Pastor Bob DuPar
January 14, 2009

Journal Entry

*Today marks my final journal since I started last year on 1-15-08. I will continue to send out notes & observations on Scripture – probably in a different format, and perhaps not daily. I trust that the reading of God’s Word has blessed you greatly, and I hope that it has created within you a lifelong thirst and hunger. Blessings!

Scripture

Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-25; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15

Observation

“Am I in the place of God?..” Genesis 30:2

“The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?” Genesis 30:30

The commission which Jesus gave to the 12 disciples in Matthew 10:5-6 is very different than the Great Commission:

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:17-20

Application

I failed to mention in yesterday’s journal that the other exciting part of Leah’s resolve to praise God for her son Judah is that Christ came from the line of Judah.

Jacob’s words to Rachel, “Am I in the place of God…” struck me as interesting because so often we act like we are – or others depend upon us, and blame us as if we are.

God always desired for all the nations of the earth to be blessed through His people the Jews. This is why the commission to the 12 is specifically targeted at the Jews at the beginning of Christ’s ministry. The focus of the commission shifts to the world after Christ’s resurrection because even though the Jews had rejected God’s Messiah, still all the nations would indeed be blessed through a Jew: Jesus! And, the Gospel message was in fact for all people.

I love the end of Matthew 10:20 when Jesus says that in times of persecution we should not worry about how we will defend ourselves or what we will say because, “the Spirit of our Father will speak through us!” What a beautiful thought and promise! This makes me think of the old saying, “God’s will never leads us where His grace cannot sustain us!”

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You have not left us to aimlessly follow after You. You have revealed Your will, Your character, Your promises, and Your intentions for us. May we be faithful to follow You.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 13, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12

Observation

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:16-17

“So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” Genesis 29:20

Leah named her first son Reuben because she thought, “The Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” (Genesis 29:32) She named her second son Simeon – saying, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, He gave me this one too.” (29:33) She named her third son Levi thinking, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” (29:34) Finally, she named her fourth and final son Judah, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Then she stopped having children. (29:35)

“When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36

“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or resent His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12

Application

God’s presence turns even the most ordinary of places into places which are windows/gates to heaven. So often God is at work in a person, or a place or a situation and we were not even aware of it. Becoming aware of God’s presence and activity in this world is crucial to seeing His power and being involved in His plan.

There’s a beautiful lesson in Leah’s struggle and the naming of her sons. Reuben: The Lord has seen me – maybe my husband will notice me now. Simeon: God has heard me – maybe Jacob will hear my distress. Levi: God has attached Himself to my plight – maybe Jacob will become attached to me. But, the last name – Judah: “I will praise the Lord,” represents a shift in Leah’s thinking and spiritual condition. Leah has now found hope, perspective and strength in God alone. It doesn’t matter what Jacob thinks about her or how he treats her; she is resolved to praise her God regardless.

Prayer

“Lord, grant me the inner fortitude to praise You consistently despite my life circumstances. The love and affirmation of others is nice, but it will never sustain me. Help me to find my strength, my equilibrium, in You.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 12, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10

Observation

“That night the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.” Genesis 26:24

“When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, ‘Bless me – me too, my father! …Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!’ Then Esau wept aloud.”
Genesis 27:34, 38

“…the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…”
Matthew 9:6

“Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13

Application

The God of the Bible, the God of our forefathers, is the same God who promises to be with us and bless us. We don’t have to be afraid or anxious because God’s past actions bring us assurance and confidence that He will continue to be faithful in the future.

Genesis 27:34, 38 caused me to reflect on how many sons, how many daughters, are looking for their father’s blessing; and, wondering if his blessing is only good for one child, or if there is enough for all.

True ministry involves ministering to the sick and needy, not the healthy and content. And, our mindset needs to be one of mercy rather than sacrifice (imposition/obligation).

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for an earthly father who loves me and believes in me. This has made it so much easier for me to trust Your love for me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 11, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8

Observation

“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”
Genesis 25:21

“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man (Isaac) became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.” Genesis 26:12-13

“In his pride the wicked does not seek Him (God); in all his thoughts there is no room for God. …He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’ …He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees. …He won’t call me to account.’ …But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:4, 6, 11, 13b, 14

Application

Isaac’s prayer to God on behalf of Rebekah’s barrenness was a much better method to fertility than sleeping with his wife’s servant! (Abraham) Isaac got this right. But, in Genesis 26:7 he tries to pass Rebekah off as his sister before King Abimelech –like father, like son!

I was struck and challenged by the description of a wicked man: He does not seek God; there is no room for God in his thoughts; he believes he is unshakeable; he subscribes to the myth that he’ll always be happy and never have problems; he thinks that God has forgotten about him and will never hold him accountable. Some of these characteristics sound like my own self-deception from time to time.

Prayer

“Lord, I take comfort in knowing that nothing escapes Your notice. You are sovereign. You are righteous. No one outsmarts You. Thank You that You are fair and merciful as well.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 9, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

Observation

“He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Genesis 22:5

“Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22:8

“So, Abraham called that place, ‘The Lord will provide.” Genesis 22:14

“And, through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.” Genesis 22:18

“Watch out for false prophets. …By their fruit you will recognize them. …A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Matthew 7:15-18

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29


Application

Abraham did not know that God would provide a sacrifice in place of his son Isaac; but, in faith and trust he affirms this to Isaac. And, his exact words to his servants are, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Wow!

First of all, worship is obedience – pure and simple. Worship is not merely some warm fuzzy we get when we sing the particular praise song that we like. It’s obedience – even when it’s hard and we don’t understand God’s ways (especially at these times).

Second, notice that Abraham, in faith, said, “We will come back to you.” This indicates that Abraham really did believe that God would somehow provide. And, God ultimately did provide a lamb: His son, Jesus. He is that Rock upon which every wise man and woman builds their house.

Finally, what a thought, what a promise, that “all the nations of the earth” would be blessed because Abraham obeyed God. I’ve only thought about the personal blessings, or family blessings, that come as a result of obedience. But, what a beautiful thought that all the earth has the potential to be blessed through our faithful obedience to God – through the “fruit” of our life!

Prayer

“Lord, find me faithful. Help me to obey You at all times – not just when it’s convenient or easy. Please use me to bless the lives of others. Thank You for Your amazing plan! Your ways are definitely higher than mine!”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 8, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 18:20-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15

Observation

I have often looked at Genesis 18:23ff. as a great example of God’s mercy and compassion in His vow to not wipe out the whole territory of Sodom & Gomorrah if 50 righteous people were found (45, 40, 30, 20, 10). But, what a sad commentary that apparently not even 10 could be found! How bad is a city when you can’t even find 10 people who fear the Lord? And, our answer to this comes in chapter 19 when we read about every man in the city (both young and old – think about that!) attempting to beat down Lot’s door in order that they might have their way with his male guests (angels). That’s just sick!

I wonder how many years had elapsed between Abraham’s offer to Lot to pick whatever piece of land looked best to him, and this catastrophic moment of divine judgment. Talk about having your investment go up in smoke!

The story of Lot’s daughters getting him drunk in order to continue their father’s lineage is further proof to me that the Bible is a divine rather than human record. Had the master editor been anyone other than God, this record would certainly have been edited, censored, or removed altogether! Our whole OT reading today documents a pretty ugly, embarrassing point in biblical history.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? …Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:27, 34

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Application

We often talk in religious circles of “standing-in-the-gap.” This catch phrase/principle is certainly appropriate and enlightening in view of the fact that Sodom & Gomorrah could have been spared if there had been 10 righteous people.

As I read Matthew 7:7-8 I could not help but think that I/we don’t seek enough. I don’t knock enough. And, I certainly don’t ask enough. I need to trust that my Heavenly Father wants to bless me and use me in ways that I have not even considered.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for opening doors when I knock, for answering me when I ask, and for meeting me when I seek. Thank You for Your incredible mercy and grace.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 7, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

Observation

Abram agreed to Sarai’s plan to help God with His promise of offspring. This led to Sarai despising Hagar and feeling that Abram was responsible for the wrong which she felt she was suffering.

I couldn’t help seeing a similarity (however vague) between the angel of the Lord meeting Hagar near the spring in the desert (Genesis 16:7), and Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4.

I love the name which Hagar gives to the Lord in Genesis 16:13: “You are the God who sees me.”

Genesis 18:1ff speaks of God’s appearance to Abraham in the form of 3 men. This seems like a reference to some physical manifestation of the Trinity.

Application

God does not need our help in fulfilling His promises. We only complicate the process when we take things into our own hands. It’s interesting that Abram was 86 years old (Gen. 16:16) when Ishmael was born, and 99 years old (Gen. 17:1) when the angel of the Lord finally appeared to him to announce the fulfillment of God’s previous promise. This makes me wonder if Abram & Sarai added 3 unnecessary years to God’s timetable/plan.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You that You are ‘the God who sees me.’ You are aware of everything, including my humble circumstances. You are aware, You care, and You have the power to affect change.”