Saturday, July 31, 2021

Genesis 32:30 Devotion by Stephen Taylor

Genesis 32:30

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

 

Genesis 33:10 - No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”

 

The Holy Spirit connected these two verses for me this morning, and it truly is beautiful! What a statement Jacob makes here! He says that seeing his brother is like seeing the face of God! Shortly before this encounter with his brother, he wrestled with God, and it’s pretty difficult to wrestle with someone without seeing them. So, we can infer that Jacob knows what he is talking about when making this statement.

 

So, what does he see in his brother's face that reminded him of the Lord? Jacob had stolen his brother's birthright, stolen his blessing from his father, and then took off to hide from him. Jacob probably expected his brother to be vengeful and angry. He probably expected his brother to punish him or try to kill him even. So, Jacob approaches him expecting judgment and punishment but receives love and mercy instead!!! That, my friends, is what the face of the Lord looks like!

 

This is how we are when we approach Christ. We come in with all these “what if’s” and excuses, and He is waiting there to embrace us with open, loving arms! How often do we run from our healing and forgiveness because we think what we have done is too bad or too much? The smallest sin will separate you from the Father. There is no “sin scale,” as we would know it, but only sin, but Jesus died for all of them! We have to stop trying to put limits or conditions on His love, mercy, and forgiveness! It is His to give because He paid for it, and it’s our job to humbly repent and accept it!

 

Romans 11:33-36 - Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!” Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" “Who has ever given to God that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

 

God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to God Almighty, King Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!

 

 

 

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