IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009
A quote worth remembering, even though I don’t know who said it:
“Boundaries give you freedom.”
How true is that to you?
Do you remember the account of Jacob when he went to Laban and basically said I’ve been working for you long enough, it’s time for me to take my family and go home? Do you remember the wages Jacob requested?
Genesis 30: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages.
Laban said okay and Jacob separated the flock that very day.
Do you remember what happened next? I’ll tell you it has always been a puzzle to me, but Beth cleared that up for me today. Here’s the text.
37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods.
38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink.
39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.
I can remember thinking as a child, what’s this about? What do branches in a watering trough have to do with the color of baby lambs and goats? On page 143 of the Patriarch work book, Beth said this: “The interesting part of Jacob’s plan is in the atmosphere he created for producing “streaked or speckled or spotted” animals. You didn’t miss the use of the striped branches, did you? . . . Jacob didn’t learn this technique in zoology. In fact, the chances of the sight of striped branches producing speckled animals were about as good as the mandrakes causing pregnancy.” She went on to say: “Jacob’s plan was to plainly set God up for success. To make it easier for Him. To increase His chances, we might say.”
I wonder if ABBA smiled when he saw Jacob trying so hard to help Him bless him? I sure hope there is Heavenly Video when we get HOME; I’d love to SEE this scene.
Okay. So the answer to my question – What do branches in a watering trough have to do with the color of baby lambs and goats? Nothing! Nothing mystical about it; nothing scientific about it, just Jacob ‘helping God’. Beth finished the lesson this way on page 144: “God blessed the flocks of Jacob more than Laban because He was faithful to His promises. At Bethel He told Jacob that He’d spread out his descendants “to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.” And that He’d bless him and be with him wherever he went. God also emphatically promised to bring Jacob back to the land. (Gen. 28:14-15). The method God chose and revealed ingeniously to Jacob meant the bleating of spotted, speckled sheep and goats would follow Jacob and his family all the way home. As for the branches? Mere accessories. Save your trees and bow down to a sovereign God.”
In Kathie Thompson paraphrase: I think God just impressed upon Jacob to say give me the speckled and spotted ones because God knew that Laban knew there were not that many of them at the time, and that greedy Laban would easily agree. And when he did, God made sure there were plenty of them born and He would have done it even without the striped branches. But the branches made Jacob feel better and I personally don’t think ABBA minded. He knew Jacob’s stage of growth at the time. And He knows our too. You see ABBA hears me when I pray whether I voice it aloud, voice it silently or write it down; but you know when I am real serious about a matter, I write it. I guess you could say I gather a few striped branches and put them in the watering trough. Maybe someday I won’t feel the need to write out those serious request, but until then I think ABBA is still smiling. How about you?
Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Young woman who teaches here in North Mobile County has been hospitalized with pneumonia; serious situation. Lord, we are concerned about this young woman, she is loved by many, she is important to those little second graders who love her so much, please heal her; give her back health and life and return her to her classroom to teach and honor Your name we pray.
ABBA, thank You. This blesses me. I like it! I am thinking You do too. Thank You that You hear my voiced prayers and You hear my written ones too and You answer them all. Thank You that as long as I think I need striped branches You will allow me to have them. And thank You that You are growing me to not need them and for sure when I see You FACE to face, I won’t need them anymore. Thank You.
We are praying for Roy and Julee, You know the needs there. They are great ones but You are able, more than able so we are praying that Roy and Julee will experience Your faithfulness to them. We understand Sparky is in need again too and we’d like for You to rid his body of that E-coli and make him well again. And there are other unspoken things that we bring for Your Tending To and we bring our IDOK Troops for safety and protection and for ministry; Lord Jesus, minister to their needs, especially their spiritual needs – encouragement and comfort and yes, for sure, for sure, conviction to make holy decisions and keep themselves unspotted by that hostile world in which they are living. And please bring them home safe and sound at the appointed time. And I pray for the political arena here in America. You know I hate the corruption, I hate the greed, the lies, the deception, I hate the insatiable craving for power and domination that I see so clearly in prominent people and oh how I’d like to do something about it, so I am praying. I know You are in control and I know You have and will continue to provide and bless and prosper us as we obey You; especially in these evil times, I pray we will obey You and that we will give and give and give again of ourselves and our resources as You direct us. I pray we will be wise and discerning, not be duped, and that the world will come to stand in amazement at what You do with servants who love You and trust You. Thank You for being You and thank You for shaping us too. Amen and amen in Jesus Name.
A Specific Unspoken.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about.
Children and/or Grandchildren about whom Moms (& Dads) are concerned that their salvation profession may not be true.
Teacher hospitalized with pneumonia. Green Family. Overstreet Family. W.C. and family. Mary M. Danny and Tina. Robert and Kerry L. Ken and Della. Art and Sula. Rudon. Kelly C. Henry P. Dana and Joey and Children. Tracey M. Vicki and Bob. Brady and Chloe. Patti and family. Joyce, John & children. Sparky. Sean. Susan R. Kay B. Rusty & Romney. Johnny McK and family. Katie H. Amber Johns. Joe-Ann. Vickie and Family. Dennis and Lisa J. Jack. Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W and Family. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. Ed G. Debra B. Jon E. Brian. Donald 1. Loyce McM. DeLois. Mollie B. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel.. Maggie and Family. Katelyn (H). J Lloyd. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy. Doug. Larry and Claudia and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Chuck. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Andrew and Daughters.
Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry
Ryan, Sarah, Josh & Caleb Bedenkop – missionaries in Arizona.
The Ministry of IDOK
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Justin G. Michael K. Bay N. T. Palin. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Kyle N(3/09). Jessica D. (4/09) Sgt. Vince Barrientos (5/2009) Bill H. (added 9/24/09) Brandon B.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Joey H. 10/21/09.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Tommy W.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)
Military at home, specifically those emotional-spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. Captain Tran. Josh. John L. Drew. Richard M. Matt P. (added 9/24/09)
As I post this it is 55°F and partly cloudy in Kabul, AH (Airport) and the time is 8:13 AM AFT on November 3, 2009.
