One Year Bible, January 24

GENESIS 48:1 - 49:33
The right of the firstborn has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. Joseph is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife and has also been the means of saving all his father's house. In adopting Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob now gives them each a portion in the Land, thus Joseph's double portion was awarded, and Rachel was honored. When Jacob blesses the sons, Joseph placed them so that the firstborn was on Jacob's right and the second-born on the left. But Jacob knowingly crossed his arms, giving the firstborn blessing to the "wrong" son - Ephraim.

On his deathbed, Jacob/Israel assigned a portion in the Land to each of his other 11 sons, and his "blessing" was determined by character and conduct. Levi is given cities, which prophecy is fulfilled in that the tribe of Levi formed the priesthood. Judah gets the chieftainship and longevity - and forms the lineage of Jesus, the True holder of the Scepter. Joseph, of course, gets compensated for giving Jacob the peaceful abundance of his old age, and for the persecutions he had endured at the hands of his half-brothers.

But look here! Jacob will be buried next to LEAH at his own request. So in death, Leah finally got what she wanted.

RESPONSE:   Character defects DO matter. Sin is not just "missing the mark" - it is the forfeiture of the best blessing. The others still inherited, but didn't receive the same empowerment or privilege as Judah or Joseph. I don't want to forfeit anything by my conduct and character defects. Holy Spirit do what You have to do.  Make me or break me, but don't leave me the way I am!

MATTHEW 15:29 - 16:12
These verses are in the section of Matthew where opposition to the Kingdom of God is explained and demonstrated. First, there was the beheading of John the Baptist which demonstrated that Truth and its value system brings persecution when it clashes with lawlessness. Second, religious tradition is evil when it contradicts Scripture. Religious people were using tradition to "trump" Scripture!  Now third, hypocrisy cannot exist in the Kingdom of God and is also exposed by Truth. The "leaven of Pharisees" is religious legalism which produces hypocrisy (Luke 12:1; Mark 8:15). The "leaven of Herod" is the opposite, lawlessness.

RESPONSE:   It seems to me that being "salt and light" means I am also setting myself up to be a "target". Actually, Jesus said it is a BLESSING to be "persecuted for righteousness' sake" because then you inherit the Kingdom of heaven. To not be persecuted means you must have a character flaw! Sin is not just "missing the mark", it is forfeiture of the best blessing. I don't want to be around lawlessness, religious tradition, or hypocrisy without being an influence. I want to do it "wise and harmless" (Matt 10:16) though, and not just be a nuisance or a clanging cymbal. Help me, Jesus.

PSALM 20:1-9
Psalm 20 is a Battle Hymn, and Psalm 21 is a song of Victory After Battle. Psalm 20 shows complete confidence in God. This army is prepared to go forth "in the Name of the Lord". "Some trust in chariots, some in horses", and some in atomic bombs, some in tanks and hummers.....but who really determines the outcome? In fact, God had forbidden the use of chariots and horses to Israel so that they wouldn't depend on them. "Now I know..." not "think"..... not "hope" ..... but "I know".   How do I rest in "the day of trouble"? Just like David did: reassure my heart out loud until it calms down and gets "in faith" - reading Psalm 20 if necessary.

PROVERBS 4:20-27
This section of Proverbs is really intense. I would like to focus on vs 23 "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."   The heart is the instrument of the thinking, willing, perceiving life of the spirit; it is the seat of the knowledge of self, of the knowledge of God, of the knowledge of our relation to God. The source or fountain of your spiritual Life is your heart and everything flows or gushes from there. Watch that these streams are not stopped up, hindered, diverted, or cut off.

How do I do that? Don't get sloppy, but keep your focus. "Perverse and corrupt" talk will dam up that flow of God that's in you, that is to be your emotional and mental supply. Perverse and corrupt talk is speaking to deceive, to corrupt, to boast, to flatter, to be filthy, or to render hopeless.   "Keep your eyes fixed straight ahead". Don't be diverted to "side-trips" that lead to bad habits. Don't try something new just to experience it if it will lead to a bad habit. All sin results in self-deception. "Stay on your path". If you keep going forward unless the Holy Spirit tells you to turn, you will avoid demonic traps and tricks that your natural mind will play on you. Unless you hear a voice "behind you" (Isa 30:21) that says, "turn here", then you just keep doing what you are doing. And finally, "Keep the Word within your heart" and life and healing will flow throughout your body and soul.

RESPONSE:   Character defects matter. I have some control over getting these taken care of, and one thing I can do is to guard my heart. I let evil stuff in there when my speech is deceitful and corrupt, or when I get diverted into things on the "roadside" that look interesting, etc. It seems to me that my mouth AND my eyes are little doorways that can admit things that will really harm my walk with God. On the other hand, guarding what Word I DO have in there will also protect me. That's why I meditate the Word a lot. I mull it over, think about what it means, how it applies to me, how it works, I say it often, talk to God about it.

I have found that what Romans 12:21 says is really helpful: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." When I concentrate and try to STOP a bad habit, like complaining for example, I just do it MORE. We overcome evil WITH GOOD. So then the focus is not on something I DON'T want to do. To overcome complaining, I show appreciation and I complement people. I think about some Scripture verse I've just read. That way, my heart and head settle down and don't try to take over my mouth.