In the best of prayers, we are humble, selfless, and praying for the needs of others. Of course we ask for something for ourselves too, but it's something deep like... compassion, or courage, or strength, or God's presence. But, then there are the prayers where we have to clasp our hands over our mouth after the first 15 words are all "gimme more nouns" requests. (Note that in the place of the word nouns, you can insert any naming word that describes people, places, or things.) We blush before God to realize that yet again we have been so shallow; such plastic people.
Why do we do that? When did we learn the idea of prayer being a begging list? We don't do that to our other friends, do we? "Loan me $20.00 Susie." "Gimme your old car, Susie." No, Susie would get tired of us before too many conversations like this. Yet, it seems like a pretty high percentage of our time talking to God is about physical and money blessings that we want Him to give us. How do you stay away from that? If you do, do you find yourself asking the "set up requests" for others first, just so you don't feel guilty throwing in the sports car for yourself at the end?
One of my favorite Bible prayers is the prayer of Moses when He asked God to go with Him to the promised land. He didn't want to go alone. No one does.
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This cartoon is so funny to me because of the fact that Moses is holding a rod and has that "ecstatic" look of a prophet on his face, like when he held his rod over the Red Sea, and later during the battle all night. He's concentrating really hard here in prayer. :)
| | I bring this prayer up, because namely it looks like Moses was trying to slip something past God. He asks for the deep stuff that He's sure God will grant, like "Go with me God." God, says, "Sure, Moe I'll go with you." So, Moses replies that He is glad because he would rather not go if God is not going with him. God feels real good about this devotion. Moe is buttering Him up it seems. Finally, after the easy requests, Moe goes almost shallow there and asks to see God, just so he knows God is with Him. At least, that's how it comes across to me. I have to wonder what the result would have been if he'd just come on out with the request to see God right up front. It's something to think about.
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My PowerPoint at the left is available on SlideShare, or here, for notes on Exodus. The three screenshots above are from this Power Point Presentation.
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I am the "wise women" of the wandering Jews who spun ornate curtains for the temple.
I am the daughters of Israel, who were hired as cooks and bakers in the palace of the king.
I am the young widow Ruth, harvesting crops to support myself and my mother-in-law.
I am Huldah the Prophetess. Though my husband had a good job as a tailor, I also worked outside our home as a college professor, which provided us, among other things, room and board at the college. My devoutness earned me the respect of priests, who consulted with me about God's will.
I am Lydia, a businesswoman with an eye for a "good thing." I recognized at once the truth of the gospel message an Asian missionary brought across the Aegean Sea to Philippi. I became the first convert in Europe, supported the ministry, and founded the first church in my home.
I am all these women. I am a career mom.
These women found me, respectively in Exodus 35:25-26, I Samuel 8:13, Ruth 2:7, II Kings 22:14, and Acts 16:14. I wasn't looking for them. I was just going to church, dealing with my reality as a single mom, and feeling the burn of the then stereotypical lack of acceptance the church had for working women. Notice even the term "working woman" has its own negative connotations. 8/ I felt like I was damned if I didn't work, and damned if I did, so to speak. I was doing "the right thing" and being told I was wrong by well meaning people. But, I continued to read my Bible, and understood that God does not see things as we do. Fortunately, today many people are laying aside those stereotypes, and most men admit their biggest fear about their wives working is that their wives will quit. :) The economy has a way of cleaning or clogging our ethics it seems.
But, I felt so bad about not being the image projected of the "Pentecostal Woman," a picture I looked nothing like, that one Mother's Day morning I found myself dreading going to church. I just knew the Pastor would preach about that Proverbs 31 Woman again. I couldn't stand her...she was so darn perfect. I would have liked to get my hands around her neck. But, this Pastor was a true man of God. He had his ears to Heaven's throne. And, of course, God knew my heart. I drug myself to church, to hear what a lousy woman I was again, to find a very different message about the P31 Woman. I was astounded as he went through the chapter, showing how she worked outside the home, bought and sold property with her own money, AND was a pride to her family. I was shocked to see she was a woman like me...not like that old lady on the magazine sitting in her garden, wiling away her days in the house while her husband worked.
Proverbs 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She has a monetary value put on her worth. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. He doesn't have to take a second job, but is relieved to come home to a woman who will be a true helpmate. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She is a Home Builder. She builds up instead of tearing down her family. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She makes investments in textiles, and makes a profit on handspun goods. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She goes shopping and orders online to get a good deal :) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She gets up before daylight and puts a roast in the crockpot so dinner will be ready when she gets home from work. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She bought and sold property with her own money...smart enough to know real estate value. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Maybe she pumped weights and kept herself in shape at the gym because she knew that was important :) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She stayed up late because she knew a lot of people were counting on her. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She had her own paycheck and wasn't stingy, but gave to the poor. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She knew where to buy the best clothes and materials. Second rate wasn't good enough for her family. She dressed them with care because she was a provider, and cost was no object when it came to her loved ones. I love this part! Go shopping ladies, it's in the Bible! She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She dresses nicely and is not afraid to look good for her man. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. The men who work with her husband respect him for having this woman and her husband is proud that this smart, beautiful lady is his wife. How lucky he is to have her. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She has her goods in stores all over town. Her merchandise is a household name. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. People listen when she speaks, and she speaks kindly to all. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. The most important quality she possesses is that she fears God. All the other things named can be taken away, but her faith in God will keep her through all circumstances. Then, even if her career, her husband, her children, her money is taken, she knows she will still be praiseworthy. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Give her her paycheck and let her enjoy the fruit of her labor all her life, because she works for it.
This Mother's Day, I hope all of you know what you are worth as Mothers. Happy Mother's Day woman! And, if your children get tired of being told what to do, remind them that Jesus did too, but in the end, even God did what His Mom told Him to do. :)
John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
*I featured this blog by the same name 1 year ago on the night before Mother's Day. I thought it was worth sharing again.
I enjoyed our church Harvest Festival tonight, with a bonfire, band, puppets, hotdogs, and hayride... and lots of costumed children. Many people came early to cook hotdogs, build a bonfire, and to set up for the band and puppets. I'm sleepy now, but full of words as usual. God still speaks to and through tired souls. The gift and the giver are accepted as one. You are your greatest gift and your gift is before you.
And a great multitude followed him,
because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
And Jesus went up into a mountain,
and there he sat with his disciples.
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him,
he said unto Philip, Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
And this he said to test him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered him,
Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,
that every one of them may take a little.
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said unto him,
There is a lad here,
who has five barley loaves,
and two small fishes:
but what are they among so many????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
John 6:2-9
I wonder if the disciples wore those plastic food service gloves? No, I don't imagine they were approved by the Health Department to serve food. I'm sure no one was checking out their most current health rating score. No, the proof was in the pudding... And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles. A hungry multitude will follow you if Jesus is feeding them.
There were people who were concerned with whether or not the disciples washed their hands before they ate. Matthew 15:1-2 It appears Jesus didn't sit the boy or the disciples down to wash their hands before serving the multitudes. No, Jesus just wanted to know what they had in their hands to offer of service for the King. "
Exodus 4:1-2 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not
believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD has not
appeared unto you. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in your hand? And he
said, A rod.
God uses those who are willing. A good church is the same way, and this is one thing in particular I like about my church. But, it isn't always like that. Just ask yourself, would a prostitute or a member of a bike gang feel comfortable looking for Jesus in your church?
Proverbs 18:16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before
great men.
Yes, there is room in God's house for all. We are all fit for service in the Kingdom: rich and poor, wise and simple. We all wear the robes of righteousness and belonging placed on our shoulders by our Father when He accepted us back into the household and placed His ring on our fingers, and served us the feast. We are family of the King, and of value to the Father of us all. Matthew 18:3-6 talks about children in particular. If a child wants to serve God, then our job is to lead Him forward to place his gift in the hand of the Master. Jesus once responded to the critical Pharisees that they worshipped with lip service, but their hearts needed a GPS...God Positioning Satellite. They didn't know how to worship with their hearts, which were far from God. Is your heart in the right place? :)
Isaiah 45:6-7
Who is God? No, I mean really! Do you ever feel like you don't even know Him? Of course, you think you do, until you see some other aspect of His character and Being. He is multi-faceted, and appears to be ever-changing, like the kaleidoscope. Yet He changes not. Malachi 3:6 We are merely allowed these fleeting glimpses of a God in motion; the creative, working God of action. And, the Bible says He never sleeps. Psalm 121:4
You see these two "God nevers" give a lot of information about who God is to us. Actually, it's no surprise that we get this feeling that we don't really even know God, because right there in Isaiah 45:5 God complained, "though thou hast not known me." So, not only do we not know God, but God knows that we don't really know Him, and He's not happy about it.
But you are feeling a little uneasy about my title, right? Can I call the righteous God of love a Creator of Evil? Really, the devil gets too much credit. Look at Isaiah 45:7. God formed light... and as a result created darkness. Darkness would not be known, had not the light first existed. Who is this God, that by virtue of His forming light in His own Being, He created darkness as an antithesis?
But, it doesn't stop there. God makes peace, and evil is the flip side of the coin. You know, Paul talked about this very thing, along the vein of sin and righteousness in Romans 7:18-19, 20-21.
The very existence of peace creates evil. That means we can generalize here and say that God, by virtue of His character of love, created hatred. God, because of His Holy person, caused sin to run rampant, simply because all holiness is in Him.If you want to be holy, you have to stand close to God.
This makes sense in the realm of physics. Ever notice that if you are near someone smoking, the smoke heads straight for you... a nonsmoker? It's not your imagination, but it's osmosis. Things tend to move from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration. So, seeing that you are surrounded by nice clean, carcinogen-free oxygen, the cigarette smoke avoids all the smoke saturated smokers, and fills up your breathing space, trying to even it out.
So, God is holy. Filthiness fills the space where God's holiness is not operating, by default. God is love. Leave God out of your life and you find yourself filled with hatred and anger. God is joy, but leave God out and you will be a sad person.
But, if the idea still bothers you that God created evil, look back at the last phrase..."I the Lord do all these things." You see, God has spent the last few pages of this portion of Isaiah obsessing over the fact that He created everything. But, we still don't realize in our hearts that God actually created everything... even our turmoil, our pain, our defeated situations. Of course there is an antidote for all these ailments. God is the antidote, seeing that we sometimes suffer the aforementioned repercussions due to not allowing God to operate in every situation. And, sometmes we are cut off from His presence by those around us, against our own decisions. But, God is as close as the name Jesus.
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
One thing is sure; we will fully comprehend God's person in the eternal state. In the meantime, we are like Moses, watching the glory pass by from our little hole in the ground. Amazingly, this God in motion has captured me, heart and soul, though my mind cannot fully contain Him. Exodus 33:18
Do you ever sit outside and watch the rain...the wind...the thunder...the lightening? The reverberating booms, like cannon shots, can shake your soul, especially when you think of the power of God to display such majesty. You hear the thunder, you see the lightening and rain, you feel the wind. God's own "surround sound!" But, you can't see the wind... only the force of the wind. The windstorm from the tornado not only broke our storm door, but it ripped a couple of my windchimes to pieces, and damaged my coke-can wind plane. The elements can present quite an intrusion. Now the storm door won't close.
John 3:8 The Greek word pneuma means both "wind" and "Spirit." The Greek word phone (pho-nay) means both "sound" and "voice." So this verse is a play on words that not only literally says the wind blows and we can hear the sound of it, but it also literally says the Spirit blows and we hear its voice. But, we don't know where the Spirit comes from or goes. It goes whereever it wants to go. We only hear its voice and register its presence, like the wind.
Psalms 66:16; 68:11 These references to the great company of those who publish the word of God is used in the sense of quantity...plurality...of people, not in the quality of the people. Two words I remember learning how to spell in third grade are friend and Jesus. Ironic, I know. I immediately registered them both in my brain as words I would continue to need. Not only have I continued to need these two words in my writing, but I have continued to remember the happy occasions that brought me to the point of learning those words that year. I have continued to need friends, and I continue to need Jesus throughout my life.
Lisa and I were best friends in third grade. I remember the happiness that surrounded the friendship.I remember us passing notes to each other. I remember making Christmas cards in class for special people and writing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" as the expression of my heart directed. The feeling of the love of God made me feel full, even though I didn't know God yet. I knew of Him, and I knew He loved me... even though I couldn't find Him yet. Kids still do that, kids who don't even go to church or know much about God, they write about Jesus and His great love. The desire to express that life-changing love is common among humans.
Charles Spurgeon said of the name Jesus: "It is the sum total of all delights. It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring; a song in a word; and ocean for comprehension, although a drop for brevity; a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters." Psalm 63:6
We remember YOU God.
Not only do we remember God, but God remembers us. God took notice of the affairs of men, just as in, "And the Lord came down to see..." Genesis 11:5 God must have plenty to do in His realm beyond Earth's sphere, for it to so occupy His time that He must REMEMBER Noah. Genesis 8:1
Apparantly He was busy. Only five other God "memories" are mentioned: Rachael, Genesis 30:22 and His covenant, Exodus 2:24 Abraham, Genesis 19:29 His mercy and His truth, Psalm 98:3 accumulated iniquities, Revelation 18:5 and Hannah. 1 Samuel 1:19
But God is strong enough to take care of each of the needs He sets His eyes or mind on. Jeremiah 32:27 God is able, able to give grace for the depths of your need. Romans 5:2 Grace is defined as a favorable disposition, or kind feeling; and especially love, as exercised towards the inferior, dependent, or unworthy. (Hodge v. II, Systematic Theology.) Hodge refers to the conspicuously displayed grace of Jesus. Romans 5:17 I feel Him pouring rivers of grace in my life. Sweet grace of God!
Oh, such sweet abundance,
The grace Christ poured on me
When I could not compare
To the woman kneeled at His feet.
She poured out her oil,
And, washed the Master's feet,
My cup only held sin,
But my gift He held as sweet.
(My memory fails me ...I can't remember where I heard this. It could be a hymn lyrics, or perhaps something I read in a volume of the Interpretor's Bibles, or elsewhere. But, it is not mine. Incidentally, I noticed recently the full twelve volumes are scanned and available to read online, with voice audio read-aloud option.)
God is the God of the Universe. He has made all things. He orders the laws of physics, mathematics, and all that we know is eclipsed by the surplus of His knowledge of this created world that we yet do not know. Some things in
Scripture stand out more readily than others. Some stories capture the attention of the casual reader, like dear sweet Jochebed and brave, heroic David. It's easy to see why children can become enchanted with the stories of the Bible. But, there is so much more in the Bible that remains unnoticed by casual reading. Bible reading becomes almost intoxicating when you dig deeper. It seems like the more you know, the more you have to dig to get a better taste. Like the harder drugs or alcohol bring a greater sense of euphoria. Or, so I've been told, as I have never experimented with even gateway drugs. So, just ignore any idotic thing I may inadvertantly say about drug usage, seeing that I am not well versed on that subject, and didn't really listen in Health class.
In the book of Numbers is an exciting story of redemption and desire, possession, and purchase. So, you think I'm lying now? The title is very misleading. Actually it is probably the most boring meaningless title for a book isn't it? Let me show you the real story. God gave birth to the nation of Israel in Genesis, the book of beginnings.
In Exodus, the child Israel grew in bondage, like Joseph. God delivered His children from bondage in a mighty act of deliverance that took a series of plagues against Egypt to effect. The last of those plagues was the death of the
firstborn of all Egypt. Now, this would have convinced the hardest hearts to listen to Moses, to lose your firstborn child. But, those who were under the blood were saved. From that day of God's deliverance from bondage, God declared to Moses that all the firstborn of Israel would belong to Him, seeing that He had saved their lives from the plague of death.
You've heard stories where a person saved another person's life, and the saved man felt he owed his life of service to the man who saved him. That is exactly the case with Christians, and with the firstborn Israelites. But, the day comes, after the Israelites are in the wilderness and ready to move towards possession of the promised land, when God organizes the little band of men into a nation. Moses takes a census of the men of war above the age of 20 in Numbers 1, but doesn't count the Levites. God says the Levites will now be His to use as priests, instead of the firstborn of every family. Numbers 3:12,13.
Of course, God knows how to make a trade. He also keeps count of what belongs to Him. The firstborn were already his. He ordered Moses to count the firstborn, and a total of 22,273 is reported. Then God orders a count of the Levites, every male above one month of age. That's interesting. God only counted the men of war above the age of 20. But, when He was counting His own of the Levites, He counted even the babies. We all belong to God regardless of age.
But, back to the counting. I was totaling the numbers in the margin of my Bible as I read, when I first read this story several years ago. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Gershon's family numbered 7,500. Kohath's family was counted at 8,600, and Merari's family totaled 6,200 males. I totaled that to get 22,300. When I finished reading the counting...after I had already added... Numbers 3:39 gave the total as 22,000.
Notice that that number is different from the number of the total of the individual families. This could be due to several factors. I call the number recorded in verse 39, the "Total accepted Levitical count" because that was the
number accepted and recorded by Moses, Aaron, and God. The other 300 were not accepted in the number for some reason. It could be perhaps, that the firstborn Levites were excluded so that they would not be counted twice. Or those 300 may have been on "disability" for some reason or other. We know that God said the Levites with a handicap were not to be put to work in the temple, but were to be fed...God's disability plan for priests...they can eat without working. Leviticus 21:22. Regardless, they were not part of the accepted count.
Look back at the total number of the firstborn, 22,273. Without the 300 that were not accepted, God will be losing a total of 273 souls in the trade. They want to do the right thing by the God of the Universe when they calculate their gift. So, God tells Moses to set the redemption price at 5 shekels apiece for the 273 firstborn that are not replaced by acceptable Levites. This totals 1,365 shekels to be paid to God's treasury by the Israelites. Now, God has a tabernacle, priests, and a treasury.
It is noteworthy that 5 shekels, the redemption gift of a firstborn child, was a small amount, and was
equal to the amount that Joseph was sold into slavery for by his brothers in Genesis. And, Scientists calculate the worth of all our basic elements in any given human body to be about $4.70. So, don't think God is devaluing us. He is giving us a higher market value at the value of five silver dollars today. So, go ahead and sell out to God, since the world won't give you what Jesus did on the cross.
The part that grabbed my heart was the fact that God desired ownership of the Levites, and he didn't want them counted along with the rest of the Israelites, because they were his. Possessed, owned by God Almighty. But, he did not forget that these firstborn were His. These things were done as a type of Redemption at the cross.
Today, God has purchased and redeemed us off the slave market of sin. We belong to the God of the Universe. He paid a price for us in blood. He knows who is His. He counts us everyone. He talks about this ownership throughout Scripture. And, in the end, He will take us to Himself. Revelation 21:3.
We are instructed to care for the possession of God, which he purchased with his blood. Acts 20:28. Don't think you are not an overseer. Regardless of your position in church, somebody is watching you. Remember when we have baby dedications in church, the church is pledging to be an example in front of the child of a Christian, and not become a stumbling block before him as he is raised before God. Just like the parents are responsible for his upbringing, so are the fellow church members responsible for the example of Christianity that they show this child.
I think it is remarkable the way God seems to be jealous of His own people. Exodus 34:14. Romans 14:8. When one is lost, God will not rest seeking him. Luke 15;7.
The Genesis record continues to be credible in our day. The record provided by Genesis is verifiable on many counts. The New Testament contains over 200 references or allusions to Genesis, indicating that the Apostles and Disciples, as well as the Pharisees, Saducees, Jewish leaders, and Jesus Himself accepted the validity of the text.
Science lends credence to the creation account. Evolutionists contend that things of greater complexity derived from things of less complexity. This is purported in the development of intelligent Homo Sapiens from higher primates of the animal kingdom, which in turn developed from lower primates, reptiles, fish, down to a single-celled organism. This single cell developed from a “soupy Sargasso Sea” that formed from gases that appeared from nothing. This line of reasoning is in direct contradiction to the laws of Science. Science shows that intelligent life comes from intelligent life. All creatures reproduce “after their own kind,” as in the Genesis account.
Furthermore, the Big Bang theory supposes that a colossal explosion hurled the planets into their orbits. Of course, it wasn't supposed to be a fast explosion, just some unknown force moving things apart, as the Universe is thought to be ever expanding. Opponents of the theory first called it the "Big Bang" and the name just stuck. We know now that not all the planets or their moons orbit in the same direction, which would defeat the idea of the planets spinning as a result of an explosion. The idea of chance producing a complex universe is as absurd as the idea of a Mercedes Benz being created in the aftermath of a tornado going through a junkyard. Theoretically it could happen. But, would there be gas in the tank to make it go? I think not. In the same way, wildflowers can grow in a field, as fragile objects of beauty deriving apparently from nothing. But, in a hundred years the field of wildflowers will not remain, unless tended by human hands and caused to continue their growth. Living things decay. The earth changes continually, seemingly at the whims of nature. A garden continues to grow because it was planted. The universe continues to spin because it was constructed and hung in space by the Creator.
The universality of the Deluge in Genesis is a fact, based on Non-Biblical evidence (i.e. dating of oldest living things at post-Flood time, marine fossils found on crests of mountains, sudden extinction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.)
Further, 87 important Biblical words were first mentioned in Genesis, providing strong internal evidence of the validity of this collection of ancient books. The words life, atonement, command, glory, just, impute, mercy, love, light, salvation, and righteousness all appear first in Genesis. This supports the idea that Genesis was the foundation work of the other 65 books of the Bible.
I think the most compelling reason to believe the Genesis record is the stark plainness and simple honesty of the recorded events. The polished omissions of a story weaver are not there. We read succinctly about Jacob’s lies, Sarah’s laughter, Eve’s deception, Noah’s drunkenness, Lot’s incest, Tamar’s adultery, Dinah’s seduction, Miriam’s outrage that her brother married a black woman, and Leah’s lewd accusation to Rachel concerning the mandrakes. These character deficits are not the usual list of accomplishments of a nation’s heroes or the founding fathers of a religion. You never read in the history books about what a drunk U. S. Grant was, but only about his military prowess. The detailed record of such foibles in Genesis, (as well as the accurate list of birth records) gives undeniable credence to the Genesis account.
Furthermore, if we expect to believe that God is capable and willing to redeem us, then we must first believe that He created us. If we cannot accept the accuracy of Genesis miracles, such as creation, then we have no basis for belief in later miracles, such as Jonah and the whale, water into wine, Elijah in the chariot, etc. This is one of the primary reasons Atheists try to deny the credibility of Genesis. They seek to tear out the foundation for the cross.
The Genesis record is important as the foundation of our salvation plan. Genesis 3:15 is called the protoevangelium, which means “the first good news.” Now that man has sinned, God’s grace is evident in that He promised a Messiah who would come later and bruise Satan, destroying his power. There are many types of Christ in Genesis; including Isaac and Joseph. There is no purpose for the cross work of Jesus if Genesis is discredited. This would destroy all our Christology and Soteriology Doctrine. Without a Fall, we would not need a Savior-Hero.
There is evidence that God could have created a universe with “age-dating factors” already in place to support life? After all, it is stated that Adam and Eve were created as adults, not babies. It is reasonable the earth would have appeared aged at Creation. There are fossil records dating back billions of years, as well as human attempts at “carbon-dating” that indicate an aged terra, well beyond the age indicated by creation and the Genesis account. This, as well as the existence and extinction of the dinosaurs indicate an apparent conflict in dating. However, one theory is that God created the earth fully mature, as he did Adam and Eve and the animals. Therefore the mature earth was created with fossils intact, sufficient to support plant life. Another theory conflicts with this idea. This theory contends that the earth was perfect after creation, according to God, and could not have contained death within the earth. The fossils only appear to be so aged because of the devastating effects of the worldwide flood. Both are viable options. Why should they be less viable than current evolutionary thought?
When Enoch was 65 years old, his wife had a son. Enoch named this first son Methuselah, meaning literally, “man of the dart.” That can be interpreted as meaning “God’s Judgement comes next” or “When he dies, Judgement” for two reasons. First, Enoch was a prophet, according to Jude 14, 15. He prophesied of the Second Coming of Christ. Second, the Flood began the year Methuselah died; indicating God seemed to have a promise with Enoch concerning the life of his son. So, it seems Enoch was prophesying of the Flood when he named his son. We know that God relates longevity to adherence to his laws because of Exodus 20:12 and the fact that Enoch (and Elijah) was translated not to even see death because of his walk of faith. Methuselah lived 969 years, the oldest recorded. He must have had a good relationship with God. Its interesting to note that God stayed his hand of judgement for 969 years in loving compassion, just as He now tarries so long before the final judgement. As Peter said, God is “longsuffering,” not willing “that any should perish.”(II Peter 3:9) This lays a foundation of our escatological doctrine. Escatology, the study of things to come, is meaningless if there is no resurrection from the dead.
The Patriarchs were a part of the Genesis Record: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees, 19 generations after Adam. Terah, his father moved the family to Haran, possibly to separate his family from the prevailing idol worship. Abraham moved the whole family to the Promised Land, after Terah’s death. The word patriarch means “rule by the father,” so these men were the ruling fathers who formed the roots of the nation of Israel. Pulling Genesis out from under the Biblical Canon would quickly unravel the whole Gospel.
A dispensation is a period of time in which God deals with humans in a very distinct and unique way. It refers to the geographical concept of time and place. It includes the different groups of people who were treated in a different way from other people, or people of a different time. The seven dispensations can be broken down the following way:
1st Innocence Gen.1:28 One rule, close (perfect) communion with God
2nd Conscience Gen.3:10,23 Do your best, communion through sacrifice
3rd Human Government Gen.8:20 Man governs for God, communion through government
4th Promise Gen. 12:1 Blessings tied to the land, communion through bloodline
5th Law Exo. 19:4-8 10 Commands and many laws, communion through strict adherence
6th Grace John 1:17 Love brother as self, communion through blood of Jesus
7th Kingdom Ephesians. 1:10 Rule by Jesus Christ, perfect or Messianic communion restored
We live in the dispensation of Grace. Genesis establishes reason and evidence of God's plan through the ages for a redemption of mankind from the curse of death. Paradise was lost in Genesis. Paradise will be restored in Revelation. Unless, of course, Paradise never existed. Where would we be without Genesis? There is so much more to look at when considering the Genesis record, and I have not scratched the surface. But, there is more than enough evidence to convince a thinking person that the record of Creation has been retained through the generations intact. I believe in Creation by an omnipotent Creator God. I believe Genesis was inspired by Him, and outlines not only His work of the ages past, but His plans for the ages to come.
Exodus 2:1-2 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bore a son: and when she saw him that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
God Bless Jochebed! Oh the love of a mother's heart! (We find her name in Numbers 26 by the way.) Giving birth to a child, though not a unique event, just happens to be one of the most meaningful events in a woman's life... to her. Yes, every mother has a child...but, this was her child. No government mandate would stop a mother's love from pounding in her heart. You have to wonder what she was thinking. Breaking the law is really stupid, you know. She was a criminal! She hid a child the government ordered executed. Picture this poor girl, for she had to be still young, with a smile on her face as she held this chubby little baby. Now, she already had a boy and a girl, older children. But, something in her heart refused to reject this child. To look at this silly laughing baby and know she would defy the law to keep him, was easy to understand, if you are a mother.
Other Hebrew women had seen their children killed. They suffered the grief. They cried and screamed as the child was torn from their arms to be dashed to pieces. Who did Jochebed think she was to hide her baby? Did she think her baby was so special? She had to have suffered the pains of childbirth in silence, without even calling for a midwife. Maybe her husband did the unthinkable and delivered the child himself. I can hear Jochebed crying, grabbing her husband by the arm and pleading that he not call a midwife, because they would kill her child. No, she must deliver this child in silence and hide him today.
The verse says she saw he was a "goodly" child, probably meaning pretty, or cute. Loveable. But, that describes most every mother's baby, does it not. What made her baby so special? Well, there you have the difference in the saved and the lost.They both know they are lost. But, the Christian decides that regardless of how little they deserve salvation, they want it. The Lost accept that they don't deserve salvation. They won't take it. The Saved found themselves at a place where they would not be denied heaven at any price.
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Lawbreaker! Just who do you think you are Jochebed? Do you think your baby is so special? We find later that this baby had a speech problem, Moses. But, God spoke from the mouth of Moses. God can speak from a rock. God has spoke in various times and in various ways, you know. (Hebrews 1:1) It doesn't really matter who you are, because God is the one speaking. Dear Jochebed, God will speak. Go ahead. Step out on faith and hide God's promise. Lay little baby Moses down in the bulrushes, and watch God bring him up out of Egypt.
In this story you see a mother who had no idea, no plan. She was just taking it one day at a time. She only knew she could not allow this good baby to be killed. Each day she hid him, not knowing what else to do. Finally, she knew she could hide him no longer. She had to have a plan. Oh, but God already had a plan waiting for her. Moses would not only be saved, but he would become the salvation of his people. Jochebed couldn't have realized that this had been God's decision all along. Here she thought she wanted her baby to live, and all along it was God's child. God put that love in her heart for a reason. God would not only sustain the child, but He would make a way of escape, when Jochebed's resources were depleted.
And, to think, God lets us have a part in His plan...when we will ask for His will. He could do it without our help. But, God chose to use Jochebed and her "good" child. Afterall, God used David and a rock. He could have killed the giant with just the rock. But, David chose to get involved in God's will. David hooked his sling up to God's rock. Just who did he think he was?! Still wet behind the ears, and you think you're going to fight a giant? Sit down boy!
You see, the problem was that the other men had been there working all the time. David had not been on the battlefield, serving in the war. They saw him as coming fresh out of Father's protecting arms, to criticize their work. Had David seen war, they might ask? Where had David been while they were faithfully serving the country? Here he was catering lunch. But, David had been serving in the sheep fields of his Father. He was working elsewhere. A job is a job, is it not, when you are in the employ of Dear Old Dad. Somebody has to watch the family business. They must have wondered who David thought he was.
I never read what becomes of Dear Old Dad and Mom (David's Dad Jessie and Moses' Mom Jochebed.) But, Moses delivered a nation from bondage. David became King of Israel, and his son after him, and Jesus will one day sit on his throne. Imagine, being part of such a great big plan! That's where we find ourselves...right in the middle of God's glorious Kingdom!
I am the "wise women" of the wandering Jews who spun ornate curtains for the temple.
I am the daughters of Israel, who were hired as cooks and bakers in the palace of the king.
I am the young widow Ruth, harvesting crops to support myself and my mother-in-law.
I am Huldah the Prophetess. Though my husband had a good job as a taylor, I also worked outside our home as a college professor, which provided us, among other things, room and board at the college. My devoutness earned me the respect of priests, who consulted with me about God's will.
I am Lydia, a businesswoman with an eye for a "good thing." I recognized at once the truth of the gospel message an Asian missionary brought across the Aegean Sea to Philippi. I became the first convert in Europe, supported the ministry, and founded the first church in my home.
I am all these women. I am a career mom.
These women found me, respectively in Exodus 35:25-26, I Samuel 8:13, Ruth 2:7, II Kings 22:14, and Acts 16:14. I wasn't looking for them. I was just going to church, dealing with my reality as a single mom, and feeling the burn of the then stereotypical lack of acceptance the church had for working women. Notice even the term "working woman" has its own negative connotations. 8/ I felt like I was damned if I didn't work, and damned if I did, so to speak. I was doing "the right thing" and being told I was wrong by well meaning people. But, I continued to read my Bible, and understood that God does not see things as we do. Fortunately, today many people are laying aside those stereotypes, and most men admit their biggest fear about their wives working is that their wives will quit. :) The economy has a way of cleaning or clogging our ethics it seems.
But, I felt so bad about not being the image projected of the "Pentecostal Woman," a picture I looked nothing like, that one Mother's Day morning I found myself dreading going to church. I just knew the Pastor would preach about that Proverbs 31 Woman again. I couldn't stand her...she was so darn perfect. I would have liked to get my hands around her neck. But, this Pastor was a true man of God. He had his ears to Heaven's throne. And, of course, God knew my heart. I drug myself to church, to hear what a lousy woman I was again, to find a very different message about the P31 Woman. I was astounded as he went through the chapter, showing how she worked outside the home, bought and sold property with her own money, AND was a pride to her family. I was shocked to see she was a woman like me...not like that old lady on the magazine sitting in her garden, wiling away her days in the house while her husband worked.
Proverbs 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She has a monetary value put on her worth. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. He doesn't have to take a second job, but is relieved to come home to a woman who will be a true helpmate. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She is a Home Builder. She builds up instead of tearing down her family. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She makes investments in textiles, and makes a profit on handspun goods. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She goes shopping and orders online to get a good deal :) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She gets up before dayliht and puts a roast in the crockpot so dinner will be ready when she gets home from work. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She bought and sold property with her own money...smart enough to know real estate value. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Maybe she pumped weights and kept herself in shape at the gym because she knew that was important :) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She stayed up late because she knew a lot of people were counting on her. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She had her own paycheck and wasn't stingy, but gave to the poor. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She knew where to buy the best clothes and materials. Second rate wasn't good enough for her family. She dressed them with care because she was a provider, and cost was no object when it came to her loved ones. I love this part! Go shopping ladies, it's in the Bible! She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She dresses nicely and is not afraid to look good for her man. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. The men who work with her husband respect him for having this woman and her husband is proud that this smart, beautiful lady is his wife. How lucky he is to have her. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She has her goods in stores all over town. Her merchandise is a household name. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. People listen when she speaks, and she speaks kindly to all. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. The most important quality she possesses is that she fears God. All the other things named can be taken away, but her faith in God will keep her through all circumstances. Then, even if her career, her husband, her children, her money is taken, she knows she will still be praiseworthy. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Give her her paycheck and let her enjoy the fruit of her labor all her life, because she works for it.
This Mother's Day, I hope all of you know what you are worth as Mothers. Happy Mother's Day woman! And, if your children get tired of being told what to do, remind them that Jesus did too, but in the end, even God did what His Mom told Him to do. :)
John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
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