Today's Reading
Deception, conniving and selfishness are all present in today's Genesis story. What do you think? What do you question?
Matthew today contains Jesus' commission to his closest followers. How do you think it relates to us today? Also, what are your thoughts about his comparison of judgment for those who refuse His message to the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah?
As you pray today's Psalm from your own heart, what is your attitude about the poor? I confess that I have often been critical of the poor, thinking it's just their own fault. Do you think that reflects the way God sees them?
Today's Proverb takes us back to the overall value of wisdom. What does it say to you?
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Sean here. There are many lessons in today's reading, the take away I had was related to Jacob's discernment with his father-in-law's attitude. Jacob assessed (with prodding via a dream) that Laban's attitude had changed toward Jacob. Jacob then made social and financial plans to complete his relationship with Laban, all being done rightly with no deception but still with a mindset to care for his family. I believe there is a lesson here for Christians to understand the environment we are in, be able to assess when the environment becomes toxic on a sustained basis, and then plan out an honest way to leave the situation.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sean! That line of thought also ties in well with the story we read in Matt today about Jesus sending out the disciples. Jesus tells them how to handle anyone who doesn't receive them well and tells them to "be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves."
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the reminder in Matthew that God will always have the words I need to say, even when I don't.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed when I find a passage (or in this case a Psalm) that describes our current world.
I've always felt when I hand money to someone standing on a corner, that what they spend it on is between them and God.
Thanks, TJ. I really like your thoughts on each of those areas. Sam
ReplyDeleteSo, I've been out of town and am just now catching up on some old questions... in Matt 10:23 it says that the Son of Man will return before they have reached every town in Israel. Since Christ hasn't returned yet, what did he mean by that?
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, welcome back! I think in this instance that Jesus was speaking of His return to the towns where he was not sending His disciples to minister and not of His second coming.
ReplyDeleteI am interested as to if there is specific significance to the Hebrew names Rachel selected for her children?
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has suffered miscarriages and an inability to have children I could, in some respects, relate to Rachel's desperation. Even though I knew God had a plan for me, it was still difficult knowing that some got pregnant so easily and that so many children in the world are unwanted--yet I wanted one so badly.
How did the conception between Jacob and the slaves impact the marriage? Historically, how does this impact the legitimacy of the children? How were they perceived in society?
Thanks for your transparency, Kella. Regarding the names, you can go to oneyearbibleonline.com and find the passage in the New Living Translation for this specific date, then find the names in the footnotes after Genesis. OR you can google "Hitchcock Dictionary of Bible Names," access it online and type in the names for the meanings.
ReplyDeleteWhile the slaves didn't have full rights as wives, their children had full rights as children. It made no difference in the future.