January 12 - Morning
"Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, 'Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!' (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look, I am about to die,' Esau said. 'What good is the birthright to me?' But Jacob said, 'Swear to me first.' So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright."
- Genesis 25:29-34
Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look, I am about to die,' Esau said. 'What good is the birthright to me?' But Jacob said, 'Swear to me first.' So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright."
- Genesis 25:29-34
Jacob Could See the Unseen and Stay Focused On It!
Esau does not ask to “eat” the stew, but to la’at, which is a crude expression of uncultured “gulping it down.”
Jacob knows exactly what he wants. He hasn’t taken his eye off the goal. He sees something that is of value and he sees that the person who has it is not interested in pursuing the full potential. Without hesitating Jacob is ready to make the switch: stew to gulp down in an instant in exchange for a birthright that will be developed and advanced through all future generations!
Jacob could see what Esau could not see.
Failure to understand the promises of God will result in us not looking for there fulfillment of those promises. Refusal to activate the power of God’s Word will leave us abandoned to our own schemes and strategies. Distraction away from seeing the potential God has placed in our lives will ultimately result in our being rejected when the time comes to receive the benefits and blessings of the truth.
Eventually, Esau would seek it, and seek it with tears, but he sought it too late. We must see and understand the Truth and its potential while it is unseen.
“…Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” – Hebrews 12:16-17
Rah (Hb) - Evil (Eng) - rah is the Hebrew word that means “evil. Rah is translated “evil” 124x, “bad” 23x, “wicked” 15x, but is also translated as “deadly,” “destroying,” “grievous,” “misfortune,”“ugly” (6x), “wild” (5x), etc. For example this word describes the tree of the knowledge of good and rah in Genesis 2:9; man’s heart that was always rah in Genesis 6:5; the rah cows (ugly cows) of Josephs dream in Genesis 41:19-21.
Do I get distracted by the visible needs and immediate gratifications?
I will spend time focusing on necessities of the future and eternal satisfaction.
I will spend time focusing on necessities of the future and eternal satisfaction.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Godly character and words
Church
Reach the community, county, state, nation and world with Word of God
Nation
Local community groups
World
AFRICA: The Arab’s in north Africa
Someone to Quote
"Faith, which is trust, and fear are opposite poles. If a man has the one, he can scarcely have the other in vigorous operation. He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust."
- Alexander Maclaren
- Alexander Maclaren
Something to Ponder
Columba was born in north Ireland in 521 AD. Columba’s family was Christian and he received higher education at church schools and was noted for his scholarship. Columba was also noted for is tall, strong stature, being a great speaker with a sharp sense of humor, but also having a temper that got him into several conflicts with the clan’s chieftain named Diamait. In 561 Columba copied Jerome’s Latin translation of the Psalms and the Gospels without permission. When Columba refused to surrender the manuscripts a tribal war broke out between his supporters and Diamait. As a result 3,000 men died. To preserve his life and to do penitence Columba left Ireland to evangelize the Scottish Isle of Iona. There he ministered among the Picts and the Druids with success. Eventually Iona developed a reputation for education and evangelized Europe.
Here’s a Fact
On the walls of the temple of Karnak in Thebes of ancient Egypt is drawn an image of a enemy soldier captured by the Egyptian Pharaoh (likely Shishak of 1 Kg 11:40; 14:25; 2 Chr 12:2-9 in 925 BC) with his arms tired behind his back and a shield that says in Egyptian hieroglyphics:
"Judah-Melek-Land" or
"The Kingdom of Judah"
(See images here.)
(See images here.)
Proverb
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."
- Proverbs 12:1
- Proverbs 12:1
Coach’s Corner
Confidence comes from truth and ability; Arrogance is the product of self-centeredness and fear.
Genesis 14
New International Version (NIV)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[a] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother[b] of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Footnotes:
New International Version (NIV)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[a] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother[b] of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Footnotes:
- Genesis 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
- Genesis 14:13 Or a relative; or an ally
Genesis 23
New International Version (NIV)
The Death of Sarah
23 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.[a] He said, 4 “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”
7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”
10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11 “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give[b] you the field, and I give[c] you the cave that is in it. I give[d] it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”
12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.”
14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels[e] of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants.
17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.
Footnotes:
New International Version (NIV)
The Death of Sarah
23 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.[a] He said, 4 “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”
7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”
10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11 “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give[b] you the field, and I give[c] you the cave that is in it. I give[d] it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”
12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.”
14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels[e] of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants.
17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.
Footnotes:
- Genesis 23:3 Or the descendants of Heth; also in verses 5, 7, 10, 16, 18 and 20
- Genesis 23:11 Or sell
- Genesis 23:11 Or sell
- Genesis 23:11 Or sell
- Genesis 23:15 That is, about 10 pounds or about 4.6 kilograms
Job 32-33
New International Version (NIV)
Elihu
32 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.[a] 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.
7
I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8
But it is the spirit[b] in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9
It is not only the old[c] who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
10
“Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.
11
I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,
12
I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.
13
Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’
14
But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15
“They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
16
Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?
17
I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
18
For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
19
inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20
I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
21
I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
22
for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.
33
“But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2
I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3
My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5
Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
6
I am the same as you in God’s sight; I too am a piece of clay.
7
No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.
8
“But you have said in my hearing— I heard the very words—
9
‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
10
Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
11
He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
12
“But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.
13
Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words[d]?
14
For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,
16
he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
17
to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
18
to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.[e]
19
“Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,
20
so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
21
Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22
They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.[f]
23
Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24
and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them—
25
let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
26
then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.
27
And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
28
God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
29
“God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times—
30
to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.
31
“Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32
If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
33
But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes:
New International Version (NIV)
Elihu
32 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.[a] 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.
7
I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8
But it is the spirit[b] in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9
It is not only the old[c] who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
10
“Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.
11
I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,
12
I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.
13
Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’
14
But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15
“They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
16
Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?
17
I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
18
For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
19
inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20
I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
21
I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
22
for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.
33
“But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2
I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3
My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5
Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
6
I am the same as you in God’s sight; I too am a piece of clay.
7
No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.
8
“But you have said in my hearing— I heard the very words—
9
‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
10
Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
11
He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
12
“But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.
13
Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words[d]?
14
For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,
16
he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
17
to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
18
to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.[e]
19
“Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,
20
so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
21
Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22
They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.[f]
23
Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24
and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them—
25
let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
26
then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.
27
And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
28
God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
29
“God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times—
30
to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.
31
“Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32
If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
33
But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes:
- Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
- Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
- Job 32:9 Or many; or great
- Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
- Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
- Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead
