Journey From Jacob

<p>We do NOT want to erase history, good or bad.</p><p>However there are a few holes to patch to bring clarity to an historic event.</p><p>The purpose of this episode is to clear up the confusion about why Jews celebrate Passover every spring while Christians celebrate Easter. Is this how God planned the calendar?</p><p>Or was God's intention to unite Jews and Gentiles instead of further dividing them as history has sadly recorded?</p><p>On the night of Passover, when God saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrew slaves' homes, He delivered them from the cruelty of slavery.</p><p>That night was to be remembered and celebrated for all generations in every Jewish home.</p><p>Fifteen centuries later it was celebrated by a group of Jewish disciples, led by Jesus, whom they called Yeshua. From that night on until eternity, people everywhere can celebrate with even greater intention because on that Passover, Yeshua became the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world, to free all who believe in Him from the slavery of sin.</p><p>We can't change history, but we can make corrections as we move forward and follow the Lamb.</p>

<p></p><p></p><p>We all have missing pieces. Much of our lives are spent looking for them. Without knowing what they look like, our search can seem futile. It may sound strange, but we are created that way. God put eternity in our hearts, yet it cannot be grasped in this life without Him. We look for it in a thousand different ways as well as in people who seem to have found it.</p><p>Jesus came to fill that gap. He is the Blessing but remains invisible. He will only be seen through the actions of those who receive Him. In Genesis 12, God’s solution to mankind’s problem is revealed to Abraham, then to his descendants through Jacob. He gives them this blessing to share it with all the families of the earth. This is God’s eternal purpose. In this episode we begin to see God’s love for all people and His intention for people to share that love with others. It will require faith and cooperation, the very thing that Satan despises.</p><p>Because of his opposition, this blessing becomes contentious, and the tension of the redemption story begins to mount.</p><p></p><p></p>

<p><strong>The Fragile Nature of the Blessing</strong></p><p>Jacob is yet to be known by his new name, Israel. It will be centuries before Israel will be known as the Land God promised to Jacob and his descendants.</p><p>It seems like God is in no rush to introduce him and his son’s as we begin to read of their episodes. Sometimes it will make us cringe that these guys are supposed be the emissaries of the blessing, when they can barely get along.</p><p>We must realize that<em> civilization was not civilized</em> to understand God’s process of releasing them into the world as His representatives.</p><p>Before long God will use Israel using three objects symbolically.</p><p>Compass—Plumbline—Time piece. Later we will see how these connect as the path of righteousness hosts its first sojourners.</p><p>Meanwhile continue your journey with our assistance on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://comfortmypeople.com"><em>comfortmypeople.com</em></a><em>.</em> Follow us on social media and YouTube and leave comments.</p><p>Shalom and Blessings</p>

<p>For those who have followed our podcast, this episode is partially a recap. Our focus moving forward will be centered on the promise that God made with Abraham. He adds something into Abraham’s life into that was previously missing from his identity. Unlike Jacob, there was no wrestling match. God made Abraham a “blessing” and told him His intention was for the benefit of the world. He believed God and began to follow Him as God lead him on this new journey. Abraham (whose name was then Abram), simply obeyed God and began following Him as a lifestyle.</p><p>God told Abraham that his son Isaac would also receive this blessing as would his grandson Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons. God added no conditions. He plotted a portion of land on which Abram and his descendants would grow into a nation and possess it forever. The conditional part of this covenant would fall upon those they encountered throughout time. The blessing would always cause an effect. Either it was received or rejected. The decision to bless or curse Abraham’s descendants would have universal consequences, which are still in effect today.</p>

<p></p><p>Purim, Parallels and Purpose</p><p></p><p>The Feast of Purim begins at sundown tonight. It is not a well known feast outside of the Jewish world, even though the Bible devotes one book to what was intended to take place on that day but didnt. </p><p>Haman, who was second to the KIng wrote an edict to kill all the Jews and plunder their goods in one day all over the world.</p><p></p><p>If not for the courage of one man and his adopted daughter who courageously acted upon the covenant of God, the world would never be the same…but God.</p><p>Even though He is never mentioned, nor is Satan, there is no other place in the Bible where the confrontation of good and evil in the invisible world is so evident in the affairs of man. </p><p></p><p>Esther and her uncle Mordecai are the heroes for us to model. When they acted, God responded and the devil was defeated. This took place in the land that is today called Iran, ruled by an evil regime that has attempted to destroy Israel and the Jews since its inception. </p><p>The war that has just begun is fought on two levels, just as in Esther’s day. The Haman’s of her day were eliminated as are the ones of ours. We rejoice, not because of the death of the wicked, but the triumph of good over evil.</p><p></p><p>Pray for the Jewish people worldwide, especially in Israel. Let them know you care. </p><p>Visit us at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://comfortmypeople.com"><em>comfortmypeople.com</em></a><em> </em>for more information and opportunity to support our efforts.</p>