Category: Staff Reading

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God’s Covenant; Tower of Babel

Genesis 9-11 and Psalm 4

The Flood is now over. Noah and his family begin their “new normal” life, so Noah plants a vineyard and gets carried away with drinking wine to excess. He falls asleep uncovered in his tent, drunk from the wine. When his son Ham sees this, he goes and tells his brothers rather than simply taking action and covering his father. Noah is irate! “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” Ham, the father of Canaan, becomes the clan that the Israelites will clash with over and over again including the Philistines, Hittites, Amorites, etc.

God rewards Noah by providing everything for his family. “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (9:3).

Covenant with Noah (Noaic Covenant)

God establishes a covenant, a two-sided agreement, with Noah:  “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11). As a reminder, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth” (9:16). The rainbow now has special meaning, not just a marvel of nature to enjoy as a common event–the rainbow reaffirms the covenant. I can imagine the significance of this statement to Noah’s family, especially the first time it rained, they probably panicked! Here we go again! But the rain stopped and the rainbow was seen and they remembered. Calm down kids.

Sin still existed in the hearts of mankind. They began to grow in numbers and the corrupt human nature started to reveal itself in their hearts as they began to build the Tower of Babel. “Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other” (Genesis 11:7). It seems this time God was not going to allow mankind to take the path prior to The Flood by intervening early. He separated the people groups by creating different languages which divided them and ultimately caused the project to fail as people couldn’t understand each other. The result: they scattered to various parts of the world.

Ziggurat
Some believe that the tower of Babel was a type of ziggurat

It’s an odd explanation of how languages entered the world, but the concept of man’s pride is certainly not new. How many times does our selfish pride cause us to stumble? Ok, I’ll be real, how many times have I allowed my pride to make me stumble? Too many. Even today I have to wonder if I’m taking on way too many projects because I think I can work my way out of problems. I pray this is not the case, but I have to consider the possibility. Lord, don’t let pride overtake me! I see these stories and I don’t want to repeat past mistakes!

Interesting note: Genesis 11:10-26 traces the lineage of Abram (Abraham) back to Shem.

One of the other scriptures referenced today was Psalm 4. I would love to set this to modern language and music! It’s only eight verses.

Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

Be silent. Listen for the Lord. He is there, “for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

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The Flood

Genesis 7-8 and Psalm 3

The Ark was a huge vessel, to say the least. I imagine it was the largest ever built in its day–why would anyone build such a large boat? From the images I’ve seen from those who have studied the biblical description of the Ark, it didn’t look like a sailing ship at all. Noah must have been questioned by neighbors on many levels, perhaps called crazy, insane, whatever, but he did what God said for a purpose beyond explanation.

One day I hope to make it to The Ark Encounter. I think it will be great fun to get a sense of the scale and magnitude of the Ark and support a Christian brother’s business. This will be a great trip, but much like visiting the Holocaust Museum, I’m quickly reminded of the somber atmosphere that surrounds the oft-portrayed children’s story of Noah and The Flood. The waters flooded the earth for 150 days. Even if someone built a raft and hung in there for the beginning of the flood, or perhaps in their own boats, they wouldn’t have had 150+ days of provisions. No. Mankind was wiped out. Pause.

Seven pairs of birds and clean animals, one pair of unclean. God included specific details for Noah; thus, he has enough animals to offer a sacrifice when the flood was over.

The long journey of building the Ark, collecting animals and birds is done on the 27th day of the second month of Noah’s 601st birthday, about a year after the rain began, The Flood was now over. Noah’s first action is to offer a pleasing sacrifice to God. The sense I get from reading that last verses in chapter 8 is one of great respect and appreciation to God for saving Noah and his family.

It’s interesting to read, “God said in his heart…” Here Moses is giving us some insight he has gained by communing with God himself. Honestly, I can’t wrap my mind around the thought, but the thought of God being introspective is astounding and incredibly humbling.

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.Genesis 8:22

There are many stories of how The Flood happened, many plausible scientific explanations have been offered to explain how. There’s no denying that something happened in ancient times to change the course of history. My prayer is that we learn to understand that God is the master architect behind it all. I hope we can learn this truth deep inside so that the light shines clearly from within to those who are far from Christ. Lord help me to be patiently filled with love for your people and especially those who don’t know you or who have turned their backs on you. May your light shine into their hearts.

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Counter Culture – Just Beginning

A few weeks ago, Travis invited me to read a book he was working on: Counter Culture, by David Platt. This book won’t find the coffee table of many. Most will view this as extreme and radical, but that really is the whole point. What Christ calls us to is not normal, it is not the accepted path of our society.

We may recognize that what we thought were separate social issues are in fact all intimately connected to our understanding of who God is and what God is doing in the world.

The most difficult thing about this book is to read it with the loving eyes of Christ. We are so easily ensnared by of earthly desire to be accepted that we forget our primary mission is to make disciples of all nations.

This could take a while. Here’s the table of contents. Interested in the journey?

Chapter 1. The Greatest Offense: The Gospel and Culture

  • In the Beginning, God
  • Our Natural Reaction to God
  • The Sin of Self
  • Is Jesus Unique?
  • The Eternal Offense
  • Do You Believe the Gospel?
  • A Call to Conviction, Compassion and Courage

Chapter 2. Where Rich and Poor Collide: The Gospel and Poverty

  • The Wealthy Aristocracy
  • The Convicting Reality
  • Free to Work
  • “Want To”
  • Work Diligently
  • Live Simply
  • Give Sacrificially
  • Help Constructively
  • Invest Eternally
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 3. Modern Holocaust: The Gospel and Abortion

  • For All of Us
  • God and the Unborn
  • The Key Question
  • Wonderful Works
  • God the Judge
  • Redeemed and Restored
  • Every One Worth It
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 4. The Lonely in Families: The Gospel and Orphans and Widows

  • A Story of Redemption
  • Mirror of God
  • A Culture of Orphans and Widows
  • The Right to Redeem
  • The Resources to Redeem
  • The Resolve to Redeem
  • Mara Ruth
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 5. A Ware on Women: The Gospel and Sex Slavery

  • Meet Maliha
  • Closer to Home
  • Modern Slavery
  • Created Equal
  • Slavery and Pornography
  • Fighting With The Gospel
  • Hope and Healing
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 6. A Profound Mystery: The Gospel and Marriage

  • Male and Female He Created Them
  • Christ and the Church
  • The Distortion of God’s Design
  • Countercultural Marriage
  • Once and For All
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 7. Bought with a Price: The Gospel and Sexual Morality

  • Loving Boundaries
  • Born This Way
  • “Did God Really Say…”
  • Darkened Hearts, Disordered Minds
  • God So Loves…
  • A New Identity
  • A Costly Call
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 8. Unity in Diversity: The Gospel and Ethnicity

  • Church Bombing
  • The Human Race
  • A Gospel-Less Starting Point
  • Ethnicity
  • What the Gospel Makes Possible
  • One In Christ
  • The Sojourner in our Midst
  • Off the Sidelines
  • A Better Country
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 9. Christ in the Public Square: The Gospel and Religious Liberty

  • The First Freedom
  • An Alarm
  • Dignity in Disagreement
  • A Global Perspective
  • Proclaiming Christ
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

Chapter 10. The Most Urgent Need: The Gospel and the Unreached

  • Are We Going to Choose Comfort or the Cross?
  • Are We Going to Settle for Maintenance or Sacrifice for Mission?
  • Will Our Lives Be Marked By Indecisive Minds or Undivided Hearts?
  • First Steps to Counter Culture: Pray, Participate, Proclaim

 

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Unwritten Chapter

There are several thoughts running circles through my mind this morning. Questions. Statements. Revelations. The devotion and passage for today made me pause:  Do I long for success or will I be content with faithfulness? Part of my prayers frequently include requests for relief of financial burdens that seem to distract and undermine things that we are trying to accomplish. Last night I heard something simple:

You keep saying you don’t want money for personal gain, for things of this world. If that is true, why do you have a wishlist on Amazon?

Why? Hmmm. Because everyone has a wishlist? It’s ok to dream? It’s just filled with things that would be cool to have?

Or perhaps, I’m still trapped in the world of “I want.”

photo-negative-spaceJeremiah’s call alluded to in the ODB reference above provides some compelling words for us to consider. Our chapter is unwritten from our perspective, the page is blank. We can look to the left and see words that define us, troubles that tripped us, woes that made us cries and joys beyond words. To the right we see nothing but a blank page. We can’t write our history in advance.

The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Jeremiah 1:11-12

The featured image on this post is that of an almond tree blossoming. A branch with flowers that just days before was nothing but a bare stick among sticks, nothing impressive. Winter is tough in many places, long days that bring cold and bitterness. Spring amazes us every year. The blossoming trees remind us that winter’s work was required. We had to let our desires die to God’s better plan.

Will I fill my wishlist again? No I will not. What God has provided is more than enough for me. Thank you Lord for the abundance you have provided for our family. May we be better stewards today than yesterday. May our faith be stronger as Winter turns to Spring.

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Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ

This morning’s Our Daily Bread devotion referenced Philippians 3:17-21. I was struck by the words “with tears” as Paul describes those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…

Yesterday I thought a lot about worship through music, especially about being part of a team that leads others in worship. As I read this passage my heart is heavy for those that don’t know Christ, for those who can’t join in worshipping with all their heart because they are living lives far from God.

As a follower of Christ we are privileged, we are adopted into the royal family. I’ve seen many who wear that title with pride or who declare themselves saved without any inward or outward change. I hope that we would learn from Paul’s example and see the world through tears, not tears of pity, but tears of true sadness for the lost, the lonely, the broken-hearted. Tears for those who have set their minds on earthly things. Is this making sense?

Lord help us to lead well, to boldly accept the role as ambassadors of Christ. At the same time remind us to be humble, to be meek and yet not weak. Give us discernment to see the world through your eyes and the wisdom to say the right thing at the right time to the right person so they will see you clearly. I can’t help but believe if we were able to do this our churches would be filled with those seeking the redemptive power of Christ and we would have many confessing Christ and being baptized! I dream about a baptism service that takes longer than a football game!

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Jesus Predicts His Death

It’s interesting that John tells us about “some Greeks” who worshipped at the festival. These were not Jews, but (according to the NIV Study Bible notes) people who were “attracted to Judaism by its monotheism and morality, but repelled by its nationalism and requirements such as circumcision.” These seems to describe many who want the apparently positive things about Christianity, but want to pick and choose the parts they like best to shape and mold their own religion. Perhaps this describes the “coexist” crowd or the unitarian church.

They want to see Jesus, no doubt his fame spread, stories about his words and works.  They don’t know this is his last week among them physically. Jesus provides a synopsis of what is about to happen and what must be done to secure eternal life.

Jesus’ focus is on being obedient, “Father glorify your name!” Then a voice is heard from heaven: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Some heard thunder, others the voice of an angel, all heard something.

Jesus goes on to explain this death and resurrection with an important emphasis for the Greeks who are looking for answers:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself

All people, Jew, Gentile, Greeks, even Americans–all people.

In one week we will celebrate Christmas. For me, it’s really not important if this is the actual birthday of Jesus, only that we celebrate he was born on earth through the virgin Mary as prophesied. That he came for us to be our savior. Jesus came to draw all people to him. It is nothing less than amazing. While this is hard to believe for many, may we who believe be given the gift of sharing his love through Christmas.

Bible Gateway Links:

John 12:20-36

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Second Clearing of the Temple

Palm Sunday marked the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem just days before his crucifixion. Just after his entry he clears the temple courts by overturning the tables of the money changes and chasing out those who were buying and selling.

Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’

The more I read about Jesus, the more my admiration grows and my faith becomes stronger. Not like a robot reading words and taking notes, but really reading and seeing Jesus as a man walking among the people, talking to them, teaching, laughing, singing, praying, eating, etc.

In these few verses Jesus shakes up the establishment where is hurts the most — in the pockets. Their receipts for this Passover week were no doubt affected. This revealed the core problem, they were focused on receipts and have lost sight of God. Do we do the same?

The week before Christmas gives us a chance to celebrate with those that know Jesus and get excited for what he brings to earth along side of those who don’t know Jesus at all. Lord I pray that we learn about you more each day, that we see clearly what it is you have offered as the greatest gift to mankind and most importantly how to share this gift with the world!

Bible Gateway Links:

Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Cursing of the fig tree for having leaves but no figs

The title of this post seems to indicate this is about a fig tree that Jesus cursed. I guess I’m a bit distracted today because that just seemed obvious and of little interest. Today, that didn’t speak to me. Tomorrow may be a completely different story. So, I have two observations to consider: 1) Jesus was hungry and 2) Pray with faith.

Both narratives make a point of noting that Jesus was hungry, his physical body needed nourishment. The humanness of Jesus in this passage is intriguing and mind-blowing at the same time. He felt compassion for those who were hungry because he experienced hunger himself.

We also read about “mountain moving” faith that is ours for the asking. Not like some wizard or magic trick, Jesus seems to calmly say,

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

This is the core scripture for the name it and claim it theologians. The Power of Positive Thinking has  been around for a long time, perhaps perpetuated by this verse. (Note: the NIV Study Bible does not provide a comment on this verse–interesting.)

But let’s not get distracted by those who would argue against the power of prayer. Jesus prayed often. If Jesus prayed, we should pray. He taught us how to pray. The key is obviously faith in what we ask for and faith is bolstered by hearing God through daily study of the Scriptures. As we hear his voice, we are continuously transformed, we become assimilated into his family. Our prayers then become less selfish, not about the genie in the bottle, rather we have a different perspective on life.

Lord hear our prayers today. Whether big or small, hear our prayers.

Bible Gateway Links:

Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14, 19-25

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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“Triumphal” Entry into Jerusalem

As Jesus enters Jerusalem he is honored by crowds of people who have heard or seen the great things he has done.

  • “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew)
  • “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark)
  • “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke)
  • “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John)

Such appropriate honor and glory for Jesus’ triumphal entry! We grew up calling this Palm Sunday, the week before Easter. Waving branches and shouting “Hosanna!” in the typically peaceful church was great fun for the children and quite appropriate.

But there is a completely different perspective on this story as seen by the Pharisees, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. This was not a great entry, this was an insurrection, a travesty of justice, something that could not be tolerated.

  • “…they were indignant. Do you hear what these children are saying?” (Matthew)
  • “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” (Luke)
  • “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (John)

The hindsight of the Gospel record gives us an overview of the situation. It records the good and the bad with the advantage of time and knowledge of events that surround each step of the progression. In the moment, as life unfolds, it’s not so easy to see the distinction. We see the unspoken reaction, but ignore it until the thoughts of those offended come to the surface. The whispers in the crowd develops into a counter-strike movement that divides people.

Lord help us to keep your perspective on all matters, to remember you first as we navigate the complex sea of emotions we call humanness. Help us to keep our personal agendas aside. This Christmas, let us be known as a people that have the light of the world to shine in darkness, a gift freely given to all. I pray this light will pierce the darkest of places as well as those places who are confused, who have generated their own light with their own thoughts and hands.

Bible Gateway Links:

Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-19

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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