The Danger of the False Narrative - Genesis 24-27

Genesis 27:42-43 (ESV)
But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran

We create false narratives to comfort our souls and do not realize they bring terror and hurt instead.    The above passage bears out that exact thought.   These verses are taken from the story of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac into giving him a blessing, rather than the first born Esau.   Esau is so angry at his brother Jacob, that he wants to kill him.  Jacob’s mother, Rebekah (who was the master-mind of this deception) warns Jacob to flea, least Esau kill him.   Esau is holding a grudge so deep that he wants to kill his brother.  He has anger in his heart.    

There is a quote that has been attributed to many people as the source, but never-the-less it captures where Esau is at in his heart.  The quote is about having bitterness in your heart for others.  It states:

“Me being angry at you, is like me drinking poison and hoping you will die!”

This is were Esau is at in his heart.  He is holding a grudge in his heart, it is causing him to die from the inside out.   The words Rebekah uses are that Esau is “comforting” himself with thoughts of homicide.   Imagine that thought.   Esau is creating a false narrative in his head to destroy his brother through blood shed, thinking this will bring him comfort.   They anger he has in his heart is not going to bring him comfort, it is going to destroy his life.   All the characters in this story simply forgot that God had said at the birth of Jacob and Esau that the oldest would serve the youngest.   Although the method Jacob and Rebekah used to get the blessing from Issac was corrupt, it was God’s intended purpose.   But, Esau was so angry and bitter he was not thinking of things that were true, based upon God’s word. Rather, he created a false narrative in his head that would ravage peace in his life.   Note what Paul said about false narratives.  Instead of creating them to give us comfort (and that is the point of a false narrative), Paul states if we want real peace in our minds, we should rather: 

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Give Your Enemy a Drink! Romans 12

Romans 12:19-21 (ESV)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Now, that goes against our nature!!   How many people today would embrace the above doctrine as their life-world-view?   We, as a society, tend to do just the opposite.  We do not avoid vengeance. In fact, if we even think someone is going to do us wrong, we are ready to do them wrong first.   The above teaching of Paul is so, so contrary to the world he lived in and the world we live in.  The passage that follows the above verses is Paul’s admonition to obey the leaders among us.  Remember, Paul lived in the day’s of Nero, who, for sport, burnt Christians on poles as lanterns to light his gardens.   The Roman culture was an “eye for and eye” society, just like ours.   When Paul teaches us to not avenge ourselves, that is one thing.  We can, at times, give it to God and remember that “vengeance” belongs to God and that will happen sooner or later.  But, to go one step farther and be proactive in showing Christian love to someone who has done us wrong (or wants to) is just beyond our natural ability.  Our sinful nature is to be, at least, passive aggressive to those who do us wrong.  We don’t mind not taking out our vengeance, but, we also don’t mind simply avoiding them.   Yet, Paul is teaching us to be intentional with our Christian love and to sacrifice ourselves for not just our loved ones, but for those who have done us wrong.   This is NOT an option.   Imagine if a marriage practiced this.  Imagine if a church practiced this.  Imagine if a business practiced this.   What would happen if Washington D.C. practiced this?   What would happen if the United Nations practiced this principal.  This is one of the most powerful principals of life we can live out. It take supernatural love to do this and that ONLY comes from the Spirit of God.    We are not giving an option here.  But, we are giving the capacity.  When we allow the Spirit of God to produce in us supernatural love (love the world can’t produce) we can practice the above command of Scripture.   By the way, the verse just before this command is the reason Paul is saying this.  We are more compelled to give water to our enemies when we understand that is the avenue by which we can practice this command of Paul, as well:

Romans 12:18 (ESV)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

What is in the Well Comes Up in the Bucket - Matthew 14-16

Matthew 15:10-20 (ESV)

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

The above teaching is after Jesus’ interaction with the religious leaders of the day, giving to the disciples and those who were following Him.   The disciples were bold enough to ask the question about the offended Pharisees.   The interaction with the Pharisees was their criticism the Jesus and His disciples did not wash their hands before they ate something.  However, the real issue was that the disciples (and Jesus) were not following their interpretation of the Law.   Jesus wants the listeners to understand that it is NOT what goes into the body that defiles a person, but what comes out of the person, from their heart.   The key insight Jesus wants us to know is verse 18:

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Jesus goes on to say the it is from the heart that evilness comes and then list several examples of evilness.   The religious leaders in Jesus’ day (like some today) were so concerned about what goes into the body, that they failed to recognize it is what comes out of the heart that causes defilement before God.   Man has a heart condition.  Jesus didn’t come to dictate what and how we eat.  Jesus came to change the heart condition of mankind.  That does not mean our intake is not needing correction.   But, we must start with our heartache first.   King David was so concerned about this problem of the heart that he wrote the following.  He knew that what is in the heart, comes up in the bucket:

Psalms 141:3-4 (ESV)

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips!

Do not let my heart incline to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who work iniquity,

and let me not eat of their delicacies!

God’s Power Over Man’s Party - Isaiah 29-33

Isaiah 30:29-33 (ESV)
You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod. And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them. For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

Most of Isaiah is somewhat dark and gloomy.  Israel has rebelled against God and God has sent Isaiah, the prophet, to proclaim His displeasure and coming judgement on them for this turning away from Him.   There are prophecies against Jerusalem (the capital of Judah ... the remaining tribe of Israel) as well as the nation, as a whole.  There are also prophetic utterances over the nations that have either fought against Israel, or simply not come to their aide.   This is a doom and gloom message. 

But, throughout the book we have what we read in the above passage.  Isaiah makes it clear that their WILL BE a remnant of believers who do turn to God and remain faithful.   The above passage speaks to them.  It also speaks to the nation God has sent to discipline the majority of the nation, Assyria.   God has used them for His discipline over His people, but He will also not allow their wicked behavior to flourish.    God will protect the remnant.   How?   With His “majestic voice” and by the “descending blow of his arm.”  He will save the remnant by the voice of His power; characterized by, “furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones.”   

When God speaks, that is the imagery we should ponder over.   Mankind often thinks of God in different terms and images.   They don’t often think of Him in the way that Isaiah is speaking.   But, in the above text not only do we see these word pictures created, but we see that God is going to pour out His wrath.   Not only is His wrath poured out, however, God is also going to take away joy and laughter.   Note that Isaiah states, that the very voice of God will be to the background of a feasts with singing and music.   Isaiah is telling us that the Assyrians will be in the midst of either worship or celebration when God voice speaks destruction over them.   The world can try to drown out the voice of God through parties and entertainment, but, in the end, it will be the voice of Jesus that seals their fate:

Revelation 6:10 (ESV)
They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Outcomes Do Not Indicate Righteousness - Job 12-13

Job 12:5-6 (ESV)
In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
it is ready for those whose feet slip.
The tents of robbers are at peace,
and those who provoke God are secure,
who bring their god in their hand.

The above verses are a response from Job to his friend Zophar, who was less than gracious about Job’s condition.  Zophar was blunt and right to his point.  He thinks Job is a wicked man and the misfortune that Job is experience is not some cosmic accident, but due reward for that sinfulness he carries.   We know, based upon the first two chapters of the book, that Zophar could not be farther off course.    In the above passage, Job is trying to make a point, in his defense.  Truly, however, the way Job speaks is tough to understand.   Here are the same two verses but in the Amplified Version:

Job 12:5-6 (AMP)
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune—but it is ready for those whose feet slip.
The dwellings of robbers prosper; those who provoke God are [apparently] secure; God supplies them abundantly [who have no god but their own hands and power].

Job’s point in these two verses is that those who live with no conscious mindset about God and HIs authority and providence in their lives, live their lives without fear of doom and/or retribution from God.   Job is trying to get Zophar (and the other two “friends”) to see that “outcomes” of life are not a good indicator of “inward” righteousness with God.  His point is that those who have it good, are NOT worried about misfortune.  But, misfortune will catchup with anyone who’s “feet slip.”  Meaning that everyone will have misfortune at some point in their lives.  To Job, it is simply a fact of life.  If that is true, than Zophar’s argument can’t be true.   To Zophar righteousness meant a good life and unrighteousness meant a bad life.  This is the reason for Job’s second example.  Job states that a group of robbers actually prosper.  In fact, Job maintains that is God, Himself, who must be supplying their good fortune, albeit being obtained in an evil manner.   God allows that to happen.  Again, Job’s point is that if God is completely sovereign, than even the prosperity of the wicked is in His hands.  So, outcomes of prosperity can’t be the litmus test for Job’s dilemma.   Zophar’s argument does not work on life and therefore does not work on Job.   Outcomes of life is not a sign of righteousness or unrighteousness.   That is the problem with how we handle our thoughts about those who suffer.  Suffering is actually promised as part of the Christian life.   We can’t look at “being at ease” as a sign of God’s blessing and being in “suffering” as a sign of God’s wrath upon us.  That argument does not work.   Job is the example.  

God Makes Our Boundaries Wide - Psalms 16:5-6

Psalms 16:5-6 (ESV)
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

When God is our portion our boundaries are wide.    Psalm 16 is a marvelous praise song that starts with a petition to God of preservation and ends with a stanza for God in adoration.  In the middle of the song we have the above lines.  The petitioner wants to be preserved, but has he seeks God’s face his heart changes.  That is really want prayer is all about.  We think we pray to receive from God, and we do.  But, in reality, as we pray we are having our heart changed to think like God and to know Him.  That is what is happening with David in this poem.   David is petitioning God and praising God, at the same time.  He recognizes that the “inheritance” is in God’s hands.   God has become his “chosen portion” because he recognizes that God hold’s his lot and establishes the lines of his life.  It is not as much that David chose God, but rather he recognizes that God is worthy to be chosen and followed.  He recognizes, through prayer, that God can and does make his boundaries wide and pleasant.  It would do us good to follow the same aspect of our prayer life.   When we approach God in prayer, we need to recognize that the prayer is not always about asking, but rather fellowship in with God and acknowledging what God did in our lives and continues to do for our living.   David rejoices that, unlike those who reject God (verses 3-4), he has cup that is full and running over (Psalm 23).  He has “pleasant places.”   That is what prayer is all about.  Praising God for those things we have with Him in fellowship as we recall, remember and praise Him.  

Women Taking the Lead - Judges 1-5

Judges 5:24-27 (ESV)
“Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
of tent-dwelling women most blessed.
He asked for water and she gave him milk;
she brought him curds in a noble's bowl.
She sent her hand to the tent peg
and her right hand to the workmen's mallet;
she struck Sisera;
she crushed his head;
she shattered and pierced his temple.
Between her feet
he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
there he fell—dead.

I am not sure if today’s feminist movement would embrace the above poem, or reject it.  To understand the song, we have to read chapter 4.  King Sisera came up against Israel to oppress them.   Deborah, the prophetess, called upon Barak to fight for Israel.   But, he would only go if Deborah went with him.  Deborah agrees, but tells him that once victory is achieved, he will not receive any glory for the victory.   Instead, as the above poem proclaims, Jael, the wife of someone named, Heber the Kenite,  The feminist would not like that Jael is identified as someone’s wife.   So, there would be those who dislike this entire story.  But, the truth that God decided to use this woman, who lives in a tent, to bring glory to Himself.   King Sisera ran to Jael for protection.  Instead, she decided serve God and fulfill God’s desire for victory over Sisera.   We often think, to glorify God, we have to have some sort of great wisdom, strength or ability.  But, in God’s world, obedience is available to anyone.  Jael was obedient to the prompting of the Spirit.  We don’t have that recorded, but that is implied.   She delivered Israel, while Barak was living in fear.   It matters not what society might think of the way the women were treated in the Old Testament.  However, we see that God used both Deborah and Jael to accomplish His will.