the watcher

Genesis 31:24 But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!” Persecution of those who serve(find favour of) the Lord has always been from the beginning, for we read that Cain hated his brother because his brother found favour of the Lord. The enemy deceived the first family because he was envious of God's attention to man. Joseph was betrayed because his brother envied the attention he got and the bright future he prophesied. Other leaders in Babylon plotted against Daniel because of the favour and grace he carried. The Jewish leaders plotted against Jesus for the envied the attention He got, it seemed he had displaced them from their cherished high thrones. Matthew 27:18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) They also persecuted the Apostles because of envy! Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against t

Genesis 31:6-9 You know how hard I have worked for your father, but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm. For if he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the whole flock began to produce speckled young. And when he changed his mind and said, ‘The striped animals will be your wages,’ then the whole flock produced striped young. In this way, God has taken your father’s animals and given them to me. When your trust is in the Lord, the plots of man will not prosper against you. He is God, He does what He pleases and He is over all. No one can win a battle against Him. Thus that which was planned for evil against you, who is His, will turn out to become good. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Jacob had done Laban no wrong, instead he had served for many years and because of him, Laban had favou

Reading carefully this discuss between Jacob and his uncle Laban. . . Genesis 30:25-35 Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country. Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.” “Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you. Tell me how much I owe you. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.” Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?” “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again. Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over yo

Genesis 29:18,20,27-28 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.” So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. Each time I read this record of Jacob's marriage to Rachael, I wonder if I really understand the love he had for her. Serving seven years just to get to marry her. Now wait a minute, this was not suggested by Laban his uncle, he, Jacob, made the suggestion. The puzzle gets more thickened when he gladly accepted to serve another seven(7) years, this is coming to a total of fourteen(14) years! For one woman. The question would be, was the sacrifice

Genesis 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of [his] venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. We understand that we CANNOT have the same feeling towards everyone, however we must be careful when it comes to our children, to understand that our duty is to ALL of them and not just a favourite. The record of the relationship between Isaac and his sons did not fulfil the balance. For the scriptures records Isaac as favourable to Esau while Rebecca was favourable to Jacob. Someone may say, Rebecca had a foreknowledge of the younger serving the elder, the question is: how did they teach their children. Esau did not seem to have very good mentoring neither was he able to get advice from his father. Why would I say this, remember: He did two great errors: Genesis 25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? (HE DID NOT KNOW THE ESSENCE OF HIS BIRTHRIGHT) Genesis 26:34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to

Genesis 28:12-15 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” You see that the promise was given to Abraham, it yet had to be repeated to Isaac, and also had to be repeated to Jacob. Now to hear the promise is one thing, to b

Genesis 28:7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; For a destination of success, we begin with the right steps. The contrasts between Jacob and Esau was in obedience and disobedience. We thus define our path by whom we choose to obey. We see that the Lord is interested in those who would walk in obedience for that was the main reason Abraham was picked. To fit into the lineage, the same obedience must continue. Today we have an open door, everyone has been called into the fold: Jesus said He was the open door that anyone could come in and find pasture: John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. The same way NOT all that were born to Abraham followed the lineage of the promise also not all who claim they know Christ are of the promise - the key lies in obedience - following the

Genesis 27:37-38 Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?” Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept. You have the power to make choices, however, you have no power over the Consequences! Ordinary people think only of the now, but Wise people think of the after now, they consider the consequences of their decisions and actions. Galatians 6:7-8 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Thus we learn from the story of Esau and Jacob the reason for making the right decisions: we must know what is important

Genesis 26:34-35 At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah. As we get to Genesis 25, we see Abraham leave the scene, his legacy continued by his legitimate son, Isaac. We see God's hand in his life as he prospers yet in a foreign land. The same event between Abraham, Sarah and King Abimelech occurs between Isaac, Rebecca and Abimelech(this may be the 2nd). So Isaac lived on the legacy, then comes the next generation, the twins Jacob and Esau, here comes the power of choice. For as the numbers increase variation sets in. For man becomes dynamic in themselves, people will see the right path, however they would yet choose which path they would follow. Thus the introductory verses tells us that Esau's decision to marry wives from strange places brought grief to Isaac and Rebecca.(IT DID NOT BEGIN IN ONE DAY - remember, he had sold off his

Genesis 25:32 And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? One of the greatest destroyer we have is "immediate gratification"! Esau sold off his birthday for a simply reason: he did not know the value of it. Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright. What a careless way to live, for eventually when it was time to reap the benefits of his birthright, he lost it all! Hebrews 12:16-17 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. Begging and tears could not restore what he lost. He realized it's importanc

Genesis 24:12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. He was supposed to be a servant, however his actions were like that of a son. The eldest servant of Abraham was able to use what he learned from his master (father) and thus succeeded in his mission. Remember what God said: Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. What do our children, wards, servants, employees and dependants learn from us? How to party, get drunk, fight, lie, cheat etc? NO!  REMEMBER EYES WATCH WHAT YOU DO! The young mind copies your lifestyle and if you don't get mercy, they multiply it. This cannot be our lot. We must have a good testimony as Abraham did. We will sing the song "my generation shall praise Your nam

Genesis 23:4 “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” People may wonder why some stories were recorded in the Torah. Why was there need for all these records to be kept? I always fall back to 2Timothy 3:16: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. Genesis 23, teaches us to look ahead. The whole land of Canaan had been promised to Abraham and his generation, yet at this point in time Abraham did not own an iota of it. Then Sarah dies, Abraham needed to bury her. He asks for space to do so from the Hittites, they offer it free to him. Abraham looks ahead, he is not okay with a gentleman's agreement, he wants a contract, he will pay for it and hold title to it. No

Genesis 22:1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” Reading from the KJV you would see the word "tempt", however that word actually reads test, it is likely the words were interchanged in the first use of English. We must understand that the Lord tempts no one with evil for He cannot also be tempted with evil. James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. However everyone must prove what they claim. For it is one thing to say, it is another to be. For to be, you must have proved that you are. Selah Galatians 6:4-5 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. From creation everyone has to prove their authority. The first Adam failed! He coul

Genesis 21:1-2 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. Two things, *it came to pass and *at the set time Where we most times get it wrong as believers is the timing. For one very important attribute of anyone who walks with the Heavenly Father is patience. Almost all the times,  our err is as a result of our inability to wait or exercise patience. Not that it is easy, but it is expedient. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. The "bond woman" may mock you and look down on you now, for they feel that it has happened for them. Some will ask where is your God that you so faithfully serve. Remember: Genesis 21:9-12 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. So she turned to Ab

Genesis 20:3 But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” King Abimelech of Gerar found himself facing death sentence all because of Abraham. Four things we learn from this recorded event (2Timothy 3:16): 1. Not everything that looks beautiful, is for you to take. 2. Be attentive that you do not miss when the Lord is speaking to you. 3. Some enjoy great covering from the Lord, they carry a grace that cannot be tampered with. 4. If we know the great protection the Lord has provided for us, we would not need to lie as a result of fear. For though Abimelech was right when he said he was innocent, if not that the Lord had mercy on him, he and all his people would have been destroyed. For He had already made them barren. Genesis 20:17-18 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. For the lord had caused all the wome

Genesis 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Did Abraham directly request for Lot's safety? Very likely, though this was not directly recorded. Some versions quoted our lead text as if he did. However we are made to understand that Abraham's grace covered for Lot. For no matter how much grace of another covers you, you yet have your role to play. We see a narrow escape, however, we cannot deny that Lot needed to walk in obedience. Remember his wife didn't make it. Truly in old times people carried grace, and their grace rubbed off on others, for the Lord said: Exodus 33:19b  and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. This is the same grace a spouse can rub off on their partner and thus keep them covered. Many pursue ministers because of the influe

Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Everything about this life is actually a race, for even your rest time is a race, WHY! We have limited time. This is why passing on opportunities could be very disastrous, for what you are today is a function of what happened yesterday and what you will be tomorrow is a function if what you do today. Most people pay deaf ears to valuable counsel and information, some to "detrimental fatality", we must understand true warnings, look at Lot's inlaws: Genesis 19:12-14 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. For we are about to destroy

Genesis 19:1-3 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.” But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. We may not be able to tell if Lot and his household would have been completely destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah, however it is recorded that it was only he and his immediate family that were allowed to escape. (What happened to the rest of the family?) What if he had not shown this good character which he must have learnt from Abraham? Paul gave this admonition to Timothy, thus to all who

Genesis 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. Why the need to investigate? The cry had come up to the heavens concerning the evil that the city of Sodom and Gomorrah had continued to commit, yet they were given the chance to prove themselves. They showed their evil nature, even as far as attacking the messengers of God, who came on inspection. What more evidence was needed? It was time for judgment. Genesis 19:4-5 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!” Even Abraham tried negotiating: Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] f

Genesis 18:13-15 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.” When we deal with the Heavenly Father, we do right being careful, for we could get carried away and feel we are dealing with fellow humans: Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. The Lord so graciously interacts with us such that we don't get consumed by His presence, thus we see Him reveal Himself in old times through angels and prophets. We remember Moses seeking to see Him. . . Exodus 33:18-20 Moses responded, “Then sho

Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Abraham was referred to as "a friend of God", it is an exalted position. Not many people experienced such closeness to God. There is a difference between being a family member compared to being a staff in the office. Let me explain, the staff in the office gets information from you because they have a job to do, being disseminators of that information, or given an assignment of which that information is needed to carry out the task. I could place the prophets of old in this category. However, when it comes to family or very close friend, they get privy information on the basis of relationship. This is the category Abraham was: Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Was there any requirements, or features the Heavenly Father saw that made Him enjoy this privilege? Yes! Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command h

Genesis 18:1-2 The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. Some of us feel that the Lord owes us. Why should God do this or that, why should the Lord not have told me about this or that. Are we really attentive? David sang this song after the Lord delivered him from Saul: 2 Samuel 22:28 You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them. Psalms 18:27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. We understand that it is a privilege that we exist and that the one who holds all things together is the Heavenly Father Himself. It is not that we are insignificant, for He created us to have dominion over other mundane things, however He has power over us. So wise people seek Him, they humble thems

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. I have often wondered the difference between the name Abram and Abraham. Abram refers to "noble father", while Abraham refered to "father of many nations". He was renamed because it was time for him to enter his next level, the father of many nations, the one through whom many would be blessed. Up till today we talk of the Abrahamic blessings. This study is not about names but about entering into a new level. When we were introduced to Christ we hear names like, christian, born again, convert, disciple etc. The name is not the real deal but the transformation, in spirit, mind and thus character. Something happens, there is a change a movement to a new level. Salvation is the moat significant change for any human, for it is at salvation that man gets the right to be called the child of God, thus can claim more than the Abrah

Genesis 17:10 This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. The evidence of Abraham's covenant was circumcision. It was him and all his household. This was to be for all his generation. This circumcision was a sign, what was really to be circumcised was the heart. For it was obedience to God that mattered. It was one thing to be circumcised, it was another to live in obedience. For though they were circumcised, those who refused to live by faith in God still perished. Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings. Jeremiah 9:26b  for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart. Romans 2:25-29 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision h

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. There is the term "helping the Lord", it is the effort of man to bring to pass what the Lord had promised using human efforts, deceits of the enemy or carnal wisdom. It is delicate in the sense that, what the Lord promised you could seem to delay, thus the enemy or your human mind would begin to suggest alternatives which are not God centered. The end result is not always pleasant. As people testify, we still feel the impact of Sarai and Abram's mistake. Genesis 16:4-5 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me

Genesis 15:5-7 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.” One issue that has not been clear to some is hearing from the Heavenly Father. Not all are privileged to enjoy such communication as Abraham had. For others such as Joseph and Daniel, they encountered the Father through dreams. However one thing is common to everyone through scriptures, the display of FAITH. Hebrews 11:1-2 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. The way you hear Him speak may not be the determinant of the grace you carry (as our pentecostal

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. The first mention of priesthood in the bible began with Melchizedek.  He was in no order of any lineage, though the record in Genesis did not give much details about Him, the writer of Psalm and Hebrews made reverence to Him. Even some interprete Christ reference of Abraham seeing His day to be significant to Abram's encounter with Melchizedek. What is the significance of the priesthood, it is the linkage between the deity and those who worship. Jesus became our priest, the one who meditates for us, cutting the lineage of priesthood. He remains alive thus there is no other priesthood than His. Selah Hebrews 9:11-12,15,28 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own bloo

Genesis 14:21-23 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ Abram had returned from saving Lot and the other people of Sodom who were captives of war. He also collected plunders from the defeated king Chedorlaomer and his allies. Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king's dale. He was met by the king of Sodom, who asked him to return the people but keep the loot. However Abram had already made a pact with God that he will take none of the loot. He knew where his wealth cam