RTW January 9

21 Comments

1. I have no sound on this video. Is anyone else having difficulty?

   1. I have sound Carol. Is it working for you now?

      1. Yes, Denise. It was strange. No sound for anything including email notifications yet everything was set to “on” with no mute anywhere. I restarted my laptop and then it came back. Who knows……

2. What destructive things we humans are capable of in the name of food/hunger.

   Issac did the same thing Abraham did by telling the King Rebekah was his sister.

   Gen 26:12
   When Issac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him.
   God can and will multiply our efforts. He keeps His promises. Makes me think of the words from the song “Do it Again” by Elevation Worship.
   “Your promise still stands, great is your faithfulness, your faithfulness.”

   The Lord appeared to Issac. 26:23
   Did Issac actually see God visibly?

   I wonder how Esau’s wives made life miserable for Issac and Rebekah? Could that have had something to do with the way she favored Jacob and schemed against him?
   What drama, favoritism, lies, hurt and deception became of Issac and Rebekah’s family. When Issac called for Jacob before he left for Paddam-Aram, he never mentioned anything about Jacob tricking him.

   Gen 26:4-5
   Issac was blessed because Abraham obeyed all God’s requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.
   I pray that the same can be said for me and my children.

   I was much worse with my words before I met Jesus, however I still struggle with this. I grew up in a home where we were shamed with words as a way of speaking to each other. And also family who talked like truckers. It’s very hard to change when that way of speaking was all you knew. But God is faithful to cleanse all parts of me and He is doing just that. Maybe I just talk too much and need to be discerning with what I say to people at all. I’m trusting God for complete and total purification of my words, tongue and heart.

   1. Wow I noticed the exact same things as you did!

3. Sweet Wendy,
   Thank you for extending us a little grace, and reminder that we are not striving for perfection!
   Words are so powerful, and I am praying for our Heavenly Father to keep watch over my mouth this year and for the rest of my life. May my words be spoken to uplift and encourage.

4. I was struck today by Rebekah’s words “Then let the curse fall on me…” what was the curse? I found out that Rebekah’s curse is that she does before Jacob returns…she never sees him again….
   Wow! How our actions and disobedience have consequences!!

   1. …that she does not see Jacob before he returns….

      1. Oh my goodness!! I cannot type this morning!!! One more time:
         Rebekah DIES before Jacob returns so she does not see him again….

5. Two things that stood out to me in today’s reading:
   ~The importance of wells. Clean, fresh water is important today too. We take it for granted but many poor countries in our world are desperate for it.
   ~Isaac seemed willing to do whatever it took to keep the peace.

   My Something to Do
   ~Praise God for His faithfulness to His promises.
   ~Guard against using lies and deception to get what I want. Trust God to work things out in His time and in His way.

6. As I read Gen 27 I saw so many ways that Rebekah was deceptive and manipulative with her husband and sons. I was praying that God would keep me from being this way when He spoke to my heart this question…”What subtle ways are you being deceptive or manipulative?” When I thought through this He revealed a handful of things I needed to confess and stop doing. They weren’t huge like Rebekah’s but I can see how they can still bring harm or distance in my relationships if I continue. So thankful for the Holy Spirit working in my heart and revealing where Change needs to happen.

7. For most of my life the words that came out of my mouth were hurtful, nasty, sarcastic and just not nice. I never considered what effect my words would have on others. But, 5 years ago I made a commitment to God and He transformed my life. I no longer say the words that hurt, but I am an encourager. I am so very thankful to God and praise Him for what He has done in my life.

8. One thing that stood out to me today is the similarities between the life of Isaac and the life of Abraham. Both lied about their wives being their sisters (You would think Abimelech would have learned his lesson after Abraham did this? Or Isaac would have?). They also both had disputes over wells, and had strong willed wives!

9. I’m so thankful that Wendy gave us the Bible verse Ps 141:3. I’ve heard it before but I want to post it where I can see and memorize it.
   What stood out to me today was the same as Wendy’s but with a different lesson. I looked at what Esau did and then what Jacob did in tricking Issac as changing God’s plan. Wonder what it would have been like if they had waited for God’s plan? Also, there have been many times I acted and not waited for God’s plan. I wonder what I’m missing because I jumped in and did what I wanted, changing my life.
   My to do: wait for God’s plan for the rest of my life. Don’t think I know better.

10. Gen 27:45 When Rebecca told Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Harran, she said “stay with him for awhile until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?” Really? Did she think Esau would forget that this happened? He might forgive, but would never forget that Jacob stole his blessing. The leaving to another place for a time may have been good advice but Rebecca’s reasoning about it was not good at all. I wonder if she prayed about that before she opened her mouth. It’s easy to quickly speak what we see as a “fix” to someone’s situation rather than wait for God to show the best way.

11. Something new: when Isaac asked Jacob how he found the game so quickly. Jacob said, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” It struck me as a little funny because In this way, he seemed to be including God in his deception!

12. Genesis chapter 27 today was a very interesting and challenging chapter for me. I don’t know what to think of it all. For the life of me I don’t understand why all the deceitfulness. God had already spoken to Rebekah before the birth of the boys. Why was Isaac so persistent to go against what God had already revealed? This chapter made me ponder a few thoughts. Can sin be used to fulfill God’s will?  Was this chapter about stealing a blessing or fulfilling God’s will? Well, I guess it’s obvious that a blessing was stolen. Maybe this chapter is more about God teaching me how He uses broken peoples actions to perform his will, broken people like me. Brokenness has the power, unlike anything else, to bring forth new beauty, strength, and inspiration. Because it’s often in the moments that I’ve tasted deep suffering, that I notice, I was made for more. There’s more. There’s purpose and maybe that’s what this whole chapter is about.

    “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). 

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13. I am so thankful for this wonderful community of women who are eager to grow in their intimacy with God. Thanks for being a part of my journey through the word.

    Several things stood out for me today:
    Rehoboth means “The Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.” Genesis 26:22
    God will always make space for us to prosper wherever we find ourselves no matter the circumstances that surround us.

    When you start to experience the blessings of God, you might lose friendships and experience hostility. Gen 26:12-16 reveals that when Isaac became very rich, Abimelech ordered him to leave Gerar because he had become too powerful for them.

    It’s interesting to see that later on in the passage in Gen 26:28, Abimelech finds Isaac and tells him of his desire to make a treaty with him beause he had noticed the presence of God with him.
    When God is with you, people will want to do business with you. There is a powerful covering and wind of favor on you as a child of God. You might not see it but it’s at work.

    Something New- Esau also married at the age of 40, just like Isaac did. In addition to marrying 2 Hittite wives, he married his cousin, Mahalath, Ishmael’s daughter.

14. When I read this I was all about condemning these people for deceit…I love how you turn it around Wendy and ask “How have I…When have I…” and make me apply this to my life! Thank you!

15. As a young Christian, studying scripture, I was upset with God because he loved Jacob but hated Esau. Why would God choose a deceiver, liar, manipulater and imposter. Even now, many years later, I still struggle with God’s choice.
    It is God’s story, not mine, and it’s not about me! God did warn Rebekah during her pregnancy about the order of birth promise but did she usurp her authority over God?
    There was a struggle.in the womb with Esau his twin brother, Jacob jostled for position and was born grasping his brother’s heel. Jacob’s name is translated as “he deceives” (Genesis 25:26). When his mother, Rebekah, asked God during her pregnancy what was happening to her, God told her that there were two nations within her womb who would become divided. One would be stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

    Sadly, there was favoritism between Isaac and Rebekah which caused much distress within the family! Esau, being a hunter, was his father’s favorite as Isaac loved the wild game Esau brought home, while Jacob was favored by his mother (Genesis 25:28). This destructive favoritism would follow the family into the next generation, most notably with Jacob’s son Joseph. Such was Jacob’s favoritism for Joseph that it caused great resentment among his brothers and nearly cost Joseph his life.

    Sin will be judged by a Just, Holy and righteous God. The sin of favoritism was judged by God into the next generation, actually throughout generations.

    Scripture states ~ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap!

    We must be sober minded, be vigilant, and watchful!!

16. New: Out of spite (it seems), Esau went to Ishmael and married one of his daughters (in addition to the others he already had). He did this after hearing that Jacob was being sent away to find a wife elsewhere.

    Deceit and lying was a big part of this family!

    Additionally, everyone piles on Esau about not valuing his birthright and selling it for a bowl of stew (rightfully so). But what about Jacob? To see your brother is hungry and requiring something of value in exchange for food? Very unkind and manipulative.

    Thank you, God, that You can use each of us even as we sin. Thank You for your unending grace!

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