READINGS FOR MAY 7, 2024: GENESIS 25, 2 CORINTHIANS 7, PSALM 38:15-22 GENESIS 25 Abraham remarried after Sarah died, realizing that it was only through Sarah that God’s covenant would be fulfilled. There isn’t much instruction in the Old Testament about remarriage after a spouse dies. Deuteronomy 24: 1-4 and 25:5-6 discuss unusual cases. Of course, the whole story of Ruth implies God’s approval when appropriate. In the New Testament we get qualified permission: “A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39). Certainly, Abraham shows there is no age limit for remarriage.
It is not clear from the text who the sons of Abraham’s concubines are. Perhaps they are the six children he had with his second wife, Keturah. We do know Abraham took care to provide gifts for them but also sent them far out of Isaac’s way. Isaac would always be the child of the covenant. We also see the continuation of Ishmael’s line for another generation.
Once again, a woman, in this case Rebekah, has difficulty getting pregnant. This is another time where God’s plan for His people is not unfolding according to human expectations. Isaac rightly intercedes on Rebekah’s behalf—a good example for all husbands. As often happens today when there is extra effort made to conceive, Rebekah ends up with twins. Sensing that something was unusual, Rebekah inquired of the Lord. He graciously answered by giving her the bigger picture. Note that God has already given us the biggest possible picture through His Word of what He is doing in the world. Let’s check it out.
Verse 23 may have some meaning regarding’s God’s view of the unborn child. God does not say there are two groups of fetal tissue in Rebekah’s womb. He says there are two nations in her womb. This has the ring of personhood. Verse 24 calls them twins. As they grow, the boys develop different profiles, each parent choosing a different favorite. God had already informed Rebecah that Jacob, the younger brother, would dominate. Jacob facilitated this by maneuvering Esau to trade his birthright for bread and some lentil stew. What is a birthright? Check Deut. 21:17: “Acknowledge the firstborn... by giving him a double portion of everything that he owns, for he was the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.” Perhaps a legitimate application is to consider whether we also trade away important long-term, or even eternal, blessings by gratifying some immediate desire.
READINGS FOR MAY 7, 2024 CONTINUED: 2 CORINTHIANS 7, PSALM 38:15-22 2 CORINTHIANS 7 Paul begins this chapter by referring back to God’s promise to obedient believers at the end of Cor. 6 to be as a father to them. The commonly made statement that all people are God’s children is not biblically correct in this spiritual sense. But now, born again as God’s children, we have the obligation and opportunity to live in certain ways: ridding ourselves of defilement and perfecting our holiness (2 Cor. 7:1). This is Wesleyan theology!
Paul goes on to ask for room in the people’s hearts. Perhaps there is a believer who needs some space in our hearts today. The Holy Spirit can bring the name of a person or group to mind if we ask. This would be a perfect example of praying in the will of God (1 John 5:14). Perhaps our church’s prayer calendar would be a useful tool.
In verse 4 Paul presents a puzzling dichotomy: overflowing joy in affliction. Certainly, our older church has many undergoing physical afflictions. In addition to healing, could we pray for their overflowing joy? It seems Paul cultivated this joy himself through interaction with another believer, Titus, and learning how well the Corinthians were living out their faith. In our afflictions, let’s stay engaged with others and not let Satan take away our joy. Paul also confessed he took no immediate joy in the tough message he communicated in his previous letter. He termed it “godly sorrow” that produced repentance leading to salvation. Church is not all fun and games, but it is interaction among believers with eternal stakes involved.
PSALM 38:15-22 Throughout the first 15 verses, David emphasizes both his own personal limitations and the lack of support he receives from others. In this state of inadequacy, he appeals to God and expresses his ultimate hope in God. This is an honest self-appraisal, a realistic understanding of others, and a necessary appeal to the only One who can help him. We need this same approach. We are inadequate in ourselves and even those closest to us will seem to fail us at times. God alone is one who never fails us. This is not unduly disparaging to friends and family. It is the nature of flawed humanity. Thus, like David, we trust in God. Like David, we confess our sins. Like David, we are not shocked when others disappoint us. And like David we rejoice in the Lord. We magnify Him and seek His deliverance. Romans 8:35-39 is true and reassuring: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
