Genesis 29
Jacob meets Rachel for the first timeverses 1-12
Then Jacob went on his journey
and came into the land of the people of the east
and he looked – and behold a well in the field
and lo there were three flocks of sheep lying by it
FOR out of that well they watered the flocks
and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth
And there were all the flocks gathered
and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth
and watered the sheep
and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth
in its place
And Jacob said to them
My brethren from where are you?
And they said
Of Haran are we
And he said to them
Know you Laban – the son of Nahor?
And they said
We know him
And he said to them
Is he well?
And they said
He is well and behold Rachel
his daughter comes with the sheep
And he said – Lo it is yet high day
neither is it time that the cattle should
be gathered together water you the sheep
and go – and feed them
And they said – We cannot
until all the flocks be gathered together
and till they roll the stone form the well’s mouth
then we water the sheep
And while he yet spoke with them
Rachel came with her father’s sheep – FOR she kept them
And it came to pass
when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother
and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother
that Jacob went near
and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth
and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother
And Jacob kissed Rachel – and lifted up his voice and wept
and Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother
and that he was Rebekah’s son – and she ran and told her father
Laban runs to meet Jacobverses 13-14
And it came to pass – when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son
that he ran to meet him – and embraced him – and kissed him
and brought him to his house
and he told Laban all these things
And Laban said to him – Surely you are my bone and my flesh
and he abode with him the space of a month
Jacob works for marriage to Rachelverses 15-20
And Laban said to Jacob – Because you are my brother
should you therefore serve me for NOTHING?
tell me what shall your wages be?
And Laban had two daughters – the name of the elder was Leah
the name of the younger was Rachel
Leah was tender-eyed
BUT Rachel was beautiful and well favored
And Jacob love Rachel – and said
I will serve thee SEVEN YEARS for Rachel
your younger daughter
And Laban said – It is better that I give her to you
than that I should give her to another man
abide with me
And Jacob served SEVEN YEARS for Rachel
and they seemed to him but a few days
FOR the love he had for her
Trickery of Laban on Jacobverses 21-30
And Jacob said unto Laban – Give me my wife
FOR my days are fulfilled
that I may go in to her
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place
and made a feast
and it came to pass in the evening
that he took Leah his daughter
and brought her to him – and he went in to her
and Laban gave to his daughter Leah
Zilpah his maid for a handmaid
And it came to pass that in the morning –BEHOLD – it was Leah
and he said to Laban
What is this you hast done to me?
Did not I serve thee for Rachel?
Wherefore then have you BEGUILED me?
And Laban said – It must not be so done in our country
to give the younger before the first-born
fulfill her WEEK – and we will give you this
also FOR the service
which you shall serve with me
yet SEVEN other YEARS
And Jacob did so and fulfilled her WEEK
and he gave him Rachel – his daughter to wife also
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter
Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid
And he went in also unto Rachel
and he LOVED also Rachel more than Leah
and served with him yet SEVEN other YEARS
Leah gives birth to childrenverses 31-35
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated
HE OPENED her womb
BUT Rachel was BARREN
And Leah conceived and bore a son and she
called his name REUBEN
FOR she said – Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction
now therefore my husband will LOVE me
And she conceived again and bore a son and said
BECAUSE the LORD has heard that I was HATED
HE has therefore given me this son also
and she called his name SIMEON
And she conceived again and bore a son and said
Now this time will my husband become attached to me
BECAUSE I have borne him three sons
therefore was his name called LEVI
And she conceived again and bore a son and she said
Now will I praise the LORD
therefore she called his name JUDAH
and ceased bearing
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And told Laban all these things. (5401 “kissed” [nashaq] means to kiss another with intensity or prepetition, touch with the lips, a gesture of affection and mutual relationship or submission)
DEVOTION: When we read in the Old Testament about how families greeted their relatives it seems strange to many of us. Even when men met they kissed but it was on the neck not on the lips.
We find that after Jacob had watered the sheep of Rachel then he embraced and kissed his cousin. It was their form of greeting in those days. It was not wrong for family to show that they cared for one another.
Today we are told that we are to love one another in the church. We find in some of the epistles that we are great one another with a holy kiss. This has been interpreted as a handshake.
Christians when they get together are family. We need to treat each other as family that we enjoy being around. There are many families in our world who don’t like one another. They don’t see one another. They don’t care to help one another.
This is not to be the attitude of those who claim Christ. We are to love one another and overlook the others fault that cause us to not want to be around them. The Bible is not talking about sin but we are to help those we love overcome their sins. Faults might be their personality that turns us off at times. Faults might be where they seem to take advantage of us at times.
God has given us special instructions to love one another. It is not easy with some but it is required. God doesn’t want us to cause people to leave our churches because they don’t fit into our mold. Again we are not talking about doctrinal difference especially heresy because the LORD tells us to separate from those who don’t believe that Christ came in the flesh to die for our sins. We have to believe that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ alone. Works don’t get us into heaven but they show that we love the LORD to the point of obedience.
If we have individuals who love the LORD and hold to the doctrines of the faith then we need to love them. This can be shown with a hardy handshake some times.
CHALLENGE: People need to know that you genuinely love them. Our actions speak louder than words!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this you have done unto me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? Wherefore then have you beguiled me? (7411 “beguiled” [ramah] means deceived, betray, mislead, deal treacherously, trick, cause someone to have erroneous and misleading views, or craftiness)
DEVOTION: Jacob was used to tricking people not having people trick him. He had met his match. The reason the LORD sent him to Laban was for him to learn a few lessons about life.
Jacob had followed in his mother and father’s footsteps. They were from the family of Abraham. Abraham was given as an example of a follower of the LORD who most of the time served HIM faithfully but at times didn’t trust HIM to protect him on all occasions. The method that Abraham used to protect himself was for his wife and him to lie. Each time it got him in more trouble not only with the LORD but with the people around him.
Here we have Laban as another example of the family sin. He lied to Jacob concerning who was going to be his first wife. He told him that he would give him Rachael but he gave him Leah the older sister first.
Jacob was mad. He accused Laban of deceiving him. Imagine that!!! Here is one who has deceived his brother and his father complaining about someone else doing the same to him. He had some lessons to learn about life.
We can find ourselves in the same situation. We can have a family trait of sin that will come back on us to show us that we need to watch how we act in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our family sin doesn’t have to visit after the fourth generation. We can overcome it in the power of the Holy Spirit and train our children to watch out for whatever the family sin might be.
God wants us to learn from the Old Testament from the lives of the saints and sinners of old. We can learn what not to do and what to do in most every situation we face in our lifetime if we are willing to learn and listen to the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: It takes a lot of courage to fight the family sin, so that, you don’t pass it on to the next generation. Ask the LORD for guidance in this area of your life. HE will give you victory to share with the next generation.
: 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. (7620 “week” [shebu’ah] means seven, period of seven days or years, heptad, or period of seven units of time)
DEVOTION: Men want a beautiful wife. Jacob came to his uncle’s town and the first woman he saw was Rachel. She was beautiful and well-favored. She was his dream wife.
He lived with Laban for a month and then they started to talk business. Jacob agreed to work seven years for Rachel. The time flew by as he was in love with her. Remember when you were dating men? Time stood still. Now that you are married is it the same story?
Well, Laban was related to Abraham. Jacob was related to Abraham. Here we have an agreement made. Now the wedding night arrives and who does Laban send into the tent with Jacob? Leah!!!
Jacob wakes up the next morning next to Leah instead of Rachel. He is mad. He goes to Laban and tells him that he has tricked him. Sound familiar??? What was Jacob noted for? What had he done to his brother? What had he done to his father? What had his mother told him to do? Remember that Jacob was a man who took the birthright and blessing from his brother. He also met the LORD on the way to Haran. Now he is in Haran among his relatives. His uncle promised him Rachel for his wife if he served him for seven years. At the end of seven years he asked for Rachel to become his wife. The wedding night he was given Rachel’s sister, Leah for his wife.
Here was Jacob thinking that he was serving for seven years for the woman he loved and he received her sister. He had to work another seven years for the one he loved.
In this chapter we see that sometimes seven years and the number seven are interchanged. A period of seven can be days or years. Jacob complained to Laban that he had beguiled him. He had tricked him. What was Jacob’s method for getting the birthright and blessing? Trickery!! God was teaching him a lesson. God sometimes brings people into our life that have the same besetting sin as we do to teach us how wrong it is in HIS eyes.
This was a family trait. Jacob inherited it from his mother. We see that the sins of the parents visit the children to the third and fourth generation. Can the LORD give us victory over our family or besetting sin? YES! Jacob was learning a lesson.
Are we learning lessons from the LORD by the circumstances HE sends our way? If we don’t the first time, HE might send it a second time and then a third time until we learn the lesson. Are we slow learners? Pray that we can be quick learners.
CHALLENGE: We are to be men and women of our word. If we say we are going to do something, we should do it. If we promise God something, we should give it. Every word is recorded in the LORD’S books.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, HE opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (6605 “opened” [pathach] means loose, liberate, to cause a woman to be able to conceive in her womb, or unstop)
DEVOTION: God knows what is going on here on earth. HE is watching what is taking place on this occasion with Jacob and Rachel. HE knows that Jacob wanted to marry Rachel alone but that his uncle tricked him on the wedding night.
HE knows that Leah was not loved by Jacob because of her appearance. Jacob was looking at the external features instead of inner beauty that Leah had. God caused Leah to have babies because HE knew that Jacob didn’t love her but that he would love her because of the sons she was giving him. Sons were important in that culture.
The LORD also closed the womb of Rachel, so that, she could not have children until Jacob had the proper attitude toward Leah. Jacob was still learning lessons from the LORD regarding his treatment of people.
Jacob was realizing that he didn’t like someone doing the same thing to him that he had done to his brother and father. Jacob had to mature in his relationship to the LORD and to the people around him in order for him to be a good servant of the LORD.
The things that the LORD allows in our life are for the purpose of us getting more mature in our relationship to HIM and to those around us. We never stop learning until the LORD takes us home through death or the rapture in the future.
Jacob learned the hard way and sometimes that is the only way we will learn our lessons from the LORD. It was not fun for him and it is not fun for us to learn the hard way.
What is going on in your life right now? Is the LORD teaching you a lesson you need to learn? Has HE repeated it a number of times before we are willing to learn it?
CHALLENGE: Be open to HIS training. If we learn the first time there doesn’t have to be a second, third, fourth time!!!
:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, “Now will I praise the Lord:” therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. (3034 “praise” [yadah] means 1 to throw, shoot, cast. 1a (Qal) to shoot (arrows). 1b (Piel) to cast, cast down, throw down. 1c (Hiphil). 1c1 to give thanks, laud, praise. 1c2 to confess, confess (the name of God). 1d (Hithpael). 1d1 to confess (sin). 1d2 to give thanks. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Leah had a problem, and that was that she wasn’t loved by Jacob as much as Rachel (even though she was his first wife). They had gotten married as a result of a deception by Laban of Jacob. Yet Jacob continued to have sex with her, and the result was that she had a total of six sons by him. That should have made him (not to mention her) proud.
However, aside from sex, she continued to struggle to get his attention. This is true of a great number of women today as well. They don’t seem to be able to pry their husbands from the television, Internet, or the newspaper. They don’t seem to be able to engage their husbands in any kind of real fellowship, which is a genuine need for both women and men. Men tend to retreat to the safety of their jobs or something like sports.
Leah finally reached the point of finding her satisfaction in God alone. This shows that she was a woman of faith. She began to praise God for what He had done when He allowed her to give birth to her fourth son. This son Judah (meaning praise) would be the forefather of one of the most significant tribes in Israel, and would give rise to King David and His dynasty. Ultimately the Lord Jesus is the “lion of the tribe of Judah.”
What do we do when we are tempted to focus on our circumstances and complain about things? Do we refocus our eyes back on God and give Him the praise He rightly deserves? Remember that He is the one who has saved you from your sin and called you to be His child!
CHALLENGE: Is your focus on praising God today? Take a few moments out of your day today and do nothing but praise Him. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 31-33, 35
LORD sawverse 31
LORD opened womb of Leahverse 31
LORD heard prayer of Leahverse 33
Praise the LORDverse 35
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Greetingsverses 11, 13
Jacob kissed Rachel
Laban embraced Jacob
Laban kissed him
Laban brought to his house
Wagesverse 20
work for a wife
Loveverse 20
Traditionverse 26
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Beguiledverse 25
Hatedverses 31, 33
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jacobverses 1-35
Haran
Kissed Rachel
Serve Laban
Loved Rachel
Served Laban seven years for Rachel
Labanverses 5, 10, 13-30
Kissed Jacob
Hired Jacob
Tricked Jacob by giving Leah
Rachelverses 6-12, 16-20, 27-31
Tells Laban about Jacob
Beautiful and well favored
Loved by Jacob
Barren
Rebekahverse 12,
Leahverses 16, 17, 21-25, 30-35
Tender eyed
Given to Jacob
Gives birth to
Reuben (see a son)
Simeon (hearing)
Levi(joined)
Judah (praise)
Zilpah = Leah’s handmaidverse 24
Bilhah = Rachel’s handmaidverse 29
Reubenverse 32
Simeonverse 33
Leviverse 34
Judahverse 35
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
29:15–30. Jacob’s joyful prospect of marrying Rachel turned, by Laban’s deception, into a nightmare. In Laban … Jacob met his match and also his means of discipline. Jacob had deceived his own brother and father, and now was deceived by his mother’s brother! Twenty years (31:38) of drudgery, affliction, and deception lay ahead. Through Laban he received his own medicine of duplicity. But Jacob’s tenacity shows that he counted these as minor setbacks. God took him, developed his character, turned the fruits of his deception into blessing, and built the promised seed, the nation of Israel.
Jacob’s plan was to work … seven years to have Rachel as his wife. Those seven years of work passed quickly for Jacob because of his love for her (29:20). Interestingly the wives of each of the first three patriarchs were beautiful: Sarah (12:11), Rebekah (24:15–16), and Rachel (29:17).
When the time came for the wedding feast (vv. 21–22), hearts were merry and spirits high. But in the night Leah, Rachel’s older sister, was substituted. This was a masterpiece of shameless treachery—unloved Leah given to a man in love with Rachel.
Jacob’s anger was to no avail. Now, as the object of trickery, he would understand how Esau felt. Laban offered a technicality of local custom: it is not right to marry the younger … before the older. Those words must have pierced Jacob! In his earlier days he, the younger, had deceptively pretended before his father to be the older brother (chap. 27). If social convention were to be set aside, it should be by God, not by deception. Laban’s stinging words were left without any comment; the event was simply God’s decree against Jacob.
The Bible demonstrates over and over the principle that what a man sows he reaps (Gal. 6:7). Some have called this irony or poetic justice, but it is more than that. It is divine retribution in which there is often a measure-for-measure turn of affairs. God orders the affairs of people to set things right. With Jacob this deception was perfectly fitted; it was divine punishment to bring his own craftiness before his eyes. He had deceptively presented himself to his father under the guise of Esau the firstborn; now Leah the firstborn was deceptively introduced to him under the guise of Rachel the younger! After his initial reaction Jacob recognized the deception for what it was and accepted it. He finished out the bridal week (Gen. 29:27; cf. week in v. 28) at the end of which he was given Rachel (two wives in seven days). (Each daughter was given a servant girl as a wedding gift, a custom common in that society. Leah was given Zilpah, v. 24, and Rachel received Bilhah, v. 29; cf. 30:4–13.) Then Jacob worked … another seven years, which he owed Laban in return for Rachel (29:30; cf. 31:38, 41).
Unfortunately, Jacob was not the only believer who needed a Laban to discipline him. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 75–76). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
Once again, we see growth in Jacob’s character as he patiently served Laban for seven difficult years. Shepherding isn’t an easy vocation, and seven years is a long time, but Jacob’s love for Rachel took the burden out of the work and caused the time to pass quickly. It’s been well said that happiness consists of having someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to; and Jacob had all three. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be authentic (p. 39). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
29:18–30 Love and working to provide his service as a dowry (vv. 18–20) combined to make Jacob happily remain during the first 7 years in Laban’s household, almost as an adopted son rather than a mere employee. But Jacob, the deceiver (27:1–29), was about to be deceived (vv. 22–25). Local marriage customs (v. 26), love for Rachel, and more dowry desired by Laban (vv. 27–30) all conspired to give Jacob, not only 7 more years of labor under Laban, but two wives who were to become caught up in jealous childbearing competition (30:1–21). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ge 29:18–30). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 20. But Jacob served seven years for Rachel, &c.] The whole term of time, diligently, faithfully, and patiently. Reference is had to this in Hos. 11:12: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her; for though to lovers time seems long ere they enjoy the object beloved; yet Jacob here respects not so much the time as the toil and labour of service he endured in it; he thought that seven years’ service was a trifle, like the service of so many days, in comparison of the lovely and worthy person he obtained thereby; all that he endured was nothing in comparison of her, and through the love he bore to her: besides, the many pleasant hours he spent in conversation with her made the time slide on insensibly, so that it seemed to be quickly gone; which shews that his love was pure and constant. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 197). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
But if Uncle Laban had been doing some figuring, so had Jacob. A month in Laban’s home and he had fallen deeply in love with Rachel. Leah, no doubt, was well enough, but she had something wrong with her eyes. Perhaps she was shortsighted or had a squint. The text says she was “tender-eyed.” Whatever it was, Jacob had nothing against Leah, but he had eyes for Rachel alone. Leah simply did not exist so far as he was concerned; Rachel filled his vision. Thus, when Laban opened the question of wages, Jacob was ready. “Rachel!” he said, “I want Rachel. I’ll serve you seven years for Rachel.” The bargain was struck and “Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (29:20). (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Genesis: An Expository Commentary (Ge 29:13–20). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
FROM MY READING:
CLOTHES AND DURATION OF LIFE
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature Matthew 6:27
There is this matter of clothing. “What shall we put on? How shall we appear before people?” The way to be happy is to impress people with your beauty or your greatness or this or that; your elegance! And immediately everybody looks at you with admiration; so you are perfectly happy, and you put your head on your pillow at night with great contentment; you have achieved your objective.
Money, food, drink, clothing–these are the things, says our Lord, for which people live. In other words, you see, He says that the tragedy of life is due to the fact that men and women are living and are thinking as if they were only bodies. The thought, the attention, the planning, the scheming, the thinking are all in the realm of the body. People conceive of themselves as if they were but animals. That is what animals do–they eat and drink and so on, and so do men and women.
These are the things they talk about; as you see a peacock preening himself, so does a man and so does a woman. What they put on, the impression they make–“they live for these things,” says our Lord, and hence all the troubles.
And, of course, there is this other priority that He mentions, and that is the extension of your life in this world. He puts it in these words: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). What that really means is, “Which of you by taking thought can add one inch, as it were, to the duration of your life?” But that is what people are interested in–to prolong life, and all the care and the thought and the attention that they put into that! I am not saying this is wrong. Certainly thank God for medicine, for the extension of life; but, says our Lord, do you make that your priority?
A Thought to Ponder
The tragedy of life is that men and women are living and are thinking as if they were only bodies. From The Kingdom of God, pp. 34-35.
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!) (By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Coal Basket Bible
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?” The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water, I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the
Out of breath, he said, “See Papa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?” the old man said “Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the
basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. “Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.” That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son. Take time to read a portion of God’s word each day. “Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, and Leave the rest to God.”
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah requests the king’s help in rebuilding Jerusalem.
INSIGHT
Nehemiah comes before the king unable to conceal his agitation over the situation in Jerusalem. When we are faced with situations that need change, preparation is vital. We may not be able to do anything about it at the moment, but we can ask ourselves this question: “If it lay within our power to do anything we wanted to do, what would we do?” If we can answer that, then we will recognize opportunity when it knocks, and we can capitalize on it as Nehemiah does. (Quiet Walk)
The Truth
“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:4)
This is the last of 11 occurrences of “the truth” in Paul’s two letters to Timothy. He was not writing about the importance of being truthful in general but about a specific body of factual information concerning Jesus Christ and its vital importance. Thus, “the truth” was a very important theme in both of Paul’s letters to this young pastor—and, by implication, to all God-called pastors.
Paul first speaks of “the knowledge of the truth” required for salvation (1 Timothy 2:4), then of his own teaching as “the truth in Christ” (1 Timothy 2:7), then of “the church of the living God” as “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), and of Christians as those who “believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3). He stresses the importance of studying the Bible as “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), and also that true repentance requires “the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).
Paul also warns of false and covetous teachers who are “destitute of the truth” (1 Timothy 6:5) and who therefore “concerning the truth have erred” (2 Timothy 2:18). There will even be false prophets who “resist the truth” and are “reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:8).
As a result of the teachings of these false teachers, there will be many so-called seekers of truth who are “ever learning” yet who seem “never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). The reason they never find the truth is because they “turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).
The fact is that Jesus said: “I am…the truth” and also that “thy word is truth” (John 14:6; 17:17). For any who would say with Pilate “What is truth?” (John 18:38), there is the definitive answer! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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