Author: William Douthwaite

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Joseph does well, considering

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 39.

It’s good to know that growing up in a dysfunctional family doesn’t limit your chances of success.

So far Reuben has slept with one of his father’s concubines. Simeon and Levi are violent and abusive. Judah sleeps with his daughter-in-law, who has dressed up like a prostitute. One by one Jacob’s sons are discredited.

However, Joseph is doing well. In fact, the Lord made all that he did prosper as a slave and a prisoner (Genesis 39:3,23). He didn’t get the job he wanted. He’s not living near family. But he got to travel and meet a lot of interesting people.

It’s good to know that neither your family nor your circumstances determine your future. Those are colors in the palette God uses to shape your life, use you, and introduce you to others along the way.

I’d say all families are dysfunctional in some ways. In some situations, it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle. Just because you’re related doesn’t mean y’all get along. It just means you’re a family!

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Playing favorites

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the Bible devotion” from Genesis 37.

Sibling rivalry. It’s real. It’s a challenge. Even among God’s chosen ones.

Jacob had twelve sons, but he also had a favorite.

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons” (Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭3).

You don’t have to be a genius to know that’s going to be a problem.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. They had nothing nice to say about him. They hated him enough to kill him.

They almost did. Instead, they sold him. They sold their brother! When the passing caravan leaves, Joseph is with them, on his way to Egypt.

The family is a good place to practice for life. In a real world, some win, some lose. Some have, some go without. Some succeed, others fail. Not everyone gets a trophy. Some go home empty handed.

How do you feel when someone else succeeds? What goes on in your mind when someone else wins, gets promoted, or takes yet another fantastic trip. It’s not fair, is it?

Does it make you jealous? Do you hate them? Do you start planning a murder? I hope not. But you’re never going to treat them the same. Not if they’re blessed and you get nothing.

Sibling rivalry exists among God’s children. Why? I don’t know. I guess that’s just the ways families work. When that happens, put your blinders on. Keep your eye on Jesus, not someone else. It makes life a lot easier.

Posted in Devotions, neighbor, neighborhood, Through the Bible Devotions

The new neighbor

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 34 and 35.

We try to be good neighbors. You know, friendly, keep an eye on each other’s houses, keep the yard looking nice, and pick up trash. Smile.

Most of our neighbors are like that. But not all. Some yards are kind of trashy. Some throw garbage into vacant lots. Some don’t seem to know how to smile. a few are kind of scary looking.

Jacob’s neighbors weren’t fond of him when he brought his family back to Canaan. After Simeon and Levi avenged the abuse of their sister Dinah, Jacob feared attacks from the locals (34:30). But the locals were afraid of them and avoided them (Genesis 35:5).

I guess that’s ok. But I’d rather the neighbors bring me a plate of cookies. I’d want to introduce myself (and my dogs) and get to know them (and their dogs). Let’s exchange smiles rather than scowls.

If kid’s won’t even knock on your door at Halloween, you might want to give a wave or crack a smile once in a while.

Posted in dogs

A dog as big as me

Posted on by William Douthwaite

As we got back from a long walk with the dogs, our across-the-street neighbors were out front. Their three-year-old daughter had a big smile on her face as she edged her way towards our dogs. As I always do when kids are around, I not only asked, ” Would you like to pet our dogs?” but also insisted, “Check with your dad to make sure it’s OK.”

It was fine and once I got the heavily-panting Great Dane to sit with her tongue hanging way down out of the side her mouth, the little girl came over to reach up and ever so gently pet her head and back.

Our dog was a few inches taller than the girl, and I thought to myself, “What an experience to meet a dog who’s so much bigger than you!” It’s a Clifford the Big Red Dog experience. I’d be a little nervous. The young girl just giggled. An adult friend of ours who is on the shorter side will have that chance when she stops by to visit next week.

Our puppy is nowhere near done growing. In the course of time, the top of her head may be up to my shoulders. Many more will have the experience of reaching up to pet a giant dog.

And ours will not even come close to the largest Great Danes out there. While some of them flirt with two hundred pounds, ours will probably max out around a buck twenty.

That’s plenty big for us. She already fills up the tub at the do-it-yourself dog wash. It took two of us to hold her while a groomer trimmed and dremeled her nails. When she stretches out, she can reach both sides of our king size bed. She doesn’t grab food off our plates, but once in a while her tongue comes very close to licking our meal.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Wrestling with God

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Chris Chow on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 32.

I vividly remember wrestling with all of my three children. They were toddlers, and I would lie on the floor, hug them to my chest, and roll back and forth saying, “Wrestlin’, wrestlin’, wrestlin’!” Of course, I didn’t use even a fraction of my strength. I wasn’t in it to win, but to enjoy some silly dad time with them. The giggles were the best part.

“Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” 

In the heat of the moment, Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

When it was all over, “Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.'” (Genesis 32:24-30)

I think it’s fascinating that Jacob tries to wrestle a blessing out of God. Jacob’s life is filled with God’s blessing. He ran away from home with nothing, and returns with all kinds of family and flocks, plus the same covenant promises of God given to his grandfather Abraham.

The Almighty doesn’t use a fraction of his strength, and lets Jacob hold on all night. In the morning, Jacob realizes he’s been wrestling with God, and he lived to tell about it. That in itself is a pretty great blessing!

How often do I try to wrestle a blessing out of God rather than recognizing all the things he’s already given?

Posted in Devotions, family, Through the Bible Devotions

Reach out sooner than later

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Dave Phillips on Unsplash

A “through the bible devotion” from Genesis 32.

A few months ago, I had to call our HVAC company because the air conditioning wasn’t keeping up with the hot and humid late spring weather. I did what I could. I changed out the filter. I made sure the drain line was clear. I changed the batteries in the thermostat. But I learned a long time ago that you call sooner than later, because you need someone to come out who knows what they’re doing.

By the time Jacob decides it’s time to go home, he’s got a large family and lots of sheep. He’s had eleven sons and a daughter with his two wives and their servants. He’s skillfully bred the sheep so that he ends up with most of Laban’s herd.

The next hurdle is his older brother. What if Esau is still mad after twenty years? Jacob arranges to send generous gifts ahead to smooth over the reunion.

And then Jacob prays, “Save me from the hand of my brother” (Genesis 32:11). This is the first time we read of Jacob praying. He knew God was around. He was aware of God’s covenant promises. But now he needs God’s help. Up until this point, Jacob has been able to work the system and do well. But now he’s afraid. Now his back is against the wall. “Please save me, God.”

I learned a long time ago to ask God for help sooner than later, too. Again, you need someone who knows what they’re doing. We like to think we’ve got life all figured out. But let’s be honest. We don’t.

Thankfully, we know someone who does.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

The deceiver is deceived

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by nikki gibson on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 28-29.

If you’re like me, you’re tickled to read how Jacob the deceiver is deceived!

“Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her…So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!” (Genesis 29:23,25)

Jacob works seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. But on their wedding night, Laban pulls a fast one and has his older daughter Leah consummate the marriage. Jacob doesn’t realize it until the morning? That must have been one heck of a feast! It sounds more like a fraternity party where one of the brothers is so drunk he doesn’t even know the name of the girl he spent the night with.

We live in a world where we must be ever vigilant against scams. My spam folder is filled with emails from unknown sources who want me to click something or call a number so I can give up some personal information. Is that guy at your door peddling alarm systems legit? Is that really a piece of grilled grouper on your plate? How about that “American made” product assembled from parts imported from other countries?

Just be careful. Ask around. Do your homework. Read the fine print. Run it by a friend. Get some references.

At least make sure your best man is looking out for you!

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

“What are you doing here?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sam Solomon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 27 and 28.

“The Lord is certainly in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

I think it’s interesting that Jacob thought that he was leaving God behind when he ran away from home. After disguising himself as his Esau get his father’s blessing, his older brother is ready to kill him. Mom says, “Why don’t you go away until he cools off. You can go visit your uncle Laban.” (Genesis 27:43,44)

When Jacob wakes up from a vivid dream about angels, a ladder, and God himself, he’s amazed. “How about that? I never expected to find God out here in the middle of nowhere.”

When someone mentions a “house of God” I immediately think of a church building. But sometimes I talk to him while I’m out walking the dog. Yes, the dog will sometimes glance up at me like I’m crazy. I have to assure her, “Just keep walking; I’m not talking to you.”

I’ll chat with God in the car, imagining him riding shotgun. With the way other people are driving, I’ll often ask for a couple of extra angels to get me safely to my destination.

I’ve heard folks comment that they feel close to God when they are out walking through the woods or sitting out on the beach watching the ocean, or looking up into the night sky.

Jacob, however, wonders, “What are you doing here?” Rather than feeling blessed, Jacob’s deception has made a mess of his life. In moments like that, you might think that God really doesn’t want anything to do with you. But that’s never the case. Rather, he’s the one we can be certain will never abandon us.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Dressing up for a blessing

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 27.

On any given day, one of my granddaughters will be dressed as Cinderella or another Disney princess. Another will have her legs wrapped in a mermaid tail. With an apron around his or her waist, another will be my waiter at a pretend food diner or ice cream shop.

Who doesn’t like to dress up?

I chuckle when the bible tells us of the time Jacob pretended to be his brother Esau. Esau was a hairy guy who smelled like a field. So Jacob puts on his older brother’s clothes and ties goat skins to his hands and neck so that his father, Isaac, whose eyes are failing, will think he is Esau. Amazingly, it works! Isaac blesses Jacob with the words Esau should have received. (Genesis 27:15-29)

How many of us pretend to be someone else to get approval or recognition? Social media makes this very easy to do. If you post pictures of the happy, fun, and adventurous moments of your life, everyone will like and envy your adventurous, fun, and happy life.

How’s that working out for you? Are you feeling blessed? Are you happier? Is your life an amazing adventure? Maybe for a moment or two. Then it’s back to reality. Back to real life.

Why don’t we want to be ourselves? That’s easy. Someone else is happier, having more fun, and is better liked. I want to be like them.

We’ve just learned that artificial sweeteners are actually much worse for us than sugar. The real thing, sugar, in moderation, is OK after all.

What if the real you is better than anything you could pretend to be? After all, no one can be you better than you.