Tag: israel

Week 35 of the Devotional Series 

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The Study of Genesis Post Twenty-Three

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 23rd devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 35 overall, we only have one more week left in Genesis! 

Focus: Genesis 49

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Genesis Chapter 49 – “Words That Shape a Legacy” 

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse: And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.  Genesis 49:1

Genesis Chapter 49

“Words That Shape a Legacy”

(Read Genesis Chapter 49 First) 

Before Jacob dies, he calls all his sons together because he wants to tell them what will happen after he passes. His final words are full of meaning and legacy.

He begins with Reuben, his firstborn. At first, he sounds like a new, proud father speaking. He calls him his might, the beginning of his strength, and the excellency of dignity and power. But then his tone changes and he tells him he is unstable as water and that he will not excel because of his sin with his father’s wife.

That phrase “unstable as water” really makes you stop and think. Water is easily poured out, easily moved, and unable to stand on its own. It doesn’t hold its shape. When we live like that, constantly shifting, changing, and being easily influenced, it becomes hard to build anything lasting.

Journaling Questions: 

• Where in my life do I feel inconsistent or easily swayed?

• Am I building a steady life on truth, or just reacting to life and it’s ever   changing circumstances?

Devotion thought: The potential we may have means very little without stability…because a life that shifts easily will never stand long enough to truly excel.

Next are Simeon and Levi, and their outcome isn’t any better. Jacob speaks about the cruelty in their actions and makes it clear he does not want to be associated with their anger or their choices. He references their past, when they acted in violence and self-will. Because of this, he says they will be divided and scattered.

Uncontrolled anger spills over and affects everything.

Journaling Questions: 

• Is there any anger I’ve allowed to take root in my life?

• Are my reactions bringing me closer to God, or pulling me away     from Him?

Devotion thought: Uncontrolled anger harms others and it distances you from being an honorable person, having unity with others, and the life God intended for you.

Then comes Judah, and Jacob’s tone completely changes. He will now speak of strength, honor, and leadership. He describes him like a lion: powerful, confident, and not easily shaken. He speaks of rulership, saying the scepter will not depart from Judah. This is the line that kings will come from, and ultimately, it points forward to Jesus.

Judah’s blessing is full, rich, and strong. It reminds us that when God establishes something, it stands.

Journaling Questions:

• Do I recognize where God has placed strength or influence in my life?

• Am I walking confidently in what He has called me to, or holding back?

Devotion thought: True strength and honor come from living in God’s calling because when He appoints you to a certain position, no one can take away what He’s established.

Zebulun is next, and his role is more about placement. He will dwell by the sea, a place where ships come and go, full of movement, trade, and opportunity.

Devotion thought: God’s placement isn’t random. Your calling isn’t random. Scripture reminds us that He has determined the exact times and places we should live (Acts 17:26). That means your placement is intentional. Esther didn’t fully understand her calling at first, but she was positioned “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). The same is true for us. God uses where we are to shape who we are, and who we are to fulfill what He’s called us to do.

Then we come to Issachar. Jacob describes him as a strong donkey lying down between two burdens. The scripture made me picture someone carrying weight, on their shoulders, but not resisting it. He sees that rest is good and that the land is pleasant, so he chooses to bear the load.

He understands slow and steady will get him where he needs to go and he isn’t running from the hard. He’s settling in ready to bear it. 

Journaling Questions:

• What am I carrying in this season that feels heavy?

• Can I trust that God has purpose in this season, even if it’s hard?

Devotion thought: Sometimes God allows us to go through seasons that feel heavy, but like Issachar, we can carry them with a steady heart, trusting that rest is coming and that there is purpose in where He has placed us.

Next is Dan. His name means “judge,” and Jacob says he will judge his people.

But then He adds something interesting.

He describes his son Dan as a serpent along the path that strikes in a way that’s subtle… intentional… almost strategic.

It’s an interesting contrast. It’s like he has a quiet, calculated strength, instead of it being on display for everyone to recognize. 

And that made me think for a second…

Because there’s a difference between Godly wisdom and just being clever.

It’s easy to rely on what we can figure out, or maneuver, or what we can make happen behind the scenes.

But true wisdom, from God, always stays rooted in truth. It doesn’t cut corners. It doesn’t compromise, even when no one’s watching.

Journaling Questions:

• Am I relying more on my own cleverness or on God’s wisdom?

• Are my choices aligned with truth, even when no one sees them?

Devotional Thought:

God can absolutely use strategy just as much as strength. But be careful to live in wisdom and integrity and never let subtlety pull us away from what is true.

Right in the middle of all this, Jacob pauses and says, “I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”

It almost feels like everything slows down for a second.

It’s like he lets all the weight of what he’s saying about his sons and their futures fade into the background… and his focus shifts back to God.

And then, he picks right back up, continuing to speak over each of his sons.

Gad is next, and his word is simple but powerful. He will be overcome, but not in the end. He will overcome at the last.

Journaling Questions:

• Where do I feel like I’m losing right now?

• What would it look like to trust God with the final outcome?

Devotion thought: You may feel overcome in the moment, but if you keep pressing forward with God, the final outcome is victory.

Then comes my personal favorite…Asher. This one makes me smile. I was going to name my last baby Asher if she had been a boy. After she was born, I made a sourdough starter and named it Asher since I still loved the name. One morning during my devotion time, I read this verse…“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” I couldn’t believe it. Bread and dainties? And I had just named my sourdough starter Asher…It felt like the sweetest little confirmation.

But beyond that, the meaning is beautiful. Asher is blessed with abundance, not just enough, but more than enough. His provision is rich and full, and it produces something of quality.

Journaling questions: 

• Have I recognized the ways God has blessed me beyond just meeting my   needs?

• How can I use what He’s given me to bless someone else?

Devotion thought: God’s blessings are meant for more than just sustaining us, they’re meant to overflow, so we can bring something rich, good, and life-giving to the people around us.

Naphtali is described as a deer let loose. He moves freely and gracefully. He isn’t bound or weighed down. I love that! It’s so refreshing when you don’t feel weighed down with burdens and that freedom comes from the LORD.  His words are described as goodly. His speech is uplifting and life-giving.

Journaling Questions: 

• Do my words bring life or discourage those around me?

• Am I living in the freedom God has given me, or still feeling bound?

Devotion thought: When God sets us free, it can be seen not just in how we live, but in how we speak. Our words can bring life and encouragement to those around us.

Then comes Joseph, and as expected, Jacob has so much to say about him. He describes him as a fruitful tree planted by a well, growing strong and spreading out. Even though he was hurt, attacked, and rejected, he remained strong because God was with him.

Jacob speaks blessing after blessing over him. 

Journaling Questions: 

• Can I see ways God has used hard seasons to grow something in me?

• Where might He be producing fruit in my life right now?

Devotion thought: God can take what others meant to break you and turn it into the very thing that makes you fruitful, strong, and deeply blessed…so much so that your life becomes a testimony of His favor in every way!

Finally, Benjamin, the youngest. Jacob describes him as a wolf, fierce and ready for battle. He rises strong and ends the day in victory.

Journaling Question:

• Am I facing my battles with fear, or with the strength God provides?

Devotion thought: God can give us strength to face battles, to walk in victory and receive the reward of what we’ve overcome through Him.

After speaking over each of his sons, Jacob gives his final instruction to be buried with his family. Then, peacefully, he passes.

What a legacy he left behind. His words were full of truth, honesty, and most importantly.. he pointing everything back to God.

Week 34 of the Devotional Series

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The Study of Genesis Post Twenty-Two

***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 22nd devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 34 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next couple of weeks.

Focus: Genesis 48

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

Chapter 48 –“More Than I Thought I’d See”

Bible Memory:

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — “And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.”  

Genesis 48:11

Genesis Chapter 48

“More Than I Thought I’d See”

(Read Genesis Chapter 48 First) 

Joseph was notified that his father, Israel (Jacob), was sick, so he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to go see him. When they arrived, someone told Jacob they were there, and he strengthened himself enough to sit up in the bed.

I love that his first thought when he sat up was on God.

The first thing he tells Joseph is how God appeared to him long ago, blessed him, and promised to make him fruitful, multiply him, and give him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. Even though they were in Egypt instead of Canaan, Jacob had no doubt in what God had spoken. In verse 21, he reminds Joseph that God would bring him again to the land of his fathers.

That is great faith! Jacob still believed and trusted what God told him, even when his life didn’t look like what was promised. 

Let’s pause right here and journal or reflect: 

Sometimes our lives can look more like Egypt than Canaan.

We may find ourselves in places we didn’t expect and time passes. It can become easy to question if what God said will really come to pass.

But look what Jacob shows us. It’s powerful! He didn’t base his faith on what he saw, he based it on what God said.

So, what about us?

• Are we allowing what we can only see to shape what we believe?

• Have we let time or disappointment weaken our confidence in what God   told us?

• Are we still holding onto His promises with the same faith we had when   we first received them?

• Is there something God has spoken over your life that doesn’t look like   it’s come to pass yet?

• What would it look like to trust Him anyway?

Jacob does something interesting next. He tells Joseph that he wants to claim his two sons as his own so that he can leave them an inheritance just like his other sons. Then he briefly reflects on the loss of Rachel, reminding Joseph of his mother.

When Jacob notices Joseph’s sons, he brings them close, hugs them, and kisses them. And then he says something so powerful:

“I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.”

Just look at what God can do!

Jacob never thought he would see Joseph again and not only did he see him, but he saw his children too. What God restored went beyond what Jacob could have imagined.

Reading this also reminded me of this verse…“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

God often goes beyond what we even thought to ask for.

Journaling & Reflection

• Has there been a time in your life where God did more than you   expected?

• Are you limiting what God can do based on what you’ve seen so far?

Next, Joseph brings his sons before Jacob and bows himself. He positions them intentionally with his oldest at Jacob’s right hand and the youngest at his left, following the tradition that the greater blessing would go to the eldest.

But before Jacob blesses them, he begins with these words:

“The God which fed me all my life long unto this day… the Angel which redeemed me from all evil…”

Before he asks God to bless them, he acknowledges who God is.

He gives Him honor and reflects on God’s faithfulness. He remembers how God carried him his entire life.

That’s something for us to take note of.

God is not just someone we come to with our requests. He is more than worthy of our recognition, gratitude, and our praise.

Journaling & Reflection

• Do you take time to acknowledge who God is before asking Him for   things?

• What are some ways God has “fed you all your life long unto this day”?

What Jacob does next was a bit unexpected. He crosses his hands, placing his right hand on the younger son instead of the older. Joseph tries to correct him, but Jacob makes it clear that this was intentional.

God’s ways are not always what we expect. 

The younger would be greater. The blessing didn’t follow tradition, but it did followed God’s purpose.

Journaling & Reflection

• Has God ever worked in a way that didn’t make sense to you at the time?

• Are you open to God moving differently than you expected?

This part really made me think about legacy.

Both boys would become so influential that people would one day speak a blessing over others, saying, “God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh.” (Genesis 48:20 KJV)

That made me stop and ask a deeper question…what kind of legacy am I leaving behind?

Not just in what I say, but in how I live. In what I model. In what I pass down without even realizing it.

I pray that one day my children and grandchildren will see something in my life worth following that points them closer to God. I want to live the kind of life that encourages others to grow, do better, and become better.

Journaling & Reflection

• What kind of legacy are you building right now?

• If someone followed your example, where would it lead them?

Jacob’s final words to Joseph are full of faith:

“Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”

Even at the end of his life, Jacob points back to God’s promise that He once made him. 

Then he gives Joseph a double portion, an inheritance that would carry on through his sons.

Joseph had lived through years of hardship, uncertainty, and waiting. But God’s faithfulness brought him through and it overflowed into something greater than he could have imagined.

Final Reflection:

• Can you see ways God has been faithful to you, even through hard   seasons?

• Where might God be working in your life right now in ways you don’t fully   see yet?

Closing Thoughts:

As we close out Genesis 48, I keep coming back to that one simple but powerful line…“I had not thought to see…”

Jacob didn’t expect to see Joseph again. In his mind, that chapter was closed and the finality of that loss was accepted. The grief was something he had learned to live with.

And yet…God.

God restored what was lost, and He brought Jacob into a fuller, richer, and more meaningful life than he ever imagined possible.

He does that with us too! 

There are things in our lives we think… “that will never happen.” Prayers we’ve stopped praying. Hopes we’ve tucked away and forgotten. Situations we’ve accepted as “this is just how it is now.”

But God is not limited! He can still work and write stories for our lives that we never imagined possible. 

And sometimes, just like Jacob, we don’t fully see it until we’re in the middle of something we never thought we’d experience again…or maybe never thought we’d experience at all.

What I love most is that Jacob didn’t waste that moment. He used it to bless and speak life to the next generation toward God.

Don’t miss the invitation for us too.

We need to recognize God’s faithfulness and respond to it, to live in a way that reflects it, and to pass it on.

So wherever you are today…wether it be in a season of waiting, trusting, or finally seeing something come together, hold onto this truth:

God is able to do more than you think, see, or dare to hope for. 

And when He does…don’t miss it.

Let it deepen your faith, shape your legacy, and remind you that His story for your life isn’t finished yet.