Author: dgould77

“When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. ‘Here comes the dreamer!’ they said. ‘Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!’” v18-20
Could jealousy ever make you feel like killing someone? Before saying, “Of course not,” look at what happened in this story. Ten men were willing to kill their younger brother over a robe and a few reported dreams. Their deep jealousy had grown into ugly rage, completely blinding them to what was right. Jealousy can be difficult to recognize because our reasons for it seem to make sense. But left unchecked, jealousy grows quickly and leads to serious sins. The longer you cultivate jealous feelings, the harder it is to uproot them. The time to deal with jealousy is when you notice yourself keeping score of others’ recognition, awards, and achievements.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’” v9-12
How would you feel if you knew you were about to meet the person you had cheated out of his most precious possession? Jacob had taken Esau’s birthright and his blessing. Now he was about to meet his brother for the first time in 20 years, and he was frantic The last thing he knew was that Esau wanted to kill him. As he collected his thoughts, he decides to pray. When we face a difficult situation or conflict, we can run about frantically or we can pause to pray. Which approach will be more effective? Which approach do I tend to use most often?

Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, ‘I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.’” v18
People often wonder if working a long time for something they desire is worth it. Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel. After being tricked, he agreed to work seven more years for her (wow). The most important goals and desires are worth working and waiting for. Movies and Television have created the illusion that people have to wait only about an hour to solve their problems or get what they want. Don’t be trapped in thinking the same is true in real life. Patience is hardest when we need it most, but it is the key to achieving our goals.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will certainly be my God.” v20-21
Jacob has just had an encounter with God through a dream. When he wakes up he realizes that God is in this place. God’s covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac was now offered to Jacob. God had promised to bless him and make his descendants great! In response to God Jacob makes a memorial and a vow. He committed his future to God.

When God speaks to me, am I more likely to commit or question? I hope to say that I am more likely to commit.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6she said to her son Jacob, ‘Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the LORD’s presence before I die.’ Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. . .” v4-8
Have you ever overheard someone talk and felt as if you had to get involved by defending, fixing, or changing a situation?

When Rebekah learned that Isaac was preparing to bless Esau, she quickly devised a plan to trick him into blessing Jacob instead. Although God had already told her that Jacob would become the family leader, Rebekah took matters into her own hands. She resorted to doing something wrong to try to bring about what God had had already said would happen. For Rebekah, the end justified the means. No matter how good we think our goals are, we should not attempt to achieve them by doing what is wrong. Would God approve of the methods I am using to accomplish my goals?

Taken from the NLY Life Application Study Bible

“‘All right,’ Jacob replied, ‘but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.’
‘Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?’” v31-32
Have you ever been caught in the moment? Meaning you do something that you never intended to do, but at the time you just did it?

Esau traded the lasting benefits of his birth right fo the immediate pleasure of food. Now a birthright was a special honor given to the firstborn son. It included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family’s leader. The oldest son could sell his birthright or give it away if he chose, but in doing, he would lose both material goods and his leadership position. By trading his birthright, Esau showed complete disregard for the spiritual blessings that would have come his way if he had kept it. By exaggerating his hunger. “I’m dying of starvation!” he said. This thought made his choice much easier because if he was starving, what good was an inheritance anyway? The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent. We often experience similar pressures. For example, when we feel sexual pressure, a marriage vow may seem unimportant. We might feel such great pressure in one area that nothing else seems to matter and we lose our perspective. Getting through that short, pressure filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation.

We can easily fall into the same trap. When we see something we want, our first impulse is to have it, or get it. At first we feel intensely satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have obtained what we set out to get. But immediate pleasure often losses sight of the future. We can avoid making Esau’s mistake by comparing the short-term satisfaction with its long-range consequences before we act.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.” v67
Things have changed since Isaac and Rebekah. But God is still constant. When it comes to relationships, who do you trust in choosing the person you will spend your life with? Even though Rebekah was picked for Isaac by a servant, their element of prayer put God in the center of the relationship. Is God in the center of your relationship?

“Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”v3-4
Have you ever been given a task that had a lot riding on it? Abraham has just asked a servant to find a wife for Isaac. Now remember that God has promised to bless Abraham and his descendants, so there is a lot on the line here in who he chooses.

After traveling and a short honest prayer, the servant ask God to for help. He specifically prays in the direction of finding a woman that has a servants heart. Not only did Rebekah have a servants heart, she was beautiful!

When was the last time you asked God for help and His answer blew you away by His goodness? I believe the servant here has just experienced the goodness that God provides for those that are obedient to Him.