| Verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21 |
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| Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” |
| Our verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21. Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” The story of Jacob begins in Genesis 25 with the birth of him and his twin Esau to Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob’s story is then weaved through the rest of the book of Genesis with a concluding statement in Gen. 49:33, which says, “And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.” As we look at our verse from Hebrews 11:21 we see that just before he would die he would not just bless his sons but would bless Joseph, whom he had for years thought was dead. And not only did he bless Joseph he was able to bless the sons of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. What a moment that must have been to bless Joseph and then bless his sons! If you have read Jacob’s story you will recall that for many years, he only had a memory of a most precious and cherished son that left him struggling with the promises of God. There came a point with Jacob that he hit rock bottom as not only was Joseph “dead” but his wife Rachel had died and they were in a famine, and after going to get grain in Egypt Simeon was kept as a prisoner and to get more grain Benjamin has to go down to Egypt. In this low moment, Jacob cried out in anguish in Genesis 42:36 “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” Let 4 words and then 6 words sink in: YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME! ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME. Read them again slowly YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME! ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME. That is the mind of Jacob in Genesis 42:36. God has bereaved him or God had ROBBED him as that is what the word bereaved means. From the standpoint of Jacob God has robbed him and EVERYTHING IS AGAINST HIM! But now, at the end of his life, he is seeing both Joseph and his grandsons and he tells them as he blesses them that God is the One “who has fed me all my life long to this day.” (Gen. 48:15) Please don’t miss the keyword spoken in Hebrews 11:21 as one reads “AND WORSHIPED!” What a great ending for Jacob! While his story is filled with wondering about God, even being very upset with God, it ends with him WORSHIPPING!! And you too can have a great ending! Know that what you see today happening in your life is not the whole story. While Jacob was thinking all things were against him God was working all things out for his good! So keep trusting God! The verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21. It says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” Continue Strong believing that God is WORKING ALL THINGS OUT FOR HIS GLORY! And remember to DATE THE WORD! PS. I find with the story of Jacob it is good to read Footprints in the Sand! |