Genesis 35:27-29
"Isaac's Death"
After Jacob made it all the way home and after a number of years, Isaac passed away at 180 years old. All it says of him is that he took his last breath, passed and died. For a patriarch, that's pretty stark, but then let's look at his life.
Isaac didn't really display much of the rock-hard faith of his father, not did he have the amazing experiences of his son and grandson. Isaac was, for much of his story, a background character. This I find a pity. Here we have one of the Jewish patriarchs living and passing nondescriptly. He saw God work in his father's testimony, he spoke to God, he probably even had the chance to hear of the miraculous occurrences surrounding Jacob, yet he fades into relative anonymity. Why?
That leads me to a very good question; how deep, how firm was his relationship with God? That, after all, makes the difference. God can do the greatest with the smallest, but a life lived in a lukewarm state is anything but conducive to a good relationship with God. So, let's learn from Isaac and step up..
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
12 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 35:21-26
Genesis 35:21-26
"Israel's Sons"
Here, we have two things happening, the first is a story of Reuben sleeping with his father's concubine, Bilhah (mother of two of his brothers). The second is a list of all the sons of Israel.
For the first, I think that we're told this sin in advance to help our understanding of what is possibly to come to Reuben.
For the second, once again can we see God as a creator, infinitely perfect and able to craft many beautiful things. It is not, however, the intent of the list, I believe, to show this, but rather to show another characteristic of god, His orderliness and attention to details.
"Israel's Sons"
Here, we have two things happening, the first is a story of Reuben sleeping with his father's concubine, Bilhah (mother of two of his brothers). The second is a list of all the sons of Israel.
For the first, I think that we're told this sin in advance to help our understanding of what is possibly to come to Reuben.
For the second, once again can we see God as a creator, infinitely perfect and able to craft many beautiful things. It is not, however, the intent of the list, I believe, to show this, but rather to show another characteristic of god, His orderliness and attention to details.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
10 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 35:16-20
Genesis 35:16-20
"Rachel's Death"
Rachel has now died in childbirth, bearing Jacob/Israel's last son. She named him, with her dying breath, Ben-oni (Son of my sorrow), but Jacob then renamed him Benjamin (Son of my right hand). In this renaming as well as marking and memorializing her tomb near what would become Bethlehem, we see Jacob honoring his now deceased wife.
We aren't given much detail on how Jacob handled his grief, but we do see his methods by which he honored his wife. We will also see, later, how Jacob treated the sons of his dead wife. Most important, though, is the lack of apparent diverging from God's plans. Jacob realized that God had a bigger plan and put his trust in Him, despite the emotional trials he had just withstood.
"Rachel's Death"
Rachel has now died in childbirth, bearing Jacob/Israel's last son. She named him, with her dying breath, Ben-oni (Son of my sorrow), but Jacob then renamed him Benjamin (Son of my right hand). In this renaming as well as marking and memorializing her tomb near what would become Bethlehem, we see Jacob honoring his now deceased wife.
We aren't given much detail on how Jacob handled his grief, but we do see his methods by which he honored his wife. We will also see, later, how Jacob treated the sons of his dead wife. Most important, though, is the lack of apparent diverging from God's plans. Jacob realized that God had a bigger plan and put his trust in Him, despite the emotional trials he had just withstood.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
9 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 35:1-15
Genesis 35:1-15
"Return to Bethel"
Here, we have Jacob returning to the place at which God had originally spoken to him. He prepares himself and prepares his family for this part of the journey through getting rid of any idols and purifying himself and themselves. They honored God and God protected them. God came and renewed the covenant to Jacob's forefathers with Jacob and promising it for his descendants.
What struck me about this passage, though, is the degree to which everyone prepares to meet God. I look at this and I look at Christians today and I see so many Christians taking God for granted; after all, God is their buddy on speed dial, right? Jacob had a deep reverence for God. He respected and revered Him and thus he wanted to give to God the best offering he could - a pure heart, not distracted by any thing, solely focused on God. Not just did he offer his heart, bu Jacob had the entire family purify themselves for God's presence. He presented the whole family as an offering, not just his own life.
Let us not take God for granted. Let us not forget that despite our relationship with him, God is still God and he is deserving of our respect, humility, worship, fear, adoration and the list continues. So, here's my challenge: approach God not as one meets a friend, but as one meets a king... over all other kings.
"Return to Bethel"
Here, we have Jacob returning to the place at which God had originally spoken to him. He prepares himself and prepares his family for this part of the journey through getting rid of any idols and purifying himself and themselves. They honored God and God protected them. God came and renewed the covenant to Jacob's forefathers with Jacob and promising it for his descendants.
What struck me about this passage, though, is the degree to which everyone prepares to meet God. I look at this and I look at Christians today and I see so many Christians taking God for granted; after all, God is their buddy on speed dial, right? Jacob had a deep reverence for God. He respected and revered Him and thus he wanted to give to God the best offering he could - a pure heart, not distracted by any thing, solely focused on God. Not just did he offer his heart, bu Jacob had the entire family purify themselves for God's presence. He presented the whole family as an offering, not just his own life.
Let us not take God for granted. Let us not forget that despite our relationship with him, God is still God and he is deserving of our respect, humility, worship, fear, adoration and the list continues. So, here's my challenge: approach God not as one meets a friend, but as one meets a king... over all other kings.
8 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 34:1-31
Genesis 34:1-31
"Dinah Defiled"
Here, we have a lesson in anger, anger management, and making decisions while angered. Dinah, the daughter of Leah, was raped by a young man from a nearby town. The young man became infatuatedly obsessed (or perhaps, obsessively infatuated) and offered, no, forced his father to offer for him to marry Dinah.
Needless to say, this did not go down well with her brothers, who made a deal they did not intend to keep. They agreed on the condition that the young man, his father, and the townsfolk become circumcised. They agreed and, after a few days, when the entirety of the town was laid out from pain, Simeon and Levi massacred the town.
So, were the brothers right to be angry? Of course. If I found out someone had raped my sister, I'd be scrounging up money for the first flight home just so I could deal with the blighter.
Were the brothers right in how they dealt with the issue? No. That being said, I have no clue what the correct course of action would have been. I can guess at prayer and refusal of the marriage being two key components of the correct response, but I cannot say for sure. What we do have, though, is Abraham giving his sons a verbal lashing afterwards, after all, Simeon and Levi did bring trouble on him, making him a less attractive prospect to the surrounding, more numerous peoples.
Where does this leave us? something we can glean from this passage is advice against angered decision-making. The brothers were rash in their decision-making because they were angry. They did not pray not did they sit and think wisely about plans and repercussions. They acted impulsively out of anger, which led them to murdering a whole town - not exactly righteous behaviour. So, if you are in an Irate state, take time to calm down and pray before making decisions. Otherwise, you might just find yourself with a massacre on your hands.
"Dinah Defiled"
Here, we have a lesson in anger, anger management, and making decisions while angered. Dinah, the daughter of Leah, was raped by a young man from a nearby town. The young man became infatuatedly obsessed (or perhaps, obsessively infatuated) and offered, no, forced his father to offer for him to marry Dinah.
Needless to say, this did not go down well with her brothers, who made a deal they did not intend to keep. They agreed on the condition that the young man, his father, and the townsfolk become circumcised. They agreed and, after a few days, when the entirety of the town was laid out from pain, Simeon and Levi massacred the town.
So, were the brothers right to be angry? Of course. If I found out someone had raped my sister, I'd be scrounging up money for the first flight home just so I could deal with the blighter.
Were the brothers right in how they dealt with the issue? No. That being said, I have no clue what the correct course of action would have been. I can guess at prayer and refusal of the marriage being two key components of the correct response, but I cannot say for sure. What we do have, though, is Abraham giving his sons a verbal lashing afterwards, after all, Simeon and Levi did bring trouble on him, making him a less attractive prospect to the surrounding, more numerous peoples.
Where does this leave us? something we can glean from this passage is advice against angered decision-making. The brothers were rash in their decision-making because they were angry. They did not pray not did they sit and think wisely about plans and repercussions. They acted impulsively out of anger, which led them to murdering a whole town - not exactly righteous behaviour. So, if you are in an Irate state, take time to calm down and pray before making decisions. Otherwise, you might just find yourself with a massacre on your hands.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
7 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 33:1-20
Genesis 33:1-20
"Jacob Meets Esau"
Remember the meeting about which Jacob had been furiously worrying? That's this one.
Interestingly enough, Esau was, to Jacob's, er, Israel's, astonishment, not angry with him; in fact, Esau accepted him.
In this image, we have a presentation of the nature of forgiveness, setting behind what was of the past and focusing on what is and will be. (forgiveness is more than simply this, I know).
"Jacob Meets Esau"
Remember the meeting about which Jacob had been furiously worrying? That's this one.
Interestingly enough, Esau was, to Jacob's, er, Israel's, astonishment, not angry with him; in fact, Esau accepted him.
In this image, we have a presentation of the nature of forgiveness, setting behind what was of the past and focusing on what is and will be. (forgiveness is more than simply this, I know).
Monday, February 6, 2012
6 Feb. 2012 - Genesis 32:24-32
Genesis 32:24-32
"Jacob Wrestles with God"
Here, we have Jacob's renaming after he wrestled with a mysterious man. It's interesting how this renaming comes right after he's left Laban and before he's about to face Esau and enter again the land promised to him.
It is at this moment, before Jacob re-enters the land promised to his descendants, that the Lord comes and meets with him. He changed his name from one meaning "deceiver" to one meaning "struggles with God" and, if you think about it, the name is slightly prophetic and very descriptive of the Israelites, showing God's wisdom and foreknowledge as well as his mercy and grace in being willing to deal with them despite their disposition.
"Jacob Wrestles with God"
Here, we have Jacob's renaming after he wrestled with a mysterious man. It's interesting how this renaming comes right after he's left Laban and before he's about to face Esau and enter again the land promised to him.
It is at this moment, before Jacob re-enters the land promised to his descendants, that the Lord comes and meets with him. He changed his name from one meaning "deceiver" to one meaning "struggles with God" and, if you think about it, the name is slightly prophetic and very descriptive of the Israelites, showing God's wisdom and foreknowledge as well as his mercy and grace in being willing to deal with them despite their disposition.
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