Student Devotional Week 12: Jacob: Israel's Family Roots

Key Verse:

Galatians 6:7-8 (New International Version)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Jacob was on the run from Esau because he'd tricked his brother out of both of his birthrighs and his father's blessing. One night, during his journey to his uncle Laban's house, Jacob had a dream. Of course that meant Jacob would have many descendents, which also meant he'd be looking for a wife.

Later, Jacob was convinced Rachel, the beautiful daughter of his uncle Laban, was definitely the woman for him. For seven years Jacob worked for his uncle so he'd have the opportunity to marry Rachel, when the day of the wedding came, however, Laban didn't put Rachel behind the wedding veil. Instead, it was his older and less attractive daughter, Leah.

After tricking his brother out of their father's blessing, Jacob had been tricked. So he worked seven more years for the right to marry his beloved Rachel. Was God trying to teach Jacob a lesson by allowing the deceiver to be deceived? Probably. But God's perfect plan was the most important piece of this puzzle. The 12 sons of Jacob would eventually become the pillars of the new nation. And the children of Leah, not Rachel, represented the most influential groups.

God's ways and his timing are perfect. The great people of the Old Testament had to learn that lesson and it's a lesson we're still learning today.

Student Devotional Week 11: Isaac: Jacob's Blessing

Key Verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Remember how the differences between Cain and Abel led to conflict and eventually Abel's death? The story of Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, is similar and almost ended the same way.

The struggle between Jacob and Esau began while they were still in their mother's womb. God said this was a sign that the boys' descendants would become rival nations. This rivalry was clear as they grew older, partly because of the differences between the two. Esau was an outdoorsman; Jacob preferred staying inside. Esau's skin was rough; Jacob had smooth skin. Their father favored Esau; Jacob was favored by his mother.

The rivalry between the brothers grew when Jacob coerced Esau into trading his birthright for a bowl of stew. Things got worse when Jacob deceived his father into giving him a blessing meant for Esau. Esau then vowed he'd kill Jacob after Isaac died.

Much later in life, Jacob decided to try to make peace with his brother. They met after years of separation. But rather than try to kill his brother, Esau embraced Jacob and forgave him.

Looking at two brothers, it'd be easy to assume God would use Esau to keep his promise to Abraham, right? Wrong. God honored Isaac's blessing of Jacob and used him to continue his great work of salvation. Even when God's ways don't seem to make sense, remember that his plans are perfect. God always knows what he's doing.

Student Devotion Week 10: Isaac & Rebekah

Key Verse: Genesis 24:26-27
"Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

The great story about the faith of Abraham continues in the life of the son Isaac. After Abraham's wife Sarah died, he was determined to find a good wife for his son. Convinced there was no suitable mates in the land of Canaan, Abraham sent a servant to Abraham's homeland of Haran to find a young woman who'd become Isaac's wife. The search was all about two things-faith and prayer.

Abraham sent his servant on the journey and told him God would send an angel ahead of him to help him. When the servant arrived at his destination, he took time to pray that God would give him success, and he asked for a sign to help him find the right woman. When the servant found Rebekah, he worshiped God and said a prayer of thanksgiving. When Rebekah's family gave her permission to marry Isaac. Abraham's servant again prayed and worshiped God.

The success of finding a wife for Isaac started with Abraham's incredible faith that God would Bless him with many offspring. The servant completed his mission by praying over each decision. The final result was a thankful servant who was so overwhelmed by the goodness of God that his only response was worship.

If you choose to follow God, then he'll call you to faith and obedience. When you feel God calling you to a task, you should do as Abraham and his servant did:

1. Begin with a strong faith
2. Pray over each decision
3. Acknowledge that your success comes from God
4. Thank and worship God

Student Devotional Week 9: Abraham: The Extreme Test

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:17 (New International Version)

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son."

When their son was born, Abraham and Sarah were so tickled they named him Isaac, which means "laughter." They were so happy. I remember when our daughter Sophia was born and the joy and laughter that it has brought to us! But, one day, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son on an altar (Do you see any parallels to God sacrificing his only son on the cross?). Abraham's faith was about to be put to the supreme test. Remember, Abraham had doubted God's plan in the past by having a child with on of his servants, Hagar, who bore him a son, Ishmael. Would he follow God this time or do things his own way?
Abraham followed God's plan. He got up early, took Isaac and some servants to the land of Moriah, and prepared to off his son on one of the mountains. An interesting bit of dialogue took place between Abraham and his two servants just before he took Isaac to the mountain, "We will worship and then we will come back to you", Genesis 22:5. Did Abraham say "we" so he wouldn't upset Isaac? Or was Abraham's faith so great that he knew he wouldn't actually have to sacrifice his son? Or even if he did sacrifice Isaac, might Abraham have believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead? Interesting to note that culture of that area where Abraham was living practiced the sacrifice of their firstborn to the god's. We don't know the answer to these questions, but we do know Abraham had the faith to be willing to do whatever God told himn to do without question.
God tests our faith to prepare us for his purposes both now and in the future. God won't test you in the same way he tested Abraham, but he'll test your faith to strengthen it.

Student Devotional Week 8: Abraham: Faith or Consequences?

Key Verse: Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

The second part of Abraham's story is about the need for patience. God initiated a covenant with Abraham. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. God promised Abraham many blessings. God blessed Abraham with incredible wealth. The one big question Abraham had, however, was regarding God's promise of many descendants. As Abraham got older, he couldn't see that happening. In fact, Abraham even asked God what good all the blessings would be if he had no son to pass them on to.
Even though God assured Abraham and Sarah they'd have a son, they still took matters into their own hands. Abraham fathered a son with an Egyptian slave girl named Hagar.
Just think of the personal time and the intimate conversations God and Abraham shared. Think about the blessings and the promises God gave him only to have Abraham doubt that God would give him a son by his wife Sarah.
God's promise would eventually be fulfilled in a miraculous way. When Abraham was 100 years old, his son Isaac was born.
Now more than ever, people want things immediately. Our temptation is to rush everything including God. Patiently wait on God and you'll see he always keeps his promises!

Student Devotional Week 7: Abraham: Channel For Blessing

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:10 (New International Version)
"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

You probably learned about Father Abraham as I did singing the silly kids song "Father Abraham" during VBS or Sunday School, but it is true that God chose Abraham to be the Father of a great nation, the nation of Israel. What most of us don't know if we haven't read the story in Genesis 11:26-31, is that Abraham came from a rural area called Ur. God called Abraham's father to move to Haran and at the age of 75, God called Abraham once again to move to a land called Canaan. That's a lot of moving around, but the people of the Bible during this time were considered nomads or herders because they moved around a lot essentially to find the best land to raise cattle and grow crops. They lived in tents to make them more mobile. Abraham traveled with all of his family and even his extended family, traveling with his nephew Lot. When they got to Canaan Abraham and Lot had to divide up the land to settle in and Abraham allowed Lot to choose first and of course he choose the most fertile land, but it also was the land closest to the evil cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. Even though Lot had the better land, Abraham was promised by God to be a channel of Blessing to his descendants. What would you have done if you were Abraham having to choose between seemingly material wealth in a rich fertile land or trust God will provide if you make the tough decision and stay out of trouble by avoiding living in a land of evil? It is difficult to make the better decision even if on the outside appearances would seem otherwise. Abraham was also used by God to Bless others. As Christians we are to be Blessings to the people around us. How do you use your life to Bless others? It takes humility sometimes to live a life of Blessing, giving of yourself, your time, your talents and possessions so others might have. I heard a quote once that I think is very important to keep in mind in being a Blessing to others, "The ones who are hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most." Don't let the outside tough layer that people show sometimes prevent you from showing them love because they probably are someone who needs to be shown love.

Student Devotional Week 6: Job: God's Proven Control

Key Verse: Job 1:21 (New International Version)

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Have you ever heard the phrase the patience of Job? Well as it turns out Job wasn't very patient and even cursed God for having ever been born. Job was miserable with the situation he found himself in: livestock, family and most of his workers all dead and now he was covered in boils or soars all over his body. He lost his health, wealth and pretty much his possessions in life, but Job was quickly put in his place when God reminded him that it was He who created the earth, set the stars in their orbit and who could control the rain. Job remembered it would be alright because God was in control. Our key verse is a reminder that we will take nothing with us from this life except our eternal connection with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like Job, we will find troubles and difficulties in life, but we have a savior that has overcome the world and a God that loves His children and wants us to know he knows and is concerned about everything that happens in the lives of His children. Are you making the most of your time on earth? We are not promised a single day longer than today, yet most of us live as though we have eternity to live. Don't put off till tomorrow what can be accomplished today for Christ's Sake!