One Year Bible, January 5

GENESIS 11:1-13:4
Back in Gen 10:8-10 we learn that Babel was originally built by Nimrod, the descedent of Ham.  "Nimrod" means "let us rebel."  He is a type of the spirit of the world and of the flesh (self).  He is the OPPOSITE of Abraham.  Babel is raised up as a rival to the Kingdom of heaven (John 10:1 "climbing up some other way").  So we have two lines of people, one becoming the kingdom of God and the other becoming the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of Man. 

The life of Abram/Abraham is a picture of God separating out a people for Himself, a covenant people, a people of faith.   Acts 7:2-3 says that "the God of glory" appeared to Abram and called him out.  Abram had about 800 people including women and children and servants that he took with him.  His life as he journeyed was typified by tents and altars.  Everywhere he went, there was the tent and the altar.  The tent signified a separated life, detached from the natural world, and the altar showed where he was attached - he was God's friend.  Romans 4:11 calls Abraham "the father of all them that believe".  Abraham is a role model and our brother in Christ. 

That doesn't mean that Abraham didn't make any mistakes. You see, most of our lives are spent being weaned from the ways of the flesh, from dependence on the natural, from being led by our circumstances, from being influenced by what is going on around us and by what other people say.  The temptation is always there to compromise our faith.  Abraham had to go through the trials of being weaned just like we do.

Abraham's first real test came in Chapter 12.  He had just built an altar and worshipped the Lord in vs 8 and already in vs 9 he is journeying toward Egypt.  Egypt is a Bible type of the world-spirit and is always a place of temptation for believers.  Abraham was tempted by the fear of man, and passed Sarah off as his sister to Pharoah.  So Pharoah took her to his harem.  But God didn't let that go by.  God PLAGUED Pharoah and his house because of Sarah and Pharoah ended up confronting Abraham and telling Abraham to take her and get out and take all his stuff with him.   And some of Pharoah's stuff too!  (Maybe that's where he got Hagar.)

And so Chapter 13 shows Abraham leaving Egypt a wealthy man.  And the anguish of Abraham's heart caused him to make a bee-line back to where he met with God.  He went back to his first love - Bethel.  There, he waited to hear God's voice again. 

RESPONSE: God, when I repent, restore me like you did Abraham.  I am grateful that you called me out - that you chose me when I wasn't even thinking about You.  That You held onto me when I tried to run from You.  Thank You that You didn't wait for me to look for You.  Thank You for being so faithful, so strong, so winsome, so full of grace and mercy.  Your love is overwhelming.  Help me to recognize substitutes or rivals when they come to me.  I reject anything that isn't from You.  You, Who have made me happier than I deserve to be, are my Life.

MATTHEW 5:1-26
I love the Sermon on the Mount because it introduces us to the alternate culture that is the Kingdom of God.  It begins...."blessed...."  In both OT and NT to be "blessed" is "to be empowered to go forward".  It is sometimes translated "happy".  Being blessed is an empowerment to make progress and be happy. Look who Jesus says are empowered to participate in the Kingdom of God:  the misfits!  The "poor in spirit" are spiritually needy (Rev 3:17-18) and are ready to receive.   The ones who "mourn" are grieving over their disconnect from God - they see their true condition.  The "meek" take correction and teaching.   The "hungry and thirsty" have capacity and appetite for God. 

Vs 7-9 show the Kingdom of God being released in and through people who are "merciful".  This word is associated with self-sacrifice - your pain in my heart.  Compassion.  The Kingdom is released through people who are "pure in heart" and who "see God".  These are without divided loyalties, with a single-minded pursuit of God, uncontaminated by the love of the world.  And the "peacemakers".  There is a difference between a peaceMAKER and a peaceKEEPER.  Peacekeepers want peace at any price - there is always a winner and a loser and it is not real peace either.  Peacemakers build bridges and emulate the Kingdom culture.  They walk in heavenly wisdom (Jas 3:17). 

And once the Kingdom influence is released in our lives, there is persecution because two value systems are colliding now.  And so, Jesus takes the culture of the world-spirit, where our actions are governed by externals - and shows how modelling Kingdom life involves the heart.  We are a different kind of person now. 

RESPONSE:  I am hungry and thirsty for more of You, God.  I want to exude Jesus - manifest Yourself in me, Lord.  Push my flesh aside, or better yet, get rid of bad habits, bad motives, bad attitudes, and let Yourself be seen in me.  And yes, make me aware of Your Presence with me in Wal-Mart, at the gas station, at the hairdressers, and when I return home to cook supper.  If I seem to ignore You, please stop me because I don't want to do that.  Let me minister grace to everyone I see.  Guard my mouth as I go about my day.  I rejoice in each new day as being from You.  Oh hallelujah!

PSALM 5:1-12
This is a Davidic Psalm written because his enemies were waiting to ambush him.  He didn't even know who some of them were!  But King David called God his King.  God does not take pleasure in evil and they are described here as untrustworthy, destructive, deceitful, rebellious, bloodthirsty.  Wow!  Romans 8:7 says that the natural mind hates God and can't and won't submit to Him.  So, those words describe the flesh.

"But I, by your great mercy..." (vs 7)  God's mercy is His favor.  It is also translated "grace", which is God's "willingness to use His power and ability on my behalf".  It is further defined: God's abundant, extraordinary and uncommonly tender compassion.  Vs 12 says God surrounds me with it!  "Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice (look happy) : let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them; Let them also that love Thy Name be joyful  (jump for joy) in Thee."

PROVERBS 1:24-28
Apparently when we refuse to ask God for wisdom and then heed it, disaster overtakes us.  It's not "if" things fall apart, but "when" things fall apart.  Well, I've been there.  It is real hard to go back and try to "fix" things afterwards.  Our best action is repentance.  Acknowledge our independence and repent of it, and cling to God. 

RESPONSE:
My flesh waits to ambush me at every step.  It lurks around the corner to jump in there when I don't keep my mind focused on God and what He wants.  But, God surrounds me with mercy and compassion.  When I repent, He defends me.  Help me, Lord, to be always aware of Your Presence in me and with me.  I want to stay aware of You every minute.  Help me to guard my heart and keep my focus.