Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jan 12th, 2019 Still A Liar – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passages – Genesis 31 – 32(Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 23 – 24; Proverbs 12; Psalms 56 – 60)

Read the “0112 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.” (Genesis 32:1-20)

Good morning. Jacob was getting ready to meet his brother Esau. After taking Esau’s blessing and birthright, Jacob was afraid of what Esau might do. But God made this promise to Jacob…

“And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” (Genesis 31:3)

Jacob had this promise from God. By obeying God and returning to homeland, Jacob was in the center of God’s will. And, as the Bible says in Romans 8…

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Mahanaim means double camp. Jacob could have been referring to himself as one camp, and a company of 100 to 200 angels he saw as the other camp. Or he may have saw 2 companies (200 to 400) angels. Even though God let Jacob know He was there with him, Jacob still feared his brother.

“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” (Genesis 32:7-8)

So, what happened?

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.” (Genesis 33:1-17)

Jacob lied to Esau? But didn’t the second milers read today in Proverbs chapter 12…

“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)

And

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)

Jacob was human just like the rest of us. He sins just like the rest of us. But God is true to His Word. He delivered Jacob from his brother Esau. There is nothing about this lie bothering Jacob. When Moses was leading Israel out of Egypt, Edom (Esau’s country) would not let Israel pass their boarder on the king’s highway. It makes me wonder what would have happened here if Israel did not lie to Esau and met him at Seir. Maybe the Edomites would have trusted them, and allowed them to pass through the land. When we lie, it’s because we are not trusting God to take care of us: we don’t want to take the responsibility for what we’ve done. Jesus said…

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

If you told anything but the truth, you told a lie. It doesn’t matter if it is a little white lie, or a great BIG lie, it’s still a lie. That would make you a liar, and headed for that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. But…

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:8-11)

God showed us His love by diing on a cross, shedding His precious blood for our sins. Before it’s too late, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, call on Him to be your personal Saviour.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Peace.