Day 22 of the 2nd Bible Study Journey - 22 Jan 2022 reflections
Day 22, 22 Jan 2022
Gen 30 - 31
GENESIS 30
1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous
of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."
2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said,
" Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? "
3 Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah. Have relations with her so that she may bear a child on my knees, so that I may also have children through her."
4 So she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as a wife, and Jacob had relations
with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and gave Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, "God has
vindicated me, and He has also heard my voice and has given me a son."
Therefore she called his name Dan.
7 Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again and gave Jacob a second son.
8 Then Rachel said, "With great wrestling have I wrestled with my sister,
and I have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children,
she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
10 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said,
"How fortunate!" So she called his name Gad.
12 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a second son.
13 Then Leah said, "Happy am I, for women will call me happy."
So she called his name Asher.
14 At the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben went and found mandrakes
in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
15 Leah said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband?
Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?"
So Rachel said, "All right, he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your
son's mandrakes."
16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him
and said, "You must sleep with me, because I have paid for you
with my son's mandrakes."
And he slept with her that night.
17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave Jacob a fifth son.
18 Leah said, "God has given me my reward because I have given my maid to
my husband." So she called his name Issachar.
19 Leah conceived again and gave Jacob a sixth son.
20 Leah said, "God has given me a good gift.
Now my husband will dwell with me, because I have given him six sons."
So she called his name Zebulun.
21 Afterwards she gave birth to a daughter and called her name Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
23 She conceived and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my
reproach."
24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, "The Lord will add to me another
son."
Jacob's Agreement With Laban
25 When Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban,
"Send me away, so that I may go to my own place, to my country.
26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you,
and let me go. For you know the service that I have given you."
27 Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay.
For I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me
on account of you." 28 He said, "Name me your wages, and I will give it."
29 Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your livestock
have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came,
and it is now increased to a multitude. The Lord has blessed you since I came,
and now when may I also provide for my own house?"
31 Laban said, "What may I give you?"
And Jacob said, "You may not give me anything, but if you will do
this one thing for me, I will continue to feed and keep your flock.
32 I will pass through all your flock today,
removing from it all the speckled and spotted sheep,
and every brown sheep from among the lambs,
and the spotted and speckled among the goats.
These shall be my wages.
33 So my integrity will answer for me in time to come.
When you come to examine my wages,
every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats,
and brown among the sheep that are with me will be considered stolen."
34 Laban said, "Agreed. Let it be according to your word."
35 He removed that day the male goats that were striped
and spotted and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted,
every one that had some white in it,
and all the brown ones among the sheep,
and gave them into the care of his sons.
36 He put three days' journey between himself and Jacob,
and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37 Then Jacob took rods of fresh-cut poplar, almond, and plane trees,
and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white which was in the rods.
38 He set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the troughs,
that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink, so that they
would mate when they came to drink. 39 The flocks mated before the rods
and gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.
40 Jacob separated the lambs and made the flocks face toward the striped
and all the brown in the flock of Laban. He put his own flocks by themselves
and did not put them with Laban's sheep.
41 Whenever the stronger sheep
mated, Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the sheep in the troughs,
so that they might mate among the rods.
42 But when the livestock
were feeble, he did not put them in. So the weaker were Laban's
and the stronger Jacob's.
43 The man became exceedingly prosperous
and had many sheep and female servants and male servants
and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 30
[1] And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her
sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
[2] And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's
stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
[3] And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear
upon my knees that I may also have children by her.
[4] And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto
her.
[5] And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
[6] And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and
hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
[7] And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
[8] And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
[9] When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and
gave her Jacob to wife.
[10] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
[11] And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
[12] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
[13] And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and
she called his name Asher.
[14] And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in
the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
[15] And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my
husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel
said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
[16] And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to
meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee
with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
[17] And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the
fifth son.
[18] And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my
maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
[19] And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
[20] And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my
husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his
name Zebulun.
[21] And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
[22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her
womb.
[23] And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my
reproach:
[24] And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me
another son.
[25] And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto
Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
[26] Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let
me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
[27] And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine
eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me
for thy sake.
[28] And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
[29] And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy
cattle was with me.
[30] For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now
increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming:
and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
[31] And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not
give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and
keep thy flock:
[32] I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and
the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
[33] So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall
come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted
among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen
with me.
[34] And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
[35] And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted,
and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had
some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the
hand of his sons.
[36] And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed
the rest of Laban's flocks.
[37] And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut
tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was
in the rods.
[38] And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the
gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they
should conceive when they came to drink.
[39] And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle
ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
[40] And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks
toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put
his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
[41] And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that
Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they
might conceive among the rods.
[42] But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler
were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
[43] And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and
maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
GENESIS 31
Jacob Flees From Laban
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away
all that was our father's, and he has gotten all his wealth from what was our
father's." 2 Jacob saw the look of Laban and saw he was not congenial toward
him as before.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers,
to your family, and I will be with you."
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was,
5 and said to them, "I see your father's demeanor, that it is not congenial
toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know
that with all my strength I have served your father. 7 Your father has
deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to
hurt me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock
produced speckled. If he said, 'The striped will be your pay,'
then all the flock produced striped. 9 In this way God has taken away
your father's flock and given them to me.
10 "When the livestock conceived, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream
that the male goats mating with the flock were striped, speckled,
and spotted. 11 The angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying,
'Jacob.' And I said, 'Here I am.' 12 He said, 'Now lift up your eyes
and see all the male goats which mate with the flock are striped,
speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, where you
vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, and get out of this land,
and return to the land of your family.' "
14 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance
left for us in our father's house? 15 Are we not seen by him as foreigners?
For he has sold us and has completely spent our money also.
16 For all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours
and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it."
17 Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives on camels.
18 Then he carried away all his livestock and all his goods which he had
obtained, his acquired livestock which he had gotten in Paddan Aram, in order
to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols
that were her father's. 20 Jacob also deceived Laban the Syrian by not
telling him that he was fleeing. 21 So Jacob fled with all that he had,
and he rose up and passed over the river and headed toward
the mountains of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his kinsmen
with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the
mountains of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night
and said to him, "Take care that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain,
and Laban with his kinsmen pitched in the mountains of Gilead. 26 Laban said
to Jacob, "What have you done that you have stolen away without my knowing
and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did
you flee away secretly and sneak away from me and not tell me? I would have
sent you away with joy and with songs, with the tambourine and harp. 28 And
why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? You have
acted foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God
of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take care that you not speak
to Jacob either good or bad.' 30 Now you surely have gone away because
you longed desperately after your father's house,
yet why have you stolen my gods?"
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid,
for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 But anyone with whom you find your gods, let him not live.
In the presence of our kinsmen, point out what I have that is yours
and take it." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent
and into the two female servants' tents, but he did not find them.
Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered into Rachel's tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's
saddle and sat on them. Laban searched the entire tent,
but could not find them.
35 She said to her father, "Let not my lord be displeased that I cannot rise
before you, for the manner of women is on me." So he searched, but he did
not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. And Jacob asked Laban,
"What is my offense? What is my sin that you have so hotly pursued after me?
37 You have searched all my things, and yet what have you found of all
your household things? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen,
so that they may judge between us both.
38 "This twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats
have not miscarried their young, and the male goats of your flock
I have not eaten. 39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you.
I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand whether it was stolen
by day or stolen by night. 40 It was like this with me: In the day the heat
consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
41 I have been twenty years in your house. I served you fourteen years
for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed
my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham
and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely you would have sent me
away empty now. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands
and rebuked you last night."
Laban's Covenant With Jacob
43 Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters,
and these children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks,
and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to my daughters
or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore come, let us
make a covenant, you and I, and let it be as a witness between you and me."
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his kinsmen,
"Gather stones." So they took stones and made a pile, and they ate there
on the pile. 47 And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, "This pile is a witness between me and you this day."
Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said,
"May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are apart from one another.
50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take other wives
beside my daughters, although no one else is with us, remember that God
is witness between you and me."
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, "See this pile and see this pillar which
I have thrown between you and me.
52 This heap is a witness,
and this pillar is a witness, so that I will not cross over this pile
to you and so that you will not pass over this pile and this pillar
to me for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor,
and the God of their father, judge between us."
Then Jacob vowed by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered
a sacrifice on the mountain and called his kinsmen to eat bread.
And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55 Early in the morning Laban rose up, kissed his grandchildren
and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed
and returned to his place.
Genesis 31
[1] 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.
[2] And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not
toward him as before.
[3] And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and
to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
[4] And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
[5] 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.
[6] And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
[7] And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but
God suffered him not to hurt me.
[8] If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle
bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then
bare all the cattle ringstraked.
[9] Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to
me.
[10] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I
lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped
upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
[11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I
said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap
upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all
that Laban doeth unto thee.
[13] I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where
thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and
return unto the land of thy kindred.
[14] And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any
portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
[15] Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath
quite devoured also our money.
[16] For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours,
and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
[17] Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
[18] And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had
gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to
go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
[19] And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images
that were her father's.
[20] And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him
not that he fled.
[21] So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the
river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
[22] And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
[23] And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days'
journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
[24] And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto
him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
[25] Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount:
and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
[26] And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen
away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with
the sword?
[27] Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and
didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with
songs, with tabret, and with harp?
[28] And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast
now done foolishly in so doing.
[29] It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your
father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not
to Jacob either good or bad.
[30] And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst
after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
[31] And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said,
Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
[32] With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our
brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob
knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
[33] And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the
two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's
tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
[34] Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture,
and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
[35] And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot
rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched,
but found not the images.
[36] And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said
to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly
pursued after me?
[37] Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all
thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that
they may judge betwixt us both.
[38] This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats
have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
[39] That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss
of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by
night.
[40] Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night;
and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
[41] Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen
years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast
changed my wages ten times.
[42] Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac,
had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen
mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
[43] And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my
daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my
cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto
these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
[44] Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it
be for a witness between me and thee.
[45] And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
[46] And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones,
and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
[47] And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
[48] And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.
Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
[49] And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we
are absent one from another.
[50] If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives
beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and
thee.
[51] And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar,
which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
[52] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass
over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this
pillar unto me, for harm.
[53] The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father,
judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
[54] Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to
eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
[55] And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his
place.
2) Our Daily Bread for 22 January 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/01/22/still-seeking
entitled Hiding from God
Genesis 3:1-10
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman,
"Has God said, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?"
2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit from the trees
of the garden; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God has said, 'You will not eat of it, nor will you touch it, or else
you will die.'?"
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
5 For God knows that on the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to
the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit
and ate; and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.
So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool
of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence
of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 The Lord God called to the
man and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard Your voice in the garden and was afraid because I
was naked, so I hid myself."
[1] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall
not eat of every tree of the garden?
[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the
trees of the garden:
[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God
hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
[4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
[5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and
he did eat.
[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
[8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of
the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
[9] And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
[10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because
I was naked; and I hid myself.
I squeezed my eyes shut and started counting aloud. My fellow third-grade
classmates tore out of the room to find a place to hide. After scouring every
cabinet, trunk, and closet for what felt like hours, I still couldn't find one
of my friends. I felt ridiculous when she finally jumped out from behind a
lacey, potted fern hanging from the ceiling. Only her head had been eclipsed
by the plant-the rest of her body had been in plain sight the entire time!
Since God is all-knowing, when Adam and Eve "hid from [Him]" (Genesis 3:8) in
the garden of Eden, they were always in "plain sight." But they weren't playing
any childhood game; they were experiencing the sudden awareness-and shame-of
their wrongdoing, having eaten from the tree God told them not to eat from.
Adam and Eve turned from God and His loving provision when they disobeyed His
instructions. Instead of withdrawing from them in anger, however, He sought them
out, asking, "Where are you?" (v. 9). It's not that He didn't know where they
were, but He wanted them to know His compassionate concern for them.
I couldn’t see my friend hiding, but God always sees us and knows us-to Him we're
always in plain sight. Just as He pursued Adam and Eve, Jesus sought us out while
we were "still sinners"-dying on the cross to demonstrate His love for us (Romans
5:8). We no longer need to hide.
By: Kirsten Holmberg
Reflect & Pray
When have you tried to "hide" from God? How has He sought you out?
Father God, thank You for demonstrating Your love
and care for me despite the ways I wrong You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 7 - Oh, Freedom!
Rom 8:1-2
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
The Spirit of God Within You
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
In the classic movie, I want to live! actress Susan Hayward
plays a woman convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed.
The suspence builds; the execution is delayed as the officials
wait for a word of pardon. Finally, the woman in executed;
the call comes, and the pardon has been granted, but it is too late.
When no pardon is granted, condemnation leads to death. Our sin
marks us as "guilty" before God, and we deserve the wages of sin,
which is death. But in Jesus Christ, the pardon does come - and
it comes in time. Our sin deserves condemnation by God, and yet
he forgives us because Christ paid the penalty for us,
But we face other kinds of condemnation as well - self-condemnation,
that internal accusation that we still, somehow, must pay the price
of our own sin. Others often condemn us as well, offering much less
forgiveness and mercy than God does. And the Enemy of our souls condemns
us, trying to convince us that we don't, after all, have real freedom
from sin.
Yet Paul tells us in Romans 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus". God has forgiven us freely; he has
granted his pardon. And in light of his forgiveness, how can we live
under the condemnation of others - or even of ourselves?
We are free, Paul says - free from the "law of sin and death,"
free to live in the liberty of the Spirit. The stay of execution
has come: the pardon has been granted. Never again can we tried
for the same crimes: never again must we live under the burden
of condemnation.
Application
a) Have I ever lived under the burden of condemnation from myself
or others? Why?
b) How can Romans 8:1-2 help me live in freedom of such condemnation?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 28:11
11 (Dt 28:4; 30:9) The Lord will make you overflow in prosperity,
in the offspring of your body, in the offspring of your livestock,
and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore
to your fathers to give you.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body,
and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land
which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
1 John 4:16b-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 (1Jn 2:5; 2:28) In this way God's love is perfected in us,
so that we may have boldness on the Day of Judgment, because as He is,
so are we in this world.
18 (Ro 8:15; 2Ti 1:7) There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Whoever fears is not perfect in love.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
22 Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Province of Quebec
I) Pray for the leaders of Quebec,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
b) Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.
(
2 Cor 10: 3 - 5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
)
Day 20 of 21
MAKE IT A HABIT
Psalm 35:13
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returns to my own heart.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth:
I humbled my soul with fasting;
And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Matthew 6:17-18
17 (Ru 3:3) But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 (Mt 6:4; 6:6) so that you will not appear to men to be fasting,
but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 that thou appear not unto men to fast,
but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly.
Joel 1:14
14 (Joel 2:15-16; Jnh 3:8) Consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly,
assemble the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God,
and cry unto the LORD,
DEVOTION:
Now that we are near the end of our 21 day fast, it is time to put into
practice what we have learned and to continue with these practices.
A few things to remember; after Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights,
it was the devil that greeted him first, and then tempted him.
Don't be fearful or worry if you experience push-back or temptation
after the completion of this very powerful,
spiritual exercise of 21 days of fasting and prayer.
Don't forget that Jesus overcame it. Relax.
Don't let the devil distract you from your focus, Jesus Christ.
The enemy's ultimate game plan is to distract you so that you do not grow
in your relationship with Jesus. He may try to magnify any problems you
have, or create new ones, or situations that are not in line with your
prayers. His plan is to get you to begin to doubt that God is with you.
He wants you to think that there is no victory in Christ. But that’s a lie.
REFLECTION:
Keep focus, don’t get distracted and relax.
PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you continue to give me strength over these next days
and weeks. Help me keep my focus on you and you alone. I pray that I will
not become distracted by the lies and schemes of the enemy. Help me keep
my faith. Help me to remember there have been victories and there will be
more in you.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Pray to seek the Lord's wisdom even in Time of threat.
Pray to the Lord
"Father God, thank You for demonstrating Your love
and care for me despite the ways I wrong You."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for there is no condemnation in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be obedient in His will.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that He is love.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.
Pray that Christians in Cameroon will love one another
so Christ will be.
Father, I pray that you continue to give me strength over these next days
and weeks. Help me keep my focus on you and you alone. I pray that I will
not become distracted by the lies and schemes of the enemy. Help me keep
my faith. Help me to remember there have been victories and there will be
more in you.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
Gen 30 - 31
GENESIS 30
1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous
of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."
2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said,
" Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? "
3 Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah. Have relations with her so that she may bear a child on my knees, so that I may also have children through her."
4 So she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as a wife, and Jacob had relations
with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and gave Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, "God has
vindicated me, and He has also heard my voice and has given me a son."
Therefore she called his name Dan.
7 Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again and gave Jacob a second son.
8 Then Rachel said, "With great wrestling have I wrestled with my sister,
and I have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children,
she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
10 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said,
"How fortunate!" So she called his name Gad.
12 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a second son.
13 Then Leah said, "Happy am I, for women will call me happy."
So she called his name Asher.
14 At the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben went and found mandrakes
in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
15 Leah said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband?
Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?"
So Rachel said, "All right, he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your
son's mandrakes."
16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him
and said, "You must sleep with me, because I have paid for you
with my son's mandrakes."
And he slept with her that night.
17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave Jacob a fifth son.
18 Leah said, "God has given me my reward because I have given my maid to
my husband." So she called his name Issachar.
19 Leah conceived again and gave Jacob a sixth son.
20 Leah said, "God has given me a good gift.
Now my husband will dwell with me, because I have given him six sons."
So she called his name Zebulun.
21 Afterwards she gave birth to a daughter and called her name Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
23 She conceived and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my
reproach."
24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, "The Lord will add to me another
son."
Jacob's Agreement With Laban
25 When Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban,
"Send me away, so that I may go to my own place, to my country.
26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you,
and let me go. For you know the service that I have given you."
27 Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay.
For I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me
on account of you." 28 He said, "Name me your wages, and I will give it."
29 Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your livestock
have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came,
and it is now increased to a multitude. The Lord has blessed you since I came,
and now when may I also provide for my own house?"
31 Laban said, "What may I give you?"
And Jacob said, "You may not give me anything, but if you will do
this one thing for me, I will continue to feed and keep your flock.
32 I will pass through all your flock today,
removing from it all the speckled and spotted sheep,
and every brown sheep from among the lambs,
and the spotted and speckled among the goats.
These shall be my wages.
33 So my integrity will answer for me in time to come.
When you come to examine my wages,
every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats,
and brown among the sheep that are with me will be considered stolen."
34 Laban said, "Agreed. Let it be according to your word."
35 He removed that day the male goats that were striped
and spotted and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted,
every one that had some white in it,
and all the brown ones among the sheep,
and gave them into the care of his sons.
36 He put three days' journey between himself and Jacob,
and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37 Then Jacob took rods of fresh-cut poplar, almond, and plane trees,
and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white which was in the rods.
38 He set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the troughs,
that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink, so that they
would mate when they came to drink. 39 The flocks mated before the rods
and gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.
40 Jacob separated the lambs and made the flocks face toward the striped
and all the brown in the flock of Laban. He put his own flocks by themselves
and did not put them with Laban's sheep.
41 Whenever the stronger sheep
mated, Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the sheep in the troughs,
so that they might mate among the rods.
42 But when the livestock
were feeble, he did not put them in. So the weaker were Laban's
and the stronger Jacob's.
43 The man became exceedingly prosperous
and had many sheep and female servants and male servants
and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 30
[1] And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her
sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
[2] And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's
stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
[3] And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear
upon my knees that I may also have children by her.
[4] And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto
her.
[5] And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
[6] And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and
hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
[7] And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
[8] And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
[9] When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and
gave her Jacob to wife.
[10] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
[11] And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
[12] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
[13] And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and
she called his name Asher.
[14] And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in
the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
[15] And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my
husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel
said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
[16] And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to
meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee
with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
[17] And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the
fifth son.
[18] And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my
maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
[19] And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
[20] And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my
husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his
name Zebulun.
[21] And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
[22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her
womb.
[23] And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my
reproach:
[24] And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me
another son.
[25] And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto
Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
[26] Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let
me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
[27] And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine
eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me
for thy sake.
[28] And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
[29] And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy
cattle was with me.
[30] For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now
increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming:
and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
[31] And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not
give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and
keep thy flock:
[32] I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and
the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
[33] So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall
come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted
among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen
with me.
[34] And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
[35] And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted,
and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had
some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the
hand of his sons.
[36] And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed
the rest of Laban's flocks.
[37] And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut
tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was
in the rods.
[38] And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the
gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they
should conceive when they came to drink.
[39] And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle
ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
[40] And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks
toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put
his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
[41] And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that
Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they
might conceive among the rods.
[42] But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler
were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
[43] And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and
maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
GENESIS 31
Jacob Flees From Laban
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away
all that was our father's, and he has gotten all his wealth from what was our
father's." 2 Jacob saw the look of Laban and saw he was not congenial toward
him as before.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers,
to your family, and I will be with you."
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was,
5 and said to them, "I see your father's demeanor, that it is not congenial
toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know
that with all my strength I have served your father. 7 Your father has
deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to
hurt me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock
produced speckled. If he said, 'The striped will be your pay,'
then all the flock produced striped. 9 In this way God has taken away
your father's flock and given them to me.
10 "When the livestock conceived, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream
that the male goats mating with the flock were striped, speckled,
and spotted. 11 The angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying,
'Jacob.' And I said, 'Here I am.' 12 He said, 'Now lift up your eyes
and see all the male goats which mate with the flock are striped,
speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, where you
vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, and get out of this land,
and return to the land of your family.' "
14 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance
left for us in our father's house? 15 Are we not seen by him as foreigners?
For he has sold us and has completely spent our money also.
16 For all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours
and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it."
17 Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives on camels.
18 Then he carried away all his livestock and all his goods which he had
obtained, his acquired livestock which he had gotten in Paddan Aram, in order
to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols
that were her father's. 20 Jacob also deceived Laban the Syrian by not
telling him that he was fleeing. 21 So Jacob fled with all that he had,
and he rose up and passed over the river and headed toward
the mountains of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his kinsmen
with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the
mountains of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night
and said to him, "Take care that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain,
and Laban with his kinsmen pitched in the mountains of Gilead. 26 Laban said
to Jacob, "What have you done that you have stolen away without my knowing
and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did
you flee away secretly and sneak away from me and not tell me? I would have
sent you away with joy and with songs, with the tambourine and harp. 28 And
why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? You have
acted foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God
of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take care that you not speak
to Jacob either good or bad.' 30 Now you surely have gone away because
you longed desperately after your father's house,
yet why have you stolen my gods?"
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid,
for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.
32 But anyone with whom you find your gods, let him not live.
In the presence of our kinsmen, point out what I have that is yours
and take it." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent
and into the two female servants' tents, but he did not find them.
Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered into Rachel's tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's
saddle and sat on them. Laban searched the entire tent,
but could not find them.
35 She said to her father, "Let not my lord be displeased that I cannot rise
before you, for the manner of women is on me." So he searched, but he did
not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. And Jacob asked Laban,
"What is my offense? What is my sin that you have so hotly pursued after me?
37 You have searched all my things, and yet what have you found of all
your household things? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen,
so that they may judge between us both.
38 "This twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats
have not miscarried their young, and the male goats of your flock
I have not eaten. 39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you.
I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand whether it was stolen
by day or stolen by night. 40 It was like this with me: In the day the heat
consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
41 I have been twenty years in your house. I served you fourteen years
for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed
my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham
and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely you would have sent me
away empty now. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands
and rebuked you last night."
Laban's Covenant With Jacob
43 Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters,
and these children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks,
and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to my daughters
or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore come, let us
make a covenant, you and I, and let it be as a witness between you and me."
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his kinsmen,
"Gather stones." So they took stones and made a pile, and they ate there
on the pile. 47 And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, "This pile is a witness between me and you this day."
Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said,
"May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are apart from one another.
50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take other wives
beside my daughters, although no one else is with us, remember that God
is witness between you and me."
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, "See this pile and see this pillar which
I have thrown between you and me.
52 This heap is a witness,
and this pillar is a witness, so that I will not cross over this pile
to you and so that you will not pass over this pile and this pillar
to me for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor,
and the God of their father, judge between us."
Then Jacob vowed by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered
a sacrifice on the mountain and called his kinsmen to eat bread.
And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55 Early in the morning Laban rose up, kissed his grandchildren
and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed
and returned to his place.
Genesis 31
[1] 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.
[2] And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not
toward him as before.
[3] And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and
to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
[4] And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
[5] 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.
[6] And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
[7] And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but
God suffered him not to hurt me.
[8] If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle
bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then
bare all the cattle ringstraked.
[9] Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to
me.
[10] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I
lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped
upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
[11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I
said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap
upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all
that Laban doeth unto thee.
[13] I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where
thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and
return unto the land of thy kindred.
[14] And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any
portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
[15] Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath
quite devoured also our money.
[16] For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours,
and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
[17] Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
[18] And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had
gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to
go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
[19] And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images
that were her father's.
[20] And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him
not that he fled.
[21] So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the
river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
[22] And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
[23] And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days'
journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
[24] And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto
him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
[25] Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount:
and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
[26] And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen
away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with
the sword?
[27] Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and
didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with
songs, with tabret, and with harp?
[28] And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast
now done foolishly in so doing.
[29] It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your
father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not
to Jacob either good or bad.
[30] And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst
after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
[31] And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said,
Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
[32] With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our
brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob
knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
[33] And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the
two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's
tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
[34] Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture,
and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
[35] And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot
rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched,
but found not the images.
[36] And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said
to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly
pursued after me?
[37] Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all
thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that
they may judge betwixt us both.
[38] This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats
have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
[39] That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss
of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by
night.
[40] Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night;
and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
[41] Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen
years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast
changed my wages ten times.
[42] Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac,
had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen
mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
[43] And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my
daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my
cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto
these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
[44] Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it
be for a witness between me and thee.
[45] And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
[46] And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones,
and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
[47] And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
[48] And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.
Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
[49] And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we
are absent one from another.
[50] If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives
beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and
thee.
[51] And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar,
which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
[52] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass
over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this
pillar unto me, for harm.
[53] The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father,
judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
[54] Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to
eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
[55] And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his
place.
2) Our Daily Bread for 22 January 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/01/22/still-seeking
entitled Hiding from God
Genesis 3:1-10
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman,
"Has God said, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?"
2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit from the trees
of the garden; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God has said, 'You will not eat of it, nor will you touch it, or else
you will die.'?"
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
5 For God knows that on the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to
the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit
and ate; and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.
So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool
of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence
of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 The Lord God called to the
man and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard Your voice in the garden and was afraid because I
was naked, so I hid myself."
[1] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall
not eat of every tree of the garden?
[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the
trees of the garden:
[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God
hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
[4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
[5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and
he did eat.
[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
[8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of
the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
[9] And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
[10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because
I was naked; and I hid myself.
I squeezed my eyes shut and started counting aloud. My fellow third-grade
classmates tore out of the room to find a place to hide. After scouring every
cabinet, trunk, and closet for what felt like hours, I still couldn't find one
of my friends. I felt ridiculous when she finally jumped out from behind a
lacey, potted fern hanging from the ceiling. Only her head had been eclipsed
by the plant-the rest of her body had been in plain sight the entire time!
Since God is all-knowing, when Adam and Eve "hid from [Him]" (Genesis 3:8) in
the garden of Eden, they were always in "plain sight." But they weren't playing
any childhood game; they were experiencing the sudden awareness-and shame-of
their wrongdoing, having eaten from the tree God told them not to eat from.
Adam and Eve turned from God and His loving provision when they disobeyed His
instructions. Instead of withdrawing from them in anger, however, He sought them
out, asking, "Where are you?" (v. 9). It's not that He didn't know where they
were, but He wanted them to know His compassionate concern for them.
I couldn’t see my friend hiding, but God always sees us and knows us-to Him we're
always in plain sight. Just as He pursued Adam and Eve, Jesus sought us out while
we were "still sinners"-dying on the cross to demonstrate His love for us (Romans
5:8). We no longer need to hide.
By: Kirsten Holmberg
Reflect & Pray
When have you tried to "hide" from God? How has He sought you out?
Father God, thank You for demonstrating Your love
and care for me despite the ways I wrong You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 7 - Oh, Freedom!
Rom 8:1-2
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
The Spirit of God Within You
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
In the classic movie, I want to live! actress Susan Hayward
plays a woman convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed.
The suspence builds; the execution is delayed as the officials
wait for a word of pardon. Finally, the woman in executed;
the call comes, and the pardon has been granted, but it is too late.
When no pardon is granted, condemnation leads to death. Our sin
marks us as "guilty" before God, and we deserve the wages of sin,
which is death. But in Jesus Christ, the pardon does come - and
it comes in time. Our sin deserves condemnation by God, and yet
he forgives us because Christ paid the penalty for us,
But we face other kinds of condemnation as well - self-condemnation,
that internal accusation that we still, somehow, must pay the price
of our own sin. Others often condemn us as well, offering much less
forgiveness and mercy than God does. And the Enemy of our souls condemns
us, trying to convince us that we don't, after all, have real freedom
from sin.
Yet Paul tells us in Romans 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus". God has forgiven us freely; he has
granted his pardon. And in light of his forgiveness, how can we live
under the condemnation of others - or even of ourselves?
We are free, Paul says - free from the "law of sin and death,"
free to live in the liberty of the Spirit. The stay of execution
has come: the pardon has been granted. Never again can we tried
for the same crimes: never again must we live under the burden
of condemnation.
Application
a) Have I ever lived under the burden of condemnation from myself
or others? Why?
b) How can Romans 8:1-2 help me live in freedom of such condemnation?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 28:11
11 (Dt 28:4; 30:9) The Lord will make you overflow in prosperity,
in the offspring of your body, in the offspring of your livestock,
and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore
to your fathers to give you.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body,
and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land
which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
1 John 4:16b-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 (1Jn 2:5; 2:28) In this way God's love is perfected in us,
so that we may have boldness on the Day of Judgment, because as He is,
so are we in this world.
18 (Ro 8:15; 2Ti 1:7) There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Whoever fears is not perfect in love.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
22 Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Province of Quebec
I) Pray for the leaders of Quebec,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
b) Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.
(
2 Cor 10: 3 - 5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
)
Day 20 of 21
MAKE IT A HABIT
Psalm 35:13
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returns to my own heart.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth:
I humbled my soul with fasting;
And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Matthew 6:17-18
17 (Ru 3:3) But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 (Mt 6:4; 6:6) so that you will not appear to men to be fasting,
but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 that thou appear not unto men to fast,
but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly.
Joel 1:14
14 (Joel 2:15-16; Jnh 3:8) Consecrate a fast,
call a sacred assembly,
assemble the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God,
and cry unto the LORD,
DEVOTION:
Now that we are near the end of our 21 day fast, it is time to put into
practice what we have learned and to continue with these practices.
A few things to remember; after Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights,
it was the devil that greeted him first, and then tempted him.
Don't be fearful or worry if you experience push-back or temptation
after the completion of this very powerful,
spiritual exercise of 21 days of fasting and prayer.
Don't forget that Jesus overcame it. Relax.
Don't let the devil distract you from your focus, Jesus Christ.
The enemy's ultimate game plan is to distract you so that you do not grow
in your relationship with Jesus. He may try to magnify any problems you
have, or create new ones, or situations that are not in line with your
prayers. His plan is to get you to begin to doubt that God is with you.
He wants you to think that there is no victory in Christ. But that’s a lie.
REFLECTION:
Keep focus, don’t get distracted and relax.
PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you continue to give me strength over these next days
and weeks. Help me keep my focus on you and you alone. I pray that I will
not become distracted by the lies and schemes of the enemy. Help me keep
my faith. Help me to remember there have been victories and there will be
more in you.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and Pray to seek the Lord's wisdom even in Time of threat.
Pray to the Lord
"Father God, thank You for demonstrating Your love
and care for me despite the ways I wrong You."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for there is no condemnation in Him.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be obedient in His will.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that He is love.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.
Pray that Christians in Cameroon will love one another
so Christ will be.
Father, I pray that you continue to give me strength over these next days
and weeks. Help me keep my focus on you and you alone. I pray that I will
not become distracted by the lies and schemes of the enemy. Help me keep
my faith. Help me to remember there have been victories and there will be
more in you.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
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