In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit. Isaiah 63:9.
From the beginning of sin Christ was with His people to dispute the authority of Satan, for He saw that the conflict must be carried on here in the earth. Satan withstood the Son of God in every effort to redeem His people. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and in the pillar of fire by night, Christ directed, guided, counseled the children of Israel in their journeyings from Egypt to Canaan. But how unwilling were the children of Israel to be led, how unwilling to be controlled by the voice of the Angel of the Lord! How eager they were in vindicating their own course, in justifying themselves in their rebellious feelings, and in following their own ideas and plans!
It was the mighty Counselor who was enshrouded in the pillar of cloud and fire, and who was beholding the encampment of His people. It was He who corrected them in their evil ways, and encouraged them to trust in the living God to lead them safely to the Land of Promise. They were continually under the eye that never slumbers nor sleeps, and yet they murmured against Moses, the man whom God had appointed as their visible leader, and to whom Jesus Christ talked face-to-face, as a man talketh with his friend. Notwithstanding the fact that the Lord wrought through His servant Moses, yet when the enemy tempted them to evil surmising, jealousy, and faultfinding, they did not resist his temptations and stand firmly for principle.
But their failure is explained by the Inspired Word, and a warning given to us upon whom the ends of the world are come, lest we also fall after the same example of unbelief…. The children of Israel fell under the power of the enemy by cherishing an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, and when once they were found on the enemy’s side, he pressed his advantage, and made them his allies to the utmost extent. The sin of unbelief, by which their confidence in the Son of God was destroyed, led Israel far astray. At the very time when they should have been praising God and magnifying the name of the Lord, talking of His goodness, telling of His power, they were found in unbelief, and full of murmuring and complaint. The deceiver was seeking through every means possible to sow discord among them, to create envy and hatred in their hearts against Moses, and to stir up rebellion against God. By listening to the voice of the great deceiver they were led into affliction, trial, and destruction.—Manuscript 65, 1895 (The Signs of the Times, April 25, 1895).
Christ Triumphant p. 108
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Brenda as she is visiting her sister this week. Pray that her sister will be open to the truths of God’s Word. Rose
—–I have an important unspoken prayer request. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, while visiting with a friend upon religious topics, the subject of deism arose. As she had not heard of deism, we explained a little of that belief. The Encyclopedia Britannica Online puts it thus: “A form of natural religion, Deism originated in England in the early 17th century as a rejection of orthodox Christianity. Deists asserted that reason could find evidence of God in nature and that God had created the world and then left it to operate under the natural laws he had devised. The philosopher Edward Herbert (1583–1648) developed this view in On Truth (1624). By the late 18th century Deism was the dominant religious attitude among Europe’s educated classes; it was accepted by many upper-class Americans of the same era, including the first three U.S. presidents.” As I thought about this false belief held by so many in the 17th and 18th centuries, I could see how it naturally would lead to the multitude of agnostic and atheistic teachings so prevalent in the world today.
Our Great Creator made the universe and all that is in it. All of the beings in the Universe know that fact: all, that is, except sinful human beings who have listened to the devil’s lies. John saw “the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev 4:10, 11 Isaiah adds, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Isa 45:18
Our Loving God did not create the world and then walk off and let all things develop as they will. Indeed, He is even now “upholding all things by the word of his power.” Heb 12:3 He declares, “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Ps 50:10,11 Jesus uses His loving care over all His creatures as an illustration of His tender care for each of us. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Jesus assures us, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt 6:26-30; Luke 12:6,7
Think of it! He, Who created the Universe and all that is in it, knows each one of us so well that He even knows the number of the hairs of our head (a number that changes daily)! Moreover, He knows our thoughts and our motives. Others may misjudge us; but He does not, for He knows every secret thing about us. Things that we would not want others to know, He knows. Secrets that we think are hidden from sight, are plain to Him. Jesus says, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:2,3 Solemn thought. Solomon advises, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc 12:13,14
In light of this, our prayer should be, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:10-13 Our Loving Redeemer promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27 Precious promise! He, Who has created all, will personally give us a new heart, a clean and a pure heart. Through His power “the righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 He says, “ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24 What a Wonderful, Personal, Loving, Caring Saviour! He is personally interested in our life! He upholds us as if there were no other! He gives us the victory over all that is false!
May we put away the false doctrines of the world which would take us down the wrong path and recognize our Great Creator’s tender care over all that He has created is my prayer.
Rose

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel. Exodus 14:8.
When light from God, strong and convincing, came to make known the great I AM, Pharaoh was compelled to yield. But as soon as the pressure was removed, his unbelief returned and counteracted the great light God had given. When he refused the evidence of the first miracle, he sowed the seed of infidelity, which, left to its natural course, produced a harvest after its own kind. Afterward the king would not be convinced by any working of God’s power. The monarch hardened his heart, and went on from one step to another of unbelief, until throughout the vast realm of Egypt the firstborn, the pride of every household, had been laid low. After this he hurried with his army after Israel. He sought to bring back a people delivered by the arm of Omnipotence. But he was fighting against a Power greater than any human power, and with his host he perished in the waters of the Red Sea.
The despisers of God’s law are practicing the same sin that Pharaoh practiced. They are hardening their hearts. The voice of God is rejected for human theories, for satanic suggestions and delusions. The Holy Spirit is resisted and set aside. The iniquities of the fathers are visited upon the children….
The Spirit of God keeps evil under the control of conscience. When people exalt themselves above the influence of the Spirit, they reap a harvest of iniquity…. Warnings have less and less power over them. They gradually lose their fear of God. They sow to the flesh; they will reap corruption. The harvest of the seed that they themselves have sown is ripening…. Their heart of flesh becomes a heart of stone. Resistance to truth confirms them in iniquity…. All should be intelligent in regard to the agency by which the soul is destroyed. It is not because of any decree that God has sent out against men or women. He does not make them spiritually blind. God gives sufficient light and evidence to enable them to distinguish truth from error. But He does not force them to receive truth. He leaves them free to choose the good or to choose the evil. If people resist evidence that is sufficient to guide their judgment in the right direction and choose evil once, they will do this more readily the second time. The third time they will still more eagerly withdraw from God and choose to stand on the side of Satan. And in this course they will continue until they are confirmed in evil and believe the lie they have cherished as truth.—Manuscript 126, 1901 (Sermons and Talks, 2:183, 184).
Christ Triumphant p. 103
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for the Family Camp Meetings that are going on through this weekend. Rose
—–Please pray for God’s leading in E’s and her children’s lives. R
—–Please pray for Meridith who is a young mother of four and having kidney surgery today. Eileen
—–urgent prayer request for a very dear friend of mine whose wife passed away a year ago this month. he is going in for heart surgery in the morning please pray God’s will be done. his name is Bud. thank you Mary
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ron and I decided that an exercise bicycle would be the type of exercise that we would actually do as we could exercise while watching a favorite TV program. We felt that we had made the right decision when the clerk put a sale sign on the bike just as we were passing it. It was half price. We bought it and brought it home.
Of course, it had to be assembled. Thankfully, it came with good step-by-step directions. (Ron has had to put together items in the past that did not. What a frustrating experience that was for him.) Ron and I worked on it for quite awhile, but eventually it was ready for use.
Just as that exercise bike came with good directions for its assembly, so our Great Creator has given us the best of directions to lead us in the way that we should go. How important, then, it is for us not only to read but to follow those directions. If we do, we will find improvement in our spiritual walk.
James urges us, ” be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22-25 How vital it is for us to read, meditate upon, and memorize God’s Holy Word. The Psalmist David found Scripture memory the secret of his walk with God. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” Psa 119:9-12
As we meditate upon God’s Word, the Holy Spirit reveals so many gems of truth in each text; that it becomes an exciting experience. Jeremiah says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16 David adds, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Psa 119:15,16; 19:7-11 As we hide God’s Word in our hearts, we become changed into His image. Paul tells us, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18
How many times the Author of the Bible will bring the Scriptures we have memorized to our mind when we need them. Indeed, Jesus used this principle when tempted in the wilderness. He answered each temptation by quoting Scripture. (See Matt 4:1-11)
May we each day, hide God’s Word in our heart, that we may draw ever nearer to Him. May we be diligent to search the Scriptures for they testify of our Dear Saviour and His great love for us. (John 5:39) May we daily pray as did David, ” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psa 19:14
Rose

His master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife …: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Genesis 39:7-9.
Joseph, in the providence of God, was deprived of his happy home and the teachings and example of his God-fearing father, and his lot was cast in a family of dark heathen. There his virtue was severely tested. It is always a critical period in a young man’s life when he is separated from home influences and wise counsels and enters upon new scenes and trying tests….
God was with Joseph in his new home. He was in the path of duty, suffering wrong but not doing wrong. He therefore had the love and protection of God, for he carried his religious principles into everything he undertook. What a difference there was in Joseph’s case and the case of young people who apparently force their way into the very field of the enemy, exposing themselves to the fierce assaults of Satan. Joseph suffered for righteousness’ sake, while the trials of others are of their own procuring. Joseph did not conceal his religion or manly piety to avoid persecution.
The Lord prospered Joseph, but in the midst of his prosperity came the darkest adversity. The wife of his master was a licentious woman, one who urged his steps to take hold on hell. Would Joseph yield his moral gold of character to the seductions of a corrupt woman? Would he remember that the eye of God was upon him?
Few temptations are more dangerous or more fatal to young men than the temptation of sensuality, and none, if yielded to, will prove so decidedly ruinous to soul and body for time and eternity. The welfare of his entire future was suspended upon the decision of a moment. Joseph calmly cast his eyes to heaven for help, slipped off his loose outer garment, leaving it in the hand of his tempter, and while his eye was lighted with determined resolve in the place of unholy passion, he exclaimed, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” …
True religion extends to all the thoughts of the mind, penetrating to all the secret thoughts of the heart, to all the motives of action, to the object and direction of the affections, to the whole framework of our lives. “Thou God seest me” will be the watchword, the guard of the life….
But Joseph was a Christian…. He entered into the troubles of his fellow prisoners. He was cheerful, for he was a Christian gentleman. God was preparing him under this discipline for a situation of great responsibility, honor, and usefulness, and he was willing to learn … the lessons the Lord would teach him.—Letter 3, 1879 (Manuscript Releases 4:220-223).
Christ Triumphant p. 96
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for me as I have an important meeting this evening. JT
—–Please pray for Doug’s brother to know the Lord. He has been diagnosed with cancer and needs our prayers. Also pray for Joann who needs prayers as well. M
—–Please pray that the demons will leave our family. B
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, I spent nearly every evening with my grandfather, Edwin Harmon. He told me the most wonderful stories of when he was a boy. I’d ask for them over and over. One time, I asked him why he had a little bluish mark on his lip. Thus began a story I had not heard before.
When he was still in grade school, he and his little brother, Harold, were playing with a group of boys from the neighborhood one day. Having free time was a rare thing back in the late 1800’s, so the boys wanted some exciting adventure. They decided to go to the town’s gravel pit and play on the piles of gravel. They knew that this was strictly forbidden because of the danger of being buried alive, and that the owner of the gravel pit had posted a guard at the entrance to keep everyone out.
That is what made it all the more appealing to these boys, who were wanting fun and excitement. Somehow they sneaked in and started climbing on the mounds. At first they were quiet, but as their little “king of the mountain” game progressed, all thoughts of the guard vanished and they began to laugh and shout. Before long, the guard heard them and grabbed his gun. Firing toward the boys, but not meaning to hit any of them, he shouted for the boys to get out.
It did not take a second shot for those boys to be convinced that they should leave. Away they ran like scared rabbits! My grandfather had felt a little sting on his lip when the man shot at them, but it was only after he was far away from the pit, that he tasted the salty taste of blood. The bullet had grazed his lip. Ever after, he would have a little blue mark where some of the gunpowder “tattooed” him.
How often it is the same in our life. We think that we can “get by” with some forbidden pleasure, but the results forever change our life. Sin scars. Sin leaves its mark. The Great Redeemer has given many such examples in His Holy Word. One such example is Lot. He had lived with his uncle Abraham until he was so prosperous that the two men had to dwell a little distance from each other. Abraham, although in a position to choose the best for himself, let Lot choose the area where he wished to dwell. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” Gen 13:10,11 That choice resulted in a loss of all that was dear to him. He lost his wife, his family, his possessions, everything.
Another example is King David. His one moment of indiscretion, changed his life forever. From that moment, his kingdom began to decline. The guilt that he felt kept him from rebuking his children as he should and this changed the way they viewed sin. The course of their lives spiraled downward to the point that it cost some of them their lives. The baby which was born out of his affair with Bathsheba died shortly after birth. His firstborn went beyond his father’s lust and it cost him his life. His well-beloved son coveted the throne and began plotting against him. (2 Sam 13-19)
How easy It is to make a wrong choice. One unguarded moment can change the whole course of our lives. One wrong decision can lead us down the wrong path. How much we need God’s wisdom and care. Only then can we keep from ruining our lives. We do not possess this wisdom naturally. It is a gift from our Great Creator.
James tells us” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 Our Loving Guide has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 What a wonderful God we serve! He promises to guide us and to instruct us in every aspect of our life. Our part is to cooperate with him. We must not stubbornly refuse His leading. If we turn from His instruction, we will suffer a great loss, a loss that He does not want us to experience. If we refuse to listen to His voice, our life will take a downward course.
May we close our ears from the first suggestion of the enemy. May we turn from the momentary pleasures this world has to offer. May we walk in the path that leads to everlasting joy is my prayer.
Rose

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. Genesis 37:3.
Jacob had chosen the inheritance of faith. He had endeavored to obtain it by craft, treachery, and falsehood; but God had permitted his sin to work out its correction…. The sin of Jacob, and the train of events to which it led, had not failed to exert an influence for evil—an influence that revealed its bitter fruit in the character and life of his sons….
There was one, however, of a widely different character—the elder son of Rachel, Joseph, whose rare personal beauty seemed but to reflect an inward beauty of mind and heart…. He listened to his father’s instructions, and loved to obey God…. His mother being dead, his affections clung the more closely to the father, and Jacob’s heart was bound up in this child of his old age….
But even this affection was to become a cause of trouble and sorrow. Jacob unwisely manifested his preference for Joseph, and this excited the jealousy of his other sons…. The father’s injudicious gift to Joseph of a costly coat, or tunic, such as was usually worn by persons of distinction, seemed to them another evidence of his partiality…. Their malice was still further increased as the boy one day told them of a dream that he had had….
As the lad stood before his brothers, his beautiful countenance lighted up with the Spirit of Inspiration, they could not withhold their admiration; but they did not choose to renounce their evil ways, and they hated the purity that reproved their sins….
The brothers were obliged to move from place to place to secure pasturage for their flocks…. Some time passed, bringing no tidings from them, and the father began to fear for their safety…. He therefore sent Joseph to find them, and bring him word as to their welfare….
Joseph came on, unsuspicious of danger …; but instead of the expected greeting, he was terrified by the angry and revengeful glances he met…. He was seized and his coat stripped from him…. Rudely dragging him to a deep pit, they thrust him in, and having made sure that there was no possibility of his escape, they left him there to perish from hunger, while they “sat down to eat bread.”
But some of them were ill at ease; they did not feel the satisfaction they had anticipated from their revenge. Soon a company of travelers was seen approaching.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 208-211.
Christ Triumphant p. 91
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mary who is on vacation and has had a possible stroke. She is in the hospital for tests. Pray that God will give the doctor wisdom to know how to treat her. Rose
—–Please pray for my youngest son for a hedge of protection to be around him and for his eternal salvation. Connie
—–Please pray for D who is having medical tests on Wednesday. R
—–My husband is ill. Please pray for him his name is Steve. Heather
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Dear Friends,
One day, when my mother was a teenager, my grandmother sent her to the mailbox to mail a letter. The mailbox was three blocks away. Van Avery’s drug store was on that corner and my mother decided to take her little change purse and buy some little treat as a reward for going.
As she walked along, she began to daydream. Before long she had arrived at her destination and absentmindedly mailed the letter—and—her purse! Just as she closed the mail chute, she realized what she had done. She went inside the drugstore and asked Mrs. Van Avery what she should do. My mother was very distraught, and the storekeeper tried to comfort her.
Finally, my mother went home. My grandmother was not pleased, but she had an idea. “Geneva,” she said, “You are just going to have to go back to the mailbox and wait for the mailman.” When it was near the pickup time, she stood beside that mailbox. She got very tired of standing there. As she waited, she was tempted to go into the store and look around, but she knew that she might miss the mailman. Then she would never get her purse.
After what seemed like an eternity, the mailman arrived! Blushing with humiliation, my mother asked him to find her change purse amidst all the letters. He couldn’t help smiling at this teenage girl standing before him. He told her not to be embarrassed, because he often had to retrieve things a lot stranger than a change purse out of mailboxes.
Just as my mother waited for the mailman, so we are to wait for Jesus’ coming. Just as she resisted the temptation to go into the store and look at all the pretty figurines that Mrs. Van Avery had, or go to the soda fountain and talk to the neighbor boy who worked there; so we should not allow the things of this world to get our mind off our ultimate goal.
Jesus is coming soon! “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev 1:7 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess 4:16,17 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be….And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors….Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” Matt 24:27,31-33,44-47
Jesus made a statement that causes us to think, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 Let us determine that He will find us faithful, for He promises, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev 2:10 Let us endure unto the end for He has said, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt 10:22 “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37
Rose

One people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:23.
Esau grew up loving self-gratification and centering all his interest in the present. Impatient of restraint, he delighted in the wild freedom of the chase, and early chose the life of a hunter. Yet he was the father’s favorite. The quiet, peace-loving shepherd was attracted by the daring and vigor of this elder son, who fearlessly ranged over mountain and desert, returning home with game for his father and with exciting accounts of his adventurous life.
Jacob, thoughtful, diligent, and care-taking, ever thinking more of the future than the present, was content to dwell at home, occupied in the care of the flocks and the tillage of the soil. His patient perseverance, thrift, and foresight were valued by the mother. His affections were deep and strong, and his gentle, unremitting attentions added far more to her happiness than did the boisterous and occasional kindnesses of Esau. To Rebekah, Jacob was the dearer son….
Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God … was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life….
Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the birthright should fall to him, and he was filled with an unspeakable desire for the privileges that it would confer…. The spiritual birthright was the object of his longing. To commune with God as did righteous Abraham, to offer the sacrifice of atonement for his family, to be the progenitor of the chosen people and of the promised Messiah, and to inherit the immortal possessions embraced in the blessings of the covenant—here were the privileges and honors that kindled his most ardent desires….
He carefully treasured what he had learned from his mother. Day and night the subject occupied his thoughts, until it became the absorbing interest of his life…. He believed that the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled so long as Esau retained the rights of the firstborn, and he constantly studied to devise some way whereby he might secure the blessing that his brother held so lightly, but that was so precious to himself.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 177-179.
Christ Triumphant p. 84
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Prayer Requests
—–Prayer request for my husbands Late wifes cousin. m. He writes: “Am asking for your prayers. I woke up with acute pain suggesting a possible hernia problem or male issue..
Have had hernia surgery at ___ _____Hospital in the past. Many thanks for your help. Connard”
—–My 4 1/2 month grand daughter was taken to the ER last night with a 102.2 fever. She has Covid. Please keep her mom, dad, and uncle also in your prayers as they all live under the same roof – young family. Danita
—–Please pray for all the people who are searching for the missing missionaries.
—–PLEASE PRAY We need a miracle for my amazing nephew. My brother messaged early this am. Tahner coded . But the last couple weeks tahner has gotten very sick. His body is failing him. He is so weak. And these doctors have NO explanation. Ashleigh
—–Prayers for Maya. She had many visits with all her doctors, except for one that they see next month. With all her new meds and recent diagnoses, her pulmonologist wants her to have a specific antibiotic on hand, but it’s very expensive at over $2k and insurance is not covering it. They are completely open to using homeopathic remedies, but with all her meds everything has to go through all the docs to verify something doesn’t interact with any of her other meds. She’s lost some weight this winter after fighting cold, flue, covid, pneumonia, etc. so she’s a little thin, but not too bad all things considered. Prayers that the doctors have wisdom to know what they might try, and prayers for mom to have wisdom to know when to say no. She still occasionally gets suggestions to give Maya the botox injections, which nearly killed her last time. Jennifer
—–my best friend/sister had her baby a little over a month ago and he is having some health difficulties so I’m asking for prayers not only for Thomas but for his entire family. Kaitlyn
—–Please pray for E and children that God will guide and protect them. R
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Dear Friends,
About twenty years ago, when our kids were at Union College, Ron and I got off from work a little early and began the five-hour journey to Lincoln. When we were about forty-five minutes from home, I looked over to check the oil pressure and temperature gauges. The oil pressure was about half what it normally was. I asked Ron, “Isn’t the oil pressure a little low?” Just then the temperature gauge rose to dangerous levels. He said, “We’ve got problems.” and told me to pull over.
About a month before, we had gotten the engine rebuilt. Somehow the engine just did not seem to feel or sound quite right to Ron so he had made an appointment with the mechanic to take it back so he could check it out. It didn’t seem to be anything serious—just not quite right. There, alongside of the road, he was wishing that he had been given an earlier appointment.
After checking under the hood and adding some antifreeze and oil, Ron told me to drive about 55mph to the nearest exit. I did. The engine seemed to be doing ok, and I had hope that we would be able to continue on our journey. Ron, however, was watching the oil pressure gauge. It was not doing ok. The needle was fluctuating about 4 to 12 psi’s around a slightly lower than normal reading. When we got to the exit, he told me to drive a little faster to the next one so he could watch it a little longer. It began to settle down. Again I had hope of seeing my children. We passed that exit and he told me to increase my speed again. As I did so, the needle began to fluctuate. I slowed down and turned around at the next exit.
On the way back home, we noticed that the oil pressure was not responding as it should. If I took my foot off from the gas pedal, it would go up instead of down. If I sped up, it would go down. I suggested that the oil gauge had broken and all was really ok. Ron didn’t think so. We went over some bumps in the road. I watched the gauge in hopes that the needle would move with the bumps and that our problem was only a loose connection in the gauge. It didn’t move. Disappointedly we continued driving back home.
Sometimes on our journey of life, things begin to seem “not quite right.” At first, we continue on our way, thinking that we will check out that nagging feeling when the time is more convenient. Outwardly, all is going well and we travel along with anticipation of a pleasant journey through life. Suddenly, our “gauges” begin to show outwardly what has been festering within. Our plans get changed abruptly. We wonder why. Then we have to “pull alongside” the road of life and take a good look at the problem.
Often when troubles and trials come, it causes us to turn around on the broad way where we have been traveling and head back on the narrow path toward Home. (Matt 7:13,14) Paul reminds us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
Let us be quick to recognize when something is “not quite right” and stop right then and “make [our] calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 Let us follow the Lord’s leading even when it means turning around on the pathway we have been traveling. Let us declare as did Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Rose