Month: July 2016

“When Rachel saw that she failed to bear children to Jacob, she became envious of her sister. She said to Jacob, ‘Give me children or I shall die!’ In anger Jacob retorted, ‘Can I take the place of God, Who has denied you the fruit of the womb?’ ” —Genesis 30:1-2 Jacob had competed with … Read More

“Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears.” —Genesis 29:11 Jacob got a taste of his own medicine. After he had played a couple dirty tricks on Esau, uncle Laban cheated him out of the bride whom Jacob had worked seven years to marry. On the wedding night, Laban replaced Rachel with Leah. So Jacob … Read More

“May He extend to you and your descendants the blessing He gave to Abraham, so that you may gain possession of the land where you are staying, which He assigned to Abraham.” —Genesis 28:4 Jacob received the same promise as his grandfather Abraham. Jacob saw a stairway to heaven, and God promised that a great … Read More

“First he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing.” —Genesis 27:36 Jacob swindled Esau out of both his birthright and his father’s death-bed blessing. Although God has promised us victory over death and eternal life, we too can lose God’s blessing in our lives by selling out to the world. … Read More

“The same night the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. You have no need to fear, since I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.’ ” —Genesis 26:24 Almost everything Isaac did turned out great since … Read More

“He said to Jacob, ‘Let me gulp down some of that red stuff; I’m starving.’ (That is why he was called Edom.) But Jacob replied, ‘First give me your birthright in exchange for it.’ ” —Genesis 25:30-31 As the first-born son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, Esau had a tremendous birthright. However, “Esau cared … Read More

“The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, untouched by man.” —Genesis 24:16 Everything came up roses for Abraham. The Lord even showed His limitless love by providing just the perfect wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. Prayer: Lord, may every marriage be made in heaven and in obedience to You. (Pray this prayer for a young … Read More

“Thus Ephron’s field in Machpelah, facing Mamre, together with its cave and all the trees anywhere within its limits, was conveyed to Abraham by purchase in the presence of all the Hittites who sat on Ephron’s town council.” —Genesis 23:17-18 For the burial of Sarah, Abraham purchased his first plot of land in the promised … Read More

“God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Ready!’ he replied. Then God said: ‘Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.’ ” —Genesis … Read More

“The Lord took note of Sarah as He had said He would; He did for her as He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated.” —Genesis 21:1-2 God was with Abraham in everything he did. At the age of a … Read More