Criticism is directed against the Lord’s people in every generation ...

Criticism of Jacob by Laban (Genesis 31), criticism of Jesus by the Pharisees (the criticism of the disciples is implicitly a criticism of Jesus – Matthew 12:1-2), criticism of the Psalmist (“O Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!” – Psalm 9:13) – criticism is directed against the Lord’s people in every generation. Whatever criticism there may be, we must learn to hear, with faith, the Word of the Lord – “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight” (Matthew 12:18). These words are, supremely, true of Jesus. Nevertheless, they are also true of Jacob who took his place in the ongoing purpose of God, David who “declared God’s praises … and rejoiced in His salvation” (Psalm 9:14) and ourselves who have been saved by His grace. In our conflict with evil, we must take our problem to the Lord, praying, with the Psalmist – “Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph” (Psalm 9:19). 
One Year Bible - Day 15:  Genesis 31:1-55; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 9:13-20

God’s purpose of redemption ...

In Genesis 29-30, we read of many births. The significant birth, in terms of God’s purpose of redemption, is the birth of Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). There is, of course, another Joseph in Scripture – Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The birth of Jesus was a mighty miracle. Jesus was the Son of God. He had a special relationship to God the Father – “no one knows the Father except the Son” (Matthew 11:27). To whom does the Son choose to reveal the Father? – He reveals the Father to those who respond to His gracious invitation – ”Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). To those who come to Jesus Christ, God’s promise is given: “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10). 
One Year Bible - Day 14: Genesis 29:1-30:43; Matthew 11:16-30; Psalm 9:7-12

The progress of the divine promise ...

As we see the progress of the divine promise through the line of Jacob, we also see that Esau married into Ishmael’s side of the family (Genesis 28:8-9). The tremendous experience, given by God to Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22) was one of the great turning-points in Jacob’s life (see also Genesis 32:22-23). It was on that night that he became a new man. The story of Jacob became a story of blessing, a story of a man being led by the Lord Himself on “a stairway … reaching to heaven” (Genesis 28:12).

Jesus said, ”Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me” (Matthew 11:6). The story of Esau became a story of an increasing falling away from the Lord. The story of God’s enemies is summed up in Psalm 9:3 – “My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before You.” The testimony of the saved is summed up in Psalm 9:1-2 – “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of Your name, O Most High.” 
One Year Bible - Day 13: Genesis 27:1-28:32; Matthew 10:32-11:5; Psalm 9:1-6

Words That Don't Come Easily

In Job 22, Eliphaz charges in with harsh words of accusation - “Aren’t you really very wicked? Is there no end to your wrongdoing?” (Job 22:5). He persists with his probing, heartless questions - “Are you following the old path that wicked people have taken?” (Job 22:15). In general terms, the words of Eliphaz were good words - “Be in harmony and at peace with God” (Job 22:21); “Keep his words in your heart” (Job 22:22). “Return to the Almighty” (Job 22:23); “Put wrongdoing out of your tent” (Job 22:24). The problem with his words is that they are bound up, in such a watertight way, with the promise of prosperity - ‘Do these things and you will prosper.” This leads to the assumption: Because Job is not prospering, he must have sinned. This is not what God says about Job (Job 1:8).

There is real sadness in the words, spoken by Job, in Job 23 - 24. There is no hint of a light at the end of the tunnel, as there was in Job 19:25 - “I know that my Redeemer lives.” That glimpse of glory has dimmed, and Job must continue in the battle for faith, without much to give him any encouragement. His words about God - “He does whatever what He wants” - are not words of complaint. They are words of faith. Job is holding on to God in the darkness of suffering - “He will carry out His orders concerning me, as He does with so many other things” (Job 23:13-14). This is a statement of faith in the sovereignty of God. It is not a cheap confession, mouthed in times of ease. These words do not come easily. They are words that have power because they are words that refuse to lose sight of God, even when suffering obscures Job’s view of Him.

Lord, we thank You that You guide us ...

Genesis 24:22-49

Lord, we thank You that You guide us – You keep us in the right way. You lead us in the way that brings glory to You.

You show us Your love. You teach us to trust in Your faithfulness. You fill our hearts with praise. You fill our lives with Your ‘overflowing blessing’ (Malachi 3:10).

For all of these things, we give You our thanks.

Lord, help us to remember that You are the everlasting God.

Genesis 22:15-23:20

Lord, help us to remember that You are the everlasting God.

We are so changeable. Your love for us is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable.

Our feelings take us here, there and everywhere. Your love brings us back to the place where our love for You grows strong.

How does our love for You grow strong? Is this something that we do for ourselves? – No! It’s something that You do for us.

You show us how much You love for us. You take us to the Cross of Christ.

You show us that Your love for us remains strong even when our love for You has become very weak.

This is the way in which our love for You grows strong. We are strengthened by a stronger love, a love that never becomes weak, a love that is always strong - everlasting love.

These are things we must never forget – Lord, help us to remember that You are the everlasting God. Help us to remember that Your love is everlasting love.

Lord, Your way is the best way.

Genesis 29:1-30
Lord, Your way is the best way. We, often, wander off on our own. We forget that we are called to follow You, to walk in Your footsteps. Again and again, we need to be reminded that Your way is the best way. Help us to see that Your way is a wonderful way - even when it turns out to be very different from what we had expected.

The Gospel Of God's Amazing Grace

Genesis 6
As we read the story of Noah, we learn of the place of Noah within the divine revelation of the Gospel of grace. "Noah found grace" might be turned around to read "Grace found Noah." "Amazing grace ... I once was lost but now am found." The significance of Noah, highlighted in 5:29 - "this one (Noah) shall bring relief from our work and from the toil of our hands" - is expressed in the words, "Not the labour of my hands can fulfil Thy law's demands. All for sin could not atone. Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy Cross I cling." To see the flood exclusively in terms of judgment is to see only one side of what God was doing. As well as judging He was also saving: "In this ship a few people - eight in all - were saved by water" (1 Peter 3:20). The ark points forward to Christ "who came back from death to life", Christ who "saves" us (1 Peter 3:21). God was working out His purpose of salvation. In these two statements, 'Noah found grace' and 'this one will bring ... ', we see both salvation and service. we are saved to serve. Once we ourselves have been found by grace, we are to seek to bring others to Christ that they also may be saved by Him and become His servants. In Noah's day, the remnant of faith was very small, yet the promise of God's love was given to them - 'I will establish my covenant with you' (18). Even when wickedness threatens to overwhelm us, we still have God's promise of love, 'the new covenant in Christ's blood' (1 Corinthians 11:25). 'The blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin' (1 John 1:7). Knowing that Christ loved us and died for us, we are able to be like Noah (22). We are to walk with the Lord and serve Him.