May 10, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional, Wednesday ODB Message
May 10, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional, ODB Devotional Message for Wednesday written by Tim Gustafson
TOPIC: Stolen Gods
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Kings 10–12; John 1:29–51
KEY VERSE: Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” – Genesis 32:28
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Genesis 31:19–21; 32:22–30
INSIGHT FOR OUR DAILY BREAD 10TH MAY 2023 BY J.R HUDBERG
Rachel stole her father’s “household gods” (Genesis 31:19). The Hebrew word used here is teraphim. This word is used several times in the Old Testament (see Judges 17:5; 18:14; 1 Samuel 15:23; 2 Kings 23:24), but scholars are uncertain about what such household gods or idols were used for. It’s possible they were used in everything from divination practices to status symbols denoting who was the rightful heir of the household. It’s further unclear why Rachel stole them from her father, as these idols aren’t mentioned again in the rest of the story of Jacob or his offspring.
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL 10TH MAY 2023 MESSAGE:
A carved wooden figure—a household god—had been stolen from a woman named Ekuwa, so she reported it to the authorities. Believing they had found the idol, law enforcement officials invited her to identify it. “Is this your god?” they asked. She said sadly, “No, my god is much larger and more beautiful than that.”
People have long tried to give shape to their concept of deity, hoping for a handmade god to protect them. Perhaps that’s why Jacob’s wife Rachel “stole her father’s household gods” as they fled from Laban (Genesis 31:19). But God had His hand on Jacob, despite the idols hidden in his camp (v. 34).
Later, on that same journey, Jacob wrestled all night with “a man” (32:24). He must have understood this opponent was no mere human, because at daybreak Jacob insisted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (v. 26). The man renamed him Israel (“God fights”) and then blessed him (vv. 28–29). Jacob called the spot Peniel (“face of God”), “because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (v. 30).
This God—the one true God—is infinitely larger and more beautiful than anything Ekuwa could have ever imagined. He can’t be carved, stolen, or hidden. Yet, as Jacob learned that night, we can approach Him! Jesus taught His disciples to call this God “our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY 10 MAY 2023:
REFLECT: How would you describe God? How might your ideas of Him be too limited?
PRAY: Heavenly Father, forgive me for seeing You as smaller than You really are. Help me embrace the reality of who You truly are.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 10th May 2023 || ODB for Wednesday Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.
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