Jacob's Sinful Delaying (Gen. 33:17b-20)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03-13-2020

 

My Worship Time                                                                        Focus:  Jacob’s delaying

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                 Reference:  Genesis 33:17b-20

 

            Message of the verses:  “and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.  18 Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city.  19 He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.  20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.”

           

            When God had spoken to Jacob while living at Haran He told him to go back to where he had come from, but as seen in these verses Jacob not only delayed going there, he also bought some property to live in Succoth, thus disobeying God.  Because of this disobedience there would be trouble ahead for Jacob and his family.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would say that it was out of fear that caused Jacob to disobey God, for Jacob still feared his brother Esau, and this could be the reason that he did not want to return to Bethel, the place where he was from near his father.  There are many times when fear can grip me and cause me to disobey God, yet God is the only One whom I should ever fear, and part of that fear of God is for me to obey Him always and trust Him fully.

 

The Word of God has been challenging to my heart and also convicting, 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 as I go through life on planet earth each day.