One Year Bible, January 10

GENESIS 23:1-24:51
Here God tells us how He got a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac.  Sarah has just died and Isaac is about 40 years old now.  Why did Abraham wait until Sarah was dead?  Maybe he was lonely and thought Isaac may be lonely too.  However it may be, this whole story is an illustration of God procuring a wife for His Son, Jesus.  Rebekah is the church marrying Jesus.  Ephesians 5:32 says that "Marriage is a great mystery concerning Christ and the Church." 

Abraham told his servant that if the Bride is willing to come to Him, have her come.  But my Son is not to go back there.  So, the eldest servant of Abraham (Holy Spirit) went to Father Abraham's people, rather than taking a woman of the Canaanites, to get a bride for Isaac. 

The chosing of Rebekah was on the basis of being led by God and by Rebekah's desire to serve.  She did not do the choosing, God and His servant chose her  (John 15:16). 

RESPONSE:  I am thankful that God did not wait for me to choose Him, but sent His servant (Holy Spirit) after me with His 10 camels (anyone?)  I want to be as quick to hear as Rebekah and as willing to obey.  Obviously she also heard God's voice because she offered to serve the camels on cue.  You just never know what will come your way because you speak on cue.

MATTHEW 8:1-17
If you read the last two verses of chapter 7, you will see that chapter 8 is an illustration of that fact: "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,  because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." 
Leprosy is an OT symbol for sin, and the leper asked to be "cleansed", not healed.  Interesting is that Jesus touched him, even tho the man was a leper when He cleansed him.  The man was not to talk about his healing until he had satisifed the priests that he was actually cured.

The centurion (a Roman soldrier with 100 men under his command) understood authority and obedience, and was attensting to the authority of Jesus' words when he said Jesus only had to demonstrate His authority in words and his servant would be healed, as disease obeys the Master's voice.  What I am amazed at is Jesus' perceptions and responses.  The Centurion's servant was healed.  But first, Jesus commented to the religious people standing around watching this conversation, "Many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the Kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and  gnashing of teeth." 

Why is this?  Because of the Centurion's "great faith" he will be among those at the feast.  Many children of the kingdom without faith will suffer because they don't enter in.  Jesus told the Centurion it would be done according as he believed - "Believed" is the word "have faith".  It is just like the children of Israel who drew up to the border of the Promised Land (a picture of the Kingdom of God) reported in Hebrews 3:19-4:6 and did not enter in because of unbelief (void of faith).  They did not trust God.  God calls that lack of trust, "evil" and it causes us to depart from the living God. (to draw back in fear).  Of course we will be miserable in that condition.  God gaurantees it. 

Then Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of "great fever" (original language) which meant she was probably dying.  Jesus just touched her hand - and she was healed instantly and cooked them all supper.  Such is the life of an old woman, huh?

RESPONSE:  I have noticed that when I look around me sometimes, and don't trust God like I should, I am miserable and in darkness.  When I speak up and reassure my heart and get "in faith" again, the darkness leaves and so does the misery.  What do I tell myself? 

"God created the universe and is savvy concerning my situation.  He loves me and He chose me when I was not even thinking about Him.  God knows what I need and is faithful to stay with me no matter what.  I can face anything because I know He is with me.  God is my wonderful Friend, my powerful deliverer, and my gracious healer.  I will bless the Lord at all times.  He is worthy, all by Himself, of praise."

PSALM 9:13-20
People never change, do they?  They are just as violent as ever.  This could have been written last night, or this morning.  But this I know, the world is not ruled by "the nations" - it is ruled by God.  "Let the nations know they are but men. - all the nations that forget God."  How can we despair when we know Who really controls history? 
 
PROVERBS 3:1-6
Instead of praying for a long life, I should be praying for wisdom, it says here.  Makes sense.
 
If I want favor with God and man, it says I must bind "mercy and truth around my neck."  We know that mercy is more than just compassion, because it saved Lot's life in Genesis 19:19.  Mercy in the Bible is an action word and is defined as "immeasureably more and abundantly above all we expect".    That pretty much sums up the Sermon on the Mount when it comes to what is expected of us in the Kingdom of God as its subjects.  "Truth" is the OT Hebrew word "amen" and means faithfulness and trustworthiness because we are not self-deceived any more.  Repentance keeps us from slipping away from Truth.  We are to be a community of Truth.  When we are truthful and merciful, then we have favor with God and with men. 
 
When we trust in the Lord with all our hearts, it is because we are in direct intimate contact with God, and when we are, He promises to direct our paths to wisdom and with wisdom. 
 
RESPONSE:  I am happy God is merciful to me, especially given what the word really means.  I admit I am a bit hung-up about having to be merciful myself.  This means I should go through life purposefully doing good.  Unexpected good.  More than people expect.  But I know He will lead me to water like a shepherd does, or to wisdom, and I promise to drink because I am tired of being stupid.  Making dumb mistakes. 
 
Like last Friday when I decided to take my granddaughter for a car-ride on the frozen lake - just to show her what it was like.   The boat ramp is at the bottom of a long, windy, hilly road, and there was a mound of ice right at the bottom of the ramp that I had to drive over.  I "bottomed out", got stuck in ice up over my wheels and couldn't get out.  Of course, people were in pickup trucks waiting their turn to drive out onto the lake to fish.  Finally one of them realized I wasn't going to move out of their way without some help.  I had to be pulled backwards first to get me off the hump of ice.  Then I had to be pulled forward up the ramp.  Then I had to be towed to the top of the road.  You know that small voice that says, "You probably shouldn't do that without four-wheel drive."?  I hesitated, but then did what I wanted to do.  Because I do stupid things.  Lord, give me more wisdom, or least talk louder so I can't ignore You.