Bible in One year: Day 8

Genesis 20, 21, 22 and Matthew 6:19-34

The readings for today are some of the most popular and most troubling readings in the scriptures. I pray that God grants us all the ears to hear and eyes to understand these passages today.

Genesis 20

Abraham, a newly minted child of the covenant, cannot help himself. In today's reading he goes back to his old ways of doing things. Once more he plays the "she's my sister" card in order to save his own skin. My heart hurts for Sarah once more in this account. Abraham hands her over to be used by Abimelec.

This time God intervenes more directly telling Abimelec in a dream that he is sleeping with a married woman and that God will punish him for this action. This is news to Abimelec who confronts Abraham and is given a "She is my sister, and wife" response that to me is a complete lack of owning up to the situation. The writer goes on to tell us that all of Abimelec's wives and slaves had become barren because of his relationship with Sarah. (An interesting if not strange tidbit)

Genesis 21

The much-anticipated birth of the child of the covenant is celebrate in this chapter of Genesis. Isaac, child of laughter comes into the world with much celebration. Abraham celebrates fatherhood at the tender age of 100. Abraham fulfills the sign of the covenant having Isaac circumcised at eight days old. This reading is the picture of family happiness we have been hoping Sarah and Abraham would receive. At least if we look at the close up view.

The wide-angle lens picks up a much different family portrait. The camera pans out and we see that Sarah is still jealous of Hagar and her son Ishmael. This jealousy has gone underground during the pregnancy and birth, but during the infancy and toddler-hood of her son, Sarah sees that Ishmael is no longer a small child, but growing into a young man. She once more, sends Hagar and Ismael out into the wilderness in order to secure her son's place in the family.

I cannot begin to imagine the day-to-day life of a woman such as Sarah or Hagar. My life is more than a world away. I want to say that I could never be as cruel or as self-serving as Sarah, but I know that is not the case. I've just never been put to that test. What I find really interesting about this reading is God's action.

God shows Hagar water when she is convinced Ishmael will die. God offers comfort and solace. In verse 20, we are told that "God was with the boy and he grew up." God did not abandon Hagar and Ishmael even thought Abraham and Sarah cast them out. Likewise, God does not abandon any of God's children who may feel rejection at the hands of fellow believers.

Genesis 22

This reading is perhaps one of the most difficult for me to understand. I am a mother. I have three precious beautiful children. I cannot imagine for an instant sacrificing them to God. Even if God told me to do so. I'm not sure what to do with this passage.

Some commentaries I have read state that God was testing Abraham's loyalty. Perhaps the boy had become so important to Abraham that he was no longer trusting in God's promises but was instead trusting in the life and legacy he knew his son would provide. Others say that Abraham knew God would not really make this claim and going along with it was Abraham's way of testing God. The evidence given for this is that Abraham tells his son that God himself will provide the lamb for the offering.

What do you think these passages have to tell us about God and our relationship with God?

Matthew 6:19-34

Catchy phrases from Jesus! Many of these passages are "Meme worthy", meaning they are the kinds of statements that are easily quoted and apply to many situations. Store up treasures in heaven. No one can serve two masters. Don't worry, be happy!  This part of the sermon on the mount is recognizable in much of my culture.

However, making these sayings of Jesus into pithy quotes takes away their weight and bite. There is real soul-searching to be done in order to live lives based on these principles. God is willing and able to help us lead lives that rely less on this world and much more on God's kingdom. What good news for us all!

Bible in a Year:Day 7

I am so sorry!

I did not get the Daily Readings up on the 5th or 6th. My family was hit by the stomach bug and I am only now recovered enough to type.

I will recap all of the readings here, briefly.

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot separate in order to keep piece in the family. Abram is a wise man, more than one family has been torn apart over arguments about wealth and possessions.

God has been with Abram as he has moved from place to place and been faithful even when Abram has doubted and acted in fear. God's faithfulness is something beyond what any of us can really imagine. God blesses Abram and will continue to do so.

God still loves the world and continues to work in it and through it. Sometimes through human agency. I pray that the world would become more receptive to those bringing the message of God and that the world might hear the love of God especially in the midst of such hate and violence done and spoken in the Holy One's name.

Genesis 14

I will admit that I struggle with the first part of this chapter. I'm really not sure what this says about God. I think that Abram made the choice to get his kinsmen and with a number of fighters did just that. We have a tendency to think that God is always on the winners side, because the winner usually writes the story. I do feel that God has blessed Abram and has continued to be faithful to Abram, but I'm not really sure how God fits into all of this war action. I suppose it is that Abram believes that this land is his and his descendants and so he goes after it, not waiting for God to hand it to him, but believing it is already his and defends it chasing them for over 100 miles.

I guess God wants us to go to battle for things and people that are important to us, but again this whole war/concur stuff is hard for me to reconcile with the God who gave up himself to save us. Perhaps if I am to claim something for God, then I need to remove other influences that might poorly affect that area of my life?

I think it means that sometimes we battle and God lets us. I don't know that it is really God endorsed, but perhaps permitted? Jesus spoke so much of love and peace and giving that battling with earthly forces seems contrary to all of that. Again, just my honest struggles today.

I love the second half of this chapter however! I think it is amazingly cool that Melchizedek is called a priest of the Most High God, even though he has no known ties to the chosen people or to Abram. God is active outside of what we know and understand. God's love is being shown and received even when we are not made privy to it. Thanks be to God. Too often I think we see that God is with us therefore God must not be with "them." God is bigger than I could imagine. God's faithfulness to us does not preclude God's faithfulness to others. God sees so much more than we do and is active in so many more places. How rich and deep and wide is the love of God!

With this view of God, one supported by the Gospels, we can see God's activity is worldwide. It means that the world and all that is in it is God's and that God will act when we cannot find a way for God to act. Pulling a priest out of thin air is not a magic trick, it is an act of extreme grace and mercy for Abram and the people!

Genesis 15

This is God proclaiming the covenant with Abram. I am amazed by this passage because it really shows the covenant of grace as being of God's action. Abram makes the sacrifice, acknowledging God as God, but it is God's presence that walks between the halves, it is God's action that shows God's commitment. God will be and is faithful, this covenant is not one that Abram upholds, but rather the burden is on God to give a barren man so many offspring that they are not able to be counted.

This passage gives me hope in the midst of trials and tribulations. God continues to seek relationship with the world, even with those parts of the world that seem to be openly hostile towards God. I have little doubt of God's frustration with humanity from time to time, but I also do not doubt God's commitment to uphold the covenant of grace established with humanity and sealed in Christ.

Genesis 16

This reading is all about what happens when humans decide to step in for God. Sarai and Abram choose to grab at God's promise in their own way, instead of waiting on God's timing. God does not send Hagar away nor does God abandon Hagar. God offers relationship, sees her suffering and asks her to trust that God has a plan and promise for her and her child as well. This situation, not of God's making, but of Abram and Sarai's plan, yet God will seek to redeem it and cause good to come from it.

Today when I was reading, I put myself in Hagar's shoes. I wonder how willing I am to see God even in my wilderness situations. Hagar names God "The God who sees" and if I really believe that then what is it God is seeing in me? I am grateful for God who sees and takes notice and it gives me comfort to know that God is aware of me and my needs even when the world's needs seem so much greater than my own.

"His eye is on the sparrow" God watches over us all and that is amazing! It's also humbling. How much does God see that I chose not to see? How can the world see things as God does with God's eyes and God's heart? This seeing idea is so important especially in the story of Abram and it is super important in a world that likes to pretend no one sees what we don't want them to see.

(I wrote a Bible study on this topic for Intersections: Where Faith and Life meet, a resource for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in case anyone is interested)

Genesis 17

God does not leave us as we are. God joined into a relationship with Abram and through that relationship Abram is changed. To signify that change God gives him a new name and a sign to show the permanent change in his life and the lives of his family members. Once again God says that Abraham will be a nation and that God will bless his descendants with the land.  God does not need to be reminded, but at this point Abraham sure does. He's taken matters into his own hand and with the blessing of his wife, taken a slave woman as a bride and she is expecting. Abraham thinks this will be his heir, but God has promised a child by Sarai. Sarai's name is changed to Sarah and thereby is included in the blessing.

God does not forget God's promises to the world. God is faithful. God gave the sign of circumcision as a way to remind the people whose they were. This covenant sign was not original to Abraham. I have read that there were other groups who did this. But God re-purposed this sign and gave it new meaning to Abraham and those who would come after.

So here we have a sign that is to remind humanity of God's covenant and what happens? Humans argue about weather or not is necessary in order to be saved. Today some have the same argument over the mode and method of baptism, is one more binding or genuine than another. Wow, we people of God know how to turn a good grace filled thing into a problem, don't we!

Baptism is the outward sign of the inward action of the Holy Spirit in our denomination. It is a sign that you are a child of the covenant. That is why we baptize infants, to show that it is the work of God, not anything we can earn or deserve. I was baptized at 6 weeks old and while I obviously don't have any memories of the actual events, my mom was great at showing me the pictures and talking with me about it and how important it was to my family and church community. My church really lived into its baptismal vows and I hope that the church I am serving does as well

Matthew 5:1-26

This section on Matthew has been, and will continue to be the focus of the lectionary readings for the next several weeks. A sermon on Matthew 5:1-12 can be found here. Sunday's sermon on Matthew 5:13-16 can be found here.

This reading is part of the beloved sermon on the mount. These are Jesus' teachings to the disciples and they are so different from the common interpretations of God's word in that day, that they cause confusion and fear straight out of the gate. Honestly, they are still fairly counter cultural.

We don't see the poor as blessed, the grieving as blessed, the marginalized as blessed.

We still tend to hold those religious leaders among us to higher standards,even though Jesus says our righteousness must surpass theirs. We kill each other daily with our words or comments on Facebook and twitter, but we would not consider ourselves murders for such words.

Matthew 5:27-48

This reading continues to give us ideas contrary to those held by then vast majority of people in Jesus' time. There is a wonderful video by Walter Wink on Matthew 5:38-42 and an interpretation of these readings. You can watch that video here.

Christ calls us to love our enemies. It's not expected, its not easy, and yet he asks this of us. Jesus' way was a not and is not the way of the world. The way of Christ is narrow and steep, so much so that sometimes we are afraid to climb. But, the good news is that we do not climb alone, we walk the path with Christ who cut the path in the beginning.

Matthew 6:1-18

In this section of Matthew we get lessons on alms giving and prayer. The giving of alms, a practice of giving to those in need, is a good and blessed discipline. However, here, Jesus says that this giving is not something to do publicly, but rather privately. If you boldly proclaim what you do, then you will be admired by humans, but that admiration becomes your reward. If you give and that gift is between you and God, then your reward will be from God as well.

It is important to note that giving was done at a box in the temple with people watching. Often times people made big pronouncements before dropping their coins into the box. It would be like bringing a giant check to the front of the sanctuary to tell others what you are giving in your tithe.

"Your Father who sees in secret" is a phrase that is hopeful and scary. God sees the secret, even when the world does not know what you are doing for God's glory, God will know and that knowledge is enough. You don't need acclaim from humanity, for God sees and knows. That is good news for those who seek to do good without praise.

But it also means that God sees our secret deeds, our actions that are not so benevolent. The times when we choose to cheat or take because no one is watching or no one will get hurt. However, God who sees in secret will see there as well.

The same lesson is true of prayer. Jesus says that prayer is not for the public listening, it is between you and God. If you pray for the purpose of others hearing and thinking you pious, than that will be your reward. Prayer is communication between you and God, an honest open communication. Jesus gives us a guide for prayer here; we often call it The Lord's Prayer.

**** many of these thoughts come from previous blog posts on Genesis from this blog****

Salt and Light

I remember my grandmother making a comment about salty language one day. I can’t remember the exact context, I think my Grandfather had hurt his hand digging in their garden, but I can’t be certain. The look on her face let me know that whatever salty meant, it was not something one wanted to be.

Salt gets a bad rap in our day and time as well. While we may not often call foul language salty, we are told to limit our salt intake for healthier hearts. Too much salt will dehydrate you, but too little and your electrolytes go out of whack. Too much and your eggs taste terrible, too little and you can’t taste your eggs. Salt is a tricky thing.

Light is not much better. We must use sunscreen to protect us from ultraviolet light, but if we don’t get enough ultraviolet light we are vitamin D deficient and are more likely to have depression and other illnesses. A bright light is useful when you are looking for a needle you have dropped, but in a movie theater it is considered a nuisance. Light is a tricky thing.

Jesus uses these two descriptors, salt and light, to talk about his disciples, and us. Salt and light, essential for life on this planet, but in the wrong amounts unhealthy at best, harmful in the worst of cases. But what I find really interesting is that Jesus says “You are salt. You are light.”

There is no like, there is no, you should be or could be, only you are.

We can no more control that we are the light and salt than we can control the rising and setting of the sun or the crashing of the waves upon the shore. You, yes you, are salt. You, yes you are light.

Salt is often used to bring out the flavor of foods. Salt makes sweet things sweeter. That’s why so many people put salt on a watermelon and why salted caramel is such a big thing.

Light illuminate’s dark places. It helps make things clear, define situations, bring things into focus.

You are salt, Jesus says.

You are light Jesus says.

It makes me wonder, what are we enhancing? What are we illuminating? What part of the world would miss us if we were gone?

Because by reminding us that we are salt and light, Jesus is telling us that, by our very existence we will make a difference in the world. We will change and hopefully improve things by being as God designs.

Nothing that salt does is for the salt. It doesn’t improve itself by being put with other flavors, its sole purpose is to bring out others flavors. Likewise, light doesn’t benefit itself by shining, it only allows you to see things that you might have otherwise missed.

If we are salt and light my friends, then I must ask, what is our purpose? What is the purpose of a gathering of Christians? Is it too feel better about ourselves? Is it to bring judgement on others? Is it to improve our status?

Archbishop William Temple has said, “The Church is the only organization that exists for those who are not its members.”

The church, the body of Christ exists to help others. We exist, not to come to the church building on Sundays, but to be the church, the body of Christ in the world every day.

We gather together, not as an end unto itself, but as a way of equipping and encouraging one another to go out into the world and live a light filled salty life!

Max Lucado tells a story about a man who lost electricity one day. He was fumbling around looking for some candles and he heard a disturbance in the pantry. He opened the door to find three candles in an argument. As he reached for one it yelled out “No, don’t use me! My gift is singing. I sing songs about light to encourage other candles to burn bright, but I don’t actually ever catch on fire, for then I would burn and who would lead the singing?”

The man put the candle back and reached for another. “Oh, no,” this candle screamed, “Not me. I’m far too young to be burned. Why you only bought me last week. I’m sure I don’t yet know how to shine light that would be of help to anyone. I have too much left to learn.”

The man put the candle back and reached for the third. “Put me down!” it cried “I am an antique! I’ve been in this family for generations. If I shine my light and burn how will all my knowledge be passed down? No, I’m much better off here, talking with the candles that are brought in, telling them what it means to shine so that one day you can see by their light.”

The man put the candle down and slowly closed the door, shaking his head at these candles who were not much more than decorations. As he closed the door he thought he heard them singing “This little light of mine.”

I wonder how often I am like these candles. I wonder how often I am like salt that has lost its flavor. There are times when it would be much easier to focus on the inside, and let needs apart from my family and my close friends go unmet. It would be easier to stand here and sing about loving our neighbor instead of seeking a relationship with our neighbors.

Today, we are blessed to be able to participate in the two sacraments of our Denomination, Baptism and Communion. Both are outward signs of inward acts. God’s grace poured out is signified through the pouring of the water and the elements of bread and wine. These sacraments are to equip us for the work, to remind us of the promise we’ve made to serve the Kingdom of God.

As we participate in these wonderful times together, let us remember that we do these things not for ourselves, but for the benefit of the very kingdom of God.

You are salt.

You are light

You are the body of Christ.

You are a beloved child of God.

Bible in One Year: Day 4

February 4, 2017 Genesis 10, 11, 12; Matthew 4

Today's readings include another genealogy, or three, a lot of Babel, wife swap, and an odd conversation partner.

Genesis 10

This chapter contains the generations of descendants of Noah. While at first these genealogies are overwhelming, there is a benefit to reading them. This particular section tells us a lot about what the Israelite faith believed happened after the flood. The children did not stay in the same area, but spread over the land. Note that Canaan's family become the ones who populate areas such as Sodom and Gomorrah, making it even easier to revile them later.

Genesis 11

The Tower of Babel is another one of those great stories of the faith. I remember hearing about it in Sunday School and then wondering what God thought about all of our advances technologically and building wise. I admit being nervous to stand on the top floor of the tallest building in my hometown (21 stories high) because I was scared God might think it was too high.

What do you think is the importance of including this account in scripture? What question might the editors have been trying to answer with these words?

 Next we have the genealogy of Shem in more detail. Here we are given the ancestors of Abram, who will play a very significant role in the upcoming chapters. Of note is that here Abram's wife is mentioned by name as is his brother's wife.

Genesis 12

Abram is a different sort of fellow. We see him follow God's command without much obvious questioning. He moves with his wife away from family and friends. God promises to give his descendants this land. But there is a catch. We have already been told that Sarai is barren. How might this take place?

Abram, the great father of the faith, loses some esteem in my eyes for the way he acts in this chapter. When they come to Egypt, in order to save his own skin, he lies and says that his wife is his sister. (Okay, so she's his half-sister, but still, his wife!) Sarai is placed with the household of Pharaoh and becomes Pharaoh's wife. Abram benefits from this arrangement with flocks and goods. When Pharaoh learns he has been tricked, after all kinds of bad things have happened to him and his house, he orders them to leave. Abram gains his wealth by selling Sarai, and it's not the only time he will attempt this trick.

Matthew 4

This passage begins after the baptism of Jesus. He goes out into the wilderness and stays for 40 days. During this time he is tempted by Satan. He is offered food, miracles and power. But Jesus time and time again refutes the devil, knowing his call and purpose to be much bigger than a contest in the desert. The devil leaves and angels come and minister to his needs.

We then learn how Jesus came to be in Nazareth and hear the calling of his first disciples. I would like to say that I would have been willing to follow Jesus if he had walked up and said "Follow me." but I not sure that I would have been that brave. Having the whole story it seems like the obvious choice, bt without the rest of scripture to help interpret this act, I think I might have found it foolish.

As Jesus continues to minister, people continue to be drawn to him and his teachings. Matthew tells us he was known throughout the land and went about curing the sick, healing those with major illnesses and casting out demons. I think often we try to limit Jesus' healing and influence to the past, but the word of God is still powerful and healing today.

Bible in one Year: Day 3

February 3, 2017 Genesis 7, 8, 9 & Matthew 3

Our Readings for today continue the look at the first books of the Old and New Testament.

Genesis 7

Every time I hear the flood story I am reminded of a song we used to sing as children in Sunday School called "Rise and Shine". It was all about the children's story of the ark, where Noah put animals on by twosies, twosies. However, the account we have says he took pairs of unclean animals and then seven pairs of clean animals and birds.

He took the beginning of herds/flocks of clean animals. The significance behind this is two-fold. One, it tells us that clean and unclean foods were so important to the tellers of the story that here, even before the giving of the law, there is a point made that clean animals were available. Two, it allows Noah to have appropriate animals to sacrifice in worship. Again, this is important to the tellers of the story. Noah would not have yet "known" these rules, but they are mentioned here as a way of explaining why Noah and his family were spared. Essentially because of their righteousness in the mind of the author.

What stands out to you about the story as it is written verses how you may have it in your memory?

This is the first record in the Bible of rain. I'm not sure if rains had come before, but this is the first mention. I can't help but imagine how it would have felt to see water coming down from the sky for the first time. I would imagine there would have been a fear that the whole sky was going to collapse. I also imagine what it must have felt like to be Noah and his family, safe in the ark, knowing that everyone else they knew had drowned. I'm not really sure where to put that emotion.

Genesis 8

Noah and his family members were inside the ark for at least 150 days and nights. (If that doesn't sound to bad to you, remember that this family included three daughter-in-laws.) As the days passed and the rain ceased Noah began sending out birds to see if there might be enough dry land. Eventually the bird he sent did not return and they left the ark. What is the first thing Noah does? Builds an altar.

Noah's first reaction is one of praise and thanksgiving. He offers a sacrifice, he worships. When we have been through trials and tribulation our first inclination should be worship, a recognition that God, greater than us, has been in control the whole time. Worship is about honoring God and placing God first.

Genesis 9

This passage is one of my favorite and least favorite ones in the whole book of Genesis. God tells Noah and his family that the whole of the earth is at their use, but not to abuse that privilege. God also makes a covenant with humanity. The rainbow.

What I like about this covenant is not that we get a pretty thing to hang in the sky and draw pictures of and sing sentimental songs about.  What I like is that it is a one-sided covenant. God establishes this with the earth and does not require anything of the earth to keep this covenant. God is the one with power and control. God uses the rainbow as a reminder to God-self of the promise made.

I am not a fan of what follows. Noah is a wine maker. As he is a righteous man, I can only assume that being a wine maker is not bad. However, he gets so intoxicated by his creation as to fall asleep naked in a place he could be seen. As I understand things, nakedness was not a sin, but viewing another's nakedness put you in the place of sinning, being shamed. In walks Ham. Ham sees what's going on and runs to tell his brothers. His brothers walk backwards with a coat between them so that they may cover their father without being embarrassed themselves.

When Noah awakes he learns what has happened and curses Canaan. Canaan is Ham's youngest son. That seems so unfair to me. What did he do wrong? It doesn't sit well for some reason.

Matthew 3

We are introduced to John the Baptist in this chapter. John is a wild man, with unkempt hair, strange clothing and an even stranger diet. He come on the scene preaching repentance. He says God can raise up children of Abraham from the stones, a quote in another Gospel attributed to Jesus.

John is a man who drew great interest and curiosity. But he did not seek to capitalize on that, only to prepare people for the coming of Christ.

Jesus comes to John seeking baptism. John's reply is that John should be seeking Jesus to do this for him. They work out their differences and John proceeds to baptize Jesus. The Spirit of God alights on Jesus and a voice from heaven says "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

I have been honored to baptize several individuals through my ministry and each time I feel this sense of the Holy. Each time I feel unworthy to do the task I am asked to do. Each time I am reminded that we are all beloved children of God, claimed by God's Spirit. Each time I leave knowing I have been in the presence of God.

Daily Reading: Day 2

February 2, 2017: Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

Today's passages contain words of death and words of life. In a world where violence and death are headline news, these particular chapters might not be as shocking to us. A brother killing his brother over jealousy; a man ordering the mass murder of infants; perhaps these don't shock us as they should. Yet, there is a light even in the darkest of passages, because all scripture points us to the redeeming light of Christ.

Genesis 4

The tale of Cain and Able is familiar to most of us. This particular story has been told throughout the generations as a cautionary tale. If you don't give to God what is best, something bad will happen. Or at least that's the way I was taught. 

What is the moral or lesson of the story of Cain and Able in your thinking? How did you come to this conclusion?

Cain and Able both brought gifts to the Lord, but Cain's was not pleasing. The writer of this passage points out that Able brought from the first-lings of his flocks while Cain brought "some" of the fruit of the ground. Able gave from the best, the first, with no guarantee of more to come after. Cain gave from his abundance. I think that is why Able's offering was preferable. Able honored God with his best and Cain fulfilled an obligation.

Cain calls his brother away to the field and then kills him. This is not a fit of passion, it is pre-meditated murder. When God asks Cain about it, he lies. A very human response. My 8 year old's first response to everything these days seems to be a lie, even when it is not an issue of any real consequence.

Why do you think Cain did what he did? How have you responded when confronted with your sin?

God sends Cain away from his family to a life of toil and difficulty. But even in punishment God offers mercy. God gives Cain a mark that will prevent him from being killed and also says that if he is killed he will be avenged seven times over. What follows is a genealogy of the sons of Cain. We learn that Cain finds a wife and has children. Six generations of descendants are listed. Lamech is mentioned here as one who has killed a man for hitting him. The violence in this side of the family tree seems to run deep. After killing this young man Lamech proclaims that he will be avenged seventy-seven times over. 

What might the significance be in telling this story of Lamech? What does it tell us about the state of humanity?

At the end of this chapter we are returned to Adam and Eve, whom God has blessed with another son. After loosing both sons to violence Adam and Eve are given hope in Seth. I struggle with the replacement attitude I read in these words. I don't think a new child can replace the one you have lost. Perhaps, however, this new child rather than replacing Able, replaces some of the hopelessness Eve and Adam had carried. 

Genesis 5

Another genealogy! This one lists the generations of Adam through his son Seth. Note that Seth was made in Adam's image. Given that humanity was made in God's image I find this statement interesting. Perhaps it means that Seth behaved like Adam, or looked like Adam, or was just the opposite of Cain? 

This chapter tells us about the generations of men in Adam's family and their very long lives!

These accounts have people living 300 years, 800 years, 900 years. They say men became fathers at 105 years of age and at 62. These generations did not count time by the Gregorian Calendar, but by any standards these are exceptionally long lives.

Why point out the length of the lives of these men? What do their long lives mean to you?

I find it interesting that Enoch "walked with God and then was no more because God took him." Does this mean Enoch didn't die, but was taken up by God? Does this mean that Enoch's death was different from other men's s because of his walking with God? Something to ponder.

Lamech is the name given to Noah's father. Interesting that these two families would both have descendants named Lamech. This Lamech, however is not a man of violence, but a man of God. When his son is born he proclaims that Noah will bring relief to his people. Lamech lives 777 years. Seven is a number of great importance in the scripture. It is the number of days of creation, and it will repeat over and over again. It is commonly seen as a sign of perfection or blessing. This Lamech lived a very blessed life.

What things do you see as a sign of God's blessing? 

Genesis 6

Chapter 6 begins by telling us that humanity has become wicked. This should come as no surprise after reading about the behavior of Cain's descendants. There is such vile behavior that God decides to start again. This is a picture of a grieving God, one who mourns the loss of the good creation as it started. 

The lesson of Noah and the Ark has been taught so many times and so many ways. I find that for me it is ultimately a story of God's grace. God did not want humanity to continue on its path to ruin, and so God provided a way of salvation. 

I will leave debates about the scientific evidence for and against this event to others. I will state that the story gives us insight into a God who loves creation and refuses to completely give up on the good that was created.

How do you feel about the building of the ark? What questions do you have about this part of scripture?

Matthew 2

Jesus has been born to Mary and Joseph. We as readers are the swept away from the birth to view wise-men traveling form afar. These men (the number is not given) are following a star that tells the good news of the birth of a new king in Israel. 

I have always found these men to be a source of interest. They watched the stars for signs of God's actions on earth. They were not Jewish, yet they were learned enough to know some of what the prophets had said about a Messiah.While there they learn that the Messiah is to come from Bethlehem, and are sent on their way to find him.

What do you think about those outside of the Jewish faith being the first to respond to the birth of the Messiah? What points might Matthew be making by including these foreign-born men?

The caravan of wise men locate Jesus and bring him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (If you get the opportunity, or are curious, look up these last two items. They are both very popular today in the world of essential oils.) Warned by a dream they return home without visiting Herod.Warned in a dream, Joseph takes his small family to Egypt to live as refugees in a land that once oppressed them. 

Does God still communicate through dreams? 
How might this change how you view dreams?

Herod's response to the wise-men's hasty exit is beyond disturbing to me. The fact that someone would fear so much the loss of power that they would order the execution of infants 2 years and younger, is sickening. This also brings to mind the story of Moses, where Pharaoh ordered all male children 2 and under to be killed so that the Israelite community would cease to grow. Moses was saved and the led his people to salvation. Matthew sets Jesus in the same role.

After a time Joseph learns of Herod's death and brings his family back to the promised land. But again, warned in a dream, they do not return to Bethlehem, instead settling in Nazareth. 

Thoughts

Both of these passages speak of horrific violence and death. Too often I think we read them as prescriptive instead of descriptive. I don't believe God caused or planned for these events to occur. I do however think God's will is not thwarted by the evil done by man or other causes. God's good and perfect will is played out in the lives of humanity, even when sin and death try to change God's course.

How do you view God's action in your life? Where have you witnessed God circumventing circumstance?

Bible in a Year

The Bible in One Year

Today begins our church challenge of reading the Bible in one year. I am very excited about this commitment to dig into the word of God together as a congregation. As part of my spiritual discipline I will be writing a blog each day that comments on the readings and asks questions that we can all ponder together. The links to the NRSV translation of each scripture can be opened by clicking the scripture lessons for each day.

Day 1: Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

Genesis 1

"In the beginning" what a great way to start! Today's passages from Genesis cover the creation of the earth. The first chapter gives us an account of creation beginning ex nihlio- or from nothing. This account is referred to as the priestly account. It confirms the goodness of all of creation including humanity. This first chapter offers us a glimpse of the complete power, majesty and creativity of our God. There is an emphasis on God's active work each day of creation and a declaration of its "goodness."

Why do you think God calling creation good is mentioned in Genesis?

There is something poetic and artistic about this first chapter. It is a scene of the cosmos, the whole of the universe, yes, but as you continue you find you zoom in on more and more detail, until finally you are focused on the human beings that dwell on this earth. God is big enough to create an infinite universe, yet small enough to have crafted humankind in God's own image.

What does it mean to be created in God's own image? How does this idea affect you and the way you see yourself and others?

Genesis 2

This chapter wraps up the Priestly creation story with an account of Sabbath. God rested on the seventh day, the priestly writer tells us. This gives great importance to the idea of Sabbath. It is natural that the priestly source would have included this as Sabbath and Sabbath keeping would have been one of the biggest concerns for the priests.

Sabbath keeping is still an important part of our faith. Taking a day to rest, to reflect on the goodness of God and to worship God is central to Christian worship.

How do you keep Sabbath? What ways do you need to improve your Sabbath keeping?

As chapter 2 continues, we are lead into the Yahwist account of creation. Breathe, yes, there are two creation stories, and that is okay. At the time of the collection of these stories, which would later become known as the Torah, first 5 books of the Bible, there was a need to share truth with one another. However, the ideas of science and verification as we know them did not exist. What we have here are traditions from two different sources that the editors of Genesis found enough truth within to include in the story of the faith.

Do not let your heart be troubled by two creation accounts. One is an account that explains the big picture. The second explains how humanity came into relationship with God and lost its sinless "goodness."

In this second account of creation, the order of creation is presented in a completely different way. The heavens and earth have been created, but man is created before the animals, or even the garden. I think this places a focus on God's relationship to humanity. God care so much about this creature created in God's own image, that God orders all of creation around him.

In this account we hear of man naming the creatures all in search of a helpmate. Finally God decides to create a new helpmate for man, one that is more suitable than the beasts and birds. Man calls her woman because she came from him. God sends them out into the garden. 

With which version of the creation story are you most familiar? Which one speaks to you about God's actions?

Genesis 3

That is where the trouble begins, in the garden. The woman meets a serpent who is cunning and can talk. This serpent asks the woman if they can eat at all from the trees of the garden. What follows is an exchange that leads to the woman eating the forbidden fruit and giving it to her husband, who was with her. (I feel the need to point this out because to me it brings a case against her "tricking" him into eating it and leads more to a case of him using her as a Guinea Pig, but I digress) 

What have you been taught about the fall of man? How has it informed your faith?

What follows is almost comedic, as they hide from God and then, once discovered, how they play the blame game. "I blame the woman, I blame the serpent, which you God created" God is having none of it. Strict sanctions are imposed and all suffer the consequences. 

But then, in an act of grace, God sends them out of the garden. Why do I call it grace? God does not desire them to live an eternal life in their sinfulness. Therefore God banishes them and keeps that fate worse than death away from them. It is at this point that the woman and man are named Adam and Eve.

Have you ever thought of the banishment from the garden as graceful? How does that inform your ideas about the "God of the Old Testament"?

Matthew 1

Genealogies are so hard! Why would Matthew start of his Gospel with so many begets? The first 17 verses are enough to make you put the book back down, but don't! These are important words. These generations link Jesus back to David, back to Abraham. They place Jesus just in the spot he needs to be in order to fulfil the ideals of the promised Messiah. 

Why do you think it important to talk about Jesus' genealogy? What is interesting about Jesus' genealogy?

Matthew's account of Jesus' birth is not the same as the beloved passages from Luke 2. Here there are no shepherds, no heavenly chorus. Here we have Joseph told in a dream about Mary's pregnancy and he remains faithful to her. Jesus is born. 

What stands out to you in this birth narrative? What can you learn about Jesus and his family from these verses?

That's all for our first readings.

I promise not to be so wordy in my other reflections! Tell me what you think or ask questions in the comments section below.

Grace and Peace my friends!

Cardelia