(Today's reading - Exodus 29-31)
These three chapters of Exodus deal with the ordination and consecration of the priests who will serve the nation of Israel and the establishment of worship guidelines. A few things jump from the pages as you read what God gave Moses. The detail is overwhelming! God doesn't leave anything to the imagination, He gives very specific direction to those that would serve as priests about how He was to be worshipped.
Aaron and his sons were to be washed with water, then they were to be clothed in priestly garments, there was to be sin offerings made for them and they were to eat of that sacrifice. Only the priests were to eat of this offering because it was sacred. (Exodus 29) After the priests were ordained, the precise method of worship was given. This many goats, that many sheep, incense in the morning, continuous burnt offerings, etc.... you get the idea. Very, very specific details about how God was to be worshipped and how offerings and sacrifices were to be made.
Interesting stuff, but why do I need to know any of this? Good question? Great question! We are told that the old covenant was a shadow of the things which were to come through Christ. (Col 2:16,17) So, let's dig in and see if we can find the reality that is hinted at by the shadow.
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4,5) The priesthood of the old covenant was limited to a particular family within the nation of Israel, the new covenant makes us all priests and as such we are able to come before God and offer sacrifices. So, if we are all priests we must undergo the ordination and consecration....
Just as Aaron and his sons were washed and then clothed in priestly garments, we to are washed and clothed..."You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28) When we become Christians, we are washed clean of our sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16) and clothed with Christ. We stand before God clothed with His righteousness and are therefore seen by God as sanctified, set apart for His service. We are able to offer sacrifices acceptable to Him.
Aaron and his sons were to eat of the sacrifice that was made for their atonement. (Exodus 29: 32,33) What had been offered for them would become part of them and they would be reminded continually by eating from the altar what had been done for them. We too, under the new covenant, as priests eat the flesh and blood of the one that was offered on our behalf. We might not like to think of it that way, but that is the imagery that the Christ used to describe our sacred meal. Some call it the Eucharist, some Communion and others the Lord's Supper; but whatever you call it, it is the reality of the shadow that Aaron and his sons partook of.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26: 26-28)
The continuous offerings that the priests made for the people were a shadow of the "all sufficient, once and for all" offering made by Jesus. "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Hebrews 9:12-14)
Romans 12 tells us that the sacrifice that God wants is a living one. After Jesus gave himself as eternal redemption, there is no longer any need for the sacrifices that are called for under the old covenant. God tells us that He wants a living sacrifice now...."I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV) No more bulls and goats, He wants you. He wants you alive and serving Him. He says that is our worship! That is our "reasonable service" (NKJV)
The old covenant was a shadow of the reality that is found in Christ Jesus. We serve as priests, offering sacrifices of ourselves that are acceptable to Him. We sit at His table every Sunday and are reminded of His sacrifice as we eat the bread and drink the fruit of the vine. We are the beneficiary of His "once and for all" sacrifice that gives us ongoing cleansing. (1 John 1:1-10) As we continue to read through the Old Testament, let us look for the shadows and find the reality in Christ. May God bless us as we read His word.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Baptized Into Moses
(Exodus 12-15)
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (Exodus 14:21,22)
The story of Moses and the Israelites is a page turner. Beginning with God demonstrating His power to Pharaoh and ending with God's judgement against the Israelites unfaithfulness, the story is a demonstration of God's plan for us today. He calls us out of slavery to sin; He provides a mediator for His covenant and calls His people to faithfulness and purity. Today's reading takes His people through the Red Sea and into the desert on their way to the promised land. Sometimes, we have to dig to determine why God provides the stories that are included in His word and other times, He comes right out and tells us. I am always thankful when He makes it simple for me, today is one of those days.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul tells us the that "these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did." (v 6) Verse1 begins with the word "for", so chapter 10 is connected to chapter 9. Chapter 9 ends with Paul telling the church of Christ in Corinth this:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (v 24-27)
The church in Corinth was very familiar with the Isthmian games, so Paul's use of the imagery of the runner and the races is very logical. His point of course, is that as Christians we are to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. He makes sure they understand the seriousness of the effort needed by stating that even he could be disqualified from the prize. Every Christian is a runner in the race and striving to obtain the prize.
Chapter 10 picks up with this same idea and uses the Israelites as another example. He says they were "baptized into Moses" as reference that the Christians in Corinth had been baptized into Christ, they had committed their lives to the mediator of the Old Covenant, Moses and we as Christians commit our lives to Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant. They had all partaken of spiritual drink and eaten spiritual food, yet God found them to be unfaithful and the desert was littered with their bones for a generation.
In the same way, Paul tells us that even though we have been baptized into Christ, even though we partake of the body and blood of our savior in communion; if we choose to live unfaithfully, we too will be destroyed, we too will fail to win the prize. Paul calls us to lives of purity and integrity with the clear picture of the outcome of lives lived otherwise through the example of the Israelites. He repeats that the story in Exodus is for our instruction, our benefit: "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come." (v 11) His point is this, when we read about the Israelites and their unfaithfulness and the punishment that they received; we are to understand that the same consequences await us if we are unfaithful.
May each of us determine to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) with the assurance that when we finish, when the race is over, an imperishable prize awaits each of us. Thank you Moses for the example; may we learn the easy way! May we learn by the instruction we receive through God's word. On your marks, get set.......
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (Exodus 14:21,22)
The story of Moses and the Israelites is a page turner. Beginning with God demonstrating His power to Pharaoh and ending with God's judgement against the Israelites unfaithfulness, the story is a demonstration of God's plan for us today. He calls us out of slavery to sin; He provides a mediator for His covenant and calls His people to faithfulness and purity. Today's reading takes His people through the Red Sea and into the desert on their way to the promised land. Sometimes, we have to dig to determine why God provides the stories that are included in His word and other times, He comes right out and tells us. I am always thankful when He makes it simple for me, today is one of those days.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul tells us the that "these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did." (v 6) Verse1 begins with the word "for", so chapter 10 is connected to chapter 9. Chapter 9 ends with Paul telling the church of Christ in Corinth this:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (v 24-27)
The church in Corinth was very familiar with the Isthmian games, so Paul's use of the imagery of the runner and the races is very logical. His point of course, is that as Christians we are to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. He makes sure they understand the seriousness of the effort needed by stating that even he could be disqualified from the prize. Every Christian is a runner in the race and striving to obtain the prize.
Chapter 10 picks up with this same idea and uses the Israelites as another example. He says they were "baptized into Moses" as reference that the Christians in Corinth had been baptized into Christ, they had committed their lives to the mediator of the Old Covenant, Moses and we as Christians commit our lives to Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant. They had all partaken of spiritual drink and eaten spiritual food, yet God found them to be unfaithful and the desert was littered with their bones for a generation.
In the same way, Paul tells us that even though we have been baptized into Christ, even though we partake of the body and blood of our savior in communion; if we choose to live unfaithfully, we too will be destroyed, we too will fail to win the prize. Paul calls us to lives of purity and integrity with the clear picture of the outcome of lives lived otherwise through the example of the Israelites. He repeats that the story in Exodus is for our instruction, our benefit: "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come." (v 11) His point is this, when we read about the Israelites and their unfaithfulness and the punishment that they received; we are to understand that the same consequences await us if we are unfaithful.
May each of us determine to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) with the assurance that when we finish, when the race is over, an imperishable prize awaits each of us. Thank you Moses for the example; may we learn the easy way! May we learn by the instruction we receive through God's word. On your marks, get set.......
Thursday, January 19, 2012
God Sent Me
(Genesis 42-45)
I find reading these chapters very encouraging, and very challenging as well. God is at work in every circumstance; we just have difficulty seeing it sometimes. Joseph rises to second in command in Egypt and begins to store up grain for the coming famine. When the famine comes, Israel sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain and Joseph is reunited with his family. It is a God thing. Sometimes things happen in such a way that all we can say is... it is a God thing.
A couple of things really leap from the pages for me. First, Joseph's attitude when he meets his brothers again after they had sold him into slavery. I don't know about you, but I might have had a difficult time treating them well. He toys with them, but never punishes them. For a time, he hides his identity from them and seeks information about his father and his younger brother, Benjamin. He sends them back home with grain, but keeps one of the brothers, Simeon as insurance that they will come back and bring his younger brother with them. They arrive back home and when the grain is all gone, Israel sends them back again, this time with Benjamin. When they arrive, he is overjoyed to see his brothers and after a few more games, he reveals his identity and everyone hugs and cries.
Think about it, he is sold into slavery, accused of rape, spends time in prison and still loves his brothers who caused it all. What is Joseph's reaction throughout this event? Over and over, he goes away and weeps. Tears of joy. Tears of regrets. Tears of sorrow. Without a doubt, he had a range of emotions to deal with. But he still loved his family! After everything he went through, he still loved his brothers. Forgiveness. It is a God thing.
Secondly, instead of blaming God and having bitterness towards Him for what had happened to him, Joseph chose to see that God had been working through it all. "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (ch 45, vv 4-7) No slavery, no Potiphar; no Potiphar, no prison; no prison, no dream interpreting; no dream interpreting, no Pharaoh; no Pharaoh, no grain; no grain, no food for family during the famine. Sometimes it is difficult to connect the dots and we have to just trust that God is at work. Other times, we see it clearly. But either way, He is working; whether we see and understand or not doesn't change His working. Joseph understood that. We need to. It is a God thing.
Lastly, the Bible is the story of God. We sometimes forget that His word exists as a revelation of Him. We read the story of Joseph and his brothers and we think this story is about them, it isn't! They a small part players in an epic story. The story is God. So, what does he reveal about Himself in the story of Joseph. He reveals that He is always there. In the pit, in the house, in the prison and in the palace, God was there with Joseph. He reveals that He is always at work. Interpreting dreams, granting favor, giving success, God was working in Josephs life in every circumstance. And He reveals His love for His people. Seven years of surplus, preparation for seven years of famine. God knew the need long before they did and He took care of the future for them. God is always there, He is always at work for our benefit and He loves us and cares for us.
No matter where you are in your life, the pit, the prison or the palace, God loves you and He is working for your best interests. You may not see it today, you may not see it for years, but if you trust Him, you will see it. He sent His Son to tell you that He loves you and He sent His Son to die in your place. He loves you and He is working for your best interests. Joseph tells us this very clearly; he wants you to know that God was working everything out in his life and that He is doing the same for you. This week has been a tough week for me, lots of issues to deal with; from my daughter leaving home to take a job seven hours away to some real difficult situations at my office. But in the midst of all of this, I am confidant that God is working, I don't see it today; but faith demands that I trust Him in every situation and I do. God bless.
I find reading these chapters very encouraging, and very challenging as well. God is at work in every circumstance; we just have difficulty seeing it sometimes. Joseph rises to second in command in Egypt and begins to store up grain for the coming famine. When the famine comes, Israel sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain and Joseph is reunited with his family. It is a God thing. Sometimes things happen in such a way that all we can say is... it is a God thing.
A couple of things really leap from the pages for me. First, Joseph's attitude when he meets his brothers again after they had sold him into slavery. I don't know about you, but I might have had a difficult time treating them well. He toys with them, but never punishes them. For a time, he hides his identity from them and seeks information about his father and his younger brother, Benjamin. He sends them back home with grain, but keeps one of the brothers, Simeon as insurance that they will come back and bring his younger brother with them. They arrive back home and when the grain is all gone, Israel sends them back again, this time with Benjamin. When they arrive, he is overjoyed to see his brothers and after a few more games, he reveals his identity and everyone hugs and cries.
Think about it, he is sold into slavery, accused of rape, spends time in prison and still loves his brothers who caused it all. What is Joseph's reaction throughout this event? Over and over, he goes away and weeps. Tears of joy. Tears of regrets. Tears of sorrow. Without a doubt, he had a range of emotions to deal with. But he still loved his family! After everything he went through, he still loved his brothers. Forgiveness. It is a God thing.
Secondly, instead of blaming God and having bitterness towards Him for what had happened to him, Joseph chose to see that God had been working through it all. "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (ch 45, vv 4-7) No slavery, no Potiphar; no Potiphar, no prison; no prison, no dream interpreting; no dream interpreting, no Pharaoh; no Pharaoh, no grain; no grain, no food for family during the famine. Sometimes it is difficult to connect the dots and we have to just trust that God is at work. Other times, we see it clearly. But either way, He is working; whether we see and understand or not doesn't change His working. Joseph understood that. We need to. It is a God thing.
Lastly, the Bible is the story of God. We sometimes forget that His word exists as a revelation of Him. We read the story of Joseph and his brothers and we think this story is about them, it isn't! They a small part players in an epic story. The story is God. So, what does he reveal about Himself in the story of Joseph. He reveals that He is always there. In the pit, in the house, in the prison and in the palace, God was there with Joseph. He reveals that He is always at work. Interpreting dreams, granting favor, giving success, God was working in Josephs life in every circumstance. And He reveals His love for His people. Seven years of surplus, preparation for seven years of famine. God knew the need long before they did and He took care of the future for them. God is always there, He is always at work for our benefit and He loves us and cares for us.
No matter where you are in your life, the pit, the prison or the palace, God loves you and He is working for your best interests. You may not see it today, you may not see it for years, but if you trust Him, you will see it. He sent His Son to tell you that He loves you and He sent His Son to die in your place. He loves you and He is working for your best interests. Joseph tells us this very clearly; he wants you to know that God was working everything out in his life and that He is doing the same for you. This week has been a tough week for me, lots of issues to deal with; from my daughter leaving home to take a job seven hours away to some real difficult situations at my office. But in the midst of all of this, I am confidant that God is working, I don't see it today; but faith demands that I trust Him in every situation and I do. God bless.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I Cannot Do It
(Genesis 39-41)
Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt. A man by the name of Potiphar purchases him and puts him to work in his home. Joseph is blessed by God and Potiphar took note of Joseph's success in all he does and so he places Joseph over all he has. All goes well for a time, but then Potiphar's wife takes a liking for Joseph and seeks to have an affair with him. He is a man of God and so he rejects her advances and she doesn't handle his rejection too well. She claims he tried to rape her and he ends up in prison, where God once again prospers him.
Becasue of his conduct, the prison warden places Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. While in prison, he interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants and they promise to remember him when they are released. One is executed and the other returns to his position in the king's service. Two years go by and the servant forgets about Joseph until Pharaoh has a dream and no one can give an interpretation. He remembers his encounter with Joseph and how he gave a true interpretaion of his dream and tells the king about him. Joseph is called from the prison and asked to interpret Paraoh's dream. That is a long way to go to get to this simple scripture... Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." (Genesis 41:15, 16)
After all of his successes and after all his troubles, Joseph still remembers that it is God that does the work and gives the blessing. He has risen to the top everywhere he has been. He is a good looking young man. He is in great physical condition. Women want to be with him and men admire him.... but he says, "I cannot do it". In a world where personal position, success and appearance is the focus, it is refreshing to read about a young man that understood that it was God behind it all. That is why, as Christians we root for Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and others that are successful in this life, but acknowledge that God is the reason for their success; He is the source of every good thing in their lives.
Joseph says, "I cannot do it, but God can"! Whether you are in the pit or second in command, whether you are in the prison or running it, whether you are a servant or the one being served; remember that it is God that is behind it all. He is the one that can lift you up or bring you down. He is the one that can open a door or close it shut. Whatever your current situation, God can use it for your benefit and His. Joseph demonstrated his humble spirit and because of that, God was able to use him in every situation. No doubt Joseph didn't think it was fun to be sold into salvery or be imprisoned for something he didn't do; but his aim was always one of being God's servant.
Mop the floor; I cannot do it, but God can! Clean the prison cells; I cannot do it, but God can. Be in charge of the prison; I cannot do it, but God can. Serve as second in command in Egypt; I cannot do it, but God can. Joseph serves as a great example for us; no matter where we are in our lives, no matter what situation we find ourselves in; we can't, but God can. I like the way Paul put in his letter to the Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"! (c4, v13) Pual, like Joseph understood that God was at work behind every circumstance and through His power he received the strength he needed.
May we all learn the lesson that Joseph teaches. He tells us that no matter how low we go or how high we fly, it is God. He reaches through the years to say to you and me, "You cannot, but God can". You can tell your neighbor about Jesus. You can overcome that sin that you have struggled with for decades. You can save that marriage that is on the rocks. You can restore your broken relationship with that family member. Well, maybe you can't, but God can. May we let Him work in our lives.
Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt. A man by the name of Potiphar purchases him and puts him to work in his home. Joseph is blessed by God and Potiphar took note of Joseph's success in all he does and so he places Joseph over all he has. All goes well for a time, but then Potiphar's wife takes a liking for Joseph and seeks to have an affair with him. He is a man of God and so he rejects her advances and she doesn't handle his rejection too well. She claims he tried to rape her and he ends up in prison, where God once again prospers him.
Becasue of his conduct, the prison warden places Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. While in prison, he interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants and they promise to remember him when they are released. One is executed and the other returns to his position in the king's service. Two years go by and the servant forgets about Joseph until Pharaoh has a dream and no one can give an interpretation. He remembers his encounter with Joseph and how he gave a true interpretaion of his dream and tells the king about him. Joseph is called from the prison and asked to interpret Paraoh's dream. That is a long way to go to get to this simple scripture... Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." (Genesis 41:15, 16)
After all of his successes and after all his troubles, Joseph still remembers that it is God that does the work and gives the blessing. He has risen to the top everywhere he has been. He is a good looking young man. He is in great physical condition. Women want to be with him and men admire him.... but he says, "I cannot do it". In a world where personal position, success and appearance is the focus, it is refreshing to read about a young man that understood that it was God behind it all. That is why, as Christians we root for Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and others that are successful in this life, but acknowledge that God is the reason for their success; He is the source of every good thing in their lives.
Joseph says, "I cannot do it, but God can"! Whether you are in the pit or second in command, whether you are in the prison or running it, whether you are a servant or the one being served; remember that it is God that is behind it all. He is the one that can lift you up or bring you down. He is the one that can open a door or close it shut. Whatever your current situation, God can use it for your benefit and His. Joseph demonstrated his humble spirit and because of that, God was able to use him in every situation. No doubt Joseph didn't think it was fun to be sold into salvery or be imprisoned for something he didn't do; but his aim was always one of being God's servant.
Mop the floor; I cannot do it, but God can! Clean the prison cells; I cannot do it, but God can. Be in charge of the prison; I cannot do it, but God can. Serve as second in command in Egypt; I cannot do it, but God can. Joseph serves as a great example for us; no matter where we are in our lives, no matter what situation we find ourselves in; we can't, but God can. I like the way Paul put in his letter to the Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"! (c4, v13) Pual, like Joseph understood that God was at work behind every circumstance and through His power he received the strength he needed.
May we all learn the lesson that Joseph teaches. He tells us that no matter how low we go or how high we fly, it is God. He reaches through the years to say to you and me, "You cannot, but God can". You can tell your neighbor about Jesus. You can overcome that sin that you have struggled with for decades. You can save that marriage that is on the rocks. You can restore your broken relationship with that family member. Well, maybe you can't, but God can. May we let Him work in our lives.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
They Hated the Dreamer
(Genesis 37-38)
Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons by his wives and these twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. The journey to get to that point was an interesting ride, for sure. Our reading brings us a couple of interesting stories from the lives of Israel's sons. The story of Joseph and his brothers will be front and center in my blog today.
Perhaps becasue Joseph was born so late in his father's life, Israel loved him more than all the other sons... and they knew it. Little doubt is left that Joseph also knew it and might have used that for his benefit on occasion. This all produced jealousy among his brothers and led to an event that would change everything in the family for generations.
Joseph is a dreamer. I am not sure how we are to take that, but he is given to dreams and they are undoubtedly from God. The first dream that we are given deals with Joseph and his brothers. "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (Genesis 37:6-7) Needless to say, his brothers were not impressed with a dream that had them bowing to their little brother. "His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said." (v 8)
His next dream had the sun and moon and eleven stars bowing down to him. His father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" (v 10) This didn't sit well with his brothers and they were jealous of him. Jealousy and pride are a wicked combination that will always end badly and the story of Joseph and his brothers is no different. I understand that God is working through all of this and that the story takes lots of unexpected turns down the road, but today we find the older brothers hating their youngest brother and plotting to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams." (v 20)
With yesterday being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, this story takes on new life for me today. It would seem that dreamers have always been hated. Whether we are talking about Dr. King, President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy or John Lennon; dreamers have not fared too well in this world recently. Those that are willing to be visionaries about a different future are all too often hated for their dreams. Of course the greatest dreamer of all time was the Son of God. He dared to come into this world with an entirely new view of religion and the relationship between God and man and proclaimed the end of old way of doing things. Jesus was hated for His dream.
Those that followed the Dreamer and dared to dream with Him were hated as well. Paul was hated for his dream and in Acts 9; we read that those that heard his dream conspired to kill him. (v 22-24) With the exception of the apostle John, history records that every apostle was killed by those they came to serve. They hated the dreamers. So, what does that have to do with us, you and me? It would seem that we live in an age that needs dreamers, someone to speak out about what the future can be like, and someone to speak up when wrong is lifted up and proclaimed as right. Someone, who fearlessly dreams and speaks about what Jesus accomplished, both through His life and death. We need a dreamer that can place the vision of taking the world for Christ in this and the next generation.
We need dreamers! The church needs dreamers. God needs dreamers. Will you be hated? Most likely. Will you be made fun of? For sure! Will you be killed? Could be! Will you make a difference? Most definately! Will your life be worth living? Absolutely! I encourage you today... be like Joseph, be a dreamer. When the New Covenant began and the Holy Spirit came upon the first disciples in Acts 2, Peter tells us that this was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2.
In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2: 17)
Dream dreams, have a vision of the future. Dare to dream of a world that follows Jesus. Dare to dream of a country that honors God. Dare to dream of a town that worships together. Dare to dream of your neighborhood united in its belief in the Creator. Dare to dream of your home being a faithful witness for Jesus. But start with a dream for yourself..... May God richly bless each of us as we dream.
Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons by his wives and these twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. The journey to get to that point was an interesting ride, for sure. Our reading brings us a couple of interesting stories from the lives of Israel's sons. The story of Joseph and his brothers will be front and center in my blog today.
Perhaps becasue Joseph was born so late in his father's life, Israel loved him more than all the other sons... and they knew it. Little doubt is left that Joseph also knew it and might have used that for his benefit on occasion. This all produced jealousy among his brothers and led to an event that would change everything in the family for generations.
Joseph is a dreamer. I am not sure how we are to take that, but he is given to dreams and they are undoubtedly from God. The first dream that we are given deals with Joseph and his brothers. "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (Genesis 37:6-7) Needless to say, his brothers were not impressed with a dream that had them bowing to their little brother. "His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said." (v 8)
His next dream had the sun and moon and eleven stars bowing down to him. His father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" (v 10) This didn't sit well with his brothers and they were jealous of him. Jealousy and pride are a wicked combination that will always end badly and the story of Joseph and his brothers is no different. I understand that God is working through all of this and that the story takes lots of unexpected turns down the road, but today we find the older brothers hating their youngest brother and plotting to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams." (v 20)
With yesterday being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, this story takes on new life for me today. It would seem that dreamers have always been hated. Whether we are talking about Dr. King, President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy or John Lennon; dreamers have not fared too well in this world recently. Those that are willing to be visionaries about a different future are all too often hated for their dreams. Of course the greatest dreamer of all time was the Son of God. He dared to come into this world with an entirely new view of religion and the relationship between God and man and proclaimed the end of old way of doing things. Jesus was hated for His dream.
Those that followed the Dreamer and dared to dream with Him were hated as well. Paul was hated for his dream and in Acts 9; we read that those that heard his dream conspired to kill him. (v 22-24) With the exception of the apostle John, history records that every apostle was killed by those they came to serve. They hated the dreamers. So, what does that have to do with us, you and me? It would seem that we live in an age that needs dreamers, someone to speak out about what the future can be like, and someone to speak up when wrong is lifted up and proclaimed as right. Someone, who fearlessly dreams and speaks about what Jesus accomplished, both through His life and death. We need a dreamer that can place the vision of taking the world for Christ in this and the next generation.
We need dreamers! The church needs dreamers. God needs dreamers. Will you be hated? Most likely. Will you be made fun of? For sure! Will you be killed? Could be! Will you make a difference? Most definately! Will your life be worth living? Absolutely! I encourage you today... be like Joseph, be a dreamer. When the New Covenant began and the Holy Spirit came upon the first disciples in Acts 2, Peter tells us that this was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2.
In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2: 17)
Dream dreams, have a vision of the future. Dare to dream of a world that follows Jesus. Dare to dream of a country that honors God. Dare to dream of a town that worships together. Dare to dream of your neighborhood united in its belief in the Creator. Dare to dream of your home being a faithful witness for Jesus. But start with a dream for yourself..... May God richly bless each of us as we dream.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Jacob's Dream
(Genesis 26-28)
Esau determines to kill his brother after Jacob steals his blessing and the approval of his father. Upon learning of her son’s plans, Rebekah tells Jacob to leave home and go back to Paddan Aram to find a wife from his own people. Esau had married the local women and this had caused no end of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. You might say that Rebekah was killing two birds with one stone, saving her sons life and making sure that he married a God fearing woman. So off he goes.
Along the way, he stops at a place called Luz and spends the night. He sleeps on the ground with his head on a stone. During this nights rest, he has a dream that every Christian knows about. In this dream, he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. (ch 28, v 12) Much has been said about this ladder and its meaning and significance. Some would say that it is a visible demonstration of the providence of God, His working in this world. Others would say that it is intended to point out the intercourse or connection between heaven and earth and the ministry of angels. Both are fine and probably reasonable thoughts about the dream.
But the meaning that I want to explore is a third idea that others have placed on the table for our consideration. This third notion is that the ladder is a "type" of Christ. The ladder reaching from heaven to earth is a place where both the divine and human nature meets. We know that in Christ, God was manifested in the flesh and "in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily". (Colossians 2:9) This ladder is a beautiful expression of God's incarnation and its effect; Jesus as the perfect connection between heaven and earth; God and man. By Him, God descends to man and through Him, man ascends to God. Jesus is the ladder and by Him access to God is made available. Before Him, the heavens were closed and unreachable, after Him, the heavens are open and the path is clear.
Jesus uses this same imagery to describe himself in his discussion with Nathaniel. And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1: 51) He tells him that he, the Son of Man is the conduit through which heaven is opened and blessings are given. And then in John 14: 6, Jesus tells Thomas that "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." There is no other ladder, no other means of connecting with God than by Jesus.
Whatever the meaning of the dream, Jacob is forever changed. God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham and Isaac in the person of Jacob. This encounter with the ladder is the turning point in his life. He takes the stone that he had used as his pillow upon which he had his dream and makes a monument to mark the place of his encounter with God. He renames the place "Bethel" which means house of God as a memorial to the fact that God was in that place. Jacob is forever changed by his encounter with God.
Of course, this gets us, you and me to our encounter with the Christ. Jacob encountered a "type" of Christ; we get in on the real thing. We know the God-man and understand that He reaches from heaven to earth to provide the connection between God and man. We are blessed to have the stories in the Old Testament and understand that they were pointing to the fulfillment, the reality that is found in Jesus.
Hebrews 11 (the faith chapter) ends with a couple of interesting verses..."These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." What we have is "better"! While Jacob saw the ladder, we see Jesus. While he and the others in Hebrews lived lives of faith, what they had was imperfect. Now, through Christ they join with us and we all get His perfection. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, you, me and every other person that belongs to Him is the beneficiary of God's completed plan for the redemption of all mankind. And that plan is found in Jesus.
Have you set your memorial stone and become "Bethel", the place where God lives? Have you encountered the ladder (Jesus) that connects God and man? He made the trip down because He loves you and He made the trip up to prepare your eternal home. If you have not encountered the Christ, may you decide today to accept His free gift of life. He has already paid the price for your sins. The question for you to ask is "How do I get in on that?". Send me a note on my blog and we can start looking into His word to find the answers.
Esau determines to kill his brother after Jacob steals his blessing and the approval of his father. Upon learning of her son’s plans, Rebekah tells Jacob to leave home and go back to Paddan Aram to find a wife from his own people. Esau had married the local women and this had caused no end of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. You might say that Rebekah was killing two birds with one stone, saving her sons life and making sure that he married a God fearing woman. So off he goes.
Along the way, he stops at a place called Luz and spends the night. He sleeps on the ground with his head on a stone. During this nights rest, he has a dream that every Christian knows about. In this dream, he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. (ch 28, v 12) Much has been said about this ladder and its meaning and significance. Some would say that it is a visible demonstration of the providence of God, His working in this world. Others would say that it is intended to point out the intercourse or connection between heaven and earth and the ministry of angels. Both are fine and probably reasonable thoughts about the dream.
But the meaning that I want to explore is a third idea that others have placed on the table for our consideration. This third notion is that the ladder is a "type" of Christ. The ladder reaching from heaven to earth is a place where both the divine and human nature meets. We know that in Christ, God was manifested in the flesh and "in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily". (Colossians 2:9) This ladder is a beautiful expression of God's incarnation and its effect; Jesus as the perfect connection between heaven and earth; God and man. By Him, God descends to man and through Him, man ascends to God. Jesus is the ladder and by Him access to God is made available. Before Him, the heavens were closed and unreachable, after Him, the heavens are open and the path is clear.
Jesus uses this same imagery to describe himself in his discussion with Nathaniel. And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1: 51) He tells him that he, the Son of Man is the conduit through which heaven is opened and blessings are given. And then in John 14: 6, Jesus tells Thomas that "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." There is no other ladder, no other means of connecting with God than by Jesus.
Whatever the meaning of the dream, Jacob is forever changed. God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham and Isaac in the person of Jacob. This encounter with the ladder is the turning point in his life. He takes the stone that he had used as his pillow upon which he had his dream and makes a monument to mark the place of his encounter with God. He renames the place "Bethel" which means house of God as a memorial to the fact that God was in that place. Jacob is forever changed by his encounter with God.
Of course, this gets us, you and me to our encounter with the Christ. Jacob encountered a "type" of Christ; we get in on the real thing. We know the God-man and understand that He reaches from heaven to earth to provide the connection between God and man. We are blessed to have the stories in the Old Testament and understand that they were pointing to the fulfillment, the reality that is found in Jesus.
Hebrews 11 (the faith chapter) ends with a couple of interesting verses..."These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." What we have is "better"! While Jacob saw the ladder, we see Jesus. While he and the others in Hebrews lived lives of faith, what they had was imperfect. Now, through Christ they join with us and we all get His perfection. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, you, me and every other person that belongs to Him is the beneficiary of God's completed plan for the redemption of all mankind. And that plan is found in Jesus.
Have you set your memorial stone and become "Bethel", the place where God lives? Have you encountered the ladder (Jesus) that connects God and man? He made the trip down because He loves you and He made the trip up to prepare your eternal home. If you have not encountered the Christ, may you decide today to accept His free gift of life. He has already paid the price for your sins. The question for you to ask is "How do I get in on that?". Send me a note on my blog and we can start looking into His word to find the answers.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Faithful Servant
Genesis 24
In Genesis 23:1, 2, we read about Sarah's death and the impact that her passing had on Abraham. "She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her." After a long and fruitful marriage, Abraham is without the wife that God had given him. He purchased a cave and lovingly placed her remains there to wait for him to join her. As with the loss of loved ones, no doubt Abraham became acutely aware of his own mortality and the fact that his time on this earth would soon be over. His attention shifts to finding a wife for Isaac so that God’s promise of a nation might be fulfilled. (Not that He needs any help)
Abraham calls in his most trusted servant and tells him to return to his homeland to find Isaac a wife. He wants a wife that will help Isaac remain faithful to God and have the same values and beliefs. A Canaanite wife could draw him away to worship pagan gods. So Abraham sends his servant to Nahor. His servant is faithful to him and sets out to find a wife for Isaac. "Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor." (v 10)
His servant arrives in Nahor and waits by the well for the women to come out to draw water. I like his strategy, go to where the women congregate to find a woman that is busy working and taking care of her family. But what he does next really hit home with me. He didn't set out with a list of criteria; it wasn't a search for the prettiest girl or the one with the best figure or hair style. No, he prays. In the midst of his search, the servant takes the time to pray for God to bring just the right lady to him. "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac." (Vv 12-14)
He didn't rely on his own insight or wisdom; he placed the burden of finding the right wife for Isaac on the LORD.... "let her be the one you have chosen". The servant relied on God to deliver that right lady at the right time for the right man. Too often we rely on our own skills, too often we think it is up to us. The servant understood who could make the perfect choice and so he called upon the LORD and left it in His hands. Rebekah comes to the well and gives the servant the exact answer that he had prayed for. He didn't have to guess about God's will in the matter, God made it plain; Rebekah was to be Isaac's wife.
I believe that this story is given to us as an example of a faithful servant. He goes where he is sent, he obeys his master's direction and he leaves the result in the hands of God. If we want to be considered faithful to God, we need to be ready to go, we need to be obedient to His will and we need to be constant in prayer. When we do those things, the result is certain; the result is God's will. When we rely on ourselves, our own craftiness and smarts, we get results that reflect our will, our desires. The servant in this story loved his master and the master’s son and went to find the son a bride. If that sounds familiar, it should! As Christians, we are to love the Father and His Son, we are to be busy doing what he commands and we are to be going to find the Son His bride. (Rev 19: 6-8, Matt 28: 18ff) Remember, just like the servant you made an oath to the Father. You have taken the responsibility of plowing in His field and you must not look back. (Luke 9:62) Be a faithful servant!
In Genesis 23:1, 2, we read about Sarah's death and the impact that her passing had on Abraham. "She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her." After a long and fruitful marriage, Abraham is without the wife that God had given him. He purchased a cave and lovingly placed her remains there to wait for him to join her. As with the loss of loved ones, no doubt Abraham became acutely aware of his own mortality and the fact that his time on this earth would soon be over. His attention shifts to finding a wife for Isaac so that God’s promise of a nation might be fulfilled. (Not that He needs any help)
Abraham calls in his most trusted servant and tells him to return to his homeland to find Isaac a wife. He wants a wife that will help Isaac remain faithful to God and have the same values and beliefs. A Canaanite wife could draw him away to worship pagan gods. So Abraham sends his servant to Nahor. His servant is faithful to him and sets out to find a wife for Isaac. "Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor." (v 10)
His servant arrives in Nahor and waits by the well for the women to come out to draw water. I like his strategy, go to where the women congregate to find a woman that is busy working and taking care of her family. But what he does next really hit home with me. He didn't set out with a list of criteria; it wasn't a search for the prettiest girl or the one with the best figure or hair style. No, he prays. In the midst of his search, the servant takes the time to pray for God to bring just the right lady to him. "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac." (Vv 12-14)
He didn't rely on his own insight or wisdom; he placed the burden of finding the right wife for Isaac on the LORD.... "let her be the one you have chosen". The servant relied on God to deliver that right lady at the right time for the right man. Too often we rely on our own skills, too often we think it is up to us. The servant understood who could make the perfect choice and so he called upon the LORD and left it in His hands. Rebekah comes to the well and gives the servant the exact answer that he had prayed for. He didn't have to guess about God's will in the matter, God made it plain; Rebekah was to be Isaac's wife.
I believe that this story is given to us as an example of a faithful servant. He goes where he is sent, he obeys his master's direction and he leaves the result in the hands of God. If we want to be considered faithful to God, we need to be ready to go, we need to be obedient to His will and we need to be constant in prayer. When we do those things, the result is certain; the result is God's will. When we rely on ourselves, our own craftiness and smarts, we get results that reflect our will, our desires. The servant in this story loved his master and the master’s son and went to find the son a bride. If that sounds familiar, it should! As Christians, we are to love the Father and His Son, we are to be busy doing what he commands and we are to be going to find the Son His bride. (Rev 19: 6-8, Matt 28: 18ff) Remember, just like the servant you made an oath to the Father. You have taken the responsibility of plowing in His field and you must not look back. (Luke 9:62) Be a faithful servant!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Of Sacrifice and Substitution
Genesis 22
Abraham and Sarah had waited many years for God to fulfill His promise. Trough Isaac, God's promise to Abraham and his descendants was to be fulfilled and the world would be blessed. It is in this setting that we see God test Abraham in a very surprising way. Abraham, after waiting so long for Isaac to arrive is instructed by God to sacrifice him.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2) Stunning! But Abraham, whose faith has been tested and refined through the years sets out with his son to accomplish God’s command. Trust is the only answer that I can come up with. He must have through faith and trust determined that God would take care of the situation, in His own way.
You know the story, he sets out with his son and servants. He cuts the wood and sets off for the place that God would lead him to go. For three days they travel before they arrive at the place that God had designated. He tells the servants to wait while he and his son go to worship God. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5) “We” will worship and “we” will come back. Abraham trusted God with his son and he trusted that whatever He was to do, his son would be with him when he returned. (read Hebrews 11:17-19)
That brings us to the topic of today’s discussion. They arrive at the spot and Abraham builds an alter and places the wood and his son on it. As Abraham raises his knife in preparation for the sacrifice, God steps in and stops him. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Genesis 22:12) In Isaacs place, God provides a substitute. God provides a ram to be sacrificed in his place. Take time to imagine the emotion of the moment; a father receives back His only son, a son climbs down from the alter unharmed. God provides. We benefit.
Throughout the Bible, the primary doctrines taught are those of sacrifice and substitution as the means appointed by God for taking away sin. In association with these is the need for obedient faith on our part to receive the benefit. Some confuse Isaac and the victim actually offered, making Isaac a “type” of the Son of God; after all he was the one and only son. However, Isaac was not slain and in fact he was part of the sinful human race. He was not fit to die as a sacrifice, the just for the unjust. Rather, Isaac was a representative of mankind; he was in need of atonement as well. But the animal, not of the human race, which God provided and Abraham sacrificed was in fact a “type” of “the Lamb of God”, that takes away the sins of the world. Isaac is the “type” of humanity, guilty of sin, deserving of death, but receiving the benefit of the God provided substitute.
All of this sounds remarkably familiar to Christians; God providing a substitute to receive the punishment that we deserve. Innocent blood shed to cover the sins of the guilty. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:7-9) Jesus died for us! He is our substitute and His sacrifice is all sufficient. Our part is obedient faith. God calls on us to place our faith in Him by believing that Jesus is God’s one and only Son. We are to repent (turn away from) of our sins and confess that Jesus is Lord, submitting to baptism as a means to contact the shed blood of our Savior. Then we are to live a life marked by faithfulness to Him. Get in on the gift; God provided the substitute to be sacrificed for you so that you could get off the alter and live eternally with Him. Think about it!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Abram's Faith
(Genesis 12-14)
Hebrews 11:8-19 tells us all about the faith of Abram (Abraham). We read about his faith that leads him to leave his home and journey to a land promised to him. How he lived in a tent and traveled from place to place with faith that God would build a city that God would design and build. He trusted God to give him a son at a very old age through which God would bless mankind. And how Abraham, by faith offered his son as a sacrifice. We all know these stories and we all admire Abraham for his faith. But...
The story is not as simple as the Hebrew writer might record. While he is giving us the stories of Abraham's faithfulness, Genesis tells us the rest of the story and that should give us comfort. He is held up as a man of great faith and he was; but he was also a man of little faith at times. In the midst of demonstrating his faith, he would show his humanity. Let's see what I am talking about....
Genesis 12:1 begins with God talking with Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you." God promises to make him a great nation and give him blessings and bless all the people of the earth through him (pointing to Jesus). Pretty impressive stuff. "So Abram left, as the LORD had told him". (ch12, v 4) Abram packs his bags, grabs his wife and his people and heads out to who knows where. That takes faith! "God, I trust you to take care of us, I trust you to lead me to this far away place that I have never seen." (my thoughts) So far, so good.
As they travel, they come to the nation of Egypt. And this is where the problem begins. Because Sarai is a beautiful woman and since she looks so different from the Egyptian women, Abram thinks that the men in Egypt will desire his wife and kill him to get her. So he hatches a plan, he asks Sarai to lie and say that she is his sister if she is asked. "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." (ch 12, v 12, 13) A man of great faith? "God, I know you have promised to take care of us and deliver us to a new home, but I have to lie about my wife and ask her to shame herself and sleep with another man". (my thoughts)
You know the story, Pharaoh takes her into his home and he pays the price. Pharaoh and his family come down with all kinds of diseases because of Abram's deceit. He calls Abram in and has a difficult conversation with him. "What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" (ch 12, v 18,19) Abram lies; he asks others to lie and puts his wife in the arms of another man. Faith?
So what are we to make of this mess? God selects Abram to be "the man" and his family to "the family" through which He is going to bless the world. Did God make a mistake in choosing him? Well, we know God doesn't make mistakes, so there must be another reason that Abrams shortcomings are listed for us to learn from. Let's retell the story with you in it....
As a Christian, you are an exile and sojourner in a foreign land, just like Abram. (1 Peter 2: 11)God has called you out of your native land (this world) and sent me on a journey to a promised homeland, just like Abram. (2 Corinthians 6:17). By faith, you accept His call and leave your home and begin this journey with Him leading the way, just like Abram. Along the way, you stumble, but you get up and keep going. Mistakes are made, but you make course corrections and stay on the path. Are you faithful? Let's see what John says about our walk, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9) The point is this, you and I and Abram are going to make mistakes, and we are going to miss the mark. We will never live out lives of perfection, but if we keep walking, if we keep on getting up and following, we are faithful. Just like Abram, we are faithful.
God gives us real people with real lives to mentor us on our journey. He could have provided whitewashed stories of perfect people, living perfect lives and we would have felt like failures. But instead and for our encouragement, God gave us Abram and David and Paul and many others, real people that sin real sins to show us that we can be people of faith, even with our flaws. He calls us to walk the best we can, so we are without excuses, (Romans 12:1, 2) but He knows and understands our problem and He gave His Son to fix it. Live out your life of faith and your name will be added right alongside Abram and all the others that God has declared faithful. The story is still being written and you are part of it. Have faith.
Hebrews 11:8-19 tells us all about the faith of Abram (Abraham). We read about his faith that leads him to leave his home and journey to a land promised to him. How he lived in a tent and traveled from place to place with faith that God would build a city that God would design and build. He trusted God to give him a son at a very old age through which God would bless mankind. And how Abraham, by faith offered his son as a sacrifice. We all know these stories and we all admire Abraham for his faith. But...
The story is not as simple as the Hebrew writer might record. While he is giving us the stories of Abraham's faithfulness, Genesis tells us the rest of the story and that should give us comfort. He is held up as a man of great faith and he was; but he was also a man of little faith at times. In the midst of demonstrating his faith, he would show his humanity. Let's see what I am talking about....
Genesis 12:1 begins with God talking with Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you." God promises to make him a great nation and give him blessings and bless all the people of the earth through him (pointing to Jesus). Pretty impressive stuff. "So Abram left, as the LORD had told him". (ch12, v 4) Abram packs his bags, grabs his wife and his people and heads out to who knows where. That takes faith! "God, I trust you to take care of us, I trust you to lead me to this far away place that I have never seen." (my thoughts) So far, so good.
As they travel, they come to the nation of Egypt. And this is where the problem begins. Because Sarai is a beautiful woman and since she looks so different from the Egyptian women, Abram thinks that the men in Egypt will desire his wife and kill him to get her. So he hatches a plan, he asks Sarai to lie and say that she is his sister if she is asked. "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." (ch 12, v 12, 13) A man of great faith? "God, I know you have promised to take care of us and deliver us to a new home, but I have to lie about my wife and ask her to shame herself and sleep with another man". (my thoughts)
You know the story, Pharaoh takes her into his home and he pays the price. Pharaoh and his family come down with all kinds of diseases because of Abram's deceit. He calls Abram in and has a difficult conversation with him. "What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" (ch 12, v 18,19) Abram lies; he asks others to lie and puts his wife in the arms of another man. Faith?
So what are we to make of this mess? God selects Abram to be "the man" and his family to "the family" through which He is going to bless the world. Did God make a mistake in choosing him? Well, we know God doesn't make mistakes, so there must be another reason that Abrams shortcomings are listed for us to learn from. Let's retell the story with you in it....
As a Christian, you are an exile and sojourner in a foreign land, just like Abram. (1 Peter 2: 11)God has called you out of your native land (this world) and sent me on a journey to a promised homeland, just like Abram. (2 Corinthians 6:17). By faith, you accept His call and leave your home and begin this journey with Him leading the way, just like Abram. Along the way, you stumble, but you get up and keep going. Mistakes are made, but you make course corrections and stay on the path. Are you faithful? Let's see what John says about our walk, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9) The point is this, you and I and Abram are going to make mistakes, and we are going to miss the mark. We will never live out lives of perfection, but if we keep walking, if we keep on getting up and following, we are faithful. Just like Abram, we are faithful.
God gives us real people with real lives to mentor us on our journey. He could have provided whitewashed stories of perfect people, living perfect lives and we would have felt like failures. But instead and for our encouragement, God gave us Abram and David and Paul and many others, real people that sin real sins to show us that we can be people of faith, even with our flaws. He calls us to walk the best we can, so we are without excuses, (Romans 12:1, 2) but He knows and understands our problem and He gave His Son to fix it. Live out your life of faith and your name will be added right alongside Abram and all the others that God has declared faithful. The story is still being written and you are part of it. Have faith.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Make a Name for Ourselves
Genesis 10-11
After the flood, Noah and his descendants multiplied and began to fill the earth. That was God's plan, so they were faithful to Him. But something happened along the way that is hard to understand or explain. Noah died and it seems that the message of the flood went with him. Wickedness began to fill the earth again.
Noah's family grew to great numbers and began to look for a homeland to call their own. The steep mountains of Armenia were no place for a civilization to grow, so we are told that "they found a Plain in Shinar and settled there." (ch11, v 2) They all spoke one language and shared a common life. It would seem that all is well and life is good. However, when humans are involved it seems that the good life can only last just so long. Pride enters in to the picture. The people decide that they are to be a great nation with a great city for its capital. So they begin to build a tower that is to be so tall that it reaches the heavens. The purpose in all this is that "we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." (ch 11, v 4) Self-reliance, self-adulation and self-determination were the goals of their efforts and they sought to defeat God's purposes in dispersing them throughout the earth. There are no real surprises in any of this; all we have to do is look around at the world today. People are people :-). Empires with great capitals have risen and fallen through the centuries; people seeking to elevate themselves by banding together to build a great nation.
We know the rest of the story. God is displeased by their attitudes and defeats them by confusing their language and disperses them throughout the earth. We understand this to be the origin of languages and the establishment of nations. What had started with prideful attitudes, ended with God defeating their arrogance. Solomon gives us God's view of pride in Proverbs 16:18; "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." When we seek glory for ourselves and elevate our will over the will of God, destruction is on our doorstep. This story is played out over and over in scripture, from David to Solomon to Ananias and Sapphira and many others, pride is the problem.
What is the message that God is wanting us to hear through this story? Is it that God hates skyscrapers? Does God hate nations? Of course not! The issue is the heart. What is the intent of my heart? Am I seeking my own glory or am I seeking to magnify God? Does my heart lead me to seek my will or God's will? These are not new questions; rather these are questions that have been troubling man from the very beginning. Eve can tell you all about it. Adam is well acquainted with pride. Cain, Ham, Abraham; they can all tell you the story of pride. You and I (just like them) will battle pride throughout our lives. May we determine to live lives of humility, submitting our lives to His will. May the intent of our hearts be to elevate God in all we do. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)
After the flood, Noah and his descendants multiplied and began to fill the earth. That was God's plan, so they were faithful to Him. But something happened along the way that is hard to understand or explain. Noah died and it seems that the message of the flood went with him. Wickedness began to fill the earth again.
Noah's family grew to great numbers and began to look for a homeland to call their own. The steep mountains of Armenia were no place for a civilization to grow, so we are told that "they found a Plain in Shinar and settled there." (ch11, v 2) They all spoke one language and shared a common life. It would seem that all is well and life is good. However, when humans are involved it seems that the good life can only last just so long. Pride enters in to the picture. The people decide that they are to be a great nation with a great city for its capital. So they begin to build a tower that is to be so tall that it reaches the heavens. The purpose in all this is that "we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." (ch 11, v 4) Self-reliance, self-adulation and self-determination were the goals of their efforts and they sought to defeat God's purposes in dispersing them throughout the earth. There are no real surprises in any of this; all we have to do is look around at the world today. People are people :-). Empires with great capitals have risen and fallen through the centuries; people seeking to elevate themselves by banding together to build a great nation.
We know the rest of the story. God is displeased by their attitudes and defeats them by confusing their language and disperses them throughout the earth. We understand this to be the origin of languages and the establishment of nations. What had started with prideful attitudes, ended with God defeating their arrogance. Solomon gives us God's view of pride in Proverbs 16:18; "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." When we seek glory for ourselves and elevate our will over the will of God, destruction is on our doorstep. This story is played out over and over in scripture, from David to Solomon to Ananias and Sapphira and many others, pride is the problem.
What is the message that God is wanting us to hear through this story? Is it that God hates skyscrapers? Does God hate nations? Of course not! The issue is the heart. What is the intent of my heart? Am I seeking my own glory or am I seeking to magnify God? Does my heart lead me to seek my will or God's will? These are not new questions; rather these are questions that have been troubling man from the very beginning. Eve can tell you all about it. Adam is well acquainted with pride. Cain, Ham, Abraham; they can all tell you the story of pride. You and I (just like them) will battle pride throughout our lives. May we determine to live lives of humility, submitting our lives to His will. May the intent of our hearts be to elevate God in all we do. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
God Saved Noah
Genesis 6-9
There are two ways of looking at the flood in Genesis chapters 6-9. One way focuses on the evil and how God used the flood to punish the "evil doers". (as George Bush would call them) The other focuses on the fact that God saved Noah and his family. The general message is that God is very patient with man and wants everyone to be saved. "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3,4) God wanted all in His creation to repent by hearing His truth preached. In this case, He gave them 120 years to listen to Noah's preaching and repent while they saw the Ark being built. "God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." (1 Peter 3:20) "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
That is God! He is longsuffering with us, thankfully. He wants every person to come to Him. Whether in the days of Noah or the present day, God still calls on all men, everywhere to repent and come to Him. For 120 years, God called and the people didn't respond. That is patience! For 120 years, the Ark was being built as a visible sign of faith, but no one took Noah up on his invitation. (Hebrews 11:7) In the end, after all the preaching and all the waiting and all the building, God saved Noah and his family. He saved them from a world of sin; sure he saved their physical lives, but it means more than that.
Out of all the people on the earth, Noah found favor in God's eyes. (Gen 6:8) He was chosen to be a type of new Adam. It was through him and his family that the world would be repopulated. You and I are related through Noah. He is our common ancestor. Could God have just started over? Sure! But He loves His creation and works to redeem it for Himself. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:20 that the means by which God saved Noah was water. It was through water that God worked to redeem the world and through water that Noah was saved. It was through water that the earth was cleansed of its sinfulness and it was through water that a new birth for the world would occur.
In 1 Peter 3: 20, Peter uses the Greek word "dia" (translated "through") which is a preposition denoting the channel of an act. Water was the "dia" through which salvation came to Noah. Water was the "dia" through which God would remove the sinfulness of the world. Water was the "dia" through which He saved Noah.
So what does this have to do with you and me? Good question! Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:21 that this water (the water that saved Noah) was a symbol of something that saves us. This water that God used to save Noah and cleanse the world of its sin is said to be a symbol of baptism. He tells us that "only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also". (1 Peter 3:20, 21) God chose water as the "dia" through which to work in Noah's day as a symbol of the "dia" through which He would work in our day. He could have chosen any number of ways to destroy the wicked and save Noah, but he chose water. He used water for His purposes; it accomplished His work and Noah was saved and the earth was cleansed. Praise God for His power and wisdom.
God saved Noah and I am thankful for that. It gives me hope for the day and hope for the future. He demonstrated His patience with us and I need His patience, daily! He clearly showed us that He would not tolerate sinfulness forever and that He would provide a way for salvation. Also, you and I are Noah's kids. We are family and as such we should treat each other with love and respect. And lastly, God provided us with a picture of His salvation that was to come. Water, His water, the water that He created is an essential part of His plan for the redemption of man. Be careful what you say about His water and His plan. They both belong to Him and so did Noah, so do I and so do you. God is calling for each of us to get on the Ark. The 120 years just might be about over. Oh, and remember He shut the door!
There are two ways of looking at the flood in Genesis chapters 6-9. One way focuses on the evil and how God used the flood to punish the "evil doers". (as George Bush would call them) The other focuses on the fact that God saved Noah and his family. The general message is that God is very patient with man and wants everyone to be saved. "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3,4) God wanted all in His creation to repent by hearing His truth preached. In this case, He gave them 120 years to listen to Noah's preaching and repent while they saw the Ark being built. "God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." (1 Peter 3:20) "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
That is God! He is longsuffering with us, thankfully. He wants every person to come to Him. Whether in the days of Noah or the present day, God still calls on all men, everywhere to repent and come to Him. For 120 years, God called and the people didn't respond. That is patience! For 120 years, the Ark was being built as a visible sign of faith, but no one took Noah up on his invitation. (Hebrews 11:7) In the end, after all the preaching and all the waiting and all the building, God saved Noah and his family. He saved them from a world of sin; sure he saved their physical lives, but it means more than that.
Out of all the people on the earth, Noah found favor in God's eyes. (Gen 6:8) He was chosen to be a type of new Adam. It was through him and his family that the world would be repopulated. You and I are related through Noah. He is our common ancestor. Could God have just started over? Sure! But He loves His creation and works to redeem it for Himself. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:20 that the means by which God saved Noah was water. It was through water that God worked to redeem the world and through water that Noah was saved. It was through water that the earth was cleansed of its sinfulness and it was through water that a new birth for the world would occur.
In 1 Peter 3: 20, Peter uses the Greek word "dia" (translated "through") which is a preposition denoting the channel of an act. Water was the "dia" through which salvation came to Noah. Water was the "dia" through which God would remove the sinfulness of the world. Water was the "dia" through which He saved Noah.
So what does this have to do with you and me? Good question! Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:21 that this water (the water that saved Noah) was a symbol of something that saves us. This water that God used to save Noah and cleanse the world of its sin is said to be a symbol of baptism. He tells us that "only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also". (1 Peter 3:20, 21) God chose water as the "dia" through which to work in Noah's day as a symbol of the "dia" through which He would work in our day. He could have chosen any number of ways to destroy the wicked and save Noah, but he chose water. He used water for His purposes; it accomplished His work and Noah was saved and the earth was cleansed. Praise God for His power and wisdom.
God saved Noah and I am thankful for that. It gives me hope for the day and hope for the future. He demonstrated His patience with us and I need His patience, daily! He clearly showed us that He would not tolerate sinfulness forever and that He would provide a way for salvation. Also, you and I are Noah's kids. We are family and as such we should treat each other with love and respect. And lastly, God provided us with a picture of His salvation that was to come. Water, His water, the water that He created is an essential part of His plan for the redemption of man. Be careful what you say about His water and His plan. They both belong to Him and so did Noah, so do I and so do you. God is calling for each of us to get on the Ark. The 120 years just might be about over. Oh, and remember He shut the door!
Monday, January 2, 2012
The First Worship
Genesis 4-5
Our reading today brings us the first family, and I am not talking about the Obama’s. Adam and Eve have their first two children, Cain and Abel. We are not given lots of detail about their lives, but we are told that Cain "worked the soil" and that Abel "kept flocks". So, the first two sons are a rancher and a farmer. Life carries on and sometime and for some reason, these two sons bring an offering to God. Worship of God has officially begun. We don't know how or when or by what direction, only that these two young men each bring an offering to God.
Sounds very nice, but what happens next is anything but nice. We have "worship wars" today, but thankfully they don't usually end like this story does. Evidently, God has given some instruction or He sees the attitudes and hearts of Cain and Abel. Abel brings an animal sacrifice and Cain brings a vegetable sacrifice. Next we are told that "The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor." (Gen 4:4, 5) We are not told the circumstances of God's favor, only that one pleased Him and the other did not. We are left to understand that possibly one of two things has occurred: 1. God had given instruction on the type of offering to bring and Cain had ignored it or 2. God saw the hearts of the two and distinguished between the intent of the heart. Either way, Cain's offering did not please God.
From this point on in the Bible, worship is in play and God either accepts the offering of an individual or He rejects it. If He rejects it, the consequences are severe. Whether it was Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3) or the Pharisees in Matthew 15 (Matthew 15: 8, 9), God demands worship that complies with His commands and comes from the heart. Any worship that doesn’t meet this standard, God calls vain, worthless. John puts it this way, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 23,24)
Whatever Cain did in his worship; whatever Nadab and Abihu did in their worship, we must not do. God desires worship from the heart, but heartfelt worship alone will not do. God desires worship that is based on His truth, but truth based worship is not enough. Only worship that engages the heart and demonstrates our respect for His word will do. Our entire being is what God is after, our emotion and our intellect. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind". (Luke 10:27) Paul tells Timothy to "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (! Timothy 4:16)
Truth matters, but so does the heart! Heart matters, but so does the truth. We can take either to an extreme and not please God and we can diminish either and find ourselves worshipping in vain. It is a matter of love and respect. The heart demonstrates our love and our obedience to truth demonstrates respect. I don’t know many parents that would find it acceptable for their children to show love but not respect. “I love you dad, but I am not going to obey you" or "I don't really like you dad, but I will do what you say." Niether works for a parent! What parents want are children to love and respect them; obey them out of love and God desires the same. Jesus put it simply, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
As we read through the Bible again this year, may we with honest hearts examine our worship. Are we offering God our hearts in worship? Are we seeking to offer true worship or are we more focused on what we like, what entertains us. God preserved the story of Cain and Abel for our benefit, for our learning, may we determine to offer heartfelt, truth based worship (like Abel) that will find favor with our God.
Our reading today brings us the first family, and I am not talking about the Obama’s. Adam and Eve have their first two children, Cain and Abel. We are not given lots of detail about their lives, but we are told that Cain "worked the soil" and that Abel "kept flocks". So, the first two sons are a rancher and a farmer. Life carries on and sometime and for some reason, these two sons bring an offering to God. Worship of God has officially begun. We don't know how or when or by what direction, only that these two young men each bring an offering to God.
Sounds very nice, but what happens next is anything but nice. We have "worship wars" today, but thankfully they don't usually end like this story does. Evidently, God has given some instruction or He sees the attitudes and hearts of Cain and Abel. Abel brings an animal sacrifice and Cain brings a vegetable sacrifice. Next we are told that "The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor." (Gen 4:4, 5) We are not told the circumstances of God's favor, only that one pleased Him and the other did not. We are left to understand that possibly one of two things has occurred: 1. God had given instruction on the type of offering to bring and Cain had ignored it or 2. God saw the hearts of the two and distinguished between the intent of the heart. Either way, Cain's offering did not please God.
From this point on in the Bible, worship is in play and God either accepts the offering of an individual or He rejects it. If He rejects it, the consequences are severe. Whether it was Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3) or the Pharisees in Matthew 15 (Matthew 15: 8, 9), God demands worship that complies with His commands and comes from the heart. Any worship that doesn’t meet this standard, God calls vain, worthless. John puts it this way, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 23,24)
Whatever Cain did in his worship; whatever Nadab and Abihu did in their worship, we must not do. God desires worship from the heart, but heartfelt worship alone will not do. God desires worship that is based on His truth, but truth based worship is not enough. Only worship that engages the heart and demonstrates our respect for His word will do. Our entire being is what God is after, our emotion and our intellect. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind". (Luke 10:27) Paul tells Timothy to "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (! Timothy 4:16)
Truth matters, but so does the heart! Heart matters, but so does the truth. We can take either to an extreme and not please God and we can diminish either and find ourselves worshipping in vain. It is a matter of love and respect. The heart demonstrates our love and our obedience to truth demonstrates respect. I don’t know many parents that would find it acceptable for their children to show love but not respect. “I love you dad, but I am not going to obey you" or "I don't really like you dad, but I will do what you say." Niether works for a parent! What parents want are children to love and respect them; obey them out of love and God desires the same. Jesus put it simply, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
As we read through the Bible again this year, may we with honest hearts examine our worship. Are we offering God our hearts in worship? Are we seeking to offer true worship or are we more focused on what we like, what entertains us. God preserved the story of Cain and Abel for our benefit, for our learning, may we determine to offer heartfelt, truth based worship (like Abel) that will find favor with our God.
The Consequences of Sin
Genesis 1-3
Life was good in the garden. Adam and Eve lived in the perfect setting with no worries or fears. God visited with them regularly and they took walks together through Eden. Perfect people in a perfect relationship with a perfect God in a perfect world. God made them in His image. They were eternal, spirit being in the flesh. They were made with a free will and the ability to make choices. And they did!
That is where the story takes a turn for the worse. God told them they were free to eat of all the trees in the garden, except one. The tree in the middle of the garden was off limits to them, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They understood that they would die if they ate the fruit from that tree. (Gen 2:16, 17) They knew the consequence and chose to do it anyway. People! God had demonstrated His goodness to them by the vast freedom He had given them. But the prohibition of the one tree demonstrated that they must live under a law and that the law was enforced by a practical penalty of which they had been mercifully warned.
Satan, the father of lies presented sin to them the same way he does to us today. He said to Eve, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3: 4-5) He tells her that God has lied to her and that He wants to keep them from being like Him. Who should she believe, the God that created her and has provided for her or her new "friend" that offers her a chance to be like God. She listens to him... her first mistake.
She looks at the fruit. She takes the time to examine the fruit... her second mistake. Her time of inspection comes to an end with her decision to eat it. She thinks it will taste good, that it looks good and that she will be smart after she eats it. John puts it this way in 1 John 2:16, "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world." Eve was no different than you and me. She was tempted by the same things that we are today. Sensuality, pleasure and ambition, the threefold nature of sin are still pulling at us today. Pretty girl, handsome man... sure. New car, fancy house.... got to have them. Power and influence.... give me more. Solomon got it just right when he wrote..."What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9)
That brings us to the consequences of sin. Adam and Eve realized what they have done. They understood that they had broken God's law and that everything had changed. I cannot imagine that moment, the one when they looked at each other and realized that they had made an eternal mistake. A momentary pleasure had destroyed the relationship they had with the Father. A momentary pleasure... we would never do anything like that. So what are the consequences... the first is shame. Adam and Eve realize what they have done and for the first time in their lives feel shame. Their innocence is gone. Moses puts it this way... "Then the eyes of both of them were opened".
The second result of sin is fear. Adam and Eve understood that they had disobeyed God and naturally they were afraid. They heard God taking His daily walk through the garden and they hide from Him. Their relationship has changed. The open, honest relationship between the Creator and the created had changed. The consequences of this are eternal. God calls out to His people and they hide and are afraid. Sin always produces fear and fear causes us to hide. We run from God, we cover our sins, we put up a good front, but in the end we are all sinners and our relationship with God is damaged. That is the story of man and thankfully God provides a way for our sins to be dealt with. John tells us in Revelation that God was already dealing with our sins from creation..."All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." (Rev 13:8) Jesus was slain from the creation of the world. God's plan of redemption was already in place when Adam took the bite that changed man's relationship with His Creator.
The third thing that sin produces is blame. When God confronted Adam with his sin, Adam quickly pointed the finger at Eve, "the woman you put here with me". When God turned to Eve, she pointed to Satan, the deceiver. As Flip Wilson used to say, "The devil made me do it". We are always looking for excuses, for someone or something to point to when it comes to our sinfulness. James clears up the controversy this way, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:13-15) Sin comes from within us, our desires, our wants, our lusts. The finger of blame must be squarely pointed at ourselves. I don't sin because of Adam; I sin because of Dale. You don't sin because of Satan; you sin because of your own personal desires. God does not tempt us to sin; we are drawn away by our own desires.
Shame, fear and blame. That was and is the consequences of sin. From the beginning until now, it is always the same. We are ashamed of our conduct. That shame causes us to fear a loving God, our Creator. And because of the shame that we feel, we seek to blame someone or something for actions. We can choose to go down that road and suffer the consequences of sin or we can recognize our condition and turn to God. Just like in the garden, God calls out to us... "Where are you?” And just like Adam and Eve, we are free to choose. Do I respond to His call or do I ignore Him and live in my sinful state? We must make the choice; the Lamb was slain from creation to deal with the sins of mankind. God did His part; he provided a solution for the problem. Now it is up to you and me. Live separated from God or have our relationship with Him restored. If you are interested in learning more about this restored relationship, send me a message on my blog. God is calling, will you answer? May God richly bless you as you study His word.
Life was good in the garden. Adam and Eve lived in the perfect setting with no worries or fears. God visited with them regularly and they took walks together through Eden. Perfect people in a perfect relationship with a perfect God in a perfect world. God made them in His image. They were eternal, spirit being in the flesh. They were made with a free will and the ability to make choices. And they did!
That is where the story takes a turn for the worse. God told them they were free to eat of all the trees in the garden, except one. The tree in the middle of the garden was off limits to them, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They understood that they would die if they ate the fruit from that tree. (Gen 2:16, 17) They knew the consequence and chose to do it anyway. People! God had demonstrated His goodness to them by the vast freedom He had given them. But the prohibition of the one tree demonstrated that they must live under a law and that the law was enforced by a practical penalty of which they had been mercifully warned.
Satan, the father of lies presented sin to them the same way he does to us today. He said to Eve, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3: 4-5) He tells her that God has lied to her and that He wants to keep them from being like Him. Who should she believe, the God that created her and has provided for her or her new "friend" that offers her a chance to be like God. She listens to him... her first mistake.
She looks at the fruit. She takes the time to examine the fruit... her second mistake. Her time of inspection comes to an end with her decision to eat it. She thinks it will taste good, that it looks good and that she will be smart after she eats it. John puts it this way in 1 John 2:16, "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world." Eve was no different than you and me. She was tempted by the same things that we are today. Sensuality, pleasure and ambition, the threefold nature of sin are still pulling at us today. Pretty girl, handsome man... sure. New car, fancy house.... got to have them. Power and influence.... give me more. Solomon got it just right when he wrote..."What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9)
That brings us to the consequences of sin. Adam and Eve realized what they have done. They understood that they had broken God's law and that everything had changed. I cannot imagine that moment, the one when they looked at each other and realized that they had made an eternal mistake. A momentary pleasure had destroyed the relationship they had with the Father. A momentary pleasure... we would never do anything like that. So what are the consequences... the first is shame. Adam and Eve realize what they have done and for the first time in their lives feel shame. Their innocence is gone. Moses puts it this way... "Then the eyes of both of them were opened".
The second result of sin is fear. Adam and Eve understood that they had disobeyed God and naturally they were afraid. They heard God taking His daily walk through the garden and they hide from Him. Their relationship has changed. The open, honest relationship between the Creator and the created had changed. The consequences of this are eternal. God calls out to His people and they hide and are afraid. Sin always produces fear and fear causes us to hide. We run from God, we cover our sins, we put up a good front, but in the end we are all sinners and our relationship with God is damaged. That is the story of man and thankfully God provides a way for our sins to be dealt with. John tells us in Revelation that God was already dealing with our sins from creation..."All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." (Rev 13:8) Jesus was slain from the creation of the world. God's plan of redemption was already in place when Adam took the bite that changed man's relationship with His Creator.
The third thing that sin produces is blame. When God confronted Adam with his sin, Adam quickly pointed the finger at Eve, "the woman you put here with me". When God turned to Eve, she pointed to Satan, the deceiver. As Flip Wilson used to say, "The devil made me do it". We are always looking for excuses, for someone or something to point to when it comes to our sinfulness. James clears up the controversy this way, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:13-15) Sin comes from within us, our desires, our wants, our lusts. The finger of blame must be squarely pointed at ourselves. I don't sin because of Adam; I sin because of Dale. You don't sin because of Satan; you sin because of your own personal desires. God does not tempt us to sin; we are drawn away by our own desires.
Shame, fear and blame. That was and is the consequences of sin. From the beginning until now, it is always the same. We are ashamed of our conduct. That shame causes us to fear a loving God, our Creator. And because of the shame that we feel, we seek to blame someone or something for actions. We can choose to go down that road and suffer the consequences of sin or we can recognize our condition and turn to God. Just like in the garden, God calls out to us... "Where are you?” And just like Adam and Eve, we are free to choose. Do I respond to His call or do I ignore Him and live in my sinful state? We must make the choice; the Lamb was slain from creation to deal with the sins of mankind. God did His part; he provided a solution for the problem. Now it is up to you and me. Live separated from God or have our relationship with Him restored. If you are interested in learning more about this restored relationship, send me a message on my blog. God is calling, will you answer? May God richly bless you as you study His word.
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