Jacob Failed by Pleading Instead of Witnessing

02/28/2007

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Jacob failed by pleading instead of witnessing

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Genesis 33:8-15

            Message of the verses:  “8  And he said, "What do you mean by all this company which I have met?" And he said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."  9  But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own."  10  Jacob said, "No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.  11  "Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." Thus he urged him and he took it.  12  Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you."  13  But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die.  14  "Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir."  15  Esau said, "Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.’”

            Jacob was still driven by fear, and he refused to talk about the things that happened in the past and deal with them so that they would not continue to be a hindrance in his relationship with his brother.  Esau was acting more like a believer that Jacob was.  Jacob missed an opportunity to witness to his brother about the things that had just happened to him.  He could have told Esau that he was sorry for the things done in the past and told him about the things that just had happened to him the night before and that God had met with him face to face and had given him a new human name.

            Jacob would live up to his new name even though he did not live up to it at this point, as was the case with others who were given new names by God.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think it would be a good idea for me to have a wrestling mach with the Lord over some things that are on my mind and then hope that He would give me a filling of His Holy Spirit to accomplish the things that He would want me to accomplish for Him.

The Word of God has been both convicting and challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment and to direct my path, and to show me the things that He would have me to do in the future.

Memory verse for the week:  Ec. 1:14  I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.