Today at the men’s Bible study we looked at Genesis 32 and 33 . While we read Genesis 33 to complete the episode, most of our discussion centered around the events of chapter 32 where Jacob, after leaving his father-in-law, meets with the angels (Vs. 1) and then plots his next course. The problem Jacob faces in this episode is reuniting with his brother Esau, who had cheated out of his birthright and then tricked out of his father’s blessing. He fears what is to come.
    Our discussion mostly was on how Jacob cried out to God and reminded God of the promise He had made to do good for him (vs. 9). Still, this plea comes after Jacob has divided his camp in two in anticipation of meeting Esau, from whom he expects the worst. Is Jacob here manipulating even with God? As the chapter progresses we see Jacob send gifts in hopes of appeasing his brother and arranging his party so that there is some means of escape lest his brother strike out against him. Finally, we see that Jacob is left alone with just his family. And alone, in his desperation, he wrestles with God Himself.
What happens in this case is that Jacob comes to the end of himself and is changed by God. Like all of us, he reaches out to God when there appears no other wiggle room left. God changes Jacob’s name to Israel to signal his covenant with these people and then physically cripples Jacob as a reminder of this agreement.
    Does Jacob change? Perhaps not immediately, for we see in the next chapter he still attempts to manipulate his encounter with Esau (Chapter 33:1-3). It doesn’t matter for God has softened Esau’s heart without the aid of Jacob’s gifts or scheming.
    From there, despite the reconciliation, Jacob resists his brother’s entreaties and goes his own way. The chapter ends with Jacob putting down roots in the Canaanite land of Shechem, not the land of his father and his kindred (Chapter 32:9) as he had prayed to God. This consequence of this disobedience becomes more clear in the episode related in chapter 34.

Tags: Bible, Jacob, discernment

Today as I read, the word that stood out to me was from Genesis 3 where the serpent tempts Adam and Eve. You can see his tried and true method in the way he has them doubting what God has explicitly told them. That has not changed.

The fact that Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden shows that their sin has not just spoiled the perfection but made them enemies of God. Not long after that, it is always fascinating reading the account of Cain and Abel to see how God, in his sovereignty, chooses which offering he will accept. And then, after Cain has murdered Abel, you can see how God is merciful even in dealing with those who have no standing.

In another part of my reading, from Psalm 2, I was struck by the mingling of fear and rejoicing in verse 11: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. At men’s group last Friday we were looking at the opening chapter of Revelation and this same idea came up. In our age, we have a real problem with fearing God because it doesn’t suit our idea of who He should be. In Revelation, it was Jesus; here, it is God. I think it is a problem for many because they think too highly of themselves and not highly enough of God. He is holy. We are not. We cannot overcome our own inadequacy when we come before Him and that is why we must fear. Yet, He is the greatest Being in the universe and He is to be worshipped.

My prayer is that I never lose that “rejoicing with trembling” in my own life.

After posting earlier about my goal to read through the Bible again this year, I came across this encouragement from Noel Piper, wife of Bethlehem Baptist pastor and author John Piper. So, for those of you afraid you’ll never make it, take heart. The key is not giving up. You can do it, by God’s grace.

Even though today will be a day of football for many (even for the people at my house), it is also a good day to think about resolutions. As always, I have resolved to read through the Bible this year. I shouldn’t say always because I haven’t always resolved to do that. Rather, it has been my goal for many years of my life as a believer, which I have been for almost 25 years now.

Some years I have done better than others. In 2006 I struggled and didn’t do as well, and I can see looking back how that made my life that much harder. So, for the benefit of my own soul and to know my God better, I resolve to spend time daily in his word. My plan for this year is from the ESV’s Web site and it’s Daily Bible Plan. Appropriately, the passage for today contains Psalm 1:

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

 

1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

There are many things we can aspire to and as we come to a new calendar year it is often appropriate to make goals. Obviously, some things are more desirable and better for us than others. This is one goal I definitely want to achieve because I know that I want to be like the man who is described in Psalm 1.

 

 

 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. — 3 John 4

Every Friday, a group of men from my church get up early (earlier for some than others!) to have coffee at a local coffee shop and talk about a portion of scripture. My pastor, Scott Friesen, is there to guide the discussion, but it is by far from a one-man show. There have many fruitful times of mining the word together, finding what is there and discovering other things we may have missed. It is a blessing to be with a group of men who have a love for the Word.

This Friday we looked at 3 John together. It is such a small book that it may seem obvious what is there and maybe not be a ripe field for harvesting. However, we had rich discussion about things like showing hospitality to workers in the word, the danger of false teachers within the church and the desiribility of a good reputation as a believer.

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