Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 918-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12
Such stories of sibling
dysfunction, aided and abetted by conniving parents! We see the fallout
from yesterday's reading when Jacob deceived Isaac and "stole" Esau's
blessing: Esau acts to spite his parents by taking foreign wives (Gen. 28:8-9).
We also see the seeds of the troubles that will come to Joseph from his
brothers in the future: the rivalry between Leah and Rachel for the attention
and love of their mutual husband (see Gen. 29:30). What trouble these
generations stirred up for their children!
And God yet confirms his choice of Jacob, appearing to him in a dream and
promising great blessing (Gen. 28:12-15). He also grants Jacob immediate
success in finding the wife of his father's wishes (see Gen. 28:2 for the
desire and chapter 29 for the fulfillment). Clearly, the Lord is at work
even amidst all these messy human relationships.
"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it" (28:16), Jacob says. Couldn't that statement be true of more than just Bethel?
Surely God was in the deception of Isaac, in the trickery of Laban, in the
future discord between Joseph and his ten brothers. These men and women,
these players in Scripture, were often not aware of the Lord's presence and
activity - though God's plans were not thwarted by their ignorance.
Jesus, too, is not hampered. Though disbelief surrounds him, he still
restores the dead girl to life (Mt. 9:24-25). Though blindness confronts
him, he still gives sight (vs. 29-30). Though demons confront him, he
still brings healing and freedom (vs. 32-33).
The wisdom writers know this truth also. "The Lord is in his holy
temple" (Ps. 11:4), the psalmist writes, resting in the knowledge that God
is attentive and active. There will be justice; God will make it
right. "Surely the Lord is in this place" could be said by the
writer of Proverbs about the Lord's discipline. Though it looks - and is!
- painful, God is yet "in this place" though we are often "not
aware of it."
Look around today at your life, at the world around you. Where is the
Lord surely at work and you've not noticed? Are co-workers becoming more
responsive to the gospel? Are children growing in maturity and
self-control? Are you experiencing a measure of freedom in a particular
aspect of your life? Are coincidences falling into place? Are
difficulties besetting you from all sides? God is surely at work.
Let us be aware of it.
- Sarah Marsh
How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.
Genesis 26:17-27:46;
Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10
"I want the truth!"
"You can't handle the truth!"
Classic movie lines, revealing tension: two sides, two realities,
two desires, two "truths."
Enter Abimelech, asking to make a treaty. Isaac is,
understandably, reluctant and suspicious: "Why have you come to me, since
you were hostile to me and sent me away?" (Gen. 26:27). There's the truth.
We saw it yesterday in God's word, and Isaac repeats it here.
Abimelech has a different story, however. His party line,
and he's sticking to it, is that "we did not molest you but always treated
you well and sent you away in peace" (Gen. 26:29).
Did not molest you? Treated you well? Sent you away in
peace? Isn't this the same Abimelech who - in yesterday's reading -
envied him, stopped up the wells of Abraham (part of Isaac's birthright), and
essentially pushed Isaac out of the area (Gen. 26:14-16)? How can
Abimelech claim that as truth and expect Isaac to agree and act on the
mis-represented reality? Abimelech did molest Isaac.
He did not treat him well or send him away in peace.
But Isaac doesn't contest Abimelech's story. "Isaac
made a feast for them, and they ate and drank....The men swore an oath to each
other....and they left [Isaac] in peace" (Gen. 26:30-31). He fed
them and honored their request and sent them off with good wishes. Isaac
denied himself the satisfaction of telling the true truth; he allowed Abimelech
the dignity of acceptance. And Isaac moved the relationship forward.
Imagine if Isaac had stonewalled and insisted on his version of the
story. Imagine the continued friction, the underhanded well-stopping, the
potential for war that could have resulted from Isaac attempting to prove his
point.
Instead, Isaac allowed the false reality, not out of passivity or
resignation, but out of an awareness of what really mattered. He didn't
agree to Abimelech's version; he didn't assert his own rightness. He saw
what was at the heart of the situation (a treaty for mutual protection and
security) and could allow Abimelech's story to stand in order for that purpose
to be accomplished. Isaac acted for the greater good.
I find this difficult. I don't like people not seeing my
"truth," my version of reality. I want people to 'fess up to
their wrongdoing and acknowledge it as a step toward future relationship.
I want to be right, and I want everyone else to know that I'm right.
I want them to admit it! Here's a challenge from Scripture, though:
Isaac chose to be in right relationship rather than be right. He'd rather
have God's blessing for righteous living than God's mercy for selfish
insistence.
The very day that Abimelech and his retinue left, Isaac's men
discovered more water. God's gift of a good, uncontested well - what need
did Isaac have to be proven right in front of Abimelech? The Lord knew
the truth, and the Lord gave blessing accordingly.
It is hard to humble ourselves before the story and desires of
other people. It is hard to let them tell their reality and not to assert
our own right back at them. But if we move toward those people, if we
offer a feast or an oath, if we send them on their way with peace, what might
God have for us? The Lord knows the truth, and the Lord gives blessings
accordingly.
- Sarah Marsh
How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to
share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear
from you.
