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Today is Monday January 11, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the book of Genesis chapters 31-33. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-11

Whether we are following Christ or not, at times, it seems that we just face one obstacle after another, as soon as we overcome one struggle here comes another one. It can be very discouraging and fearful of what could happen next. The different between how most Christian's and the world handles these situations comes down to their faith in God. Yet still, once in a while, the obstacle outweighs the faith. Jacob, was a man that seemed to find one struggle after another, he was forced to leave home because his brother threatened his life, he was deceived by Laban as he served him to wed his daughter, Rachael, yet, through it all he remained faithful and managed to avoid conflict. However, Laban and his sons eventually became hostile and envious of Jacob's prosperity, they assumed that Jacob had employed unfair manipulation to gain their father's riches. Jacob foresaw the coming conflict and,in prayer, was told by God to head back home. “And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.” - Genesis 31:1-7. Without giving Laban any notice, Jacob departed, taking his family and livestock with him. We as Christian's are said to be the best workers on the planet and for that reason we often get deceived. It is important to know that even in the work that we do that God is with us and will direct our paths away from those who deceive us.

On their way back to the land of Canaan, Jacob discovered that his brother, Esau, was coming to meet him with 400 men. Fearing the worst, (seeing no visible hope of survival for himself and his family) he began praying to God. “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.” - Genesis 32:6-11. There is an old cliché that I have heard for years, “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Often, we become so overwhelmed with our fears that they prevent us from enjoying a happy and prosperous life. There comes a time when we just have to let go of those fears and beg God to help us get through them. When we go before God humbled and feeling despair that is when we feel closer to God than ever and that is truly when prayers are answered.

Still a little fearful, Jacob hastily divided his wives, children, and flocks into two groups, reasoning that if Esau should come upon one camp and destroy it, the remaining camp would escape in the opposite direction. Later that night, Jacob met an angel of God face to face, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” - Genesis 32:24-28. Jacob in a sense confronted and wrestled with his fears, he was not about to give up the fight. He did not let go until God blessed him. When God realized that Jacob was not giving up on Him and would not stop until He blessed him He, in fact, blessed him, changing his name to Israel, which means "Prince with God". Jacob is an example of just how often we have set our heart to do God's will only to discover how weak and insufficient we are to do it without Him. Through Jacob's life we see that God must train us in the school of difficulties and tragedies in order to develop and increase our faith in Him. We all need to be conscious of His presence and His assurance that He and only He is able to help us accomplish His will for our lives. “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” - Ephesians 3:19,20.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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