Escape Plan

Escape Plan

Genesis 27: ⁴¹ So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

 

⁴² And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. ⁴³ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. ⁴⁴ And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, ⁴⁵ until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

 

⁴⁶ And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

 

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Angry at the situation he created, Esau decided to do something about it. He planned to kill his brother Jacob. His hatred was so deep, that he must have said what he would do out loud. Rebekah heard that Esau was planning to kill Jacob, so she put an escape plan into action.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob needed an escape plan because of his lie.
• Esau’s plan was yet another bad decision.
• Rebekah’s plan was to appeal to Isaac’s dislike of the Hittite women.

 

Yes, this situation was messy. BUT GOD knew it would be messy when HE told Rebekah, “the older shall serve the younger.” You would think that three wrongs would make a wrong, BUT GOD took three messed up plans to develop something good. Jacob’s lie, Esau’s hatred and Rebekah’s human plan would all work together for GOD’s good.

 

GOD sees our evil plan that we try to make innocent, and uses sufficient grace to cover us. HIS plan does not include anything evil. HE can see through the twisting and manipulation that humans do and still make HIS plan work. No eil plan can stop GOD. Jacob’s escape plan was put in place.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about what Esau said and Rebekah’s response?
• Have you ever gotten so angry at GOD that you wanted to hurt HIM by refusing to follow HIM?
• If you know there are parts of GOD’s word you refuse to follow, will you ask HIM to help you in those areas?

 

Safety Instructions

Safety Instructions

Genesis 19: ¹⁵ When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

 

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Morning dawned and the day of destruction had arrived. The angels seemed to already set in motion the destruction of the city and its people. They urged Lot to leave with his wife and two daughters. But Lot lingered. He may have been thinking of ways to take all their stuff with them because he was extremely wealthy. While Lot lingered, the angels grabbed his hand and his family’s hands, pulling them out of the city in haste.

 

My Observations:

• Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah would have come whether Lot left or not.
• GOD wanted to keep Lot safe, so HE sent angels to provide urgent instructions.
• Lot could have ignored the instructions and would have been destroyed with the city.

 

Having no time to ask question, Lot and his family were pulled out of the city. All of their possessions, comforts and animals were left behind. One angel said “Escape for your life!” Lot’s short-term decision caused him to lose all of his possessions.

 

This is the first mention of Lot’s wife. She and her daughters had been captured and rescued by Abraham, along with Lot and the rest of the Sodomites. Lot’s wife may have been raised in the ways of the Sodomites. This group of people were against GOD ways and wanted to do the opposite of HIS desires. GOD graciously rescued Lot’s wife. The angels held her hand tightly, leaving the city.

 

Even though the instructions were given with urgency, Lot lingered. I can understand this. Sometimes it depends on how many other urgent, life-threatening things have popped up with no time to think. GOD sent angels for the first time, to help Lot out of his bad decision. GOD’s grace and patience was shown in extreme measures.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the dire instructions the angels gave Lot and his family?
• Has GOD ever told you to do something urgent?
• When GOD gives you an instruction to keep you safe, do you act with immediacy?

 

Narrow Escape

Mark 14: ⁵¹ Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, ⁵² and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

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“Almost there!” I said to myself anxiously. I could hear them saying, “Catch him” but I was too fast. As I ran in the door one person grabbed hold of my backpack and tried to pull me out. I squirmed inside. Fortunately it was where I worked so I was safe.

• There have been times when I have been chased.
• Three have been times when I have been in trouble.
• There have been times when the only solution was to run.

Fearing for their lives, everyone fled from JESUS because they could have been locked up and killed too. There was no longer a thought of a new king, only survival. Those who followed JESUS were now wanted by the government so everyone fled as if they never knew HIM.

• JESUS forgives me when I panic and run from HIM.
• JESUS forgives me when I get scared and doubt HIM.
• JESUS forgives me when I put myself first even though HE should be first.

Life can be scary. There are so many unknowns and trouble seems to rear its ugly head daily. BUT GOD understands. HE knows my fears, doubts and may worries. HE also sees HIS wonderful plan for me that HE has already executed.

HIS plan cannot be altered because HE has already done it for me, that is why HE can make so many promises. GOD says what will happen because to HIM it already happened. HE is the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and the End. HE knows the future because HE is the future and HE has a bright future for me.

• Are you running scared right now?
• Is something right on your heels and you are panicked?
• Can you take a breather for a moment to understand GOD has a bright future for you if you put your trust in HIM today?

Escaping for Life

Matthew 2: ¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

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“Shoot him” were the words I heard as I dashed to the safety of the bowling alley. Our instincts had kicked in and standing to fight an outnumbered crowd was not the option for me or my friend. After waiting a while I could hear something that said “go check on your friend now, he is safe.” I found him and we went home together.

• There have been some very dangerous times in my life.
• There have been some times that I have faced some extreme life threatening situations.
• There have been some moments when I did not think I would make it.

“Fight or flee” comes to mind when faced with danger. I chose to flee that time and hoped for the best. Looking back on this extreme situation I could only see one thing, GOD.

• GOD protects me on a daily basis.
• GOD protects me from those who try to harm me.
• GOD protects me in extremely dangerous situations.

Since GOD has a plan for me, HE wants me to continue so HE protects me to fulfill that plan. HE guards me from dangers I am not aware of and for that I am eternally grateful.

• Are you mad about something?
• Do you feel upset?
• Can you stop your anger for a moment long enough to praise GOD for HIS protection?
• Will you thank GOD for HIS wonderful plan for you?