Genesis 34. 05.28.26

SCRIPTURE

“Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭34‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Some thirty years before, when God met Jacob at Bethel during Jacob’s flight from Esau—God encouraged him with a vision of angels ascending to and descending from Heaven on his behalf.

Jacob made a vow, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you” (Gen 28:20-22).

This vow was followed by a twenty-year sojourn in Mesopotamia serving his Uncle Laban, at the end of which time God reminded Jacob of his obligation to leave Laban and return home (Gen 31:3).

But following his escape from Laban, Jacob did not honor his vow to God or obey God. When he crossed over into Canaan, he settled in prosperous Shechem, twenty miles short of Bethel. This halfway obedience brought catastrophic results; the rape of his daughter Dinah, the desecration of Israel’s most holy sign—circumcision, the massacre of the Shechemites, the degradation of his own children, and rendered Jacob a stench in the land.

Yet—it also most significantly, rendered Jacob ready to hear God’s voice.

“Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled [years ago] from Esau your brother.” (Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

APPLICATION

God’s FIERCE Grace Pursues us

Be aware—and deeply Thankful for it.

Personally I don’t find Jacob likable, but at times he is admirable. He soars and he slides. He is Jacob and he is Israel. The cost of Jacob’s disobedience was immense, as chapter 34 records—rape, degeneration, treachery, and genocide. Yet in all of this—God’s fierce grace was at work.

God allows us to experience the weight of our sin—

SO HE can return us to His Calling.

Jacob experienced a heavy weight yet God—in His Fierce Grace—sets him back on the right path—reminding him of his calling as the son of Promise and instructs Him to go to Bethel.

This is God’s Fierce, Fiery Grace.

A grace I have experienced in my life. This is the Story of all God’s Children.

“Out of his fullness we have all received—grace in place of grace already given.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

“But Christ gives us MORE grace.

That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”” (James‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬)

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace—who has called youto his eternal glory in Christ, will himself—restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV)

Nothing can Thwart God’s plans and purposes. Jacob who is given a new name by God—Israel has birthed Sons who become the twelve tribes of the Land promised to Abraham and Isaac and fulfilled in Jacob-Israel.

Even with all of his missteps—This is the goodness and Fierce Grace of our God.

“Surely YOUR goodness and unfailing love

will—pursue me—all the days—of my life”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬a NLT‬)

“For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith—

and this is not from—yourselves,

it is the—gift of God—”

‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

YOU are constantly tracking us down to bless us with YOUR love and mercy and grace. Your Grace and Love pursuit  Never ends. Thank YOU that like Jacob, You have given me an inheritance. Like Jacob I have run ahead of YOU often. Like Jacob I have sworn oaths to surrender fully. And like Jacob I have fallen short. Forgive me. Thank YOU for YOUR Love that genuinely follows me—all the days of my life. Help me to be what YOU Call me into being. Help my motives to be pure before YOU and heaven focused, not earthly bound. I pray more and more to be genuinely aware..that I may be deeply Thankful for Your fierce grace over my life.

In Jesus Name. Amen, 🙏

Tina L Kudelka

1 Peter 4 - 5.27.26

Scripture

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10)

Observation

All of us have been given spiritual gifts. God expects us to be good stewards of the gifts. Our gifts are not supposed to be buried, but to be used. We are required to use our gifts to the full, to the best of our ability to God’s glory. Here Peter says that if you have the gift of speaking, speak as if God is speaking through you. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with all the strength and energy God provides (NLT). There is a parallel passage in Romans where Paul says the same thing - “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Rom 12:6-8)

Another parallel lesson is from Jesus himself in the parable of the talents. A master called three of his servants and gave them five, two and one talents each, and went on a journey. When he got back the one who had got five talents, had invested it and made another five. The one who got two talents, made another two. The one who received one talent, went and buried it. The servants who used their talents to make more, were rewarded. The servant who buried his talent was punished (Matt 25:14-30).

Application

If we are not sure what our gift is, let us prayerfully ask God to reveal it to us. Let us identify our gifts and start using them. Whatever your gift is, there is a need for it in the kingdom of God. Use your gifts for God. Get plugged into a ministry at church, and start serving.

If we look around in Desert Streams, we can see that each one of us is equipped with a different gift. One of my dear friends is a passionate gospel sharer. Another one is a gifted encourager. Another one is blessed with the skill of hospitality. Another one is an anointed musician with the amazing ability to lead the church into the holy of holies in worship. Another one is a skilled organizer. Each one of us is created differently and given different gifts so that we use it all for the glory of God. He placed people with gifts in the church so that his people would be equipped and built up. He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to the church, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph 4:12).

Many years ago in my youth, I met a wise person who gave me a piece of advice that changed the course of the rest of my life. A life that only consumes and never gives is like a lake that receives all the water flowing into it, yet has no outlet. Its water becomes stagnant and unfit to drink. But a river continually pours out while receiving fresh water, and its waters remain life-giving. Be a river. This person encouraged me to find anything I can do to serve God. Inspired by this conversation, the very next Sunday I went to the church I attended at the time and met the leaders of a number of ministries. All teams were full, and they didn’t need a new person. I finally met with the superintendent of Sunday School, and pleaded with her to allow me to teach Sunday School. There were more than enough teachers in Sunday School at that time, and no additional teachers were needed. However, she was gracious to the then twenty-two-year old me, and allowed me to teach the 2 and 3 year olds in the nursery. I started teaching Bible stories to 2 and 3 year olds. As I taught the little kids faithfully, God added to me more teaching skills and more insights into his Word.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for the gifts you have given me. Please help me to be a faithful steward of the grace that I have received, by using my gifts for your glory according to your will (1 Peter 4:10). When I finish the life that you have given me on earth, and come and stand before you, I want to hear you call me, “Good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21). Enable me to live a life that merits that. Pour your spirit upon me. Make me a blessing. May your blessings flow through me to others you bring into my life. May my life be a drink offering unto you (Phil 2:17, 2 Tim 4:6). In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Asha Chacko George

1 Peter 3 - 5.26.26

SCRIPTURE:  1 Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

OBSERVATION:  Peter, the author emphasized an important truth that characterizes a genuine Christ-follower; basically someone who loves in thought, word and deed.

APPLICATION:  Believers honor God by doing good, being devoted to one another in love, honoring one another above ourselves, being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, sharing with the Lord’s people who are in need, practicing hospitality, AND …blessing those who persecute us.  We are not to curse the evil ones, but to bless them!  And when our enemies are hungry, we are to feed them, and give them a drink when they are thirsty. We as Christ- followers are not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good.  (Romans 12:9-21).

Forgiveness is also something we’ve been called to do as genuine Christ-followers, but it is not an easy thing to do, especially when we have been wronged, hurt, or sinned against!  BUT… If we love others the way God loves us, we will be willing to forgive, especially since He forgave us when we sinned against Him! 

PRAYER:  Lord, The last thing we feel like doing is blessing our enemies!  Only with Your love in our heart’s are we able to obey this command! When we end up suffering because of someone else’s evil deeds, You have called us to bless them, instead of curse them. That is only possible as we rely on Your love, power and strength!  You have called us to live good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse us of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify You. I pray Your love will fill my heart to overflowing for others.  I pray You will help me to follow Your example by the way You forgave the ones who wronged You, and the one’s who sinned against You.  Thank You for helping my life to reflect Your love as You fill me with genuine affection for all people. 

- Robin Orefice