Journey From Jacob

We do NOT want to erase history, good or bad.However there are a few holes to patch to bring clarity to an historic event.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?Or was God's intention to unite Jews and Gentiles instead of further dividing them as history has sadly recorded?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.That night was to be remembered and celebrated for all generations in every Jewish home.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.We can't change history, but we can make corrections as we move forward and follow the Lamb.

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.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.Because of his opposition, this blessing becomes contentious, and the tension of the redemption story begins to mount.

The Fragile Nature of the BlessingJacob 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.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.We must realize that civilization was not civilized to understand God’s process of releasing them into the world as His representatives.Before long God will use Israel using three objects symbolically.Compass—Plumbline—Time piece. Later we will see how these connect as the path of righteousness hosts its first sojourners.Meanwhile continue your journey with our assistance on comfortmypeople.com. Follow us on social media and YouTube and leave comments.Shalom and Blessings

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.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.

Purim, Parallels and PurposeThe 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. 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.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.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. 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. 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.Pray for the Jewish people worldwide, especially in Israel. Let them know you care. Visit us at comfortmypeople.com for more information and opportunity to support our efforts.

Today we are finishing our first season emphasizing the importance of our identity. As followers of Jesus we have a shared identity. When Jacob crossed the Jabbok River, he was no longer to see himself as Jacob, but by the name God gave him, Israel.From that point on his journey was away from Jacob and into the Land God promised his father and grandfather, the Land of Israel. His journey will reflect upon all followers of Jesus. However we are left wondering. Does that mean that Jacob no longer exists? Why then does his name appear throughout the Bible? Remember, this is a journey, not a college course. As we travel away from our former identity, we embrace our new one. We don’t have all the answers. Jesus does. It is the path of righteousness, though difficult at times. But, as we walk we are changed into His image. As our understanding increases so does our ability to be a blessing to others. See you next Season!

In this last Q and A session with Paul and Mikayla, the discussion leads to the outcome of our faith.Is it an endless struggle, or is it determined by how much we believe God has invested in us by means of His New Covenant?Is it just a name change, or is our entire being transformed into His likeness?Is salvation and discipleship all about making a better "me" ? Or am I here to radiate what God can do for others?

Unlike many new Christians, Mikayla continues to unpack what it means to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Are questions permissible? Is it ok to struggle? Is struggle all that we do? Is faith just a confession? Is an experience a requirement?I fear that her questions are far too common, but rarely asked, The effect is many people are left wondering if their sins are actually forgiven.Maybe you find yourself in a similar condition. We don't pretend to know all the answers, but hopefully we can simplify the process of understanding,God became accessible to Jacob prior to His match. That is why Jesus brought him to the mat. He showed Jacob how closely he could connect to Him and the benefit that would result from his perseverance, not his performance.

The conversation between Paul and Mikayla continues. Mikayla poses the struggle she and other Gen Z’s have faced when it comes to growing up in an experience centered theology. Paul responds with describing the story of struggle that is often overlooked in the mentality of once saved, “you’re good to go now”. Discover a deeper look into the significance of God starting a wrestling match with Jacob.

In this episode Paul and Mikayla address Jacob’s dilemma of realizing he has gained more than he could have dreamed of, but still lacking what he needs the most.

If you love well developed mystery books that tell a redemptive story with unlikely heroes and a surprise climax, you're going to love the Bible and fall in love with the Author. It's the only book in the series and its playing out in real time. The One New Man of Ephesians 2 and 3 is on the horizon. Keep your eyes on Israel and Iran to see how God will respond to what the enemy has clearly intended for evil. Intercede on their behalf with compassion and authority. They have suffered greatly. It is time for God to act.

We postponed our broadcast yesterday because of the catastrophic genocide that is taking place under our eyes in Iran. We are especially affected because of our personal relationship with Iranian believers who were born under Islamic rule and taught to hate the Jews from 1st grade. Now as born-again followers of Yeshua, they are our brothers and sisters who love Israel and the Jewish people. Today these modern-day Hamans have vowed to hang all dissidents on gallows publicly. This is the same land that Esther and Mordecai, by faith, reversed that threat in their day. Please join us in faith, believing for a similar outcome.Decisions to hate or to love begins in the mind. They are thoughts that become beliefs that are acted upon. We will explore the beginning of this ancient hostility in this podcast.Our hope is that your thoughts will be rooted in the Kingdom of Yeshua. He will lead you to action that will be life-giving and beneficial to the generations that follow.

Is it possible that God really wants us to laugh ? Doesn't He know how troubling life is? Doesn't He see how anxious I get? How lonely I feel?Of course He does. But He knows that laughter is good for the soul and a cheerful heart is like medicine. He has given us the ability to laugh. It is His gift to those who believe. In fact it is the first indication of His covenant. We can laugh in the face of hardship because we know God is with us. We don't laugh at the expense of others, We laugh in spite of the troubles.Yeshua told His disciples that HIs burden is light, even though the weight of the world was on Him. It still is. We don't laugh as an escape from reality. We laugh because He has set us free to do so.

The Journey of Abram is woven with spiritual encounters, including angelic and demonic interaction. In this episode, Abram makes a definitive declaration to the spirits of darkness that his allegiance is with God and none other. That did not make him immune to fear. It made him realize that God is His shield and exceedingly great reward. The things of this world are not to be coveted and his enemies are no match with the God he feared and befriended. His faith was rewarded with righteousness.

Spiritual darkness is a reality that is misunderstood. Horror movies and science fiction overemphasize it for profit in the entertainment world, but it is nothing to toy with, or be entertained by.. Satan is the master of deceit, the prince of darkness, and the ruler of this present age. We saw his work in the Garden, the effect on Cain's decision to murder his brother, and the destroyer of an entire civilization in Noah's day.He is so powerful that Jesus said He came to destroy his works.Could it be that Abraham met him face to face along his journey? This is a lesson for standing in faith, trusting in God, and facing the enemy.

The most well known and possibly life-changing verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. In the Old Testament there is a verse to which all of world history is hinged, Genesis 12:3.We will begin to explore why and as time goes on, how these two verses connect.