Jacob's Dream - God's Plan

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I Timothy 2:5

Do you remember using Grandma's crochet string to make Cat's Whiskers, Saucer and Teacup and Jacob's Ladder? There are lots of string games but those are the three I remember and taught to my children. Jacob's Ladder, now there's an interesting design. It's not unusual to see a cat's whiskers or a saucer and teacup, but when do we ever see Jacob's Ladder?

The story of Jacob's Ladder is found in Genesis 28:12-17. Jacob left home running from his brother after he had stolen his brother's birthright. Well not exactly. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage but he never intended to keep the bargain. However, Jacob and mom did.

By nightfall, Jacob came to Bethel. He took a stone and laid it for his pillow. Not exactly the type of pillow for a good night's rest. No matter. God intended to interrupt Jacob's sleep with a dream that would point him to the Savior and seal the covenant with him that God first made with Abram. Right here at Bethel, Abram made his first altar in Canaan when God affirmed that He would make a great nation of Abram and give him the land of Canaan for his family (Genesis 12).

God gave Jacob a dream. In the dream, there was a ladder set up from earth to heaven. Angels were descending and ascending on the ladder. The Rabbinical scholars interpreted this dream to be symbolic of the tabernacle with the Shekinah Glory coming down, the place where sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus told Nathaniel in John 1:51 that He, Jesus, was that ladder that bridged heaven and fallen man.

On that first Christmas, Jesus descended from heaven as a baby. The angels descended to tell the shepherds about His birth. Jesus was crucified for our sins and rose again. Angels sat at the head and foot of where Jesus laid in the tomb (John 20: 12). He ascended back into heaven. Two men in white, angels, questioned the disciples why they continued to look into heaven. Jesus would return the same way they saw him go. (Acts 1: 11). At the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost was descended on the church assembled in the room before they began their preaching to all nations.

Jesus is the only mediator between man and God. Not only did God affirm His covenant with Jacob but showed him the promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who descended to be our sacrifice and ascended to be our Savior.

Hey Kids:

Do you know how to play string games? This is a very old form of entertainment.

Youtube has several videos demonstrating how it's done. The videos are from WhyKnot

If you google string games there are several sites that will show a variety of games.

Jacob's Ladder is also a black spiritual often sung by children. You may be able to associate other string games to songs. Saucer and Teacup reminds me of the song "Drinking from My Saucer" a song based on Psalms 23.

Games and songs can be a great way to open up a conversation to witness to friends. Practice some of these games and song and make them part of your witnessing toolbox.

Teenagers!

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

We've always burned wood as our major heat source. My oldest son said he thought his name was "Git Wood" until he was 10 years old. Of course to help their daddy cut and stack wood while wearing little work gloves was a big deal. Getting to go out on the porch, sometimes barefoot to get wood on a snowy day was a big thrill until they were teens. That's when teens begin to say, "But Mom, Dad, I have a life."

Abraham's teenage son was a little different, especially when it came to worshipping the Lord. Isaac was very dedicated to his father and his heavenly Father, so when Abraham asked him to go worship on the mountain, Isaac was ready to go. At the foot of the mountain, Abraham had Isaac carry the wood for the sacrifice. All alone father and son went to the place for the sacrifice. They laid the wood on the altar. Then Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on the wood. 

WHAT? Picture this. An old man over 100 years old binds a teenager and puts him on an altar for a sacrifice. I know what my teens would have done. They would have high-tailed it back down the mountain. Isaac could have easily outrun Abraham. He could have struggled against the binding and won. Getting away would have been no problem but he was obedient to his father. 

Does this sound familiar? Jesus like Isaac was born through impossible circumstances. Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels to rescue him from a mob (Matthew 26: 52-56) or anyone else. Instead, He allowed himself to be deserted by his followers and led up Calvary's mountain just He and his Father. He allowed himself to be our sacrifice. He had even asked the Father if there was another way (Luke 22:42). There was no substitutionary ram for Jesus. There on a cross, He was sacrificed for our sins. 

Isaac could not die for his father, or even for himself. Isaac was a sinner just like us. He needed Jesus to die for him too. God wanted a picture for Abraham and Isaac and the Old Testament people so they could understand the sacrifice He would make. That picture is still a good one today. I wouldn't be willing to offer one of my children for anyone but I'm thankful Jesus was willing to be that sacrifice. 

Hey Kids:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:1

Isaac was an obedient son. I know Abraham was proud of his son, a son who was willing to obey and help a very old man.

Notice the verse says "in the Lord". 
God does not require us to do wrong or be abused in obedience to our parents. 
However, we do need to obey in every other way. 

How have you helped through obedience this week? 
How might you improve in the coming weeks?
Here are some ideas.
1. Be helpful without being asked. That's maturity.
2. When asked, do the job without being reminded.
3. No complaining, whining or rolling your eyes. 
Watch your relationship grow with your family and with the Lord.

Working to be obedient to the Lord

Gail

Our Promise Keeper

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes it seems all hope is lost. It's just too hard to believe things will change or ever be alright again. We're too young or too old. May as well forget it. But is anything too hard for the Lord, our Promise Keeper? 

From the time I was a young teen, I knew all I wanted was to be a wife and mother. I was very good in school. The other kids were surprised I had no interest in college or a career. I had no dates until I was 20. I knew before we dated that this would be the man I would marry. At 23 we married and immediately started our family. In 4 years time, I had 3 children and the doctor told us our children were so large (10+ lbs) I wouldn't be able to carry another child to term. I was heartbroken. What was happening to the dream and what I thought was God's plan for us? 

When God told Abram to leave his homeland and his relatives, He promised to make Abram a great nation (Genesis 12:1,2). Abram was a young man with a young wife. Surely it was hard for them to leave everything and everyone behind and seek a new land, but they were young, adventurous, God-fearing, and God believing.

God believing - that was the key to the promises God made to Abram. Abram was different from other men, even from his family. Abram's nephew traveled with him but soon even he left Abram for the riches of this world. 

God blessed Abram with cattle. He took care of Abram and Sarai no matter what they tried to figure out for themselves because God had made a promise. Abram appreciated all God was doing for them but there was one promise he didn't see how God was going to keep. God had promised Abram a son. God had changed their names to Abraham (father of many nations) and Sarah (princess) but Abraham was 99 years old. He laughed that a child would be born when he was 100 and Sarah was 90. When Sarah found out she laughed too, but God's answer was "Is anything too hard for the Lord"  Certainly the Creator of the Universe is capable of anything except a lie. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). At the appointed time Isaac was born to the couple old enough to be great-great-grandparents. 

Why did God choose Abram and Sarai? Why did He wait so long to give them their promised child? God said:

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 

Genesis 18:19

It was hard for Abraham and Sarah to wait. It was hard to stay faithful but it was all part of God's plan to prosper them and prosper us. We may be waiting for a mate, or a child, or healing. We may question what God is doing, but know that He will never leave us or forsake us. His plan is the best plan. 

When my oldest child was almost four, he started reading environmental print. I decided he needed to learn to read. I bought material and over the course of the next year or so I taught him. I taught his brother and his sister. I went back to school and finished a degree in Early Childhood Education. I got a full-time teaching job when my oldest left for college. So I was a stay at home mom for them.  For over 20 years I have taught 30 to 40 children each year. They don't forget me. They speak to me in the halls. They come back and visit me when they are seniors. They bring their children to me to teach. As I near retirement I see the Lord has filled my home with many more children than I could have ever born. Children I nurture and bring up in the Lord if only for a few hours for a few days. When my husband retired he became a bus driver of all things. God's plan is always the best plan. We just have to be patient. 

Hey Kids:

What are you waiting for? Do you want to be popular, athletic, or maybe you are in need of healing?

First, know you have turned from your sins and given your life to Christ.

Then look at your mentors and the gifts God has given you. Are you musical, artistic, construction minded, or do you love cooking? 

You don't have to be an athlete. Most likely you won't be popular as a Christian. 

But know God has great plans for you. 

Wait on the Lord. Ask Him to show you how to use the talents He has given you. And yes mothering is a career and a talent that girls should never be ashamed of. 

Blessing while we wait on God, 

Gail

Choices

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:8

When all the world was upside down and in chaos with every thought of mankind only wickedness, how did Noah find grace? Choice. Noah's choice was to worship and follow God no matter what everyone else did. It's always been about choices.

Last week we looked at the choices Adam and Eve made to first disobey and then accept the sacrifice God made for their sin. But along the way to Noah, more choices were made.

Cain and Abel made choices. Cain gave his hard work on the altar as his offering to God. Abel gave a blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. Both boys were taught the necessity of a blood sacrifice. Cain's choice was not acceptable and he refused to follow God's plan. One bad choice led to the worst choice. He killed his brother Abel. 

God's plan would not be stopped. He gave Adam and Eve another son, Seth. Eve knew God had given her another seed instead of Abel (Genesis 4:25). As Seth's family grew, the world chose to move farther and farther away from God. Many of Seth's family made choices to inter-marry with the ungodly seed of Cain (Genesis 6:2,5-7). However, Eve's seed still remained in Enos, then Cainan, and Mahalaleel, and Jared whose son was Enoch. 

Enoch, the man who was not, he did not die because he walked with God. His son was Methuselah, the oldest man to ever live. Enoch gave him a name that means "after he is gone judgment will come." Methuselah died the year of the flood. His son was Lamech who named his son Noah which means "rest". God was going to give his creation rest, but first, there would be destruction.

Each son in the line to Noah had many sons and daughters but the ones who followed God, the ones who kept trying to tell a lost world that judgment was coming were few. It's hard to stay faithful when everyone else around you is making bad choices. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he continued to preach repentance while he built the ark (II Peter 2:5). God saved Noah and his family because they were willing to believe God and obey. 

God asks no less of us today. Believe His way is the only way. Accept the sacrifice of His Son for our sin. Demonstrate that belief in our actions and words.

As in the days of Noah, judgment will come when no one expects it. May we be found faithful.

Hey Kids: 

Reading genealogies in the Bible is tough but you will find interesting tidbits that bring all the rest of the stories together. 

Do you know your own genealogy? Who were/are your grandparents, great-grandparents? How far back can you go? 

Were they Godly men and women? How did they serve? 

How does God want you to serve Him? Make a list of the talents He has given you.  How can you use these talents to demonstrate God's grace to a world filled with bad choices?

Growing in grace,

Gail