Gen. 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."
The first two things God wants us to know about Him are these: 1) even in the darkest places, where there is nothing--absolutely nothing--good or light or worthwhile, He is there; and 2) He can create life from nothingness.
Do you ever feel like you life is formless and void? Like your marriage is full of nothingness? Your soul is a pit of darkness? Even there, God is with you. Ps. 139:7, 11-12 "Where can I go from Thy Spirit?...If I say, 'Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,' even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee."
Maybe it's your own, stupid fault you are in this deep, dark pit. What about then? Surely, if you deserve it, God isn't there. Wrong! Take it from the guy who wrote the above verse in Psalms.
David messed up big time. He didn't go to war with his army like he was supposed to do. Instead, he's peeping over rooftops at naked women. He spies Bathsheba, has her brought to him so he can have sex with her, and when she comes back later to tell him she's pregnant (and there ain't no way it's anyone but David's because her husband is off at war), David has the husband killed so he can marry Bathsheba and try to make the baby legitimate. While that child died, do you know what other child came from their union? Solomon. The richest, wisest ruler who reined during Israel's heyday. The one who built the Temple of God. This guy was only alive because of a marriage founded on lust, adultery, deception and murder, and he is the greatest King Israel ever had...the one whom God entrusted to build His center of worship.
There is nowhere you can be where God is not with you, even in the depths of hell, He is there (Ps. 139:8). There is nothing so dark He cannot see you through it. There is nothing you have done which He cannot take and turn into beautiful worship. There is no dryness of soul, no barrenness of feeling, no void of emotion He cannot take and, from it, create life.
Abundant life.
Life everlasting.
For in the beginning God created, and He is still creating today.
Until next time,
Becca
Showing posts with label Bible study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible study. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
In the Beginning
Gen. 1
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:1-3
A college professor opened my eyes to the ramifications of these two, coordinating verses. He pointed out how many times it says in the Gen. 1 account of creation "God said...God made/created." (See vs. 6&7, 14&16, 20&21, 24&25, 26&27.) He contended God the Father spoke the words, and then God the Son/Word did the actual making/creating of the thing which the Father had spoken.
Think about that one for a moment. God the Father spoke words, then the Word of God created life from nothingness, made something vital to spring forth out of a void.
The Word of God, Jesus, has had the power to give life from the beginning. His first function, and I would argue his primary function, is life. Life from nothingness. Life from death. Eternal life.
The Word of life.
No wonder the Psalmist wrote, "Revive me according to Thy word." Ps. 119:154. No other power but the word can give life. This is why we Christians are to hide God's word in our hearts, to meditate on it day and night, to love it more than silver or gold. And while we do not believe the Bible is some mystical talisman containing Jesus's physical presence, we do believe it contains God's truth which has the power (when heeded and put into practice) to bring life.
Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Are you dead somewhere? Is there nothing where your heart should be? A void instead of vitality? The Word of God--Jesus--can bring new life. He is in the business of taking dead, empty, wintery places and bringing forth Spring. Our part is treasuring His word, His part is giving life.
Until next time,
Becca
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:1-3
A college professor opened my eyes to the ramifications of these two, coordinating verses. He pointed out how many times it says in the Gen. 1 account of creation "God said...God made/created." (See vs. 6&7, 14&16, 20&21, 24&25, 26&27.) He contended God the Father spoke the words, and then God the Son/Word did the actual making/creating of the thing which the Father had spoken.
Think about that one for a moment. God the Father spoke words, then the Word of God created life from nothingness, made something vital to spring forth out of a void.
The Word of God, Jesus, has had the power to give life from the beginning. His first function, and I would argue his primary function, is life. Life from nothingness. Life from death. Eternal life.
The Word of life.
No wonder the Psalmist wrote, "Revive me according to Thy word." Ps. 119:154. No other power but the word can give life. This is why we Christians are to hide God's word in our hearts, to meditate on it day and night, to love it more than silver or gold. And while we do not believe the Bible is some mystical talisman containing Jesus's physical presence, we do believe it contains God's truth which has the power (when heeded and put into practice) to bring life.
Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Are you dead somewhere? Is there nothing where your heart should be? A void instead of vitality? The Word of God--Jesus--can bring new life. He is in the business of taking dead, empty, wintery places and bringing forth Spring. Our part is treasuring His word, His part is giving life.
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Honor the Dead
Gen. 50
Two deaths, two burials, two last wishes left for others to carry out. Jacob and his son, Joseph, have specific instructions for what they want done with their bones after they die. It takes the whole chapter. Why? How important can it really be to fulfill a last request? The person is dead, after all. What do they care?
Several weeks ago, I watched "The Art of the Steal" which documents the systematic, legal plundering of a man's private art collection by the City of Philadelphia. The collection features the best of impressionistic painters like Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Valued at about 25 billion (yes...that's billion with a "b"), the original owner left very specific instructions about what he did and did not want to happen to his collection after his death. Sixty years later, every specific has been violated. But why would he care? He's dead, after all.
So why does our sense of justice scream, "Foul!" Why does God devote an entire chapter to the last wishes of two patriarchs? Putting on my very theological cap, I think the point is that, even if the dead are not around to care any longer, God cares. And because He does, we'd better.
Until next time,
Becca
Two deaths, two burials, two last wishes left for others to carry out. Jacob and his son, Joseph, have specific instructions for what they want done with their bones after they die. It takes the whole chapter. Why? How important can it really be to fulfill a last request? The person is dead, after all. What do they care?
Several weeks ago, I watched "The Art of the Steal" which documents the systematic, legal plundering of a man's private art collection by the City of Philadelphia. The collection features the best of impressionistic painters like Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Valued at about 25 billion (yes...that's billion with a "b"), the original owner left very specific instructions about what he did and did not want to happen to his collection after his death. Sixty years later, every specific has been violated. But why would he care? He's dead, after all.
So why does our sense of justice scream, "Foul!" Why does God devote an entire chapter to the last wishes of two patriarchs? Putting on my very theological cap, I think the point is that, even if the dead are not around to care any longer, God cares. And because He does, we'd better.
Until next time,
Becca
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Trust, but Verify
Gen. 44
Remember the Cold War? When the Soviets were the bad guys instead of Al Qaeda? When the biggest threat was "the big red button" being pushed and starting a nuclear holocaust? Ronald Reagan started a spending spree on a missile defence system. A "Star Wars" technology that would shoot Russia's missiles out of the sky before they could reach our shores. It bankrupted our enemy, and we won the Cold War without ever firing a shot. Or so the Russians said. They agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal. Signed a treaty to promise it would be done. Reagan's response was, "Trust, but verify." I think Reagan got the idea from Joseph in this chapter of the Bible.
Joseph's history with his brothers is not one of great trust. True, Joseph was a spoiled little boy who tattled and taunted his older brothers with visions of them bowing down to him. So, when an opportunity arose, they got rid of the pest by selling him into slavery. Years have passed. Joseph has matured, but he has no way of knowing if his brothers have, too. He decides to test them.
Joseph, who has not yet revealed his identity to his brothers, tells them they must bring their youngest brother next time they need food from Egypt. He will judge for himself how Benjamin fares. He also has the money they brought to buy the grain secretly stashed back in their sacks.
The brothers return home, and soon enough, they must return for more grain...bringing Benjamin with them. Jacob, their father, is old and does not want to let the boy out of his sight. Last time the brothers went on a journey without him, Joseph was torn to shreds by a wild animal (or so he was told). Should something happen to the only son left of Rachel, it will send him to his death in abject misery. But it is either potentially lose one son or kill all his sons and livestock through starvation.
When the brothers return to Egypt, they pass the first test by bringing the money back Joseph had stashed in their bags last trip. But how will they react when another opportunity to be rid of a spoiled, younger son arises? Joseph has his servant stash all they money and his special cup in Benjamin's bag. He then sends the servant after his brothers with an accusation. Whoever has stolen the money and cup will be killed.
It's the perfect set up.
All the brothers return, though Joseph's servant has said only Benjamin is guilty. Judah, the one who has learned some humility through his dealings with Tamar, begs Joseph to take him instead of Benjamin. Despite thinking Benjamin is guilty (vs. 16). Despite Joseph's position being like unto Pharaoh.
I imagine the scene something like this: Judah asks for a private word with Joseph. They step into a more secluded corner of the room, but Joseph can still see everything. As Judah is pleading for his brother's life, asking to be the one enslaved instead of Benjamin, the other brothers have encircled the boy in a protective huddle. If they must, they will protect this favorite son to the death, hoping the second-most powerful man in Egypt is satisfied with their blood and allow their brother to return to their father.
Verification!
Nice story, you think, but what practical application does it have?
Has someone sold you down the river? Sabotaged your authority? Made you look bad in front of your boss? Climbed over the top of you, clawing your back, in order to get ahead? Lied about you to look better? If you've lived longer than 15 years, the answer is a definitive, "Yes!" What would you do if, a few years later, that person was entirely at your mercy? Joseph could have ordered every last one of his brothers killed and no one would have questioned it. He could have enslaved them. He could have done ANYTHING HE WANTED to them, because he was second only to Pharaoh. But he decides to test them first. See if they have matured as he has. Verify their trustworthiness.
God gives us a pattern for offering trust again...which is different from forgiveness, remember. (See Reconciliation and Distrust from my blog on April 7, 2010.) There are times to trust again. Ways to be certain it is safe to extend your heart once more.
Trust comes after verification.
Until next time,
Becca
Remember the Cold War? When the Soviets were the bad guys instead of Al Qaeda? When the biggest threat was "the big red button" being pushed and starting a nuclear holocaust? Ronald Reagan started a spending spree on a missile defence system. A "Star Wars" technology that would shoot Russia's missiles out of the sky before they could reach our shores. It bankrupted our enemy, and we won the Cold War without ever firing a shot. Or so the Russians said. They agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal. Signed a treaty to promise it would be done. Reagan's response was, "Trust, but verify." I think Reagan got the idea from Joseph in this chapter of the Bible.
Joseph's history with his brothers is not one of great trust. True, Joseph was a spoiled little boy who tattled and taunted his older brothers with visions of them bowing down to him. So, when an opportunity arose, they got rid of the pest by selling him into slavery. Years have passed. Joseph has matured, but he has no way of knowing if his brothers have, too. He decides to test them.
Joseph, who has not yet revealed his identity to his brothers, tells them they must bring their youngest brother next time they need food from Egypt. He will judge for himself how Benjamin fares. He also has the money they brought to buy the grain secretly stashed back in their sacks.
The brothers return home, and soon enough, they must return for more grain...bringing Benjamin with them. Jacob, their father, is old and does not want to let the boy out of his sight. Last time the brothers went on a journey without him, Joseph was torn to shreds by a wild animal (or so he was told). Should something happen to the only son left of Rachel, it will send him to his death in abject misery. But it is either potentially lose one son or kill all his sons and livestock through starvation.
When the brothers return to Egypt, they pass the first test by bringing the money back Joseph had stashed in their bags last trip. But how will they react when another opportunity to be rid of a spoiled, younger son arises? Joseph has his servant stash all they money and his special cup in Benjamin's bag. He then sends the servant after his brothers with an accusation. Whoever has stolen the money and cup will be killed.
It's the perfect set up.
All the brothers return, though Joseph's servant has said only Benjamin is guilty. Judah, the one who has learned some humility through his dealings with Tamar, begs Joseph to take him instead of Benjamin. Despite thinking Benjamin is guilty (vs. 16). Despite Joseph's position being like unto Pharaoh.
I imagine the scene something like this: Judah asks for a private word with Joseph. They step into a more secluded corner of the room, but Joseph can still see everything. As Judah is pleading for his brother's life, asking to be the one enslaved instead of Benjamin, the other brothers have encircled the boy in a protective huddle. If they must, they will protect this favorite son to the death, hoping the second-most powerful man in Egypt is satisfied with their blood and allow their brother to return to their father.
Verification!
Nice story, you think, but what practical application does it have?
Has someone sold you down the river? Sabotaged your authority? Made you look bad in front of your boss? Climbed over the top of you, clawing your back, in order to get ahead? Lied about you to look better? If you've lived longer than 15 years, the answer is a definitive, "Yes!" What would you do if, a few years later, that person was entirely at your mercy? Joseph could have ordered every last one of his brothers killed and no one would have questioned it. He could have enslaved them. He could have done ANYTHING HE WANTED to them, because he was second only to Pharaoh. But he decides to test them first. See if they have matured as he has. Verify their trustworthiness.
God gives us a pattern for offering trust again...which is different from forgiveness, remember. (See Reconciliation and Distrust from my blog on April 7, 2010.) There are times to trust again. Ways to be certain it is safe to extend your heart once more.
Trust comes after verification.
Until next time,
Becca
Sunday, April 10, 2011
You're My Favorite
Genesis 43
The famine in the land is severe, so the sons of Jacob/Israel must journey to Egypt because this guy down there has been storing up food for years and years, and it's the only place on earth with grain. Off they trot, get some grain, meet the head guy who grills them about their family, and then they journey back home with sacks full of grain and some other stuff they have no idea how it got into their sacks.
The grain runs out, they have got to make another trip to Egypt or starve, but the head guy told them to bring their younger brother the next time they came. Jacob is ticked that they told the guy about Benjamin, but he reluctantly agrees to send him along this trip because it's either potentially lose one son or all his sons, grandchildren, livestock... So off they go.
This time, the head guy invites them in to eat dinner with him. He has to assure them he doesn't mean to lop off their heads first because it's not standard practice for the second most important man in the land (behind the Pharaoh himself) to invite strangers and sojourners into his home. A feast is laid before them, more food then any of them can eat but, before the youngest brother, five times more food is presented.
Why?
Benjamin is the youngest son, the one with the least amount of clout, and yet he is given five times more food. There is nothing in the text to indicate the other brothers were jealous of Benny. Maybe, after years of scrimping and starving, they were just happy to see real food and lots of it. Maybe the intimidation factor of dining with a guy they thought might kill them at any moment kept their mouths chewing rather than cussing. But they must have wondered.
As I'm reading through this, I asked God what the point of showing this favoritism was. And do you know what He said to me? "You're my favorite."
Imagine that. Just because He can, and just because He wants to, God gives me more than I need. He gives me more than I even think to need. Exceeding abundantly more (Eph. 3:20). Because I'm His favorite.
You are, too!
Until next time,
Becca
The famine in the land is severe, so the sons of Jacob/Israel must journey to Egypt because this guy down there has been storing up food for years and years, and it's the only place on earth with grain. Off they trot, get some grain, meet the head guy who grills them about their family, and then they journey back home with sacks full of grain and some other stuff they have no idea how it got into their sacks.
The grain runs out, they have got to make another trip to Egypt or starve, but the head guy told them to bring their younger brother the next time they came. Jacob is ticked that they told the guy about Benjamin, but he reluctantly agrees to send him along this trip because it's either potentially lose one son or all his sons, grandchildren, livestock... So off they go.
This time, the head guy invites them in to eat dinner with him. He has to assure them he doesn't mean to lop off their heads first because it's not standard practice for the second most important man in the land (behind the Pharaoh himself) to invite strangers and sojourners into his home. A feast is laid before them, more food then any of them can eat but, before the youngest brother, five times more food is presented.
Why?
Benjamin is the youngest son, the one with the least amount of clout, and yet he is given five times more food. There is nothing in the text to indicate the other brothers were jealous of Benny. Maybe, after years of scrimping and starving, they were just happy to see real food and lots of it. Maybe the intimidation factor of dining with a guy they thought might kill them at any moment kept their mouths chewing rather than cussing. But they must have wondered.
As I'm reading through this, I asked God what the point of showing this favoritism was. And do you know what He said to me? "You're my favorite."
Imagine that. Just because He can, and just because He wants to, God gives me more than I need. He gives me more than I even think to need. Exceeding abundantly more (Eph. 3:20). Because I'm His favorite.
You are, too!
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Suffering in Silence
Last Sunday night, I went to my sister's church where they had a "healing" service. This was unlike any healing service I'd ever seen. The pastor preached on James 5:13-16.
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make them well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
The pastor's interpretation of calling the elders to pray and anoint with oil those who are sick in the congregation was that the oil was not some spiritual or magical potion but rather the modern medicine of the day as illustrated by the Good Samaritan pouring oil on the wounds of the beaten traveler. In other words, pray AND seek the help of professionals.
In keeping with the literal, however, they offered a prayer bench so those who wished could come have the pastor pray over them and anoint them with "plain, old, nothing-magical-about-it, scented oil." He even said you didn't have to tell him what you were requesting be healed.
Up to this point I'm totally tracking with this guy. My heart is amening and cheering him on, but at this all my enthusiasm came to a screeching halt. I'm not a Biblical scholar but I have studied people, and I think one of Satan's greatest tools is to convince us to suffer in silence. Either by shame, lack of close relationships, some twisted sense of personal courage in the face of adversity, or any other means at his disposal, the devil does not want us to share our burdens. How many wounds fester in the dark, growing in size and toxicity, until it's too late? What if we were forced to bring our sickness, in whatever form it took, to trusted, godly people?
I am not advocating pouring our deepest, darkest secrets and fears out to anyone who will listen; I am saying we need to have two or three friends who are mature in the faith with whom we can share our sickness and sin. And churches need to chose their elders carefully and then encourage members to come confess those things which are hindering their physical, spiritual and mental health...and then be referred to professionals for follow up. Both the suffering in silence and skipping direct to the professional without sharing with those who can pray with you and over you will only prolong the pain.
Until next time,
Becca
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make them well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
The pastor's interpretation of calling the elders to pray and anoint with oil those who are sick in the congregation was that the oil was not some spiritual or magical potion but rather the modern medicine of the day as illustrated by the Good Samaritan pouring oil on the wounds of the beaten traveler. In other words, pray AND seek the help of professionals.
In keeping with the literal, however, they offered a prayer bench so those who wished could come have the pastor pray over them and anoint them with "plain, old, nothing-magical-about-it, scented oil." He even said you didn't have to tell him what you were requesting be healed.
Up to this point I'm totally tracking with this guy. My heart is amening and cheering him on, but at this all my enthusiasm came to a screeching halt. I'm not a Biblical scholar but I have studied people, and I think one of Satan's greatest tools is to convince us to suffer in silence. Either by shame, lack of close relationships, some twisted sense of personal courage in the face of adversity, or any other means at his disposal, the devil does not want us to share our burdens. How many wounds fester in the dark, growing in size and toxicity, until it's too late? What if we were forced to bring our sickness, in whatever form it took, to trusted, godly people?
I am not advocating pouring our deepest, darkest secrets and fears out to anyone who will listen; I am saying we need to have two or three friends who are mature in the faith with whom we can share our sickness and sin. And churches need to chose their elders carefully and then encourage members to come confess those things which are hindering their physical, spiritual and mental health...and then be referred to professionals for follow up. Both the suffering in silence and skipping direct to the professional without sharing with those who can pray with you and over you will only prolong the pain.
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Reversal of Fortunes
Gen. 41
Pharaoh has a couple of weird dreams...really, really weird dreams which none of his expert dream interpreters can decipher. Suddenly, the cupbearer remembers the guy he met in prison who accurately interpreted his and the the baker's weird dreams. Pharaoh wants to meet the prisoner, so they clean Joseph up, shave his beard, dress him in clean clothes and bring him before the throne.
After saying he can't interpret dreams but God will, Joseph listens to the dreams and, in what appears to be no time flat, tells Pharaoh exactly what they mean. He then goes on to tell Pharaoh how to handle the situation. Apparently 13 years of slavery hasn't knocked all the stuffing out of Joseph, which turns out to be a good thing.
In what has always seemed to me to be a stunning reversal of fortune, Joseph literally goes from prisoner to the most exalted man in the most powerful nation on earth save Pharaoh himself in a matter of about 30 minutes. I cannot imagine, however, that Pharaoh didn't have Joseph thoroughly checked out before he even appeared at court. I bet Pharaoh spoke with the captain of the guard at the jail and Potipher before Joseph's newly shaved face made it's royal appearance.
Now, allow me to go down a rabbit trail here for just a moment. Yesterday, I was half watching HGTV all day, just letting it play in the background as I worked at other things hoping to absorb some designer mojo by osmosis. A show came on called "From the Ground Up" which is basically a construction worker version of "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "America's Next Top Model" or any of the other 101 flavors where people do jobs they don't know much about and all comment on how wretched everyone else is at doing it. And there is always at least one prima dona character played alternately by men and women. For the sake of ratings, these yo yo's are allowed to stay on the show far longer than they would last in real life. They disdain the work they are given because they are "above" it.
Imagine what Joseph's life would have been like had he disdained the work at the prison. What would Pharaoh have done had Joseph interpreted the dreams accurately but had not been a man dedicated to working hard no matter the circumstances? By the end of this chapter, the famine Joseph predicted and planned for has spread from Egypt to the entire known world. How many lives would have been lost; how many entire nations wiped out if Joseph had not been put in charge?
Joseph is the epitome of Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (New Living Translation)
How would Jesus have handled work which was "beneath" him? I think we can accurately assume that every moment Jesus was alive he, the One who created the earth and heavens, was working below his pay grade. Imagine how many lives would be lost had Jesus decided the work he'd been given was too demeaning to give his best?
Until next time,
Becca
Pharaoh has a couple of weird dreams...really, really weird dreams which none of his expert dream interpreters can decipher. Suddenly, the cupbearer remembers the guy he met in prison who accurately interpreted his and the the baker's weird dreams. Pharaoh wants to meet the prisoner, so they clean Joseph up, shave his beard, dress him in clean clothes and bring him before the throne.
After saying he can't interpret dreams but God will, Joseph listens to the dreams and, in what appears to be no time flat, tells Pharaoh exactly what they mean. He then goes on to tell Pharaoh how to handle the situation. Apparently 13 years of slavery hasn't knocked all the stuffing out of Joseph, which turns out to be a good thing.
In what has always seemed to me to be a stunning reversal of fortune, Joseph literally goes from prisoner to the most exalted man in the most powerful nation on earth save Pharaoh himself in a matter of about 30 minutes. I cannot imagine, however, that Pharaoh didn't have Joseph thoroughly checked out before he even appeared at court. I bet Pharaoh spoke with the captain of the guard at the jail and Potipher before Joseph's newly shaved face made it's royal appearance.
Now, allow me to go down a rabbit trail here for just a moment. Yesterday, I was half watching HGTV all day, just letting it play in the background as I worked at other things hoping to absorb some designer mojo by osmosis. A show came on called "From the Ground Up" which is basically a construction worker version of "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "America's Next Top Model" or any of the other 101 flavors where people do jobs they don't know much about and all comment on how wretched everyone else is at doing it. And there is always at least one prima dona character played alternately by men and women. For the sake of ratings, these yo yo's are allowed to stay on the show far longer than they would last in real life. They disdain the work they are given because they are "above" it.
Imagine what Joseph's life would have been like had he disdained the work at the prison. What would Pharaoh have done had Joseph interpreted the dreams accurately but had not been a man dedicated to working hard no matter the circumstances? By the end of this chapter, the famine Joseph predicted and planned for has spread from Egypt to the entire known world. How many lives would have been lost; how many entire nations wiped out if Joseph had not been put in charge?
Joseph is the epitome of Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (New Living Translation)
How would Jesus have handled work which was "beneath" him? I think we can accurately assume that every moment Jesus was alive he, the One who created the earth and heavens, was working below his pay grade. Imagine how many lives would be lost had Jesus decided the work he'd been given was too demeaning to give his best?
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Seeing Beyond
Gen. 40
In this chapter, Joseph has been in prison for "some time" when Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer are thrown into the same prison and Joseph is assigned to attend them. After they have been there for "some time" (don't you just love how God isn't concerned with the time frame), they each have dreams.
Of course, Joseph interprets their dreams accurately and asks the cupbearer to "remember him" when he is released, which he doesn't until the next chapter...two full years later.
Much is made of Joseph's dream interpretation skills, but today I'd like to focus on part of one short verse. "When Joseph came to them the next morning (after their dreams), he saw that they were dejected. (v. 6)"
All of these men are prisoners and have been for "some time." Certainly enough time has passed for the men to grow used to each other, calloused even. But Joseph sees these men as more than disgraced prisoners, their label. He sees men who are unusually distressed and takes the time to ask why.
I imagine Joseph's duties kept him extremely busy. Remember from the last chapter that while he has been imprisoned, Joseph has worked with his usual high standards and has been promoted to running the joint. But Joseph saw...which implies he was looking.
How many of us are looking - really looking - at the people around us? We often comment on the irony of church greetings which never go beyond, "Hi! How are you?" - "Fine, and you?" - "Couldn't be better" which is a complete sham. None of us are fine; all of us could be better. But it takes time to see beyond, and most of us don't care enough to pause and really find out what's going on with people around us. Now, to be fair, there are few people to whom I wish to divulge my secrets...and I don't want to do it in the church foyer. However, all it would take for most of us is genuine concern before we'd bust wide open.
Men are notoriously closed. Men in prison are even more so. Joseph breaks through with a simple question. Likely, he has paved the way with respectful, caring behavior ever since these men have been in his care. If today is not your day to "see beyond" with someone, it can be the day to lay the groundwork. As the saying goes, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Until next time,
Becca
In this chapter, Joseph has been in prison for "some time" when Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer are thrown into the same prison and Joseph is assigned to attend them. After they have been there for "some time" (don't you just love how God isn't concerned with the time frame), they each have dreams.
Of course, Joseph interprets their dreams accurately and asks the cupbearer to "remember him" when he is released, which he doesn't until the next chapter...two full years later.
Much is made of Joseph's dream interpretation skills, but today I'd like to focus on part of one short verse. "When Joseph came to them the next morning (after their dreams), he saw that they were dejected. (v. 6)"
All of these men are prisoners and have been for "some time." Certainly enough time has passed for the men to grow used to each other, calloused even. But Joseph sees these men as more than disgraced prisoners, their label. He sees men who are unusually distressed and takes the time to ask why.
I imagine Joseph's duties kept him extremely busy. Remember from the last chapter that while he has been imprisoned, Joseph has worked with his usual high standards and has been promoted to running the joint. But Joseph saw...which implies he was looking.
How many of us are looking - really looking - at the people around us? We often comment on the irony of church greetings which never go beyond, "Hi! How are you?" - "Fine, and you?" - "Couldn't be better" which is a complete sham. None of us are fine; all of us could be better. But it takes time to see beyond, and most of us don't care enough to pause and really find out what's going on with people around us. Now, to be fair, there are few people to whom I wish to divulge my secrets...and I don't want to do it in the church foyer. However, all it would take for most of us is genuine concern before we'd bust wide open.
Men are notoriously closed. Men in prison are even more so. Joseph breaks through with a simple question. Likely, he has paved the way with respectful, caring behavior ever since these men have been in his care. If today is not your day to "see beyond" with someone, it can be the day to lay the groundwork. As the saying goes, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Until next time,
Becca
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Imprisoned Trust
Gen. 39
I absolutely HATE this chapter of the Bible. It screams injustice.
Joseph has been sold as a slave, but he puts his nose to the grindstone and works diligently for his master. After 13 years, Joseph is now the head servant in a very important house.
Potipher is the captain of the guards. This is no small position...something akin to our Secretary of Defense. However, in Joseph's time, the running of the household involved much more than just keeping the house clean. His position would include things like making sure the crops were planted, harvested and sold for the appropriate price; managing servants and their disputes; overseeing the livestock used for both personal and commercial reasons; balancing the household finances and spending money for repairs; organizing social events; etc. Given the status of Potipher's position, his household would have been enormous with numerous servants. Like the CEO of a major corporation, he did not do the work himself but made sure the people responsible for each task performed satisfactorily. Joseph's job was to make sure Potipher had nothing to worry about at home so he could concentrate all his energy on running the Egyptian military.
He proves himself so trustworthy, Potipher has no problem granting Joseph complete control over everything from hiring, disciplining, and dismissing servants to literally having full access to all Potipher's finances. The only thing Potipher had to worry about was which food to choose from the buffet spread before him at meal time.
This also means Potipher's wife has nothing to do at home except make trouble. She solicits him to sleep with her...over and over and over again. With Joseph in such a position of power over the lives of the servants, no one would have dared speak a word against him. And they most certainly weren't going to speak against the wife! The two of them could have carried on an affair for as long as they wanted and Potipher would never have known. However, Joseph will not succumb. Even after she arranges to get all the servants out of the house so she and Joseph can be completely alone (because the problem can't be he's not attracted to her so it must be his fear that word will somehow get back to her husband), he still will not. Her humiliation is complete and she is furious. She has thrown herself at a slave and he has refused. Notice that Joseph's refusal has nothing to do with her looks, her feminine wiles, her age, nothing at all personal. He simply will not, on moral grounds, sleep with the wife of the man who has trusted him with everything, has withheld nothing from him except his wife.
But when Potipher hears his wife say Joseph has tried to rape her, all that trust built over years flies out the window in a jealous rage and he throws Joseph in prison. I wonder how long it took before Potipher figured out the truth. How many other servants did the wife seduce? Did she also sleep with his colleagues? Did he ever find another servant who ran his household with such efficiency? With Joseph gone, did his crops and livestock fail along with his finances? Or did he continue to believe his wife blindly and go forward with the same prosperity as before? We don't know. One thing is certain, after publicly denouncing Joseph, Potipher would never recant his story and expose himself as his wife's dupe no matter what he learned later.
So Joseph rots in prison because he upheld his mater's trust. If ever a man had reason to scream, "That's not FAIR!" it was Joseph. And God doesn't do a thing about it. None of Potipher's servants bear witness to Joseph's innocence, there is no last minute reprieve, no happy ending to reward Joseph's faithfulness. And I hate it! I know, I know, Joseph has not been abandoned by God and, because of his skills and trustworthiness, he eventually runs the prison, but excuse me for pointing out that he is still in prison. I want justice now. My attention span lasts about two to three hours these days...just long enough for a good movie. I don't want Joseph rotting away for years on end.
But perhaps Joseph still had lessons to learn. He was cocky and immature a couple chapters ago, he has risen to a place of prominence relatively quickly in his captivity, and God still needed to teach him a bit of humility and trust through unfair, difficult and trying circumstances. Maybe the diplomatic skills necessary to run a country were not to be learned as the CEO of an important household but in the dungeon. Or maybe Joseph just got the bum end of a rotten deal and God made the most of it.
Whatever the cause and effect, it still goes against my grain for God to allow such a clear case of injustice to stand regardless of the final outcome. Then again, when we see Joseph as a sort of archetype for Jesus, it is of such benefit for me that God allowed the ultimate injustice and false accusations against Jesus to stand because the final outcome has saved me for all eternity.
In the end, I can do all the right, moral, and trustworthy things and experience unjust consequences as a result. I must trust, even while my soul screams out at the unfairness of it all, that God can work even this together for good (Rom. 8:28). Maybe it won't be MY good, but it will still be for good.
Until next time,
Becca
I absolutely HATE this chapter of the Bible. It screams injustice.
Joseph has been sold as a slave, but he puts his nose to the grindstone and works diligently for his master. After 13 years, Joseph is now the head servant in a very important house.
Potipher is the captain of the guards. This is no small position...something akin to our Secretary of Defense. However, in Joseph's time, the running of the household involved much more than just keeping the house clean. His position would include things like making sure the crops were planted, harvested and sold for the appropriate price; managing servants and their disputes; overseeing the livestock used for both personal and commercial reasons; balancing the household finances and spending money for repairs; organizing social events; etc. Given the status of Potipher's position, his household would have been enormous with numerous servants. Like the CEO of a major corporation, he did not do the work himself but made sure the people responsible for each task performed satisfactorily. Joseph's job was to make sure Potipher had nothing to worry about at home so he could concentrate all his energy on running the Egyptian military.
He proves himself so trustworthy, Potipher has no problem granting Joseph complete control over everything from hiring, disciplining, and dismissing servants to literally having full access to all Potipher's finances. The only thing Potipher had to worry about was which food to choose from the buffet spread before him at meal time.
This also means Potipher's wife has nothing to do at home except make trouble. She solicits him to sleep with her...over and over and over again. With Joseph in such a position of power over the lives of the servants, no one would have dared speak a word against him. And they most certainly weren't going to speak against the wife! The two of them could have carried on an affair for as long as they wanted and Potipher would never have known. However, Joseph will not succumb. Even after she arranges to get all the servants out of the house so she and Joseph can be completely alone (because the problem can't be he's not attracted to her so it must be his fear that word will somehow get back to her husband), he still will not. Her humiliation is complete and she is furious. She has thrown herself at a slave and he has refused. Notice that Joseph's refusal has nothing to do with her looks, her feminine wiles, her age, nothing at all personal. He simply will not, on moral grounds, sleep with the wife of the man who has trusted him with everything, has withheld nothing from him except his wife.
But when Potipher hears his wife say Joseph has tried to rape her, all that trust built over years flies out the window in a jealous rage and he throws Joseph in prison. I wonder how long it took before Potipher figured out the truth. How many other servants did the wife seduce? Did she also sleep with his colleagues? Did he ever find another servant who ran his household with such efficiency? With Joseph gone, did his crops and livestock fail along with his finances? Or did he continue to believe his wife blindly and go forward with the same prosperity as before? We don't know. One thing is certain, after publicly denouncing Joseph, Potipher would never recant his story and expose himself as his wife's dupe no matter what he learned later.
So Joseph rots in prison because he upheld his mater's trust. If ever a man had reason to scream, "That's not FAIR!" it was Joseph. And God doesn't do a thing about it. None of Potipher's servants bear witness to Joseph's innocence, there is no last minute reprieve, no happy ending to reward Joseph's faithfulness. And I hate it! I know, I know, Joseph has not been abandoned by God and, because of his skills and trustworthiness, he eventually runs the prison, but excuse me for pointing out that he is still in prison. I want justice now. My attention span lasts about two to three hours these days...just long enough for a good movie. I don't want Joseph rotting away for years on end.
But perhaps Joseph still had lessons to learn. He was cocky and immature a couple chapters ago, he has risen to a place of prominence relatively quickly in his captivity, and God still needed to teach him a bit of humility and trust through unfair, difficult and trying circumstances. Maybe the diplomatic skills necessary to run a country were not to be learned as the CEO of an important household but in the dungeon. Or maybe Joseph just got the bum end of a rotten deal and God made the most of it.
Whatever the cause and effect, it still goes against my grain for God to allow such a clear case of injustice to stand regardless of the final outcome. Then again, when we see Joseph as a sort of archetype for Jesus, it is of such benefit for me that God allowed the ultimate injustice and false accusations against Jesus to stand because the final outcome has saved me for all eternity.
In the end, I can do all the right, moral, and trustworthy things and experience unjust consequences as a result. I must trust, even while my soul screams out at the unfairness of it all, that God can work even this together for good (Rom. 8:28). Maybe it won't be MY good, but it will still be for good.
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, May 27, 2010
More Righteous Than I
Gen. 38
This is one of those chapters where a PhD in Ancient History would really help. It's the story of Judah and Tamar. No...it's not a love story. Judah's rebellion against his family takes him away from home into the land of the evil Canaanites where he marries Shua and has three sons by her. The oldest son marries Tamar, but because of his extreme wickedness, the Lord puts him to death. In keeping with the customs of the age, Tamar is then married to the second son who is now responsible to give her children who will, when Judah dies, inherit the lion's share of the family wealth. This second son doesn't want to be cut out of the will, so he spills his semen on the ground whenever he lays with Tamar. For this deceipt, the Lord puts this second son to death as well.
Judah tells Tamar to go live as a widow in her father's house and, when son number three is old enough, he will send for her again so the youngest boy can marry her and fulfill the duty of giving her a son and heir. Except Judah fails to ever send for her. After a long time, long enough for Judah to recover from his grief over the loss of two sons and for the youngest son to grow up, Judah heads to town for the sheep shearing. On the way he stops for a little hanky panky with a roadside prostitute. Except the prostitute is really Tamar in disguise. She has grown tired of waiting for Judah to do the right thing and has taken matters into her own hands.
But Tamar is no dummy. She knows she could be burned to death for prostitution (although Judah doesn't seem to fear this same punishment even though he is paying for a prostitute himself...but I digress). She demands a pledge of payment for her services in the form of Judah's personal seal and cord until he can send the promised goat. When Judah hears Tamar is pregnant, his righteous indignation kicks in and he calls for her death. As she is being brought out to be burned (think dragged brutally), Tamar sends Judah, her accuser, his seal and cord back saying, "I'm pregnant by the man who owns these. Any chance you recognize them, my dear father-in-law?"
Ooops! Judah can't deny it on two counts. First, it is HIS personal seal and cord. There would be no mistaking it. He has used it to conduct legal transactions for years. It is the equivalent of a signature on a contract...one of a kind. Second, Judah sent a friend to retrieve the seal and cord. This guy hauled a goat all over the city asking about the prostitute and he would bear witness to Judah's involvement. Talk about being caught with your hand in the cookie jar. In response, Judah says, "She is more righteous than I."
Huh? How is it "righteous" to dress like a prostitute and have sexual relations with your father-in-law? This is where that PhD comes in. Tamar, as the wife of Judah's first born, is entitled by law to being the mother of the heir apparent. It is a legally recognized position of status and was purchased with her dowry. Without an heir, however, and living as a widow in her father's house, she is not getting what her family paid for. She is also left unprotected in a world where there were no Social Security benefits or retirement funds. The men worked until they died, and the women were protected and cared for by the men in the family - husbands, sons, and grandsons. By forcing the issue, Tamar has simply taken what was within her legal rights.
This incident is a turning point in the life of Judah. He and his household later become pillars of Jewish faith; his tribe being one of the two left when God divides the Kingdom in punishment for their unrighteousness. Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah and is, in fact, a direct decendent of Tamar's son, Perez.
Okay...so what? What lesson can we learn from Tamar? Why does God include this story in the Bible? It isn't just so we have a little insight into the geneology of Christ. I think it's God's way of cheering on a woman who refused to be treated disrespectfully. In a time when sex wasn't about love but about progeny and inheritance, Tamar found a way to get what was rightfully hers - a place of honor as the heir's mother. When the men in her life failed her (because what was her father doing about Judah's lack of honor), she forged her own justice. God isn't impressed with sissy women. It took tremendous courage for Tamar to stand up in what amounted to a court of law and say, "I am right."
God bless women like that.
Until next time,
Becca
This is one of those chapters where a PhD in Ancient History would really help. It's the story of Judah and Tamar. No...it's not a love story. Judah's rebellion against his family takes him away from home into the land of the evil Canaanites where he marries Shua and has three sons by her. The oldest son marries Tamar, but because of his extreme wickedness, the Lord puts him to death. In keeping with the customs of the age, Tamar is then married to the second son who is now responsible to give her children who will, when Judah dies, inherit the lion's share of the family wealth. This second son doesn't want to be cut out of the will, so he spills his semen on the ground whenever he lays with Tamar. For this deceipt, the Lord puts this second son to death as well.
Judah tells Tamar to go live as a widow in her father's house and, when son number three is old enough, he will send for her again so the youngest boy can marry her and fulfill the duty of giving her a son and heir. Except Judah fails to ever send for her. After a long time, long enough for Judah to recover from his grief over the loss of two sons and for the youngest son to grow up, Judah heads to town for the sheep shearing. On the way he stops for a little hanky panky with a roadside prostitute. Except the prostitute is really Tamar in disguise. She has grown tired of waiting for Judah to do the right thing and has taken matters into her own hands.
But Tamar is no dummy. She knows she could be burned to death for prostitution (although Judah doesn't seem to fear this same punishment even though he is paying for a prostitute himself...but I digress). She demands a pledge of payment for her services in the form of Judah's personal seal and cord until he can send the promised goat. When Judah hears Tamar is pregnant, his righteous indignation kicks in and he calls for her death. As she is being brought out to be burned (think dragged brutally), Tamar sends Judah, her accuser, his seal and cord back saying, "I'm pregnant by the man who owns these. Any chance you recognize them, my dear father-in-law?"
Ooops! Judah can't deny it on two counts. First, it is HIS personal seal and cord. There would be no mistaking it. He has used it to conduct legal transactions for years. It is the equivalent of a signature on a contract...one of a kind. Second, Judah sent a friend to retrieve the seal and cord. This guy hauled a goat all over the city asking about the prostitute and he would bear witness to Judah's involvement. Talk about being caught with your hand in the cookie jar. In response, Judah says, "She is more righteous than I."
Huh? How is it "righteous" to dress like a prostitute and have sexual relations with your father-in-law? This is where that PhD comes in. Tamar, as the wife of Judah's first born, is entitled by law to being the mother of the heir apparent. It is a legally recognized position of status and was purchased with her dowry. Without an heir, however, and living as a widow in her father's house, she is not getting what her family paid for. She is also left unprotected in a world where there were no Social Security benefits or retirement funds. The men worked until they died, and the women were protected and cared for by the men in the family - husbands, sons, and grandsons. By forcing the issue, Tamar has simply taken what was within her legal rights.
This incident is a turning point in the life of Judah. He and his household later become pillars of Jewish faith; his tribe being one of the two left when God divides the Kingdom in punishment for their unrighteousness. Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah and is, in fact, a direct decendent of Tamar's son, Perez.
Okay...so what? What lesson can we learn from Tamar? Why does God include this story in the Bible? It isn't just so we have a little insight into the geneology of Christ. I think it's God's way of cheering on a woman who refused to be treated disrespectfully. In a time when sex wasn't about love but about progeny and inheritance, Tamar found a way to get what was rightfully hers - a place of honor as the heir's mother. When the men in her life failed her (because what was her father doing about Judah's lack of honor), she forged her own justice. God isn't impressed with sissy women. It took tremendous courage for Tamar to stand up in what amounted to a court of law and say, "I am right."
God bless women like that.
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Reaping What You Sow
Gen. 37
This is the chapter which begins the story of Joseph, Jacob's first-born son by Rachel. The years of bitter rivalry between Leah and Rachel, Jacob's overt favoritism of all things Rachel, and some shabby parenting are about to bear fruit.
What has always struck me about this chapter is Joseph's complete lack of tact. He is a tattle tale, has no modesty when it comes to being his father's favorite, and can't wait to tell his brother's (not once but twice) how he will be the ruler over all. Joseph is almost the youngest of all Jacob's sons, and he is lording it over men twice his age every single day with the special tunic and by telling his dreams. Obviously, both Rachel and Jacob have encouraged Joseph to think of himself as extra special and he is something of a spoiled brat.
I don't imagine the brothers skipped straight to murder when it came to dealing with Joseph. They have undoubtedly cut Joseph down to size with words and fists and have ganged up on him to play pranks both harmless and mean. Through it all, Joseph has run to Mommy and Daddy telling tales assured he would be coddled and petted. The brothers finally decide to murder Joseph by leaving him to die in an abandoned well, but when they see a caravan approaching, sell Joseph into slavery instead. No sense leaving Joseph to die when they can ease their consciences and make money at the same time.
There is no question Joseph turns into a shining example of character later on, but while he may have had some outstanding basic qualities, he also needed to be brought down to size and, since Rachel and Jacob were failing as parents, God saw fit to tear him away from them and make him a slave to teach Joseph humility, tact, and few other necessary lessons.
As the parent of two grown children, I must admit failing to completely grow my children up before they left home. My husband and I tried to balance protection from and exposure to the world, to teach them right from wrong both directly and through natural consequences, and how to walk straight in a culture gone crooked. But we didn't finish the job. Over the past several years, God has taken over and taught our children many of the lessons we did not, either because we lacked the time or because it was a blindspot for us as parents. Thankfully, God is not only a better parent but also more interested in developing men and women of character than eartly fathers and mothers. If your children are nearing their time to leave home, or have already left, it is time to "let go and let God" be their parent, knowing He will finish perfecting them and make up whatever we lacked.
Until next time,
Becca
This is the chapter which begins the story of Joseph, Jacob's first-born son by Rachel. The years of bitter rivalry between Leah and Rachel, Jacob's overt favoritism of all things Rachel, and some shabby parenting are about to bear fruit.
What has always struck me about this chapter is Joseph's complete lack of tact. He is a tattle tale, has no modesty when it comes to being his father's favorite, and can't wait to tell his brother's (not once but twice) how he will be the ruler over all. Joseph is almost the youngest of all Jacob's sons, and he is lording it over men twice his age every single day with the special tunic and by telling his dreams. Obviously, both Rachel and Jacob have encouraged Joseph to think of himself as extra special and he is something of a spoiled brat.
I don't imagine the brothers skipped straight to murder when it came to dealing with Joseph. They have undoubtedly cut Joseph down to size with words and fists and have ganged up on him to play pranks both harmless and mean. Through it all, Joseph has run to Mommy and Daddy telling tales assured he would be coddled and petted. The brothers finally decide to murder Joseph by leaving him to die in an abandoned well, but when they see a caravan approaching, sell Joseph into slavery instead. No sense leaving Joseph to die when they can ease their consciences and make money at the same time.
There is no question Joseph turns into a shining example of character later on, but while he may have had some outstanding basic qualities, he also needed to be brought down to size and, since Rachel and Jacob were failing as parents, God saw fit to tear him away from them and make him a slave to teach Joseph humility, tact, and few other necessary lessons.
As the parent of two grown children, I must admit failing to completely grow my children up before they left home. My husband and I tried to balance protection from and exposure to the world, to teach them right from wrong both directly and through natural consequences, and how to walk straight in a culture gone crooked. But we didn't finish the job. Over the past several years, God has taken over and taught our children many of the lessons we did not, either because we lacked the time or because it was a blindspot for us as parents. Thankfully, God is not only a better parent but also more interested in developing men and women of character than eartly fathers and mothers. If your children are nearing their time to leave home, or have already left, it is time to "let go and let God" be their parent, knowing He will finish perfecting them and make up whatever we lacked.
Until next time,
Becca
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Servant and the Queen
Gen. 36
I almost skipped this chapter entirely because my eyes glaze over whenever I read geneologies. Yet, as you have probably noticed by now, my brain pauses at each mention of women in the Bible. And vs. 39 gives us a whole string of them, "When Baal-Hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab."
Aside from this list of names, there is nothing else we know about these women. We do know something about Hadad. He is listed as the last of the kings of Edom (the new name given to Esau), and the Bible wants us to realize the Edomites had kings before Isreal's (Jacob's) decendents did. As part of God's discipline of King Solomon (only the third King of Isreal and the last to rule over the entire nation), Hadad becomes a thorn in Solomon's side. Hadad has escaped to Egypt but begs the Pharaoh to allow him to return...just so he can pester Solomon. (See I Kings 11:14-28)
What does this have to do with the women mention here? I have no idea. However, I can make some educated guesses. Given the string of women's names, Mehetabel likely came from a long line of royalty; her mother, Matred, and grandmother, Me-Zahab, were probably queens and well known at the time. But unlike the servant, Deborah, from the last chapter, God gives us no insight into their lives. They are just names...ghosts of a different era. God doesn't tell us if Mehetabel was for or against Hadad's desire for revenge. What we do know is Edom's royal line appears to end with Hadad. Either Mehetabel bore no children, or she bore no children of consequence.
I find it interesting God honors Deborah the servant in chapter 35 and mentions three queens in a row in chapter 36 at what appears to be the end of their royal line in a man who leaves the comfort of Egypt just so he can buzz annoyingly at King Solomon. Reading between the lines (again, that means don't put ANY theological weight behind this comment), I think Mehetabel and Hadad wanted to be rulers of their own land badly enough to give up the luxury of Egypt. Their pride was pricked by being in exile.
And yet, the royal Edomite line ends here.
Mehetabel might have been the most powerful queen of Edom, but it all came to naught. God does not honor her, gives us nothing to remember her character, only a casual mention as if to say, "She came from royal heights and fell to nothingness."
I would much rather be the servant, Deborah, than the queen, Mehetabel...and I think that's God's point.
Luke 1:52 - "He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble."
James 4:6 - "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:10 - "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Until next time,
Becca
I almost skipped this chapter entirely because my eyes glaze over whenever I read geneologies. Yet, as you have probably noticed by now, my brain pauses at each mention of women in the Bible. And vs. 39 gives us a whole string of them, "When Baal-Hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab."
Aside from this list of names, there is nothing else we know about these women. We do know something about Hadad. He is listed as the last of the kings of Edom (the new name given to Esau), and the Bible wants us to realize the Edomites had kings before Isreal's (Jacob's) decendents did. As part of God's discipline of King Solomon (only the third King of Isreal and the last to rule over the entire nation), Hadad becomes a thorn in Solomon's side. Hadad has escaped to Egypt but begs the Pharaoh to allow him to return...just so he can pester Solomon. (See I Kings 11:14-28)
What does this have to do with the women mention here? I have no idea. However, I can make some educated guesses. Given the string of women's names, Mehetabel likely came from a long line of royalty; her mother, Matred, and grandmother, Me-Zahab, were probably queens and well known at the time. But unlike the servant, Deborah, from the last chapter, God gives us no insight into their lives. They are just names...ghosts of a different era. God doesn't tell us if Mehetabel was for or against Hadad's desire for revenge. What we do know is Edom's royal line appears to end with Hadad. Either Mehetabel bore no children, or she bore no children of consequence.
I find it interesting God honors Deborah the servant in chapter 35 and mentions three queens in a row in chapter 36 at what appears to be the end of their royal line in a man who leaves the comfort of Egypt just so he can buzz annoyingly at King Solomon. Reading between the lines (again, that means don't put ANY theological weight behind this comment), I think Mehetabel and Hadad wanted to be rulers of their own land badly enough to give up the luxury of Egypt. Their pride was pricked by being in exile.
And yet, the royal Edomite line ends here.
Mehetabel might have been the most powerful queen of Edom, but it all came to naught. God does not honor her, gives us nothing to remember her character, only a casual mention as if to say, "She came from royal heights and fell to nothingness."
I would much rather be the servant, Deborah, than the queen, Mehetabel...and I think that's God's point.
Luke 1:52 - "He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble."
James 4:6 - "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:10 - "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Until next time,
Becca
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Buried Treasure
Gen. 35
This chapter is full of story snippets...little bits of plot moving in different directions. Jacob moves the family to Bethel after telling them to get rid of foreign gods, Rachel gives birth to her second son and dies, Jacob renames his son and God officially renames Jacob (Israel), Rueben sleeps with Jacob's "other wife" (Rachel's servant who has born Jacob children) and finally Isaac's death which brings Esau and Jacob together.
But sandwiched in between all of this are two sentences about a woman named Deborah. "When they were there (Bethel), Rebekah's personal servant Deborah died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it Weeping Oak." According to my commentary, Deborah is likely the servant who came with Rebekah from her father's household. It is possible Jacob has met up with his mother again, which is why Deborah is traveling with his household, but as we have no record of when Rebekah actually died, it is possible Deborah has outlived her mistress. What I find most interesting is God wanted to honor Deborah by giving us her name and burial place, and that it was named "Weeping Oak" implying the deep grief felt by more than just Rebekah. We know nothing more...just that Deborah was a servant who inspired great love.
I am inspired, too. I hope for nothing more than to be remembered as a servant of God who loved deeply. I want to be missed because my life mattered; for those I served to grieve my loss because I was more than an employee but a true friend. And for the God of the universe to count my life worthy of rememberance.
Until next time,
Becca
This chapter is full of story snippets...little bits of plot moving in different directions. Jacob moves the family to Bethel after telling them to get rid of foreign gods, Rachel gives birth to her second son and dies, Jacob renames his son and God officially renames Jacob (Israel), Rueben sleeps with Jacob's "other wife" (Rachel's servant who has born Jacob children) and finally Isaac's death which brings Esau and Jacob together.
But sandwiched in between all of this are two sentences about a woman named Deborah. "When they were there (Bethel), Rebekah's personal servant Deborah died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it Weeping Oak." According to my commentary, Deborah is likely the servant who came with Rebekah from her father's household. It is possible Jacob has met up with his mother again, which is why Deborah is traveling with his household, but as we have no record of when Rebekah actually died, it is possible Deborah has outlived her mistress. What I find most interesting is God wanted to honor Deborah by giving us her name and burial place, and that it was named "Weeping Oak" implying the deep grief felt by more than just Rebekah. We know nothing more...just that Deborah was a servant who inspired great love.
I am inspired, too. I hope for nothing more than to be remembered as a servant of God who loved deeply. I want to be missed because my life mattered; for those I served to grieve my loss because I was more than an employee but a true friend. And for the God of the universe to count my life worthy of rememberance.
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Such a Thing Ought Not be Done
Gen. 34
Jacob's family has moved to their new land. This is the place they will live, the land God has given to them to grow and thrive safe from threat of Esau.
Dinah, Jacob's daughter, goes to town to visit with other women. The prince of the area sees her, rapes her, and then wants to make her his wife. I'm not sure if Jacob is actually considering the marriage, but Dinah's brother's are furious and, in the end, what Jacob was thinking doesn't matter.
If we set aside, for a moment, that Dinah was raped, here is an interesting and very contemporary situation. Should a man who sees a beautiful woman be able to have sex with her, then declare his love, and then marry her? In today's world, although rape is still considered immoral (as it should be), the order of things has become: date a few times; have sex to judge compatibility; move in together to further judge compatibility; decide you love each other; get married.
Like you, I have been bombarded by the Tiger and Elin Woods saga and the Sandra Bullock and Jesse James saga. Part of me feels tremendous sympathy for these wronged wives, the other part of me wants to bop them over the head and say, "Were you sleeping with him before you got married? Had either of you ever denied yourself sexual fulfillment with other partners before you met? What made you think a ring would change any of that?" We have done a horrendous disservice to our children and nation by insisting kids are going to have sex anyway, we might as well teach them how to do it safely. The idea of exercising self control has completely flown out the window. Now wonder Tiger and Jesse felt free to have sex with whoever was available while separated from their wives.
Back to our story.
Shechem, who has "fallen passionately in love" with Dinah (and we aren't sure from the text if this is before or after he raped her) wants to marry her. He's willing to do anything...absolutely anything to make her his wife. Dinah's brother's trick him into consenting to be circumcised. I find that hilariously ironic. If this guy can't keep himself inside his own loin cloth, take it out and they will whack on it. (You didn't know Lorena Bobbet was Biblical, did you?) Not only Shechem, but the entire area is to be circumcised, and after every man is laid low from the pain (because, outside of the normal pain such a procedure would cause, I somehow think Jacob's sons were none too gentle while performing the operations) they come in and slaughter them.
To be honest, I am torn here. Dinah has been raped. Nothing is going to change that now. Her brother's take revenge without Jacob's consent. Jacob seems more ticked off about the boys ruining his peaceful future than Dinah's rape, the boys seem like they are spoiling for a fight with anyone and just wanted a good excuse to go on a rampage, and Shechem (the rapist) is the only one of this whole motley crew who seems to have Dinah's future in mind.
I can't help but wonder what Dinah wanted. No one asked; no one cared. She is simply damaged goods now, and she will never marry or have a future as a mother because of something she could not control. As a woman, I am less concerned than I probably should be with the theological meaning behind this passage. I am feeling for this young girl whose life has been ruined beyond repair. If nothing else, this passage demonstrates in violent clarity the devestating effects rape exacts. Imagine the scene, blood and torn flesh littering the countryside. It is visual into Dinah's soul. How do you best heal such a thing? Would Dinah have fared better in the end by marrying Shechem? Please, please understand me. I am not condoing rape here...not by a LONG shot. I am simply wondering what, if given the choice, Dinah wanted: revenge or a chance to be a wife.
In the end, the only thing I come away with from this passage is rape is a thing which ought not be done.
Until next time,
Becca
Jacob's family has moved to their new land. This is the place they will live, the land God has given to them to grow and thrive safe from threat of Esau.
Dinah, Jacob's daughter, goes to town to visit with other women. The prince of the area sees her, rapes her, and then wants to make her his wife. I'm not sure if Jacob is actually considering the marriage, but Dinah's brother's are furious and, in the end, what Jacob was thinking doesn't matter.
If we set aside, for a moment, that Dinah was raped, here is an interesting and very contemporary situation. Should a man who sees a beautiful woman be able to have sex with her, then declare his love, and then marry her? In today's world, although rape is still considered immoral (as it should be), the order of things has become: date a few times; have sex to judge compatibility; move in together to further judge compatibility; decide you love each other; get married.
Like you, I have been bombarded by the Tiger and Elin Woods saga and the Sandra Bullock and Jesse James saga. Part of me feels tremendous sympathy for these wronged wives, the other part of me wants to bop them over the head and say, "Were you sleeping with him before you got married? Had either of you ever denied yourself sexual fulfillment with other partners before you met? What made you think a ring would change any of that?" We have done a horrendous disservice to our children and nation by insisting kids are going to have sex anyway, we might as well teach them how to do it safely. The idea of exercising self control has completely flown out the window. Now wonder Tiger and Jesse felt free to have sex with whoever was available while separated from their wives.
Back to our story.
Shechem, who has "fallen passionately in love" with Dinah (and we aren't sure from the text if this is before or after he raped her) wants to marry her. He's willing to do anything...absolutely anything to make her his wife. Dinah's brother's trick him into consenting to be circumcised. I find that hilariously ironic. If this guy can't keep himself inside his own loin cloth, take it out and they will whack on it. (You didn't know Lorena Bobbet was Biblical, did you?) Not only Shechem, but the entire area is to be circumcised, and after every man is laid low from the pain (because, outside of the normal pain such a procedure would cause, I somehow think Jacob's sons were none too gentle while performing the operations) they come in and slaughter them.
To be honest, I am torn here. Dinah has been raped. Nothing is going to change that now. Her brother's take revenge without Jacob's consent. Jacob seems more ticked off about the boys ruining his peaceful future than Dinah's rape, the boys seem like they are spoiling for a fight with anyone and just wanted a good excuse to go on a rampage, and Shechem (the rapist) is the only one of this whole motley crew who seems to have Dinah's future in mind.
I can't help but wonder what Dinah wanted. No one asked; no one cared. She is simply damaged goods now, and she will never marry or have a future as a mother because of something she could not control. As a woman, I am less concerned than I probably should be with the theological meaning behind this passage. I am feeling for this young girl whose life has been ruined beyond repair. If nothing else, this passage demonstrates in violent clarity the devestating effects rape exacts. Imagine the scene, blood and torn flesh littering the countryside. It is visual into Dinah's soul. How do you best heal such a thing? Would Dinah have fared better in the end by marrying Shechem? Please, please understand me. I am not condoing rape here...not by a LONG shot. I am simply wondering what, if given the choice, Dinah wanted: revenge or a chance to be a wife.
In the end, the only thing I come away with from this passage is rape is a thing which ought not be done.
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Reconciliation and Distrust
Gen. 33
Jacob and Esau are finally reunited, but I'm not convinced it was the "forgive and forget" moment my Biblical commentary seems to think it is.
Esau is coming with 400 men, Jacob divides his household into three parts, the maidservants and their children first, Leah and her children second, with Rachel and Joseph bringing up the rear. (In another show of his favoritism, Jacob has ensured that, if Esau attacks, Rachel and Joseph have the best chance of fleeing to safety.)
When Esau and Jacob finally meet, there is a lot of embracing and weeping. So far so good. Then there's the gifts which Esau refuses but Jacob insists saying God has blessed him abundandly. Esau offers to have his men ride with Jacob as protection, an offer Jacob refuses saying he has plenty of men. Esau wants to ride together, but Jacob makes a point about needing to travel slowly with newborn animals and children. Finally, Esau departs for Seir urging Jacob to follow, but Jacob goes to Succoth before continuing to Shechem instead. The two places are many miles apart with the Jordan river in between.
To me, this looks more like two male bulls circling each other in preparation for a fight. They are sizing each other up and measuring their chances for victory. Jacob's insistence that Esau take the gifts is a show of wealth. The refusal of Esau's protection is a show of strength. And his need to travel at the pace he knows his impatient brother would not want to keep is probably a deceipt to keep the two parties separate and allow Jacob to go a different direction.
In other words, Jacob may believe Esau has forgiven him for stealing his birthright and blessing, and Jacob has forgiven Esau for intending to murder him, but Jacob is certainly not going to put his household in Esau's power. Forgive, yes...trust, no.
There is much forgiveness IS, but today I want to focus on one thing it is NOT. Forgiveness is not putting ourselves in a position where another person can harm us again. A wife who has been beaten by her husband does not stay in the home to show her forgiveness. A husband who's best friend slept with his wife doesn't need to play golf or confide in that friend ever again. A rape victim never needs to be alone in a room with her attacker. And children should never have to be subject to a parent who has abused them. Forgiveness means we will not hold the wrong done to us inside where it festers and poisons us. We forgive as Christ has forgiven us by recognizing our own sins have made us death row convicts, and Jesus died in our place. But it doesn't mean we "forget" by giving someone our trust again. It's like the famous Ronald Reagan quote when discussing nuclear disarmament with the Soviets: "Trust but verify."
Forgive, yes. But trust is only built when the offending party proves, over time, the change neccessary to earn it back. In the meantime, you go to Shechem and let your Esau go to Seir with your forgiveness and best wishes.
Until next time,
Becca
Jacob and Esau are finally reunited, but I'm not convinced it was the "forgive and forget" moment my Biblical commentary seems to think it is.
Esau is coming with 400 men, Jacob divides his household into three parts, the maidservants and their children first, Leah and her children second, with Rachel and Joseph bringing up the rear. (In another show of his favoritism, Jacob has ensured that, if Esau attacks, Rachel and Joseph have the best chance of fleeing to safety.)
When Esau and Jacob finally meet, there is a lot of embracing and weeping. So far so good. Then there's the gifts which Esau refuses but Jacob insists saying God has blessed him abundandly. Esau offers to have his men ride with Jacob as protection, an offer Jacob refuses saying he has plenty of men. Esau wants to ride together, but Jacob makes a point about needing to travel slowly with newborn animals and children. Finally, Esau departs for Seir urging Jacob to follow, but Jacob goes to Succoth before continuing to Shechem instead. The two places are many miles apart with the Jordan river in between.
To me, this looks more like two male bulls circling each other in preparation for a fight. They are sizing each other up and measuring their chances for victory. Jacob's insistence that Esau take the gifts is a show of wealth. The refusal of Esau's protection is a show of strength. And his need to travel at the pace he knows his impatient brother would not want to keep is probably a deceipt to keep the two parties separate and allow Jacob to go a different direction.
In other words, Jacob may believe Esau has forgiven him for stealing his birthright and blessing, and Jacob has forgiven Esau for intending to murder him, but Jacob is certainly not going to put his household in Esau's power. Forgive, yes...trust, no.
There is much forgiveness IS, but today I want to focus on one thing it is NOT. Forgiveness is not putting ourselves in a position where another person can harm us again. A wife who has been beaten by her husband does not stay in the home to show her forgiveness. A husband who's best friend slept with his wife doesn't need to play golf or confide in that friend ever again. A rape victim never needs to be alone in a room with her attacker. And children should never have to be subject to a parent who has abused them. Forgiveness means we will not hold the wrong done to us inside where it festers and poisons us. We forgive as Christ has forgiven us by recognizing our own sins have made us death row convicts, and Jesus died in our place. But it doesn't mean we "forget" by giving someone our trust again. It's like the famous Ronald Reagan quote when discussing nuclear disarmament with the Soviets: "Trust but verify."
Forgive, yes. But trust is only built when the offending party proves, over time, the change neccessary to earn it back. In the meantime, you go to Shechem and let your Esau go to Seir with your forgiveness and best wishes.
Until next time,
Becca
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Through the Valley
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
Those words from Psalm 23 are some of the most familiar in the whole Bible. But how many of us realize we are walking in that valley every single day? Police officers, firemen, soldiers, CIA and FBI agents work jobs where they walk out the front door every day knowing they may not come home. Pilots, truck drivers, oil riggers, fishermen and others in hazardous jobs do, too. Those of you who have “safe” jobs don’t always think of yourself as “in the valley” every day, but how many of those who worked at the Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City or the Twin Towers in New York worked safe jobs? How many people are killed yearly commuting to or from their safe jobs? How many die of heart attacks from job related stress? Now add everyone who is at risk for death through every possible circumstance.
Do you see what I mean? We all walk through the valley daily.
On Friday, I encouraged you to put yourself in the place of Jesus’ disciples and forget you knew about the resurrection. Imagine you live in Jesus’ time where false Messiah’s have been popping up for years and will for several more. You’ve seen his miracles, though, and are convinced he’s THE ONE. Then, the Roman Empire, the most powerful government on the face of the earth, the one you daily expect him to overthrow, kills him. He has raised Lazarus from the dead but he cannot save himself from the power of the empire. Not even when Jesus is told to save himself does he do it.
We know Jesus would not save himself, but his disciples did not. Now he’s dead, they think he is just like the other fake Messiah’s who’ve come and gone, only they were stupid enough to get sucked in this time. Jesus was helpless against the power of death and now they are going to be hunted down and killed for idiotically following him. They were very literally walking through the valley of death. Just like us.
Then came the morning! Up from the grave He arose in a mighty triumph o’re His foes. And because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives all fear is gone. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!
These lines from some of our great hymns can only begin to tell the wonder of Christ’s victory over death. There are not words enough to write what Easter means for the follower of Christ. Our entire faith hinges on this one morning, this Resurrection Sunday. Victory. Over. Death. All types of death: emotional, spiritual and physical. Jesus’ sacrifice secured our ability to conquer them all.
We fear no evil for Jesus is with us. The Emmanuel (God with us) of Christmas has finished his work and become our Redeemer of Easter.
Halleluiah, Christ arose!
Those words from Psalm 23 are some of the most familiar in the whole Bible. But how many of us realize we are walking in that valley every single day? Police officers, firemen, soldiers, CIA and FBI agents work jobs where they walk out the front door every day knowing they may not come home. Pilots, truck drivers, oil riggers, fishermen and others in hazardous jobs do, too. Those of you who have “safe” jobs don’t always think of yourself as “in the valley” every day, but how many of those who worked at the Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City or the Twin Towers in New York worked safe jobs? How many people are killed yearly commuting to or from their safe jobs? How many die of heart attacks from job related stress? Now add everyone who is at risk for death through every possible circumstance.
Do you see what I mean? We all walk through the valley daily.
On Friday, I encouraged you to put yourself in the place of Jesus’ disciples and forget you knew about the resurrection. Imagine you live in Jesus’ time where false Messiah’s have been popping up for years and will for several more. You’ve seen his miracles, though, and are convinced he’s THE ONE. Then, the Roman Empire, the most powerful government on the face of the earth, the one you daily expect him to overthrow, kills him. He has raised Lazarus from the dead but he cannot save himself from the power of the empire. Not even when Jesus is told to save himself does he do it.
We know Jesus would not save himself, but his disciples did not. Now he’s dead, they think he is just like the other fake Messiah’s who’ve come and gone, only they were stupid enough to get sucked in this time. Jesus was helpless against the power of death and now they are going to be hunted down and killed for idiotically following him. They were very literally walking through the valley of death. Just like us.
Then came the morning! Up from the grave He arose in a mighty triumph o’re His foes. And because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives all fear is gone. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!
These lines from some of our great hymns can only begin to tell the wonder of Christ’s victory over death. There are not words enough to write what Easter means for the follower of Christ. Our entire faith hinges on this one morning, this Resurrection Sunday. Victory. Over. Death. All types of death: emotional, spiritual and physical. Jesus’ sacrifice secured our ability to conquer them all.
We fear no evil for Jesus is with us. The Emmanuel (God with us) of Christmas has finished his work and become our Redeemer of Easter.
Halleluiah, Christ arose!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wrestling with God
Gen. 32
Talk about out of the fire and into the frying pan! Jacob has just left the lying scoundral Laban and is headed home to his brother Esau...the one who wanted to kill him.
Frightened, and rightfully so, Jacob basically dares God to show up. In essence he says, "Look, God, you're the one who promised I would return to the land of my Fathers a success and You're the one who told me it was now time to go. Here I am; it's time for you to deliver." But he also says, "I'm not worthy of any mercy you might show me; I'm simply going by the promises You made."
Then Jacob sends gifts to Esau...wave after wave after wave of them, and tells his servants to call Esau "lord" and the gifts are from "his servant, Jacob." Jacob is humbling himself before his brother, sending expensive gifts to purchase his forgiveness, and divides the camp to put women and children in the back in case Esau (who is coming with 400 men) still is not appeased.
He also removes himself from the camps. Alone, he waits for his brother to come. It was another strategy. If Esau could come find Jacob and kill him easily, perhaps the lust for revenge would be satisfied and Esau would not kill the rest of Jacob's family...the sons in particular...which was not an unrealistic fear. The Bible is full of places where entire families are wiped out when the patriarch is deemed guilty of death.
Put yourself in Jacob's place. Alone in the wilderness, he once again waits for death when a man shows up and begins wrestling with him. Is it any wonder Jacob struggled so hard? He's not seen his brother for 20 some years, it's dark and, for all he knows, he is fighting with Esau himself. Even when his hip is torn from its socket, he continues to fight until the man says, "It's getting light, let me go." Jacob says, "Bless me before you go, and tell me who you are." (More modern language might be, "Not until you concede victory to me, and tell me what I have been fighting about. Are you from Esau, or have I just been fighting a common theif?") The man says, "Why do you ask my name?"
I so wish I understood the Hebrew language right now, because something tells me the way God answered Jacob, the words He used at that very moment, jolted Jacob into understanding exactly who his opponent for the night had been. Because, be honest, have you ever expected God to show up - in the flesh - and physically fight with you? Imagine being home alone one night after having recieved a threatening phone call and someone breaks into your house. Are you thinking it's God? Hardly!! And if you managed to hold off your attacker all evening and he wants to cut out before you can see his face, you would most certainly want to know who he is and why he's come. Is he your threatening caller or just some hooligan who randomly chose your home? How unutterably shocked would you be to realize you've been fighting for you life against the God of the universe and survived?
More to the point, why on earth would God do such a thing? What is His motive?
We only have two clues. God changes Jacob's name to Isreal and blesses him. Now, "Isreal" means "Prince with God." Jacob has earned this name because he has, "struggled with God and man and has prevailed." If God is King, he has just elevated Jacob to being His prince. Think King of England here...he comes and fights you all night long and then says, "since you fought me and won, I will make you my prince and your children will be the future royalty of the land." There's a blessing for you.
Jacob, the deciever and supplanter, is coming home. He has humbled himslef before God by begging for mercy and favor despite his unworthiness. He has humbled himself before his brother, the one from whom he stole both birthright and blessing, by calling him lord. And God meets him in his frightened, humble, unworthy state and elevates him to royalty. And just to make sure Jacob doesn't think the whole thing was a figment of his overworked imagination, he touches Jacob's hip socket so he will limp and be reminded with every step he takes from now on of his place, not as the unscrupulous younger son but as Prince of God. No wonder the Jews to this day do not eat the meat of a hip socket.
Would you be willing to limp for the rest of your life in order to remember an encounter with God so life-changing? We might answer a resounding YES at this point because that's the right response, but pause and think carefully for a moment. Every single day, for years on end, Jacob will have to live with chronic pain and physical disability. Every. Single. Day.
With what do you struggle daily? What ailment, what pain, what disability causes you constant problems? What weakness, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, comes back to haunt you regularly? You know you are a child of the King, but the daily grind had worn you down. You know you are royalty, but it doesn't help with the challenges you face repeatedly.
Maybe it's time to view these things differently. From now on, let these very things be reminders to you that you are a Prince of God, a Princess of the King of Everything. It doesn't mean you won't have the struggle, but it will give you a correct perspective.
Until next time,
Becca
Talk about out of the fire and into the frying pan! Jacob has just left the lying scoundral Laban and is headed home to his brother Esau...the one who wanted to kill him.
Frightened, and rightfully so, Jacob basically dares God to show up. In essence he says, "Look, God, you're the one who promised I would return to the land of my Fathers a success and You're the one who told me it was now time to go. Here I am; it's time for you to deliver." But he also says, "I'm not worthy of any mercy you might show me; I'm simply going by the promises You made."
Then Jacob sends gifts to Esau...wave after wave after wave of them, and tells his servants to call Esau "lord" and the gifts are from "his servant, Jacob." Jacob is humbling himself before his brother, sending expensive gifts to purchase his forgiveness, and divides the camp to put women and children in the back in case Esau (who is coming with 400 men) still is not appeased.
He also removes himself from the camps. Alone, he waits for his brother to come. It was another strategy. If Esau could come find Jacob and kill him easily, perhaps the lust for revenge would be satisfied and Esau would not kill the rest of Jacob's family...the sons in particular...which was not an unrealistic fear. The Bible is full of places where entire families are wiped out when the patriarch is deemed guilty of death.
Put yourself in Jacob's place. Alone in the wilderness, he once again waits for death when a man shows up and begins wrestling with him. Is it any wonder Jacob struggled so hard? He's not seen his brother for 20 some years, it's dark and, for all he knows, he is fighting with Esau himself. Even when his hip is torn from its socket, he continues to fight until the man says, "It's getting light, let me go." Jacob says, "Bless me before you go, and tell me who you are." (More modern language might be, "Not until you concede victory to me, and tell me what I have been fighting about. Are you from Esau, or have I just been fighting a common theif?") The man says, "Why do you ask my name?"
I so wish I understood the Hebrew language right now, because something tells me the way God answered Jacob, the words He used at that very moment, jolted Jacob into understanding exactly who his opponent for the night had been. Because, be honest, have you ever expected God to show up - in the flesh - and physically fight with you? Imagine being home alone one night after having recieved a threatening phone call and someone breaks into your house. Are you thinking it's God? Hardly!! And if you managed to hold off your attacker all evening and he wants to cut out before you can see his face, you would most certainly want to know who he is and why he's come. Is he your threatening caller or just some hooligan who randomly chose your home? How unutterably shocked would you be to realize you've been fighting for you life against the God of the universe and survived?
More to the point, why on earth would God do such a thing? What is His motive?
We only have two clues. God changes Jacob's name to Isreal and blesses him. Now, "Isreal" means "Prince with God." Jacob has earned this name because he has, "struggled with God and man and has prevailed." If God is King, he has just elevated Jacob to being His prince. Think King of England here...he comes and fights you all night long and then says, "since you fought me and won, I will make you my prince and your children will be the future royalty of the land." There's a blessing for you.
Jacob, the deciever and supplanter, is coming home. He has humbled himslef before God by begging for mercy and favor despite his unworthiness. He has humbled himself before his brother, the one from whom he stole both birthright and blessing, by calling him lord. And God meets him in his frightened, humble, unworthy state and elevates him to royalty. And just to make sure Jacob doesn't think the whole thing was a figment of his overworked imagination, he touches Jacob's hip socket so he will limp and be reminded with every step he takes from now on of his place, not as the unscrupulous younger son but as Prince of God. No wonder the Jews to this day do not eat the meat of a hip socket.
Would you be willing to limp for the rest of your life in order to remember an encounter with God so life-changing? We might answer a resounding YES at this point because that's the right response, but pause and think carefully for a moment. Every single day, for years on end, Jacob will have to live with chronic pain and physical disability. Every. Single. Day.
With what do you struggle daily? What ailment, what pain, what disability causes you constant problems? What weakness, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, comes back to haunt you regularly? You know you are a child of the King, but the daily grind had worn you down. You know you are royalty, but it doesn't help with the challenges you face repeatedly.
Maybe it's time to view these things differently. From now on, let these very things be reminders to you that you are a Prince of God, a Princess of the King of Everything. It doesn't mean you won't have the struggle, but it will give you a correct perspective.
Until next time,
Becca
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Put it to Death
Oh dear...I think God is really wanting to work on me in this particular area. Why else would the last two sermons be on this particular topic?
Here's a link to the sermon which just nailed me to the wall.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/special/be-killing-sin-or-sin-will-be-killing-you
Enjoy...uh, I mean, listen to it with an open heart and a box of tissue. He tackles very practical issues like how to be rid of lying, stealing, pornography and anger, but the principle of how to kill sin is universal. If you have any heart for God, this will speak to you.
Until next time,
Becca
Here's a link to the sermon which just nailed me to the wall.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/special/be-killing-sin-or-sin-will-be-killing-you
Enjoy...uh, I mean, listen to it with an open heart and a box of tissue. He tackles very practical issues like how to be rid of lying, stealing, pornography and anger, but the principle of how to kill sin is universal. If you have any heart for God, this will speak to you.
Until next time,
Becca
Friday, March 19, 2010
Trickery by the Tricked
Gen. 30:25-31:55
Jacob is ready to leave his father-in-law's employ. He has labored for the 14 required years. But if he leaves now, all he takes with him are his family and servants. In those 14 years, he has earned nothing for himself (aside from some bikering brides and boys). He makes Laban a deal. In a country where sheep are white and goats are black, he says he will take all the animals which are not correctly colored.
Laban agrees to the deal but then has his sons remove all the spotted animals from the herds and take them away where Jacob can't get to them. Jacob is tricked again, first in the matter of marrying Rachel and getting Leah instead which forces him into another seven years of labor, now this. What a scumbag this Laban character is.
But Jacob is not dismayed. He knows exactly how he's going to increase his herd. Apparently Jacob has taken "Advanced Husbandry" from the local college, because he knows the animals will "pick up" the colors they are exposed to at the places they drink and mate. He faces black goats toward white birch bark and white sheep toward black goats. Voila! He gets streaked, speckled and spotted animals. Plus, he only does this with the stronger animals, leaving Laban with only the runts. Pretty smart, huh?
Finally, Laban's sons are fed up with Jacob's herd getting stronger and bigger. Jacob percieves there's been an attitude change and he finally gets the "go ahead" from God and makes plans to leave in secret. He consults his wives and they're all for it. Their father has mistreated them, too, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to get away. Rachel even steals Laban's household gods. Just a guess but perhaps she wanted them because these gods "guaranteed" the fertility of the females whether human or animal.
Jacob waits for Laban to leave for a three day festival then flees with his wives, children and herds. Laban chases them down, but he cares more about the household gods which have been stolen than for his daughters and grandchildren. Jacob, completely unaware of Rachel's theft of the gods, tells Laban, "Go ahead and search...and you can kill anyone who's stolen your property." A further deception when Rachel hides the gods in her saddle and tells her father she can't stand in his presense due to her "monthly flow."
Jacob and Laban agree they can't trust each other, so they build an altar on a high point and basically say, "This is mine, that is yours. Don't cross this line. God will bear witness and keep the peace between us because I don't trust you any more than you trust me."
Jacob, the one who has cheated his brother out of his inheritance, has been tricked and tricked and tricked again by his father in law. He fights back using his brains. Rachel fights back by stealing and lying (she's her father's daughter, that one). And you know what strikes me most, the Bible makes no editorial comment about any of it. There is no denounciation of the lies and deciept, no punishment for the crimes, nothing to say, "When faced with those who treat you poorly, this is how you handle it in a righteous manner." Doesn't that seem weird to you?
Isn't the Bible supposed to be a book about do's and don'ts? Thou shalts and thou shalt nots? Why isn't there something here for us to learn the Godly way to handle cheaters?
Because God has not given the law yet; He has not spelled out the rules of life for his people. Man is living by listening to his conscience; that inner voice which says, "This is right; that is wrong." God's word is merely recording the events and letting you make the judgements about what is good and what is not...forcing you to listen to the spirit inside you.
However, it doesn't leave us with nothing on the subject of cheaters. Laban and Jacob's "peace treaty" is made before God. If nothing else, we learn the way to handle cheats is to outwit them by using common sense and letting God be the judge of who is crossing the line.
Until next time,
Becca
Jacob is ready to leave his father-in-law's employ. He has labored for the 14 required years. But if he leaves now, all he takes with him are his family and servants. In those 14 years, he has earned nothing for himself (aside from some bikering brides and boys). He makes Laban a deal. In a country where sheep are white and goats are black, he says he will take all the animals which are not correctly colored.
Laban agrees to the deal but then has his sons remove all the spotted animals from the herds and take them away where Jacob can't get to them. Jacob is tricked again, first in the matter of marrying Rachel and getting Leah instead which forces him into another seven years of labor, now this. What a scumbag this Laban character is.
But Jacob is not dismayed. He knows exactly how he's going to increase his herd. Apparently Jacob has taken "Advanced Husbandry" from the local college, because he knows the animals will "pick up" the colors they are exposed to at the places they drink and mate. He faces black goats toward white birch bark and white sheep toward black goats. Voila! He gets streaked, speckled and spotted animals. Plus, he only does this with the stronger animals, leaving Laban with only the runts. Pretty smart, huh?
Finally, Laban's sons are fed up with Jacob's herd getting stronger and bigger. Jacob percieves there's been an attitude change and he finally gets the "go ahead" from God and makes plans to leave in secret. He consults his wives and they're all for it. Their father has mistreated them, too, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to get away. Rachel even steals Laban's household gods. Just a guess but perhaps she wanted them because these gods "guaranteed" the fertility of the females whether human or animal.
Jacob waits for Laban to leave for a three day festival then flees with his wives, children and herds. Laban chases them down, but he cares more about the household gods which have been stolen than for his daughters and grandchildren. Jacob, completely unaware of Rachel's theft of the gods, tells Laban, "Go ahead and search...and you can kill anyone who's stolen your property." A further deception when Rachel hides the gods in her saddle and tells her father she can't stand in his presense due to her "monthly flow."
Jacob and Laban agree they can't trust each other, so they build an altar on a high point and basically say, "This is mine, that is yours. Don't cross this line. God will bear witness and keep the peace between us because I don't trust you any more than you trust me."
Jacob, the one who has cheated his brother out of his inheritance, has been tricked and tricked and tricked again by his father in law. He fights back using his brains. Rachel fights back by stealing and lying (she's her father's daughter, that one). And you know what strikes me most, the Bible makes no editorial comment about any of it. There is no denounciation of the lies and deciept, no punishment for the crimes, nothing to say, "When faced with those who treat you poorly, this is how you handle it in a righteous manner." Doesn't that seem weird to you?
Isn't the Bible supposed to be a book about do's and don'ts? Thou shalts and thou shalt nots? Why isn't there something here for us to learn the Godly way to handle cheaters?
Because God has not given the law yet; He has not spelled out the rules of life for his people. Man is living by listening to his conscience; that inner voice which says, "This is right; that is wrong." God's word is merely recording the events and letting you make the judgements about what is good and what is not...forcing you to listen to the spirit inside you.
However, it doesn't leave us with nothing on the subject of cheaters. Laban and Jacob's "peace treaty" is made before God. If nothing else, we learn the way to handle cheats is to outwit them by using common sense and letting God be the judge of who is crossing the line.
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sibling Rivalry
Gen. 30:1-24
Reading between the lines (which translates into "Don't put any theological weight behind this thought"), I think Jacob must have felt something like a gigilo during the years which cover the first twenty-four verses of this chapter. What with sleeping with Rachel's servant, Leah's servant, Leah (after she "bought" him with mandrakes), and Rachel herself, I wonder how he got any work done during the day!
Looking at this through 21st Century American eyes, he appears to be nothing more than a stud, and the women are obsessed with babies. Even if you can get yourself into the culture of the time, there's still some pretty desperate wrangling going on here.
Remember how Chapter 29 ended? Leah had stopped bearing chilren. Gen. 30 opens with Rachel telling Jacob to give her children or she'll die...because she is jealous of Leah. Rachel might have Jacob's love, but Leah is having all the children. After Rachel bears a couple children (through her maidservant), Leah wants to jump back in the act.
Wait a minute. Didn't we just decide Leah had been provided for by the hand of God? Hadn't she, after the birth of her fourth son, named him Judah in praise to God? How come she is locked in this baby battle with Rachel? How many more sons does she need?
I'm so grateful the Bible is full of real characters. I think I would find it both nauseating and unbelievable if the lessons learned in one chapter of life were always carried over into the heat of the next chapter. Instead, Leah and Rachel have become such bitter rivals, every thought of God's great love and provision has clean jumped out of Leah's head.
What about Rachel, you ask? Hmmm, well she wasn't doing much better. Do you know why she was so desperate to get the mandrakes Rueben had found? Because, according to superstition, they would induce fertility. Plus, I think we can safely assume Rachel has had something to do with Leah not bearing children anymore. Why else would Leah say, "Is it not enough you have taken my husband from me, will you take my son's mandrakes as well?"
Rivalry, jealousy, superstition, hatred, manipulation...it's all in there.
Yet out of this dog fight come sons, lots of them, who in turn have lots of sons, who then become a people so full of sons they cannot be counted, thus fulfilling God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make them a great nation as numerous as the grains of sand or stars. Specifically, Jacob's sons become the twelve tribes of Isreal.
Isn't God amazing? Despite our failings, He is faithful to his promises. I am comforted in knowing I can never mess up so badly God can't redeem it.
Until next time,
Becca
Reading between the lines (which translates into "Don't put any theological weight behind this thought"), I think Jacob must have felt something like a gigilo during the years which cover the first twenty-four verses of this chapter. What with sleeping with Rachel's servant, Leah's servant, Leah (after she "bought" him with mandrakes), and Rachel herself, I wonder how he got any work done during the day!
Looking at this through 21st Century American eyes, he appears to be nothing more than a stud, and the women are obsessed with babies. Even if you can get yourself into the culture of the time, there's still some pretty desperate wrangling going on here.
Remember how Chapter 29 ended? Leah had stopped bearing chilren. Gen. 30 opens with Rachel telling Jacob to give her children or she'll die...because she is jealous of Leah. Rachel might have Jacob's love, but Leah is having all the children. After Rachel bears a couple children (through her maidservant), Leah wants to jump back in the act.
Wait a minute. Didn't we just decide Leah had been provided for by the hand of God? Hadn't she, after the birth of her fourth son, named him Judah in praise to God? How come she is locked in this baby battle with Rachel? How many more sons does she need?
I'm so grateful the Bible is full of real characters. I think I would find it both nauseating and unbelievable if the lessons learned in one chapter of life were always carried over into the heat of the next chapter. Instead, Leah and Rachel have become such bitter rivals, every thought of God's great love and provision has clean jumped out of Leah's head.
What about Rachel, you ask? Hmmm, well she wasn't doing much better. Do you know why she was so desperate to get the mandrakes Rueben had found? Because, according to superstition, they would induce fertility. Plus, I think we can safely assume Rachel has had something to do with Leah not bearing children anymore. Why else would Leah say, "Is it not enough you have taken my husband from me, will you take my son's mandrakes as well?"
Rivalry, jealousy, superstition, hatred, manipulation...it's all in there.
Yet out of this dog fight come sons, lots of them, who in turn have lots of sons, who then become a people so full of sons they cannot be counted, thus fulfilling God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make them a great nation as numerous as the grains of sand or stars. Specifically, Jacob's sons become the twelve tribes of Isreal.
Isn't God amazing? Despite our failings, He is faithful to his promises. I am comforted in knowing I can never mess up so badly God can't redeem it.
Until next time,
Becca
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