February 3

Genesis 35-36; Mark 6

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 10: HOW MANY PERSONS ARE THERE IN THE GODHEAD?
Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:11; 8:6; John 1:1; 10:30; 14:9; 20:28; Acts 5:3,4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3.

Comment: The word “Godhead” is needed because we shouldn’t say that there are three persons in God. No, there are three persons who are God. Nor should we say that there are three Gods. There is one God. They are distinct persons with special roles in creation and redemption. But they are in perfect harmony and are (in ways beyond our comprehension) perfectly One God. (See The Pleasures of God, by John Piper, Multnomah Press, pp. 38, 42-44 for one explanation of the Trinity.)

Genesis 35

Ready:
Coming off of the devastating reaction that Simeon and Levi had to their sister’s rape and Abraham’s disappointment they are now at risk.

Reading thoughts:
I see that Jacob began to fear what will happen to his family as a result of their actions against the Hivites.  God then instructs him to go back to Bethel where God had previously spoken to him.  Jacob perceived that they needed to rid themselves of the idols acquired in the sacking of the Hivites and he ask everyone to purify themselves as they mobilize to head to Bethel.  God speaks to Jacob and reaffirms the new name he has given him and increases the detail of his revelation to Jacob.  God appears to him using the same name “God Almighty” as he did when he renamed Abram in chapter 17.  Here God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply perhaps because he has one more son yet to come (Benjamin) from whom will come Paul the Apostle, who will prove to be quite important.  The chapter closes with a strange account of Reuben laying with Bilhah, the mother of a couple of his brothers and one of Jacob’s two concubines.

Key Verses:
Gen 35:1-3, 5, 7, 11-12, 17-18, 22, 28-29

I see the theme as- God tells Jacob to multiply and extends his “already-not yet” promise of a multitude of nations from Abraham to Jacob who will yet see Benjamin born, whose descendant (Paul the Apostle) will take the gospel to the Gentiles and in this we will see God become the God of all nations by faith and not just Israel.  "For is God the God of Jews only?” Paul will ask in Rom 3:29-30.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-4.  Jacob receives direction from God after the slaying of the Hivites and he takes action.  He wisely directs his family to dump the idols they found in the Hivite camp and prepare themselves to worship the Lord.  He rightly esteems the house of God and plainly recognizes the need for personal preparation of heart and mind when coming before God to worship.  Jacob recognizes the rescuing characteristics of God who delivers and who answers prayer.
    v5.  God supernaturally protects his people by striking terror into those who would consider attacking them during their travel to Bethel.
    v6-15.  Here God appears again to Jacob at Bethel where he had spoken to him directly as he fled from Esau.  God extended the covenant to Abraham to Jacob here previously and he had also changed his name previously during their wrestling match.  But now God seems to want to bolster his faith and to increase the detail and glory of what Jacob understands of the promise.  Here in Gen 35:11 God uses the title “Almighty God” like he did when he renamed Abram to Abraham because God told him “For I have made you the Father of a multitude of nations”.  So the only previous times so far in the Bible that the title “Almighty God” was used was there in Gen 17:1-8, and then in Gen 28:3 where Isaac blesses Jacob and happens to tell him “God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.”  Now again the same title is used when God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply for he bring a company of nations from his loins!  It is by the almighty power of the God who creates from nothing that the nations of the world (stemming from the scattering of Babel) are grafted into the family of Abraham (Rom 4:16-18)!  "You are not done Jacob…there is another child yet and he will bring Paul who will testify for me and carry the message to the Gentiles that they will come and the nations will rejoice (1 Chron 16:8-34).”  The spiritual offspring of Abraham are pictured as the "company of peoples" or "company of nations" or "multitude of nations”.  So Bethel is a pretty special place and Jacob responds to God by making an offering to the Lord after he receives this restatement of the covenant.
    v16-21.  Here Benjamin is born and the 12 tribes are complete!  Rachel dies and “Israel” travels on.
    v22-29.  Here is the odd inclusion of a sin by Reuben that becomes the cause of the loss of the blessing to the first-born.  In chapter 49 Jacob will pass over the first three sons because of their sins (Reuben for laying with Jacob’s concubine, Simeon and Levi for killing the Hivites) and therefore the fourth son, Judah will receive the blessing and this indeed is the physical bloodline (Mary) and the spiritual lineage (Joseph) of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  Almighty God indeed works through the sins of man to bring about his mighty purposes according to the counsel of his will!  The chapter concludes with the death of Isaac after Jacob gets to Mamre.  Isaac indeed dies with the blessing of God as he sees his boys reunited for a period of maybe 50 years before he is buried by them with Abraham and Sarah there in the place Abraham had purchased (Gen 49:31).  Rebekah’s death is not mentioned but she was ultimately buried there with Isaac as well.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Genesis 36

Ready:
Immediately jumping into this chapter in today’s reading...

Reading thoughts:
After Isaac dies this chapter seems to serve to button up the history of the unchosen line of Esau so the storyline would then follow Jacob and his children from here on until the death of Joseph in Egypt.  But this does not “button up” so cleanly for the reader since the names of Esau’s wives seem to be mixed up compared to the previous record in Gen 26:34 and Gen 28:9.  Here is a decent explanation from the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary:  "Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan—There were three, mentioned under different names; for it is evident that Bashemath is the same as Mahalath (Ge 28:9), since they both stand in the relation of daughter to Ishmael and sister to Nebajoth; and hence it may be inferred that Adah is the same as Judith, Aholibamah as Bathsemath (Ge 26:34). It was not unusual for women, in that early age, to have two names, as Sarai was also Iscah [Ge 11:29]; and this is the more probable in the case of Esau’s wives, who of course would have to take new names when they went from Canaan to settle in mount Seir. “

Key Verses:
Gen 36:1-3, 6-8, 9, 31, 40-43

I see the theme as- Esau picks all the wrong women and births a kind of Bizzaro-Israel nation who will be a thorn to Israel.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-5.  This is the quick explanation of the three wives of Esau.  Putting aside the confusion of their identities, the main thing I notice is that he picked all the wrong women and then all of his children were conceived and born there in Canaan.  Jacob, by contrast, acquired his wives in the land of his grandfather (as directed by Isaac and Rebekah) and all of his children were conceived outside of Canaan (Benjamin seems to have been born there in Canaan, near Bethlehem).  Esau even married a Hivite which means that Simeon and Levi later killed her entire bloodline after the rape of Dinah.
    v6-8.  Here Esau ends up separating from Jacob and he seems to actually prosper more initially in fulfillment of the blessing of his father that he would break Jacob’s yoke from his neck (Gen 27:40).  Esau is identified as Edom from where the Edomites come and the conflicts between them and the Israelites are documented well in 2 Sam 8:13, 1 King 1:14, 2 Chron 28:17, Ob 1-21, Psalm 137:7-9).  So although the brothers reconciled it seems that the following generations didn’t get the memo.
    v9-30.  Here is established a careful genealogy that seems to illustrate the whole Bizzaro or “alternate” nation created.
    v31-43.  Here it is interesting that the nation of the Edomites is established with Kings ruling before Israel ever has a king.  This is because Israel begins as a Theocracy where God is their King but this changes based upon their sin and failures until eventually they too have a human King.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 6

Ready:
Coming off of Jesus demonstrating authority over spirits...

Reading thoughts:
Mark now documents Jesus returning to his hometown of Nazareth, where he had spent most of his life until he began his ministry at 30 years old.  Rejected at Nazareth because they could not get over the fact that they knew him as a child and so "clearly he was just another man like them”.  Heart hearts made it difficult for people to see past his humanity to see his deity, despite the healings and miracles that he performed.  Jesus sends out the disciples with a similar message to John the Baptist’s and here Mark documents the OT prophet’s death.  Mark follows the same sequence of events here as Matthew did in chapters 13-14.  Jesus feeds the 5,000 and then sends the disciples across the sea of Galilee while he goes up and prays on the mountain.  Jesus watches as a heavy wind strives against the disciples while they try to reach Bethsaida as he directed them.  Unlike Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water here Mark gives a statement that the disciples hearts were hardened and they didn’t understand the message of the loaves.  Ultimately, as documented in Matthew, they acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God at the conclusion of this event, but I take Mark’s account to mean that until this they were hardened and did not understand his deity, like the Nazerites.  In this passage Jesus seems as though he was to “pass by” (Mark 6:48) like God passed by Moses in Ex 33:19 to show him a glimpse of his glory.  Jesus here was showing them a glimpse of his deity and it relates to Job 9:1-12 that they should have been familiar with.  In Job 9:8 it mentions God stretching out the heavens and trampling the waves of the sea and then Job 9:10 says that he does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.  Job 9:11 says he passes by me, and I see him not…Jesus seemed to be giving a clear message for the one with eyes.  He had calmed the storm in chapter 4 and they ask “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”.  Now he has multiplied the bread and walks on the waves to reveal the answer to them.

No more time... Soli Deo Gloria!

Rumination thoughts:



Response:



Reaction:

February 2

Genesis 34; Mark 5

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 9: ARE THERE MORE GODS THAN ONE?
Answer: There is only one living and true God.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Psalm 96:4-5.

Comment: There are “gods” which are idols, but they are not “living”. And there are “gods” which are angels or demons, but they are not “true” God, that is they are not eternal, infinite and unchanging. Only one God is living and true.

Genesis 34

Ready:
I left of with Moses’ account of the peaceful and joyful reunion of Jacob and Esau.  Jacob has come into Canaan and he is setting up his camp and he has constructed and altar called “God, the God of Israel”.

Reading thoughts:
This chapter is a pretty gnarly account of the rape of Dinah followed by the vengeance of Jacob’s sons (Simeon and Levi) upon the Hivites by killing every male of their people.    It seems that the full brothers of Dinah (all children of Leah) were incensed and perhaps the other brothers and Jacob were not intent on this plan that they carried out.  I would imagine they received much help from others of their households or perhaps even other brothers but these were the leaders in this plot to avenge their sister.  This sin brought great judgement upon Shechem’s people but it came through a failure of the sons of Jacob.

Key Verses:
Gen 34:1-2, 3-4, 7, 9-10, 13, 15-16, 24, 25, 30-31

I see the theme as- Jacob’s sons sinfully react to evil by returning it in excessive vengeance.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  This is not a good description of Dinah.  She is becoming here a friend of the world and a friend of a people who are not God fearing.  This is probably an invitation of trouble upon their house and it come to be so.  Her brothers needed to be honorable and protective at this point here and counseled their sister to remain apart from the Canaanites.  The family knew well not to mix with them and not to take wives from them, yet Dinah goes and becomes buddies with the women there.
    v2-4.  Now a prince sees her.  So Dinah must be hanging out with the elite ladies or the “in crowd” or somehow is in a place to be seen by the “prince” of the land.  This prince as he is nobly called sets his eyes on her and is settled to have her for himself.  He seems to rape her but is also drawn to her and wants to marry her.  So this guy is really something.  He is overcome with a desire to take her and he disregards he wishes and he forces himself upon her but then walks to talk sweet nothings to her and take her as his bride.  Times were different then but I am thinking this was pretty much ridiculous.  As the test says he humiliated her by treating her in this way.  He then convinces his daddy to help his get her as a bride.  Perhaps a better play would have been to have presented himself to Jacob in brokenness and confessed his sin and begged forgiveness before asking for her hand in marriage.  I equate this to the idea that a man who is committing fornication with his girlfriend or fiancé aught to repent and seek to correct the relationship prior to slapping a ring on the finger of his mistress.  Throwing a ring on the finger is not an acknowledgement of sin and is not repentance and is not honoring to God.  I don’t say the marriage is doomed but it surely begins with a sinful posture and a failure to fear the Lord.  Humiliating the woman we want to marry is not a good way to begin.   Honoring her and fearing God by confessing and repenting and then seeking to approach her afresh would be a better way to go.
    v5-6.   Here it is clear that Jacob intended to have some strong words and perhaps to do violence in some manner when he would meet up with the guilty party but he waited for his sons to return.
    v7.  Understandably her brothers are angry when they hear of this and they take it as an offense against their entire family.
    v8-12.  Here Hamor and Shechem make their case on the merits of this marriage and their is no mention of the offense.  The bridegroom here is not owning up to the offense at all but they are simply trying to negotiate a marriage.  There is no chance that this would be considered since Jacob knows that they are not to mix with the Canaanites but yet their answer is deceptive because of the rage in the hearts of her brothers.
    v13-24.  Dinah’s brothers probably felt that this was not an appropriate way to handle the offense.  Slapping a ring on does not fix anything.  There is no honor is this and they intend to see justice.  Jacob mysteriously seems silenced or maybe overwhelmed by his sons as they take over the conversation with Hamor and Shechem.  They strike a deal for marriage that requires the Hivites to all be circumcised immediately.  This is pretty crazy misuse of the covenant of God…deception for the purpose of revenge at their own hands.  A humble repentance before the Lord is what these people needed but this is shortcut by a death sentence hidden in a promise of peace.
    v25-29.  Here Simeon and Levi (the tribe that Moses and Aaron come from) lead the charge and they kill every male when they are weak and in recovery from their circumcision.  Moses is the author here so he is plainly laying out the ignobility of the patriarch of his tribe from whom all the priests of Israel would come.
    v30-31.  Jacob is not pleased and he knows that they have just unsettled the entire land who may mobilize against them, but his sons still appeal to justice for their sister as their cause and that any price is warranted.  Later Jacob withholds blessing from these two sons for this action that he condemns in chapter 49.  The sons rightly notice that taking for a bride someone who was wrongfully treated is nothing more than prostitution.  Again- repentance lacked.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear a message that reactions matter.  Shechem reacted to his lust by raping Dinah and then he reacted to his sin by wanting to brush it under the rug. Simeon and Levi reacted to the dishonoring of their family by murder.  And then they reacted to their sin by blaming someone else.  The implication for today is that we are responsible for out reactions and they should always honor God, not our rights or our comfort.  The significance for me is that I must confess and repent of sin, not blow it off.  Further, I should seek to honor God and when I am angry, not sin (See Psalm 4 and consider Cain).  Simeon and Levi and Cain all could have used this Psalm…to bad it had not been written.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 5

Ready:
Picking up after Jesus calms the storm and proves his ability to soften soil or sink roots...

Reading thoughts:
In this chapter I see Jesus face a group of demons called “Legion”, in a man and he exorcises these demons into a herd of pigs.  This is not before the demons also bow before him and acknowledge his identity as Son of the Most High God.  Next Jesus is approached by a Jewish leader who indeed trusts in Jesus’ authority.  This ruler appeals to Jesus asking that he come and heal his sick daughter but unlike the Roman Centurion who knew that Jesus did not need to be present to heal someone…indeed Jesus is already there (being the omnipresent Son of God- recalling the dual natures of Jesus).  Jesus ends up resurrecting the 12 year old girl who died before his arrival and he tells the family to be quiet about the event.  Interesting how he tells some people to go and shout it from the mountain top (like the demon possessed man) and others to say nothing (like this family).  

Key Verses:
Mark 5:2, 6-7, 9, 12-13, 14, 17, 18-19, 22-24, 28-30, 34, 35-36, 38-39, 40-41, 42-43

I see the theme as- Jesus, against whom death is no match, reigns over the spirits of demons and man.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-20.  The familiar account of Jesus casting the demons into the swine.  Again Mark hits the reader with another account of demons rightly ascribing Jesus with deity and showing fear of his authority.  Like Satan asking permission to destroy Job’s riches and family the demons ask permission to enter the swine, which is the wealth of the people of this region.  Jesus permits them and this ends up bringing a frenzy of people who, although they are amazed at what Jesus has done, are blinded by the loss of their pigs and beg him to leave because they seem to value their wealth more than whatever this Jesus has to offer.  Jesus even tells the healed man to go and tell everyone what has happened and perhaps this is to further test the reaction of the locals in regard to this swine loss and to let them decide if they value the healed man more or less than the swine.  Jesus here displays full authority over demonic spirits and next he will do it with a human spirit.  This man’s body was being ruled by evil spirits and there will be a little girl who’s body is ruled by death…both of which are ruled by Jesus.
    v21-24.  A Jewish leader named Jairus comes to Jesus and begs him to lay hands on his daughter who is about to die.  Jesus agrees and goes with him.  Unlike the Centurion who compelled Jesus to heal from where he stood respecting his ultimate authority to bring his will about from any distance, this Jew perceived great power in Jesus but not the kind of authority that the Centurion saw.
    v25-35.  An interlude here to the story of Jairus’ daughter, perhaps in order to give her time to die.  A great crowd slows them down and a woman is healed by merely touching Jesus’ garment.  She had a discharge of blood for 12 years and was only getting worse with all the help that human physicians could offer her.  In the next passage we will see that the little girl is twelve years old and it would appear that this woman has been ill for the entirety of Jairus’ daughter’s life, which has ended at about the time that the woman is healed.  The story of Jesus speaking to the woman and advising her that her faith has healed her is interrupted by the messengers telling them that the girl is dead.  This detail (or connection in the stories) may not be important and may have no discernible meaning (not one that I can see) but seems notable.
    v36-43.  Straight off Jesus tells Jairus to not fear, but believe.  Perhaps the meaning of the 12 years of illness healed in a moment by the mere touch of his garment was to strengthen the faith of Jairus who would in but a moment face the massive faith tester of learning of his daughter’s death.  Perhaps Jesus allowed the delay of the crowd and the woman’s unique healing in order to bring about this faith tester/builder for Jairus.  In this moment Jairus can fear that Jesus is no longer able to heal her or he can believe that Jesus can do what he said he would do by agreeing to come with him in the first place.  The woman in the crowd was sick for twelve years and all the human help to be offered made her worse, but she is now healed by the touch of Jesus’ garment. I am sure Jairus, who has apparently hired professional mourners was wealthy enough to hire physicians to care for his daughter and yet she also got worse and not better.  Perhaps Jesus intended for Jairus, or at least me, to see the connection and to know that Jesus is able.  Man strives to maintain health and is unable…man strives to maintain wealth and security (the pigs) and is unable.  When they get to the house Jesus knows there is no true compassion in the hearts of the mourners and he simply puts them out to deal with the family.  He speaks to them in obscure language that might be part of his plan to not broadcast what occurs here (except by later writing in the case of Mark’s gospel account).  Jesus resurrects the little girl and the family is overcome with amazement.  He says to her “rise” but he would not be speaking to an empty body would he?  Jesus speaks to the girl herself, who is a disembodied spirit.  Better documented by Luke, the girl’s spirit is directed by Jesus to return to her body (Luke 8:54-55).  Jesus then charges them strictly to tell no one about what happened.  I take this to be due to the point of his ministry still being early and looking at what happened in the aftermath of the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:47-48) it is clear that such a miracle brings immediate reaction from the Jewish Council.  Jesus has a distinct plan and purpose for what he is doing and when he is doing it.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message that Jesus has authority over life and death and over the embodiment and disembodiment of spirits.  The implication is that the spirit has certain authority over the body that it resides in but the spirit ultimately answers to Jesus.  The significance to me is that as an embodied spirit myself, I have responsibility for what I do with my body and what I do with it reveals the condition of my spirit (soul).  My spirit is what matters to Jesus and I can’t let the limitations of my body define me.  I may be strong or weak, short or tall, healthy or ill, but Jesus reigns and my soul belongs to him (Rom 14:7-9).  Let me worship God with this body (Rom 12:1-2) because I (my soul that is) am a child of God (Rom 8:15-17) and I look forward, in great hope, to Jesus granting me a new (spiritual) body in heaven (Rom 8:23-25, 1 Cor 15:40-44).  Therefore my hope is indeed not in what I see in the mirror but in the great God who made me and put me here in this body and so I can wait with patience in well doing, pursuing 1. the glory of God, 2. his honor in my life, and 3. a future immortality (Rom 2:6-7).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

February 1

Genesis 33; Mark 4

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 8: WHAT IS GOD?
Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Scripture: John 4:24; Psalm 89:14; 90:2; 147:5; James 1:17; Rev- elation 4:8; Exodus 34:6, 7; 1 Timothy 1:17; Numbers 23:19.

Comment: Ask what “infinite” means (there is no limit to how great he is!). What does “eternal” mean? (He never had a beginning and will never have an ending!) Talk about how God can respond to us and yet not be “changeable.” (His character never changes; he acts consistently on the same principles always. Even his responses to us are known and planned long before so that his purposes are unchanging.)

Genesis 33

Ready:
In the previous chapter I read about Jacob meeting some angels and wrestling with God and ultimately he faces the prospect of reuniting with his brother and hoping that it does not result in war.  In fear of his brother’s response Jacob is sending gift bearers ahead and he has split up his camp to minimize his losses should there be an attack.  He had sent messengers to Esau who return and tell him that Esau has 400 men coming with him to meet Jacob.

Reading thoughts:
A pretty heartwarming picture here of the two brothers reuniting after more than 20 years.  The last time Jacob saw Esau he feared for his life because Esau was looking to kill him in bitterness and envy for the way Jacob had acquired the blessing of Isaac.  Now they are embracing and offering mutual respect and tears flow.  It appears that Esau has been blessed by God (as promised) and he has more then enough wealth as well.  So this chapter is pretty much a happy reunion where the escalating tension of “what’s gonna happen” is diffused and the ending is very friendly.  In the end Jacob builds a house and some containment for his flock and he also buys some land about 20 miles away where he sets up a tent and builds an alter to God that he calls “God, the God of Israel”.

Key Verses:
Gen 33:1-2, 3-5, 8-9, 15, 19-20

I see the theme as- The joyful reunion of Isaac’s twins- a testament to God's faithfulness.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  This might be the most interesting part of the story because I think it is telling in regard to Jacob’s heart.  At this point he still fears coming under attack and in final preparation of his immediate family he sends the children and the servants up front and moves his wives to the back of the group.  And Joseph he singles out from the other 10 children and he is put even behind the wives.  This is interesting that Joseph was singled out and protected differently than the other children.  Joseph was indeed the youngest and perhaps he was as young as 3 years old as I try to retrace the birth story of all the kids in chapter 29 and 30 but its hard to say with four different mothers how the sequence of pregnancies may have over lapped and such.  Also noticed is how Rachel is the one placed at the rear just ahead of Joseph.  It would seem that Jacob values these above all the others.  In his defense he himself heads up the order like a man ready to meet danger himself in the protection of his family.
    v4-14.  This is the surprising reunion of the brothers who were at odds from within the womb.  Coming off of a wrestling match where I think Jacob learns that the blessings will come with struggle and with striving he receives a pleasant blessing of a peaceful reunion with Esau.  Esau the game hunter and Jacob the quiet one who likes to be on the land dwelling in tents (Gen 25:27).  I notice here mostly that Jacob gushes the respect upon Esau and hopefully it is from a pure heart and not just a sense of self-protection.  The tearful embrace helps me think that these two are honestly grateful to God for this reunion and they have no ill motive remaining between them.  Who knows what has transpired with Esau in the past 20 years but it appears that he has forgiven Jacob of what set him against him those 20 years ago.  This teary reunion of brothers is similar to what will happen between Joseph and Benjamin later in Egypt.
    v15-20.  So here Jacob seems to setup a homestead but then also some other land about 20 miles off he builds an altar to God as a place of worship where he can steal away and have some solitude to get alone with this God who renamed him and now his people have a name- Israel.  He calls the altar “God, the God of Israel” and this is probably an important step in the big storyline of the Bible since the patriarch of the whole nation is now in Canaan and is worshiping God who declared that he would be their God and that they would dwell in the land and that they would be a blessing to others and that those who blessed them would be blessed and those who cursed them wold be cursed.  It seems that God is making it happen and he is pleased here to bless Esau.  Interesting how God chose to make a covenant that would pass through to a third generation patriarch before it is fulfilled in the children who will be “the tribes of Israel” are born.  I think the glory of God is made more evident and his sovereign hand in bringing about his purpose is more distinct this way and he makes it clear that it is his election alone that puts this series of patriarchs under his mercy and not their willing or working.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Against natural expectations, God has reconciled the two men who were at odds their entire childhood.  Jacob made the choice to go straight to Esau rather than try to hide from him and God has restored their relationship.  The implication for today is that God can restore broken relationships when we engage him in faith and when we are willing to extend respect and forgiveness.  The significance for me is that I should seek this in my life as well when I have relational breakdowns.  I should trust God and go to the person with a humble heart and a love for God.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 4

Ready:
In the previous chapter Mark presented a contrast between how the Pharisees responded to Jesus and how the demons responded and he taught how the body of Christ is our everlasting family.

Reading thoughts:
I see Mark recounting a series of parables by Jesus about how man responds to the Word of God and what it is that brings growth and effectiveness to this truth that gets planted in the mind.  Jesus seems to relate the truth landing on someone’s mind with seed landing on the earth.  He explains through the series of parables and his actions in the boat that it is God who controls the creation and God who gives growth to the seed and God who reigns.  He explains to them that they have a responsibility to scatter this seed but must know that it is not their role to make it grow and in this only God receives the glory.  They aught not fear and fret like the men in the boat but merely scatter the seed and trust God to grow it.

Key Verses:
Mark 4:3, 14, 15, 16-17, 18-19, 20, 21, 24-25, 26-27, 31-32, 38-39, 41

I see the theme as- God charges his servants to spread his message to all men, but it is God who will faithfully quicken hearts and give growth in the light of knowledge to some who will gain life by the miracle of God and then sprout into Christ likeness.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-20.  This parable of the sower has got to be my favorite parable in the Bible.  This picture of the Word of God landing on the hearts of man and how each heart has a different response to it is amazing.  I see a picture here of the problem not being the seed, because the seed is the same seed in all cases.  The truth is spread and wherever a seed lands there is potential for it to root.  The determining factor is the soil.  Specifically it is the condition of the soil.  Since we know that man is born spiritually dead (Rom 5:12) in rebellion (Eph 2:1-3) as an enemy of God (Rom 5:10) and his will is enslaved to sin (Rom 6:6) it seems clear that every one of us is naturally in the condition of one of the first three soils.  But praise be to God!  For if God can make water calm or rigid to bear a man’s weight…can he make hard soil soft and tender (Ezek 36:26-27)? I think this teaching is linked here to the way Jesus displays sovereign control over the water and the wind and how the other parable teaches that it is a mystery to man what makes the seed take root int the soil.  But the man who meditates on the Word of God that has fallen upon his heart will be like a tree planted by streams of water…read Psalm 1:1-6.  I trust that God holds our hearts in his hand (Prov 21:1) and he will give sight (2 Cor 4:4-6).  The closest thing to the real deal in this parable is the thorny ground.  With Jesus’ explanation here it is clear that the thorny ground can be a description of most Christians at one point or another.  We all face the problem of cares of the world (Matt 6:31-33) and the deceitfulness of riches (1 Tim 6:9-10, Mark 10:23, Heb 3:13) and the desire for other things (Exod 20:3, 17, Luke 12:15, Eph 5:5, James 4:4).  Our old nature remains (Rom 7:20-23) and this means that life is not a walk in the park but it is a daily fight to set our minds on Christ (Matt 16:23, Rom 8:5-6, Col 3:2-3) and to therefore walk in the Spirit in (Rom 8:4, Gal 5:16-17) order to keep the thorns from growing.  And all of that is not owed to our willing and working, but God’s work upon our hearts (Phil 2:13, 2 Cor 3:18) day by day as the mustard seed mysteriously sinks roots into the soil (Mark 4:26-27).
    v21-25.  I see in this parable a reference to the parable of the talents.  In both parables the one who uses what he has is given more and the one who comply has (without making use of it) will have it taken from them.  This is a bit like the bird taking the seed from the path and like the master taking the single talent from the wicked servant who merely hid it (like light under a basket).  I take there that God gives us his Word and we are to put it to use.  We are to apply the truth of God in our life or else it will be taken from us.  How does this happen?  How would I go from embracing the truth or acknowledging the truth to this being taken from me?  See Heb 3:7-19.  The crux is presented in Heb 3:12-14 where the author makes it clear that we can have some knowledge of the truth but due to the thorns of sin we become hardened and this is caused by the lies of sin.  Soon we are like the Pharisees who hear the truth and it lies there dead and causes no response.  But like Peter we know that Christ prays for us (Rom 8:34) and our faith will endure until the end or be restored (Luke 22:31-32) if indeed we are his (Rom 8:10-11, Rom 14:7-9).  So applying God’s truth in our lives and keeping our eyes set above is critical to our faith and God intends to keep us in the faith not by invisible glue but by prayer and Bible intake and fellowship and deep roots.
    v26-29.  This mystery growth feeds the interpretations I have already noted.  But I also relate it to evangelism and spreading word everywhere without partiality and knowing that we do not make it take root or grow.  How much knowledge of God is needed to become his child?…not much…but it will grow (2 Peter 3:16-18, Col 2:2-3, Eph 1:17-19)!
    v30-34.  Here what starts as no righteousness but is merely a seed of truth that God sprouts into faith soon becomes a prosperous tree with deep roots that is a blessing to others (branches that birds nest upon) and a picture of the righteousness of God.  Birds nesting on a large branch is quite different from them flying over and seeing the seed still sitting there on the surface of the soil looking like a little bite for the taking.  Even what you have will be taken away from the one who does not use it!
    v35-41.  There is surely a message here about resting and trusting God to protect and to provide for me rather than staying up all night in a panic over my circumstances and the deadlines and all that but I focus on the masterful show of sovereign power that Jesus has over the creation.  This I have already tied into our hearts by comparing the condition of the soil to the condition of the water.  I think Jesus compares our hearts to soil to help us see this.  Mountains end up in the sea for those who mysteriously find themselves with a inner trust in God’s ability to do it.  The mystery is great…spread the Word!


Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear a message that God works and grows seeds and builds branches when the heart is softened and when the mind and body act upon the message and apply it to daily life.  The implication is that there is a mysterious dance between the believer and God to find and maintain saving faith. The significance to my life is to the mysterious part that God handles but my part in applying the truth daily and in watching over my heart and in encouraging those around me in this pilgrimage we are walking together.  See a previous entry titled Pilgrim’s Together on the Path.

Response:
“private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 31

Genesis 32; Mark 3

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 7: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES MAINLY TEACH?

Answer: The Scriptures mainly teach what man is to believe about God and what duty God requires of man.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; John 20:31; Acts 24:14; 1 Corin- thians 10:11; Ecclesiastes 12:13.
Genesis 32

Ready:
Jacob and Laban have stuck an agreement and Jacob seems free to return to Canaan with his now large family after 20 years under Laban.

Reading thoughts:
This chapter is pretty big and has a couple of neat elements.  I see Jacob visited by angels and possibly educated in the name of the Lord and also perhaps guided as to where to find his brother Esau and the need to go to him.  I see him meet with God somehow in the really unique all-night wrestling match.  Jacob is renamed by God to be known as “Israel”.

Key Verses:
Gen 1:1-2, 3, 6-7, 9-12, 24-29

I see the theme as- Jacob faces his fear trusting in God to keep his promise knowing that he does not deserve the blessing but depending upon God acting for the sake of his name.

Rumination thoughts:
    v9-12.  My focus here is on his prayer.  This prayer is amazing and Jacob reveals a deep trust in God that goes beyond his fears and his own interests and his rights and his own merit.  He recognizes before God that he is unworthy of the goodness that God has shown him and I think in the way he prays here he is putting the justice of God keeping his promise not upon it being owed in any sense to Jacob but merely upon the very name of God and a trust that God is true.  I see this as a humble prayer that is powerfully focused on the glory of God.  Jacob’s plea to God is that God would protect the promise itself which is bound up in the mothers and the children who are forming this innumerable multitude that God has promised.  Jacob also uses the personal name of God (Yahweh) here for the first time and I wonder if the angels did not reveal this name to him or perhaps he has never approached God in prayer in such a personal way and he chose to use this name because of the nature of his prayer.
    v22-32.  This wrestling match with God in human form (perhaps pre-incarnate Jesus or an angel or ?) seems to be a testament to the fact that Jacob’s life will be one of struggle but in the end he must recognize that his struggle is between him and God and not him and man.  Man and the world around us cannot stop God from working in and for Jacob.  God may have to deal harshly with Jacob and his family but it is for his good in order that he may gain the blessing that God intends for him.  Jacob here thinks that he prevails by getting the blessing from God but where would this blessing had been if God had not engaged Jacob in the match and allowed is to come to this end?  God intended the blessing and I take this as his message that his blessings often come by hardship.  Compare Hosea 12:2-6 and see what the prophet Hosea thought about this wrestling match and its message.  God perhaps also tells Jacob that it is time to become the man God has called him to be and no longer one who fits the name Jacob (‘heel catcher’ or ‘cheater’) but now his is to be one who fits the name Israel (‘God fights’ or ‘he strives with God’).  Perhaps here Jacob is expected by God to no longer strive against man in his own efforts but to rely on God and do his striving in prayer and in dependence upon God.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear a message in the example of Jacob’s prayer teaching humility and dependence and a Godward nature of prayer that correlates with his wrestling match where he will receive his request, but it will not come so easy.  I take the current implication to be that God can and does work his secret (or unknown to me) will masterfully together in the Christian's life (Rom 8:28-29, Eph 1:11, Isa 46:10, Phil 2:13) but this is often going to include trials and hardship and struggles (James 1:2-4, Rom 12:12, 2 Tim 1:8).  The significance for my life is that I know when I pray for the blessings of God upon my life I do not need to interpret hardship and struggle as something other than God answering my prayer.  I may need to wrestle with God over what is going on and why and fight to see the blessing and benefit but I can trust God.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 3

Ready:
I left off with Mark documenting Jesus teaching about the Sabbath after teaching about fasting and healing the paralytic man with the great friends who lowered him through the roof.

Reading thoughts:
I see Mark showing me that Jesus does not appreciate hearts that resist the truth and are unwilling to apply it.  I see that Mark gives many accounts of the demons recognizing Jesus.

Key Verses:
Mark 3:3-5

I see the theme as- Jesus comes against men who will not acknowledge his authority while the demons not only acknowledge his identity but fear his authority.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-6.  In this story of the man with the withered hand Mark gives us a piece of information that Matthew left out.  Mark tells us that Jesus was angered and grieved by the hard hearts of the Pharisees who would not answer his question.  These Pharisees were waiting to try to trap Jesus because they believed it was sinful to heal on the Sabbath, but then when Jesus questioned them on this they refused to answer.  They were silent when Jesus asked them to claim for themselves what they believed.  He put the question to them in a manner of teaching them the truth, but they would not acknowledge it.  They refused to admit that they were wrong in their opinion about healing on the Sabbath.  Mark called this a hard heart when we will not acknowledge our error and when we will not acknowledge the authority of God and repent.  Knowing the truth with my mind is not enough…I must submit to it.  The ironic thing here is that Jesus gets more submission from the demons than he does the Pharisees.
    v7-12.  In this passage there are multiple demons (demonically possessed people) who fall down before Jesus declaring his identity as the Son of God.  These demons know the truth and they even fear Jesus…like a powerful enemy.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Jesus expects people to value the truth, to feel the personal significance of the truth, to apply the truth, and to speak this truth to others.  A hard heart refuses to acknowledge truth even when it sees it and understands it.  Some lie out values the truth in that moment within the hard heart and it rebels.  The implication for today is that we have an obligation to acknowledge truth and to live according to it.  The significance in my life is that I need to work on ensuring that I value every bit of truth that I learn in God’s Word so that I will feel the full impact of its significance.  This will motivate me to apply the truth and to walk faithfully and even then share it with others.  I need to pray against a hard heart that sits on truth in silence, doing nothing with it.  I need to be actively engaging with God and taking him at his word. I cannot merely acknowledge his identity and be afraid like the demons (Mark 3:11), and I cannot deny or ignore Jesus' authority to cause me to change my actions or thoughts or feelings in response to truth (Mark 3:4-5).  I need to surrender my understanding to his authority (Prov 3:5) and respond in obedience (Rom 2:8, Acts 5:29) to the one who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20).

Response:
"private"


Reaction:
"Private"

Soli Deo Gloria!

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!

January 29

Genesis 30; Mark 1

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 5: HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD?

Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-7,13-16; Psalm 19:7-9; 119:18,129; Acts 10:43; 26:22; 18:28; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 15:4;
John 16:13,14; 1 John 2:20-27; 2 Corinthians 3:14-17; 4:4, 6.

Comment: “Heavenliness” refers to the fact [that] the teachings
of Scripture are of such a nature that they cannot be explained by mere human resources. They bear the marks of the supernatural. “No man ever spoke like this man” (John 7:46). The “unity of
its parts” has to do especially with the way all Scripture points to Christ. “To him all the prophets bear witness” (Acts 10:43). There are detailed and scholarly historical arguments for the reliability
of the Bible, but these are generally beyond the acquaintance of ordinary Christians, and so do not serve as widespread support for Scripture. They are needed, however, in the scholarly arena. [See “Is the Bible a Reliable Guide to Lasting Joy” in Desiring God by John Piper (Multnomah Press, 1986).]

Genesis 30

Ready:
Picking up where Jacob has now had four sons all to Leah and his other wife Rachel, the one he loves, is barren.  He had tried to take Rachel as his wife but Laban switched brides on him somehow similar to the way Jacob stole the blessing from Esau earlier.  Now His first wife, whom he did not choose, has given birth to Judah and Levi, two very important tribes of Israel, as well as Reuben and Simeon.  Each of Jacob’s children become the head of a tribe that we refer to as the twelve tribes of Israel.  Something funky happens with Joseph where his kids split a tribe but that will come later.

Reading thoughts:
Here in this chapter Jacob’s wives and their servants bear him 11 boys and one girl.  His final boy, Benjamin, arrives a few chapters from here.  Leah and Rachel are essentially competing to find favor with Jacob by bearing him as many children as they can.  No doubt they are aware of the promise of God to make his people a multitude and so there is great value in many children.  They are so devoted to this that they result to having him make children with their servants who Laban had sent with them.  There is also a tension between the two wives that never seems to be remedied except for some joy that comes with each child they bear.  They name the children by the way their emotions were impacted at the blessing of God each time.  Jacob prospers in the land there and he is good shepherd and breeder who multiplies the holdings of Laban greatly.  After 14 years he negotiates with Laban to move on with his now growing family but Laban is a bit deceptive and manipulative.  It seems that Laban wants to take further advantage of Jacob since he perceives God’s blessing upon Jacob that he must fear will vanish with Jacob.  The storyline is interesting here where Jacob resorts to some odd breeding methods that seem to stem from a vision he had which is revealed in the next chapter.  It seems that God intervenes to overcome Laban’s deceptive actions to keep Jacob there.  God ultimately blesses Jacob and he multiplies the flock that would become Jacobs for six years in addition to the 14 he already served Laban.  This whole story has distinct parallels with the future captivity of Israel in Egypt and the way God delivers them from Pharaoh using Moses and his staff and the subsequent signs or “plagues”.

Key Verses:

“13 And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.” (Genesis 30:13, ESV)

“25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”” (Genesis 30:25–26, ESV)

“27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” (Genesis 30:27, ESV)

“29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”” (Genesis 30:29–30, ESV)

“34 Laban said, “Good! Let it be as you have said.” 35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons.” (Genesis 30:34–35, ESV)

“39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock.” (Genesis 30:39–40, ESV)

“43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.” (Genesis 30:43, ESV)

I see the theme as- God multiplies and blesses his people, then gives Jacob a vision of how they will get out from under this “captivity” with ample provision and wealth so they can return to the land he came from (as God had promised at Bethel in chapter 28).  The vision is acted upon by Jacob here but not explicitly revealed to the reader until the next chapter.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-24.  Here is the birth of the first 11 tribes of Israel.  The nation is born!  Well, except for Benjamin who will come later.  Rachel and Leah seem to have baby wars here and even get their servants involved in tying to outdo one another.  I honestly don’t know what to think of it all since there are plenty of examples so far that do not uphold what Jesus later teaches was made plan in the example of Adam and Eve.  I mean that Jesus teaches one man and one woman in marriage and it is permanent.  So clearly this is messed up but like I have observed already, God uses messed up people and wrong motives and anything at all because his purposes will not be stopped.
    v25-36.  So over the 14 years that Jacob was serving Laban in order to gain his wives he had become responsible for great blessing and multiplication of Laban’s flock, which means wealth.  God’s favor was upon all that Jacob did and Laban knew this.  Here Jacob tells Laban that his time is up and that he wants to leave with his family but that he will not be able to provide for them unless he works for some wages now (since he is done working for his wives).  They strike a deal that Jacob will get to take the imperfect sheep and lambs and all the subsequent imperfect offspring (so wiki-answers tells me a lamb is a baby sheep) and that they will become his own flock and he will care for both flocks for a time until he has adequate wealth to care for his family.  The trouble is that Laban takes away all of the imperfect of the flock so that Jacob has absolutely zero to begin with.  There it is.  We will see in the next chapter that God promised Jacob a flock of  stripped and spotted and mottled animals and now he starts with not a single one.  An impossible feat…like birthing a nation from a barren old woman.  God makes it clear to Laban that these are his people and they will be blessed and they will return to the land of their kindred.  Interestingly, Laban reveals that he had sought insight through divination and this parallels Pharoah’s use of his magicians while he resisted the exodus of the Israelites.
    v37-43.  Jacob, trusting God to do a work, puts some sticks before the sheep as they mate as some kind of statement that he believes God will show himself mighty (I parallel the sticks to Moses’ staff and Laban to Pharaoh who will also tried to keep the Israelites captive for his own gain).  Laban changes the terms over and over as he sees the spotted or the stripped or the mottled flock grow (this is revealed later) and God continues to show his blessing and meets the new terms each time and Jacob’s flock grows and grows.  Interesting that Jacob was able to “request” the offspring of the strong animals and God granted it.  I read some commentary by Warren Wiersbe that was pretty harsh on Jacob here but obviously God granted the request and I doubt the sticks really did anything to the sheep.  Jacob has been taken advantage of and held in captivity in a way here and Laban is not interested in helping him leave.  Jacob is seeking to make good of his service to Laban and to allow God to grant additional blessing from the flock to make provision for his family without injury to Laban.  Like Pharaoh many years later, Laban works hard in spite of God’s signs that these are his people and Laban resists letting Jacob and his people go. 


Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear a message that no oppression or affliction of evil men will stop God from keeping his promise and delivering his people.  Also embedded is a declaration that he will do it in a manner that makes it clear that it is God doing the work so that he alone receives the glory while his people receive the blessing.  The implication for today would be that God still works this way and that none of our circumstances truly stand in the way of God’s work.  God can do what seems impossible to us in the moment…he can make a way.  The significance for me would be that when the impossible scenario is presented I know that I can pray for God to be glorified in the situation and I know that he can overcome whatever challenge is presented.  At each new challenge I can keep the same faith and keep my eyes on him.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Mark 1

Ready:
Picking up in a new gospel I looking at introductions by the ESVSB, D.A. Caron, and the Holman Dictionary.  I see that the author is anonymous but that early tradition assigns John Mark as the author.  Mark was Jewish but was not an eyewitness or disciple of Jesus.  He was, however, closely associated with the Apostle Peter who is presumed to be the primary source of the content.  The sequence of the record seems to follow Peter’s preaching described in Acts 10.  Peter is presented as weaker in this gospel and there is less praise toward him, which indicates the likelihood of Peter’s involvement with this record.  The book was probably written in Rome sometime in the 50’s or 60’s AD (perhaps following Peter’s death) and the audience seems to have been Gentile Christians.  One evidence of this is that Mark does not include a genealogy of Jesus.  Mark was also acquainted with Paul and was with Paul and Barnabas (his cousin) for some of their first missionary journey.  Paul and Barnabas split up over their disagreement regarding Mark and it was later that Mark and Paul’s relationship was restored.  Marks account does not follow a clean chronological sequence as is referred to as a “docudrama” using shorter “clips”.  Mark’s favorite word, and transition, seems to be “immediately” (but in Greek of course).  His account has also been referred to as the “action gospel” because he is fast paced and shifts scene rapidly, moving through seven different “sections” according to D.A. Carson.  These are:

    1.    Preliminaries to the ministry (1:1–13)
    2.    First part of the Galilean ministry (1:16–3:6)
    3.    Second part of the Galilean ministry (3:13–5:43)
    4.    The concluding phase of the Galilean ministry (6:7–8:26)
    5.    The way of glory and suffering (8:27–10:52).
    6.    Final ministry in Jerusalem (11:1–13:37).
    7.    The passion and empty-tomb narratives (15:1–16:8).

Commenting on the purpose driving Mark’s gospel record D.A. Carson says "Mark thus wants to help his readers understand who Jesus is and what real discipleship involves. But we must recognize that Mark has many other things to say that cannot easily be placed into these categories."

The ESVSB presents the following themes in Mark’s account:

        1.      Jesus seeks to correct messianic expectations and misunderstandings.
                    Mark 1:25, 34, 44; 3:12; 4:10–12; 5:18–19, 43; 8:30; 9:9
        2.      Jesus is man.
                    Mark 3:5; 4:38; 6:6; 7:34; 8:12, 33; 10:14; 11:12; 14:33–42
        3.      Jesus is the Son of God.
                    Mark 1:11; 3:11; 5:7; 8:38; 9:7; 12:6–8; 13:32; 14:36, 61; 15:39
        4.      Jesus is the Son of Man with all power and authority.
                    Mark 1:16–34; 2:3–12, 23–28; 3:11; 4:35–41; 6:45–52; 7:1–23; 10:1–12
        5.      Jesus as the Son of Man must suffer.
                   Mark  8:31; 10:45; 14:21, 36
        6.      Jesus is Lord.
                    Mark 2:28; 12:35–37; 14:62
        7.      Jesus calls his followers to imitate him in humble service, self-denial, and suffering.
                    Mark 8:34–38; 9:35–37; 10:35–45
        8.      Jesus teaches on the kingdom of God, and implies that God continues to call a people to himself.
Mark 4; 1:15; 9:1; 14:25; 15:43

Reading thoughts:
Mark begins his account without a nativity or a genealogy but goes right to John the Baptist preaching and baptizing in the wilderness.  He rapidly gives quick accounts of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Key Verses:

“1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1, ESV)

“7 And he [John] preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”” (Mark 1:7–8, ESV)

“14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14–15, ESV)

“17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:17–18, ESV)

“19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.” (Mark 1:19–20, ESV)

“22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22, ESV)

“24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”” (Mark 1:24–25, ESV)

“35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, ESV)

“39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” (Mark 1:39, ESV)

I see the theme as- Jesus demonstrates his power and authority as the Son of God and he garners followers who will watch their teacher be a man of solitude and prayer.

Rumination thoughts:
Not much time due to the introduction of a new book.  I note that there is textual criticism here and there in the Bible and one example is in the first verse of this chapter.  Notice in the ESV that there is a footnote at the end of the verse.  It indicates that some of the manuscripts do not include the phrase “Son of God”.  This is helpful to know that there is enough evidence to include it but the translators are honest to admit that they do not have certainty that this was indeed in the autograph (the actual original).
    v8.  Here Mark ties the symbolism of the water baptism to the real deal of Jesus baptizing with the Holy Spirit.  I see that the submersion indicates death and then new birth in union with Christ (Rom 6:3-5, Gal 3:26-29, John 17:22-23, 1 John 5:20-21).  The Spirit of God is who unites us to Christ (Rom 5:10) and who kills our sin (Rom 8:13-14) and who gives us new life (2 Cor 3:6).
    v35.  This is a great picture of Jesus being devoted to solitude and seeking the Father and being in prayer.  Jesus teaches me here to be contemplative and to spend time alone with God and to be a man of prayer.  Jesus rose early and he sought the Father.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 28

Genesis 29; Matthew 28

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 4: WHAT IS THE WORD OF GOD?
 
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.
 
Comment: “Scriptures” is a special word for the “writings” of the OT and NT. Perhaps you will want to explain that the OT deals with God’s word that came before Jesus was born; and the NT is the word of God that came after Jesus was born. “Infallible” means it will never lead us astray in what it teaches. It is true and does not err. It can be trusted. “Faith” refers to right thinking and feeling; and “practice” refers to right doing. We measure our thoughts and emotions and actions by the rule of the Bible. “Inspiration” means that it is God-breathed: by his Spirit he guided his spokesmen to speak his word in their language.

Genesis 29

Ready:
In the previous chapter Jacob was sent to Laban for his own safety and to find a wife from Rebekah’s family.  On the road God speaks to Jacob and repeats the promises of the covenant he made with Abraham.

Reading thoughts:
This chapter is quite a drama.  The storyline came from tension in the threat to Jacob’s life and turned into resolve in the desert with God telling him that he will provide for him and “keep him wherever he goes”.  All seems well and as the plot moves to a climax Leban pulls a crazy Ivan and switches brides on Jacob!  A big twist in the plot and now how will Jacob deal with it?  Though he expresses disappointment in being deceived he seems to roll with it for the joy of acquiring Rachel.  There has got to be a message here in how Jacob gets fooled in the same manner as the way he fooled Issac into giving him the blessing.  God’s providence is a gain at work to guide Jacob just as he has stated.  For Leah gave him Judah and it is through Judah that the Christ will come.  She bears children in this chapter like a machine right up until Judah is born and then…done.  The timeline here is not perfectly clear in my mind but it seems he served 7 years for now wife and then another 7 for the second for a total of 14 years there with Laban.  This might have been enough time for Esau to cool off.  It also seems interesting that the Lord used Rachel to guide Jacob to Leah, whom he would not have chosen without God intervening to bring the line of the promised offspring even by this deception of Laban.  The Lord saw that Jacob still preferred Rachel and he made sure that Leah was fruitful and he brought about the four children she was to bear straight off before allowing Rachel any children.  God is seen here and throughout the Bible to open and close wombs and to intervene in the birth of children at certain times and for his own purposes.  God’s hand is surely on every child that is born for it seems that the womb opens at his command.

Key Verses:

“16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”” (Genesis 29:16–18, ESV)

“25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”” (Genesis 29:25, ESV)

“30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.” (Genesis 29:30, ESV)

 “31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” (Genesis 29:31, ESV)

“35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.” (Genesis 29:35, ESV)

I see the theme as- God directs the path of Jacob and works in the very twists and turns and challenges of his life to bring about his perfect plan.

Rumination thoughts:
Interesting lineage we have from the beginning considering some of the unique scenarios: The promise of the offspring in the Garden comes in the form of a curse.  God scatters the people into many nations and languages and then picks one man from a nomadic band of idol worshipers to bear the promise and a covenant.  Now the offspring is narrowed from all the nations to this one point.  Sin results in a false first-born who is skipped and then the true promised offspring (Isaac) is blessed.  Then he is fooled and coerced into blessing the child he would not have chosen (Jacob).  Then this child running for his life tries to marry a beautiful woman only to be fooled into taking Leah who will bear the child who will be head of the Tribe of Judah.  He would not have chosen this woman, but God did choose her.  She will, by extension, bear the kings of Judah to include King David and also the Christ.  She also bore the head of the Levites, which are the priests, and this means by extension she bears Moses and Aaron.  I take it that this marriage to Leah was necessary in God’s plan of keeping his promise and therefore come any plans of man or not, it would come to pass.  It seems that God will work right though our errors and sin and the actions of others that we think harm us and in the end “Behold, I am with you and will keep you and will bring you back to this land.  For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  This was in the last chapter where God spoke to Jacob.  It looks like Jacob may have been remembering this promise that he will come back to this land and he will be guided by God and the promises will be kept and perhaps this sustained him for the 14 years he spent there in Haran.  

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message that God has intentions and a plan for Jacob that did not match Jacob’s expectations or desires.  Yet God brings about the necessary offspring and his purposes are not stopped by human error and sin.  One implication can be taken that God “adjusts” and deals with our errors by altering his intended means to work back around to his ultimately intended outcome.  Another implication could be that God brings his purposes to pass even if it is accomplished through the means of sin and error as not an adjustment but as the sovereign plan of God (Acts 4:27-28, 2:23, etc.).  I take the latter and this brings the significance to me that I can rest assured that the sinful actions of others around me are not outside of God’s control and I am not truly “at risk” but I am kept by God whop will work all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph 1:11) and he will ensure that whether I know the right way to go or not (Rom 8:26-27) he will cause all things to work out for the good (Rom 8:28) of my transformation into Christlikeness (Rom 8:29) because that has been his plan from all time (Rom 8:30a) as he takes me down this road to glory (Rom 8:30b).  So I take peace and joy here that leads to hope, by the power of God (Rom 15:13) so that I can give thanks is all circumstances (Eph 5:20, 1 Thess 5:18), while still hating evil, fighting for good, relieving oppression and affliction and poverty and hunger where we find it, and lamenting suffering (Rom 12:9, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 58:6-10, Rom 12:15).  Sounds like a freedom fighter who in the end trusts God to be at work!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 28

Ready:
So Jesus was crucified and the earth shook and now he has been placed in the tomb.  Sin is conquered but death still has a grip on our savior.  The curtain is torn and access is made available but will there be anyone “alive” to come and enter into the throne room now that it is open to us?  Guards are posted and the clock is ticking on Jesus’ claims to be resurrected.  The veracity of all he ever said rests on his delivery of this promised miracle of miracles.

Reading thoughts:
Early Sunday morning there is a miraculous visit by an angel (or maybe more than one looking at other gospels) who rolls back the stone (maybe with the earthquake or maybe by his own touch).  Whatever happens here it scares the bejeezers out of the guard and they flee.  Fleeing here should be known to result in death for these guards but that didn’t seem to stop them.  Mary and the other are told that Jesus is already risen and they should go and tell the others.  Mary runs into Jesus himself!  A reading of all the gospel accounts and reviewing of some notes in the study Bible can help piece together the sequence of events and the details here.  Then Matthew jumps to the end of the 40 days that Jesus was walking around appearing to many people and he goes right to the great commission and ascension of Christ.

Key Verses:

“6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”” (Matthew 28:6–7, ESV)

“18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV)

I take the theme to be- Death falls to the power of God and the sting is removed forever.

Rumination thoughts:
No time to develop but Here Jesus rises and in this God declares his identity (Rom 1:3-4), defeats death (Rom 6:9, Heb 2:14-15, 2 Tim 1:10) and frees those who are united with him in death to be united in life (Rom 6:4-5) to live free from the slavery of sin (1 Cor 15:56, Gal 4:7, Rom 6:6) so that we walk in freedom and the transforming power of grace (Rom 6:15, Titus 2:11-14) never to be condemned (Rom 8:1-2, Phil 3:9-11).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

January 27

Genesis 28; Matthew 27

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 3: HOW DO WE KNOW THERE IS A GOD?

Answer: The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declares that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal him unto us for our salvation.
Scripture: Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:9, 10; Matthew 11:27.
 
Comment: The question distinguishes two kinds of knowledge: one is natural and comes from conscience (“the light of nature in man”) and from the works of God in nature; the other is spiritual or saving, and comes from the recognition of the true value of God and the beauty of his character. Natural knowledge is possessed by all people and thus makes all people accountable to honor and thank God. Spiritual knowledge is possessed only by those whose natural blindness has been overcome by the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 2:14-16). Our children must come to see the difference between these lest they think they are saved by much natural knowledge about God—which the devils also have James 2:19).

Genesis 28

Ready:
The stolen blessing was yesterday Lord and your working through the errant and misguided people that you have chosen.

Reading thoughts:
In this chapter Jacob flees from Esau and heads to Haran to find a wife.  He is sent with Isaac’s blessing and Isaac gives no sense of being ticked but seems to be content that the Lord has chosen to pass the blessing to Jacob.  Isaac’s servant had met Rebekah’s family by the providence of God and now Jacob is sent to her family specifically to seek out a cousin for marriage.  This probably would have been done by sending a servant if it were not for the fact that the driving force here was getting away from Esau.  On the way Jacob has an encounter with God where God speaks and tells him that the promise indeed has extended to him and that God will now keep covenant with him.  God now announces himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac…the list of patriarchs is building.  God is advancing his kingdom purposes.

Key Verses:

“1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women.” (Genesis 28:1, ESV)

“3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!”” (Genesis 28:3–4, ESV)

“13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.” (Genesis 28:13, ESV)

“15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”” (Genesis 28:15, ESV)

“16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”” (Genesis 28:16–17, ESV)

“20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,” (Genesis 28:20–21, ESV)

I take the theme as- God protect and provides for Jacob, his chosen offspring to whom the covenant with Abraham is extended.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-5.  Most impressive here is that Isaac seems to have just moved on and there is no indication that he has blown up the family over the stolen blessing.  I take it that he realized the hand of God at work and he is trusting in the Lord.  He blesses Jacob and with the prodding of Rebakah (for Jacob’s safety) Isaac agrees to send his son to Haran to fetch a wife.  Jacob should be over 40 years old at this point so not as young as I would picture.
    v6-9.  Interesting here how Esau decides he wants to impress his parents by taking a relative as a wife.  He already has more than one Canaanite wife but he now adds a relative of Ishmael.  So Jacob is taking a wife from the family of Abraham’s brother Nahor while Esau now adds a wife from Abraham’s son’s family (the unchosen son).
    v10-17.  Here Jacob has a dream while on his way to Haran and God speaks to him with an announcement of his identity as the God of Abraham and Isaac.  Later God will announce himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This is a pivotal point in Jacob’s life because this is where God first speaks and extends the covenant that Isaac told him was to be extended.  So God is faithful and he puts confidence and hope into Jacob here.  v18-22.  When Jacob wakes he builds an alter to the Lord and he commits to be God’s people.  “I will be their God” God had said in Gen 17.  Here Jacob announces with a vow that God shall be his God since he has extended this promise indeed and Jacob now expects that the faithful God of his fathers will indeed provide for him and protect him and bring him back into the land of Canaan to dwell.  Jacob also names the place Bethel (house of God) and decides that he will give to God the first 10% of all that God provides him with (a tithe).  Jacob shows here another way to worship God apart from song and this is by giving of our first fruits and therefore exalting God and giving him thanks for his provision for us.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God is faithful and he has now come to the third generation of his promise to Abraham.  Jacob vows in response to God’s promised faithfulness and he trusts God with his needs.  Jacob’s response to God’s promise to make basic provision is worship.  The implication for today is the same as evidenced by Jesus’ command in Matt 6:33 that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness trusting all our other needs would be met by God one way or the other (paraphrase).  This is the same message as what Jacob understood here.  So the significance for me is that I too can trust God to meet my needs and I can give generously to his kingdom work and I can trust that he will sustain me and give me what I need…not what I want when I want wrong things, but what I need to be sustained so that my family can seek him and honor him.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 27

Ready:
Coming off of the redefining of the passover and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus abandoned and questioned before the Jewish council.  They patently reject Jesus and Jesus tells them "from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  Even Peter denies Jesus three times.

Reading thoughts:
Here is Matthew’s account of the Roman trial and the crucifixion of Jesus.

Key Verses:

“1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.” (Matthew 27:1, ESV)

“3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”” (Matthew 27:3–4, ESV)

“13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (Matthew 27:13–14, ESV)

“17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.” (Matthew 27:17–18, ESV)

“21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”” (Matthew 27:21–22, ESV)

“24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”” (Matthew 27:24, ESV)

“29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”” (Matthew 27:29, ESV)

“39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”” (Matthew 27:39–40, ESV)

“42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” (Matthew 27:42, ESV)

“45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Matthew 27:45–46, ESV)

“50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:50–51, ESV)

“54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matthew 27:54, ESV)

“64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”” (Matthew 27:64, ESV)

I see the theme summed up by Caiaphas- “49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”” (John 11:49–50, ESV).  His life for mine.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  With Jesus now in their possession the council determines in the morning that they will take Jesus to the governor and order that he be killed.  The Jews wanting to deflect the killing of Jesus onto the Romans bound him and took him to Pilate.
    v3-10.  Here Judas realizes his error and he declares that Jesus is innocent of any charge and he throw the silver coins into the temple and then proceeds to kill himself.  A right and true assessment of his own guilt and the righteousness of Christ was made by Judas…but not a repentance unto the obedience of faith.  Judas did not turn to Jesus in recognition of his guilt but he saw himself helpless and doomed without any hope.  Judas did not call upon the name of the Lord but he simply gave up.
    v11-14.  Here Jesus meets Pilate and he acknowledges Pilate with an affirmative answer regarding being the King of the Jews (though put back on Pilate as the one making the confession).  This incited the chief priests and elders who then hurled accusations at him.  Jesus does not give any answer to their accusations.  I suppose this is for more than one reason.  Perhaps he knows that his innocence is plain to Pilate and certainly because he knows the mission is to die a sacrificial death on the cross that was planned before the creation of the world.  Perhaps also because he already told the Jews that their next dealing with him would be at his second coming (Matt 26:64)…he was essentially done with them.  Pilate tries to convince Jesus to defend himself probably since he perceives the purity and innocence in the man standing before him.  But Jesus is resolute.  He has a purpose that will not be thwarted by anything whatsoever.
    v15-23.  This section probably happens after Jesus is sent to Herod to be interviewed but only Luke’s gospel records that account.  So now back at the governor’s palace we see Pilate, who seems to believe Jesus to be innocent, make an effort to secure his release.  Pilate figures that is the option of two prisoners to release was a really bad choice then perhaps the crowd would be sensible and release Jesus and then Pilate can rest assured that Justice was served.  Like Solomon declaring that the baby be cut in half and the true mother immediately steps back and tells him rather to give the child to the lying kidnapper, Pilate give the people this choice.  But the people shout as it were “cut the baby in half then”.  The crowd chooses Barabbas to be released!  But to release Jesus would be to condemn the world to destruction and to forfeit the covenant to Abraham so there is no doubt that the Father intends Barabbas to be released.  Pilate, no doubt, is in a pickle of huge proportions because he knows that Jesus is innocent and the Jews are killing him from envy and he perceives some truth in his wife’s vision that Jesus is righteous.  Like Judas who faced the true understanding of his own guilt and Jesus’ innocence now Pilate faces a true understanding of Jesus’ innocence and he must decide what it means to him.  Pilate receives the gospel truth staring him in the face and he must decide whether to sacrifice his post and possibly face death if the mob riots and he is blamed by the emperor for this uproar or if he goes limp and lets the crowd make his decisions.  The crowd is corrupted by the lies of the chief priests and elders (the Jewish council) and they shout for the crucifixion of Jesus.     v24-26.  Pilate fails.  He believes Jesus is innocent but he does not truly have saving faith in the identity of this promised offspring and he does not walk in the obedience of faith but chooses himself.  Recognizing still that he is sending a righteous man to his death he attempts to cleanse his own conscience with a washing of his hands but the washing he needs will not be had.  This was an insurmountable test of the integrity of Pilate and he showed himself ultimately to be like all of mankind, an enslaved sinner.
    v27-31.  Here Jesus is mocked and beaten by the Roman soldiers before being led off to be crucified.  Jesus is now in the midst of enduring hate and rejection and dishonor from the people whom he created and whom he sustains in existence.
    v32-44.  Jesus is put on the cross and mocked and they challenge him to save himself if he indeed is who he claims to be.  Jesus already faced this temptation in the desert after his baptism but this liar has returned again to tempt Jesus as he is in the midst of a greater suffering than he faced while fasting in the desert.  But this temptation and this suffering and this shame was known to Jesus in the moment that he conferred with the Father in Genesis 1:26 when God paused in his creation to converse between the Father and Son “Let us make man in our own image”.  No doubt there is an acknowledgment of the book of life of the lamb that was slain (Rev 13:8) in which the names of the children of Abraham will be written in the moment of this decision to move forward with creating mankind.  I see Jesus without a human body yet but clothed in light “smiling" with a well of glorious submission to his Father as he pictures this scene at Calvary and responds with “Yes Father, let us create him in our image.”  Jesus teaches his would be followers to count the cost…as he did.
    v45-50.  Comparing gospels it seems that Jesus was now on the cross for about three hours when the sky become dark.  I see this next three hour period (12pm-3pm) as the real suffering endured by our King.  I believe the darkening of the sky illustrates the judgement and wrath of God that is being poured out upon Jesus in an unseen suffering.  Jesus endures in 3 hours the wrath what I would have spent eternity under.  2 Cor 5:21 says that Jesus became sin on the cross.  Jesus became on this cross the embodiment of all evil and idolatry and hatred of God and selfishness and wickedness and immorality and murder and lies and the totality of the sins of all the sheep.  R.C. Sproul said that in the cross hung the greatest concentration of evil that the world has ever known.  Jesus became sin in his flesh, though he knew no sin, so that the Father could kill it…destroy it…dethrone it.  And he did…for three hours.  Worse yet than this wrath of the Father came next.  Silence.  No more fury but now an absence.  The Father turns his face away and Jesus is abandoned for the first time in the 33 years of his humanity there is no communion whatsoever with the Father.  Jesus is separated (in his flesh) from his Father.  Now the cry where he quotes the opening verse of Psalm 22  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Of course we know that he was forsaken so that we would never be.  Again the humanity of Jesus is seen as it was in the Garden.  Psalm 22, written by King David, is an amazing glimpse into the cross…give it a read.  The final cry of Jesus is not explicitly described in this gospel but is no doubt the cry “It is finished!” and in Psalm 22 (assuming that it indeed is a view of the entire cross experience of Jesus) it appears that there is a point in the middle of verse 21 where God answers the Son and the relationship is restored.  Perhaps this is the final moments on the cross and Jesus knows that the payment is complete…the job is done and he now has no further use for his earthly life…and so he gives it up by choice.  
    v51-54.  At this point the earth shakes and rocks split and tombs burst open (they were built into the rock of the hills) and greatest of all the curtain of the temple splits.  God announces here that reconciliation is made.  Sin is conquered (and death would be next to fall pretty soon).  The sin that enslaved and separated man from God and caused the need for the elaborate sacrificial system and the annual atonement in the most holy place of the temple behind the curtain is defeated (Col 2:13-15).  Jesus has once for all paid the price…he is the sacrifice (Heb 9:12, Rom 6:10).  Access to God without intermediary priests is now a reality (Eph 2:8 &13, Eph 3:12).  Comparing with other gospels it seems that the raising of the dead from these tombs probably occurred after Jesus’ resurrection rather than immediately after the tombs break open.  There is a Roman Soldier (with other witnesses) here who recognized the significance of what they see and what they heard and they make a confession of Jesus as the Son of God.  Perhaps this guard, who was likely to be closest to Jesus as he hung in the darkness those last three hours, was watching intently.  Perhaps he saw the Son of God suffering and he witnessed the harmony or the creation’s reaction to this author of life.  Perhaps he saw the pain and agony turn to relief and suddenly an earthquake announces the victory!  Could this man have seen the harmonizing of these events and realized that the person on that cross was none other than the creator and sustainer of this earth?  I don’t know but that is one conversation I look forward to!
    v55-56. Here Matthew mentions the women that were at a distance watching this happen.  I take not of the mother of the sons of Zebedee here.  Remember in chapter 20 that she approached Jesus with her sons (James and John) asking if they could sit at his right and at his left and his response was “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the cup I that am to drink?”  Wow…now she might have a clearer picture.  To his right and left were dead men.
    v57-61.  Here prophesy is fulfilled (Isaiah 53:9) when a rich man comes and give his personal tomb for Jesus to be buried in.  Mary Magdalene and another Mary (probably not Jesus’ mother) watch as the body is placed in the tomb and it is closed.
    v62-66.  Finally the chapter closes with Pilate agreeing to the request of the Jewish Council in assigning Romans Soldiers to guard the tomb against any foul play that they fear would happen since they recalled Jesus claiming that he would raise again.  They do not believe it will happen but they think someone might steal the body to make it appear so.  Therefore the guards are placed and the tomb is “sealed”.  I take this to mean that they checked the body and closed it back up and stood there with who knows how many guards with the intention of waiting past the “three days”.  But something scares them off...

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!