Don’t Spare Me The Details – The Saturday Morning Post

Don’t Spare Me The Details – The Saturday Morning Post

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Today’s Passage – Exodus 36 – 38 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –Luke 19 – 20; Proverbs 1; Psalm 6 – 10

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.” (Exodus 36:1)

Good morning! It always amazes me the amount of people that say they dread reading this portion of Exodus: the building of the Tabernacle, and the items therein. Too many details, they say. But our God is a perfect God, and as the only perfect God, He is concerned about the details. For instance, when Israel complained to Moses that there was no water to drink, God told Moses to smote a rock, and water would come out. Moses did, and life giving water flowed freely from the rock that he smote. God painted a great picture of how Jesus would be smitten, and His blood would flow freely, giving life to all who would drink from this Most Holy Fountain. The next time, the details were marred. God told Moses to only speak to the rock, and water would flow. But Moses didn’t. In his anger at Israel, he hit the rock as he spoke, and once again water flowed. Moses had smudged the painting God was making: the details were ruined. God was painting a picture of Romans 10:13…

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

As a result of him messing up the details, Moses was not allowed to enter into the promised land. God is concerned about the details.

We should be glad that God is concerned about the details too. He knows me and you better than we know ourselves. Just think, a perfect God, who supplied the perfect salvation, is building me the perfect mansion in the perfect place. My mansion is just for me, and it will be the perfect place for me: don’t spare me the details!

According to our verse, God gave wisdom and understanding to those building so they would know the details, and create the items exactly how God wanted them. What were they building?

1) They were building a witness for the Lord.

There is a TV commercial that states how amazing the human eye is. It can see the flickering light of a candle that is 10 miles away. How much more the fire of the Lord by night and the cloud of the Lord by day covering the Tabernacle? Exodus 40:38 tells us that it was in the sight of all Israel. If your eye can see a candle flickering 10 miles away, the surrounding nations may have saw also that God was with Israel.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

2) They were building up riches in Heaven.

Jesus said…

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

They gave out of the abundance that the Lord had given them when they spoiled the Egyptians. They gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop giving (Exodus 36:4-7). I ain’t never heard that one happening in any of today’s churches. God can stretch your 90% more than you can stretch your 100%.

3) They were building a legacy for their families.

The Tabernacle would be the place to worship God, and offer Him sacrifices, for 480 years when Solomon would build the first Temple. That’s five, or so, generations that would meet with the Lord here. What have you built lately? Don’t spare the details.

Peace. (Exodus 40:35)

Daddy and Mommy Know Best by Camille Stahl

Daddy and Mommy Know Best by Camille Stahl

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Today’s Passage – Exodus 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 11 – 12;  Proverbs 28; Psalms 136 – 140)

Scripture Memorization for January – Joy in Serving Jesus

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “0128 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.” (Genesis 26:34-35)

Why should it matter to God whom we marry? What are the consequences of obedience or disobedience in this area of our lives?

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith, and also Bashemath. This was about the same age that Isaac was when he married, but Esau married two Hittite women. Although they are Hittites, they were in the Promised Land a long time, but they were of a bitter spirit. This brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah. It showed Esau’s continuing unfaithfulness, just as when he sold his birthright, which showed how unfit he was for God’s blessing.

God never intended for believers to marry unbelievers.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

It would be like putting a donkey and an ox behind the plow together. They do not have the same strength. It would be impossible for a mismatched pair to plow effectively together Believers and unbelievers are different and cannot work together in the spiritual realm. For what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? It makes no sense at all because faith has nothing in common with unbelief. I am sure that as good and caring parents Isaac and Rebekah gave both of their son’s ample warning about marrying unbelieving Canaanite women.

Now this may come as a shock to you but sometimes children don’t do what their parents teach them to do.  When Esau rebelled against God and his parents they were grieved just as when we rebel.  Sometimes as parents you can do all the right things but your child grows up and rebels. At that point all you can do is pray for them and turn them over to the Lord.  No one can understand the pain of this, unless you have had a rebellious child.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Whether you’re the parent or the young person who is seeking marriage, seek the Lord’s will for your life and pray, pray, pray.  Remember Daddy (also Daddy our Heavenly Father) and Mommy know best!!

Thank You

1 John 5:13

Following Through With Revival Decisions

Following Through With Revival Decisions

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Today’s Passage – Exodus 22 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10;  Proverbs 27; Psalms 131 – 135)

Scripture Memorization for January – Joy in Serving Jesus

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “0127 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Living in Canaan“

“And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.” (Exodus 24:3)

In chapter 24 of our reading today in the Book of Exodus, we see Moses telling the people the words that God had given Him, which included the Ten Commandments. (See Exodus 20 – 23 for Moses account of what God told him to tell the people.) God had given many laws for the people to live by, and the people were very pleased with what the Lord had said, and at the time they committed to cheerfully obey what God had commanded them. However, we will soon discover that when Moses goes back up to meet with God, and is gone for a long period of time, the people will completely forsake God, and create their own idol to worship. (If you want to read ahead, you can see the story in Exodus 32.) The point is that when God was with them and all the excitement of smoke and thunder and lightning was in front of them, they were perfectly willing to follow God, but after 40 days of Moses’ absence, and none of the excitement they had previously experienced, they decided that they would try to create some excitement of their own, but they abandoned God.

Right now at our church, we are experiencing some wonderful days. People are getting saved, and many lives are changing. It certainly is exciting to see and experience what God is doing. His presence has been felt in our services, and I am looking forward to what God is going to do in the days ahead. Right now, it seems that everybody at our church wants to do right and live for the Lord. However, I know that there will come a day when the excitement will recede, and we will have days when the crowds will be smaller and the zeal will not be as strong. My question is this: will the people still want to follow through with the decisions that they made in the exciting times when the excitement goes away?

Our kids just came back from camp and they are excited. God spoke to them in wonderful ways and they made decisions to do right. But, will they follow through with those decisions when the excitement of snow camp is a distant memory?

My point is that we need to develop our Christian character to the extent that we follow through with what God wants for us regardless of the emotional temperature of any given day. We need to do right and continue to follow the Lord’s will for our lives, even when the crowd is not with us, cheering us on, and regardless of how we feel. I hope and pray the spirit of revival continues and increases in the days ahead. I love living on the mountaintop, but I also pray that if I have to go through a valley that I will remain faithful to the decisions I made back on the mountain.

The Wilderness Of Sin

The Wilderness Of Sin

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Today’s Passage – Exodus 16 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 5 – 6; Proverbs 25; Psalms 121 – 125)

Scripture Memorization for January – Joy in Serving Jesus

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Micah 6:8

Read the “0125 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this morning’s reading passage – “Remember Sunday?” and “Sound Advice“

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “Walking Through The Valley“

“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 16:1)

Good morning. Did you know Sin was a real place? It’s located between Elim and Sinai. Sin is a real place: we wander around in it all the time. It’s not a fun place to be. It’s an easy place to get to, but sometimes a very hard place to get out of. And Israel was faced with the wilderness of Sin right in front of them. And they stepped into Sin.

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:2-3)

As soon as they entered the wilderness of Sin, the sin started. The children of Israel murmured about those in charge. You blame them or others for your troubles, but it was your walk into Sin. So, number 1, Sin brings Sedition.

Number 2, Sin does not bring Satisfaction. When all of Israel were in Sin they were hungry. Sin does not satisfy, and that added to their sedition.

1) Sin brings Sedition

2) Sin does not bring Satisfaction

And thirdly, Sin brings Sacrilege…

“And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.” (Exodus 16:8)

Israel did not have to murmur. Israel did not have to walk around hungry. Israel did not have to blaspheme God. But they did. And God loved them enough that He took care of their needs by giving them quail, and manna to eat. They didn’t have to do all those things. All they had to do was ask God and He would have fulfilled their needs.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Just ask…

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

The next time you decide that you want to take a walk in the wilderness of Sin: DON’T! Just remember…

1) Sin brings Sedition

2) Sin does not bring Satisfaction

3) Sin brings Sacrilege

Peace. (Matthew 12:31)

Hang in There

Hang in There

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Today’s Passage – Exodus 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click hereto view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 13 – 14; Proverbs 21; Psalms 101 – 105)

Scripture Memorization for January – Joy in Serving Jesus

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6

Read the “0121 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Hang In There!

“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.” (Exodus 5:22-23)

“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1)

Moses was sent by God to free the children of Israel from 400 years of bondage.  God showed Moses his power, and reassured him that their freedom would come to pass, but he lacked faith. When things didn’t go the way Moses thought it would, he doubted God. But don’t be so hard on Moses. We’re no better. We’ll pray for something or someone and think all will be well. We’ve done exactly what God wanted and the way He asked and so on. But the prayer didn’t turn out in our time in our way. We question God, why?  Now please re-read Exodus 6:1. It says, “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh.”

Think with me if you will. The people were praying all those year to be free. Who do you think would get the praise if Moses said lets go, and they left?  Moses, of course. It wouldn’t be by the hand of God that they would go, but Moses. God wanted to prove His love for His children by providing the impossible. God not only wanted to show His love, He wanted to destroy forever the very thing that hurt them, and He still works the same today.

What are you facing? What have you been praying for? When things look like it’s all over, hang in there. God is getting ready to work His will for you. He loves you and only wants the best for His children.  Just hang in there!

Thank You

1 John 5:13

Forgiveness: It Does A Body Good

Forgiveness: It Does A Body Good

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Today’s Passage – Genesis 45 – 47 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 7 – 8; Proverbs 18; Psalms 86 – 90)

“Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:1-8)

Good morning. How many times in your life has someone done you wrong? Now, how many times have you forgiven their wrong? Too many of us hold a grudge against the many wrong-doers in our lives. We fail to realize that it may be part of God’s will: we may need to be hurt, so we will not hurt others. Look at what Joseph said, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

God had a bigger reason for allowing Joseph to be sold as a slave in Egypt: bigger than satisfying the hatred of his brothers: to preserve life. Joseph was able to see this, and forgave his brothers for what they did to him. Sometimes we are not sure of what God is doing, and should be tolerant of those times we are under attack: look at King David fleeing Jerusalem…

“And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.” (2Samuel 16:5-12)

Peter asked “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”, and Jesus told him, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Stephen said, before dieing from the stones that were thrown at him, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

Our Example, the Lord Jesus Christ, asked the Father from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Being angry or upset with someone cannot end in anything good, unless it ends with forgiveness. Let’s strive to be a little more, and forgive as Jesus did. Jesus died for their sins as well as yours.

Peace. (Mark 11:25-26)

“What Did You Say?”

“What Did You Say?”

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Today’s Passage –Genesis 36 – 37 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –Matthew 27 – 28; Proverbs 14; Psalms 66 – 70)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 61:1 – 3

Read the “0114 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from today’s reading – “Who Can Stand Before Envy“

What Did You Say?

“And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” (Genesis 37:10)

In today’s scriptures, we read that Joseph was the bearer of bad news that his family did not appreciate.  Later in chapters 40 and 41, Joseph also delivered bad news to the baker and Pharaoh. Pharaoh, unlike Joseph’s family, received the news gladly.

People still today do not appreciate hearing bad news. Your Pastor will preach a great message but there was something that he touched on that just got under your skin. You become angry or hateful towards him. His intentions are pure, but will rarely be appreciated.  We’re not really ticked off at him, but at God because we’re under conviction. Remember he cannot always preach messages that please all the people all the time. He is led by the Holy Spirit to preach messages that make certain people very unhappy. The key is to make a decision based on God’s Word and remove our emotions from the way we respond. Do we hate the mailman when he brings us the bill we can’t afford?  Or how about the Doctor that tells you something is seriously wrong?

My thoughts from this verse is that we should be thankful that we have a man of God who loves us.  One who is yielded to the Holy Spirit? A Pastor who will give us what we need, not what we want. Love and pray for your Pastor.

Thank You

1 John 5:13

The Unloved – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

The Unloved – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

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Today’s Passage – Genesis 29 – 30 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –Matthew 21 – 22; Proverbs 11; Psalms 51 – 55)

Read “Four Eternal Priorities of a Renewed Church” by Pastor Paul Chappell

“Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Genesis 29:27-35)

Good morning. Did you ever have the feeling that you were unloved, that nobody cared about you, or maybe that everyone hated you? Maybe it’s your fault, maybe it’s not. Leah was hated. The Bible states that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, but when the Lord looked at the heart of Jacob, He could see that Leah was hated. What did God do? He opened her womb, and she conceived. She bare Jacob his first four sons. At the birth of the fourth son she said, “Now will I praise the LORD.”:therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Her fourth son was Judah. Judah is the tribe that the Lord chose to come to earth through: the King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, our Emmanuel: God with us.

How do you feel about harlots? God used a harlot to hide the spies sent into Jericho, saved her and her family, then used her in the line of Jesus. Rahab the harlot was King David’s great, great grandmother (Joshua 2, 6:22-25; Matthew 1:5).

Then after a few years later, we find Ruth in the line of Messiah…

“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.” (Ruth 1:1-6)

Moab was the firstborn of Lot and his daughter. When Israel did evil in the site of the Lord, God had then serve Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years (Judges 3:12-14). Israel hated the Moabites; God didn’t. So God put a woman of Moab, Ruth, in the line of Jesus also. (Ruth 4:13-22).

Come to think of it, everyone in the line of Judah, up to, but not including Jesus, was a sinner: everybody who ever was and is going to be is a sinner except Jesus. He died for the Leah’s of this world, the Rahab’s of this world, the Ruth’s of this world, and everybody else who has ever lived or died in this world. And Jesus gave His life for us because He loved us…

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:14-17)

If you feel you are one of the unloved, remember that Jesus loves you. He loved you so much that He believed you were worth dieing for. Remember Leah, Rahab, and Ruth.

How do you feel about others? Do they meet your high standards or not? Remember who God chooses to use: you just may be looking down your nose at someone who will do something great for God.

Peace. (John 13:34, 15:12 & 17; Romans 13:8; 1Thesselonians 4:9; 1Peter 1:22; 1John 3:11 & 23, 4:7 &11-12; 2John 1:5)

Savoury Meat

Savoury Meat

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Today’s Passage – Genesis 27 – 28 

“And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” (Genesis 27:4)

This chapter of Genesis has always been a source of irritation to me. It is one of those passages where nothing is as it should be; and every character in the story is behaving badly. I will not rehearse the story as you can surely read it for yourself; but let’s examine the bad behavior of each character, and learn something from all of this.

First, let’s consider Rebekah. She is conspiring with her younger son against her husband. Right or wrong, her husband asked the older son, Esau, to go get him some dinner so that he could bless him. Rebekah did not want to see her favorite son, Jacob, lose the blessing, so she lies to her husband and works up an evil plan to deceive him. Wives, your husband may not always be right; but it is always right for you to submit to him unless of course he is telling you to do something against the clear command of God; and besides that, it is never right for you to lie or connive in order to get your way.

Now lets’s talk about Jacob. He was also clearly wrong. Although he did not want to do it initially, he was certainly complicit in the deception. He did what he knew to be wrong. He can not claim innocence because he was obeying his mother’s will. His mother was clearly doing wrong, and Jacob knew it; and he should have refused her.

In this story the one that seems to be the most innocent is Esau. However, we have already seen what makes Esau tick. You will remember that back in chapter 25, he sold his birthright for a bowl of chili (red pottage). Here, he claims that he was tricked out of his birthright, but he wasn’t. He gave it up willingly. Now he is trying to get back some of the blessing that comes with the birthright he already gave up.

Now we come to Isaac. At first glance it may appear that Isaac is completely a victim in this saga, but let’s carefully consider some things. First, notice how many times it states in this chapter that Isaac loves savoury meat. Now don’t misunderstand, I like savoury meat also. My wife just learned how to cook a bottom round roast with a high temperature recipe that really makes the meat tender and juicy. I love it. But when the Scripture emphasizes this point, it is telling us that Isaac’s appetite was the driving force of this whole story. I love my son, and I want to bless him; but my blessing him will not be dependent on whether or not he makes me dinner. Isaac in his birth is certainly a picture of Christ, but in his old age he seems to be a picture of the flesh.

Notice also in this story that Isaac is deceived because of his feelings. He felt the fake skin on Jacob’s hands and came to a faulty conclusion. How many times in our lives to we get messed up because we make decisions based on our feeling rather than on the clear will of God. If I only did right when I felt like it, I would rarely do it. We don’t come to church because we don’t “feel” good, or we don’t “feel” like it. Kid’s don’t go to school for the same reasons. We must do the will of God out of obedience to His word, not because of our feelings. It’s great when our feelings are in agreement with the Word, but when they don’t, we should follow God, not our feelings. Notice also that Isaac was dim of eyes. Now, I am not picking on his poor eyesight, but it is a picture of spiritual blindness. Isaac knew the will of God regarding his two sons. Jacob was God’s choice. Isaac didn’t particularly like the choice God made. Isaac preferred Esau because Esau fed Isaac’s flesh with savoury meat.

There is certainly a lot to “chew” on in this chapter isn’t there? Sorry I couldn’t resist.

Oh Be Careful Little Mouth… by Camille Stahl

Oh Be Careful Little Mouth… by Camille Stahl

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Today’s Passage – Genesis 20 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 13 – 14; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7)

Scripture Memorization for January – Joy in Serving Jesus

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34

Read the “0107 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read  “7 Commitments for Finishing Well” by Pastor Paul Chappell

Read a previous post from this passage – “God Will Provide Himself A Lamb”

Oh Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.” (Genesis 21:9-11)

We read back in Genesis 16, Sarah was doubting God about her having a child in her old age. She convinced Abraham to take Hagar as his wife. The result of her wrong speaking is still felt today between the two sons of Abraham. We also see in Genesis 12:13, Sarah lying to the Egyptians about being Abraham’s wife. As a result, a plague was sent to Pharaoh and all  his house. But not to blame Sarah only, there are many other examples of harm resulting from lying.

If you’re honest with yourself, I’m sure you can think of a time when you lied or said something that you later regretted. I remember, (before salvation, not that it makes it right) saying things about a person that affected others. After salvation, I realized that the things I was saying, was just a criticism of her her personality type, which was very different than mine. But most importantly, I realized it was wrong for me to say what I said. For years I prayed for forgiveness, and to have the opportunity to apologize. I really thought I would never see this person again. Well, by the grace to God, I did see her and God allowed me to apologize. I think it would have been better not to say anything bad at all. As children we learned the saying: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’. How untrue. A black eye hurts for a while, but lies and poorly chosen words will last forever. Maybe there’s been a time when you allowed your child to do something that you wish you could take back.  Now you look back and say,”What was I thinking?”

We should always guard our mouths, because the devil is just waiting to use it for his purpose.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:…” (Philippians 1:27)

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” (James 1:19)

This New Year, let’s use our mouths to praise and glorify God.

Just a thought!

Thank You

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:6)