MOSES FACES THE BURNING BUSH

Moses, an Egyptian prince born a Hebrew, slouches around in an area called Midian, just east of the eastern finger of the Red Sea. Moses had murdered a man and ran for his life, finally becoming a shepherd there, like his ancestors.  He married and had a son.  But God was not through with  him, as the story goes in the bible's book of Exodus.  No.  Moses was to have a huge job given to him, even though he did not want it.  God visited Moses in mysterious flames in a burning bush, and Moses, after quite a bit of discussion, agreed to lead God's people out of slavery.  This was to be no easy task, and it makes quite a story, which we shall begin here today.


God, hearing the groaning of the Israelites under slavery, remembered the covenant he had made with them years before,  and while Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, God came to him from within a bush that did not burn up.  When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look at the bush, God called to him from within the bush, saying, "Moses!  Moses!"  Moses answered, "Here I am!"  God stopped him from coming further, saying, "Do not come closer.  Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." And Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.


The Lord spoke again, "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying, and I am concerned about their suffering. So, I desire to rescue them from the hand of Egypt, and bring them to a good and spacious land, a land of milk and honey, which now is the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. So, I am sending you to  Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."


But Moses, thinking, 'not so fast', said,  "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"  And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you:  When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain."


But Moses still hesitating said, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your  fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?'  Then what shall I tell them?"  God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites; "I AM has sent me to you."  And God continued, "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.'  This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation."


"Go, assemble the elders of Israel and tell them that I appeared to you and said, "I have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.  And I have promised to bring you  up out  of your misery in Egypt into the land  I have chosen for you, a land flowing with milk and honey.  The elders will listen to you.  Then you and the elders will go to the Pharaoh and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us.  Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.'  But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.  So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them.  After that, he will let you go.  And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.  Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters.   And so you will plunder the Egyptians."


But Moses, now really concerned about his the task before him said,  "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"   Then the Lord said, "What is that in your hand?" And he replied, "A staff." The Lord said, "Throw it on the ground."  And Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.  Then the Lord said, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail."  So Moses did that and it turned back into a staff..  "This," said the Lord, " is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has appeared to you.


And the Lord showed Moses that he could make his skin become leprous and restore it again. Afterward, the Lord said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first or second miraculous signs, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground.  The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."


Moses said to the Lord, trying his last excuse, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant.  I am slow of speech and tongue."  And the Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?   Now go. I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."


But Moses, in desperation and fear said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."


Then, the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron, the Levite?  I know he can speak well.  He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.  You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth.  I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.  He will speak to the people for you and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.  But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."  And Moses did. (End of story today)


I asked myself:  What does this story teach so far?  Don't argue with God?   Moses arguing that he was not clever enough in speech to do the job almost made me nervous, except I knew that God would have his way in the end. Moses had a deep sense of inadequacy, and deeply fearful that he would not be any better even with God's help. Did he not trust God?  Did he not believe God knew what he was doing and trusted that he was the right man for the jobs?  How much fear must have been in his heart, that there was no trust or faith even when he could hear God's voice?  I know he wasn't raised in the Hebrew faith and I know from my own experience that not being raised trusting God can hamper one's faith as an adult.  I hope this message from one of God's heroes can help us to see that each of us may have a charge from God some day. Help us to have trust in you, O Lord!


See you tomorrow,


Jo INMN

EGYPT, 400 YEARS LATER

We're about to enter a long period of time for the Israelites who made Egypt their homeland by following Joseph.  The land of Goshen, far to the north part of Egypt and given to Joseph and his family, was primarily for shepherding. The Egyptians were biased against shepherds and their sheep. Therefore, the Israelites were not considered Egyptians and, eventually, during the reign of a new Pharaoh who did not know the history of the Israelites, they were put into slavery rebuilding and building cities such as Pithom and Ramses, both just south of the Mediterranean Sea.


But God had his eye on his beloved Israelites, and began a plan which would take many years  to complete.  The Bible's book of Exodus carries this fascinating story and we will do part of the story here on these pages, God willing.


Most of us, at one time or another, have had to move their workplace/homesite, whether it has been
beneficial or not. It is always painful in some ways and wonderfully healing in other ways, but stressful?  Yes.  It can be very stressful, and for the Israelites, it was.  In the realm of a new Pharaoh who detested the growth of this group who weren't even Egyptians, he decided the people of this northern group who worshipped some unknown god should be made into slaves and their boy babies should be killed. That would keep their numbers down and still have people who could continue in slavery.


During this awful time, a man of the house of Levi had married a Levite woman and she became pregnant and they had a son.  He was a fine child, and she couldn't bring herself to kill him, so she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no more, she put him in a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch.  Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River, his sister hiding a distance away to see what would happen to him.


When Pharaoh's daughter came down to the river to bathe, she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it.  She opened the basket and saw the baby.  He was crying and she felt sorry for him.  But she knew..it was one of the Hebrew babies.


The sister, who had been hiding, came forward and asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"  "Yes, go!" she said, and the girl went and brought back the baby's mother.  Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you."  So the woman took the baby and nursed him.  When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses.


After Moses grew up as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their labor.  When he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people, he killed the Egyptian and hid him. The following day he saw two Hebrew men fighting and stopped them, asking the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?"  And the man quickly responded, "Who are you that you judge me?  Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?"  Then, Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have  become known."


Moses ran, because Pharaoh became so angry that he swore to kill him. He ran to a priest 's house in the area of Midian, and eventually married the man's daughter, Zipporah.  In due time, she gave birth to a  son, Gershom, which means 'having become an alien in a foreign land.'


During that long period, the king of Egypt died.  The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out to God.  God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And He was concerned.


The people of God had waited a long time for the promise God had made to be kept, but God rescued them when he knew the right time had come.  God knows the best time to act.


When we  feel that God has forgotten us in our troubles, remember that God has a  time schedule we can't see.  Only He knows the best time for His action, whatever it might be.


We are never alone, in spite of what we may feel.  We are not alone.


Jo INMN

ANOTHER BLESSING TURN-ABOUT

Jacob/Israel lived in Egypt for seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.  When the time drew near for him to die, he called his son Joseph and said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness.  Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried."  And Joseph agreed, "I will do as you say."  But Israel did not trust him and asked Joseph to swear to him, and Joseph swore he would return his father to his fathers.


Some time later, Joseph was called once again to his father's side.  Taking his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim with him, Joseph assumed it was time to have Jacob/Israel give his sons his blessing.  Now Israel's eyes were failing in his old age, so Joseph brought his sons close to him and his father kissed them and embraced them.  Joseph took both sons and specifically placed them, readying them  for his father's blessings with Ephraim on Israel's right and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's  right hand and brought them close to his father.  But, Israel  reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, the younger son, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head even though Manasseh was the firstborn.  Then he blessed Joseph, first.  Joseph tried to take his father's hand and move it to Manasseh's head, but his father said, "No, my son.  I know.  He too will become a people, and he too will become great.  Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."  So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.


Then  Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die,, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.  And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."


Of course, Joseph eventually did return to his homeland, but once again, the blessings of the sons had been reversed from what the father had hoped.  God does have his way with us, and we are more at peace because of it. How interesting it is that what happens in one generation may be repeated  in another,  both things of good, and others of not-so-good.  I suppose this story might be telling us to be satisfied with what things are endowed to us, whether it is our plan or God's.  They may not be  the same, but be at peace and let God have His way.


Peace be to you,


Jo INMN

ON TO EGYPT AND BEYOND!

God sent Joseph to Egypt and now Joseph is sending  his brothers home to bring the entire family back safely to Egypt.  Joseph said, "Come down to me, you and your household.  Don't delay!  You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near to me.  You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.  I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute."  And the Pharaoh agreed and supported Joseph's invitation to his father.


So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, and provisions for their journey.  To each he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.  And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and sent his brothers away.


The brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, "Joseph is still alive!  In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt."  Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.  But when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.  And Israel said, "I'm convinced!  My son Joseph is alive.  I will go and see him before I die!"


So Israel set out with all that was his and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.  And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob!  Jacob!" And Israel/Jacob listened.  "Here am I," he replied.


And God said, "I am God, the God of your father.  Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  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."


Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him.  They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.  He took with him his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters--all his offspring.


When they arrived in the region of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot ready and met his father Israel/Jacob.  He threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.  And Israel, also filled with emotion, said to his long, lost son, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive."


And so, the family was settled in a place meant for shepherding. Joseph also provided his father and brothers and their households food, according to the number of their children, for there was no food in the entire region.


Joseph continued throughout the time of famine to save the lives of many others in Egypt, for the Egyptians, desperately wanting to leave the area, sold their land and belongings in order to leave. They left with seed, given to them by Joseph, to enrich the land wherever they went.  Yet it became a law concerning land in Egypt, still in force today, that a fifth of the produce  which came from the Pharaoh's seed, would be sold and the profit given to Pharaoh.


Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.  When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for Joseph, his son, and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness.  Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried,  Joseph then swore to him that he would do this.  And Israel worshiped the Lord as he leaned on the top[ of his staff.


The end of an era and always another begins.  Life does go on.


I hope you enjoyed the story of the coat of many colors and the man its owner became so many eons ago.  The name of Joseph has good vibrations, for me.  It was the name of my mother's father.  Had I been a boy?  Probably, it would have been my name.


JoINMN

WHAT WILL JACOB DO?

Now the famine was still rampant in the land.  So, when Jacob's family had eaten all the grain brought back from Egypt earlier, Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy us a little more food."  Again he was reminded by his sons, "We cannot go back without Benjamin!  The man warned us solemnly, "You will not see my face again if your brother is not with you."  Jacob/Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble upon me by telling the man you had another brother?"


They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family.  "Is your father still living?  Do you have another brother?"  We simply answered his questions!"  Then Judah said to his  father, "Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.  I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.  If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before  you all my life.  As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice."


"If it must be, then do this," Israel said, "Put some of your best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift-- a little  balm, and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.  Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks.  Perhaps it was a mistake.  Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.  As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."


So off they went, hurrying down to Egypt to present themselves. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner..  They are to eat with me at noon."


The men were frightened when the steward took them to  Joseph's house, as they expected Joseph to attack them, and seize them as slaves, even take their donkeys, because of the missing silver from their  bags that they could not explain. So they went up to Joseph's steward and said, "Please, sir.  We came down here the first time to buy food.  But at the place where we stopped for the night we  opened our sacks and each  of us found his silver--the exact weight--in the mouth of his sack.  So we have brought it back with us.  We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food.  We don't
know who put our silver in our sacks."


The steward replied, "It's all right; don't be afraid.  Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks.  I received your silver."  Then he brought Simeon out to them.


When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house and they bowed down before him to the ground.  He asked them how they were, and then he said, " How is your aged father you told me about?  Is he still living?" "Your servant is still alive and well," they answered, and  again bowed to pay Joseph honor.  Joseph looked about him, and saw his own brother, Benjamin, his mother's son, and asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?"  And he added, "God be gracious to you, my son."  Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep, and afterward washed his face.


Later, in control, Joseph said, "Serve the food."  They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, including Simeon who had been jailed, and the servers ate by themselves, as well.  The portions were served from Joseph's table and delivered to the brothers who were seated according to their ages, from the firstborn to the last.   They feasted and drank freely with him.


Now, Joseph had given his steward instructions as to how to fill their sacks.  "Give them as much food as the sacks will hold, and put each man's silver in the mouth of his sack.  Then, put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack."  And the steward did as he was directed. 


As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.  Soon afterward, Joseph told his steward, "Go after them at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, "Why have you repaid good with evil?  Where is the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination?  This is a wicked thing that you have done!"


But they answered, "Why does my Lord say such things?  Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!  We even brought back to you the silver we found inside the sacks we took home from our last trip!  How can you accuse us again, when we were not guilty the first time?  If any of us is found to have it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my Lord's slaves."


"Very well, then!" the steward said.  "Let it be as you say.  Whoever is found to have it will be my slave.  The rest of you will be free from blame."


And , of course, the cup was found in the mouth of Benjamin's sack!!  At this, the brothers tore their clothes in sorrow, loaded up their donkeys, and returned to the city.


Joseph was still in his house when they returned.  The brothers threw themselves on the ground before him.  Joseph said, "What is this that you have done?  Don't you know that a man like me can discover things through divination?"


Their answer, most sincere, was this, "What can we say to my Lord?  How can we prove our innocence?  God has uncovered your servants' guilt.  We are now my Lord's slaves--we ourselves and the  one who was found to have the cup."  But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do such a thing!  Only the man who was found to have the cup will become by slave.  The rest of you go back to your father in peace."


But Judah went up to Joseph and pleaded his case before him. "Please, my Lord, let your servant speak a word to my Lord.  Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.  My lord asked his servants, "Do you have a father or a brother?"  And we answered, "We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age.  His brother is dead and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father deeply loves him."


Judah continued pleading, "Our father said to us. "Go back and buy a little more food."  But we said, 'We cannot go down.  Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go.  We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.  Judah went on, "So,  if the boy is not with us when I go back to our father your servant, whose life is closely bound with the boy's life, if he sees that the boy does not return with his brothers, he will die.  And I will bear the blame before him, my  father, all my life."


And still Judah continues, "Now, then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.  How  can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me?  No!  Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father!!"


Then Joseph could no longer control his emotions.  Before all of his attendants, he cried out to them, "Have everyone leave my presence!" And all left him except for his brothers. He cried so loudly that even Pharaoh's household heard about his weeping.


Between sobs he said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Come close to me."  They were terrified, but dutifully drew close and when they had done so, he said to them, "Yes, I am the one you sold into Egypt, and now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.."


"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.  He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.  Now hurry back to my father and say to him, "This is what your son Joseph says, "God has made me lord of all Egypt.  Come down to me, don't delay.  You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me-you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.  I will  provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come.  Otherwise you and  your household and all who belong to you will become destitute."


"You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.  Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen.  And bring my father down here quickly."


Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept and Benjamin embraced him, weeping also.  And he kissed all is brothers and wept over them.


And the sons of Israel did as they were told.  And God came to Jacob/Israel and told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt. So that is what they did, and they lived many years under the care of Joseph who loved and forgave them. (End of Joseph's story)


I love happy endings, don't you?  Even though this one took a long time in coming, it did end happily.  Like so many things in life that take time, happy endings do happen when God's in charge!


Lovingly,


Jo INMN

JOSEPH AT 30 YRS. OLD, PHARAOH'S MAN

To continue with our story of Joseph, who  had worn the incredible coat of many colors, we find him still guardian of the king's stores after seven years of plenty and now entering the seven years of famine.


Joseph had been thirty years old when the abundant years began. Now, as the period of famine began, Joseph found himself busy sorting out who was to receive food from the storage and who would not. The food was to be sold, and the funds from the sales to go to the Pharaoh.  People from throughout Europe came to find food.


Famine was catastrophic in those days.  A crop failure would cause great hunger because the people relied solely on their own crops for food. Lack of storage, refrigeration, or transportation turned a moderate famine into a desperate situation. Grain was a universal need as it was used in everything eaten.  It could be dried and stored much longer than vegetables, milk products or meat.  It was so important it was even used as money.


Now, back in Joseph's original home, where his father Jacob/Israel still was living, the family, too, was starving.  Jacob, still not aware that his once favorite son had been sent to Egypt in a traveling group who sold Joseph in Egypt as a slave, asked his other sons to leave for Egypt to buy food,  "so that we may live and not die," Jacob said.  But he refused to let his youngest son, Benjamin, go with them, as Benjamin was Joseph's brother from Rebekah. and she was no longer alive.  Benjamin was now the new favorite, the child of his old age.


When Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt, they bowed down with their faces to the ground.  When they stood again, Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.  Joseph recognized their bows as he remembered an earlier dream of his when his brothers bowed to him, but he said nothing to reveal he knew them.


Joseph's last memory of them was of staring in horror at their faces as slave traders carried him away.  Were his brothers still evil and treacherous, or had they changed over the years?  Joseph decided to put them through a few tests to find out.  "You are spies!" he said to them. "You  have come to see where our land is unprotected!"


"Oh! No! My Lord!  Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan.  The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."


Joseph went on, "It is just as I told you: You are spies!  And this is how you will be tested:  As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.  Send one of your number to get your brother, the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that our  words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.  If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"  And he put them all in custody for three days.


On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:  If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die."  This they proceeded to do.


The brothers of Cana said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our sin to our brother.  We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."  But Rueben was not to be denied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy?  But you wouldn't listen!  Now we must give an accounting to his blood."


Joseph understood them, and turned away from them to weep.  Then, turning back, he had Simeon taken from them and bound him before their eyes.  Then, giving orders, Joseph had their sacks filled with grain, to put each man's silver brought for payment back in their sacks and gave them provisions for their journey home. 


At the place where the brothers stopped for the night  one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey and found the silver.  He wakened his brothers and their hearts sank .  "What is this that God has done to us?" they cried.


When they returned to Canaan, they told Jacob, their father, all that had happened to them.  And Jacob their father became totally disheartened and cried out, "You have deprived me of my children.  Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more and now you want to take Benjamin!  Everything is against me!"


Then Rueben said, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring Benjamin back to you.  Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back."  But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you!  His brother is dead and he is the only one left.  If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."


And so, as the famine was still severe in the land, when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little more food."


Will the brothers be able to take Benjamin, the last child,  from Jacob to satisfy the Egyptian?  Will Jacob change his mind about Benjamin and allow him to go? What about Joseph? Will he give in?  Find out tomorrow!!


Don't you just love family squabbles?  Never a dull moment.  Too bad we are all alike...human!  And that's why we need the Lord!


Jo INMN

JOSEPH-- IN CHARGE IN EGYPT !

There came a time when the Pharaoh had two dreams which troubled him as he could not discern their meaning.  The chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. I was in prison because of angering you as was the chief baker. Each of us had a dream, different from each others', but both needing  interpretation.  A young Hebrew lad named Joseph who was also imprisoned, gave us their meanings.  And things turned out exactly as he interpreted  them to us."  So Pharaoh sent for Joseph.


When Joseph was asked if he would interpret Pharaoh's dream, he answered, " I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when from the river came seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.  Soon after this, seven other cows came up--scrawny and ugly and lean.  The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.  But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before.  Then I woke up."


"But again, I dreamed..  'I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.  After them, seven other heads sprouted--withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.  The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads.'  I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me."


Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams are one and the same.  God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.  The seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain mean the same seven years. God is bringing seven years of great abundance. The abundance will not be remembered as the next seven years, as the dreams indicate, will bring a severe famine.  The reason the dream has been given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon."


Joseph continued to think wisely, "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.  Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.  They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.  This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.'


The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and  to all his officials.  So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."  Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger and dressed him in robes of fine linen with a gold chain around his neck.  He had him ride in a chariot as his second in command and men shouted before him, "Make way!"


Joseph was in charge of the whole land of Egypt.


God does put people he trusts in charge of various things, certainly.  The particular job Joseph was  given seems extraordinary, to me. And perhaps, more than I would want to handle.  But, Joseph had been groomed for just such a thing.  See what happens when the famine reaches his own people.


Tune in tomorrow for further adventures!


Jo INMN

JOSEPH IN EGYPT

Back to Joseph, no longer a boy with a varicolored coat, but a man in jail in Egypt!--put there by the brothers who were tired of his superior attitude.


Now, an official of Pharaoh, the captain of the Pharaoh's guard by the name of Potiphar, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites who bought him from his brothers back in Canaan.


Ancient Egypt was a land of contrasts. (Study--) "People were either rich beyond measure or poverty stricken.  There wasn't much middle ground.  Joseph found himself serving Potiphar, an extremely rich officer in Pharaoh's service.  Rich families like Potiphar's had elaborate homes two or three stories tall with beautiful gardens and balconies.  They enjoyed live entertainment at home so they chose delicious fruit from expensive bowls.  They surrounded themselves with alabaster vessels, paintings, beautiful rugs, and hand-carved chairs.  Dinner was served on golden tableware, and the rooms were lighted with gold lampstands.  Servants, like Joseph, worked on the first floor, while family occupied the upper stories.


Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while, Potiphar's wife took notice of Joseph and invited him to bed with her.  But he refused, "With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the houses; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.  My master has withheld nothing from me except you, his wife.  How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"  Day after day, Joseph refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.




But one day, she outwitted him as none of the servants were there and she caught his cloak and held on tightly.  Again, she offered herself, but he wriggled out of his cloak and ran out of the house.  She called in the servants and claimed Joseph himself had taken off his cloak when she screamed for help during Joseph's supposed attempt to rape her.  And she told the same story to Potiphar, her husband.


Potiphar burned with anger upon hearing the story, saying, "This is how your slave treats me?"  And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison.  But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness and favor with the prison warden.  Joseph was put in charge of the others being held there, because the Lord gave Joseph success.


Two men, the king's cup-bearer and baker, offended the king and were imprisoned.  Each of them had a dream on the same night with different meanings and Joseph agreed to listen, as he knew God would interpret their dreams as interpretations belonged to God in Joseph's view.


The cupbearer told Joseph his dream.  "I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. When they budded, it quickly blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.  Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand."


"This is what it means," Joseph said.  "The three branches are three days.  Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.  But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness, mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.  For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."


The baker, too, told his dream to Joseph, " On my head were three  baskets of bread.  In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."


"This is what it means," Joseph said.  "The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree.  And the birds will eat away your flesh."


Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials.  He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief  baker in the presence of his officials; He restored the chief cupbearer to his  position, but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said.  However, the chief cupbearer forgot and did not remember to speak of Joseph to the Pharaoh.


Study/ When the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone's attention on God.  Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord.   Also, when Pharaoh's cupbearer was freed from prison, he forgot about putting in a word for Joseph, even through he had Joseph to thank for his freedom.  It was two full years before Joseph had another opportunity to be freed.  Yet Joseph's faith was deep, and he would be ready when the next chance came.  When we feel passed by, overlooked, or forgotten, we shouldn't be surprised that people are often ungrateful.  In similar situations, trust God as Joseph did.  More opportunities may be waiting.


Hard to do, but I think good advice.  If I don't get there right away--and still feel passed by-- I call on the Holy Spirit who reminds me to trust God for another opportunity, and peace returns!


All for you,


Jo INMN

A WORD FROM THE HEART

Hello, friends,  I'm writing this today without earlier preparation, as writing in long hand has been killing my right arm! (Nothing like a little exaggeration to start off!)  So there is no bible story today.


  I'd like to tell you what Jerry and I have been up to this past week or so. Our kids are concerned that in the years to come, as Jerry and I get less able, we have no  back up for getting are for ourselves.  So we have been promoting our signing up for a home that has the advantage  of having continuous care even  as a person's situation changes.


Here in Stillwater there is senior housing with the care available as your life changes, in Boutwells Landing. We took a look at the various homes and see a lot we really like, in particular the main building where the apartments are the most sought after. In this main building is a library, pool, exercise rooms, a beautiful dining room and lounge, a coffee shop, a small shopping area,  card room, patio, outside (summertime) lounge, mail room, etc.  I probably have forgotten some rooms, but it was all wonderfully tempting.  We are definitely interested, but there is a huge long waiting list.
This afternoon we're going to look at the same, but smaller, senior housing in Montemedi, which is where our church, St. Andrews, is located.


These are both operated  out of the Presbyterian homes, so they are the best of the best.


Our daughter, Lynn, just arrived.  She is taking us.  So, will keep you posted when there is something to really tell.


Jo INMN

WHOSE SIN WAS IT?

As Joseph was finding himself living as a slave in Egypt, his brother, Judah,  was having his own culture shock.  Judah had left his brothers going to stay with a man named Hirah.  Over the years, Judah married outside of his own race to a Canaanite woman who bore several sons.  The wife of Judah's eldest son, Er, was named Tamar; but that son was a wicked man, so the Lord put him to death.  The second son, Onan, was then in the position to marry Tamar, as it was his duty to impregnate his brother's wife with offspring.  But Onan knew any child he fashioned would not belong to him, but would belong to his dead brother, so as he lay with Tamar, he spilled his semen on the ground.  The Lord saw his wickedness and put him to death, also.


Next, Tamar was kept as a widow in her father's house.  Tamar was told somewhat later that her father-in-law (the father of her dead husband, who was the only man left who could give her children in the name of her late husband)would be going  to Timnah to shear his sheep.  So, Tamar took off her widow's clothes, disguised herself and sat down at the city's entrance.


When Judah saw her with a covered face, he thought she was a prostitute,, and propositioned her.  "And what will you give me to sleep with you?" she asked, adding,"I want some kind of pledge."
"What should I pledge?" he asked.  Her answer? "Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand."  He agreed, and he slept with her.


About three months later, Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law is guilty of prostitution!  And as a result is now pregnant!"  Judah said, "Bring her out and have her burned to death!"


As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a note to her father-in-law saying, "I am pregnant by the man who owns these.  Do you recognize the seal and staff?"


Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I."  And he did not sleep with her again.


P.S.  Tamar had twin boys!


Often sins we cover up are the ones that anger us most when we see them in others.  If one becomes indignant to the sins of others, one may have a similar tendency to sin the same way.  I am very familiar with this situation.  And with God's help, will do better next time.


We must admit our sins to God, and ask God to forgive us.  Forgiving others then becomes easier..


Tomorrow, back to Joseph--in jail!


Much love,


Jo  INMN

THE COAT OF MANY COLORS

Finally, we're getting to the great story of Joseph! Of course being Rebekah's son and Rebekah being Jacob/Israel's favorite and beloved wife, Joseph was a bit spoiled.  His older brothers resented the attention given to him and the fact that he was younger he was not always expected to do the hard work of shepherding as they were expected to do.


In Joseph's day, everyone had a  robe or cloak for an outer garment. Cloaks were used to warm oneself, or used to bundle clothes or belongings for a trip, for wrapping up babies, to sit on, or used for security for a loan.  Most robes were knee length, short sleeved, and plain.  But not Joseph's!


Joseph's robe was the kind worn by kings! Long sleeved, ankle length, and bounding in color, Joseph's robe became a symbol of the favoritism toward Joseph felt by their father, and it truly aggravated the brothers!  Already with strained relationships between Joseph and his brothers, the coat aggravated the situation.


Then one day, Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him all the more. He hurried to the fields anxious to share it, and said to them, "Listen to my dream.  We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose--and stood upright..  Your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it!"


The brothers were even more fueled with rage toward Joseph and said, "Do you intend to reign over us, little brothers?"  And they hated him all the more because of his dream. He then had a second dream, similar to the first, where  the sun, moon, and stars bowed to him.  He told his father as well as his angry brothers and his father Jacob/Israel said, "What is this?  Your mother and I and your brothers are to come and bow to the ground before you?"  Israel kept the matter in mind, but Joseph's brothers became more and more jealous and angry.


One day soon afterward, Joseph's brothers had all gone to Shechem where their father's flocks were grazing. Israel sent Joseph to them to see if all was going well with them.  Israel said, "go and see how things are and bring word back to me," and he sent him off.


When Joseph arrived at Shechem, his brothers were not there, so Joseph asked a man, "Can you tell me where my brothers are grazing their flocks?"  The man answered, "They have moved on to Dotham for greener fields."  So Joseph followed and found them in Dotham.  But the brothers had seen him coming in the distance and plotted to kill him.  When Rueben heard this, he said, "No.  Let's not take his life or shed blood.  Throw him into the cistern here, but don't hurt him."  Rueben's intent was to later rescue him and take him back to his father.


When Joseph finally got to them, they stripped him of his beautiful robe and threw him into the empty cistern.  Then, hurriedly sat to eat their meal.  As they ate they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming with loaded camels carrying spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to Egypt.


Judah said, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?  Come, let's sell him to these travelers."  And his brothers agreed and sold Joseph for 20 shekels of silver. Rueben, being the oldest, was aghast to find Joseph sold, but only worried about what his father would think of him, the eldest and not stopping the treachery. 


So, the men took Joseph's beautiful robe and slaughtered a goat to cover the robe with blood.


Israel tore his clothes, believing Joseph had been devoured by a ferocious animal, and mourned his son by Rebekah.  But Joseph was on his way to Egypt!  Sold as a slave to Potiphar, one of the Pharoah's officials and the captain of the guard. He was to make a good name for himself over the years.  Egypt was good for him.


This story, real as our Bibles claim, is full of deceit and jealousy, which tore a family apart.  The father, Jacob,  had been deceitful in his day, against his Uncle Laban, and his brother, Esau, and his own father.  Consequences do come for hurtful acts, even to those who are blessed by God.


Our world is filled with the same kind of emotions and acts as we see in the bible..  Take a list of known emotions sometime and check off how many you have felt over one thing and another. For instance, how many of us have felt jealous? Wanted revenge?  Wanted to get even with someone? Anger in itself can be a help.  Find out why you are angry and the faulty emotion will hopefully pop right up. Get rid of the offense by asking forgiveness, or forgiving yourself. God wants us to be at peace with the blessing and joy of goodness in our lives. (Such a list of emtions may be offered  through AA or NA.)


Sitting here, I see my robe is pretty plain,,and by the looks of things...needs to be laundered! But it keeps me warm!


Jo INMN

ONLY FORGIVEN, ON A MLK MONDAY MORNING

Written on a Sunday morning after church, I realized you may be tired of stories of people from  bible times. And perhaps you have been wondering why Jo spends so much time writing about the Old Testament. It's not complicated.  People are people through the centuries and we do the same things, make the same mistakes, and have similar needs. So, the study of people is always good,  for there is so much to learn from the mistakes of others.


Besides, my journaling daily has much to do with it, as well. You see, Jerry and I have been doing this journaling for many years. Each day gives us an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage and sometimes a psalm for us to read and journal about, mainly to teach us what we must learn to do differently.  In our reading we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and write about what He is teaching. One time, I realized it could be very special if I could pass along what I was learning to another. But whom?  And then I thought of blogging it. I have no idea if anyone reads my blogs, but if not today, then maybe in the years to come. (I understand there is a "cloud" which holds the unread  for another day!)


Sharing what I have learned is very important to me. I had few friends growing up, so sharing ideas was something rarely experienced.  I felt hungry to tell others about this person of Jesus Christ who made my life new and wonderful and to share the bible with them which saved me from great sadness. Coming from an unchurched home, there was no one who knew or shared the love God has for us!....... And these are the reasons I started blogging.


I considered myself, as a child especially, to be really imperfect.  Who would want to know me?  I figured I needed God to help me to be nice enough that I could have friends. I didn't find perfect people anywhere, so that was good! And I made a few friends, but moving a lot as we did (13 times in 13 years!) it still was very hard, and worrying.


Well, now I'm 81 years old, have moved many, many more times than 13, and have lots of friends...and family. And I learned you don't have to be perfect, only forgiven. I have given myself forgiveness, as Christ has shown me, just as I forgive others for offending me in some way.  I found acceptance from God and his people and can turn around and give it to others.  When I fail to do what is right, I am nudged by the Holy Spirit, and change what I am doing.  God is as real to me as my own reflection  in a mirror. He is a wonderful God, the only One for me, and He is as real as real can be.


You, too, can know God.  He is probably waiting for you to introduce yourself if you haven't already done so.  If you don't know it yet, you will come to know that he is a friend, and a friend who is needed in this old world. He does not hate.  He does not ask us to kill, main, or hurt in any way another person.  He asks us to love and forgive, even when it is a hard thing to do.  He asks us to be tolerant toward  others who think differently and to not think we are superior to any other human being. It is hard not to hate sometimes, when others hurt and kill for their own positions, but He asks us to be forgiving.  This is a very hard thing to obey.  But He asks us.  And how do we dare refuse?  He hung  on a cross and died rather than hate the murderers. We, too, must be obedient to Him, and He is only asking us to love and forgive.  And this is the hardest thing to do, particularly when love seems to be non-existent. He isn't saying "love those who love you", but "love those who hate you!"


Can we do it?  Maybe we can, if we help each other, remind each other and not take offense.  And keep trying.


Thank you, God, for this teaching.  Thank you,, too, Martin Luther King, who learned to do things God's way!


Love is everywhere!  Are you looking for it?


Jo INMN

IS THIS A HISTORY LESSON?

God appeared many times to Jacob, encouraging Jacob to get rid of the household gods his people had collected.  Each time, he reminded Jacob that Jacob would...from that time on...be  known as Israel.(However, the bible I have continues to call him Jacob!) Whenever God appeared to him, Jacob would set up a pillar.


Rachel gave birth to a second son with much difficulty, at this time.  Jacob named him Benjamin.  Rachel died soon afterward, still struggling from the birth, and was buried on the way to Bethlehem. Jacob placed her body in a tomb, popular for deaths at that time, and set up another pillar to God for her remembrance.  When the bible was written, the pillar was still there.  Perhaps it is still.


Jacob/Israel moved on again and pitched his tent.  But his son, Rueben, spoiled that particular place for a home by sleeping with Jacob's concubine, Bilbah.  His sons were not perfect men or perfect sons, yet they had strength in numbers and they and their sons became the Twelve Tribes of Israel.


Jacob/Israel went home to his father, Isaac, to be with him in his last years.  Isaac died at 180 years, was gathered to those who had gone before, and was described in the bible as"old and full of years."
Esau and Jacob/Israel buried him.


Esau took his wives from Canaan, his sons and daughters, as well as his livestock and all the goods he had acquired and moved to a land some distance from his brother.  There were too many possessions with both together, therefore, the need for space for each was vastly important.  They could not live too near one another as the land would not support them both.  Esau now had three wives and five sons, and his family became known as the Edomites.


Today's blog is almost nothing more than a "history lesson," therefore it's short!  Tomorrow, I want to begin to tell you about the life of Joseph, Jacob's first son from his lovely wife, Rachel.


From Joseph's life a  very popular musical extravaganza appeared in New York, on Broadway, THE COAT OF MANY COLORS.


See you tomorrow!


Jo INMN

ON THE DAY OF DOUBT

Here we are, on the day of doubt in Jacob's mind--the day he plans to meet his brother, Esau.  Will he hate me, be revengeful, or will he forgive? "I haven't seen him since the day I cheated him out of  his inheritance. Oh, what did I do? Why was it so important?"


Jacob looked up and there was Esau in the distance, coming with his four-hundred men. Quickly thinking, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.  He put the maidservants with their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.  He himself went on ahead, bowing down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.


But Esau was already running to meet Jacob, embracing him. Then, he threw his arms around Jacob's neck and kissed him.  At that, they both wept.  When Esau saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."


Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.  Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down.  Last of all came Jacob and Rachel, and they, too, bowed down.


Esau asked, "What do you mean by sending the droves of animals I met earlier?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," Jacob said.  But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother.  Keep what you have for yourself!  But Jacob insisted, saying, "God has been gracious to me and I have all I need."  And because Jacob insisted, Esau acccepted.


So that day Esau started back to his home.  Jacob, however, went another way when, in Succoth, he built a place for himself and his family and shelters for his livestock. (End of story)


Many have wondered why Jacob did not tell Esau where he was going.  Was he still wondering if Esau would take revenge on him sometime in the future?  If so, he would always live in fear.  We have not been given the reason Jacob picked first Succoth, but Succoth is a beautiful city on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  Whatever the reason, Jacob and Esau parted in peace.  But they still lived fairly close to each other until after their father, Isaac's, death.


Rachel later had another son, Benjamin, and thereby, all of Jacob's sons became The twelve tribes of Israel.


Remember, God's angel changed Jacob's name. Jacob's new name is Israel.


Continue to follow the blogging which appears almost every day, if you will.  I enjoy doing it for you.  God guides me, and so does my Bible. Most of all, I hope these stories of people who appear in the bible making their mistakes will help us in our mistakes to stay close to God, our strength and our redeemer.


Jo INMN

A TROUBLED CONSCIENCE

Laban, Jacob's father-in-law was on his way home....to get back to our story..... and Jacob, too, was on his way home--each going the opposite way. Jacob was very concerned about what Esau, his brother, would have to say--or do --when they would meet again and that problem filled his mind.  He decided to send a messenger ahead of the family and goods, instructing him to say, "Your servant, Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and remained there until now.  I have cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now, I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes."


When the messengers returned they reported, "We went to your brother Esau and now he is coming to meet you, and 400 men are with him."  Jacob began to shake with fear and distress, but divided his people and animals into two groups, thinking, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the other group may escape."


Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my fathers, O Lord who said to me, "Go back to your country and your relatives and I will make you prosper."  Lord, I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown me.  I had only a staff to carry when I came and now I have become two groups of people and animals.  Save me , I pray from the hand of my brother, Esau, for I am afraid he will attack me and mine.  But, you have said, "I will surely make you  prosper and make my descendants like the sand in the sea, which cannot be counted."


Jacob and his group spent the night in this place, Jacob in a worried sleep.  The following day, he selected hundreds of goats, sheep, and donkeys--both males and females--for a gift an advanced team would give to Esau from him.  He hoped his gift would give him favor.  He instructed the leader, "When my brother, Esau, meets you, tell him, "These gifts are from your brother, Jacob, who is coming behind us."  And Jacob spent the night, once again, in his camp.


That night, when Jacob's wives, maidservants and manservants, and his eleven sons crossed the ford of the Jabbok River, Jacob stayed in the old camp.  He also had sent his possessions, but now, left alone, and still shaking from fear of his brother, a man came to him and wrestled with him until daylight came. When the man saw he could not over-power Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip and wrenched the hip.  Then, the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."  But, Jacob countered, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."  The man asked, "What is your name?"  "Jacob," he answered.  And the man then said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God--and with men and have overcome!"  Jacob was pleased and called the place of his sleep Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared."


The sun rose above him as he left Peniel, and he limped, because of his hip.  To this day, the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of an animal's hip, because of Jacob's hip touched by the angel of God.


Study/ Jacob continued the wrestling match all night....just to be blessed.  He was persistent in that desire to be blessed.  God encourages persistence in all areas of our lives, including the spiritual.  Strong character develops as we struggle through life's tough conditions with persistence.


Tomorrow--The brothers finally meet!  Esau has every right to be bitter, even to take revenge.  Most brothers who have been tricked out of his inheritance might want to have revenge.  It isn't surprising that Jacob/Israel is scared to death!


See you tomorrow with the news of this important meeting.  Which man do you think will win?  Find out tomorrow, or in the Book of Genesis.


Loving you, readers!


Jo INMN

THE GREAT ESCAPE

When re-reading part of yesterday's message I glanced over my Bible's Study section on Rachel, so I would like today's blog to include these words:  "Rachel's attempts to earn the unearnable were a picture of a much greater error we can also make.  Like Rachel, we find ourselves trying--in many ways-- to earn love, specifically God's love.  But, we end up with one of two false ideas.  Either we think we've been "good enough" to deserve his love or we recognize we aren't good enough to earn his love, therefore assuming that His love must be earned.  The Bible shouts out to us:  "God loves us!"  His love has no beginning, and is incredibly patient. So all we have to do is respond to God, love Him with our whole being, giving ourselves to Him in thanksgiving, not as a payment.  Live life fully, in the freedom of knowing we are loved."


Now, for further adventures with Jacob and Laban, Jacob's father-in-law.......Things had begun to grow prickly!  Jacob's wealth made Laban's sons jealous, sapping their happiness and making them unable to be happy for Jacob and their sisters.  And Jacob saw that Laban's attitude toward him was no longer good, either!


God spoke to Jacob and told him, "Go back to the land of your fathers....and I will be with you."  So, Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to be advised of the move.  The two wives replied, "Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father's estates?  Probably not!  Does he regard us as foreigners?  Probably.  He basically sold us, but used up what was already paid.  All the wealth God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.  So do whatever God has told you."


So, Jacob put his wives and children on camels and drove all of his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated to go back to his father, Isaac, in the land of Canaan, without telling Laban he was running away. During the rushing about, Rachel entered her father's tent and stole his household gods.


On the third day, Laban was told that Jacob had fled.  He and his relatives pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.  But God came to Laban in a dream and told him, "Be careful about saying either good or bad to Jacob."


When Laban arrived at Jacob's camp, he said to the fleeing son-in-law,  "What have you done?  You deceived me and carried away my daughters like captives.  Why didn't you tell me so I could send you away with joy and singing?"  And more somberly he added, I have the power to harm you, but your god told me "no."  But why steal my gods?"


Jacob answered, "I was afraid you would not let me go.  But as to your gods, see for yourself if they are with us.  If you find them with anyone, he shall not live!"


Now Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen the gods, and put them under her saddle and was sitting on them.  After Laban had searched all the tents, he turned toward the camels.  Rachel than said to her father, "Don't be angry, Father, that I do not stand.  I am having my period."  (Author's note: I don't know what they called  it then....flow?)  Jacob spoke then to Laban with great assuredness,"
"If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed.  But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night God rebuked you."


It was then Laban's turn to answer, "The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine.  Yet, what can I do?  Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us."  So they took some stones and piled them up for a solid witness.  "I will not go past this heap to harm you and you must not go past it toward us to harm me.  And may the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, and the God of their father, judge between us."


Early the next morning, Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them.  Then he left, returning home.  (End of today's story)


Today's study is worth mentioning.  "Making a habit of doing more than expected (as Jacob did) can pay off.  First, it pleases God.  Secondly, it earns recognition and advancement for you.  Thirdly, it will build confidence in you and others about you.  Fourth, it gives you experience and knowledge and Fifth, (not the least of them) it develops your spiritual maturity."


Tomorrow, (God willing) we may meet some angels but today's story reminds us of the imperfections of the human race.  Oh!  If only this was a perfect world; what would that be like?  Today's  earth seems quite troublesome to me. If only everyone could know and  accept the love shown to us by Jesus.  When will that day come when the stones themselves bow to His name?


In the meantime, there is love and goodness when and wherever we offer it!


Jo INMN

WIVES AND TROUBLES

Hello! and Good Morning!  Yes, it is morning as I write this about one of the old stories of Genesis--(which means The Beginning)--and Abraham's lineage for the future. There are so many that they seem to jump off the pages.


Yesterday, we found Jacob having been fooled deliberately by Laban, the father of Rachel, the one Jacob loves.  Leah, the eldest daughter and her maid were given to Jacob after seven years of Jacob's hard work.  When admonished for not giving him Rachel, Laban also gave Jacob his beloved, Rachel, and her maid, but it would cost Jacob another seven years of work.


Now, four women later, poor Jacob is never quite certain which woman will be in his tent.  God saw that Leah, who hoped for love, was not loved.  So God acted and Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, saying, "Surely my husband will love me now."  Again she conceived and had another son, naming him Simeon.  For the third time she conceived and had another son, Levi, and the fourth son, Judah, followed.  Leah praised the Lord.


But Rachel, did not.  No, she realized four boys were born to Leah and she herself had none! She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" But, Jacob lashed right back,  "Who am I? God?  He has kept yu from having children, not me!"


Discouraged, Rachel said with a long face, "Here is Bilhah, my maidservant.  Make her pregnant that through her I, too, can build a family!"  So, Bilhah, too, had a son and named him Dan.  Soon, she had a second son and Rachel named him Naphtali. By this time, it  felt to the women like there had been a contest between them and they had no friendliness.


When Leah found she could no longer have children, she gave her maidservant, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife.  Zilpah bore him a son and called him Gad.   Then, a second son was born to the maid and she called him Asher.


Now, Leah's eldest son, Rueben, went to the field during wheat harvest and spotted some mandrake plants and brought them to Leah.  Believing they were good medicine for someone who wanted to get pregnant, Rachel saw them and begged Leah for some of them for she could not stop lamenting for her hack of a child.  Sorrow for herself saddened her, but jealousy of her sister made her bitter.


Rachel bought the mandrakes from Leah by allowing Leah to go again to Jacob's tent.  Leah conceived twice more during this time.  Over the years, total, she had six sons and one daughter, Dinah.


Then God remembered Rachael and she became pregnant.  At last!  Joseph was born and much later, Benjamin.  Her maid, Bilhah also had two sons during this time, Dan and Naphtali.  Twelve sons in all, Jacob was proud but desperate to return to his own homeland.  But Laban begged him to stay a while longer.  He said to Jacob,  "If I have found favor  in your eyes, please stay.  I have learned by my gods that your Lord has blessed me--because of you!  Name your wages and I will pay them!"


Jacob, too, used a little cleverness.  "I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them, but you must let me go through all the flocks today and set aside for myself every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark colored lamb, and every spotted or speckled goat.  These will be my wages.  And my honesty will testify for me in the future.  Any goat or sheep that is not spotted or speckled, will be considered stolen."


"Agreed," Laban said.  "Let it be as you say!"  And the deal was done.  And the flocks were separated into two flocks, one with speckles or spots, and one without blemish.  And Jacob tended them all.  But, near their watering holes, Jacob cut branches from the trees and peeled the bark somewhat from them, making white stripes on them so the animals would see the contrasts while they mated.  Indeed, soon Jacob's flock was huge!  Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous, and his worth included maid servants and men servants, camels and donkeys.  (End of today's story)


Rachel became so tortured even though Jacob was strongly loyal to her.  She was so frustrated by her barrenness, so very desperate to compete with her sister, Leah, for Jacob's affection that she became self-destructive.  She tried to gain something she already had--Jacob's love.


I wonder, have you, have I, ever tried to earn someone's love, or affection, or approval?  We just end up with false ideas and claims.  One point is necessary here:  God loves us with a love that has no beginning and no end.  All we need do is go to God and respond to His love.  We don't need to earn what is freely offered.


God has demonstrated His love for us by the Cross.  He died--instead of me!


Live and love in that freedom.


Jo INMN

JACOB TAKES A WIFE, A WIFE and OOPS!

Happy Monday, to each of you!  Hope you found the tale of Jacob and Esau interesting!  As I mentioned, Esau married outside Judism, while Jacob was sent back to Rebekah's original home in Haran to seek a wife from the daughters of Rebekah's brother, Laban.  Also, remember, Jacob was running for his life; Esau might have murdered him, because of Jacob's deceitfulness in gaining the blessing of his father, which gave Jacob the right of inheritance.


On the trail, Jacob stopped for the night, lying on stony ground.  He put one of the larger stones under his head and lay down to sleep.  He had a dream of a stairway which began on earth, rising to heaven.  God's angels were ascending and descending on the stairway, looking up.  Above the stairs stood the Lord, who said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out in all directions.  All people will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go."


When Jacob awakened, he took the stone he had used as a pillow, set it up as a pillar and poured  oil over it.  He called that place Bethel(earlier Luz).  There he made a vow, "As the Lord has promised His welfare to me, this that I have set up "will be God's house, and of all that you give me  I will give you a tenth."


As Jacob moved on, he entered the land of the eastern people.  There he saw a well in the field and nearby, a flock of sheep.  A very large stone covered the mouth of the well which would be rolled away by shepherds watering their sheep, and would be returned to the well before their leaving.


Joseph spoke to the shepherds, asking where they were from.  "Haran," they answered, and Joseph then asked, "Do you know Laban?"  'Yes, we know Laban.  And here comes his daughter, Rachel, with their sheep."


Jacob, filled with delight by the beauty of the girl, rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.  Then, smitten with the idea that she might be his bride, he kissed Rachel and began to weep with deep sobs, thrilled to be at the place of his people.


Rachel had run to tell her father, Laban, that Jacob had come.  And Laban remembered Isaac, Jacob's father, and warmed to Jacob, saying, "You are my own flesh and blood.  Welcome!"  Jacob was made part of the family and worked along side of Laban's sons.  After a month, Laban spoke to Jacob, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing?"  Tell me what you want in wages."


Now Laban had two daughters.  the oldest was Leah, who had weak eyes, and the younger was Rachel.  Jacob, who already loved Rachel, said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter, Rachel." Laban answered indirectly, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man.  Stay here with me."  So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but because of his love for her, it only seemed like a few days.


Then, Jacob said to Laban seven years later, "Give me my wife.  My time is completed, and I want to be with her."  Laban, still full of trickery, took his daughter, Leah, and gave her to Jacob along with a servant girl for Leah, named Zilpah, as was the custom when affordable in that day.


When morning came, Jacob saw Leah and knew he had been deceived.  Livid, he stormed out of the tent, and asked why the deception!  And Laban justified his actions, "It is not our custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder.  Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work for me."


And Jacob did just that.  When he had finished the bridal week for Leah, Laban gave him Rachel to be his wife, also.  Laban also gave a servant, Bildad, to his daughter, Rachel.


Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  And he worked for Laban seven more years. (End of today's story.)


Poor man!  What must it have been like to have four women to care for and care about?  More of this tomorrow.  You might just try and put yourself in the place of Jacob, Rachel, or Leah. Laban, the clever one, is getting paid back at Jacob for the trickery Jacob played on his brother Esau in yesterday's story. Maybe God believes in what goes around,  comes around.  What do you think?


Magnificent Mess, I'd say.  But God loves Jacob as imperfect as he is and He even loves Laban, although I wonder if Laban believes it!  But, anyway, Thanks be to God, he loves me,  too.


And the same for you!


Jo INMN

A DOUBLECROSS

Isaac, Abraham's son and heir, married Rebekah when he was 40 years old.  Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of Rebekah, because she was barren.  The Lord answered Isaac's prayer when Rebekah became pregnant with twins.  The babies jostled each other within Rebekah and she said, "Why is this happening to me?"  So she inquired of the Lord. The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."


When time came for Rebekah to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.  The first was red, very red, and his whole body was hairy, so they named him Esau.  After this, his brother was born, with his hand grasping the first's heel, so he was named Jacob.


The boys grew up.  Esau became a skillful hunter, an outdoor man, while Jacob was quiet by nature, and stayed among the tents.  Isaac loved his son, Esau, as he loved to eat the wild game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.  And Isaac yearned to have the birthright which was due to Esau as the oldest son. and not him.


Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from open country.  As he was very hungry, he begged Jacob for some of his stew.  "I'm famished!"  But Jacob, wise and clever replied, "First, sell me your birthright!"  And Esau, not suspecting Jacob's cleverness, said, "Look,  I am about to die! What good is this birthright to me?"


But Jacob persevered, "Swear to me first."  So Esau swore an oath to Jacob, selling his birthright as the eldest son to Jacob. Then Jacob fed Esau and Esau despised his birthright.  But they kept this news from Isaac, their father.


Now, God continued to bless Isaac, not only with his sons.  Everything Isaac did seemed to go right.  So the Philistines became jealous and plugged Isaac's wells, creating a dividing force strong enough to tear apart a mighty nation.  But Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a fresh source of water.  Because of Isaac's strength and because the Philistines saw the Lord was with him, the people of Garar made a treaty with Isaac that no one would bring harm upon the other.  Isaac had every right to fight back when the Philistines ruined his wells, yet he chose to keep the peace.  In the end, the Philistines respected him for his patience.


(From the study...)Perhaps we, too, should be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with us.  When God's influence in our lives attract people--even enemies--we must take the opportunity to reach out to them with God's love.)


Now, Esau married outside his own clan and his parents were greatly upset.  When he was 40 yrs. old, Esau married Judith, the daughter of a Hittite, a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.


Isaac grew very old.  His eyes were weak and he could no longer see.  He was afraid he was about to die, so he called Esau and asked Esau to hunt some wild game that he might enjoy the tasty food  Esau cooked so well.  And he told Esau, "I am about to give you my blessing."


Now, Rebekah had been listening and after Esau left for the big hunt, she said to her son, Jacob.  "I overheard your father tell your brother that he wanted a dish of wild game, and he further added, "before I give you my blessing."  She added, "Go now, Jacob, and bring two young goats, so I can prepare them the way your father likes.  Then take it to your father, so that he may give you his blessing!"


Jacob worried his smooth skin might give him away and he would receive a curse instead of a blessing.  But Rebekah said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me.  Just do as I say."


So that is what Jacob did.  His mother had covered his hands and neck with goat skin.  So he went with the food and his lie to his father and said, "My father."  "Yes, my son," Isaac answered, "Who is it?"  Jacob said, "I am Esau, your first born.  I have done as you told me.  Please sit up and eat, so that you may give me my blessing."


"How did you find the game so quickly, son?"  Isaac asked.  And Jacob said, "The Lord provided."
"Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know if you really are Esau, or not."


Jacob went close to his father, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau."  Then, he said,  "Are you really my son, Esau?"  And Jacob answered, "I am."  Isaac then asked for the meal and ate, finally saying, "Come here, my son, and kiss me."  So, Jacob went to him and kissed him and as Jacob also smelled like Esau in the clothes he wore, Jacob was blessed.


Almost immediately, Esau came in from the hunt.  Isaac trembled violently, yet knew Jacob had been blessed well.  He gave Esau a different blessing to the one he had intended.  He thought to kill Isaac, but, Rebekah sent Isaac to her brother Laban in Haran where she had lived and warned him to not marry a Canaanite woman, but some one from the daughters of Laban.  Esau married several more Canaanite women to displease his father, Isaac.  


I'm certain those of you who read this will be able to find the difficulties in this family. How hard it must be for a parent to love his children equally, when one is much the same as you and the other not like you at all. If this had been my family, I would have been on my knees to the Lord all the time!  Perhaps, if I had been in prayer more often, each of my own might have been happier sooner. You get too soon old and too late smart enough to be faithful in trusting God.


Hope this New Year will keep you praying!  It will me!


Jo INMN

ABRAHAM, NEXT ISAAC

When Abraham was long into his really old years, he began to think of his family's future under Isaac.  He asked his chief servant, the one in charge of all Abraham had, to "swear by the Lord God that you will not get a wife for my son Isaac from the Canaanites with whom I am living, but will "go back to my own country and to my relatives and get a wife for Isaac."


The servant asked, "What if she is unwilling to come? Shall I then take your son there?" Abraham said, "The Lord, the God of Heaven, spoke to me and said, "To your offspring, I will give this land!"  If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you are released from this oath.  Only do not take my son back there."


So, with ten camels loaded with good things from his master, the servant left--and eventually made his way to the town of Nahor.  The camels knelt down near the well outside of town.  It was evening and the women came to draw water.  The servant prayed, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.  See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming to draw water.  May it be that when I say, "Please let down your jar that I may have a drink," and she says, "Drink, and I'll water your camels, too"--let her be the one you have chosen for your servant, Isaac.  By this, I will know you have shown kindness to my master."


Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.  She was Abraham's niece, a daughter of Abraham's brother, Nahor. She was very beautiful and innocent.  The servant hurried to meet her, asking for a drink.  "Drink, my Lord," she said, and "I will draw water for your camels, too."  The servant then watched her closely, hoping the Lord had made his journey successful.


After the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring, very costly, and two gold bracelets while asking, "Whose daughter are you?  Please, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"


She answered, "I am Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor."  And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder as well as room for you to spend the night."  The man bowed down to worship the Lord in thanksgiving, while the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.


Now, Rebekah had a brother named Labon, who found it interesting to know a man who was giving gifts like the golden ring, and he heard what Rebekah had said to the old servant.  He said jovialy, "Why are you standing out here?  I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."


So the old servant went to the house, and had the camels unloaded.  Straw and fodder were brought to the camels and water for him and his men to wash their feet.  Then food was set before him, but the old man said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say."  And so he told them all of the story, including, "Go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son."


"My Lord led me on the right toad to get the grand-daughter of my master's brother for his son.  Now, if you would show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me so I may know which way to turn."


They agreed and the servant brought out gifts for everyone.  But when it was time to go, they asked him, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go."  But the servant said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey.  Send me on my way so I may go to my master." Then they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it."  So they called Rebekah, "Will you go with this man?" they asked.  "I will go," she said.  So they went on their way.


Now, Isaac was then living in the Negev.  He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up just at that time and saw Isaac; and asked, "Who is that man coming to meet us?"  "He is my Master," the servant answered.  So she took her veil and covered herself properly, as a bride would do.


The servant told Isaac all he had done, and Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of his mother, Sarah.  He married Rebekah and loved her.  When Isaac's mother died, Rebekah comforted him.


Nice story, huh?


After reading this, you may have questions, such as:  "Was it right for Abraham's servant to ask for such a specific sign?"  Our study tells us:  The servant was simply asking God to show him a woman with an attitude of service, someone who would go beyond the expected--like watering his camels.  The servant knew the importance of having a "right heart."


Also, what do you think was the reason for Laban to rush out to the servant to have him come to the house before Rebekah could invite him in?  The bible tells us, "As soon as Laban had seen the nose ring and expensive bracelets, he called to the servant."  Was he making nice with a man who carried riches to see if he might attain it for himself in some way?  A kind of  'be nice to the rich; maybe they will share' philosophy?" 


Then, too, Laban didn't want to release Rebekah right away.  Was there an ulterior motive there as well?  It could be that the servant had already given them beautiful gifts, so perhaps, Laban hoped for more by keeping Rebekah a while longer.


Is man forever to have ulterior motives?  With some men, yes.  With other men, no.  Each person is God's own.  What God gives to each of us is to satisfy our needs and we must be thankful without always desiring more.  Pray for ourselves, our friends, and our neighbors that we may learn to be thankful for what we have been given.


May the word MORE be driven from our vocabulary!


Jo INMN

ABRAHAM lll

This story of Abraham can be found also in the book of Genesis.  Some time after Isaac was barely growing into a young man, God tested Abraham again. The Lord said, "Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.  Then God said, "Take your son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah."  Now Mount Moriah was perhaps 50 or 60 miles from Beersheba, Abraham's home.  The Lord continued, "Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains."  Now, there is no record of what Abraham thought about this command! But we might have an idea by what we would think, ourselves!


Early the next morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey.  He took with him two of his servants and his son, Isaac.  He first cut wood for the burnt offering, then set out for the place God had told him about.  On the third day Abraham looked up, saw the place in the distance, and said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.  We will worship and then come back."


Abraham took the wood and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.  Isaac spoke up and said, "Father?"  "Yes, my son." Abraham replied.  "The fire and the wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb, my son."  And the two of them went on together.


When they reached the intended place in the mountains, Abraham built an altar there and arranged wood upon it. He bound his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham!  Abraham!"


"Here I am," he replied.


"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said.  "Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."  Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.  He took the ram and sacrificed it to the Lord--instead of his son.


And Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.  And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."


I love this story, don't you?  Although, I know myself and I would have been arguing with the Lord. 
"You can't mean it, Lord!  I love my son; please don't make me kill him!"  I would have been a blubbering fool!"   But it's a great lesson for the rest of us as to what faith looks like.  What Abraham had is real faith.  I hope and pray that I will not be tested to the point that Abraham was.


I pray that your faith will stand any test that God decides to give you.  Welcome to the Faith-Travelers.


God is Love!


Jo INMN

ABRAHAM---PART II

There are many, many stories about Abram and Sarai, soon to be renamed Abraham and Sarah by God. One story is about Lot, Abram's nephew.  Remember-- Lot built his home in or near the evil town of Sodom.  Yes, it was nearly annihilated by war and Abram had to step in and save Lot, Lot's family, and his goods. And there was  more than a lot of trouble with the question, "Why did we not have a son who would carry on Abram's promise from God to build a nation?" Remember!  Abram and Sarai were old already and time was quickly passing!  These things and others consumed them.


Abram had despaired of ever having their own child.  Abram believed the Lord would give them a  son as he had promised,, but it was taking so very long. Even although he trusted the Lord, he wondered.  Abram was glad to see that his outward actions had not resulted in being wrong or right with God, but that rightness with God was based on faith--the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do.  He saw that right actions follow naturally to faith and trust.  Abram was learning.


About having their own child..Sarai, said one fine day, "Why don't we just have Hagar come into your tent, get pregnant, and have our child?"  Abraham agreed, and they did just that.  Sarai began to give Hagar a bad time, even mistreating her.  Finally, Hagar fled.  But an angel of the Lord told Hagar, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her.  I will increase your descendants also, until they are too numerous to count.  You shall have a son, and you will call him Ishmael."  Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.


When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him once again.  He changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah.  The angel also told Abraham to keep the covenant with God, have every male of each household circumcised as circumcision was to be a covenant of the flesh with Jewish males, an everlasting covenant.


Although many things happened to Abraham that year, God did prepare Abraham and Sarah to bear and deliver Isaac.  The child grew and was weaned, so Abraham held a great feast.  But, Sarah became aware that Hagar and her son with Abraham seemed to be mocking her.   She said to Abraham, "Get rid of that woman and her son!"  The matter distressed Abraham, but God said to him, "Do not be concerned for them.  Do whatever Sarah tells you.  I will see to Hagar and Ishmael,  as he will also be the head of a nation of people."


Early the next morning Abraham took food and water to Hagar.  She went on her way, wandering in the desert of Beersheba.  God watched over them, protecting them from starvation and providing them with water, most miraculously, again promising Hagar: "Ishmael was to be a great leader of a great nation."


Can you see the sin creeping up now and then?  Not just in Abraham, but also in Sarah.  Poor Hagai, born to be a servant; destined to be the mother of an emperor.  Yet, each one bore their burdens as best as they could.  And they each trusted in the Lord, as best as they knew how.  Does God ask us for anything more?


Tomorrow is another day, and another tale to tell of Abraham....a tale of great faith.  Stay with us!


See you tomorrow!


JoINMN