Isaiah 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 

Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?

THE LIFE LOST

 Genesis 29:1-20

It’s rank folly ever to get out of God’s plan for one’s life. One’s soul may be saved, but his life is lost, and his future next-world seriously affected. When a man insists on his own plan regardless of God’s, the lines tangle, the thorns grow thick, the moral sense dulls. He may pray, but as he insists on his own way, there will be weary toiling and a bitter tang. Jacob knew this with a bitter, biting certainty.

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?

STUPIDITY AND WOOING

 Genesis 27:46; Gen_28:1-9

God’s wooing never ceases while there’s the least chance of winning. Isaac’s blessing— in the very language used—was a reminder to scheming Jacob that only through God’s blessing could he be blest or succeed. His cunning bargaining would fail. Its results wouldn’t be worthwhile when the final reckoning was made. They would only embitter his last years. He goes stupidly on scheming and bargaining, depending on himself alone, but the wooing goes on, too, and finally wins.

Deuteronomy 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 

Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?

GOD WINS

Genesis 28:10-22

God and sin are sharp rivals: sin, ugly, hard, persistent, and God relentlessly pure, gently, patiently wooing men. It’s a continual nip and tuck, with God a head and a heart in the lead. The sting and hurt of sin are everywhere. And God is always on the heels of sin to heal the hurt, neutralize the sting, and woo the man. Jacob flees from Esau’s hounding hate. God eagerly pursues Jacob. And God wins.

Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 

Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?

PAYING THE BILLS

Genesis 37:29-36

Sin is self-executive. Every sin pays its own bills. There’s a hell of suffering in every sin. When sin is let into the life its brood— pain, broken hearts, broken lives, remorse, and worse—comes in, too, and some day will break out and run riot, unless a stronger power intervenes. Jesus’ dying is appreciated fully only where sin’s badness is fully recognized.

Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.  

Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?

MOTIVE MORE THAN EMOTION

Genesis 27:30-45

Weak impulses or bad ones, yielded to. are hard on the tear-ducts. There’s bound to be a bad emotional storm before the thing’s over. Tears are very impressive; they sway a lot of people. But one should look through the tear-mist to see what motive controls. Motive is more than emotion. If Esau had been thoughtfully right in his motives beforehand, his emotions wouldn’t be having such a hard time now.