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January, 2003

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Bible Reading Plan 

From Discontentment to Discovery
by Gerry Hiebert, Canadian National Director

Midway through Genesis is Jacob's story. Jacob, the third generation under God's Covenant, enjoyed Covenant blessings but also experienced insecurity, selfishness, and bad decisions, consequences common to all humanity.

DISCONTENTMENT

Although a twin, second-born Jacob was not entitled to the same inheritance and blessing as his brother Esau. In the Hebrew culture the eldest son received a double portion of the father’s estate; twice the amount given to any other son(s).

Jacob was not content with his lot. His birth revealed a prophetic image of striving to be first. “Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they called him Jacob.” Jacob means “he grasps the heel;” this can also figuratively mean “he deceives.” (Genesis 25:12 New Living Translation)

Jacob’s discontentment was a bad seed which found fertile soil in his heart to germinate and grow. Discontentment always produces bitter fruit. It entices us to find something to fill an inner emptiness. While pleasant to behold, from the first bite discontent leaves us unsatisfied. It lured Jacob to steal Esau’s birthright by taking advantage of a moment of weakness. Having gained his desire, Jacob wanted more. Even the birthright didn’t fill the void. Discontentment’s insatiable appetite is never gratified.

This craving led to further sin. The birthright hadn’t satisfied; perhaps his father’s blessing would. Jacob deceived his father Isaac in an act of disrespect and dishonor. God devotes a Commandment to the matter of honoring one’s parents. Pride elevates us so that we refuse to respect and honor people God places in our lives as a blessing.

DISINHERITED

Consequences were swift to materialize. Sin is like that. We appear to get away with it for a while, but eventually everyone gets caught. Jacob had to flee home and family fearing for his life. (Gen. 27:41) Instead of gaining the inheritance he desperately sought, Jacob himself was disinherited. What a paradox! Stealing the inheritance he lusted after cost him God’s gift of home and family that was already his.

He fled to his uncle’s home. While running from the consequences of rebellion, a merciful God met him. (Gen. 28:10-15) Jacob’s response gives hope to all with prodigals seemingly beyond even the reach of God. “Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, ‘The LORD is in this place, and I didn’t even know it.’”

Having lost his family, Jacob sought a replacement in Laban’s home but experienced the spiritual principle of reaping what you’ve sown. He’d sown deception and now harvested its fruit. Laban tricked him into marrying, cheated him, and Jacob soon reaped discord in his own family. (Gen. 29-31)

DISCOURAGEMENT

If not dealt with, discontentment generates discouragement. Doing things "my way" eventually takes its toll. Quarreling wives, a swindling father-in-law and his own conscience wore Jacob down. He lost the courage to face the results of his choices, so he did what he’d always done; he ran away. Jacob packed up bickering wives, jealous sons and all that God had blessed him with and ran for home.

DISASTER

With an angry father-in-law on his heels, Jacob fled toward a brother who’d once vowed to kill him. Fairly dire consequences! No escape. Willful, selfish behavior always brings disaster. Incredibly, disaster can be a good place to find oneself!

As he prepared for the worst, feeling like a juggler flipping live hand grenades, despairing, disheartened and alone, when he least expected it, Jacob found a divine appointment had been penciled into his daytimer.

This encounter between Omnipotent Jehovah God and a man called Deceiver is astonishing. Amazing because God doesn’t give Jacob what he deserves. Astounding because a sin-soaked man wrestles with God and is not annihilated. And what does this impertinent man ask of the Almighty? Unbelievably, Jacob asks God for a blessing! (Gen. 32:26) How foolish!! How bold!!! After all the lying, deceiving, stealing, grasping and striving, Jacob was empty again and desperate for a blessing. As Pastor Ken Savage says, “Sin promises that which it cannot deliver.”

DISCOVERY

So what does a holy, just, righteous God do? He blesses Jacob! Can you fathom that? Jacob’s own astonishment shows when he says, “I have seen God face to face, and I am still alive,” I’m astonished too, at God’s grace, mercy and love for Jacob (and for you and me).

I’m sure many think, “Yes, that’s just like my mate. I see how discontentment led to disobedience and so on.” But this is not written for your mate, it’s for us “faithful ones”. We must guard our own hearts. We have to learn to be content in every circumstance, we must honor and respect our mates. We need to take courage and not lose heart, to wait for the inheritance God gives. Only then will we discover the love and faithfulness of God in the dark hour of disaster.

Covenant Marriage Sunday
February 16, 2003

Covenant Keepers is a Cooperating Ministry with the Covenant Marriage Movement. Pray about whether or not God would have your church participate in upholding the covenant of marriage on the third Sunday in February. If so, we encourage you to download the information from the CMM web site to present to your pastor.

The Covenant Marriage Movement (CMM) encourages churches to corporately affirm and celebrate marriage as a covenant relationship on Sunday, February 16. The goal is to have 50,000 congregations throughout the Judeo-Christian community around the world participate during morning worship that day.

For the past three years, God has introduced thousands of couples to the concept of covenant marriage. Over 25,000 have affirmed their relationship as a Covenant Marriage by signing a commitment card at one of hundreds of events sponsored by the 50 different CMM Cooperating Ministries.

Now churches, as local bodies of the Bride of Christ, can join sister churches in celebrating God’s greatest gift of love in and through human relationships—the gift of marriage as a covenant.

As you gather in worship on the third Sunday in February, we encourage you to proclaim God’s Word regarding marriage as a covenant, intended by Him to be a lifelong fruitful relationship through which His name is glorified, the Bride of Christ is edified, and the nation is sensitized to His activity in our hearts and lives.

In addition to preaching the Word we encourage you to provide an opportunity for the couples in your congregation to affirm their relationship as a covenant marriage by signing a Couple’s Commitment Card available through the CMM office.

For more information on how you or your congregation can become involved in this historical event, contact the Covenant Marriage Movement office at 1-800-311-1662, 7:30 a.m-5:00 p.m. Central Time or through the website at www.covenantmarriage.com.

Divorce, Be Cast Into The Sea
In 2003!