Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17

Lessons learned today

Gen 25
Waiting. Rebekah had children 26 years after she got married.

Human appetites often exaggerate themselves. Being a ‘foodie’ myself, I can imagine how Esau felt after hours of hunting. But no matter how hungry he was, there’s no way he would have died from being without food for less than a day. Appetites are deceptive. The truth is, he could’ve had some water and stabilized himself enough to wait for a meal. Under pressure, our view tends to be distorted. It always pays to calm down and wait a little while, especially when we’re being tempted to do what we know we shouldn’t.

Gen 26
When things get tough, relocation isn’t always the solution. Pray about things before making a major move. The chaos might be part of God’s plan and process.

My obedience to God isn’t just about me. It could also result in blessings for my children.

Interesting to see the similar patterns in Abraham and Isaac’s lives. Both decided to pass their wives off as their sisters. But it might also simply have been a reflection of the times. It seems violence against men (in a bid to possess a woman) was commonplace. Also, unmarried women clearly had no right to say ‘no’ to a man, so perhaps couples had to plan in this way for these eventualities.

Again, Abimelek reminds us of the dire consequences of tampering with a marriage covenant by sleeping with someone else’s spouse.

When God blesses you, your fruitfulness should be obvious.

With blessings come challenges. Can you stand to be blessed? The envy of others can be aroused by your blessedness. Blessing blockers! Blocking up the poor man’s wells. But each time a well was blocked, Isaac and his team moved on and dig another one, until they were tired of bugging him. Then he proclaimed that the Lord had given him room, and he would flourish. The lesson here: in the face of challenges, try, try, try again! Don’t give up. You get to your Rehoboth by keeping on, moving ahead, trying again, digging your way through, doing the hard labor, renewing your strength, not losing focus and wasting time bickering with enemies - not by giving up! And he said the Lord had given him room. But the Lord didn’t do it without Isaac’s effort. Boom!! Don’t give up. And only AFTER all that digging without giving up did God appear and encourage him - not DURING the process.

Vs 34-35: wives who were a source of grief to their in-laws ... hm ...

Matt 8:1-17
The importance of testimonies: ‘go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’

The Word of God is enough. ‘Only say the Word.’ ‘He drive out the spirits with a Word and healed all the sick.’ The Word is all we need. Even if Jesus (or someone else) doesn’t come to my house, doesn’t lay hands, no one prays, etc. - the Word is sufficient. Help me to read it, engraftment it in my heart, believe it, and obey it, Lord.

‘I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith ... Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. And his servant was healed at that moment.’