17/1/18 – Genesis 34, Genesis 35 Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 13:1-17 Psalm 10:1-11

Gen 35: 27-29 – And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

This is just a thought that came as I read this – maybe nothing you can take from it other than “that’s interesting” – but Isaac is alive up until this point. He’s been old and pretty much blind for along time.

Imagine the hardship he must have gone through – blessing the wrong son, and then having his family torn apart as one brother wanted to kill the other. He’s then gone years – around 22 years with a family separated. Then Jacob comes back – with a whole new family. Isaac then lives around another 3 years before he dies.

I wonder if he ever thought that day would come, certainly whilst he was alive. But it did. He got to see the family restored.

I don’t know if those circumstances speak to you – but don’t give up on your family. It took a long time – but restoration happened. Hold fast. Keep praying for your wandering relatives. Don’t give up.

Matt 12: 46-50 – While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus tells us something important about family. Family is about more than those who were born into. Family are those who serve God with you.

This is not to say Jesus’ birth family were not important. Mary was at the foot of the cross and one of the last things Jesus did was make sure she was looked after.

When we are saved – we become part of another family. A big one, that reaches across the world and back 2,000 years. Jesus wasn’t excluding his birth family – but opening up the doors to those who’d follow God. Your church is local expression of that great family – and that’s what church should be. Not a business. Not a club. It’s family.

Psalm 10:4,5 – In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.

Why do so many not see God, when it’s so obvious that He’s there? This Psalm suggest – they don’t see Him because they don’t Seek Him. All their thoughts are – “There is no God”. They don’t want Him to be real. God’s judgements are on high – out of their sight… they don’t look therefore they don’t understand.

That’s the trouble with the wicked – they don’t want to stop. So many simply don’t see Him because they are simply not looking.

Heb 29: 13 says You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.