We stand firm in the Lord by realizing that God is in control and He will take care of us. Our confidence needs to be in the Lord alone. While we are living this life, we need to cast off anything that does not follow God's plan. The Bible does not say, do not feel anxious, it says, do not be anxious. Likewise, the Bible does not say, do not feel fear, it says, do not be afraid. We can always find a reason to rejoice. If people imitate us, what will they be doing? We need to imitate the good things that we see others doing.
Sex is beautiful and God's plan. Unfortunately, the world experiences painful consequences for not following God's plan. For those who follow Christ sex is part of God's plan for His creation. All of us have to learn to say no to our desires that are not in God's plan. Desire is natural and wholesome and God made us to have desires. However, God's word teaches us which desires are within His will and which desires are not. We are not to awaken love until the time is right. The abortion problem in America is due to the rampant sexual sin that is rampant in America. God is the one who created sex. He designed our bodies for each other in the context of marriage. We are not to stir up sexual desires in ourselves or others. God's plan is for His glory and our good.
God is the creator and the only way that we can approach God is based on the sacrifice that Jesus made. Jesus paid our debt in full so that we could enter into a relationship with God. Because Jesus is alive, He is able to hold His Priesthood completely. We have a High Priest who ever lives to intercede for us to the Father. Jesus is alive and He lives forever!
God the Holy Spirit gave Jacob the words he was to say over his sons. God knows exactly what is going to happen all the time. It was God's will and plan that Jesus should die on the cross for our sins. He plans each day exactly the way it is supposed to be. We don't need to fear people, we need to fear God. Jesus is the only One who lived as fully man who never sinned. All that matters is that we live for Jesus.
Israel's offspring did not know how long the famine would last, yet he did not want to let Benjamin go to Egypt. When we have guilty consciences, all kinds of fear can take root in our lives. Fear is often rooted in guilt. We are told, by God, to not be afraid. When God works through people, it is still supernatural. We need to thank God for whatever we have. All that we own and are comes from Him. In Christ, there is no racism, in Him, we need to love one another. God knows everything and God is in control.
God declared to Jacob to get up and go to Bethel. Doing what God says is always a good plan. We need to do what God says; we are to obey Him. His word tells what we are to do. Sometimes our clothing sends a message to our attitude. When we go to meet with God, we need to give it some thought. Instead of destroying the idols, Jacob hides them under an oak tree. In the midst of Jacob's grief over the loss of Rachel he still had a promise from God. Isaac's eyesight was failing when he was around 60 years old. He spent approximately 120 years just laying around waiting in bed. We should not make Isaac's mistake in is old age and give up. We instead need to cling to God's promises when things are down.
Isaac was 40 years old at this point in the passage. Abraham wanted Isaac to marry someone who had a fear of the Lord. Abraham believed so much that he would not allow his servant to take Isaac to Abraham's prior home. We need to seek God's will even more than our own feelings. God had already planned for Isaac and Rebekah before Abraham and Sarah were married. God cares whether or not we look like Him and God knows how to work hard. We need to obey the Lord and do His will. It is important to go back and repeat the stories when God has done amazing things. Jesus keeps people together when they love Him more than they love one another.