January 30

Genesis 31; Mark 2

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 6: MAY ALL MEN MAKE USE OF THE SCRIPTURES?
 
Answer: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.
Scripture: John 5:39; Luke 16:29; Acts 8:28-30; 17:11.

Genesis 31

Ready:
Jacob has been 20 years in Haran serving Laban.  14 years he served for two wives and then 6 years he continued to care for the flock of Laban and also raised up his own flock that God granted him from Haran’s flock (the imperfect ones).  Laban was dishonest and oppressive and yet God made a way and Jacob was now becoming self sufficient and ready to leave with his family.

Reading thoughts:
In this chapter Jacob gets the idea that Laban and his sons may have bad intentions toward him.  He knows plainly that he is not favored as he once was with Laban.  God confirms that it is time for Jacob to leave in a dream.  Moses reveals to us that Jacob previously had a dream about God giving him a flock of funny looking animals and this promoted the deal he originally struck with Laban.  Jacob seems to get the support of his wives to leave and they express their discontent with their father anyhow.  So Jacob has a green light but rather than be up front and tell Laban that he is now leaving, he sneaks off without telling him.  This might be a weak move but Laban’s reaction of making chase might be mostly out of concern for his missing gods, rather than all the good fatherly reasons he gave.  Either way Jacob was faced with a tough discussion once Laban caught him.  Accusations fly back and forth between the two and there is a near miss since Jacob told Laban that whoever had the stolen God would die!  Rachel had taken his idols for some reason.  Maybe she was mad and wanted to get back at him for being so hard on Jacob? Ultimately the two settle on striking an agreement to leave one another alone and to do no harm.  They set up a marker to that affect and Jacob worships God.  Laban splits without finding his idols (which Rachel had hidden in the pouch on her camel).  

Key Verses:
Gen 31:2-3, 6-9, 11-13, 17-18, 19-20, 22-23, 27-28, 29, 32, 41-42, 44-45, 51-52, 54-55

I see the theme as- The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob delivers on his promise while the false gods of Laban are stolen and sat upon by a woman claiming to be unclean.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-16.  Recognizing the increasing tension and having direction from God to “get out of Dodge”, Jacob meets with his wives and explains to them the situation.  Here he reveals the earlier vision and how God has blessed them against the best effort of Laban to oppress them.  The wives agree that their Father is not being faithful to them and they all agree with the plan to leave.  Here is a good lesson in leadership by Jacob who knows well that they need to leave and he has an order from God to do so.  But rather than simply tell the wives to saddle up, he first gives them a big explanation and convinces them of the plan.  Especially in this day, this was a big deal.  Jacob honored Leah and Rachel here and they respond with essentially “we will follow you wherever God tells you to go and we will help you do whatever God says to do…lead the way”.
    v17-21.  Here Jacob chooses to take flight without letting Laban know and maybe he perceived that this was the direction from God.  I don’t take his action to be theft because he is only taking what was agreed to be his by 20 years of labor.  Additionally, the daughters have been married for years to Jacob and they are no longer the “property” of Laban’s as their father later refers to them.  I am gaining more empathy for Jacob’s decision in how and when to leave as I think on it.  The word from God to leave coming in the season that he is sensing their disfavor could easily add up to “Leave now and don’t try any more negotiations”.
    v22-24.  While Laban makes chase God speaks to him and warns him to not say anything good or bad to Jacob.  The exact meaning of the words might be tough but the sense is a warning to not harm Jacob as I take it.  Maybe it means don’t try to fool him? Or don’t make threats to him?
    v25-42.  Here they debate back and forth a bit and each has an argument on why they feel offended and in the right.  Laban cuts to the chase of his missing idols and he come up empty in the search because Rachel hid them successfully by sitting on them (pretty much).  This is the only thing that they legitimately stole from Laban.  Ironic that what was stolen were his gods.  Jacob’s God speaks to Laban but Laban is concerned about these speechless and powerless idols that Rachel is desecrating.  Laban is shown here to be a fool who disregards the God who speaks to him.  He even tells Jacob that it is in his power to harm him after God’s warning to him.  I would imagine that this threat was empty and from the point God gave him the warning there was no hope for Laban.
    v43-55.  Here they finality settle the matter and decide to make an agreement that they would keep clear of one another and not do any harm to the other.  They set up a memorial and Jacob makes a sacrifice and worships God.  The all eat together to show peace and spend the evening together before Laban departs in the morning.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 2

Ready:
Mark picks up in chapter two after having described some of the early ministry of Jesus and showing a glimpse of Jesus’ prayer habits.

Reading thoughts:
Mark here covers similar ground as what Matthew covered from chapter nine to just a little ways into chapter 12.  Mark writes about the healing of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof, the calling of Levi (Matthew), the bit about not fasting while the bridegroom is here, and the teaching on Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath.

Key Verses:
Mark 2:4-5, 7, 9, 10-12, 16-17, 18-19, 23-24, 27-28

I see the theme as- The bridegroom of Israel is here…he comes with the authority of God to take away your sins…so celebrate!

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-10.  The parallel passage in Matthew is 9:1-8 and this version is expanded for a little bit more description of the scene.  In this account we get a better visual picture that they were at a house and it was stuffed with people and nobody else could get in.  This paralytic has four friends (faithful friends) who carried this guy across town when they heard Jesus was there.  They arrive and can’t even get in the door but this doesn’t stop them for a second.  This lift this guy up to the roof, break the roof apart, and then lower him down (maybe using the bed sheets) so he can get near Jesus!  These guys are serious about their buddy seeing Jesus.  As in Matthew’s account Jesus responds not merely to the faith of the paralytic, but it says that he saw “their faith” and responded by telling the man “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  I take it these men have saving faith already and they are OT saints relying on the promises of God to take away their sin.  Thinking on what Jesus says to this man though as he looks upon him and upon his friends I imagine what it is that Jesus knows about them.  He surely knows their trust in him as Messiah and their hope in the coming offspring.  He knows his sheep.  But here Jesus declares that his sins are forgiven…this requires his death on the cross and this requires saving faith.  Jesus is not like the president writing executive orders without cause and without the sacrifice of atonement and the same means of forgiveness as the rest of the world.  He is looking at this man and his friends and I picture Jesus knowing the sins they are guilty of and knowing exactly the price that he will bear upon that cross in the wrath of his Father for those very sins.  I see him looking into the man’s face with mercy and compassion knowing that this man would spend eternity paying for his sins with more than paralysis if he were not a son of Abraham by faith.  And Jesus in that moment announces that he will take his sin upon himself…knowing the price he says to the man endearingly “son…”.  Jesus does not say a small thing when he grants forgiveness of sin during his ministry on earth or today.  It was not small in the Garden of Gethsemane and it was surely not small when the sky went dark and the earth shook while he paid for those sins on the cross.  Now this goes on and in the meantime the pharisees are in a huff that Jesus just claimed to have authority that only belongs to God.  No duh.  Jesus now reads their thoughts and their hearts (more importantly) and knows that they do not  believe what he just said.  In Mark 9:7 God, the Father, will say from the sky at the transfiguration “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”.  Not believing that God can do what he says he can do is the complete opposite of the obedience of faith and Jesus now intends to demonstrate that he speaks with the authority of his Father (John 14:10, 17:1-4).
    v11-12.  By healing the man Jesus makes it known that when he says he can do something, then he can do it.  He demonstrates that he has the power to change the health and to grant life here and now.  He demonstrates that God can and does restore his people and he makes them whole.  I see a message about the power of God to change us.  He can heal us of our selfishness and our pride and our other sins.  He can give us the power to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4).  His grace has the power to heal me here and now “in the present age” (Titus 2:11-14).  He does not just forgive sins invisibly but he “takes them away” (John 1:29, Rom 11:27).
    v13-17.  Here Jesus unpacks the teaching that his rescue mission involves man recognizing their need for salvation (Rom 3:20) and responding with a quickened heart (Ezek 36:26-27, Rom 2:29) in the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5, 16:26, 4:20-22).  Obedience to the law which was never intended to justify (Gal 2:16) is to deny the need for Christ’s death (Gal 2:21).  So acknowledging sin and confessing sin precedes the forgiveness of sins and the salvation that comes with it.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!