Genesis 35:14-15, 19-20

This six-day devotional walks through Genesis 25-35 and follows Jacob as God pursues, protects, and transforms him. These chapters show that God partners with broken people, blesses those who do not deserve it, and keeps His promises even when we fail. Through Jacob’s story, you will see that God’s grace is never earned, always patient, and still at work in your life today.

Have you ever heard the saying, “They really lived down to their name?” Not really. It is more likely that you would have heard it said that one lived up to their name. When one lives down to their name, it suggest there wasn’t much hope of good for them. In this series we look at the life of Jacob.

Jesus said that believers are in the world but not of the world. People want to be recognized and appreciated by others, and for this reason Christians often feel uncomfortable about “being different”. The Bible shows us our true status: we are not excluded from the world but rather included in the people of God. Our mission is to invite others to be part of this people. We will see from the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph how life as a stranger and pilgrim can be blessed by the Lord and be of blessing to others.

This devotional is about God changing Jacob to Israel. This is a process and the the way God works in our lives. It is good to understand the process and be alive to God's ways in our own lives, and allow Him to transform us to what He wants us to be.