Genesis 36-38; Romans 12

In chapter 36 we see the descendants of Esau (that is Edom). They became the Edomites. Jacob's other name is Israel and they are known as the Israelites. Esau became a great nation of people they were not the people of God because He did not seek God and the covenant with Abraham was honored through Jacob. Yesterday we saw in Romans 11 that the difference between the remnant of the Jews that did not have the promises of God and those that did was belief. They neither believed nor trusted God's promises and did not walk in His ways so God opened the gospel to the gentiles such as the Edomites and others. We are grafted in their place. Romans 11 says God will graft them in again as He chooses because they are a natural branch from the root (Abraham) and God always honors His covenant. He will draw them in when all of the gentiles have been exposed to the Gospel of Christ. If you are a gentile as I, you should understand that the call to us is real and we should respond to the calling of God. When we do we will also have a heritage of Godly people. One thing to understand is what God has established in our life and where He has placed us to serve. We are to take that seriously and involve ourselves where He has placed us and we will then experience the promises of God in our life. If you are not experiencing the promises of God in your life it is because you have not involved yourself deeply with God's people. We are to bloom where we are planted and when we do, see the beautiful crop God produces from the root of what He established.

Jacob raised his family in the Lord and we see prophesies unfold (your young men will dream dreams). Jacob's (Israel's) son Joseph started dreaming dreams and shared them with his brothers. These dreams showed what God was about to do with his life. They hated Joseph because Jacob loved him more, and so they rejected the dream and the idea that he would rule over them. It began to cause discontent on the family. The dreams usually come before the experience so we can look back and tie the two together. When Joseph shared these dreams with his father, he said "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (NIV) His brothers plotted to kill him because of jealousy of the dream and the coat that his father made him. Instead they at Judah's prompting sold Joseph to traders who sold him to Potiphar one of Pharaoh's officials. This is why it is so important as parents to love all of our children the same. Jealousy is a terrible sin it is so hard to detect before it has done it's damage and will ruin their lives before they know. We should make them aware of the danger and do everything we can to keep it from settling in.

In chapter 38 we see the life of Judah. After he sold his brother he left his brothers. Jealousy is a sin that always leads to division of the people of God. The deception that started with deceiving Jacob continued in his children and he led a life based on his own desires and understanding. Deception causes us to lead a double life and we see this in the life of Judah. People around him knew his character and his son's widow (his son was killed because he was evil in the sight of the Lord) deceived Judah into getting her pregnant because his other son failed to take on the responsibility of his brother's widow and God ended his life because of that sin. Sin always makes a mess in our family. When she became pregnant the law called for her to be killed but when she produces evidence that she was pregnant by Judah he said "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again. Deception and jealousy weaves a web that causes much pain and their consequences are eternal.

In Romans 12 we see God's plan for our life. 1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Sacrificial living is something we all struggle with. For example should I keep my children out late to be involved in the things of God or should I keep them in to do their homework and get to bed early? If we don't invest in the spiritual, the earthly assignments will be impossible to accomplish God's way under our own strength and direction. Making that a priority it is a witness to our children through our actions. Our actions speak louder than our words. in verse 9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (NIV) We are to be devoted to each other as the people of God. Then we are instructed to bless those that persecute us and to repay evil with good. God knows what He's doing and being obedient in these areas will always honor Him and bring His people together in a way that will honor our creator.

Tomorrow I would like to read Genesis 39-40; and Romans 13