Episode 299 - "Jacob's wrestling match" - Genesis 32:13-32

Gen. 32:13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” 19 He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, 20 and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

Gen. 32:22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Jacob knows that one of his greatest questions or challenges in returning home is making peace, if possible, with his brother Esau. Therefore, Jacob is pulling out all the stops in his plan to appease Esau. It would be easy to suggest that Jacob is not trusting the LORD to protect him. But, I think Jacob is just being wise here. He sends a succession of gifts ahead of him to meet Esau. Whereas Esau’s desire for retribution might be rekindled, knowing that Jacob was returning home after all these years, he might have been angered even more with the first wave of gifts. Yet, the succession of these gifts surely sent a message that Jacob wanted peace and would spare no expense to secure that peace. Jacob is certainly expecting this strategy to effectively subdue Esau’s wrath (v. 20).

Genesis 32:22-23 appears to suggest that Jacob wasn’t 100 percent confident his plan would work and therefore, separated his family from where he would sleep in an effort to protect them from harm by Esau’s men.

In the place where Jacob camped alone, the text simply states that a man wrestled with Jacob (v.24). Most scholars believe this was an angel who appeared as a man. If that’s the case, shouldn’t an angel have tremendous power and easily defeat Jacob? Why were they wrestling in the first place? These kinds of questions have puzzled me as long as I can remember. This is where our principle of reading the context can help lead us to a reasonable and often a “safe” understanding of what’s happening in the text.

Notice how the “man” appears to dislocate Jacob’s hip, and yet Jacob will not let him go. Jacob tells him, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (v. 26). The man’s response is to ask Jacob his name. Wouldn’t an angel know his name? Perhaps. But again, the context then reveals that this man has the authority to give Jacob the new name of Israel because Jacob “has struggled with God and men and has prevailed” (v. 28). There’s an understatement of a lifetime. Clearly, this man is some kind of agent from the LORD because he has knowledge and authority from God.

Jacob then asks him his name, and the man’s response is “Why is it that you ask my name” (v. 29)? I’m not sure if this is rhetorical, meaning “You should know who I am,” or possibly “Does it matter that you know my name because you know who sent me?”

The man then blessed Jacob and Jacob named the place Peniel because, he explained, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered” (v. 30). It would seem from this context that the “man” was actually a theophany or Christophany. (An appearance of God, or Jesus prior to his incarnation.)

The bottom line is that this experience was to affirm God’s presence with Jacob and make his faith more sure. Whatever insecurities Jacob has with the LORD, the LORD is patiently addressing. What a gracious God. This is one more example, contrary to the views of some, the God of the Old Testament is not evil and sadistic.

Episode298 - "Jacob prepares to meet Esau" - Genesis 32:1-12

Gen. 32:1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Gen. 32:3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

Gen. 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

Gen. 32:9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

Let’s do a quick review of what’s happened in our study in recent weeks. Jacob had finally had enough of Laban cheating him, and the LORD told him to return to his homeland. Jacob, with his wives’ support, decided to leave without telling his father-in-law Laban. When Laban found out that Jacob had fled with his wives, Laban’s daughters, and everything else he had, Laban went after him with a militia. When Laban caught up with him, he leveled his complaints at Jacob, and it culminated with the accusation that Jacob had stolen Laban’s household gods. Rachel had stolen them, but Jacob was unaware of it and invited Laban to search for them. Rachel cleverly hid them. Then, Jacob had words for Laban, and, for whatever reason, it seemed to have a humbling effect on Laban. The two made a covenant of peace, and Laban returned home.

Now Jacob is continuing his journey back to his homeland. Genesis 32:1-2 records that “angels of God met him.” Do you remember when Jacob encountered angels before? It was when Jacob had left home on the run from the vengeance of his brother Esau. Jacob had lain down and fallen asleep and had a dream of a stairway extending from heaven down to earth, and angels were descending and ascending on this stairway (Gen 28). The LORD spoke to him and promised to protect him, provide for him, and ultimately return him to the promised land. When Jacob awoke, he recognized the LORD had spoken to him and called the place Bethel (House of God). So, if that was God’s house, Jacob says, “This is God’s camp” (Gen 32:2) and calls this place Mahanaim (Two camps).

These first two verses seem out of place in relation to what follows, which reveals that Jacob, having resolved his conflict with Laban, now has to interact with Esau, who had vowed to kill him after their father Isaac's death. Why is it important that Jacob sees these angels? I believe there can only be one reason, and that is that God is reminding Jacob of the promises he made to him twenty years earlier when he was on the run from Esau. This had to be an encouragement to Jacob.

In Genesis 32:3-5 Jacob sends servants ahead of their caravan to meet Esau with the purpose of finding out whether he’s cooled off or to possibly appease Esau. But, beginning in verse 6, the messengers return with the message that Esau is on his way with four hundred men. That is not encouraging, and Jacob plans his strategy to ideally protect some of his camp by dividing them into two camps. Therefore, if Esau’s army were to slaughter one camp, the other might escape. But Jacob is not trusting only in his plans. Jacob has come a long way in his faith through God’s work in his life over the past 20 years. Jacob prayed to the LORD and repeated the LORD’s promise to him 20 years earlier, and called upon him to deliver. He even revealed his own fear, his vulnerability, and entreated the LORD to deliver him from Esau’s wrath.

I love this! I love this picture of faith, which, first and foremost, appeals to God’s word. Faith has no pride within it. It’s humility that confesses we are weak and acknowledges our need for God’s help. Faith is never blind. It is always based upon God’s self-revelation. I cannot say, “If you have enough faith, God will give you a new car. God hasn’t promised to give anyone a new car. That’s called wishful thinking, not faith. God does not promise to keep us from any or every form of suffering and death. But God does promise to give you eternal life by faith in Jesus, the author of life. We will die. But according to God’s promise, Jesus will return and raise us to eternal life with the LORD. We may experience fears. Confess that to the LORD. He can take it.

Episode 296 "Jacob flees from Laban" - Genesis 31:17-42

Gen. 31:17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20 And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

Gen. 31:22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Gen. 31:25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Gen. 31:33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.

Gen. 31:36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37 For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. 39 What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”

With his wives on board with his plans to leave and return to his homeland, Jacob made a secretive exit with all his family and possessions. He would have to know that Laban would ultimately find out and catch up with them. Laban found out after three days. The reader should expect this to create a conflict, and that Laban is not going to let them go without some kind of interaction.

To heighten the conflict even more, the reader is informed that Rachael stole her father’s “household gods” (Gen 31:19), but Jacob did not know that (v. 32). This is problematic on multiple levels. First, it actually is something that belongs to Laban, and Jacob has neither the desire nor the right to have them. In fact, as we’ll read later in Genesis, idols have no business among God’s people.

Sure enough, Laban took off in pursuit, taking kinsmen with him. I’m suspecting that Laban feared that an armed conflict might occur. He pursued after them for seven days, and as he got close to Jacob’s caravan, the LORD spoke to Laban and told him not to say anything good or bad to him (v. 24).

When Laban finally caught up to Jacob, his words were almost laughable. “Why did you trick me?” “Why have you driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?” “I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre.” (vv. 26-27) What a great guy and father, Laban is! (As his daughters roll their eyes.) The fact is, Laban would never have willingly let them go.

Laban finally turns to some truth-speaking when he confesses that “the God of your father” gave me a message last night that I should not “say anything to Jacob, either good or bad” (v. 29). He then asks the question, “Why did you steal my gods” (v.30)? Jacob certainly has no clue that Rachael stole and has the gods because he responds that the one who has them “will not live” (v. 31). He would not say that about the wife that he loves.

Jacob tells Laban to search his group and take whatever belongs to him. But Rachael had hidden them in the camel’s saddle on which she sat, and told her father that it was her time of the month, and to excuse her for not getting off the camel.

When Laban could not find them, it was Jacob’s turn to rail against Laban. He recounts how he had served Laban all these years and how Laban has benefited from his service. He reminds Laban that he’d served him for fourteen years in exchange for the right to marry his daughters. He reminds Laban that in spite of all that he’s done for Laban, Laban had changed his wages ten times. Finally, Jacob’s confession comes down to verse 42: “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”

The important thing about this history between Laban and Jacob is not Laban or Jacob. It is about the God of Abraham and Isaac, who has graciously blessed and protected Jacob and has chosen to reveal himself to Laban. Laban needs to forget about his household gods and trust in the God of Abraham and Isaac. He is becoming the God of Jacob as well.

I think there’s an important truth revealed in this story that God doesn’t wait for us to come to him to bestow blessing upon people. God is a patient God who reveals himself in various ways and show his kindness in order to get our attention so that we will turn to him. This story is a picture of God’s grace to both Laban and Jacob.

Episode 295 - "Whatever God says to you, do!" - Genesis 31:1-16

Gen. 31:1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Gen. 31:4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

In our last episode, we saw how the seed of a new conflict had been sown with Laban removing the spotted, striped, and other sheep and goats that would belong to Jacob according to the agreement between Laban and Jacob. Laban was trying to cheat Jacob out of his portion of the livestock in the hope that it would force Jacob to continue working for him. Leaving Jacob with only the majority of solid-colored sheep and goats, Jacob put peeled sticks near water troughs where the animals would breed in the belief that the visual element of the striped or speckled sticks would affect the coats of the offspring. I’m highly suspicious of the efficacy of such an approach. But I think ultimately, Jacob was trusting the LORD to give him sheep and goats. This section affirms that the LORD did give him bountiful livestock and wealth and that Jacob acknowledges that it all came from the LORD.

This story continues with a rise in the conflict. Jacob hears Laban’s sons complaining that Jacob has essentially stolen all their livestock and family wealth and that his favor with Laban is on the decline. How ironic! Laban had already confessed that his success had been due to the LORD’s presence with Jacob. He then stole from Jacob the animals that they’d agreed would be Jacob’s. Now, he and his sons are blaming Jacob for what they were guilty of themselves.

Jacob now receives a message from the LORD to go home and an affirmation that the LORD will be with him. In other words, the LORD is showing Jacob that he is in control, will fulfill all the promises he’s made to him, and will protect him.

What I love about the Scriptures is that they don’t portray the main characters as people with superpowers. Instead, they often display their humanity. When we read about their thoughts, words, and actions, we realize they are not so different from us. Jacob understands that he has to get his wives on board with his exit plan. He’s asking that they leave their home, and he’s not sure how that’s going to sit with them. Given their own conflict between themselves over Jacob’s attention, this could be another opportunity for one or both of them to create a problem.

He gave an account of the history between him and Laban and how Laban had cheated him multiple times. More importantly, Jacob tells them what God has done. God has been with him (v. 5), God has protected him (v. 7), and God (not Jacob) has taken away Laban’s flocks and given them to Jacob (v.9). He continues to explain what God has done and is directing him to leave.

What is their response? “Whatever God has said to you, do” (v. 16). Wow! Talk about a miracle. They are in full agreement. It’s clear from the text that they have their own well-being in mind because of how the LORD has dealt with Laban and Jacob both. They have the sense that it’s better for them to go with the man to whom God has shown favor. I can’t help but believe that God has used their own need of self-preservation to confess truth, that Jacob should obey the LORD.

What we witness in this story is how the promise God made to Abraham is continuing to be fulfilled exactly as the LORD had promised. God’s promise to bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (Gen 12:3) is bearing itself out again in Jacob’s life. God’s promises to Jacob as he left home are being fulfilled exactly as the LORD had promised. God is faithful to his word.

Episode 288 - "Abimelech recognized God's presence with Isaac" - Genesis 26:17-35

So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Gen. 26:23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Gen. 26:26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Gen. 26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

This is the second half of a two-part story. In our last episode, a famine had driven Isaac to find a better place to shepherd his flocks and herds. The LORD instructed him not to go to Egypt. So, he stayed in the area where the Philistines were, and he tried the same strategy his father, Abraham, had used to protect himself: he told the Philistines that his wife, Rebekah, was his sister. King Abimelech quickly discovered the truth and instructed his citizens to leave Isaac and Rebekah alone.

Isaac continued to dwell there, and the LORD blessed him and caused him to become very wealthy. This evoked jealousy among the Philistines, and so Abimelech told him to leave the area.

As we pick up the story in verse 17, we see that the Philistines were doing everything in their power to force him to move farther away. They kept filling up the wells where Isaac was keeping his flocks and herds, so that they had no water. Finally, Isaac’s workers dug a well, and the Philistines left it alone. Isaac credited the LORD for “making room for him” in the land (Gen 26:22). He went up to Beersheba, where the LORD appeared to him and reaffirmed his covenant promise that he had made with his father Abraham. Isaac built an altar and worshipped the LORD.

The next thing that happened was that Abimelech, along with his military commander and an advisor, went to visit Isaac. I’m sure Isaac was thinking, “What now?” It’s pretty evident in his words in verse 27. To paraphrase, “What are you doing here? You hate me and kicked me out of your region.”

Abimelech strikes me as a quick learner. It seems to me that he had Isaac leave to ease the political situation with his citizens, who were jealous of Isaac’s success. But his response to Isaac’s question acknowledges that the LORD was with Isaac. Abimelech and his top leaders want to ensure that, although they had Isaac leave their area, they do not want to be at odds with Isaac and his God. So, they made a covenant of peace with Isaac. This peaceful relationship between the Philistines and the people of the Abrahamic covenant would not last forever. But for now, the LORD was establishing Abraham’s descendants in the land of Canaan in a peaceful existence.

The story quickly turns to his son Esau. If you recall, Esau was the older son who readily sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. Here, Moses writes that Esau took two wives, and both of them were daughters of Hittites. The whole purpose of this little detail is to show how Esau stands in contrast to Abraham and Isaac. Abraham made sure that Isaac’s wife was not a local girl who worshipped the various gods of the people in the land. Esau takes his wives with no consideration for their values. Moses writes that these daughters-in-law made life “bitter for Isaac and Rebekah” (v. 35).

What stands out to me most in this story is how the LORD makes himself known, and when people recognize that, they have choices to make. Do I want to be in harmony with this God and his people (such as Abimelech did with Isaac), or do I just want to do whatever I want with no consideration of the consequences (as Esau)?

Episode 278 - "The LORD does what he said he would do" - Genesis 21:1-7

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

I hate to treat these first seven verses of Genesis 21 by themselves because what we have here is just part of the story. Yet this section reveals important theological truth for us to understand today, and I don’t want to gloss over it.

Notice verse one, “The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. What is this revealing? Who was the original audience, and why would they need to know this? The answer to this latter question is the Israelites whose parents came out of Egypt and who themselves were about to be led into the land God had promised Abraham and his descendants. Their parents had witnessed God do amazing things but quickly and repeatedly fell into disobedience. They wouldn’t consistently obey what the LORD told them to do. They did not trust him. It was important for this generation who was entering into the Promised Land to trust and obey the LORD.

This first verse strongly affirms that the LORD is faithful to do what he says he will do and fulfill his promises. Is that important for people who identify with the LORD today? Absolutely! Verse 2 continues to affirm that the LORD’s fulfillment of his promise matches the timing of the fulfillment as well. The LORD left no ambiguity as to what he would do, and he acted in exact accordance with that promise.

Verses 3-4 also reveal something very important in the story, for the understanding of the Israelites entering the land and for us today. Abraham responded to the LORD’s fulfilling his promise by obeying the LORD’s command to circumcise his son Isaac. That was the sign of the covenant the LORD made with Abraham. The right heart or attitude of obedience to the LORD should be one of desire and willingness. It should not be obeying as though out of duress. It seems to me that the spirit of both Abraham and Sarah is one of gratitude and amazement at what the LORD has done for them by giving them this miracle son. The way Moses tells this story makes it feel like Abraham didn’t waste any time responding in obedience to the LORD because of what the LORD did for them. Moses reminds his audience of the miracle quality of Isaac’s birth by stating that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. (v. 5)

Do you remember what happened when the LORD visited Abraham and Sarah at their tent and revealed that Sarah would have a son by Abraham about the same time the next year? Sarah laughed. The context of that scene suggests that skepticism was coincidental with her laughter.

But now I hear a sense of amazement and joy. She laughs because it’s so unlikely for a 90-year-old woman to have a child, much less if the man is 100. It’s funny. I laugh, too, when thinking about it. Just as long as it doesn’t happen to my wife and me. We would not find that too funny.

We have some good thoughts for this week. The LORD is faithful to his word and promises. In light of who the LORD is and what he does, we should obey him with joy and amazement.

Episode 247 - "Noah did all the LORD commanded him" - Genesis 6:11-22

Gen. 6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

OK. Sometimes, I pick a few verses and say a lot about them. Now is the occasion to pick a more extensive text and say relatively little. Why? In either case, the purpose is to highlight what’s important. To begin with, let’s begin by exercising one of my favorite interpretive questions. Do you see anything repeated? We ask that because repetition often brings emphasis. Here’s a hint. Read or listen through this text again and listen for what sounds like hyperbole, words that describe extreme quantity or degrees of something.

The setting of this sub-narrative is a repetition and emphasis of what has already been described earlier in chapter six. The point the author is clearly making is how bad people had become in the days of Noah. Verse 13 records, “the earth was filled with violence.” It paints a pretty graphic scene for us, doesn’t it? But the word I’m thinking about in particular is the word “all.” Verse 12 says, “for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth,” and God’s response to that in verse 13, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh.” The extent of the wickedness and violence evident by humanity at that time was evoking a corresponding response of judgment by the LORD.

Why is this important to observe and consider? I believe it’s easy for people to downplay the seriousness or extent of the human condition to not act according to God’s character. We think, “Surely it wasn’t that bad.” The subsequent thought could then easily be, “That seems a bit of a harsh response by God.” My question is, “What are we doing when we entertain those thoughts?” Fundamentally, we make ourselves to be God. We decide that we can adequately judge what is right or wrong, and then we act as though we are God’s judge. Perhaps it’s better to read this and think, “Wow! What would that look like in our world right now if the earth was absolutely ‘filled with violence?’” That would be horrible, wouldn’t it? Clearly, things had come a long way from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve’s simple act of disobedience had a significant impact far beyond themselves. I think the same thing holds true for us today. Our simple acts of disobedience can have a significant negative impact on others.

The next thing that stands out to me is the specific details of how the ark should be built. Why is this important? Scholars of ancient cultures point out that there are cataclysmic flood stories in various cultures and suggest that this story is borrowed from another culture. They suggest that a flood story is simply a fictional story that is important in those cultures for one reason or another. But one has to ask themselves what the purpose would be of the LORD instructing Noah to make it of gopher wood, have three decks, and construct it according to very specific dimensions. It seems to me that in a world that had moved so far from following the LORD, the fact that God gave very specific commands concerning the construction of this ark and Noah “did all that God commanded him” (notice the all again) reveals that these details are historical and this isn’t early fantasy/adventure literature. It’s a story about humanity’s unfaithfulness to the LORD, the LORD’s sovereign judgment upon their violence, Noah’s faithfulness to obey the LORD, and the LORD’s faithfulness to preserve life and blessing.

This last element of the LORD’s faithfulness is revealed in the covenant he promised to establish with Noah. A covenant is a solemn promise by which the covenant maker accepts a curse upon themselves if they do not fulfill their part of the covenant. In this case, God is taking sole responsibility for the covenant. Notice that this covenant does not just promise that Noah and his family will survive the flood. But in his detailed instructions for this ark, the LORD commands that male and female of every animal come into the ark, suggesting the LORD has long-term plans for reestablishing a continuance of life on the earth as the LORD had planned it.

This story reveals the holiness and righteousness of the LORD. While the LORD is patient, he will not tolerate injustice and violence indefinitely. In his sovereign authority, it is his right to bring judgment upon violations against his righteous standard. Yet the LORD will preserve the righteous as he did with Noah. These principles remain true for us today. As we witness the violence and injustices in our world today, we can be confident that God will someday judge the earth again but will deliver those he deems righteous.

Episode 243 - "God appoints a son" Genesis 4:25-26

Gen. 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

So last week, we read about what happened through rebellious Cain’s descendants. To put it briefly, the narrative describes it as a “like father, like son” outcome. We are left wondering what hope there is for “the seed of the woman” to crush the head of the serpent. Abel, whose worship was accepted by the LORD, was dead, and Cain’s descendant Lamech, also a murderer, demonstrates even a greater defiance and mocking of God than Cain. This heightens the crisis of humanity’s distance from the presence and fellowship with the LORD.

As chapter four closes with these two verses, it sets up a genealogy of Adam in chapter five that advances the greater narrative in the direction of hope. It is sometimes amusingly said that the only command from the LORD that people have faithfully obeyed is “be fruitful and multiply.” So, Adam and Eve have not failed in this command and have another son. They exercise their God-given authority to name this son Seth. Notice that our text offers an explanation for his name, “for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.’” (Gen 4:25b) How does this explanation fit with this name? The name “Seth” in Hebrew sounds almost exactly like the word that means “appointed.” Let’s stop for a minute and reflect upon the importance of this revelation.

From the standpoint of the greater narrative, this recognizes the crisis that I just identified. Righteous Abel is dead, and Cain and his line continue on a path of rebellion against the LORD. The narrator reveals that Eve identified the problem but somehow recognized that this son had been appointed by the LORD to replace the righteous Abel. How did she know that? Did she just assume it, or did the LORD somehow reveal that to them? It’s not clear from the text. I am inclined to think that if the LORD felt the need to specifically explain that to them, it would be in our Scriptures. Therefore, it seems to me that Eve is drawing this conclusion based on God’s previous revelation and promise that she would have a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent. Why is this important to us? Eve has learned a hard lesson in not only listening to what God says but trusting that the LORD will fulfill his promises. This is beautiful in that Eve is learning about grace. Even though she has messed up, and it has had tragic consequences, she recognizes that God has not disowned her and reneged on his promises. His provision of this son is a gift to her, but also a divine provision to ultimately bring fulfillment of his promise, proving that he is faithful to his word. Awesome, isn’t it?

What do you think? Am I reading too much into this? Consider the next verse. Seth has a son Enosh, and the narrator tells us, “At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” (Gen 4:26) Is this not the narrator reinforcing how this appointed line trusts in the LORD? I think so. Our hope in the “seed” is sustained. The crisis is mitigated for now.

Our lesson is to know God’s word and trust that he is good, faithful, and able to fulfill his promise to redeem us to his good plan and life with God.

Episode 167 - "God is faithful" - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In these few years I’ve been producing this blog and podcast, we covered the Gospel of John and, most recently, the Epistle of James. It’s time to walk through one of the Apostle Paul’s letters. This is the first of two letters to the Christians at Corinth that is included in our New Testament canon. The style of the introductory verses is very common in Paul’s letters. He identifies himself and his role as an apostle through the divine will and “call” of God. Paul is not one of the twelve who were with Jesus through his earthly ministry. We don’t get to know anything about Paul until we get to the book of Acts. Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus to heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles at Pentecost, which is the initiating event for the church. It’s not long before we read about an antagonist of Christianity who is a Jewish leader named Saul. Saul participated in the stoning of Stephen, a follower of Christ, and sought to persecute as many Christians as possible. On a journey to Damascus for the purpose of arresting Christians, Jesus appeared in a bright light and spoke to Saul from heaven, and Saul became a follower of Christ. His name was changed to Paul. (See Acts 7-9) He is the most prolific author of our New Testament books.

Paul introduced himself as an apostle, but specifying this role is not something he chose or sought himself. He was called by God to fulfill this role. He mentions a brother in Christ named Sosthenes as well as though he has something to contribute to this written message that has been delivered to them. There is no indication I’m aware of regarding Sosthenes’ contribution to the letter. However, in Acts 18:1-17 we read about Paul’s first recorded trip to and ministry among the people he is now writing to. We discover that Sosthenes was with Paul and had been beaten by Jews for their witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul had been there for around eighteen months, teaching people about Jesus. Maybe Paul mentions Sosthenes's name to remind these Corinthian believers what he and Sosthenes invested in them to get their attention.

After introducing himself, he addresses his readers with specific statements about who they are. First of all, they are “the church of God at Corinth.” They are “God’s assembly.” The primary thing these people have in common besides their residence in Corinth is that they are brought together in fellowship by God's will. Furthermore, they are sanctified in Christ Jesus. The word “sanctified” means set apart for a holy purpose. Followers of Jesus are in Christ intended for God’s holy purpose. He adds these believers are “called to be saints (or holy) together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 2) We may have local fellowships of Christ followers. But we are also part of a greater fellowship of everyone everywhere who follows Jesus. This should remind us that by trusting in Jesus, we have been intentionally set apart for God’s purposes, and our lives should reflect the holiness to which God has called us.

Paul expresses his blessing to them of God’s grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful thing to know that God wants peace with us and intends to bless us with his grace.

Paul then explained that he always gives thanks because God’s grace to them was evident in how they had been “enriched in him (Christ Jesus) in all speech and knowledge” (v. 5), and they did not lack any gift. (v. 6) What does this mean? It appears to me that when he says in verse 6, “even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,” he means that as they believed the gospel and the word taught them as Paul discipled them, he witnessed how the Holy Spirit enabled them in ways of understanding and communication so that they could encourage, and teach others as well. That’s how the testimony of Christ was confirmed. The work of the Holy Spirit in their lives was obvious. This affirmation by Paul is intended to encourage them. He tells them they are not lacking any gift “as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (vs. 7-8) The point is that God is with his people. He will provide what they need.

He concludes his introduction and thanksgiving in verse 9 by saying, “God is faithful.” Paul understands that these believers were facing challenges and needed encouragement by reminding them that God has not abandoned them. His grace and peace are extended to them. He has enabled them through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we are to be holy and focused on Him.

Paul is about to chastise them for getting off track. So, he began this letter by reminding them of what God had done for them and his purpose for them. What encouragement we can draw from knowing that God is with us and is faithful to us.

Episode 159 "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you" James 4:4-10

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I could probably write a blog post for every verse in this section. But I just couldn’t bring myself to split it up. This is a powerful message that resonates with a theme that began in the Garden of Eden. Look at the indictment that begins this section.

“You adulterous people!” (v. 4) Who is he talking to? He is writing to Christians. We often use the word adultery for someone who is unfaithful to their spouse. But James uses it to accuse the recipients of this letter of being unfaithful to God. Isn’t that what Adam and Eve did when they disobeyed the LORD’s command not to eat the fruit of one tree? The LORD had given them instruction to enjoy as much as they wanted from every other tree except for that one. However, the serpent sought to first deceive Eve and then provoke her pride; “You will be like God.” (Gen. 3:5) She already was “like God” in as much as she had been made in God’s image. However, the serpent convinced her she could be more if she only ignored God’s command and warning. The LORD had been more than faithful to her. But she chose to compromise her fidelity to the LORD.

The theme of spiritual adultery against the LORD continues throughout the Old Testament and is especially highlighted as the Israelites repeatedly fail to obey the LORD during the departure from Egypt and later after the time of Joshua and throughout the divided kingdom after Solomon’s death. Time and again, we see the LORD graciously redeeming His people and showing them mercy and love, but people doing “what is right in their own eyes.” (See Judges 21:25) They are unfaithful to the LORD. 

James says there are two kinds of people; friends of God and friends of the world. As a person who sees strong consistency between Paul and James rather than a contrast, this teaching reminds me of Paul’s argument in Romans 5 where he describes our natural state as an enemy of God. Yet he writes that God’s love for us is so great that Christ died to make his enemies his friends. That is love and fidelity beyond imagination and where I think James takes us in verses 5-6. How tragic it is that people who’ve accepted God’s love, mercy, and grace and have experienced that divine faithfulness choose to disregard that and become adulterous and act in ways consistent with our natural, fallen condition. That is the indictment James is leveling against these believers.

Notice after the harsh indictment of verse 4, James’ tone turns toward a redemptive call to these same people. “Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? This reference to Scripture is not a direct quotation of any particular passage I could find, and scholars seem to be stymied by this as well. What is clear is that James understands the “Scriptures” ( What we call the Old Testament) to communicate the idea, at the very least, that God wants our devotion to being directed toward Him. Why would this be? It’s because He wants what is best for us. James follows this with “But He gives more grace . . . (v. 6a) 

Do you see this? James says to these Christians to whom he is writing, “You are being unfaithful to God. But God will not be unfaithful to you.” (My interpretation) What does Paul say about this notion? “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar” . . . (Rom. 3:3-4a) James and Paul both extol God’s grace as a means to woo his unfaithful followers back to Him. 

The path to getting back where the LORD wants us requires humility in contrast to the kind of pride evoked within Adam and Eve. In verse 6, James says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” and in verse 10, he says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” 

Verses 7-10 offer a number of actions we are to do as we decide we want to follow the Lord and seek His ways over our own. We must “submit to God” and “resist the devil.” (v. 7) I believe the key to all of this is found in the first part of verse 8, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” (v. 8a) Have you ever experienced a significant betrayal by someone close. If so, you understand the difficulty in wanting to draw near to them even if they apologize and want to make amends. Our tendency is to avoid setting ourselves up to be hurt again. Yet, God is ready to draw near to us when we will draw near to him.

I am going to leave you with that thought and this prayer.

Lord, thank you for being faithful to me even when I’ve not been faithful to you. Help me draw near to you and to remember you are with me. You are a faithful and loving God.

Episode 107 - "Whoever kills you . . .will think he is offering service to God" - John 16:1-4

John 16:1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The opening words of this section should cause us to go back and read Jesus’ words leading up to this warning. Jesus is not trying to scare them. He is preparing them. Everything that Jesus has been telling them about the importance of them abiding in him and his words abiding in them is to help them remain steadfast in their faith WHEN (not if) they are persecuted. Jesus repeatedly promised that he would ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit who would help them remember and understand what Jesus taught them. Furthermore, the Spirit would advocate for their needs to the Father. Jesus encouraged them with a promise that prayers asked in his name would be answered. Finally, he promised them that they would be with him and the Father for eternity. That would mean they would be resurrected sometime after they had died. These promises would serve to encourage them during such a crisis of persecution for their faith in Jesus. 

Jesus explained that he told them all this to keep them from falling away. Through Jesus’ ministry, there were people who initially were following after Jesus. But, John helps us understand these are people who want what they want. The people who had been miraculously fed in the wilderness recognized the significance of the miracle they watched him perform and received the benefit. Yet, when they followed Jesus and he told them they needed to drink his blood and eat his flesh, they didn’t want what Jesus was offering. They wanted Jesus on their own terms. They “fell away.” 

These disciples of Jesus’ have already witnessed the persecution of the man born blind who received his sight by Jesus, was cast out by the Pharisees for his pronouncement that Jesus was from God, and still worshipped Jesus when Jesus revealed his identity to him. These disciples would receive this kind of treatment and worse. Jesus is preparing them for it.

It’s easy to imagine that maybe non-religious and/or atheistic people might persecute these disciples of Jesus. But, Jesus explains to them that it’s religious people. He says in verse 2 that such persecutors will persecute them thinking they are doing God a favor. But, then he explains in verse 3 that these people don’t truly know God. 

How often have we heard about terrible things being done in the name of God or Jesus? But, their words and actions are in utter contradiction to the teachings of Jesus. 

If I were  told that a time is coming soon when people would beat me up, throw me in prison, and kill me for my faith, I imagine the anxiety and stress that might create would be significant. Like these disciples, I hope that the promises of Jesus would keep me steady in my faith and ministry. Jesus did tell his disciples these things would happen to them just as he told them that they would be his witnesses. The disciples had a purpose and mission from God to tell others about Jesus regardless of the consequences. That mission and purpose is for us today. Perhaps we will experience persecution of some manner for our witness. 

We know that that this promised persecution of the disciples happened soon after Jesus’ ascension to heaven. You can read about these in the book of Acts. That is one more indication that Jesus’ promises are true. If that promise is true, then we can also trust that his promises about answered prayer, the Holy Spirit advocating for us and a future resurrection and eternal life with God are also true.

Let us think about these things in order that the Holy Spirit will encourage us with Jesus’ promises.