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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 6, 2023 15:10:36 GMT
Day 6 (Genesis 19-21)
In chapter 19, the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, I can’t help but see how today's world is becoming a lot like that. Wicked, every abomination being permissible. When Lot saw the angels he invited them to stay with him. (it is my understanding that when you had someone stay under your roof, it meant you protected them as well.) The law of hospitality applied. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. I believe that Lot knew what the men of the town were like and did not want anything to happen to these strangers. (I’m not sure if I would have offered up my daughters though.) But maybe Lot knew the townsmen only wanted men.. Not sure. When the angels told Lot they were going to destroy the town, Lot was a little slow in going; even after choosing the small town as a sanctuary city. (I would have grabbed my family and ran!) Lot’s wife seemed to be a disobedient woman as she was warned not to look back and yet she did. And for her disobedience she was turned into a pillar of salt. (She chose a worldly life over salvation.) In Chapter 20, Abraham is again telling people that Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. (kind of like when we revisit our old sins.) Abimelek, without knowing it, almost sinned, but interceded and did not let him sin. And came to him in a dream and revealed the truth about Sarah. In chapter 21, the birth of Isaac, Sarah said; “God has brought me laughter.” (I wonder if she may have been laughing at her own folly of thinking God could not give her a child in her old age.) Either way, everybody had a good laugh. Ok, I’m starting to get lengthy… time for someone else to post.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 6, 2023 15:12:13 GMT
Day 6 (Genesis 19-21)
In chapter 19, the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, I can’t help but see how today's world is becoming a lot like that. Wicked, every abomination being permissible. When Lot saw the angels he invited them to stay with him. (it is my understanding that when you had someone stay under your roof, it meant you protected them as well.) The law of hospitality applied. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. I believe that Lot knew what the men of the town were like and did not want anything to happen to these strangers. (I’m not sure if I would have offered up my daughters though.) But maybe Lot knew the townsmen only wanted men.. Not sure. When the angels told Lot they were going to destroy the town, Lot was a little slow in going; even after choosing the small town as a sanctuary city. (I would have grabbed my family and ran!) Lot’s wife seemed to be a disobedient woman as she was warned not to look back and yet she did. And for her disobedience she was turned into a pillar of salt. (She chose a worldly life over salvation.) In Chapter 20, Abraham is again telling people that Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. (kind of like when we revisit our old sins.) Abimelek, without knowing it, almost sinned, but interceded and did not let him sin. And came to him in a dream and revealed the truth about Sarah. In chapter 21, the birth of Isaac, Sarah said; “God has brought me laughter.” (I wonder if she may have been laughing at her own folly of thinking God could not give her a child in her old age.) Either way, everybody had a good laugh. Ok, I’m starting to get lengthy… time for someone else to post.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 6, 2023 15:13:23 GMT
Day 6 (Genesis 19-21)
In chapter 19, the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, I can’t help but see how today's world is becoming a lot like that. Wicked, every abomination being permissible. When Lot saw the angels he invited them to stay with him. (it is my understanding that when you had someone stay under your roof, it meant you protected them as well.) The law of hospitality applied. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. I believe that Lot knew what the men of the town were like and did not want anything to happen to these strangers. (I’m not sure if I would have offered up my daughters though.) But maybe Lot knew the townsmen only wanted men.. Not sure. When the angels told Lot they were going to destroy the town, Lot was a little slow in going; even after choosing the small town as a sanctuary city. (I would have grabbed my family and ran!) Lot’s wife seemed to be a disobedient woman as she was warned not to look back and yet she did. And for her disobedience she was turned into a pillar of salt. (She chose a worldly life over salvation.) In Chapter 20, Abraham is again telling people that Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. (kind of like when we revisit our old sins.) Abimelek, without knowing it, almost sinned, but interceded and did not let him sin. And came to him in a dream and revealed the truth about Sarah. In chapter 21, the birth of Isaac, Sarah said; “God has brought me laughter.” (I wonder if she may have been laughing at her own folly of thinking God could not give her a child in her old age.) Either way, everybody had a good laugh. Ok, I’m starting to get lengthy… time for someone else to post.
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Post by pastor on Jan 6, 2023 15:22:22 GMT
January 6, 2023
Genesis 19-21
We start off with the story of Lot. Lot is an such an example of what not to do. He thought he could live with sin and not have it affect him. How many people think that they can do this today. I can live with this sin or that sin, I can hang around be friends with those who sin and do not care, but it won’t affect me. The truth is when we hang around sin, it will corrupt.
What amazes me most is verse 16 But he lingered. The angels had already struck the townsmen blind so Lot had seen that. They had already told Lot that they were going to destroy the city. Yet I says “But he lingered” How strong is the pull of sin upon us, that even when we know the outcome we still linger we still pause. How different this is from Abraham’s response to the command to circumcise all his males, which the Scriptures record he did “the very next day”. How strong is sin’s hold on you? Do you linger to stop it, to overcome it, or do you stop it immediately and turn from it.
How merciful is God though – even though Lot lingered in sin, even though he did not want to leave the city, God pushed him out, before God destroyed it. How many times in your life has God pushed you out of a situation that was wrong, even when you got mad at Him for it. That is Mercy. That is Mercy.
Lot’s wife turned back – compare this to Luke 9:62 What does this mean for you, what do you look back upon? Then compare it to Philippians 3:13.
Lot finally ends up in a cave, literally from riches to rags, an example for the ages of what happens when you put yourself first.
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Post by pastor on Jan 7, 2023 14:25:57 GMT
Genesis 22-24
So much to cover in these chapters. The willingness of Abraham to give up his son at God’s command. I cannot imagine that. How many of us reject God when He asked us to give up so much less. Abraham had learned finally that to follow God is the only way, and even when things seem impossible, God will provide.
Again we see Abraham's character when he ask for the field to burry Sarah. He will not accept it as a gift, but pays full price so that nobody can say he took advantage of someone. Isn’t it amazing though that the Hittites, who did not follow God, called Abraham a prince of God. They saw God through the way Abraham lived. How I pray others can praise God because of my life/
Finally in the story of Isaac and Rebekah. Not only did Abraham live by trust in God but his servant did also. He had the boldness to pray specifically for how God would show him which woman God had chosen, Then trusted God enough that when he saw the answer he took it.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 7, 2023 15:09:43 GMT
Day 7 (Genesis 22-24) 12 Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Chapter 22 starts with “The Sacrifice of Isaac”. But is it really? I find the chapter to be more about how God provides for our every need. Abraham was faithfully doing as God had instructed. This had to be hard for him to do. Isaac was considered Abraham’s only son, the son that he loved. But God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, and God “provided” the sacrifice. I can’t help but think of how God did not withhold His only Son, Jesus. Jesus is our lamb of sacrifice, His blood was shed for us. (God provided!) It is God that provides for us every good thing. Everything we have is a blessing from God. from the smallest to the greatest all is provided by God.
I’m stopping here even though there is much more to speak on.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 8, 2023 20:53:59 GMT
Day 8 (Genesis 25-28)
Chapter 25 is where Abraham dies and is buried with his wife Sarah. It is also where Jacob and Esau are born to Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob was the younger twin but he was a schemer, and tricked Esau out of his birthright for a bowl of soup. To me it’s a lot like us trading the treasures of heaven for the shiny trinket the world offers. Chapter 26 we see Isaac passing his wife Rebekah off as his sister; just as Abraham had done with Sarah. And yet God blesses him. Chapter 27 Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac into giving Jacob the blessings meant for Esau. (Hmm.. again food was involved.) This upset Esau greatly; he even threatened to kill Jacob. Chapter 28 Jacob has a dream about a staircase coming down from heaven. In his dream God tells Jacob the his descendants would be like the dust of the earth.
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Post by pastor on Jan 8, 2023 22:47:25 GMT
January 8, 2023
Genesis 25-28
The account of Jacob and Esau once again shows how God can take evil and use it for His glory and His plan. Before they were born God told Rebekah that the older would serve the younger. Now God did not make Esau sell his birthright, or even Jacob ask for it, God did not tell Rebekah to fool her husband so that Jacob could receive Isaacs blessing, all of these things were lies, deceit, and trickery, and yet through them God’s ultimate plan would prevail. How would have God brought about His plan if Jacob did not deceive Esau and Isaac, we will never know. God used what He knew would happen to bring about His plan for Jacob. Rebekah then does not tell Isaac the truth but cries to him until he sends Jacob away.
Did you notice that Isaac did the same thing that his father did? He lied about his wife, and he did it to the same people. Truly the sins of the fathers are passed down to the child. Once again God blesses Isaac just like he did his father.
Jacob has a dream and God speaks to him, and reminds him that he is to serve God alone. God repeats his promise that he made to Abraham. Jacob doesn’t quite get it yet, he says he will serve God if only God meets his conditions.
Boy does Jacob have a lot to learn, and he will.
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Post by pastor on Jan 9, 2023 15:13:59 GMT
January 9, 2023 Genesis 29-31
Let the games begin. We see for the next 20 years, Laban and Jacob try to outdo each other. First Laban tricks Joseph into marrying Leah, and requires another 7 years of labor for Rachel. (even though he allowed Joseph to marry her a week later). The comes the flocks. Laban agrees to give Jacob all the spotted, striped, black or defective then the go the flock and Laban has all of Jacob’s lambs driven three days away so he cannot get to them. So Jacob uses what must have been an old superstition of that time putting certain sticks in front of the lambs when the bred to make more spotted, stripped, and blacken lambs. Notice he also breeds the strong lambs to become spotted, and the weak ones he leaves to be unspotted for Laban. It is 20 years of one upmanship. 20 years of two men wrestling to get the best of one another.
How different this is than the story of Abraham and Lot. Abraham let Lot take advantage and have the good ground. When he rescued Lot he refused to take anything from the king of Sodom. We would not allow the Hittites to give him the ground for Sarah’s burial but insisted on buying it. Abraham trusted God and did not try to get and advantage over others, Jacob was the opposite.
You wonder how God could use a man like Jacob – but God was waiting and soon Jacob would have to wrestle with God himself.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 9, 2023 15:23:28 GMT
Day 9 (Genesis 29-31)
Chapter 29 Remember the reason that Jacob was going to Laban, Rebekah’s brother, was because Esau was threatening to kill him. This was because of Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing. Oh Jacob, always the trickster. Now Jacob meets his beautiful cousin, Rachel, and wants to take her for his wife. So Jacob makes a deal with Laban that he will work for Laban in exchange for Rachel. BUT.. Laban is more of a trickster than Jacob. Laban switches Leah for Rachel. (how Jacob didn’t notice that before he slept with her I don’t know.) but anyway… Laban tells Jacob he can have Rachel if he will continue to work for him. It seems that everytime Jacob thinks he’s winning he finds he is losing again. (The player gets played.) Chapter 30… two women, sisters married to one man. How could this possibly go wrong? Sibling rivalry as well as competing for the same husband; oh yeah, that’s fun…NOT! Notice Rachel did just as Sarah had done; gave her servant to her husband in hopes to build a family. But Jacob not only sleeps with both of his wives but also both of their servants as well. (that’s one way to build a nation I guess.) All of this while Jacob is still working for Laban. (There is a lot I am shipping over so it is not too long.) (like how God increased Jacob’s flock.) Chapter 31 Anyway, God tells Jacob it’s time to leave and go back to his homeland. So Jacob gets his family together and slips off. Laban didn’t like that so much. He chased Jacob down and confronted him about how he left without saying goodbye. Laban also accused Jacob of stealing his household goods, (gods). But Laban searched and could not find them. Because Rachel, the one who had taken them, was sitting on them.
1/9/23
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Post by pastor on Jan 10, 2023 17:36:52 GMT
January 10, 2023 Genesis 32-34
Angels of God met Jacob, he sees two camps of Angels, maybe behind him and in front of him or on either side, but he knows that God is with him. (this reminds me of 2 Kings 6 where Elisha’s servant’s eyes are open and he sees the host of angels surrounding them). We should not be surprised that angels are there, after all Hebrews 1:14 tell us that they are God’s “ministering spirits sent to those who have recministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation? “ We are surrounded by angels all the time for God is always there for His people. Martin Luther wrote about this passage “This, then, is the doctrine which is taught in this passage, that the angels are ministering spirits and servants of creation. They fight for the safety and welfare of the world and the godly, and this is their lower office. Their higher office, however, is to sing “Glory to God in the highest” and “We praise Thee, O God, etc.” In heaven likewise they see the Father’s face (cf. Matt. 18:10). This they do to the glory of God and to their own joy and that of all the believers.” Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 6: Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 31-37. Perhaps the reasons we so seldom see angels today is because we have stopped looking for them.
Verse 9 Finally Jacob has come to a place were he cannot con, trick, or deceive himself out of. He cannot go back because he would break his treaty with Laban and been seen as an attacking army. His brother lies in front of him, there is no way out. So Jacob finally in humility goes to God. I may be mistaken but I think this is the first time Jacob goes first to God, all the other times it was God coming to him first.
Jacob wrestles with God, there comes a point where we all have to get to. The point we wrestle with God. Will I truly trust Him? Will I follow Him wherever? Will I rely upon Him to meet my needs, to guide me, to teach me His ways? We all have to get there, and when we wrestle with God and lost ourselves, we have won.
The story of Dinah shows the evil in the world again, but perhaps it show us what Jacob’s sons were really like. They had grown up watching their father trick and deceive Laban, now they resort to the same type of deception to get advantage over others. We will see this again in how they treat Joseph and lie and deceive their father. For every parent how important it is for us to know that our children learn more from how we act than what we ever tell them.
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Post by pastor on Jan 11, 2023 13:22:11 GMT
January 11 Genesis 35-37
Chapter 35 was a chapter about life, death, and sin. God speaks to Jacob about the lives that will come through him. He will be the father of kings and nations. Then we read of Rachel’s death, Jacobs one true love. Then of Ruben dishonoring his father, sleeping with Bilhah his father’s concubine. Basically his aunt. Yet it seems like Jacob did nothing. Much like King David when his son raped his sister. And life goes on, grief and sin take a bigger bite out of this family.
Chapter 37 introduces Joseph who will be the center of the rest of the book. Joseph is the good child, and the one his father loves. God choose to reveal Joseph’s future in a dream and his brothers and even his own father rebuke him. I am not sure how I would handle it if my son told me that someday I would bow before him.
So his brothers conspired to kill him. Maybe Reuben had grown up a bit but he wants to find a way to save him so he convinces them not to kill him, but while Reuben is gone the rest sell Joseph to a caravan of slavey.
It will be another 15 years before Joseph is a free man, in that time God will mold him, shape him, and bring about the answer to his dream. In the meantime the sins of the brothers keep coming, as we will see tomorrow.
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Post by pastor on Jan 12, 2023 13:52:03 GMT
January 12, 2023 Genesis 38-40
Judah and Tamar – Jacob’s boys are at it again, there is little to none fear of God in their actions. Judah ends up sleeping with her daughter in law, and would have had her killed for her infidelity but thinks nothing of his own. The important part of this story is that Tamar is a gentile, a non-Jew and she becomes part of the line of Jesus. This is one of the wonderful things about Jesus’s linage that God included people from all nations, for Jesus was to come for all nations.
Joseph and Potiphar
Joseph is one of those, (like Job, Daniel, and Jeremiah) that puts us to shame when we complain because things don’t go our way. Sold into slavery by his brothers, taken to a foreign land. You do not hear him complain but rather he serves his master exactly as Paul will write thousands of years later Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people. Ephesians 6:5-7
Joseph serves God by serving Potiphar (sounds like serving God by serving others, yes?) and God blesses both Joseph and Potiphar for it. Things are looking up for Joseph he is making the best of a bad situation when all of a sudden Potiphar’s wife decides she wants Joseph as a lover. Pay attention to how Joseph answers her- it is guidance for us whenever we are tempted So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?” Genesis 39:9 Even now Joseph is serving God. How we need to realize every sin is an evil and a sin against God. There are no harmless actions or sins.
Where does it get Joseph to serve God, put into a dungeon, a pit. Yet God does not forget Joseph, and it is here that God starts building the ramp to take Joseph from literally the pit to the highest point in the kingdom second only to Pharaoh. And God does it with dreams.
In those days God used all kinds of ways to speak to people, nowadays He gave us the Son. Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. Hebrews 1:1-2
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 12, 2023 15:26:22 GMT
Day 12 (Genesis 38-40)
Trickery and deceit, that should be the title of these three chapters. Chapter 38, in this Judah’s son Onan was to take his dead brother’s wife, Tamar and raise up offspring. BUT… Onan deceitfully decided not to have children with her. This was wicked in God’s eyes. So Onan died. Now Judah saw that two of his sons had died. Having only one son left, Shelah, so he told Tamar that when Shelah grew up he would be her husband. (which was a lie.) Now Tamar after a long time figured out Judah’s scheme. She decided to do a little trickery of her own. She tricked Judah into sleeping with her and impregnating her. (I can’t help but wonder why all these guys are so quick to jump into bed with strange women.) At first when Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant he was going to have her killed. BUT… when he found out she was carrying his child, he could not.
Chapter 39.. More trickery and deceit. Joseph was down in Egypt land, being blessed by God’s hand. Everything Joseph was put in charge of prospered and grew. BUT…. Potiphar’s wife had eyes for Joseph. Her lustful desires would soon cause much trouble for Joseph. She kept telling Joseph to come to bed with her. But Joseph refused saying “how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God. (notice the sin was against God) Now that seemed to make the lady angry. So she did some trickery of her own that put Joseph in prison. But the trickery doesn't end there.
Even while in prison God blessed Joseph, and Joseph was put in charge of all those held in prison. (Joseph was a take charge kind of guy.)
Chapter 40…. Even more trickery and deceit. The cupbearer & the baker Both had dreams which Joseph interpreted for them. One was good, the other not so much. Ok I won’t spoil the story for you. You can read for yourself what happens. BUT… the Cupbearer had a trick of his own.
1/12/23
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Post by pastor on Jan 13, 2023 16:15:30 GMT
January 13, 2023
Genesis 41-42
It has been two more years of living in the dungeon, two more years when it seems that once again Joseph is forgotten. How many times have you felt forgotten by God and by others. Yet God is still working, it was not God’s time yet, what more Joseph needed to learn or what more God had to prepare for His plan we do not know, but God always works on His time.
Joseph is called to come before the Pharaoh, the king, who on a whim could kill him, and is asked can you tell me what me dream means? Joseph does not hesitates but proclaims that only God can interpret dream, and proclaims in faith that God will. There is no doubt in Joseph’s mind that God is behind this, maybe that is what took so many years to bring Joseph to the point that no matter what he would trust God.
Notice in Joseph’s answer twice more he gives God the glory, and when he is done Pharaoh honors God by saying “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God.” (notice it is God not gods) Pharaoh knew his god’s could not do this.
Joseph was 17 when he was sold, and 30 when he was elevated. For 13 years God molded Joseph so he would be ready when the time came.
It is fascinating to me in chapter 42 when Joseph accuses them of being spies and holds them, the speak to each other about the fact that they are deserving of this because of what they had done to their brother (Joseph). 13 years later and the guilt is still with them, Guilt never ends, unless it is cleansed by the blood of Christ.
I can understand why Jacob was so reluctant to let Benjamin go. He already lost one. Is this not much like God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Jacob did not have the trust that his grandfather had.
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