Genesis 35-38 Purity, Passion, Plots and Promises

Psalm 7:6-17 A Righteous God Must Judge For The Righteous

7:1 “Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in You. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, 2 lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 3 Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, 4 if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, if I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), 5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. 6 Arise, Yahweh, in Your anger. Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment. 7 Let the congregation of the peoples surround You. Rule over them on high. 8 Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me. 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.

10 My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day. 12 If a man doesn’t repent, He will sharpen his sword; He has bent and strung His bow. 13 He has also prepared for Himself the instruments of death. He makes ready His flaming arrows. 14 Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. 16 The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head. 17 I will give thanks to Yahweh according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High."

Observations: 7:1-9 See yesterday's post for vv 1-5, in which David, unjustly attacked, asks the God of justice for help. He appeals on the basis of his innocence and righteousness (a plea we should be able to make). The righteous Judge establishes the righteous, and brings an end to the wicked. But He determines who is righteous by searching the minds and hearts (the thoughts and decisions) of people.

7:10-17 David describes how the God he trusts, His shield/protection, saves the upright in heart (which God just searched). God is prepared to judge on the behalf of the righteous, by bringing the consequences of wicked's actions upon themselves. In bringing the evil they had planned for other upon them, God demonstrates His righteousness, for which David praises.

Application: A righteous God has to judge righteously; therefore those who are righteous, can look forward to His protection and vindication.

Prayer: God of Justice, may I live righteously and uprightly so You can delight in delivering me; may I see your judgment poured out on those who unrighteously afflict me. Amen.

Proverbs 2:18-22 Doubly Delivered and Delighted

2:18 “(6 For Yahweh gives wisdom 11 Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you, 12 to deliver you from the way of evil from the men...13 who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 16 To deliver you from the adulterous woman...17 who...forgets the covenant of her God) 18 for her house leads down to death, her paths to the dead. 19 None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life: 20 that you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it. 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it“

Observations: 2:18-22 The beginning of this proverb advocates accepting wisdom and seeking after it, because guides us to good and guards us from evil through it. The last half demonstrates two ways wisdom delivers us: from evil men, who have forsaken the light to slither in the dark; from evil women who have forsaken their covenant to stab the unsuspecting to death. Verse 18 elaborates that her house declines to death, and her paths to the shades or ghosts of hell (9:18), who are awaiting more punishment. There are two words for paths: the one to her house is a one way gutter or ditch to death; the paths of the righteous is a highway to happiness. Those who take the highway (the upright and perfect) will dwell in the land of promise and enjoy its blessings (happily ever after). The wicked who reject wisdom will be cut off from blessings (cursed), and the covenant breakers who lack understanding will be rooted out of the land like a noxious weed.

Application: Wisdom will guard you and guide you to the good life; wickedness has its own reward.

Prayer: God, thanks for giving wisdom to protect and guide me to the blessings You intend for me; don't let me miss them. Amen.

Genesis 35–38 Purity, Passion, Plots and Promises

Genesis 35 New Beginnings

35:1 "God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." 2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments. 3 Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went." 4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn't pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel)...7 He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 11 God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. 12 The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land." 17 When Rachel was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.

22 It happened, while Israel lived in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29 Isaac expired and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him."

Observations: 35:1 Jacob gains a little more confidence in God, who moves him back to Bethel, in part as a reminder of God's past protection. God helps out a little in 35:5 by putting the fear of God in potential pursuers.

35:2 Separation and sanctification (holiness) are necessary for blessing, so it can be clearly seen that God is blessing His people.

35:11 Blessing to Abe is reiterated.

35:18 Rachel bears Israel's twelfth son and dies.

35:22 Undisciplined Reuben blows his blessing by usurping his father's authority.

Application: Obedience keeps us in the place of protection. Purity helps too.

Prayer: God, thanks that I can trust You to protect and bless me. Amen.

Genesis 36 Lots of Hard Names

36:1 "Now this is the history of the generations of Esau... 6...went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn't bear them because of their livestock. 8 Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom."

Genesis 37 Joseph Dreams and Gets Sold

37:1 "Jacob lived in the land of his father's travels, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old...brought an evil report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him.

5 Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. 7 ... we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. 9..."Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." 17...Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. 18...they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said one to another, "Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams." 21 Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, "Let's not take his life." 22 Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him"--that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. 26 Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh." His brothers listened to him. 28...sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt. 35 All his (Israel's) sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, "For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning." His father wept for him. 36 The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard."

Question: There are more chapters devoted to Joseph than Abraham!!! or Isaac, or any other topic in Genesis. Why the emphasis? (Hint: Book of Job occurs during this period as well.)

Answer: See tomorrow's post.

Observations: 37:1 This Chapter begins the final section of Genesis, getting the Chosen People to Egypt as God promised Abe back in Genesis 15.

Once again we have undisciplined kids causing pain to prosperous parents who didn't do their job of parenting and played favorites. Of course that would never happen today...

37:2 A truthful but unfavorable report about his brothers could cause hostility.
37:5 By now we and the brothers should know that God gives promises in dreams. Their hatred of their brother blinds them to God's revelation.

37:22 Reuben, as the oldest would have been ultimately responsible.

37:28 Twenty pieces of silver (which secure the salvation of the Chosen People) will show up again in the NT. The family tradition of deception will continue as well.

Application: People who are secure in their worth and value don't grudge the success of others.

Prayer: God may I rejoice in the success of others, knowing that You are the One who ultimately blesses. Amen.

Genesis 38 Passion, Pain, and Plots

38:2 "Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her. 3 She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er. 4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan. 5 She yet again bore a son...6 Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him. 8 Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and raise up seed to your brother." 9 Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, whenever he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. 10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he killed him also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up"; for he said, "Lest he also die, like his brothers." Tamar went and lived in her father's house.13 It was told Tamar, saying,"Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." 14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn't given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her by the way, and said, "Please come, let me come in to you," for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law.She said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" 17 He said, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, "Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?" 18 He said, "What pledge will I give you?" She said, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 She arose, and went away 20 Judah sent the young goat to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, but he didn't find her...24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution." Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burnt." 25...she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child." Please discern whose are these--the signet, and the cords, and the staff." 26 Judah acknowledged them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah, my son." He knew her again no more. 27 It happened in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This came out first." 29 It happened, as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out, and she said, "Why have you made a breach for yourself?" Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah."

Observation: It is painfully obvious that the Patriarchs were bad parents. If only they had personal self-control and Proverbs. Judah turns out beastly, and his sons were so bad God had to kill them to maintain some level of separation from the very people the Israelites were to judge.

38:2 Judah, the greedy guy who thought of selling Joseph, saw and took, (just like Shechem did Dinah) and married a pagan Canaanite. He blamed his daughter-in-law, Tamar, for the death of his wicked sons rather than himself. He wronged her, by failing to honor his word to ensure her heir; slept with her thinking she was a prostitute, and then wanted to burn her for becoming pregnant. Out of that union came an ancestor of Christ. At least he recognized her relative righteousness, but in that family it was easy to be more righteousness than the others.

38:9 Onan knew that impregnating Tamar, the wife of his older brother, would mean loss of his inheritance, to the heir of the firstborn, so he refused to obey and do his duty. God didn't think that was a good idea.

38:13 Tamar readily adopted the family tradition of deception, and gets blessed with a couple of children very parallel to Jacob and Esau.

Application: Taking the easy road of irresponsibility to avoid pain, often causes us to crash into it.

Prayer: Father, help me know, desire and do all that You desire. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God blesses, but is serious about His people being holy and righteous; He will discipline them with death when necessary; He allows tragedy and pain into the lives of His chosen ones, as part of His perfect plan; He watches out for dreamers and widows.

Us in a nutshell: We don't know how God's perfect plan will unfold, so we need to exercise faith and obedience. Knowing the tendencies of our fellow planet-mates, discretion isn't a bad idea either.

Genesis 26-28 Perils of Prosperity and the Stairway to Heaven

Psalm 6:1-4 The Prayer of Faith when You've Failed

6:1 "Yahweh, don't rebuke me in Your anger, neither discipline/chasten me in Your fury/hot displeasure (KJV). 2 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul is also in great anguish. But You, Yahweh -- how long? 4 Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for Your unfailing^a/faithful^b/steadfast^c love." Versions: a=NIV b=HCSB c=ESV

Observations: It looks like someone is reaping the consequences of wandering away from God. They don't think God is that happy with them either. It takes a lot of faith in God's character and revealed purpose to call out for help when you know you probably don't deserve it. But then who else are you going to call?

Lexical Light: 6:4 Hesed is the Hebrew word frequently translated “mercy” or “loving kindness” in some older versions. But that meaning misses the boat. The essence of love is loyalty, self-sacrificially doing what is in another's highest interest. When you're in great danger/trouble, would you rather someone be kind or loyal to you? God is always loyal to His people, even if that involves disciplining them. Note how the three translations above handled the concept, viewing hesed as a type of love. All good choices, but I like “loyalty” as it contrasts well with being unfaithful to one's covenant obligations to protect and defend another.

Application: If God seems far away, guess who moved? Trust in His loyal love (hesed).

Prayer: God, it's me...I'm sorry. Help! Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 2:9-10 Pleasant Pursuit and Paths

2:9 “(4 If you seek...and search for {understanding and wisdom} as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God...) 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.“

Observations: 2:9-10 These verses need to be understood in the included context. We must seek what God has revealed to understand the fear and knowledge of God. Our fear of God develops when we grasp the consequences of obeying or disobeying Him (blessing or cursing). Our knowledge of God develops as we discern the things He likes and dislikes, and why. When you learn to look at things from God's perspective, you can understand what is right and just and fair (NIV translation) and every good path to take, and what to avoid. It's not some incomprehensible mystery, we just need to dig for it. In the process of digging, God's principles get ingrained in our heart, then our soul will be pleased with knowing what God wants (His will) because we will understand why that is best, and will value doing it.

Genesis 26-28 Perils of Prosperity and the Stairway to Heaven

Genesis 26 Same Story, Second Verse

26:1 "There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. 2 Yahweh appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about. 3 Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For to you, and to your seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky, and will give to your seed all these lands. In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed,5 BECAUSE Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My requirements, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

6 Isaac lived in Gerar. 7 The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife,” lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.”

12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him. 13 The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him. 16 Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go from us, for you are much mightier than we.”23 He went up from there to Beersheba. 24 Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you HATE me, and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.”

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits."

Question: 26:5 Exactly why did God say He was blessing?

Observations: 26:7 God passes on the blessing and reassures Isaac, even though his confidence /faith in God's protection isn't perfect. God's blessing causes persecution, but God prospers the obedient (Isaac didn't go to Egypt) even in the midst of persecution.

26:27 Love and Hate. To Hate, in this context, is to not have covenantal treaty relationships with someone. To Love (loyally=hesed) is the opposite. See Malachi 1:2 (about the nations from them; cf Romans 9:11).

26:35 Prosperous yet pained parents. Apparently Isaac and Rebekah weren't proverbial parents. They had not trained Esau to submit his will to God. (To be fair, Proverbs wasn't written yet. See Parenting Principles from Proverbs in TOYL on Truthbase.net)

Application: Listen to God's voice; keep His will; and prepare to be blessed out of proportion to your efforts (no sow, no reap).

Prayer: God of Abraham and Isaac and me, keep me blessable as I trust and obey You. Amen.

Genesis 27 Peril of Prosperity: Pleasure Trumps Promises

27:1 "It happened, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son...4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.” 5 Rebekah heard...Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau...'that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. 9 Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good young goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves. 10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death...”13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.”

28 God give you (Jacob) of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you.

Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”

34 When Esau (returned and) heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, my father.” 35 He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.” 36 He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?”37 Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants. With grain and new wine have I sustained him. What then will I do for you, my son?”

41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. 44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away; 45 until your brother’s anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”

46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?”

Observations: God had purposed that Jacob would inherit the blessing (Genesis 25:23). Isaac focused on pleasures rather than promises. Rebekah focused on her plans for her son, rather than God's promises. Esau, ruled by his passions sold whatever promises he had for a pot of pottage (KJV). Jacob lies, cheats, and steals, reaping lots of negative consequences, rather than trusting and obeying God. Not a pretty picture of the Patriarchs. Too bad they didn't have Psalm 11. If Isaac was doing his job as spiritual leader, the family would have had peace and prosperity. Pass the venison and the remote.

27:46 Rebekah never saw Jacob again. This sets up Isaac sending Jacob to get a wife with his blessing. (See Truthbase TOYL Marriage and Parenting Tools if you want to live happily ever after.)

Question: Could God have fulfilled His promises without the unfaithful, unrighteous scheming?

Application: God doesn't need our help, just our obedience, and we need to obey.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may my passion be Your promises. Amen.

Genesis 28 Stairway to Heaven

28:1 "Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3 May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, 4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham.”

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,” 7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9 Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

12 Jacob dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed. 14 Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”

16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17 He was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.” 20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you.”

Observations: God personalizes the Abrahamic promises to Jacob. Jacob responds by personally accepting Yahweh as his God. Worship is a Response to Revelation (vision).

28:6 Since they didn't break Esau's will, he deliberately breaks their heart. Nice guy.

Application: Don't marry a pagan wife. Make Yahweh your God. Worship Him with all you have.

Prayer: God, you are my God, and I will ever honor, trust and obey You. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God blesses in spite of our imperfections, but He lets us be pained by them.

Us in a nutshell: We lose focus when things are going well and get lost on short-cuts to blessing. So it takes longer, and is harder, and we might not ever get there. We need to personally embrace God and His promises, and then not let go.

Genesis 23-25 Haggling for a Grave, a Wife, and a Birthright

Psalm 5:5-12 Trusting in God's Protection

5:1 For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David “Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation. 2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for to You do I pray. 3 Yahweh, in the morning You shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before You, and will watch expectantly. 4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t dwell with You. 5 The arrogant shall not stand in Your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, in the abundance of Your hesed/loyal covenantal love I will come into Your house. I will bow toward Your holy temple in fear of You. 8 Lead me, Yahweh, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make Your way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. 10 Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You. 11 But let all those who take refuge in You rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because You defend them. Let them also who love Your name be joyful in You. 12 For You will bless the righteous. Yahweh, You will surround him with favor as with a shield."

Observations: 5:1-12 David laments the deceitful people who are making life difficult for him. He calls to God for help in the morning, and then looks to see how God will answer. He then reflects on the fact that God hates the deceitful and asks Him to get rid of them. He asks God to make the path David should take straight and plain before Him, because he also knows that God has hesed (loyal covenantal love) toward those who fear Him (careful to do what is right in His sight) and trust in Him. They are the ones who will rejoice in God's deliverance.

Application: When afflicted by difficult and deceitful people, ask God for help, trust in His hesed; make sure that you are responding righteously, and then wait for God to respond with blessing, in which you will rejoice.

Prayer: God, help me do the right thing, and come to my aid against the deceitful liars; I will trust You and rejoice in Your blessing. Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 2:1-8 Key to Having God Guide and Guard Us

2:1 “My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you; 2 So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 7 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity; 8 that He may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of His saints.

Observations: 2:1-5 Accepting and applying ourselves to understanding God's revelation is the prerequisite to understanding Him. If we don't grasp the fear of God, we don't know Him.

2:7-8 Applying wisdom (choice of right objectives and the right means of obtaining them) in the fear of God is the key to being upright and walking in integrity. Then we can experience the benefits of having God guide and guard us, His saints (holy ones).

Application: We can't understand God without working to understand what He's revealed. We won't reap His blessings unless we work at applying His wisdom. Lazy people remain clueless.

Prayer: God, may I please You by working to know and do Your will, however difficult that might be. Amen.

Genesis 23-25 Haggling for a Grave, a Wife, and a Birthright

Genesis 23 Abraham Pays Retail

23:2 "Sarah died...4 “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead...” 5 The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.” 8 ...entreat for me Ephron 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you for a possession of a burying-place.” 13 He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” 20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth."

Observations: Abraham buys a piece of the land God promised to give him, at full price. He is demonstrating faith that God will give it to him, rather than returning to Mesopotamia, his ancestral land, for the burial, as was the custom.

Genesis 24 Isaac Gets a Wife

24:1 "Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. 3 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall NOT take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

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

10 The servant took ten camels...and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.12 He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master...” 45 Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46 She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink....51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.” 52 It happened that when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to 57 They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.” 58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.”

Observations: The deaths of Sarah (previous chapter) and Abraham (next chapter) barely get a paragraph. But here we have sixty-seven verses, emphasizing to the Exodus generation the need to keep separate from the pagan nations around them. Intermarriage with idolaters enticed Israel away from God. Kindness is hesed, God is being loyal to meet Abraham's need. We can't know God's subjective will (which one?) unless we are doing His objectively revealed will (stay clear of the wrong ones).

Application: God leads and guides as we seek to do His will. Always offer to water the camels.

Prayer: God of Heaven and Earth, You know what's best for me, guide Me to Your perfect will. Amen.

Genesis 25 Sibling Rivalry and Stew

25:8 "Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.9 Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah...with Sarah, his wife. 11 It happened after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it be so, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh.23 Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.” 24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright."

Observations: The blessing continues through Isaac as promised.

25:23 Note that God is choosing to bless one nation/people over another (not individuals).

25:28 When parents play favorites, disunity ensues.

25:32 Maybe Esau never learned how to control his passions and appetites, but he clearly lived for immediate gratification rather than better delayed blessings.

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; 16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears."

Application: We do what we want. Want the right things.

Prayer: God who Sovereignly Blesses, help me desire Your eternal blessing more than a bowl of beans. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: He blesses all, but chooses to bless some more than others. He leads us to pray, and answers prayer according to His will.

Us in a nutshell: We can choose to seek His will and reap the benefits, or not.

Where to Go for More:

Worldlings Do Not Inherit Heavenly Blessings on Truthbase.net

Genesis 20-22 The First Use of "Worship" in the Bible

Bill Blurb: There will not be a Daily Truthbase during the weekends. You can use the time to review what you might have missed. Pick out your favorite thoughts, and let me know what was helpful in your walk with God. Then, if you have time, go back over the “God and Us in a nutshell” sections (under Digging Deeper in previous posts), and start building your own Biblical Theology. See Introduction in the Sidebar for help. Don't miss Genesis 22 (below) and the Digging Deeper note on it. It's totally “worth” it :)

Psalm 5:1-4 Do You Watch for the Answers?

5:2 ”Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation. 2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for to You do I pray. 3 Yahweh, in the morning You shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before You, and will watch expectantly. 4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can't live with You.“

Observation: If God is our King, doesn't it make sense to check in with Him in the morning and see what He has to say about your day? Do you actually believe that God will answer you? If so, do you watch for it?

Application: Bring your To-Do list before God every morning. Instead of a check, put a cross next to the item you did with a Power Assist. Or keep a journal or prayer list so you can develop a track record of God's faithfulness.

Prayer: My King, here are my plans and requests for the day, anything You want to change? OK, I'll be on the lookout for how You're going to answer. Amen.

Proverbs 2:1-4 Wisdom is Not an Accident

2:1 “My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you; 2 So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding."

Observations: Note the verbs (action words) indicating what we must do to get wisdom.

Application: A good way to store up the commands is to memorize them. When was the last time you memorized a verse?

Prayer: God who formed the world by Your word, I will treasure everything You've said. Amen.

Genesis 20-22 The First Use of "Worship" in the Bible

[Skip ahead below to Genesis 22 for a BIG chapter on Worship if you're short on time.]

Genesis 20 More Righteous than Abraham and Sarah

20:1 "Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South...2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 5 Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.” 6 God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”

8 Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!” 10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.13 It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”..."

Observations: God communicates with Abimelech, a non-Israelite with a clean heart and hands, who fears and obeys God impressively. Abe is up to his old tricks of self-preservation, even though he saw how God could protect in the last chapter. God could even send angels just as He did for Lot. Abe actually endangers the promise of Sarah bearing his son, but God overrules his folly. God gives Abimelech the choice of obeying. (Well, He did apply a little persuasion with promised consequences.)

20:7 So now Abe's a “prophet”? First use of the word in Scripture; ditto the Hebrew word for intercessory prayer (although bargaining for righteous folks in Sodom is intercessory action).

Application: Fearing man more than God leads to foolish actions.

Prayer: God Who Intervenes, may I fear You more than anyone or anything on earth. Amen.

Genesis 21 Laughing and Weeping and Swearing

21:1 "Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. 2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.4 Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him...5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.

”9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, Isaac.” ...15 The water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” 19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. 20 God was with the boy (Ishmael)... 22 It happened at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”24 Abraham said, “I will swear.” 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. 34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days."

Observations: 21:1 God does what He promised, despite the dismal prospect of their age, causing laughter at the incongruity. Isaac's name means “he laughs.”

21:9 There are lots of parallels with Israel's experience in this chapter. The theme of separation for the sake of blessing continues. Freeing a slave and her child deprived them of any inheritance rights according to Mesopotamian law.

See Digging Deeper for Paul's use of this passage in Galatians 4.

21:19 Sometimes the solution to our problems are right in front of us, but while fixating on the problems, we don't see the solution until God opens our eyes.

21:22 Even though Abe wasn't perfect in his dealings with Abimelech (see last post), God's purposes in separating and blessing Abe so others could be blessed is being realized. A lesson for both Israel and us. The covenant between Abe and Abimelech sets the stage for peaceful influence on one's neighbors.

Application: Make a break with anything that will mess up your blessing; make friends so others seek God thru you.

Prayer: Everlasting God, I praise You for being so faithful to keep Your promises. May I keep the ones I've made to You. Amen.

Genesis 22 Worship is Response to Revelation

22:1 "It happened after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” 3 Abraham rose early in the morning...went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will WORSHIP, and come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7 Isaac spoke...where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. 9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11 The angel of Yahweh called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”

12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide*. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.”

15 The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,16 and said, “I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 that I will bless you greatly, (in blessing I will bless you) and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice”...

Observations: 22:5 This is the first time the English term “Worship” is used in the Scripture, although sacrifices and were offered previously, and Abe was falling on his face (Hebrew word for worship) before God a few times earlier. How did Abe worship? By obediently Responding to the Revelation God had given him. Abe demonstrated that God was worth more than what was most dear to him, and by withholding nothing, glorified God as Worthy of all. When God reveals His glory later on, people respond to that revelation by doing push-ups (face on ground). He reveals himself in answering prayer and saving His people, the response is praise and thanksgiving. He reveals His will, we do it. The essence of Worship is Response to Revelation, starting with cognitive understanding, expressed by our volitional will in sacrificial obedience, and culminating in emotional joy, because we know we are pleasing to God (in choosing what is best). How do you think Abe felt about obeying?

See Digging Deeper for how Abe used logic to come up with the concept of Resurrection.

22:12 Note how Fear of the Lord enters into obedience.

22:17 Double Blessing!! That's how the Hebrew text reads (using the Piel intensive, intentional form of the verb twice). As a result of his sacrificial, God glorifying obedience, God

increase the promised blessing. Since chapter 12, God hadn't talked to Abe about the blessing part of the promise. Now that Abe passed the test perfectly, God adds a plus to the A = A+.

Application: How are you at Responding to God's Revelation? Did you score well on any tests lately?

Prayer: O God of tests and double blessings, unite my ambitions to fear Your name above all in this world, and show that You are Worthy of all glory, by my unreserved, mind, heart and soul obedience. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

Genesis 21:9 Paul uses this passage in Galatians 4:21ff to argue against NT believers succumbing to Jewish pressure, and submitting themselves to the ceremonial requirements of the Jewish law (e.g., Galatians 3:10; Galatians 5:2). He sets up an analogy: Hagar, a slave has offspring according to the flesh, and represents the law (thru Ishmael there is no eternal inheritance); Sarah, a freewoman, has offspring according to the promise (thru which comes the eternal inheritance).
The promise of heirship/inheritance comes from God, thru Sarah's offspring, (Isaac, and eventually the freedom Christ offers), not thru the bondage of the flesh (desire for the temporal), represented by Hagar, and keeping the external law to get one's value from men.