Jesus Said He Is..., Part 2: The Door of the Sheep & The Good Shepherd

Jesus Said He Is..., Part 2: The Door of the Sheep & The Good Shepherd

In 2017 I read a book by Phillip Keller titled “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.” I have not enjoyed a non-fiction book as much as this one (not counting the Bible, of course). Keller preaches the Truth so eloquently that it struck me to the core. Keller opened up the world of shepherds I never knew.

After reading his book, the 23rd Psalm, and the fact that Jesus refers to Himself as both the door to the sheepfold and also as our Good Shepherd, it makes this comparison so much more meaningful. Real sheep 100% rely on their shepherd to properly care for them. A bad shepherd has underfed sheep full of parasites living in dying pastures. Just like Jesus, a good shepherd takes care of His sheep’s every need. He takes great care moving his sheep from pasture to pasture in order to assure they always have plenty of green grass. He anticipates their every need.  He does everything he can to protect them and keep them safe. (Please read Keller’s book, he says it so much better, and you will see the bible in a completely new light.) 

Jesus is our door of protection when we stay within His will.  And in turn, we have the free will to open or close the doors to our hearts to Him. But remember, only our True Shepherd may enter through the correct door to our hearts. The thief and robber, Satan, may try to gain access, but the sheep (the true believer) will not recognize his voice, and will not let him in. Or should not let Satan enter. When we first submit to God, then resist the devil in the name of Jesus, Satan will flee.

(James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Our Good Shepherd protects not only the doors to our heart but literally laid His life down for us.

Jesus is the door of life. Jesus longs only for good things for our lives (see Jeremiah 29:11), and desires that we may lie down in green, lush, beautiful pastures next to still waters. He longs for a life full of abundance, or full of plentiful blessings.

Satan is the door of death. Why would you choose to walk through a dark and twisted door that would only steal, kill, and destroy your soul?

Do not waste your life waiting to decide whom you will follow and allow access to the door of your heart. Choose today whom you will serve. Make Jesus Lord of your heart, mind, body, and soul. Lock the door of your heart to the sins of this world and do your very best to walk down paths of righteousness. 

I would also like to visit the parable of Jesus and the Lost Sheep, my favorite parable from Jesus. It is proof that Jesus loves us and does not want any of us to perish spiritually. He is actively seeking out each and every one of us and wants to welcome us into His fold. There is more than one version of this parable, so I'll share the one from Matthew (read also Luke 15:1-7):

(Matthew 18:10-14) “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Jesus already gave His life for us. He shed His holy, sinless blood on the cross with the desire that we might live with Him forever.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Christ does not have to do anything else; it is up to us to choose to accept God's precious gift. Yet, in spite of this fact, God still actively seeks each of us out and calls us to Him. He will search for the one lost sheep that has wandered away.

I would next like to focus on what it means to be lost. The Bible makes it clear that we are all like sheep that have gone astray.

(Isaiah 53:5-6) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Or to put it another way:

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Which means we are all in need of God's saving grace.

We all have sinned, but being a lost sheep does not just refer to those who have yet to receive Christ as their Savior. For one thing, we all sin every day. Although we do not lose our salvation with every minor sin, we still should daily confess our sins. There are those, however, who have been saved and have backslidden. Therefore, to me this parable is also about those who received Christ as Lord of their life, then later fell away. In other words, one can become lost again.

(Revelation 2:5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

There is no shame in admitting that we have done wrong and allow God to change us from the inside out. Sometime that requires a daily cleansing and always a daily self-examination of our hearts.

(Psalm 119:175-176) Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

(Psalm 139:23-24 ) Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Jesus loves us all very much and wants to rescue us from a life of sin. He will never stop chasing us. His Word shows He has compassion for us and longs to capture us forever. He wants to teach us, guide us, direct us, encourage us. He wants us to cling to the folds of His robes and learn at His feet (by reading the Bible).

(Mark 6:34) And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Once we have been rescued, we are to remain changed. We are not to give into the temptations of the world. Reading the words of Jesus will really encourage and guide you in your daily walk. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with the Old Testament and I love and study the entire bible. However, if you truly want to learn and grow and be rescued, studying the gospels and really allowing Jesus' own words to sink deep into your heart and soul will transform you. I can say from experience that really focusing first on the words of Christ and then his followers who wrote the New Testament, will make you calmer and feel more at peace with everyday life. It will make it easier to live a life set apart from the ways of the world.

(1 Peter 2:1-3 & 21-25) Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus referred to Himself as "The Good Shepherd," and He is indeed good. Life is often full of pain, sorrow, and frustration, but God's love never changes. Jesus is the only way to Salvation and a life of peace.

 (John 10:1-18 & 27) [Jesus said] "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers..."

Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Jesus Said He is... Part 1: The Great I AM, Written by my Husband

Jesus Said He is... Part 1: The Great I AM, Written by my Husband (Mel)

Many claim that Christ was a prophet, or a great teacher, or just a good man. However, who do you say that He is?

There is one God, who is revealed in three distinct persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son, to bring redemption to fallen mankind. Through the death of Christ upon the cross the free gift of salvation has been provided to all who will put their faith in him.

Christ said, that before Abraham was, I AM. Christ declared himself to be the Great I AM, by making this statement.

(John 8:57-58) Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 

The prophet Isaiah wrote that the future Messiah would be called, the Mighty God and Everlasting Father!

(Isaiah 9:6-7) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

(Matthew 1:23) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  

Within Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He was 100% God and man. He was the express image of the Father.

(John 14:9-11) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

(Colossians 2:9-10) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

(Hebrews 1:2-3) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

John chapter one, as well as Colossians one, reveal that Christ is indeed God, the creator of all things visible and invisible. He is the image of the invisible God. All things were created through him and for him.

(John 1:1-5 & 10-14) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  

(Colossians 1:15-18) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  

The good news is that Christ made peace between the Father and mankind through his death upon the cross. The Father is a holy God who cannot look upon sin. No person on earth could save himself by his own works because we are a fallen race. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the spotless, perfect, lamb of God, who took our sins upon himself to wash us clean.

We are justified in the eyes of God and saved by faith alone in the finished work of Christ upon the cross. However, we must repent of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Come as you are to Christ and allow his Spirit to make you into a new creation. Also, pray that God will fill you with His Holy Spirit.

Salvation is a free gift that can never be earned by our own works or by religious observations. Ask Jesus into your heart today and make him Lord of your life! When you accept Christ, you need to give up the old sinful life and stop walking in darkness.

You need to grow in Christ through obedience to his Word. The Bible states that God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. In obedience to Christ, you also need to be water baptized. Water baptism proclaims that you are dead to sin and alive to Christ. The baptism of repentance also proclaims that you are born again and have become a new creation.

A New Series Written by my Husband & Me is Coming Soon

A New Series Written by my Husband & Me is Coming Soon

I am temporarily again interrupting going through the Bible to share a new short series.  I felt like I wanted to explore all Jesus said He is.  I know this is not an original concept, but I feel it is always important to remind ourselves of all that Jesus can and should be to us.  I pray this series will bless you as much as it has already been blessing me as I focus on all Jesus is.

My husband (Mel) will be writing this series with me. Part 1 will be posted tomorrow.  Not sure yet how many parts it will be.

Exodus 1:8-22: God-Fearing Midwives

 

Exodus 1:8-22: God-Fearing Midwives

Because the Hebrews are growing strong in number, the Egyptians fear them.  Pharaoh instructs the Hebrew midwives to kill the male babies when they are born.  However, Exodus 1:17 says, "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive." 

Then in verses 20-21 it says, "because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses."

When we fear God more than man and stand against evil people, God will bless us for our obedience.  Yes, there are many who suffer for their bravery, and it will be become worse for the true Christians the closer we get to the end of the world, but our eternal reward will always be worth the temporal sufferings in this life.  When we are obedient to God, the forever blessings will far outweigh the harms this world may bring.

May I always be brave and fear God and serve Him enough to be willing to protect others if the need arises.

(Exodus 1:8-22) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land."

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, "When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live."

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, "Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?"

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them."

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Genesis 45:1-15 & 50:15-21: Joseph, A Life Planned by God

 

Genesis 45:1-15 & 50:15-21: Joseph, A Life Planned by God

When Joseph is reunited with the brothers that caused him harm, he is gracious enough to forgive them and give them enough food to get them through the famine.  He is able to forgive them because he is able to step back from the emotional reunion and see the bigger picture.  He realizes that his entire life has been very carefully planned by God so that he could save the lives of more people than he could fathom.

After Joseph's father Jacob dies, his brothers fear Joseph will no longer show them favor and lie by saying that their father insisted Joseph continue to take care of them.  In Genesis 50:19-20, it is again clear that Joseph is well aware of God's miraculous hands on his life when he says, "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

It can often be hard to see how God's plans are at work.  Yet as long as we follow the ways of Jesus Christ and surrender our wills to Him by allowing Him to take control, He will always have our best interest in mind.  We live in a sinful fallen world where people often cause great harm to others, and though evil happening to us is not in God's will, He can use our hurtful circumstances for His glory.  

May I always be able to focus on the bigger picture, even when the outcome is unclear.  May I be obedient to God's calling and not dwell on my circumstances, never squandering the opportunity to bless others. 

(Genesis 45:1-15) Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me." And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, "I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?"

And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 

And Joseph said unto his brethren, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, 'Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee...'"

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. 

(Genesis 50:15-21) And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, "Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him."

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, "Thy father did command before he died, saying, 'So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.'"

 And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants."

And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Genesis 37:5-11 & Chapters 40-41, Joseph, The Dreamer & Interpreter

 

Genesis 37:5-11 & Chapters 40-41, Joseph, The Dreamer & Interpreter

God gave Joseph the gift of prophetic dreams as well as the gift of interpreting the dreams of others. When you read the entire story of Joseph, you see how this gift is what directed his future.

As a young man, he has dreams prophesying that his entire family would someday bow down to him (Genesis 37:5-11). In combination with these dreams and Joseph's father showing him favoritism by making him the coat of many colors, his brothers ultimately decide to sell him into slavery.

After Joseph is falsely accused of attacking his boss' wife, he is thrown into prison. While there, two of his fellow inmates, a butler and a baker both have strange dreams. Joseph is able to accurately interpret their dreams. The baker dies as God predicted through Joseph, and the butler is set free. However, after he is released from prison, the butler forgets all about Joseph's gift.

Yet, God never forgets. Two years later, He gives Pharaoh a dream that no one can interpret. It is then the butler remembers Joseph and makes sure he is called upon to use his gift from God.

In Genesis 41:16 Joseph humbly states, "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Joseph tells Pharaoh that his dream means there will be seven years of great prosperity followed by seven years of famine. Because Joseph is able to offer an interpretation, Pharoah releases Joseph from prison and puts him in charge. Pharoah then makes preparations to start a storehouse of food to last for seven years of the upcoming famine.

Because God blessed Joseph when in captivity with such an amazing gift, many lives were spared. It even led him to be reunited with his estranged brothers. Just as he had dreamed many years ago, they were now bowing before their younger brother as he stood in authority over them. Joseph could have sought revenge but ultimately chose instead to repay them with kindness as well as making sure they and their father Jacob survive the famine (I will write more about this later.).

Make no mistake, God still gives His faithful children dreams and visions of the future (or even as a way to comfort, warn, and even to chastise and correct) as well as helping them to interpret the dreams of others. For those of us who are granted such a gift, we need to be as bold as Joseph and tell us what God has showed us and not worry if we are believed or not.

May we always use the gifts of God to bless others, no matter what our circumstances. And may we be humble enough to give God the glory and not take credit for what God has done through us.

(Genesis 37:5-11) And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf."

And his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. "

And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, "What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

(Chapters 40-41 are too long to post here, please read them on your own.)

Genesis 39:1-23: Joseph, Favored in Spite of Adversity

 

Genesis 39:1-23: Joseph, Favored in Spite of Adversity

The story of Joseph begins in Genesis 37 and ends with his death in Genesis 50.  Out of 12 sons, Joseph is the 11th born son of Jacob.  He is his father's favorite so much so that Jacob makes Joseph a special "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).  To make matters worse, Joseph receives dreams from God that tell him he will someday be the leader over his entire family (I will further address his dreams in the next post).   

To the majority of his brothers, Joseph has become the intolerable spoiled son.  They plot to kill him, but one brother, Ruben, talks the others into selling Joseph into slavery instead.  It is sadly ironic if you think about it.  Jacob was the "supplanter" of his family by tricking and deceiving his twin brother and even his father into receiving the birthright and a special blessing that should have belonging to Esau.  And now Jacob is being tricked into believing his favorite child has been killed by wild animals and will not know until many years later that Joseph was sold behind his back to the Egyptians.

In spite of his dire circumstances, God blesses Joseph.  In Genesis 39:2-6 it says that "the Lord was with Joseph" and that "his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand."  God even allowed all of Potiphar's house to be blessed for Joseph's sake.  What a miracle that a young foreigner was held in so much esteem!

Unfortunately, Joseph again faces another horrible situation.  Potiphar's wife is attracted to the handsome Joseph and makes advances towards him.  But because Joseph is a man of moral character, he refuses to give in to her.  In her scorn, she falsely accuses him of attacking her and Joseph gets arrested.  Once again, Joseph is a prisoner, but now instead of being thrown into a pit by his hatefully envious brothers, he is thrown into a jail by his boss' wickedly indecent wife.   

However, Joseph is again made to prosper in captivity.  Genesis 39:20-23 shows that "the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison."  The warden even "committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."  Another miracle from God's merciful hand!

God continued to bless Joseph in captivity.  Joseph, we can assume, was gifted with intelligence, an accommodating personality, as well perhaps a humble charisma.  He was obviously amiable and those in charge were impressed with him.

God will use our personality traits and talents to prosper us as long as we are willing to serve Him and refuse to give into the temptations of this world.  Circumstances cannot rob us of God's intended blessings or plans for our lives.

Genesis 32:24-30: Why did the Lord approach Jacob to wrestle with Him?

 

Genesis 32:24-30: Why did the Lord approach Jacob to wrestle with Him?

In Genesis 32:24-30, a man meets Jacob while he is alone on the way the be reunited with his estranged brother Esau.  The man wrestles with Jacob "until the breaking of day," and it is revealed that it is not a man after all, but the Lord Himself.  

The Lord touched Jacob's hip and sets it out of the joint.  When the Lord tells Jacob to let Him go, Jacob refuses and says, "I will not let Thee go except The Lord bless me."  The Lord blesses Jacob and tells him his name is no longer Jacob, which means "supplanter," but is now Israel, which means "he struggles with God."  

When reading this story, it is easy to get caught up in the whys. Why did the Lord approach Jacob to wrestle Him in the first place?  Why was Jacob so much stronger that the Lord had to put his hip out of the socket?  And why was Jacob insisting God bless him when back in Gensis 28:11-22, we read that God had already promised to bless Jacob with many descendants.    

The wrestling may have been somewhat symbolic. Perhaps because Jacob struggled against his flesh for so long to be a deceiver before he let God change him to becoming a man of better moral character.

Also, the Lord may grab a hold of us to get our attention.  It is how He forces us to focus on Him alone.  Sometimes it is through a tragedy or illness, or maybe through something more positive such as a vision, but He will get our attention.  With Jacob, maybe the only way he would be still enough to pay attention and listen to God was forcing him into a wrestling match. Remember in the above-mentioned chapter 28, that God chose to get Jacob's attention through a dream.  Maybe Jacob was one who rarely stood still and the only way to get through a restless body or mind was while he was sleeping or being forced to pay attention and physically holding him in place.  I can only speculate, of course, but I know for myself my mind rarely shuts up and the best way God gets my attention is through dreams or visions just as I am going to sleep or waking up.  

The answer to the second question is not that Jacob was stronger, as no one is stronger than the Lord, he was just so stubborn that he refused to let go.  Again, perhaps the wrestling was all symbolic of Jacob's spiritual journey.  The Lord could have easily tossed Jacob aside like a rag doll, but he wanted Jacob to remember this profoundly unique experience so that Jacob would not slip back into his old ways as a trickster. This may also be why God made Jacob go lame; to humble Jacob and to give him a permanent reminder of the day he wrestled with God.  Sometimes we also need a permanent scar to remember that God is stronger than our own stubbornness but also loves us very much and will bless us when it aligns with His perfect will. 

Now in answer to the third question, why was Jacob demanding more blessings, well, maybe we see that same side of greed in him that we saw when he twice tricked his own twin brother out of a birthright and a blessing.  How many other people never seem to get enough and continually demand more and more from God?  Even if this was the case, God was still gracious toward Jacob.

Sometimes we need to be more like Jacob and grab ahold of God and say, "I'm not letting you go until you bless me."  Don't stop praying or asking.  It is not disrespectful; it is being persistent and asking God to bless us in an area of great importance. (See Luke 18:1-8, The Parable of the Persistent Widow.)

Yet, we also need to find the proper balance when it comes to asking things from the Holy of Holies.  We should not be like Jacob and become selfish and demand more from an already gracious God.  If we are so greedy, we may even end up with a figurative or literal hip out of joint as a way of God telling us calm down and listen to him.

What is just as vital is not to let go after the blessing has been gifted.  Do not just say "Thanks, God," and then go back to ignoring Him or only praying when you're in need.  Honor God by living for Him and showing Him how grateful you are for all His blessings.

Another thing to notice in this story is that God does not choose to wrestle with Jacob until Jacob has shown humility (see earlier in Genesis 32:1-21).  Jacob is willing to repay Esau for all the wrong he did by offering up livestock.  Of course, he also did it to spare his own life, but there was a new humility in him. 

I am not saying never, but God rarely blesses the haughty people or those with unrepentant hearts.  The blessings are more likely to flow when we are living holy lives. Just because someone is wealthy, it does not mean it came from God. 

If God came to me, I pray I would have the endurance to hold on until He blessed me, and then humbly thanked Him for all He has done!

If you are interested, here is a link to a blog my husband and I wrote titled, "Bless me or bless the Father?" that deals more on the subject of asking God for blessings: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/search?q=bless+me+or+bless+the+father

(Genesis 32:24-30) And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with Him until the breaking of the day. And when He saw that he prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

And He said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh."

And he said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

And He said unto him, "What is thy name?"

And he said, "Jacob."

And He said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

And Jacob asked Him, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name."

And He said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?" And He blessed him there.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Genesis 28:11-22: The Beginning of Jacob's Revival

 

Genesis 28:11-22: The Beginning of Jacob's Revival

In spite of Jacob's trickery toward his twin brother Esau, God still wanted to bless him.  I can speculate this is because God knew Jacob's heart and knew he would eventually repent of his deceitful ways.  

In Genesis 28:11-22, Jacob falls asleep and dreams a vision of a ladder going to Heaven with angels ascending and descending.  The Lord Himself stands above the ladder and promises to bless Jacob with many children and many generations.  He promises to be with Jacob until all has been fulfilled.

We see the beginning of a revival, so to speak, in Jacob.  He is in awe that God has visited him.  He sets up an altar and vows that he will follow the Lord and make Him God of his life and that he will now pursue peace.

We may not have such a dramatic experience as Jacob, but God may still be trying to get our attention.  He wants us to let go of our sinful nature and make Him Lord of our lives.  He will always be with us, encouraging us and guiding us.  May we make the same vow as Jacob, "I come... in peace, then shall the Lord be my God."

(Genesis 28:11-22) And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 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. 

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, "I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not..."

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel...

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house..."

Genesis 25:24-34 & 27:1-46: Jacob, the Supplanter

 

Genesis 25:24-34 & 27:1-46: Jacob, The Supplanter

Twin brothers Esau and Jacob were in competition for most of their lives.  Because Esau was born first, he was considered the oldest and was given the birthright and was expected to receive a special blessing from their father Isaac.  

However, Jacob wants it all for himself and in Genesis 25:24-34, he tricks Esau to trading his birthright for a bowl of stew! Although he was very weak, tired, and hungry, perhaps this was very foolish of Esau.  Yet, Jacob is clearly more to blame for tricking his brother by taking advantage of Esau while he was in a vulnerable state. 

Later in Genesis 27:1-46, as Isaac comes close to death, he wants to pronounce the special blessing over Esau.  Their mother Rebekah, however, feels Jacob deserves the blessing.  Rebekah is also very much in the wrong to trick her own husband.  Now that Isaac is blind, mother and son deceive Isaac by creating fake hairy arms for the younger twin so he will feel like Esau to Issac, and thus he gives Jacob the blessing intended for Esau.

Now Jacob, whose name literally means supplanter (to supersede another especially by force or treachery & to take the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power - Merriam Webster Dictionary), has stolen two things that belonged to his brother.  He has rightly made an enemy of Esau and now must flee because his twin now wants him dead.

May I never be so jealous or greedy that I try to trick someone into giving up a blessing from God or try to deceive someone to give me what I want that is rightfully theirs.  May I always be honest and earn all I need or want, not try to steal them.  May I be content with what I have and always be happy for others.  Thank you, God, for all you have given to me, especially your love and the gift of salvation! 

(Genesis 25:27-37) And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:" therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright.:

And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?"

And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day;" and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

(Genesis 27:1-46) And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, "My son:" and he said unto him, "Behold, here am I."

And he said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death... make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die."

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother... Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death... only obey my voice, and go fetch me them."

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

And he came unto his father... And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me..."

And Isaac said unto Jacob, "Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him...

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting... and said unto his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me."

And Isaac his father said unto him, "Who art thou?" And he said, "I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau." And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, "Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed."

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father."

And he said, "Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing."

And he said," Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing..."

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Links to my Husband's Ministry Sites

 

Links to my Husband's Ministry Sites

My husband has wonderful blogs and Facebook ministry sites.  His main focus is on end-time events and prophecy. His writings are insightful, helpful, and most important of all, they are Biblically sound. Please feel free to check out one of his sites (they all have the same content but just have different titles.)

Blogs:

Final Hour Prophetic Ministries: https://twelfthhourendtimeministries.blogspot.com/

Twelfth Hour Prophetic Ministries: https://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/

Facebook:

Bible Prophecy and World Events:  https://www.facebook.com/christianendtimeministries/

Fruit of the Spirit Ministries: https://www.facebook.com/danielendtimeministries/

Revelation 12 Prophetic Ministries: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571011996707

Genesis 22:1-18: I Surrender All & I Surrender All (Two Posts With The same Title!)

 

Genesis 22:1-18: I Surrender All

In Genesis 22:1-14, Abraham is asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac as proof of his faith and obedience.  Abraham had waited many years for God's promise to make his descendants as numerous as the stars. He was 100 years old when Isaac was born. 

Yes, Abraham still had his son Ishmael, but the older son had been cast out because Sarah did not want the older boy competing for an inheritance with her son Isaac.  So, in a way, it was almost as if Isaac was Abraham's first son.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his precious son because he loved God more than Isaac.  He brought Isaac up to the altar to slaughter him, but God provided a ram to be killed in Isaac's place, and therefore, spared the life of the son and spared the grief of the father.

May I always be so obedient that I am willing to surrender all to Jesus out of my great love for Him above everyone and everything else. May I always believe that if it is within His will, God can provide a way out of a seemingly impossible situation.

(Genesis 22:1-18) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, "Abraham:" and he said, "Behold, here I am."

And he said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest... and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

And Abraham rose up early in the morning... and went unto the place of which God had told him.... And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, "My father:" and he said, "Here am I, my son." And he said, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:" so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham:" and he said, "Here am I."

And he said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

Here is a second blog I wrote in November 2025 with the same title.

I Surrender All

Whether in dreams or audibly, usually when God speaks to me it is early in the morning just before or after I wake up. I think it is because my mind runs 100 miles per hour and this is about the only time my brain is still enough to really listen to God. I like to think I have a "convention song brain" where there are several melodies and lyrics happening at once but somehow still all makes sense! Several mornings ago, shortly after waking, I clearly heard the Lord ask, "What are the three most important words?" Before I could even contemplate an answer, I then heard, "I surrender all."

As it is in my nature to do so, God knew I would over analyze this, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized these three words are the foundation for two other very important three-word phrases we need to say to God: "I love You" and "Please forgive me."

First, I will explore the phrase given: "I surrender all."

After I told my husband about my experience, we had a discussion about what it means to surrender your all to Jesus and how this is even possible. It may seem like an obvious point, but it is very true that to surrender all is to say to Jesus, "Take my life and do with as you will. I give you full control." This is a very important first step. The best way to do this is by praying that God will shut all doors in your life He wants shut and open all the door He wants opened. And then to not fight His decisions but trust His sovereign will.

I am guilty of praying that the Lord's will be done and when He has shut the door, I stubbornly have forced it back open and suffered the consequences. For example, in 2017, before a scheduled job interview I prayed that if the job was not within His will that He would somehow find a way to cancel the interview. The morning of the interview the boss called and cancelled because his wife was sick. I praised God for answering my prayer, but a year later, still unemployed and desperate, I reapplied and was hired on the spot. Going after a job God had initially shut down had its consequences. I became very sick due to the chemicals used at the facility. God knew there were dangerous chemicals there that would affect me, and I should have surrendered my will and not pursued that job a second time.

(Isaiah 55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

So many people try to open God's closed doors to relationships that are just as harmful as toxic chemicals. These people may physically, emotionally, or spiritually harm you and God is gracious enough to send you warning signs (and even dreams) that tell you to walk away. Out of loyalty to the person, instead of loyalty to God, you stay and get hurt deeper and even risk your walk with God. Listen to God when He tells you someone is harmful. Being lonely is better than risking your life or soul. Besides, we are never alone as God will always bring us comfort even in the hard times (see also 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

(1 Corinthians 14:33-34) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not.

Another area I have had to learn to surrender has been allowing God to heal me from past pains.  Once, when I was listening to the song, "I Surrender All," and really praising God, not just mindlessly singing, I heard the Lord ask me, "Have you surrendered ALL?"  At first, I thought I had, but I knew God was asking me because He wanted me to really examine my heart.  I realized that there were past griefs in my life of which I had not let go.  I wept and prayed and asked God to help me heal the wounds I knew I could never heal on my own.      

Another way to surrender all to God is by following what the Bible says we need to do. In my opinion, this is even more important because when we choose to do the moral thing, God is more likely to protect us, and we also become more sensitive to the voice of His Holy Spirit. When we know what the Bible says about sin and chase after it anyway, like I chased after a toxic job, we suffer the consequences. The rules of Jesus are not put in place to harm us, but to protect us (see also Matthew 19:16-19 & Revelation 21:8).

(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This brings me to the next phrase, "I love You." I am not referring to a generic human "you," but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When we truly love the Holy Trinity, it makes it so much easier to surrender.

When I was single, I used to believe I could never fully love someone because it is impossible for me to trust people. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Because God sent me the perfect man, I fall was able love and trust the man I married. He is the only person I can trust.

My trust issues applied to God as well. Yet, the more I learned about the character of Jesus (by reading my Bible and praying), the more I love Him and can trust He wants only the best for His children. If we cannot trust Him enough to lead our lives, we cannot ever fully love Him.

(1 John 2:3-5) And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

And the more we love God and see how kind and gracious He truly is, the more we want to do the right things.

(Romans 2:4) The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.

If you are interested, you can read more about trust in my blog here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/07/trust.html

Maybe love comes first and then surrender, but they definitely go together. As does this last phrase: "Please forgive me."

When we make mistakes, which we will all do, and usually daily, don't give up and say being a Christian is hopeless because you will never be perfect. You don't have to be, but you do need to strive to do your best!

(Luke 13:23-24) Then said one unto him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" And He said unto them, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

Jesus shed His blood and gave us the free gift of salvation we do not have to earn. It would truly be impossible for us to earn such an amazing gift as our righteousness is as filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6). This absolutely does not mean we use God's precious grace as an excuse to shrug it off when we sin. We confess our sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness, and He will always forgive.

(Romans 6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

(1 John 1:5-10) This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Admitting we have done wrong is surrendering our ego by asking for forgiveness and then doing our very best not to repeat the same mistakes. Just as we cannot save ourselves, we also cannot conquer sin on our own. We must surrender our sinful desires to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to give us the strength to walk away from what we know He hates.

(John 15:4-5)[Jesus said,] "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

(1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

As I mentioned above, part of this blog is based on a conversation I had with my husband as we discussed how to surrender. One of the things we talked about, and I have done in the past, is to write a list of things you are having difficulty surrendering to God. This can be a situation such as future plans or a past hurt as well as sins you are having difficulty conquering. For me this was private and I didn't even share it with Mel, but it is up to you if you want to share it with a loved one or not. After you very honestly search your heart and write this list, pray over it and surrender it to God and then let these issues go by either ripping up the list or safely burning it. Trust me, this symbolic act will make your heart feel freer.

Claim the victory in Jesus' powerful name that He has and will help you make the right decisions, help you heal from past wounds, and help you conquer your sins.

There are a lot of beautiful versions of the song, "I Surrender All," and here is one of my picks: