Prayer Journal

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

In Genesis we meet the twelve boys and one daughter (Dinah) born to Jacob by two wives, Rachel and Leah and two concubines, Bilhah and Ziilpah. While all his children were no doubt precious to him, the two youngest, Joseph and Benjamin were his favorite because he loved their mother more than anything. God told Jacob that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his descendants and today we see that it happened exactly as God said it would.

In Matthew we learn of another twelve men. These men were called both apostles and disciples. An apostle was someone who preached the good news, was trained for leadership by Jesus and an instrument of his authority.(Mark 3:14-15) A disciple, on the other hand, is someone disciplined to be like the one they follow and expected to teach others to do the same. If you're a Christian, you should thank God for these men, who blessed you through their personal sacrifice, made it possible for you to come to know Jesus.

What kind of leaders were the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve disciples? Jacob's sons would eventually become leaders of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but not before they flunked the course in godliness along the way. The twelve disciples would also be revered as someone taught personally by Jesus, but they too failed to follow their leader for three years. Only after the resurrection, did they assume their leadership role and do what Jesus expected them to do. But, they eventually passed the course however, even becoming a martyr - faithful to the end.

Today, you might feel as if you have flunked the course in being what God expects. Know this: Jacob's uncle, Laban didn't particularly care for his son-in-law, but he recognized God's blessing on him by just being around Jacob. In other words, Laban didn't want Jacob to leave because he had no righteousness on his own.

Maybe you feel the same way. You claim to be a believer but if the truth were known, the blessing you enjoy today actually comes because of God blessing on those around you.

Laban could have asked for God's blessing through his son in law, but he would have needed to lower his pride and ask. Such wisdom would have probably been rewarded. But instead, God had to separate them so that his blessing would follow the one he wanted to be notably more blessed than everyone else.

You see, Jacob's uncle wanted his treasure and his unearned blessing. Scripture says blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding, for in the end, that is more profitable than any treasure we possess. (Prov 3:13-15) Which would you rather have, treasure or wisdom?

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

1. Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Gn. 30 -31:16 Mt. 10:1-26 Ps. 12 Pr. 3:13-15 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2004 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved

Prayertower
Past Devotions
Pray4me
PrayerRm

I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers

* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself