S – “He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”

 Genesis 37:10–11 CSB

O – God gives Joseph dreams of the future relationship he will have with his family.  Even his parents will join in bowing down to him.  But notice vs. 11, Jacob doesn’t dismiss it.  If anyone knew that older brothers could be subject to a younger brother, it was him.  He had Esau’s birthright.  Jacob knew that God can orchestrate events to fulfill his purpose.  Even with all that supporting him, Joseph would endure a series of hardships in fulfilling God’s purpose.

A – I need to walk with a sensitivity to what God is doing today.  Circumstances and situations do not supersede God’s plans and purposes.  I need to be faithful to what God gives me today.

R – Lord, help me to do this.

S – These were Esau’s sons, who were born to him in the land of Canaan. Esau took his wives, sons, daughters, and all the people of his household, as well as his herds, all his livestock, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan; he went to a land away from his brother Jacob.

Genesis 36:5–6 CSB

O – Esau is experiencing more earthly prosperity and actually “possesses” the land of Canaan.  The fact they were born there and “owned” the land made it interesting that Joseph traveled for much of his life, yet the land was promised to him.  Esau’s extensive family and flocks caused him to leave for greener pastures to take care of them.  God’s promise to Jacob was fulfilled when it didn’t look like it would.

A – God will make a way for his will and purpose to be accomplished.  Even when it doesn’t make sense, God has it under control.

R – Lord, I can trust in your plans and purposes, even when I don’t see or understand them.

S – “We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.”  Genesis 35:3 CSB

O – After the journey of leaving his parents, living under Laban’s authority, and reconciling with Esau, Jacob remembers that he made a vow to God.  He goes back to the place but makes the statement that God has been with him everywhere.  God fulfilled his part of the vow and now it is Jacob’s turn to do his part.  A strong point to recognize is that God goes with us everywhere – the good and the bad.  God is faithful to his word and promises.  We need to do our part.

A – I need to have faith in God’s purposes, resolve in his promises and courage to walk out what the Holy Spirit leads me to do.

R – Lord, help me to do this.

S – “We will agree with you only on this condition: if all your males are circumcised as we are. Then we will give you our daughters, take your daughters for ourselves, live with you, and become one people.”    Genesis 34:15–17 CSB

O – The root of deception that characterized Jacob all his life is evident in his sons.  They make this agreement based on the fact that the Canaanites would not do this.  When they did, the son’s actions were deceitful.  A couple of items: 

The Israelites asked the Canaanites to do something that represented their covenant with God.  Outward actions do not equal relationship or commitment.  It must be in the heart and in their own faith.  

The Canaanites offered them the land in return.  The Israelites were already promised the land by God.  Who did you trust in that moment?

The plunder was the possessions and people of the land but invited the wrath of all those around the area.  There will be trouble – do you invite it or do you oppose it?

A – I need the Holy Spirit to lead me today to recognize what is of him and what is my own desires.

R – Lord, help me to do this.

S – “But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face since you have accepted me.” Genesis 33:10 CSB

O – “Like seeing the face of God.”  Interesting that Jacob has actually seen the face of God and likens it to seeing Esau.  Both represent Jacob leaving his past and moving toward a new future.  He wrestled with God and was given a new name.  He was changed from a deceiver to one God fights for.  He also had a change with Esau from the younger brother who deceived him to a loved sibling. With God’s healing of his past, Jacob is ready to move forward with a new character.

A – I need to continue to learn from the past but leave the character and narrative behind.  Once it is under the blood of Jesus, I do not need to carry it into my future.

R – Lord, please help me to do this today.

S – Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”  “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Genesis 32:24–28 CSB

O – In wrestling with God physically, Jacob was given new insights spiritually.

1.  If a man can wrestle with God and not lose, he can wrestle another man with God and not lose.  For all the “battles” we face as humans, with God on our side we can win. 

2. When Jacob had to say his own name, he revealed who he really was – deceiver, heel catcher, thief.  God changed his name, which gave him a new path for his character.  That happens to us today when we enter into a relationship with Christ.

3.  Jacob left with a physical limp.  Interaction with God will mark us so that others can see it.

A – I can invite God into each day so that I can win.  Continue to change my character to reveal God’s.  I want to walk in my scars to show others God’s love for them.

R – Lord, help me to do this.