SHOW YOUR TRUE SELF AND SPEAK THE TRUTH

PROCLAMATION

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, ‘Come near me, I pray you.’  And they came near.  And he said, ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.’ ”  Genesis 45:4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After playing games with his brothers for a while and testing them, Joseph revealed the truth to them that he was their brother. (Genesis 45:1-4)  Then he told them not to be angry with themselves for what they had done.  They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.  He said because of the way things happened he was now in a position to save their lives. (Genesis 45:5-8)  He told them to go back home and get their father and bring him there.  He said that they could live in Goshen near him for there were still five more years of famine remaining. (Genesis 45:9-13)  Then he hugged and kissed his brothers and wept.  When the Pharaoh heard that Joseph’s brothers had come, he said for them to return home and get their father and him back, and he would give them the best land in Egypt.  He also gave them donkeys laden with provisions, and he gave them carts for their wives and children to ride in when they brought them back to Egypt. (Genesis 45:14-23)  When they arrived in Canaan, they told their father Israel all that had transpired including that Joseph was the governor of Egypt. (Genesis 45:24-28)

 

APPLICATION

All too often people put on a false face and pretend to be someone that they are not.  We should not try to “live a lie” in order to please or impress someone.  If people cannot accept us for the person that we are, then we are better off without them in our lives.  We need to be truthful to ourselves, and to others, for The Lord God detests liars. (Psalm 101:7)  As believers we are God’s representatives here on earth.  He is holy, so we should be holy. (1 Peter 1:16)  He is truthful, so we should be truthful. (Proverbs 12:17, Zechariah 8:16, and Ephesians 4:25)  Remember, perfection is not humanly possible, but it is a goal that is well worth striving for.

  

JOSEPH RESORTS TO DECEPTION

PROCLAMATION

“… Fill the men’s sacks … And put my cup, the silver one, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest one … Joseph said unto his servant, ‘Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?’ … And he overtook them, and he said unto them the same words.”  Genesis 44:1-6 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Early the following morning after the feast they had eaten, Joseph had his servants to fill his brothers’ sacks with grain and silver for their return to Canaan.  However, he had them placed a silver cup in one of Benjamin’s bags.  After his brothers had left, he sent a servant after them, and he caught up with them and as instructed he accused them of stealing the silver cup. (Genesis 44:1-6)  The brothers denied stealing the silver cup, but a search of their bags revealed that the silver cup was in one of Benjamin’s bags.  Seeing this they tore their clothes and returned to Egypt. (Genesis 44:7-13)  When they came before Joseph they fell on the ground before him.  Joseph claimed to know what they did by divination.  As punishment they agreed to be his slaves, but he only wanted to keep Benjamin with him.  Then Judah reasoned with him and told him that would kill his father if they left Benjamin behind and he offered to stay in his place. (Genesis 44:14-34)

 

APPLICATION

Most Bible scholars agree that Joseph did this to test his brothers’ affection for Benjamin since years earlier they had sold him into slavery.  In this life we will be tested.  People will test us, and the Lord God will test us.  We need to maintain our faithfulness and our resolve and recognize that most of our trials and temptations are just tests.  Our tests will help to produce patience within us. (James 1:3)  We need to be mindful of the fact that what is important is our response to the situations which we face.  Fear not, The Lord God is in control.

  

TO EGYPT THE SECOND TIME AROUND

PROCLAMATION

“And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.”  Genesis 43:15 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When Joseph’s brothers returned home, they told their father Israel all that had happened to them, and what the governor had asked of them, but he was unwilling to let Benjamin be taken. (Genesis 42:25-38)  The famine which prompted their trip the Egypt continued, and they had eaten all of the grain they had received.  Israel told Joseph’s brothers to go back to Egypt and buy more grain.  They refused to go without their youngest brother Benjamin. (Genesis 43:1-10)  Israel gave in and told them to take gifts of balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds to the governor.  He also told them to take double the amount of silver in order to return that which they brought back in case that was a mistake.  Then he said they could take Benjamin with them. (Genesis 43:11-14)  They did as their father had suggested and went back to Egypt carrying Benjamin with them.  When Joseph saw Benjamin, he told his staff to prepare a feast for them in his house and take them there. (Genesis 43:15-25)  When Joseph arrived they presented gifts to him and bowed down before him. (Genesis 43:26-28)  Seeing his brother Benjamin up close, and probably remembering his childhood dream, Joseph hurriedly left the room and wept. (Genesis 43:29-31)  When the food was served, Joseph ate by himself, and Benjamin’s portion was much larger than anyone else’s. (Genesis 43:32-34)

 

APPLICATION

The second time around the trip to Egypt had a much better outcome.  The brothers were given a much nicer reception and treatment.  They offered him more and their attitude was different.  They confessed about the money, and they were obedient and brought Benjamin.  We need to change our attitude and be obedient.  It has been said that “God is not the God of a second chance; He is the God of another chance.” (Author unknown)  Most of us have messed up more than twice and The Lord God still gives us another chance.  All we as believers have to do is confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

SOMETIMES DREAMS COME TRUE

PROCLAMATION

“And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came; for the famine was in the land of Canaan.  And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.  And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them …”  Genesis 42:5-7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  As a seventeen year old young man, Joseph had a dream that his brothers would bow down to him and they hated him for it. (Genesis 37:2-11)  After his brothers sold him into slavery, The Lord God was with him and Joseph rose up to become the governor of Egypt. (Genesis 41:39-41)  Because of the famine in Canaan, his ten older brothers had come to Egypt to buy grain.  When he saw them Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. (Genesis 42:8)  Then Joseph remembered his dreams. (Genesis 42:9)  Joseph spoke harshly to them and accused them of being spies from a foreign country who were sizing up the land. (Genesis 42:9-14)  He told them to prove themselves by bringing their youngest brother before him.  Joseph told them to send one of them to get their brother and he would hold the rest of them in prison, but he put all of them in prison for three days. (Genesis 42:15-17)  On the third day he changed his mind and told them that one of them would have to stay there until they brought back their youngest brother.  They talked among themselves not realizing the Joseph understood them.  Joseph turned away from them and wept. (Genesis 42:18-24)  Then he kept Simon and ordered that they be given the corn and, unbeknownst to them, their money was returned to them.  When they got home, they told their father Israel what had happened to them, but he was unwilling to let Benjamin be taken. (Genesis 42:25-38)

 

APPLICATION

Some of our dreams are visions, given to us by The Lord God, of things yet to come.  However, just because prosperity is in our future does not mean that we are ready for it when The Lord shows us it is coming.  He has to take us through some things in order to prepare us for what He has in store for us.  We may have to go through trials and tribulations for us to learn to trust Him and so that He can move us to where He wants us to be.  We may not get all that we want, and not all dreams are visions, but whatever God has in store for us we will receive.

FROM DOWN AND OUT TO LARGE AND IN CHARGE

PROCLAMATION

“Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, ‘See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.’ ”  Genesis 41:40-41 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Two years after the chief of the butlers and the chief of the bakers, who were imprisoned with Joseph, had dreams which Joseph interpreted for them and things came to pass as he said, (Genesis 40:1-23) the Pharaoh had a dream which none of his wise men or magicians could interpret. (Genesis 41:1-8)  Then the chief butler remembered that Joseph had interpreted his dream correctly and he told this to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:9-13)  Hearing this, Pharaoh sent for Joseph, told him the dream.  Joseph told Pharaoh that God had revealed to him that there would be seven good years in Egypt which would be followed by seven years of famine. (Genesis 41:14-32)  Pharaoh said because God had showed this to him, he placed Joseph in charge of his house, the people, and all the land, and made him second in command in all of Egypt. (Genesis 41:39-41)  Joseph had them gather up and store corn for seven years (Genesis 41:48-49) and he sold it to the people when the famine came. (Genesis 41:55-57)

 

APPLICATION

Joseph went from the bottom of a pit, to being a slave, and to prison, but rose up to be in charge of the entire country because The Lord God was with him. (Genesis 39:2 and 39:21)  As believers we need to learn to praise God in good times and in bad times. (Philippians 4:12)  He said that He would always be with us. (Hebrews 13:5)  It is The Lord God who gives us the strength to make it through the storms of life. (Philippians 4:13)  It is His strength which manifests itself during our periods of weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)  We should really count all of our trials and tribulations as joy because we are just being perfected. (James 1:2)  Our trials are opportunities for God to “show up and show out” in our life.  We need to remember to give God the credit for the things that He has done.  “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

EVERYONE WHO SAYS THEY WILL REMEMBER US WON'T

PROCLAMATION

“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house … Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.”  Genesis 40:14-23 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After Joseph was put into prison, the baker of the king of Egypt and the butler, the official cupbearer, of the king of Egypt, offended the king and they were put in the same prison where Joseph was. (Genesis 40:1-3)  Some time later the cupbearer and the baker both had dreams on the same night that they could not interpret.  Joseph interpreted both of their dreams which meant a favorable outcome for the cupbearer and a not so favorable outcome for the baker. (Genesis 40:9-13 and 40:16-19)  After Joseph told the cupbearer the meaning of his dream, he asked him to remember him and to speak to the Pharaoh for him. (Genesis 40:14)  The events transpired just as Joseph had said they would, and the cupbearer was restored to his previous position.  However, the cupbearer did not remember Joseph or speak to the Pharaoh for him. (Genesis 40:20-23)

 

APPLICATION

Man is not to be trusted.  Whether it be intentionally, or unintentionally, man will disappoint us.  Promises made in a moment of sincerity can be broken because people change, times change, and situations change.  Only The Lord God is the same today as He was in the past and He will be the same in the future. (Hebrews 13:8)  It has been said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” (the original author may be Samuel Johnson, but credit is frequently given to Karl Marx) referring to the difference between what someone intends to do and what they actually do.  Everyone who says that they will remember us, will not do so; they may forget about us, or choose not to remember or mention us.  That is one of many good reasons for not putting our faith in man.  Trust in The Lord not in man. (Psalm 118:8)

  

RUN AWAY FROM SIN

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to past … that the master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, ‘Lie with me.’  But he refused, and … she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business … And she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me;’ and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”  Genesis 39:7-12 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After his brothers sold him to the Midianites, Joseph was taken to Egypt and was sold to Potiphar who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Genesis 37:37 and 39:1)  The Lord God was with Joseph and gave him success at everything that he did.  Potiphar saw that The Lord was with him and he put Joseph in charge of his household.  From the time that he put Joseph in charge The Lord blessed everything that Potiphar had.  Then Potiphar put him in charge of everything that he had. (Genesis 39:2-6)  After a while Potiphar’s wife took notice of how well-built and handsome Joseph was and she invited him to come to bed with her. (Genesis 39:7)  Joseph refused her but she kept on asking him.  One day she grabbed his coat and asked him, and again he refused and ran out of the house leaving his coat behind. (Genesis 39:8-12)  She called the household servants and told them that Joseph had tried to sleep with her, but she screamed, and he ran out leaving his coat.  She also told this same lie to her husband. (Genesis 39:13-18)  When Potiphar heard this he was angry and had Joseph put into prison.  The Lord was with him and he gained favor with the prison warden. (Genesis 39:19-23)

 

APPLICATION

There are some situations, places, and people that we should avoid.  Not only are we avoid sin, but we are also to avoid even the appearance of sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)  However, if we find ourselves in one of those situations, we should get away from there as fast as we can.  Some people will lie and say that we did things that we did not do.  Their lies can ruin our reputation, destroy our credibility, and get us into serious trouble.  We should pray before we go places, and before we meet people.

THE SIN AND SHAME OF JUDAH

PROCLAMATION

“Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, ‘Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown;’ Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did … When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot … And he … said ‘… let me come in unto thee’ … and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.”  Genesis 38:11-18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After they sold Joseph to the Midianites, (Genesis 37:36) Judah, Jacob’s fourth son by Leah, left his brothers and went to Adullam.  There he met and married a Canaanite woman, against the will of God, who bore him three sons. (Genesis 38:1-5)  When his first son Er was of age, Judah got a Canaanite wife for him named Tamar.  But Er was evil and The Lord took him. (Genesis 38:6-7)  Judah told his second son Onan to sleep with Tamar to fulfill his duty to his brother’s wife but he would spill his semen on the ground whenever he slept with her.  This was wicked in the sight of The Lord, so He took him. (Genesis 38:8-10)  Then Judah sent Tamar to live with her father until his third son Shelah grew up and came of age. (Genesis 38:11)  After a while Judah’s wife died, and he went to Timnah where the men were shearing sheep.  Tamar heard that he was coming there, and she disguised herself and met him.  Shelah had grown up and she had not been given to him to wife.  When Judah saw her he thought that she was a prostitute and slept with her.  As payment for her services he promised her a goat and gave her his seal and his staff to hold until she got the goat. (Genesis 38:12-22)  About three months later Judah was told that his daughter-in-law Tamar was pregnant, and he was going to put her to death.  When she was brought to him, she showed him the ring and staff and he recognized them. (Genesis 38:23-30)

 

APPLICATION

Moses describes the genealogy of Judah because The Messiah would come through him. (Hebrews 7:14)  He also describes his sin, shame, indiscretion, and disobedience.  We need to fellowship with God-fearing Christians because all too often we will sink to the sinful level of those that we associate with.  That is why we need to choose our friends wisely.  We may also need to avoid certain members of our family, and love and pray for them at a distance.  If we are not strong enough in The Lord to bring them up, then we should stay away from them and not let them bring us down.

EVERYONE WILL NOT SHARE THE JOY OF OUR DREAMS

PROCLAMATION

“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren; and they hated him yet the more … And he dreamed yet another dream … And he told it his father and his brethren; and his father rebuked him … And his brethren envied him …”  Genesis 37:5-11 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob, now called Israel, had twelve sons (Genesis 35:23-26) but he loved one, Joseph, his first son by his wife Rachel, more than the others and they hated him because of that. (Genesis 37:3-4)  Joseph had dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him.  When he told his brothers of his dreams they hated him even more. (Genesis 37:5-8 and 37:9-11)  Joseph’s brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. (Genesis 37:12)  Some time later, Israel sent Joseph to get information for him regarding the wellbeing of his brothers and the flock. (Genesis 37:13)  His brothers saw him coming from far off and they had plotted to kill him, but his oldest brother Reuben prevailed upon them not to kill him but to cast him into a pit. (Genesis 37:17-24)  Afterwards they saw a caravan approaching and agreed to sell him to them.  But first they took his coat of many colors that his father had given him and smeared it with goat’s blood, to give it to their father. (Genesis 37:25-33)  Joseph’s brothers were moved by envy when they sold him into slavery, but God was with him. (Acts 7:9)  The Midianites who bought Joseph sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. (Genesis 37:36)

 

APPLICATION

Not all of our family members and friends will rejoice with us and share in the joy of our dreams.  In fact, not all of them really want to see us do well and succeed, especially if we will become better off than they are.  Unfortunately, some people act like crabs in a barrel, pulling one another down before they can reach the top.  We should rejoice when our family and friends rejoice and be sad when they are sad. (Romans 12:15)  We are not to desire or covet anything which belongs to others. (Exodus 20:17)  We should also be aware of the fact that dreams may show us a successful end point, but they may not reveal the grievous predicaments which must be endured before the prosperity.  We must keep the faith and endure to the end, with or without the support of family and friends.

SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO SEPARATE

PROCLAMATION

“And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters … and all his substance … and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.  For their riches were more than that might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.  Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir …”  Genesis 36:6-8 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After they buried their father Isaac, Esau took his family and his possessions and moved away from Jacob because the land could not support both of their flocks. (Genesis 36:6-8)  The remainder of the chapter identifies the generation of Esau. (Genesis 36:9-43)

 

APPLICATION

Even when we love our family and friends, sometimes it is better for us to go our separate ways.  There are situations which make it difficult for us to live together and staying together may be detrimental to both parties.  When The Lord God says for us to go, we should go.  There are also times when we should go without us waiting for God to say so.

 

GOD'S COVENANT AND PROMISE

PROCLAMATION

“And God said unto him, ‘I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy lions;  And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.’ ”  Genesis 35:11-12 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After Jacob’s sons killed Shechem and all of his men, for raping their sister Dinah, they took their wives and property. (Genesis 34:13-29)  The Lord God spoke to him and then Jacob left the area and went to Bethel. (Genesis 35:1-5)  There he built an alter and The Lord God Almighty appeared to him and made a promise to him. (Genesis 35:6-12)  Then Jacob journeyed from Bethel to Ephrath.  Along the way, his wife Rachel gave birth to a second son, Benjamin, but she died during childbirth. (Genesis 35:16-20)  After burying Rachel, Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel when he wrestled with The Angel of The Lord, continued on to Eder, and then on to Hebron to see his father Isaac. (Genesis 35:21-27)  And it came to pass that, at the age of one hundred and eighty years old, Isaac died and was buried by his sons Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 35:28-29)

 

APPLICATION

We are blessed by the grace of God in more ways that we can count.  Waking up is a blessing and so are living and breathing.  We also receive additional conditional blessing.  When we are obedient to The Word of God, He blesses us.  When He makes us a promise, He keeps His word.  He will keep us and protect us, no matter how many storms in life we go through.  He will also provide for us.  We can stand on the promises of God knowing that His word will never fail. (Deuteronomy 31:8 and Matthew 24:35)  All we have to do is be obedient to His Holy Word.

TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE THINGS RIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully … because he had defiled Dinah their sister …”  Genesis 34:13 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In chapter thirty-four of The Bible Book of Genesis, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah, went out to visit the women of the land.  When Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite and prince of the country, saw her and he took her and raped her.  He wanted her for his wife and told his father to get her for him. (Genesis 34:1-4)  When Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, he did nothing.  When his sons found out what happened, they were shocked and furious. (Genesis 34:4-7)  Soon afterwards, Hamor and Shechem met with Jacob and his sons to ask for Dinah to be Shechem’s wife.  Jacob’s sons told them that they could not give their sister to a man who was not circumcised. (Genesis 34:8-14)  They agreed that if all the males would get circumcised, then they could intermarry and become one people.  Days after all the men were circumcised, Jacob’s sons Simon and Levi took their swords and killed all the men while they were in pain recovering from being circumcised. (Genesis 34:15-26)

 

APPLICATION

Taking something that we like because we want it is not right.  Being intentionally deceitful in our conversation is not right.  Taking our revenge out on someone is not right.  Stealing, lust, rape, fornication, lies and deceit, revenge and vengeance are all sins.  Just because someone does us wrong does not make it okay for us to pay them back.  “… For it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19)  As the old saying goes, “Two wrongs do not make a right.”  Planning to deceive or intentionally misleading someone is never a good thing.  “Oh what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” (Author Unknown)  Even if no lie is told, God knows our heart and our intentions, and we can sin with our thoughts.  “… Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)  “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …” (Proverbs 23:7)

WHEN JACOJ MEETS ESAU

PROCLAMATION

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men … And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.  And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept.  Genesis 33:1-4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob knew that his brother Esau was coming, and four hundred men were coming with him. (Genesis 32:6)  Jacob sent small separate groups of his sheep, cattle, goats, camels, bulls, and donkeys to Esau as a gift to soften his heart because he was afraid that his brother still wanted to kill him. (Genesis 32:13-20)  Then he gathered his children and grouped them with their mothers.  He placed the handmaids and their children in the front, followed by Leah and her children, and he placed Rachel and Joseph in the rear of the group. (Genesis 33:1-3)  Then he stood at the front of his family and bowed down to his brother.  When his brother Esau saw him, he ran to him and embraced him.  After they wept, Jacob introduced Esau to his family. (Genesis 33:4-7)  Esau questioned him regarding all of the flocks that he met along the way to him, and Jacob answered that they were gifts to find favor in his eyes.  Esau said, keep them, I have plenty, but Jacob insisted that he take them, and he finally gave in and accepted them. (Genesis 33:8-11)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us to “fear not,” and “fret not,” and not to worry because God is in control of things.  The Lord God can work things out for us in ways that are much better than we expected.  We worry for no reason because God has already worked it out for us.  All we have to do is put God first and all of the other things will be taken care of. (Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31)  God can harden a heart (Exodus 4:21 through 14:17) or soften it. (1 Samuel 26:1-25)  It has been said, “If you pray, then don’t worry; if you are going to worry, then don’t pray.”

 

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE WILL WHIP US

PROCLAMATION

“And when the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, ‘… thy brother Esau … cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.  Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed … And Jacob said, ‘O God of my father … I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies … which Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant … Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, least he will come and smite me, and the mother with children.’” Genesis 32:6-11 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When Jacob and Laban parted company, Jacob returned to his homeland and prepared to face his brother Esau.  It had been more than twenty years since Jacob left home after tricking his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing which was meant for Esau and caused his brother to despise him and plan to kill him. (Genesis 27:1-45)  Since that time he had acquired much wealth, flocks, and herds, in addition to a large family.  Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to Esau with a peace offering and his reply was that he was coming to meet him with four hundred men. (Genesis 32:3-6)  When he heard this, Jacob became afraid and distressed, and prayed that The Lord God would save him from his brother. (Genesis 32:7-11)  Jacob offered a lot of his sheep, cattle, goats, camels, bulls, and donkeys to Esau as a gift to soften his heart. (Genesis 32:13-20)  Later that night, Jacob wrestled an unknown man until the break of day.  As they wrestled the man said, ‘Let me go …” and Jacob said, ‘I will  not let thee go, except thou bless me.’ (Genesis 32:24-26)  The man told Jacob that he would no longer be called Jacob, but he would be called Israel, because he had struggled with God and with humans and have prevailed. (Genesis 32:27-31)  From then on he walked with a limp because of the injury he sustained as he wrestled. (Genesis 32:25)   

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God may have forgiven us of our sins, but the devil will not let us forget them and frequently reminds us of them.  Our sinful memories can rob us of our peace of mind and cause us much distress.  We need to pray that God will forgive us and restore unto us the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12) and grant us His peace. (Psalm 29:11)  The Bible teaches us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) 

BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU ASK GOD TO DO

PROCLAMATION

“And Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.  Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;  And Mizpah; for he said, ‘The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.’ ”  Genesis 31:48-49 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob worked for his father-in law Laban for twenty years.  When Jacob wanted to leave in order to provide for his own family, Laban did not want him to go because he had been blessed by him being there. (Genesis 30:25-28)  Jacob had caused Laban’s wealth to increase but he had gained nothing of his own or for his family.  They agreed to divide the herds of sheep, goats, and cattle between them, with the spotted and streaked animals going to Jacob and the solid color ones remained with Laban. (Genesis 30:32-35)  However God caused Jacob’s animals to be healthier and more productive than Laban’s animals. (Genesis 30:37-43)  Jacob heard Laban’s sons talking against him, and he noticed a difference in Laban’s behavior towards. (Genesis 31:1-2)  Then The Lord God told Jacob to return to the land of his father. (Genesis 31:3)  Jacob left with all of his possessions while Laban was away shearing his sheep.  When Laban found out that Jacob was gone, he pursued him and caught up with him in the hills of Gilead. (Genesis 31:19-25)  After a lengthy discussion, they ended with the agreement not to harm one another.  They set up a pillar of stones and basically drew a line in the sand which they both agreed not to cross. (Genesis 31:26-53)

 

APPLICATION

This text has often been used as a benediction at the end of worship services.  However, this is not a blessing, this was more of a curse between two men who did not trust one another.  They wanted The Lord God to punish the other if they broke their agreement.  These words are more appropriately spoken to someone that you don’t trust when they will be out of your sight.  This is a request for God to punish someone who breaks a promise.  However, we should not ask The Lord God to punish someone for doing wrong.  We are to forgive people of their trespasses and wrong doings as we are forgiven for ours by our Heavenly Father.  If we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15)  We should remember that Jesus, The Christ, told Peter that we ought to forgive our brother who sins against us not seven times but “seventy times seven” times. (Matthew 18:21-22)  We should be careful about what we ask God to do.

 

JACOB'S PROPOSAL LEADS TO PROSPERITY

PROCLAMATION

“And he said, ‘What shall I give thee?  And Jacob said, ‘Thou shall not give me anything; if thou will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.  I will pass through all thy flock today, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown sheep among the sheep, and all the spotted and speckled among the goats; and of such shall be my hire.’”  Genesis 30:31-32 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob worked for Laban for fourteen years, seven before he married Leah, and seven more to marry Rachel.  During that time Jacob fathered twelve children, four with his wife, Leah, two with Rachel’s servant Bilhah, two with Leah’s servant, Zilpah, then three more with Leah, and one with his wife Rachel. (Genesis 29:31 to Genesis 30:24)  When Jacob wanted to leave in order to provide for his own family, Laban did not want him to go because he had been blessed by him being there. (Genesis 30:25-28)  Jacob caused Laban’s wealth to increase but he had gained nothing of his own or for his family.  They agreed to divide the herds of sheep, goats, and cattle between them, with the spotted and streaked animals going to Jacob and the solid color ones remained with Laban. (Genesis 30:32-35)  This appealed to Laban because he would get all of the pure breed animals.  Jacob moved his animals three days journey away, but he continued to tend both his and Laban’s herds and he grew exceedingly prosperous. (Genesis 30:43)

 

APPLICATION

It has been said that The Lord God works His wonders in mysterious ways for us to behold.  Our blessings do not always come in the way that we expect them, or from the source that we expect.  We should just be grateful that we are blessed and not concern ourselves with how it happens.  The Lord God knows our needs before we even ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)  All we need to do is to put God first and seek Him and His righteousness, and our needs will be provided to us. (Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31)

 

THOSE WHO PLAY TRICKS ON OTHERS WILL GET TRICKED

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, ‘What is this thou hast done unto me?  Did I not serve thee for Rachel?  Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?’  And Laban said, ‘It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.’”  Genesis 29:25-26 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Jacob left the land of Canaan to flee from his brother, Esau, and to honor his father Isaac’s request not to marry a woman from Canaan. (Genesis 28:1)  He went to the land of his mother Rebekah’s brother Laban.  There he met Laban’s beautiful daughter Rachel, fell in love with her, and agreed to work for Laban for seven years in order to have her for his wife because he did not have a dowry to offer him for her. (Genesis 29:18)  Jacob thought that he had married Rachel but was given Leah instead.  Jacob had been drinking at the wedding feast and Leah was heavily veiled when she was brought to him.  Laban tricked him because it was their custom that the eldest daughter, Leah, must be married before the younger daughter. (Genesis 29:26)  So Jacob agreed to work for Laban a second period of seven years, after he married Leah, so that he could have Rachel. (Genesis 29:30)  Jacob, who had tricked his father, Isaac, in order to get the blessing of his older brother, Esau, (Genesis 27:19-25) was himself tricked, by Laban, into marrying Leah.

 

APPLICATION

There are a lot of appropriate old sayings which fit this situation, “Players will soon get played.”  “Those who play tricks, will eventually get tricked.”  “As you sow, so shall you also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)  The Lord God is not to be played with.  He does not like liars and deceivers. (Revelation 21:8)  People who deceive others will pay for it sooner or later.  Be true to yourself and present the real you to others.  All of the blessings which The Good Lord has in store for you are yours, and yours alone, no one else can get them.  However, you can mess up and lose out on your conditional blessings.  So, do not pretend to be someone that you are not, in order to impress others or to get that which you do not deserve.  God is always watching.

 

JACOB'S DREAM LADDER

PROCLAMATION

“And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran.  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And behold, The Lord stood above it, and said, ‘I am The Lord God …’ ”  Genesis 28:10-12 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Isaac called Jacob and told him not to marry a Canaanite woman.  He told him to marry one of the daughters of his mother’s brother Laban and God would bless him. (Genesis 28:1-5)  Jacob was obedient and left to go get a wife from among his people.  On his way there he stopped because night had fallen.  He used a stone for a pillow and fell asleep.  He dreamed that he saw a ladder extending from earth to heaven with angels going up and down on the ladder and The Lord God was at the top of the ladder. (Genesis 28:10-12)  The Lord God spoke to him and said that He would bless him and his descendants. (Genesis 28:13-15)  When he woke up he remembered his dream and decided that place was holy.  He sat the stone, upon which he had lain his head, on a pillar and poured oil on it and renamed the place Bethel. (Genesis 28:16-19)  There Jacob made a vow saying that if God was going to bless him, then he would consider that place as God’s house and he would give unto The Lord one tenth of all that He gave to him. (Genesis 28:20-22)

 

APPLICATION

Today, those of us who believe can communicate directly with God and He can communicate with us.  However, in order for us to get to Him, we must use “a ladder” or “a bridge”, and that connection is Jesus, The Christ.  He said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto The Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)  We all need to admit that we need a savior.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)  Only those of us with our names written in The Lamb’s book of life will see God.  Those whose name is not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

 

PLAYING FAVORITES WITH OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE BAD OUTCOMES

PROCLAMATION

“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.”  Genesis 27:41 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Isaac loved his son Esau, and his wife Rebekah loved his son Jacob. (Genesis 25:27-28)  When the boys grew up and Isaac had gotten old and his eyes were weak, Jacob, with the help of his mother, tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing that he had planned to give his oldest son Esau.  When he learned what had happened, Esau held a grudge against Jacob and planned to kill him. (Genesis 27:1-41)  After Rebekah heard of Esau’s plan, she called Jacob, told him about it and then sent him to live with her brother Laban in Haran. (Genesis 27:42-46)

 

APPLICATION

We are blessed to have children. (Deuteronomy 33:24)  We are to train them in the way that they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)  We are to nurture them and bring them up in the fear and admonition of The Lord God.  We should love our children and teach them how to love their siblings.  We are not to provoke our children to anger. (Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21)  By showing love and favor to one child more than the others, parents cause children to resent their siblings and that resentment can lead to some very bad outcomes. 

BLESSED BECAUSE OF HIS OBEDIENT FATHER

PROCLAMATION

“And The Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, ‘I am The God of Abraham thy father; fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.”  Genesis 26:24 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  And again there was a great famine in the land and Isaac was going to leave the land and go down to Egypt as his father Abraham had done during the previous famine. (Genesis 26:1)  However, The Lord God appeared to him in a dream and told him not to leave the land. (Genesis 26:2) God told him to stay in the land and He would bless him.  He said that He would give him and his descendants the land as He promised Abraham.  God said that He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Genesis 26:2-6)  Isaac stayed in Gerar.  When the men of Gerar approached him regarding Rebekah, he lied and said that she was his sister, just as his father Abraham had lied about his wife. (Genesis 26:6-7)  After some time had passed, Abimelek king of the Philistines saw him caressing Rebekah.  He summoned Isaac and questioned him as to why he said that she was his sister when she was his wife.  Isaac answered that he feared for his life if he had been truthful. (Genesis 26:8-11)  Isaac stayed in the land and became very wealthy.  Abimelek told Isaac to move away because he had acquired too much.  Everywhere that he moved to and dug wells, his herders quarreled with the herders of the Gerar until he came to Rehoboth, and there he prospered. (Genesis 26:12-22)  It was there that The Lord appeared to him again and repeated His promise to bless him and his descendants  for the sake of His servant Abraham. (Genesis 26:24-25)  When Abimelek saw how much Isaac had prospered, he knew that The Lord was with him and he went to Isaac to make a treaty with him. (Genesis 26:26-33)

 

APPLICATION

As the saying goes, “Like father, like son.”  Like his father, Isaac committed some of the same sins that Abraham committed, but he lacked his father’s seal for obeying The Word of God.  Isaac stayed in the land as God told him and dug a lot of wells.  What we can learn from Isaac is that it pays to be patient.  He dealt with a lot of rejection while he patiently waited on the blessings which The Lord had promised his father.  With patient obedience comes prosperity and blessings.  “… Wait, I say, on The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

SOME THINGS ARE NOT APPRECIATED UNTIL THEY ARE LOST

PROCLAMATION

“And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint; …’ And Jacob said, ‘Sell me this day thy birthright.’  And Esau said, ‘… What profit shall this birthright do to me?’  And Jacob said, ‘Swear to me this day;’ and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright to Jacob.”  Genesis 25:30-33 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After the death of Sarah, Abraham remarried and had six more sons. (Genesis 25:1)  Abraham lived to be a hundred and seventy-five years old before he died.  He was buried in the cave of Machpelah where his first wife Sarah was buried. (Genesis 25:7-10)  Ismael, the first born son of Abraham born by Hagar the Egyptian slave of Sarah, had twelve sons each of whom became a tribal leader. (Genesis 25:12-18)  Isaac, Abraham’s son born by Sarah, had two sons born by Rebekah, Esau and Jacob. (Genesis 25:19-26)  Esau became a skilled hunter while Jacob was more of a homebody and a “mama’s boy.”  Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob.  It was Jacob who conned Esau out of his birthright with some stew that he had cooked. (Genesis 25:27-34)  Esau did not value his birthright at that time.

 

APPLICATION

The old saying goes, “You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.”  All too often we do not appreciate the value of what we have until it is gone.  This applies to personal relationships, property, and health among other things.  We tend to take things for granted or we undervalue them.  Sadly, we learn their worth after we no longer have them.  Appreciate your loved ones while they are still alive.  Take care of your health while you have it.  Life is short, enjoy it while you can.  Eternity is a very long time, and your soul will spend it somewhere based upon the choice you make.  Please choose wisely.

 

REBEKAH BECOMES THE WIFE OF ISAAC

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out … with her pitcher upon her shoulder; … and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, ‘Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.’  And she said, ‘Drink, my lord,’ and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.  She said, ‘I will draw water for thy camels also …”  Genesis 24:15-19 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The first part of The Bible Book of Genesis (Chapters 1-11) dealt with four great events, creation, the great flood, the replenishing of the earth, and the confounding of human language.  The second part of The Bible Book of Genesis (Chapters 12-50) deals with four great individuals.  Abraham was the first of those individuals and Isaac is the second.  Chapter twenty-four begins by revealing that Abraham is very old and he sends his senior servant to Mesopotamia, to find a wife for Isaac from among his people. (Genesis 24:1-9)  When the servant got there, he stopped at a well just outside of town and prayed to God to show him the right woman. (Genesis 24:10-14)  Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came to the well to fill her jar.  He asked her for a drink of water.  She gave him a drink and offered to give water to his camels. (Genesis 24:15-19)  When she had finished, he gave her a gold ring and two gold bracelets and asked her whose daughter she was.  She answered him and then she said that they had food for his camels and room for him to lodge. (Genesis 24:24-25)  He went with her, and he told her family of his purpose and then asked for her hand for his master’s son. (Genesis 24:32-49)  They agreed that he could take her, and he gave them jewels of silver and of gold and fine clothes. (Genesis 24:50-53)  Rebekah agreed to go with the servant and after some discussion, they left.  The servant took her to Isaac, and she became his wife and comforted him after the death of his mother. (Genesis 24:54-67)

 

APPLICATION

Abraham’s senior servant prayed that The Lord God would let him find a wife for Isaac, and before he had finished praying, the answer to his prayer was on the way to him. (Genesis 24:15)  The Lord God hears and answers prayers of the righteous.  If we would just believe, have faith, and be obedient, God knows what we need, and He can supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

PAY THE FULL PRICE FOR WHAT YOU BUY

PROCLAMATION

“Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord … the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee?  Bury therefore thy dead.  And Abraham … weighed to Ephron the silver … four hundred shekels of silver …”  Genesis 23:14-16 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  While they were in Hebron in the land of Canaan, Abraham’s wife Sarah died at a hundred twenty-seven years of age. (Genesis 23:1-2)  After weeping, Abraham sought to buy a place in this foreign land to bury his wife. (Genesis 23:2-4)  Out of their respect for Abraham, the Hittites told him that he could have anyplace that he wanted to bury his wife. (Genesis 23:5-6)  Abraham asked them to ask Ephron the son of Zohar for the cave of Machpelah, which is at the end of his field.  He said that he would pay him whatever the land was worth. (Genesis 23:7-9)  Ephron offered to give the land and the cave to Abraham, but he refused to accept it as a gift, preferring to buy the property. (Genesis 23:10-13)  Ephron answered Abraham saying that the land was worth four hundred shekels of silver, which he said was nothing between the two of them.  Abraham paid him the four hundred shekels of silver and buried Sarah in the cave of Machpelah. (Genesis 23:14-20)  Abraham knew that God had promised to give him and his seed all of Canaan, and he chose to wait on The Lord.

 

APPLICATION

Today there are times when some people will give a person a gift and they expect something in return in the future.  Some people will use a gift to make us feel beholden to them.  They can hold it over our heads, or brag about it to others.  There are times when it is better for us to pay full price for an item and not be in debt to anyone.  Additionally, we should beware of gifts that have strings attached to them.  Not all givers have good intentions.

 

DO NOT VALUE YOUR CHILDREN MORE THAN GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And He said, ‘Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.’ ”  Genesis 22:2 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Sometime later, after Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away, when Isaac was a young man, God tested Abraham. (Genesis 22:1-2)  God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering.  Abraham was obedient and early the next morning set out to the place that God had told him. (Genesis 22:3-8)  But The Angel of The Lord stopped him before he killed his son and showed him a ram which was caught in the bush.  He passed the test and The Lord God promised to bless him because he was obedient. (Genesis 22:9-18)

 

APPLICATION

Children are a blessing from God. (Psalm 127:3)  Unfortunately, today too many parents value and love their children more than they love their mates and more than they value and love The Lord God.  Our children can take us out to brunch on Sunday morning, but we can’t take them to church on Sunday morning.  The Lord God said that He was a jealous God, and no one should put anyone or anything above Him. (Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7)  We are to love The Lord God with all our heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27)  Nothing is to come before God in our lives.  Yes, we are to love, provide for, train, and protect our children, but we are not supposed to place them above God.  We are to make God first, and then everything else will fall into place. (Matthew 6:33)

 

THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

PROCLAMATION

“And The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and The Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”  Genesis 21:1-3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Just as God had promised, Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son. (Genesis 21:1-3)  Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah was ninety. (Genesis 17:17)  When Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast for him.  During the feast Sarah saw Ishmael the son of Hagar mocking Isaac and she told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. (Genesis 21:8-10)  This distressed Abraham, but God told him to listen to Sarah so, he sent them away. (Genesis 21:11-14)  The Lord God provided for Hagar and Ishmael while they were in the desert because he was Abraham’s son. (Genesis 21:15-21)  The chapter ends with a discussion of the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech king of Gerar. (Genesis 21:22-34)

 

APPLICATION

Abraham was a very old man, and his wife Sarah was well past the childbearing age and was childless when The Lord God caused her to conceive and bare a son.  With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)  Believers can do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)  If we believe and have the faith we can move mountains. (Matthew 17:20)  Our problem is even though we read God’s Holy Word, we don’t really believe it and we don’t obey it.  If we would humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would forgive us. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  If we would believe and obey and step out on faith, then we could do things through Christ that are impossible for man.  Remember, the Apostle Peter walked on water while he kept his focus on Christ. (Matthew 14:29)