Day 4

Scripture to Read: Genesis 28:8-9

Yesterday we began to examine a little closer Esau’s life. We saw that Esau was remorseful but not repentant. Today, in Genesis 28:8-9, we see that Esau continued to do things his way. Esau never sought God’s plan or purpose for his life. Esau never asked God what to do, who to marry, where God would have him live, or anything else for that matter. Esau simply continued to do things his way and even tried to make things right with Isaac and Rebekah his way. Esau knew he had disappointed Rebekah and Esau with his first two wives. So, what does Esau do? According to Genesis 28:8-9, when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, 9 Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth. Esau was trying to fix his life his way. God makes it clear in Proverbs 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. God says it this way in Proverbs 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Esau did not choose to walk the path of a “wise man” but instead continued to choose the way of a “fool.” We have the same choices to make each day of our lives. We can think, “this seems right,” but if we have not asked God for His discernment, we could end up the “fool.”

Challenge & Application

1. What did God teach you today through Esau’s choices, the difference between the “fool” and the “wise?” 2. How are you walking each day with God so that you do not fall into the trap of being a “fool?”

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

As we begin our journey through Genesis 28 this week, be sure and pray each day for God to give you the discernment you need from Him. Also, ask Him not to let you miss anything He is teaching you so you can apply what He teaches you to your daily life. As a bit of a reminder of where God has taken us, in Genesis 26:34, God revealed to us Esa...

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Day 2

As we continue to walk through Genesis 28, we find that even though the circumstances that led to Isaac sending Jacob away were not part of God’s perfect plan, it was still crucial that Jacob NOT marry a Canaanite woman. Jacob was not to marry a Canaanite because the Canaanites did not worship the one true God. God had already chosen Jacob as...

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Day 3

Today we come back to examine Esau’s life a little more. Esau struggled within himself because he knew Isaac had blessed Jacob willingly. Esau also knew Isaac sent Jacob away to find a wife in Paddan-aram, the home of Rebekah’s family. We see all of this clearly in Genesis 28:6. Esau was a broken man due to his sinful choices. Esau was not a ...

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Day 4

Yesterday we began to examine a little closer Esau’s life. We saw that Esau was remorseful but not repentant. Today, in Genesis 28:8-9, we see that Esau continued to do things his way. Esau never sought God’s plan or purpose for his life. Esau never asked God what to do, who to marry, where God would have him live, or anything else for that m...

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Day 5

Today we come back to Jacob as we read Genesis 28:10-17. Jacob then leaves Beersheba, where he had lived with Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the rest of their people and he headed to Haran, where Rebekah’s brother Laban lived. As Jacob journeyed, he found a place to sleep for the night. As we read, we see that Jacob had an encounter with our Lord ...

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Day 6

We saw in yesterday’s devotion how God revealed to Jacob His promise that He first revealed to Abraham, Jacob’s grandfather. God appeared to Jacob in a dream, and again, as we saw yesterday when Jacob awoke, he was in awe of God and what God had spoken to him. Jacob was so in awe of God that he took the stone he slept on the night before, set...

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Day 7

We close this week with an examination of Jacob’s prayer to God in Genesis 28:20-22. As we examine Jacob’s prayer, we see that Jacob was not submitted to God, but was making his deal with God. Jacob was still trying to control his destiny, just like he and Rebekah had done with the deception of Issac. In the next phase of Jacob’s life, though...

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