Saturday, January 23

Good morning, chums and chumettes. I am psyched this morning because my friend Nick is coming up for the day to hang out. I haven't seen him in a few months, so I look forward to catching up with him and playing many a video game.

I got the pup snuggled up next to me, and I'm ready to read. And...go.

Reading for January 23
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Family Reunion

Jacob sets off with his sons and grandsons to Egypt. Did he not have a single girl? Did his sons only have sons? I think the Bible is leaving them out of the equation because later in the passage the author gives the total number of Jacob's descendants that went to live in Egypt - which was 70 - but said "not including his son's wives" - so I would assume that means the author left out the daughters as well.

An interesting note here that I never picked up on. This passage talks about how all of Jacob's sons are shepherds "as [their] ancestors had always done." All or most of God's people up until this point and going forward were shepherds. Which makes the analogy of Jesus being our shepherd that much more beautiful.

The rest of this reading focuses on how the famine continues to get worse and the people of Egypt begin to run out of money. When they run out of money, Joseph begins to accept their livestock as payment. When they run out of that, Joseph accepts all their land as payment. This continues until Joseph/the government owns everything in Egypt.

Then Jacob makes Joseph swear that when he dies that he will not bury him in Egypt, but he asks to be buried with his ancestors.

Matthew 15:1-28
Pharisees!

Those wacky Pharisees are at it again! This time they try to trap Jesus by asking him why his disciples break the traditions of the Jewish people by not washing their hands before they eat. Jesus comes back at them by saying they are dishonoring their parents by honoring God instead. Not with the intention of saying "it's one or the other" but just showing that focusing on all the rules will get you nowhere because some of the rules contradict. He quotes Isaiah here:

 ⁸ ‘These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
    ⁹ Their worship is a farce,
      for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

This sounds like a certain man I know named Pat Robertson.

Interesting scene here. A Gentile woman - i.e. a woman who is not Jewish comes to Jesus asking for him to heal her daughter. Jesus says, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” Now eventually she shows great faith and persistence, and Jesus rewards her faith by in fact healing her daughter.

But, wait a minute. I've been instructed to tell everyone that Jesus came and died for everyone, not just Israel. Or are we all considered Israel? This brings up another question - there were obviously millions of other stories and lives going on during the stories of the Old Testament. Did God not care for the people outside of Israel and the direct lineage of Abraham? This is concerning me, and its slightly upsetting. Time to find some answers.

Psalm 19:1-14
This one is too beautiful to pretend I understand and make some snarky comment about. Here it is in its pure form. Enjoy.

 ¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
      The skies display his craftsmanship.
 ² Day after day they continue to speak;
      night after night they make him known.
 ³ They speak without a sound or word;
      their voice is never heard.^[a]
 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
      and their words to all the world.

   God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
 ⁵ It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
      It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
 ⁶ The sun rises at one end of the heavens
      and follows its course to the other end.
      Nothing can hide from its heat.
 ⁷ The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
      reviving the soul.
   The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
      making wise the simple.
 ⁸ The commandments of the Lord are right,
      bringing joy to the heart.
   The commands of the Lord are clear,
      giving insight for living.
 ⁹ Reverence for the Lord is pure,
      lasting forever.
   The laws of the Lord are true;
      each one is fair.
 ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold,
      even the finest gold.
   They are sweeter than honey,
      even honey dripping from the comb.
 ¹¹ They are a warning to your servant,
      a great reward for those who obey them.
 ¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
      Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
 ¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
      Don’t let them control me.
   Then I will be free of guilt
      and innocent of great sin.
 ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
      and the meditation of my heart
   be pleasing to you,
      O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Proverbs 4:14-19
The first proverb that isn't setting us up to be wise is a simple one. Don't be evil. Simple, and yet it evades so many...

 ¹⁴ Don’t do as the wicked do,
      and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
 ¹⁵ Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
      Turn away and keep moving.

Solomon says it four times, four different ways. But it boils down to "just don't be a jerk, ok?"

Alright - I started this post at 9AM Saturday and stopped about half way through the Genesis section. It is now 2:40 AM Sunday. Nick and I had a great time hanging out, though. We played the God of War III demo and it was absolute sweetness. Nick, if you're reading this brother - had a great time. Love you,  buddy.

Dear God. Thank you for the great day I had with Nick. I pray that you stay with him and bless and protect him this coming week and many weeks ahead. God I thank you for new baby Benjamin that Jill and I met today. He is a beautiful baby and I pray that you allow him to grow up strong and please bless him mightily as he grows up.

Please continue to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Please pour out your mighty blessings on the survivors and family members of the people who were hurt or killed. 


I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.