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God Will Always Have His Way

The Failure of Favoritism

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. (Genesis 37:2-4 ESV)

Talking Points: What did Joseph do? (Tattle!) What did Joseph’s father do that was wrong? (Favored Joseph) What problems does favoritism create? How did Joseph’s brothers respond?

The Sovereignty of God

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Genesis 37:5-11 ESV)

Talking Points: Who gave Joseph this dream? (God) Even though Joseph’s father made a fatal mistake in favoring Joseph, it did not undo God’s plan for Joseph. Our failures are not fatal. God’s sovereignty refers to his divine rule over the course of human history. God is in charge and will have his way.

God’s Plan…Foiled?

They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. (Genesis 37:18-28 ESV)

Talking Points: God has already given Joseph a dream though his brothers hate him. Now God has to work around his brothers’ hateful actions. God is sovereign even when life doesn’t make sense.

Close your devotional time with this song:

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And The Winner Is…

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28 ESV)

The match of the millennium was not Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. Instead, we see an actual fight of man vs. the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Picture this: Jacob is helping his family get across this stream to safety when he is jumped by this stranger. They wrestle around trying to get the upper hand. Jacob pulls this man into a headlock. He doesn’t know it yet, but he is wrestling the creator of the universe.

Question: When was the last time you wrestled with God? Who won? How did you respond to the challenge?

Talking Points: Wrestling with God is going to be a losing battle. This is especially true if we are fighting whether or not to follow in his will. Our decisions are almost always based on our circumstances or emotions. God divines a plan for us that is not based on circumstance but in love.

Jacob finally realized he was wrestling with God when the man barely touched Jacob’s hip and his hip came out of place. Jacob didn’t want to let this man go until he blessed him. The man then blessed him by giving him a new name: Israel. Israel means “God strives.” This is given to Jacob because of his strife with God.

Question: Name one other time where Jacob received a blessing that he wasn’t supposed to get.

Talking points: Jacob stole Esau’s blessing as the firstborn. Jacob was known for wanting to receive a blessing. When Jacob and Esau came out of the womb, Esau came first, but Jacob was holding onto his heel.

It is important to note what the name Israel means. Israel means “God strives.” The twelve sons of Jacob begin tribes known as the twelve tribes of Israel. As we continue to flow through the Old Testament, you will notice places where Israel “strives” with God.

God and the people of Israel, through pain and turmoil, strive for many years. It is very symbolic of the wrestling match Jacob had with Jesus. The reason being is because the people of Israel strive with God but through Jesus, they become blessed. As I think about our sins and they held him down to the cross, I think about his blessing he poured out on me: eternal life.

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O The Difference a Day Makes

Twins. Not one child, but two. And though they came from the same womb, they grew to be worlds apart. Their names are probably familiar to you. Esau, born first, loved to hunt. Isaac, his father, loved him for it. Jacob, riding out of the womb on the heel of Esau, hung out at the tents—a homebody of sorts. Rebekah loved him.

Esau could hunt, Jacob cook. Esau was passionate, emotional and sporadic. Jacob, cunning and deceitful. Isaac kept on loving Esau, Rebekah continued to favor Jacob.

One day. How a day changes everything. Esau, as the firstborn owned the birthright. He owned it for no other reason than the fact he was born first. As owner of the birthright, he knew that several privileges awaited him at his father’s death. First of all, he would receive twice as much of his father’s property as any other heir. His wealth was secure. Second, he received authority over the other family members. He became the new patriarch, the newly respected leader of the family. His authority would be in tact. Finally, he would receive the much-desired blessing from the father which secured his relationship with Almighty God. His spiritual heritage was pronounced. All because he owned the birthright.

One day. Esau came home from the field—exhausted, famished, weary. Almost home, he smelled lunch. Jacob was practicing his culinary arts again. The aroma of the freshly cooked stew floated through the dry desert air. Esau’s empty stomach screamed for food. His tired, aching body begged for relief. His mind listened to nothing else but their voices.

“Jacob, please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished,” Esau begged.

Jacob had plenty of time to fill his stomach and his heart with a devious plan. Seeing Esau’s desperate condition, he went for the jugular.

“First, sell me your birthright.”

Esau’s eyes grew larger than his stomach. Hunger overwhelmed him. Forgetting that in his father’s house was plenty of food, in his father’s house were servants who could have responded to his request for food, he chose a swallow of lentil soup— a simple stew of red beans. Where he could have enjoyed a leg of lamb, he gulped a mouthful of beans. When he could have feasted at Isaac’s table, he begged at his brother’s trailside soup kitchen. Overcome with emotion, Esau responded:

“Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”

Jacob, wanting to clearly understand that he had so easily won the coveted birthright asked Esau for further assurance. “Swear to me.” The steam from the bean soup slowly wafted to Esau’s nostrils. Swearing that Jacob could have his birthright, Esau lunged for the bowl of soup.

Jacob served Esau for the last time. From now on, Esau would serve Jacob. With each swallow of the soup Esau’s birthright disintegrated into nothing. A full stomach gave way to an empty heart. Esau despised his birthright.

Family Discussion: What should Esau have done differently? What did Jacob do wrong? What kinds of decisions can we make hastily (like Esau) and end up making a mess rather than trusting God?

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Twin Cities Destroyed!

The Power of Sin

God is angry with Sodom and Gomorrah–twin cities. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lives there and Genesis 18 is about Abraham praying that God will not destroy the cities. However, the sin is so bad in Sodom and Gomorrah that ten righteous people cannot even be found there. Consider this:

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. (Genesis 19:1-11 ESV)

Note the power of sin. (And be careful how you talk with your children about this!) These men are so overcome by their lust that they can’t help themselves. They “wore themselves out” groping for the door all night.

Discussion: What kinds of sin are “dangerous” for you or your children. (This is a great opportunity to talk about technology and boundaries for it.)

The Power of God

Morning comes and the angels urge Lot to get his wife and daughters out because God is about to destroy the cities.

The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. (Genesis 19:23-29 ESV)

Discussion: Why did Lot’s wife die? (Because she looked back and longed for the sinful place God was destroying.) What does this say about sin’s power that Lot’s wife would risk everything? What does this say about God’s power that he would destroy those cities? How seriously does God take sin?

Talking Points: Why was Lot not killed? (Because Abraham prayed for him.) What role can you have in praying for family members and friends who go on in sin? How might God use you to pray? Who should be on your prayer list? What does this say about God’s grace and love that he would go to the trouble to rescue Lot?

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When God Makes A Promise

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6 ESV)

God made a promise to Abraham in this passage. This promise pushed the verge of impossible. Abraham and Sarai were up in age and Abraham had no offspring. It would seem as if he never would. Abraham had settled with Eliezer to be his heir. Eliezer wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t the real thing: a son.

Discussion: Are there things in your life you have settle for but they aren’t the real thing? Have you searched for love and acceptance in things other than Christ?

Talking points: We can often find love and acceptance in things that are meaningless and don’t last. Sports, work, relationships, school, etc. We may hear it a thousand times, but we tend to continue to rely on those things to fill us. They will NEVER be the real thing. Christ’s love trumps all.

God’s promise to Abraham is that he would have a son. This seemed a little farfetched for Abraham. He is old. Sarai is old. It just doesn’t make sense. Just because it doesn’t make sense doesn’t mean God can’t do it. God promised him a son, and that’s what He would give Abraham.

Discussion: Is there a promise that God has made that seems farfetched for you? 

Talking points: Often times we believe that his grace couldn’t be extended to a wretch like me. I have done too many bad things, right? That kind of thinking is not thinking poorly of yourself, but trying to put a limit to an all-powerful, all-loving God. You are effectively saying that he isn’t powerful enough to forgive me. When God makes a promise, he follows through.

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The Redeeming Rainbow: Genesis 9

[8] Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, [9] “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, [10] and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. Genesis 9:8-10

The waters had flooded the earth and all of creation, except for Noah, his family and the animals safe in the ark, had been killed. This is not a cute children’s tale: it is a story of God’s divine judgment.

Discussion: Do you think God was fair in judging the world so harshly? What made this fair or just?

Talking points: Noah built the ark and (according to Peter in the New Testament) preached for 120 years. People had the opportunity to repent and they didn’t. When people don’t respond to God’s invitation for salvation, it isn’t unfair on God’s part–they are being ungrateful.

[11] I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”  Genesis 9:12

Discussion: God established a covenant with Noah and all of creation. What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?

Talking Points:  With a contract, if one agreeing party does something in violation of the contract then it is considered broken. The whole contract becomes null and void. Basically the signers of a contract agree to hold up their ends as long as the other signatories hold up theirs too.  With a covenant, both parties agree to hold up their ends regardless of whether the other party keeps their part of the agreement. A violation of a covenant by one party doesn’t matter as far as the other party’s responsibility to continue to do what they agreed to do.

[13] I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. [14] When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, [15] I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. [16] When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” [17] God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13-17 ESV)

Discussion: When we think of rainbows, what comes to mind?

Talking points: Notice that it is called a “bow.” Think of it as a “bow” for a moment without it being a rainbow. What is a bow used for? Hunting. Killing. Death. Now think of a rainbow you’ve seen. Which way is it pointed? Toward God! God put a bow in the sky, pointed toward him, to say that he would die before he would break this covenant with all of creation. And he made good on that promise. On the cross, Jesus died for the sins of mankind.

Have you ever received Jesus as your Savior? If not, talk to a family member about how to trust Jesus as your Savior. The next time you see a rainbow, remember God’s faithful promise to His people–and to you!

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The Great Flood

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Genesis 6:5-6 ESV)

This is a hard passage to read. Usually in the Old Testament the emotion that God shows is anger. But this passage tells us that God was grieving. The actions of his creation caused him to grieve to his heart. We aren’t used to that emotion from God.

Discussion: Is there something in your life that grieves God? Have you ever done something to grieve your earthly parents?

Talking Points: This is a hard question to answer right away. We tend to put aside these things because we don’t want to confront them. Take time to meditate on Psalm 139:23-24. Think of some ways to talk to your parents about how you grieved them. These need to be done in a loving, genuine way.

The Ark had to be a large boat. However, the size of the Ark isn’t what is important. What the Ark represents is the most important thing. The flood water was God’s judgment on his creation because of corruption.

Discussion: If the flood waters were God’s judgment, what does the Ark represent? Who or what is our “Ark”?

Talking Points: The Ark rescued Noah, his family, and two of every animal from the flood waters. Noah was not perfect but Scripture said he was blameless in the eyes of the Lord. We are also not perfect, but we are corrupted. Our Ark (Christ) is who finds us blameless and rescues us from the judgment of sin. Please explain this correlation to your children.

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:21-22 ESV)

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The Choice

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-7 ESV)

Choices, choices, choices. Which car should I buy? Which paint should we use? What college should I go to? Everyday life is filled with choices. These choices are always things we should do or things we should not do.

The most important decision you have to make hangs on the impact of sin. Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent to disobey God’s command.

Discussion: How can we protect ourselves from Satan’s snares?

Talking Points: Choose Scripture. The serpent misquotes God and tells them that God lied to them. Knowing God’s word and putting faith in God’s word will protect you from the enemy’s lies. Choose accountability. It is easy to choose sin when you have no one to answer to. When you have to confess your sin, sinning does not seem as appealing.

Consequences. Every choice we make comes with a consequence. ALWAYS. Adam and Eve received very severe consequences for disobeying God. Adam was given pain while working in the fields and death. Eve was given pain in childbirth. We often blame our problems on Adam and Eve. Here is the deal: just like Adam and Eve, we have a choice not to sin. Our consequences represent our choices.

Discussion: What are practical ways to consider consequences before you make a choice?

Talking Points: Will it impact your relationship with God? Every sin is a sin against God. Will it impact your relationship with your wife, kids, parents, or friends? Our choices will affect us, but it will also affect those around you.

The hope that God gave to Adam and Eve was that her offspring would be the one to defeat the serpent. His name is Jesus. He did defeat Satan. If you are in Christ, Satan no longer has power over you. You are a beloved child of God.

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In the Beginning

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5 ESV)

Every institution, every person, every team, every invention has its beginning, its own special history. Sometimes the beginning was intentional (most technology), and at other times accidental (a “mistake” in the kitchen that became the family’s favorite recipe.)

When the Bible speaks of the beginning of all things, there is a simple statement: In the beginning, God.

Discussion: What does it mean that “God” immediately follows the word “beginning?”

Talking Points: All of creation points to a creator. Divine design. The world did not come into being accidentally. If God is the “beginner” then all of creation is a reflection of Him. Not only does creation reflect God, creation glorifies him. Just as a work of art makes an artist famous, creation makes God famous. A sunrise: God’s work. A rainbow: God’s work. A beautiful waterfall: God. As creator, God is unavoidable. Everything points to him!

Verse 3 says, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Here we see the formula for creation: and God said…and there was.

Discussion: What does this say about God that he created simply by speaking?

Talking Points: God is all-powerful. We call this God’s omnipotence—his power over everything. God speaks and things happen. God doesn’t begin with raw material—all he needed was his will to create. What God wants, God can make happen.

Application: What is in your life that you need God’s power on? Share those needs with one another and pray for each other. Give your needs to the omnipotent God who simply speaks and creates.