Your name is Israel

I'm posting 2 devotionals this week because I thought that these two went together so well. We are seeing the transformation of Jacob and I don't want anyone to miss it! Please read the other post from today first.

My SOAP devotional for Feb. 5th

S - Gen. 32:28
"Your name will no longer be Jacob,' the man told him. 'It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won."

O - God comes in the form of a man to physically struggle with Jacob himself. Jacob had been a deceiver and we find him on the eve of reconciliation, or war, with his brother, whom he stole his Father's (Isaac) blessing from. We don't know yet what the outcome will be between these two brothers but we already see a glimpse into Jacob's change of character. He has recognized God's provision in his life and is physically making a move toward not only obeying God but reconciling with his brother. God's physical struggle with Jacob is significant in representing the struggle the Hebrew people and ALL of us have with God. The name change is also a mark of transformation - a sign given by God of a fresh start, perhaps equivalent to a baptism.

A - We all struggle with God in a sense when we make daily choices to follow His path or not. We struggle against unnecessary obstacles when sometimes the obvious path is to choose God's way. We also embrace a name change in a sense when God claims us as His own and we finally recognize it. "Child of God" and "friend of Jesus" are added when we recognize our struggle and accept Jesus as Lord of our life.

P - Lord Jesus, I embrace the claim you have on my life and on my name. I thank you Father that we even have the opportunity to wrestle with you and you don't just give up on us and leave us. You have provided a way to be with us, and to overcome the challenges of this dark world. Amen.

Sin comes back around

My SOAP devotional for Feb. 2

S - Gen 29:25
"Jacob raged at Laban. 'I worked seven years for Rachel. What do you mean by this trickery?"

O - In this part of the story, Laban has tricked Jacob by giving him his oldest daughter Leah instead of the 2nd daughter, Rachel, who Jacob loved. The deceiver who stole his older brother's blessing has become the deceived. Jacob was given this name "one who deceives" and he lived up to it. However, we see that when our sins come back around it doesn't feel very good. We often cannot see our sin and how it hurts others when we are the sinner. But God's way is fair and good because He shows us how sinning for our own benefit is always hurtful to someone. Following God's way is love without pain. Jacob finally saw how deception is not the best way to get what you want.

A - It is important to approach a situation with God's eyes and look for how my choices could potentially hurt others, and not just be for MY benefit.

P - Open my eyes Lord to see clearly how my choices are affecting those around me. Make me aware and give me the guidance to know when I am sinning. I love that your word promises that there is ALWAYS a way out from a temptation. Give me the strength to choose the right path.