READING FOR MAY 9, 2024: GENESIS 27, 2 CORINTHIANS 9, PSALM 39:6-14 GENESIS 27 Families can be complicated, but this one might hold the record. First, we have Isaac choosing to bless his favorite and oldest son Esau. This might not seem so bad, but we know from verse 29 that Isaac intended blessing is to make Esau ruler over Jacob. Even this might not seem so bad, but we know from Gen. 25:23 that God said Esau would serve Jacob. Why do we as a human race keep thinking we know better than God? This is still true!
The subsequent plot to deceive Isaac was hatched by Rebekah. She overheard Isaac tell Esau that he intended to bless him. Then she involved an initially reluctant Jacob in her scheme. She even told Jacob that she would bear his curse should one result. Rebekah certainly employed deception, but then again, she knew of God’s plans for Jacob. She was the one to whom God’s message came. We must always obey God rather than man. But how?
Regarding Esau, his marriage to a Hittite woman was against the wishes of both parents. Much later we learn in Hebrews 12:16 that Esau was a godless person. Rebekah was not wrong to work against Isaac’s blessing. Was she wrong to do so deceptively? The Bible is silent in this specific case. According to Jesus, deception should not even be in a Christian’s heart: “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). Also, Rebekah placed Jacob in a position where he felt compelled to lie repeatedly. At the very least, this episode should not be a model for our families to follow.
Despite Isaac’s ill-advised plan to give the favored blessing to Esau, he was wise enough not to rescind the blessing he gave Jacob (vs. 33). His blessing to Esau did not contradict what he already pronounced over Jacob. Also, Isaac really believed that these blessings would make a difference in their lives and become future reality: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come” (Heb. 11:20). Reviving this practice has merit as we see so many of our children and grandchildren failing to walk with the Lord. Grandmothers read 2 Tim. 1:5.
Esau’s pledge to kill Jacob reminds us of that first act of violence by Cain against Abel. Rebekah acted as any mother would to stop this from happening. It is interesting how she mentioned to Jacob what he did to Esau (vs. 45), instead of owning the idea herself. How often we frame issues to our advantage. Then she shrewdly convinced Isaac to order Jacob safely out of the way, purportedly to find a wife with her brother’s family. In chapter 28 it sounds as if Isaac thinks this was his idea. Today we might say Rebekah has amazing interpersonal skills.
READING FOR MAY 9, 2024: 2 CORINTHIANS 9, PSALM 39:7-13 2 CORINTHIANS 9 Paul writes that it is superfluous to write about the project for which he is raising funds, so unfortunately, we don’t get more details about the need in Jerusalem. We do know it is important enough for Paul to send his associates ahead of him to prepare for giving the offering. This highlights the importance he places on this gift. Not only is he hoping for a generous gift, but he is equally concerned about the attitude that accompanies the gift. This entire giving process has become something of an index of their spiritual maturity.
Here is an important question to consider: How can we cultivate cheerfulness in our giving?The text gives some hints:
- Know that God will give us sufficient grace to meet our own needs (vs. 8);
- Know that God will give us even more to give, multiplying the ultimate harvest (vs. 10);
- Know that our gifts will increase the net thanksgiving going to God (vs. 12);
- Know the recipients of our gifts will glorify God because of our generosity (vs. 13);
- Know the recipients of our gifts will in turn become our prayer supporters (vs. 14);
- Always keep in mind we are all recipients of the gift of salvation through Jesus (vs. 15).
LET’S GET READY NOW FOR OUR NEXT OFFERING WITH A SMILE!
PSALM 39: 7-13 David concludes this Psalm with an unexpected request: Please turn away from me, God! This is not prayed very often in church. What prompts this request? In verses 8 and 12, one could infer David admits to sinning. Thus, he appears to believe he is undergoing God’s discipline. In fact, the discipline was so severe that he fears perishing from it unless God relents. Why might David be right in this case about God’s discipline while Job’s friends were wrong? Job’s friends did not know the circumstances of Job’s testing and did not appreciate Job’s excellent character. David had a history of prayerful self-examination and received interventions when needed from associates such as Nathan the prophet. Likely he was indeed experiencing pain administered by God—for his own long-term good and God’s glory.
Here is a passage that might not be popular in many devotional books, but is extremely important for making sense of the Christian life: “You have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are punished by Him; For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12: 5-11).
