"Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Thought his was a beautiful verse and wanted to share.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Joshua
Just a quick thought.....It was very difficult for me to get through Joshua. The violence throughout was often hard to swallow as was the stoning that God ordered. I have to admit it is difficult for me to believe God would order the stoning of a man and/or woman. It goes against the very core of what we have been taught to believe as Christians (well at least me throughout my Catholic upbringing, did I ever mention I have 25 years of Catholic schooling under my belt?).
Friday, August 21, 2009
Day 10: Leviticus 27-Numbers 8
Hello, Book of Numbers.
But first, the final thought from Leviticus: the book closes by introducing the concept of redemption. The Lord gets the firstfruits of everything, and the first born, both man and animal. So if the people wanted to reclaim their things that first went to the Lord, they would have to redeem them. Redemption means to reclaim or repurchase.
Numbers
But first, the final thought from Leviticus: the book closes by introducing the concept of redemption. The Lord gets the firstfruits of everything, and the first born, both man and animal. So if the people wanted to reclaim their things that first went to the Lord, they would have to redeem them. Redemption means to reclaim or repurchase.
Numbers
- Hey, let's take a census! The total number of Israelites was 603,550, not including the Levites. The Levites were not counted, but instead were appointed to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.
- The Levites were the priest tribe of Israel. Aaron was the high priest, and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar were anointed to serve as priests. There were 22,o00.
- 3:40 Here we have an example of the Levites acting in a future propitiation capacity. Previously, the first born were declared the Lord's. But now, the Levites were to be taken in place of the first born. The Levites were declared to belong to the Lord.
- 6 - the introduction of the Nazarites. The Nazarites took special vows of separation for special purpose of the Lord. He had to abstain from wine, grape juice, raisins, could not cut his hair, and avoid dead bodies. Future Nazarites were Samson and Samuel.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Day 9: Leviticus 14-26
More, more, more Leviticus.
- Discussion about cleanliness, in terms of leprosy and bodily discharge. Along with the dietary discussion, these elements are designed to further separate the nation of Israel from the rest of the people, so that there are visible, physical differences.
- Day of Atonement - this is known today as Yom Kippur. It happens on the 10th day of the 7th month. They weren't allowed to work. On this singular day, the priests would make atonement for the entire people.
- 18:21 - First mention of Moloch. The Israelites were forbidden to use this type of sacrifice, which is believed to be a form of infant sacrifice for the atonement of peoples' sins.
- 19:23 - when they plant new trees, God says that for the first 3 years the trees are considered "uncircumcised," and not to be eaten. In the fourth year they are considered holy and can be eaten.
- 19:26 - One of many places where it forbids the consumption of blood. Blood is obviously essential to human life, but is also a sign of sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness.
- 35-36 - a call to be honest business men.
- Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
- Feast of the Firstfruits
- Feast of Weeks
- Feast of Trumpets
- Feast of Tabernacles
That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. 12 For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.
"In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession. And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another.
Day 8: Leviticus 1-14
I'll be forthright - Leviticus is not my favorite book, and I found it difficult once again. I felt like I was slogging through it.
The first things we get introduced to are the different types of offerings:
The Burnt Offering
The Trespass Offering
The first things we get introduced to are the different types of offerings:
The Burnt Offering
- This is an offering of atonement
- it is a male animal that is without blemish
- It appears that it can be a bull, or livestock, or bird
- It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
- The type of animal appears to be immaterial - the important thing is the heart of the person who is making the sacrifice.
- It is of fine flour, oil, and frankincense
- the grain can be baked into a cake, which is then broken and sacrificed.
- the offering must be unleavened, to remember the Passover
- It must be seasoned with salt - salt is a mark of the covenant with God.
- It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
- Animal can be of the herd or the flock.
- Specific animals mentioned - lambs and goats.
- This offering is made by fire, but it is made for food.
- Specific mention that the people are not to eat either blood nor fat.
- This offering was for unintentional sin for individuals, priests, and groups.
- The sacrifice is a bull.
- The blood is drained and sprinkled.
- The fat is burned on an altar in the Tabernacle.
- The rest of the bull is taken outside of the camp and burned.
The Trespass Offering
- This covers: the withholding of testimony of an oath, the touching of something unclean, swearing
- The sacrifice standard is a female animal - either a lamb, or a bird (turtledove/pigeon)
- If the person can't afford those, they can offer a sacrifice of grain.
- If it is a trespass against the holy things of the Lord, then the sacrifice is a ram.
Deuteronomy
My first comment and it's very short. Just a thought I do not want to forget. How come no one has mentioned Deuteronomy is written in a different person? The speaker does not write in the third person but rather as "I and we." I thought this was interesting. Happy Reading!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Day 7: Exodus 29-40
Moses has been spending time on the mountain talking to God, and the people below are getting restless. Here is an easy way to see which people in the OT had a heart for God, and which ones did not. After a time had passed, the people waiting for Moses got impatient, wondering what had become of him. So they told Aaron to make them a golden calf to worship. They couldn't even wait for Moses to return. Contrast that with the amount of time the patriarchs would wait - Abraham waited 100 years for his first born. Jacob worked for Laban for 14 years just to marry his wife. Those who have a heart for the Lord wait on the Lord.
Moses intercedes on behalf of the people again, begging God for mercy to spare them from worshiping the calf.
In a somewhat humorous vein, Aaron puts forth what is quite possibly the 2nd worst excuse known to man (right behind the ever popular "wasn't me" defense):
31:23-24 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
I put the gold in, the calf popped out. Brilliant!
But on a serious note, in the midst of all this it was the sons of Levi who refused to participate in the violation of God's law. As such, they eventually became the tribe of priests.
33:17-23
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
I especially like this passage because you can see that Moses has a passion to know God in a more intimate way, and God honors his heart's desire. It also establishes the nature of God's sovereignty in whom He chooses to save. It also communicates the fact that God's holiness falling on the sinner means death; but by God's act alone can he cover man's sin with himself, and thus when God sees man, he sees Himself. The sinner is spared.
Moses intercedes on behalf of the people again, begging God for mercy to spare them from worshiping the calf.
In a somewhat humorous vein, Aaron puts forth what is quite possibly the 2nd worst excuse known to man (right behind the ever popular "wasn't me" defense):
31:23-24 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
I put the gold in, the calf popped out. Brilliant!
But on a serious note, in the midst of all this it was the sons of Levi who refused to participate in the violation of God's law. As such, they eventually became the tribe of priests.
33:17-23
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
I especially like this passage because you can see that Moses has a passion to know God in a more intimate way, and God honors his heart's desire. It also establishes the nature of God's sovereignty in whom He chooses to save. It also communicates the fact that God's holiness falling on the sinner means death; but by God's act alone can he cover man's sin with himself, and thus when God sees man, he sees Himself. The sinner is spared.
Friday, August 14, 2009
day 12 random thoughts
1. in numbers 27, God tells moses he's gonna die without going into the promise land. but his death doesn't come until the end of deut. can you image being told you're gonna die. but not knowing exactly when? at least with aaron, he was told he was gonna die and then he was taken up to the mountain and died there. man! that's gonna be mental agony for moses. and then why would God tell him that? through the history of the Bible, in most cases, God doesn't give you the big picture/ the whole plan. he tells you the next step but unusually just that next step. probably cause we tend to mess things up when we know ahead of time. but with Moses, God seemed to give him the whole plan before it happened.
2. chapter 29: 6
6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the LORD by fire—a pleasing aroma.
this made me think of 2 corinthians 2:15
15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
i'll probably revisit this later, but for now, it brings up the imagery/ parallel between the sacrifices by the isrealites and us being a "living sacrifice" before God.
3. numbers 30 - interesting chapter on the idea of honoring your parents and submitting to your husbands. to be revisited again in the NT.
2. chapter 29: 6
6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the LORD by fire—a pleasing aroma.
this made me think of 2 corinthians 2:15
15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
i'll probably revisit this later, but for now, it brings up the imagery/ parallel between the sacrifices by the isrealites and us being a "living sacrifice" before God.
3. numbers 30 - interesting chapter on the idea of honoring your parents and submitting to your husbands. to be revisited again in the NT.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
where's meghan?
where you be, woman? i'd wanna know what you're thinkin'. don't be holdin' out on us, now :)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Biblical Patience
Fascinating story. Billy is like Abraham and Jacob, rolled into one! Turtle Power!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
week 1
i honestly don't think i can do a daily blog... esp considering that i'm perpetually behind. however, i'd like to just joint down a few general comments on the first week of reading (in no particular order)
1. i really think there was a purpose to the progression of the plagues, but i have no idea what it is. maybe level of severity? maybe most encompassing/ public to most personal? any thoughts?
2. God chose Moses, not the other way around. Moses didn't go volunteering to serve God, nor did he even want to do it when asked. God uses the most unlikely people to do great things for His purpose. kind of encouraging for us plain folk :)i esp loved this part: exodus 14:14 "the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still". God does His part and we do ours. sometimes i think we're trying to do it all and then get frustrated when things don't turn out the way we want them to.
3. joseph was 30 when he entered into the Pharoah's work. 30!!
4. did you notice a significant drop in years lived after the flood? it went from like 900 years to 120 years or something like that. not sure if i want to live 900 years. esp w/ the world's going ons these days! sheesh!!!
5. exodus 23:19 the idea of bringing the best of your firstfruits. it reminds me of proverbs 3:9 and 10. "honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine."
6. exodus 26 talks about the tabernacle and the specs for the building of it. there's a place in PA that built one. i think it would be cool to see it, no?
1. i really think there was a purpose to the progression of the plagues, but i have no idea what it is. maybe level of severity? maybe most encompassing/ public to most personal? any thoughts?
2. God chose Moses, not the other way around. Moses didn't go volunteering to serve God, nor did he even want to do it when asked. God uses the most unlikely people to do great things for His purpose. kind of encouraging for us plain folk :)i esp loved this part: exodus 14:14 "the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still". God does His part and we do ours. sometimes i think we're trying to do it all and then get frustrated when things don't turn out the way we want them to.
3. joseph was 30 when he entered into the Pharoah's work. 30!!
4. did you notice a significant drop in years lived after the flood? it went from like 900 years to 120 years or something like that. not sure if i want to live 900 years. esp w/ the world's going ons these days! sheesh!!!
5. exodus 23:19 the idea of bringing the best of your firstfruits. it reminds me of proverbs 3:9 and 10. "honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine."
6. exodus 26 talks about the tabernacle and the specs for the building of it. there's a place in PA that built one. i think it would be cool to see it, no?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 6: Exodus 16-28
I'm going to try to map some of the early civil laws that Moses gave the Israelites to our modern day law.
21:12: "Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death."
This would likely be 2nd degree murder.
21:14: "if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death."
This would be capital murder.
21: 16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death."
False imprisonment
21:28
“If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted."
Strict liability, duty to control animals.
21:33
“And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his."
For occupiers of land, must protect trespassers and their animals from all known man made traps; duty to warn.
22:1
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep."
Conversion of property
22:2-3
If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft."
Defense of property, self defense. There is also a distinction between larceny and burglary, with the crime made worse if the breaking and entering occurs at night.
22:10-12
"If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it."
Contract law, determines who is liable and when purchased goods is transferred from buyer to seller in the event of damage to the goods.
22:19
“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death."
Buggery
23:1
“You shall not circulate a false report."
Defamation
21:12: "Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death."
This would likely be 2nd degree murder.
21:14: "if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death."
This would be capital murder.
21: 16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death."
False imprisonment
21:28
“If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted."
Strict liability, duty to control animals.
21:33
“And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his."
For occupiers of land, must protect trespassers and their animals from all known man made traps; duty to warn.
22:1
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep."
Conversion of property
22:2-3
If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft."
Defense of property, self defense. There is also a distinction between larceny and burglary, with the crime made worse if the breaking and entering occurs at night.
22:10-12
"If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it."
Contract law, determines who is liable and when purchased goods is transferred from buyer to seller in the event of damage to the goods.
22:19
“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death."
Buggery
23:1
“You shall not circulate a false report."
Defamation
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 5: Exodus 1-15
Random thoughts:
- The sons of Israel have all moved down to Egypt to avoid the famine, and now the Pharaoh became concerned that they were becoming too strong. So they slowly began to deny the Israelites their rights and gradually enslaved them in oppression.
- One of the earliest forms of eugenics is mentioned in chapter 1. Pharaoh was worried that too many Hebrew boys born would make their people too strong. To prevent this, he ordered the midwives to go to the Hebrew women and kill any newborn that was a boy. However, the midwives "feared God" (v. 17) and would not do such an abominable thing. They refused to kill the babies. Why would they fear the Lord in doing such an act? They must have known two things - 1) that the Hebrews were God's special people, and 2) that God loves His children, especially the newborn. I think it's important to note that they were more afraid of a different people group's God, whom they had no relationship, than they were afraid of their own Pharaoh, who could have ordered them killed if they disobeyed him.
- Pharaoh's second attempt at extermination of the Hebrews involved him telling his own people to drown baby boys if they came across them. This wicked act is what sets Moses' path in motion, how he is removed from the vine of the Hebrews and grafted into the vine of the Egyptians during his formative years.
- 4:24-26: And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’[b] feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.
I have no idea what this seemingly randomly inserted narrative means. The only thing I can conjecture is that Moses had been disobedient in not circumcising his son earlier, and because he was about to become the liberator of the Hebrews, he was being held to a high standard.
- Aaron just sort of shows up, doesn't he? How does Moses even know he has a brother, if he has spent his childhood away from his relatives?
- Moses & Aaron are both part of the tribe of Levi, which becomes the tribe of the priesthood.
- Moses doesn't want to lead.
The plagues:
1. water becomes blood
2. frogs. frogs!
3. Lice
4. Flies
5. diseased livestock
6. boils
7. hail
8. locusts
9. darkness
10. death of the firstborn
The death of the firstborn plague brings forth the event of the Passover. The only way the Israelites could be spared the punishment of death was to cover themselves with the shed blood of a pure lamb. The innocent lamb had to die so that the children of Israel could live.
- The sons of Israel have all moved down to Egypt to avoid the famine, and now the Pharaoh became concerned that they were becoming too strong. So they slowly began to deny the Israelites their rights and gradually enslaved them in oppression.
- One of the earliest forms of eugenics is mentioned in chapter 1. Pharaoh was worried that too many Hebrew boys born would make their people too strong. To prevent this, he ordered the midwives to go to the Hebrew women and kill any newborn that was a boy. However, the midwives "feared God" (v. 17) and would not do such an abominable thing. They refused to kill the babies. Why would they fear the Lord in doing such an act? They must have known two things - 1) that the Hebrews were God's special people, and 2) that God loves His children, especially the newborn. I think it's important to note that they were more afraid of a different people group's God, whom they had no relationship, than they were afraid of their own Pharaoh, who could have ordered them killed if they disobeyed him.
- Pharaoh's second attempt at extermination of the Hebrews involved him telling his own people to drown baby boys if they came across them. This wicked act is what sets Moses' path in motion, how he is removed from the vine of the Hebrews and grafted into the vine of the Egyptians during his formative years.
- 4:24-26: And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’[b] feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.
I have no idea what this seemingly randomly inserted narrative means. The only thing I can conjecture is that Moses had been disobedient in not circumcising his son earlier, and because he was about to become the liberator of the Hebrews, he was being held to a high standard.
- Aaron just sort of shows up, doesn't he? How does Moses even know he has a brother, if he has spent his childhood away from his relatives?
- Moses & Aaron are both part of the tribe of Levi, which becomes the tribe of the priesthood.
- Moses doesn't want to lead.
The plagues:
1. water becomes blood
2. frogs. frogs!
3. Lice
4. Flies
5. diseased livestock
6. boils
7. hail
8. locusts
9. darkness
10. death of the firstborn
The death of the firstborn plague brings forth the event of the Passover. The only way the Israelites could be spared the punishment of death was to cover themselves with the shed blood of a pure lamb. The innocent lamb had to die so that the children of Israel could live.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 4: Genesis 40-50
Let's map the kids from their birth to their blessings (chapter 49):
Leah:
1. Reuben
Leah said that, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
Jacob: "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.
Now, Reuben seems to get the double shaft here. Ordinarily, the firstborn would receive the biggest part of the inheritance and blessing, but here he receives neither, and in fact his double-portion ends up going to Joseph. The question is, why? The answer falls back to 35:22, where it says that Reuben had lay with Bilhah, Rachel's hand maid. So because of Reuben's sin against Jacob, he loses out on his inheritance and blessing.
2. Simeon
Similarly to Reuben, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.”
Simeon and Levi go together: "Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel."
The curse on these two, who were borne out of Leah's jealousy, stemmed from their treatment of the city of Shechem in Chpt. 34. Shechem had kidnapped and raped their little sister Dinah. Simeon and Levi responded by going to the city, killing all the males, and plundering everything within the city. They believed they were doing right by their sister, but Jacob felt differently; my guess is that he felt that they had gone way too far and used what happened to Dinah to justify their blood lust.
3. Levi
And for a third time, Leah says, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”
See above.
4. Judah
Different from the first three, this time Leah says of Judah, “Now I will praise the LORD.”
Leah praised the Lord when he was born. And he received the most unique blessing:
"Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk."
Wow. Despite Judah's egregious sin (Chpt. 38) he is blessed with carrying a royal bloodline. The scepter would not part from his descendants until he comes to him it belongs.
5. Issachar
After giving her hand maid to Jacob, Leah is able to bear children again. She says, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” She still seems jealous of Rachel.
Jacob's blessing is positive for Issachar: "Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor."
It seems like Jacob respects the way Issachar is willing to submit himself to labor now to reach an ultimate resting place of glory down the road.
6. Zebulun
Leah bears #6, and seems finally at peace with her blessings - "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons."
"Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon."
Although Zebulun never reached this while he was still alive, his descendants did, as noted in Ezekiel 48:26.
7. Dinah
Poor, poor Dinah.
Bilhah (Rachel's maid):
1. Dan
Says Rachel - “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” She sounded bitter about the fact that she couldn't bear children, and so basically stole Bilhah's.
Dan's blessing is cryptic: "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
On the one hand, he is described as a serpent that bites at horses' heels. This brings to mind the curse in Genesis 3, where the serpent would strike at man's heel, but ultimately have his head crushed - i.e. the prophecy of Lucifer's eventual destruction. Yet it says Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes. I had to cheat and look it up, but there is future reference in Ezekiel 10:5, which talks about the tribes of Israel reclaiming their land, and the people of Israel knocking the enemy riders off their horses.
This also brings to light the fact that Jacob, the younger brother of Esau, came out grabbing his brother's heel, and his name literally means "heel grabber." It makes me wonder if Jacob ever reflected on his connection to the original curse on man, or if he wanted to identify in some way to his son Dan.
2. Naphtali
Rachel is still bitter - “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” Twice she has stolen Bilhah's kid.
Jacob's blessing for him is short: "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns."
It would definitely seem to imply that Naphtali will have an abundance of offspring. Also, the imagery of a deer is frequently used in scripture - "As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you..." Ps. 42:1; "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." This might prophecy of his longing for God and seeking Him in the high places.
Zilpah (Leah's maid):
1. Gad
Leah can't bear children, so she gives her hand maid to Jacob. When Gad comes, she declares, “A troop comes!”
It seems like Gad falls in a similar blessing with Dan: "Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels." It would seem to be one of the few that are consistent with Leah's original proclamation that a troop comes.
2. Asher
Leah finally seems to be having peace about her role - “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.”
Jacob also gives Asher a very promising blessing: "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king."
Seeing how many of the other blessings of Jacob look to the future, this one would be very promising as it would seem to indicate that Asher would have a very special place in the Kingdom in the end. It might also indicate that his tribe would be bountiful in its harvest.
Rachel:
1. Joseph
Rachel is the last of the wives to bear Jacob a son. She says, "God has taken away my disgrace." Rachel also prays for another son, which God answers.
As previously mentioned, Joseph holds a special place in Jacob's heart. We know that he takes Reuben's double portion, and Jacob adopts Joseph's two sons as his own, so they will receive an inheritance as well. In the blessing, Jacob says,
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."
Much of this seems to be a continuation to the way Joseph has already performed the role of a Christ-type in his personal narrative.
2. Benjamin
Rachel is about to die when she gives birth to her last son. She named him Ben-Oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin.
Even though he is very young at the time, Jacob gives him an aggressive blessing: "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder."
This blessing might speak toward the fact that the Benjamite tribe would become strong in warfare. They would learn to fight with swords with either hand, which would give them a tactical advantage. Also, this is the tribe that the Apostle Paul descends from, and holds it out as a badge of honor for the Pharisees.
Leah:
1. Reuben
Leah said that, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
Jacob: "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.
Now, Reuben seems to get the double shaft here. Ordinarily, the firstborn would receive the biggest part of the inheritance and blessing, but here he receives neither, and in fact his double-portion ends up going to Joseph. The question is, why? The answer falls back to 35:22, where it says that Reuben had lay with Bilhah, Rachel's hand maid. So because of Reuben's sin against Jacob, he loses out on his inheritance and blessing.
2. Simeon
Similarly to Reuben, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.”
Simeon and Levi go together: "Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel."
The curse on these two, who were borne out of Leah's jealousy, stemmed from their treatment of the city of Shechem in Chpt. 34. Shechem had kidnapped and raped their little sister Dinah. Simeon and Levi responded by going to the city, killing all the males, and plundering everything within the city. They believed they were doing right by their sister, but Jacob felt differently; my guess is that he felt that they had gone way too far and used what happened to Dinah to justify their blood lust.
3. Levi
And for a third time, Leah says, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”
See above.
4. Judah
Different from the first three, this time Leah says of Judah, “Now I will praise the LORD.”
Leah praised the Lord when he was born. And he received the most unique blessing:
"Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk."
Wow. Despite Judah's egregious sin (Chpt. 38) he is blessed with carrying a royal bloodline. The scepter would not part from his descendants until he comes to him it belongs.
5. Issachar
After giving her hand maid to Jacob, Leah is able to bear children again. She says, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” She still seems jealous of Rachel.
Jacob's blessing is positive for Issachar: "Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor."
It seems like Jacob respects the way Issachar is willing to submit himself to labor now to reach an ultimate resting place of glory down the road.
6. Zebulun
Leah bears #6, and seems finally at peace with her blessings - "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons."
"Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon."
Although Zebulun never reached this while he was still alive, his descendants did, as noted in Ezekiel 48:26.
7. Dinah
Poor, poor Dinah.
Bilhah (Rachel's maid):
1. Dan
Says Rachel - “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” She sounded bitter about the fact that she couldn't bear children, and so basically stole Bilhah's.
Dan's blessing is cryptic: "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
On the one hand, he is described as a serpent that bites at horses' heels. This brings to mind the curse in Genesis 3, where the serpent would strike at man's heel, but ultimately have his head crushed - i.e. the prophecy of Lucifer's eventual destruction. Yet it says Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes. I had to cheat and look it up, but there is future reference in Ezekiel 10:5, which talks about the tribes of Israel reclaiming their land, and the people of Israel knocking the enemy riders off their horses.
This also brings to light the fact that Jacob, the younger brother of Esau, came out grabbing his brother's heel, and his name literally means "heel grabber." It makes me wonder if Jacob ever reflected on his connection to the original curse on man, or if he wanted to identify in some way to his son Dan.
2. Naphtali
Rachel is still bitter - “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” Twice she has stolen Bilhah's kid.
Jacob's blessing for him is short: "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns."
It would definitely seem to imply that Naphtali will have an abundance of offspring. Also, the imagery of a deer is frequently used in scripture - "As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you..." Ps. 42:1; "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." This might prophecy of his longing for God and seeking Him in the high places.
Zilpah (Leah's maid):
1. Gad
Leah can't bear children, so she gives her hand maid to Jacob. When Gad comes, she declares, “A troop comes!”
It seems like Gad falls in a similar blessing with Dan: "Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels." It would seem to be one of the few that are consistent with Leah's original proclamation that a troop comes.
2. Asher
Leah finally seems to be having peace about her role - “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.”
Jacob also gives Asher a very promising blessing: "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king."
Seeing how many of the other blessings of Jacob look to the future, this one would be very promising as it would seem to indicate that Asher would have a very special place in the Kingdom in the end. It might also indicate that his tribe would be bountiful in its harvest.
Rachel:
1. Joseph
Rachel is the last of the wives to bear Jacob a son. She says, "God has taken away my disgrace." Rachel also prays for another son, which God answers.
As previously mentioned, Joseph holds a special place in Jacob's heart. We know that he takes Reuben's double portion, and Jacob adopts Joseph's two sons as his own, so they will receive an inheritance as well. In the blessing, Jacob says,
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."
Much of this seems to be a continuation to the way Joseph has already performed the role of a Christ-type in his personal narrative.
2. Benjamin
Rachel is about to die when she gives birth to her last son. She named him Ben-Oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin.
Even though he is very young at the time, Jacob gives him an aggressive blessing: "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder."
This blessing might speak toward the fact that the Benjamite tribe would become strong in warfare. They would learn to fight with swords with either hand, which would give them a tactical advantage. Also, this is the tribe that the Apostle Paul descends from, and holds it out as a badge of honor for the Pharisees.
Day 3: Genesis 28-40
- Jacob worked for Laban for 14 years for his wife Rachel. She must have been really something.
- What is it with wives giving their handmaids to their husbands to have more kids? They always seem to end up jealous in the end.
- Jacob's kids show up. They're sort of all over the place. Clearly Rachel is Jacob's favorite, and Rachel's two kids - Joseph and Benjamin, are his favorite kids.
- One narrative that will never get old for me is the story of reconciliation. In Chpt 33, Jacob goes back to meet with his brother Esau, who has every reason in the world to kill Jacob on sight. And yet it's quite the opposite. Their meeting was affectionate and tender, and they were able to overcome the things that they had done and said to each other. It mirrors to me the same way that Abraham treated Ishmael, even though Ishmael was the son who got cursed. Jacob & Esau eventually buried Isaac together.
- As a 17 year old, Joseph was kind of a brat.
- What is it with wives giving their handmaids to their husbands to have more kids? They always seem to end up jealous in the end.
- Jacob's kids show up. They're sort of all over the place. Clearly Rachel is Jacob's favorite, and Rachel's two kids - Joseph and Benjamin, are his favorite kids.
- One narrative that will never get old for me is the story of reconciliation. In Chpt 33, Jacob goes back to meet with his brother Esau, who has every reason in the world to kill Jacob on sight. And yet it's quite the opposite. Their meeting was affectionate and tender, and they were able to overcome the things that they had done and said to each other. It mirrors to me the same way that Abraham treated Ishmael, even though Ishmael was the son who got cursed. Jacob & Esau eventually buried Isaac together.
- As a 17 year old, Joseph was kind of a brat.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 2: Genesis 17-28
Watch how the curses of Genesis evolve.
9:20-24 - Noah is offended by his son Ham, and as a result curses Ham's son, Canaan. Canaan & his offspring would be cursed as a slave to his brothers. His offspring would become the people who reside in the land of Canaan and are long at odds with the nation Israel.
16 - Out of lack of faith & disobedience, Sarai gives Hagar to Abram and Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. Hagar mistreats Sarai, so Abram gives Sarai permission to abuse Hagar. Out of all this faithlessness and strife, Hagar flees. God gives her the blessing that her son Ishmael would have many offspring, but curses him, saying that he would always live in hostility toward others. Later, Abraham begs that God would bless Ishmael, and God promises that Ishmael would become a great nation, but never revokes the curse. Net result- both Isaac (born of Sarah) & Ishmael will bear forth great nations, but Ishmael's will forever be cursed. He goes to reside in Beersheba, in the land of Canaan (see above). As Galatians 4 says, Hagar & Ishmael represent a nation in slavery, which is similar to the curse on Canaan.
25:21-23 - Two nations are in Rebekah's womb (Jacob & Esau), and the peoples will be separated. The older will serve the younger.
27:39 - Isaac curses Esau after being deceived by Jacob.
28:6-9 - Jacob is told to not take a wife from Canaan. Esau has already married Hittite women, and it has caused strife in the family. Esau is still angry at Jacob and despises his father Isaac, so he goes to Canaan and marries Mahalath, who is the daughter of Ishmael.
The nation that would always be opposed to Israel has been formed- the promise of a hostile nation borne out of Ishmael, a profane & subservient nation that would come from Esau, coming out of the people of Canaan. When Esau marries back into the line of Ishmael, the link is complete. In a great sense, Esau becoming son to Ishmael is the fulfillment of God's curse on both Canaan & Ishmael. This line subsequently becomes the nation of Edom, which is forever at war with Israel/Judah and is cursed b/c of it. Edom joins with Babylon (later to be overcome by Babylon) to conquer first the 10 tribes of Israel and later the two tribes of Judah, destroying Jerusalem & the temple in the process. The land where Babylon resided (though later conquered by Persia) becomes modern-day Iraq.
9:20-24 - Noah is offended by his son Ham, and as a result curses Ham's son, Canaan. Canaan & his offspring would be cursed as a slave to his brothers. His offspring would become the people who reside in the land of Canaan and are long at odds with the nation Israel.
16 - Out of lack of faith & disobedience, Sarai gives Hagar to Abram and Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. Hagar mistreats Sarai, so Abram gives Sarai permission to abuse Hagar. Out of all this faithlessness and strife, Hagar flees. God gives her the blessing that her son Ishmael would have many offspring, but curses him, saying that he would always live in hostility toward others. Later, Abraham begs that God would bless Ishmael, and God promises that Ishmael would become a great nation, but never revokes the curse. Net result- both Isaac (born of Sarah) & Ishmael will bear forth great nations, but Ishmael's will forever be cursed. He goes to reside in Beersheba, in the land of Canaan (see above). As Galatians 4 says, Hagar & Ishmael represent a nation in slavery, which is similar to the curse on Canaan.
25:21-23 - Two nations are in Rebekah's womb (Jacob & Esau), and the peoples will be separated. The older will serve the younger.
27:39 - Isaac curses Esau after being deceived by Jacob.
28:6-9 - Jacob is told to not take a wife from Canaan. Esau has already married Hittite women, and it has caused strife in the family. Esau is still angry at Jacob and despises his father Isaac, so he goes to Canaan and marries Mahalath, who is the daughter of Ishmael.
The nation that would always be opposed to Israel has been formed- the promise of a hostile nation borne out of Ishmael, a profane & subservient nation that would come from Esau, coming out of the people of Canaan. When Esau marries back into the line of Ishmael, the link is complete. In a great sense, Esau becoming son to Ishmael is the fulfillment of God's curse on both Canaan & Ishmael. This line subsequently becomes the nation of Edom, which is forever at war with Israel/Judah and is cursed b/c of it. Edom joins with Babylon (later to be overcome by Babylon) to conquer first the 10 tribes of Israel and later the two tribes of Judah, destroying Jerusalem & the temple in the process. The land where Babylon resided (though later conquered by Persia) becomes modern-day Iraq.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
jeanna's thoughts on Day 1
OK, i'm already behind :(
But here are a few thoughts of mine:
1. Gen 4:26 At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.
Why would they begin to call on the name of the Lord? Why were they not doing that before? andy seems to think it's because adam and eve had a face to face relationship w/ God while in the garden (w/ the pre-incarnate Jesus), but once they left the garden, they also lost that form of relationship and thus, w/ the kids - cain/ abel/ seth - they called on God. ie. 2nd and 3rd generation didn't have the personal encounter w/ God and thus they had to walk by faith in their relationship w/ God.
2. gen 5 - how do you think they came up w/ names when they had kids. we just look at a baby book or we say - hum, these are the names we've heard that we like... but they didn't have any of that. do you think that they just thought - what sounds like a name?? or maybe they prayed and God helped them w/ names??
3. gen 5: 21-23 in 3 short verses, it speaks volumes of enoch's life and what his relationship w/ God might have been like.
4. gen 5:29 "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed." what does it mean that God has cursed this land? i think it means that God has removed His blessing and it doesn't produce fruit as it did in the garden of eden. that explains a lot of what we see today.
But here are a few thoughts of mine:
1. Gen 4:26 At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.
Why would they begin to call on the name of the Lord? Why were they not doing that before? andy seems to think it's because adam and eve had a face to face relationship w/ God while in the garden (w/ the pre-incarnate Jesus), but once they left the garden, they also lost that form of relationship and thus, w/ the kids - cain/ abel/ seth - they called on God. ie. 2nd and 3rd generation didn't have the personal encounter w/ God and thus they had to walk by faith in their relationship w/ God.
2. gen 5 - how do you think they came up w/ names when they had kids. we just look at a baby book or we say - hum, these are the names we've heard that we like... but they didn't have any of that. do you think that they just thought - what sounds like a name?? or maybe they prayed and God helped them w/ names??
3. gen 5: 21-23 in 3 short verses, it speaks volumes of enoch's life and what his relationship w/ God might have been like.
4. gen 5:29 "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed." what does it mean that God has cursed this land? i think it means that God has removed His blessing and it doesn't produce fruit as it did in the garden of eden. that explains a lot of what we see today.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day 1 - the beginning
The 90 Day Challenge - read through the entire Bible in 90 days. Twelve pages a day. We can do it!
And so we kick things off - Genesis 1 through Genesis 16.
And so we kick things off - Genesis 1 through Genesis 16.
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