Bible E-Course 4C - Jesus in Exodus

The old covenant was a lengthy preparation to teach the need for Jesus and a new covenant. Let’s look at Jesus in the book of Exodus. Did all the prophets speak of Jesus?

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.” (Luke 24:25-27 CEB)

Did Moses write about Jesus?

“Moses wrote about me, and if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me.” (John 5:46 CEV)

Did Moses understand suffering for Christ?

“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:26 NLT)

The Exodus

Who led Israel out of Egyptian slavery? While some translations use the words “the Lord,” the original Greek uses the name Jesus.

“Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” (Jude 5 ESV)

The Passover Lamb

A flawless lamb was offered at Passover.

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats” (Exodus 12:5 ESV).

This pictured Christ’s sinlessness.

“Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 CEB)

The Bread from Heaven

When Israel was hungry in the wilderness, God miraculously intervened.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you…’ ” (Exodus 16:4a NASB)

This was a foretaste of a greater miracle.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven…

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:32, 35, 50 KJV)

Miraculous Feeding

The feeding of several crowds was not the first time Jesus was involved in feeding a multitude.

“About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!” (Matthew 14:21 NLT)

On another occasion:

“Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 15:38 NKJV)

The miraculous feeding of a whole nation took place long before.

“He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky. Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.” (Psalm 78:24-25 WEB)

The Rock

After the Exodus, Israel complained about having no water and so God provided.

“ ‘I’ll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Hit the rock. Water will come out of it, and the people will be able to drink.’ Moses did so while Israel’s elders watched.” (Exodus 17:6 CEB)

Metaphorically, the rock from which the water flowed was Christ.

“All of them also ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink, which flowed from the spiritual rock that followed them. That rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4 CEV)

Living Water

The Lord is the source of living water.

“O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.” (Jeremiah 17:13 KJV)

That source of living water is Jesus.

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’ ” (John 4:10 NLT)

The woman at the well thought that Jesus was colloquially referring to flowing water as opposed to stagnant, so He further explained what He actually meant.

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14 KJV)

At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus publicly taught that life-giving water can flow within us.

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, ‘If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.’ ” (John 7:36-38 ESV)

God’s future kingdom is pictured as a time when all will be led to those waters.

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ” (Revelation 7:17 NIV)

He Tabernacled

Most translations fail to render the original Greek literally, that Jesus tented or tabernacled with us.

“The Word became flesh and made his home [tabernacled or tented] among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 CEB)

Here is a seldom-noticed connection between the Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles and the celebration of Christ’s birth. The festival of Tabernacles pointed to Jesus' tabernacling or tenting with us, in His incarnation. So too are our bodies like a tent.

“Our bodies are like tents [tabernacles] that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 5:1 CEV)

The tabernacle or “tent of meeting” was also a picture of heaven.

“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.” (Hebrews 9:11 NLT)

The high priest was the only one allowed to enter the holy of holies, once a year, on the Day of Atonement. In Jesus, every Christian is welcome in God’s holy space, behind the curtain, at all times.

“Brothers and sisters, we have confidence that we can enter the holy of holies by means of Jesus’ blood, through a new and living way that he opened up for us through the curtain, which is his body, and we have a great high priest over God’s house. Therefore, let’s draw near with a genuine heart with the certainty that our faith gives us, since our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies are washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22 CEB)

Will you have a change of heart and mind, believe the good news of God’s reign and enter the heavenly holy place to be with God? You decide!

Bible E-Course 4B - The Old Covenant

Let’s look at the Mosaic covenant and how it prepared for the new covenant. After freedom from Egypt the people were still slaves, to sin.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.’ “ (John 8:34 ESV)

The old covenant was established to expose sin and prepare for Christ.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24 KJV)

Was the law bad?

“So the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.” (Romans 7:12 CEB)

The law was not weak in itself, but we are weak.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:2-3 NKJV)

Murmurings

Israel complained a lot. Do Christians also complain a lot (Exodus 16)? Are we satisfied with the bread from heaven? How important is communion to us?

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’ “ (John 6:35 NKJV)

Do we complain to God that we are thirsty for physical things (Exodus 17) or spiritual things?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

Have we come to the One who can freely give us the water of life?

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 WEB)

“To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6 NLT cf. Revelation 22:1, 17)

The Covenant

Did you know that there are about 8 different ways that Christian and Jewish groups count the Ten Commandments? No matter how they are counted, nobody leaves any commandment out, though some make ignorant and false accusations that they do.

Did you know that the Ten Commandments were the Old Covenant?

“And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” (Exodus 34:28b KJV)

“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.” (Deuteronomy 4:13 NASB)

Posting a plaque listing the Ten Commandments, the Old Covenant, is not wrong, but it gives the impression of legalism. Ought not Christians post something of faith in Christ?

“These things are an allegory: the women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to slave children; this is Hagar… Throw out the slave woman and her son, because the slave woman’s son won’t share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” (Galatians 4:24, 30 CEB)

Does this contradict Jesus’ instructions?

“Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20 CEV)

How can we obey the law better than the meticulous Pharisees? Isn’t the old covenant obsolete?

“In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13 NKJV)

The harmony of such seemingly contradicting statements is that Christians keep the law in a transformed manner, in the spirit not the letter.

“who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV)

How does the spirit of the law operate in practice? One excellent example is the law of circumcision.

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:29 KJV cf. Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4)

The heart was actually God’s intention, even under the old covenant.

Slavery

Slavery in Israel shocks us unless we realize that it describes something quite different to modern history. First of all, kidnapping was forbidden, as occurs in many examples of modern slavery. Slavery in Israel was often a way to pay off debts, to do an apprenticeship, to pay for crimes like theft, or to punish foreign war prisoners, and it was usually time limited to seven years maximum, unless a slave voluntarily stayed as a kind of work for welfare. (Exodus 21-22)

“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you.” (Exodus 21:2 NASB)

Various Laws

Why were weekly and annual Sabbaths important (Exodus 23)? How is the principle of these laws applicable to Christians? Do Christians also have three major festival seasons like Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles?

Why did God want the Canaanites driven out of the land? Faith in God’s commands often comes before understanding. We only learn later that the Canaanites practiced idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:1-6), ritual sex acts (2 Kings 23:7; Amos 2:7), and abominable child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 17:31; 28:3; Ezekiel 16:21).

What is the difference between an idol and the cherub statues used in the sanctuary (Exodus 25)? What did the showbread and lampstand foreshadow? What did the tabernacle picture (Exodus 26)? What did the altar of sacrifice prefigure?

What does incense picture (Exodus 30:1-10; Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4)? What do washing rituals picture (Exodus 30:17-32; John 13:14; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:10; 10:22; Revelation 1:5; 7:14)?

Bezalel was filled with the Holy Spirit. What was the evidence?

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship” (Exodus 31:3 ESV)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not limited to the twelve mentioned to Corinth (1 Corinthians 12; Matthew 7:11; John 4:10; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 7:7; Ephesians 2:8). God’s gifts are unlimited.

The Golden Calf

Do some Christians bow down to images in a manner like pagans worshiped idols? Do others go to the opposite extreme, avoiding all pictures or statues, forgetting the covering cherubs and pomegranates decorating the tabernacle? Israel never bowed down to the covering cherubs. They were mere reminders.

Yet, Israel wanted to build a golden calf to bow down to (Exodus 32). How much do the idols of the world haunt our church worship? As Aaron made the calf, have we tolerated some of our church leaders bringing bad practices into the church?

The Tabernacle

The offering for the tabernacle was from “whosoever is of a willing heart” (Exodus 35:5b KJV). Could that apply to church offerings? Could the details of the tent of worship encourage how we construct church buildings and what our elders wear (Exodus 35-40)? What is more important than physical clothing?

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27 CEB)

The law was good and holy, and Christians obey the spirit of the whole law, not the letter, focusing on righteousness by faith. Will you have a change of heart and mind, and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Bible E-Course 4A - Freedom

When we speak of freedom today, we usually think of politics, freedom from dictatorship and freedom to live as we choose. But, there is a freedom that politics cannot guarantee, freedom from corruption and death. Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt was a forerunner of ultimate freedom granted in Jesus.

Preparation

After murdering a man, Moses fled from Egypt to Midian, where he married Jethro’s daughter Zipporah. Forty years later, after long preparation and humbling, he was called by God. At the burning bush, God commissioned Moses.

“Now the Israelites’ cries of injustice have reached me. I’ve seen just how much the Egyptians have oppressed them. So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9-10 CEB)

Although God had previously introduced Himself as YHWH, He now tells Moses the meaning of His Name.

“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you.” ’ ” (Exodus 3:14 ESV)

Who was this “I am?”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’ ” (John 8:58–59 CEV)

There is a related description in Revelation.

“...Him who is, and who was, and who is to come…” (Revelation 1:4 NASB cf. Revelation 1:8; 4:8).

Plagues

The economic advantage of free slave labor has meant too much to heartless, stubborn slavers down through history. Pharaoh refused to believe God and let Israel go free. God began to reveal himself to this idol worshiping king, as his false gods were turned against him - blood, frogs, lice, flies, diseased livestock, boils, and hail in the first seven plagues. Then, God warned Pharaoh again and gave a reason for the plagues.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me. For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.” ‘ ” (Exodus 9:13-14 ESV)

The last three plagues ensued, locusts, darkness, and the death of firstborn males. Each plague exposed Egyptian gods as frauds. What popular deceptions does our world worship?

A Lamb

Coinciding with the last plague and the beginning of the exodus from Egypt is the Passover (Exodus 12). Passover symbolizes Jesus, our Passover, sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7). A lamb without blemish (Exodus 12:5) foreshadowed our sinless Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:22). Our sins are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5; 7:14). God’s preparation for Christ was the law, which exposes our sins and the need for a Savior.

God’s Presence

God is omnipresent, everywhere, but made His presence specially known to Israel in a pillar and cloud.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (Exodus 13:12 KJV).

“Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would stand and worship, each at the entrance of his tent.” (Exodus 33:9-10 NASB)

The pillar of cloud and fire reminds us that God is ever present to lead and save us. God is faithful and will never leave His people.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV)

Crossing

The people complained that they were trapped by the sea with an Egyptian army advancing towards them. Moses prayed and God answered.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:15-16 NIV)

Did God remove the problem or make a way through?

Do you want true freedom? Will you have a change of heart and mind, and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Bible E-Course 3K - Jesus in Genesis

There are hints of Jesus throughout the entirety of Genesis and the New Testament names Him as Creator.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14 NKJV)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17 NASB)

Prophecies are often hints. As God speaks to the snake, notice how the object changes from the woman to her seed or offspring, which is not plural but singular, and then a singular man’s heel, “his heel.” Notice too how the wounds are different.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)

Jesus is also pictured in Abel, who offered a better sacrifice than His brother.

“By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.” (Hebrews 11:4 CEB)

Yet, righteous Abel’s blood could not save humanity.

“And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God's new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24 CEV)

Jesus told the thief on the cross he would be in the heavenly garden. Paradise means a garden.

“And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’ ” (Luke 23:43 ESV)

The physical salvation of Noah’s family through water was a picture of baptism and eternal salvation in Christ.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house” (Hebrews 11:7a KJV).

We also see that Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.

“First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’ Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:2b-3 NIV)

Abraham was not just blessed for himself or one nation but for the whole world.

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:18 NKJV)

By seed or offspring, Paul explains that this is singular and means Jesus.

“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” (Galatians 3:16 NASB)

As Abraham offered up Isaac, so God offered up his Son. For God, this was going to be real. But, for Abraham it was only a test, because the angel stopped him.

“ ‘Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!’ the angel said. ‘Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.’ ” (Genesis 22:12 CEV)

Instead, a lamb was offered, as Abraham had in faith predicted.

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

The Lamb of God was offered for all of us.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

Jacob dreamed of a way to heaven.

“As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.” (Genesis 28:12 NLT)

Later, we understand that Jesus is the way, the only way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

Jesus is the stairway to heaven.

“Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.’ ” (John 1:51 NLT)

In Joseph, we recognize the rejected brother, who eventually saved his whole family.

“And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.” (Genesis 37:4 NASB)

Jesus, who came to save the entire human family, was also rejected.

“He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” (John 1:11 NLT)

Towards the end of Genesis, Judah is blessed. Shiloh has long been understood as a name of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. A scepter is carried by a king as a sign of office. All Israel’s kings were from the tribe of Judah and that office ultimately belongs to Jesus, the King of Kings.

“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes [Shiloh] to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him.” (Genesis 49:10 WEB)

What other things in Genesis foreshadow Christ? Will you have a change of heart and mind, believe the good news of God’s reign and accept Jesus as your King? You decide!

Bible E-Course 3J - Joseph

Joseph was treated with favoritism and at age 17, informed on his brothers’ misdeeds. Telling his brothers of a dream that they would bow down to him, made matters even worse, and bad relations between them festered.

“Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors… Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.” (Genesis 37:2-5 ESV)

Sold

Family animosity eventually sunk so low that Joseph’s brothers committed criminal acts, holding him against his will in a pit and then selling him to slave traders.

“Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. So they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:28 NASB)

Potiphar’s Wife

In Egypt, Joseph was eventually entrusted with the management of Potiphar’s household, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard. However, Potiphar’s wife desired to have sex with Joseph, but he refused and later unwisely entered the household without witnesses.

“And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.” (Genesis 39:11-14 KJV)

Thus falsely accused, Joseph ended up in prison, but he soon rose to manage the whole place. Thirteen long years passed from when Joseph was sold into slavery to the time he left prison. God often takes a long time to prepare people for their life’s ultimate purpose.

Dreams

Joseph gained a reputation as one who could interpret dreams. To whom did he give credit?

“And they said to him, ‘We have had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.’ Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do interpretations not belong to God? Tell it to me, please.’ ” (Genesis 40:8 NASB)

Even later when asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph turned attention away from himself and gave God the credit.

“ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ ” (Genesis 4:16 NIV)

Promotion

Thus Joseph was instrumental in preparing Egypt for a famine, which would bring his own family there. Recognizing the uniqueness of Joseph, Pharaoh made him prime minister.

“Pharaoh also said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’ ” (Genesis 41:44 NKJV)

Yes, our circumstances in life can change dramatically, if God wills.

Israel in Egypt

Finally, Joseph’s family came to buy bread in Egypt and they fulfilled the dream that Joseph had many years earlier, that they would all bow down before him.

“Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him.” (Genesis 44:14 NLT)

That is how the whole clan settled in Egypt for several centuries.

“Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.” (Genesis 47:11 WEB)

In Joseph we learn the dangers of favoritism and jealousy. We see a man who did not take credit but gave it to God. We see that evil may sometimes last a very long time, but God can still make it good. We see how Joseph forgave his brothers for their terrible deeds against him. Joseph’s story lets us know how God works even with young people. Joseph wisely turned away from sexual temptation, but doing what’s right sometimes brings pain.

Will you have a change of heart and mind? Like Joseph, will you patiently wait for God to fulfill your dreams and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Bible E-Course 3i - Jacob

Who was one of the first men nicknamed Red, and why? Why was his brother named Heel Catcher? Jacob was born so soon after his twin brother Esau that he grabbed his heel and earned the name “heel catcher” or “supplanter,” a prophecy of Jacob supplanting the position of honor in the clan and the blessing from his father normally given to the firstborn.

“Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God.” (Hosea 12:3 NLT)

Favoritism & Sibling Rivalry

Jacob’s sibling rivalry is well known, but let’s not forget his dogged determination. Their parents were partly to blame for the rivalry.

“Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28 CEB)

Birthright & Blessing

Favoritism is a common cause of deep-seated family problems. Jacob was conniving, but his brother thought so little of his birthright that he readily sold it cheaply, for some red lentil stew, becoming perhaps the first man to be nicknamed Red.

“One day, when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came home hungry and said, “I'm starving to death! Here and now give me some of that red stew!” That's how Esau got the name “Edom” [Red]. Jacob replied, “Sell me your rights as the first-born son.” “I'm about to die,” Esau answered. “What good will those rights do me?” But Jacob said, “Promise me your birthrights, here and now!” And that's what Esau did. Jacob then gave Esau some bread and some of the bean stew, and when Esau had finished eating and drinking, he just got up and left, showing how little he thought of his rights as the first-born.” (Genesis 25:29-34 CEV)

Jacob can’t be blamed entirely for bad relations with his brother. His mother Rebekah was also involved in deceiving Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau.

“Esau said, ‘Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.’ Then he said, ‘Have you not reserved a blessing for me?’ Isaac answered and said to Esau, ‘Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?’ ” (Genesis 27:36-37 ESV)

What was the result?

“And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” (Genesis 27:41 KJV)

Families still fall out with each other because of favoritism and feelings of unfair treatment. It is always wise to discuss an inheritance openly and early, asking if anybody feels mistreated and to solve potential issues before they fester. Nobody needs their legacy to be a divided family.

Leaving Town

Unfortunately, things were so bad in this family that Jacob had to leave town fearing for his very life. Even though he had some glaring character flaws, Jacob did desire to follow God.

“Jacob also made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.’ ” (Genesis 28:20-21 NASB)

Cheated

What is the best way for a sinner with certain weaknesses to learn to overcome? Could it be that God had some important lessons for Jacob in working for Uncle Laban? Deceived by him into a honeymoon with the wrong daughter, Jacob was devastated.

“When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’ ” (Genesis 29:25 NIV)

Unlike his father Isaac, who was a one-woman man, Jacob had four and all the family strife that comes with plural marriages. God’s ideal at creation was one man and one woman. Imagine only having a quarter of your spouse’s time, or less if you were not a favorite. What a selfish lifestyle! Yet, God works with us to teach us through life’s experiences. Jacob was learning not to cheat others the hard way, by being deceived by his own uncle, as he told Laban’s daughters.

“You know how hard I have worked for your father, but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.” (Genesis 31:6-7 NLT)

Wrestling

Jacob journeyed as God instructed him. He encountered angels and wrestled all night with God. We are encouraged to persist in prayer. Jacob continued even after he sprained his thigh, until God finally blessed him.

“He said, ‘Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.’ ” (Genesis 32:28 WEB)

Repentance

As he took the spiritual lead of the whole clan, Jacob was moving deeper into godly things, repenting of some bad spiritual practices.

“Jacob said to his family and to everyone else who was traveling with him: Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes.” (Genesis 35:2 CEV)

A change of life sometimes brings a change of name. Israel (Yisrael) means “God prevails.” In the midst of hard lessons about deceptive practices, Jacob also learned forgiveness and made peace with his uncle and brother, later joining his brother at his father Isaac’s funeral (Genesis 35:29). God continued to speak with Jacob the whole time, even though he still had some important sins to overcome. Which of us does not? What family idols do we need to get rid of?

“God appeared to Jacob again, while he was on his way back from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob, but your name will be Jacob no longer. No, your name will be Israel.’ And he named him Israel.” (Genesis 35:9-10 CEB)

Jacob’s pilgrimage was to eventually take him to Egypt, where on the way God spoke.

“And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.’ ” (Genesis 46:2-3 ESV)

Jacob’s life, filled with strife and troubles, gives us all hope that we who are also far from perfect, can be shown mercy and favor as we trust in God.

Which one are you, the cheater or the cheated? Will you have a change of heart and mind? Like Israel, will you prevail with God and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Cast Your Nets

Is anything holding us back? Let’s discuss putting the mistakes of the past behind us and moving forward. Let’s discuss how Jesus helped his disciples move forward after their failures in John 21:1-19.[1]

John 21:1-5 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

The disciples failed Jesus. They went fishing and failed to catch anything. Highly educated, very intelligent people run this world and fail miserably. We are all no different than Jesus’ disciples. With Jesus’ guidance, they made an enormous catch. He invited them put their fish with his bread for breakfast.

John 21:6-7 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

A common net was flax about 6 yards or meters across with small lead weights around the outside. It was thrown to open up as it hit the water. The weights dropped and the net encircled the fish. Men then jumped into the water to retrieve the net, often naked.[2]

The fish were then sorted and counted so that each received a fair share. Day laborers usually helped with the duties. Fishermen probably knew the local Aramaic language, Hebrew and also Greek, the language of trade. Jesus arrived and advised the experts. Who would let a stranger advise their business!

John 21:8-13 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Would Jesus restore us too after a grievous sin? Can a pastor be restored after grievous sin? They had all acted like cowards, felt guilty and ashamed, and so went home. Jesus provided fish and invited them to breakfast. It was time to move on from their grief and fear.

John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

In Greek, love [agapé] can mean a wrong kind of love. Men loved darkness (John 3:19), the praise of men more than God (John 12:43), this world more than Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). Peter was taught to show brotherly love [philia], “feed my sheep.” (John 21:1-19).

Love [agapé] finds its greatest expression in an act of brotherly love [philia], dying for our brothers/friends (John 15:13). Jesus also taught that He expects us to show love to Him in acts of brotherly love towards the needy, like foreigners, homeless, sick and prisoners (Matthew 25:31-46).

Does God give second chances, recovery from our mistakes? Should a minister be reinstated after repentance? Jesus reinstated Peter. How many of us have completely ruined something? Have we hurt our family? Have we betrayed a friend? Have we denied Jesus? If we want a second chance, God is willing.

The disciples were no different than us. We love Jesus, but sometimes are afraid. With three confirmations of his love for Peter Jesus reminded Peter of the task ahead. We are forgiven, invited to eat with Jesus. There’s no time for guilt, shame and fear. It’s time to feed the sheep.

John 21:18-19 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Would we follow Jesus like Peter even if it means our death? Will we stay faithful even in old age? Will we follow Jesus even if it means being carried where we do not want to go? We don’t follow men, or their denominations, but Jesus. Let’s never forget who we follow!

There is danger ahead and work to be done. Let’s take time in prayer to discuss with God our many failures in life and ask for forgiveness. Then let’s move on. There are sheep to be fed. One person cannot do it alone. We are all needed. Let’s follow Jesus to the end!

[1] New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

[2] Elizabeth McNamer. "Cast Your Nets: Fishing at the Time of Jesus" www.AmericanCatholic.org. n.p., July 2004. Web. 14 January 2013.

Bible E-Course 3h - Isaac

Isaac was the son of promise, yet Abraham was tested. How does a father feel, sacrificing his son, to war, or to a cross? Abraham faced that test, and passed. What could Isaac have been thinking during his father’s trial of faith?

“And Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” (Genesis 22:7-9 ESV)

What could have been running through the mind of Isaac when he realized that he would serve as the burnt sacrifice? There is no record of him struggling against the bindings. As a young man, he would certainly have been stronger than his father. Did he have the same faith as Abraham who believed that God could resurrect his son?

“because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11:19 CEV).

Abraham was spared the suffering of a son who was sacrificed. God was not.

Rebekah

Sarah died and Abraham bought property in Hebron to bury her. Then begins a love story of Isaac and Rebekah, and the faithfulness of Abraham’s most senior servant whom he sent to find Isaac a wife. Though he would have inherited everything if Abraham did not have a son, this loyal servant prayed.

“O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14 ESV)

Rebekah was willing, Isaac loved her and she became his wife.

After Sarah’s death, Abraham had more children by Keturah and several concubines. He sent them away with gifts and gave his entire inheritance to Isaac. Abraham died, Isaac and Ishmael buried him beside Sarah and the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael still attend his grave to this day, side-by-side in Hebron.

Unlike his father Abraham, Isaac knew only one woman. But they had to wait about 20 years for a child.

“And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” (Genesis 25:21 KJV)

Favoritism

Favoritism was a generational problem. It was a problem for Abraham's descendants even to this day, and has hurt many other families throughout history.

“Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28 NASB)

God shows no favoritism. In Abraham God wants to bless the whole world, not just one nation.

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” (Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV)

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8-9 NKJV)

“Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.’ ” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT)

“God does not have favorites.” (Romans 2:11 CEB)

All are equal, yet there are different responsibilities given to different people, and a firstborn son was usually given a double inheritance because he had greater responsibility, for instance, to lead the clan, and take care of any family widows or unmarried sisters. When Isaac realized that he blessed who he had initially thought was the wrong son, he “trembled exceedingly” and wept.

“Isaac started trembling and said, ‘Then who brought me some wild meat right before you came in? I ate it and gave him a blessing that cannot be taken back.’ ” (Genesis 27:33 CEV).

Perhaps, because Isaac was a man of honor he stood by his word even though it was given under false pretenses, in a way that our society cannot understand, where people so easily break their word. Perhaps in faith, he also realized that this was God’s will all along, and he was not going to go against God. Jacob had no need for his deception, because God was indeed going to bless him with the clan leadership. So, Isaac told Esau the decision.

“ ‘My son,’ Isaac answered, ‘I have made Jacob the ruler over you and your brothers, and all of you will be his servants. I have also promised him all the grain and grapes that he needs. There’s nothing left that I can do for you.’ ” (Genesis 27:37 CEV).

The New Testament gives a clue to Isaac’s motive, faith. Do we have that kind of faith, to place our lives in God’s hands, whether or not He works things out as we had planned?

“By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.” (Hebrews 11:21 WEB)

Liar

Like father, like son. The family weakness of lying about their wives comes once again to the fore.

“And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.” (Genesis 26:7 KJV)

God’s human leaders on earth have never been perfect, but they have had faith.

Peacemaker

Some men wanted to fight Isaac over an ancestral well. But, rather than argue over well water, Isaac chose to make peace and move on. In the annals of Middle East history, this example could be followed more often.

“So Isaac departed from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and settled there.” (Genesis 26:17 NASB)

Similar disputes over well water with locals continued again and again until finally there was peace.

“He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, ‘Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.’ ” (Genesis 26:22 NIV)

Being able to take a loss for the sake of peace is a good thing. It’s a pity the world has not learned that lesson very often in history.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9 NKJV)

As we see with all of God’s servants, none are perfect, but it is righteousness by faith that counts. Is Isaac saved? Quoting Exodus 3:6 Jesus provides us an answer.

“But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” (Matthew 22:31-32 NLT)

Will you have a change of heart and mind and like Isaac believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Bible E-Course 3g - Abraham

A study of the patriarchs and matriarchs reveals that they were very imperfect people, but blessed by God because of faith. This should be an encouragement to us who are likewise very imperfect, but trust in God.

Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? Let’s look at Genesis 12-25 and the life of a patriarch of our faith.

God’s Will for Abram

In Genesis 12 God said to Abram six times “I will.”

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.’ ” (Genesis 12:1-3 CEB).

At age 75, Abram left a comfortable life in Harran because he believed God’s promise.

“I will give this land to your family forever.” (Genesis 12:7b CEV)

The whole point is Abram’s faith, not any kind of sinless perfection, because he was far from perfect.

“When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, ‘I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife.” Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.’ ” (Genesis 12:11-13 ESV)

Abram & Lot

Abram had large herds of animals. The land could not hold both his and Lot’s herds so they separated. Revealing his character, Abram let Lot choose the best land.

“Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:9 KJV)

Lot chose the greener, sin-filled plains, but eventually needed rescue. Eastern kings attacked, captured Lot and his family. With hundreds of fighting men Abram saved them. Then he met Melchizedek king of Salem [Jerusalem], a priest of God.

“And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.’ And he gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:19-20 NASB)

Covenant of Promise

God blessed Abram, and despite his human faults, he is counted as righteous because he believed the Lord.

“He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6 NIV)

His belief was not perfect though. Sarai used her handmaid as a surrogate and Abram complied. Ishmael was the result. As you can imagine, Abram’s family life became pretty messed up because of that. Yet, God changed Abram’s name from High Father (Abram) to Father of a Multitude (Abraham), and Sarai’s name from Princess (Sarai) to THE Princess (Sarah).

God instituted circumcision as a sign of the covenant and promised a son via Sarah. Both laughed in mockery that God would give two old people a son. So God gave them a constant reminder of that laughter. Yitzhak or Isaac in Hebrew means he laughs.

“But God said, “No, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac [he laughs]; and I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” (Genesis 17:19 NASB)

Sodom & Gomorrah

A heavenly trio visited Abraham, promised a son and shared God’s plans for Sodom. Abraham asked what if there were fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, or twenty righteous people there.

“Finally, Abraham said, ‘Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?’ And the Lord replied, ‘Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.’ ” (Genesis 18:32 NLT).

Lesser known sins of Sodom included pride, idleness and neglect of the poor and needy.

“Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV).

Their more well-known sin was sexual.

“But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. They called to Lot, and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.’ ” (Genesis 19:4-5 WEB)

Lot is a sad case. He chose to live in a perverted, self-indulgent town. Perhaps he thought he could be a force for good, unaffected by his environment. Perhaps he was just naïve. No matter where we live, we need to be in the world but not of the world (John 15:19; 17:14-16).

We can see how low Lot had sunk by the offer of his daughters to the mob.

“See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” (Genesis 19:8 NKJV)

Perhaps this cowardly and repulsive character failure was in part to blame on the town’s wickedness that tormented his soul day and night. Lot is still called righteous, had God’s favor, and was mercifully given a way of escape.

“But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.” (2 Peter 2:7-8 NLT)

Rather than glad to be rid of such an abominable town, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Abraham & Hagar

Abraham’s family situation became very tense, after Abraham had a child with the household servant Hagar, even though it was at Sarah’s insistence. Sarah was exasperated by the whole sordid affair and wanted Abraham to send Hagar and her son Ishmael away.

“God said to Abraham, ‘Don’t be upset about the boy and your servant. Do everything Sarah tells you to do because your descendants will be traced through Isaac. But I will make of your servant’s son a great nation too, because he is also your descendant.’ ” (Genesis 21:12-13 CEB)

In this, God shows His great mercy, even upon this very messed up family situation and the sins of His faithful people. We must learn not to judge, because even the most faithful of God’s servants will have glaring faults.

Abraham & Abimelech

Though Abraham was faithful to God, like us he was faulty. He repeated his sin of deception in Egypt with Abimelech. So, God warned Abimelech in a dream.

“Now return the man’s wife. He’s a prophet; he will pray for you so you may live. But if you don’t return her, know that you and everyone with you will die!” (Genesis 20:7 CEB)

Abraham was flawed, but he obeyed God.

“Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen.” (Hebrews 11:8 CEV)

He was tested for his willingness to sacrifice his son in a way that reminds us of the cross.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ ” (Hebrews 11:17 ESV)

Though far from perfect, Abraham had a kind of righteousness credited by faith.

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23 KJV)

Though perhaps born in a different nation that does not have God’s law as its heritage, all who have the faith of Abraham are his successors, because he is a father to all believers.

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.” (Romans 4:16-17 NKJV)

Will you have a change of heart and mind and like Abraham, believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Bible E-Course 3f - Babel

Love of country is good, unless it excludes love of God. Love of country is good, unless it excludes love of non-citizen neighbors. The sin of self-centered national pride, of placing our name above others is the same attitude as existed at the tower of Babel. Such arrogant self-importance discredits any modern nation just as it did them. Let’s examine how the tower of Babel is still relevant today.

Making a Name

Unity can be a good thing unless a unified group uses its power to oppress others. Church unity is important, but even some morally weak Christians have used their power to murder and oppress dissenters in history. Look at how badly some Christians treated others in European history. Look at the atrocities committed by so-called Christian monarchs. Look at how some modern churches treat each other.

We’ve all heard attitudes like, “We are the best. We have the best country. We are the right denomination. Another world first by our scientists.” This was Babylon’s attitude.

“They said, ‘Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves so that we won’t be dispersed over all the earth.’ ” (Genesis 11:4 CEB)

Disobedience

Why were they worried about making a name for themselves? Was it because they wanted to be disobedient to God’s clear command to Noah?

“So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.’ ” (Genesis 9:1 NKJV)

Did they think that by becoming famous for a tall tower they could stay together instead of filling the earth? Did Nimrod want power and so rallied people to support his vision which disobeyed God’s purpose? How similar is this to great swelling ideas proposed by modern politicians?

Preaching Lies

Making a name for ourselves is also a danger in the church. How many preachers want a big church, lots of money or fame? We see it frequently. Some preachers settle for a popular message and judiciously avoid the offensive words of the Bible which describe sin or suffering.

It’s tempting for preachers to heed the ancient plea of the people for comforting sermons that avoid our need to repent of sin. It’s tempting to emphasize heaven and ignore hell. Popular preferences include motivational speeches about health and wealth, or entertainment and physical experiences, or to ignore biblical morality and promote popular immorality, or to emphasize later traditions more than the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. People can’t cope with the truth. They prefer preachers who tickle their ears. They are a people,

“Who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’; And to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy the truth to us. Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.’ ” (Isaiah 30:10 NASB)

Pride

These kinds of false and watered down messages bring about the same kind of pride exhibited at the tower of Babel. There is nothing new when it comes to attitudes.

What’s wrong with national or denominational pride? Pride of any kind causes evils such as treating others as lesser people. Why are would-be immigrants mistreated across the world? Why do Ulster Catholics and Protestants have a long history of violence? Why have weak Christians persecuted other Christians? Pride causes many evils.

“God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble.” (1 Peter 5:5b CEV)

Despots

Technological advancement is a mixed blessing because it also brings a greater capacity for evil. We often admire cities, yet they also isolate us from the beauty of creation in noisy, crime-ridden, concrete jungles. Despots like Nimrod assembled people in cities for protection and pride, but it also gave them more power.

“Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one [tyrant] in the earth.” (Genesis 10:8 WEB)

In context, this seems to imply that Nimrod was “one who magnifies himself, behaves proudly, a tyrant.”

Growth of Evil

The problem with a taste of power is that it easily leads to corruption. God knows this and so decided to put the brakes on human progress, because a simpler country life slows down the growth of evil and His plan was to populate the whole world.

“And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.’ ” (Genesis 11:6 ESV)

Languages

What was God’s solution?

“Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” (Genesis 11:7 KJV)

Losing the ability to communicate, they soon ceased building what may have been an iconic Mesopotamian ziggurat and they scattered. Just as before the flood, people were tending towards the lowest common denominator, sin. But, God had promised not to flood the whole world again. Instead, He scattered people into smaller linguistic groups. It only slowed down human depravity, but did not put a permanent stop to it as modern history shows.

Whether you believe this is allegory or history, the lessons are the same. Human civilization tends towards oppression of the weak by the powerful, eventually spiraling into greater and greater depravity. This sad proclivity has not changed despite all modern advances. Society has never been able to overcome humanity’s greatest weaknesses.

Will you have a change of heart and mind and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!

Giving Extravagantly

One of the greatest secrets of the universe is in Jesus’ words, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35) Do we give extravagantly to God or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12:1-8.

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.” (John 12:1-2 NKJV)

This is six days before the cross, and Jesus naturally turned to some of His dearest friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. There is a contrast between two ladies who loved to give and Judas who loved to take.

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:3 NKJV)

Have you ever desired to simplify and lighten the burden of having so many physical trappings? What is sitting around our lives that we could willingly and joyfully give away? Mary was naturally very thankful to Jesus for restoring the life of her brother Lazarus. Her lavish giving is a measure of her gratitude.

Mary’s perfume in a very expensive alabaster vase, was possibly about a litra, a Roman pound, around 12 oz, 350 ml, worth about 300 denarius, 300 day’s wages, a year’s income. Spikenard or nard was imported from the slopes of the Himalayas, a long, long way. How extravagant is our giving to Jesus?

Beautiful church buildings are a testimony to the generosity of people who love God. London’s Westminster Cathedral, Cologne’s Cathedral, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Moscow’s St Basil’s Cathedral and the Salzburg Cathedral are treasures. Should they be sold to give to the poor? Among the Great Commandments the first is to love God. The second is to love our neighbor. Which of the two is exemplified by Mary anointing Jesus with outrageously expensive perfume?

“But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” (John 12:4-6 NKJV)

Judas Iscariot did not truly love Jesus. He feigned caring for the poor but had stolen money from the cash box. Many Christians are not obsessed by materialism and money but give generously to both God and the poor. Some Christians practice the spirit of the Old Testament tithing law, and are blessed by God for their generosity towards His kingdom. Some others are offended that it takes money to run a church. The spirit or principle of God’s laws on giving still applies. Do we give God the best we have, or second best?

Do we believe we are giving to a club or organization of mere human beings or to Jesus? Giving is a measure of our values, a measure of our love. Do we love things more than God? Do we see the blessing that comes when we get rid of things?

“But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.’ ” (John 12:7-8 NKJV)

The dead were often anointed with perfume to cover the smell of death. Jesus quoted the law about the poor.

"For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’" (Deuteronomy 15:11 NKJV)

Our obligation to the poor is clear, but we must not neglect our first love as did the church at Ephesus.

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV)

This is also a description of modern liberal Christians, who have loved their neighbor, and pretended to love God but have not obeyed His will. Jesus commended Mary’s choice, to honor Jesus extravagantly, to obey the first of the two great commandments: love God first and neighbor second.

Here is an example of extravagant giving to our Lord, with permission and encouragement from Jesus. The one who criticized her generosity was a thief who focused only on the second great commandment. Most of us are not thieves, but perhaps not extravagantly generous in our love of the Lord. May we all learn to be a little more like Mary.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.