My last post was a result of my reading of Abraham's life. This one is a result of reading the first part of Jacob's life. (In parts, it is similar to Josh's last post, but I didn't plagarize.)
It is amazing how you can get used to the flow of a story; all of Abraham's life has the same basic theme: Abraham walked by faith, with some failures, but the theme is faith - faith in the promises of God. So, I arrived at the story of Jacob still thinking of faith as the interpretive key to the story: it isn't, at least not at first. But amazingly, the promises are still central; but this time everyone wants the promises their own way. Jacob wants the promises and the blessings they bring, but he doesn't have faith in the God who gave the promises and blessings. Esau wants the promsies, or does he? He doesn't really care about the promises after all, he just wants to be the big man around here. Rebekah wants the promises (for Jacob) and Isaac wants the promises (for Esau). But they have all forgotten about God and what He wants.
God has given the promises, and He is still directing the course of events, but how can He bless those who are not acting in faith? I haven't gotten there in my reading yet, but how do you bless Jacob by giving him material wealth? Now he has to divide up his stuff so that maybe some of it will survive. How do you bless him when he is always running in fear? It is not until Jacob learns faith that all that blessing can really be a blessing; and those promises, now those can be believed too. And they don't have to be gotten by deceit. In fact, the next time, before Jacob leaves the Promised Land, God will actually tell him to go; and now Jacob can be mentioned in the Hall of Faith, because he also believed the promises, blessed his seed, and sojourned in the land of Promise.
26 March 2006
More thoughts sparked in Genesis
20 March 2006
A Hypothesis concerning a hypotenuse
Random email sent from a friends:
Three kingdoms were in dispute over claims to an island in the middle of lake on which they all bordered. Finally, after exhausting all diplomatic options, the rulers of the three kingdoms decided to send their best knights to the island for a great battle, and the winning kingdom would have claim to the island forever.
On the night before the battle, the three knights rowed out to the island, each with a retinue of their best squires. Two of the groups of squires promptly got down to the business of polishing armor, sharpening weapons, and just generally making sure their respective knights were ready to face the others in the morning.
Meanwhile, the third squire tied a rope around the handle of a large kettle, hoisted it off the ground by a tree branch, and began cooking dinner, leaving his knight to tend to his own armor and weapons.
The battle, which began promptly at sunrise, was spectacular.
Three knights in gleaming armor clashed with razor-sharp weapons. On and on it raged, until all three knights were dead.
Since the conflict had not been resolved, the squires then engaged in a battle of their own, until the only squire left standing was the one who had hoisted up the kettle to cook dinner the night before.
The moral: "The squire of the high pot and noose is equal to the sum of the squires on the other two sides!"
16 March 2006
Thoughts sparked in Genesis
What is the hope of the Christian? Is it not that someday, we will have a "rest", a place of eternal life with God? As I have been reading in Genesis, the concept of rest keeps coming up, not because Genesis talks about it, but exactly the opposite.
Look through your Bible, especially the Pentateuch, and you do not find rest in this life; you find people who were sojourners and pilgrims and wanderers on this earth, people who were looking for a future rest in a Promised Land. Then, turn to the NT and remember that this world is not our home, we really are just passing through; indeed we are strangers and pilgrims. Now then, brothers, let us live as ambassadors, those who are sent to a foreign country, and it is in service to the King, not for ourselves!
12 March 2006
What do you See?
I figured while I was posting, I would post my favorite poem of the ones I've written. Matthew
What do You See?
October 2005
Lk. 16:13-31; 2 Cor. 4:18; Jn. 4:24; Jam. 1:2
These riches and joys are just temporary things.
'Tis certain we must look upon heavenly scenes
with much greater love and total abandon
with a zeal to have our soul's vision examined.
Seeing the beggar, do we see the man's shell?
Do we stop and regard the hell-destined soul?
These things are not real in the sight of our Lord;
Our sight must be judged at the bar of His Word
for our focus must be on a city unseen
and our gaze on the lovely Redeemer from sin.
Hearing of the terrorist, does hate fill our hearts?
Can we see the one who is lost from the fold?
True worship is not in action and form
It comes from a spirit that will praise and adore
being willing to lose all these earthly possessions
for the cause of the One, who’s our Master and Lord
Meeting the wealthy, do we start counting coins?
Do we see the eternal, that soul that is damned?
Are we willing to give up this temporary life
In order to serve with our all for our Lord?
Will we go at His charge and give up our will?
Will we rise up and follow no matter the call?
Afflicted as He was, will we give up the race,
or count it all joy to rest in His grace?
These riches and joys are just temporary things.
'Tis certain we must look upon heavenly scenes
with a singular passion and different direction
with a zeal to have our soul's vision corrected!
Psalm 121 - Rest in the LORD
Psalm 121
By Matthew , 3/11/06
I feel my weakness;
I seek for help.
Rest in the Lord
The Lord made heaven;
The Lord made earth.
Rest in the Lord
He holds me steadfast;
He does not sleep.
Rest in the Lord.
He watches Israel;
He does not sleep.
Rest in the Lord.
He is my Keeper!
He is my Shade.
Rest in the Lord.
The sun is harmless;
The moon so weak.
Rest in the Lord.
He keeps from evil;
He keeps my soul.
Rest in the Lord.