May 22, 2013 … Moving Out

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 142

Passage of the Day: Genesis 30: 43 [In the context of verses 40-43] [NLT] …  
40 Jacob added them to his own flock, thus separating the lambs from Laban’s flock. Then at mating time, he turned the flocks toward the streaked and dark-colored rams in Laban’s flock. This is how he built his flock from Laban’s. 41 Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob set up the peeled branches in front of them. 42 But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. 43 As a result, Jacob’s flocks increased rapidly, and he became very wealthy, with many servants, camels, and donkeys.  
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Contextual Study for today’s passage: Genesis, Chapter 30 [NLT] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Hebrews 11: 6 : [Faith to keep on keeping on.] …[NLT] …  
6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek him.

My Journal for Today: Yesterday my devotional for May 21, about Jacob’s journey away from his brother Esau, from whom he had stolen God’s blessing and Isaac’s birthright, we read of Jacob learning to be disciplined in seeking a closer relationship with God, even though he done an evil thing which brought about God’s blessing.

Well, in today’s devotional from workplace ministries, Os Hillman, wants us to see that God’s plan and His blessing on a servant’s life will play itself out in the life of the faithful. And Jacob’s story; and how God’s covenant plays out in his life, is a fascinating example of one staying patient and believing in God’s purpose and plan for the life of a true believer.

 Reading from the passage in Genesis 30, linked above, we see that Jacob patiently and purposefully lives and works for his uncle, Laban, for over 20 years; and Laban recognizes that the God of Abraham has blessed Laban’s flocks and his tribe because of Jacob’s presence there. So, Laban devises a way to keep Jacob around; but God has a different plan; and once again God uses Jacob’s fertile and conniving mind to come up with a clever (and really supernatural plan) to allow Jacob to become wealthy and independent and able to move on to carry out God’s plan for His people through Jacob.

And this story is a great example of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and to bless those who seek out and stay true to GOD’S promises and in HIS timing for helping us to move on to carry out GOD’S will for our lives. That’s the New Testament lesson from Hebrews 11: 6, which I’ve copied above for our edification. And when we use what God has given us in the way of providence, i.e., time, talents, and treasures, for His glory and not our own ways and purposes, God will bless our lives in ways we could never imagine.

So our lesson today – at least the one I’m getting from this devotional – is to seek GOD’S way and stay true to GOD’S will, especially as He directs us through HIS word; and when we do, God will show the way.

 It’s the message of another great old song, to which I link you here  – and I hope that hearing this song on You Tube will help you see that God has a purpose for our lives – HIS PURPOSE – and if we seek out that purpose, He will show the way for us to follow in our lives.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thank You for being my guide in life. … Amen