Opposition = Warfare?

Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” (Exodus 5:3–9)

The past couple of weeks have been difficult. Monday, I felt good. Yesterday I aced my driver’s medical, but by supper, I could not stop coughing. In the middle of the night, cough medication kicked in so some sleep helped, but I feel yucky this morning and wonder if this virus is ever going away.

Reading the above passage reminds me to consider spiritual warfare. Not all illness is a slam from the dark enemies of God, but the way this came on and the effect it has had on my prayer life has me hearing the devil cheering. I’ve not been praying. Not only that, any efforts to pray seem to increase my sense of helplessness. I struggle to focus on talking to God.

Not that there isn’t anything to pray about. The news headlines invite prayer. Events in the lives of other Christians invite prayer. But as soon as anything comes to mind, it seems more weight is added to this illness and the focus to pray turns into “I need to sleep” or some other distraction. For this, God gives me another “therefore” passage:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13)

Before the virus hit, I had been praying and seeing startling answers. People’s lives were changing, including my own. Then, for about two weeks, all interest in prayer vanished. Is a virus one of the enemy’s ways to lay on a heavier load to keep God’s people from the sacrifice of prayer? Seems this is so.  

Even as these thoughts tell me to not to let anything keep me from talking with God, I still don’t ‘feel’ like praying — and I can hear the Holy Spirit say, ‘do it anyway’ knowing that I need the Him to obey God and to be enabled to fight the lies of the enemy.

Jesus, prayer is hard work, not like slavery to sin but living for selfish comfort often seems much easier than it does to take prayer seriously. I need You to fill me and help me get out of this listless and unfocused mindset that only wants to sleep.

Skilled or not — I must trust God

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.” (Exodus 4:10–17)

How many times have I answered God with, “But I don’t know what to say”? Do I really think that God cannot give me the words? Or am I more worried about knowing them ahead of time? I  even tend to ‘rehearse’ as if that is how He teaches me.

Not too long ago, someone came with a prayer request. As I prayed, words came to mind. When finished, the other person said, “Oh thank you. Now I know what to do.” I didn’t tell her what to do, just prayed what came to mind. I’ve no idea what happened in that conversation except the words prayed were what God wanted her to hear.

So simple. It was not blurted out or random and unrelated, but somehow the Holy Spirit took the words and used them. Not telling me ahead of time what those words should be was wise. I would likely have turned them into a boast, “Look at what I said” and even a habit for the next prayer request.

The neat part of the above OT dialog is that God reminded Moses that He made his mouth. If He wanted mute, He could do that. When He wanted words, He could do that too. The trouble with Moses is that he rated his speaking skills on his own ability instead of God's power.

Another neat thing is that God went to where Moses was. The man didn’t have faith that God could supply what he didn’t have, so He pulled Aaron out as one who could speak well, as if that was needed, but made it clear that the words he said would not come from that man’s ability to speak either. The words would come from God.

This passage speaks to me not just about words but about anything God wants me to do. I go for a driver’s test this morning and am nervous about passing it. From this encounter Moses had with God, I can trust God. If He wants me to pass it, I will. If not, He has good reasons.

Jesus, You give me Yourself and Your Spirit. That is enough. Rather than ‘send someone else’ just keep reminding me of Your wisdom, grace, and power. If You want something, nothing can stop it. If You don’t, my power or lack thereof remain helpless, no matter my skill-level.

Slavery or freedom?

The people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. 
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (Exodus 1:7–14)

The OT story of slavery in Egypt is a real-life metaphor for being in bondage to sin. This image is not sufficient in that the people of Israel choose to trust their own ways rather than trusting God, but it does point to the losses and damage that sin does. One commentator points out that there is “no such exhausting toil as that of working under the hot Egyptian sun, with the feet in water, in an open cutting, where there can be no shade, and scarcely a breath of air, from sunrise to sunset, as forced laborers are generally required to do.” 

He adds that a recent governor of Egypt, Mehemet Ali lost 20,000 laborers out of 150,000 in the construction of the Alexandrian Canal towards the middle of the present century. Other sources estimate that there are 50 million people in this world living in some sort of slavery. If that number included slavery to sin, it would be much larger.

The beginning of Exodus spells out the consequence of fear in this new king who had no understanding of the history of Israel living in his country. He only knew that his position of power was threatened. In his mind, the only solution was to overpower the threat. It is my observation that those insecure leaders of today are much like this one — when in fear, find a bigger stick.

In the NT, the multiplication of Christians became a threat in the Roman world. Many were persecuted, ran out of their homes, even burned at the stake. The sinful desire to maintain power and control overrides trusting God who is far superior to any threat. This is true even of those who know God. The Exodus story shows how much trouble His people had with trusting Him.

Yet is slavery to sin worth it? Is the ability to run my own life preferable to trusting God with it? Jesus died so that I could be set free from a power greater than my ability to say NO. Choosing slavery is foolish. Every time I fall into that trap, the more lovely God's grace appears. 

Jesus, thanks for saving me from a lifetime in Egypt and for setting my course to Your promised land.

UPDATE: This nasty virus invaded January 5 and is still trying to defeat me. Mostly I eat a bit, nap, and have no energy, but did a bit of sewing today so that is hopeful. Hubby is not 100% but far better than I am. Since I’ve not had flu since 1996, feeling sorry for myself is another challenge. God bless those who have brought food and are praying.

Funerals are important…

 

Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’ ” And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. (Genesis 50:1–14)

This passage is about grief and the extent of a family to mourn the loss of their father. In my life right now, it touches me two ways. One is that two of our friends died this month. One funeral happened and it was an incredible blessing to review the life of a man who loved and served God. The second one will be later, but it will happen. This man’s life also honored the Lord, and the event will also.

However, many deaths have the notation “No funeral” in the obituary. This is sad. It is usually the desire of the person who died, perhaps thinking it saves the family costs, or pain, or whatever, yet even the least loved family member will be missed and a funeral gives the living an opportunity to say goodbye, and to think about their own lives and deaths. Just a quick “he’s gone, move on” avoids the importance of pondering life.

The second way I’m touched is because I’ve been thinking about my own demise. Being ill does that. Yesterday was sleep, eat, sleep, as has been most of today. The odd thing is that my vitals are normal: pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc. but this cough will not go away and I am exhausted, with little appetite and no ambition. 

Not certain of the days ahead, the consequences could involve a funeral. Is it vain to suppose my family would mourn? I hope not. What I do want is Jesus to be glorified. The faith of the OT saints and those who currently loved and served Jesus means they are now with their Maker and enjoying eternal life. A funeral, done well, should let the living know that Jesus died for their sins, was buried, and rose again — to give us eternal life. The burying place does not matter, nor does the way I’ve lived or served God. What matters is that Jesus lives and that because He is alive, I will also live with Him forever.

Jesus, while illness makes me think of the end of life, You put that on my heart more than fifty years ago and granted faith to trust You — for all of this life and for what comes next. I want others to know of Your love and faithfulness, not just drop out of sight without being a witness to Your gift of eternal life.

So who is not limping?

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh. (Genesis 32:24–32)

Jacob, the believing heir to God’s promises, continually tried to get there in his own strength and ideas. He was a strong, self-confident, clever and self-sufficient person, who was sure he could do anything. 

God had to break his human strength and wisdom so that He might give him divine strength and wisdom. Even in losing this wrestling match, he still hung on for a blessing, knowing he was now utterly helpless without the healing, quickening, protecting power of his Master. This sense of total debility and utter defeat is now the secret of his power with God. As Paul later wrote: 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Jacob also knew that God would bless his ernest pleas in his helplessness. Even as the wrenched tendons and muscles of his strongest body part healed, he was left with a limp that revealed God had overcome his self-will. This was vital and even many years later, the people would not eat that part, showing the impact of this event.

Therefore, to this day, all who yield to the One who calls us have a limp. We cannot live the Christian lives in our own strength. I chuckle at those who say our faith is a crutch — of course it is — for who of us is not limping? And if we are not, then God is yet to be encountered.

Jesus, my self-will is a sneaking and persistent hindrance to fully trusting You. I try to do all the right things, think the best thoughts, and yet it is only when I admit my utter helplessness that You come to my aid. Even during this sickness, I’ve learned much about the bane of thinking I can do this, but I cannot. I need You for everything, every moment, and must always be willing to admit that I still limp.

The seal of God’s covenant

Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, and Mizpah, for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” (Genesis 31:43–50)

Today if we need a document to signify an agreement, it can usually be found with our phones. In OT days, no one carried so much as a notepad and pencil to jot down the details. Instead, they used stones to mark out the occasion and place representing  various covenants and agreements. In the above case, Jacob had been badly treated by his father-in-law so took his wives and left. Laban wasn’t happy about that so chased after him to establish a formal agreement of peace. This pile of stones was their reminder to get along and that God wanted that and would also watch over them to ensure this covenant would not be violated.

There could be more significant details, but what stands out in this one is the dad being willing to let his daughter’s go but at the same time wanting them cared for. Jacob already had a reputation of doing things his way and even though Laban had his flaws too, the idea of sealing their intentions with “a heap of witness” showed a desire on both sides to do things right.

These days, we have contracts and all sorts of legal documents to protect ourselves and our investments. It is not unheard of to use them to protect family members, but rarely do they have the intimacy of agreement that shows up in this one.

I’m also reminded that when Jesus died for me and testified to not only save me but take care of me forever, that old rugged cross and His shed blood are the “heap of witness” that solemnly and yet wonderfully stand as witness of what He has done and that He will keep “watch between us” even if I cannot see what or how He is doing just that. A cross on a chain might only be jewelry to some, but to me, it is a reminder of God’s everlasting covenant.

Jesus, I’m so thankful that You keep watch over me, even during those times when I am unaware of Your care. Right now, I am preoccupied with feeling weak and ill, but You are faithful,  even when my mind is elsewhere. For this, I am so very grateful. 

Barefoot and pregnant?

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. (Genesis 29:31–35)

Back in the day, the status symbol for a wife was her ability to bear children. While this could anger some women these days, or make them at least scratch their heads, it was not considered demeaning in Bible days to be ‘barefoot and pregnant’ as it is now.

A quick internet search says today’s woman value intangibles like self-determination and independence, professional and educational success, being self-made, having a toned body and good health, privacy, world travel, and unique life experiences. Add the tangible obvious: designer goods, shopping at luxury stores, having a financial standing, and exceptional personal accomplishments. 

While some would applaud that “we have come a long way” others might see the consequences of this large shift in priorities and wonder if it is worth it. How has it affected marriages? And children in such marriages? Think of how ‘self actualization’ is described in this verse:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Thinking about my own priorities, what is the difference between ‘my own way’ and doing things God’s way? Is it only about trying to please my husband by giving him a bunch of kids? Many women have made an impact in this world by serving the Lord in many ways other than childbearing. Even the NT has examples, plus modern day women in the mission field, Christian education, and in local churches. 

The difference is in what they are doing (serving the Lord) but mostly in why they are doing it. Their accomplishments are not about ‘self’ but about glorifying God. It might be in the home, or at work, or in a wide range of activities, but a heart set to honor Him makes a difference. I want to make a difference, no matter where else He might lead me, and do what I do because of His leading.

Jesus, I think of my Granny’s words as I write this: “Too old too soon, too late smart.” May You restore the years the locust has eaten and make use of whatever time is left. Women who love You and serve You with their whole heart are brave and powerful — and becoming far too rare. 

Something for nothing?

Jacob, son of Issac and Rebekah, was often blessed by God and never seemed to deserve any of it. None of us do, but when a scalawag is continually bailed out but always treated well, it can seem unfair. This passage suggests he may have grown to expecting blessings without any effort on his part:  
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month. Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” (Genesis 29:13–15)

It seems to me that God is not using this to illustrate salvation, which is never earned or dissevered, but addressing the attitude of the one is blessed by God’s favor. Gratitude is not the same as taking Him for granted. I often call myself God's spoiled brat, but realize this is not the same as having a totally grateful attitude that humbly knows His love and kindness, rather than always expecting it.

I’ve been really sick for a few days, likely a virus and no fun at all, but snapping my fingers for the Lord to fix it is not part of His plan, at least not at this time. I know that He wants me to accept this and keep my mind on the joy set before me, not grumble or wonder why He isn’t doing something for me right now.

Jesus, I’m learning to accept discomfort, even extreme and long sessions of struggle. this is on Your mind, but was not on mine. However, I do trust You and believe You lovingly remain in charge of my life. For the joy set before me, may You grant the endurance needed to glorify You.

Strange Week

Hubby has an immune system disorder tells us to avoid crowds. However my vehicle was rear-ended NewYear's Eve on a very icy street and he had to go to a crowded office involving that. Someone in that room had an unwanted germ or virus and he came home with it. He is still coughing. This nasty visitor waited until Tuesday to invade me.

The strange part is the therefore. For two nights, I had vivid dreams involving verses I remembered with that word in them. I did not remember much when waking up, yet these dreams were like like having devotions without opening my Bible.

I'm not feeling well, better in the morning. A friend brought over a huge pot of soup this afternoon. This is God caring for me. I thought of these verses:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1–2) 

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. . . (1 Peter 4:1) 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, (1 Peter 5:6)

Jesus endured far more than this and all those dreams reminded me that whether God is chastening me or has other reasons for this, He loves me and asks me to endure -- without grumbling or resenting His plan 

PRAY: I felt good this morning and dreadful this afternoon, but You set Your joy before me and I am grateful.

 

 

Therefore, do this…

 

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?” (Genesis 27:41–45)

At least three times Jacob is told by his father, or his mother, to obey them. The first was Isaac’s command. Thinking he was talking to Esau, he told his son to prepare food for him. Jacob thought his father would realize the deception but his mother told him to obey. The third was when his mother learned that Esau planned to kill him. 

Even though it was not right to lie to his father, nor to earlier rob his brother of his birthright, there is a principle here that didn’t stop God’s plan to use these events to shape the future. The NT states the principle:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1–4)

The Ten Commandments also say to honor parents. Perhaps Jacob was trying to do this in his earlier concern about doing what his mother said, but the Bible is plain: a child owes obedience to a parent in all areas except those that contradict the revealed law of God. It was not right to lie to Isaac, even though his mother told him to do it. But it was right to flee!

This event does not condemn Jacob’s father. He was oblivious and deceived. The mother approved the deception and took advantage of the likelihood that Jacob had been raised to obey his parents. However, Jacob also knew this deception was wrong before God, but he seemed more concerned about what would happen to him if he was caught:

Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice. . . .” (Genesis 27:12–13)

Yet in all of this deceptive behavior, God protected Jacob. This son would be father to Judah and in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The big picture of redemption used these selfish decisions made in the OT story, showing how God can use anything for His purposes. 

Yet this is never an excuse that it is okay to do such things. The NT does say, “obey your parents IN THE LORD” while at the same time honoring them, not with lies and deceptions but living in the instruction and the godly enablement of the Holy Spirit. Jacob fled as he was told.

PRAY: My parents are no longer alive, but Jesus, I am thankful that You made them easy to honor. My prayers today are for those who live with difficult challenges because the children are being “provoked” by ungodly moms and dads. Also, may no one think it is okay to disobey You in order to please or appease their parents or anyone else. Amen.

Relationship of my name to who I am. . . .

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29–34)

In the Bible, a person’s name is often associated with their character. For instance, when David sought refuge with Nabal and this man refused, his wife said: “Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.” (1 Samuel 25:25) Nabal means “fool.”

The names of God identify Him also. “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” (Isaiah 54:5) Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 and Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23)

Today, people are also known by designations. My hubby often introduces them by their occupation, or their education (engineer, teacher, farmer, dentist). I might say, “Bev is the quilter that lives south of us.” 

People are also called or known by their character; honest man, flirty girl, kind soul, etc. In the above passage, Esau was known for giving up his right of inheritance for a bowl of red stew. The Hebrew word for red is Edom, the name given to the place where he lived.

In thinking of what he did, I think of how many give up or say no to the treasure of eternal life because they would rather not be yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Putting faith in Him means dying to self-rule and poses the threat of persecution and hardship. Such people are more interested in being comfortable and having their desires satisfied than facing the unknown.

This can happen to Christians also. It is a temptation to let myself be identified as “Elsie” rather than as “a Christian woman” or anything that identifies me as a child of God that might lead to mockery, rejection, loss of respect, and a host of other negatives. When the forms say “Occupation” they want “retired” or “homemaker” or whatever I do, not “follower of Jesus Christ.” 

Yet God gives boldness. These are the people who know the character and love of God by His names and by spending time with His Son, and experiencing the boldness of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. . . . There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:16–19)

The enemy often tries thoughts like “How could God love you?” into my head. However, His love was secured and demonstrated on Calvary, not by anything I do or say. The Bible is clear in naming me His beloved child.

PRAY: Jesus, being motivated by love involves a sacrifice, just as You demonstrated by dying for me, yet out of that sacrifice comes eternal life. There is no greater love as You keep telling me and showing me. I don’t ever want to give that up for anything like a bowl of stew or whatever might seem comforting at the time. And thank You for revealing to me that my name does fit this biblical pattern for it means “consecrated to God” and I want to be identified by that name!

 

 

God knows my heart

 

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” (Genesis 20:2–7)

God’s man is in foreign territory and fearful for his life. He told the king of that place that Sarah was his sister and the king took her, only to be told by God she was Abraham’s wife. The king pleaded ignorance and God already knew this so he spared him. Not only that, He protected Sarah from his advances and told the king to return her or he would suffer the consequences.

Such is the love and power of God. Abraham was far from perfect and usually trusted God, but this time he took matters into his own hands and could have lost his wife and his life. Yet God intervened based on His knowledge of this king’s heart. He prevented Abimelech from even touching her. 

If I were in a position of power, listening to the politicians and other people of influence would make me want to take matters into my own hands at times also. Even the sins of those I know are enough to get a rise out of me. But I don’t know their hearts. This is not an excuse to do nothing, but it is a reason to pray for them, like Abraham prayed for the king so he would live. 

Two people come to mind. One uses aches and pains to gain attention. The other gets horribly upset and snarky over the most trivial things. They don’t know God — and I don’t know  their life issues or the stresses they endure. I know that they need Jesus, yet even then, Christians struggle when life puts them in fear and they try to fix it themselves. I’ve done it too.

Jesus, this story has a lesson for me: Don’t jump to conclusions when others do the wrong thing. In this case, the king did what he thought was okay. I’ve gone that route myself. When corrected, he pleaded innocence “in the integrity of his heart” and God knew this was true. You know my heart also. Enable me to always match the inner person and the outward actions, without pretense or excuses, always remembering that You know my heart.

God can prevent great sin before it happens…

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1–9)

Today’s news has a president seizing the leader of another country and planning to charge him with drug trafficking. Regardless of how anyone feels about that action, the only way to stop crime is at the source. Today’s “therefore” describes why that city was called by a descriptive word that means to mix or mingle. His created people were planning to stay in one place whereas He had told them to “fill the earth”. God dealt with the source. 

This plan reveals how sin had created human independence and self-sufficiency apart from God. They thought they had no need of Him and were confident in their own ability. Even though this is the common result and description of sin (see Isaiah 53:6), in this case, God put a stop to the tower and city because it defied His will to use His people to bless the whole world. This came out later in His call to Abram.

However, it points ahead to humanity’s sinful desire to ensure our own security rather than trusting the Lord, and our desire to make a name for ourselves rather than praising God. It also points to the gospel plan. 

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

“Let us” points to the trinity. “Confuse their language” points to His power over our understanding” and the rest of the passage looks at the result. God came down much later and in that next time, He did not mix up speech but clarified Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. His Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and for all who respond, we belong to His family and live together in His kingdom. 

Babel is also the name used in the OT for the city of Babylon. As a city, Babylon symbolizes humanity’s ambition to dethrone God and make the earth its own (see Revelation 17–18). This story shows the clash of divine and human wills. Interesting also is that the word “Babel” means “gate of God” yet the writer of Genesis used it as a play on words, this time to show the consequences of sin, and then to point ahead to when Jesus came down to defeat the power of sin and give His people a far greater unity than a tower and city every could.

Jesus, how many times I’ve tried to be my own Savior and attempt things without involving You. The results are always thwarted. Yet in mercy and grace, You use what even those things to change my life. You forgive my selfish ambitions and refuse to allow me to leave You out of my life or gain glory for myself. Thank You for rescuing me. To You be all glory. Amen.

Why Banned from Eden…

 

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22–24)

Joking, I say that “normal” is only a setting on the dryer, but reading this changes my understanding. God put humanity in a perfect place with a joyful task to take care of it and total innocence of guilt. Normal is Eden. Not anymore, but one day normal will be heaven. What keeps anyone out of both is lack of faith and disobedience to God. This is why Adam was sent out of Eden, no longer tending a perfect garden but working in an imperfect world, still with beauty, but marred by sin. Why? What is the reason for this consequence? 

God put guards at the garden gate because He didn’t want humanity to live forever in a sinful condition by eating from the tree of life. Instead, He sent them into a ruined world where they would learn how much they needed to obey Him. It took a long time, a lot of impossible rules, and a great deal of humiliation. Learning the way back would require the work of angels and a flaming sword, but becoming the people of Eden involved more, such as forgiveness, redemption, and the reverse of the curse of sin and its power. Sin messed with loving God and gave us a stubborn, “I can do it myself” way of life. Dealing with it required sending His Son and putting Him to death in our place, death on a Cross.

I’ve been a Christian for nearly sixty years and still fight that “I can do it myself” thinking. Even though it messes up life by putting wedges in relationships, robbing me of joy, and other undesirable events, sin’s power is persistent. Knowing better is not enough. I need the grace and power of the Holy Spirit every moment. New habits. Total and persistent obedience. Constant reminders of what God says vs. what I want. 

I can blame ADHD for being easily distracted to this DIY attitude, but the real reason is sin. I can say my ‘good’ deeds are “working the ground” but if they are not for God's glory but for my own needs and satisfactions. The Bible is clear: “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

Faith in Jesus Christ reverses the curse. It makes us citizens of Eden and even though we are not back there yet, we get glimpses, a taste of it: 

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:22–26)

Salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ changes the curse to an incredible promise and a future reality, not yet seen but nevertheless very real. Oh Jesus, what is abnormal now will become normal, life eternal with You — being in that perfect place for eternity. You could have banned us forever, but in mercy and grace You have become our living hope.

Before sin and its consequences…

The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:20–25)

In high school English, my teacher stressed looking for connections when the word “therefore” as used. It usually means “for that reason or consequently.” A few weeks ago, I read that it is used hundreds of times in Scripture, therefore is worth looking at. 

In the above passage, the Word of God connects why and how God made woman, and what He intended as the consequence. In thinking about it, an internet image came to mind. It was a mare and her foal trotting together, in step, side by side, with the older horse guiding the younger one who came from her body. The harmony was lovely. She nurtured and guided the foal and the perfect youngster was growing and happy as they moved together. 

This is not a perfect example because most people have trouble imagining marriage could look like that. And we are not horses. The bigger problem? In Genesis 3, sin came in. The results are described in one verse that she will desire her husband, but he will rule over her. Later God explained the struggle they would have with sin:

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)

Other translations clarify that sin is the desire to run our own lives our way and not God's way. That rules out being in step with our spouse and having the harmony described in the NT:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22–33)

Even Christian women think “submission” is a bad word that robs her of her personhood, yet being a “helper” to her spouse is honorable. The only other use of that term calls God our helper. Wives travel in high and honorable company! 

Not only that, after years of us each trying to do our own thing, hubby and I are moving closer to the “therefore” description — only because Jesus is at work and insists on no other attitude. The surprise is the joy and peace of harmony rather than each of us desiring to rule and have our own way.

Therefore, keep at it, Jesus. The more we love and obey You, the more we love and make sacrifices for each other. Your way is always better!