamin. Judah knew Israel’s heart. Israel didn’t want his children to die, much less his grandchildren. Judah offers himself as the sin bearer for all the sons just as Christ, from his line, would one day make such an offering on the cross at Calvary.

Genesis 43:11-13 The brothers are sent back with gifts from the land, double the money, and Benjamin. They are wise stewards. Just as Christ has sent us in the world with gifts to multiply them.

Genesis 43:23 Just as this grain was free to God’s people, so also is the Holy Spirit free to God’s people.

Genesis 43:26 Israel brings her gift into Joseph’s house. We will one day be gathered into Christ’s house to offer Him gifts as well. Another beutiful picture.

Genesis 43:32 In Joseph’s house, Joseph, Hebrews, and Gentiles all dine together. Herein we see a picture of the wedding supper of the Lamb.

2013
01/24
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Tweets & Rants 19 January 2013: Matthew 6:25-34; Acts 9:20-43; Psalm 16; Genesis 35-36

is certain that worrying adds nothing 2 our lives but more stress and anxiety, it will not get us any closer 2 our goals. Mat 6:27 @WeeManWest

thinks that those closest to Christ are not worried about whether they get to eat today. Christ is their food. Mat 6:32-33 @WeeManWest

Matthew 6:25 We are all so anxious about our lives. We worry daily about what we will have to eat or what clothes we will wear. Often our lives become about the constant striving over keep ourselves taken care of instead of about the great things of God. Our life is so much more than food and clothing.

Matthew 6:27 Worrying adds nothing to your life but stress, anxiety, and doubt. No holy virtue is added to your life by worrying about how things are going to work out. I can worry and stress over what has to be done today but in all of my stress and worry I am unable to stretch the day by even one hour.

Matthew 6:26 & Matthew 6:28-30 God provides food and clothing to things we observe in nature and He will do the same for us.

Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus lays out the difference between living under His kingdom law and the law of this world. Worldly people spend their time and effort chasing food and clothing. God knows that we need food and clothing and He will provide those things for us. Our focus is to be on the kingdom of Jesus and on His righteousness. It is to our shame that we Christians stay so focused on this material world and neglect our King’s kingdom and His righteousness. Those who are closest to God are among the least concerned about this material world. They aren’t concerned about food and clothing. If they eat goood, if they don’t good.

Matthew 6:34 One lesson we can all learn is that each day has enough anxiety and struggle by itself. We need to focus on living today for Christ in obedience to the law of His kingdom.

Acts 9:20-22 Transformation is the mark of the Gospel. The Christian person is the transformed person. Have you been transformed by the Gospel.

Acts 9:26-31 Paul just needed to get his foot in the door, literally, at the church of Jerusalem. Barnabas took a chance and trusted in what God was doing in his life.

Acts 9:32-43 Peter simply follows the work of Christ. His work leads to healing and to a place in Joppa. Peter has not idea what God’s next step is for him. He is simply obediently following wherever God is working. We should be doing the same, yet we are caught up in this material world and kept from His mission.

Psalm 16:2 Do we really believe that we have no good apart from God, or do we live as though we have the ability to make our own good in our lives?

Psalm 16:5-11 Is God all that we have or do we consider the materials that we have as equally important? David had laid it all upon God and we should follow in the same path. Psalm 16:10 is quoted in regards to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead so certainly David’s sentiments are the same as those of our Savior and should be also found in us who claim to follow Christ.

Genesis 35:1-8 Jacob ends the paganism and polytheism of his clan. They pledge to worship the one true God at Bethel, future Bethlehem, where the one true God would enter this world as a baby. Jacob is now officially Israel, and the inheritor of the promises of God.

Genesis 35:18 Rachel names her last born, as she dies, Ben-oni meaning “son of my sorrow” but Jacob names him Benjamin meaning “son of the right hand”.

Genesis 35:19 Rachel dies en route to Bethel. So a son was born at Bethel to Israel. Picture of Jesus Christ’s own birth that would come.

Genesis 35:22 Reuben sleeps with Bilhah and Israel heard of it. This would damage Reuben’s standing. Reuben would be denied the firstborn birthright and the authority that comes with it as days passed.

Genesis 36 Here we see the lineage of Esau, the rejected line. Several of these name will rise up again in Scripture. Usually in opposition to what God is doing with Israel.

2013
01/20
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Tweets & Rants 17 January 2013: Matthew 6:1-15; Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 14; Genesis 28-30

must do his good works for the attention and reward of God alone and not for the attention and praise of man. Mat 6:1 @WeeManWest

believes that our prayer life is about God and not about us, our prayer life should exalt God not our needs. Mat 6:9 @WeeManWest

believes that prayer is the bridge over the gulf that begins to bring God’s likeness back into this world through us. Mat 6:10 @WeeManWest

thinks the key to unleashing the power of the Gospel in our lives is found in recognizing these verses describe us. Psa 14:1-4 @WeeManWest

Matthew 6:1 What is our motivation? Jesus says that according to the law of His kingdom, our motivation should be the reward from our Father in heaven, not the praise and attention of people on this earth.

Matthew 6:3-4 Our charity should be secret charity that is unheard of and unknown of by any but us, the recipient and God.

Matthew 6:5-6 Our prayer life is not for show. Our prayer life should be lived far stronger in our secret private life with God than should it be displayed for others to see us in it.

Matthew 6:7-9 We shouldn’t try to piece together wordy, theological prayers when we talk to God. Our prayer life should be an extension of our thought life. We should talk to God in regular language. We don’t have to dress up our verbiage to be acceptable to God.

Matthew 6:9 Prayer should focus on Who God is (Our Father) and Where God is (in heaven) and should be centered around lifting up His holy name. Our prayer life is not about us but it is about God.

Matthew 6:10 Prayer is the bridge over the gulf that begins to bring God’s way of life to earth. We seek God’s kingdom come into our world through us. We seek to do God’s will and that His will would be done in this world. We are placing ourselves as the agent of doing God’s will and living a kingdom life when we pray. We engage in the transfer of heavenly living coming down to earth.

Matthew 6:11 Finally, we focus on ourselves. All we can really say about ourselves is a discussion of our needs. We ask God for daily bread. When is the last time we stopped to recognize our real, daily need for God’s physical provision in our life? We should daily be at His feet requesting His provision. We should also see in this the provision of Christ as our daily bread. We feast from Him daily.

Matthew 6:12 Our greatest need is the sin problem. We need forgiveness. Yet, this isn’t a daily cleansing for the sake of eternity but for the sake of our daily walk. Once we are Christ’s we are His. Yet, we still sin and daily we should come to His feet and ask His forgiveness.

However, this doesn’t end with our being forgiven. No, indeed it ends with our ability to forgive others. We see ourselves freed from our sins as we find, through the Holy Spirit, the ability to forgive those who have wronged us. The principle of mercy is at the heart of Christ’s kingdom. If we receive it, we must give it.

Matthew 6:13 Having sought forgiveness we now seek to be protected from temptation. The last thing we need in our weak flesh is to be lead into temptation. We should daily ask that God lead us not into temptation and that He would deliver us from evil. We live in an evil world. A world so evil that those of us who seek to do right are considered its enemies.

We need not only delivered from the evil others may perpetrate but also to be aware of the evil that we ourselves may perpetrate under the right set of temptations and circumstances. Prayer should make us aware of our weakness and need and of the power of God to be mighty in both.

Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus is not teaching that our salvation is conditional. I believe He is discussing our daily cleansing and our need to be free from the entanglements of sin in our lives. The more merciful we are to others the more daily mercy we will receive from God. However, mercy is not a license for licentiousness.

Matthew 6:1-15 Christ’s law of His kingdom focuses squarely on our motivations. What is going on in our hearts. He wants to make our hearts right with Him but that process requires us to begin being honest with ourselves about what is going on inside our own hearts.

Acts 8:26 Sometimes God will call us to the desert place. Often this call will occur when we are in the midst of plenty. Philip was part of God’s work in a Samaritan revival. Yet from this revival God sends Philip to the desert place. How willing are we to obey God and go from the place of plenty to the desert place?

Acts 8:38 Philip baptizes the Ethiopian Eunuch who just so happens to be Head of Treasury for the queen of Ethiopia at the time. Philip’s faithfulness in going to the deser place is now sending the Gospel to Ethiopia.

Psalm 14:1 It is difficult to reject the concept of God. One has to have faith that everything that exists, by chance or luck, just happened to come from nothing and in just happening to come from nothing, came in such a systematic way that we can exist on this planet. Before I knew Christ I found that hard to believe, even more so now that I know Christ!

Psalm 14:1-4 Unless we see ourselves described in these verses we are not really ready to see the Gospel transform our lives. We may say there is a God, yet our heart denies the reality by our motivations and goals. If we believe in God we will live as though God exists.

Genesis 28:9 I have been too often just like Esau. I just don’t get it. He just doesn’t get it.

Genesis 28:19 Jacob’s place for his ladder dream is the place that eventually Christ would enter this world.

Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob vows that IF God does all this stuff for him that THEN he will serve God. Sorry Jacob, God doesn’t work that way. Jacob will learn this lesson the hard way.

Genesis 29:25 Jacob, the deceiver, is now the deceived. He doesn’t seem to like it very much. Often we find that our worst qualities are turned against us by another of the same qualities. I believe God does this to expose us to those qualities within ourselves to which we would otherwise be blind.

Genesis 29:31-35 God allows Leah to give birth to children because Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Honestly, I believe this was turnabout. God was, through Laban’s deception, giving Jacob the more righteous wife in Leah. God had done the same, through Rebekah’s deception, in giving Isaac’s blessing to the more righteous son.

Reuben means “behold a son”  and Leah said, “Because, the LORD has looked upon my affliction”; Simeon means “heard” and Leah said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated”; Levi means “joined to” and Leah said “Now this time my husband will be attached to me”; Judah means “praised” and Leah said “This time I will praise the LORD.”

Genesis 30:1-8 Rachel uses Sarah’s scheme to have a child and gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob. She gives birth to two sons.

Dan means “a judge” and Rachel said “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice”; Naphtali means “wrestling” and Rachel said “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed”.

Genesis 30:9-13 Leah follows Rachel in giving her maid Zilpah to Jacob and she gives birth to two sons.

Gad means “troop” and Leah said “Good fortune has come”; Asher means “happy” and Leah said “Happy am I! for women have called me happy.”

Genesis 30:14-21 Leah “buys” Jacob from Rachel for some mandrakes. She gives birth to two more sons.

Issachar means “there is recompense” and Leah says “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband”; Zebulun means “exalted” and Leah says “God has endowed me with a good endowment”. Also don’t miss that a daughter named Dinah meaning “judgment” is born. She will come back into the picture.

Genesis 30:22-24 Rachel is finally able to give birth and gives birth to Joseph meaning “Jehovah has added” and says “God has taken away my reproach…May the LORD add to me another son”

2013
01/18
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