Tuesday, January 5, 2010
January 9 ... Genesis 27 - 29 "Thinking Way-Too-Shallow About Sin"
Genesis 27:41 - Esau plans to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing. Laban defrauds Jacob and gives him the wrong wife. Oh my goodness! These guys are so deceitful! And what does God do? HE shows up in Genesis 28:13 which says God was right before Jacob. That is so encouraging to me that it wasn't when Jacob had his act altogether. "I am your God...I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you." And it took about 150 years in Jacob's life for him to become Israel. I keep thinking about how God said earlier that everyone is corrupt from their youth. 66 Love Letters: "Adam and Eve made the same choice you've been making since you were a kid, to protect yourself from pain and to be in control of your own pleasure, to negotiate with Me to get what you want out of life. That decision messed up everything in Eden, just as it still is messing up your life." I think I may think way too shallow concerning the sin in my life. It's like getting chlorine out of water. Praise God HE has taken care of our sin problem. One sentence in 66 Love Letters sticks out to me today: "Don't be afraid of failure or you will live for success. Don't be afraid that things in your life will go wrong---they will---or you will live for comfort."
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There was quite a bit that spoke to me in these chapters. But on the heels of my grandfather's death yesterday, a couple of things stood out. (My grandad did not leave a godly legacy, unfortunately.)
ReplyDeleteThis is the third generation that tells big, fat lies out of fear and to get what they want. Jacob, with the help of his mother, stole Esau's blessing after manipulating him to get his birthright. The pattern is clearly set. This family has made a mess of things, and it affects each generation.
I was also struck by the fact that God saw that Leah was unloved so He blessed her with children. Yet she still seems to be most focused on having Jacob love her, rather than on the God who has blessed her so much. I'm like that as well. I want what I want.
I'm grateful for the Lord's conviction. I don't want to miss out on the Grand Story He's telling, too focused on my smaller story and trying to make things happen.
Cici, I'm so sorry about your grandfather. I pray God will use this time to draw you and your family to Him. I see God working already in your heart, loving you. May God continue to bless you richly as you mourn.
ReplyDeleteMy first not-so-spiritual thought was loving to see men that can cook--neither here nor there, just a thought bubble as I read... :)
These chapters were chock full of moments that were lessons. I agree with Cici, deceitful messes affected several generations. It breaks my heart to read Esau's pleading, "Isn't there anything left you could bless me with?" How we desire our parents' blessing or our husband's love, or (what is it for you?). We can be filled with so many other blessings, yet we tend to focus on what we don't have. I'm like that, too, Cici.
I know I am too shallow in accounting for my sin, protecting myself from pain, negotiating what I want out of life. Based on your last quote, Bev, from 66 Love Letters, I am convicted by how much I live for comfort, and how fear permeates my decisions. Failure was not an option the way I grew up. I am not sure I live for success but certainly in fear of failure. I don't want comfort and fear to influence my role in the Story He has planned. I'll start with confession and ask God to work on my heart and give me His plan, and not my own.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
Annette G.
Cici- You and your family are in my prayers today and in the coming days. As Annette said, I will also be praying that God will use this time to draw you and your family to Him.
ReplyDeleteI have a sentence written in my bible above Chapter 29, in reference to Jacob's Encounter with God at that certain (random) place.
"A place we think we've randomly happened upon can be divinely scheduled venue for an awesome encounter with God."
However, instead of dwelling on that sentence, I was blown away with the sentence Bev wrote from the 66 Love Letters Book:
"Adam and Eve made the same choice you've been making since you were a kid, to protect yourself from pain and to be in control of your own pleasure, to negotiate with Me to get what you want out of life. That decision messed up everything in Eden, just as it still is messing up your life."
I too think I'm way too shallow concerning the sin in my life. I am always looking for comfort and control, and when I have that I believe God's in control. If I am not comfortable, then I am negotiating with the Lord on getting that control and comfort back.
The Holy Spirit truly convicted me in this devotion today, and to allow the Lord to have control of my life and decisions, comforts, and needs, because He will provide. His Will is More Productive and Successful than mine will ever be. May He receive the Glory for my life and all that is me.
Thanks for sharing my friends, you are just amazing.
-Kim
Hi Cici. I'm sending you a southern hug and I am so very sorry about the loss of your grandfather. Sad, too, that he didn't leave a godly legacy. What a waste of opportunity!
ReplyDeleteYou are starting a new thing. I'm not sure how long you've been a believer in Christ, but your heart is mirroring the Lord's. That is a huge blessing. Your family will reap a blessing as you walk by faith.
Isaac. Isaac. Why did you fall for this lie?
Did God choose Jacob?
The Bible says in Malachi 1 that the Lord loved Jacob and despised Esau.
I have pondered if God chose Jacob over Esau many times. That doesn't justify all the lies AT ALL, but look who received the blessing!
Jacob is one that is in the lineage of Christ. And on top of that, Leah is the mother of Judah, who is of the line of Christ.
So here's two tricks played. One on Isaac BY Jacob...and one on Jacob BY Laban (Leah).
Such a deep lesson in these chapters!
Annette G.I agree with what you said in your comment about wanting comfort and no pain. Oh, how shallow our faith can be and oh, what a faithful God we have to show us our sin and still love us and woo us to grow with Him.
ReplyDeleteI am just sitting here weeping after reading all your comments...I am on my way out the door to church so I'll be back after. Praying for you Cici...you were really on my heart yesterday---I didn't know---was it your mom's dad? Oh my!! Isaiah 26:3
ReplyDelete