It took less than a day of reading to get a deeper understanding of why one can study the bible for a lifetime and still glean new things. In truth a lifetime is not enough. As Saint Augustine said, "The bible is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim. Each verse opens up a new thought, a new question, a new understanding of what God has done and sometimes a confusion of why He is doing it. In moments of questions research is good but there are times where I need to submit to His authority remembering what A.W. Tozer said in his book Pursuit of God, "God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries of election, predestination, and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, "O Lord, Thou knowest." Those things belong to the deep and mysterious Profound of God's omniscience. Prying into them may make theologians, but it will never make saints."
Genesis 23-29
The story of Abraham and Sarah comes to an end and the next generations carry on with the promise of Abraham as it's called being given down to them, first to Isaac, and then to Jacob. Isaac's story is almost identical to his father's as he is given the same promise, deceives Abimelech just as his father did, and eventually makes an accord with him. But then comes the end of Isaac's life and deception between brothers. Esau loses his blessing when Jacob and his mother plan to deceive Isaac leaving Esau with no blessing, little inheritance comparatively, and a heart full of anger towards his brother.
It's hard not to feel sympathy towards Esau. It seems as if he could do nothing right. He picked the wrong wives, worked hard to hunt for his father and make him a meal he loved only to come back and see that someone else had beaten him to it, and then trying to please his father by marrying a woman he thought he'd approve of. I want redemption for Esau. I want Jacob to see the pain he's caused. And later, that happens, but for now we are left confused a little bit because we don't understand how this is fair? But then we remember that fairness does not have much to do with it. As we also see in the readings in Matthew, lots about the story of Christ is anything but fair. It's not about us proving ourselves and getting rewarded because we got it right. It's all about God working through us, in our sin and deception, and making Himself known so that the glory is always His and never because of what we have done.
But even with that knowledge, parts of us still get excited when the first thing that happens to Jacob when he wants a wife, is deception against him. Eh, we're human after all ;-)
Matthew 22-28
Lies and deception were a big theme this week and they were all over Matthew. The Jewish leaders just straight making stuff up to destroy Jesus and hopefully destroy His message from spreading. Pilate even knows it's a bunch of crap and washes his hands of the situation. If we're talking about fairness, the story of the crucifixion is the epitome of unfair. In less than a day he's arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified for literally NO reason.
And here's why, there needed to be NO reason. It needed to be completely unfair because our salvation is unfair too, praise be to God. Mercy and Grace. Not getting what we deserve (eternal punishment) and getting what we don't deserve (eternal life in heaven) because of Christ.
Nehemiah 12-13
We left Nehemiah with a crowd eager for the word of God and making vows. The last thing the people vowed was to not neglect the house of God. Now here we are just a few years later and Nehemiah (their leader) has returned to his service with the King. And now Nehemiah hears of what has happened in his absence like the sabbath not being recognized, workers for the temple not being paid appropriately which causes them to leave, and storerooms being used to house friends and family. Some of his first words when he returns are why have you neglected the house of God. In his absence, they lost their way, and with it they lost their view of God. Over and over and over again we are going to see the people of the Old Testament fall away and repent, fall away and repent. It is an interesting comparison in this case and in many others that it's when the person they looked to for leadership needs to leave for a bit. Without a leader we are lost. Without someone to point us to God, we will not go there ourselves. Enter the need for Christ.
Acts 22-28
So Paul's life and story is getting intense!! He's back in Jerusalem and is speaking to an angry mob, and what is he saying, his testimony. The first time of many in these last chapters of Acts. They listened intently until he mentioned his words being for the Gentiles as well and then all hell breaks loose. The anger they feel when their beliefs are challenged and are subject to change is frightening. The only thing that saves him is the Romans when he tells them he is a citizen of Rome and the fight he starts between the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. Under Roman protection he is taken to Caesarea and deception rules again as the priests flat out lie about him in testimony. Again Paul's defense is his testimony, the only defense any of us truly have against the only One whose judgement matters. For two years Paul is left in prison awaiting judgement and for two years he speaks to others in leadership about the gospel. Then having appealed to Caesar he placed before another King and again defends himself with his testimony. Another power leader in Rome is hearing the gospel! Now he sails for Rome under Roman guards and they shipwreck after not heading Paul's advice. He comforts them and guarantees their safety and they wreck on Malta where he preaches and heals and gains favor with the people who help them all on their way. I wish I could hear what those Centurions were thinking and feeling as they watched Paul minister! Finally they make it to Rome and still prisoner in a way he is allowed to live in a home for another two years welcoming visitors who have made appointments with him to hear more of the gospel without hindrance from anyone.
Steadfast comes to mind with thinking about Paul. God was steadfast in his life by protecting him and giving him opportunity after opportunity to spread the gospel. Paul was steadfast in that he used every opportunity God gave him to spread the gospel. He saw each hardship as another avenue for Christ to be spoken of, with all boldness and without hindrance.
January is almost over and so far we have finished four books of the bible and are almost done with two others. After typing up two of these summaries today I got first hand experience with the difficulty of getting behind. At one point I began not even caring what I had read or what I was going to write about it because my brain was tired and couldn't focus. A break helped rest my thoughts and give me new desire to finish it out anyway. Hoping that it is beneficial to someone other than me.
Reading and writing plans are a lot like laundry, manageable if you stay on top of them, but pile up quickly if you don't. I know it's hard and if you have gotten behind already, which we know is easy to do, quitting is very tempting. I hope you don't. Tomorrow is a new day with new passages. Let's start fresh together!
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