THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Pastor Dave Charlton tells us, "After a worship service at First Baptist Church in Newcastle, Kentucky, a mother with a fidgety seven-year old boy told me how she finally got her son to sit still and be quiet.
About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered, 'If you don't be
quiet, Pastor Charlton is going to lose his place and will have to start his sermon all over again!'
It worked."
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Gen 35:1-6
1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
KJV
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Jacob's family is now in danger because of his sons mailicious treatment of Hamar and Shechem. But God gives him a particular call. Jacob is to move to Bethel, where God had confirmed His covenant with Jacob before. And Jacob was instructed to pray to God Who has proven to be both PROTECTOR and PROVIDOR.
God wants to hear our prayers. God doesn't need to hear our prayers; He already knows what's happening in our lives. But God does want us to have daily communication with Him. It is for OUR benefit not His.
Jacob knew of the heathen practices his family were using. Yet he hadn't done anything about it until now. How many parents today know their children are involved in music, TV, books, magazines, etc. that promote sin and indecency; but do nothing about it? How many Christian parents are living with idols of UNfaithfulness, UNfruitfulness, UNconcern?
Jacob now called upon them to "put away" all their trinkets which they use to call upon vain gods. He declared that they would be going to seek the real Living God Who has proven His protection and provision.
YES! That's autocratic. That's dogmatic. That's real parental guidance. Finally, Jacob demanded of his family. I can't help but think that God intended for parents to "run the show!"
Were it not for God putting "fear" upon the people of the land, Jacob's family would have been destroyed. Christians should realize that God protects us sometimes in spite of our sins which could destroy us. God is determined not to leave Himself without witness in the world.
Let us arise from our sinfulness and lacadaisical attitude toward our relationship with God.
Let us be serious about worship of Him Whom is our Protector and Providor.
Love ya,
Bruce