So, how would you feel if you are hanging out, minding your own business and the Lord says,
"You...hey, you (insert your personal name here), I have this plan and you are in it. I want you to go on over to Palestine and chat with the rebel leader and tell him to leave Isreal alone so they can be delivered to the Promised Land. After you finish this up, I want you to worship me on my mountain, OK?"
This has got to be how ludicrous this sounded to Moses. Who me? How am I gonna do this??? Surely someone else can do it. How about Pastor Alan; he seems to know the Bible pretty well......I really don't know enough about all that Spiritual stuff and Alan went to seminary....then, everyone in Orange Beach is gonna think I'm off my meds to go to Palestine right now....and I can't speak Arabic; it comes out all Southern.
If God asks you to do something, he will equip you!!!! You may not have to watch your hand turn from a skin condition, to having your brief case turn into a snake.....but God can do anything.....
Now, after all this, the Lord gets ticked at Moses and almost kills him for not having his son circumcised. This was part of the covenant promise response to God....If Moses was going to lead his people, he had to be completely and totally obedient. Thank goodness for a quick acting woman that is handy with a knife.....Zipporah proceeds to save Moses life (yep, behind every great man is a FABULOUS woman, huh?)
Then Moses continues with the plan of God and the Pharaoah gets meaner (this is yet another Pharoah, because the last one wanted Moses dead due to Moses killing an Egyptian)
The Pharoah gets hostile and makes the people collect straw that had previously been collected for their brick production........the Hebrews begin to feel like things are worse and that Moses has stirred things up for no reason.........the plot thickens and Moses becomes stressed...."Hey Lord, I told you this was a bad idea...."
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
After you read, feel free to make a comment or ask a question in the comment box. You can sign up as a follower on the right, or you can sign up by e-mail at the bottom if you would like to follow the whole year. You may also chose to simply read along and make no comments. Whatever you choose. If you fall behind, as most people will do, don't worry...the whole year is here and you can catch up at your own speed. I highly encourage you to stick with it, If you read the Bible, you are going to mine some real jewels and insights.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Exodus 1-3
Welcome to a new book! Bonnie and I did a big Hi-5 today in church because we have done 2 books already....
The author of this book is Moses. Exodus means "mass exit". The book opens with the covenant promise being fulfilled. The Isrealites have grown into a huge nation. Some scholars say there were probably 2 million of them. The new Pharaoah feels threatened and feels that the Isrealites could organize, join other ranks and fight the Egyptians...and here is where the slavery begins. The Isrealites are heavily opressed. The Pharaoah wants the first born males killed (perhaps you know the story of when Jesus was born and the first born male sons were ordered to be killed....quite a parallel), and the midwives feared God more than Pharoah.
Moses is born from the Levite tribe. God strategically places Moses sister (you'll learn her name is Miriam later) to see her baby brother rescued by the Pharoah's daughter. She asks Pharoah's daughter if she needs a nursemaid, and Moses is reunited (secretly) with his own mother. Moses means Drawn Out, as in Drawn Out from the water. Who else but God can get a Hebrew slave raised in in the Pharoah's palace? (you'll see something similar in the Book of Esther)
Moses grows, and kills an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew mistreatment. Pharoah finds out and Moses must flee. He goes to Midian (owned by priests rather than Pharoah) and marries into Priest Reuel/Jethro's family via Zipporah. He has a son, Gershom, meaning an alien in a foreign land.
God hears of his people's suffering and appears to Moses in a burning bush. and tells Moses that he will be the deliverer of the Isrealites. Moses makes excuses, and the Lord is patient with him. God's name of YHWH is revealed (I am who I am). God reveals that the Isrealite elders will accept his message, and the Egyptians will not. The Egyptian women are to be asked for silver, gold and clothing on their way out (later to be used for the tabernacle).....Can you imagine how this must seem to Moses? Here's a plan...now execute it for me....another note, Horeb and Sinai are different names for the same mountain.
The author of this book is Moses. Exodus means "mass exit". The book opens with the covenant promise being fulfilled. The Isrealites have grown into a huge nation. Some scholars say there were probably 2 million of them. The new Pharaoah feels threatened and feels that the Isrealites could organize, join other ranks and fight the Egyptians...and here is where the slavery begins. The Isrealites are heavily opressed. The Pharaoah wants the first born males killed (perhaps you know the story of when Jesus was born and the first born male sons were ordered to be killed....quite a parallel), and the midwives feared God more than Pharoah.
Moses is born from the Levite tribe. God strategically places Moses sister (you'll learn her name is Miriam later) to see her baby brother rescued by the Pharoah's daughter. She asks Pharoah's daughter if she needs a nursemaid, and Moses is reunited (secretly) with his own mother. Moses means Drawn Out, as in Drawn Out from the water. Who else but God can get a Hebrew slave raised in in the Pharoah's palace? (you'll see something similar in the Book of Esther)
Moses grows, and kills an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew mistreatment. Pharoah finds out and Moses must flee. He goes to Midian (owned by priests rather than Pharoah) and marries into Priest Reuel/Jethro's family via Zipporah. He has a son, Gershom, meaning an alien in a foreign land.
God hears of his people's suffering and appears to Moses in a burning bush. and tells Moses that he will be the deliverer of the Isrealites. Moses makes excuses, and the Lord is patient with him. God's name of YHWH is revealed (I am who I am). God reveals that the Isrealite elders will accept his message, and the Egyptians will not. The Egyptian women are to be asked for silver, gold and clothing on their way out (later to be used for the tabernacle).....Can you imagine how this must seem to Moses? Here's a plan...now execute it for me....another note, Horeb and Sinai are different names for the same mountain.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
'Genesis 48-50
Jacob is on his deathbed and blesses Joseph's sons with his Egyptian wife. The younger gets the greater blessing...how often does God not do things like the way of man.....turning things upside down....Jacob blessed these children like he did his own sons...so the grandsons were elevated in a way. Then Jacob blesses his own sons, and you will see that a blessing is not always a good thing. These sons will be the twelve tribes of Isreal.
Rueben, the oldest, finally bears the consequences for sleeping with his father's concubine.
Simeon and Levi finally bear the consequences of being so cruel to the nation that got circumcised and ambushed. Yes, their sister got raped, but they were cruel in their revenge of their sister.
Judah, the 4th oldest matured greatly in his faith. He wasn't good to Tamar, but he was willing to give his life for Benjamin. Jesus will come from this line...note the lion and the scepter reference...the rest of the blessings are pretty good and actually prophetic as to what is to come.
Jacob dies and has a huge Egyptian funeral; arguably the biggest funeral memtioned in the Bible. Jacob is embalmed. This is Egyptian belief that the body needed to be preserved for the next life. Jacob did not need this of course, but Joseph probably allowed this as a courtesy. Jacob is then taken to the cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites, where Abraham and Sarah are buried.
The brothers are then nervous that Joseph may take revenge; that Joseph was only tolerant of them because of Jacob. Genesis 50:20 has the famous line, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". (Yikes, this smacks of Jesus on the cross!!)
Note Genesis 50:24 where Joseph says "God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Issac and Jacob"....cross reference this to Exodus 3:16.
Joseph ends this chapter in a coffin. This reminds me of Beth Moore's observation, "This is It????? After all that????" Sometimes God doesn't wrap everything up in a bow and give it to us.....there is more to come....300 years need to pass and then Exodus starts in our reading tomorrow!
Rueben, the oldest, finally bears the consequences for sleeping with his father's concubine.
Simeon and Levi finally bear the consequences of being so cruel to the nation that got circumcised and ambushed. Yes, their sister got raped, but they were cruel in their revenge of their sister.
Judah, the 4th oldest matured greatly in his faith. He wasn't good to Tamar, but he was willing to give his life for Benjamin. Jesus will come from this line...note the lion and the scepter reference...the rest of the blessings are pretty good and actually prophetic as to what is to come.
Jacob dies and has a huge Egyptian funeral; arguably the biggest funeral memtioned in the Bible. Jacob is embalmed. This is Egyptian belief that the body needed to be preserved for the next life. Jacob did not need this of course, but Joseph probably allowed this as a courtesy. Jacob is then taken to the cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites, where Abraham and Sarah are buried.
The brothers are then nervous that Joseph may take revenge; that Joseph was only tolerant of them because of Jacob. Genesis 50:20 has the famous line, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". (Yikes, this smacks of Jesus on the cross!!)
Note Genesis 50:24 where Joseph says "God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Issac and Jacob"....cross reference this to Exodus 3:16.
Joseph ends this chapter in a coffin. This reminds me of Beth Moore's observation, "This is It????? After all that????" Sometimes God doesn't wrap everything up in a bow and give it to us.....there is more to come....300 years need to pass and then Exodus starts in our reading tomorrow!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Genesis 46-47
Jacob will see his son, but he is nervous to go to Egypt. Remember that Canaan is the Promised Land. Jacob offers sacrifices in Beersheba (history here already....the well that was dug as the oath....and where God appeared to Issac to reaffirm the covenant) and in a vision, God appears and tells Jacob not to be afraid...God will make Jacob a great Nation there...highly significant because this is a reaffirming of the covenant to Jacob. Jacob will not return to the Promised Land, but he will be buried there. Jacob won't be lonley ever again, because he is promised that Joseph himself will close Jacob's eyes. The family goes to Egypt.
Joseph reunites with Jacob at last. Joseph helps his family into Pharoah's care/protection. By telling Pharoah that they are shepherds, which are detestible to Egyptians, Jacob's tribe is separate from the influences of Egypt, in Goshen. Egypt is quite "cultured" at this time; however, they worship multiple gods. They have figured out how to use irrigation systems to control the Nile's flood; the spoked wheel has been invented and they have moved to horses pulling vehicles. Pyramids are around for the Pharoahs...then, take note of how slavery is beginning to insert itself due to the famine. Food runs out, money us gone, land is gone, so Joseph has a hand in bringing in slavery. (ironic since he was a slave himself). Joseph starts a new law that a fifth of all produce belongs to Pharoah, and only land of the priests that doesn't become Pharoah's. Note that in 47: 27 the people are now called Isrealites.....Genesis had been going back and forth calling Jacob his new name Isreal, and going back to Jacob...but here...the are Isreal's people. This the "Patriarch" designation of Jacob/Isreal. Note again (oooh, I know, lot's of "noting" today, but this stuff is so cool!) that the Irealites acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.....big clue or "road sign" as to how Egyptians were going to feel about the Isrealites in the future.
Tomorrow is our last read in Genesis.....we've got almost two books of the Bible down!
Joseph reunites with Jacob at last. Joseph helps his family into Pharoah's care/protection. By telling Pharoah that they are shepherds, which are detestible to Egyptians, Jacob's tribe is separate from the influences of Egypt, in Goshen. Egypt is quite "cultured" at this time; however, they worship multiple gods. They have figured out how to use irrigation systems to control the Nile's flood; the spoked wheel has been invented and they have moved to horses pulling vehicles. Pyramids are around for the Pharoahs...then, take note of how slavery is beginning to insert itself due to the famine. Food runs out, money us gone, land is gone, so Joseph has a hand in bringing in slavery. (ironic since he was a slave himself). Joseph starts a new law that a fifth of all produce belongs to Pharoah, and only land of the priests that doesn't become Pharoah's. Note that in 47: 27 the people are now called Isrealites.....Genesis had been going back and forth calling Jacob his new name Isreal, and going back to Jacob...but here...the are Isreal's people. This the "Patriarch" designation of Jacob/Isreal. Note again (oooh, I know, lot's of "noting" today, but this stuff is so cool!) that the Irealites acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.....big clue or "road sign" as to how Egyptians were going to feel about the Isrealites in the future.
Tomorrow is our last read in Genesis.....we've got almost two books of the Bible down!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Genesis 43-45
These chapters show real change in Judah's character....he stepped up to the plate and promised his Father that he would take care of Benjamin with his life....from selling one son of Rachel's into slavery, to potentially giving his life to the other son of Rachel. He is learning that when he makes mistakes, he will own up to it (Tamar, Benjamin) and this is part of a natural leader. Remember that Christ descends from his line...
Joseph tests his brothers to see their character. Note that we have some Egyptian customs coming into play.....Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians all ate separately because Hebrews were disgusting to the Egyptians....even though Joseph outranked the Egyptians, he didn't "mess" with their beliefs. Also, Joseph's silver cup was a sign of his rank.....Egyptians used those for divining the future, but Joseph let God tell him the future (remember the dreams).....At last, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Real emotion as Joseph cries so loudly that the Egyptians can hear him.....Joseph then invites his father and family to live in Egypt with his protection......Joseph realizes that God leads his life and that there is a plan....note the speech to his brothers......You almost see the Gospel:
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!" And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
A suggestion from another blog is to underline the remnant phrase in your Bible. You will see it 65 times in the Bible. God will always leave a remnant of his chosen nation...so in every situation there will always be survivors of the nation....it will mean so much more as we progress with our reading..
Joseph tests his brothers to see their character. Note that we have some Egyptian customs coming into play.....Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians all ate separately because Hebrews were disgusting to the Egyptians....even though Joseph outranked the Egyptians, he didn't "mess" with their beliefs. Also, Joseph's silver cup was a sign of his rank.....Egyptians used those for divining the future, but Joseph let God tell him the future (remember the dreams).....At last, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Real emotion as Joseph cries so loudly that the Egyptians can hear him.....Joseph then invites his father and family to live in Egypt with his protection......Joseph realizes that God leads his life and that there is a plan....note the speech to his brothers......You almost see the Gospel:
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!" And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
A suggestion from another blog is to underline the remnant phrase in your Bible. You will see it 65 times in the Bible. God will always leave a remnant of his chosen nation...so in every situation there will always be survivors of the nation....it will mean so much more as we progress with our reading..
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Genesis 41-42
Two years pass.....Pharaoah has dreams. It was typical of that day to have "wise men" and "magicians"....they did have powers (Exodus 7:11, 12) but not from God....finally, the cup bearer remembers Joseph, and Joseph is quickly summoned and cleaned up for the Pharaoah....notice how Joseph has matured and gives credit to God for the dream interpretation and the next thing you know, Joseph is second in command to Pharaoah.....all in God's time! Joseph endured 13 years in prison prior to that point.
The prophesized famine comes and Jacob's family is suffering....I was wondering if Jacob was cranky from hunger when he told his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"....God's plan sends the brothers directly to Joseph for grain, but they don't recognize him. Note that in 42:15 Joseph was testing his brothers to see if they were as cruel to Benjamin as they were to him".....Remember that Benjamin and Joseph were Rachel's, and therefore favored. Joseph sneaks money pouches in the grain and the brothers return to Jacob to explain that they have to take Benjamin to Joseph to prove they are not spies, but honest men.
Isn't it interesting that they (the brothers) were so convicted in verse 21....right away they honed in on what they had done to Joseph many years ago and assumed they were being
The prophesized famine comes and Jacob's family is suffering....I was wondering if Jacob was cranky from hunger when he told his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"....God's plan sends the brothers directly to Joseph for grain, but they don't recognize him. Note that in 42:15 Joseph was testing his brothers to see if they were as cruel to Benjamin as they were to him".....Remember that Benjamin and Joseph were Rachel's, and therefore favored. Joseph sneaks money pouches in the grain and the brothers return to Jacob to explain that they have to take Benjamin to Joseph to prove they are not spies, but honest men.
Isn't it interesting that they (the brothers) were so convicted in verse 21....right away they honed in on what they had done to Joseph many years ago and assumed they were being
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Genesis 38--40
OK.... You have Judah who (One of Jacob’s 12 sons right, the one who said “let’s sell Joseph”) marries a Canaanite. …Judah married Shua. They have 3 sons, Er, Onan, and Shulah, and a daughter (unnamed). Er has a daughter Tamar. Er dies, (later Judah’s daughter dies). At this point there is a law to protect the ongoing name of the deceased brother. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 basically says that a brother will give the widow a child, and the child will retain the name of the deceased father. That is why Onan is to sleep with Tamar. However, Onan disobeyed on the “important” part. So God killed him. So we are left with Judah, his son Shelah ( too young) and Tamar who now is a widow and childless. Does that help to explain why Tamar was so desperate as to why she would sleep with Judah. She would also become the matriarch of Judah’s line.....this is also Jesus' lineage (see Matthew 1: 1-6).....it makes me feel so good that God really can use ANYONE to fulfill his plan...remember women's place in that culture.....so Judah so no harm in hiring a prostitute for a night and he was ready to execute Tamar. A woman's place was to perpetuate her husband's line...with a temple prostitue (pagan practices) there were no heirs. Now, this does not excuse prostitution...it is a serious sin in Scripture.
We move to Joseph who has the blessings of the Lord on him and runs Potiphar's household. Potiphar's wife however, was a hussy and when Joseph rejects her, she sets him up.....Potiphar throws Joseph in jail and this is all part of God's plan, because again, the blessing of the Lord is on him and he is in charge of the prison.....the Cupbearer and the Baker have dreams....Joseph credits God for the dream interpretations and they are accurate.....can you imagine being the Baker and hearing, "Within three days Paraoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh." The Cupbearer doesn't remember Joseph to anyone.......It seems like Joseph has lots of time to mature in his faith....he doesn't seem like the young immature boy who bragged to his brothers, does he?
We move to Joseph who has the blessings of the Lord on him and runs Potiphar's household. Potiphar's wife however, was a hussy and when Joseph rejects her, she sets him up.....Potiphar throws Joseph in jail and this is all part of God's plan, because again, the blessing of the Lord is on him and he is in charge of the prison.....the Cupbearer and the Baker have dreams....Joseph credits God for the dream interpretations and they are accurate.....can you imagine being the Baker and hearing, "Within three days Paraoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh." The Cupbearer doesn't remember Joseph to anyone.......It seems like Joseph has lots of time to mature in his faith....he doesn't seem like the young immature boy who bragged to his brothers, does he?
Monday, January 24, 2011
a "nugget"
Hey, check out the name in Genesis 36: 10-11.....ELIPHAZ.....remember him from Job?????? Perhaps this is why we read Job when we did....that'll teach me to skim some anticipately boring geneology....and for your reference....Jacob's children (other than poor Dinah) become the 12 tribes of Isreal which will become very important:
Jacob m Zilpah (Leah's maidservant)
Gad
Asher
Jacob m Leah
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Dinah
Jacob m Rachel
Joseph
Benjamin
Jacob m Bilhah (Rachel's maidservant)
Dan
Naphtali
Jacob m Zilpah (Leah's maidservant)
Gad
Asher
Jacob m Leah
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Dinah
Jacob m Rachel
Joseph
Benjamin
Jacob m Bilhah (Rachel's maidservant)
Dan
Naphtali
Genesis 35-37
God tells Jacob to return to Bethel (which means "House of God") and settle there. Jacob builds an altar to the Lord there, and God blesses Jacob and reminds him that his name is now Isreal, and he ratifies the covenant he made with Abraham and Issac and says that covenant will continue through Isreal. Rachel dies giving birth to a another son. Now Reuben (the oldest son) sleeps with Abraham's concubine Bilhah. Stay tuned, this is not the last you will hear of this. Jacob returns to his father Issac, and after a time was able to bury his father.
Esau's descendants are recorded...and note that we move from sons to chiefs, to kings (remember that Esau gets blessed, but that the covenant is not fulfilled through him)..
And then we arrive at Joseph....He is clearly the favorite of Jacob.....he is very immature and brags to his brothers about how he will rule over them one day....this is not received well, because in that culture, the younger son inheirits very little, if anything. Jealousy overtakes Joseph's brothers and they sell Joseph into slavery...can you imagine in 37: 25, that the brothers sat down to eat a meal while Joseph was imprisoned in a cistern? Now, I used to lock my baby brother in the garage when my Mom went grocery shopping, but I always let him back in the house before she got home....
Also, as a side note, verse 28 tells us how the brothers sold him for 20 shekels of silver....look at Leviticus 27: 2-5...The Lord dedicated him to Himself......also note that Joseph was sold to Ishmaelites.....where have you heard of Ishmael? And, take note of Potiphar....he has quite a role coming up....
Esau's descendants are recorded...and note that we move from sons to chiefs, to kings (remember that Esau gets blessed, but that the covenant is not fulfilled through him)..
And then we arrive at Joseph....He is clearly the favorite of Jacob.....he is very immature and brags to his brothers about how he will rule over them one day....this is not received well, because in that culture, the younger son inheirits very little, if anything. Jealousy overtakes Joseph's brothers and they sell Joseph into slavery...can you imagine in 37: 25, that the brothers sat down to eat a meal while Joseph was imprisoned in a cistern? Now, I used to lock my baby brother in the garage when my Mom went grocery shopping, but I always let him back in the house before she got home....
Also, as a side note, verse 28 tells us how the brothers sold him for 20 shekels of silver....look at Leviticus 27: 2-5...The Lord dedicated him to Himself......also note that Joseph was sold to Ishmaelites.....where have you heard of Ishmael? And, take note of Potiphar....he has quite a role coming up....
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Genesis 32-34
Jacob prepares to meet Esau......perhaps a little nervous
after you have deceitfully stolen a birthright? He lines up his family in terms of favoritism....dysfunctional and real....prepare to hear more about Joseph....and then Jacob Wrestles with God....can you believe that God allowed this....can you now see that God changes Jacob's name to Isreal......Jacob stole a blessing before (from Esau) and now he wanted his own, so he fought all night for it....Isreal means "He who stuggles with God and has overcome"....isn't it interesting that the "country" has the same name.....I feel like they are still in the struggling phase...they have not overcome, but God is not finished with them yet....
I love this artwork...and what about that hip that God touched.....Jacob walked with a limp, I bet, but what a reminder of how we can get caught up in our day and forget that there is a supernatural power all around us...all seems well then with Esau and Jacob,thought Esau thinks that Jacobs family will come stay in his area....remember that where you see Canaan, this is the Promised Land...right now (at the time of the reading), pagans inhabit it....Dinah, Jacob's only daughter gets violated by a pagan man....this is NOT the way to win a women's heart, but what do pagan nations know....remember that God wants His people to be separate because of their belief system......Dinah's brother's vindicate her without consulting the Lord........Jacob understands this by saying," you have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to Canaanites and Perrizites, the people living in this land..."......what happened to their sister was wrong, but this was not an appropriate way to handle revenge.....Being set apart does not mean "being better"...what do you think about what you have read?
after you have deceitfully stolen a birthright? He lines up his family in terms of favoritism....dysfunctional and real....prepare to hear more about Joseph....and then Jacob Wrestles with God....can you believe that God allowed this....can you now see that God changes Jacob's name to Isreal......Jacob stole a blessing before (from Esau) and now he wanted his own, so he fought all night for it....Isreal means "He who stuggles with God and has overcome"....isn't it interesting that the "country" has the same name.....I feel like they are still in the struggling phase...they have not overcome, but God is not finished with them yet....I love this artwork...and what about that hip that God touched.....Jacob walked with a limp, I bet, but what a reminder of how we can get caught up in our day and forget that there is a supernatural power all around us...all seems well then with Esau and Jacob,thought Esau thinks that Jacobs family will come stay in his area....remember that where you see Canaan, this is the Promised Land...right now (at the time of the reading), pagans inhabit it....Dinah, Jacob's only daughter gets violated by a pagan man....this is NOT the way to win a women's heart, but what do pagan nations know....remember that God wants His people to be separate because of their belief system......Dinah's brother's vindicate her without consulting the Lord........Jacob understands this by saying," you have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to Canaanites and Perrizites, the people living in this land..."......what happened to their sister was wrong, but this was not an appropriate way to handle revenge.....Being set apart does not mean "being better"...what do you think about what you have read?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Genesis 30-31
And the child bearing contest begins.....based on your questions from yesterday, you see that polygamy can bring about issues!!!!
Here is a little description about the mandrakes we read about...
Here is a little description about the mandrakes we read about...
In the Old Testament
In Genesis 30, Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah finds mandrakes in a field. Rachel, Jacob's infertile second wife and Leah's sister, is desirous of the mandrakes and barters with Leah for them. The trade offered by Rachel is for Leah to spend the next night in Jacob's bed in exchange for Leah's mandrakes. Leah gives away the plant to her barren sister, but soon after this (Genesis 30:14-22), Leah, who had previously had four sons but had been infertile for a long while, became pregnant once more and in time gave birth to two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. Only years after this episode of her asking for the mandrakes did Rachel manage to get pregnant. There are classical Jewish commentaries which suggest that mandrakes help barren women to conceive a child.[citation needed] Although she ate the mandrakes, it states in the Old Testament that Jehovah brought it about that Rachel should have a child.
Mandrake in Hebrew is דודאים (dûdã'im), meaning “love plant”. Among certain Asian cultures, it is believed to ensure conception.[citation needed] Most interpreters[who?] hold Mandragora officinarum to be the plant intended in Genesis 30:14 ("love plant") and Song of Songs 7:13 ("the mandrakes send out their fragrance"). A number of other plants have been suggested such as blackberries, Zizyphus Lotus, the sidr of the Arabs, the banana, lily, citron, and fig.
Rachel and Leah were trying to help God, just like Sarah did....they pulled in their cultural practices (a substitute wife) to assist.......do you think this happens today? As a side note, there is a book called "The Red Tent"...it is totally fictional, but talks about this story from Jacob's wives' perspective.
God then sets things up for Jacob to leave Laban.....remember that Jacob is developing in his faith during all these years. Jacob's wives agree that it is time to go; they realize that their Dad literally sold them and they aren't going to get any inheritance through him, because Jacob had earned rights through his hard work and Laban wouldn't even give Jacob what he owed him. Rachel packs Laban's idols....remember that Laban worships many gods, and Rachel may have assumed that the idols would tell Laban where they went (says a little bit about her faith, doesn't it?).....Laban catches up with the group after they had a 3 day head start and demands his idols. Jacob is appalled and says that Laban can search and if he finds anything, the person responsible will be killed. This puts a bit of pressure on Rachel, death threats and all, and we find she can be just as crafty as the rest.....Leviticus says that Youth shall rise in the presence of elders as a sign of respect (Lev 19: 3,32), but she claims she is having her period (way to make a man retreat) and hides the idols.
Jacob and Laban make a covenant which results in boundries for their land and Laban at last, goes home.
God is working in the midst of dysfunctional families, deceit, selfishness, competition, jealousy and existing culture!!!!! Do you think that applies today?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Genesis 27-29
Well, Rebekah decides to help God's plan, just like Sarah did....Can you imagine how life would have been different if they had left God to fulfill the promise like he desired to? We have some dysfunctional family issues with favoritism and deception...remember that Jacob means "Deceiver",but don't worry, his name will change...after all, he is the third Patriarch. Esau wept and asked his father if there was any blessing left for him......I almost feel bad for him....but he bears a grudge (the root of the Hebrew word is the same as Satan...interesting) and he wants to kill Jacob, so Rebekah sends him to her brother Laban's family.
Jacob has a dream.....(did anyone ever do that string game when they were little called "Jacob's Ladder?) and he dreams of a staircase/ladder in which celestial beings are going up and down......this is the connection between Heaven and earth......Jacob cradled his head on a rock (God says that His church will be built on a rock) and when he awakes he knows he is in a Holy Place because God has been there......the covenant between God and Abraham/Issac will go through Jacob......is Jacob ready yet? His faith is still immature, but there is time!!!!
Jacob immediately falls in love with Rachel (another hot woman). He has no traditional dowry to give since he is on the run and all, and agrees to work for seven years to earn her hand in marriage and then...oops....the Deceiver gets deceived.....Miss Weak Eyes, the older sister is his wife. Traditional garb dictated that the wife be all covered up, and you know that there was probably some drinking going on....Poor Leah, she is never loved by her husband...but note the names of her children....they are the tribes of Isreal. Laban gives Rebekah to Jacob, but he has to stay there for 7 more years to work off the dowry price.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Genesis 25-26
OK....here is a non-biblical "wandering" I had.....so, Abraham took another wife and had more children. I thought he got Issac when he was too old to have children...so, how did he have these children? I realize it is not important because God fulfills his covenant through Issac alone....but, I'm just sayin'........
Abraham left everything he owned to Issac....interesting.....no birthright issues came up....God's plan is in place...and Abraham dies. He is buried with Sarah. Ishmael gets his blessing from God and has 12 sons or nations.....and dies.
So many parallels with Abraham and Issac....Rebekah was barren.....she however, inquired directly of the Lord which I liked.....two nations were in her womb, God tells her. Apparently, she is comfortable with conversations with the Lord...I like that. Esau means hairy....he was also called red (Edom)...sounds like he was not a particularly attractive newborn! Jacob means "he grasps the heel" (figuratively, he decieves)....Wow....for the man who will be the third patriarch, this is not a very flattering name.......and he steals the birthright from his older brother. In that day, the older brother became the head of the household and received a double-portion of any inheritence....
Another famine hits the land (remember the nomadic existence and the desert conditions).....just like his father before him, Issac lies to a king (this is apparently not the same Abimelech that Abraham dealt with...probably a "dynasty" name).....the Lord protects the beautiful Rebekah (these hot women keep getting in trouble with kings, don't they) Even the pagan kings see that the Lord is with his chosen ones (see Genesis 26: 28).
Then Esau marries some pagan women and annoys his parents (does this happen in culture today????-well, perhaps not the multiple women...but pagan women.......ummmm-hmmmmm) Remember Abraham did not want Issac marrying the people they lived around...the Hittites......
Abraham left everything he owned to Issac....interesting.....no birthright issues came up....God's plan is in place...and Abraham dies. He is buried with Sarah. Ishmael gets his blessing from God and has 12 sons or nations.....and dies.
So many parallels with Abraham and Issac....Rebekah was barren.....she however, inquired directly of the Lord which I liked.....two nations were in her womb, God tells her. Apparently, she is comfortable with conversations with the Lord...I like that. Esau means hairy....he was also called red (Edom)...sounds like he was not a particularly attractive newborn! Jacob means "he grasps the heel" (figuratively, he decieves)....Wow....for the man who will be the third patriarch, this is not a very flattering name.......and he steals the birthright from his older brother. In that day, the older brother became the head of the household and received a double-portion of any inheritence....
Another famine hits the land (remember the nomadic existence and the desert conditions).....just like his father before him, Issac lies to a king (this is apparently not the same Abimelech that Abraham dealt with...probably a "dynasty" name).....the Lord protects the beautiful Rebekah (these hot women keep getting in trouble with kings, don't they) Even the pagan kings see that the Lord is with his chosen ones (see Genesis 26: 28).
Then Esau marries some pagan women and annoys his parents (does this happen in culture today????-well, perhaps not the multiple women...but pagan women.......ummmm-hmmmmm) Remember Abraham did not want Issac marrying the people they lived around...the Hittites......
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Genesis 22-24
Abraham is tested by God and what a big one. OK, you know the man was getting to know his new God and learning how to trust him. Twice he lied to kings about Sarah being his wife. God tells Abraham to sacrifice Issac. This is not about Issac, but obedience.....radical obedience.
God is actually teaching Abraham about the gospel before it happens. Note the words, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love." God did this with Jesus
Abraham trusted God for his plan. Note in 22: 5 he says "We will come back to you". Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed that if Issac died, God would raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19)....Abraham went from learning to trust God to fully and completely trusting God even if he didn't understand.
Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Issac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us....only God did not spare His only son.
So, I have a question...note in 22: 19....it says that Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba....so....where was Issac?
Sarah dies and Abraham must bury her in land he doesn't own until he buys some from the Hittites.
Issac gets a wife....Abraham doesn't want a pagan woman and sends Eliezer (remember this dude was the one that Abraham asked God if he was going to be the "son" that God promised...a trusted head servant) to find a wife from Abraham's clan. God gave Eliezer that exact sign he was looking for....this shows that Eliezer followed Abraham's faith...Rebekah was very beautiful according to 24:16...(like Issac's mother)...and she gets a NOSE RING....how nice.....apparently it was a cool NOSE RING because she goes to marry Issac.....note that 24: 62 tells us that Issac was living in the Negev (huge desert) so we know he got off that mountain after his little (ha) sacrifice incident somehow...though it doesn't appear that he was living with Abraham......Due to Rebekah, Issac was comforted in his mother's death.
God is actually teaching Abraham about the gospel before it happens. Note the words, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love." God did this with Jesus
Abraham trusted God for his plan. Note in 22: 5 he says "We will come back to you". Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed that if Issac died, God would raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19)....Abraham went from learning to trust God to fully and completely trusting God even if he didn't understand.
Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Issac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us....only God did not spare His only son.
So, I have a question...note in 22: 19....it says that Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba....so....where was Issac?
Sarah dies and Abraham must bury her in land he doesn't own until he buys some from the Hittites.
Issac gets a wife....Abraham doesn't want a pagan woman and sends Eliezer (remember this dude was the one that Abraham asked God if he was going to be the "son" that God promised...a trusted head servant) to find a wife from Abraham's clan. God gave Eliezer that exact sign he was looking for....this shows that Eliezer followed Abraham's faith...Rebekah was very beautiful according to 24:16...(like Issac's mother)...and she gets a NOSE RING....how nice.....apparently it was a cool NOSE RING because she goes to marry Issac.....note that 24: 62 tells us that Issac was living in the Negev (huge desert) so we know he got off that mountain after his little (ha) sacrifice incident somehow...though it doesn't appear that he was living with Abraham......Due to Rebekah, Issac was comforted in his mother's death.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Genesis 19-21
.....and so the two angels go to Sodom....At the city gate is Lot...this seems to indicate that he had a high position, because if his "office" is at the city gate he was where all the action was politically. Sadly, he is not just near Sodom, he lives in it. The "world" and "temptation to fleshly desires" can be tempting and draw you in. The city was so depraved that homosexuals wanted "fresh meat" and demanded that Lot release his guests. I don't think they knew that the two men were angels....to me, their spiritual eyes were closed. Again, hospitality was everything(protect the guests), and Lot offered his two virgin daughters instead. Gross. Scripture does not tell us why he did this, but scholars speculate that since the homosexuals wanted men, that the offer of daughters would be refused. Seems like Lot is steeped in the worldy ways.....he didn't seem shocked or appalled that we know of....have you ever gotten numb to ways of the world and become overly accepting? I know I have sometimes.
The angels hurry Lot, his wife, and two daughters out before the destruction of Sodom. Would you say that there were 4 righteous people in Sodom? Scripture doesn't tell us that these 4 were considered righteous, but we do know that Abraham interceeded for them. To me, this tells me how intercessory prayer (definition of intercede is: act between parties with a view to reconciling differences) is so important. Lot's wife makes the fatal mistake of looking back....she could not leave sin behind and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Lot's daughters are devastated. In Hebrew culture, you were blessed with children. These daughters lost their fiances and their mom. They decided to take matters into their own hands. They got Lot drunk and slept with him. Again, yuck. Once scholar I read said that these women were desparate....it was not for the lust, but to have children that they did this....hmmmm. Anyway, remember the Moabites and the people of Ammon...they will be enemies of the children of Isreal.
whew...then Abraham proceeds to do something that he should have learned from. Again, a king wants Sarah (this woman must be HOT, huh?). God gives Abimelech a vision so that he does not touch Sarah (again, God is living up to his covenant-he DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO) and Abraham clarifies his half-truth that Sarah really is his sister in that they have the same father but different mothers (Genesis 20-12).....I wonder if Sarah ever got irritated with Abraham for these things :-). You know, typical woman..."Darn it, I'm stuck in a harem again today...bring me my veil and peel me a grape.
In my opinion, God was teaching.....the Old Testament people were in a wholly different position...they didn't have the Bible to learn about all the characteristics of God,or to learn from flawed people in the Bible...they were LIVE, and God taught them in relationships....Abraham is the patriarch of Jewish history....the one that will be fruitful and multiply...and hopefully multiply people in his household that know the Lord......Pretty Darn Cool.
Then, at last Issac comes on the scene, JUST AS THE LORD SAID. Ishmael mocks Issac and Sarah has another hissy and sends Hagar and Ishmeal away. My favorite part is 21:19 where God opens Hagar's eyes....a well was there all along. We should know that there are things around us that we can't see until the Lord allows us to. Shoot, we heard about the heavenly councils in Job......just remember that our current bodies have limits (some days more so than others!)
A really cool interactive site you may be interested in is Blue Letter Bible....check it out; lots of tools if you have questions or are working with a difficult passage. http://www.blueletterbible.org/.
The angels hurry Lot, his wife, and two daughters out before the destruction of Sodom. Would you say that there were 4 righteous people in Sodom? Scripture doesn't tell us that these 4 were considered righteous, but we do know that Abraham interceeded for them. To me, this tells me how intercessory prayer (definition of intercede is: act between parties with a view to reconciling differences) is so important. Lot's wife makes the fatal mistake of looking back....she could not leave sin behind and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Lot's daughters are devastated. In Hebrew culture, you were blessed with children. These daughters lost their fiances and their mom. They decided to take matters into their own hands. They got Lot drunk and slept with him. Again, yuck. Once scholar I read said that these women were desparate....it was not for the lust, but to have children that they did this....hmmmm. Anyway, remember the Moabites and the people of Ammon...they will be enemies of the children of Isreal.
whew...then Abraham proceeds to do something that he should have learned from. Again, a king wants Sarah (this woman must be HOT, huh?). God gives Abimelech a vision so that he does not touch Sarah (again, God is living up to his covenant-he DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO) and Abraham clarifies his half-truth that Sarah really is his sister in that they have the same father but different mothers (Genesis 20-12).....I wonder if Sarah ever got irritated with Abraham for these things :-). You know, typical woman..."Darn it, I'm stuck in a harem again today...bring me my veil and peel me a grape.
In my opinion, God was teaching.....the Old Testament people were in a wholly different position...they didn't have the Bible to learn about all the characteristics of God,or to learn from flawed people in the Bible...they were LIVE, and God taught them in relationships....Abraham is the patriarch of Jewish history....the one that will be fruitful and multiply...and hopefully multiply people in his household that know the Lord......Pretty Darn Cool.
Then, at last Issac comes on the scene, JUST AS THE LORD SAID. Ishmael mocks Issac and Sarah has another hissy and sends Hagar and Ishmeal away. My favorite part is 21:19 where God opens Hagar's eyes....a well was there all along. We should know that there are things around us that we can't see until the Lord allows us to. Shoot, we heard about the heavenly councils in Job......just remember that our current bodies have limits (some days more so than others!)
A really cool interactive site you may be interested in is Blue Letter Bible....check it out; lots of tools if you have questions or are working with a difficult passage. http://www.blueletterbible.org/.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Genesis 16-18
So...Sarai decides to help the Lord with his promise to Abram about many descendents....she gives him her handmaiden, Hagar. In that culture, if you couldn't have children, you could give a slave and the kids would be yours. Hagar gets cocky when she becomes pregnant and Sarai gets hostile and throws Hagar out. An angel of the Lord sends Hagar back to obedience and tells her the future of her child. He also will be father of great nations (Ishmael is thought to be the father of Muslims....interesting little conflict...). Hagar actually names God, You Are the God Who Sees.
Then there is the covenant of circumcision. This is obedience and an outward sign that one followed the Lord. It is thought to represent the "cutting off" of the worldly nature. God wanted his people separate from the world. Abrams name is changed to Abraham, father of many nations...and Sarai's name is Sarah which means Princess. God tells Abraham that Ishmael is not the one to carry out the covenant, but that he shall have a son named Issac (which means "laughter").
Three visitors appear to Abraham. In that culture you were defined by hospitatlity....there were no hotels in that day. Abraham knew that these visitors were holy and in fact, one was God. The Lord tells Abraham that he and Sarah will have a child within the year and Sarah laughs in disbelief (where have you seen "laugh" before?)...the Lord asked her why she laughed and she was embarrassed and lied and said she didn't. Key question the Lord asks: is anything too hard for the Lord????? The Lord wanted to make sure people knew Issac came by the Lord; Abraham and Sarah were physically too old (can you say menapause) to reproduce....only the Lord could do this.
The three men were going to Sodom and Gomorroah because they had heard such an outcry....the Lord was going to see if it was true.....now wait a minute, don't you think the Omnipotent God knew what was going on? What do you think that he was teaching Abraham? Let me know your thoughts.........
Then there is the covenant of circumcision. This is obedience and an outward sign that one followed the Lord. It is thought to represent the "cutting off" of the worldly nature. God wanted his people separate from the world. Abrams name is changed to Abraham, father of many nations...and Sarai's name is Sarah which means Princess. God tells Abraham that Ishmael is not the one to carry out the covenant, but that he shall have a son named Issac (which means "laughter").
Three visitors appear to Abraham. In that culture you were defined by hospitatlity....there were no hotels in that day. Abraham knew that these visitors were holy and in fact, one was God. The Lord tells Abraham that he and Sarah will have a child within the year and Sarah laughs in disbelief (where have you seen "laugh" before?)...the Lord asked her why she laughed and she was embarrassed and lied and said she didn't. Key question the Lord asks: is anything too hard for the Lord????? The Lord wanted to make sure people knew Issac came by the Lord; Abraham and Sarah were physically too old (can you say menapause) to reproduce....only the Lord could do this.
The three men were going to Sodom and Gomorroah because they had heard such an outcry....the Lord was going to see if it was true.....now wait a minute, don't you think the Omnipotent God knew what was going on? What do you think that he was teaching Abraham? Let me know your thoughts.........
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Genesis 12-15
Man...there is SO MUCH in these chapters....God begins to reveal His plan, the very beginnings of His plan to Abram, the first of the Patriarchs. Abram is called by God and he will get many blessings, but they are conditional on his obeying.
Abram gets to Canaan and there is a famine. What is God thinking? He sends Abram to a place and there is a famine? This is a test of faith.
Abram is afraid and doesn't trust God completely on the route to Egypt....a place abundant with food. He tells a half truth about Sarai being his sister. (She really was his half sister...but she is not a redneck because the bloodlines were still pure at that time LOL!) The Lord deals with Pharoah anyway....the Lord is teaching Abram to trust him, just like a real relationship process.
Abram and Lot separate, because the land cannot support their abundant flocks....note that Lot moves near Sodom and Gomorrah, a place of huge sin. In 13: 14, the Lord reinforces his promise to Abram. The land is part of a huge promise.
Kings fight each other and Lot and his family are captured as collateral damage. Abram rescues them....
Melchizedek, King of Salem appears on the scene...He is a very mysterious character of the Bible. Abram recognizes him as holy and knowing God, because he gives him 10% of the spoils. Some think that Melchizedek is a theophany....this means that it is an early glimpse of Jesus, before he was incarnate as a human being. (OOOO-major "church" words.)
Finally, in chapter 15, God promises a son to Abram. You may wish to mark in your Bible that 15: 6 is some biblical emphasis...this is the first time that "believe" is used. Here is where Abram has the ultimate faith, and God credits it to him as righteousness. Big moment in Hebrew history. God covenants with Abram and becomes a smoking firepot and a blazing torch as he passes between the pieces of the animals that were cut in half. This is all about the Promised Land....God gave the land to Abraham and his descendents. Just a note: everywhere that I see "covenant" in the Bible, I mark it with a red colored pencil. GOD DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO....just wait and see.
Abram gets to Canaan and there is a famine. What is God thinking? He sends Abram to a place and there is a famine? This is a test of faith.
Abram is afraid and doesn't trust God completely on the route to Egypt....a place abundant with food. He tells a half truth about Sarai being his sister. (She really was his half sister...but she is not a redneck because the bloodlines were still pure at that time LOL!) The Lord deals with Pharoah anyway....the Lord is teaching Abram to trust him, just like a real relationship process.
Abram and Lot separate, because the land cannot support their abundant flocks....note that Lot moves near Sodom and Gomorrah, a place of huge sin. In 13: 14, the Lord reinforces his promise to Abram. The land is part of a huge promise.
Kings fight each other and Lot and his family are captured as collateral damage. Abram rescues them....
Melchizedek, King of Salem appears on the scene...He is a very mysterious character of the Bible. Abram recognizes him as holy and knowing God, because he gives him 10% of the spoils. Some think that Melchizedek is a theophany....this means that it is an early glimpse of Jesus, before he was incarnate as a human being. (OOOO-major "church" words.)
Finally, in chapter 15, God promises a son to Abram. You may wish to mark in your Bible that 15: 6 is some biblical emphasis...this is the first time that "believe" is used. Here is where Abram has the ultimate faith, and God credits it to him as righteousness. Big moment in Hebrew history. God covenants with Abram and becomes a smoking firepot and a blazing torch as he passes between the pieces of the animals that were cut in half. This is all about the Promised Land....God gave the land to Abraham and his descendents. Just a note: everywhere that I see "covenant" in the Bible, I mark it with a red colored pencil. GOD DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO....just wait and see.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Job 38-39
Can you imagine a bad storm blowing up and in the midst of a huge whirlwind God, the Almighty, the Holy One begins to talk to you????
What would you do?
You've been asking in your suffering, "Where are you, God?"....well, there is is!....and then, he begins to tell you that you are confusing the issues and that you have been talking without knowing what you are talking about?
OUCH!
Maybe our interpretations and theological ramblings sound like the conversations of Job and his friends to God.....a lot of not knowing what we are talking about when we speak for God........this seems to happen a lot. After all, Jesus came to earth and had explained to the Pharisees that they were getting it wrong with all their man-made interpretations.
Where is that happy medium where we learn about God and His characteristics in the Bible, and then we interpret it in our daily lives...How do we know when God is speaking to us? It is pretty obvious when he is in a burning bush, or a whirlwind. How do we make sure that we are not speaking for God in an incorrect way?
By the way, my favorite parts are how God has a storehouse of hail that he keeps in readiness for times of trouble and battle and war (this is not something we as humans can do, my friends!)
And how dumb the ostrich is; who didn't get a full measure of sense...she doesn't fly, but she sure can run....God created her.
These word pictures of what our Creator created are so cool. He can do all things and we better be careful about speaking for Him, because He speaks for himself and we simply aren't capable with our human minds of having understanding like he does. We'll get to know it a little bit later though when we are hanging out in our resurrected bodies with him.....
What would you do?
You've been asking in your suffering, "Where are you, God?"....well, there is is!....and then, he begins to tell you that you are confusing the issues and that you have been talking without knowing what you are talking about?
OUCH!
Maybe our interpretations and theological ramblings sound like the conversations of Job and his friends to God.....a lot of not knowing what we are talking about when we speak for God........this seems to happen a lot. After all, Jesus came to earth and had explained to the Pharisees that they were getting it wrong with all their man-made interpretations.
Where is that happy medium where we learn about God and His characteristics in the Bible, and then we interpret it in our daily lives...How do we know when God is speaking to us? It is pretty obvious when he is in a burning bush, or a whirlwind. How do we make sure that we are not speaking for God in an incorrect way?
By the way, my favorite parts are how God has a storehouse of hail that he keeps in readiness for times of trouble and battle and war (this is not something we as humans can do, my friends!)
And how dumb the ostrich is; who didn't get a full measure of sense...she doesn't fly, but she sure can run....God created her.
These word pictures of what our Creator created are so cool. He can do all things and we better be careful about speaking for Him, because He speaks for himself and we simply aren't capable with our human minds of having understanding like he does. We'll get to know it a little bit later though when we are hanging out in our resurrected bodies with him.....
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Job 35-37
I am tired of the speeches.
Part of me is probably feeling just a tad bit guilty, because I wonder if I dig my heals into what I believe is true understanding when it really isn't? Now, I know that the Holy Spirit was not in man at the time of Job....He existed, but he was not in man like he was when Jesus ascended into Heaven and left us a Counselor. I consider myself blessed that I have the Holy Spirit and can experience conviction......I hope I listen, because I know I have ignored it before and that doesn't feel good.
What are you all getting from the dissertations? If they are in the Bible, they are there for a reason!
God is coming tomorrow in a whirlwind, and I can't wait!
Part of me is probably feeling just a tad bit guilty, because I wonder if I dig my heals into what I believe is true understanding when it really isn't? Now, I know that the Holy Spirit was not in man at the time of Job....He existed, but he was not in man like he was when Jesus ascended into Heaven and left us a Counselor. I consider myself blessed that I have the Holy Spirit and can experience conviction......I hope I listen, because I know I have ignored it before and that doesn't feel good.
What are you all getting from the dissertations? If they are in the Bible, they are there for a reason!
God is coming tomorrow in a whirlwind, and I can't wait!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Job 32-34
So, do you think it is a criticism that the Bible states in Chapter 32:
"So these three men ceased answering Job,because he was righteous in his own eyes...."
Elihu comes on the scene. He is much younger, and out of respect, has let the three older friends speak to Job first. The subject of wisdom comes up again, in 33:33....Elihu asks Job to
"Hold your peach, and I will teach you wisdom"....
Elihu concludes chapter 34 by stating:
Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to m:
Job speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom
Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands amon us,
And multiplies his words against God....
I wonder if these "friends" just feel like debating? What exactly is their point? They certainly are not providing comfort.....seems like they hopped up on a soapbox for their own point. Are they truly trying to help Job? Do these men have knowledge or wisdom? Or is their point their "speech"?
"So these three men ceased answering Job,because he was righteous in his own eyes...."
Elihu comes on the scene. He is much younger, and out of respect, has let the three older friends speak to Job first. The subject of wisdom comes up again, in 33:33....Elihu asks Job to
"Hold your peach, and I will teach you wisdom"....
Elihu concludes chapter 34 by stating:
Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to m:
Job speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom
Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands amon us,
And multiplies his words against God....
I wonder if these "friends" just feel like debating? What exactly is their point? They certainly are not providing comfort.....seems like they hopped up on a soapbox for their own point. Are they truly trying to help Job? Do these men have knowledge or wisdom? Or is their point their "speech"?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Job 29-31
Here are some facts about the book of Job:
a) it is the first book of poetry in the Bible
b) it is in didactic form, which means it teaches and it is for reasoning.
c) We don't know who actually wrote the book of Job
d) Some believe it was actually the first book of the Bible that was written...but most agree that it was written during the Patriarch's (Abraham, Issac, Essau) time.
e) some scholars speculate that Job was a judge because of his position in the town in Chapter 29
So, do you think that Job was bragging about being righteous in Chapter 31, or do you feel like it is just an account to his friends proving that he hadn't sinned?
I love the part in verse 33 where he says
If I have concealed my sin as men do
by hiding my guilt in my heart
because I so feared the crowd.....
How many of us have done that? Isn't that what we do?
a) it is the first book of poetry in the Bible
b) it is in didactic form, which means it teaches and it is for reasoning.
c) We don't know who actually wrote the book of Job
d) Some believe it was actually the first book of the Bible that was written...but most agree that it was written during the Patriarch's (Abraham, Issac, Essau) time.
e) some scholars speculate that Job was a judge because of his position in the town in Chapter 29
So, do you think that Job was bragging about being righteous in Chapter 31, or do you feel like it is just an account to his friends proving that he hadn't sinned?
I love the part in verse 33 where he says
If I have concealed my sin as men do
by hiding my guilt in my heart
because I so feared the crowd.....
How many of us have done that? Isn't that what we do?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Job 24-28
So....do you think that Job's friends are speaking the truth in love? It seems to me that they are speaking truth, but it doesn't apply to Job, and they are judging, not speaking in love.'?
Both the NIV and NRSV talk about how the final verses of Chapter 26 don't sound like Job...
and then we move into where wisdom comes from.
Clearly, Job and his friends differ in where wisdom can be found....Eliphaz believes it is experience and firsthand knowledge. Bildad believes it is inherited from the past with proverbs and sayings. Zophar believes that wisdom belongs to the wise and that he himself was wise. Job believes that God is the source of wisdom....have you ever been in a situation where you knew what was right and you seemed to be in the vast minority?
Both the NIV and NRSV talk about how the final verses of Chapter 26 don't sound like Job...
and then we move into where wisdom comes from.
Clearly, Job and his friends differ in where wisdom can be found....Eliphaz believes it is experience and firsthand knowledge. Bildad believes it is inherited from the past with proverbs and sayings. Zophar believes that wisdom belongs to the wise and that he himself was wise. Job believes that God is the source of wisdom....have you ever been in a situation where you knew what was right and you seemed to be in the vast minority?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Job 21-23
The good news is that this is the third and final speech that Elpihaz makes....he just can't shake his belief that suffering is God's punishment for evil deeds.
Do you think that we ever get stuck in wrong theology?
It is so important to know what is in the Bible.....but it can't be just "head" knowledge....it has to be applied.....thank God we have the Holy Spirit that can help us do this....our spiritual eyes can be opened with the Holy Spirit's help.....the Bible was written for you and me....that is for our times, too. Application is key.....
Do you think that we ever get stuck in wrong theology?
It is so important to know what is in the Bible.....but it can't be just "head" knowledge....it has to be applied.....thank God we have the Holy Spirit that can help us do this....our spiritual eyes can be opened with the Holy Spirit's help.....the Bible was written for you and me....that is for our times, too. Application is key.....
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Job17-20
Yep...Bonnie has a good question about resurrection from yesterday. It is confusing because to me, Job knows something about resurrection. However, Old Testament time really didn't have a fully developed idea of what this was. Jesus had not conquered death, and most of them believed it was OVER when you died. Even my two Bible translations handle it differently. At no point does the NSRV even mention resurrection in the study notes. My NIV does Let's take Chapter 19:25-27.....NIV says
I know that my Redeemer liver
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth
And after my skin has been destroyed
yet in my flesh I will see God
I myself will see him
with my own eyes-I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
To me, this smacks of resurrection!!!! We will have resurrected bodies when Christ comes again. We will live in those resurrected bodies forever, in the presence of God. Now, we don't know who "taught" Job, but someone did, because Chapter 1 tells us that he was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil".
My study notes in the NIV say, "When the book of Job was written, Israel did not have a well-developed doctrine of the resurrection". Job knew something of it, I think....perhaps not fully developed. Think of Isaiah...he prophesied that the Christ Child would come (Isaiah 9: 6-7)....we know that prophets prophesied, but can you imagine, many of them never saw their words come to pass......can you imagine preaching about something without really knowing the words that were coming out of your mouth? Take Noah for example, the Lord told him to build an ark...there had never been any rain. Scripture tells us it was a period of about 120 years of second chances while Noah tried to get people to turn from their evil ways. They didn't, it rained, the end for most of the world. The prophets knew what they said was true, but didn't have full understanding of it. Somehow, God inspired them.....so, aren't you glad you live in the times that you do....we have the Bible and more background information...we have to trust that it happened, not that it was GOING TO happen.....thoughts?
I know that my Redeemer liver
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth
And after my skin has been destroyed
yet in my flesh I will see God
I myself will see him
with my own eyes-I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
To me, this smacks of resurrection!!!! We will have resurrected bodies when Christ comes again. We will live in those resurrected bodies forever, in the presence of God. Now, we don't know who "taught" Job, but someone did, because Chapter 1 tells us that he was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil".
My study notes in the NIV say, "When the book of Job was written, Israel did not have a well-developed doctrine of the resurrection". Job knew something of it, I think....perhaps not fully developed. Think of Isaiah...he prophesied that the Christ Child would come (Isaiah 9: 6-7)....we know that prophets prophesied, but can you imagine, many of them never saw their words come to pass......can you imagine preaching about something without really knowing the words that were coming out of your mouth? Take Noah for example, the Lord told him to build an ark...there had never been any rain. Scripture tells us it was a period of about 120 years of second chances while Noah tried to get people to turn from their evil ways. They didn't, it rained, the end for most of the world. The prophets knew what they said was true, but didn't have full understanding of it. Somehow, God inspired them.....so, aren't you glad you live in the times that you do....we have the Bible and more background information...we have to trust that it happened, not that it was GOING TO happen.....thoughts?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Job 14-16
Here's where different translations of the Bible get fun....last post, I mentioned that Old Testament people didn't really have the knowledge of eternal life since Jesus hadn't conquered death yet. My NIV says for Chapter 14 vs 14 and 15:
If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal (or release) to come.
You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
The Bible notes here say that some understand these verses to mean that even in his gloom, Job hoped for the resurrection of the dead. If this is true, then Job understood the one truth that could put his suffering in perspective.
My NSRV reads:
If mortals die, will they live again?
All the days of my service I would wait
until my release should come.
You would call, and I would answer you:
you would long for the work of your hands.
These study notes don't even mention the resurrection and discuss that this scene is a pipe dream, a burst of imagination in which Job dreams that God might hide him in the depths of She0l long enough for God to calm down and after God has had time to cool the divine anger, God would remember Job and pull him back from Sheol.
My advice to you is to remember that sometimes scholars can't even agree on the Bible. This is really OK....there are certain things that are non-negotiable (ie, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead....the only way to God is through is Son, Jesus Christ)....if they aren't "saving" issues, we don't have to agree. I personally measure everything by: Is it a "saving" issue.
If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal (or release) to come.
You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
The Bible notes here say that some understand these verses to mean that even in his gloom, Job hoped for the resurrection of the dead. If this is true, then Job understood the one truth that could put his suffering in perspective.
My NSRV reads:
If mortals die, will they live again?
All the days of my service I would wait
until my release should come.
You would call, and I would answer you:
you would long for the work of your hands.
These study notes don't even mention the resurrection and discuss that this scene is a pipe dream, a burst of imagination in which Job dreams that God might hide him in the depths of She0l long enough for God to calm down and after God has had time to cool the divine anger, God would remember Job and pull him back from Sheol.
My advice to you is to remember that sometimes scholars can't even agree on the Bible. This is really OK....there are certain things that are non-negotiable (ie, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead....the only way to God is through is Son, Jesus Christ)....if they aren't "saving" issues, we don't have to agree. I personally measure everything by: Is it a "saving" issue.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Job 10-13
My study bible notes say that in 10:1, "Job begins to wallow in self pity"...you know, personally I think Job was allowed to be bummed...his wealth was taken, his kids were killed, his health was taken as he sat their with boils, and then this friends come and tell him what a sinner he is....I'm afraid I'd get a bit of an attitude, if truth be told.....
Note that in 10:20-22, Job is talking about death with an Old Testament view. Remember that Jesus had not come and they had no concept of eternal life. This is one reason that the children were so important to the Jews....their lives would continue on through the children.
I'm just over Zophar...enough said....what are you all thinking at this point......how does this all apply to us today?
Note that in 10:20-22, Job is talking about death with an Old Testament view. Remember that Jesus had not come and they had no concept of eternal life. This is one reason that the children were so important to the Jews....their lives would continue on through the children.
I'm just over Zophar...enough said....what are you all thinking at this point......how does this all apply to us today?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Job 6-9
Whew....Job is bumming out...I was amused that he said Eliphaz's advice was like eating the tasteless white of an egg.....You go, Job! If I were sitting there covered in boils and I'm getting a lecture, I believe I would lash out verbally or slap my friend with my "boil"y hands. Call me hostile, but would you sit there with a friend who was suffering in his bed or in the hospital and point out that it is a blessing to be disciplined by God when we do wrong.......where's the compassion, Eliphaz??? I'm glad that Job quit talking to Eliphaz and began talking to God....even if Job was bumming, it is good to talk about it with God, even if you are mad.....God can take it.
Then Friend Bildad (sounds like he is a hobbit with that name, doesn't it?) jumps in and starts telling Job that people suffer only as a result of their sins....he says Job's kids died for their wickedness.......way to pump your friend up, Bildad....Where did Job find these friends?
Hope he gets some better friends tomorrow....Job 10-13
Then Friend Bildad (sounds like he is a hobbit with that name, doesn't it?) jumps in and starts telling Job that people suffer only as a result of their sins....he says Job's kids died for their wickedness.......way to pump your friend up, Bildad....Where did Job find these friends?
Hope he gets some better friends tomorrow....Job 10-13
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Job 1-5
Pretty cool that Job was blameless and upright like Noah....I was interested in that the angels came to present themselves to the Lord and Satan came with them....my study Bible said that the Bible speaks of other heavenly councils where God and the angels plan their activities on earth and where angels are required to give account of themselves (ie 1 Kings 22-19-23)....
I am having a hard time with the Lord saying to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?"....I hope that it is just a language translation, but to me it seems that God offered him up to Satan. Yuck.....and do you think that Job and his friends really talked that way...in poetry...now you must realize that I don't care for poetry, so I have a bias going. David wrote some beautiful Psalms...I guess I just prefer some "real" conversation...
Marilyn Meberg mentions in her book, "Tell me everything"...that pain can be a big disconnector from God....her mother went through it and through intense pain and suffering she felt like God was gone for her....I wonder what I would do if I was covered in boils and scraping my skin with a piece of pottery like Job......would my faith go the way of Job, or would I disconnect? Humbling......
Let's see how Job fares with his friends in Job 6-9 for tomorrow....
I am having a hard time with the Lord saying to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?"....I hope that it is just a language translation, but to me it seems that God offered him up to Satan. Yuck.....and do you think that Job and his friends really talked that way...in poetry...now you must realize that I don't care for poetry, so I have a bias going. David wrote some beautiful Psalms...I guess I just prefer some "real" conversation...
Marilyn Meberg mentions in her book, "Tell me everything"...that pain can be a big disconnector from God....her mother went through it and through intense pain and suffering she felt like God was gone for her....I wonder what I would do if I was covered in boils and scraping my skin with a piece of pottery like Job......would my faith go the way of Job, or would I disconnect? Humbling......
Let's see how Job fares with his friends in Job 6-9 for tomorrow....
Monday, January 3, 2011
Genesis 8-11
So, the floodwaters recede and Noah and his sons are blessed by God. The covenant with Noah is made here....did you notice that the covenant is not just with man but between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth....then Noah proceeds to plant a vineyard and get drunk and naked! It just goes to show you that even a faithful Christian can screw up!!!! How old is the man at this point? I'm just sayin'........
Noah's sons made nations and spread out over the earth....Tower of Babel....man's monument to himself. Did you know that Babel means Babylon? Babylon is going to have a huge role with Daniel, and is symbolic of all wickedness when we get to Revelation.
Shem's line takes us to Abram...a pretty major player in the Bible.....
Now before we proceed with Abram, if you are going the chronological route, we will slip on over to Job 1-5 for January 4th...see you tomorrow
Noah's sons made nations and spread out over the earth....Tower of Babel....man's monument to himself. Did you know that Babel means Babylon? Babylon is going to have a huge role with Daniel, and is symbolic of all wickedness when we get to Revelation.
Shem's line takes us to Abram...a pretty major player in the Bible.....
Now before we proceed with Abram, if you are going the chronological route, we will slip on over to Job 1-5 for January 4th...see you tomorrow
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Genesis 7
Well according to the plan I selected on ewordtoday.com, (I selected NIV, chronological), I should have read through Genesis 7 on January 2....so this post will be on just Genesis 7 to get even with "the plan".
Did you happen to notice that more than just "2 by 2" animals went on the ark? Yep, Genesis tells us in Chapter 7 verses 2-3 that there were seven of every kind of clean animal and two of every kind of unclean animal.....and seven of every kind of bird......just so you know, this did NOT make it into the songs I learned in Sunday School. My Bible notes say that this was probably for sacrificial purposes.
The waters flooded the earth for 150 days, verse 24 tells us. Did you ever really think about this? Most of humanity was wiped out because they thought Noah was crazy. Everything literally drowned. This was not pretty, and again, this did NOT make it into my Sunday School songs....this is really confirming to me that you can't just rely on what you were taught, particularly as a young child. You need to read it for yourself so you KNOW what is in that Bible and how to get to the Word. Open your hearts and mind to the Living Word.....ask God to do this for you....
Genesis 8-11 for the 3rd and then we move to Job....
Did you happen to notice that more than just "2 by 2" animals went on the ark? Yep, Genesis tells us in Chapter 7 verses 2-3 that there were seven of every kind of clean animal and two of every kind of unclean animal.....and seven of every kind of bird......just so you know, this did NOT make it into the songs I learned in Sunday School. My Bible notes say that this was probably for sacrificial purposes.
The waters flooded the earth for 150 days, verse 24 tells us. Did you ever really think about this? Most of humanity was wiped out because they thought Noah was crazy. Everything literally drowned. This was not pretty, and again, this did NOT make it into my Sunday School songs....this is really confirming to me that you can't just rely on what you were taught, particularly as a young child. You need to read it for yourself so you KNOW what is in that Bible and how to get to the Word. Open your hearts and mind to the Living Word.....ask God to do this for you....
Genesis 8-11 for the 3rd and then we move to Job....
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Genesis 4-6
Welcome to 2011! We had fun last night at Shipp's Harbor Grill where the John Does welcomed in the New Year. The place was rockin'....and I am not biased but I just love that guitar player.....
So....we have our first murder in the Bible.....poor Abel. I want to know about Cain's wife in Genesis 4:17...so where did she come from? And...did you notice that in Genesis 5:24, Enoch was "no more"....God took him away...so did he actually die, or go straight to be with God......hmmmmm......none of these things are "saving issues" of course, but they make me curious.
Genesis 6: 18 is the first mention of "covenant"....I love to mark stuff like that in my Bible.......do you make notes in your Bible?
So....we have our first murder in the Bible.....poor Abel. I want to know about Cain's wife in Genesis 4:17...so where did she come from? And...did you notice that in Genesis 5:24, Enoch was "no more"....God took him away...so did he actually die, or go straight to be with God......hmmmmm......none of these things are "saving issues" of course, but they make me curious.
Genesis 6: 18 is the first mention of "covenant"....I love to mark stuff like that in my Bible.......do you make notes in your Bible?
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