Gen 46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Jacob, Israel, has had a change of heart. He goes from an attitude of “Everything is against me!” in Gen 42:36 to willingly moving his entire family and all of his possessions in Gen 46:1. His actions indicate solid trust in God, a trust that has often been sorely lacking in his actions of the past. His entire demeanor seems changed by God’s peace.
Gen 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
Today is a pretty appropriate day for me to read this chapter. It is the day before I go back to work after Thanksgiving break, the first day in almost a week I’ve had to set an alarm. It’s raining, and I have a lot of schoolwork to attend to today because I haven’t worked as studiously along as I had planned. It’s easy to default to “Everything is against me” instead of rejoicing in this day that the LORD has made (Psalm 118:24).
Gen 46:4 “I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to rejoice in this day because You have made it and not to get lost in my circumstances. We all have a lot going on, Lord, and it’s not all pleasant, so help us to see You, to rejoice in You this day, no matter what we face. Thank You for being our shield and our very great reward (Gen 15:1) in this life. Your presence, Your peace, Your strength are more than enough for what we will face today. Draw us closer. Amen.
Gen 46:29b …As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
Have a blessed day.
More faithful still tomorrow…. (devo reflection)
Gen 26:5 …because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.
Genesis 26 fills me with great hope. God found Abraham, who didn’t always obey fully or immediately, who didn’t always tell the truth, who didn’t always put God first, to be faithful because God grew him as a man of faith. He took that human, fallible being and gave him time, love, and opportunity to obey. Abraham was never perfect, but he came to a place of trust and obedience that allowed him to proceed confidently toward the sacrifice of his chosen son, knowing that God was calling him to it and would be faithful to His promises, even if Abraham couldn’t fathom how it would happen. The story of how God grows Abraham into a man of faith is a beautiful illustration of Psalm 103:12 He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Gen 26:7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” ….
Isaac’s behavior in this chapter illustrates Matt 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Isaac makes many of the exact same mistakes as his father. But God is patient. He remembers the strength of Abraham’s eventual faith and trust. He sets out to build the same faith in Isaac one experience at a time.
Gen 26:15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You know exactly how human and fallible we are. Thank You that You ask for and look for progress in our faithfulness, not for perfection. Help me to be more faithful today than yesterday and more faithful still tomorrow. Help me to quit battling with my deeply fallible humanity and focus instead on my progress in faith. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Gen 26:24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you….”
Have a blessed day.
Earnestly seeking…. (devo reflection)
Gen 24:12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”
I am trying to be mindful as I read through Genesis not to just get caught up in the Biblical history. It is rich and fascinating, and I think God definitely has a purpose in my reading it, but I truly sense He also wants to reveal truths about His character, about His faithfulness, about His sovereignty, not just generic “Biblical truths,” but specific, “Beth I want you to understand and hold on to this as you walk this path” truths about who He is and what He promises.
Gen 24:15 Before he even finished praying….
I have gleaned, repeatedly, His reassurance that He is with me, that He doesn’t expect perfection, that He can use me in spite of all my flaws if I’ll let Him. I have understood in a new way that He loves me deeply, loves the children He’s entrusted to me, expects and intends to be an active presence in their lives as well as my life and my marriage. I have come to trust anew that He hears me when I call, responds before I even finish praying, that even if I cannot yet perceive it, He is making a way.
Gen 24:50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this enlightening journey through Genesis. Thank You for revealing more of who You are as I earnestly seek to know You better. Thank You for hearing me when I pray and for answering before I even finish. Thank You for Your overwhelming love, grace, and mercy. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 46:7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Have a blessed day.
Completely His…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 91:14a “Because he loves Me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him….”
I am deeply human, which means I am often ridiculously fallible. The struggle from yesterday’s devo reflection is a prime example. Thankfully, my Savior doesn’t hold perfection as a criteria for love, grace, and mercy. I love Him deeply, even through my mistakes and missteps, and He knows my heart. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 91:14b “I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.”
In a world where the spoils usually go to the fastest, the strongest, the most cunning, I’m a huge fan of the underdog, the one who is so utterly under-matched for the competition but has such heart, such courage and determination. I think God is, too. He asks us to love and acknowledge Him. We don’t have to be the best, we just have to be completely His. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 91:15 “He will call on Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your grace and mercy. Thank You that You don’t reserve Your love for those who deserve it, that You can take a fallible yet devoted heart and use it for our good and Your glory. Thank You for listening to and understanding our hearts, Lord. Help us to praise You always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 91:16 “With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
Have a blessed day.
The fickle nature of time…. (devo reflection)
2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
In just under a month, the hubs and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage. It feels at once like a long time and a blink of the eye. And daily I have kids chomping at the bit, waiting for the 3:05 bell. The day drags for them, but the afternoon and evening fairly fly until they are back in desks once again, waiting on the 3:05 bell. Time is certainly interesting.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
I am bound by time. Perhaps it stems from decades of school bells, alerting me to the next block, but “What time is it?” is a crucial component in the way that I function. But God doesn’t work that way. Time for Him, with Him, in Him, doesn’t function as it does for me. That clock, which is an ingrained part of my day, doesn’t even exist for Him. It’s totally irrelevant. Jesus, Help me.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the fickle nature of time. Time feels like such a crucial part of my life, Lord, but I’m pretty sure it’s rather irrelevant in Yours. Help me to wait patiently in joyful hope for all that You have in store. Help me to use my time on this earth, no matter how much time that may be, to shine Your light and point others to You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Have a blessed day.
My strength and my song…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!
It’s Saturday, and I had to set an alarm for 5 am to get one of my boys somewhere he really didn’t want to be. (Truthfully, we both just wanted to sleep in.) This could have started out as a very bad day, but as I was heading back home from the crazy-early drop off, the song “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave came on, and I realized it truly reflected my feelings—overwhelmed by God, His presence, His mercy, His grace, His goodness. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song….
I have tried this semester to express gratitude before my feet even hit the floor in the mornings. Some days I forget, but most days, taking a moment to thank my Savior before I get up really gets my day off to the right start. As with any day and any life, there’s always stuff that makes me grumpy, sad, mad, scared, but the beauty is always there, too, the gifts, the blessings and joy. And when I constantly seek them, I begin to see them every where. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this attitude of thanksgiving that truly seems to be rooting me more firmly each day in Your steadfast love. Thank You for a smooth morning, even though it started earlier than I would have preferred. Thank You for this amazing family I am a part of. Thank You for an abundance of people, experiences, and blessings for which to be grateful. Help me to cultivate this grateful heart. Help me to shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol You.
Have a blessed day.
Unshakable…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 16:8 …With Him at my right hand, I will never be shaken.
Yesterday I volunteered to share my devo reflection to begin a meeting at church. I stumbled when I read the following: “Yet if I keep my eyes on You, if I will center myself on Your fierce love, I will NEVER be shaken by any doubt.” The line gave me pause because anxiety, worry, and fear often crowd my mind, especially when life feels chaotic. Does that mean I’m not living my faith?
Matt 7:9-10 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
I’ve been pondering and praying about this since last night, and I was reminded by my precious Savior of when my boys were little and we had a terrible storm. We were safe inside, yet they were still afraid. As their parent, I wasn’t angry about their fears. In fact, I sought to reassure them further that they were safe and protected. And now, all these years later, they don’t struggle so.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you….”
Precious Savior, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for understanding my doubts and fears and for loving me and reassuring me through them. My faith is so much stronger than it was, and even when I am afraid, I KNOW You hold me securely, I KNOW that I am Your deeply loved child. Even if this world crumbles to dust, I KNOW that my eternity is with You. Those truths are unshakable, and that is solely because of You. ‘Thank You’ feels so inadequate, and yet, I know You know my heart. Draw me closer, Lord. Help me to shine Your light, so that others can understand Your unshakable truth. Amen.
Psalm 16:10 …You will not abandon me….
Have a blessed day.
Even this…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 16:8a I keep my eyes always on the LORD….
Lord, Forgive me for all those times I take my eyes off of You, fretting instead about things I cannot change or things that may or may not come to pass. Give me the strength, always, to fix my eyes solely on You, to trust Your direction and Your care, to know that You have me safely in the palm of Your hand, that You can and will, if I allow, use anything and everything I experience for my good and Your glory.
Psalm 16:8b …With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Lord, Thank You for providing me with a firm foundation, for being my rock and my shelter. The circumstances of my life sometimes whisper “Can He handle even this?” Yet if I will keep my eyes on You, if I will center myself on Your fierce, unending love, I will NEVER be shaken by any doubt. You ARE big enough, powerful enough, loving enough, and merciful enough to handle ANY circumstance that life throws at me. Help me NEVER to lose sight of that fact.
Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this truth. Thank You for being my portion and my cup, for making my lot secure (Psalm 16:1). Help me, no matter my circumstances, to keep my eyes on You, to keep my heart in line with Yours, and to close my ears to the lies and deceit of this world. Draw me closer. Fill me with joy in Your presence (Psalm 16:11). Amen.
Psalm 16:10 …because You will not abandon me….
Have a blessed day.
Return to Me…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
The note at the beginning of Psalm 51 tells us that it was written “when the prophet Nathan came to [David] after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.” He willfully sinned and realized the evil of His act. He implored God to forgive him, not according to David’s character, deeds, or goodness but according to God’s unfailing love and great compassion.
1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is really a murderer at heart….
It’s pretty easy to stand in judgement of David and his transgression. Adultery is wrong. But scripture tells us that hate and anger are, too, because they separate us from God. He feels so strongly about them that He equates those who feel those emotions to murderers. I know that there is no “Scale of Sin” showing the worst offenses down at one end and those that aren’t so bad at the other. Adultery is sin. Anger is sin. Hatred is sin. I don’t know about you, but I am beginning to feel the need to implore my Savior using David’s own words: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”
Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this insight. Thank You for the reminder that sin is anything that separates me from You. Thank You for Your unfailing love and great compassion, for valuing my life and my relationship with You so much that You sweep my offenses, no matter how big or small, away like a cloud. Help me to guard my relationship with You diligently and not to let anything come between us. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Have a blessed day.
Claimed and cleaned…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
I have a pair of white capri pants with a lovely pink stain on the seat from an unfortunate laundry mishap involving a homemade tie-dyed shirt. I have tried bleach (several times), Oxy-Clean, everything I can think of, and while the stain is much lighter than it was, it’s still there. I’m not sure it will ever come out.
Isaiah 1:18 …”Even though your sins are like scarlet, they’ll be white like snow….”
This laundry mishap came clearly to mind when I was doing my reading this morning. David’s sin with Bathsheba was HIS doing, yet nothing he could do after the fact could remove the stain. And his plea for compassion and mercy is not based on his worthiness but on God’s unfailing love and mercy for His children.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your fierce and unending love for Your children. Just like the laundry mishap, Lord, I am prone to making mistakes and missteps, some by accident and some by blatant disregard. Thank You for Your unfailing and steadfast love and mercy. Thank You that for Your sake, You wash me clean. I am not worthy. I can never earn Your forgiveness. I certainly can’t do it on my own. Thank You, precious Savior, for restoring me to Yourself, for cleansing me of my sins. Help me never to take Your mercy for granted. Help me always to shine your light. Draw me closer to Your heart. Amen.
Isaiah 43:25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”
Have a blessed day.