Day 17 Week 3 day 3 Deceived

Today's reading 

Genesis 27

Psalm 16

Isaiah 14:1-23

Matthew 12:22-45

1:    Today we read about Jacob deceiving Isaac.  Jacob receives the blessing that is intended for his brother Esau.  His mother Rebekah clearly favoured Jacob because she devised the plan but Jacob is not innocent because he did what she told him to do.  Sometimes we are deceived in small ways and some times in very big ways, sometimes it's costly, sometimes it's just frustrating but it is always difficult.  In this case, Isaac trembled violently from the wrong that was done and Esau cried out with an exceedingly bitter cry, realizing that now both his birthright and blessing was taken by his brother!

When we first moved to our home in Nova Scotia, we needed shelving for storage in our barn.  Sylvia found something for sale on Marketplace in Halifax (2 hour drive).  It fit our needs exactly and the price was very good.  In order to not waste our trip, we gave a deposit to hold the shelving for us, got in our truck and were off to Halifax.  I suspect you already have guessed what happened.  We got to the address we were given and the person and the product did not exist.  It was a real address but the person who answered the door did not know what we were talking about.  It did not take long to realize that it was a hoax, and the person who was selling the product did not even exist.  We went back on marketplace to find the ad and of course, the ad no longer existed and the seller had disappeared...with our deposit!

Our response was sadness.  We had lost some money, drove 2 hours each way for nothing, and we were humiliated by the waste of time and money and mostly for our trust in humankind.  The feeling we endured that day is very small compared to what Esau would have felt.  It was real though!

Psalm 16:5 reminds us that "The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup".  God is the ultimate source of satisfaction, security and blessing for the Psalmist and he can be for us too.  When times are tough and you don't know where to turn, God can satisfy.  When you've been deceived, God will not deceive.  If you have been cheated of your inheritance and blessing, God is your inheritance and blessing.  Remember Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"

2:    Words Reveal Character!  I have been disheartened about how foul language has become normal in this day.  I work at a hardware store and I'm aware at how often the f-bomb is spoken.  I used to use foul language in my younger days, and occasionally I surprise myself when a word slips out.  I guess my problem with foul language is this.  It's not needed!!  I was walking my dog one day and someone was walking past me walking away from a restaurant in town.  He walked over to a group of 3 other people and said "They are out of f-bomb steak".  How is it he said anything different than "They are out of steak"?  The f-bomb used to be the word you would seldom hear and people would gasp!!!  I made a decision many years ago, that I didn't need the word and I don't use it.

Here's the point!  Jesus says in Matthew 12:34 through 37 that words reveal character!  I love how he starts it because he's talking to the religious churchy types......"You brood of vipers, how can you being evil, speak what is good..." and then he goes on in vs 36 "...every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement"  Now in context he's referring to the words vs heart of the religious leaders but I believe it is a more general statement.  Think about it when you speak.  Word's reveal character!!!

Thanks for reading today.  Once again, if you are finding this helpful, I'd love to hear from you.  You can comment on the blog, on social media where you find the link.

Also, please follow me on the blog!

Have a great Day!  Steve