The Daily Dose

God’s hand in the pit

Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. ~ Genesis 37:24

 When I read this passage about Joseph, I am reminded that even when it looks like everything has fallen apart, God still has a plan. Joseph was thrown into a pit by his own brothers, betrayed and left with no way out. Yet, the very place of rejection became the starting point of God’s divine purpose for his life.

I can think back to times in my life when I felt like I was in a pit. Times when I was misunderstood, overlooked, or even betrayed by people I thought I could trust. It was painful, and at times I felt like God had forgotten me. But looking back now, I can see that those very moments shaped my faith and positioned me for where I am today. What felt like isolation was actually preparation.

This speaks to your life too. You may feel like you are stuck in a situation/pit you didn’t ask for, perhaps even put there by others’ choices or words. The pit is not the end, it is a place where God begins to set His plan into motion. Joseph’s pit led to a palace, and your pit can lead to the very place God has prepared for you.

Here are some steps to take if you feel stuck:

1. Be honest with God in prayer about your pit. Tell Him how you feel and invite Him into that space.
2. Choose to forgive those who hurt you, even if they never apologize. Forgiveness frees you to move forward.
3. Speak God’s promises over your life each day. Remember that He is working all things together for your good.
4. Look for small ways God is providing right where you are. Gratitude will keep your heart steady until the breakthrough comes.

Today I want to encourage you to hold on to hope in your pit. What feels like an ending may actually be the beginning of something far greater. God has not forgotten you, and He is preparing you for the fulfillment of His promises. The pit may feel empty, but God is filling it with purpose.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 37

1 So Jacob settled again in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived as a foreigner.

2 This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.

3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. 

4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.

6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 

7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” 

11 But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

12 Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 

13 When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.”

“I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied.

14 “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,” Jacob said. “Then come back and bring me a report.” So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron.

15 When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked.

16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?”

17 “Yes,” the man told him. “They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, ‘Let’s go on to Dothan.’” So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there.

Joseph Sold into Slavery

18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 

19 “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. 

20 “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

21 But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 

22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.

23 So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. 

24 Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 

25 Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. 

27 Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. 

28 So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.

29 Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. 

30 Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”

31 Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. 

32 They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”

33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” 

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 

35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.

Journal:

• Write about a time in your life when you felt stuck in a pit.
• How did God use that season for your growth.
• Then write down one promise from Scripture that you will stand on in your current season.

God works through every generation

This is the account of the descendants of Esau (also known as Edom). ~ Genesis 36:1

At first glance, Genesis 36 might seem like nothing more than a list of names and families. But when you really stop and think about it, you can see that it tells a story of God’s faithfulness to Esau’s descendants. Even though Esau did not receive the covenant blessing that Jacob did, God still gave him an inheritance, a land, and generations after him who carried his name forward. It shows us that God never forgets His promises and that He works through every life, even when the spotlight is not on us.

Personally, I have always lived a life that was in the background.  It is almost like my name has been buried in a list of many others. But now I want to make sure that my life matters, know that God sees me, and that what I am doing in this world has significance. In the quiet, hidden moments in His presence, God reminds me that He does not forget His children. Just like Esau’s lineage was remembered and recorded, my life is seen, has a purpose and is greatly valued by Him, also.

This passage can speak into your life too if you have ever felt unnoticed, forgotten, or unimportant. Maybe you are serving faithfully but do not feel recognized. Maybe you are questioning if your life has meaning or if your efforts are making a difference. Genesis 36 can be your reminder that God records names, families, and stories because every person matters to Him. What looks ordinary or hidden to some people is remembered and honored by God.

Here is a list of ways you can remember your significance in the time and space you live in:

• Trust that God sees your life even when others do not
• Remind yourself daily that your faithfulness is never wasted
• Write down ways God has already shown His faithfulness in your family or personal story
• Take time to encourage someone else who might feel overlooked and remind them that God knows their name
• Continue to serve in your current place with a heart of gratitude, knowing that your labor is never in vain

Today I want to encourage you to rest in the truth that God sees you, He values you, and He will carry your story forward just as He did with Esau’s descendants. Your life is part of a bigger plan, and even when it feels hidden, it is not forgotten. Trust Him with your journey and know that He is faithful through every generation.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis36

1 This is the account of the descendants of Esau (also known as Edom). 

2 Esau married two young women from Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite. 

3 He also married his cousin Basemath, who was the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth. 

4 Adah gave birth to a son named Eliphaz for Esau. Basemath gave birth to a son named Reuel. 

5 Oholibamah gave birth to sons named Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. All these sons were born to Esau in the land of Canaan.

6 Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle—all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob. 

7 There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired. 

8 So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.

9 This is the account of Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, who lived in the hill country of Seir.

10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah; and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

11 The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 

12 Timna, the concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to a son named Amalek. These are the descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.

13 The descendants of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the descendants of Esau’s wife Basemath.

14 Esau also had sons through Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon. Their names were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

15 These are the descendants of Esau who became the leaders of various clans:

The descendants of Esau’s oldest son, Eliphaz, became the leaders of the clans of Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 

16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the clan leaders in the land of Edom who descended from Eliphaz. All these were descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.

17 The descendants of Esau’s son Reuel became the leaders of the clans of Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the clan leaders in the land of Edom who descended from Reuel. All these were descendants of Esau’s wife Basemath.

18 The descendants of Esau and his wife Oholibamah became the leaders of the clans of Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the clan leaders who descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

19 These are the clans descended from Esau (also known as Edom), identified by their clan leaders.

Original Peoples of Edom

20 These are the names of the tribes that descended from Seir the Horite. They lived in the land of Edom: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 

21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the Horite clan leaders, the descendants of Seir, who lived in the land of Edom.

22 The descendants of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna.

23 The descendants of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24 The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while he was grazing his father’s donkeys.)

25 The descendants of Anah were his son, Dishon, and his daughter, Oholibamah.

26 The descendants of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.

27 The descendants of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28 The descendants of Dishan were Uz and Aran.

29 So these were the leaders of the Horite clans: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 

30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. The Horite clans are named after their clan leaders, who lived in the land of Seir.

31 These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:

32 Bela son of Beor, who ruled in Edom from his city of Dinhabah.

33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah became king in his place.

34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites became king in his place.

35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Avith. He was the one who defeated the Midianites in the land of Moab.

36 When Hadad died, Samlah from the city of Masrekah became king in his place.

37 When Samlah died, Shaul from the city of Rehoboth-on-the-River became king in his place.

38 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Acbor became king in his place.

39 When Baal-hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Pau. His wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Me-zahab.

Journal:

• Write down the areas of your life where you have felt hidden or overlooked.
• Then, write a prayer thanking God for seeing you.
• Ask Him to show you how He is using your story for His glory.

Return to Bethel

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” ~ Genesis 35:1

This chapter is so powerful because it is about returning to the place of God’s promise. Jacob had wandered, experienced trials, and even suffered loss, but God called him back to Bethel, the place where He first revealed Himself in a special way. It was a call to return to the foundation of God’s presence and promises.

As I read this about this point in Jacob’s life, I can’t help but remember my own wandering time, when I lived life far from God’s promises. I knew that God loved me and that He always answered when I called on Him but I wasn’t daily committing my life to Him. Instead, I was living a life of fear, trying to escape and losing sight of the purpose He gave me life for in the first place. Eventually, I reached a point where I realized I needed to get back to the basics. God was calling me to return to the quiet place of prayer and worship, the place where I first experienced Him so personally. He reminded me that I needed to be planted in His house if I wanted to flourish, and that I needed people around me who would help me stand strong instead of constantly falling short. Just like Jacob, I needed to return to my own Bethel, that place of surrender where I could once again trust Him with every area of my life and renew my faith in His sacrificial love and salvation.

This is a reminder to all of us today because we all face times where distractions, struggles, or busyness can pull us away from intimacy with God. Yet, He never stops calling us back. His call isn’t to condemn, it’s to restore. Returning to our Bethel means going back to those moments of deep faith, remembering His faithfulness, and rebuilding the altar of worship in our hearts.

Here are some ways to get back on purpose if it feels far away right now:

• Set aside intentional time this week to be alone with God, even if it is just a few minutes each day.
• Remember the times when God has been faithful in your life and write them down in a journal.
• Create a quiet meeting place in your home where you can consistently meet with God in prayer and worship.
• Remove distractions or “foreign gods” as Jacob did, whether they are habits, fears, or things that take your focus off the Lord.
• Make a fresh commitment to serve God faithfully with the gifts and resources He has entrusted to you.

Today I want to encourage you to return to your Bethel. God is calling you back to His presence, to the place of His promises, and to the altar of worship. He has not forgotten you, and He is ready to meet you again in a fresh and powerful way. When you take those steps toward Him, He will renew your strength, fill you with joy, and give you the sense of purpose that only He can bring.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 35

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.”

2 So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing. 

3 We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”

4 So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem. 

5 As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family.

6 Eventually, Jacob and his household arrived at Luz (also called Bethel) in Canaan. 

7 Jacob built an altar there and named the place El-bethel (which means “God of Bethel”), because God had appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother, Esau.

8 Soon after this, Rebekah’s old nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means “oak of weeping”).

9 Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, 

10 saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.

11 Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! 

12 And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” 

13 Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob.

14 Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil. 

15 And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him there.

16 Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. 

17 After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” 

18 Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). 

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 

20 Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.

21 Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder. 

22 While he was living there, Reuben had intercourse with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Jacob soon heard about it.

These are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob:

23 The sons of Leah were Reuben (Jacob’s oldest son), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan and Naphtali.

26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant, were Gad and Asher.

These are the names of the sons who were born to Jacob at Paddan-aram.

27 So Jacob returned to his father, Isaac, in Mamre, which is near Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had both lived as foreigners. 

28 Isaac lived for 180 years. 

29 Then he breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, joining his ancestors in death. And his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him.

Journal Prompts:

• Where is my personal Bethel, the place or season where I first encountered God deeply?
• What distractions do I need to set aside in order to return to God’s presence wholeheartedly?
• How has God shown His faithfulness in the past, and how can I trust Him again in my current season?
• What altar of worship do I need to rebuild in my daily life?

Faithful to the Lord

 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. ~ Acts 16:15

I love this passage about Lydia. In fact, it is one of my favorites. I know I say that a lot, but I especially like this account because Lydia is one of the first women mentioned who had a church in her home. We know she was wealthy because the passage says she was a seller of purple, which was expensive and mostly sold to royalty. No doubt she had a home big enough to host gatherings of significant size, and the text also says that she was faithful to the Lord.

Being faithful to the Lord cannot be evident if it doesn’t show up in every area of life. In this reading, Lydia’s faithfulness is most clearly seen in her hospitality and generosity. On the very day she met the apostle Paul and his team, she invited them to stay at her home. In fact, she pleaded with them to come right then and there. This tells us she was ready to host and receive people at all times, a very gracious and giving quality.

This gives me a lot to consider. As I think about my own faithfulness, I have to ask if I am also willing to take people in. Yes, we host many events and groups in our home, but if I am being honest, I really like having my own space and quiet place. However, faithfulness includes being prepared. Am I stewarding my home to be ready at any time to invite others in? Am I using my time to make preparation for the people and opportunities God may send that I do not yet see? This is not about striving or stressing to keep everything perfect. It is about creating a space that is welcoming, comfortable, and ready to show God’s love when needed.

Here are some ways you can prepare to be ready to receive others:

• Begin by asking God to show you areas of your life where you can demonstrate faithfulness in practical ways.
• Prepare your home or personal space so that it is inviting, not perfect, but warm and welcoming to others.
• Set aside time and resources for generosity, being willing to share what you have.
• Practice saying “yes” when opportunities to serve come, even if they stretch your comfort zone.
• Cultivate an open heart each day by starting your morning with prayer, asking God to prepare you for divine appointments.

Today I want to encourage you to approach each day with an open heart, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and His transforming power can touch your life in unexpected ways. Your faithfulness, like Lydia’s, has the power to impact not only your life but also the lives of those around you. Be ready to welcome others into your home and into your space, because this is one way we show God’s great love and generosity. As you open your heart and hands, your journey will be filled with the joy of knowing Him more deeply and serving others when the opportunities come.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 16:11-15

11Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Journal:

• Where in my life is God asking me to demonstrate greater faithfulness?
• How can I create a more welcoming space, whether in my home or in my daily interactions?
• What resources or gifts do I have that I can be ready to share when the opportunity arises?
• When have I experienced God’s faithfulness in my life, and how can I share that testimony with others?

Alternate Endings

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ~ Acts 16:9

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had made different choices? Maybe it was a decision you made, or maybe it was someone else’s choice that altered your world. In today’s passage, the apostle Paul had a vision in the night of a man calling him to come to Macedonia for help. This dream completely changed the direction of Paul’s ministry. He and his team were planning to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them twice. Instead of pressing through and ignoring God’s leading, Paul obeyed, and his obedience led to the planting of churches in Europe. This decision had lasting effects that are still impacting the world today.

The Bible gives us other examples of alternate endings. Moses was content to live out his days on the back side of a mountain, but God called him to deliver His people from bondage. How different would his story have been if he had stayed there? Joshua had to wander in the wilderness forty extra years because others refused to obey God. Jonah chose to run in the opposite direction of God’s call, and his story could have ended very differently if not for God’s intervention. Over and over we see men and women of God face turning points. Their willingness to obey shaped not only their destiny but also the lives of others.

This inspires me because no matter how far Moses was from Egypt, no matter how far Jonah ran, or how long Joshua had to wait, God faithfully brought them back on course. His plan for their time on earth was fulfilled because they chose God’s way, even after failure or delay. That same grace is available to us today. I know in my own life there have been times I resisted God’s direction, only to realize later that I was delaying His best. Yet when I turned back to Him, He recalculated the course, and His mercy allowed me to walk forward again in His plan.

This passage reminds us that every one of us will come to those moments when we must choose. Sometimes we do not even realize we are standing face to face with a divine invitation. The choice we make matters, and God will always be faithful to lead us when we surrender to Him.

Here are some steps to take to get you on track with God’s best:

• Ask God in prayer to show you if there are places where you resisted His direction. Be willing to listen and adjust quickly.
• Repent quickly when you realize you have stepped away from His leading. God always provides grace to return.
• Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit through daily time in the Word and prayer. This helps you recognize His voice.
• Choose obedience in small things. Obeying in daily steps builds faith for larger decisions.
• Persevere when others’ decisions have delayed or hindered you. Trust God’s timing and keep your heart ready.
• Believe that God can redeem lost time and restore you to His purpose, just as He did with Moses, Jonah, and Joshua.

Today I want to encourage you that God is the Master of alternate endings. If you feel like you have missed your opportunity or that someone else’s choices have kept you from God’s best, remember He is able to redirect, restore, and complete His purpose in you. He has not forgotten you, and He goes before you to prepare the way. Stay open to His voice, repent when needed, and persevere in faith, because His plan is always greater than anything you could imagine.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 16:6-10

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 

7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 

8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

 Journal:

• Have I ever resisted God’s leading, and what was the result?
• Where do I sense God may be redirecting me now?
• How can I take one step of obedience today that moves me closer to His purpose?

Restoration

Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. ~ Genesis 33:4

I’ve burned many bridges in my former life, and many of them added to the shame I carried from my past. There were times when I dreaded getting together with my family because I knew my lifestyle was not approved by them. It was uncomfortable to imagine how they must have felt about me. Yet in reality, they were kind and loving, rarely pointing out where I was failing. What I did not realize then was that they were simply waiting and praying for me to find my way back, so they could rejoice in the restoration of our family and see my life redeemed for God’s purpose.

When Jacob was preparing to meet Esau after many years apart, he was filled with fear and uncertainty too. Their last encounter had ended with anger and threats, so Jacob braced himself for hostility. Instead, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and forgave him. What could have been a moment of division became a moment of reconciliation and restoration.

Looking back, I know that is what my family longed for me. But because of my own guilt and pride, I kept my distance as much as possible during those years. Now, years later, I treasure the times when we can come together for visits. I no longer carry regret and remorse over the life I left behind. Instead, I have been restored to my place with my Savior and with my family. I have also seen God soften hearts and turn painful encounters into moments of peace. Sometimes it was me who needed to forgive, and other times it was me who needed forgiveness. In both cases, God’s grace brought healing where I never could.

This passage speaks to us today because many of us have people we avoid or situations that carry hurt. It might be a broken friendship, a strained family relationship, or an offense that seems too big to move past. Genesis 33 reminds us that God is able to bring reconciliation, even when it seems impossible. He can prepare the way, soften hearts, and restore peace in relationships.

Here are steps you can take to begin your journey to restoration:

• Pray for God to soften your heart toward anyone you are holding bitterness against and ask Him to prepare the way for reconciliation.
• Take the first step toward peace. This could be a phone call, a message, or a face-to-face meeting where you are honest yet gracious.
• Choose humility over pride. Jacob bowed before Esau as a sign of humility, and it opened the door for reconciliation. Look for ways to demonstrate humility in your own situation.
• Be willing to forgive fully, just as Esau forgave Jacob. Do not keep a list of wrongs but allow God to bring release and healing.
• Trust God with the outcome. You cannot control how the other person responds, but you can be obedient to pursue peace.

Today I want to encourage you that reconciliation is possible because God is the One who heals broken relationships. He can turn fear into peace and division into restoration. When you choose to take steps of faith and humility, you are walking in obedience to God’s call for forgiveness and love. You do not walk alone, He goes before you and prepares the way.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 33

1 Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. 

2 He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 

3 Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. 

4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

5 Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?” “These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. 

6 Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. 

7 Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him.

8 “And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.”

9 “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.”

10 But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! 

11 Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.

12 “Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.”

13 But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die. 

14 Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you at Seir.”

15 “All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.” Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly, my lord!”

16 So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day. 

17 Jacob, on the other hand, traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which means “shelters”).

18 Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up camp outside the town. 

19 Jacob bought the plot of land where he camped from the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. 

20 And there he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel.

Journal:

• Who in your life do you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from?
• What step of humility can you take this week toward reconciliation?
• How have you experienced God’s grace in past situations where forgiveness was needed?

Wrestling with God

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. ~ Genesis 32:24

Today’s reading gives us one of the most powerful moments in Jacob’s life. After years of struggle, mistakes, and running from conflict, Jacob was met with his greatest fear of facing his brother Esau. The night before their encounter, Jacob wrestled with God. In that place of struggle, God gave him a new name, Israel, and a new identity. Jacob left that encounter with both, a wounded him and God’s blessing.

I can relate to Jacob’s experience. There have been nights in my life where I felt like I was wrestling in prayer, holding on to God for answers, strength, and direction. Even this year while I have been feeling so uncertain about the future, praying for clarity and direction.  When the answer seemed to come, I felt like God was asking me to hold on to Him in the tension. It has been exhausting but now I have grown into a deeper intimacy with my heavenly Father. Just like Jacob, I am coming through this time changed. God has given me fresh courage, a stronger faith, more wisdom and a clearer sense of who I am in Him.

Maybe you are in a season where you feel like you are wrestling too. It might be in your health, your finances, a relationship, or a decision you have to make. You may not have all the answers yet, but your struggle is not wasted. God often uses these wrestling seasons to shape your identity, deepen your dependence on Him, and remind you that His blessing comes through surrender, not self-effort.

Here are some way to hold on when you feel like you are wrestling in life:

1. Spend time in prayer and tell God honestly what you are struggling with. Do not be afraid to bring your fears, questions, and disappointments before Him.
2. Hold on to God’s promises. Write down a scripture that reminds you of His faithfulness and keep it where you will see it daily.
3. Remember that God is not put off by your struggle. He meets you in the middle of it and uses it to strengthen you.
4. Identify one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God. Ask Him to take over and give you peace in that area.
5. Thank God for the blessing that is coming, even if you do not see it yet. Your wrestling can lead to a new level of faith and a fresh season of God’s favor.

Today I want to encourage you that your struggle does not mean God has abandoned you. Just as He met Jacob, He will meet you. He sees your tears, He hears your prayers, and He will bless you as you hold on to Him. You may walk away from this season different than before, but you will also walk away stronger, closer to God, and ready for the next step He has prepared for you.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 32

1 As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. 

2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau

3 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom. 

4 He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban, 

5 and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’”

6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!” 

7 Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups. 

8 He thought, “If Esau meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the other group can escape.”

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ 

10 I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! 

11 O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. 

12 But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’”

13 Jacob stayed where he was for the night. Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 

14 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 

15 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. 

16 He divided these animals into herds and assigned each to different servants. Then he told his servants, “Go ahead of me with the animals, but keep some distance between the herds.”

17 He gave these instructions to the men leading the first group: “When my brother, Esau, meets you, he will ask, ‘Whose servants are you? Where are you going? Who owns these animals?’ 

18 You must reply, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob, but they are a gift for his master Esau. Look, he is coming right behind us.’”

19 Jacob gave the same instructions to the second and third herdsmen and to all who followed behind the herds: “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 

20 And be sure to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’”

Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” 

21 So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp.

22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 

23 After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.

24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 

25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 

26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.”

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.

“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 

31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. 

32 (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)

Journal:

• What area of your life feels like a wrestling match right now?
• What promise from God can you hold on to in the middle of it?

Wherever you go

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.” ~ Genesis 31:3

This seems to be a recurring theme that you would think we would have a firm grasp on by now. Yet no matter how many times God affirms in the Bible that He is with us, somehow most of us tend to forget it. Genesis 31 is another powerful reminder of His ever-present help. This chapter is about transition, obedience, and God’s faithfulness. Jacob had spent years in Laban’s household, serving and enduring hardship. But the time came for God to move him forward. In verse 3, God gave Jacob a promise to “Return, and I will be with you.” That promise gave Jacob the courage to leave the familiar and step into the unknown.

This year has been one of those times for me. I know that God is lining up some major changes in my life. Even though I don’t know all the details yet, I am moving forward step by step and day by day. It hasn’t always been easy to let go of projects and activities that have become part of my weekly and monthly routine. For me, it feels like stepping away from familiar things I have invested years into. At first, I was very hesitant because of fear, uncertainty, and even worry about what others might say. But every time I follow God’s leading, He provides, opens new doors, and proves Himself faithful. I know this time is no different, and I am confident He is with me every step of the way.

Just like Jacob, you may be in a season where God is calling you to trust Him with changes. It might be moving into a new job, adjusting to changes in your family, or stepping forward in ministry. You may not see every detail of the journey, but God’s promise is the same. When He calls you to move, He promises to go with you.

Here are some tips you can follow in your transition season:

1. Ask God to show you clearly the areas in your life where He is leading you to take the next step. Write down what you believe He is putting on your heart.
2. Pray for courage to obey God’s voice even when it feels uncomfortable. Trust that His presence is your greatest assurance. He is always with you and doesn’t want you to be alone.
3. Share your next step with a trusted friend or mentor who can encourage you and pray with you.
4. Start with one small action that moves you forward. It may be making a phone call, applying for a position, setting a new boundary, or saying yes to a ministry opportunity.
5. Thank God each day for His presence and repeat His promise out loud, “I will be with you.”

Today I want to encourage you that no matter where God is leading you, you are never alone. The same God who spoke to Jacob speaks to you. His presence goes before you, His hand is upon you, and His promise will carry you. You may not see the whole path, but you can trust the One who does. Take the next step in faith, knowing that God’s word is true and His presence will never leave you.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 31

1 But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.

3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”

4 So Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching his flock.

5 He said to them, “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know how hard I have worked for your father,

7 but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.

8 For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,’ then the whole flock produced striped young.

9 In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me.

10 “One time during the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the females were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

11 Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Yes, here I am.’

12 “The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you.

13 I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.’”

14 Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway.

15 He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us.

16 All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”

17 So Jacob put his wives and children on camels,

18 and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived.

19 At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her.

20 Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving.

21 So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.

22 Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled.

23 So he gathered a group of his relatives and set out in hot pursuit. He caught up with Jacob seven days later in the hill country of Gilead.

24 But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!”

25 Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob’s.

26 “What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded. “How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war?

27 Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you deceive me? And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps.

28 Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly!

29 I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’

30 I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father’s home. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31 “I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

32 But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die! And if you find anything else that belongs to you, identify it before all these relatives of ours, and I will give it back!” But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the household idols.

33 Laban went first into Jacob’s tent to search there, then into Leah’s, and then the tents of the two servant wives—but he found nothing. Finally, he went into Rachel’s tent.

34 But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them,

35 she said to her father, “Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period.” So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.

36 Then Jacob became very angry, and he challenged Laban. “What’s my crime?” he demanded. “What have I done wrong to make you chase after me as though I were a criminal?

37 You have rummaged through everything I own. Now show me what you found that belongs to you! Set it out here in front of us, before our relatives, for all to see. Let them judge between us!

38 “For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food.

39 If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.

40 “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.

41 Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times!

42 In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children?

44 So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a monument.

46 Then he told his family members, “Gather some stones.” So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal.

47 To commemorate the event, Laban called the place Jegar-sahadutha (which means “witness pile” in Aramaic), and Jacob called it Galeed (which means “witness pile” in Hebrew).

48 Then Laban declared, “This pile of stones will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.”

49 But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight.

50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other wives, God will see it even if no one else does. He is a witness to this covenant between us.

51 “See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us.

52 They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me.

53 I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”

So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac, to respect the boundary line.

54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

55  Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.

Journal:

• What is one area of my life where God is calling me to take a step of faith?
• How can I trust His promise to be with me as I obey?

God hears and answers

And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. ~ Genesis 30:17

 Genesis 30 is a chapter full of human striving, competition, and deep emotional struggle. Leah deeply desired Jacob’s love, Rachel desired children, and both felt overlooked in different ways. Yet in the middle of their conflict, God listened, and He moved. What I love about this passage is that God did not ignore their pain. He saw their tears, their desires, and their heartache, and He responded to their requests.

In my own life, I have carried my own emotional struggles that seemed unanswered for years. I even remember times when I wondered if God heard my prayers at all. I saw others receiving what I was asking for, and it felt like my prayers were being set aside. Eventually, I discovered that God had been listening the whole time. His response was not always in the way I expected, but it always came at just the right time. Looking back, I can see His hand of provision guiding me in ways I could not see when I was still in the waiting.

You may be in a place where your prayers feel delayed or where you feel unseen. But the truth is, God sees you, and He hears you. His timing is not about withholding but about growing and preparing. Just as He listened to Leah and Rachel, He listens to you. What feels like delay is often God’s perfect setup for His greater plan in your life.

Here are some ways you can begin your journey to patience:

• Take your desires and requests honestly to God in prayer and trust that He hears you.
• Stop comparing your life to others and instead focus on God’s unique plan for you.
• Remember times in the past when God answered your prayers and let those testimonies strengthen your faith.
• Be patient with the process and know that God’s timing is designed for your good.
• Stay faithful in the responsibilities in front of you while you wait for God’s answer.

Today I want to encourage you that God has not forgotten you. Just as He listened to Leah, He is listening to you right now. Your prayers have not been wasted, and your tears have not gone unnoticed. God’s provision will come in His way and His time, and when it does, you will see that He was working on your behalf all along. Keep pressing into Him with love and faith, because He is faithful to finish what He started.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 30

1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

2 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!”

3 Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.” 

4 So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. 

5 Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son. 

6 Rachel named him Dan, for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son.” 

7 Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. 

8 Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!”

9 Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 

10 Soon Zilpah presented him with a son. 

11 Leah named him Gad, for she said, “How fortunate I am!” 

12 Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. 

13 And Leah named him Asher, for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.”

14One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?”

Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.”

16 So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah. 

17 And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 

18 She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife.” 

19 Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 

20 She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” 

21 Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

22 Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. 

23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said. 

24 And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the Lord add yet another son to my family.”

Jacob’s Wealth Increases

25 Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. 

26 Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”

27 “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. 

28 Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”

29 Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 

30 You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”

31 “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.

Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. 

32 Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. 

33 In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”

34 “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” 

35 But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, 

36 who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

37 Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. 

38 Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. 

39 And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 

40 Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.

41 Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. 

42 But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. 

43 As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

Journal:

• What prayer or desire have I been carrying that I need to trust God with today?
• How can I remain faithful and hopeful while I wait for His perfect timing?

When God’s promise feels out of reach

So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. ~ Genesis 29:20

 Life often has a way of testing my patience. I know what it feels like to wait on something I have waited for a long time, only to find myself in situations that seemed unfair or even discouraging. I have even questioned God’s timing and wondered if what I was believing for would ever happen on some of those occasions. Yet when I look back, I see how God used those waiting moments to grow my patience, deepen my trust, and reveal His faithfulness. Much like Jacob, in today’s reading, I discovered that love and purpose carry me through even the hardest and longest periods of waiting.

In Genesis 29, Jacob found himself working seven long years for the woman he loved, and even then, he was deceived and had to work another seven years. Yet in the middle of his waiting, his love for Rachel gave him strength to continue. What could have felt like an unbearable burden instead became a testimony of endurance and hope.

This passage speaks to me today because as I mentioned last week, I have been in a waiting season for what feels like a really long time.  But whatever I go through, whether it is a relationship, healing, financial stability, or a new opportunity. Sometimes it feels like the wait will never end, or that life has handed me something I did not ask for. But just like Jacob, I know I am not forgotten. God sees the love in my heart and the effort I give. He is working in the unseen to bring to my circumstances what He has promised.

Here is how you can get started today if you are in the waiting:

• Choose patience today by trusting that God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels delayed.
• Remind yourself of past breakthroughs where God has come through for you and let that strengthen your faith in this season.
• Focus on love in your daily actions. Just as Jacob’s love for Rachel gave him endurance, allow your love for God and others to fuel your perseverance.
• Resist bitterness when life feels unfair, instead pray for God to give you the strength to continue with joy.
• Stay faithful in the responsibilities you have now, knowing they are preparing you for the greater things ahead.

Today I want to encourage you that God is not blind to your waiting or your weariness. Just as Jacob’s years of labor were not wasted, neither are yours. What you sow in faith and obedience will reap a harvest in its season. Keep your love for God at the center and let it carry you forward. Even when it feels like what you long for is far away, trust that the Lord is weaving a story together for a good greater than you can see right now.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 29

1Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. 

2He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well.

3It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. 

4Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?”

“We are from Haran,” they answered.

5“Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked.

“Yes, we do,” they replied.

6“Is he doing well?” Jacob asked.

“Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.”

7Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?”

8“We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.”

9Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. 

10And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. 

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. 

12He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban.

13As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, 

14Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!” After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, 

15Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.”

16Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. 

17There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. 

18Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”

19“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” 

20So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.

21Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.”

22So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. 

23But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. 

24(Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.)

25But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?”

26“It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. 

27“But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.”

28So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. 

29(Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) 

30So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.

31When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. 

32So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”

33She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.”

34Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!”

35Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.

Journal:

• What area of my life feels like a long wait right now?
• How can I show love and faithfulness while I trust God’s timing?