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?

 

Reliance

 

Reliance

2 Corinthians 1: ⁸ We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. ⁹ We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again, ¹¹ as you help us by means of your prayers for us. So it will be that the many prayers for us will be answered, and God will bless us; and many will raise their voices to him in thanksgiving for us.

 

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Huge tractor trailer trucks and speeding cars were the norm on this stretch of road. Our car was relatively new and we wanted to take it on a road trip. It was raining so I slowed down to just a little over the speed limit. I hit a large puddle and lost control of the car for a moment. We spun around in an almost complete circle, leaving us in perpendicular, blocking all lanes. No one hit us and we did not hit anything.

 

• This was nothing short of a miracle that we are still alive.
• When the danger hit, it seemed like there was nothing I could do but pray “Help LORD!”
• This deliverance has helped me remember where to put my reliance years after the incident.

 

Paul gives some startling news about the near death situations that happened on their trip. They had given up hope, BUT GOD saved them and showed HIS ability to protect when there seemed to be no way out.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to rely on HIS power, not mine.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS plan not mine.
• GOD wants me to wait on HIS time, HIS way and HIS will.

 

Relying on my skills or someone else’s is futile. I mean, whatever a human can do or say is useless compared to what GOD can and will do. All situations, no matter how bleak, must go before HIM. HE knows when death asks to have me and so far the answer has been “No!”

 

HE gives me another chance to speak about JESUS to at least one more person. HE also provides me with many people, who have face danger, to pray for me and I for them. I am glad HE listens to prayers of thanksgiving.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the writers excitement for being alive?
• Who does the writer give credit to?
• Will you reduce your reliance on yourself and others today; and increase your reliance on GOD, who raises the dead?

Amazing Timing

Luke 22: ⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’

⁹ ‘Where do you want us to prepare for it?’ they asked.

¹⁰ He replied, ‘As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks: where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.’

¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

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“What a life-changing trip” I said to myself as I left my first missionary journey to a large city in a large country on a large continent. It was kind of sad to leave the people, especially the ones I had long conversations. Two years later I went back and was standing in a very populated place. Someone called out my name. It was a person I met two years prior.

• Many times I have run into someone I knew in a strange place at a strange time.
• Many times I have seen circumstances clear themselves up in amazing timing.
• Many times I have been at “the right place at the right time.”

JESUS gives precise instructions on a very random event. HE tells them to follow a guy with a jug of water on his head. There could have been twenty or thirty people doing this. Which one would be the right one? The disciples did has HE said and found everything just as HE said.

• JESUS says to me “I will take care of you.”
• JESUS says to me “MY timing is the best timing.”
• JESUS says to me “There are no coincidences, only MY power.”

GOD’s timing is amazing timing. I mean I have been in some pretty precarious positions and HE has never failed me. HE raises me up when I feel down. In this passage, another amazing timing thing happened. JESUS was being prepared as the sacrifice for mankind on the same day as the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. GOD has no coincidences in my life, only great plans.

• Have you seen GOD’s timing lately?
• Do you think coincidences happen in your life?
• Will you give GOD the credit HE deserves for guiding you in HIS plan HE has for you today?