READING FOR MAY 6, 2024: GENESIS 24, 2 CORINTHIANS 6, PSALM 38:1-14 GENESIS 24
The previous chapter was entirely about a burial. This one is completely about a marriage, which, unlike burial, was part of the prefect created order. The first chapter of Genesis describes the first marriage where God not only brought the couple together but created them (Gen 1:26-28). The final chapter of Revelation also describes a kind of marriage: “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21: 2). As we read the story of Isaac’s marriage, we are struck by how God orchestrated the process. Seeking God’s choice for those who marry is equally important today: “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).
Abraham had tremendous confidence in his oldest servant. He allowed him to run everything, even selecting a wife for Isaac. The servant is not even named but acted with the best interests of his human master at heart while being completely trusting in God, his heavenly master. What a perfect example for those of us who serve under human leadership today: “Be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ” (Ephesians 6:5).
There are two details that might have practical application. First, if a supervisor has a trusted employee, there is no need to micromanage tactics to achieve a goal. Second, if one is not the boss, that doesn’t mean creative planning is not part of the job. The servant in this story developed a plan that not only helped confirm the right choice of a bride but also revealed something about the character of the potential wife. Imagine finding a young girl volunteering to water 10 camels for a total stranger. According to Live Science, “Camels can drink up to 30 gallons (114 liters) of water in one sitting.” This seems like a much better method of selecting a spouse than dating apps.
Finally, it is interesting that Rebekah’s mother and brother wanted her to stay with them 10 more days. Both the servant and Rebekah wanted to go back immediately. Obstacles can always arise when we delay. Following God’s will immediately is always God’s preference: “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him” (Matt. 4:18-22).
READING FOR MAY 6, 2024 CONTINUED: 2 CORINTHIANS 6, PSALM 38:1-14 2 CORINTHIANS 6 Paul says that the Corinthians, and by extension we at YMC, could receive the grace of God, which points back to the righteousness of God (5:20-21), in vain. How? The rest of the chapter gives the dual answer of not supporting what God is doing in the world and not separating from non-believers. As mentioned in the story of Rebekah’s selection, Paul says now is the time to be totally responsive to God’s grace. What are we waiting for?
Paul provides a model for doing ministry: endure hardships and opposition; act in purity, knowledge, kindness, and love; be empowered by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word; expect to be considered deceivers; and don’t seek material gain. The ministries in which our church engages and supports financially should meet these same criteria. Sounds daunting, but keep in mind, this is a small price compared with the grace of God given to us as believers. It’s really a high privilege. Paul tells the Corinthians that although he and his coworkers have been open toward the Corinthians, their response thus far has been restrained. There is still time, though, for them and for us to be fully responsive to what God has done for us. Again, now is the time.
The last four verses emphasize the need to be separate from unbelievers. Obeying this command requires wisdom. There are some groups, such as the Amish, who interpret this as not living at all according to modern standards. They signify their distinctiveness by adopting a separate, nineteenth-century lifestyle. Other groups have focused upon being culturally relevant by accepting any belief and practice in the name of inclusivity. In looking at Jesus’s and Paul’s ministries, they interacted with the full range of society for the purpose of communicating the Gospel and supporting civic welfare. When it came to establishing boundaries for participation, belief, behavior, and service within the community of faith, they drew clear boundaries based upon God’s word. Can we apply this balance in Yorktown?
PSALM 38:1-14 Here we see David believed such a thing as God’s wrath exists. The following article by Timothy George demonstrates how David’s belief is controversial: “Recently, the wrath of God became a point of controversy in the decision of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song to exclude from its new hymnal the much-loved song ‘in Christ Alone’ by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The Committee wanted to include this song because it is being sung in many churches, Presbyterian and otherwise, but they could not abide this line from the third stanza: ‘Till on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied.’ For this they wanted to substitute: ‘as Jesus died/the love of God was magnified.’ The authors of the hymn insisted on the original wording, and the Committee voted nine to six that ‘In Christ Alone” would not be among the eight hundred or so items in their new hymnal.’ Getty and Townend lived out Paul’s command, in a way that cost them financially, from 2 Cor. 6 to be separate. A definition of God’s wrath by Tim Keller is helpful: “God’s settled opposition to evil.” Don’t we desire God to oppose evil? Jesus experienced God’s wrath in our place because He possessed the ultimate love. If we reject Jesus, God’s wrath will be directed upon us (John 3:36).
