I Have Enough

 I Have Enough

Genesis 33: ⁸ Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”

And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.”

⁹ But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

 

¹⁰ And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. ¹¹ Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.

 

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Esau asked Jacob about all the stuff that was placed before him. Jacob had set aside herds and breeders so the herds would remain plentiful. It took some doing, but Jacob convinced Esau to take the gift.

 

My Observations:

• Esau had grown to be a mighty leader and had no need for more of what he could get.
• Jacob had grown to be a very influential leader and had not need of what he had plenty of.
• Esau and Jacob had both grown up beyond the stuff they had.

 

Esau wanted to kill Jacob for stealing his birthright and the blessing from Isaac. But he realized his lifestyle may have caused his own problems. Esau tried to change by going to Ishmael and marrying someone from his family instead of marrying another Hittite woman. This was the start of Esau’s growth.

 

Jacob served a greedy uncle who could only think about free labor. For twenty years, Jacob changed little by little. Jacob saw the LORD and wrestled with HIM. Jacob grew stronger in his belief in GOD’s power. He had plenty and gave Esau a gift, probably asking for forgiveness.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the gift exchange between Jacob and Esau?
• Do you feel you are lacking or have plenty?
• Will you ask GOD to show you what real plentifulness looks like?

Plentiful Thinking

Plentiful Thinking

Genesis 26: ¹⁹ Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. ²⁰ But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. ²¹ Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. ²² And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

 

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Moving back to Gerar from Negev was not easy for Isaac. He had people and herds that needed a lot of water. He moved back to the land Abraham finally settled in, but the people were thieves.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac’s herdsmen did all the work and the people of Gerar sat back until the work was done, then stole what was done.
• Isaac’s herdsmen did more work and the people of Gerar sat back again until the work was done then stole what was done again.
• Isaac’s herdsmen did even more work, but this time no one stole the work, because there was plenty.

 

Quarrel was the first well. Enmity (Hostile) was the second well, but the third well was named Spaciousness. Isaac seemed to be praising GOD for plenty versus complaining that the people around him were evil. Same goes for you and me.

 

We may get in the mindset that this box is ours. Then someone comes along and steals the box and we go to GOD with a complaint. At least that’s how I feel. But Isaac did not complain because he knew he had plenty. His mindset was that of “Take it” because GOD will provide plenty for me! He knew he would be fruitful in the land.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD mentions the well incidents to Moses?
• Do you feel you lack something when GOD has plenty?
• Can you change your mindset to that of “Plenty” because you are related to GOD and HE has everything?

Human Life Prioritized

Human Life Prioritized

Genesis 9: So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. ² And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. ³ Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. ⁴ But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. ⁵ Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

 

⁶ “Whoever sheds man’s blood,
By man his blood shall be shed;
For in the image of God
He made man.
⁷ And as for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Bring forth abundantly in the earth
And multiply in it.”

 

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Life as Noah was used to had changed. No longer would things be the same. GOD had not spoken to Noah’s sons before. Perhaps they were not interested, BUT GOD was starting humanity over. Satan had caused humans to fall. His demons fell and birthed giants. Noah’s sons were living in a world that could care less about GOD.

 

They got married, possibly to descendants of Cain or maybe from the lineage of the giants, spawned from the demonic union. Whatever the case, GOD saw something different in Noah’s sons that HE had to provide clarity to.

 

My Observations:

• GOD values all human life, male and female.
• GOD allowed humans to eat any animal, bird or bug as food.
• GOD specifically emphasized that humans should not be killed or eaten.

 

Turning the planet over to Noah and his family showed the change in the relationship between GOD and humans. GOD would no longer walk with the humans, BUT HE would talk with them. Noah’s sons did not cower in fear when hearing GOD, because perhaps they were used to hearing HIM talk to Noah.

 

GOD gave instructions to grow HIS kingdom. HE blessed humans with dominion over the earth. Animals and bugs were changed during this blessing. They would not own the earth, rather become food. All vegetation could be used by humans as they saw fit. Abundance was established again. Humans were placed on top.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD seem to change the relationship between HIM and Noah’s sons?
• Have you ever started something and came to a point where it was someone else who would be responsible for carrying it forward?
• Can you be fruitful with your creativity and multiply what GOD has given you so HIS kingdom will be expanded abundantly?

Free Will Established

Free Will Established

Genesis 2: ¹⁵ Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

 

After creating a perfect place with beauty that could be enjoyed forever, GOD placed man in the garden and gave him something to do. The trees would grow themselves and provide fruit. Water was plentiful so no plant suffered. There was no rot or disease or bug infestations.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave the first human something to do for his enjoyment.
• GOD provided everything the first human could ever need.
• GOD also gave the first human a choice to obey by providing something he should not do.

 

Two trees were GOD’s and millions, if not billions of trees were for the first human. Each plant, bush, or tree would provide enough food for every animal, bird and fish. GOD probably had other conversations with the first human, but those are not recorded. HIS command, however, is recorded. HE distinctly told the first human not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. HE even gave the consequence. Death.

 

“What in the world is death?” would have been my question. GOD did not reveal the total conversation with the first human, but somehow, the message was conveyed. This was the very first command. No other rules. No sacrifice. No laws. Just eat and tend to the food provided.

 

Challenge:

• Why does GOD emphasize this command to Moses?
• Even with plenty, have you ever wanted what someone else had?
• Have you considered how much or how little you surrender yourself to GOD by choice?

Learned Satisfaction

Learned Satisfaction

Philippians 4: ¹² I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. ¹³ I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

 

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Tired of being poor, I sat and pouted. “Why do ‘bad’ people seem to get their way in life?” was my complaint to GOD. After my complaint, my car broke down. “This isn’t fair!” I complained.

 

• I was not satisfied with my life.
• Most of my thoughts and words were on problems in my life.
• “Everything” seemed bleak and I was not satisfied with the way things were.

 

At one time Paul was not content. He read the Law with fervor and was discontent with how other people lacked his conviction. He had people murdered because of his discontentment. GOD had to teach him a new way. He learned how to be content.

 

My Observations

• Being in need has a purpose with GOD that I sometimes do not understand.
• Having plenty can be dangerous because I can quickly forget I need GOD.
• Being content when I am in need or have plenty takes practice and is a gift given only from GOD.

 

Contentment is detestable to those who are never satisfied. I mean, if things have to go a certain way, those who are discontent will never reach satisfaction. After a while, even GOD cannot provide enough.

 

My discontentment can be detestable to GOD. Fortunately, HE understands. HE gently takes things away that I do not need and gives me an opportunity to say “Thank YOU for all YOU have done.” HE gives me things and I can say “Thank YOU for all YOU have done.” Yes it is the same statement because everything is HIS. I am glad HE gives me chances to learn how to be content.

 

Challenge

• How long do you think it took the writer to learn how to be content?
• Are there parts of your life that you are not satisfied with?
• Do you have complaints, worries or are dissatisfied with anything or anyone?
• Will you learn from GOD how to be satisfied in your situation, so you can be satisfied with other people HE wants to save today?

No Questions Asked

Matthew 15: ³³ His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

³⁴ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

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Eight to ten thousand people were fed by seven loaves of bread and a few small, sardine like fish. I would imagine they had no idea a miracle was happening. They were probably too elated that their family and friends were now seeing and walking and healed of their ailment.

• GOD loves performing miracles around me that I do not notice.
• GOD loves when I am elated by what HE has done in my life.
• GOD loves showing me compassion even when I think I don’t deserve it.

What I noticed about this slice of history is JESUS never asked the crowd any questions. HE asked HIS disciples a question about the amount of food probably to make sure they knew what was about to happen was a miracle. But HE never asks the crowd what they would do with the bread or if they deserved it.

HE did not try to ration it to more needy families nor did HE hoard it for the rich and wealthy. JESUS simply gave thanks and then gave bread and fish to those who were delighted in HIM.

• JESUS wants me to delight in HIM daily.
• JESUS wants me to be fed on a daily basis.
• JESUS wants me to have abundance even when I do not notice it.

HE sent the crowd away and I never heard anyone saying “Thanks” to HIM for the food. They did praise HIM and acknowledged HIM as GOD and that was enough for JESUS. I praise HIM and acknowledge HIM as my savior and GOD today.

• Are you busy looking for a miracle?
• When is the last time your heart was filled with delight?
• Can you seek delight in GOD instead of looking for a miracle?
• When you are being generous, can you stop asking questions about how much they deserve what you are giving?