Contents

Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 1
OT (chronological)
Sunday (Genesis 25:19 - 26)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 2
OT (chronological)
Monday (Genesis 27)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 3
OT (chronological)
Tuesday (Genesis 27:46-28)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 4
OT (chronological)
Wednesday (Genesis 29 – 30)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 5
OT (chronological)
Thursday (Genesis 31)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 6
OT (chronological)
Friday (Genesis 32 - 33)
Daily Devotional
Week 9 Day 7
OT (chronological)
Saturday (Genesis 34 - 36)

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 1

OT (chronological)

Sunday (Genesis 25:19 - 26)

Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Abimelech,

The young carpenter, Cy, and the young woman missionary, Wendy, were married in the summer and by Fall they were with child – actually, twins.

Wendy's pregnancy was filled with unusual symptoms; during the day she was never hungry and always cold, during the night she was constantly hungry and always felt over-heated. Her food cravings shifted wildly between the meals common to hunters and laborers (spicy liver and barley pudding, and dried salted fish with flat bread) and meals common to the teachers and caretakers (vegetable soup, mint tea, and chocolates from the city).

When the twins were born one was slender, resisted napping, and was always hungry (Cody) while the other was more stocky, liked to nap, and ate on a regular schedule (Will). As they grew their differences became more pronounced such that strangers would not recognize them as siblings at all.

When they were old enough to be baptized Cody slipped away on the scheduled day to hunt with some boys from the village while Will testified to his faith for all to hear. People trusted Will whereas they always wondered what Cody might do next.

When he was older Cody returned from helping to fight wildfires on the other side of the country – and with him was a native woman whom he had married – she was not a Believer and that resulted in a great deal of conflict and confusion.

We are all born with different mixes of genetic material into a world in which none of our experiences are quite the same – the choices that we make in the midst of all of that begin to shape who we are.

Dear Lord, I want to be the person You want me to be, despite the enemy's schemes to prey on my weaknesses and to undermine my strengths. You are the potter, I am the clay. Amen.  dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 2

OT (chronological)

Monday (Genesis 27)

Jacob Gets Esau's Blessing

Cy became anxious that they were not seeing the results God had promised and so he asked his supporters back home country to hold a fund raiser for a large evangelical-missions outreach event.

He contacted a famous pastor from another part of the country and asked him to bring his music team to conduct a huge outreach event.

He hired a large catering company to provide all of the food for the week-long event.

Hundreds of people came and created a giant tent city surrounding the village in the valley. The surrounding hills created a natural amphitheater – which Cy intended to use to increase the effectiveness of the music and speaking.

The day before the event a huge sandstorm swept through the country, grounding airplanes, blocking highways, the power grid collapsed, and – of course - the event was canceled.

After all of the planning and hope Cy was heartbroken – but God was not finished.

In the darkness, with no power, and fear as to what was happening some of the native Believer-converts gathered in the meeting tent - and began to pray and then to sing. People came to see what was happening and one by one they joined in the singing – then began to ask from where their faith came – and quietly the locals shared the story of Jesus in their lives and many surrendered their lives to the Lord.

This was to be just the beginning of a great wave of salvation across the region – and it came despite Cy's efforts to “help” the Lord.

It is hard to watch people stumble from day to day; confused, hurting one-another, being led from lie to lie, deception to deception, and finding hope only in momentary things – while in their hearts – true freedom and joy are absent. Our temptation is to 'help' God with worldly marketing techniques, manipulative environments to leverage fear or experiences or superstition – when all God asks us to do is to be faithful vessels – and to leave the method and timing to Him.

Dear Lord, Help me to resist the temptation to replace Your way with mine, Your timing with mine, and Your Holy Spirit with my works. It's Your story I am to live and to tell – You will do the rest. Amen. dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 3

OT (chronological)

Tuesday (Genesis 27:46-28)

Jacob Sets Off to Find a Wife, Esau Marries Again, Jacob’s Dream at Bethel,

Cy was amazed, a little dazed, and definitely delighted, by the work that God did in the midst of the sandstorm mess. After taking time for a celebration of praise and worship, and to arrange for follow-up discipleship groups, he decided to get away from all of the busyness and planning of events - for a retreat with the Lord.

He consulted with an elder back in the city who recommended a remote plateau within a small mountain range about 50 miles from the valley village.

It was a short drive followed by a long hike and despite his youth Cy was tired when he reached the plateau – so tired that he barely set up camp before falling asleep in his tent.

He dreamed about the events of the previous weeks and the Lord showed him how the events unfolded - from a heavenly-perspective. In his dream he watched himself rushing about, “helping” God, various groups making their preparations, and so many people planning their travels - to the grand event in the valley. Unbeknownst to them various weather fronts, in far-distant regions, were colliding and redirecting – so that the soil was bone-dry when God sent the winds came to lift and relocate them. Then He stirred the hearts of the native Believers in the valley to pray and to sing, followed by His gentle invitation to the visitors to indulge their curiosity, with the wonderful conclusion of many (but not all) choosing Christ.

Cy was once-again amazed and awoke to worship and praise the Lord – then he asked the Lord to send another missions team to help with discipleship - and he promised that he would avoid future short-cuts in his outreach.

Jesus broke away from the crowds in order for his human body and mind to have a time of quiet rest to commune with His Heavenly-Father. Every Believer needs a respite now and then. It's not a vacation for fun but rather a holiday from the clatter and clutter of daily living – listening for His still soft voice.

Dear Lord, When the only voice I hear is Yours I am drawn near to Heaven. Make me still, calm my heart, mind, and body - then teach me, encourage me, and direct me to have Your heart and to walk the  path You have chosen for me. Amen.  dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 4

OT (chronological)

Wednesday (Genesis 29 – 30)

The Marriages of Jacob, The Family of Jacob, The Flocks of Jacob

Cy had spotted a small village while on the mountain plateau and after asking around he learned they were people who had been displaced by the sandstorm who had relocated to a far corner of the valley.

The people were not from the valley, nor were they people who had come there for the big outreach event he had planned, but were from a region beyond the valley. They had isolated themselves as they were unfamiliar with local culture and also unfamiliar with the Christian outreach.

Cy prayed, and asked others to do so as well, so he might determine if the Lord had shown him the village for a reason. He came to believe that he should travel to the village, earn the right to be heard there, and then share the Word of God.

Once there he learned that they feared the coming cold Winter weather, especially as wood was scarce in the valley, and they had not had the resources or time to erect many permanent structures. Cy offered  to teach them how to build solar hot air collectors and to use rocks from the mountains to store and release the gathered heat at night.

He built the first one for their leader – with the understanding that he would be allowed to share his story when the system was shown to the villagers – but when that day arrived the leader gave a long speech and then everyone broke into a ritual dance followed by a large meal. It was late and dark and Cy never was allowed to speak. He said nothing but prayed for another opportunity.

The next system was for the community building - and again the agreement was for him to speak when it was completed – but this time both the leader and another man spoke, the ritual dance ensued, eating followed, then darkness fell. Cy was a little frustrated.

It had now been two months, he'd only seen his wife and child for brief visits on the weekends, and he was wondering if the village leaders were being honest – or just taking advantage of him. He was asked to build a system for the storehouse, and with the Lord's encouragement, he agreed.

This time he partnered with the son of the leader – mentoring him in the design and construction of the system – and when the system was unveiled the son introduced him. He was finally able to share his story. He told them that the Lord Who made the sun had taught him how to capture its heat, store it,and release it at night – and that God wanted to teach them far more than that about His Creation.

It can be frustrating and sacrificial to earn the right to be heard – taking longer than we'd like, and sometimes we may be taken advantage of. But we must remember that someone invested in us.

Dear Lord, Open a door and I will be Your patient servant and witness. Amen.  Dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 5

OT (chronological)

Thursday (Genesis 31)

Jacob’s Flight from Laban

Cy had received some credit for his efforts, and more importantly, an opportunity to begin a conversation about God.

In his zeal Cy had used up all of his funds, buying some resources and paying some local laborers, and now had to find a way to replace them.

Cy met with the village leaders and explained that he would have to return to his home village across the valley to be with his family and to raise funds. The leaders worried that the people would become angry with them because they had moved too slowly and only equipped three buildings – and winter was not far off.

They offered Cy a temporary residence for his family, funds to cover all of the materials, and a salary to  lead and train the people to build their own systems. Cy was shocked that they had never disclosed the availability of so many funds but agreed and they got to work.

Due to the previous delays they were only able to complete work on a quarter of the homes before winter set-in but they continued despite the cold and multiple families shared the heated homes. Spring came and the leaders became less reliable with timely payments, but the Lord sent Cy the resources he needed from home, and he pressed ahead.

As they interacted with the villagers he, and Wendy, found opportunities to answer their questions about the God of the Bible – and to share the Word with them – and a small core group surrendered they lives to Christ.

In the Fall Wendy discovered that she was with-child again and they decided they would return to their home village before Winter. The leaders worried but Cy assured them that those whom he had trained could complete the work.

Cy agreed not to press for the funds owed him, the leaders agreed to stop pressuring him to stay, and after the usual speeches, dancing, and food Cy and his young family set-off for home.

Doing the right thing does not always result in great physical blessings, sometimes the seeds we plant for Christ come at the price of invested energy, money, and time – none of which is replaced – the blessings come to us in the form of the joy we have that we've been well-used of the Lord..

Dear Lord, Show me a way that the gifts and talents You have given me may be used to Your glory.

Amen. dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 6

OT (chronological)

Friday (Genesis 32 - 33)

Jacob Wrestles at Peniel, Jacob Meets Esau

Along their journey home Cy and his family stopped for food and fuel then, despite their late start, continued on into the night – because they just wanted to get home.

Suddenly the vehicle began to vibrate so he pulled to the side of the road, got out, and discovered a flat tire on the right rear side. He was tired, and envisioning unloading the vehicle to get to the tire jack made him more tired, plus he worried about rumors of road bandits.

Suddenly a large older man carrying an equally large backpack appeared from the brush, accompanied by an athletic looking young woman, and asked “Could you use some assistance?”

Cy was startled and glanced quickly at his wife, who locked the doors, at which sound the man and young woman shook their heads, then started to laugh. The man said “We mean no harm.”

Cy apologized then explained that his jack was buried under all of their stuff inside, plus the carrying rack would have to be unloaded before the rear door could even be opened. The man pulled a tire iron from his backpack, saying “No problem, but there's one condition, you have to beat her in arm wrestling.” Cy was wearing a loose fitting shirt and pants so his usual carpenter's muscular build, enhanced by the past three months of work, wasn't obvious.

Cy pulled a small table off the roof and they began to arm-wrestle. She was much stronger than he anticipated and he stronger than she thought. After a while she began to tire - but as he pressed her arm for the win her foot flashed under the table into the side of his knee - causing him to fall to the ground. She helped him up, saying “Strong, but not invulnerable.” His knee was weak and he limped a little.

The man laughed as she moved the flattened stump, on which Cy had been sitting, in front of the driver's side rear tire and said “Drive up on to it”, which he did – causing the vehicle to rock oddly. She then placed the short stump, on which she had been seated, under the bumper. He removed the nut, then while he lifted the corner of the vehicle she slid the stump under the frame. He pulled the spare off the roof, swapped it with the bad tire, replaced the nuts, then said “Drive off the flattened stump.” When Cy did that the other stump pulled loose and he was ready to go. As they disappeared back into the brush they called back to him “Remember to pray – the Lord will keep his promise to you.”

Sometimes God sends encouragement and help, along with a reminder, to rely upon His strength and not in our own – and to rest in His promises.

Dear Lord, It's easy to become proud of our physical strength, our clever methods, and in other worldly resources - please keep me humbly-dependent upon and trusting in You. Amen. dmc2015

Daily Devotional

Week 9 Day 7

OT (chronological)

Saturday (Genesis 34 - 36)

Dinah and the Shechemites, The Return to Bethel, The Descendants of Esau

Because of the flat tire delay Cy stopped at a small motel and rented a room for the night. When they were about to leave in the morning they noticed some of their things were missing from the carrying rack and a note on the windshield offered to sell them back to them.

Cy was angry, not only due to another delay, but also for the dishonesty and the boldness of the thieves.

Then he remembered that the local law enforcement official had come from their home village and was a Believer – so he called and explained his situation. The officer and Cy arranged a set-up and captured the young thieves.

Cy recovered his belongings and the agreement they reached was that Cy would not press charges – if the two young thieves attended a small group twice a week with the officer's wife – who was not a woman to be trifled with.

The young thieves were terrified of being sent to prison in the big city – so they agreed – and Cy and his family were on their way home again.

Cy later heard that the young thieves had confessed to a variety of petty crimes, returned some stolen items and worked to pay restitution for vandalism and for missing items - and had given their lives to Christ.

There was, however, a new challenge for the officer – he had to keep the two reformed young thieves from practically kidnapping travelers to force them to listen to listen to their testimonies and to challenge them to accept Christ.

While the Biblical story was far more brutal the common key lessons are that justice and grace can take a variety of shapes in this world. It is always best for everyone when there is appropriate accountability.

Dear Lord, Teach me to balance justice and grace – because You are a God of balance and humankind needs boundaries. Amen. dmc2015

All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org

Devotional copyright © 2015 by David M. Colburn. This is associated with the BibleSeven Study –“Genesis OT Week 9”. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.