Genesis 27-28, Matthew 8

Gen 27

Three things:

1.      The power of the spoken word. It’s just amazing to me that Isaac pronounced his blessing and that was it: it stuck. It stuck to a person that he had not intended it for, but once he said those words, he could not take them back. What we say is important and can be dangerous or can be life-changing in a positive way.

2.      The ugliness of deception and parental favoritism. I’m just aghast by the extent to which Rebekah was willing to go to deceive her husband - and by the fact that Jacob went along with it, without a guilty conscience.

3.      It’s confusing and I don’t fully ‘get’ it, but I guess, as TD Jakes says: ‘Favor ain’t fair!’ I realize God had ordained that Jacob would be more blessed than Esau etc., but the process that led to this word coming true confuses me. I feel sorry for Esau!

Gen 28

God is with me. I need to look for him, even in the most unlikely places. In a place with no shelter, when you have to use a stone for a pillow – a place of discomfort and inconvenience – God is there. As Jacob said: ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ I need to have a keener awareness of Your Presence, Lord. Jacob referred this ‘hard’ place as the house of God, the gate of heaven!

I’m doing this reading at the airport, sitting at my boarding gate. They’ve just announced that my flight has been delayed again – for a second time! Surely the Lord is in this place - this is the ‘gate’ of heaven! (Ha!)

Matthew 8

Jesus expected his disciples to be calm and fearless even though he hadn’t stopped the storm. In my storm of today, I trust you Lord. No panicking. I know you’ll come through.