1 and 2 Chronicles
Chronicles is not a repetition of Kings. It is a view of Israel's history during the same time period but views those elements that are distinctly redeemable. To me, it lingers on those events that remain (works that would align with 1Cor 3:14). It has a priestly focus. The temple. The worship of God. Acts of faith.
Though we are in the second half of 2 Chron, there are some notes that I wanted to share. 1 Chron 1-9 are taken up with Chronicling God's earthly people. Who was the son of who, brothers and sisters etc. Each name (and therefore person) pondered by God and placed in the list. Each had their unique contribution to the big family.
Chapter 10 recounts the end of Saul - that picture of self, of flesh, of weakness (Mr. "I forced myself" 1Sam 13:12). In it, we read of that famous battle on Mount Gilboa. Saul is hit. Saul is wounded. Saul is dying. Saul dies. God comments on the reason for his death in verse 13. He "died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep and [a second thing] . . . therefore [God] killed him.
Verse 14 concludes with the transfer of the kingdom to David. 14 verses on Saul followed by 19 chapters on David. This speaks to me about the hearts of these men. Chronicles focusing on the Temple, the Priesthood, the worship of God, the heart of Israel. It is no wonder that David takes up so much space.
The story is often like that. Saul must fall first for David to rise. As long as Saul is in power, very little story is written. But when David takes the throne, the wide vistas of God's work have just begun.
No more Saul.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
How beautiful is an open flower
David has come and gone (Acts 13:36).
The kingdom was transferred to his son. It was an awkward transfer, but in time Solomon was firmly placed on the throne. It was Solomon who was the builder of the temple. That unique place where God chose to dwell. A house really.
How valuable and how focal was the sanctuary / the house of God. Such a primary object in Israel. The place where God dwelt. The central place of worship for the entire nation. So should God's residence be in my heart. A well kept place, a great place, a beautiful place, a pre-eminent place.
I Kings 6:29 tells me of some of the carvings that were found in the house. His house. "He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, inner and outer sanctuaries. . . "
Verses 32 and 35 repeat these carvings.
Open flowers. Open flowers. This caught my eye. They were open. Life, beauty, nothing hidden. The flower had arrived at its created purpose. It had reached its full display. Much as a flower opens to the sun as it courses the sky, so is the heart that dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. In God's presence, there is fullness of joy. In God's presence, I find a fully open life. In God's presence, people finally explode with all of the richness and purpose of life.
Time to bloom!
The kingdom was transferred to his son. It was an awkward transfer, but in time Solomon was firmly placed on the throne. It was Solomon who was the builder of the temple. That unique place where God chose to dwell. A house really.
How valuable and how focal was the sanctuary / the house of God. Such a primary object in Israel. The place where God dwelt. The central place of worship for the entire nation. So should God's residence be in my heart. A well kept place, a great place, a beautiful place, a pre-eminent place.
I Kings 6:29 tells me of some of the carvings that were found in the house. His house. "He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, inner and outer sanctuaries. . . "
Verses 32 and 35 repeat these carvings.
Open flowers. Open flowers. This caught my eye. They were open. Life, beauty, nothing hidden. The flower had arrived at its created purpose. It had reached its full display. Much as a flower opens to the sun as it courses the sky, so is the heart that dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. In God's presence, there is fullness of joy. In God's presence, I find a fully open life. In God's presence, people finally explode with all of the richness and purpose of life.
Time to bloom!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Make Me A Servant
The Judges with all of their instruction for us are fading from view. The final four chapters of Judges showed how low people can go when they simply do what is right in their own eyes. Painful. Ruth followed and what a breath of fresh air her story was.
1 Samuel provides the background for how Israel came to have kings. They went from a Theocracy with God as their King, to a monarchy with a man as their king. Their first king was a notably handsome man. He was "choice and handsome, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel." Wow! Sounds like someone who should be on the cover of magazines in our day. "From his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people." (9:2). Sign him up!
If there should be leadership in a man, it would seem to be housed in such a body, no? His name was Saul. As I begin to read of him, the first thing I find is that he is looking for lost donkeys. Further, his dad wants him to take a servant along to go with him to find them. After some time searching, they did not find them. Saul proposed that a return trip was in order to calm dad's anxieties. All in all, there is nothing remarkable about this story. That is what makes this future king's story so alarming. Nothing spoke of noble character, lofty vision, or loving leadership.
But something comes into the story - or someone. In verse 6, it is the servant's turn.
In this city "there is a man of God, " he says. (Oooh, let's find out what God has to say)
Saul replies, "but what shall we bring the man?" (Decisions, decisions, decisions)
The servant pulls out some money from his pocket and says, "I will give it to the man of God." (Personal sacrifice)
"Well said," said Saul.
"Well said" is right. The servant was wiser and crisper about things of life than Saul. He knew what was required and knew what to do to get there. This is a leader. I wonder if dad knew this trouble spot about his son. "Take now with you one of the servants."
The servant has such a small place in the Scripture. But, he helped me see Saul.
King Saul. The king which they had chosen. There he is, Israel. Your king. The king after your heart. Well, he certainly looks like a king! (cf. 1Sam 16:7) What would be the outcome of this king's reign? So many decisions would need to be made. Decisions, decisions.
He had the servant tell him what was right. He did not ask for God when he could not find what he was looking for. He wondered how to pay for advice from the man of God. He watched someone close to him voluntarily offer money on his behalf. He heard the good decision. He finally concluded, "well said, let's go."
Make me a servant, today.
1 Samuel provides the background for how Israel came to have kings. They went from a Theocracy with God as their King, to a monarchy with a man as their king. Their first king was a notably handsome man. He was "choice and handsome, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel." Wow! Sounds like someone who should be on the cover of magazines in our day. "From his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people." (9:2). Sign him up!
If there should be leadership in a man, it would seem to be housed in such a body, no? His name was Saul. As I begin to read of him, the first thing I find is that he is looking for lost donkeys. Further, his dad wants him to take a servant along to go with him to find them. After some time searching, they did not find them. Saul proposed that a return trip was in order to calm dad's anxieties. All in all, there is nothing remarkable about this story. That is what makes this future king's story so alarming. Nothing spoke of noble character, lofty vision, or loving leadership.
But something comes into the story - or someone. In verse 6, it is the servant's turn.
In this city "there is a man of God, " he says. (Oooh, let's find out what God has to say)
Saul replies, "but what shall we bring the man?" (Decisions, decisions, decisions)
The servant pulls out some money from his pocket and says, "I will give it to the man of God." (Personal sacrifice)
"Well said," said Saul.
"Well said" is right. The servant was wiser and crisper about things of life than Saul. He knew what was required and knew what to do to get there. This is a leader. I wonder if dad knew this trouble spot about his son. "Take now with you one of the servants."
The servant has such a small place in the Scripture. But, he helped me see Saul.
King Saul. The king which they had chosen. There he is, Israel. Your king. The king after your heart. Well, he certainly looks like a king! (cf. 1Sam 16:7) What would be the outcome of this king's reign? So many decisions would need to be made. Decisions, decisions.
He had the servant tell him what was right. He did not ask for God when he could not find what he was looking for. He wondered how to pay for advice from the man of God. He watched someone close to him voluntarily offer money on his behalf. He heard the good decision. He finally concluded, "well said, let's go."
Make me a servant, today.
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Real Relation
Joshua led the people after Moses' death. Though it was Moses who spoke with God face to face, Joshua still spoke with God. Leadership must speak with God. They must be speaking with Him and He must be speaking with them.
This is the golden era of Israel's history. There were failures, but they are notably dwarfed by the success God gave Israel in its conquest of the promised land of Canaan. Joshua had just come off the miraculous success of conquering Jericho toward the beginning of the conquest. Unknown to him, an Israelite named Achan had grabbed some of the expensive loot during the battle - something forbidden by God. As a result, God would not fight for Israel until the sin had been dealt with. So, when Israel went to do battle with Ai, they lost.
Joshua's reaction is so interesting to me. Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening . . . "Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan. . ." (Josh 7:6-9) Was Joshua not the leader of Israel? He had such a long history with God. Yet, why did he fall apart? Why so despairing?
I remember similar things in Moses (Num 11:11-15) when he said to God, "why have You been so hard on Your servant?" Further Ex 33:12-16 shows the frustration Moses had with God. "See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. . ."
We see similar things of David in the Psalms.
We see a similar note even in Jesus who cried out to His Father, "why have You forsaken Me?"
Why such falling apart among such godliness?
Maybe the better question would be why is there not more falling apart before God. Each of these had such intimacy with God, an obvious relationship with the God of the universe. When that fellowship went awry, each one cried out with vigor and passion - even if sometimes misdirected - to their Relation. So real was their connection to Him. So willing to direct whatever was in their hearts to Him. God does not want verbal dainties. He wants my heart.
So strong were they.
(Thank you, Lord)
This is the golden era of Israel's history. There were failures, but they are notably dwarfed by the success God gave Israel in its conquest of the promised land of Canaan. Joshua had just come off the miraculous success of conquering Jericho toward the beginning of the conquest. Unknown to him, an Israelite named Achan had grabbed some of the expensive loot during the battle - something forbidden by God. As a result, God would not fight for Israel until the sin had been dealt with. So, when Israel went to do battle with Ai, they lost.
Joshua's reaction is so interesting to me. Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening . . . "Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan. . ." (Josh 7:6-9) Was Joshua not the leader of Israel? He had such a long history with God. Yet, why did he fall apart? Why so despairing?
I remember similar things in Moses (Num 11:11-15) when he said to God, "why have You been so hard on Your servant?" Further Ex 33:12-16 shows the frustration Moses had with God. "See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. . ."
We see similar things of David in the Psalms.
We see a similar note even in Jesus who cried out to His Father, "why have You forsaken Me?"
Why such falling apart among such godliness?
Maybe the better question would be why is there not more falling apart before God. Each of these had such intimacy with God, an obvious relationship with the God of the universe. When that fellowship went awry, each one cried out with vigor and passion - even if sometimes misdirected - to their Relation. So real was their connection to Him. So willing to direct whatever was in their hearts to Him. God does not want verbal dainties. He wants my heart.
So strong were they.
(Thank you, Lord)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Come Again?
Midway through Deuteronomy now.
Many noteworthy things since the last post.
In Deut 18, we read of another prophet who will be raised up. I remember God showing His violent power on Mt Sinai but even more terrible must have been His Voice. It was a type of Voice that, when heard, the people would say, "let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God." Further, it was a type of fire that, when seen, the people would say, "let me not see this great fire anymore." Why? They felt as if they would die. It was the presence of a being so accosting, that death pounded in their ears and in their hearts. "I will die".
God agreed. Verse 18:17 conveys the Lord's estimation of such a conclusion. "They have spoken well."
But, as is so like our Father, there is more to the story. God tells them of someone else. Someone else would be heard and seen. What? You mean to say that there will be another word from this horrific God? Yes.
There will be another one, one from among them, who will speak. God said, "I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him."
Yes, God was saying that someone was coming who would speak His words. Yes, God would come again. He would have a voice. But, no longer would God condone "let me not hear," "let me not see." No, they would have no option to refuse this voice. What would it be like? What kind of words would come out of this one? What would they see this time? The absolute most appropriate, receivable and personable Being, who would use their language, their form and their tones to share the reality of God and His message.
No one ever saw such Grace. And no one ever saw such Truth.
How could anyone not listen to such words?
Many noteworthy things since the last post.
In Deut 18, we read of another prophet who will be raised up. I remember God showing His violent power on Mt Sinai but even more terrible must have been His Voice. It was a type of Voice that, when heard, the people would say, "let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God." Further, it was a type of fire that, when seen, the people would say, "let me not see this great fire anymore." Why? They felt as if they would die. It was the presence of a being so accosting, that death pounded in their ears and in their hearts. "I will die".
God agreed. Verse 18:17 conveys the Lord's estimation of such a conclusion. "They have spoken well."
But, as is so like our Father, there is more to the story. God tells them of someone else. Someone else would be heard and seen. What? You mean to say that there will be another word from this horrific God? Yes.
There will be another one, one from among them, who will speak. God said, "I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him."
Yes, God was saying that someone was coming who would speak His words. Yes, God would come again. He would have a voice. But, no longer would God condone "let me not hear," "let me not see." No, they would have no option to refuse this voice. What would it be like? What kind of words would come out of this one? What would they see this time? The absolute most appropriate, receivable and personable Being, who would use their language, their form and their tones to share the reality of God and His message.
No one ever saw such Grace. And no one ever saw such Truth.
How could anyone not listen to such words?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
In The Midst Of Their Impurities
Concluding Leviticus -
It is no small thing. It is a weight far heavier than I can bear. It is a barrier far thicker than I realized. It is a distance far greater than I have felt before. This thing called sin.
I am reminded of what life used to be like in the palmy days of the garden. Didn't Adam and Eve walk with God? Wasn't there ongoing, regular, uninterrupted joy and delight? No twinge of despair, guilt, failure, or shame. All the colors were bright as they should be and all the hues of life just right. "God?" "Yes, Adam." "My insides burst when I am near you!" "It's called joy, Adam! I love you so much." "Wow!"
Then, came sin. "Where are you?"
That anti-life force entered into the hearts of men, all men, because of disobedience. Nothing was the same. Now for man to merely come near to God, it required daily ongoing sacrifices of animals, shedding blood, butchering animals, burning of incense, altars, basins, utensils, tables, offerings, rules, regulations, laws, standards. Obey, obey, obey. So vast and penetrating was the demand of law. So heavy was the weight of sin. So great a barrier. So great a barrier.
When God came into the camp at the end of Exodus He then spoke from the tent in Leviticus 1:1. It takes the rest of the Old Testament to figure out what just happened. Life didn't get one or two things added to it. The entire life of a Hebrew was re-arranged. Because of Him. He was near. He wanted to be near. It seems God's heart never did change. . . just ours.
The purpose of the tabernacle is found in Ex 25:8 - "that I may dwell among them."
We get further insight into God's plan in Lev 26:11,12 - "I will make my dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people."
But what of the great barrier - sin? God kept going. He placed the "tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities." (Lev 16:16)
Thank you, Lord.
It is no small thing. It is a weight far heavier than I can bear. It is a barrier far thicker than I realized. It is a distance far greater than I have felt before. This thing called sin.
I am reminded of what life used to be like in the palmy days of the garden. Didn't Adam and Eve walk with God? Wasn't there ongoing, regular, uninterrupted joy and delight? No twinge of despair, guilt, failure, or shame. All the colors were bright as they should be and all the hues of life just right. "God?" "Yes, Adam." "My insides burst when I am near you!" "It's called joy, Adam! I love you so much." "Wow!"
Then, came sin. "Where are you?"
That anti-life force entered into the hearts of men, all men, because of disobedience. Nothing was the same. Now for man to merely come near to God, it required daily ongoing sacrifices of animals, shedding blood, butchering animals, burning of incense, altars, basins, utensils, tables, offerings, rules, regulations, laws, standards. Obey, obey, obey. So vast and penetrating was the demand of law. So heavy was the weight of sin. So great a barrier. So great a barrier.
When God came into the camp at the end of Exodus He then spoke from the tent in Leviticus 1:1. It takes the rest of the Old Testament to figure out what just happened. Life didn't get one or two things added to it. The entire life of a Hebrew was re-arranged. Because of Him. He was near. He wanted to be near. It seems God's heart never did change. . . just ours.
The purpose of the tabernacle is found in Ex 25:8 - "that I may dwell among them."
We get further insight into God's plan in Lev 26:11,12 - "I will make my dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people."
But what of the great barrier - sin? God kept going. He placed the "tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities." (Lev 16:16)
Thank you, Lord.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Reading The Fine Print
Already well into Exodus -
Ex 28-30
Such amazing detail. All of God's focus is on this little band of people in a desert with one man on a mountain talking about some clothing. So delicate and so precise. So intricate and so much. I am lulled into thinking that maybe there really was nothing else going on in the world at that time.
I suppose that there are two options as I read these passages in God's instruction manual for His people. 1) Read the directions and feel the rebellion in me say, "I will just run into the Holy of Holies" disregarding all of these things. I will do what I want. Brush it all off. I mean, come on, what is with so much tedium?! OR - 2) I temper myself and realize who is talking. Then, I spend the rest of my days being careful to obey every word. The first way, the do it my way, leads to death. The second way, the do it His way, life.
When the priest goes before God, the garments indicate that he is representing tribes / people. The descriptions are so elaborate and beautiful. Ruby, onyx, gold, sapphire, topaz, sparkling jewels for sure. 28:2 says, "You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and beauty." Further I read of an engraved plate to be worn on Aaron's turban. It reads "Holy to the Lord." So much attention given to these things to one man out on a desert mountain.
I see that the priest represents the people to God. I see in this some of what it means that Christ is my High Priest. Am I really that Beautiful? Am I really that Holy? Am I really full of Glory? Lord, do you really represent me this way? Is that who I am to You?
Oh, man! Thank you Lord Jesus that you bring me to the Father in perfection.
(How glad I am that God spoke at length about clothing.)
Ex 28-30
Such amazing detail. All of God's focus is on this little band of people in a desert with one man on a mountain talking about some clothing. So delicate and so precise. So intricate and so much. I am lulled into thinking that maybe there really was nothing else going on in the world at that time.
I suppose that there are two options as I read these passages in God's instruction manual for His people. 1) Read the directions and feel the rebellion in me say, "I will just run into the Holy of Holies" disregarding all of these things. I will do what I want. Brush it all off. I mean, come on, what is with so much tedium?! OR - 2) I temper myself and realize who is talking. Then, I spend the rest of my days being careful to obey every word. The first way, the do it my way, leads to death. The second way, the do it His way, life.
When the priest goes before God, the garments indicate that he is representing tribes / people. The descriptions are so elaborate and beautiful. Ruby, onyx, gold, sapphire, topaz, sparkling jewels for sure. 28:2 says, "You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and beauty." Further I read of an engraved plate to be worn on Aaron's turban. It reads "Holy to the Lord." So much attention given to these things to one man out on a desert mountain.
I see that the priest represents the people to God. I see in this some of what it means that Christ is my High Priest. Am I really that Beautiful? Am I really that Holy? Am I really full of Glory? Lord, do you really represent me this way? Is that who I am to You?
Oh, man! Thank you Lord Jesus that you bring me to the Father in perfection.
(How glad I am that God spoke at length about clothing.)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Way of the Wayward
Jacob! At the moment we read "the children struggled" in Gen 25:22 we are introduced to his character. The drama unfolds from the very beginning. At his birth, he was holding onto Esau's heel. So, he garnered the name "Jacob" which means "heel catcher," "supplanter," "trickster."
He is a man of industry, of endurance. He is also a man who deceives and connives his way through his days. A man filled with wayward energy.
Self-advancement colored his early years.
Jacob grabbed the family birthright. He swindled his brother when his brother had no food. (25:31)
Jacob lied to get the family blessing. He deceived his father when his father could not see. (27:24)
Jacob finagled Laban to get strong sheep. He developed an involved and deceptive plan to increase his flocks at the expense of Laban's. (30:42)
Self-pity colored his later years.
"You have brought trouble on me by making me odious . . they will gather together against me and attack me and I shall be destroyed, I and my household." (34:30)
he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." (37:35)
"all these things are against me." (42:36)
"then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow." (42:38)
"And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." (43:14)
"few and unpleasant have been the years of my life" (47:9)
So much self -
How can a man like this be loved so much of God?
How can a man like this be the father of a nation?
How can a man like this play such a prominent role for God?
Exactly!
(Thank you Lord)
He is a man of industry, of endurance. He is also a man who deceives and connives his way through his days. A man filled with wayward energy.
Self-advancement colored his early years.
Jacob grabbed the family birthright. He swindled his brother when his brother had no food. (25:31)
Jacob lied to get the family blessing. He deceived his father when his father could not see. (27:24)
Jacob finagled Laban to get strong sheep. He developed an involved and deceptive plan to increase his flocks at the expense of Laban's. (30:42)
Self-pity colored his later years.
"You have brought trouble on me by making me odious . . they will gather together against me and attack me and I shall be destroyed, I and my household." (34:30)
he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." (37:35)
"all these things are against me." (42:36)
"then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow." (42:38)
"And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." (43:14)
"few and unpleasant have been the years of my life" (47:9)
So much self -
How can a man like this be loved so much of God?
How can a man like this be the father of a nation?
How can a man like this play such a prominent role for God?
Exactly!
(Thank you Lord)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Red Light, Green Light
Several years ago I read through the Bible in one year. I was so blessed by that adventure that it is time to do it again. So, leaving off from the middle of John, we begin in Genesis. About 3.4 chapters per week should do it.
The book of beginnings as it is known. Genesis. How it all began - at least what God was pleased to reveal to us about how it all began. And that of course is exactly what we need to know. What may be unclear to us is certainly not unclear to God. We may trust the Spirit of God to enlighten as we read. Digging deep as we are able. The gems are sometimes deep.
As we read through the first 10 chapters of Genesis we find the blazing beginning is stunned by the fateful choice of Adam and Eve. Satan deceived the beautiful couple by taking a portion of God's word and adjusting it to fit his own designs. Subtle. After chapter 3 we find instant and ongoing violence, failure and rebellion. God addresses the festering evil gripping humanity by putting up barriers / hindrances or red lights we might say.
First, we find the curses in Gen 3 - Satan is limited to the belly position eating dust and the awareness of coming judgment. Eve is held in check by pain in childbirth and tension with her husband. Adam is hindered by the struggle to provide food for himself and his family. Finally, God drove the couple out of the garden and put a big "red light" preventing them from returning. In Gen 4, Cain's judgment is to forever wander - the spirit of restlessness that we find in Satan himself (Job 1:7, 2:2). Gen 6-9 tells of the flood where God destroyed "all flesh" because they had corrupted their way on the earth. A very bright red light there. Gen 11 describes the great language barrier that God placed among men who were rebellious. Instead of spreading out to fill the earth as commanded in 9:1, they gathered and schemed their own plan to make themselves great in their own eyes. Stop this! Stop that! Check that! No further there! NO!
We love Daddy for this. But in this, we see the relentless drive of man to rebel against God and live for self.
Then, we read words the spirit of which we have never heard before. Our hearts breathe at verse one of chapter 12. God initiates. God does something. He speaks! He launches His plan of putting an end to all of this corruption seen in the human race . . in people . . in you and in me.
NOW, the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth . . and I will make . . "
The words will stand for all eternity. A green light! Where will the "Go" go?
(Thank you Lord)
The book of beginnings as it is known. Genesis. How it all began - at least what God was pleased to reveal to us about how it all began. And that of course is exactly what we need to know. What may be unclear to us is certainly not unclear to God. We may trust the Spirit of God to enlighten as we read. Digging deep as we are able. The gems are sometimes deep.
As we read through the first 10 chapters of Genesis we find the blazing beginning is stunned by the fateful choice of Adam and Eve. Satan deceived the beautiful couple by taking a portion of God's word and adjusting it to fit his own designs. Subtle. After chapter 3 we find instant and ongoing violence, failure and rebellion. God addresses the festering evil gripping humanity by putting up barriers / hindrances or red lights we might say.
First, we find the curses in Gen 3 - Satan is limited to the belly position eating dust and the awareness of coming judgment. Eve is held in check by pain in childbirth and tension with her husband. Adam is hindered by the struggle to provide food for himself and his family. Finally, God drove the couple out of the garden and put a big "red light" preventing them from returning. In Gen 4, Cain's judgment is to forever wander - the spirit of restlessness that we find in Satan himself (Job 1:7, 2:2). Gen 6-9 tells of the flood where God destroyed "all flesh" because they had corrupted their way on the earth. A very bright red light there. Gen 11 describes the great language barrier that God placed among men who were rebellious. Instead of spreading out to fill the earth as commanded in 9:1, they gathered and schemed their own plan to make themselves great in their own eyes. Stop this! Stop that! Check that! No further there! NO!
We love Daddy for this. But in this, we see the relentless drive of man to rebel against God and live for self.
Then, we read words the spirit of which we have never heard before. Our hearts breathe at verse one of chapter 12. God initiates. God does something. He speaks! He launches His plan of putting an end to all of this corruption seen in the human race . . in people . . in you and in me.
NOW, the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth . . and I will make . . "
The words will stand for all eternity. A green light! Where will the "Go" go?
(Thank you Lord)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)