How is your reading coming along? We have made it through the first week of 2009 -- can you believe it? If you miss a day, forgive yourself and pick up with the next day. Really knowing the Bible is a lifetime adventure so lets stay at it, tiny steps at a time.
Genesis today is so rich that we could spend a week just on these chapters. Here are a few highlights...
1. God reveals his character to us through His names. We discover two of them in today's reading.
2. God enters a deeper covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham. Then God gives Sarai a new name.
3. God's requirement of Abraham in this covenant is circumcision and Abe responds obediently.
4. Sarai tries to help God along and get a family through her own manipulations. Thousands of years later, the world still reels from the conflict that started there.
Matthew today includes more instructions about how to truly follow God. Which one of these means the most to you?
In Psalms today, David (the man after God's own heart) wonders if his problems are all his own fault. If not, he asks God for justice. Surely you have been there!
Proverbs contains the words of a parent longing for his child to know and follow God's ways. Some of you are praying that for your little ones. God bless you for it!
Questions and comments are welcome. Yours may help someone else on this journey.
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There are so many things about God that are so mysterious to me. The whole circumcision thing seems really bizarre when you think about it. Why would God choose that as the way for their bodies to "bear the mark of my everlasting covenant" (Gen 17:13)? It seems like he'd stamp their forehead, or cut off an earlobe, so everyone they meet would know- why make it a hidden mark? -and why make it a mark only with the men? I realize that the culture was very male dominated, but from what I understand about God, he cares about the women too, so why not stamp their forehead as well???
ReplyDeleteI am puzzled by this too. I've always struggled with the old testament because so often laws in it are disregarded by Christians as old traditions rather than God's law. It's hard to know which things should still be followed and which things were more about the culture of that time.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this will help you with your questions. I heard Rick Warren recently say, "there are three kind kinds of law in the Bible that are very different. There's civil law, which is for the nation of Israel. There's ceremonial law, which is for the Jewish priesthood. And there is moral law, which is for everybody. The laws about eating fish and stuff, those are civil and ceremonial laws for Israel. No Christian follows those."
ReplyDeleteUsing that definition, circumcision was a part of the civil law because it was required for Israel. It was a sign of the covenant -- the cutting away of the male foreskin. You could also make an argument that it provided an extra measure of cleanliness in situations where tubs and showers were in short supply (smile).
Why only men? I don't know. Why on a "hidden" part of the body? I don't know.
Hi Pastor Sam, Why did god change Abram and Sarai names? Something to do with revealing God's character? michelle
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteNew names were common in Bible times to indicate some change in a person's life. Before long, we will meet Jesus as He calls people to follow Him. He gave several of them significant, new names. Sam
I can relate to Sarah in the longing to have a child but it is because of the story of Sarah that when things seemed there bleakest I never gave up on faith. She questioned God and I suppose its okay to not understand but I believe that its a matter of putting trust and belief in your relationship with God. That is why I never gave up hope and I can say it works. This story is very inspirational however I think Sarah should not have encouraged Abraham to sleep with her servant. I suppose she was desperate for an heir however this shows how one should have faith. I also think that many of the requests God made in the bible were for physical health such as the foods.
ReplyDeleteYour question: Matthew today includes more instructions about how to truly follow God. Which one of these means the most to you?
ReplyDeleteTo me, the elements of doing for others were meaningful. I think that many people today are too focused on themselves and what they need or they don't have. I always think that there is always someone who has it worse off than you, no matter what your situation might be.
It is interesting that many of the instructions direct us to focus on others, instead of ourselves. I think this is also important, especially in today's society when people are quick to blame others, criticize, and judge.
I really liked your answer, Kella. Thanks!
ReplyDelete