most of us know the story of Jonah... God called him to go and preach the word of God to a particular city.. and he did not want to do it... so he ran in the other direction... he gets on a ship headed for a city far away from where God was sending him and God sends a storm... and everyone is going to die on the boat... so he tells the sailors to throw him over and that the sea will calm... and God sends a great fish.. we all imagine to be a whale... and it swallows him up.. but he doesn't die... he sits in the fish for 3 days.. and then tells God he will surely go to ninevah.. the fish spits him out.. he goes to ninevah.. he preaches of God and the city is saved... but then.. amazingly.. instead of being glad.. he is angry with God... as though he did not want them to be saved...
can you imagine being on the ship.. and the storm beginning... I won't ask can you imagine running from God.. we all run from God.. to the darkest place we can find thinking that God will not follow us there... but He does... strangely.. God doesn't seem to care where He has to go to get us.. He will come get us and pull us up out... how many times has a storm begun because we have run from God... maybe not a storm like Jonah dealt with... but a storm of another sort... financial distress... illness.. whatever it is that God uses to get our attention... and maybe it only lasts as long as till we see that God is the one in control... just like Jonah's storm... his time in the fish only lasted until he was willing to go the direction God wanted him to go.. when will we ever realize that God's way is the only way there is... we try to run.. we try to hide... there is no where to go that God is not there... funny.. God uses the EXACT same words in Chapter 3 of Jonah as He does in Chapter one... telling Jonah that he is to go to ninevah... we keep thinking God is going to change His mind if we don't like something... the bible says that God is not a man that He should change His mind... when He says something.. He means it.. and sometimes He will go silent until we decide to do what He said...
I think we all need to be cautious about trying to take God's glory on ourselves for our little part of kingdom work.. I think Jonah was angry.. not because they were saved.. are we really ever angry when someone is saved? I can't imagine that is the issue.. I am thinking it is because he thought he would get there.. he would preach and the whole city would be destroyed and HE WOULD GET ALL THE ATTENTION... that he was such an awesome man.. and God used him to wipe out all these heathens... and clean up the world.. using HIM... all emphasis being on HIM.. none being on God.. and he gets mad.. because God is getting all the attention and all the glory... that is a terrible thing.. it comes down to being prideful...
I am thankful that God is gracious.. He gives us another chance when we fall... He doesn't take away our promises just because we have disobeyed.. He brings His will to pass in spite of us... yet still using us... He changes us.. changes our minds.. changes our hearts until we can line up with His will... I am thankful...
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Rachel
I have never been loved like this... every woman wants a man to love her like Jacob loved Rachel...
first comment would be that Rachel was a worker... she was a shepherd.. I don't know how often women would work with the animals... I find it strange that she did not work at the house like I would expect women to work... but maybe.. that made her special to Jacob... if we remember back.. Jacob sat up under his mother at the house... he was not a good worker.. but he could cook.. he had soft hands and skin because he did not work outside while his brother... Esau worked the fields...
Genesis 29: 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
first thought is.. 7 years were only a few days to him... I don't know about you but when I am waiting for something I want it seems to make time drag on... not get shorter... greater thought being... give me my wife... he already considered her his wife.. all the time before they were married... and.. I want to make love to her... not that he wanted to be satisfied... he wanted to show her how much he loved her... in the physical form of making love... what a thing to have a man say... it wasn't about him.. it was about her...
God allowed Rachel to remain childless because she was loved so much by her husband... it was a kind thing to do for Leah.. but it wasn't Rachels fault that she was loved by her husband and he was given her sister that he did not love... her father did this to them.. yet they had to pay the price for it.. so she has her servant sleep with her husband to give her children... I don't care what the situation is.. I am not okay with my husband sleeping with someone else.. I am SURELY not going to send him off to do it... Genesis 30: 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” disgraced because she did not have children.. that makes it more understandable to 'need' children.. some part of the woman's value was in her ability to bear children... and God granted her wish.. twice.. and the second one cost her life...
Genesis 31:19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Laban chased them as they left claiming that someone has stolen his idol. Jacob curses the person that has the idols... Genesis 31:31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. could this have been the reason she died at a young age? we all have to be careful to never allow anything to come before God...
Ruth 4:11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
regardless of the fact that Rachel died at a young age.. or the fact that she had only two children.. Rachel is remembered for two things in my opinion... one being that Jacob loved her greatly.. enough to work 14 years to marry her... the other being the fact that she and her sister Leah were the mothers to the tribes of Israel... that is a very great honor indeed...
first comment would be that Rachel was a worker... she was a shepherd.. I don't know how often women would work with the animals... I find it strange that she did not work at the house like I would expect women to work... but maybe.. that made her special to Jacob... if we remember back.. Jacob sat up under his mother at the house... he was not a good worker.. but he could cook.. he had soft hands and skin because he did not work outside while his brother... Esau worked the fields...
Genesis 29: 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
first thought is.. 7 years were only a few days to him... I don't know about you but when I am waiting for something I want it seems to make time drag on... not get shorter... greater thought being... give me my wife... he already considered her his wife.. all the time before they were married... and.. I want to make love to her... not that he wanted to be satisfied... he wanted to show her how much he loved her... in the physical form of making love... what a thing to have a man say... it wasn't about him.. it was about her...
God allowed Rachel to remain childless because she was loved so much by her husband... it was a kind thing to do for Leah.. but it wasn't Rachels fault that she was loved by her husband and he was given her sister that he did not love... her father did this to them.. yet they had to pay the price for it.. so she has her servant sleep with her husband to give her children... I don't care what the situation is.. I am not okay with my husband sleeping with someone else.. I am SURELY not going to send him off to do it... Genesis 30: 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” disgraced because she did not have children.. that makes it more understandable to 'need' children.. some part of the woman's value was in her ability to bear children... and God granted her wish.. twice.. and the second one cost her life...
Genesis 31:19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Laban chased them as they left claiming that someone has stolen his idol. Jacob curses the person that has the idols... Genesis 31:31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. could this have been the reason she died at a young age? we all have to be careful to never allow anything to come before God...
Ruth 4:11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
regardless of the fact that Rachel died at a young age.. or the fact that she had only two children.. Rachel is remembered for two things in my opinion... one being that Jacob loved her greatly.. enough to work 14 years to marry her... the other being the fact that she and her sister Leah were the mothers to the tribes of Israel... that is a very great honor indeed...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dinah? (the wife of Job)
well.. I never knew the wife of Job was supposedly the daughter of Jacob! what do you think about that? now I am surely not saying it is the truth, just something written about the woman...
there was no need for her name in the bible in my opinion.. she was not worth remembering for who she was.. she is more worth remembering for who she is not...
when we read proverbs, especially 31.. it gives us the qualities of a godly wife.. the qualities a man needs in a wife... things we should strive toward being... it tells us things to avoid being.. such as nagging.. complaining... proverbs 12: 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
so we look at the wife of Job.. Job 2: 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
that is how this woman is remembered... telling her husband to curse God and die... how will we be remembered? as a wife? as a woman of God? are we encouraging? are we uplifting? are we covering our husband in prayer and protection? is our home a place of peace and rest? does he look forward to coming home? does he think of love when he thinks of us? are we a shining example of love for him? regardless of his actions or circumstances.. who he is has nothing to do with what is required of you...
Job 42: 12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.
this woman.. despite her negativity.. despite her not being a good wife.. someone that stands by you when things go badly.. she was still able to receive the blessings that God bestowed upon her husband...
we cannot only stand by a man when things go our way.. if that is the type of person we are.. what value are we? are we striving to be a crown on his head or a decay in his bones... yet the blessings from God come through a man... although I know women do not want to hear that.. they feel they are equal.. find it in the bible... find a place in the bible where God enters a covenant with a woman... stand up and be a woman of God.. a woman of proverbs 31.. be remembered for the positive things you say and do.. not the one hateful line that you have spoken.. allow the positive to far outweigh the negative... be a light for a man to come home to.. instead of a cold draft on a cold night...
revision: according to the apocryphal Testament of Job (which is a book of Jewish descent that was not added in the bible)(I have been told by my pastor that these books don't count for validity and I can't use them as a source when arguing with him.. LOL!) states that the FIRST wife of Job was named Sitis, she is the one that was quoted, she supposedly died during his trials (as if they weren't bad enough.. sheesh..) and he afterward married Jacob's daughter Dinah... again... the truth of these statements is unsure as they are not quoted in the bible...
there was no need for her name in the bible in my opinion.. she was not worth remembering for who she was.. she is more worth remembering for who she is not...
when we read proverbs, especially 31.. it gives us the qualities of a godly wife.. the qualities a man needs in a wife... things we should strive toward being... it tells us things to avoid being.. such as nagging.. complaining... proverbs 12: 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
so we look at the wife of Job.. Job 2: 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
that is how this woman is remembered... telling her husband to curse God and die... how will we be remembered? as a wife? as a woman of God? are we encouraging? are we uplifting? are we covering our husband in prayer and protection? is our home a place of peace and rest? does he look forward to coming home? does he think of love when he thinks of us? are we a shining example of love for him? regardless of his actions or circumstances.. who he is has nothing to do with what is required of you...
Job 42: 12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.
this woman.. despite her negativity.. despite her not being a good wife.. someone that stands by you when things go badly.. she was still able to receive the blessings that God bestowed upon her husband...
we cannot only stand by a man when things go our way.. if that is the type of person we are.. what value are we? are we striving to be a crown on his head or a decay in his bones... yet the blessings from God come through a man... although I know women do not want to hear that.. they feel they are equal.. find it in the bible... find a place in the bible where God enters a covenant with a woman... stand up and be a woman of God.. a woman of proverbs 31.. be remembered for the positive things you say and do.. not the one hateful line that you have spoken.. allow the positive to far outweigh the negative... be a light for a man to come home to.. instead of a cold draft on a cold night...
revision: according to the apocryphal Testament of Job (which is a book of Jewish descent that was not added in the bible)(I have been told by my pastor that these books don't count for validity and I can't use them as a source when arguing with him.. LOL!) states that the FIRST wife of Job was named Sitis, she is the one that was quoted, she supposedly died during his trials (as if they weren't bad enough.. sheesh..) and he afterward married Jacob's daughter Dinah... again... the truth of these statements is unsure as they are not quoted in the bible...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Esther
we all think of Esther as such a lucky woman.. she was the queen.. not just one of the wives.. but the QUEEN... the first lady to a KING... of course there were other wives.. concubines.. but she was able to know that she was the very favorite...
but lets dig a little deeper... first of all... her whole life's purpose was in this position... and while on the outside.. we may feel it was a leisurely life.. a life of luxury and of happiness... things usually are not what they appear... any of us who have the smallest amount of insecurity would be able to see this from an entirely different perspective..
1. she did not marry for love.. her whole life she was being prepared for this position that without God's purpose in it.. she would never have even gotten.. she missed out on alot of things in her young life because of this preparation... everything that she was.. was for this one man... she probably didn't even know him other than what he wanted in bed.. it's not like he talked to her.. his talking was with his advisors.. her whole purpose in the palace was to please him.. sexually... or whatever other way he wanted at the time... we don't know if she ever loved him.. but my thought is that God controls our hearts.. and he will put love in us so that we can be happy in the situation He plans for us...
2. he had LOTS of other women.. who do you know that wants to share a man with other women? those women had the same purpose to him that you did.. satisfying him... what a great life that is.. right? how would you ever feel a man loved you when you have to share him with a vast amount of other people.. and as women.. we need to be given affection more than sex.. we want to be held and whispered sweet things to..
3. her position was given to her because of her appearance and performance... all of us know that beauty fades.. so what would happen to her then? and as far as her performance goes... well.. many of us have special gifts and qualities... that does not make who we are... it is not hard to keep a man... especially if God has gifted you... but eventually someone would be younger.. prettier... just as gifted.. without love.. do you have stability? surely as Vashti was put out just before her, she was probably insecure..
but it so happens that because God put Esther in the position.. she would have stability... it happens that the king actually did love her.. again.. none of this due to her, but instead due to God's favor on her... her true purpose... to save the jews from the evil man wanting to destroy her uncle and in so doing, destroying ALL the jews.. so she has to go see this man.. who is supposed to be her husband.. but she has to REQUEST TO SEE HIM.. on top of that.. she was really not allowed to do that.. she was supposed to wait until he called for her.. but in her obedience to God.. she puts her life on the line and asks to see him... I am sure she was thinking... why did God put me in this position just to kill me?
but because of God's purpose for her position and for her life... the king is favorable toward her.. and she rescues the jews from being destroyed...
that is all we ever hear about her... don't you wonder what else happened? but she had served her purpose so there is no need to tell us anything more.. I pray I am faithful to fulfill my purpose regardless of whether or not it is pleasant or easy... I pray that God will give me strength and understanding to know that my only value is in Him.. not in man... and I pray that God will give me love from a man in the process of fulfilling His ultimate will and purpose...
but lets dig a little deeper... first of all... her whole life's purpose was in this position... and while on the outside.. we may feel it was a leisurely life.. a life of luxury and of happiness... things usually are not what they appear... any of us who have the smallest amount of insecurity would be able to see this from an entirely different perspective..
1. she did not marry for love.. her whole life she was being prepared for this position that without God's purpose in it.. she would never have even gotten.. she missed out on alot of things in her young life because of this preparation... everything that she was.. was for this one man... she probably didn't even know him other than what he wanted in bed.. it's not like he talked to her.. his talking was with his advisors.. her whole purpose in the palace was to please him.. sexually... or whatever other way he wanted at the time... we don't know if she ever loved him.. but my thought is that God controls our hearts.. and he will put love in us so that we can be happy in the situation He plans for us...
2. he had LOTS of other women.. who do you know that wants to share a man with other women? those women had the same purpose to him that you did.. satisfying him... what a great life that is.. right? how would you ever feel a man loved you when you have to share him with a vast amount of other people.. and as women.. we need to be given affection more than sex.. we want to be held and whispered sweet things to..
3. her position was given to her because of her appearance and performance... all of us know that beauty fades.. so what would happen to her then? and as far as her performance goes... well.. many of us have special gifts and qualities... that does not make who we are... it is not hard to keep a man... especially if God has gifted you... but eventually someone would be younger.. prettier... just as gifted.. without love.. do you have stability? surely as Vashti was put out just before her, she was probably insecure..
but it so happens that because God put Esther in the position.. she would have stability... it happens that the king actually did love her.. again.. none of this due to her, but instead due to God's favor on her... her true purpose... to save the jews from the evil man wanting to destroy her uncle and in so doing, destroying ALL the jews.. so she has to go see this man.. who is supposed to be her husband.. but she has to REQUEST TO SEE HIM.. on top of that.. she was really not allowed to do that.. she was supposed to wait until he called for her.. but in her obedience to God.. she puts her life on the line and asks to see him... I am sure she was thinking... why did God put me in this position just to kill me?
but because of God's purpose for her position and for her life... the king is favorable toward her.. and she rescues the jews from being destroyed...
that is all we ever hear about her... don't you wonder what else happened? but she had served her purpose so there is no need to tell us anything more.. I pray I am faithful to fulfill my purpose regardless of whether or not it is pleasant or easy... I pray that God will give me strength and understanding to know that my only value is in Him.. not in man... and I pray that God will give me love from a man in the process of fulfilling His ultimate will and purpose...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Leah
there is not much written about Leah that makes her likeable.. my personal thought is that we all wish to be a Rachel.. not a Leah.. but do you think God felt like that? I don't.. I think Leah was possibly more special to God than Rachel ever would be...
Jacob wants to marry Rachel.. so he works 7 years for her.. the night he is supposed to go in to complete the covenant and sleep with her... it turns out to not be her.. it is instead Leah... Laban, their father, has sent Leah into Jacob stating that the older daughter had to marry first... now personally... I don't care HOW dark it is... you KNOW who you are sleeping with... my thought is that he didn't care at the moment... you can't make me believe that he didn't realize she didn't feel like or smell like or talk like Rachel... but.. because covenant comes from blood being shed.. or seed being spilled.. he is stuck with Leah... he gets Rachel too but he has to work 7 more years for her..
if you read the bible.. Leah seemed to be a quieter disposition.. she seems more meek and mild tempered.. she prays to God who opens her womb and she bears all these children for a man that doesn't realize he loves her... through this marriage... she fulfills the purpose of a woman.. all along she plays second place to her sister Rachel... she continues on... I imagine in this time she realizes that despite her relationship with her husband.. all that she really can find comfort or love in is God... I believe her relationship with God is real and righteous regardless of her circumstances...
Rachel dies as an early age.. she is buried on the side of the road as they are traveling... Leah lives a long life with Jacob... she is buried beside him... Rachel may have gotten all the recognition from Jacob early on.. but in the end.. Leah was what he needed.. she was constant.. she was trustworthy.. she was faithful... no matter what mistakes we make in life.. God will turn them to the good.. His will is going to happen.. all we have to do is trust Him and wait upon the Lord...
Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
we can see that it is an issue for Leah that she was not loved by Jacob.. it was obviously an issue for God too.. He continued to bless her with children... I believe she had a special relationship with God because of this... God loved her...
Jacob wants to marry Rachel.. so he works 7 years for her.. the night he is supposed to go in to complete the covenant and sleep with her... it turns out to not be her.. it is instead Leah... Laban, their father, has sent Leah into Jacob stating that the older daughter had to marry first... now personally... I don't care HOW dark it is... you KNOW who you are sleeping with... my thought is that he didn't care at the moment... you can't make me believe that he didn't realize she didn't feel like or smell like or talk like Rachel... but.. because covenant comes from blood being shed.. or seed being spilled.. he is stuck with Leah... he gets Rachel too but he has to work 7 more years for her..
if you read the bible.. Leah seemed to be a quieter disposition.. she seems more meek and mild tempered.. she prays to God who opens her womb and she bears all these children for a man that doesn't realize he loves her... through this marriage... she fulfills the purpose of a woman.. all along she plays second place to her sister Rachel... she continues on... I imagine in this time she realizes that despite her relationship with her husband.. all that she really can find comfort or love in is God... I believe her relationship with God is real and righteous regardless of her circumstances...
Rachel dies as an early age.. she is buried on the side of the road as they are traveling... Leah lives a long life with Jacob... she is buried beside him... Rachel may have gotten all the recognition from Jacob early on.. but in the end.. Leah was what he needed.. she was constant.. she was trustworthy.. she was faithful... no matter what mistakes we make in life.. God will turn them to the good.. His will is going to happen.. all we have to do is trust Him and wait upon the Lord...
Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
we can see that it is an issue for Leah that she was not loved by Jacob.. it was obviously an issue for God too.. He continued to bless her with children... I believe she had a special relationship with God because of this... God loved her...
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