When Jesus walked the earth, God's word was central to life. It was the everyday conversation of the community. They were brought together by the text, and they even agreed on a text of the week. This same ancient rythmn is available to us today! Join us in reading and commenting on what is know as the "Parashah." Imagine a community whose unity is rooted in the very word of God!
Monday, October 29, 2007
TOW Oct 28-Nov 4
This weeks Parsha is:
Genesis 23:1-25:18 1Kings 1:1-31 Matt 1:1-17 1Corinthians 15:50-57
I was trying to find out why the took an oat by putting there hand under one anothers thigh...because that sounds really strange!
Here is what I found out...
"If you study your Bible you run across a strange passage in Genesis 24:9, where Abraham's servant swore an oath, by placing his hand, "under the thigh" of his master. 'Thigh' was a common euphemism used instead of 'penis' because of the fear of mentioning the sacred organ directly. This oath sworn on the testicles, was the Hebrew method of swearing by one's word, or seed, or lineage that the vow would be carried out. Hence all the words like testament, testify, and testimony are derivatives of this promise, oath or covenant between the two parties."
I was sitting here and something else came to mind... I wonder if this is where "generational curses" came from? Because it was a vow taken and it was not only between you and that person but also between them and your whole family. CRAZY!!!
While reading Genesis 23 the thing that stood out to me was alien. "I am an alien and a stranger among you."
Abraham at this point had lived among these people for sometime. He was respected or feared because his God was recognized as powerful. Yet he is not a man of power or influence within the community. He does not sit with the other leaders or older men in the city gate assisting and giving advice. It makes me wonder about how he interacted with the communites around him. He was obviously hospitable, peaceful. He was frequently building alters to his LORD in the places where other gods would have been worshiped seemingly as a challenge to the communities their god and the people who lived there. He had few children as well so it seems that God kept Abraham in a humble position in his walk and a servant at heart.
Chapter 24 - Brings the introduction to Laban and Rebecca. I am struck at the strength of Rebecca in this chapter. There is no evidence in the text of rebellion to the marriage or the sudden departure. She is asked to leave quickly and go to a foreign land and appears to never look back in the process. She appears to be a strong person both inwardly and outwardly. She seems to understand the purpose and blessing of her role in life and willing to accept that role no matter what the outcome may be in the end. Obediance.
Also, on the oath thing! The "right side" is usually an indicator of strength, privilege, honor and blessing. I came across something that indicates that Eliezer may or may not have been the senior servant in the original text. It is unknown. But that there is some indication that upon taking the oath the servant would be subject to sterility or loss of children should he not keep the oath. It also indicates intimacy and trust. You should also observe that in: Revelations: 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has the name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. and Genesis 47:29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your had under my thigh an promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,"
These oaths were probably very simular to putting your hand on a Bible. The left hand would have been raised and the oath was a binding contract between the two people that was binding with God taking actual participation in the judgement and Enforcer of the oath. Which takes on a whole new picture to our US justice system and the light heartedness in approaching the Bible and swearing upon it.
Jesus discourages the practice of taking oaths because it is an evil practice. I suppose it represents us taking control of a situation overwhich we have no authority. The authority lies with God and God alone. (Matt.5:33-37)
I wrote this a little over a year ago, it is about the FIRST USE of FAITH.
“Then he prayed, O Lord, God of my master Abraham…” Genesis 24:12
There are many cases of the Lord God coming in and personally touching man. Man is the only one of God’s creations to be physically “intimate” in a sense with the Lord. Every creation before Adam was brought into the world, because God spoke them into being. However, when God invents man he “form[s] [him] from the dust of the ground.” It is clear that this being is different from the birds, the fish, or the beasts of the earth. God then takes the rib of man and makes woman. Both of these instances could not be more intimate and personal. It is clear to the reader that Adam and Eve serve as advocates for the remainder of human history, by their faults and fertility mankind is shaped. But, when does God make the shift from the irrevocably powerful and somewhat detached entity that we find him to be in the first chapter of Genesis when he spoke the “heavens and the earth,” into existence, to the unbelievably humble personal advocate to everyman, that he ends up embodying? The Lord God, maker of Adam, master of the waters below and sky above, and majestic artist of all living things, becomes a “God of…” in the story of Abram, the first patriarch. God promises Abram to be, “the father of many nations,” and blesses him with a son, Isaac. Although Abram was personally called by God and did undergo a name change to Abraham, it is actually Abraham’s servant that calls on the power of the “God most high,” to help him carry out a task that is considerably more minute than anything seen in the scriptures before it. Abraham’s servant asks for God’s help in finding Isaac a suitable wife. Thus, the incomprehensible “God of heaven” becomes the beautifully trustworthy and amazingly personal “God of (fill in servant name here).” It should be noted that the very first modern sounding prayer is said by not one of the most recognized characters in the bible, but rather, a no-named servant. God is quick to act on behalf of the servant; in fact “Before he had finished praying Rebekah came…” Not only does Rebekah appear, but also she fulfills all of the servant’s needs for confirmation. The servant then “bow[s] down and worship[s] the Lord,”
“saying, ‘praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master…” Genesis 24:27
The LORD is called “faithful” for the very first time in a book about faith. God does not elevate himself to a level where his is unable to help his “servants” with even the humblest of tasks. It is only through the constant practice of prayer and open conversation with God that we can see his “faithfulness.” And it is only by recognizing his kindness and unfailing sufficiency that we can become servants to only him.
1 Kings - Here we see the full expression of the fullfillment of an oath. Bathsheba reminds David of his oath to her and his obligation to God to fulfill it. Yet even though he is old and weak and possibly having some trouble keeping clear thought at his age. His heart is true to God and his word and he fulfills his promise despite Adonijah is expecting to come to power.
How often do we keep our promises to others when we feel threatened or weak"? Do we give in to fear or doubt? Do we keep our oath to God on a daily basis even in our weakness?
Matthew 1-(Thought to be the lineage of Jesus Christ through Joseph's line.) Again we see the fulfillment of God's oath to Abraham, the promises to the line of David.
There are many people who have sined against God in the lineage leading to Christ but ultimately. God is faithful to his word and can use all things to his own purposes.
1 Corinthians 15 This seems to align itself with a series I am listening to by John Piper entitled "Suffering for the Sake of the Body". Within this text, we are reminded that although God is ultimately in control. Satan is the ruler of the earth and is free to act on his will if the LORD allows him to do so. Rather than restate John Piper. I will simply add a quote below from the series for this point. ------------------------ The Nature of Christian Suffering: Is There a Difference Between Plague and Persecution? Cancer and Conflict? - John Piper
In choosing to follow Christ in the way he directs, we choose all that this path includes under his sovereign providence. Thus all suffering that comes in the path of obedience is suffering with Christ and for Christ – whether it is cancer or conflict.
All experiences of suffering in the path of Christian obedience, whether from persecution or sickness or accident, have this in common: they all threaten our faith in the goodness of God and tempt us to leave the path of obedience. Therefore, every triumph of faith and all perseverance in obedience are testimonies to the goodness of God and the preciousness of Christ – whether the enemy is sickness, Satan, sin or sabotage.
Therefore, all suffering, of every kind, that we endure in the path of our Christian calling is a suffering “with Christ” and “for Christ.” With him in the sense that the suffering comes to us as we are walking with him by faith, and in the sense that it is endured in the strength that he supplies through his sympathizing high-priestly ministry (Hebrews 4:15). For him in the sense that the suffering tests and proves our allegiance to his goodness and power, and in the sense that it reveals his worth as an all-sufficient compensation and prize.
Not only that, the suffering of sickness and the suffering of persecution have this in common: they are both intended by Satan for the destruction of our faith (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5), and governed by God for the purifying of our faith (Hebrews 12:3-11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). --------------- Praise be to God! Blessed are we though the loving adoption Through Jesus Christ. Be strong and courageous, pick up your cross and bear you burden unto the LORD as a offering to his faithfulness and glory. Amen.
9 comments:
I was trying to find out why the took an oat by putting there hand under one anothers thigh...because that sounds really strange!
Here is what I found out...
"If you study your Bible you run across a strange passage in Genesis 24:9, where Abraham's servant swore an oath, by placing his hand, "under the thigh" of his master. 'Thigh' was a common euphemism used instead of 'penis' because of the fear of mentioning the sacred organ directly. This oath sworn on the testicles, was the Hebrew method of swearing by one's word, or seed, or lineage that the vow would be carried out. Hence all the words like testament, testify, and testimony are derivatives of this promise, oath or covenant between the two parties."
I was sitting here and something else came to mind... I wonder if this is where "generational curses" came from? Because it was a vow taken and it was not only between you and that person but also between them and your whole family. CRAZY!!!
While reading Genesis 23 the thing that stood out to me was alien. "I am an alien and a stranger among you."
Abraham at this point had lived among these people for sometime. He was respected or feared because his God was recognized as powerful. Yet he is not a man of power or influence within the community. He does not sit with the other leaders or older men in the city gate assisting and giving advice. It makes me wonder about how he interacted with the communites around him. He was obviously hospitable, peaceful. He was frequently building alters to his LORD in the places where other gods would have been worshiped seemingly as a challenge to the communities their god and the people who lived there. He had few children as well so it seems that God kept Abraham in a humble position in his walk and a servant at heart.
Chapter 24 - Brings the introduction to Laban and Rebecca. I am struck at the strength of Rebecca in this chapter. There is no evidence in the text of rebellion to the marriage or the sudden departure. She is asked to leave quickly and go to a foreign land and appears to never look back in the process. She appears to be a strong person both inwardly and outwardly. She seems to understand the purpose and blessing of her role in life and willing to accept that role no matter what the outcome may be in the end. Obediance.
Also, on the oath thing! The "right side" is usually an indicator of strength, privilege, honor and blessing. I came across something that indicates that Eliezer may or may not have been the senior servant in the original text. It is unknown. But that there is some indication that upon taking the oath the servant would be subject to sterility or loss of children should he not keep the oath. It also indicates intimacy and trust. You should also observe that in:
Revelations: 19:16
On his robe and on his thigh he has the name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
and
Genesis 47:29
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your had under my thigh an promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,"
These oaths were probably very simular to putting your hand on a Bible. The left hand would have been raised and the oath was a binding contract between the two people that was binding with God taking actual participation in the judgement and Enforcer of the oath. Which takes on a whole new picture to our US justice system and the light heartedness in approaching the Bible and swearing upon it.
Jesus discourages the practice of taking oaths because it is an evil practice. I suppose it represents us taking control of a situation overwhich we have no authority. The authority lies with God and God alone. (Matt.5:33-37)
I wrote this a little over a year ago, it is about the FIRST USE of FAITH.
“Then he prayed, O Lord, God of my master Abraham…”
Genesis 24:12
There are many cases of the Lord God coming in and personally touching man. Man is the only one of God’s creations to be physically “intimate” in a sense with the Lord. Every creation before Adam was brought into the world, because God spoke them into being. However, when God invents man he “form[s] [him] from the dust of the ground.” It is clear that this being is different from the birds, the fish, or the beasts of the earth. God then takes the rib of man and makes woman. Both of these instances could not be more intimate and personal. It is clear to the reader that Adam and Eve serve as advocates for the remainder of human history, by their faults and fertility mankind is shaped. But, when does God make the shift from the irrevocably powerful and somewhat detached entity that we find him to be in the first chapter of Genesis when he spoke the “heavens and the earth,” into existence, to the unbelievably humble personal advocate to everyman, that he ends up embodying?
The Lord God, maker of Adam, master of the waters below and sky above, and majestic artist of all living things, becomes a “God of…” in the story of Abram, the first patriarch. God promises Abram to be, “the father of many nations,” and blesses him with a son, Isaac. Although Abram was personally called by God and did undergo a name change to Abraham, it is actually Abraham’s servant that calls on the power of the “God most high,” to help him carry out a task that is considerably more minute than anything seen in the scriptures before it. Abraham’s servant asks for God’s help in finding Isaac a suitable wife. Thus, the incomprehensible “God of heaven” becomes the beautifully trustworthy and amazingly personal “God of (fill in servant name here).”
It should be noted that the very first modern sounding prayer is said by not one of the most recognized characters in the bible, but rather, a no-named servant. God is quick to act on behalf of the servant; in fact “Before he had finished praying Rebekah came…”
Not only does Rebekah appear, but also she fulfills all of the servant’s needs for confirmation. The servant then “bow[s] down and worship[s] the Lord,”
“saying, ‘praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham,
who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master…”
Genesis 24:27
The LORD is called “faithful” for the very first time in a book about faith.
God does not elevate himself to a level where his is unable to help his “servants” with even the humblest of tasks. It is only through the constant practice of prayer and open conversation with God that we can see his “faithfulness.” And it is only by recognizing his kindness and unfailing sufficiency that we can become servants to only him.
1 Kings - Here we see the full expression of the fullfillment of an oath. Bathsheba reminds David of his oath to her and his obligation to God to fulfill it. Yet even though he is old and weak and possibly having some trouble keeping clear thought at his age. His heart is true to God and his word and he fulfills his promise despite Adonijah is expecting to come to power.
How often do we keep our promises to others when we feel threatened or weak"? Do we give in to fear or doubt? Do we keep our oath to God on a daily basis even in our weakness?
Matthew 1-(Thought to be the lineage of Jesus Christ through Joseph's line.) Again we see the fulfillment of God's oath to Abraham, the promises to the line of David.
There are many people who have sined against God in the lineage leading to Christ but ultimately. God is faithful to his word and can use all things to his own purposes.
1 Corinthians 15
This seems to align itself with a series I am listening to by John Piper entitled "Suffering for the Sake of the Body". Within this text, we are reminded that although God is ultimately in control. Satan is the ruler of the earth and is free to act on his will if the LORD allows him to do so. Rather than restate John Piper. I will simply add a quote below from the series for this point.
------------------------
The Nature of Christian Suffering: Is There a Difference Between Plague and Persecution? Cancer and Conflict? - John Piper
In choosing to follow Christ in the way he directs, we choose all that this path includes under his sovereign providence. Thus all suffering that comes in the path of obedience is suffering with Christ and for Christ – whether it is cancer or conflict.
All experiences of suffering in the path of Christian obedience, whether from persecution or sickness or accident, have this in common: they all threaten our faith in the goodness of God and tempt us to leave the path of obedience. Therefore, every triumph of faith and all perseverance in obedience are testimonies to the goodness of God and the preciousness of Christ – whether the enemy is sickness, Satan, sin or sabotage.
Therefore, all suffering, of every kind, that we endure in the path of our Christian calling is a suffering “with Christ” and “for Christ.” With him in the sense that the suffering comes to us as we are walking with him by faith, and in the sense that it is endured in the strength that he supplies through his sympathizing high-priestly ministry (Hebrews 4:15). For him in the sense that the suffering tests and proves our allegiance to his goodness and power, and in the sense that it reveals his worth as an all-sufficient compensation and prize.
Not only that, the suffering of sickness and the suffering of persecution have this in common: they are both intended by Satan for the destruction of our faith (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5), and governed by God for the purifying of our faith (Hebrews 12:3-11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
---------------
Praise be to God! Blessed are we though the loving adoption Through Jesus Christ. Be strong and courageous, pick up your cross and bear you burden unto the LORD as a offering to his faithfulness and glory. Amen.
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