Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Thoughts on the readings for January 15th (Genesis 27, Psalm 32, Matthew 17)
Thoughts on the readings for January 15th (Genesis 27, Psalm 32, Matthew 17)
Genesis 27 is a pivotal chapter, which explains much about the 4 principal characters of this record - Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau. All of them show defects when compared against the divine standard. Isaac knew his Sovereign's revealed will that Jacob would be the blessed, and that the elder (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob); yet he tried to subvert this in seeking to bless Esau. Rebekah did not wait for the Almighty to fulfill His promise; but she believed her intervention and deception would be needed for this to happen. Jacob was prepared to deceive his father (Isaac) at the urging of his mother (Rebekah) rather than to trust in his God to outwork the bestowing of the blessing. Esau was a profane and godless man, who cared about none but himself; and he sought only material prosperity. Isaac's sight had gone and he believed that he was nearing death. So Isaac told Esau to catch and prepare venison for him to eat before dying; and, that he might bestow on Esau the Abrahamic blessing. On overhearing this Rebekah immediately calls Jacob to fetch goats that she might cook them with spices so as to taste like savoury venison. Jacob is scared that their planned deception might fail, since Jacob's skin is smooth and Esau's is rough and hairy. Rebekah says Jacob is to dress in Esau's clothes so as to smell like his brother. And she will sow the goat skins to Jacob's arms in order to deceive Isaac. Isaac's sight being gone, Rebekah and Jacob must betray his sense of taste, smell and touch. After hearing Jacob Isaac was suspicious, nevertheless his other senses told him that it was Esau standing before him. Isaac gave the blessing in verses 27 to 29. Read these verses aloud and contemplate their meaning. Isaac had disobeyed Yahweh's determinations. Esau now appeared with his prey prepared for eating. Upon realising what had happened Isaac trembled - the Hebrew says, "he trembled with the trembling of God" - as well he should, having sought to impose his will above the LORD's; Isaac now in humility of mind submitted himself before the Almighty. Esau with intense pleas and tears sought unsuccessfully to reverse Isaac's mind (Hebrews 12 verses 15 to 17). Isaac now stood immovable having understood the Almighty cannot be resisted. The apparent blessing Esau received was in no way a blessing (verses 39 and 40). The Hebrew words in verse 29 translated, "the fatness of the earth", actually mean "away from the fatness of the earth" - Esau thereafter dwelt in the barren wilderness of Seir, at Petra. And as verse 30 told he lived by his sword and was the sworn enemy to Jacob his brother; and the nations that descended from the twins perpetrated the animosity until Edom (Esau) ceased to exist as a nation in 70 AD when Rome sacked Jerusalem. Rebekah overhead Esau's threat to murder Jacob and planned his escape to Haran. In verse 46 Rebekah used Esau's profane marriages to Canaanitish wives as a reason for Isaac to order that Jacob be sent to Haran to find a faithful, covenanted wife from among Abraham's relatives.
Psalm 32 teaches us much about Yahweh's forgiveness of sins, His merciful kindness and His grace. Verses 1 and2 use the 3 scriptural terms for wrongdoing - "sin" a missing of the mark; "transgression" a specific going against divine law; and "iniquity" the perverse condition of human thinking and actions as they exalt themselves against their Omnipotent Creator. This Psalm of David, together with the 51st Psalm describe the relief felt, when David's sin was opened before his nation (Israel). He was sick from attempting to hide his sin. And the evils that compounded as he sought to keep it secret. He felt a sense of release and found joy and blessings in confessing, firstly, to his Sovereign whom he betrayed; and secondly to his people who he can instruct in the need to confess and forsake sin ( 1 John 1). According to the superscription the Psalm is a "Maschil" - a Psalm designed for instruction, or teaching. Note the closing paragraph of verses 8 to11; slowly read aloud and meditate the meaning. Verse 4 tells of David's sickness and his understanding that God in mercy had brought it upon David in order to save him from eternal death. Verse 5 describes the writer's determination to repent. There is certain irony in verse 6 - "shall the godly pray"; given that the prayer is a confession of sin. The truth of the matter is that the Almighty has laid a foundation for the forgiveness of sin by the sinless offering of the Lord Jesus Christ. The doctrine of imputed righteousness teaches that the heartfelt confession of sin and the determination to forsake will lead to our Sovereign "imputing righteousness" and declaring just (ie righteous) the one believing in Jesus, and trusting in God's determination to show mercy and grace
(see Romans 3 verses 21 to 24 ). Please read carefully and contemplate the message.
Matthew 17 focuses on an event known as the Transfiguration. Theo primary purpose of this event in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ was to help the Son of God through preparing him for the great battle of his testing in Gethsemane and his triumph over his nature in his crucifying on the stake. It occurs in each of the synoptic gospels - Matthew 17, Mark 9 verses 2 to 8; Luke 9 verses 28 to 36. It was a revelation of Jesus in transcendent glory. Its significance belonged to the Kingdom age. Our Lord Jesus Christ is resplendent in glorious white glistening clothes. Mark tells us that this glory was surpassing of that attainable by any person - this telling us that the glorious and righteous character of our Lord was unique and sustained by God's workings. He was seen together with Moses (representative of the Law) and Elijah (for the prophets). But their glory was inconsequential compared to that of our Lord Jesus Christ's. Added to this is the commanding and imperious voice of Jesus' Almighty Father. Consider Peter's comments in 2 Peter 1 verses 13 to 20. Again please pause and read aloud and ponder what the scripture says.
Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team produced by Christa delphianvideo .org
See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here...
https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-january-15th-genesis-27-psalm-32-matthew-17/?feed_id=82472&_unique_id=67865460637ce
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