Daily Devotion, January 7, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Genesis 32:1-21.

This week, we have been looking back over the life of Jacob, one of the twins born to Rebekah and Isaac. All of his life, he was one who tried to change his circumstances, often in very manipulative ways. He caught his brother Esau in a moment of weakness and convinced his brother to give him his birthright. He conspired with his mother to trick his father into blessing him in the way that was supposed to go to the firstborn son. He received “some of his own medicine” when his uncle Laban tricked him into taking Laban’s oldest daughter as his wife. Then he and his uncle continued to deceive each other with their herds.

 

In this passage today, we see Jacob confronting a major crisis: he is about to meet his brother Esau and is assuming that Esau still wants to kill him. So he does what he has always done: he tries to manipulate the situation by appeasing his brother with gifts, hoping to thereby save his life.

Some people are good at manipulating other people and the situations they face in life for their benefit. At some point, that way of living life and relating to others often reaches a time of crisis; a time when change becomes necessary. This was that time for Jacob.

 

How about you? What ways of living life and relating to other people have become just a part of who you are, but are not in line with the way of Jesus Christ? Are you open to changing those ways? (Our journey with Jacob continues in our devotional reading tomorrow.)

Personal Worship Option:

Consider asking your spouse, your children or a close friend what one thing about you they would encourage you to change, so that you could live more in line with the way of Christ. Pray and ask God to help you make that change.