Is God Unfair?

 

YouTube ‘Why Does the Bible Say, 

'Jacob I Loved and Esau I hated?'

By RealTruthRealQuick (7 min 20 sec)

  

“The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.  ‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord.  But you say, ‘How have You loved us?’  ‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ declares the Lord, ‘Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.’

 

“Thou Edom says, ‘We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins’; thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the Lord is indignant forever.’  Your eyes will see this and you will say, ‘The Lord be magnified beyond the border of Israel!’” Malachi 1:1-5

 

This last book of the Old Testament was written in 430BC.  God’s people had been on an up and down journey since Abraham first received the promise of a Chosen people. 

 

Perhaps, more than relevant to the world today.  You see, God’s people had grown lukewarm about the Lord.  They mindlessly observed the proper rituals and courtesies, but they had lost their hope, because the promised, Messiah had failed to appear, and life was difficult. 

 

God reminds them through Malachi, of His faithfulness and favour.  He promised to sustain and protect them over all others.  He chose Jacob over Esau to be the nation that would bring forth the Messiah for His purposes and glory.  It was time for Israel to remember, renew their hearts and return to Him.  A worthy message for each of us today.

 

Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you daily)

 

PS:  (Provider changed the email program and not able to send out email version right now, so entire prayer list below.  Apologies.)

 

PSS:  Find my statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com  (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). Find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.  (Also, there is an android ‘Google Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone.  Not sure about Apple.).  For the books, go to Amazon books.  

 

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

·      URGENT ISRAEL– thousands have lost their lives to heartless terrorists in an unprovoked attack.  Many from Israel have also been captured as hostages (soldiers, elderly, women, children and babies).  Please Pray for those who have lost loved ones, the hostages, those trapped there and for the Israeli soldiers and strategists who must now take action to save lives and restore peace from the many terrorists surrounding their land.  Pray also for the Palestinians who have been held captive by the terrorists for years -- as they must also live through this war.

·      Peter and Jill – as they arrived in Greece on their holiday of a lifetime they were robbed.  It has been a time of testing and learning.  Please pray for patience, safety and good health as they continue their journey and that all will be restored. 

·      Andrew M. – we’ve been praying for him and his full-time ministry (Deaf Ministries Intnl).  Recently travelled to The Philippines and contracted Zika fever.  He remains in hospital recovering there and needs your prayers for healing, strength and wisdom.  Pray also for his health carers and his beloved wife (still here in Sydney awaiting his safe return).

·      Barbara – the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away suddenly early this year).  Please pray God places people in her path who will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with.  Pray for Barb’s peace and protection at night.

·      David – is beginning to experience congestive heart problems.  He was growing stronger since they changed his meds.  Pray for his patience and continued wisdom for his health carers, and for Heidi, his daughter and sole carer to be strong and healthy.

·      New – Jen N – a Jewish woman I’ve met at work, please pray for her that she will find a new role and that she stays safe and healthy.  Please pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).

·      Patti and John – Pray the Lord keeps them safe and healthy and that they are encouraged in the strength of the Lord and never compromise the truth of the Bible for any reason.  (Joshuah 1:6-9).

·      Demi and John – one evening he went out his backdoor to run an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several times (one pierced his heart).  He has recovered physically, but please pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.

·      Jeff and Rachael’s family, Peyton and Carter - Payton, granddaughter, now a senior in university.  Carter, their son, now a freshman in college.  Both are exceptional students and love the Lord.  Pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their love of God’s Word increases daily.

·      Sarah and Andrew – he left his job a year ago -- she went to work in a new role.  Pray for this precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.

·      Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is angry and lost.  He has been there a long time now and refuses to move out.  He is very angry and disruptive.  Please pray the Lord saves all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own life.  Pray for the continued patience and compassion of Sue and Rob.

·      Bettina – continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord.  Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses and 18 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      Paul – please pray for him.  He still has not found a job or work after more than ten years.  He is very discouraged and now unwell.  Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and strengthen.

·      Ian – continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness with personal evangelism is fulfilled. 

·      Elina – needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.

·      Megan (for emotional healing) and Scott, her husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through troubled times.

·      Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives his heart to the Lord.

·      Robin – lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her daughter who is comforting her.

·      Pray for true, Christ-centered revival in America.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil.  Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.

·      Scott and Carolyn Petty – Scott settling in as our new pastor.  Pray he and his wife and family know how welcome they are.  Pray for their wisdom, strength and patience during this time.

·      Elaine and Jim Pounder and their ‘Little Church’ ministry.  They thank you for your prayers.  Continue to pray for their safety, health, strength and time with family as their ministry continues to spread around the world in a model of home churches. Pray for continued growth of their YouTube channel and website:  The Little Church World at https://www.youtube.com/user/thelittlechurchworld

·      Pat and Isobel –as they serve tirelessly in challenging times.  Pray the Lord refreshes and strengthens them with ‘streams in the desert’.

·      Ray and Kathy – Ray’s mom is fading into the growing fog of dementia.  She is falling frequently and has become verbally abusive and difficult with Ray.  Pray the Lord restores her memory and health.  Pray for Ray who is, of course, hurt by her and for him as he recovers from a surgical procedure. Pray for Kathy as she supports him through this difficult time and also for their separate ministries to grow through the witness of their love and compassion.

·      Jenny S– Pray God provides her with a new car (she would love leather seats).  Help her identify the value of her unique contributions wherever she goes.  Pray the Lord maintains her health and finances.

·      Talitha – in full-time children’s ministry and needs financial support for her work.  Pray God moves the hearts of those around her to provide ample support for her work.

·      Isaias and Judith Catorce – have faithfully served as key leaders and teachers for Ambassadors for Christ Philippines (AFCP – TMS Global).  Judith still needs your prayers as she recovers from cancer surgery.  I had the privilege of visiting their ministry and encourage you to learn more about their tireless work and consider supporting them by going to www.tms-global.org .  Select the ‘Give’ option at the top of the page.  Select ‘Give to a Worker.’  Type the amount of the gift and the code 6028 (which equals ‘Catorce’), then follow the simple directions. 

·      Simon, Tamara and their children – Simon has moved to a new ministry with new challenges.  Pray for him and his entire family. 

·      John and Sheridan – a most delightful couple.  He is the pastor of a church with a small and faithful congregation, and she supports him in many ways.  Pray that God encourages them to not grow weary of their work and that the Lord brings abundant fruit.

·      Patrick - a Bible scholar, who is presently part of an English Translation Review Committee, reviewing a new translation of the New Testament, ‘The Antioch Bible’ (translating from Syriac to English).  Pray for their hoped-for goal of finishing the entire NT this calendar year and that he has increasing skill in the complicated languages he is working with.

·      Audley M – In his 90s, remarried last year (his wife passed away a few years ago).  Pray for their union in Christ and for their health and strength.  Pray for his wisdom and the effective growth of his wonderful radio ministry (Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Indianapolis) as America hunger for ‘True meat’!

 

Pray Especially for Salvation for:

·      Becky – came through her spinal surgery to repair some deterioration vertebrae but there is a long recovery time.  Pray for her patience and for her health care providers that they are wise and compassionate, that her family rallies around her to care for her and most of all that she finds the Lord in all this.

·      Fred and Barb – brother of Patti -- for salvation.

·      Bryan and Julie (Patti’s daughter) for salvation.  They are the parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate -- lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we have prayed for over the years.

·      Sophie– six-year-old daughter of a friend is chronically unwell and frail.  Please pray for her, her parents and health carers to find ways to manage her symptoms and heal her and that this will lead them all to come to salvation.

·      Pray for Jeff and Rachael’s family in Louisville to desire and seek a relationship with the Lord.

·      Peggy – a dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in her neck for years.  Her new oncologist has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but she is miserable.  Please pray for her as she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.

 

Pray for those with ongoing health concerns

Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health.  Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them.

·      Wayne B – is slowly losing his precious wife, Lyn, (diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia three and a half years ago).  She has been in care since May of 2020 but recently had a succession of falls and is now in a psycho-geriatric facility. She sometimes knows who he is but is no longer able to respond.  Pray for comfort for Wayne as he deals with this difficult situation. 

·      Joni – a long-time friend, wandering through the challenges of cancer treatment.  No results yet from the PET scan, but other tests indicate her cancer is gone.  Nevertheless, she is still recovering from the treatments and needs your prayers as she lives alone.

·      Hans– a dear friend in Germany struggling with lung cancer and financial difficulties.  Pray his new social worker will be able to help him and that he will have patience.  Pray for his healthcare providers and that he is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will remind him of the Lord’s love.  Pray for his Mom (age 84) -- that their time together is filled with extraordinarily good memories and lots of love.

·      Jake – continues his battle with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems.  Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and for his other friends and health carers to help him through his health journey.

·      Jen – who lost her only sister and recently had an accident that landed her in a special long-term facility.  She is home now and very tired and grateful to be home.  Please pray for her patience and that she will realise how much the Lord loves her.

·      Philip and Sue – Philip recently had surgery.  Pray for his health carers and for Sue as she supports him through his recovery.

·      Leon – out of intensive care into the high dependency unit.  Pray for his health-care providers that they are wise and compassionate.

·      Ivan – (brother of Emil) Ivan has been battling illness for a long time is now virtually starving.  He can no longer stand.  Pray for Ivan to revive his hope and for Emil to be strong and wise as he holds his brother’s hand through this final journey.  And give Brenda, Emil’s wife wisdom and compassion as she comforts him.

·      Beth – at 30 years old is now in palliative care, on Morphine as she faces imminent death, give her peace as she journeys through this last step on her way Home to be with her Saviour and King.

·      Patti and John – pray God continues to inspire them with His love and compassion and that He will guard their health.  Pray also for travelling mercies as Patti is now the only one who drives.

·      Dana, daughter of Annette and Lyle just gave birth to their first grandchild.  All healthy.  Pray God watches over this precious, new child throughout her life and that He captures her heart early in her life that she may inspire others by her faith and love.

 

Pray for the World