I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

     After talking to his wives, Jacob gathered his household and set out for Canaan. Three days later when Laban learned that Jacob had fled he gathered a force of his relatives and pursued. The night before Laban caught up with Jacob he had a dream in which God warned him not to harm Jacob. When Laban caught up with Jacob he confronted him with sneaking off and claimed that if Jacob had told him he was going he would have sent him off with a celebration (a statement that is somewhat questionable considering the force he mustered to pursue Jacob). Laban then asks why on top of all that he had stolen his household gods (we had been earlier told that Rachel stole Laban’s idols before she left). Jacob tells Laban that he was afraid that Laban would have taken his daughters away from Jacob if he had known that Jacob was leaving, but that if Laban wanted to search the things he had for anything of Laban’s to go ahead. Jacob said that anyone who was found with anything stolen from Laban would be put to death. Laban searched through all of the goods in Jacob’s household, except for the camel saddle upon which Rachel sat. She told him that she could not get up for him because it was that time of month, after hiding the stolen idols in the saddle before sitting on it. When Laban failed to find the stolen gods (which Jacob was unaware of), Jacob lost his temper and laid out all of his grievances against Laban.
     Laban tells Jacob that everything that he has is Laban’s, but there is nothing he can do about it since God warned him to not harm Jacob. Laban then proposes a covenant of peace between them. Jacob agrees. The two men entered into a covenant of peace, swearing by God. It is interesting to note that Laban swore by the God of his grandfather and Jacob’s grandfather, while Jacob swore by the God of his father. Once they had entered into the covenant, Jacob offered a sacrifice to God and invited Laban and the men with him to a meal. In the morning the two groups went their separate ways.
     Jacob sent messengers ahead to Esau to tell him that he was coming. The messengers returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him, with 400 men. This frightened Jacob, so he divided his household into two groups, hoping that if Esau attacked one group the other could escape. But Jacob did not stop his preparation there. He then prayed to God. He said that he had come to this place on God’s command and that all he had was given to him by God. In his prayer, Jacob told God that he was not worthy of all that God had done for him, but nevertheless he was counting on God to protect him from his brother’s anger. There is a lesson here for us. Jacob made the best preparations that he could for the safety of his loved ones. Then he acknowledged that only God could ensure their safety and that all that he had was from God. I strive to face life in the same manner. I will make the best preparations I can, but will acknowledge that all that I have is from God and only God can keep it safe.

     Jesus tells the disciples that the student is not greater than the teacher. Since He had been called the prince of devils, why should we be surprised when they say the same about us? I will not be afraid of those who threaten to kill my body since they cannot touch my soul. I will fear only God, who can both kill my body and my soul. However, I will not be afraid because God cares even for the sparrows and I am assured that He values me more than those. If I publicly acknowledge my faith in Christ before the world, He will acknowledge me before the Father. If, on the other hand I deny my faith, Christ will disown me before the Father. This is my greatest fear, that I am too ready to disown Christ in front of others to avoid ridicule. Let me take up my cross and follow God.
     John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one they were waiting for or if they should look for another. Jesus replied, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” These are the signs of the Kingdom of God. Does the Church still demonstrate these signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God? Do we have the faith to believe that we should demonstrate these signs? Do I?

     While it may seem that the Lord leaves me to struggle unaided, I will praise His name. He has been good to me and God has provided for all of my needs. I trust in God because His love is unfailing.

     Behaving wisely results in a healthy life and one that is economically secure.