ReUnited!

1. Have you ever had a falling out with a friend? What ever happened? Did you remain separated or was there ever a time when you made amends and reunited? Describe the situation.


Read Genesis 27:19-41

2. What did Jacob do?



3. Why did Jacob want the blessing that his father was to give Esau?



4. How did Esau respond to not receiving the blessing?



5. How would you have responded if Jacob did this to you?


Read Genesis 33:1-12

6. How did Esau greet Jacob?




Application:

The firstborn in every household always gets the blessing from the father. Jacob, with the help of his mother, stole that blessing. Fearing for his life, Jacob fled and began a new life on his own.

Years later, Jacob and Esau met up again. Not knowing how things would turn out, he turned to God for help (Genesis 32:9-12) and prepared a gift for Esau. When the met face to face, Esau probably shocked the world by running up to Jacob and embraced him. What a difference in Esau's reaction from the last time Jacob and he were together.

Here's the point - no matter what happens in a friendship, we can come back and attempt to be reunited, even in the midst of terrible situations. In fact, Christ showed us the importance on being reunited and reconciled by his death on the cross. Remember, it does take 2 to be reunited, but at least you can make an attempt to restore the friendship.

This week, examine your friendships, current ones and past ones. Is there a relationship that is on the brink of full scale war between you two? Or is there a past relationship that has ended and no reconciliation has occurred? I want to challenge you to: 1. Pray for God to give you wisdom in addressing it and 2. seek to reunite with that friend and try to make amends.

As James 1:5-6 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Seek God's wisdom and attempt to restore a broken relationship and see how God guides you through it.

Pray.

If Trinity can do it...

1. Did you see that Trinity College game a few weeks ago? It was the one in which they had 2 seconds left, down by 4 and needing a TD to win the game. Oh yeah, they had to go 65 yards to do it. Did you see that one? If not, go to YouTube and look at it. It was insane how they used 15 laterals to win the game! Unless you witnessed it with your own eyes, you wouldn't believe it. Have you seen anything in your life that unless you witnessed it with your own eyes, you wouldn't believe it?


Read Luke 9:12-17

2. Why do you think the “twelve” wanted to send away the crowd?



3. What was Jesus’ response?



4. What was the problem with that?



5. So, what did Jesus do?



6. What was the end result?



Application:

Can you imagine being apart of that crowd? You are probably pretty pumped because you got to see and hear from Jesus - a major draw. But now you're hungry and have no place to go. So, what happens, Jesus get 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish from the crowd and goes on to feed over 5,000 men (not to mention women and children)! How insane is that?

Jesus had every right to tell the crowd to disperse and he'll meet up with them again tomorrow, but he didn't do that. He knew that they had a need, a physical need - not a spiritual one. So, instead of having them all to fend for themselves, he chose to feed them with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. I don't know what is as amazing, the fact that he fed them with that little or that they had 12 basketfuls of leftovers!?!

So, here's the point - Jesus cares not just about your spiritual health, but your physical health as well. He wants to meet your needs and provide for you. Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well”. The question is, do you want what Christ is offering?

Regardless of where you are at in life, Christ wants us to cast all our cares, our worries, our concerns on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

When we cast our cares on him and when we seek him, he promises to care for us and provide. Will you let him? This week, cast all your cares on him and seek him. Then, see and experience where he will lead you.

Pray.