Enstoried

E37 - Genesis 35 - History (Almost) Repeats Itself

Genesis, as its name implies, is a book of beginnings. Just as importantly, it is also a book of re-beginnings for humans with God. Today on Enstoried, we will see exactly that in the last of these stories that focus on the life of Jacob. His life hasn't been easy, it's not going to get easy, but for Jacob and all of us who consider him our spiritual forefather, it is a life that will always be marked by the presence of God. 

E36 - Genesis 34 - When Good Men Do Nothing

After an intense reunion with Esau, Jacob and his family return to Canaan and settle down. But when his daughter Dinah soon becomes the victim of an assault, the family must decide how to react. Today on Enstoried, how Jacob responds to injustice against his family, and how it affects his sons. Action and inaction both have consequences, and the combination of the two in this story lead to disastrous results. 

E35 - Genesis 33 - Family Reunion

Family reunions - they can be wonderful or they can be stressful. The stressful kind would include seeing a brother for the first time in years who once said he would literally kill you if he ever gets the opportunity. Today on Enstoried, Jacob and Esau meet again 20 years after Jacob left home. Will their relationship pick right back up where it left off, or has Jacob's recent struggle with God given Jacob a reason to expect something better?

E34 - Genesis 32 - The Struggle Israel

They say time heals all wounds. So is 20 years long enough for Esau to forgive his brother Jacob for stealing his blessing and birthright? Well, if he's planning to meet Jacob with 400 men, what would you think? Today on Enstoried, Jacob prepares to reunite with Esau. He prays for God's help, and God definitely helps, just not in the kind of way that Jacob might expect. It's a wrestling match, and Jacob's very own name is on the line. 

E33 - Genesis 30 & 31 - Patriarchal Plunder, Part 2

Jacob and his family had a good head start, but Laban has caught up and is determined to take back all that he says belongs to him. God will protect Jacob physically, but Laban will try to do all of the damage he can with his words. Today on Enstoried, Laban oversteps his rightful place in the lives of Jacob and his family, but who will prevail in this contest of the gods is a matter of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel's choosing. 

E32 - Genesis 30 & 31 - Patriarchal Plunder, Part 1

God calls Israel out from beneath the hand of an oppressive authority figure so that God can make Israel his very own family - but it's not the story of the exodus. Today on Enstoried, the first of a two-part look at Jacob and his family getting out of Laban's house. Jacob once again finds himself breaking cultural conventions, and Rachel makes sure she doesn't leave home empty-handed. 

E31 - Genesis 29 & 30 - Veiled Intentions

Someone once said, "you can't kid a kidder." Well, that someone never read the story of Jacob and Laban, where Jacob the deceiver becomes the deceived. Today on Enstoried, Jacob goes to Haran with God by his side, but that doesn't mean that Jacob's past isn't coming back to bite him. He'll get the wife he wants, but not in the way that he wants, because in this part of the Genesis story, the firstborn will not be denied their rights. 

E30 - Genesis 28 - Stairway to Heaven, Part 2

Who says you can't go home? That's the song Bon Jovi sings, and the hero of this week's story is hoping against all hope that Bon Jovi is right. Today on Enstoried, Jacob leaves home for the first time. He meets the God of his fathers who promises Jacob that he will be with him and keep him wherever he goes. Home is Jacob's desired destination, but trusting God is the only road to get there. 

E29 - Genesis 27 - God Bless You. And You!

Isaac and Rebekah have two sons - Jacob and Esau. But apparently Isaac only has one blessing to give out, and it's causing problems at home. Does it really have to be this way? Today on Enstoried, the underhanded battle to be blessed in the home of Isaac and Rebekah, and the fallout that occurs when one family underestimates God's ability to bless abundantly. 

E28 - Genesis 26 - Glitch in the Matrix

Like father like son. That old adage was never more true than with the overlapping stories of Abraham and Isaac, who managed not only to make the exact same mistakes, but with the exact same group of people. Today on Enstoried, the promises of God are handed down from Abraham to Isaac. And while King Abimelech has to call out both of them for their potentially disastrous lies, he gets to witness firsthand the blessings of their God and enter into a covenant to become their allies.