by Wesley Blackburn
Have you ever had to step in and fill the shoes of a great leader?
I think that's one of the toughest things you can ask a person to do. As a pastor, part of my job means that almost always, I'll be stepping into a job that was done by someone else previously with the same people, same equipment, same resources, same budget, and all that good stuff. That can be a harrowing experience, because, quite frankly, people can be tough to lead. I remember taking over as the key leader in a leadership team at my high school, and the guy before me had left some huge shoes to fill. I can remember struggling with all the preconceived notions about what I was supposed to do, who I was supposed to be, and that sort of stuff. There was a lot of pressure, and it took me some time to really get used to it.
Maybe you've been in a similar situation before. But chances are that you (or I) weren't following Moses. Everyone had watched Moses be used by God to change the entire fate of a nation; once oppressed in Egypt, these men and women had seen their lives change from slavery to freedom, from feeling abandoned by God to seeing Him work for them in ways they never could have imagined. And now, Joshua has to step in and fill these seemingly impossible to fill shoes. So what's he going to do? God gives him two basic commands in this chapter: Joshua needs to be strong and courageous and obey the Law of Moses.
I find it interesting what God doesn't say. He doesn't give Joshua a particular leadership style. He doesn't tell Joshua he needs to act a certain way or become more this or less that. He says that if he will simply follow the Law God has given His people and if He will simply have courage, knowing that God is for him and on his side, then Joshua has nothing to worry about. Literally, God promises that "you may be successful wherever you go."
I think that what God told Joshua several thousand years ago still applies for us today. No matter what situation I'm in, if I continue to trust God and take the courageous (often difficult) step forward, then usually God is going to work in a cool way. If I continue to follow God's will for my life as revealed in Scripture, then I can know that I am arming myself for success, if not in this life, then definitely in the next.
Like most great things in life, it only has to be as hard as you make it. In Joshua's case (and I think in ours as well), the directions from God were simple: be courageous and do what I say. If we will follow this advice, God will surely use us to transform lives in a huge way.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
22. The Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-34:35).
by Amy Mehrle
There are three points about today's passage that really stand out to me. The first is the role of Aaron. He is the brother of Moses and second in command when Moses is gone, and yet, he doesn't turn down the idea of the golden calf. He is, in fact, the one who gets the gold together to build the calf. It always makes me wonder why he didn't stand up to the people or for God. Beyond the miracles that he had seen with the people of Israel, he had also been in the palace seeing and helping to perform the miracles before Pharaoh. He should know better, but he acts like he doesn't. He builds the calf for the Israelites to worship their false god. This always makes me think that Aaron should be removed from the role as second in command, but he isn't. If we look to Exodus 34:30, we see that Aaron is still a leader. He has been forgiven for this HUGE mistake and is still allowed to lead. This leads me to my next point about God's forgiveness...
When God saw what was going on at the bottom of the mountain, he was ANGRY. Angry is a mild word for His emotion, actually. He was ready to wipe out the whole Israelite community. But Moses talks God out of destroying His people. He delays the wrath of the Lord. I am amazed that Moses, with all of his human imperfection was able to reason with God. He talks him out of delaying the promise to Abraham and saves the Israelites. The boldness of Moses, who had earlier been afraid to speak to Pharaoh leaves me challenged to pray for the people that I love, and even those I don't because after reading this passage there's no denying that talking to God makes a difference.
Finally, beginning with Exodus 34:29, this passage talks about the radiance of the face of Moses. On the mountain, Moses was in the presence of the Lord, and it has made his face radiant from speaking to Him. It was so radiant, in fact, that the Israelites were afraid to speak to Moses, who now had to wear a veil over his face. Moses had fully been in the presence of God, and it was so evident that even his appearance had changed. As Christ followers, we have the chance to go into the presence of the Lord with prayer and our various acts of worship. I wonder if others can tell because of the changes they see in us?
There are three points about today's passage that really stand out to me. The first is the role of Aaron. He is the brother of Moses and second in command when Moses is gone, and yet, he doesn't turn down the idea of the golden calf. He is, in fact, the one who gets the gold together to build the calf. It always makes me wonder why he didn't stand up to the people or for God. Beyond the miracles that he had seen with the people of Israel, he had also been in the palace seeing and helping to perform the miracles before Pharaoh. He should know better, but he acts like he doesn't. He builds the calf for the Israelites to worship their false god. This always makes me think that Aaron should be removed from the role as second in command, but he isn't. If we look to Exodus 34:30, we see that Aaron is still a leader. He has been forgiven for this HUGE mistake and is still allowed to lead. This leads me to my next point about God's forgiveness...
When God saw what was going on at the bottom of the mountain, he was ANGRY. Angry is a mild word for His emotion, actually. He was ready to wipe out the whole Israelite community. But Moses talks God out of destroying His people. He delays the wrath of the Lord. I am amazed that Moses, with all of his human imperfection was able to reason with God. He talks him out of delaying the promise to Abraham and saves the Israelites. The boldness of Moses, who had earlier been afraid to speak to Pharaoh leaves me challenged to pray for the people that I love, and even those I don't because after reading this passage there's no denying that talking to God makes a difference.
Finally, beginning with Exodus 34:29, this passage talks about the radiance of the face of Moses. On the mountain, Moses was in the presence of the Lord, and it has made his face radiant from speaking to Him. It was so radiant, in fact, that the Israelites were afraid to speak to Moses, who now had to wear a veil over his face. Moses had fully been in the presence of God, and it was so evident that even his appearance had changed. As Christ followers, we have the chance to go into the presence of the Lord with prayer and our various acts of worship. I wonder if others can tell because of the changes they see in us?
Friday, June 25, 2010
20. Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-14:31).
by Mary Elizabeth Robertson
I've never been a person who reads the end of the book first. But the Bible is my exception. I know how it ends. I'm familiar with most of the stories. So, today, as I'm reading about the Israelite crossing of the Red Sea a few obvious things stand out to me, but I had to forget what I already knew about God in order to dig a little deeper and learn what this experience was beginning to teach the Israelites about our God.
At the point of Exodus 14:4, the Israelites have fled Egypt and God is giving Moses the next step of the plan. The verse says:
"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord."
A few more times during today's passage it repeats that God's purpose through this is to be known as "the Lord," Yahweh, the One who redeems his people. A previous passage, Exodus 6:2-3, explains why this is such a big deal:
"God also said to Moses, 'I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.'"
Prior to this experience, the Israelites had experienced God as El-Shaddai or "God Almighty," but here at the Red Sea, God wanted to introduce more of his character to his people. I love that wherever God is bringing me (and this text leaves no doubt that God is doing the leading), it is so that I can know him and experience him more than in the past. There is purpose to his plans for me. God is intentional in wanting me to know him.
I've never been a person who reads the end of the book first. But the Bible is my exception. I know how it ends. I'm familiar with most of the stories. So, today, as I'm reading about the Israelite crossing of the Red Sea a few obvious things stand out to me, but I had to forget what I already knew about God in order to dig a little deeper and learn what this experience was beginning to teach the Israelites about our God.
At the point of Exodus 14:4, the Israelites have fled Egypt and God is giving Moses the next step of the plan. The verse says:
"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord."
A few more times during today's passage it repeats that God's purpose through this is to be known as "the Lord," Yahweh, the One who redeems his people. A previous passage, Exodus 6:2-3, explains why this is such a big deal:
"God also said to Moses, 'I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.'"
Prior to this experience, the Israelites had experienced God as El-Shaddai or "God Almighty," but here at the Red Sea, God wanted to introduce more of his character to his people. I love that wherever God is bringing me (and this text leaves no doubt that God is doing the leading), it is so that I can know him and experience him more than in the past. There is purpose to his plans for me. God is intentional in wanting me to know him.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Beyond Sunday: Unstoppable Hope
...by Bobby Jackson
Hope you had a great Father’s Day!
Andy shared a difficult and profound truth with us this week. Could it be that, good and bad, my story is worth telling? Should I keep the bad chapters of my life because GOd is able to be seen in those as well? That’s a tough thing to wrap my grey matter around. I want to forget pain in the past and not view it again, but Andy reminded us that there is a deeper hope that comes from seeing God at work in our entire story.
I was thankful for David’s testimony, weren’t you? To hear that things have not been great or turned out rosey felt like real life for so many people. BUT, the difference David noted between the despair of a friend and some true level of peace in his life was a relationship with Jesus. I, too, am thankful for how God can and does work through my story.
This verse rang through my mind all morning:
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Can you see God at work as you love Him and follow His purposes?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
18. The Ten Plagues (Exodus 6:28-11:10).
by Wesley Blackburn
Wow.
That's all I can really say after reading this passage for today. Part of me wishes that I could have been in Egypt to see all that God did in the land, but a big part of me is glad that I wasn't... all the death and destruction happening in the land very well could have scared me to death!
The account of God's work in Egypt becomes even more amazing when you know the whole cultural milieu of the time as well. Each and every one of these miracles served as a direct insult to an Egyptian god. Seemingly, with each additional miracle, God was saying to the Egyptians, "Look how much bigger, stronger, and better I am than the stupid gods you worship."
No doubt, this is what part of what put Pharaoh so on edge in this story (in addition to the simple fact that he saw his kingdom crumbling all around him). I mean, imagine how angry you'd get with someone if they continually attacked your God, your way of living and worshipping. It's no wonder that Pharaoh continued to grow stubborn. That's not an excuse for Pharaoh, but simply one simple man's observation.
And the story of the Ten Plagues makes me think about my heart in respect to how it pertains to God. Is the work of God being done all around me and I don't even notice it? Or even worse, is the work of God being displayed all around me and I refuse to notice it? We all have a "God box;" a way that we view and see God. For some, this just means we don't believe in God at all. For others, it means that we believe in God, but only think He can work in pre-defined, particular ways. Pharaoh was being hit with something that was outside his "God box" (namely, that he was wrong about who God was/is); I wonder sometimes if I harden my heart and refuse to embrace the undeniable and unexplainable presence and power of God in my life.
One thing's for sure... things are set up for God to do some of His greatest acts yet. Stay tuned!
Wow.
That's all I can really say after reading this passage for today. Part of me wishes that I could have been in Egypt to see all that God did in the land, but a big part of me is glad that I wasn't... all the death and destruction happening in the land very well could have scared me to death!
The account of God's work in Egypt becomes even more amazing when you know the whole cultural milieu of the time as well. Each and every one of these miracles served as a direct insult to an Egyptian god. Seemingly, with each additional miracle, God was saying to the Egyptians, "Look how much bigger, stronger, and better I am than the stupid gods you worship."
No doubt, this is what part of what put Pharaoh so on edge in this story (in addition to the simple fact that he saw his kingdom crumbling all around him). I mean, imagine how angry you'd get with someone if they continually attacked your God, your way of living and worshipping. It's no wonder that Pharaoh continued to grow stubborn. That's not an excuse for Pharaoh, but simply one simple man's observation.
And the story of the Ten Plagues makes me think about my heart in respect to how it pertains to God. Is the work of God being done all around me and I don't even notice it? Or even worse, is the work of God being displayed all around me and I refuse to notice it? We all have a "God box;" a way that we view and see God. For some, this just means we don't believe in God at all. For others, it means that we believe in God, but only think He can work in pre-defined, particular ways. Pharaoh was being hit with something that was outside his "God box" (namely, that he was wrong about who God was/is); I wonder sometimes if I harden my heart and refuse to embrace the undeniable and unexplainable presence and power of God in my life.
One thing's for sure... things are set up for God to do some of His greatest acts yet. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
17. The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17).
by Jaci Sutter
Here it is, the day before my blog entry was due and I am finally sitting down to write it. I am very nervous, as this is a whole new journey for me. Not only have I never blogged before, reading the Bible is a whole new journey for me as well. I will give it a try though, so here it goes. I was happy that the story I got to read this week was a familiar one. I have seen this story every year in the "Ten Commandments" and also the award-winning Veggie Tales version "Moe and the Big Exit."
Exodus 3:1-4:17 is the story of when the Lord first appeared to Moses on the mountain in the form of a burning bush. He called to Moses, and told him how he was not happy with the way his people where being treated in Egypt. He asked Moses to go back to Egypt and ask the Pharaoh to free his people from slavery.
When I was reading these verses the first thing that stood out to me was Exodus 3:4. When the Lord appeared to Moses, it was not until Moses moved towards the Lord that the Lord called upon him. I think that the reason this spoke to me is because of how I live and have lived my life. I was always someone that believed in God. I was a "fan." I knew that God was there and I knew he listened to my prayers and forgave my sins. But it didn't go much further then that. It was not until I moved closer to God and my relationship with him that God started to work in my life.
I also liked how it seemed like Moses was thinking of reasons why he could not do what it was God was asking him to do. In Exodus 4:13, Moses just comes right out and asks the Lord to send someone else to do the task God has set before him. But God always came back with a answer to his question. It reminded me a lot of when we did the on the spot baptisms, remembering how Greg was stated all the reasons not to get baptized and then one by one, took all the excuses away.
What I am taking away from these verses is that the Lord has a plan and a journey for all of us. He will not leave us on this journey and he will always be there to help us when we need help!
Here it is, the day before my blog entry was due and I am finally sitting down to write it. I am very nervous, as this is a whole new journey for me. Not only have I never blogged before, reading the Bible is a whole new journey for me as well. I will give it a try though, so here it goes. I was happy that the story I got to read this week was a familiar one. I have seen this story every year in the "Ten Commandments" and also the award-winning Veggie Tales version "Moe and the Big Exit."
Exodus 3:1-4:17 is the story of when the Lord first appeared to Moses on the mountain in the form of a burning bush. He called to Moses, and told him how he was not happy with the way his people where being treated in Egypt. He asked Moses to go back to Egypt and ask the Pharaoh to free his people from slavery.
When I was reading these verses the first thing that stood out to me was Exodus 3:4. When the Lord appeared to Moses, it was not until Moses moved towards the Lord that the Lord called upon him. I think that the reason this spoke to me is because of how I live and have lived my life. I was always someone that believed in God. I was a "fan." I knew that God was there and I knew he listened to my prayers and forgave my sins. But it didn't go much further then that. It was not until I moved closer to God and my relationship with him that God started to work in my life.
I also liked how it seemed like Moses was thinking of reasons why he could not do what it was God was asking him to do. In Exodus 4:13, Moses just comes right out and asks the Lord to send someone else to do the task God has set before him. But God always came back with a answer to his question. It reminded me a lot of when we did the on the spot baptisms, remembering how Greg was stated all the reasons not to get baptized and then one by one, took all the excuses away.
What I am taking away from these verses is that the Lord has a plan and a journey for all of us. He will not leave us on this journey and he will always be there to help us when we need help!
Monday, June 21, 2010
16. The Birth of Moses (Exodus 1:1-2:25).
by Bobby Jackson
What a crazy scene and a crazy time! How could people behave like this? No wonder Warner Brothers made this into a movie; you couldn’t write as twisted a plot even from the very beginning of Moses’ life.
How heinous to kill babies by throwing them into the Nile River? How heinous to kill an Egyptian soldier and try to cover it up? Yet Moses was used by God. I think it is interesting that the Nile god became known as the god who destroys the Israelite babies. Maybe that is why it was striking enough to Pharaoh’s daughter that this baby was being saved by the Nile that she rescued him and allowed Moses to be her son.
The God who involved Himself in Egyptian history is the same God of today. His character is consistent. I think it is important to ask ourselves as we read especially these books of history, “What do we learn about God is all of this?” Two things come to mind for me:
1. When God makes a promise, He WILL keep it. “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24).
2. God is often working upstream or in the background of our stories. God had a plan for Moses from the very beginning of his life. And that makes me wonder, what is God’s plan for my life? For your life?
Friday, June 18, 2010
15. Joseph Reveals His Identity (Genesis 45:1-46:7).
by Wesley Blackburn
After spending all this time with his brothers, Joseph could no longer bear to hide his identity from them. He reveals that truly he is their long lost brother, and that he'd like for his brothers to come and join him in Egypt.
This is a moment where many of us (including myself) would probably crumble. Joseph had all this power; in fact, he was the second most powerful man in the entire known world at the time. He could have used this power to get back at the brothers that had so terribly wronged him many years ago. Who would have blamed him?
But as Joseph drew his brothers near, he told them, "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... God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance" (Genesis 45:5, 7).
Man, I am blown away by the maturity in that statement. After all the junk that Joseph went through: being sold into slavery by his brothers, being unjustly accused of raping a woman and then thrown in jail, and even helping a man get out of jail and then being forced to wait for two long years, Joseph had a right to be angry. He had all the right into the world to have his brothers at least thrown into jail, if not killed.
But Joseph understood the truth of Romans 8:28 before it was even written: God uses all things for the good of those who love Him. One of the things I've personally been wrestling with lately is the issue of the justice of God. I believe God is good and loving, but my heart just absolutely breaks when I seem to hear story after story lately of how God is apparently absent in people's lives. Joseph's a prime example. How could God allow Joseph to be treated so poorly by his brothers? How could God allow Joseph to get thrown into prison unjustly? How could God allow Joseph to sit in prison for years, despite doing everything right?
But in thinking through the story of Joseph, I thought about what would have happened had Joseph not been thrown into prison. What would have happened if Pharaoh's cupbearer had remembered Joseph? Well, Joseph would have been let go, and probably would have travelled home. He would be nowhere to be found when Pharaoh's dream would have happened, and surely this severe famine would have killed many, many more people. Furthermore, Joseph would never have become second-in-command over all of Egypt, and the nation of Israel would not have been given a place to grow and prosper like they did in Egypt under the protection of Joseph.
It's so tough to remember, but we need to have an attitude like Joseph's; even when we are in the waiting rooms of life, we will still be seeking how God wants to transform us and use us in every circumstance. It's this understanding that allowed Joseph to declare at the end of his life to his brothers that "you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph was truly one of the most incredible men of the Bible. I only hope that one day, God can transform my heart, mind, and attitude to be a little bit more like his.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Beyond Sunday: ONE PRAYER Unstoppable-Opportunities
...by Jo Anne Stas
What is next for me? I’ve been thinking about that statement ever since Jared asked it on Sunday. He gave us a variety of possibilities ranging from taking small steps like reading our Bibles regularly to taking big steps like leaving the comfort of our own country to serve on a mission trip in a foreign land. The size of the possibility doesn’t matter. What matters is whether or not we are willing to take the next step. I know for me, I can tend to get caught up in the thinking about the next step. Thinking about whether or not I’m making the right decision or whether or not I’m following God’s will. I can even get caught up in praying about the decision; waiting to hear a definite answer from God before I make a move.
After struggling with next step decisions many times, I finally realized that I don’t have to have it all figured out and often times, I don’t have to have a definite answer from God because there are some next steps that I know if I take the step, it’s a good thing. It’s a good thing to regularly read my Bible and spend time in prayer. It’s a good thing to serve at my church and in my community. I can’t go wrong if I take steps in those directions. What makes some steps harder than others though, are the details of the decision; when I have to choose between two, often times, good things. Should I serve in this area or that? Should I help launch this campus or that? Should I send money to this ministry or that? No matter the decision, the uncertainty of the next step is where faith comes in. I know God is not asking me to figure everything out. If He was I wouldn’t need Him. He’s asking me to step out in faith and let Him figure out the details. Instead of being paralyzed with indecision, I have to say, “Lord, I’m not sure if this is what you want, but I’m willing to try.” Sometimes I step in the right direction, sometimes I don’t. But every time I learn something.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8
What is next for me? I’ve been thinking about that statement ever since Jared asked it on Sunday. He gave us a variety of possibilities ranging from taking small steps like reading our Bibles regularly to taking big steps like leaving the comfort of our own country to serve on a mission trip in a foreign land. The size of the possibility doesn’t matter. What matters is whether or not we are willing to take the next step. I know for me, I can tend to get caught up in the thinking about the next step. Thinking about whether or not I’m making the right decision or whether or not I’m following God’s will. I can even get caught up in praying about the decision; waiting to hear a definite answer from God before I make a move.
After struggling with next step decisions many times, I finally realized that I don’t have to have it all figured out and often times, I don’t have to have a definite answer from God because there are some next steps that I know if I take the step, it’s a good thing. It’s a good thing to regularly read my Bible and spend time in prayer. It’s a good thing to serve at my church and in my community. I can’t go wrong if I take steps in those directions. What makes some steps harder than others though, are the details of the decision; when I have to choose between two, often times, good things. Should I serve in this area or that? Should I help launch this campus or that? Should I send money to this ministry or that? No matter the decision, the uncertainty of the next step is where faith comes in. I know God is not asking me to figure everything out. If He was I wouldn’t need Him. He’s asking me to step out in faith and let Him figure out the details. Instead of being paralyzed with indecision, I have to say, “Lord, I’m not sure if this is what you want, but I’m willing to try.” Sometimes I step in the right direction, sometimes I don’t. But every time I learn something.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8
14. The Brothers Return (Genesis 43:1-44:34).
by Dan Smith
These two chapters are full of information, but the four items that stood out to me are:
1. Judah becomes a leader. When the food is starting to run out from their first trip to Egypt, Israel (Jacob) tells his boys to go back and buy some more grain. But Judah says to Israel that the man (Joseph) says not to come back with Benjamin. Israel is upset because he doesn’t want to lose his last son from his wife Rachel. Judah steps up and says, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety: you can hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all of my life.” From this point on, Judah becomes the spokesman for the brothers. His tribe would become preeminent among the 12 tribes and he would be an ancestor of Jesus.
2. Brotherly love. When the brothers came back to see Joseph, he finally saw his own mother's son. Joseph was deeply moved and went to find a place to weep. Even after all that his brothers had done to Joseph, he still loved them deeply.
3. Prophecy comes true. When the brothers see Joseph, they present him with gifts and bowed down on the ground before him fulfilling the prophecy from Genesis chapter 37.
4. Joseph having some fun. You would have to think that Joseph was having some fun at his brother’s expense by having put the silver in the sacks of grain. Also, when his brothers were eating with him he had them seated in their birth order. And finally, by putting the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack without anyone’s knowledge, Joseph had to be having some fun.
A lot has transpired in Joseph’s life, going from the favorite son to slave to Pharaoh’s number two. He was part of a large family then all by himself in Egypt. But through it all, there was one constant in his life, and that was his belief in God. That belief got Joseph through all of his trials and that same belief can get us through our own as well.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
13. The Brothers Return (Genesis 42:1-38).
by Wesley Blackburn
So now, the plot in our story is thickening.
As the famine in the land continues, Joseph's brothers (remember them? They thought about killing him earlier in the story but instead settled for selling him to slave traders going to Egypt) now must come to Egypt in order to buy food for their family. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph immediately knows they are his brothers, but they, of course, don't know it's their long-lost brother, Joseph.
Joseph decides to play a bit of a trick on his brothers, and to be honest, I'm not sure why. Maybe for revenge? Maybe to teach them a lesson? Maybe to make the eventual reunion that more amazing? I have no idea. But what I do know is that Joseph at first treats his brothers harshly, throwing them into prison. He eventually agrees to let them go, but they must bring back their youngest brother Benjamin who didn't come (apparently Jacob hasn't learned from his favoritism with Joseph) and leave another brother (Simeon) as collateral.
As this deal is brokered, I read one of the most hilariously ironic lines in the entire Bible in Genesis 42:21:
[Joseph's brothers] said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother."
Of course, they were thinking that God was getting back at them for the evil they had done to their brother. Little did they know that they were quite literally being punished by their brother!
Anyway, this sets the stage for one of the coolest family reunions the world has ever seen. Keep reading, and you'll see what happens tomorrow!
So now, the plot in our story is thickening.
As the famine in the land continues, Joseph's brothers (remember them? They thought about killing him earlier in the story but instead settled for selling him to slave traders going to Egypt) now must come to Egypt in order to buy food for their family. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph immediately knows they are his brothers, but they, of course, don't know it's their long-lost brother, Joseph.
Joseph decides to play a bit of a trick on his brothers, and to be honest, I'm not sure why. Maybe for revenge? Maybe to teach them a lesson? Maybe to make the eventual reunion that more amazing? I have no idea. But what I do know is that Joseph at first treats his brothers harshly, throwing them into prison. He eventually agrees to let them go, but they must bring back their youngest brother Benjamin who didn't come (apparently Jacob hasn't learned from his favoritism with Joseph) and leave another brother (Simeon) as collateral.
As this deal is brokered, I read one of the most hilariously ironic lines in the entire Bible in Genesis 42:21:
[Joseph's brothers] said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother."
Of course, they were thinking that God was getting back at them for the evil they had done to their brother. Little did they know that they were quite literally being punished by their brother!
Anyway, this sets the stage for one of the coolest family reunions the world has ever seen. Keep reading, and you'll see what happens tomorrow!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
12. Prison and a Promotion (Genesis 39:1-41:57).
by Mike Fortner
As the story goes, Joseph would eventually be placed in a position where he was able to use his God given talents, interpreting dreams, in a way to bring God glory and gain the trust of the king of Egypt. As a reward for his faithfulness to the Lord, he was placed in charge of the entire kingdom and second only to the king.
If you are like me, there has been no shortage of challenges in my life. I’ve not always responded the way that I suspect Joseph would, with grace and complete trust in God. Most of the time my poor decision making has left me with undesirable results and usually a bit of a mess to clean up. However, the few times that I have responded as I think Joseph would have, being patient and faithfully relying on God, the outcome has always exceeded my expectations. It is a very humbling experience when that happens, but one that strengthens my own faith in knowing that God does truly love me.
Monday, June 14, 2010
11. Joseph Sold Into Slavery (Genesis 37:1-36).
by Dan Smith
Birthright was all important in the day of Joseph. And Reuben, being the oldest, was expecting to receive all the blessings that went with the birthright. But in Genesis 35:22 Reuben carried out a wicked deed against Jacob, and as a result, Jacob decided that Reuben should not receive the birthright. Simeon and Levi were oldest sons after Reuben and they also upset their father (Genesis 34) so they also did not receive the birthright.
Eventually, Jacob chose Joseph to receive his birthright and this really upset his brothers. And his dreams which were prophecies did not make his brothers that much happier either. So they decided to kill Joseph. First with Reuben and with the rest of the brothers, they had a change of heart. It was better to sell him off then to kill him. But God would use this situation to further his kingdom.
Friday, June 11, 2010
10. Jacob and Esau Reconcile (Genesis 32:1-33:20).
by Scott Skowronski
When I was first asked to write for the E100 challenge, I was reluctant because internally I felt that I did not possess adequate knowledge of God's Word. I only recently began to faithfully read the Bible within the last year and felt that I lacked the knowledge and understanding that would be required to participate. However, I asked God to be with me in my decision and through a feeling of peace he made me see that this opportunity was meant to be part of my on-going journey to bring his love further into the center of my heart.
Two weeks ago, I received a reminder email requesting my post. I immediately read through chapters 32 and 33 of Genesis and found myself confused by my unfamiliarity with the background of Jacob and Esau, so I turned to a trusted and respected friend from my community group for guidance. We together discussed the story of Jacob and Esau over dinner helping to develop a much better understanding of their lives enabling me to write more confidently about these chapters. Thank you Steve... your friendship is a true blessing!
Genesis 32 and 33 detailed exactly how God can work in our lives to lead us to salvation. God will restore hope inside our hearts and provide the forgiveness needed to overcome any past mistake. He can also turn the scariest situation into a moment of extreme joy. We simply need to trust the guidance of the Lord and turn our thoughts to him just as Jacob did in his quest to reconcile with his brother Esau.
Just as Jacob was misdirected in his actions in Genesis 25 and 27, we have all made some bad decisions. Even though we do not think about it at the time, one hasty selfish decision can cause a ripple effect often hurting the family we love just as much, if not more than ourselves. Since life lasts longer than the relatively short moments of our bad decisions, we have plenty of time to suffer through the consequences. Sometimes, we may even feel like Jacob did running from the hand of his brother in order to save his life.
However, Jacob trusted God and decided that it was time to reach out to Esau. Even though he expected the worst, Jacob faced his fears and prepared to meet his brother praying for him to receive his presence favorably. He sent gifts ahead of him and was willing to sacrifice all his material wealth to earn this desired outcome.
Thinking about the feelings Jacob must have been experiencing, I could not help but contemplate comparable desires in my own life and how I handle them. Do I make enough sacrifices in my life? Am I adequately preparing to achieve the desires God places in my heart? What more can I do?
At a time of extreme turmoil, Jacob wrestled with God. He separated himself from everyone and all his possessions fighting for God's blessing. Even after God took away the functionality of his hip, Jacob refused to stop until he received God's blessing. He went on to earn it eventually returning to his family and belongings. However, he limped away from the experience carrying a constant reminder of his time spent with God.
We may not ever physically have the same battle that Jacob had directly with God. However, we can definitely use this story to reminds us to turn to God when faced with hardship in life. We should "wrestle" for his blessing by giving our absolute all to him. When we do, I believe God will shape us into the people we were meant to be forever changed by our own unique version of a "limp".
Upon finally meeting his brother face to face, Esau immediately embraced Jacob. Even though Jacob presented himself as a servant, Esau welcomed him as his brother. Jacob's greatest fears were replaced with his greatest hopes and desires. He was reunited favorably with his brother saving him from past regrets and blessing him with a renewed future.
After working through these chapters, I am left with a desire to find the same type of freedom Jacob found in reuniting with his brother Esau. I think we can all benefit from identifying whatever it may be in life that is holding us back from living at our best. We can then wrestle with God on our own terms to receive the blessing we need to free ourselves from it. I trust that it will lead to the same type of joy Jacob felt when Esau received him with a hug.
I will be wrapping my life and thoughts around the word of God as I walk through the rest of this E100 challenge. It has already opened my heart to living a more meaningful existence strengthening current relationships and inspiring hope to conquer anything keeping me from living at my best. I look forward to standing strong four months from now filled with a new perspective granted through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing journey with so many other wonderful people brought together by the love of Christ. Please join me in taking this moment to embrace the grace of God and praise him for working in our lives.
When I was first asked to write for the E100 challenge, I was reluctant because internally I felt that I did not possess adequate knowledge of God's Word. I only recently began to faithfully read the Bible within the last year and felt that I lacked the knowledge and understanding that would be required to participate. However, I asked God to be with me in my decision and through a feeling of peace he made me see that this opportunity was meant to be part of my on-going journey to bring his love further into the center of my heart.
Two weeks ago, I received a reminder email requesting my post. I immediately read through chapters 32 and 33 of Genesis and found myself confused by my unfamiliarity with the background of Jacob and Esau, so I turned to a trusted and respected friend from my community group for guidance. We together discussed the story of Jacob and Esau over dinner helping to develop a much better understanding of their lives enabling me to write more confidently about these chapters. Thank you Steve... your friendship is a true blessing!
Genesis 32 and 33 detailed exactly how God can work in our lives to lead us to salvation. God will restore hope inside our hearts and provide the forgiveness needed to overcome any past mistake. He can also turn the scariest situation into a moment of extreme joy. We simply need to trust the guidance of the Lord and turn our thoughts to him just as Jacob did in his quest to reconcile with his brother Esau.
Just as Jacob was misdirected in his actions in Genesis 25 and 27, we have all made some bad decisions. Even though we do not think about it at the time, one hasty selfish decision can cause a ripple effect often hurting the family we love just as much, if not more than ourselves. Since life lasts longer than the relatively short moments of our bad decisions, we have plenty of time to suffer through the consequences. Sometimes, we may even feel like Jacob did running from the hand of his brother in order to save his life.
However, Jacob trusted God and decided that it was time to reach out to Esau. Even though he expected the worst, Jacob faced his fears and prepared to meet his brother praying for him to receive his presence favorably. He sent gifts ahead of him and was willing to sacrifice all his material wealth to earn this desired outcome.
Thinking about the feelings Jacob must have been experiencing, I could not help but contemplate comparable desires in my own life and how I handle them. Do I make enough sacrifices in my life? Am I adequately preparing to achieve the desires God places in my heart? What more can I do?
At a time of extreme turmoil, Jacob wrestled with God. He separated himself from everyone and all his possessions fighting for God's blessing. Even after God took away the functionality of his hip, Jacob refused to stop until he received God's blessing. He went on to earn it eventually returning to his family and belongings. However, he limped away from the experience carrying a constant reminder of his time spent with God.
We may not ever physically have the same battle that Jacob had directly with God. However, we can definitely use this story to reminds us to turn to God when faced with hardship in life. We should "wrestle" for his blessing by giving our absolute all to him. When we do, I believe God will shape us into the people we were meant to be forever changed by our own unique version of a "limp".
Upon finally meeting his brother face to face, Esau immediately embraced Jacob. Even though Jacob presented himself as a servant, Esau welcomed him as his brother. Jacob's greatest fears were replaced with his greatest hopes and desires. He was reunited favorably with his brother saving him from past regrets and blessing him with a renewed future.
After working through these chapters, I am left with a desire to find the same type of freedom Jacob found in reuniting with his brother Esau. I think we can all benefit from identifying whatever it may be in life that is holding us back from living at our best. We can then wrestle with God on our own terms to receive the blessing we need to free ourselves from it. I trust that it will lead to the same type of joy Jacob felt when Esau received him with a hug.
I will be wrapping my life and thoughts around the word of God as I walk through the rest of this E100 challenge. It has already opened my heart to living a more meaningful existence strengthening current relationships and inspiring hope to conquer anything keeping me from living at my best. I look forward to standing strong four months from now filled with a new perspective granted through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing journey with so many other wonderful people brought together by the love of Christ. Please join me in taking this moment to embrace the grace of God and praise him for working in our lives.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
9. Jacob and Esau Compete (Genesis 27:1-28:22).
by Bobby Jackson
Is this a soap opera or Scripture? I guess human nature really hasn’t evolved that much. People are still inclined to cheat, deceive, lie, whatever... as long as it means that we can get ahead. It is amazing how God has used scoundrels/normal people…also sounds familiar to today.
So what’s the big deal? Why was Esau so upset? Why couldn’t Isaac come up with another good blessing for Esau or just say the same thing to Esau? Why would Isaac tremble violently at the thought of giving that blessing to someone other than Esau? Answer: because there is something special about this blessing. A blessing in that time by Isaac would have been as though God Himself were giving favor to Jacob. And of course if would have been the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham:
May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham" (Genesis 28:4).
What’s the lesson for us? Is it to mean what you say because once you say it you can’t take it back? Is it to pay attention to how significant a blessing from God is (rather than just our good effort or luck) and seek out His blessing? Is it a lesson in God’s grace? What do you think?
Beyond Sunday: One Prayer: Unstoppable - Selflessness
...by Beka Jackson
I came from a family of givers. Anything we had was available for anyone that needed it. I think we were maybe like that because we had been on the receiving end so many times; we wanted to do the same for anyone else whenever we could. So the idea of giving to people in need isn't so hard for me to wrap my head around, to want to do. I find joy in giving to those who are in need. But what was tough for me to hear was the idea of giving each day.
Greg talked about husbands loving their wives like Christ loves the church. The idea of giving your life for someone you love isn't hard for most people. But the idea of giving myself each day, dying to my own wants and demands so that I can give to others, now that is hard! Giving to four small children, a husband who hasn't been home all day (because he's been giving at work!), friends and neighbors who are going through trying times and just need to talk or receive encouragement. I can handle the physical giving. I enjoy doing that and when I think of giving things, I am comfortable with that. But it is so painful sometimes to give the things that can't be seen. And often times it seems those are the things that people need the most.
And so the challenge for me when I think of unselfishness, when I think of dying to myself and loving the way Christ loves, it's to find joy in the kinds of giving that I often can't see. How can I give to my friend going through a divorce? How can I continually show my husband and kids that I love them enough to give up my life each day for them?
I came from a family of givers. Anything we had was available for anyone that needed it. I think we were maybe like that because we had been on the receiving end so many times; we wanted to do the same for anyone else whenever we could. So the idea of giving to people in need isn't so hard for me to wrap my head around, to want to do. I find joy in giving to those who are in need. But what was tough for me to hear was the idea of giving each day.
Greg talked about husbands loving their wives like Christ loves the church. The idea of giving your life for someone you love isn't hard for most people. But the idea of giving myself each day, dying to my own wants and demands so that I can give to others, now that is hard! Giving to four small children, a husband who hasn't been home all day (because he's been giving at work!), friends and neighbors who are going through trying times and just need to talk or receive encouragement. I can handle the physical giving. I enjoy doing that and when I think of giving things, I am comfortable with that. But it is so painful sometimes to give the things that can't be seen. And often times it seems those are the things that people need the most.
And so the challenge for me when I think of unselfishness, when I think of dying to myself and loving the way Christ loves, it's to find joy in the kinds of giving that I often can't see. How can I give to my friend going through a divorce? How can I continually show my husband and kids that I love them enough to give up my life each day for them?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
8. Isaac's Birth and "Sacrifice" (Genesis 21:1-22:19).
by Wesley Blackburn
So in today’s reading, we see that things are finally coming together for Abraham (formerly Abram; his name was changed by God to reflect the fact that he would be the father of many nations). After waiting for 25 years, at the tender young age of 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah (her name was changed as well) would be given a son, Isaac.
I can’t imagine the celebration and joy that had to overwhelm Abraham and Sarah. After all this time, all this waiting, God finally blessed them with the thing they desired the most: a son. It had to be incredible. The celebration that occurred had to be incredible as well. Maybe you’ve been there; you’ve been waiting for something amazing to happen, and then it finally does! It’s almost too wonderful to even fathom.
But then God has one final test for Abraham. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him. I can’t imagine what would go through my head at this moment, and I’m not even a parent.
Unknowingly to Abraham, God wants to test Abraham and see if he’s really willing to give up the thing he loves the most, his son. But Abraham really does believe that this is what God is calling him to do. So, Abraham goes through the steps. He loads up for the trip. He gets some wood to burn. He gets the stuff he needs to start a fire. He even loads up a knife that he knows will eventually be used to kill his own son.
Not one of these acts goes unnoticed by God. And at the last moment, God stops Abraham from killing his son, seeing that Abraham really was genuine in his trust in his Heavenly Father. Later on in the Bible, the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews would comment on Abraham’s incredible faith, saying that “by faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
In our lives, we face some similar tests of faith. Not that I can really relate to being asked to give up an only son, but I have a little bit of a sense of what that must have felt like. Several years ago, I was working as a volunteer worship leader at my home church (Madison Christian Church) in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, when I felt God tugging at my heart to start working with a church in the southern suburbs of Dayton, Ohio. I’d been burned working at a church before, and even my time at my home church hadn’t always been full of all happy, easy situations. But in Columbus, I felt secure. I felt safe. I knew people and had some idea of what to expect. To me, security and safety are two of the things I love the most. At Dayton, I’d be hopping into something entirely new and different. It was very scary to me.
But God wanted me to sacrifice my sense of safety and security and trust Him. I did it, and amazingly enough, my experience at Southwest Church in Springboro, Ohio was exactly what I needed. It helped me to see that maybe I really can do this ministry thing. It opened up doors for me to be at Suncrest. And then, when I was approached about being part of our brand new Highland Campus launch (including the scary notion of fundraising some money for the first two or so years), it made trusting God a little bit easier, because I’d seen how incredibly He had provided in the past.
Throughout our lives, we’re going to face situations where God is asking us to turn on all that we thought was true and simply to trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. That’s exactly what Abraham did, and God rewarded him incredibly for that. God will do the same for us, if we will only trust Him to do as He has promised, just like Abraham.
So in today’s reading, we see that things are finally coming together for Abraham (formerly Abram; his name was changed by God to reflect the fact that he would be the father of many nations). After waiting for 25 years, at the tender young age of 100 years old, he and his wife Sarah (her name was changed as well) would be given a son, Isaac.
I can’t imagine the celebration and joy that had to overwhelm Abraham and Sarah. After all this time, all this waiting, God finally blessed them with the thing they desired the most: a son. It had to be incredible. The celebration that occurred had to be incredible as well. Maybe you’ve been there; you’ve been waiting for something amazing to happen, and then it finally does! It’s almost too wonderful to even fathom.
But then God has one final test for Abraham. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him. I can’t imagine what would go through my head at this moment, and I’m not even a parent.
Unknowingly to Abraham, God wants to test Abraham and see if he’s really willing to give up the thing he loves the most, his son. But Abraham really does believe that this is what God is calling him to do. So, Abraham goes through the steps. He loads up for the trip. He gets some wood to burn. He gets the stuff he needs to start a fire. He even loads up a knife that he knows will eventually be used to kill his own son.
Not one of these acts goes unnoticed by God. And at the last moment, God stops Abraham from killing his son, seeing that Abraham really was genuine in his trust in his Heavenly Father. Later on in the Bible, the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews would comment on Abraham’s incredible faith, saying that “by faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
In our lives, we face some similar tests of faith. Not that I can really relate to being asked to give up an only son, but I have a little bit of a sense of what that must have felt like. Several years ago, I was working as a volunteer worship leader at my home church (Madison Christian Church) in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, when I felt God tugging at my heart to start working with a church in the southern suburbs of Dayton, Ohio. I’d been burned working at a church before, and even my time at my home church hadn’t always been full of all happy, easy situations. But in Columbus, I felt secure. I felt safe. I knew people and had some idea of what to expect. To me, security and safety are two of the things I love the most. At Dayton, I’d be hopping into something entirely new and different. It was very scary to me.
But God wanted me to sacrifice my sense of safety and security and trust Him. I did it, and amazingly enough, my experience at Southwest Church in Springboro, Ohio was exactly what I needed. It helped me to see that maybe I really can do this ministry thing. It opened up doors for me to be at Suncrest. And then, when I was approached about being part of our brand new Highland Campus launch (including the scary notion of fundraising some money for the first two or so years), it made trusting God a little bit easier, because I’d seen how incredibly He had provided in the past.
Throughout our lives, we’re going to face situations where God is asking us to turn on all that we thought was true and simply to trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. That’s exactly what Abraham did, and God rewarded him incredibly for that. God will do the same for us, if we will only trust Him to do as He has promised, just like Abraham.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
7. God's Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15:1-20).
by Wesley Blackburn
I really believe that today’s passage is one of the most critical in the Old Testament, if not the entire Bible. I realize that’s a pretty grandiose statement, but bear with me. I hope you’ll see why I say that by the end of this posting today.
Basically, in today’s reading, God comes to Abram and tells him not to worry; God is going to be his shield and his reward. Abram, though, doesn’t believe it. Several years ago, God promised Abram that he’d give him a huge piece of awesome land and that He would bless the incredibly old Abram and his wife, Sarai, with a male child. This was something that Abram and Sarai had been hoping and praying for for years.
But up to this point, God’s promise hasn’t materialized.
Abram isn’t shy about talking to God about this. In 15:2, Abram asks what God can give him, seeing as how he’s still childless. The thing I find interesting about this question is that Abram asks a question that assumes God isn’t going to give him a child. Read it. Abram asks, since I’m still childless, what can you give me? He sort of just assumes that he’s going to have to settle for something else from God because God is taking too long.
That’s a man (and a faith) that I can empathize with. Sometimes, God just takes too long. I want something now. I want deliverance from a situation now. I want blessing and prosperity now. If God promises something to me, it’s coming now... I don’t need to wait for it. No doubt Abram was under the same mindset.
So what does God do? He simply tells Abram that He’s going to take care of things.
He doesn’t give a sign.
He doesn’t give Abram a vision.
He just gives His word.
And for Abram, that’s enough. In fact, it’s enough to make the Bible state that “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). When we read in the New Testament book of Romans, we’ll discover that to Paul, this would be one of the most important verses in the entire Bible, because it tells us that we can be considered righteous in the eyes of God simply by believing Him.
Now, Abram has decided to continue believing. And after he believes, God decides that now is a good time to offer some reassurance to Abram through the form of an everlasting covenant. God tells Abram to gather some animals to sacrifice, and then lulls Abram into a deep sleep. While Abram is asleep, God appears as a smoking firepot, passing between the divided carcasses that Abram had made.
Here’s where some historical context (remember our TXT principles?) becomes very important. When two rulers, family/tribal heads, or other important figures wanted to reach an agreement on something in the ancient world, they would make a covenant. Just like Abram did, these rulers would find several animals and divide the carcasses in half, spreading them out opposite from one another, forming a walkway for both men to walk through. After walking through this little path and viewing the carnage on all sides, the two figures would swear an oath to one another, stating “May this (referring to the mass death all around them) happen to me and my people if this covenant is broken.” In other words, these leaders would give their word that they and their people deserved to die (and they meant it) if they violated the terms of this covenant agreement. Covenants were serious stuff.
Many Bible scholars speculate a similar thing is happening here. But one important difference has to be noted: Abram never walks through the pathway. Only God does. In essence, God is putting Himself out there, saying to Abraham, “May death happen to me if this covenant is broken.” It’s interesting to note that God is the only party who makes this oath, as if to say that this promise doesn’t really hinge on Abraham at all. Because of God’s faithful nature, He’s going to make good on His promise.
Pastor Andy Stanley defines faith as “a confidence that God is who He says He is and that God will do the things He has promised to do.” We see this here. God is making a promise. And because of His faithful nature, He will always keep it. That’s a fact.
God keeping His promises; that is the enormous theme we learn from Genesis 15. Imagine the implications if we would actually be courageous enough (and trusting enough) to really live that out in our lives.
I really believe that today’s passage is one of the most critical in the Old Testament, if not the entire Bible. I realize that’s a pretty grandiose statement, but bear with me. I hope you’ll see why I say that by the end of this posting today.
Basically, in today’s reading, God comes to Abram and tells him not to worry; God is going to be his shield and his reward. Abram, though, doesn’t believe it. Several years ago, God promised Abram that he’d give him a huge piece of awesome land and that He would bless the incredibly old Abram and his wife, Sarai, with a male child. This was something that Abram and Sarai had been hoping and praying for for years.
But up to this point, God’s promise hasn’t materialized.
Abram isn’t shy about talking to God about this. In 15:2, Abram asks what God can give him, seeing as how he’s still childless. The thing I find interesting about this question is that Abram asks a question that assumes God isn’t going to give him a child. Read it. Abram asks, since I’m still childless, what can you give me? He sort of just assumes that he’s going to have to settle for something else from God because God is taking too long.
That’s a man (and a faith) that I can empathize with. Sometimes, God just takes too long. I want something now. I want deliverance from a situation now. I want blessing and prosperity now. If God promises something to me, it’s coming now... I don’t need to wait for it. No doubt Abram was under the same mindset.
So what does God do? He simply tells Abram that He’s going to take care of things.
He doesn’t give a sign.
He doesn’t give Abram a vision.
He just gives His word.
And for Abram, that’s enough. In fact, it’s enough to make the Bible state that “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). When we read in the New Testament book of Romans, we’ll discover that to Paul, this would be one of the most important verses in the entire Bible, because it tells us that we can be considered righteous in the eyes of God simply by believing Him.
Now, Abram has decided to continue believing. And after he believes, God decides that now is a good time to offer some reassurance to Abram through the form of an everlasting covenant. God tells Abram to gather some animals to sacrifice, and then lulls Abram into a deep sleep. While Abram is asleep, God appears as a smoking firepot, passing between the divided carcasses that Abram had made.
Here’s where some historical context (remember our TXT principles?) becomes very important. When two rulers, family/tribal heads, or other important figures wanted to reach an agreement on something in the ancient world, they would make a covenant. Just like Abram did, these rulers would find several animals and divide the carcasses in half, spreading them out opposite from one another, forming a walkway for both men to walk through. After walking through this little path and viewing the carnage on all sides, the two figures would swear an oath to one another, stating “May this (referring to the mass death all around them) happen to me and my people if this covenant is broken.” In other words, these leaders would give their word that they and their people deserved to die (and they meant it) if they violated the terms of this covenant agreement. Covenants were serious stuff.
Many Bible scholars speculate a similar thing is happening here. But one important difference has to be noted: Abram never walks through the pathway. Only God does. In essence, God is putting Himself out there, saying to Abraham, “May death happen to me if this covenant is broken.” It’s interesting to note that God is the only party who makes this oath, as if to say that this promise doesn’t really hinge on Abraham at all. Because of God’s faithful nature, He’s going to make good on His promise.
Pastor Andy Stanley defines faith as “a confidence that God is who He says He is and that God will do the things He has promised to do.” We see this here. God is making a promise. And because of His faithful nature, He will always keep it. That’s a fact.
God keeping His promises; that is the enormous theme we learn from Genesis 15. Imagine the implications if we would actually be courageous enough (and trusting enough) to really live that out in our lives.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
6. The Call of Abram (Genesis 12:1-20).
by Brendon Foulke
Easy words are said, words that are easy to understand, but yet in retrospect are unfathomable. We see Abram and his wife Sarai, along with Abram’s brother Lot in this section. We see them together and listening to God. This story is one that can lead us in a way of confusion and of imagination. Imagine that you are sitting your living room, you and your wife with your kids, and God comes to you and says “pack up everything you own, all that you are, and follow my instructions and go to this piece of land that I will show you when you get there.” Would you do it?
This is essentially what God does with Abram. Abram is told to pack all of his belongings and take off and follow God wherever he leads. Here is the amazing thing: verse 4: “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old when he departed from Haran.” He went without hesitation. He left the place he belonged, his father and mother, his friends, he left all of it behind and took off because he trusted God and his words.
Although Abram trusted God when he took off and followed, he didn’t trust himself. Abram lied about his wife so that he wouldn’t be killed. In the end God provided for Abram and his wife Sarai, as the Pharaoh was able to provide food, livestock and other things that Abram and Sarai needed to live.
Would you follow God no matter what the circumstance? Would you give up comfort? Would you answer the easy words of "Follow me?"
Friday, June 4, 2010
5. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).
by Bobby Jackson
So my son is playing soccer right now. It is super fun to watch, not to mention hilarious. At any given time, I can see twenty children with green and white t-shirts chasing the elusive white and black ball around the field, and it is such a contrast to the professionals who know how to play their position and work together as a unified group (even if they are not as fun for me to watch).
I often underestimate how important unity is. I believe it is one of the most powerful forces in the Bible. Jesus prayed for it before He left this earth: “I pray that they may be one as You and I are one”; Paul stated it strongly in Philippians 2 saying, “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” In the passage today, unity also seems to be the key. What strikes me about this passage is this statement/promise, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Wow, really? If as one people speaking the same language, then nothing we plan to do would be impossible for us? I’d like to test that theory personally…I don’t think mankind has “spoken the same language” since then – literally and figuratively. What if there weren’t twelve church buildings within a one-mile radius of each other? What if every Christ follower spent their energies pulling in the same direction? Would “nothing they plan to do be impossible for them?” How could we test this and find out? I know I'd love to hear your thoughts on how this could look in our/your context.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Beyond Sunday - TXT: How to Read your Bible - The Gratitude
...by Kevin McHugh
Hello my friends. I am writing this on Memorial Day at 1:20PM, and there is a powerful thunderstorm blowing through St John as I sit down to write my reflection. Just a couple of things as I open up about this week's worship experience.
- My wife and I sat with the Kuhn's & the DeBraal's, so half of our community group was sitting together - very nice.
- I came in with a heavy heart as my brother is in the hospital 2000 miles away.
- I was really inspired to worship by the music - it hooked me immediately. Wes, Emily & company were pretty awesome, right?
Beka took us through Philippians 4:10-20 and recapped the entire message series. The things to keep in mind as we open our Bible include pace, posture, context, author's intent, background, key words, and genre - it was the way Beka emphasized posture that struck me during her message. Before I sit down and read, I need to take a second and consider that I am about to read the very word of God and that He is trying to tell me or teach me something.
One well known verse I am now thinking about in a different way is Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength....I've heard that and read that before many times and it means I can do anything if I put my faith and trust in God, right? Or does it mean that whatever I do, I should do it through my faith and through the lens of my God. That is an entirely different way to interpret that verse, and probably the right way.
Philippians 4:11 stuck with me as well....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... Here is Paul, who has suffered much while preaching the good news of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet he does not stop. In fact he continues no matter the troubles that come as a result. Why did he behave this way? Beka taught us that Paul was focused on heavenly things and had a forward looking attitude. For example:
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:13-14
Hello my friends. I am writing this on Memorial Day at 1:20PM, and there is a powerful thunderstorm blowing through St John as I sit down to write my reflection. Just a couple of things as I open up about this week's worship experience.
- My wife and I sat with the Kuhn's & the DeBraal's, so half of our community group was sitting together - very nice.
- I came in with a heavy heart as my brother is in the hospital 2000 miles away.
- I was really inspired to worship by the music - it hooked me immediately. Wes, Emily & company were pretty awesome, right?
Beka took us through Philippians 4:10-20 and recapped the entire message series. The things to keep in mind as we open our Bible include pace, posture, context, author's intent, background, key words, and genre - it was the way Beka emphasized posture that struck me during her message. Before I sit down and read, I need to take a second and consider that I am about to read the very word of God and that He is trying to tell me or teach me something.
One well known verse I am now thinking about in a different way is Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength....I've heard that and read that before many times and it means I can do anything if I put my faith and trust in God, right? Or does it mean that whatever I do, I should do it through my faith and through the lens of my God. That is an entirely different way to interpret that verse, and probably the right way.
Philippians 4:11 stuck with me as well....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... Here is Paul, who has suffered much while preaching the good news of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet he does not stop. In fact he continues no matter the troubles that come as a result. Why did he behave this way? Beka taught us that Paul was focused on heavenly things and had a forward looking attitude. For example:
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:13-14
4. God's Covenant With Noah (Genesis 8:1-9:17).
by Jeff Sanford
When I think about the story of Noah and what I learned as a child in Sunday School, I remember a cute story about a man who built a big boat, gathered his family and two of each animal, and hung out in the boat while it rained for forty days and forty nights. Following the flood, Noah, his family, and all of the animals exited the ark and saw a rainbow in the sky. The story was cute, and it was centered on Noah.
But as I read through this story again and reflected on all that was going on, I found parts of the story that I did not remember at all. And I found that the story was not nearly as cute and even more meaningful than I remembered. I also found that the story was more about what God was doing than about what Noah was doing.
Noah was living in a time full of corruption. In fact, in Genesis 6, Scripture says that, “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe mankind…from the face of the earth.’” And He did. Well, with one exception.
Scripture also says that, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Noah found favor in God’s eyes, because he walked with God. And so God showed His love and grace and spared Noah and his family from the destruction of the flood. Following the flood, God made a promise to Noah and all generations following him. God promised to never again destroy all life by the waters of a flood and to remember this covenant each time He placed a rainbow in the sky.
And so Noah’s story is a story of a 600 year old man that lived thousands of years ago who made a choice to walk with God. But even more importantly, it’s about a God who loved this man and his family enough to have mercy on them and to provide a way out of the destruction that the earth was destined for as a result of its wickedness. And that same loving God (1 John 4:7-8) has provided the Way (John 14:6) of salvation for me and my generation to avoid the destruction that we are facing because of our sin and wickedness (Romans 6:23)...Jesus. And just as God’s love and grace were revealed in the rainbow, they were revealed at a greater level through Jesus and his death on the cross.
So next time you see a rainbow, pause for a moment and rest in God’s goodness, the depth of His love for you, and His faithfulness to His word. Use the rainbow as a reminder of the lengths that God has gone to rescue you. Then thank God and worship Him for who He is and what He’s done.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
3. The Flood (Genesis 6:5-7:24).
by Wesley Blackburn
Some stories just aren’t made for children.
Reading the story of the flood, I have to ask myself the question, “Why do we tell this story to kids?” I mean, think about it... this is really one of the saddest stories you can imagine. Mankind was a mess. Impurity was rampant. The world was not what God had hoped for it to be, and it grieved His heart. So what does God decide to do? Destroy everything. Start over. It was that bad, and God was that angry about it.
That’s not exactly the plot from an episode from “Barney.”
But in the midst of this terrible story comes Noah. God asks Noah to take his family and one of each animal into an enormous boat that Noah is supposed to build, and then stay there while God covers the earth with rain. After it’s all over, Noah and his family will be allowed to come out, their life spared.
But have you ever really thought about this story? I don’t like it for a lot of reasons, and one of the main reasons is that it brings up way more questions than it does answers for me about God. How could God kill thousands (maybe millions or billions?) of people all around the earth in one fell swoop, in probably one of the most terrible ways imaginable (drowning)? The Bible frequently extols God’s patience with us... what are we to do with a story like this? Did God just fly off the cuff and get mad? Or was mankind’s present state that bad?
The flood itself kind of scares me; not because I think another flood is coming, but because my sin can cause flood-like experiences in my life. I wonder how many times I’ve grieved the heart of God (Genesis 6:6) because I lived in a way that was so far apart from what He desired from me? I wonder if in some areas of my life, I’m trying God’s patience too much for too long, and some real consequences could be in store for me. I believe in a God that is just and loving, but the flood reminds me that even God might have His breaking points.
But I think one thing I observed more than anything else in this story was a statement about Noah. In Genesis 6:9, we are first introduced to Noah, being told that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” We aren’t really told why God found Noah so righteous and blameless; just that he walked with God, whatever that means.
But as I read, I think I got an idea of what that means. Immediately after being introduced to Noah, the writer of Genesis dives into God giving Noah His plan: He’s going to destroy the people and animals on the earth, and He wants Noah to build an enormous boat to keep him, his family, and two of each animal safe. In the face of sure criticism from the onlookers, what does the Bible say of Noah? “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).
Then, after this, God gives Noah the warning that the flood will start in seven days, and offers some more specific instructions about bringing animals onto the ark. What was Noah’s response? “Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).
Noah was a righteous man. The Bible tells us so right here in Genesis, and in fact, in Hebrews 11 (the famous “Hall of Faith” chapter), Noah is commended for his incredible faith in following God. Why? The story of Genesis 6-7 makes me wonder if maybe it was just because Noah did what God asked him to do. When I think of following God, I generally think in terms of what’s the hot new spiritual growth idea. But God is just thinking of faithfulness. Obedience. Trust. The flood reminds me that these are the qualities God is looking for.
Maybe, just like Noah, I need to take some more time to practice those in my life.
Some stories just aren’t made for children.
Reading the story of the flood, I have to ask myself the question, “Why do we tell this story to kids?” I mean, think about it... this is really one of the saddest stories you can imagine. Mankind was a mess. Impurity was rampant. The world was not what God had hoped for it to be, and it grieved His heart. So what does God decide to do? Destroy everything. Start over. It was that bad, and God was that angry about it.
That’s not exactly the plot from an episode from “Barney.”
But in the midst of this terrible story comes Noah. God asks Noah to take his family and one of each animal into an enormous boat that Noah is supposed to build, and then stay there while God covers the earth with rain. After it’s all over, Noah and his family will be allowed to come out, their life spared.
But have you ever really thought about this story? I don’t like it for a lot of reasons, and one of the main reasons is that it brings up way more questions than it does answers for me about God. How could God kill thousands (maybe millions or billions?) of people all around the earth in one fell swoop, in probably one of the most terrible ways imaginable (drowning)? The Bible frequently extols God’s patience with us... what are we to do with a story like this? Did God just fly off the cuff and get mad? Or was mankind’s present state that bad?
The flood itself kind of scares me; not because I think another flood is coming, but because my sin can cause flood-like experiences in my life. I wonder how many times I’ve grieved the heart of God (Genesis 6:6) because I lived in a way that was so far apart from what He desired from me? I wonder if in some areas of my life, I’m trying God’s patience too much for too long, and some real consequences could be in store for me. I believe in a God that is just and loving, but the flood reminds me that even God might have His breaking points.
But I think one thing I observed more than anything else in this story was a statement about Noah. In Genesis 6:9, we are first introduced to Noah, being told that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” We aren’t really told why God found Noah so righteous and blameless; just that he walked with God, whatever that means.
But as I read, I think I got an idea of what that means. Immediately after being introduced to Noah, the writer of Genesis dives into God giving Noah His plan: He’s going to destroy the people and animals on the earth, and He wants Noah to build an enormous boat to keep him, his family, and two of each animal safe. In the face of sure criticism from the onlookers, what does the Bible say of Noah? “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).
Then, after this, God gives Noah the warning that the flood will start in seven days, and offers some more specific instructions about bringing animals onto the ark. What was Noah’s response? “Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).
Noah was a righteous man. The Bible tells us so right here in Genesis, and in fact, in Hebrews 11 (the famous “Hall of Faith” chapter), Noah is commended for his incredible faith in following God. Why? The story of Genesis 6-7 makes me wonder if maybe it was just because Noah did what God asked him to do. When I think of following God, I generally think in terms of what’s the hot new spiritual growth idea. But God is just thinking of faithfulness. Obedience. Trust. The flood reminds me that these are the qualities God is looking for.
Maybe, just like Noah, I need to take some more time to practice those in my life.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
2. The Fall (Genesis 3:1-24).
by Wesley Blackburn
And now, only one day into these 100 days of readings, we are already at mankind’s darkest hour. The Fall.
Reading this passage, I actually see several things; a few I’d never really thought about before. First off, I see one technique that the devil uses to cause us to stumble, and that’s distrust. When we stop trusting God wholly and completely, that is just a recipe for bad stuff to happen. Look at the serpent’s first words to Eve in 3:1 - “did God really say...?” But it doesn’t just stop there. The serpent continues to cultivate distrust in God by essentially saying in verse 5 that God just doesn’t want Eve to eat the fruit of the tree because He wants to have the corner on the market of truth. Essentially, in this scenario, God is being painted as a figure who is holding stuff back from his people. He wants to be top dog, and He doesn’t want Adam and Eve to have this supposedly awesome thing.
But that’s where fall in all of us begins:
But I think that the fall shows us another thing. The fall is my story.
It’s really easy to be tough on Adam and Eve. After all, they just had to not eat something. Doesn’t seem like too tough an assignment. But really, I’m the same way. God’s given all of us a simple to understand task (to love God and love other people; Matthew 22:34-40), but we totally fail at it. And what’s more, when we fail, we act just like Adam... we blame everyone and everything else. This story is one of the reasons I believe the Bible. It’s just too brutally honest about the human condition. It only takes two chapters before we find a way to make the bottom fall out. That’s too true. Just like Adam and just like Eve, we try to take control of our own lives and then when everything screws up, we pass the buck.
Just last night, I was really talking in prayer to God about how scary I find it that within me, I have the capacity to do the greatest of good, but also the vilest of evils. It’s also scary to me how things can be cruising along just fine and dandy, and then all of a sudden, without warning, I can just turn on God. The fall makes me realize just how deeply sin is woven into me... and it makes me rely on Jesus because the fall draws me to a realization that only Jesus can ever cure my sin problem.
And now, only one day into these 100 days of readings, we are already at mankind’s darkest hour. The Fall.
Reading this passage, I actually see several things; a few I’d never really thought about before. First off, I see one technique that the devil uses to cause us to stumble, and that’s distrust. When we stop trusting God wholly and completely, that is just a recipe for bad stuff to happen. Look at the serpent’s first words to Eve in 3:1 - “did God really say...?” But it doesn’t just stop there. The serpent continues to cultivate distrust in God by essentially saying in verse 5 that God just doesn’t want Eve to eat the fruit of the tree because He wants to have the corner on the market of truth. Essentially, in this scenario, God is being painted as a figure who is holding stuff back from his people. He wants to be top dog, and He doesn’t want Adam and Eve to have this supposedly awesome thing.
But that’s where fall in all of us begins:
- Did God really say that?
- Does God really have a problem with this? It sees so innocent.
- Do I really believe that?
- Does God really know what He’s talking about?
- Does God really have my best interests in mind?
But I think that the fall shows us another thing. The fall is my story.
It’s really easy to be tough on Adam and Eve. After all, they just had to not eat something. Doesn’t seem like too tough an assignment. But really, I’m the same way. God’s given all of us a simple to understand task (to love God and love other people; Matthew 22:34-40), but we totally fail at it. And what’s more, when we fail, we act just like Adam... we blame everyone and everything else. This story is one of the reasons I believe the Bible. It’s just too brutally honest about the human condition. It only takes two chapters before we find a way to make the bottom fall out. That’s too true. Just like Adam and just like Eve, we try to take control of our own lives and then when everything screws up, we pass the buck.
Just last night, I was really talking in prayer to God about how scary I find it that within me, I have the capacity to do the greatest of good, but also the vilest of evils. It’s also scary to me how things can be cruising along just fine and dandy, and then all of a sudden, without warning, I can just turn on God. The fall makes me realize just how deeply sin is woven into me... and it makes me rely on Jesus because the fall draws me to a realization that only Jesus can ever cure my sin problem.
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