INTRODUCTION

A man naturally desires to protect what God has given him. Jacob was not always an example of godliness, but even he had the desire to protect his family. From a distance, he could see that he was coming up on his brother Esau. Unsure of how the reunion might go, Jacob began dividing up his family. He moved those most precious to him to the rear of the group and went before all of them. If there was going to be trouble, it would have taken him, but his family would have the opportunity to flee to safety. According to Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
See All..., this protection ought to include a man’s willingness to lay down his life for his wife. A godly man will always step between danger and those in his home.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Noah protected his family by believing God and building the ark (Genesis 7:5And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
  See All..., 7). God made men stronger than women (1 Peter 3:7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
  See All...). Women need help and protection both physically (Genesis 29:7-10 [7] And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. [8] And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. [9] And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. [10] And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
  See All...; Exodus 2:16-19 [16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. [17] And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. [18] And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? [19] And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
  See All...; Mark 16:1-3 [1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. [3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
  See All...) and spiritually (1 Timothy 2:12-14 [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
  See All...).
• Do those in your home feel safe? Why? Do you have someone who would be willing to protect in the unfortunate case that trouble would come?
• What are some ways in which a husband and father can protect those in his home? Is this protection always physical, or should he protect them spiritually and emotionally?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for giving you a protector.
• Ask the Lord to help you be a good protector.

HYMN

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