Route 66: Genesis 25-27

Key Scriptures Genesis 25-27

I don't know if it was the time of day, just before bed, I read through this passage but the scene of Rebekah and Jacob running a con on Isaac seemed like a bad episode of I Love Lucy. Rebekah and her elaborate plan to deceive, Isaac's suspicion he was about to be tricked and Jacob going along the whole crazy scheme was almost humorous. And the funniest line in the story to me was, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin.What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him..." .[27:11-12]  Duh...he was trying to trick him! Each person in this situation had their own agenda but again God's word would ring true. The outcome had already been revealed to Rebekah years earlier while she carried these boys close to her heart--  “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” [Genesis 25:23] Sadly, this story does not end with immediate forgiveness found with the "Oh, Ricky" Lucy experienced. Rage, murderous threats and running for one's life were the result when this family was torn apart. Terrible consequences for selfish behavior.

Another thing that struck me in this story was the comments about Esau's wives. Genesis 26:35 says,
"They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah." And then, Rebekah in chapter 27:46 laments, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”  These two statements bookend the story of deception. Even though Scripture does not make any reference to them during the the incident, it makes me wonder if these women played some part in Esau's eagerness to receive the blessing when in the past he despised his position of  firstborn.[25:34]  This may partly explain why Rebekah was so fanatical about Jacob receiving leadership position. So much so that she was willing to take what ever curse Jacob would receive if they were found out. [27:13] Just a thought because all I can do is infer because of lack of evidence in the Word but it does lead me to believe this family was really in trouble before any deception occurred.

Route 66: Day Seven

Key Passage: Genesis 22-24

Landmark
I do love a good love story. Through a set of unusual circumstances, two strangers find their way into each others arms and live happily ever after.  Isaac's and Rebekah's story is just this sort of tale but we know it is by no coincidence that this couple comes together. God, himself had a hand in it.  My personal love story is much the same.  My husband and I were in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude under the right circumstances to meet. Love at first sight occurred much as it did for Isaac. For Rebekah, I think perhaps it was love 'prior' to first sight and the reason--her heart was willing to take the risk to go to a place she had never been to be with a person she did not know to live a life she could not imagine. She didn't even hesitate or prepare.  She was ready and willing embrace her life of a "hope and a future" talked about Jeremiah 29:11.

Rebekah's confidence probably comes from the fact that she had been in training for this very moment. Her life experience had prepared her for the things she would face. Her "arms were [certainly] strong for the task' [Proverbs 31:17] as seen when watering twelve thirsty camels but I like to think her heart and soul were also ready to be a comfort to Isaac and the mother of a nation.

Each of us have a similar set of skills unique to the tasks God will ask us to do.  Maybe you have heard that "God does not call the equipped, he equips the called".  I think the truth is he has been equipping each us from the beginning of our lives. The experiences of our ordinary lives along with the heartbreaks and joys he has carried us through have given us the knowledge needed to reach out to those around us in wisdom. We already have what it takes to do the things he calls us to do and when it comes time to act we can be confident we can do the job loving the world. And if your knees feel a little wobbly at the thought of stepping out in faith, know that the Lord has seen the outcome and he still called you to a show off a life of hope found in Him.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Route 66: Day Six One More Stop

Key Scriptures: Genesis 19-21

Another thought about this story of Lot--Lot was willing to sacrifice his own daughters to protect the visitors in his house.  The custom of offering protection to those under one's roof was taken very seriously and in this story we see the extreme measures Lot was willing to go to. It made me think--At High Desert Church are all about Oikos*-our eight to fifteen 'visitors' found under our roofs. To what extent are we willing to step out and face the enemy in order to show them the power of the God who saves?

*Oikos is the Greek word for 'household'. HDC uses this term when speaking of the people in our relational world who we come in contact with on a regular basis.

Route 66: Day Six

Key Scriptures: Genesis 19-21

Oh, Lot, Lot, Lot.  Here you are in the thick of disaster needing to be rescued, AGAIN. Won't you ever learn? The thing about this story that always gets me is that when the angels say run for the hills or die, Lot has a discussion with them about why that won't work for him. He just can't do it.  It was way too hard. They conceded allowing him to have it his way. Eventually, Lot discovered the angels were right all along and moved on to the mountains but it was fear for his life that drove him there.

Anybody else a hands on learner like Lot, making compromises in life because the 'mountain' ahead of you seems to tall to climb? I know I am at times especially when God's requirements seem to hash or out of touch with my reality. But I have found through experience that His ways are perfect for me. He always knows what he's talking about.

Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.  Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. ~Deuteronomy 32:1-4

Route 66: Day Five

Key Scriptures: Genesis 16-18

Landmark
Running ahead of God will surely end up with some negative results but what is a couple to do? Abram and Sarai had been waiting and wondering about their child for some time. It had actually become a 'laughing matter' to them (17:17;18:12) perhaps because if they didn't laugh they certainly would cry. The waiting had turned their focus inward toward their disappointment seeking a way to remove their pain. In the end, it only multiplied their misery causing jealousy, anger, hate, abuse, disunity. Waiting is one of the hardest things we do but we can find blessing in it if our focus remains on the Lord. 

 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves..." ~Proverbs 8:34-36 (NIV)

Route 66: Day Four

Key Scriptures: Genesis 12-15

Landmark:
How often do we wish we could see the future? Abram got to have such an experience in Genesis 15:12-16 and it wasn't pretty. A thick and dreadful darkness fell over him! Four hundred years of misery and captivity for his descendants! Sounds pretty scary to me.  In order to avoid impending disaster overload, I think I will choose to take the one-day-at-a-time approach of trusting in God's words that he "knows the plans he has for [me], plans to prosper [me], to give [me] a hope and a future."

Oh, Abram got to see the hope, in his future, too, but a what cost? Knowing what the future held for his children and grandchildren must have heartbreaking. Just believing God, taking him at his word, having faith- has a more positive payoff. It is credited as an act of righteousness. (15:6)

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn...

Psalm 37:3-6

Start the Journey:Route 66; Day One

Well, this isn't actually Day One but I will be making some observations I have had while starting my excursion through the Bible.  The church I attend has started a new series entitled Route 66: A Journey of a Lifetime which will take our congregation through the entire Bible in a year.  In addition to the sermons the everyone has been asked to read daily a portion of Scripture that has been laid out for us and keep track of the sights we see as we go. The journey has been great this week and I have noticed some ideas I had not seen before as well as having been reminded of some old lessons that contain the wisdom needed to move about the earth in a way that will please God.

For instance, Day 1: Genesis 1-3- Man's nakedness or transparency (Genesis 2:25; 3:11) . Good or bad, God sees us right where we are--"Psalm 139:7 NIV - Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" We cannot hide from him. He sees us no matter where we go. Good thing to remember wherever you are in life, don't ya think?

Day 2: Genesis 4-5- Noah was obedient. He did what God said and oh, what a blessing. Cain on the other hand did what many people choose to do-his own thing, his own way. And then, he expected, even demanded, a blessing. Cain was about Cain, self-centered while Noah was about God's business, listening AND acting on His words.

God sees us as we are. Obedient or not so much. He sees us.  Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah. Their lives were open to him whether they liked it or not. God knew right where they were and what they were doing.  God hasn't changed. It is the same for us. He is here.  He sees us. He knows us, our downfalls and our triumphs. I believe that this journey through God's word will allow us as a church to really begin to recognize God's presence all around us. Getting to know his ways through the stories we will read will help us know how we should do life, what attitudes please God and the direction we should take in any given situation. We will begin to see God more clearly in exchange.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ~Colossians 1:9-12