December 18, 2009
Genesis 28:13–15 - The great I AM comes to Jacob in a dream. God promised him blessings and protection; said he would never leave him; told him that he would bring him back to this land; and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him and his descendants. Yet in Genesis 28:21 Jacob says, IF the Lord does these things, he will be my God. The Lord has just promised him in Verse 15. Why is he asking IF?* Faith is saying when, not if. When God promises to do something He WILL do it. It is the same as past tense. It is already done.
God has promised us His protection from "the storm." (Psalm 140 - See Her Name Was Jane.) It is not IF—it is WHEN. Psalm 140:6 - "... but we say You ARE our God..." It is not if God protects us then He will be our God. We proclaim God as Lord of our lives NOW, and we believe by faith that our protection is a done deal.
*Jacob had not yet obtained the faith of Abraham (Geneses 12:4) or his father (Genesis 27:20). It was your God and not my God. Our faith has to become our own. It has to become what we believe.
Jacob deceived Isaac and Esau. Laban deceived Jacob. Jacob circumvented custom by taking the birthright and blessing. Laban made certain custom was not circumvented with Leah. Laban's and Jacob's deceit continued on with the flocks and there was continued strife in Jacob's family. There are always consequences to our choices.
Next Entry: Genesis 31:1 – 33:20
Genesis 28:13–15 - The great I AM comes to Jacob in a dream. God promised him blessings and protection; said he would never leave him; told him that he would bring him back to this land; and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him and his descendants. Yet in Genesis 28:21 Jacob says, IF the Lord does these things, he will be my God. The Lord has just promised him in Verse 15. Why is he asking IF?* Faith is saying when, not if. When God promises to do something He WILL do it. It is the same as past tense. It is already done.
God has promised us His protection from "the storm." (Psalm 140 - See Her Name Was Jane.) It is not IF—it is WHEN. Psalm 140:6 - "... but we say You ARE our God..." It is not if God protects us then He will be our God. We proclaim God as Lord of our lives NOW, and we believe by faith that our protection is a done deal.
*Jacob had not yet obtained the faith of Abraham (Geneses 12:4) or his father (Genesis 27:20). It was your God and not my God. Our faith has to become our own. It has to become what we believe.
Jacob deceived Isaac and Esau. Laban deceived Jacob. Jacob circumvented custom by taking the birthright and blessing. Laban made certain custom was not circumvented with Leah. Laban's and Jacob's deceit continued on with the flocks and there was continued strife in Jacob's family. There are always consequences to our choices.
"God does everything right, and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing." From A Gentle Thunder by Max Lucado.
Next Entry: Genesis 31:1 – 33:20
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