by Pastor Tim Klein
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Read Genesis 29:1–20
In yesterday’s devotion, in Genesis 28:2,3, Jacob’s father Isaac sends him on his way with instructions and a blessing:
Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.
So much for ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men’ (thank you, Robert Burns). Those plans soon went astray. With some significant manipulation (dare we say ‘skullduggery and trickery’) by Laban, not one, but two wives – both the daughters of Laban – were married to Jacob. But God’s plan was still at work. Fulfilment of the blessing took more than one wife; it took both wives and two maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah (whom Jacob also married), to produce Jacob’s 12 sons, the founding fathers of the tribes of Israel.
It is amazing how God persists with his plan. It’s the big salvation plan. One of the sons is Judah – and his house is the house of Israel from which Jesus came.
If you are interested in the story, keep reading Genesis for the extraordinary roll-out of God’s saving plan all those generations ago.
Is there some encouragement in this for you and me? If you read on, you will discover the characters of the 12 leaders of the tribes of Israel. They were many and varied, and God had something to say and do through each of their lives.
You may find a direct comparison to your life among them. However, in general terms, you will see the miracle of how the Lord works through different people, in good and bad situations, always working for the good of his people and the sake of his kingdom.
By all means, we lay our plans. But most of all, we trust the Lord to guide us through them all.
Lord: you must laugh sometimes at the plans we make. Yet despite us, you remain working in and through us. Please continue to give us the confidence to boldly step ahead in faith, trusting in you, knowing that you are there with us, working your good for the sake of your kingdom. Amen.
Tim has served as a pastor for more than 30 years in Australia and New Zealand. He plans to retire on 12 January in 2025. Husband to his wife Joy, father of three and grandfather of more than 10, Tim says he is living in hope. He enjoys gardening (especially his orchard of more than 60 trees, succulents and flowering plants), making music (he loves to sing), beekeeping and taking photos.
Peace
by Greg Fowler
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They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks … (Micah 4:3b).
Read Micah 4:1–4
In Micah 4:3, the prophet paints a breathtaking picture of God’s ultimate kingdom: ‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.’ This powerful imagery speaks of radical, divine transformation. God takes instruments of destruction and repurposes them for cultivation and life.
While this prophecy points to a future of global peace, it also holds a profound mirror to our personal lives today. We may not wield literal swords, but we often carry weapons that do just as much damage. A sharp tongue, a defensive attitude, a lingering grudge, or the relentless need to be ‘right’ in an argument are all weapons we use to protect ourselves or strike at others. Who among us hasn’t struck out at another, driven by our own hurt?
God’s invitation to us is to surrender these weapons. He wants to take our defensiveness and forge it into patience. He wants to melt down our harsh words and reshape them into encouragement. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, he transforms our relational battlefields into gardens of grace.
So, what swords are we carrying? Is it a resentment toward a family member? A critical spirit at work? Unsettled energy that often comes out as anger? We can lay that down; we can ask God to help us repurpose that energy into a ‘ploughshare’ – an intentional action that cultivates peace, such as offering encouragement, extending forgiveness or choosing to listen rather than retaliate.
Lord, forgive me for the ways I wield my words and attitudes like weapons. Transform my heart. Take my sharp edges and shape them into tools of your peace, love and restoration. Help me to live the grace you give me. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.
Rest
by Greg Fowler
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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28,30).
Read Matthew 11:16–19,25–30
We live in a culture that glorifies busyness. We often wear our exhaustion like a badge of honour, juggling careers, family obligations and endless digital notifications until our souls feel heavy and frayed.
Into this chaos, Jesus extends a radical, countercultural invitation: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28,30).
In the ancient world, a yoke was a wooden frame joining two oxen to pull a heavy load. Typically, a young, inexperienced ox was yoked with a mature, stronger one. The older ox bore the majority of the weight and dictated the pace.
When Jesus invites us to take his yoke, he isn’t offering a life of zero responsibility. He is offering a divine partnership; he steps into the yoke with us, bearing the crushing weight of our obligations, anxiety, guilt and need for control.
What burden are we carrying? Are we carrying the weight of others’ opinions, financial worry or the pressure to be perfect? Tell it to Jesus. Be yoked to him while we uncouple from the world’s frantic pace. We do not have to hustle to prove our worth; our value is already securely anchored in Christ.
Let’s step into his rhythm. Spend time with Jesus in word and prayer. Speak to him about where we can surrender control and actively ask him to carry that load with us.
True rest isn’t found in an empty calendar, but in a surrendered heart full of grace.
Lord, I am weary from trying to do it all alone. I surrender my heavy burdens to you today. Teach me your gentle, humble rhythm and give my soul true, lasting rest. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.
God’s majesty displayed
by Tania Nelson
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All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might (Psalm 145:10,11).
Read Psalm 145:8–14
I love being in nature: beach walks and the sound of the waves breaking, recognising birds in the trees as I wander through my neighbourhood and discovering streams and wildlife on bush walks. I’m drawn to impressive mountain views and delicate native wildflowers. When I’m driving, I love seeing a rainbow, and I find sunlight radiating through storm clouds awe-inspiring. I certainly believe that creation speaks of God’s glory and might.
Perhaps David, too, was moved by ‘the glorious splendour of [God’s] majesty’ when he wrote this beautiful song of praise. Do yourself a favour and read all of Psalm 145!
Apparently, the psalm is an acrostic poem, with each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We lose that beauty in our English translation, but we don’t lose the joy that is conveyed in this song of praise.
David speaks of God’s graciousness, compassion, goodness, might, glory, trustworthiness, nearness, watchfulness and more. David reminds us that the ‘Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made’ (Psalm 145:9).
When we reflect on the expanse of the universe and the creativity of our God who created such beauty, and then consider that God knows us and God loves us individually, well, that’s truly awe-inspiring and worthy of praise.
Lord of power and might, I praise you for you are good! The splendour of creation declares your glory. You are compassionate and gracious. You are faithful and rich in love. Let every creature praise your holy name forever and ever. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.