Standing Strong |
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Vayishlach— And He Sent
Genesis 32:4– 36:43 Hosea 11:17– 12:12 Mark 3:13– 19 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 |
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In this parasha Jacob is going to meet his brother Esau after years of being apart. Esau’s last words about Jacob were ones to do harm to him and Jacob has been out of the land for many years to avoid seeing his brother. Nonetheless, Jacob is following G-d’s leading and going to return to his land.
Along the way Jacob decides to send messengers to let Esau know he is coming and sends offerings of peace in hope of finding favor in Esau’s sight. When the messengers return they tell of Esau coming forward along with 400 men. Jacob reacts in fear of his brother and goes to great lengths to try to avoid his brother “wiping him out.” When they met, his brother ran to him and wept tears of joy as he kissed his returning brother Jacob. The night before this meeting Jacob wrestled with G-d and would not release Him until Jacob had His blessing.
What a study in human nature. We follow G-d’s way until we get a report from man that things might not be as G-d said. In our own reasoning we go about trying to find ways to make it work, often forgetting the promise of G-d. And when the time comes all our efforts were in vain because G-d had the whole thing under control.
I admit that many of us feel we do not hear from G-d clearly enough to know what we are to do. Some of us have had the great and wonderful experience of hearing from G-d with such clarity that there is no doubt what we are to do. But we all do hear from Him on many items of which He is very clear. His commandments are given to us without any doubt of what we are to do. But I often hear people saying there is fear of what others will say, fear that the outcome will not be what is desired, fear of “disaster”; but when all is said and done, if we do as G-d commands, we will find that things to work for good to all who love the L-rd. And how do we know if we love Him? “If you love Me you will keep my commandments.”
Selah. |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |