- ?
The Bible says: "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."-1 Samuel 15:22
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." - Psalm 34:1
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11
"So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off." - Proverbs 24:14
Joshua served the Lord until he was very old in age. During his last days, he gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and gave them what seemed to be his last admonition and said:
“And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: But as for ME &MY HOUSE, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:13-15
“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” - Genesis 25:22-23
INSIGHT: By history, the name JACOB denotes one who supplants (holder of the heel or heel-catcher). This was derived from Genesis 25:22-23. The Ethiopic equivalent of Jacob is AKABA which means GUARD, KEEP. So in proper context, Jacob means HE WHOM GOD PROTECTS.
God made a prophetic statement about Jacob (Genesis 25:23). This clearly showed that Jacob was going to be greater than Esau. In our study of the character of Esau, we saw that he was a wandering and carefree young man who did not bother about spiritual matters and the ordinance of God. Thus he lost or gave away his birthright for a cheap ration of pottage. This, perhaps, could be the reason of God's preference of Jacob.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” - Romans 13:11-14
EXPLORATION
In most times people get either excited, provoked or challenged after a sermon or teaching enough to make a decision to change for the better.
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." - Romans 11:33-36
EXPLORATION
Definition: Knowledge is information obtained by a person either through hearing or seeing. It could be experience based on what he feels, tastes or smells...