This time I will praise the Lord, He has looked at my affliction, I am so Fortunate, I am Happy, I have wrestled with mighty wrestling’s and have prevailed. God has made me forget all my toil. The Lord has heard that I am hated. Now my bridegroom will be joined to the bride. God has given me my reward, He has endowed me with a good dowry, He has taken away my reproach, the Son of the right hand.
Spend time in nature
In the story today, we begin to see the beginning of a promise started with Abraham. Jacob’s family is multiplied. For an outside (or inside) activity, take a spoon and scoop up some sand. Count the grains of sand one speck at a time. Or Wait till the stars are visible and count each star. There is no doubt this will become a tedious task for everyone in the whole family. Change the activity to creating art out of the sand (If you are inside, you can draw a scene on a sheet of white paper with glue and sprinkle the sand across the sticky glue). Sand art can be a drawing with a stick or even a sculpture. If you chose to count stars, play connect-the-dots (If you are doing this inside, buy as many glow in the dark stars you can and randomly stick them to the ceiling). See what different shapes you can make if you were to link the stars together. Once the activity has been shifted, talk about how God’s promise for His people. They will be greater than the stars in the sky or the sand in the sea. They will be uncountable. Remind your family they are among those counted in this promise, but God will call them by their own name He has chosen for them. They will not be just a piece of sand lost in the sea. God loves them so much, He knows the number of hairs on their head.
Tip
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. ~Revelation 2:17
Do something creative
For the creative activity, host a talent show. Have each person stand in front of the family with a small performance. It can be anything they want. They can read a poem, present a painting, complete an acrobatic handstand, or just give a wink and a smile. This is to remind them they are unique in their earthly family, and they are unique in their heavenly family. If you can, create a small stage for the performers to let their light shine.
What you will need:
- A string and sheet or something to make a curtain
- A lamp with out the shade or something to make a spot light
- A microphone and stand or something that looks like one
Family worship idea
For family worship, pull out the Legos. As you read Genesis 29 to Genesis 30:1-24 and Genesis 35:16-18. With each additional son, build a pillar. If you do not have Legos collect 36 stones and try making the pillars three stones high. Once you are done, you will have 12-Pillars, one for every tribe of Israel. Visit with the family about the gates of heaven (Revelation 21:12-14). These gates will be named after the sons born to Jacob (Ezekiel 48:30-34). One day a multitude greater than the sands of the sea will walk through these gates to join people from the beginning of time. As we continue to learn more about each pillar, we’ll see God’s mercy. At Mount Sinai, the descendants of the Pillars vowed to keep the commandments given to them by God. They forgot along the way what repentance was, but today we are blessed by their descendants. I hope you are excited to walk through the gate adorned with the name of a descendant of Jacob.
Personal thoughts
When reading through the chapters I kept returning to Verses 2 and 3 of chapter 29. These verses were highlighted blue, this meant at some point when I read the chapter I wanted to know more about them. “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37). For out of that well they watered the flocks. “They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). The Stone on the well’s mouth was large. So practice and observe everything (the Scribes and Pharisees) tell you but do not do what they do for they do not practices what they preach. They tie up up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4). ‘Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. ‘ (Matthew 28:2-3,5-6). Jacob was confused by the time of day the herds were gathered together, they should have been watered and eating during the middle of the day? The shepherds at the well told Jacob the sheep could not depart and scatter across the fields until the stone is rolled away and they drink some water. In my life the stone has been rolled away and I can freely drink from the lifegiving water that proceeds from the Son of God (John 4:14). I can also return to the fields that are so ready for harvest.
Hiding His word in you ❤
Moses wrote all the LORD’s words, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Exodus24:4
Sabbath Catalyst 