As a result of Jacob and Rebekah’s deception Isaac’s blessing was given to Jacob rather than Esau.This passage has always generated very understandable questions. The principal question is: How does God allow Jacob to receive the birthright and the blessing from his father as the result of deception?
Read More blessing, deception @en, God’s faithfulnessSignificant encounters can be defining, unforgettable moments. These may occur on a park bench, a golf course, in a fishing boat or in a particular place or room in a house. They are milestones.
But time passes and we do forget. While Jacob was escaping from the wrath of his brother Esau, he had stopped for the night at a place called Bethel.
Read More promises, God’s faithfulnessEach one of us can probably remember a time when we felt overlooked or forgotten. It’s a crushing blow when we realize we have been passed over. It is especially hard when people turn their backs on us after we have gone out of our way to help them.
Sadly this is what happened to Joseph.
Read More character, God’s faithfulness, ingratitude, dreams
God is there for us and we can trust him. Even when our circumstances seem to take an unwelcomed turn, God is still at work. He has a way of moving us forward and keep his promises.
Psalm 105 is a beautiful snapshot of God’s faithfulness in the past history of Israel. The Psalmist invites us to continue to lean on him and to tell the story of his faithfulness to everyone. “Praise the Lord and pray in his name! Tell everyone what he has done.”
Read More trust, God’s faithfulness, rememberingWhat we allow to fill our view, influences our actions. If I stare at a wonderful piece of cheesecake, it will not be long before I am eating it. The Word of God and the truth we find in the Word of God are like that.
The psalmist reminds us of the sustaining power of God’s teaching.
Read More word of God, God’s faithfulnessDarkness is a test of character. To honour God throughout the day when everything is visible is an easier task than to be faithful in the nighttime hours when darkness creates doubts and hides our actions. Songs of praise come quickly to mind when the sun shines, but when shadows deepen it is a challenge to trust in the goodness of God.
Read More Temple, God’s faithfulness, darknessObserve the turning of day to night and you will be inspired to poetry. Watch as summer turns to fall and you will see balance. Be awestruck as storms rise up and then amazingly are stilled. In each of these instances there is an author and a creator, the Lord Almighty, who is honoured in this psalm of praise.
Read More nature, harmony, calm, God’s faithfulness
Lived in its fullest and most rewarding way, the Christian life ought never to be boring. Rather, it ought to be full of adventure, joy and peace … and also hardship, sacrifice and risk.
As he finishes his Day of Pentecost sermon in Jerusalem, Peter wants his listeners to understand the depth and breadth of life with Jesus.
Read More promises, God’s faithfulnessGod’s people are in exile and it was tempting for them, as it is for us, to measure God according to their circumstances. Israel despaired that God even knew their name, much less cared.
Almost reflexively they began to compare God with the gods of the nations around them that seemed to be more prosperous.
Read More waiting, God’s faithfulness, idols, eagles’ wings
Read Reflect I don’t know about you, but often, my first thought is to try to tackle something on my own. Though I know that my first thought should be to bring something to God, this is often not the case. As such, while some things work out, more often than I’d like to admit, […]
Read More encouragement, God’s faithfulness