Keeping Faith & Not Giving Up
The third patriarchal character
Jacob truly lives up to his name,
stealing the family blessing meant
for his twin brother Esau. But it is
through Jacob that God’s promises
are fulfilled in a greater degree.
During a 20-year stay in Haran,
Jacob the schemer becomes
Jacob the servant of God.
After leaving his uncle Laban, he
reconciles to God, wrestling with
the angel of Jehovah that leaves
him with a new name Israel & limp.
Dear Lord, thanks for Yr goodness
and redemption plan for mankind.
Help us to Trust You like Abraham
though not having all the answers;
Submit to Your Will like Isaac and
not demanding one own’s way;
and Have Persevering Faith like
Jacob who Didn’t Give Up easily.
Lord, we see in the story of Jacob
that You transform people in the
course of fulfilling Your promises.
Help us to have the tenacity of
Jacob who Didn’t Give Up easily:
Choosing Long-term Significance,
Willing to work hard Patiently and
Persevering On God’s promises.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
Lord, help us Choose Significance:
One day when Jacob was cooking
some stew, Esau arrived home
from the wilderness exhausted
and hungry. Esau said to Jacob,
I’m starved! Give me some stew!
All right, Jacob replied, but trade
me your rights as the firstborn son.
Look, I’m dying of starvation! said
Esau. What good is my birthright
to me now? But Jacob said: First
you must swear that your birthright
is mine. So Esau swore an oath,
thereby selling all his rights as
the firstborn to his brother Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread
and lentil stew (Gen 25:29-34).
Lord, all that U have promised for
those who love U is of great worth.
But it takes eyes of faith to see it
and a willingness to wait for it while
this world wants instant gratificatn.
So help us Lord to choose wisely
for Longterm Significance rather
than momentary craving. Amen.
Lord, help us Learn to Be Patient:
As Jacob was in love with Rachael,
he told her father: I’ll work for you
for seven years if you’ll give me
Rachael your younger daughter
as my wife. Agreed! Labuan replied
Finally the time came for him
to marry her. I have fulfilled my
agreement, Jacob said to Labuan.
So Labuan prepared a wedding
feast. But that night, when it was
dark, Labuan took Leah to Jacob,
and he slept with her. When Jacob
woke up in the morning, it was
Leah! Jacob raged at Labuan: Why
have u tricked me? (Gen 29:16-25)
Altho Jacob made many mistakes,
his hard work for 14 years teaches
us about living a life of service.
When faced with challenges,
help us Lord Not Give Up so easily,
but instead be willing to work hard
for You and Wait Patiently. Amen.
Lord, help us Don’t Stop Believing:
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. Then the man said:
Let me go, for it is daybreak. But
Jacob replied: I will not let you go
unless U bless me (Gen 32:24-26).
Lord,help us emulate Jacob,staying
there until he receives the blessing.
I confess I’ve times of fear & doubt
but I commit to trust You more and
purpose to pray more each day.
Help us Fight a good fight, Believe
and Hold On to Yr promises. Amen.