DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.22.22 -

From Alienation to Reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Separation, rejection, and alienation are unpleasant experiences that we usually try to avoid at all costs. But we live in a fallen world, so we cannot totally escape them. Isolation from other people is bad enough, but what's worse is that many individuals live apart from the heavenly Father. How tragic and futile life must be when it is spent completely detached from its Creator. God planted within each of us a desire tobe in relationship with Him, so until we find our connection to Him, we will always feel that something is missing. And yet as crucial as that relationship is to our well-being, something stands in its way: Whether by our thoughts or actions, we have all violated the Lord's commands (Rom.3:23), and our pure, holy God cannot be in the presence of sin. Romans 6:23 states that the penalty for sin is death, which is an eternal separationfrom the Lord. Therefore, we will always have a void. What a bleak outlook for mankind! But our loving Father solved the dilemma by sending His Son to pay our penalty. Fully God and fully man, Jesus lived the perfect life, took all our iniquity upon Himself, and died a gruesome death on the cross. No longerare we condemned for our wrongs, because Christ took our place. And three days later, He victoriously rose to life. Salvationis available to anyone who believes and receives this remarkable gift. John 3:16 describes how reconciliation puts an end to our alienation: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." ------------------ When I Grow Up by Katherine Britton "Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, then we will live and also do this or that." - James4:15 "You can be anything you want when you grow up, sweetie." My parents profoundly ignored that phrase when I was growing up. I never heard them say those words, although the self-esteem trend was certainly making its way through the schools and Saturday morning cartoons. That's not to say that they told me the oppositeor never encouraged my efforts. On the contrary, my mother carted me to ice skating practice, art lessons, piano lessons, debate club, and even soccer (for one pathetic season). She pushed me to do my best at whatever activity or homework assignment came myway, because it was a matter of "doing all things for the glory of God." And that's exactly why she and my father never told me I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. My parents knew better. ------------- Keeping the Best Things First by Katherine Britton And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best… - Philippians 1:9-11 How often do we resign ourselves to the "tyranny of the urgent"? If you're me, it's a daily struggle not to use that little phrase as an excuse for losing sight of the big picture. It's so much easier to take care of what's immediately in front of me insteadof what should be first in my life. I'm a task-oriented Martha, so concerned with getting the job done that I forget to focus on Him first. I can tell myself that I'm doing my work "as unto the Lord" as much as I want, but I don't serve anyone when I get harried. You probably know the feeling;you tell yourself that you're cooking a wholesome dinner as a supreme act of service and love for your family - if they only appreciated how many other things you have to do besides stand over a stove! - when little Anne asks if you'll help her find a favoriteCD. Something boils over, and it's not the pot on the stove. In taking care of dinner, you've forgotten to feed a godly attitude of patience and love. ------------ For Such a Time as This By Debbie McDaniel “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" - Esther 4:14 God is the only One, who has the power to turn trials into blessings. Don’t ever doubt that He is Able. Nothing is impossible with Him. He’s always at work even when we can’t see the whole story, even when things look uncertain. And that sets the stage for great things to happen, “…for such a time as this.” - Esther 4:14 Queen Esther had a choice. When Mordecai sent word to her about the great danger their people were facing, she could have simply tried to save herself. She could have kept quiet. Just hoped for the best, or turned the other way. But she and Mordecai bothknew that God had given her great purpose in her position. She was wise, she made a plan, she didn’t stay stuck in fear or worry, she prayed and fasted, and asked for their people to do the same. She was willing to act, to follow God’s lead, to save the livesof her people, even if it meant she might lose hers. (Read the whole story in the book of Esther) Though our current situations may look different than what Esther faced, we might still be struggling with great fear or uncertainty. The future may look dark. A hard diagnosis or recent loss may have sent us spiraling. Yet often God places us in positionsof influence, or in strategic locations, with great purpose in mind. Many times, the places where we find ourselves is not really “all about us.” It’s about Him. It’s about His bigger plan. May God help us to follow His lead, believing that His timing is perfect, remembering that He’s always faithful. If you find yourself facing times of trouble or testing right now, be assured that God is at work in your situation. He’s working within you, and on your behalf in all the events that surround you, no matter how difficult. In whatever we face, God is stillon the throne. He is powerful, nothing is too difficult for Him. Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord, He will not fail you, or leave you to struggle through on your own. Not ever. And He is faithful to turn our pain into greater purpose, in our own lives, and for those around us. Intersecting Faith & Life: If you’re facing uncertainty over the future, or have a big problem that’s troubling you today, give it to God. Again. Be willing to pray, fast, wait for His direction, then act on the wisdom He provides. Know that He is for you,and will never fail. Believe that He is at work, and setting the stage for great things to happen. Further Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21 Romans 8:28 Luke 1:37 ------------------- Evangelism: Every Believer's Calling Acts 1:6-8 One Sunday, a man approached me between services to share his story. He'd been addicted to drugs and was leading a hopeless life when he heard a Scripture verse in a sermon. He said that one passage led him to place his trust in Jesus. The man was saved,and God transformed his life. Every believer has a story. Oftentimes, the more we surrender to God, the greater our ability to see His hand in our life. And the more we watch Him work, the stronger our desire to share with others all that He has done. The same was true of the early disciples. A small crowd gathered around Jesus before His ascension. They heard His command to spread the gospel around the globe, making disciples and baptizing people from all nations. Surely this seemed like an overwhelmingtask for a handful of followers, but they obeyed. Their personal experiences with Christ undoubtedly motivated them to share the good news, and they also must have gained confidence from Jesus' promise of His presence and power. We, too, should be taking Christ's command seriously. One of our highest callings as believers is to tell others about Him. As was true for the early Christians, our own experience with the Savior is the most exciting and convincing story to tell. Are you passionately telling others about Christ? Loving God involves not just having a personal relationship with Jesus but also sharing Him with others. The world around you needs the power of Christ. Let the Holy Spirit guide and enable you to share effectively with those around you. -------------- Our Convictions Our Defense Romans 14:20-23 A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his beliefs are true. Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction. They choose to believe something based on certain conditions and circumstances.When the situation changes, so does their loyalty. In other words, a lot of people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve. Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Despite many years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensureIsrael’s survival (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:20). When his friendsShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (3:29). As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions can withstand the changing winds of opinion and the persuasive arguments of opponents. If we are grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs. Confidence breeds the courageto remain strong amid conflict. Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live by godly conviction. The Bible has much to say about the most important aspects of your life. See if God’s principles and promises hold true. Through prayer and study, allow Him to firmly root you in solid biblical convictions. --------------- Go to the Ant Proverbs 6:6-8 God is a masterful Creator. He has integrated many of His principles into the fabric of nature so that we can see His handiwork and learn of Him (Ps.19:1-6). If you desire to acquire wisdom, do not neglect to look outdoors for His lessons. Now, of course, the outdoors sometimes comes inside. If you’ve ever battled ants in your kitchen or pantry, wisdom probably isn’t the first trait you would attribute to them—you probably would choose a description more like determination. But to the lazyperson, God points out these tiny creatures as an example of wise living. Simply consider how many characteristics of the ant people would be smart to adopt: preparation, cooperation, perseverance, diligence, unity, and the list goes on. So interacting with righteous men isn’t the only way to acquire wisdom. God also wants us to observe the lowly ant that He created to work in community. There’s much to learn from the created world. By directing attention to the birds, Jesus challenges His followers to consider the folly of anxiety (Matt.6:26). Birds do not reap or gather grain but rather assume their food will be supplied as it always has been. The lesson in this observation of nature is that the Lord who provides for birds can be trusted to meet His people’s needs as well. Our quest for wisdom is to be rooted in Scripture and covered in prayer. But don’t overlook the many lessons unfolding right outside the front door. Ask God for “eyes to see” (Mark 8:18). Then take everychance to grow in understanding so your capacity to live by His principles will be strengthened. -Jacob'sPlain Life “Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” (Genesis25:27) Jacob has often been given a bad reputation for his deception of Isaac. He is branded a liar and worse, while the Scriptures describe him very differently. To begin with, the Hebrew word translated “plain” in our text is tam, everywhere else rendered as “perfect” or “upright.” The same word is used most often by God Himself of Job—a “perfect” and “upright” man (Job1:8). All other references in the Bible where tam is used verify this upright and undefiled character. The deception is not rebuked by God, and Jacob is honored by God far more than Isaac. In fact, Jacob is renamed “Israel” by God—hardly a punishmentfor a bad life, but rather a recognition of a great life (Genesis32:28). The sin of Isaac and Esau is infinitely greater. Esau has “sold” and “despised” the birthright (Genesis25:33-34). Isaac would have given that blessing to Esau (Genesis27:1-4) in spite of God’s plan (Genesis25:23). The intention of Jacob and Rebecca was to prevent a horrible disobedience and catastrophe. Jacob’s action gave him no temporal advantage and was taken at great personal risk. Jacob spent 20 years in exile and servitude to his wicked uncle Laban, 14 of them for Rachel and Leah (Genesis29:20-29). While there, he endured the awful trickery of Laban, but God gave him 12 sons and at least one daughter (Genesis29:31–30:24). God’s intervention and Jacob’s careful attention to detail brought wealth and a growing confidence that God had turned his life around, providing the leadership his family needed to leave suddenly and go with confidence back to the land of Abraham (Genesis31), having received personal assurance from God (Genesis32:24-30). May we all have the reputation of a “plain” life. HMM III --------------------- Isaac'sLife of Contrast “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwellingin tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis25:27-28) Isaac’s early life became the biblical picture of Christ (Genesis22:7-9). Not only did Isaac lay down his life voluntarily, but he continued to show great evidence of God’s presence and promise. He had personal instruction in faith from Abraham (Genesis18:19) and had been given direct evidence of God’s sovereignty in his life (Genesis24:67). Even before the birth of his sons when he was 60 years old, Isaac interceded for Rebecca and the children (Genesis25:21). It is certain that he had firsthand knowledge of God’s plan for the boys (Genesis26:2-53; 28:1-4), yet in spite of his knowledge, Isaac “loved Esau” (our text). He knew that God had chosen the younger child to rule (Genesis25:23). He knew that Esau was an ungodly man (Genesis27:46), and he knew that Esau had married pagan wives (Genesis26:34) in spite of God’s command to the contrary. But Isaac was determined to give the birthright to Esau. The single reason Scripture cites for Isaac’s irrational behavior was that he loved Esau and the savory meat Esau brought in from hunting (Genesis27:1-4). Isaac finally gave the blessing to Jacob, but he would have blessed Esau; he would have gone against God’s command, and he “trembled exceedingly” when he knew that he had been overruled by God (Genesis27:30-33). Ultimately, Isaac submitted to God and instructed Jacob in righteousness (Genesis28:1-5). The pain in Jacob’s life, the agony of Rebecca’s separation from her son, and the torn testimony of Isaac were all caused by an incorrect “love.” HMM III --------------------- Eliezer'sFaithful Service “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had...go unto my country,and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” (Genesis24:2, 4) Abraham required a most sacred vow from Eliezer (Genesis15:2) to secure a bride for Isaac from the line of Shem rather than from the Canaanites (Genesis24:3-4, 9). Eliezer had Abraham’s complete trust, with access and permission to all of his wealth (Genesis24:10). The Bible notes how Eliezer prepared for the success of the mission with adequate resources (employees, wealth, etc.), and went straight to his destination with no wasted time en route. Along the way he must have anticipated how to discern a proper wife andasked God for verification that He approved of the selection. Eliezer’s request indicated he had in mind a lady who must be strong, healthy, and industrious, with no delusions of a life of ease. She must also be gracious, sensitive, and compassionate. Eliezer’s prayer did not presume. He knew the assignment and was askingfor guidance on how to “see” the character of the potential wife (Genesis24:12-14). Eliezer was further aware of his being “in the way” (Genesis24:27). That is, he was clearly aware that he was acting under godly authority and was seeking the leading of the Lord Himself. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD” (Psalm37:23), and our paths are directed when we “acknowledge him” (Proverbs3:6). After Eliezer completed defining his task, he insisted that an immediate decision be made so that he could finish his assignment. Once the family and Rebecca agreed, Eliezer made sure that the mission was completed by bringing the new bride home to Isaac (Genesis24:32-67). Would to God that all of us were as faithful (1Corinthians 4:2). HMM III ------------------ Lot'sFateful Choice “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere....ThenLot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” (Genesis13:10-11) Some otherwise righteous folks are unable to handle wealth. Lot and Abram had become so wealthy “that they could not dwell together” (Genesis13:6), and Lot fell into the classic temptation—loving “all that is in the world” (1John 2:16). Beginning by pitching “his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis13:12), Lot later “dwelt in Sodom, and his goods” (Genesis14:12). And even though he was “vexed” by the “filthy” behavior of those with whom he was living (2Peter 2:7-8), Lot finally “sat in the gate of Sodom”—a Hebrew idiom for holding a political place of power in the city (Genesis19:1). We are told that Lot was a just and righteous man (2Peter 2:7-8). But ungodly choices always produce tragic results. When the angels arrived to bring God’s judgment, his children had intermarried with Sodomites and had been lost (Genesis19:12-14). His wife wouldn’t leave (Genesis19:26), and his wealth was destroyed with the destruction of the cities. Lot’s reputation and eternal place in Kingdom history are equally tragic. Although rescued by the angels, his legacy is “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke17:32). Although granted his wish to live in a “little” city (Genesis19:20), his daughters corrupted themselves with him, and the pagan nations of Moab and Ammon were the result (Genesis19:30-38). Although we will see Lot in heaven, he became the epitome of one whose works are “burned,” and he is saved, “yet so as by fire” (1Corinthians 3:13-15). Even small ungodly choices can cause us to lose “a full reward” (2John 1:8). HMM III ----------------------- Abraham'sSeparation Test “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shallnot be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.” (Genesis21:10-11) After Isaac had been weaned, Sarah noticed Ishmael mocking her and Isaac (Genesis21:9). During the years since Hagar had given birth to Ishmael (at the insistence of Sarah), Abraham had grown to love Ishmael and had no doubt treated him and Hagar with respect. Now this sudden banishment was demanded under terms that were both harshand apparently arbitrary. Nonetheless, God approved because Hagar and Ishmael had become the specific illustration of a distinction between the “flesh” and the “heir” (Genesis21:12). Although God would take care of Ishmael for Abraham’s sake, Abraham must separate himself and his family from that which would never become part of the Messianic line (Galatians4:23-31). The contrast of the two sons is a major teaching in Scripture. Galatians 3:16-29 provides most of the main biblical information. The promise was made to “the seed” (as singular) and the focus is on Christ, not Isaac. All people are under sin and are given thepromise by faith. When we believe, we become children of God, in vivid contrast to the “son of the bondwoman.” That faith is outside of physical relationships, and we become heirs according to the promise. That sacred relationship has been verified by God Himself (Hebrews6:17-20), making us nothing less than joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans8:17-21). Thus, all who are heirs can never be connected to the “bondwoman” (Galatians4:30-31). HMM III -------------------------- Abraham'sIntercession Test “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is comeunto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” (Genesis 18:21-22) Three “men” stood before Abraham’s tent, two of whom were later revealed to be angels (Genesis 18:2; 19:1). One of them, however, was none other than theCreator Himself (as the visible Word of God), who told Abraham of the beginning of the fulfillment of His earlier promise of a son (Genesis 18:10, 14). As the Lord reiterated the promise (now nearly 25 years dormant), the confrontation with Sarah began (Genesis 18:9- 15). She “laughs” at the repeated promise,citing her old and “worn out” body as an excuse. Most noteworthy here is the immediate response of God: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14).Although Sarah mocked the Lord’s promise, Abraham reacted with the laughter of joy and anticipation. His faith was now firm and confident (Genesis 18:16-22). As God told him of His immediate plan to judge Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham began his intercession on behalf of any righteous residents there (Genesis 18:23-32).Yet, even though the Lord yielded each time to Abraham’s limiting request, it was clear that the wickedness of those cities would come under the righteous judgment of a holy God. Abraham “returned unto his place” (Genesis 18:33), knowing that while he had prayed for God’s grace, he was satisfied that God’s judgment was “righteousaltogether” (Psalm 19:9). The contrast of attitude toward God’s Word is on display in this section of Scripture. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it ishe that hath made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). HMM III -------------- Oneof Life�s Greatest Blessings - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven�t strayed away! �Luke 15:7 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/one-of-lifes-greatest-blessings/- Listen What is the gospel? Literally defined, the gospel means �good news.� The gospel teaches that we�re all separated from God by our sins, and there is nothing we can do tosatisfy the righteous demands of God on our own. Also, the gospel doesn�t teach that we�re good. Rather, it teaches that we�re bad and separated from God. But 2,000 years ago, God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die onthe cross for our sins and rise from the dead. And if we�ll turn from our sins and ask Christ to come into our lives, He will forgive us. He will fill that hole in our hearts and give us the purpose and direction in life we�ve been seeking. And best of all, He will give us the absolute assurance of Heavenfor the afterlife. That is the gospel, and we need to share it with people. The Bible teaches that conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. But God reaches people through people, so we needto seek to lead others to Christ. We have a choice: We can evangelize, or we can fossilize. If we only take in and never share our faith, it�s detrimental to us spiritually. I think one of the reasons some Christians never have led another person to Christ is they haven�t asked anyone this question: Would you like to accept Jesus Christ rightnow? You never know when God will prompt you to ask this. In fact, it might be awkward for you to ask, but do it anyway. And if someone says yes, then get ready for one of thegreatest blessings you�ve ever experienced in life. Jesus said, �There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven�t strayed away!� (Luke15:7 NLT). There�s great joy in sharing your faith. ------------------ Hot-Water Faith - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. �Hebrews11:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/hot-water-faith/- Listen Someone has said that Christians are a lot like teabags. You don�t know what they�re made of until you put them into hot water. Maybe you�re in the hot water of temptation or testing right now, and you�re saying, �This is trying my faith. I don�t know if I can get through this. In fact, I�m startingto lose my faith.� James 1:2�4 tells us, �Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith istested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing� (NLT). Also, if you�re thinking about what the Scriptures say, it can strengthen and build your faith. Romans 10:17 says, �So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the GoodNews about Christ� (NLT). In other words, we get faith by reading and understanding the Word of God. The more we read the Bible, the stronger our faith can become. So we want to be looking into the Word of God. Hebrews 11:6 says that �it is impossible to please God without faith� (NLT). What God did in the lives of people years ago, He can still do in the lives of people today.God wants to work in your life. He wants to work in your home. He wants to work in your sphere of influence. God wants to do something fresh in our generation. So we need to apply faith. However, the faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. The faith we need grows stronger through testing. So if you have a real faith in God, your faithwill grow stronger through adversity and difficulty, not weaker. ------------------------------ New Creations by Ryan Duncan �For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.� � 1 Peter1:23 Have you ever done something embarrassing? I know I have. In fact, you could say my entire childhood (and a good portion of my adult life) has been one long string of embarrassing moments. I am still haunted by the memory of when I threw up during my Englishfinal, or the time I tripped while skiing and caused a massive, ten-man pile-up in front of the ski lift. The worst part is your brain never lets you forget it. The difficult news is it�s not just embarrassing moments we seem unable to forget, it�s our mistakes. Many of us have done things in our lives that we regret. We�ve acted selfishly, or violently, and other people have been hurt because of it. The Devil lovesto use our past mistakes against us; they are by far his favorite weapons. He will always wait until we�re vulnerable, then take our dirty laundry and rub it in our face. It�s at moments like these that I always turn to 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 and reminded myself about the truth behind Christ�s ministry. �Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world tohimself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.� � 2 Corinthians 5: 17-19 When we choose to follow Christ, our slates are instantly wiped clean. All the mistakes we�ve made all the stupid things we�ve done, embarrassing or otherwise, no longer matter to God. We may still have to accept the consequences of our actions, but we cantake comfort in knowing that in God�s sight we are new creations. So do not allow Satan to guilt you with past mistakes, you are a child of God and he will never see you as anything less. Intersecting Faith and Life: Take a moment to read your Bible and reflect on God�s words. Further Reading 2 Corinthians 5 ------------------------------------------- Uncontrolled Weakness Judges 16:1-24 The book of Judges tells of a man named Samson, who was so strong he could kill a lion with his bare hands (14:5-6). He possessed physical strength unequalled by any human being. But this could not compensate for his inner weakness. All of us have areas of weakness. God wants these character flaws to show us how totally dependent we are upon Him. When we handle them properly, they drive us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. But uncontrolled weakness wreaks havocin a person�s life. Samson�s Achilles� heel was uncontrollable lust. Although he was raised in a godly home and had a clear calling in life, he gave in to his desires and deliberately violated the truth he knew so well. Despite Nazirite laws forbidding involvement with foreignwomen, Samson pursued a harlot in Gaza (16:1). Later, he met a woman named Delilah, and even though her motives were blatantly treacherous, he gave himself over�heart, mind, and spirit�to sexual indulgence. He was in such bondage to the sin that he ultimatelyallowed it to dictate his actions, even at the cost of his life. Before he died, Samson lost everything: his strength, eyesight, and honor. The man who once led his country mightily became a slave to his enemies (vv. 18-25). What is your weakness? Is it lust, insecurity, fear, greed, gossip, or pride? Personality flaws can be a powerful motivation for good or ill, depending on our response. A proclivity for sin can ruin your life�as it did Samson�s�or drive you to utter dependence on God. The outcome is up to you. ------------------------ Jacob's Ladder Dream �And Jacob went out from Beersheba....And he lighted upon a certain place...and lay down in that place tosleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.� (Genesis28:10-12) Prophetic dreams were uncommon even in ancient times (Hebrews 1:1) and were never for personal use (Jeremiah23:16-32; Jude 1:8). Such dreams were rare until the book of Revelation. Jacob had the most personal encounters with God recorded in Genesis, more than Abraham or any other patriarch. Jacob�s ladder was much more than a human construction. The Hebrew word cullam is used only this once. The root Hebrew word, culal, is similar, with the basic meaning of �highway� or �corridor� or �pathway.� The word carries the connotation of �lift up� (see Psalm 68:4). Jacob�s �ladder� was probably a highway/causeway to and from the presence of God. Perhaps it was something like our science fiction ideas of a wormhole�a time warp in the fabric of space that permits nearly instantaneous movement from one spot in the universeto another. The Creator would certainly be able to make a time warp channel for His messengers to get back and forth to Earth quickly. There may be many such channels. This cullam was �fastened� on the earth with its �source� in heaven. The angels of God were speeding up and down (through? on? in?) it. At the source, Jacob saw none other than the Yahweh (the I AM) of eternity standing in His �official� glory (compare Revelation 1:10-16). This vision verified to Jacob that God was with him and that God Himself would secure the eternal promises made to Abraham. This dream is unique in all Scripture. Jacob was an unusual man. HMM III -------------------------- Unbelief Is a Thief - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And because of their unbelief, he couldn�t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. �Mark 6:5�6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/unbelief-is-a-thief/- Listen The Bible tells the story of a woman who was pleading with Jesus for her daughter, and she was very persistent in her faith. Jesus answered her prayer and said, �Dear woman,your faith is great. Your request is granted� (Matthew 15:28 NLT). Faith can make the difference between something happening and not happening. For example, the Bible tells us that Jesus could do no mighty works in His hometown of Nazareth because of their unbelief (see Mark 6:5). Jesus went to other cities andmiracles would happen. Demons would come out of people. The blind would receive their sight, and the deaf would hear again. People with leprosy would be cured. But when He went to Nazareth, they doubted Him immediately. Maybe they thought, �Jesus? We remember him when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. We remember him working atthe carpenter shop with Joseph. We knew that kid.� Yet that �kid� was God incarnate and the Messiah. We can stop the work of God in our lives by unbelief. Unbelief is a thief. In Scripture, we can see how God works through people exercising their faith to produce amazingthings. For example, God could have parted the Red Sea by His own power. He didn�t need Moses to hold up his staff. Instead, God said, �Pick up your staff and raise your hand overthe sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground� (Exodus 14:16 NLT). God also could have done other things like bring fire down from Heaven on the altar when Elijah faced off with the prophets of Baal. He didn�t need Elijah to call for thatfire. But God wants us to exercise our faith. He wants us to be a part of the process. So we need to call out to Him. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM