Category: Jacob

God, Jacob, and Joseph

“And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.’” Genesis 46:2-4 (ESV) Jacob had endured hardship, grief, and anxiety. He lived for years with the darkness of Joseph’s death looming over him, when in fact, Joseph was alive. After God promoted Joseph to second in command over Egypt, and after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and forgave them, Jacob and his family came to meet Joseph. Jacob had another encounter with God whereby God spoke to him in visions of the night. God affirmed Jacob with His abiding Presence and comforted Jacob with the assurance of protection and provision. God promised to make Jacob into a great nation and to allow Joseph’s hand to close his eyes. “Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.” Genesis 47:27-28 (ESV) God keeps His word. You can entrust every detail of your life to God’s care. He created you so that you can enjoy an ongoing love relationship with Him. God includes you in His redemptive story and invites you to join Him in His activity. Your faith will be refined as you trust God and obey His directives. God will accomplish His purposes and plan through you as you yield to Him. Respond to God with the words of Jacob, “Here I am.” Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Forgiveness Jacob Reconciliation

Reward of Reconciliation

“And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” Genesis 35:29 (ESV) Isaac was greatly blessed by God and was enabled to finish strong. His sons, Jacob and Esau, experienced a tumultuous sibling rivalry that produced immense family turmoil. Their upbringing was filled with deception, selfishness, and inequality. They embodied dysfunction and inflamed disunity. The grace of God was clearly evidenced when Jacob and Esau reconciled after years of separation and seething bitterness and resentment. Jacob prepared generously for the day he faced Esau. Jacob feared Esau’s retribution, but received restoration instead. “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4 ESV). Their reunion reflected the grace of God which sustained them through major transitions throughout their lives. Esau and Jacob united to bury their father, Isaac. They came together to honor their father and to bring honor to God. Isaac was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Isaac finished strong. Reconciliation has a tremendous reward. When you choose to restore ruptured relationships, you bring honor to God and you demonstrate obedience to His Word. Reconciliation is a gracious response to God’s redeeming work in your life that compels you to make things right with others. You cannot be right with God without being in a right relationship with others. You cannot be in a right relationship with others unless you are right with God. Is there anyone with whom you need to initiate reconciliation? Do your part to make things right. Experience the power of God as you build a bridge of reconciliation. The peace of God will flow into your life as you practice instant obedience. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jacob Transformation Wrestling with God

Walking with a Limp

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32:24-25 (ESV) As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Jacob Protection

God’s Protection

“So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was and said to them, ‘I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.’” Genesis 31:4-7 (ESV) Jacob experienced God’s protection as he served Laban. Though Laban deceived Jacob in several ways, Jacob found comfort in God’s Presence. Jacob recognized God’s provision in the midst of the unfortunate treatment Laban inflicted. The instability of the circumstances surrounding Jacob did not penetrate the protective covering provided by God. Navigating the current of shifting loyalty from Laban’s integrity deficit, Jacob rested in the consistent provision of God. When you are treated unfairly, be encouraged by the reality of God’s protection and God’s abiding Presence in your life. Even when your circumstances create an atmosphere of uncertainty, you can anchor your faith to the rock of God’s nature and character. You can trust God to see you through. Jesus knew what it meant to be betrayed and to suffer injustice. Jesus was perfect and encountered unfair treatment by those whom God had created. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (ESV) Do what Jesus did. Entrust yourself to Him who judges justly. Entrust your life to the One who has given you life and to the One who has the final say in every circumstance you face. God is worthy of your trust and worthy of your devotion. Relinquish control of your life to the One who created you for His glory. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Presence Heaven Jacob

God Encounter

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” Genesis 28:16-17 (ESV) Don’t miss God! You can be so preoccupied with your life and your plans that you neglect practicing the Presence of God. God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God is not. He is always at work around you. Unless you intentionally look to see where God is at work, you can miss Him. Detecting God’s activity requires being sensitive and observant. As Jacob placed a stone under his head and went to sleep, he had a dream in which he saw a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. God said to him, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 28:13-14 ESV). Upon reflection of the night’s events, Jacob realized that he had encountered God. He named the place, Bethel, which means house of God. Each time you read the Bible, you are encountering God. Whenever you choose to share your faith with someone, you will encounter God. As you seek to meet needs and continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth, you will encounter God. God reveals Himself to you as you join Him in His activity. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jacob Provision Wrestling with God

Pain and Growth

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32:24-25 (ESV) Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Jacob Joseph

God, Jacob, and Joseph

“And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ 3 Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.’” Genesis 46:2-4 (ESV) Jacob had endured hardship, grief, and anxiety. He lived for years with the darkness of Joseph’s death looming over him, when in fact, Joseph was alive. After God promoted Joseph to second in command over Egypt, and after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and forgave them, Jacob and his family came to meet Joseph. Jacob had another encounter with God whereby God spoke to him in visions of the night. God affirmed Jacob with His abiding Presence and comforted Jacob with the assurance of protection and provision. God promised to make Jacob into a great nation and to allow Joseph’s hand to close his eyes. “Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.” Genesis 47:27-28 (ESV) God keeps His word. You can entrust every detail of your life to God’s care. He created you so that you can enjoy an ongoing love relationship with Him. God includes you in His redemptive story and invites you to join Him in His activity. Your faith will be refined as you trust God and obey His directives. God will accomplish His purposes and plan through you as you yield to Him. Respond to God with the words of Jacob, “Here I am.” Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 28: Genesis 46-47) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Forgiveness Jacob Reconciliation

Reward of Reconciliation

“And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” Genesis 35:29 (ESV) Isaac was greatly blessed by God and was enabled to finish strong. His sons, Jacob and Esau, experienced a tumultuous sibling rivalry that produced immense family turmoil. Their upbringing was filled with deception, selfishness, and inequality. They embodied dysfunction and inflamed disunity. The grace of God was clearly evidenced when Jacob and Esau reconciled after years of separation and seething bitterness and resentment. Jacob prepared generously for the day he faced Esau. Jacob feared Esau’s retribution, but received restoration instead. “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4 ESV). Their reunion reflected the grace of God which sustained them through major transitions throughout their lives. Esau and Jacob united to bury their father, Isaac. They came together to honor their father and to bring honor to God. Isaac was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Isaac finished strong. Reconciliation has a tremendous reward. When you choose to restore ruptured relationships, you bring honor to God and you demonstrate obedience to His Word. Reconciliation is a gracious response to God’s redeeming work in your life that compels you to make things right with others. You cannot be right with God without being in a right relationship with others. You cannot be in a right relationship with others unless you are right with God. Is there anyone with whom you need to initiate reconciliation? Do your part to make things right. Experience the power of God as you build a bridge of reconciliation. The peace of God will flow into your life as you practice instant obedience. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 24: Genesis 35-37) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jacob Transformation Wrestling with God

Walking with a Limp

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32:24-25 (ESV) As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 23: Genesis 32-34) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Jacob Protection

God’s Protection

“So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, ‘I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.’” Genesis 31:4-7 (ESV) Jacob experienced God’s protection as he served Laban. Though Laban deceived Jacob in several ways, Jacob found comfort in God’s Presence. Jacob recognized God’s provision in the midst of the unfortunate treatment Laban inflicted. The instability of the circumstances surrounding Jacob did not penetrate the protective covering provided by God. Navigating the current of shifting loyalty from Laban’s integrity deficit, Jacob rested in the consistent provision of God. When you are treated unfairly, be encouraged by the reality of God’s protection and God’s abiding Presence in your life. Even when your circumstances create an atmosphere of uncertainty, you can anchor your faith to the rock of God’s nature and character. You can trust God to see you through. Jesus knew what it meant to be betrayed and to suffer injustice. Jesus was perfect and encountered unfair treatment by those whom God had created. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (ESV) Do what Jesus did. Entrust yourself to Him who judges justly. Entrust your life to the One who has given you life and to the One who has the final say in every circumstance you face. God is worthy of your trust and worthy of your devotion. Relinquish control of your life to the One who created you for His glory. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 22: Genesis 30-31) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Presence Heaven Jacob

God Encounter

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’ 17 And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” Genesis 28:16-17 (ESV) Don’t miss God! You can be so preoccupied with your life and your plans that you neglect practicing the Presence of God. God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God is not. He is always at work around you. Unless you intentionally look to see where God is at work, you can miss Him. Detecting God’s activity requires being sensitive and observant. As Jacob placed a stone under his head and went to sleep, he had a dream in which he saw a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. God said to him, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 28:13-14 ESV). Upon reflection of the night’s events, Jacob realized that he had encountered God. He named the place, Bethel, which means house of God. Each time you read the Bible, you are encountering God. Whenever you choose to share your faith with someone, you will encounter God. As you seek to meet needs and continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth, you will encounter God. God reveals Himself to you as you join Him in His activity. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 21: Genesis 27-29) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jacob Provision Wrestling with God

Pain and Growth

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.” Gen 32:24-25 (NIV) Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jacob

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.” Gen 32:24-25 (NIV) Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.’” Gen 32:28 (NIV) God is for you. He is willingly to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is eternal. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care