Boy, there's a lot of dysfunction in the Bible. Today's reading covered multiple wives with multiple births and jealousies to go along with that, one rape, murders, one hook up with a prostitute that resulted in a pregnancy, one son sleeping with one of his father's wives, brothers selling another brother into slavery, someone being unfairly imprisoned, etc., etc. But through all that is the phrase, "But God has seen....". God sees it all. Some of the pregnancies were actually an answer to prayer.
One of the stories was Jacob returning to his homeland, which meant returning to the area where Esau was. Esau was the one who sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, and then Jacob stole the "blessing of the father" from him. So, needless to say, he was a little apprehensive about returning home. But he knew God had told him to, so here was his prayer:
32:9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ 10 I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! 11 O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. 12 But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’”
I was struck by the fact that he recounted to God all the promises He had given him. And then he recounted all the blessings of God,and praised Him. There is one request - please rescue me - along with a confession that he was afraid, ending with another promise of God. I want to remember this 'pattern' when I pray. I want to find some promises in Scripture that I can 'remind' God of. I want to recount to Him all the blessings He has already given, along with my requests, ending with a another reminder of His promises. I have been convicted lately of my prayers...God, please do this. God, I need that, etc. etc. God is not my "genie in the sky". He is worthy of praise and adoration. He is worthy of my love, regardless of what He 'gives' me. If I can just get my perspective of Him correct, things will go much better for me. As I write that, perhaps that's what God wants our children to learn. During childhood, we are their protectors, we provide for them, we take care of them. We want 'acknowledgement' from them. We want gratitude. We don't want to be seen as their 'genie in the home'. "I'm hungry - feed me" - doesn't sit nearly as well as "I love your food. Would you mind making me supper now?" I think there's something there for all of us to learn...
Then there was the story of Jacob wrestling with God. I think I take my Christianity too 'lightly'. God wants us to seek Him and His blessings. God wants us to put effort into our relationship. I think that is the message from this story:
32:24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
And now, a verse that I liked:
35:2 ".... God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”
Followed by a few snippets from Joseph's life:
39:3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake.
23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
And we see Joseph's integrity - when confronted with an opportunity to sin, here was his response:
39:9 "How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
He realized that it would be a sin against God, and so he restrained himself. Which is why God blessed him. God blesses obedience.
No comments:
Post a Comment