Bible Reading: Genesis 27-29
Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him:and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Hatred between brothers is a terrible thing. In the case of Jacob and Esau it was a vying for position with their father. Esau as firstborn should have received the blessing and the birthright. However, God had different plans. Jacob and Rebekah had used subtlety and deception to gain for Jacob the blessing.
What about you? Do you love your brothers and sisters? Or is there a root of bitterness over some wrong done?
Hatred among brothers goes back to the very first two brothers in history.
Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother:and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
The hatred in Cain's heart became murder in his hand.
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Esau and Jacob like Cain and Able had a terrible sibling rivalry. Jealousy and a desire to be pleasing to parents and God drove their decisions. Be very careful in your dealings with your brothers and sisters. Jesus tells us that murder begins in the heart. If you have allowed bitterness and hatred to grow, it can manifest in all manner of sinful ways.
Instead, allow the forgiveness of God to flow to them and be loving in your dealings with your siblings.
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah
Bible Reading: Genesis 25-26
Genesis 26:34-35 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
Esau married two wives which were a grief of mind to his parents. Part of the grief must have been from the fact that Isaac had seen the results of a man having more than one wife. His own father had to send Hagar and his half-brother Ishmael away because of the strife in their home. How can a man be one flesh with more than one woman?
From the very beginning, God intended one man and one woman to be married and be one flesh. They are in a covenant together with God as a couple. Trying to have this kind of relationship with more than one is an absurdity.
Another part of the grief of Isaac and Rebekah was the fact that Esau married Hittite women. These were not followers of the one true God. They worshipped false gods. Surely their idolatrous beliefs would have an effect on Esau and especially on their grandchildren.
So many times, people marry someone that holds a very different set of beliefs and core values than themselves. They think these things do not matter, but as time goes by they begin to realize how important they truly are. Isaac and Rebekah were people in covenant with God. They knew there was only one God and all others were idols and impostors. Their grief came as they saw Esau go away from what he was taught. Their grief would continue as they saw the strife of Esau's home. Their grief would get greater as they saw the results of the Hittites upon their grandchildren.
Marriage is a wonderful thing in the sight of God. However, he warns us:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
In Christ,
Rody
Genesis 26:34-35 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
Esau married two wives which were a grief of mind to his parents. Part of the grief must have been from the fact that Isaac had seen the results of a man having more than one wife. His own father had to send Hagar and his half-brother Ishmael away because of the strife in their home. How can a man be one flesh with more than one woman?
From the very beginning, God intended one man and one woman to be married and be one flesh. They are in a covenant together with God as a couple. Trying to have this kind of relationship with more than one is an absurdity.
Another part of the grief of Isaac and Rebekah was the fact that Esau married Hittite women. These were not followers of the one true God. They worshipped false gods. Surely their idolatrous beliefs would have an effect on Esau and especially on their grandchildren.
So many times, people marry someone that holds a very different set of beliefs and core values than themselves. They think these things do not matter, but as time goes by they begin to realize how important they truly are. Isaac and Rebekah were people in covenant with God. They knew there was only one God and all others were idols and impostors. Their grief came as they saw Esau go away from what he was taught. Their grief would continue as they saw the strife of Esau's home. Their grief would get greater as they saw the results of the Hittites upon their grandchildren.
Marriage is a wonderful thing in the sight of God. However, he warns us:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Cain rose up against Abel his brother
Genesis 4-7
Genesis 4:5-8 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
The first murder was one brother murdering another. Since we all are descendants of Adam and Eve, every murder is one brother killing another. God's Word tells us that the incident began with the boys bringing an offering to the Lord. God had no respect to Cain and his offering. Why? Cain did not bring the prescribed offering like Abel did. Abel simply obeyed God and brought a blood sacrifice from the firstlings of the flock. Cain however brought some of the fruit of the ground.
Many continue in the way of Cain today. They will not have faith in God and his Word. They will not come to God through Jesus Christ as he says to. Instead they try to come to God in some other way. All other ways are sin. God will not honor these fleshly attempts at righteousness.
Because God had respect to Abel and his sacrifice but not to Cain and his, Cain disputed with Abel. Because he was upset with God, he took it out on Abel. The Bible tells us:
1 John 3:11-14 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Hatred toward others is from the wicked one. It comes because man's deeds are evil. The answer to this evil way of life is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. When we come to God through his one and only Son, we will find the love that he has for us. That same love will be shown in us and through us toward others.
In Christ,
Rody
Genesis 4:5-8 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
The first murder was one brother murdering another. Since we all are descendants of Adam and Eve, every murder is one brother killing another. God's Word tells us that the incident began with the boys bringing an offering to the Lord. God had no respect to Cain and his offering. Why? Cain did not bring the prescribed offering like Abel did. Abel simply obeyed God and brought a blood sacrifice from the firstlings of the flock. Cain however brought some of the fruit of the ground.
Many continue in the way of Cain today. They will not have faith in God and his Word. They will not come to God through Jesus Christ as he says to. Instead they try to come to God in some other way. All other ways are sin. God will not honor these fleshly attempts at righteousness.
Because God had respect to Abel and his sacrifice but not to Cain and his, Cain disputed with Abel. Because he was upset with God, he took it out on Abel. The Bible tells us:
1 John 3:11-14 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Hatred toward others is from the wicked one. It comes because man's deeds are evil. The answer to this evil way of life is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. When we come to God through his one and only Son, we will find the love that he has for us. That same love will be shown in us and through us toward others.
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters
Bible Reading: Genesis 1-3
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Spirit of God took the dark and void and brought light and life! That is what he does. Have you seen the pictures from the Mars rover? Apparently it is sending pictures back so scientists can determine a place where it can drill a hole and better analyze the rock. There is no water on Mars. There is no life on Mars. It is however, void! It is a barren waste land. There are no trees. There are no animals. There is no junk! On Mars there is only rock and sand.
In the first week of our earth's existence it was similar. However, it was covered with water. No land showing. No islands. No ships. No whales. No dolphins. No gulls. No insects. No people. Just void water and God...
And he began to speak. Light. Firmament. Land. Plants. Planets. Animals that swim and fly. Then animals that live on land. Then man, made in the image of God. God brought light out of the darkness. God brought life to the void. He created a world and a universe that could support the life that he created.
The same is true in our lives. The Spirit of God brings light and life. Man without the Spirit is in darkness. Man without the Spirit is dead. Our sin blinds us from the light. Our sin brings death. God's Spirit brings life.
Jesus is the light of the world.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Jesus is the life.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let this new year be one filled with the light and life of the Spirit of God. Let Jesus light your way and be your life.
Happy New Year.
In Christ,
Rody
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Spirit of God took the dark and void and brought light and life! That is what he does. Have you seen the pictures from the Mars rover? Apparently it is sending pictures back so scientists can determine a place where it can drill a hole and better analyze the rock. There is no water on Mars. There is no life on Mars. It is however, void! It is a barren waste land. There are no trees. There are no animals. There is no junk! On Mars there is only rock and sand.
In the first week of our earth's existence it was similar. However, it was covered with water. No land showing. No islands. No ships. No whales. No dolphins. No gulls. No insects. No people. Just void water and God...
And he began to speak. Light. Firmament. Land. Plants. Planets. Animals that swim and fly. Then animals that live on land. Then man, made in the image of God. God brought light out of the darkness. God brought life to the void. He created a world and a universe that could support the life that he created.
The same is true in our lives. The Spirit of God brings light and life. Man without the Spirit is in darkness. Man without the Spirit is dead. Our sin blinds us from the light. Our sin brings death. God's Spirit brings life.
Jesus is the light of the world.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Jesus is the life.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let this new year be one filled with the light and life of the Spirit of God. Let Jesus light your way and be your life.
Happy New Year.
In Christ,
Rody
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