Weekly Readings: Genesis 41:1-44:17; 1 Kings 3:15-4:1; Romans 10:1-13.

What Can Christians Learn From Joseph's Butler?

This week's Scripture passages cover the dramatic story of Joseph's time in Egypt, his interpretation of Pharoah's dreams and consequent rise to power over the whole nation, as well as the eventual reunion with his brothers who had previously sold him into slavery. As the chapters unfold, the reader becomes strongly aware of God's detailed orchestration of Joseph's life, as well as the deep emotions felt by Joseph as he is torn away from his family, forced into prison, then raised to the second-highest office in the land.

Years later, when his brothers come to Egypt to buy food but do not recognise Joseph in his new position of power, he sends them away with plentiful supplies and the request that they return bringing Benjamin. They later discover that their food money has also been mysteriously returned to their sacks. Fearing punishment for theft, when the brothers return with Benjamin they also bring rich gifts in the hope of sparing themselves Joseph's wrath.

Treasure in the Sacks

As they draw near to Joseph's house, a relatively unknown Bible character makes a brief appearance: Joseph's steward. Greeting them at the door, when they express their sense of trepidation he speaks comfort and reassurance to them, telling them that there is no need to fear: "'It's all right,' he said. 'Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.'"

Kindly saying that he had received their original food money and that God must have replaced it miraculously, the steward demonstrates the reality of grace – that that which they neither earned nor deserved had been given freely to them as a blessing. He then grounds his words in caring actions, providing them with water for washing their feet and fodder for their donkeys, and bringing their brother Simeon (kept in Egypt as collateral for Benjamin) out to them.

Ushering People Towards God

This world is full of people for who Christianity and God signify dread of punishment – people who dare not darken the doors of a church (have even learned to hate God) for fear of being judged and told they are not good enough. Of course the good news of the gospel is that God himself, in the person of his Son Jesus Christ, took on himself the judgment for sin that was rightfully ours so this burden could be lifted from our backs, and so we could be transformed with the treasure of the Holy Spirit (see also 2 Cor 4:7).

However, if people are to ever draw close enough to God to discover this abundant love, mercy and grace, they will need friendly faces and comforting voices to come alongside them, help them overcome their apprehensions and encourage them into his presence. They will need gentle, kind words of peace and assurance, backed up with actions that show genuine love and care.

Merciful Servants

Joseph's steward is not afforded many verses in Genesis – but he made a big difference to Joseph's brothers that day. We are all stewards of the good news, standing at the door of God's house to welcome people in. We can look disapprovingly upon those outside, or we can express warm welcome and words of peace. The choice is ours: will we seek to be servants who look so much like our Master that those around us taste his goodness and grace in our every word and deed?

Author: Frances Rabbitts

Weekly Readings: Genesis 37:1-40:23; Amos 2:6-3:8; Matthew 1:1-6, 16-25.

"This is the history of Jacob...Joseph..."

This is a surprising beginning to our study portion. We might expect either, "This is the history of Jacob. Jacob..." or "This is the history of Joseph. Joseph..." Yet, if we pause and reflect: this is not a mistake and there is something important here.

A Family is an Integrated Unit

Jacob is the head of his family. The family is a close-knit unit where everyone's life is influenced by each of the other family members. They share a life together and are not separate units. When Jacob became older and his sons were growing up, the family history (one might say the continuing story of Jacob's life) was manifest in his sons. The way he brought his children up had consequences for their lives.

Albeit that there is personal responsibility to be recognised in the life of each person, the family of God is also a unit, acting together, sharing a history. Here, in our study portion we have an account of the early days of the family of God. Jacob had a prominent position, so prominent that his new name Israel became the name of the entire family-nation.

All Involved When Things Go Wrong

In the account of Jacob's favouring Joseph, resulting in his near-murder and exile to Egypt, and of the behaviour of Judah and of the way things turned out in Egypt for Joseph, we remember that this is as much the story of Jacob as it is of Joseph and his other sons. Jacob would have known this and this is why he grieved so deeply when Joseph was thought to be dead.

We Continue the History

The history of Jacob (Israel) goes on today. We too enter this family by faith and are part of Jacob's history.

Paul has much to say on this theme. 1 Corinthians 12 speaks much of the unity of all believers. In 1 Corinthians 6:15 Paul asks, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" In Ephesians 4:25 he emphasises, "We are members of one another."

Joseph's life has many parallels with the life of Jesus. In our portion this week, for example, his brothers sought to kill him and to put him away. Jesus, favoured by the Father, was also rejected by many of his own brethren. It is therefore no coincidence that we can extend the principle of family relationship in our study portion to the body of Jesus.

We, like Jacob, are tied in with the history of our physical family. We are also part of the ongoing history of Jacob. Those who follow us, whether physical or spiritual children, continue to live our own history.

This is the history of Jesus...

More important than anything is that we can say, "This is the history of Jesus. [Insert our name, our fellowship, our family here]" Let us learn from Jacob's family and build a good testimony of Jesus as those bearing his Name.

Author: Clifford Denton

It's official! Well, that is, according to the report released by former senior judge, Baroness Butler-Sloss. The thin end of the wedge is getting thicker...

Baroness Butler-Sloss's two-year commission involving leading religious leaders from all faiths has concluded that Britain is no longer Christian and recommends that public life should be systematically de-Christianised.

Because of the rise of other faiths, including Islam, the report says that a "new settlement" is needed to give a public voice to those of all religious persuasions and none. This would gradually neutralise any Christian influence in our schools, taking overt Christian teaching from RE lessons and assemblies and challenging the existence of faith schools.

A case is also built for the reduction of the number of Church of England bishops in the House of Lords giving their places to a wide variety of input from other faiths and denominations.

There is also a recommendation for all national and civic events - including the next coronation – to be designed to reflect "the pluralist character of modern society".

The Thin End of the Wedge is Getting Thicker

For some time, we at Prophecy Today have realised that there is a 'thin end of the wedge' regarding subtle attacks on the Christian foundations of our society. All too quickly we are now down to the thicker part of the wedge that is being driven in by humanists and those with multi-faith persuasion.

Though this report does not have a direct impact on the laws of the UK it clearly demonstrates how far we have gone during just one generation. There will be many who have no concern for our nation's history and heritage who will draw strength from this report and the battle lines are being drawn up for the defence of the Faith in our nation.

This report clearly shows how far we have gone during just one generation – the thin end of the wedge has suddenly got much thicker.

Of course we ourselves have monitored with concern the declining numbers attending church and have noted the numbers of those of other religious persuasions increasing across the nation, but our use of the data must be quite different from that of Baroness Butler-Sloss's committee.

Is Britain a Christian Country?

In reality, Britain is not - and never was - a 'Christian country' in an absolute sense. The country has never been entirely full of born-again believers. Yet, when the leadership of the nation has upheld biblical truth and when our laws have been moulded to conform to biblical precepts, Almighty God has protected and prospered us so that the world around has recognised us as, at heart, a Christian country.

The basis of our constitutional position, as we have so often stated, is the central tenet of the 1953 Coronation Oath: the Queen's promise to "maintain the laws of God and true profession of the Gospel". Thank God that this promise and foundation stone remains in place during our Queen's reign. Not only is this Her Majesty's commitment, it is also the commitment of every member of the House of Commons and House of Lords, made through their own oath or affirmation on entering office.

Though a baroness can lead a committee to seek to erode this away, it is in accordance with our constitutional principles and laws that they themselves – including the baroness - have made this commitment. That far we are a Christian country – a backsliding Christian country perhaps, but nevertheless committed to the God of the Bible by strong personal oaths.

Britain is not and never has been a totally Christian country. But at the base of our monarchy and Government still lie strong personal oaths of commitment to the God of the Bible.

Who is Defending the Faith?

It is often said that the UK has an unwritten constitution, which gives the impression that our position is vague and therefore, to some degree, subject to matters of opinion. This is not true when studied from the viewpoint of the Coronation Oath and the many centuries of development of laws and customs that brought us to today. Yet it can be treated as vague if one has a mind to do so and if the nation is led by those who choose to ignore the central principles that were passed on.

Concerned by this, a few years ago I set about writing around to see if I could pin down who is responsible for the checks and balances of maintaining our constitutional position. Starting with the Palace I tried to ascertain how the Queen viewed her Oath and how she would seek to fulfil her vows especially when a new law came up that was against biblical principles. Many of her subjects have also urged her to lead the nation in prayer as did her father in the Second World War.

'There is No Mechanism...'

The answers I have received constantly refer questions back to the Government - most often to the Home Office. The Queen certainly takes her Oath seriously at a personal level but has assumed the role of a 'Constitutional Monarch' who defers to her ministers and signs without question whatever is passed into law through Parliament.

Finding the Home Office non-committal, the next point of enquiry was to try to find the governmental office responsible for constitutional issues, with the question as to whether there is any department in the government that specifically tests government decisions on their conformity to the Coronation Oath. This office has changed its name from time to time. Finally, I located the Constitutional Settlements Division at the Ministry of Justice at 102 Petty France, SW1H 9AJ. This is the reply that I received in full:

Dear Dr Denton,

Thank you for your letter of 17th January 2010. I apologise for the difficulties you have encountered in sending this letter to the appropriate department. We are the team responsible for Constitutional Policy and the relationship between Church and State, and have been asked to respond to your letter.

"The Government does not accept that The Queen has signed any Acts of Parliament which contradict the Coronation Oath. The Coronation Oath is a personal Oath, sworn by the Monarch during the Coronation, when she was asked 'Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?' There is no mechanism or particular office in place to assist Her Majesty in upholding her Coronation Oath, nor would it be appropriate for such a mechanism or office to exist. (my emphasis)

The conclusion is that responsibility for maintaining the Oath and defending the Faith has fallen into an imprecise place between Monarch and Government and, despite the Oaths and Affirmations made on entering governmental office, no-one is designated to protect our sworn status before God that Britain will seek to be a Christian country.

Responsibility for maintaining our sworn national commitment to God has fallen into an imprecise place between Monarch and Government – there is no-one designated to protect it.

What to Do?

In reality, the only people who will be concerned for our Christian heritage are Christians. Baroness Butler-Sloss's committee has opened out an issue that will deepen even further in the coming days, raising many questions for Christians about faith in the public life of the nation. Should Christians still be defending the heritage that is being systematically attacked and dismantled, encouraging our national leaders to fulfil the solemn promise to God that was made on 2 June 1953? Or should we accept that the days of 'Christian Britain' are long over – and move on?

Should the Church fight for a voice and an influence in the public realm, or should we live quietly and seek to witness where we are placed? Should we defend the use of biblical laws and principles in civic life as what's best for the wellbeing of the nation, when the nation has forsaken God himself?

In my view, answers to these questions depend on whether they are tackled during or after the reign of Queen Elizabeth. A call to repentance across the entire nation has clear context whilst the present Coronation Oath is in force. Now is the time for the rallying cry to sound out to return to our national commitment to the God of the Bible. It may be different when this reign ends. Nevertheless, whether before or after, it remains the responsibility of Christians to seek God for what he is doing and what, by implication, we should be doing. At all times this is the bottom line.

Critical Years Ahead

This issue will not go away. I would suggest that the Lord God himself will not let it be ignored. If the day comes when the foolish recommendations of Baroness Butler-Sloss's Committee are adopted, then our decline as a nation will be under the Hand of God as much as our reaping the consequences of our foolishness. This is how critical the next few years will be at an escalating pace.

The Lord God will not let this issue go away. If the recommendations of this committee are adopted, our national decline will be under the Hand of God.

'Teachings of the Torah' (Ed Kent Dobson, Zondervan, 283 pages, available from the publisher for £17.99)

This is extracted directly from the NIV First-Century Study Bible (reviewed last week) and, as its title suggests, is simply the first five books of the Old Testament covered in the same manner as the complete Bible. This means it is not necessary to buy it as a separate book unless you want this portion of Scripture in a more portable form.

Although the content is the same it does have some features of its own. The pages are glossier and slightly thicker, and there is a preface dedicated to the Torah. It also has a plastic wrap-around cover, with its own strap for holding it closed, giving it extra protection. And it comes in a box which makes it more presentable. The overall effect is that this would make a welcome gift.

The claim of this volume is that it weaves Jewish history with the Christian faith. This it certainly does, but of course being only the opening section of the Tanakh (Old Testament) it can only do this in a partial fashion. Perhaps it is intended as a tempter to buy the full Study Bible!

Weekly Readings: Genesis 32:3-36:43; Hosea 11:7-12:12 Obadiah 1:1-21; Hebrews 11:11-20; Matthew 26:36-46.

Did God really 'not prevail' in his fight against Jacob?

Genesis 32 tells of a strange watershed moment for Jacob. Journeying back to the land of his fathers on a directive from God, Jacob goes in faith - but not knowing what welcome will await him from his brother Esau.

As he receives word that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men, Jacob panics and does everything he can to pacify his brother. Sending on ahead his flocks and herds, his servants and possessions - and finally his wives and children, in the hopes that these might somehow appease Esau's wrath, Jacob is left by himself in the night.

A Strange Fight

Alone and vulnerable, having let go of everything he ever owned or cherished: this would seem an ideal moment for the 'God of all comfort' to step in, to provide compassion and support. But rather bizarrely, God appears in human form and challenges Jacob to an all-night wrestling match. Why? Why choose to sap someone of the only strength they have left, especially someone who has lost everything and is facing the threat of imminent death?

Interestingly, a closer read of Genesis 32 shows that the point of the match was not to sap Jacob of his remaining strength – if it was, that would have been the outcome. Jacob would simply have given up. But the outcome was apparently a draw - the Bible actually says that God 'did not prevail' against Jacob.

Is God Weak?

Now, of course God had not 'met his match' in real strength terms, which must have meant that he chose not to win but to let the struggle continue. On the other side, Jacob could easily have given in – but in true Jacob style, his deep pride and drive to succeed would not allow it. In allowing the match to drag on, perhaps God was giving Jacob opportunity after opportunity to choose to surrender. But Jacob does not submit.

When God sees this, he touches Jacob's hip and dislocates it, ending the battle immediately. In one deft, easy move, Jacob is rendered powerless. He is suddenly shown that this exhausting struggle, with all of its demands on his physical strength and tactical prowess, had ultimately been pointless – God had always already won.

What Was the Point?

It seems that this match was not designed to force Jacob to a point of complete physical weakness (if it had been, it would have been a very short fight). Instead, it was to reveal to him in a very profound way that he was always already weak - that his lifelong struggle against God and others had been worth nothing.

It was to show that rebellion does not achieve anything; in the end we cannot possibly win – we can only choose to surrender. Scripture says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10; Isa 45:23) – and a well-known worship song appends this with: "still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose You now".

Is God Domineering?

God knows our rebellious hearts and in his mercy allows us to struggle and strive with him, until we come to the point where we realise that we cannot win. If this seems rather domineering of God, just think that he did not have to struggle with Jacob. He could have forced his submission immediately, violently and without accounting for Jacob's free will. But he didn't. We have a wonderful, patient God who voluntarily goes through the struggle with us, who will break a sweat alongside us, who chooses to not 'prevail' over us but rather to encourage us to submit voluntarily.

He is with us in the dark and lonely places, where everything has been stripped away and we think we have nothing left to give – places where we are forced to confront our own pride or desire for control. And crucially, in those places (as always) he knows what is best for us. We have a loving Father who – when we have nothing left to take hold of – takes hold of us, even if it is not in the way we expect.

Author: Frances Rabbitts

Today, Prophecy Today publishes its 30^th review since the magazine went live in April. What will you be reading over Christmas?

Our goal has been to review books and resources that will be of interest to the discerning Christian. As Christmas approaches, why not look back through our reviews - and perhaps even let them inspire you to make some purchases? To encourage you in your reading endeavours, here is a brief note from the editor of St Andrew's Christian Bookshop.

A Note from St Andrew's Bookshop

Over the last year I have discovered some alarming facts; not only is the number of Christian books being sold still in decline, but when a Christian bookshop closes very little of its sales are picked up by nearby bookshops – possibly up to 95% is lost. A recent Evangelical Alliance survey on Bible reading reported that people under 44 years old read the Bible on average 40% less than people over 44 years old (I would suspect a survey on the reading of Christian books would be even more telling!). And when discussing all this with the Right Revd. John Pritchard, the former Bishop of Oxford, he stated that he believes many Christians are now 'religiously illiterate'! If the church is not reading Christian books it is missing out on a rich vein of spiritual knowledge and information to help us understand what we believe and why.

So what does this all mean for us in our bookshop ministry?

For me it has been both releasing and exciting that the decline of the Christian bookshop is not inevitable.

Yes, the market has changed. Many of us have to accept the collapse of sales from Sunday School prize-giving, the decline of church hymnbook sales as churches move to the big screen, and the gradual end of many regular church bookstalls.

The challenge ahead for all of us in Christian retailing is to help the church to rediscover the value of Christian books. We want to dispel the myth that it is always cheaper and quicker to buy book on-line rather than from your Christian bookshop (we can often give a quicker and better service). We are also working to encourage church leaders to regularly recommend books when they preach, and to consider having suggested books to read with each teaching series I believe that people are hungry to be fed but don't know what to read. When books are recommended, people buy them, read them and lives are changed.

Be encouraged – the end is NOT inevitable. BOOKS DO CHANGE LIVES!

So when you're making choices about what gifts will most bless your loved ones this Christmas, why not reject the socks and the bubble bath, and choose something to encourage, inspire, challenge, grow...Choose a Christian book!

St Andrew's Bookshop

Re-printed with kind permission.

As the UK launches air strikes against Syria, Helen Belton argues that we are the real fighters against IS.

Three weeks ago we watched in horror and disbelief as the Paris terror outrage unfolded. This week MPs voted to go ahead with air strikes in Syria amid fears of an escalation in violence.

Sadly, our leaders do not understand the nature of what they are dealing with.

Religious War, Spiritual War

After all, it's baffling to find that in secular 21^st century Europe, they have been plunged into a religious war inspired by medieval ideology. Governments thought that religion had left the political sphere back in the 18^th century with the dawn of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

Having largely relegated our own religious heritage to the private sphere we find ourselves at a loss to deal with an aggressive totalitarian religious ideology. Forsaking our Judeo-Christian heritage has allowed the enemy to flood in.

Of course we have to defend ourselves, but the solution to this conflict is not ultimately physical warfare because at root are spiritual forces of evil.

Having largely relegated our own religious heritage to the private sphere, we find ourselves at a loss to deal with an aggressive totalitarian religious ideology.

Redemption Draws Near

The resurgence of militant Islam is the enemy's response to the time of our redemption drawing near. If the world can be overrun and the Church obliterated, then there is no Bride for Jesus to claim. If the Jewish people can be destroyed and Israel overrun, there is no ancient people ready for the fulfilment of God's promises to them, no other place for the Messiah to set his foot than in Jerusalem (since he will return in the same way he left, Acts 1:11).

However, we can rejoice in the promised triumph and certain return of Jesus, knowing that as the darkness gathers it is a sign that the dawning of the Day of our Redemption is nearer. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3:

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labour pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

In the meantime, we are called to watch and pray and keep the lamp of the Spirit burning.

The resurgence of militant Islam is the enemy's response to the time of our redemption drawing near - if the world can be overrun and the Church obliterated, there is no Bride for Jesus to claim.

The Bridegroom's Return

Matthew's (chapter 25) stark warning parable about young women waiting for a bridegroom to arrive should be uppermost in our minds. Those who are prepared for the Bridegroom's arrival have enough oil for their lamps to keep burning during the long wait. Those who are unprepared do not have enough and leave their posts to go and buy more. The bridegroom arrives while they are out shopping and they are excluded from the wedding banquet:

... the door was shut.

'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!'

"But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.'

Will Jesus know you? How? He will know you because he will see your 'lamp' burning - the same fire that burns in him burning consistently and faithfully within you.

In the meantime, we are called to battle. But what kind of battle?

Arise, Church

Our nation and Europe needs prayer now more than ever. If we do not rise up to watch, pray, give and preach the gospel unrelentingly, with Europe undergoing probably its greatest threat of violent conflict since the Second World War, then what will it take to wake us up?

It is time for the Church to arise to greater heights to do spiritual battle in the heavenly realms in prayer, for the protection of our nation and for repentance for those caught up in this conflict.

We are the real fighters against IS – with the sword of the Spirit and the "shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Eph 6:16). This is the Church's battle to fight because only we have the appropriate weapons. This is a war that will be won in the spiritual realm in heavenly places.

This is the Church's battle to fight – only we have the appropriate weapons.

Prayer for Turning

There have been reports of IS fighters turning to the Lord. God specialises in turning murderers around. He did it with the apostle Paul, who was murdering Christians. Let's pray for more Damascus Road conversions (appropriate, given that Damascus is a Syrian city).

It is vital that we ask God to grant repentance to Islamic State, that we do not condemn individuals and people groups in this conflict but that we see the prison of the violent ideology they have embraced for what it is, a demonic delusion. Through this conflict let us pray that the Lord will release many out of spiritual darkness into the kingdom of light.

Practical Responses

What specifically is going to help us to be watchful, alert and prepared?

It could be increasing our commitment to prayer, individually, in small groups and as churches. It could be reviewing our giving, putting our substance into kingdom projects of lasting value both here and for the Church's mission abroad. It could be going to a different service once a month or meeting and encouraging believers from another denomination or area of the Church. Christians must stand together at this critical time for our nation. We must also stand with the Jewish community and show our love and support as they are under continual threat.

Let us be in faithful prayer for our brothers and sisters in the suffering Church. Let's support those helping them, such as Open Doors or Barnabas Fund, who are working at the moment with the Jewish peer, Lord Weidenfeld, to bring Christians out of Syria. Lord Weidenfeld was rescued from Nazi Germany by British Christians and is so grateful he wants to rescue Christians in his turn (note that he is 95 - age is no barrier to usefulness!).

Be Strategic

The people who perished in Paris two weeks ago did not know when they went happily to a concert or out for dinner that it would be their last evening. None of us knows how long we have so let's pray and ask the Lord to tell us who is warm to the gospel now? Who should I spend time with in the hope of encouraging them to consider the message of Jesus?

Another question to ask the Lord this week is, in the time I have left, however short or long that is, whether you return, or my end comes first, what is the one thing that only I can do, with my particular circumstances, gifts and skills? If you haven't already found it, find that thing and then pursue it. That is kingdom building: let's be fully ready and prepared, all the tasks completed, before the Master returns.

Above all, watch and pray and keep the lamp of the Spirit burning (Luke 12:35-40) because that will keep us in the place of safety until Jesus returns.

Weekly Readings: Genesis 28:10-32:2; Hosea 12:13-14:10; John 1:19-51

Like Jacob, submitting to God may not come easily to us. It might take years - even decades - in the wilderness for God to get through to us. But through the hardship, we need to remember that God disciplines those he loves.

Jacob

Brought up by a faithful, God-fearing father, Jacob was a typical child of rebellion, whose every action seemed to push against the path God had marked out for him. He was a double-dealer from birth, emerging from the womb grabbing onto his brother's heel (a picture of deception and dishonesty). Encouraged by his mother Rebekah, Jacob continued to manipulate into adulthood, eventually cheating his elder brother Esau out of his birth-right.

On the run from his brother, it took Jacob twenty wilderness years of hard, oppressive labour (during which he received a taste of his own medicine, being cheated repeatedly by his uncle Laban) and a wrestling match with God (Gen 32), before he began to really learn how to walk in humble submission. Like a wild horse needing to be broken in, so Jacob had to undergo a painful time of discipline in order to become the person God intended him to be – Israel.

Leah

Leah, Jacob's first wife, needed to be 'broken' for an altogether different reason. Unwanted and unloved by her husband, she was driven by a deep desire to win Jacob's heart away from her sister Rachel. As she bore Jacob son after son, each time she hoped that the child would win him to her ("Now this time my husband will become attached to me..." Gen 29:33-34).

Her jealous resistance finally broke down when Judah, her fourth son, was born. Leah surrendered her broken heart to God in a declaration that "This time I will praise the Lord". Beautifully, out of Jacob's 12 sons, it was through Judah that God chose to bring the Messiah, Jesus, nearly 2,000 years later.

Struggling Against God

Like Jacob, submitting to God may not come easily to us. Our natural instinct may be to struggle against him, or to work in our own strength to bring in his 'provision'. It might take years - even decades - in the wilderness for God's discipline to get through to us.

Or, like Leah, our impulse might be to seek fulfilment and self-worth in something other than God – and only repeated, painful experiences of disappointment will change us. No matter how much we struggle, God's strength and endurance far exceed our own and, in the end, will always win. How long, then, will we 'kick against the goads'? (Acts 26:14)

Those He Loves

As God patiently works to change our hearts, we must remember this one thing: he disciplines those he loves. "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children...No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace." (Heb 12:7-12)

In Hosea, the same message is portrayed as a romance: God draws his people out into the wilderness in order to woo them, that they might rediscover his love and receive his comfort and blessing (2:14-23). Be encouraged, if this is you today.

We bring you an exciting update from evangelists Syd and Liz Doyle, who have just spent nine days reaching out to refugees fleeing IS.

Syd and Liz Doyle have been working as international evangelists and church planters for many decades, pastoring in England and America and ministering in 54 nations, seeing tens of thousands come to Christ. In the past they planted a church in Ashford before settling in the USA, and have worked with Prophecy Today's Clifford and Monica Hill on projects such as the Zong slave ship, the Sharing Show and the Heal our Land musical.

This past nine days Syd and Liz have been serving in Jordan, ministering to refugees fleeing from ISIS – and have led over 700 people to Jesus! Their daily updates make for remarkable and exciting reading – so we are re-printing excerpts of them here for your encouragement.

Stories of Hope: Excerpts from the Doyles' Daily Updates

"Hi Praying Friends,

This trip has been successful as we partnered with different Pastors, workers and church groups who serve the Iraqi refugees. We delivered 200 40lb bags of groceries, clothing, dozens of blankets and about 30 heaters. We spoke at 6 meetings and at every house we visited - explained the Gospel and led over 700 to Christ.

Thanks for holding us up in prayer!

In the Field,
Syd and Liz"

Refugees from Nineveh

"We are very busy and already tired out after Day 1. We put our food and clothing packages together and set out to visit 9 families...all refugees from Iraq - leaving businesses, homes, cars, everything, running for their lives from ISIS. The first family had to leave their businesses, and a new house they were building, to save their lives. Walking, they had to carry their 83 year old grandma and her wheelchair all the way to Jordan!"

"We prayed with a widow, (she said Jesus saved her 2 sons and her from ISIS - Liz said, well now, let Jesus save you from your sins - and she did!) Syd prayed with a man and his son, and we all prayed with a family of 6, all refugees from Ninevah for salvation too! We prayed for a sweet little 6 year old boy to be healed from cancer. His mom is a young widow. Please keep all these dear new believers in prayer!"

"What a great day...41 men, women and children prayed today for salvation/assurance. 21 families from Ninevah. Driven out by ISIS because they refused to renounce Christ. We gave each family a bag of groceries, a blanket and clothes provided by you our supporters! We have now given out 30 bags."

"One girl shared how her brother crossed the sea in an inflatable boat that sunk. He was rescued with only the clothes on his back and a Bible! He walked to Germany and finally at the end of himself he crawled into a phone box falling asleep with the Bible as his pillow. He was wakened by a knock on the window and an Arab man asked him to follow him. The man took him to a church - he was a Pastor! He prayed with him and led him to Christ! He's serving the church today! Let's pray this happens over and over again to these refugees in Europe. Through this testimony his sister came to Christ!"

Salvation Near Mt Nebo

"Today, about 2 miles from Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked over the Promised land before he died, 60 men, women and children accepted Christ/received Assurance today! The courtyard of a small Roman Catholic Church in this Muslim country houses 20 Iraqi refugee families who live in 18 small container/trailer looking units provided by the Jordanian government...

...They all gathered in the hall after we visited some of the "homes" where we preached the Gospel using the Evangecube, our testimonies and gospel bracelets. As Liz sang Amazing Grace many began to cry as the Holy Spirit touched their hearts. After the time of prayer there was such excitement and joy!"

A Thanksgiving Like No Other

"What a day! In the evening we had a special Thanksgiving meal - we catered for 400 and over 500 attended - the church was packed. Syd and Liz preached and over 400 stood to receive Christ!"

"Thanks for praying...we are witnessing a remarkable thing...These people, nominal Christians, many professional people, having been stripped of everything, now realize that who they need is Jesus."

"Then we visited the home of a Sabean family. Nawal, our team member is originally from that religion. They follow John the Baptist. After directing their attention to the Gospel of John and John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, this family, who lost their four year old son to murder by terrorists in Iraq because they refused to deny their religion, received Jesus as their Savior. Nawal was thrilled to pray with them for salvation!"

"Finally our evening ended with Syd and Liz preaching at another Iraqi church - 90 were in attendance and about 60 stood to receive Christ. We provided 2 Falafal sandwiches each and a drink after the service! They were so happy!"

For more information about Syd and Liz, see www.nationslight.org.

Weekly Readings: Genesis 25:19-28:9, Malachi 1:1-2:7, Romans 9:1-31.

The name in Hebrew for this week's Torah portion is Toldot, meaning 'generations'. The theme of sibling rivalry is recurrent down the generations, beginning as far back as Cain and Abel, continuing through Abraham's offspring Isaac and Ishmael and finding further expression in the next generation as Isaac's sons Esau and Jacob take their place in the narrative.

Character and Destiny

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who introduced the concept of the Logos (Greek for word, order, knowledge), which is used in John's Gospel to describe Messiah as 'the Word made flesh'), also declared that "Character is destiny".

Rebekah, the mother of Esau and Jacob, asked the Lord why there was turmoil in her womb:

The Lord said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.' (Gen 25:23)

God knew their characters from the time they were in the womb and how godly and ungodly character would shape their destiny. However, while their destiny may have been God's plan, the means of achieving it was not fixed.

Character and Choice

Instead of deceit, malice and injustice triumphing in Jacob, both brothers could have peacefully acknowledged their different characters and strengths, with the elder even joyfully serving the younger.

The Body of Messiah imagery of 1 Corinthians 12 shows that while we all have value in God's kingdom we cannot possibly all carry out the same functions or bear the same calling.

Character and Disobedience

Characters in Genesis often decide to give God a helping hand in fulfilling his promises: notably Abraham taking Hagar as a wife. Rebekah also hears God's word of destiny and decides to bring it about by encouraging Jacob to steal the birthright of his brother.

The lament of both Isaac and Esau when they learn of the deception is heart-wrenching. The Bible is usually sparing in describing emotion, but their anguish is fully expressed. It's a ghastly, irreversible moment of shame, regret and remorse epitomised in Esau's heartbroken cry to perhaps both his earthly parent and his heavenly Father: "Bless me too, my father!" (Gen 27:34).

Jacob's deceitfulness and Esau's rash impetuousness both contributed to this moment. Their mother's behaviour exhibits the characteristics of both her sons: Rebekah is impetuous in encouraging Jacob to seize the moment to triumph over his brother and devious in plotting with him against her other son.

Esau's bitterness is not appeased and his descendants are despised. In Malachi, we read about them: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the Lord – even beyond the borders of Israel!'" (Mal 1:4-5)

Character and God's Sovereignty

Not only are his descendants estranged from the Lord, but their suffering at God's hands is to be a sign of the Lord's greatness. Romans 9 examines God's sovereignty in the light of Israel's history, reminding us that from Isaac to Jacob, God pre determined who should continue the line of promise leading to Messiah and who should be pre-destined for salvation. "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." (Rom 9:15).

In view of God's sovereign judgement and mercy, we should pursue holiness, as the author of Hebrews encourages us, while warning us to avoid the sins of Esau which led to irreversible disgrace:

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Heb 12:14-17)

Dependence Upon God

We struggle to understand God's sovereign choice and the intertwining of pre-destination and free will, but that illustrates our complete dependence upon the Lord and shows that, in contrast to his supreme power to control destiny, we are puny and pathetic in our efforts to determine our lives and control the world around us.

We control very little and the only thing we can do to change our lives and influence the course of our destiny is to obey the Lord and, in so doing, build a character in the likeness of Messiah Jesus. As we build a character in his likeness, our destiny will be to mirror him for all eternity.

Author: Helen Belton