Read Genesis 38-40
 
Gen 40:6-7 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”
 
JOSEPH’S question to the baker and the cupbearer whom Pharaoh had imprisoned exhibits compassion’s power to help hurting lives – an affect your own. “Compassion” means “to suffer with others”. In his own suffering, Joseph understood the others’ sadness and sought to help them with a simple question. Ready to ease their burden for the moment, Joseph didn’t know the question was another step in God’s compassionate plan to redeem his own misery and even to save mankind.
    See the power of godly compassion. Unjustly accused in a miserable prison, Joseph could have easily used his prison authority with an angry, vengeful spirit. But even here, “the Lord was with him” (Gen 39:21), and Joseph acted with the Lord’s love. “Why are your faces so sad today?” became a doorway to a new life.
    The question caused Joseph to learn of the dreams the two men had each experienced. The interpretation of their dreams gave Joseph a reputation that would eventually send him to be second only to Pharaoh. Evil had attacked Joseph’s life, but then the compassionate God stepped in to offer Joseph the opportunity to respond.
    Yes, caring questions can seem of little consequence. Perhaps you might help someone for a moment. That is a gracious act of love! Or, in God’s powerful work, you might open a doorway to help someone see how God values them. Remember God’s love for you in the “unjust” times. Trust God will help others. Give your time to stop and listen to someone who needs care. Who knows? It may change a life – even yours.
 
Look and See: Are you aware of those around you?

 Read Genesis 35-37
 
Gen 37:1-2 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.  2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
 
MUCH happens in these chapters. God reaffirms Israel’s calling: Genesis 35:11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.” How merciful is our Lord to restore and use us sinners.
    We then see Rachel die as she gave birth to Benjamin. Isaac was still alive as Israel returned to Canaan. Then Israel and Esau bury their father. Israel’s home is established in Canaan as he builds an altar at Bethel in a manner similar to his grandfather Abraham (Genesis 12:8). We see, too, the summary of Esau’s descendants in Edom. Edom was a country to the southeast of the Dead Sea. This country would often opposed Israel and Judah through the years of the kings.
    Then we come to what seems to be a new beginning to Jacob’s story in Genesis 37:1-2. See how the story transitions from Jacob’s past into the future through his sons. How compelling, even frustrating it will be to read of the hateful jealousy, the infighting, the plotting and the murderous intentions of this chosen family. Would you want this family to be your neighbors? But knowing how bad sin can dissect a family, you will see how wonderfully forgiveness reconciles.
    Jacob’s story is our story, too. We are all on a journey, physically and spiritually. Sometimes we stop to build “altars” to God as we commit to his church and his Word. Other times we can feel entrapped by life’s circumstances. Our pride causes competition with others. We long to be the favored one. We argue with our children and sometimes avoid their conflicts as Jacob did with his sons. We often accuse,  and we too seldom encourage and forgive.
    Yes, Jacob’s family story is your story. As you parent or influence others, be mindful of this: Who you are makes a deep impact on those in your care. Jacob’s sons likely learned some deceitful habits from their dad and prideful conflict from their mothers. In contrast, you are to learn from and to model God’s law, love and forgiveness. May your story and your children’s story be a story of redemption and promise for the generations to come.
    Build an “altar” of love in your family. Form a faith legacy leading to eternity.
   
Reflect on This: What would it look like to have your story written on paper? Is there anything you’d like to change?

Read Genesis 31
 
Genesis 31:53-55 So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. 55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
 
GENESIS 31 - 32 are a long account of Jacob entering into a new life. He is about 40 years old when he leaves his home to find a wife among his mother’s people. Against his will, he is deceived into marrying Leah. And then he marries his desire, Rachel. Through these two women, mainly Leah, and their two servant women, Bilhah and Zilpah, were born one daughter and the 12 sons who are the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
    This is a difficult account to read. Is there any simple way for God to save us? Considering what Genesis has revealed to this point, sin has caused great division, death and destruction in the human race. God’s perfectly created world is a mess. Jacob, the Deceiver, has been deceived several times by his uncle Laban. Leah and Rachel have manipulated him in a jealous contest for children. What is God doing here?
    We can only conjecture an answer. But could this pattern of deceit against Jacob occur to show Jacob his own sin? What we always must remember is that God works in his own way through our sins to advance his salvation to mankind. For his own reasons, God has set the stage for the nation Israel in ways we wouldn’t expect.
    We can be surprised at God’s actions, but we can’t say “There is no hope.” when the hard times come. God will often use adversity to show us what we must know about ourselves. To become closer to God, we must see how far from him we are. Instead of asking God, “Why?” perhaps we should confess, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b)
   
 
Good to Know: What God did with Jacob he wants to do with you.
 

Read Genesis 29-30
 
Genesis 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his
mother’s brother, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
 
GOD’s plan to form his people Israel took a major step forward here as Jacob enters into Laban’s family. Even more, this stone rolled away to water the sheep illustrates the day, centuries later, when another stone was rolled away.
    You know the story. It is told every Easter and each time you read the gospels. In God’s eternal provision, the stone rolled away on Easter provided much more than the day’s water for sheep. That stone moved and opened the flood of Living Water to form the Church of Jesus Christ.
    Jesus’ said this would happen: John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” God spoke, too, about this transforming Living Water in Ezekiel 47:1-12. Take some time to read this. See the remarkable illustration of God’s Word flowing from Jerusalem to resurrect a dry, empty world into an Eden-like garden of plenty.
    Since Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Spirit has provided the renewing, refreshing, resurrected life of Jesus Christ to millions of sous. In the power of the Holy Spirit, steams of Living Water broke forth into a world dying thirsting for truth. As Laban’s sheep came to the water, God’s people have been drinking the Water to birth them into a new life.
    Laban’s sheep eagerly responded to the water Jacob provided. Do you eagerly respond to the Living Water the Good Shepherd gives to you?
 
John 4:11-14 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds”? 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Read Genesis 25-26
 
Gen 25:34b So Esau despised his birthright.
 
HAVE you ever been around a person who loves to emphasize the smallest trifle into a “life or death” situation? Esau is one of those. He thinks he will die in a few minutes if Jacob doesn’t give him his stew. He is hungry for immediate satisfaction. As a result, he gives up the most precious possession of a Hebrew first-born son—his birthright.
    Esau in a moment of rash passion for a “meal in a minute”, let’s go of his life’s material promise and treasure. He gives up what is due him. And the structure of Isaac’s family dramatically changes. This means that the entire foundation and structure of Israel to come is reshaped in God’s providence. Now Jacob will be the “next in line” in the role of the oldest son, not the second born. God will bless Jacob’s family, just as he told Rebekah, “the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23c).  
    For you, the lesson is to recognize your birthright: From 1 John 3:1: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” As God has chosen Jacob, he has chosen you.
    As John reminded the church, When you call on Jesus as Lord, you are a child of God forever. But too often we resist. We are, as Esau was, concerned more about instant pleasure than we are about eternal life.
    Be careful what you desire. Your decisions will affect the foundation and structure of your life and your loved ones forever. What you say and do is not just about you. Your attitude and actions can hinder or help, can discourage or encourage those around you. Receive in faith your birthright in the kingdom of God. Treasure it above all earthly, momentary desires. Ask God: “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:24)
 
Be Still: Rest for a moment as you consider God is your perfect Father, who loves you as his own.