A Boomer in the Pew

Bible in a Year Series: Jacob Wrestles Messiah and is Brought to the end of Himself

Day #23 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 32-34.

The last section of Genesis 32 is a place where we must park ourselves to meditate long and hard.

If I understand this correctly, this is one of the rare theophanies (visible manifestations) of God, and we learn elsewhere that God manifests himself in Jesus Christ.

So, here we have Messiah wrestling with Jacob! This certainly seems worthy of our attention. Wouldn't you agree?

As we consider this scene, let's first remember that Jacob was born grabbing the firstborn Easu's heel.  And further, let's remember that the name Jacob means cheater, supplanter, deceiver, grabbing for something that isn't his.

Then, as we observe Jacob's life we find him taking Easu's birthright, lying to steal Esau's blessing, sneaking away from Laban, and here we find Jacob scared to death of what his brother Esau might do to him.

As I think about appearances of heavenly persons throughout the Bible, a great deal of the time there is tremendous fear on the part of the human involved.  I think of the three disciples, on the Mount of Transfiguration, knowing that this is Messiah, but scared to near death of what they were seeing.

Might this inner fear of Jacob's, that has dogged his whole life, be present?  Might it be that all this deception, manipulation, and inner turmoil has finally comes to a head, when he is "face to face" with God, and likely near death with fear? 

This night-long wrestling match certainly brought Jacob to the end of himself, until finally he cried, "I will not let you go until you bless me". 

Jacob knew who this was.  Jacob knew his sin.  Jacob knew that he was helpless.  And Jacob knew that he could not live another day without God's blessing, help, guidance, love, and direction in his life.

Phew!  What a scene.  And isn't this the way of God in our lives?  Only when we are helpless do we realize that we then can, through God, be strong.

I was greatly helped by A.W. Pink's "gleanings" from this scene. Take some time to read A.W. Pink's explanation of this scene, and please, I beg you, do not leave this scene until you grasp its full meaning, and perhaps find yourself in the same helpless position.  

I have recently come from my own wrestling match with God, and I am holding on to his ankles with all my strength, and pleading that he will never again let me stray.

Oh my soul, hold tight the ankles of Messiah, and daily seek his direction.

Bible in a Year Series: God's Continued Molding of the Mollycoddled Jacob

Day #22 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 30-31.

It seems to me that if we consider the life of Jacob thus far, we will find a man not yet grounded in who he is, and worse, not yet fully in submission to God.

Earlier we learned that Isaac seemed to favor the rugged firstborn Esau, and we find Jacob in the favor of his mother. 

In fact, some of the renaissance painters will paint Jacob as somewhat effeminate during this stage of his life.  I am not suggesting that his is, just presenting an observation.

Consider also that Jacob tricks Esau out of his birthright, and lies to obtain the blessing that should have been Esau's.  And then we find Jacob running for his life to Paddan-aram so that he won't be killed by this older brother for this deception.

On his way to Paddan-aram, we also get a glimpse of Jacob's immature, and perhaps even disrespectful behavior to God when he builds a pagan-like pillar to God, after his dream, rather than a proper alter.

If we think about Jacob's life thus far, it seems that he lacks the bold character of a patriarch, and certainly the resolved submissive fear of God that his forefathers possessed.

Think about how Jacob must have felt after he spent 20 years in labor to Laban, only to have Laban reduce his wealth to nothing by having his sons sneak away all of Jacob's herd.

Consider Jacob's character as he rebuilds the herd only to sneak away while Laban is away.

In regards to his faith we find that for some unknown reason his wife carries away idols, and once a truce is built between Laban and himself, he erects another pillar instead of an alter.

God isn't done molding Jacob yet, and in tomorrow's reading we are going to see Jacob's character refined to boiling in the melting pot of Yahweh.

As I consider my life, I can look back upon various places where God had placed me in his refiners fire to melt away impurities in my life. 

While it certainly isn't fun, and brings with it generally great pain, afterwords, while we are licking our wounds, we are able to see the hand of God, and the good of it for our lives.

Our Creator desires that we live our lives in total submission.  Our fallen nature desires that we live in submission to our own will and desires, apart from God. 

Hint:  in the end, our fallen nature will lose.  

Agree?

Bible in a Year Series: Jacob, Esau, and the Doctine of Election and Reprobation

Day #21 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 27-29

It is said that God works in mysterious ways.  As we view the narrative of Jacob and Esau, and dig below the surface, we will find great mystery.

Consider that while the boys were yet in the womb, God told Rebekah that there were two nations in her womb, and that the older would serve the younger.

Fast forward a bit, and we find Esau selling his birthright, and further still we find Jacob, with his mother's prompting, lying to Isaac, stealing Esau's blessing, thereby becoming the inheritor of Isaac's great promise from God.

God is sovereign right?  Then we must understand that for some reason unknown to our finite minds, God created these boys with certain predispositions, and knew full well that the line of Abraham would come through a liar's lips.

Then, to completely melt our minds, let us consider that later in Malachi, God proclaims "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated", and still later we find Paul explaining God's sovereign election by saying:

"For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—  she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:6-13)

Paul is instructing us that Esau was created for destruction.  

Right before our eyes, God forces upon us the same dilemma that we saw with Job.  Here, we are most likely to question God, and demand to know why he would create Esau knowing that he was destined to hell. 

I can't begin to fathom this. 

The question is, will I submit my mind, my will, my questions, and my anger of such a thing to my sovereign Creator, or will I allow my finite mind to stand upon my own fallen sensitivities and proclaim God unjust.

Theologians call this the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation.  Fortunately for me, and for you, the readers of this blog, I attend the same church as Dr. Wayne Grudem, and have sat in his Sunday school class as he was teaching on this very subject.  

Here are the recordings of the two Sundays that Dr. Wayne Grudem taught on this subject:

Session #1:

Session #2:

Dr. Grudem's class notes:  Download NotesGrudemElection

We are only 21 days into our journey, and already we are faced with the startling fact that our 21st century post-modern minds may not have any idea who this God is. 

God desires that we know him.  In these ancient texts we are going to observe his holiness, his righteous anger, his mercy, his faithfulness, his patience, his plan of redemption, and our complete need of Messiah.

Then, once we get to the Book of Matthew, we will begin to see God's glorious salvation unfold before our eyes, and we will weep when we begin to understand the depth of his love for us, and the lengths that God will go to save us from Eden's fall.

Oh my soul, stand mute and submit to our sovereign holy Creator.

Do you see the mystery that lies in these pages of Jacob?  What are your thoughts?

Bible in a Year Series: Esau Shockingly Sells his Birthright for a Bowl of Red Stew

Day #20 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 25-26.

Today's journey brings about the death of Abraham, the birth of Isaac's sons (Esau and Jacob), another great famine, Isaac following in his father's footsteps by calling his wife a sister to Abimelech, and the shocking narrative of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob.

To the post-modern ears, the selling of one's birthright is likely a massive yawn.  But in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the birthright was a huge deal.

The firstborn male was distinctly set apart as special, and received a greater inheritance than the rest of the siblings.

Furthermore, certainly Abraham has passed along to his son, and his grandsons, the covenant that God has made to create a holy nation from his loins.  Traditionally, this would have transpired through the firstborn.

However, this clearly was not of importance to Esau, as he sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew. 

The writer of Hebrews goes so far as to call Esau unholy.  Clearly, this was offensive to God for this writer to bring this scene forward many millennia, and tag Esau as unholy.

As we travel through the Biblical narrative, over the next months, we are going to observe a great many conflicts between siblings.  Even more perplexing is observing God's divine plan weaved through all this turmoil, sin, selfishness, and sometimes stunning evil.

God has taught us that he is sovereign.  God has taught us that he controls every molecule of his creation.  God is going to teach us that his plans will not be thwarted by Satan, the foolishness of fallen man, and that his plans can still resurrect through the most hideous evil.

God has now set in place a plan that will redeem man, and place us back in the garden with himself as our Father.  This plan has been in place for many, many years, and all creation, and God's children look forward, with great anticipation, to that day.

Let us never forget, as we read these holy words of God, that before us lies God's cure for fallen man, and God's unchanging will to make it so.

Bible in a Year Series: Why would God ask Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac?

Day #19 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible:  Genesis 22-24

How are we to know that we truly fear God, and are willing to submit, trust, and obey?

It would seem that this only happens under the testing of our faith, and the removing of the dross from our metal.

If you force yourself to consider this narrative beyond merely a child's Bible story, it is likely that, as with our view of Job, we will find ourselves again aghast at what God has asked of one of his servants.

Abraham, as the patriarch of God's chosen, was tested in ways that we are not likely to be tested.  However, we can observe his faith, ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand this scene, and be strengthened when we face our own appointed sacrifices.

Back in Genesis 12:1-3, God called Abram, told him of the plan he had for him, but the condition of the whole plan was that Abram would go.  He needed to obey.

All throughout Abraham's life we can see various trials as he leaves his family to wander in a foreign land, his sins and struggles as he meets with various kings, laughing at God when he proclaims that this old man will bear a son with his barren wife, obeying God by asking that his son Ishmael leave, and before us here the greatest test as God asks Abraham to make this greatest of all sacrifices by offering up his only son. 

How would God fulfill his promise of a nation if Abraham slays Isaac?  

This man Abraham possesses a faith that we can all aspire too.  Further, notice that it is God who is bringing this testing, where with Job, God was employing Satan.

God desires that we, through the reading of these texts, understand the nature of his character and who he is.  We must learn that he is absolutely sovereign, he is Creator, and King of all.  Further, this knowledge is worthless unless we then are willing to submit ourselves to his Kingship.

These are not lessons that are easily learned, nor are they likely to come overnight.  However, as we read, and re-read these narratives, the Holy Spirit begins to create a new creature in us over time.

The great benefit to us is that when we face our inevitable trials, we can perhaps draw strength from these great men of faith, apply a portion of it to ourselves, and bring glory to God as we demonstrate our love, obedience, and submission to his Great Name.

As I was observing this scene again this morning, I needed an instructor.  For that I called upon C.H. Spurgeon.  Here is a most instructive sermon from C.H. Spurgeon, on this very topic of God's testing of Abraham's faith, entitled Abraham's Trial - A Lesson for Believers.  

Please don't allow yourself to go forward without observing all that God would have you know of him.

Oh my soul, be honored by God's call, be ready to be taught, be ready to obey, be ready to surrender, be ready to be inspected, and rely on God's grace to provide the strength.

Bible in a Year Series: Abraham's Sin, Satan, and God's Sovereignty

Day #18 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 19-21.

Were you shocked at the sin we saw in today's reading?

We start off with every man from the town of Sodom attempting to rape the angels, then to Lot's daughters getting him drunk and having intercourse with him, to Abraham once again offering his beautiful wife up to become a concubine to a king.

Abraham!  What's your deal?  The notes in the ESV Study Bible suggests that this behavior is perhaps conducted more than the episodes that we see here.

If we step back and consider this grave sin we can perhaps see a few things happening:

• First of all, let's not put Abraham on a pedestal.  Even though he is God's chosen first patriarch, he too deals with sin in his life everyday.
• I wonder if this isn't Satan's attempt to destroy the womb of the nation of Israel?  Surely Satan knows of God's plan to build his people through the lineage of Abraham.  Certainly he desires to foil that plan. 
• Even though Satan attacks God's plan,and Abraham and Sarah sin with this cuckoldry, God is still in control.  Did you see what God said to Abimelech:  "it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her."

I can't begin to understand God's sovereignty.  I wonder why God didn't give Abraham the dream, and tell him to stop offering up his wife for sex to every king he comes across.  As we learned in Job, it is not for us to question the mind of God.

If this is your first journey through the Bible, you are very likely to learn that you didn't know Yahweh at all.  You are set on a journey where you will see great sin, mighty works of God, and things that will make your mind spin in confusion. 

Yet, in the midst of all of this, God want us to know that he is in control.  God uses evil for his purposes!

Here are a couple articles, from my archives, the might help you grasp the mystery of God's sovereignty:

• Did God cause the Jewish Holocaust?
• Wrestling with God's Sovereignty

Satan would have us believe that we are unusable by God because of our sin.  It is important for us to gaze upon the Biblical men of faith, realize that they too were woefully sinful men, and yet greatly used of God.

Bible in a Year Series: Walk Before Me and be Blameless

Day #17 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 16-18

Heaven was busy in these three chapters.

We find an angel of the Lord visiting Hagar, and proclaiming that she will have a son, he should be named Ishmael, and that "he shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him".

Interestingly, if I understood this right, it is Ismael's family tree that will breed the religion of the Muslim.  In fact, the Muslim believes that it was Ismael who Abraham was told my God to sacrifice in coming pages, and further they hold Abraham to be their patriarchal father as well.

What most caught my attention, however, was God again appearing to Abram.  Here, God tells Abram that he will establish an everlasting covenant with him and his offspring, and makes the circumcision a sign of this covenant. 

Further God announces that He is God Almighty, instructs Abram to walk before Him, be blameless, and gives Abram the new name of Abraham.

I found this announcement to be a distinct key to the heart of God.  God desires that we understand that he alone is God Almighty, he desires a relationship with us, that we not merely know "of" him, and he further desires that we be blameless, by obeying his statutes.

Further, we learn in the Book of Revelation that when God's elect are brought to heaven, we all given a new name. 

What a beautiful glimpse into the heart of Abba.  Little does Abraham know that from his very loins, from this future promised nation, will come Messiah to create God's fully disclosed plan of redemption.

It will soon all start to be fulfilled in the birth of Isaac from the womb of the barren Sarai, now named Sarah.

As we shall soon see, this journey of redemption throughout the history of mankind gets very, very messy.  But as we learned from the Book of Job, God is orchestrating every turn of the page, and will ultimately, with the Second Coming of Christ, complete what was started this day from the laughing hearts of Abraham and Sarah.