1/25/13

Genesis Through Deuteronomy and Joshua (1) by Jim McGuiggan

Genesis Through Deuteronomy and Joshua (1)

As you might know, the first five books of the Bible are called the “five books of Moses” because the Jewish nation always believed that God wrote them through Moses. (They believed that some men guided by the Spirit did some structuring of Moses’ words after he died—see Deuteronomy 34:5-8). The Jews called those books the torah, which is usually translated “law” though it doesn’t mean “law” in the sheer legal way that we normally do. These books are filled with history and promises and explanations as well as commandments and that’s not the kind of “law” you find in our law-books is it?
Genesis through Deuteronomy rises out of Israel’s relationship with God under Moses so while the story begins with Creation it is written to teach Israel who their God is, what he is like and what he has in mind for them and the world. It’s as if a stunned nation watched God dismantle oppressive Egypt in the plagues (see Exodus 1—14) and asked Moses, “Who is this God and what does he want?” In Leviticus 18:1-5 God said they were not to think of him or serve him as the Egyptians served their gods. And he was taking them to Canaan and they were not to think of him or serve him as the Canaanites served their gods. They were to commit to God and serve him in the way he would make clear and they would enjoy fullness of life with him. That’s what Genesis through Deuteronomy is about. Getting to know and love God and work with him to fulfil his purposes.
The gods of Egypt and the true God
Israel had lived in Egypt for something like 400 years and everything in Egypt was a god or a manifestation of a god. The soil, the river, the animals, the sky, the desert, the crops, the sun, moon and stars and the king himself were all gods. That’s what the Egyptian priests taught the children in school. If a child wanted to know why the sea didn’t come up over the whole land of Egypt, if he wanted to know how you could bury a seed and a plant come up, why the sun came up every day or why there was desert--if he wanted to know anything he was told stories about gods. He was told about gods fighting each other, marrying, dying, lying and so forth.
Moses wrote Genesis to explain that the creation and all the things in it are servants of the one true God. He teaches Israel that these elements were not gods to be feared and they were not to be worshiped. He shows that they were the creation of one God and that they were not his enemies that he had to overcome (as the stories of the gods said). No, Genesis 1 is written to say there is one God who created and so provided all things and that that one God is to be worshiped and served in love.
Genesis and the Fall and God’s redeeming purpose
Moses wrote Genesis to explain why everything is in a mess and what God had undertaken to do about it. If God had made everything and it all worked together in harmony (the sun and moon doing their jobs, the fish in the sea and the birds in the heavens etc) and man and woman rejoicing as lord over it in God’s image how come there was bedlam and oppression and desert now? Moses records the Fall in Genesis 3--11 (these chapters are to be taken as one continuous description of humanity’s rebellion against God and his judicial curse on humanity).
Our sin fragmented us and the result was loss of relationship, peace and home. The loss of home is shown in the expulsion from the garden (Genesis 3), Cain’s loss of home (Genesis 4) and the flood and the scattering of the nations in chapter 9--11. But these judgements by God were redemptive in purpose, that is, he wasn’t washing his hands of us. Sin would be our utter destruction so he moved in judgement to redeem us. Since Israel descended from these nations Israel should resists the later temptation to think that she was some elite nation, she had come from sinful stock like the rest of us.
Immediately following our Fall and scattering (chapters 3--11) God called Abram to be the father of Israel and the one in whom he would work to bring humanity back to himself (end of chapter 11 and into chapter 12). As Adam represents us well on our way from God so Abram (later Abraham) represents us well as on our way back to God. God sent us away in Adam and brings us back to himself in Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham and his seed (Israel) were the elect (not elite, they were no better than the rest of us!) through which God would bless the world and not just Abraham and Israel. Genesis was written to teach Israel that she was not an end in herself and that God was the God of all nations and was working through Israel to bless them all.
Redemption is God’s work and not man’s
Genesis 11:1-9 shows our anger with God and our refusal to accept his judgement. In our arrogance we said we’d make a centre for ourselves, built a reputation for ourselves and make a home for ourselves and put an end to our wandering. Everything we said we’d do for ourselves God put a stop to! Then he called a man with a prematurely old body and with a barren wife and said he would give to them all that he refused to let us make for ourselves (see Genesis 12:1-3 and Read Romans 4:16-22). Abraham and Sarah were incapable of all God had in mind and that is precisely what God wanted to make clear. Throughout Genesis this same note is sounded. Abraham, the other patriarchs all had their flaws and got in trouble and God delivered them and brought good out of evil. All the stories develop the one Story: God is faithful and we are faithless, we are helpless against the powers and forces we have set loose but God is able, we fight and cut one another off and God works to reconcile us all to him and one another.
(You might find my Genesis & Us helpful. See McGuiggan books on the home page.)

Bible Reading, Jan. 25

Jan. 25

Genesis 25

Gen 25:1 Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.

Gen 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Gen 25:3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

Gen 25:4 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

Gen 25:5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,

Gen 25:6 but to the sons of Abraham's concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.

Gen 25:7 These are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years.

Gen 25:8 Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

Gen 25:9 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre,

Gen 25:10 the field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.

Gen 25:11 It happened after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

Gen 25:12 Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham.

Gen 25:13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Gen 25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

Gen 25:15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Gen 25:16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.

Gen 25:17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people.

Gen 25:18 They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives.

Gen 25:19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

Gen 25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.

Gen 25:21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Gen 25:22 The children struggled together within her. She said, "If it be so, why do I live?" She went to inquire of Yahweh.

Gen 25:23 Yahweh said to her, Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.

Gen 25:24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Gen 25:25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.

Gen 25:26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Gen 25:27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

Gen 25:28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.

Gen 25:29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.

Gen 25:30 Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom.

Gen 25:31 Jacob said, "First, sell me your birthright."

Gen 25:32 Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?"

Gen 25:33 Jacob said, "Swear to me first." He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.

Gen 25:34 Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

Jan. 25, 26

Matthew 13

Mat 13:1 On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.

Mat 13:2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach.

Mat 13:3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow.

Mat 13:4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.

Mat 13:5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn't have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.

Mat 13:6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.

Mat 13:7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.

Mat 13:8 Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.

Mat 13:9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Mat 13:10 The disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

Mat 13:11 He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

Mat 13:12 For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.

Mat 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand.

Mat 13:14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 'By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive:

Mat 13:15 for this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and should turn again; and I would heal them.'

Mat 13:16 "But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

Mat 13:17 For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn't see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them.

Mat 13:18 "Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.

Mat 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.

Mat 13:20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;

Mat 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Mat 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Mat 13:23 What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and brings forth, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty."

Mat 13:24 He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,

Mat 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.

Mat 13:26 But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also.

Mat 13:27 The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'

Mat 13:28 "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?'

Mat 13:29 "But he said, 'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

Mat 13:31 He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;

Mat 13:32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."

Mat 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened."

Mat 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn't speak to them,

Mat 13:35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field."

Mat 13:37 He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Mat 13:38 the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.

Mat 13:39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

Mat 13:40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.

Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity,

Mat 13:42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

Mat 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat 13:44 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

Mat 13:45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,

Mat 13:46 who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Mat 13:47 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind,

Mat 13:48 which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.

Mat 13:49 So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous,

Mat 13:50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

Mat 13:51 Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They answered him, "Yes, Lord."

Mat 13:52 He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things."

Mat 13:53 It happened that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.

Mat 13:54 Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Mat 13:55 Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

Mat 13:56 Aren't all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?"

Mat 13:57 They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house."

Mat 13:58 He didn't do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Jonah - Messenger To Nineveh (1:1-4:11) Mark Copeland

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                Jonah - Messenger To Nineveh (1:1-4:11)

INTRODUCTION

1. We now come to the most well known of "The Minor Prophets":  Jonah,
   whose name means "Dove"

2. His book does not contain prophecy per se, rather it contains the
   history of a prophet...
   a. A prophet reluctant to fulfill the mission God assigned him
   b. A prophet who complained when his mission proved successful
   -- What kind of prophet is that?  Perhaps one that reveals what may
      be true of ourselves!

3. This short book of "Jonah" easily falls into four sections...
   a. "Running Away From God" (chapter one)
   b. "Running To God" (chapter two)
   c. "Running With God" (chapter three)
   d. "Running Ahead of God" (chapter four)

4. In this brief survey of the book, we will simply read our way
   through it...
   a. Making observations as we go along
   b. Offering lessons that can be glean from each section

[With the first chapter then, we soon find Jonah...]

I. "RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD" (1:1-17)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. God commissions Jonah to preach in Nineveh - 1:1-2
      2. Jonah rebels against God's plan - 1:3
      3. God has a plan for Jonah - 1:4-17
         a. He sends "a great wind on the sea" - 1:4-16
         b. He prepares "a great fish" - 1:17

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. Jonah is also mentioned in 2Ki 14:23-25
         a. He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (ca. 793-753
            B.C.)
         b. He was from Gath Hepher (4 miles NE of what was later
            Nazareth in Galilee)
      2. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria
         a. It was located about 220 NNW of the present city of Baghdad
         b. The Assyrians were noted for their cruelty, especially to
            prisoners
      3. The city of Tarshish
         a. A Phoenician outpost in SW Spain
         b. On the edge of the Mediterranean world, Jonah was running
            in the opposite direction of Nineveh
      4. In retrieving Jonah, God gained some converts (the sailors)
         - cf. 1:14-16

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER ONE...
      1. God concerns Himself with the wickedness of heathen nations
         - 1:2
      2. One cannot run away from God! - cf. Ps 139:7-11
      3. God is able to use incidents in the lives of His servants for
         His glory - cf. 1:5 with 1:14-16

[With the end of chapter one, Jonah is now in the belly of the great
fish.  Having run away from God, we now find him...]

II. "RUNNING TO GOD" (2:1-10)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. Jonah's prayer - 2:1-9
      2. Jonah's deliverance - 2:10

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. The prayer is written like a psalm; its present form may have
         been composed after the fact, looking back
      2. Jonah realized that what happened was God's doing - 1:3
      3. It is interesting to note that his prayer is more of a
         THANKSGIVING, than a petition

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER TWO...
      1. "Someone has observed that there are times when we must be
         made to go into the lowest depths that we may regain a living
         faith" (Hailey)
      2. Prayers in time of need should be made with an attitude of
         thanksgiving as well as petition - cf. Php 4:6

[Having learned his lesson, Jonah is now ready to do God's will; so we
next see him...]

III. "RUNNING WITH GOD" (3:1-10)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. The Lord again commissions Jonah to preach in Nineveh - 3:1-2
      2. Jonah obeys and proclaims God's message - 3:3-4
      3. The people of Nineveh are moved to repent, including the king
         - 3:5-9
      4. The Lord takes notice, and relents of the disaster He had
         intended to bring - 3:10

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. Jonah's message was brief, yet clear - 3:4
      2. An unusual fast is proclaimed  - 3:5-7
         a. Three days without food AND water
         b. For both man AND beast
      3. With sackcloth for both man and beast, the king calls for a
         true change of behavior - 3:8-9
      4. The king of Assyria reasons like the prophet Joel - cf. 3:9
         with Joel 2:14
      5. Nineveh's example of repentance is a rebuke of Israel...
         a. Israel in Jonah's own day - cf. 2Ki 17:13-14,18; 2Ch 36:15-16
         b. Israel in the days of Jesus - cf. Mt 12:41

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER THREE...
      1. Such preaching of condemnation is often conditional - cf. Jer 18:7-10
      2. The least likely prospects might be the ones who will convert
         - e.g., 1Co 6:9-11
      3. We see the place of fasting and prayer, as one seeks to
         petition God - e.g., Ezr 8:21-23

[Jonah's mission was a success!  Souls headed for destruction were
saved!  You would think that Jonah would have been elated.  But in the
final chapter we are surprised to see this prophet...]

IV. "RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD" (4:1-11)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. Jonah vents his anger - 4:1-4
         a. Angry because he knew that God would relent - 4:1-2
         b. So angry that he desires to die - 4:3-4
      2. God uses a plant, a worm, and a hot east wind to teach Jonah
         - 4:5-11
         a. A plant to provide shade for Jonah - 4:5-6
         b. A worm to destroy the plant - 4:7
         c. A vehement east wind that with the sun exhausts Jonah - 4:8
      3. God uses the plant to teach Jonah an object lesson - 4:9-11
         a. Jonah is angry about the plant - 4:9
         b. Shouldn't he have similar pity on Nineveh? - 4:10-11

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. We find Jonah manifesting a sectarian spirit
         a. Perhaps there was an underlying racism in Jonah's heart
         b. This may explain why he fled to Tarshish in the beginning
      2. He possessed the same spirit as:
         a. The elder brother of the prodigal son - cf. Lk 15:11-32
         b. The Pharisees toward Jesus eating with sinners - Mt 9:10-11
      3. Jonah is shown to have more compassion for a plant, than for
         innocent children!

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER FOUR...
      1. We learn the danger of a sectarian spirit
         a. It makes us to be petty
         b. It blinds us to matters of greater importance
      2. We see God's nature
         a. He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger
         b. Abundant in lovingkindness, He is willing to relent when
            there is repentance

CONCLUSION

1. The book of Jonah is of value to PREACHERS...
   a. Never prejudge an audience
   b. Don't try to avoid the responsibility God has placed on you

2. The book of Jonah is of value to ALL CHRISTIANS...
   a. Don't have a selfish, narrow-minded, sectarian spirit
   b. Be concerned for all the wicked, whoever and wherever they are

3. The book of Jonah is of value to SINNERS...
   a. God loves you
   b. Destruction is coming...
      1) But He sent Christ and the apostles to reveal His will and
         save you
      2) Today He has His preachers and teachers to warn you
   c. Salvation is available wherever there is true repentance and
      obedience!

Finally, may the example of Nineveh's repentance remind us of what
Jesus said:

   "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this
   generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
   preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."
                                                   (Mt 12:41)

Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah; have we repented at the
preaching of One (Jesus) Who is much greater?

1/24/13

Letting go...

^{This picture reminds me of my younger brother Dave. We are only about a year and a half difference in age, but the difference between us is remarkable. He was always the adventurous one, first to do anything; try anything, while I have always been more laid-back and careful. I view this picture and somehow we are young again, playing on the swing set in the back yard. Dave is trying to see how high he can go and the legs of the swing-set are beginning to come out of the ground as he goes higher and higher... and then he lets go!!! Why? Because he can of course!!! Impetuous, daring, bold and perhaps a tad foolhardy are thoughts that come to mind. And those same thoughts happen when I think of the apostle Peter....}

Matthew, Chapter 14

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.  23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.  27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”

  28  Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
  29 He said, “Come!”

Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.  30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

  31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”   32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

Peter was always the first to speak up, to reach out, to do something (sort of like my brother Dave). But, Peter had a weak side, too; one that is shown when he saw the strength of the wind. His fear almost sunk him, but fortunately for him, Jesus was close-by!! I like Peter, because he always tried to do the right thing! Even though he didn't always succeed, he tried and that is the important thing. Peter had doubts, but continued to grow in faith. And the first step in that process is being willing to let go!!! Fear, doubt and mistrust need to be overcome and then growth can occur. Let go of the things that prevent you from growing spiritually and allow God to perform the miracle of growth in your life!!! Gary-- listen and learn-- YOU NEED TO LET GO!!!!

SHOULD WE BE AMAZED? by Jim McGuiggan

SHOULD WE BE AMAZED?

Believers are eager to exalt God in every way. This is a profoundly good thing and it’s appropriate! There’s something irksome in the cozy faith of many public preaching figures that leads them to speak of God in terms that suggest he’s their “buddy” or their “chum”. They offer us a ceaseless stream of conversations they say they’ve had with God in which they say to him, “You what?” or “You must be joking!” or speech of that nature. It would be [perhaps] tolerable if the settings for these conversations were of extreme anguish or profound complexity—the kind of thing we find in the prophets and the psalms. But no, they happen in the shower, the tone is jocular and the audience responds with laughter at the expected places. We expect unbridled speech from desperate men and women in desperate situations but…

God is God and not “our pal upstairs”!

Reverent scholars are now reviewing the NT use and meaning of the word “Abba”—and they should. Light-hearted coziness is not becoming in our relationship with God. Little children may pull on the dress of a queen or drag the spectacles off a king but we expect more of them as they mature. Even parents are to be treated with due respect.

Balance isn’t easy to define and perhaps more difficult to find.

Still, in our eagerness to honor God we need to have balanced views of him. His glory and power is beyond our imagining and so we should rejoice with trembling [Psalm 2:11]; but we do have reason to rejoice because we have learned that God’s unimaginable power is in the service of his unfathomable love [see Ephesians 3:19]!

No one “out-powers” God, “out-thinks” him, “out-suffers” or “out-loves” him! Because he is so far above and beyond us we should be astonished that he cares for us and comes to us in faithfulness to redeem us—and yet, because he out-loves us we should not be surprised that he did just that in keeping with his eternal purpose to glorify the human family with eternal life.

A mother tries to fight off the firemen so she can run into the burning building to rescue her babies! We aren’t astonished! A father without hesitation leaps into a raging river to rescue his child! We aren’t astonished! Good friends risk all to deliver their friends and even strangers give their lives for people they don’t know. You heard the stories! You’ll recall Moses and Paul sharing the same feeling about their people [see Exodus 32:31-32 and Romans 9:1-3]. In the face of some of these cases we shake our heads in admiration but before many of them we feel no surprise for we too know what love for our beloved ones is. Love doesn’t want to be unscathed, completely free of hurt or loss. Love gives for the beloved. There is an expected response from lovers [see Isaiah 49:15; Matthew 7:9-11; Luke 15].

If human lovers give and give and give and search and search and search should we be astonished that God came looking for us?

It’s a bit late for us to grovel before him begging him to love us and seek our redemption.

Sauntering into God’s presence in that breezy way is out of order. So is groveling! One's an insult and the other's tragic ignorance.

No one out-loves the sovereign God!

Bible Reading, Jan. 24

Jan. 24

Genesis 24

Gen 24:1 Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.

Gen 24:2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.

Gen 24:3 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.

Gen 24:4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

Gen 24:5 The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?"

Gen 24:6 Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again.

Gen 24:7 Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

Gen 24:8 If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again."

Gen 24:9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

Gen 24:10 The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master's with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

Gen 24:11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

Gen 24:12 He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Gen 24:13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

Gen 24:14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'--let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

Gen 24:15 It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.

Gen 24:16 The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.

Gen 24:17 The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."

Gen 24:18 She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink.

Gen 24:19 When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking."

Gen 24:20 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

Gen 24:21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.

Gen 24:22 It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,

Gen 24:23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?"

Gen 24:24 She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

Gen 24:25 She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."

Gen 24:26 The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.

Gen 24:27 He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives."

Gen 24:28 The young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these words.

Gen 24:29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.

Gen 24:30 It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

Gen 24:31 He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."

Gen 24:32 The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

Gen 24:33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."

Gen 24:34 He said, "I am Abraham's servant.

Gen 24:35 Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

Gen 24:36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

Gen 24:37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,

Gen 24:38 but you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.'

Gen 24:39 I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'

Gen 24:40 He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's house.

Gen 24:41 Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don't give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.'

Gen 24:42 I came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go--

Gen 24:43 behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, "Give me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink,"

Gen 24:44 and she will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"--let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.'

Gen 24:45 Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

Gen 24:46 She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

Gen 24:47 I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.

Gen 24:48 I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.

Gen 24:49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."

Gen 24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.

Gen 24:51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken."

Gen 24:52 It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.

Gen 24:53 The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.

Gen 24:54 They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."

Gen 24:55 Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."

Gen 24:56 He said to them, "Don't hinder me, seeing Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."

Gen 24:57 They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her."

Gen 24:58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

Gen 24:59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.

Gen 24:60 They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."

Gen 24:61 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Gen 24:62 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.

Gen 24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.

Gen 24:64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

Gen 24:65 She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself.

Gen 24:66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

Gen 24:67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.