Open Heaven 9 July
MEMORISE: “And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.” – (Genesis 27:20)
BIBLE READING: Genesis 27:20-33 (KJV)
20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”
And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”
21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.
24 Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”
He said, “I am.”
25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” 27 And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:
“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
28 Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”
30 Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also had made [a]savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.”
32 And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”
So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.”
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
When Isaac asked Esau to prepare a delicious meal of venison (deer or antelope meat) for him to eat so that he could pray for him, Rebekah took advantage of the short distance between Jacob’s tent and his flock, ensuring that the dish was prepared and the blessing stolen before Esau returned. The quick response worked to the advantage of Rebekah and Jacob.
One lesson to learn from the events that happened shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion is the gesture of the woman who anointed His feet with oil (Luke 7:37-38). It was timely. Many of us are too slow when it comes to giving offerings to God or doing good to our neighbours. Many times, our so-called kind gestures are belated.
I shared a need of the Church with one of my sons and instead of promptly meeting it because of its urgency, he said he would go and pray about it. The following week when he came, ready to meet the need, God had already raised somebody else to resolve the issue. He felt bad about it. What a lesson.
Some people criticized the woman at Bethany for ‘wasting’ the ointment instead of selling it to provide for the poor. Jesus rebuked them, saying:
She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. – (Mark 14:8)
By the time this same woman, along with another and Jesus’ mother came to anoint the body of the Lord after His death, it was a belated gesture; Jesus had risen! Thankfully, Mary Magdalene had given her sacrifice before it was too late.
We must always be ready to do good according to Galatians 6:10:
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
May the Lord grant you the grace and wisdom to offer your gifts at a time acceptable unto Him, in the mighty name of Jesus. May your gift or sacrifice to God never be considered late by Him. May the Lord never have cause to raise someone else in your stead, in the mighty name of Jesus.
ACTION POINT: Identify areas of need in the Church and your neighbourhood, Decide to meet as many of such needs as you can, before it is too late.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 57-59
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – A Timely Offering – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 9 July 2021
