http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2048-50&version=NIV
Genesis 50:19-21 – “But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
When we are wronged, we have two choices. We can respond with bitterness or we can respond with forgiveness. Bitterness is resentful of hardships and trials. It hangs on to the pain and keeps the wounds from healing. It avoids confrontation with the offender, shoving the offense down deep in the heart, allowing it to fester. It can even hinder the fulfillment of God’s work in our lives. Forgiveness remembers the struggle and the growth that came from it. It sees the bigger picture of purification and cleansing. It realizes God’s amazing providence. It acknowledges the hurt and comes to terms with it. It allows us to carry on and allow God to work through our lives.
In Genesis chapter 50 we saw in Joseph an amazing illustration of forgiveness. His brothers weren’t quite convinced that Joseph had forgiven them because they knew their sin was great and they knew they didn’t deserve forgiveness. They feared that since Jacob had died, Joseph would now unleash his retaliation against him. Joseph surprised them when he spoke comforting words of reassurance and forgiveness instead of harsh words of vengeance and retribution. Joseph acknowledged that although the brothers’ plan was for evil, God used it for good.
Why was Joseph able to forgive? After all, that couldn’t have been an easy thing to do. The name of Joseph firstborn son explains a lot. His firstborn was named Manasseh. My study notes say that the name sounds like the Hebrew word for “making to forget”. In Genesis 41:52, Joseph gives his reason for naming his son Manasseh - “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household.” Joseph attributed his ability to forgive to God. It wasn’t sheer willpower. He didn’t just decide to push it down deep in his heart and forget about it. God was able to make him forget his hardship and focus on His purpose for him. Ezekiel 36:26 says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. God gave Joseph a new heart; a new spirit of love and grace. In forgiveness, Joseph was able to see the growth that came from the struggle he had gone through. In forgiveness, Joseph was able to see God’s amazing providence at work. In forgiveness, Joseph was able to reconcile with his brothers. In forgiveness, Joseph was able to carry out God’s plan in delivering the Hebrew people from starvation. Why is this so important? In forgiveness, Joseph preserved the Hebrew nation from which Christ our Savior descended. In this case, forgiveness saved us all for it is through undeserved grace & forgiveness that we are able to be saved through Jesus Christ today.
Colossians 3:13: says “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We are commanded to forgive and often that seems downright impossible. But remember nothing is impossible with God. He can change your heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.
Is there someone in your life who you are having trouble forgiving? Have you tried time and again to forgive someone, only to have bad thoughts pop back up again? Don’t rely on your own strength and willpower to overcome the bitterness. Make the choice to forgive and ask God to join you in cultivating a new heart and a new spirit. Ask Him to plant seeds of love and compassion; and to weed out the bitterness and the hurt. It may not happen overnight, but God will walk with you every step of the way.
Today's blog submitted by Kelly Coxe
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Day 28: Genesis 46-47
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2046-47&version=NIV
What a Plan! What a God!
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is about One Person, Jesus Christ.
I’ve been waiting all week to send out this message. Sorry, I know it's a little early to be sending it out but the excitement of the message is overwhelming! Finally, I get to share what the Lord has placed on my heart. We are nearing the end of the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph. I hope you give me the liberty to extend my last message a bit longer than usual.
It’s no accident God has placed this story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis or the Book of Beginnings. The Book of Genesis was written by Moses some 1,200 years before the birth of Christ. In the story of Joseph, God has foreshadowed His whole plan toward mankind. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Joseph reveals it all. We will see the beauty of God’s Word as I go back and place a different perspective on the story of Joseph. I hope it blesses your life as it has mine.
Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day:
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. John 5:39
With the story of Joseph fresh in our minds:
There was born to Jacob a Son. This Son of Jacob was favored above all his brothers
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. Gen 37:3
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt 3:17
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these John 5:20
From his young age, this Son of Jacob had the calling of God upon Him. The Lord was with Him.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
God’s plan to save his people rested upon this favored son of Jacob even his parents marveled at the plan which was foretold about Him
… but his father kept the matter in mind. Gen 37:11
And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33
This favored son of Jacob was destined to be the ruler of his people. It was prophesied that all knees would bow before Him.
"What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" Gen 37:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:10-11
This son of Jacob was sent out from His Father to check on his brothers in the field. In complete obedience to His father, He obeyed
Then he said to him, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me." So he sent Gen 37:14
Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49
But His own brothers, his own blood relatives saw him coming and despised him and rejected Him. They hated this favored son of the father.
Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! "Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!" Gen 37:19-20
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11
So they plotted to kill him
"But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Matt 21:38-39
They stripped him of his coat of many colors given to him by his father and they dipped it in blood and told Jacob he was dead.
So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Gen 37:22
So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Gen 37:31
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him Mark 15:20
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Rev 19:13
As the story of Joseph continues, this son of Jacob was sold into slavery and became the bondservant of Potipher
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Phil 2:7
While a bondservant, he was tempted to sin against God but he resisted. He would not sin against God.
And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused Gen 39:7-8
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15
They could find no fault in Him so a false witness arose to accuse him
Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; Gen 39:17
But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" Matt 26:60-61
They bound this son of Jacob and led away to be punished. In this place of punishment, there were two others with him.
This favored son of Jacob told one of condemned men after 3 days He would be back in the palace serving Pharaoh but the other would die hanging on a tree
And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. Gen 40:2-3
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Genesis 40:18
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:39-40
Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise ." Luke 23:42-43
In the wisdom of God hidden from the minds of sinful men, a plan ordained before the foundation of the world it was time for this Son of Jacob to come forth out of his prison chamber and take His place at the right hand of Pharaoh.
Yes, it was now time for this Son of Jacob to fulfill what was prophesied about him many years before. In his place of punishment, He was not forgotten by God.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? Psalms 22:1
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:10-11
In one day he rises out this prison dungeon and ascends to the right hand of the most powerful ruler on the planet.
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:19-23
It pleased Pharaoh to make him Lord over his entire house
"You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt ." Gen 41:40-41
All power and authority is given to this favored son of Jacob so He commissioned His servants to fulfill His will of bringing in the great harvest. His servants go forth gathering the wheat into the barn
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matt 28:18-20
The harvest was plentiful. They gathered in much grain into the barn.
Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was without number. Gen 41:49
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
His servants worked for many years to bring in this harvest. They knew the time grew short and the harvest would soon bend.
But these questions remain:
-What about his natural brothers?
-Did the favored Son of Jacob forget about his own blood relatives?
-Was he angry at His blood relatives for what they had done to him?
The 7 years of plenty has now ended and the 7 years of famine has come upon the earth.
Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. Gen 41:53-54
A 7 year tribulation will come upon the whole earth to try the people of the nations and Joseph’s blood relatives. This period will be known as a time of Jacob’s trouble.
Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Jer 30:7
But during the 7 year tribulation period, the brothers of Joseph start to seek out the grain stored in Egypt In their desperation when all else has failed, they realize they can’t save themselves so they ask for help from this ruler in Egypt.
"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice' for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Deut 4:30-31
Joseph has been waiting patiently through the years of plenty and now he recognizes his blood brothers as they come before him but he still hides his identity from them. He is waiting for God’s perfect timing before He reveals himself to them.
"for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Matt 23:39
But now the time has come to reveal Himself to them.
'And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel ,' says the Lord GOD." Ezek 39:29
He tells his blood brothers, it is me, Joseph
And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt . Gen 45:4
They looked upon this favored son of Jacob and realized what why had done.
Zech 12:10
…then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Matt 24:30
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
There is a great weeping as they realize the reality of their sin.
Gen 45:15
Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him
This Son of Jacob explains to his blood brothers this was God’s plan all along.
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" Rom 11:32-35
He told them by rejecting him and selling him into slavery, the whole world would be saved by Him. This favored son of the Father now invites all his brothers to come live with Him in the land of Goshen. The best of Egypt will be yours for I am Lord over all the Land.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt 25:34
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Rom 11:26-27
What a story! What a plan! What a God we serve. We praise your holy Name. You are the only Wise God who has hidden your wisdom from the proud and arrogant but you have revealed your truth to your servants. Oh Lord, what a wonderful plan you laid out for all of us to see. We glorify and worship you, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Lord we know you are with us and working in all our circumstances. We love you and thank you for being our God. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:22-24
KW
What a Plan! What a God!
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is about One Person, Jesus Christ.
I’ve been waiting all week to send out this message. Sorry, I know it's a little early to be sending it out but the excitement of the message is overwhelming! Finally, I get to share what the Lord has placed on my heart. We are nearing the end of the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph. I hope you give me the liberty to extend my last message a bit longer than usual.
It’s no accident God has placed this story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis or the Book of Beginnings. The Book of Genesis was written by Moses some 1,200 years before the birth of Christ. In the story of Joseph, God has foreshadowed His whole plan toward mankind. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Joseph reveals it all. We will see the beauty of God’s Word as I go back and place a different perspective on the story of Joseph. I hope it blesses your life as it has mine.
Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day:
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. John 5:39
With the story of Joseph fresh in our minds:
There was born to Jacob a Son. This Son of Jacob was favored above all his brothers
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. Gen 37:3
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt 3:17
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these John 5:20
From his young age, this Son of Jacob had the calling of God upon Him. The Lord was with Him.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
God’s plan to save his people rested upon this favored son of Jacob even his parents marveled at the plan which was foretold about Him
… but his father kept the matter in mind. Gen 37:11
And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33
This favored son of Jacob was destined to be the ruler of his people. It was prophesied that all knees would bow before Him.
"What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" Gen 37:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:10-11
This son of Jacob was sent out from His Father to check on his brothers in the field. In complete obedience to His father, He obeyed
Then he said to him, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me." So he sent Gen 37:14
Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49
But His own brothers, his own blood relatives saw him coming and despised him and rejected Him. They hated this favored son of the father.
Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! "Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!" Gen 37:19-20
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11
So they plotted to kill him
"But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Matt 21:38-39
They stripped him of his coat of many colors given to him by his father and they dipped it in blood and told Jacob he was dead.
So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Gen 37:22
So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Gen 37:31
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him Mark 15:20
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Rev 19:13
As the story of Joseph continues, this son of Jacob was sold into slavery and became the bondservant of Potipher
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Phil 2:7
While a bondservant, he was tempted to sin against God but he resisted. He would not sin against God.
And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused Gen 39:7-8
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15
They could find no fault in Him so a false witness arose to accuse him
Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; Gen 39:17
But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" Matt 26:60-61
They bound this son of Jacob and led away to be punished. In this place of punishment, there were two others with him.
This favored son of Jacob told one of condemned men after 3 days He would be back in the palace serving Pharaoh but the other would die hanging on a tree
And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. Gen 40:2-3
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Genesis 40:18
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Luke 23:39-40
Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise ." Luke 23:42-43
In the wisdom of God hidden from the minds of sinful men, a plan ordained before the foundation of the world it was time for this Son of Jacob to come forth out of his prison chamber and take His place at the right hand of Pharaoh.
Yes, it was now time for this Son of Jacob to fulfill what was prophesied about him many years before. In his place of punishment, He was not forgotten by God.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? Psalms 22:1
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:10-11
In one day he rises out this prison dungeon and ascends to the right hand of the most powerful ruler on the planet.
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:19-23
It pleased Pharaoh to make him Lord over his entire house
"You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt ." Gen 41:40-41
All power and authority is given to this favored son of Jacob so He commissioned His servants to fulfill His will of bringing in the great harvest. His servants go forth gathering the wheat into the barn
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matt 28:18-20
The harvest was plentiful. They gathered in much grain into the barn.
Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was without number. Gen 41:49
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
His servants worked for many years to bring in this harvest. They knew the time grew short and the harvest would soon bend.
But these questions remain:
-What about his natural brothers?
-Did the favored Son of Jacob forget about his own blood relatives?
-Was he angry at His blood relatives for what they had done to him?
The 7 years of plenty has now ended and the 7 years of famine has come upon the earth.
Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. Gen 41:53-54
A 7 year tribulation will come upon the whole earth to try the people of the nations and Joseph’s blood relatives. This period will be known as a time of Jacob’s trouble.
Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Jer 30:7
But during the 7 year tribulation period, the brothers of Joseph start to seek out the grain stored in Egypt In their desperation when all else has failed, they realize they can’t save themselves so they ask for help from this ruler in Egypt.
"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice' for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Deut 4:30-31
Joseph has been waiting patiently through the years of plenty and now he recognizes his blood brothers as they come before him but he still hides his identity from them. He is waiting for God’s perfect timing before He reveals himself to them.
"for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Matt 23:39
But now the time has come to reveal Himself to them.
'And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel ,' says the Lord GOD." Ezek 39:29
He tells his blood brothers, it is me, Joseph
And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt . Gen 45:4
They looked upon this favored son of Jacob and realized what why had done.
Zech 12:10
…then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Matt 24:30
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
There is a great weeping as they realize the reality of their sin.
Gen 45:15
Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him
This Son of Jacob explains to his blood brothers this was God’s plan all along.
For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" Rom 11:32-35
He told them by rejecting him and selling him into slavery, the whole world would be saved by Him. This favored son of the Father now invites all his brothers to come live with Him in the land of Goshen. The best of Egypt will be yours for I am Lord over all the Land.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt 25:34
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Rom 11:26-27
What a story! What a plan! What a God we serve. We praise your holy Name. You are the only Wise God who has hidden your wisdom from the proud and arrogant but you have revealed your truth to your servants. Oh Lord, what a wonderful plan you laid out for all of us to see. We glorify and worship you, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Lord we know you are with us and working in all our circumstances. We love you and thank you for being our God. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:22-24
KW
Friday, January 29, 2010
Day 27: Genesis 43-45
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2043-45&version=NIV
Grace, grace and more grace
Justice and judgment I fully understand but what is this grace?
Did you notice how Joseph put the pressure on his brothers? He didn’t reveal himself immediately but rather treated them harshly. Test after test, Joseph saw how his brothers responded to the pressure. Why was he doing this? Why not just reveal himself to his brothers? Joseph wanted to see their attitude toward their younger brother, Benjamin. Are his brothers full of hatred like they were toward him? Joseph applied the pressure.
In their trials, Joseph’s brothers realized they were reaping what they have sown. They have sinned against Joseph years earlier and now his blood has come upon them. They knew about justice and judgment. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But there was one thing lacking in their life, they needed to understand the grace of God!
Have you sinned and now you are reaping the consequences of it? Because of our rebellion, our circumstances just won’t work out. We realize we are reaping what we have sown. We fully understand God’s perfect justice.
This isn’t the end of the story. God is a God of justice and judgment, but He also is a God of love and grace. This is what Joseph wanted to teach his brothers. Yes, we are guilty! Yes we did do it! But you know what, God is greater than our sin!!! To you hear this? God is greater than all our mess-ups. As we turn our hearts to Him, He is quite able to turn everything around for our blessings. All is forgiven and forgotten.
How can God do this? After all, we deserve to be punished for what we did. It is called GRACE: free unmerited favor of God, unearned by us. It flows from the heart of God toward hurting mankind. It is grace to live unto God. It is grace to get up and start afresh with God. All is forgiven. Do we deserve this grace? No we don’t!!!! This is why it is called grace.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Rev. 21:21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
KW
Grace, grace and more grace
Justice and judgment I fully understand but what is this grace?
Did you notice how Joseph put the pressure on his brothers? He didn’t reveal himself immediately but rather treated them harshly. Test after test, Joseph saw how his brothers responded to the pressure. Why was he doing this? Why not just reveal himself to his brothers? Joseph wanted to see their attitude toward their younger brother, Benjamin. Are his brothers full of hatred like they were toward him? Joseph applied the pressure.
In their trials, Joseph’s brothers realized they were reaping what they have sown. They have sinned against Joseph years earlier and now his blood has come upon them. They knew about justice and judgment. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But there was one thing lacking in their life, they needed to understand the grace of God!
Have you sinned and now you are reaping the consequences of it? Because of our rebellion, our circumstances just won’t work out. We realize we are reaping what we have sown. We fully understand God’s perfect justice.
This isn’t the end of the story. God is a God of justice and judgment, but He also is a God of love and grace. This is what Joseph wanted to teach his brothers. Yes, we are guilty! Yes we did do it! But you know what, God is greater than our sin!!! To you hear this? God is greater than all our mess-ups. As we turn our hearts to Him, He is quite able to turn everything around for our blessings. All is forgiven and forgotten.
How can God do this? After all, we deserve to be punished for what we did. It is called GRACE: free unmerited favor of God, unearned by us. It flows from the heart of God toward hurting mankind. It is grace to live unto God. It is grace to get up and start afresh with God. All is forgiven. Do we deserve this grace? No we don’t!!!! This is why it is called grace.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Rev. 21:21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
KW
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Day 26: Genesis 41-42
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041-42&version=NIV
Being Struck by Lightening
All of these questions and answers are found in God's mercy and grace being upon him. If God didn't hold Joseph’s life in His hands it wouldn't be possible for him to keep the faith. How many people think God's blessings are just the things we see in the material realm? Like financial blessings, material possession or an answer to a prayer request.
God does bless us in these areas but God is more interested in our spiritual blessings. The greatest blessing we can have is God Himself and knowing He is with us and in us. I am not trying to discourage everyone by saying God's physical blessings aren't important. They are but knowing we have God Himself with us far surpasses any physical blessing.
Being Struck by Lightening
Do you need some circumstances changed in your life?
Two more years have past and still no change in Joseph's circumstances. He has been waiting and waiting and waiting. In this chapter we see just how fast God can change a circumstance. In one day, Joseph goes from a galley slave to 2nd in command of the most powerful nation on earth! Think of it in today's terms. Someone sitting in jail with a life sentence with no chance of parole is released and exalted to the Vice-Presidency of the United States … IN ONE DAY
Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
I love how fast God can change a circumstance in our life. What seems to be a dark hour in our life is really the last of the night just before the sun arises.
When we've been praying for a circumstance to change but we seem to be stuck in the pattern of waiting and waiting and waiting. Then all of a sudden...FLASH things are answered with lightening speed. You’ve been praying to meet a godly person and FLASH There she or he is. You’ve been praying for finances only to get laid off but then FLASH a phone call concerning your resume with a job offer with more pay! You’ve been praying for a family member to come to Christ and FLASH you receive a phone call asking you to take them to church.
When God decides to move on our behalf, it can happen with lightening speed. What we must do in the mean time is to wait expectantly for the Lord to answer on our behalf. We don't wait just to be waiting! We wait and expect an answer. For example, we don’t wait in a long line at the grocery store for the fun of it. No, we wait because we expect to purchase our groceries and then go home and enjoy them.
We need to be waiting with expectancy for the Lord to do something in our life.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Joseph is the example of the man who went through some many bad circumstances and an example how God can bring blessings out of it. How did Joseph keep from being weary and how could he handle all the unfair things which came upon him? Where did his faith, strength and patience come from?
Two more years have past and still no change in Joseph's circumstances. He has been waiting and waiting and waiting. In this chapter we see just how fast God can change a circumstance. In one day, Joseph goes from a galley slave to 2nd in command of the most powerful nation on earth! Think of it in today's terms. Someone sitting in jail with a life sentence with no chance of parole is released and exalted to the Vice-Presidency of the United States … IN ONE DAY
Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
I love how fast God can change a circumstance in our life. What seems to be a dark hour in our life is really the last of the night just before the sun arises.
When we've been praying for a circumstance to change but we seem to be stuck in the pattern of waiting and waiting and waiting. Then all of a sudden...FLASH things are answered with lightening speed. You’ve been praying to meet a godly person and FLASH There she or he is. You’ve been praying for finances only to get laid off but then FLASH a phone call concerning your resume with a job offer with more pay! You’ve been praying for a family member to come to Christ and FLASH you receive a phone call asking you to take them to church.
When God decides to move on our behalf, it can happen with lightening speed. What we must do in the mean time is to wait expectantly for the Lord to answer on our behalf. We don't wait just to be waiting! We wait and expect an answer. For example, we don’t wait in a long line at the grocery store for the fun of it. No, we wait because we expect to purchase our groceries and then go home and enjoy them.
We need to be waiting with expectancy for the Lord to do something in our life.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Joseph is the example of the man who went through some many bad circumstances and an example how God can bring blessings out of it. How did Joseph keep from being weary and how could he handle all the unfair things which came upon him? Where did his faith, strength and patience come from?
All of these questions and answers are found in God's mercy and grace being upon him. If God didn't hold Joseph’s life in His hands it wouldn't be possible for him to keep the faith. How many people think God's blessings are just the things we see in the material realm? Like financial blessings, material possession or an answer to a prayer request.
God does bless us in these areas but God is more interested in our spiritual blessings. The greatest blessing we can have is God Himself and knowing He is with us and in us. I am not trying to discourage everyone by saying God's physical blessings aren't important. They are but knowing we have God Himself with us far surpasses any physical blessing.
.
Joseph understood and rested in knowing God. This is why he wasn't discouraged when everything physically was taken away: family, friends, and even his freedom. He still had God with him and this gave him strength. It’s better to be in a dungeon with God than to be on top of the world without God. The Lord held Joseph's life in His hand and Joseph waited patiently on God's will. We must also keep our faith upon Him and realize our strength comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we know God is with us, we can praise God in the bad times, the good times, when God answers prayers or when He hasn't answered our prayers. If we need help let's invite Jesus to help us.
.
KW and Abrianna
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Day 25: Genesis 38-40
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2038-40&version=NIV
Has God Forgotten Me?
As a young man, Joseph had the calling of God upon his life yet he is rejected by his brothers, stripped of his garment and thrown into a pit. They were going to kill him but instead they sell him into slavery. While in Egypt , he stands up for righteousness and is falsely accused. Jospeh is sent to prison!
Could it get any worse for him? After all, this has come upon him because God had given him a dream and he stood up for righteousness. Has God forgotten about Joseph? What happened to God’s plan? It wasn’t supposed to work out this way or was it?
The Lord is still with Joseph, but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t get discouraged in the circumstance he finds himself in. As we read through chapter 40, there are two prison inmates with him. God gives Joseph the interpretation of their dreams. The baker will be executed and the butler will be restored back to Pharaoh’s palace. At last, this is Joseph’s chance to get out of prison so he gives this message to the butler:
"But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. Gen 40:14
Gen 40:23
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Oh no, Joseph was forgotten again!
Are you waiting on God to do something in your life? Does it seem God has forgotten about your blessing? You see others enjoying the blessings of God but what about me? Do things seem hopeless? Are you growing weary? While in this place we might think, “Is there any profit on waiting on God?”
This is the time we must rely upon God’s strength. He is working a plan, and He is refining our faith. Remember, NO, NO, NO God has not forgotten you!
Gal 6:9 says And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. At the end of our physical strength when we are about to give up hope, this is the time to appropriate by faith the power of God in our life through the Holy Spirit. Mere human will power isn’t enough. We need God's strength.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa 40:29-31
One day after dropping off my son in the front of his school, I just stopped my car and cried for about an hour. My son is the sweetest kid, he always gives me hugs, kissing on my face and says “I love you mom, you are the greatest mom ever “….yeah! He is the love of my life. Everything that I have is his and I would do anything possible for him even laying down my life but why did I cry for a hour?
When I have to punish my son, it just makes me feel awful and I feel a slicing in my heart. But I have to be firm and keep my words so he can learn to do better on his behavior. If I don’t discipline him, I know he will never change his behavior. Of course punishment isn’t the only tool of parenting. Last week my son woke up early and got ready for school without me asking him to get up. This was very unusual. What motivated him to get up without me pushing him out of bed? Before this he had seen me crying so he convinced himself to do better. He wanted to please me and make me feel better. As a parent, I enjoy rewarding my son for good behavior. Last week, I surprised him with a reward. My son responded by saying, “Thank you mom, I have been working so hard to push myself and it took lots of patience.” Then he said, “Will you give me a reward next week also? “ This is a picture of us and God.Sometimes as we wait patiently on God, we think He isn’t moving to help us. When we pray for certain things or for our circumstances, we have to ask God and try to find out what he wants us to learn from what we are going through. We are so used to asking God but don’t spend much time listening to His voice. Everything we go through has a reason. We must remember our heavenly Father as the perfect parent has an unending love for us. He is always patient with us and He might even be crying over us
KW and Abrianna
Has God Forgotten Me?
As a young man, Joseph had the calling of God upon his life yet he is rejected by his brothers, stripped of his garment and thrown into a pit. They were going to kill him but instead they sell him into slavery. While in Egypt , he stands up for righteousness and is falsely accused. Jospeh is sent to prison!
Could it get any worse for him? After all, this has come upon him because God had given him a dream and he stood up for righteousness. Has God forgotten about Joseph? What happened to God’s plan? It wasn’t supposed to work out this way or was it?
The Lord is still with Joseph, but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t get discouraged in the circumstance he finds himself in. As we read through chapter 40, there are two prison inmates with him. God gives Joseph the interpretation of their dreams. The baker will be executed and the butler will be restored back to Pharaoh’s palace. At last, this is Joseph’s chance to get out of prison so he gives this message to the butler:
"But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. Gen 40:14
Gen 40:23
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Oh no, Joseph was forgotten again!
Are you waiting on God to do something in your life? Does it seem God has forgotten about your blessing? You see others enjoying the blessings of God but what about me? Do things seem hopeless? Are you growing weary? While in this place we might think, “Is there any profit on waiting on God?”
This is the time we must rely upon God’s strength. He is working a plan, and He is refining our faith. Remember, NO, NO, NO God has not forgotten you!
Gal 6:9 says And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. At the end of our physical strength when we are about to give up hope, this is the time to appropriate by faith the power of God in our life through the Holy Spirit. Mere human will power isn’t enough. We need God's strength.
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa 40:29-31
One day after dropping off my son in the front of his school, I just stopped my car and cried for about an hour. My son is the sweetest kid, he always gives me hugs, kissing on my face and says “I love you mom, you are the greatest mom ever “….yeah! He is the love of my life. Everything that I have is his and I would do anything possible for him even laying down my life but why did I cry for a hour?
When I have to punish my son, it just makes me feel awful and I feel a slicing in my heart. But I have to be firm and keep my words so he can learn to do better on his behavior. If I don’t discipline him, I know he will never change his behavior. Of course punishment isn’t the only tool of parenting. Last week my son woke up early and got ready for school without me asking him to get up. This was very unusual. What motivated him to get up without me pushing him out of bed? Before this he had seen me crying so he convinced himself to do better. He wanted to please me and make me feel better. As a parent, I enjoy rewarding my son for good behavior. Last week, I surprised him with a reward. My son responded by saying, “Thank you mom, I have been working so hard to push myself and it took lots of patience.” Then he said, “Will you give me a reward next week also? “ This is a picture of us and God.Sometimes as we wait patiently on God, we think He isn’t moving to help us. When we pray for certain things or for our circumstances, we have to ask God and try to find out what he wants us to learn from what we are going through. We are so used to asking God but don’t spend much time listening to His voice. Everything we go through has a reason. We must remember our heavenly Father as the perfect parent has an unending love for us. He is always patient with us and He might even be crying over us
KW and Abrianna
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Day 24: Genesis 35-37
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2035-37&version=NIV
Does Your House Need Cleaning?
One thing I hate is housecleaning. For me, it is very hard to get motivated to clean house. But the housecleaning we read in Genesis 35 must be done by each one of us. No maids are allowed. The Lord told Jacob to travel to Bethel to worship Him there. Jacob obeyed but he realized there is a big problem. The hearts of his family had divided allegiances toward God. Jacob knew his wives had one foot in following God and one foot in the world. God desired to break this double-mindedness The Lord wants to do the same with us.
Gen 35:1-3
Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
In Jacob’s day if the people of God had a divided allegiance toward God, it was represented by them hanging onto their idols. They served God yet at the same time they trusted in their idols. We might think, “We surely don’t do anything like this?” Today of course most people don’t carry these types of idols in their pockets. Rather our idols have transformed into cars, pleasures, money or people. Almost anything can become an idol in our life if we let it. Even good things meant to bless us can become an idol if we put more affection toward it than toward God. Jesus desires to set us free from all idols and to get our heart fully committed to Him.
God wants us to clean house by examining ourselves to make sure we have submitted everything in our life to the will of God. We must be willing to lay everything at the foot of the cross and say, “I give this to you Lord”. Sometimes out of fear, I don’t want to let go of what I’m trusting in and give it to God. I think, if I give this to God, I’ll lose it forever and then I won’t be happy. Or if I do it God’s way, I’ll be miserable so I hang onto it with “white knuckles” refusing to give it to God. It gets hard and frustrating doesn’t it? God is so good He allows me to get into a position where I’m willing to give it to Him and to submit to His will. “Okay, Lord, here it is”. “I’m willing to do it your way” “Help me Lord to be fully committed to You” A funny thing happens when I decide to place God first in my heart. What I thought I needed, I really didn’t and then God starts to bring new and beautiful things into my life.
Matt 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
When I became born again Christian, my daily prayer was, ‘Please God help me not to choose the world over Your Word and help me to have a pure, innocent love toward You’. I cried out to the Lord because I knew my tendency was to choose wrong over God’s way. I realized God is the only one who can control my desire to sin and to keep me from justifying my sin.
What are some areas Christians can justify in their mind to the point of having one foot in the world and one foot in God? Christians can go to church, attend Bible study groups and prayer meetings but then hang out in the clubs and bars drinking the night away. Thinking in their mind, "I need a good social to go to" Or watching pornography while saying in their mind, "It’s better than committing adultery" or justification improper physical contact with a dating partner, "We are in love with each other so there isn't anything wrong with this." This way of thinking can deceive and blind a Christian’s mind.
Lately I found myself negotiating in my mind some areas of temptation in my own life. It brought a lot of guilt just thinking about it. I knew I was in danger of falling until finally I got on my knees and asked the Lord for help, “Please Lord help me! Purify my heart“
As we continue to read in these chapters, we are moving into the story of Joseph. God isn’t trapped in time like we are. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The Lord starts in motion a plan which will benefit His people and others. No one realizes God's plan in a young man’s life named Joseph. Even Joseph doesn’t fully understand what God is up to.
Take note men and women of God: God is working a plan in our life and sometimes we have no idea of the end result or what God is up to. Today, no matter where you find yourself in life, we can look through the eyes of faith and praise His name. We can rejoice in Him knowing He is working a grand plan for our life. A plan which will be a blessing to us and a blessing to others.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13
KW and Abrianna
Does Your House Need Cleaning?
One thing I hate is housecleaning. For me, it is very hard to get motivated to clean house. But the housecleaning we read in Genesis 35 must be done by each one of us. No maids are allowed. The Lord told Jacob to travel to Bethel to worship Him there. Jacob obeyed but he realized there is a big problem. The hearts of his family had divided allegiances toward God. Jacob knew his wives had one foot in following God and one foot in the world. God desired to break this double-mindedness The Lord wants to do the same with us.
Gen 35:1-3
Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
In Jacob’s day if the people of God had a divided allegiance toward God, it was represented by them hanging onto their idols. They served God yet at the same time they trusted in their idols. We might think, “We surely don’t do anything like this?” Today of course most people don’t carry these types of idols in their pockets. Rather our idols have transformed into cars, pleasures, money or people. Almost anything can become an idol in our life if we let it. Even good things meant to bless us can become an idol if we put more affection toward it than toward God. Jesus desires to set us free from all idols and to get our heart fully committed to Him.
God wants us to clean house by examining ourselves to make sure we have submitted everything in our life to the will of God. We must be willing to lay everything at the foot of the cross and say, “I give this to you Lord”. Sometimes out of fear, I don’t want to let go of what I’m trusting in and give it to God. I think, if I give this to God, I’ll lose it forever and then I won’t be happy. Or if I do it God’s way, I’ll be miserable so I hang onto it with “white knuckles” refusing to give it to God. It gets hard and frustrating doesn’t it? God is so good He allows me to get into a position where I’m willing to give it to Him and to submit to His will. “Okay, Lord, here it is”. “I’m willing to do it your way” “Help me Lord to be fully committed to You” A funny thing happens when I decide to place God first in my heart. What I thought I needed, I really didn’t and then God starts to bring new and beautiful things into my life.
Matt 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
When I became born again Christian, my daily prayer was, ‘Please God help me not to choose the world over Your Word and help me to have a pure, innocent love toward You’. I cried out to the Lord because I knew my tendency was to choose wrong over God’s way. I realized God is the only one who can control my desire to sin and to keep me from justifying my sin.
What are some areas Christians can justify in their mind to the point of having one foot in the world and one foot in God? Christians can go to church, attend Bible study groups and prayer meetings but then hang out in the clubs and bars drinking the night away. Thinking in their mind, "I need a good social to go to" Or watching pornography while saying in their mind, "It’s better than committing adultery" or justification improper physical contact with a dating partner, "We are in love with each other so there isn't anything wrong with this." This way of thinking can deceive and blind a Christian’s mind.
Lately I found myself negotiating in my mind some areas of temptation in my own life. It brought a lot of guilt just thinking about it. I knew I was in danger of falling until finally I got on my knees and asked the Lord for help, “Please Lord help me! Purify my heart“
As we continue to read in these chapters, we are moving into the story of Joseph. God isn’t trapped in time like we are. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The Lord starts in motion a plan which will benefit His people and others. No one realizes God's plan in a young man’s life named Joseph. Even Joseph doesn’t fully understand what God is up to.
Take note men and women of God: God is working a plan in our life and sometimes we have no idea of the end result or what God is up to. Today, no matter where you find yourself in life, we can look through the eyes of faith and praise His name. We can rejoice in Him knowing He is working a grand plan for our life. A plan which will be a blessing to us and a blessing to others.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13
KW and Abrianna
Monday, January 25, 2010
Day 23: Genesis 32-34
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2032-34&version=NIV
You won’t see this wrestling match on the WWE
Have You Wrestled with God Yet?
The time has come for Jacob and his family to move back to his home county, but there is one big problem. Years earlier, Jacob had deceived his brother Esau out of his birthright and now Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men. Is Esau coming to take vengeance upon him and his family? Jacob is fearful and has a plan but so does God.
In Gen 32:8-11, Jacob cries out to God in his time of trouble.
Gen 32:9-11
Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
This is what the Lord of Abraham and Isaac has been waiting for. God desires to bring Jacob into a relationship with Himself. No more playing religion, no more running from God. It’s time to humble himself before His maker. His sins have caught up to him.
Jacob gets alone. It's just him and God now.
As night falls, Jacob wrestles with God through out the night. There comes a time in our life were we must stand before God and enter our own wrestling match. Have you had your wrestling match with God? Our sins have caught up with us. No more hiding behind church or good works. The consequence of our rebellion against God is coming upon us. We need to do what Jacob did. We get alone with God and enter the wrestling match. “I will not let you go until you bless me” On through the night he wrestles with God until finally it is time to obtain his blessings.
What is the blessing God desires to give all of us? It is a change of nature.
From sinner to the righteousness of Christ. From an enemy of God to a friend of God. From a Jacob (deceiver) to an Israel (Prince of God) Yes, God desires to give all of us a new nature And just as Israel walked with a limp the rest of his life, we also walk differently in this world after we invite the Lord Jesus into our life. God is now the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Even as believers in Christ, we need to be growing spiritually. Jacob never gave up when he was asking God for his blessing. After his encounter with God, we can see a changed attitude. He was silent even after his own daughter had been defiled. What makes him so silent?
The past 10 years of my life I didn’t know why I had to go thru all the hurtful, heavy things in my life. Over and over again, like a boot camp, I would go through problem after problem. Actually I knew why but it was so hard for me to accept the reasons. God had a purpose for my life; He wanted to teach me discipline and grow my faith. God loves me so much that’s why he wants my faith to become pure as gold but to do this, I must pass through God’s boot camp to be molded into a soldier of Christ.
Even though I didn’t understand everything, I learned to just surrender to God’s working in my life. Waiting on Him to change my circumstances and listening to His voice to lead my steps in life. I knew if I tried to leave God’s boot camp by running from God’s working in my life, it would only make things worse. Only God can rescue me.
I graduated from my first boot camp after 10 years only to enter another one of God’s boot camps! But glory to God, I can tell every area of life has been changed beyond what I could ever imagine. I thought I was stuck, but God’s plan is working in me and He keeps moving me forward. He will never leave us alone. We can have confidence today; God is working in our life.
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1:7
KW and Abrianna
You won’t see this wrestling match on the WWE
Have You Wrestled with God Yet?
The time has come for Jacob and his family to move back to his home county, but there is one big problem. Years earlier, Jacob had deceived his brother Esau out of his birthright and now Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men. Is Esau coming to take vengeance upon him and his family? Jacob is fearful and has a plan but so does God.
In Gen 32:8-11, Jacob cries out to God in his time of trouble.
Gen 32:9-11
Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
This is what the Lord of Abraham and Isaac has been waiting for. God desires to bring Jacob into a relationship with Himself. No more playing religion, no more running from God. It’s time to humble himself before His maker. His sins have caught up to him.
Jacob gets alone. It's just him and God now.
As night falls, Jacob wrestles with God through out the night. There comes a time in our life were we must stand before God and enter our own wrestling match. Have you had your wrestling match with God? Our sins have caught up with us. No more hiding behind church or good works. The consequence of our rebellion against God is coming upon us. We need to do what Jacob did. We get alone with God and enter the wrestling match. “I will not let you go until you bless me” On through the night he wrestles with God until finally it is time to obtain his blessings.
What is the blessing God desires to give all of us? It is a change of nature.
From sinner to the righteousness of Christ. From an enemy of God to a friend of God. From a Jacob (deceiver) to an Israel (Prince of God) Yes, God desires to give all of us a new nature And just as Israel walked with a limp the rest of his life, we also walk differently in this world after we invite the Lord Jesus into our life. God is now the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Even as believers in Christ, we need to be growing spiritually. Jacob never gave up when he was asking God for his blessing. After his encounter with God, we can see a changed attitude. He was silent even after his own daughter had been defiled. What makes him so silent?
The past 10 years of my life I didn’t know why I had to go thru all the hurtful, heavy things in my life. Over and over again, like a boot camp, I would go through problem after problem. Actually I knew why but it was so hard for me to accept the reasons. God had a purpose for my life; He wanted to teach me discipline and grow my faith. God loves me so much that’s why he wants my faith to become pure as gold but to do this, I must pass through God’s boot camp to be molded into a soldier of Christ.
Even though I didn’t understand everything, I learned to just surrender to God’s working in my life. Waiting on Him to change my circumstances and listening to His voice to lead my steps in life. I knew if I tried to leave God’s boot camp by running from God’s working in my life, it would only make things worse. Only God can rescue me.
I graduated from my first boot camp after 10 years only to enter another one of God’s boot camps! But glory to God, I can tell every area of life has been changed beyond what I could ever imagine. I thought I was stuck, but God’s plan is working in me and He keeps moving me forward. He will never leave us alone. We can have confidence today; God is working in our life.
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1:7
KW and Abrianna
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Day 22: Genesis 30-31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2030-31&version=NIV
Desperate Housewives
Jacob loves beautiful Rachel more than Leah his first wife. Leah is trying to earn Jacob’s love by bearing him children. Jacob is deceived by his father-in-law. Rachel is unable to bear children so she allows her maid servant to bear Jacob’s children. Leah not to be out done by Rachel gives Jacob her maid servant to bear more children. Rachel bears a son. The TV series Desperate Housewives couldn’t match the schemes and plots of what we are reading in these chapters.
The interaction between Jacob’s wives, Rachel and Leah, are filled with envy and jealousy. These sins are a real danger for the people of God. It will rob us of our joy and bring us much miserly if we allow these sins to take root in our life. Sometimes we don’t even realize how jealous we can be. We see a co-worker who gets a job promotion which we disired and instead of thinking “Praise God” we think, “How could they get the promotion?” “Don’t they see how hard I worked and how lazy he or she is?” Then we move into gossip which only cuts the other person down so we can be exalted in our own mind thus proving our point. Gossip is often motivated by jealousy.
If we allow jealousy or envy to rule our spirit, it will consume us! Even ministers of the gospel can have jealousy or envy. Been there and done that! You hear someone say, “O that was the best sermon I’ve ever heard or someone says, “This is the best Bible study class at church” Instead of rejoicing and thanking God for the work He is doing in their life, you feel a knot in your stomach and think, “What about my message” or “What about our class” Yes, jealousy can rob us of our joy and peace if we allow these sins into our life.
But thank God, we can get the victory over these sins As soon I sense a jealous thought, I confess it to God and ask for His help to overcome it. Then I do the opposite of what I might be feeling. I rejoice with those who are blessed and thank God for His favor I see upon them. It’s a good feeling to be free from this sin so we can rejoice with others who are being blessed by God. Instead of being jealous, I ask God, "Lord, I want some of what they have"
Some more truths from our chapters: Just as Leah is trying to earn Jacob’s love by bearing his children, we can also try to earn God’s love by doing good works. God visited an ordinary man like Jacob and greatly blessed him. God is showing Himself as the God of grace and mercy because of His covenant He made with Abraham - Jacob’s grandfather. Many believers’ are still struggling with the meaning of God’s blessing and why would God bless me? Or some might even think God won’t guide them in their daily affairs of life. That kind of relationship is only reserved for “special religious people”. We must realize no one deserves anything good from God…nobody...only Jesus Christ deserves God’s blessing because He fulfilled all of God’s righteousness. Jacob was blessed because of the covenant of Abraham and we are blessed because of the covenant Jesus made with His Father. We call this GRACE. Whenever we call upon His name He will answer our supplications. Whenever we ask Him to come into our life, He will come and never leave us. His love toward us will never fail so we don’t have to be afraid to hold anything back from Him. His love will never fail because Jesus is alive for evermore. God can fulfill all our needs. Call upon him today like Jacob did.
Has God showed you something from the chapters we are reading? Share with us on the blog. It’s easy to post. God brought all of us together so we can learn from each other.
KW and Abrianna
Desperate Housewives
Jacob loves beautiful Rachel more than Leah his first wife. Leah is trying to earn Jacob’s love by bearing him children. Jacob is deceived by his father-in-law. Rachel is unable to bear children so she allows her maid servant to bear Jacob’s children. Leah not to be out done by Rachel gives Jacob her maid servant to bear more children. Rachel bears a son. The TV series Desperate Housewives couldn’t match the schemes and plots of what we are reading in these chapters.
The interaction between Jacob’s wives, Rachel and Leah, are filled with envy and jealousy. These sins are a real danger for the people of God. It will rob us of our joy and bring us much miserly if we allow these sins to take root in our life. Sometimes we don’t even realize how jealous we can be. We see a co-worker who gets a job promotion which we disired and instead of thinking “Praise God” we think, “How could they get the promotion?” “Don’t they see how hard I worked and how lazy he or she is?” Then we move into gossip which only cuts the other person down so we can be exalted in our own mind thus proving our point. Gossip is often motivated by jealousy.
If we allow jealousy or envy to rule our spirit, it will consume us! Even ministers of the gospel can have jealousy or envy. Been there and done that! You hear someone say, “O that was the best sermon I’ve ever heard or someone says, “This is the best Bible study class at church” Instead of rejoicing and thanking God for the work He is doing in their life, you feel a knot in your stomach and think, “What about my message” or “What about our class” Yes, jealousy can rob us of our joy and peace if we allow these sins into our life.
But thank God, we can get the victory over these sins As soon I sense a jealous thought, I confess it to God and ask for His help to overcome it. Then I do the opposite of what I might be feeling. I rejoice with those who are blessed and thank God for His favor I see upon them. It’s a good feeling to be free from this sin so we can rejoice with others who are being blessed by God. Instead of being jealous, I ask God, "Lord, I want some of what they have"
Some more truths from our chapters: Just as Leah is trying to earn Jacob’s love by bearing his children, we can also try to earn God’s love by doing good works. God visited an ordinary man like Jacob and greatly blessed him. God is showing Himself as the God of grace and mercy because of His covenant He made with Abraham - Jacob’s grandfather. Many believers’ are still struggling with the meaning of God’s blessing and why would God bless me? Or some might even think God won’t guide them in their daily affairs of life. That kind of relationship is only reserved for “special religious people”. We must realize no one deserves anything good from God…nobody...only Jesus Christ deserves God’s blessing because He fulfilled all of God’s righteousness. Jacob was blessed because of the covenant of Abraham and we are blessed because of the covenant Jesus made with His Father. We call this GRACE. Whenever we call upon His name He will answer our supplications. Whenever we ask Him to come into our life, He will come and never leave us. His love toward us will never fail so we don’t have to be afraid to hold anything back from Him. His love will never fail because Jesus is alive for evermore. God can fulfill all our needs. Call upon him today like Jacob did.
Has God showed you something from the chapters we are reading? Share with us on the blog. It’s easy to post. God brought all of us together so we can learn from each other.
KW and Abrianna
Day 21: Genesis 27-29
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027-29&version=NIV
“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12
Jacob’s ladder. Most of us have heard of the story. But what is the true meaning of Jacob’s ladder? Let’s discuss this today.
In Genesis 28, we read that Jacob was travelling to Haran to find him a wife, in response to Isaac’s command. After travelling for the day, he laid down to sleep. While in his sleep, he had a revelation from God. Let’s read from Scripture about this revelation:
"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
How great a vision this is. The Lord reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant with Jacob and the Lord says He will be with him wherever he goes. But how does this relate to us today? Well, let’s look at John 1:51:
“He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus is speaking to Nathaniel. He had just told Nathaniel that he was an Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. (John 1:47) Remember, the name Jacob can mean deceiver and Jesus is telling Nathaniel there is no deceit in him. From this statement and from verse 51 we can see that Jesus is referring to Jacob’s ladder in Genesis 28. Jesus says the ladder is Himself. He has substituted the ladder with the Son of Man in verse 51.
Jesus Christ is now the mediator between God and Man. How we communicate to God is through Jesus Christ. We no longer have to go to places such as Bethel to see God. We can go straight to Jesus. How great is that!!! 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”
If we wanted to get symbolic in the interpretation of the ladder, we could look at each of the rungs of it, and apply them to Jesus’ ministry and their significance. For example:Rung #1 – the Incarnanation and its significance, Rung # 2- the Transfiguration and its significance, Rung # 3 – the Crucifixition and its significance, and Rung # 4 – the Resurrection and its significance. More rungs, of course, could be added.
The promise that God gave to Jacob in verse Genesis 28:15, that He would be with Jacob wherever he went, still applies to us today.
“……And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20
Praise be to God that we can go to Him through Jesus. Go to God to day. Submit your life to Him, obey His Word, trust Jesus as your Savior, and He will fulfill another great promise to you.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
God’s Word is so rich. Study to find the riches of His Word and then apply these riches to your life so that you can honor Him in all that you do.
Solo Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12
Jacob’s ladder. Most of us have heard of the story. But what is the true meaning of Jacob’s ladder? Let’s discuss this today.
In Genesis 28, we read that Jacob was travelling to Haran to find him a wife, in response to Isaac’s command. After travelling for the day, he laid down to sleep. While in his sleep, he had a revelation from God. Let’s read from Scripture about this revelation:
"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
How great a vision this is. The Lord reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant with Jacob and the Lord says He will be with him wherever he goes. But how does this relate to us today? Well, let’s look at John 1:51:
“He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus is speaking to Nathaniel. He had just told Nathaniel that he was an Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. (John 1:47) Remember, the name Jacob can mean deceiver and Jesus is telling Nathaniel there is no deceit in him. From this statement and from verse 51 we can see that Jesus is referring to Jacob’s ladder in Genesis 28. Jesus says the ladder is Himself. He has substituted the ladder with the Son of Man in verse 51.
Jesus Christ is now the mediator between God and Man. How we communicate to God is through Jesus Christ. We no longer have to go to places such as Bethel to see God. We can go straight to Jesus. How great is that!!! 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”
If we wanted to get symbolic in the interpretation of the ladder, we could look at each of the rungs of it, and apply them to Jesus’ ministry and their significance. For example:Rung #1 – the Incarnanation and its significance, Rung # 2- the Transfiguration and its significance, Rung # 3 – the Crucifixition and its significance, and Rung # 4 – the Resurrection and its significance. More rungs, of course, could be added.
The promise that God gave to Jacob in verse Genesis 28:15, that He would be with Jacob wherever he went, still applies to us today.
“……And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20
Praise be to God that we can go to Him through Jesus. Go to God to day. Submit your life to Him, obey His Word, trust Jesus as your Savior, and He will fulfill another great promise to you.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
God’s Word is so rich. Study to find the riches of His Word and then apply these riches to your life so that you can honor Him in all that you do.
Solo Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Day 20: Genesis 25-26
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025-26&version=NIV
“ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34
In Genesis 25, the death of Abraham is narrated, the birth of Jacob and Esau is detailed, and the selling of Esau’s birthright is recounted. On the selling of the Esau’s birthright, I would like to focus on today.
Genesis 25:27 states that Esau was a hunter, a man of the open country, whereas Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Esau comes across to me as a man’s man. Strong, confident, and probably liked by the ladies.
One day when Esau came back from hunting he was famished. Jacob was cooking some red stew and Esau asked him for some. Jacob, which can have the connotation of “deceiver” in Hebrew, deceives Esau and says he will give Esau some stew if Esau sells him his birthright.
Why Jacob did this, I do not know. In Genesis 25:23, the Lord tells Rebekah that the older will serve the younger. Jacob was the younger. In all likelihood, Rebekah told Jacob of this, but Jacob still deceived Esau for his birthright. Jacob was acting in his own interest as if he wanted to make sure God’s promise to his mother and ultimately him would be fulfilled.
When reading this story, at first glance, it makes you want to feel sorry for Esau, at least it did for me. It seems like he got the raw deal and that Jacob swindled him out of his inheritance. Yet, look at what Scripture says about Esau. In verse 34: “……So Esau despised his birthright.”
Esau placed his fleshly hunger over and against the things of God. The writer of the book of Hebrews elaborates on this further:
Hebrews 12:14-17
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears."
So, Scripture says Esau was sexually immoral and godless. In fact he wanted to repent of his sin and he could not because his heart had become so hardened and bitter towards God. This is what can happen to us as well.
Don’t dabble in sin. Esau fed his flesh before he fed his spirit. God says what you sow to you will reap. If you sow to the flesh, you will reap destruction, if you sow to the spirit, you will reap eternal life. Jacob by no means was perfect. But nowhere in Scripture does the Word tell us to think more favorably of Esau than Jacob. Esau’s heart was first and foremost for himself and not God. Whereas, Jacob’s heart, while not perfect, was first and foremost for God.
Pray to the Lord today to give you the will and ability to love Him with all your heart.
As Jesus said:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
“ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34
In Genesis 25, the death of Abraham is narrated, the birth of Jacob and Esau is detailed, and the selling of Esau’s birthright is recounted. On the selling of the Esau’s birthright, I would like to focus on today.
Genesis 25:27 states that Esau was a hunter, a man of the open country, whereas Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Esau comes across to me as a man’s man. Strong, confident, and probably liked by the ladies.
One day when Esau came back from hunting he was famished. Jacob was cooking some red stew and Esau asked him for some. Jacob, which can have the connotation of “deceiver” in Hebrew, deceives Esau and says he will give Esau some stew if Esau sells him his birthright.
Why Jacob did this, I do not know. In Genesis 25:23, the Lord tells Rebekah that the older will serve the younger. Jacob was the younger. In all likelihood, Rebekah told Jacob of this, but Jacob still deceived Esau for his birthright. Jacob was acting in his own interest as if he wanted to make sure God’s promise to his mother and ultimately him would be fulfilled.
When reading this story, at first glance, it makes you want to feel sorry for Esau, at least it did for me. It seems like he got the raw deal and that Jacob swindled him out of his inheritance. Yet, look at what Scripture says about Esau. In verse 34: “……So Esau despised his birthright.”
Esau placed his fleshly hunger over and against the things of God. The writer of the book of Hebrews elaborates on this further:
Hebrews 12:14-17
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears."
So, Scripture says Esau was sexually immoral and godless. In fact he wanted to repent of his sin and he could not because his heart had become so hardened and bitter towards God. This is what can happen to us as well.
Don’t dabble in sin. Esau fed his flesh before he fed his spirit. God says what you sow to you will reap. If you sow to the flesh, you will reap destruction, if you sow to the spirit, you will reap eternal life. Jacob by no means was perfect. But nowhere in Scripture does the Word tell us to think more favorably of Esau than Jacob. Esau’s heart was first and foremost for himself and not God. Whereas, Jacob’s heart, while not perfect, was first and foremost for God.
Pray to the Lord today to give you the will and ability to love Him with all your heart.
As Jesus said:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
Friday, January 22, 2010
Day 19: Genesis 22-24
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022-24&version=NIV
In lieu of my comments today, please see what DA Carson has to say about Genesis 22 below. DA Carson is an eminent theologian who has written commentaries on the books of Matthew and John. I have profited greatly from his writings.
Via DA Carson, For the Love of God, Volume 1 – January 21, 2010
THE DRAMATIC POWER of the testing of Abraham by the offering of Isaac Gen. 22 is well known. The very terseness of the account calls forth our wonder. When he tells his servant that we (22:5 — i.e., both Abraham and Isaac) will come back after worshiping on Mount Moriah, was Abraham speculating that God would raise his son back from the grave? Did he hope that God would intervene in some unforeseen way? What conceivable explanation could Abraham give his son when he bound him and laid him on the prepared altar?
A trifle earlier, Abraham’s reply to Isaac’s question about the lamb is a masterstroke: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (22:8). There is no suggestion that Abraham foresaw the cross. Judging by the way he was prepared to go through with the sacrifice (22:10-11), it is not even clear that he expected that God would provide a literal animal. One might even guess that this was a pious answer for the boy until the dreadful truth could no longer be concealed. Yet in the framework of the story, Abraham spoke better than he knew: God did provide the lamb, a substitute for Isaac (22:13-14). In fact, like other biblical figures (e.g., Caiaphas in John 11:49-53), Abraham spoke much better than he knew: God would provide not only the animal that served as a substitute in this case, but the ultimate substitute, the Lamb of God, who alone could bear our sin and bring to pass all of God’s wonderful purposes for redemption and judgment (Rev. 4 – 5; 21:22).
“The LORD will provide” (22:14): that much Abraham clearly understood. One can only imagine how much the same lesson was embedded in young Isaac’s mind as well, and to his heirs beyond him. God himself connects this episode with the covenantal promise: Abraham’s faith here issues in such stellar obedience that he does not elevate even his own cherished son to the place where he might dethrone God. God reiterates the covenant: “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” (22:17-18). On this point, God swears by himself (22:16), not because otherwise he might lie, but because there is no one greater by whom to swear, and the oath itself would be a great stabilizing anchor to Abraham’s faith and to the faith of all who follow in his train (cf. Heb. 6:13-20).
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
In lieu of my comments today, please see what DA Carson has to say about Genesis 22 below. DA Carson is an eminent theologian who has written commentaries on the books of Matthew and John. I have profited greatly from his writings.
Via DA Carson, For the Love of God, Volume 1 – January 21, 2010
THE DRAMATIC POWER of the testing of Abraham by the offering of Isaac Gen. 22 is well known. The very terseness of the account calls forth our wonder. When he tells his servant that we (22:5 — i.e., both Abraham and Isaac) will come back after worshiping on Mount Moriah, was Abraham speculating that God would raise his son back from the grave? Did he hope that God would intervene in some unforeseen way? What conceivable explanation could Abraham give his son when he bound him and laid him on the prepared altar?
A trifle earlier, Abraham’s reply to Isaac’s question about the lamb is a masterstroke: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (22:8). There is no suggestion that Abraham foresaw the cross. Judging by the way he was prepared to go through with the sacrifice (22:10-11), it is not even clear that he expected that God would provide a literal animal. One might even guess that this was a pious answer for the boy until the dreadful truth could no longer be concealed. Yet in the framework of the story, Abraham spoke better than he knew: God did provide the lamb, a substitute for Isaac (22:13-14). In fact, like other biblical figures (e.g., Caiaphas in John 11:49-53), Abraham spoke much better than he knew: God would provide not only the animal that served as a substitute in this case, but the ultimate substitute, the Lamb of God, who alone could bear our sin and bring to pass all of God’s wonderful purposes for redemption and judgment (Rev. 4 – 5; 21:22).
“The LORD will provide” (22:14): that much Abraham clearly understood. One can only imagine how much the same lesson was embedded in young Isaac’s mind as well, and to his heirs beyond him. God himself connects this episode with the covenantal promise: Abraham’s faith here issues in such stellar obedience that he does not elevate even his own cherished son to the place where he might dethrone God. God reiterates the covenant: “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” (22:17-18). On this point, God swears by himself (22:16), not because otherwise he might lie, but because there is no one greater by whom to swear, and the oath itself would be a great stabilizing anchor to Abraham’s faith and to the faith of all who follow in his train (cf. Heb. 6:13-20).
This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Day 18: Genesis 19-21
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019-21&version=NIV
“…Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Genesis 19:17
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is told of in Genesis chapter 19. In Genesis 13, where Abram and Lot separate – we see the foreshadowing of things to come, see verses 12 and 13, below.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. (Genesis 13:12-13)
That Sodom and Gomorrah were evil places, there is no doubt. In verse 5, we read that the men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with the two angels. Then we read of the despicable way Lot offered his two daughters to the mob instead of the men Lot let into his house. While it is commendable that Lot wants to protect his guests, it is horrid that he would offer his daughters to the mob to achieve this purpose. Bad company has begun to corrupt good morals. (See 1 Corinthians 15:33)
Continuing on, when the angels tell Lot to leave he hesitates. (See vs. 16) The ESV translates this more accurately, I believe, when it reads he lingered. Lot had fallen in love with the world. And verse 16 also states that the angels physically had to move Lot and his family out of Sodom because even faced with the city’s destruction he wanted to stay.
As Jesus said we must be in the world but not of it. We must minister to others while not partaking in their sin. The angels tell Lot and his family to leave and don’t look back. But Lot’s wife does look back, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
That sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it? How many times have we taken a second glance when we know we shouldn’t have? In Lot’s wife instance, she was only allowed one glance.
As Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32
Let’s look at this passage in its context:
28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot's wife! 33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:28-:32)
What Jesus is saying is that we need to be fully committed to Him and be ready for His Second Coming, which may happen at any moment. He says we should not go back to the ways of the world, but that we should first seek His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
As Christians, let us remember that we are aliens here on earth. Our home is in God’s kingdom.
As Paul wrote, “20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20-21
Let Lot's wife be a reminder to us, to press on and not look back. The Lord has great things for us in the future. Let's get ready for them now by living lives of holiness and submission in the present.
To God be the Glory.
“…Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Genesis 19:17
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is told of in Genesis chapter 19. In Genesis 13, where Abram and Lot separate – we see the foreshadowing of things to come, see verses 12 and 13, below.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. (Genesis 13:12-13)
That Sodom and Gomorrah were evil places, there is no doubt. In verse 5, we read that the men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with the two angels. Then we read of the despicable way Lot offered his two daughters to the mob instead of the men Lot let into his house. While it is commendable that Lot wants to protect his guests, it is horrid that he would offer his daughters to the mob to achieve this purpose. Bad company has begun to corrupt good morals. (See 1 Corinthians 15:33)
Continuing on, when the angels tell Lot to leave he hesitates. (See vs. 16) The ESV translates this more accurately, I believe, when it reads he lingered. Lot had fallen in love with the world. And verse 16 also states that the angels physically had to move Lot and his family out of Sodom because even faced with the city’s destruction he wanted to stay.
As Jesus said we must be in the world but not of it. We must minister to others while not partaking in their sin. The angels tell Lot and his family to leave and don’t look back. But Lot’s wife does look back, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
That sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it? How many times have we taken a second glance when we know we shouldn’t have? In Lot’s wife instance, she was only allowed one glance.
As Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32
Let’s look at this passage in its context:
28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot's wife! 33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:28-:32)
What Jesus is saying is that we need to be fully committed to Him and be ready for His Second Coming, which may happen at any moment. He says we should not go back to the ways of the world, but that we should first seek His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
As Christians, let us remember that we are aliens here on earth. Our home is in God’s kingdom.
As Paul wrote, “20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20-21
Let Lot's wife be a reminder to us, to press on and not look back. The Lord has great things for us in the future. Let's get ready for them now by living lives of holiness and submission in the present.
To God be the Glory.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)