Saturday, October 29, 2011

Gen. 32: can he be there?

This chap shows us that there were plural--more than one angel visiting Jacob. verse 1 shows the angels visit him.   Jacob says in v.2  this is the Lord's host-- also known  by Joshua as army of angels. 
v.32  Jacob has now wrestled a man and seen God face to face.  Everyone who ever sees God in the old times thought they would die if they saw God.  Samsons parents in Judges ch.13  Manoah and wife thought they would die because the angel they saw was the angel of God.  Note he wouldn't tell his name
to Manoah or even to Jacob.  His name would be kept secret or the Israel nation would know who he was and then never have sent him to the cross.  Isa. ch9:  shows him as wonderful,  councilor, prince of peace etc.
Here is a interesting notation.  1Kings 8:27  It is said here that God is to big to dwell on earth or in the temple.  Then we see the man Jacob is wrestling with is God.  It is obvious that God is able to manifest in many ways according to the way he does his will. That is what the trinity is all about.  The Holy Spirit can dwell within people all over earth at the same time. Jesus--God in the flesh was not in the flesh until born of Mary.Angels are invisible to us. They are still Spiritual beings. They can appear to be seen at any time but are not flesh.  God himself is able to come to Jacob in the manifestation of a solid man to be wrestled with. He had miracle power to touch Jacob's thigh.  That was for a sign not to hurt him.  We remember that God created man out of dust so he has the ability to do even what angels can't. 
To conclude we have a God who can manifest as a man, angel, and yet be to big for heaven and earth to hold.  God then can be 3 personalities but not 3 persons. Jesus is God but he took on a flesh body. The father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus are manifestations of the same God. All can do anything and anything and everything.  After all one God can do or be anything.
How much more does God want to come and be with us.  One day he will be with us in the millenial kingdom spoken of in Revelations 20:.  It will be the son of God Jesus. The father will sit on the heavenly throne.  That's 2 manifestations while the 3rd will be the Holy Spirit in his people.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Gen. 31:7-9 God avenges his people

We see hear that Jacob discerns the face against him.  His treatment is bad from Laban.  He shows a good atitude in making a deal with Laban in his wages from now on.   Notice that in v.9  God is the one who has taken away much cattle to give to Jacob.  The wages there may even exceed the rip off from Laban.  It is best when we treat enemies right and allow God to deal with them in his righteous way. All of our enemies think not that they will reap what they sow. It is so much better to forgive knowing that perhaps their lives may be in jeopardy.  I personaly feel good when there is a reconciling and people make it right when they do me wrong.  We shouldn't be happy about others loses, even to us.  Jacob deserved his fair wage though. God didn't hurt Laban just helped him to do what he should have done.  The wisdom of God fixes things in his marvelous way.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Gen. 30:31 proving God.

What a faith here.  Jacob is going to trust God and believe him to supply.  He turns down any pay. He will actually get things that don't even exist yet.  WHAT A RIGHTEOUS MAN TO GIVE FAVOR TO HIS TRICKY UNCLE LABAN.  He had a wife who had a miracle baby.  God gave her that baby. Also another one. God kept covenant with him like Abraham.  He was truly blessed.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Gen. 29 A prosperity question.

To have a job is a blessing.  Jacob went to Laban for meeting his needs and hiding from his brother Esau.
It all came down to getting wages. He was prosperous getting all his needs met by food shelter and those important needs. He would also get a wife who was a special blessing. He had to earn her.  v.15-16.
We see in the study that  v.31  God opened Leah's womb to give birth. Racheal was barren.  in 30:22-23
God gave favor to Rachael and she had a son.  That is a barren woman having a baby. 
In Gen. 31:10  God gives dream to Jacob and shows he will prosper him.  This caused him to have much cattle.  30:43   Jacob in this verse is exceeding rich.
a.  we have to rid our minds and hearts of covetousness and get rich quick schemes if we are to be made rich by God.
b.  God helped Racheal have a baby and Jacob to have cattle..
c.  1Jn.2:15  love not the world or the things in the world. to love the world means love not the father is the heart.  What a terrible thing to hate the father God and then to think will see him one day.
d.  God wants to love us and bless us. Jacob inherited the birth right he didn't earn it. We receive Jesus benefits  as joint heirs because he loved the father and gave his life for us.
e. I am a testimony of God's faithfulness. he has been wonderful for many years--no I don't own a cadilac , but drove a free oldsmobile.  God is great and his love to.