Revenge is Never Sweet

Today's Reading
Genesis Chp 34

On the heels of Jacob reuniting with Esau, Jacob found himself and his family in Canaan where they had not been for some time. Dinah, Jacob's daughter from Leah was exploring the land and sought to meet some of the women (Gen 34:1). She caught the eye of Shechem, son of Hamor. The two slept together. This was a disgraceful thing in Israel (Gen 34:7).

Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, were filled with rage. They sought revenge and then deceived and killed Shechem and Hamor. They also killed every male in the city, plundered all the material goods and took the women and children.

Clearly a wrongful act, Jacob lashes out at them:

³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed."

³¹ But they replied, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

Throughout our lives, others will wrong us, in ways perhaps significant, but definitely many times in insignificant ways. For myself, I know that a hardened heart does no good...revenge may produce short term boost to our ego and give us a sense of righteousness but long term this righteousness will not eliminate a hardened heart, which only leads to either shame, selfishness - certainly not love. We end up separated from God.

My Prayer: Lord, I pray that I can as you say "turn the other cheek". Help me avoid anger against another child of God. We are all made in your likeness and we need to see others as you see them not as we see them.

God "Injures" Us to Bring Us to Him for His Glory

Today's Reading
Genesis 32-33

Jacob is led home to reunite with his brother Esau and his father Issac. Jacob learns from his servants that Esau is coming out to meet him with 400 of his men - this causes great fear in Jacob (Gen 32:6-12). While Jacob goes to God in prayer he does not completely trust in God as he divides his group up and does not personally go out to meet Esau, sending instead his servants. Additionally, he sends gifts from among his herd as a way to pacify any anger Esau may have.

That night Jacob encounters God face to face as God wrestles with him.

²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

²⁷ The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.

²⁸ Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

²⁹ Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

³¹ The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. ³² Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.

I often wrestle with God and this is a good thing. Yet this has not rid me of my tendencies to seek my own will and to lean on my own abilities vs God. As God touches Jacob's hip as a means to draw Jacob closer to God, I seek to more deeply understand how God has created and molded me to depend on God.

My Prayer: Help me understand and appreciate where you have both made me weak and how you have made me strong. Help me use my strengths to your glory and just as importantly help me understand and acknowledge my weaknesses so that my trust and dependence on you can grow.

Envy and Greed Just Get in the Way

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 31

Here we see more envy and greed and how it gets in the way of our relationship with God and certainly in the way of relationships with others.

"Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father. And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been. " (Gen 31:1-2)

It even infects Rachel and Leah.

"Then Rachel and Leah replied, Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father's estate? Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children." (Gen 31:14-16)

God sees pending conflict and implores Laban:

"Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." (Gen 31:24)

Conflict ensues, yet is ultimately resolved as Jacob and Laban make a new covenant together.

"Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us." (Gen 31:44)

Envy and greed run through this story and we see how material possessions, wealth, and earthly things and our focus/comfort in them only separate ourselves from God and from others. We often view these things as things that can help us have more friends, more satisfaction, and more love. But this is not true - it is when we let go of these things when we draw closer to God.

My Prayer: Forgive me as I cling to earthly possessions. Lord, help me let go of these things and draw closer to you.

Envy Only Resolved Through God

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 28 - 30

Here we see Jacob blessed by Issac and sent on his way to Laban, nephew of Rebekah. Jacob's journey includes his dream at Bethel, his arrival in Paddan Aram, and his marriage to Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter. Jacob is deceived by Laban into sleeping with Leah on what was supposed to be the wedding night of Jacob and Rachel. This deception then spirals into a competition between Rachel, who at the time was unable to bear children, and Leah who bore several children and became a source of envy by Rachel.

"When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, Give me children, or I'll die!" (Genesis 30:1)

The competition to win the favor of Jacob takes many twists and ultimately God resolves the cycle by giving Rachel a son, Joseph.

"Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, God has taken away my disgrace." (Genesis 30:22-23)

Several questions arise, not least of which include:

• Are we not willing to understand and submit to God's will - must we be so beholden to our own desires that if we don't get our way we ask to die!?
• Do we really believe that envy and the resulting actions that come from our envy will create an outcome pleasing to God?
• Why are we not willing to ask God how we can be part of his plan just as we are?

My Prayer: Lord, please help me be willing to understand and submit to your will. Help me avoid chasing my independence from you. Help me avoid envy and the destructive behaviors that can result. Help me understand how I can be used right where I am.

Engineering an Outcome

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 27

We all desire the best for our children yet engineering an outcome for them is ill-conceived. Rebekah loves Jacob best and seeks to yield Issac's blessing for Jacob instead of Esau. Rebekah and Jacob intentionally deceive Issac multiple times in this story - all so that Jacob may receive his father's blessing. And then when the plot is discovered, Jacob must flee to escape the wrath of Esau who is of course steaming (as is Issac).

Although at birth, the Lord says to Rebekah that Esau is to serve his younger brother, Rebekah takes things into her own hands and attempts to engineer an outcome, not waiting patiently for the Lord to reveal his own plan.

I do this all the time as I trust in my own abilities, am not patient, and don't depend on and trust in the Lord.

My Prayer: Lord, help me depend on you, help me not depend on my own abilities and instead be patient and seek your guidance, wisdom, and will for my life.

What Am I Not Able to Give Up to the Lord?

Today's Reading
Genesis Chp 26

Like his father Abraham, Issac was blessed in no uncertain terms by the Lord:

The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws. (Gen 26:2-5)

Yet exactly as Abraham did with Abimelech in Gen 20, Issac lies - indicating that Rebekah is his sister and not his wife. Eventually, Abimelech catches Issac in this lie.

For me, the question becomes - to what extent are we willing to give everything up to the Lord to protect and to provide for us. Issac fears for his life - yet instead of giving this up to the Lord he lies. I do this too. I have aspects of my life, big and small that I either have a hard time giving up to the Lord or don't give up to the Lord at all. Despite the lie, the Lord continues to bless Issac - is our God not great and merciful?

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you[.] (Gen 24:24)

My Prayer: Lord, help me depend on you and trust in you with all of my heart and being. Help me free myself from dependence on my own abilities and those of others. It is through you that I will find provision and protection. I love you Lord.

Am I Happy With How God Has Created Me and With What God Has Given Me?

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 23-25

In these chapters we learn about the death of Sarah, of Issac's marriage to Rebekah, and of the birth of Esau and Jacob. The brothers are twins yet from inside the whom it is clear how they are destined:

The LORD said to her,
Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger. (Gen 25:23)

When they grew up, both showed dissatisfaction with their station. Jacob desired Esau's birthright and Esau despised his birthright. So Esau exchanged his birthright with Jacob for some bread and stew. While this may seem a fair and amicable trade, one does have to ask by implication: how am I dissatisfied with how God has created me and with what God has given me?

My Prayer: Lord, I know that I am as David proclaims 'fearfully and wonderfully made.' Please help me recognize this not just in my head but in my heart such that I seek nothing but you - if feel a need or a hunger let me seek you out and not people or things or activities to satisfy this hunger. Forgive me when I do and help me focus on you.

A Faith Without Question or Hesitation

Today's Reading
Genesis 22

What is amazing about this passage is that Abraham does not question or hesitate to follow God's instructions to sacrifice the only son born to him and Sarah - a son for whom they waited nearly an entire lifetime to have and raise.

This is unlike many of the other interactions Abraham has with God. Earlier in Genesis 15:2, Abraham doubts God can provide the great reward He promises with the covenant He makes with Abraham. Again in Genesis 16, Abraham and Sarah, despite God's promise to bear a son of their own, seek a plan of their own doing (and not of God's). And once again, in Genesis 17:17, Abraham scoffs at the notion that he and Sarah can have children at such an advanced age.

In Genesis 22, Abraham is instructed by God to do what all of us would consider unthinkable - to sacrifice their one and only son! Unlike previous occasions, Abraham does not question and does not hesitate - such faith!

On one hand I say to myself, I am not capable of such things - I would not follow God's instructions. Further, I would likely go my own way as did Sarah and Abraham as they bore a child through Hagar the maid-servant.

On the other hand, I feel that with God's help I could perhaps do something like this. I try not to think of my own sons Zach and Dustin, both of whom I love deeply - my focus is only on Him. It almost brings me to tears. I reflect further and begin to feel not anger in the Lord but almost a sense of deeper love for Him - how clear an indication do we need that God is trying to use us when he instructs us in such a way. It becomes clear that God has a plan for us.

My Prayer: Lord, please help me follow you without question and without hesitation. Help me free myself from distractions and focus on your will. Forgive me when I seek my own hand. Help me focus on your glory and your will.

Sarai Pursue's Her Own Path

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 20-21

In Genesis 16, we read how Sarai gives Hagar, her maidservant, to Abram for purposes of giving him a child. It was definitely a source of frustration for both Sarai and Abram that they remained childless, and despite God's own assurances (Gen 15:4), they pursue their own path.

Not surprisingly, this path does does not work out for Sarai and Abram and they cast out both Hagar and the son borne from Hagar and Abram.

In time (Gen 21), Sarah bears a child of her own - Issac.

See interesting commentary here. How many times do we pursue our own path? This is a difficult one for all of us - I know for myself that while I have definitely come to depend on Him more so now then previously, I am still too confident in my own abilities - even arrogant.

My Prayer: Lord, please help me depend on you; help me seek your will over my own. Rid me of my arrogance. Help me come to know you even more so that I can better understand your will for my life. Help me not make unwise choices - earthly choices. I love you Lord.

Seek God and He Will Protect You

Today's Reading
Genesis chps 16-19

My last post was about Abram developing a real relationship with God, one where Abram doubts, questions, and even challenges the Lord. This of course is what God wants - he wants us just where we are and he will meet us. Before that of course, we must KNOW him, TALK to him and LISTEN to him. I strive to have the daily child-like relationship with God that I truly desire, yet there is much more room for growth here.

The world is full of sin, then - just look at what is happening already in Genesis - and now. Then God wiped out all of humanity except Noah's family and then he destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Today those who fall prey to sin are doomed - I certainly don't want that and I don't want that for my family. With so much wickedness in the world, I must protect myself and also seek God.

^"When he [Lot] hesitated, the men [Angels of the Lord] grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" (Gen 19:16-17)

My Prayer: Lord I pray that I can develop a daily child like relationship where I seek you out and just desire to be with you...to talk to you, to listen to you, to question you. Help me keep running to you and away from sin. Protect me Lord. I know that if I seek you out you will protect me!

Abram: Give and Take - A Real Relationship with God

Today's reading
Genesis chps 12-15

I am struck by how Abram is blessed greatly and I am also struck at the developing relationship between Abram and God. And how this is a model for how we can have real relationships with God.

From Gen 15:1-6

¹ After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward. "

² But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" ³ And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." ⁵ He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Clearly there is reverence for the Lord but there is also doubt. And instead of internalizing this doubt, Abram voices it and develops a "give and take" relationship with the Lord - not that Abram gives anything to the Lord or that the Lord needs anything from Abram. God does not mind if we talk to Him, if we doubt Him, if we question Him - bottom line, He wants a relationship with us.

My Prayer: Lord, please help me love you with all of my heart and come to you with anything, whether it is a question, a doubt, or anger. I don't want to hide anything from you. I love you. Amen.

The First Command from God to Be His Brother's Keeper

Today's reading
Genesis chps 9-11

After Cain killed his brother Abel and after God wiped out all of humanity except Noah and his family, God specifically instructs Noah and his sons to be kind to one another and watch out for one another:

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." (Gen 9:4-6)

Note the use of the word "accounting" implying that men must hold each other accountable - this is all the more striking because I today had a discussion with two brothers about starting an accountability group. In the above verse, I sense God speaking specifically to me - isn't God amazing!

Right away, we see this accountability at work with one of Noah's sons:

"Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness." (Gen 9:20-23)

Although in Gen 11 Noah's descendants disobey the Lord and look to make a name for themselves by building the tower of Babel, we otherwise see the mercy of the Lord and how Noah's sons are blessed in Gen 10-11 for being obedient!

My Prayer: Lord please help be obedient. Let me follow you. I want to love you with all of my heart. Help me avoid temptations to glorify myself but instead you. Lord also help me carry the burdens of my brothers, lift my brothers up, and help me keep my brothers accountable to your instructions. Amen.

Second Chances, Only for Those Who Believe and Follow God

Today's Reading
Genesis 6-8: The Story of Noah

What is striking about this story is the obedience of Noah - one can only imagine the ridicule he might have received by those in his town that saw him building an ark. And this was no small ark and it had certain specifications - of which Noah followed them all. I strive and pray for this obedience.

What is also striking about these chapters is how God provides man with second chances. As a matter of fact Noah, his family, and their descendants (although Noah had favor of the Lord, after the floods receded, they became representative of all men and women, even those who God deemed wicked and had wiped out) are given the same swing of the bat that is provided to Adam.

"Then God said to Noah, 'Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.'" (Gen 8:15-16)

These are exactly the same words used with Adam:
"God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number." (Gen 1:28)

I am always seeking second chances...whether to do something I should have done (omission) or to start over after doing something I should not have done (commission). In either case, Christ is the way as He is the only one who will always forgive me, free me from shame, and welcome me back with a love so great I can only begin to appreciate. Thank you Lord!

My Prayer: Lord, I thank you for second chances. You died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and feel no shame. You also rose again to conquer death and offer me eternal life with you - if only I can believe in you. I do - and I pray that my relationship and love for you to grow such that I can have the obedience of Noah...the faithfulness of Noah. Amen.

God's Will is Perfect, He Makes Everything Right

Today's reading:
Genesis 3
Genesis 4
Genesis 5

When I read these chapters I am left with several thoughts:

• We are sinners and life is messy
• God is just and will always be with us

From the very beginning of creation, man has been sinning, and we always will. It is amazing how God's punishment is just and full of mercy. Even after God punished Adam and Eve for eating fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, God expresses his love for Adam and Eve by clothing them:

"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." (Gen 3:21)

After Cain killed his brother Abel, God marked Cain so that those who might hurt him when he was wandering would be badly punished:

"But the LORD said to him, 'Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.' Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.' (Gen 4:15)

We continue to see evidence of God's love for us - despite our sin - in chapter 5 as Adam and Eve are blessed with long lives and and they are blessed with many children and a long line of descendants, each of whom lives a long life.

In the same way, we are blessed:

• God uses our sin and his justice as part of His plan; is it not amazing that God sees a role for each of us, despite how unclean we are!

My prayer:
God, please forgive me for my sin - help me understand that without you, I would be as Cain might have been - a wanderer in the desert without protection. I know that you will protect me - please help me understand how my sin and your justice for me are to be used by you. Please help me remember how you will always have a plan for me and that this is an amazing expression of love in me! Thank you Lord. Amen.

A Suitable Helper - Exactly Whom God Wanted for Me

Genesis 1 and 2

20 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

²³ The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman',
for she was taken out of man."

²⁴ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

²⁵ The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

I sometimes struggle with the differences between my wife Lisa and myself and I focus on what Lisa is not - this is of course not what God intends. When I read how God created a suitable helper for Adam, how he did it, and how he left them in Eden with "no shame", I think about how once again God creates something perfect and I am challenged to focus on the "perfection" of the union of Lisa and myself.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you can help me focus on your perfection, and on the perfection of what you create, specifically my marriage with Lisa. Please help me be patient, loving, and encouraging. Amen.