Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored. ’” Aaron remained silent. - Leviticus 9:1-3 NIV
Aaron was silent. He had just seen two of his sons consumed by a fire that came out from the presence of the Lord. Now his sons are lying dead in front of the sanctuary. Was he thinking, 'I must have done something wrong, I must not have trained my sons right'? A myriad of thoughts must have been running through his head. 'Is it my fault that they sinned? Is it my fault that they were show-offs? Is it my fault that they thought the rules didn't apply to them? Is it my fault that they did not understand how we are to approach God? Is it my fault they did not understand the implications of God's anointing? Is it my fault that they could not tell the difference between the holy and the profane?'
Today, we are so relaxed in how we approach God. While the new covenant brought about by Christ's sacrifice gives us freedom from all of the old laws, it does not change the nature of God. God is still the awesome, mighty, everlasting creator of the universe that he has always been. He is still the Great I Am. It would still behoove us to approach him with the awe and wonder that he deserves. Even today, he can destroy any of us with one fell swoop.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Leviticus 8: The Perfect High Priest
Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done. ”
Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses. - Lev. 8:5-9 NIV
How did Aaron get to be the High Priest. He certainly was not a likely candidate. He was, after all, the one who could not stand up to the people, but crafted a golden calf for them after they thought God had abandoned them in the wilderness when Moses was too slow in coming down from the mountain. This is Aaron, whose sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and then offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. This is Aaron, who along with his sister, Miriam, began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife which resulted in Miriam becoming leprous. This is Aaron, who did not seem to have a word of his own, who did not hear directly from God, but from Moses instead. How is it that this, Aaron, was the one, the only one, authorized to accept and present the sacrifices of the people to the Lord?
The author of Hebrews explains it this way: Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4 NIV) Only those who are called by God, only those who are painfully aware of their limitations are truly qualified to deal with the rest of us who are always tempted to go astray. Our earthly priests are still capable of sin, they will disappoint us, just as Aaron did. The one exception to this is Christ, who was tempted just as we were, yet without sin. Jesus understands all of our weaknesses, he faced the same temptations, yet never sinned. Christ is the perfect High Priest, the one and only perfect High Priest.
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:28 NIV
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Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses. - Lev. 8:5-9 NIV
How did Aaron get to be the High Priest. He certainly was not a likely candidate. He was, after all, the one who could not stand up to the people, but crafted a golden calf for them after they thought God had abandoned them in the wilderness when Moses was too slow in coming down from the mountain. This is Aaron, whose sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and then offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. This is Aaron, who along with his sister, Miriam, began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife which resulted in Miriam becoming leprous. This is Aaron, who did not seem to have a word of his own, who did not hear directly from God, but from Moses instead. How is it that this, Aaron, was the one, the only one, authorized to accept and present the sacrifices of the people to the Lord?
The author of Hebrews explains it this way: Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4 NIV) Only those who are called by God, only those who are painfully aware of their limitations are truly qualified to deal with the rest of us who are always tempted to go astray. Our earthly priests are still capable of sin, they will disappoint us, just as Aaron did. The one exception to this is Christ, who was tempted just as we were, yet without sin. Jesus understands all of our weaknesses, he faced the same temptations, yet never sinned. Christ is the perfect High Priest, the one and only perfect High Priest.
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:28 NIV
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Leviticus 5: Wrongdoing Against The Lord
"If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible. He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he has been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD." - Lev. 5:19-19 NIV
I look at this in light of the world today and wonder how different our society would be if we had to make a sin offering for every unintentional sin. Instead of, "It's not my fault," we would be paying the consequences. We would have to offer up an innocent ram, a blood sacrifice, for our carelessness. Surely, this would keep us aware of the consequences of our actions, that for any sin, something must die.
Contrast that with our current reality, where there are seldom repercussions for what would be considered flagrant sins by Old Testament standards. Anything has become permissible and sin runs rampant. As Christians, we need to remember that any sin, even that which is unknown, requires a sacrifice. We have been made whole in Christ, but we cannot take his sacrifice lightly. Blood, innocent blood, had to be shed on our behalf. In even the smallest sin we are guilty of wrongdoing against The Lord.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Exodus 40: Beyond the Wildest Dream
Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. - Exodus 40:33-35 NIV
Did Moses ever dream that the latter part of his life would be so full, that he would be leading a people, however rebellious, out of bondage into a land promised by God to his forefather, Abraham? Did he ever imagine that he would be in the presence of the creator of heaven and earth, that he would see his glory? How could God use someone like Moses with such a checkered past, a murderer and then after he fled to Midian, a sheepherder for his father-in-law? Did he think that was how his life was going to be for the rest of his life? Did he think that all of his good years were in the past?
God doesn't always use just the young and energetic. Sometimes he even chooses those who are way past their prime, such as Abraham. God will use anyone, at any stage in their life, as long as they are listening to the voice of God, as long as they are willing to follow even when his requests seem somewhat implausible. He's looking for those with open eyes and ears and willing hearts. He's looking for those with faith.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. - Hebrews 11:23-29 NIV
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. - Exodus 40:33-35 NIV
Did Moses ever dream that the latter part of his life would be so full, that he would be leading a people, however rebellious, out of bondage into a land promised by God to his forefather, Abraham? Did he ever imagine that he would be in the presence of the creator of heaven and earth, that he would see his glory? How could God use someone like Moses with such a checkered past, a murderer and then after he fled to Midian, a sheepherder for his father-in-law? Did he think that was how his life was going to be for the rest of his life? Did he think that all of his good years were in the past?
God doesn't always use just the young and energetic. Sometimes he even chooses those who are way past their prime, such as Abraham. God will use anyone, at any stage in their life, as long as they are listening to the voice of God, as long as they are willing to follow even when his requests seem somewhat implausible. He's looking for those with open eyes and ears and willing hearts. He's looking for those with faith.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. - Hebrews 11:23-29 NIV
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Exodus 33: Fellow Travelers
Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Ex. 33:12-14 NIV
We all need someone to go with us; this journey is too much to undertake on our own. God waking with us should be enough, but most of the time, we are not looking for God to walk with us, we are looking for earthly companions. His presence gives us peace, gives us rest, but few of us take advantage of what he offers. We are looking for help on the human level rather than the help that comes from God. We rely on those we feel are more holy, more religious than us to be our guide rather than on God's word and his Holy Spirit. Many of us spend more time reading books by Christian authors than the Word of God. Many of us spend more time listening to the latest televangelist or video teaching than we do listening to God. Many of us spend more time telling our brothers and sisters our problems than we do telling God. That's not to say that others don't bring us comfort or share our burdens, but they will never be for us what God is meant to be.
God had confidence in Moses because Moses sought the Lord. Moses wanted to know God because he knew that only God could give him what he needed to lead this undisciplined people that God had saddled him with. While Moses may not have recognized it, God also gave him the others he needed to share the journey with. He had Aaron and Miriam, although sometimes they were more of a hindrance than a help. He had Joshua, Joshua who was everything that Moses might have been were he younger, Joshua, who would not leave the Tent of Meeting where God spoke with Moses, Joshua who would someday lead the people. God also gave Moses Caleb who was not afraid, even of giants. When Moses became content with God being his only companion, God gave him others to share the journey.
God never fails to put fellow travelers in the path of those whose eyes are set on him.
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Ex. 33:12-14 NIV
We all need someone to go with us; this journey is too much to undertake on our own. God waking with us should be enough, but most of the time, we are not looking for God to walk with us, we are looking for earthly companions. His presence gives us peace, gives us rest, but few of us take advantage of what he offers. We are looking for help on the human level rather than the help that comes from God. We rely on those we feel are more holy, more religious than us to be our guide rather than on God's word and his Holy Spirit. Many of us spend more time reading books by Christian authors than the Word of God. Many of us spend more time listening to the latest televangelist or video teaching than we do listening to God. Many of us spend more time telling our brothers and sisters our problems than we do telling God. That's not to say that others don't bring us comfort or share our burdens, but they will never be for us what God is meant to be.
God had confidence in Moses because Moses sought the Lord. Moses wanted to know God because he knew that only God could give him what he needed to lead this undisciplined people that God had saddled him with. While Moses may not have recognized it, God also gave him the others he needed to share the journey with. He had Aaron and Miriam, although sometimes they were more of a hindrance than a help. He had Joshua, Joshua who was everything that Moses might have been were he younger, Joshua, who would not leave the Tent of Meeting where God spoke with Moses, Joshua who would someday lead the people. God also gave Moses Caleb who was not afraid, even of giants. When Moses became content with God being his only companion, God gave him others to share the journey.
God never fails to put fellow travelers in the path of those whose eyes are set on him.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Exodus 31: A Sign Forever
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’” -Ex. 31:16-17 NIV
One of the things you have to say about the Israelites, or Jews as we know them today, is that they took God's commands about the Sabbath seriously. Just like the rainbow is a sign of God's covenant with man that he will never again flood the earth, the Jews observance of the Sabbath is a sign that they have never forgotten their covenant with God. They continue to observe the Sabbath, even as they have had to adapt it to modern If ever you are staying in a hotel in Israel on the Sabbath, you will be aware of this when you notice that the elevators have a mind of their own from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. They will stop on every floor for people to board so they do not have to push the elevator buttons. Some of us may think this is taking things a little too far, but at least they are aware of God's commands and are still, after all these centuries, trying to stay faithful to those commands.
If remembering the Sabbath is a sign of God's covenant with the Jews, what is the sign of our covenant with him? It might be that we are to show we love one another. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV). If so, I'm not sure we have been as faithful to that covenant as the Jews have been with their observance of the sabbath.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV). If so, I'm not sure we have been as faithful to that covenant as the Jews have been with their observance of the sabbath.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Exodus 28: Holy to The Lord
"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Ex, 28:36 NIV
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
If we are, as Peter says, a royal priesthood, can we imagine ourselves with an engraved plate on our forehead that says "Holy to The Lord"? Is that what others see when they come into contact with us? Do they see our consecration, our commitment to the Lord, or do they see something else. Do they see our commitment to ourselves? Do they see our commitment to our jobs, to our houses, to our way of life, to our entertainment, to our leisure, to our political views, or even our commitment to our families, more readily than they see our commitment to God. I think most of us today don't want to be a peculiar people, we don't want to be set apart, we don't want to embarrass non-believers with our faith. Perhaps our message and influence on the world would change if we truly saw ourselves as "Holy to The Lord".
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
If we are, as Peter says, a royal priesthood, can we imagine ourselves with an engraved plate on our forehead that says "Holy to The Lord"? Is that what others see when they come into contact with us? Do they see our consecration, our commitment to the Lord, or do they see something else. Do they see our commitment to ourselves? Do they see our commitment to our jobs, to our houses, to our way of life, to our entertainment, to our leisure, to our political views, or even our commitment to our families, more readily than they see our commitment to God. I think most of us today don't want to be a peculiar people, we don't want to be set apart, we don't want to embarrass non-believers with our faith. Perhaps our message and influence on the world would change if we truly saw ourselves as "Holy to The Lord".
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Exodus 18: Jethro
Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.
He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
Then Jethro, Moses’ father–in–law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father–in–law in the presence of God. - Exodus 18:9-12 NIV
Throughout the Bible, God uses people who are not of his chosen people to bring his word to those very people. Jethro was one of them. He was not a descendent of Abraham, but he recognized the hand of God in rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians. Not only did Jethro recognize God's work, but he brought God's wisdom to Moses. Moses was trying to do all of the work himself and it was impossible. He had to rely on others to hold his hands up because they tired of all the work. Jethro was God's mouthpiece to deliver a better way of dealing with the vast number of people and issues. Sometimes we need to listen to those who may not be of our own spiritual family in order to hear God's word and his wisdom.
He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
Then Jethro, Moses’ father–in–law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father–in–law in the presence of God. - Exodus 18:9-12 NIV
Throughout the Bible, God uses people who are not of his chosen people to bring his word to those very people. Jethro was one of them. He was not a descendent of Abraham, but he recognized the hand of God in rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians. Not only did Jethro recognize God's work, but he brought God's wisdom to Moses. Moses was trying to do all of the work himself and it was impossible. He had to rely on others to hold his hands up because they tired of all the work. Jethro was God's mouthpiece to deliver a better way of dealing with the vast number of people and issues. Sometimes we need to listen to those who may not be of our own spiritual family in order to hear God's word and his wisdom.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Exodus 15: The Right Kind of Fear
“The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. - Exodus 15:9-14 NIV
We are such a weak people and as a result we attribute that same weakness to God, but that is not the case. There is nothing weak or subservient about our God. God is a fearful god, one to be feared, but he is not fearful, full of fear. On the contrary, he knows how great his power is and because of that, he is gentle, longsuffering, forgiving when we are prone not to be.
If he is too fearful to contemplate, if his power is so vast that with just one breath, he can cause the seas to rise and cover our enemies, we need to re-consider what we are afraid of. Rather than fearing our enemies, we should fear the fate that awaits them because of their unbelief and disobedience. Rather than being worried about what their political position is going to do to our comfort level, we should be worrying about why our testimony doesn't convict them of the need for our God. We are surrounded by friends, neighbors and family who are desperately in need of a relationship with God. If Christ's message is not getting through, it is because of the messengers not the message. Somewhere along the line, Christians stopped being bold in the message of hope to those in sin and started being bold in their condemnation of the sinners. It has to stop or we will have to face the wrath of God for not getting his message of salvation across. We cannot fear the boasting of the enemy, we have the living God on our side. We must instead fear for the outcome when they have to face God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30 KJV)
But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. - Exodus 15:9-14 NIV
We are such a weak people and as a result we attribute that same weakness to God, but that is not the case. There is nothing weak or subservient about our God. God is a fearful god, one to be feared, but he is not fearful, full of fear. On the contrary, he knows how great his power is and because of that, he is gentle, longsuffering, forgiving when we are prone not to be.
If he is too fearful to contemplate, if his power is so vast that with just one breath, he can cause the seas to rise and cover our enemies, we need to re-consider what we are afraid of. Rather than fearing our enemies, we should fear the fate that awaits them because of their unbelief and disobedience. Rather than being worried about what their political position is going to do to our comfort level, we should be worrying about why our testimony doesn't convict them of the need for our God. We are surrounded by friends, neighbors and family who are desperately in need of a relationship with God. If Christ's message is not getting through, it is because of the messengers not the message. Somewhere along the line, Christians stopped being bold in the message of hope to those in sin and started being bold in their condemnation of the sinners. It has to stop or we will have to face the wrath of God for not getting his message of salvation across. We cannot fear the boasting of the enemy, we have the living God on our side. We must instead fear for the outcome when they have to face God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30 KJV)
Monday, January 20, 2014
Exodus 13: Be Still
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. - Ex. 13:13-15 NIV
"Be still!" I hear these words over and over, these words, this command of God. "Be still." Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Be still and know that I am the God that hardened Pharaoh's heart. Be still and know that I am the God that led the Israelites out of Egypt. Be still and know that I am the God that led them into the promised land. Be still and know that I am the God who will deliver you. Be still and know that I am the God God who will fight for you. Be still and know that I am the great I am!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Exodus 12: Doing What God Commands
All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions. -Exodus 12:50-51 NIV
The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded and that very day, the very day of their obedience, they were delivered. Does that sound familiar? Do we have a tendency to struggle and struggle with an issue, waiting for the Lord to act, when all the time, we are the one who is supposed to be doing something. God is waiting for us to act, to be obedient. It may be a habit that we are wanting to break. We pray and pray, asking to be delivered, when all we need to do is act. Perhaps our heart needs to change toward another person. If we do as we are supposed to do, if we love that person, bless that person, honor that person, we will find that our attitude is changed. We act and we find that that desire which we thought impossible to quench is gone.
God always gives us the grace, but it is when we need it most, not while we are waiting. Grace is needed in the thick of things. Just like the Israelites, on the day that we do what the Lord commands, God will act in our behalf. He will bring us out of our Egypt because we have been obedient. We all know what God is commanding of us in this moment. If we want to be delivered, we need to act.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Exodus 9: Eagles' Wings
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” - Exodus 19: 4-6 NIV
Have you seen, have you experienced those times when God carried you on eagles wings, times when your knees knocked so bad that you could not move forward in any strength of your own? Well, if not, then you are missing what it means to be totally dependent on God and all of the blessings that follow from that dependency. We were not created to tough it out of our own accord, rather as Isaiah says, "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles;" (Is. 40:31 KJV). I have always had the picture in my mind of having my own wings, but perhaps that is not the right image. Perhaps it is more like when the great eagle, Landroval, carried Frodo and Sam to safety from Mount Doom, in The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps that is what God is wanting to do for us. Perhaps being totally obedient means letting go of our own means of transportation and relying instead totally on the Lord. What great adventure are we missing because we think we have to do everything in our own power?
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” - Exodus 19: 4-6 NIV
Have you seen, have you experienced those times when God carried you on eagles wings, times when your knees knocked so bad that you could not move forward in any strength of your own? Well, if not, then you are missing what it means to be totally dependent on God and all of the blessings that follow from that dependency. We were not created to tough it out of our own accord, rather as Isaiah says, "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles;" (Is. 40:31 KJV). I have always had the picture in my mind of having my own wings, but perhaps that is not the right image. Perhaps it is more like when the great eagle, Landroval, carried Frodo and Sam to safety from Mount Doom, in The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps that is what God is wanting to do for us. Perhaps being totally obedient means letting go of our own means of transportation and relying instead totally on the Lord. What great adventure are we missing because we think we have to do everything in our own power?
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Exodus 4: Believing Without Seeing
and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. -Ex. 4:31 NIV
All the leaders of the Israelites needed was to hear that God had not forgotten them. They were in much direr straights than most of us find ourselves; slaves in a foreign land being worked mercilessly. Even in the midst of their trials, knowing that God was concerned about them was enough to make them bow down in worship. Can we say that we do the same thing in the midst of our misery, or do we have to see the answer before we can fully worship God. It should be enough for us to just know that God is on our side, but most of us put the cart before the horse. We want to see proof of God, proof of his love, proof of his intervention in our lives before we can truly worship. God has told us he is concerned about us, he has told us that he cares. That should be cause enough for us to bow down. That should be the only reason we need for worship
All the leaders of the Israelites needed was to hear that God had not forgotten them. They were in much direr straights than most of us find ourselves; slaves in a foreign land being worked mercilessly. Even in the midst of their trials, knowing that God was concerned about them was enough to make them bow down in worship. Can we say that we do the same thing in the midst of our misery, or do we have to see the answer before we can fully worship God. It should be enough for us to just know that God is on our side, but most of us put the cart before the horse. We want to see proof of God, proof of his love, proof of his intervention in our lives before we can truly worship. God has told us he is concerned about us, he has told us that he cares. That should be cause enough for us to bow down. That should be the only reason we need for worship
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Exodus 2: God in the Reeds
But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. And the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” -Ex. 2:3-10 NIV
When we think of Moses, we tend to let the story of the burning bush overshadow the story of Pharaoh's daughter finding the infant Moses floating in a basket where he had been hidden. Which is the most miraculous? Both events were orchestrated by God and were a necessary part of the story of the Israelites being led out of Egypt. There are no accidents in Gods kingdom. There are no accidents in our lives. God uses it all, even something as simple as saving the life of a child, to further his purposes. Most of us are looking for God in the burning bush, when we should be looking for God in the ordinary. He might be lurking in the water among the reeds.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Genesis 47: Behold What Manner of Love
Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty–seven. -Gen. 47:27-28 NIV
What a life Jacob had. When he took his brother's birthright and stole his father's blessing, did he ever imagine what it would all mean? When he dreamed of the angels descending and ascending into heaven, did he know he would father twelve sons by four different women to fulfill the promise that he would be a great nation? When he wrestled with God and received a new name, did he know that it would become the name of a nation that survives to this day? When he wept over the bloody coat of his beloved son, did he realize that Joseph was going ahead to prepare a way for the entire family to survive? As he wandered from place to place, always looking for a safe place to settle down, did he know that his last years would be spent as an honored guest in the land of Egypt?
The same is true of our lives. God has called all of us. We have heard his voice and chosen to follow him. We have his promise that he will never leave or abandon us. As we journey through this life, we may occasionally hear his voice or dream his dreams, but most of the time we are just living, moving from place to place, while it is God who is shaping our lives into what he created us to be. What we are to be, what we will be is not yet made known. All we have to know is that we are the children of God.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 NIV
Monday, January 13, 2014
Genesis 40: How Soon They Forget
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged. ”- Gen. 41:9-13 NIV
It's easy for us to spend our lives thinking that the world, or those in power can give us what we want, or what we need: security, prosperity and a long life, but this is a misconception, or as in the case of Pharaoh's servants, just a dream. Any recognition, other than that of God is just fleeting. Any position, any favor meted out by the world doesn't have as much worth as a promissory note. It can be, and often is, taken away at a moment's notice due to no fault of our own. We lose our jobs, the stock market crashes, our insurance is cancelled, the mortgage foreclosed. Our world crumbles and there is nothing we can do to stop it. No one is immune, look at all of the politicians, celebrities, and sports figures who fall from grace even faster than their meteoric rise to fame. There are no guarantees except with God. His mercy never comes to an end. He did not abandon Joseph, not when he was thrown into a cistern by his brothers, not when he was thrown into prison by Pharaoh. He did not abandon him, and he does not abandon us. No matter the circumstance we can be sure that he is aware of it all and just like Joseph, it will be engineered for his good as well as ours.
It's easy for us to spend our lives thinking that the world, or those in power can give us what we want, or what we need: security, prosperity and a long life, but this is a misconception, or as in the case of Pharaoh's servants, just a dream. Any recognition, other than that of God is just fleeting. Any position, any favor meted out by the world doesn't have as much worth as a promissory note. It can be, and often is, taken away at a moment's notice due to no fault of our own. We lose our jobs, the stock market crashes, our insurance is cancelled, the mortgage foreclosed. Our world crumbles and there is nothing we can do to stop it. No one is immune, look at all of the politicians, celebrities, and sports figures who fall from grace even faster than their meteoric rise to fame. There are no guarantees except with God. His mercy never comes to an end. He did not abandon Joseph, not when he was thrown into a cistern by his brothers, not when he was thrown into prison by Pharaoh. He did not abandon him, and he does not abandon us. No matter the circumstance we can be sure that he is aware of it all and just like Joseph, it will be engineered for his good as well as ours.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Genesis 36-39: Deceit
The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it. -Jer. 17:9 KJV
Sin is definitely intergenerational. What began with Jacob stealing the blessing and birthright from his brother Esau, continued throughout Jacob's life. First, his wives plotted continually to have children by Jacob, using their concubines, mandrakes, whatever means possible to get one over on the other, then Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers who concoct a great lie to tell their father, and finally, Judah, the firstborn, is deceived by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, who resorts to disguising herself as a prostitute in order to get the what Judah promised but would not deliver. The outcomes of all these schemes never produced the desired effect. It takes a long time for the resulting chaos to be put right and sometimes, it never is.
That's how it is in man's world, but not in God's. God's world, and his plans always involve redemption; from Joseph being the one who rescues his entire family from a severe drought, to God's own son coming to provide us a way out of our own dire circumstances and despair, God can make marvelous endings out of the most inauspicious beginning. Unlike the ancients, we don't need a dream to tell us that it will be okay in the end, we have God's word. We don't have to resort to deceitful tactics to ensure our survival, we have God's promise.
Sin is definitely intergenerational. What began with Jacob stealing the blessing and birthright from his brother Esau, continued throughout Jacob's life. First, his wives plotted continually to have children by Jacob, using their concubines, mandrakes, whatever means possible to get one over on the other, then Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers who concoct a great lie to tell their father, and finally, Judah, the firstborn, is deceived by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, who resorts to disguising herself as a prostitute in order to get the what Judah promised but would not deliver. The outcomes of all these schemes never produced the desired effect. It takes a long time for the resulting chaos to be put right and sometimes, it never is.
That's how it is in man's world, but not in God's. God's world, and his plans always involve redemption; from Joseph being the one who rescues his entire family from a severe drought, to God's own son coming to provide us a way out of our own dire circumstances and despair, God can make marvelous endings out of the most inauspicious beginning. Unlike the ancients, we don't need a dream to tell us that it will be okay in the end, we have God's word. We don't have to resort to deceitful tactics to ensure our survival, we have God's promise.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Genesis 36: Foreign Gods
So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them. - Gen. 36:2-5 NIV
Jacob was always cunning, and if not conniving, he was taking advantage of the situation offered to him. He willing accepted the birthright from Esau, he went along with his mother in getting Isaac's blessing, and figured out how to insure that his flocks prospered as opposed to the flocks of Laban. Did he know then, that Rachel had stolen her father's gods? He may not have been aware of it at the time, but the die was cast. Although he received a warm reception from his brother, Esau, whom he feared, their journey home was not an easy one. Just as Jacob was wont to do, his sons took matters into their own hands when Hamor violated their sister, Dinah. Hamor and his son, Shechem, were slain by Jacob's sons whobecame a stench to the inhabitants of all the towns they passed through. Even after the foreign gods and earrings were buried, the consequences were still there. First Rebecca's nurse died, then Rebecca, herself, died giving birth to Benjamin. It was only after all of these events that God appeared to Jacob once more. This time, God changed his name. The old Jacob was gone and now, Israel, the father of the nation of God's people was born. The one who would use any means to get what he wanted, even the gods of foreign people, returned to his father a changed man.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Genesis 28: Bethel
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” -Gen. 28:20-22
Some of us need an experience akin to that which Jacob experienced at Bethel in order to have the right understanding of who gives and who gets. Perhaps we're so blind that unless the heavens open up and we see the angels ascending and descending, we think that we own or control this world we inhabit. All of our scheming and plotting, our earning and investing, our buying and hoarding separates us from, rather than drawing us closer, to our source. When we realize just how much God has given us, our response can be nothing less than giving back. A tenth of our earnings seems to be a paltry sum compared to what we have been given.
Some of us need an experience akin to that which Jacob experienced at Bethel in order to have the right understanding of who gives and who gets. Perhaps we're so blind that unless the heavens open up and we see the angels ascending and descending, we think that we own or control this world we inhabit. All of our scheming and plotting, our earning and investing, our buying and hoarding separates us from, rather than drawing us closer, to our source. When we realize just how much God has given us, our response can be nothing less than giving back. A tenth of our earnings seems to be a paltry sum compared to what we have been given.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Genesis 22: Most Precious Sacrifice
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moorish. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” -Gen. 22:2 NIV
It's really not a sacrifice unless it is something of value to us, something that we love. God is always about requiring sacrifice of the things that have a hold on us. It may be our pride, it may be our need for control, it may be a relationship that consumes us, it may be our need for freedom, it may be our need for power, our love of comfort, our co-dependency or something as simple as our pride in our appearance. If there is something in our life that we love more than God, we will be asked to sacrifice it. There are two sides to sacrifice: there is the outcome that results from our giving up that which is most precious to us, and there is the alternative which results from holding on for dear life. Sacrifice is always a choice. We can refuse just as Abraham could have refused. Where would we be if Abraham had refused? The whole of history would have been changed and Abraham would not have received the blessing that God promised.
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Gen. 22:15-18 NIV
We can hold on to the things we love most, but we will become as Gollum, sacrificing our entire existence for something with a power we cannot control, or we can give our most precious possessions freely, knowing that God will provide, that he will fill in all the missing pieces. What will our story be if we give up that which is most precious?
It's really not a sacrifice unless it is something of value to us, something that we love. God is always about requiring sacrifice of the things that have a hold on us. It may be our pride, it may be our need for control, it may be a relationship that consumes us, it may be our need for freedom, it may be our need for power, our love of comfort, our co-dependency or something as simple as our pride in our appearance. If there is something in our life that we love more than God, we will be asked to sacrifice it. There are two sides to sacrifice: there is the outcome that results from our giving up that which is most precious to us, and there is the alternative which results from holding on for dear life. Sacrifice is always a choice. We can refuse just as Abraham could have refused. Where would we be if Abraham had refused? The whole of history would have been changed and Abraham would not have received the blessing that God promised.
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Gen. 22:15-18 NIV
We can hold on to the things we love most, but we will become as Gollum, sacrificing our entire existence for something with a power we cannot control, or we can give our most precious possessions freely, knowing that God will provide, that he will fill in all the missing pieces. What will our story be if we give up that which is most precious?
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Genesis 19: In The Plain
Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. -Gen. 19:25-27 NIV
We've driven through that plain, the plain which was once so attractive and appealing to Lot. Whatever attraction and appeal it once held has been gone for centuries. It is a dry and arid and place, a vista broken only by the shrinking Dead Sea. We've also watched those seemingly pleasant plains in our lives turn into hard rock and stone before our very eyes. It seems to have to do with what we're chasing after...are we chasing after the easy road, the fruitful plain, the place where all of our troubles will be over because we're living the abundant life.
Abraham knew that the abundant life was not to be found in chasing after a mirage of the 'good life'. The good life for him was to be found in seeking God. Early on, Abraham, when he was still called Abram, would pick up his tent and go to wherever he was led, to a stopping point where he would build an altar to God. He would stay there until it was time to move on to the next place where he would build another altar. So when Abram viewed the plains that were so attractive to Lot, he was not impressed. They were just another place. It was God that was his reward, and although he waited almost a century to receive that reward, he never stopped seeking after the giver and building altars of thanksgiving, whether it was in the hills or on the plain.
We've driven through that plain, the plain which was once so attractive and appealing to Lot. Whatever attraction and appeal it once held has been gone for centuries. It is a dry and arid and place, a vista broken only by the shrinking Dead Sea. We've also watched those seemingly pleasant plains in our lives turn into hard rock and stone before our very eyes. It seems to have to do with what we're chasing after...are we chasing after the easy road, the fruitful plain, the place where all of our troubles will be over because we're living the abundant life.
Abraham knew that the abundant life was not to be found in chasing after a mirage of the 'good life'. The good life for him was to be found in seeking God. Early on, Abraham, when he was still called Abram, would pick up his tent and go to wherever he was led, to a stopping point where he would build an altar to God. He would stay there until it was time to move on to the next place where he would build another altar. So when Abram viewed the plains that were so attractive to Lot, he was not impressed. They were just another place. It was God that was his reward, and although he waited almost a century to receive that reward, he never stopped seeking after the giver and building altars of thanksgiving, whether it was in the hills or on the plain.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Genesis 15: Nothing But Questions
But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? ”
And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir. ”
He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” - Gen. 15:2-8 NIV
The ancients, the patriarchs like Abram, were no different from us. Even those who were considered to be righteous still had their questions. 'What can you give me?' Abram asked. Was he saying he had enough, that God's presence in his life was enough, or was he saying, that he would not be content until he received the one thing that he was missing, the thing that he longed for the most? I like to think that it was the former, that Abram was content with anything that the Lord would give him, that he totally trusted God. His next question doesn't seem to imply that he had any doubt in God, but doubt in his own ability to believe that every thing God promised was all going to come about.
So it is with all of us with faith.....at times, we are content with whatever God gives us. In fact, we may be content just to be in his presence. Then there are the times when we do not see how any of our longings can or will be accomplished in our lives. We begin to think that God's promises apply to others, perhaps, but not to us. Perhaps our questions should be like those of Abraham, not, "What can you give me?, but, 'How can I know?' How can we know that God's promises are true as the Apostle Paul claimed? For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. - 2 Cor. 1:20 KJV Perhaps we don't need the circmstances to change as much as we need our attitude to change.
And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir. ”
He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” - Gen. 15:2-8 NIV
The ancients, the patriarchs like Abram, were no different from us. Even those who were considered to be righteous still had their questions. 'What can you give me?' Abram asked. Was he saying he had enough, that God's presence in his life was enough, or was he saying, that he would not be content until he received the one thing that he was missing, the thing that he longed for the most? I like to think that it was the former, that Abram was content with anything that the Lord would give him, that he totally trusted God. His next question doesn't seem to imply that he had any doubt in God, but doubt in his own ability to believe that every thing God promised was all going to come about.
So it is with all of us with faith.....at times, we are content with whatever God gives us. In fact, we may be content just to be in his presence. Then there are the times when we do not see how any of our longings can or will be accomplished in our lives. We begin to think that God's promises apply to others, perhaps, but not to us. Perhaps our questions should be like those of Abraham, not, "What can you give me?, but, 'How can I know?' How can we know that God's promises are true as the Apostle Paul claimed? For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. - 2 Cor. 1:20 KJV Perhaps we don't need the circmstances to change as much as we need our attitude to change.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Genesis 13: Not Such a Sweet Deal
Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. -Gen. 13:10-13 NIV
If one were to look now at the plain that Lot chose when he and Abraham decided to part ways, the last thing that one would say is at it is well watered. The whole of the plain is dwarfed by the Dead Sea. Of course, this story as it takes place in Genesis was before the conflagration of Sodom and Gomorrah so one can only imagine what it looked like then. It was certainly appealing to Lot, the kind of place that would supply all of the needs of his family, servants and flocks. In the end though, Lot escaped by the skin of his teeth, losing his wife in the process. The beautiful plain turned out to be one that was inhabitable. How often do we find ourselves making the same choice as Lot, confusing what appears to be attractive for substance? Most of the time, when we pursue anything that appears to be a sweet deal, we end up with a bitter,salty taste in our mouths.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Genesis 9: The Rainbows End
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” - Gen. 9:16 NIV
It's only after the storm that we receive the promise. Only after the rain that we see the rainbow. I must remember this, when I walk through those trying times, times when I can see no light at the end of the tunnel, times when I don't believe there will ever be light again, times when my hands quiver and my knees shake. It is only when I come through those times that I grasp that God's promises are true, that his covenant has not been broken in spite of the abandonment I have felt. Just as the flood was not about or because of Noah, the trying times are not all about me. They are about God's greater purpose. Who am I to question that or demand an explanation? Sometimes the reason for the pain eventually becomes clear, but many times here is no explanation, there is just the covenant, a covenant that will never be broken, a promise I can seldom grasp. Rainbows always come to an end and we go back to our lives changed by the storm, but the covenant always stands.
It's only after the storm that we receive the promise. Only after the rain that we see the rainbow. I must remember this, when I walk through those trying times, times when I can see no light at the end of the tunnel, times when I don't believe there will ever be light again, times when my hands quiver and my knees shake. It is only when I come through those times that I grasp that God's promises are true, that his covenant has not been broken in spite of the abandonment I have felt. Just as the flood was not about or because of Noah, the trying times are not all about me. They are about God's greater purpose. Who am I to question that or demand an explanation? Sometimes the reason for the pain eventually becomes clear, but many times here is no explanation, there is just the covenant, a covenant that will never be broken, a promise I can seldom grasp. Rainbows always come to an end and we go back to our lives changed by the storm, but the covenant always stands.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Genesis 6: Favor in the Eyes of The Lord
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. .So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; ......I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. - Gen. 6:8-18 NIV
Reading the story of Noah, one sees how, in the midst of a violent and corrupt society, we can obtain God's favor. It's not the approach most of us are inclined to take in this current climate of godlessness. Most of us want to rail against the system. We try to defend God's honor when all we need to do is live a blameless life, continue to be righteous, and let God deal with the wickedness. Most of all, like Noah, we need to walk with God. I'm not sure I grasp completely what that means, but I know I fall far short of the mark. Even when God gave Noah an outrageous task that was in direct conflict with the current knowledge of the time, Noah did not refuse. He carried our God's instructions in spite of the ridicule of his neighbors. I have a feeling that one of the meanings of walking with God is undertaking the outlandish in his name, going against conventional wisdom, being at crosshairs with the current culture. It is when we disabuse ourselves of the notion of ever gaining the world's favor that we finally find favor in God's eyes.
This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. .So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; ......I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. - Gen. 6:8-18 NIV
Reading the story of Noah, one sees how, in the midst of a violent and corrupt society, we can obtain God's favor. It's not the approach most of us are inclined to take in this current climate of godlessness. Most of us want to rail against the system. We try to defend God's honor when all we need to do is live a blameless life, continue to be righteous, and let God deal with the wickedness. Most of all, like Noah, we need to walk with God. I'm not sure I grasp completely what that means, but I know I fall far short of the mark. Even when God gave Noah an outrageous task that was in direct conflict with the current knowledge of the time, Noah did not refuse. He carried our God's instructions in spite of the ridicule of his neighbors. I have a feeling that one of the meanings of walking with God is undertaking the outlandish in his name, going against conventional wisdom, being at crosshairs with the current culture. It is when we disabuse ourselves of the notion of ever gaining the world's favor that we finally find favor in God's eyes.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Genesis 1: In the Beginning
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. -Gen. 1:1-2 KJV
In the beginning,...I begin my year as I have done so many times since the 1980's. I begin at the beginning in my walk through the Bible and my journey is new each year.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. - John 1:1-5 KJV
In the beginning...both the Old and the New testaments begin the same way. Matthew traces the geneology of Jesus from Adam and Eve or at least from Abraham. Mark starts with the words "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;" but John starts at the beginning with the same words as found in Genesis...in the beginning. If I were a learned theologian, I might say that John is using some kind of literary device, but for me it is truth. In the beginng was the Word. The same word that spoke and brought life to a dark sphere floating in the vast universe. The word which also became the light ofthe world.
In the beginning...and it rings true with me, because it is my story as well. In the beginning the earth was without form and void. In the beginning darkess covers the earth, a story I know well because it is the theme story of my life. A life without form and void, covered by darkness, until I hear the words spoken that bring me to life. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. How do I know this is true? I know because he created a new life in me as well. That is all I need to know as I begin a new year. It is Jesus Christ who makes all things. It is Jesus Christ who makes all things new.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. -Gen. 1:1-2 KJV
In the beginning,...I begin my year as I have done so many times since the 1980's. I begin at the beginning in my walk through the Bible and my journey is new each year.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. - John 1:1-5 KJV
In the beginning...both the Old and the New testaments begin the same way. Matthew traces the geneology of Jesus from Adam and Eve or at least from Abraham. Mark starts with the words "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;" but John starts at the beginning with the same words as found in Genesis...in the beginning. If I were a learned theologian, I might say that John is using some kind of literary device, but for me it is truth. In the beginng was the Word. The same word that spoke and brought life to a dark sphere floating in the vast universe. The word which also became the light ofthe world.
In the beginning...and it rings true with me, because it is my story as well. In the beginning the earth was without form and void. In the beginning darkess covers the earth, a story I know well because it is the theme story of my life. A life without form and void, covered by darkness, until I hear the words spoken that bring me to life. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. How do I know this is true? I know because he created a new life in me as well. That is all I need to know as I begin a new year. It is Jesus Christ who makes all things. It is Jesus Christ who makes all things new.
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