imastartu
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Posts posted by imastartu
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In gathering my thoughts for this question, I googled the word 'holy'. To my surprise, one of the definitions of the word is 'similar'. God has claimed me as His own, declared me blameless THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, and now I am consecrated to Him, I am sinless, and I am similar. I am like my Father. Washed clean and loved. Wow. I am like my Father.
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Just the word predestination brings to mind things like "I can't control it', 'I can't change it', It's fate, Its in the cards, the hand has been dealt, if everything is predestined, why even try?? But just add the word LOVE. In LOVE God chose us. He has a plan and we are in it. Rather than fear predestination, we can rest in it, secure in the knowledge that the God of love is in control.
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To be in Christ means to me that He and I are spiritually joined. It means that I walk and talk with him and seek his guidance in everything I do. It means that I seek company with others who believe as I do and avoid close contact with those who eschew Christ, His salvation and his teachings. It means to be free.
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Negative lesson: The wages of sin is death. Spiritual death has permeated David's reign and family. Although God forgives sin, there are consequences to sin. Something for us to consider when we decide to sin.
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Your reply helped me very much. I am going through a looong spiritual battle at work and I needed to hear that I once again have to rely on my God to work things out. It feels like a physical battle and I need the legions of angels to go before me, and to surround me n, s, e, w --and top and bottom, too!
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I think Jacob was demonstrating the very human struggle to cling to God's promises even as swells of fear seem to threaten to wash them away. I've learned that one of the best weapons against fear is to speak God's own Words into my hearing and over my circumstances. To me, that's what Jacob was doing. He'd heard Yahweh's promises and confirmations of protection. He'd seen the angel army encamped nearby. In his head and with his heart, he knew the truth and believed God. But the emotion of the fear he felt was attempting to override what he knew.
Jacob's prayer showed he had grown to personally trust the God of his ancestors. He was humble, not claiming any worthiness of all that the LORD had done for him. He was grateful, fully aware that the fortunes he now possessed were completely the result of God's goodness. He was dependent, knowing it was God's protection that would deliver him from any retribution from Esau. He was submitted, no longer taking things into his own hands with schemes and deceptions. Jacob's faith was maturing and he was learning that you must stand firm on what you know is true in order to defeat what you feel might be true.
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Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) 1. Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob
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Dear Friend,
Welcome to the online Bible study forum for the Life of Jacob Bible study.
It's exciting to meet other people who are involved in this Bible study. Why don't you check in and share a bit about yourself, and what state and country you are from. Please do NOT include your e-mail address. Be discrete about sharing private things about yourself.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Ralph
Blessings to all. My name is Elizabeth. I've lived in Miami for over 40 years--raised Catholic, but born again about 30 years ago I joined the study to deepen my walk with God by seeing and applying the Word.
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Q6. Extra Credit. Whose character flaws most remind you of your own? Isaac's, Rebekah's, Esau's, or Jacob's? Why? How is God working to improve your character?
I would have to say I am most like Isaac. I tend to stay in the background, but I don't have blindness or infirmity as an excuse! When I finally decide to speak out, it sometimes comes out too rough. God is working with me to learn to speak out choosing my words, and to clear up misunderstandings before they escalate.
Honestly, though, I have elements of all 4 characters in my make-up. (I was once asked to recite the 7 deadly sins and the moderator said, "She knew them all!" I replied, "That's because I HAVE them all!" God's not done with me yet.
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Q5. (Genesis 25:28) What happens when your children sense that you love one child more than another? Did such discrimination happen to you when you were growing up? If so, how are you finding healing? How can we as parents love our children equally but differently?
My parents had 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls)--two of whom were named for my father's parents and two of whom were named for my mother's parents.We became known as "YOUR son" and "YOUR daughter". To make it worse, my sister was very pretty and I was not. I did not resent my siblings for the obvious favoritism, but I did resent my mother and wondered what I had done to make her not love me (as much). As a result, I grew up craving recognition and doubting my worth. I know intellectually that Jesus loves me, but it remains a struggle at times to feel worthwhile. It is a lifelong process.
I also had two girls, one much prettier as a child. They are both striking women now, and both successful in their fields, but the elder (who had to listen to others constantly comment on her pretty sister) suffers in much the same way as I. I would say to spend quality time with each child and comment on and praise their distinct qualities and gifts.
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Maybe Isaac didn't reverse the blessing of Abraham because he didn't bestow the blessing of Abraham. He bestowed A blessing upon Jacob (of whom he was suspicious), but it was a blessing of fatness of earth, dew of heaven, corn, wine, servants and dominion--but it was not the Blessing of Abraham. Then he blessed Esau with A blessing--of fatness, dew, live by sword, serve brother--and it too, was not the Blessing of Abraham. It was not until Isaac sent Jacob to Pandaran that he said specifically said THE blessing, ..."And give thee the blessing of Abraham to thee, and to thy seed with thee...(Gen 28; 3 &4). The blessing that God gave to Abraham promised an everlasting covenant between Abraham & and his seed to be their God, and to possess the land (Canaan) forever. And much more (Gen 17). None of this was present in the two prior blessings. Isaac gave The Blessing of Abraham to the right son--maybe he wasn't as old, blind, feeble and ineffective as we thought!
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Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception?
Rebekah was in a tough spot. The Lord spoke to her concerning the blessing and Jacob
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Oh, wow. Esau doesn't impress me as being a scriptural scholar--nor am I. He was hungry--and he didn't recognize the value of what he was trading. The fault seems more in the unity of his parents to convey the implications of the Blessing. It appears that Isaac and Rebekah did not constitute what we recognize as a nuclear family. Rather, they played games with 'your son' and 'my son'. That attitude prevails today. So much deception--with one spouse undermining the other. I see two children hurt by the failings of their parents.
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The New Testament condemn's Esau's love for earthly pleasures. The author of Hebrews is showing what can happen when one gets too attached to their worldly goods; that one bad choice in a moment of weakness can throw it all away.
Esau's selling of his birthright... being of a spiritual nature, his undervaluing it, was the greatest profaneness imaginable. It is egregious folly to part with our interest in God, and Christ, and heaven, for the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world.
- Gen 25:31
This transaction tells us that Esau didn't value his faith or relationship with God and that he was thinking more of his own immediate desires. It shows us that Jacob is very shrewd but also very intelligent. To gain his brothers' first-born inheritance rights would help to ensure that he would fulfill the prophesy that God had given Rebakah when she was pregnant, and had certainly told Jacob about numerous times.
Q4. Adoption
in 1. 1 Spiritual Blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-6)
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Adopti on is encouraging to me because now I have claim to all that God has. Every day I am both amazed and grateful that my plate is filled to overflowing, my bills are paid, there is a roof over my head. Moreover, there is peace in my heart. I sleep the sleep of the righteous.. My Father chose me, adopted me and showers me with blessings.