Category: GOD’S STORY

A detailed look at scripture from “In the Beginning” to… as far as we can go, seeking GOD’s perspective on His Word. These posts are MEAT (ref 1 Corinthians 3) — sharing the HEART of GOD from Biblical scripture, because TIME IS TICKING. It is time to hear GOD’s heart, pure and true.
This is GOD’S STORY. Audacious of me to claim, I know… In prayer I asked how to improve the catchment, build the readership of the Larus Press blog, not for me but because the message is to benefit others. He: I AM, Yehovah, El Shadai, Creator of the Universe, said to tell His Story! So, this is my step toward sharing what is on GOD’s Heart. This is GOD’S STORY. Totally dependent on Biblical scripture, week-by-week I intend to share what He shows me.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 181 Are we Christians too polite?

How do the people turn the world? With a lot of effort! Push, push, PUSH!

I wonder, are we Christians too polite for our times?

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 38:26-30

“So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

“Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.”

Then Israelite family is pushy!

Here is Tamar, a mother only because she pushed the boundaries of propriety and, using her wit, she mothered children. 

Then there’s Judah, going against the brothers to ensure young Joseph would survive; and then years later looking after his own young son Shelah, by not giving in to the custom to allow Tamar to be joined with him. 

There arrive the twin boys, fighting to get out of the womb (when so many babies don’t want to come out!)… Isn’t it a bit of an echo of Jacob and Esau?

It seems the LORD shines on industry and innovation

A look at the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-20) and of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) reveals that the LORD does not teach us to do whatever is expected but to go beyond. Thinking outside the box is something Jesus seems to teach quite a lot. He sends out his disciples 2 x 2, with instructions to take nothing with them… (Mark 6:7-13).

Tamar was desperate for children after she was widowed without, twice. She is honoured for the creative thought she applies, and receives what is righteously hers.

The Lord asks for obedience but not for conformity

Let’s pause and think about this. 

As we are called by Him, we must obey Him. But this may lead us quite outside the customs box. While love is never rude, and grace abounds in those who follow Jesus, we must be bolder to share the Gospel and to fulfil our individual calls from GOD. 

I pray we all will be bolder in these last days: bolder to love, bolder to speak, bolder to stand on our principles. This takes courage, but (apparently), “Do not fear” occurs 365 times in the Bible. That’s once for every day in our calendar (and even more than once in the Hebrew calendar).

Jesus is outside the box. Let’s walk with Him — wherever He leads us.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’S STORY: part 180 Judah & Tamar

The story of Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law, is a story of integrity and dignity.

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 38:1-26

“It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

“Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

“Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

“Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

“So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

“And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.

“So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

“Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

“So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

“And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

“And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

“So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

“Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

“And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

“So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

“When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

“So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.”

The over-riding message in this story

A righteous woman can find her fulfilment if she is determined and crafty.

As is typical in the culture, Tamar wanted children. She married badly to start off. But she must have seen that Judah was a decent man, in spite of his lack of fathering skills and his broken (albeit impractical) promise to allow his daughter-in-law to marry his third son who was far too many years her junior.

She wanted a child but not at any cost. She knew her culture and worked within it. 

And Judah was, fortunately, a righteous man. 

Tamar lived to bear a child and Judah fathered a son from a woman his own sons had treated appallingly.  It took years, but Tamar was justified, ultimately.

GOD will do right by those who do righteously. Patience and dignity in tact, Tamar bore a child out of wedlock, and lived, because she was shrewd and outsmarted the man who had denied her the future she was legally and culturally entitled to.

Trust GOD, do right. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

It is worth noting that, through this couple, Jesus’ was descended.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 179 Did Joseph trust GOD?

What do we do with a total betrayal, a total loss of personal agency and freedom? 

This is what Joseph experienced in an instant!

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:36

“Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.”

It would have taken only a matter of hours to get to Egypt. To be betrayed, kidnapped, sold, bought, all without any ability to take control over your own situation… What a fall Joseph fell. And so quickly! How did he cope?

Joseph’s Experience

What would it have been like to experience his brothers’ betrayal?

What would it have been like to be amongst a foreign band of enemies who bought you for a price? 

“Where am I going?” “Will I be murdered?” “What is to become of me?” Are these the thoughts that ran through his mind?

Or did he think of his father first and foremost? Did he count the days — of which there might be all too few remaining? How did Joseph reflect on his young life? 

I wonder, did he stand in faith knowing, ‘My brothers’ sheaves bowed down to mind. All will be well.’

Do we draw on our Faith?

Have you ever been in a predicament but you know, somehow, you will be okay?

As the world spins out of control, as we are warned (in the UK) to stock up on food, do we measure our steps, assured the LORD has us in the palm of His hand? I hope so…. Because if you are saved by His grace through faith in Him, you can rest assured He has the power, will and authority to look after you.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” 

I wonder, did Joseph catch a message like this spoken by Jesus and recorded in Matthew 6:25-26?

I don’t know what I would have said or done if I were Joseph. But I do know, at some point, He knew He could trust is faith to GOD. We can trust and rely and do likewise.

Shalom, shalom. He will keep us in perfect peace, who’s mind is set on Him, because He trusts in Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’S STORY: Part 178 The Lie Begins

Lies are complicated. Once we start, they go on and on, to keep the fabricated story going. Look at what begins in Jacob’s family, all triggered by jealousy. We see the lie begins when the sons return to Jacob with Joseph’s coat, but no Joseph.

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:32-35

“Then they sent the tunic of many colours, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?

“And he recognised it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.”

Jacob weeps

We don’t know what the boys said. We do know Jacob drew conclusions and suffered greatly at the loss of his younger (and favourite) son. 

What could possibly have been going through the minds of the brothers, as they watched their father grieve. And though the sisters gathered as well, and may have been grieving with their father, the boys pretence continued. They pretended with father, they pretended with sisters, they pretended with the four mothers.

Was Judah worried for himself? Did he think leave well enough alone? He hid behind the blood stained coat, just as his brothers did, even though it was he who ensured Joseph’s life was spared.

Did Rubin feel shame because he was unable to protect his little brother? Or was he more relieved his father didn’t seem to hold him to account. 

What of the mothers — particularly Rachel, but the others as well. Was there any thought for them? There is no mention of it.

When there is a lie, it has to be maintained. The story needs to be corroborated. The lie needs to be maintained. The brothers did this the entire time of Joseph’s absence. And did they not feel any remorse, shame, or guilt?

When we lie there is consequence

Whether the lie is BIG or small, it carries with it a consequence… a looking over the shoulder, a dis-ease about being discovered. Presumably, some of the brothers would have wondered how Joseph faired — from time to time. 

And surely, sometimes, they looked at their depressed, mourning father and felt… something of pain or sorrow for him? 

Conscience has its consequences. As the move to Joseph’s story, let’s hold that thought. The brothers lived for many years with this lie. Buried though it was, surely from time to time, they looked at one another and wondered — Are you thinking about Joseph, or is it just me? Are you angry at Father for his grief, or are you sorry? 

A lie may be buried, but it never really disappears.

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GOD’s STORY: Part 177 Motive makes (or breaks) the man

When Judah rescued Joseph from the pit and had him sold into slavery, it wasn’t a nice outcome for Joseph, but it kept him alive.

Reuben had a motive to keep him alive also, but it was in reference to himself.

Motive, makes or breaks the man

We see this when we look at Reuben and Judah.

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:29-31

“Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”

So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colours, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

When Reuben discovers Joseph is gone, he is worried about himself. “Where shall I go?” He bellows.

The men kill and skin a goat, so that Reuben can save his own skin. Imagine the pain and horror of Jacob, when he hears the story of his son’s demise… from his other sons. 

As for Judah, he has said little, and yet, he has ensured the safety of the boy without raising suspicious attention to himself.

When the one wants to save his brother and the other himself, both achieve their ends. And yet, it is the line of Judah which GOD uses to bring forth the Messiah.

Motive matters to GOD… more than outcome. That is worth remembering — especially when our outcome might not yield what we expect.

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GOD’s Story: part 176 Whatever man intends for evil…

Is there any circumstance GOD can’t overcome?

There is nothing GOD does not see. There is nothing GOD does not care about. He looks after the sparrow. How much more does He care for us. (Matthew 6).

Whatever man intends for evil, GOD can use for His good purposes.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:23-28

“So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colours that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

“And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

“Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”

Where was Reuben?

Well, the pit was empty of water (hopefully of snakes too, though it doesn’t say), so the boys didn’t drown their brother. That was something… But then, they sit down to eat!

Where was the pit in relation to their dining? Wouldn’t Joseph have been crying out?

And where was Reuben?

I would imagine that Judah knew his brothers might end up killing Joseph the next day, and wanted to ensure his safety. Obviously, he and Reuben hadn’t conferred. Clearly they both wanted to rescue Joseph, but each had their own strategy. So, Joseph was removed from the pit and sold as a slave. Then Reuben shows up and is shocked!

Lack of Coordination

“And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25) The 2 against 12 ensured Joseph survived. Nevertheless, a lack of coordination led to Joseph being removed from the scene for the foreseeable future. Perhaps this was best. If Reuben had taken him back to Jacob, how long would it be before his life was threatened by his brothers again?

Two of the 12 wanted to save Joseph

Two against ten: that rings a bell with me — 

Remember Caleb and Joshua are 2 of 12 who want to go into the Promised Land after their spying venture into it!? (Numbers 13) As a consequence, it would take 40 years for the Hebrews to enter the Promised Land. 

In this situation, it would take many years for Joseph to rise to become the rescuer of his nation. But it would come…

What man intends for evil…

The LORD will always have the victory. We know from timeless stories throughout the Old Testament, that was man intended for evil, GOD used for good.

Pharaoh was brutal to the Hebrew slaves. GOD sent Moses to set them free.

Haman wanted the Jews destroyed. GOD used Esther to intervene.

Time and again, the enemy seeks to thwart and GOD comes through!

Time and again, the echoes of Joseph’s capture lead to triumph. We need to remember this, whenever we face adversity.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 175 Reuben’s Wisdom saves a Life

What a family! 

Here we see Reuben attempt to outsmart his brothers in order to protect Joseph.

But what sort of family plans to kill a pesky brother?

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:21-22

“But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.”

Reuben was a bit of a quick-thinker. Perhaps he had more of a conscience. Maybe he held less of a grudge against the arrogant (or overly enthusiastic) Joseph. Maybe he loved his father and recognised how devastating Joseph’s disappearance would have upon him. Perhaps Reuben had more wisdom than the others and wanted to ensure no one betrayed Joseph. In whatever case, Reuben intended to secure a position for Joseph that would temporarily satisfy the bitter brothers, and would preserve the younger man’s life.

Everything backfired!

The boys did the deed! As soon as Joseph appeared, his brothers stuffed him into a hole. Reuben must have gone for a walk — perhaps distressed, nervous for Joseph and perhaps he has a fear of GOD the others lacked, an inherent understanding of right and wrong. In any case, he wasn’t present when the travellers came along. Joseph was sold into slavery. If any other brothers objected, there is no clear testimony of this in this passage.

Reuben’s plan had backfired. While Joseph’s life was preserved, nevertheless, the boy was gone! As good as dead, the brother fabricated a story and pre-DNA testing, they  “sacrificed” a goat, who’s blood stood in the place of Joseph’s.

Anything sound familiar??

Anyway, by the time Reuben returns to the scene, Joseph is gone and the boys have nothing but their brother’s coat to show for their troubles.

Or did it?

Just when we think the worst possible thing has happened, GOD makes a way. Fast forward to decades later when Jacob’s family are in famine (along with a lot of others), Joseph rescues them, and just as in his dream, they all bow before him — not knowing of course, that he was their long lost brother, and his dream was being fulfilled.

GOD’s plan was that Jacob’s family and all the inheritors would be saved. Why GOD allowed a drought in the first place, is another strand of debate. But as Joseph said, what his brothers meant for evil, GOD allowed for His good.

“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5)

So, whilst Reuben would have had a number of sleepless nights, GOD had all things under His ultimate authority. Joseph lived, Joseph learned, Joseph thrived, and Joseph rescued the Hebrew nation from extinction.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 174 A need for Commandments

GOD’s STORY: part 174 A need for Commandments

The Ten Commandments won’t be given for centuries; but we can certainly see from Joseph’s brothers’ scheming, a need for Commandments, Laws: for guidelines on human behaviour.

You shall not kill. You shall not lie. These are ingrained in the human conscience; these actions are detrimental to society. We are born knowing right from wrong (Romans 1) and yet humanity needs laws to protect us from ourselves.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:19-20

“Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Joseph’s brothers are plotting to kill their little brother. They know it’s wrong, hence their plot is also to lie about murder to their father.

Why the brothers plot against Joseph?

Joseph riled his brothers by boasting about a dream he’d had which catapulted him ahead of this brothers.

First, these brothers are jealous, envious, coveting the love Joseph receives from his father, angry and bitter because he professes to have dreams they do not have.

They don’t like Joseph because his dream elevates him above them. Consequently, they conspire to kill him and to lie about it… to achieve their satisfaction.

What is happening on a spiritual level?

John 10:10 says,

“Then enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly.” 

These brothers are so far from righteousness. Bitterness has taken hold. The enemy has destroyed their common sense and common decency.

In our society today

The LORD transformed what the enemy meant for evil into good, eventually. We’ll see this unpacked as we continue with the story of Joseph.

Likewise today, children are being taught to celebrate themselves, to look only to themselves, as the brothers were doing in Jacob’s age.

Today, as a consequence, we have a society of weak, shallow, self centred children growing into weak, shallow, self centred adults — who lie, steal, even kill for their own satisfaction and self determined ends. 

But GOD

But just as GOD watched over Joseph and rescued him and through him, an entire nation and more, GOD will move our younger generation, to lead them from selfishness to strength and moral courage. 

But we must pray. And we must teach our children differently from the trends of today. We must teach them moral value, moral courage, and moral righteousness.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 173 You shall not Covet

Do you want what someone else has?

Joseph’s brothers were envious and it stoked absolute chaos and tragedy. But “You shall not covet…” So, if you want something someone else has, bless them for their blessing…

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:18

“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.”

Premeditation for Murder

What is in your heart?

In these brothers’ hearts, they spoke of, planned, and intended to murder their own brother. 

Yes, he had a different mother from the rest — Remember there were 4 mothers in all, with one father in common, Jacob. But how is it that a family comes to the point of plotting the murder of one of them?

We also see murder in our society today — families filled with misery, where one person shoots or stabs a spouse and children, and then turns the weapon on himself. How do people come to this point of pain, jealousy, hatred and violence? It’s madness!

Cain killed Able because GOD preferred Able’s offering to Cain’s. 

Joseph’s brothers want to kill their brother because he is favoured by their father. 

Thou shalt not covet

The tenth commandment is “thou shalt not covet…” (Exodus 20) That means, don’t want what someone else has… Why not?

Here in Genesis 37, you have evidence of the destruction caused by envy. If someone has something you want, look at the evil it stokes within. 

Don’t wish you had something someone else has. Rather, bless them, celebrate with them and for them. The LORD will bless you too, in His way and in His time. In the meantime, as you bless rather than envy or curse others, you will be blessed with inner peace.

Shalom:)

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 172 Who is my Brother?

Do we know our siblings?

Joseph might well have considered, “Who is my brother” before he ventured into the wilderness to find the eleven.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:12-17

Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.”

How out of touch is Jacob?

I don’t know Joseph’s age is at this point, and I don’t know how safe or threatening is the vicinity (the settlers are tribal), and I don’t know if Jacob knew his sons very well… but it seems to me, for Jacob to send is youngest son to find the brothers — and to observe and bring back an assessment — seems naive.

How out of touch is Joseph?

Did Joseph have any idea how much his brothers hated him? Was he so arrogant as to think he was beyond vulnerability? 

And when he couldn’t find his brothers, Joseph was found by a stranger wandering around with no idea what to do.

Joseph, sent by his father who favours him over all his brothers, is walking into danger without a clue. His father has sent him, also without a clue of danger.

Echos in History

Has anyone else noticed there is an echo of David being sent by his father to see his brothers, and being totally mocked by them. Did David’s father know the story of Jacob? (1 Samuel 17)

What is it about Hebrew families? Perhaps it is that they have the same human issues that other families have. Or perhaps it is that with the families where there are marriage issues, sibling rivalries, and the like, there is a bitterness that is beyond the imagination of the father.

Today’s message

Surely the take-away from this, pertinent to today, is just how valuable and essential it is to have a good father/son relationship within families. Love, intimacy, and interaction are important and when there are multiple wives, even more-so.

Favouritism is unhelpful as is jealousy. Looking down on someone because of their youth or favour, or doubting their usefulness because of their youth, is short-sighted. Over and over, we see favour on the young, and blessings following them. Jacob was the younger of two sons. Samuel was a mere child when GOD called him. David was the chosen one; though he was young, he proved his physical strength, his courage, and his faithfulness. GOD honours those after His heart,

Those who are the elder, do not look down on those younger. Those who are young, do not despise your youth. GOD will choose whom He will choose and it will not be based upon sight, but by the heart of the person.

Blessings, 

Sarah

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 171 The Dream

The Dream

We come to perhaps the most catalytic dream ever… because Joseph has a dream – two dreams in fact. Then he shares them, which sets in motion the rest of his life, the salvation of his family, and the beginning of the trajectory like no other trajectory in the history nations!

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:5-11

“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

“Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

The dreams are obviously about Joseph’s ultimate rule over the others. They don’t like it… and yet, his father didn’t toss the dreams aside but “kept the saying in his heart.” As annoying as Joseph was to the others, his father had the wisdom to know GOD could do anything. 

The Key 

The key to these dreams is simple: they come in a pair and so GOD seals the dream with another, where the family fate will lead the older brothers to bow to the younger.

And in fact, the whole universe (or world as they knew it to be as representative in the moon and stars) would bow to Joseph.. which did as the known world would come, ultimately, to him for food.

Why this matters

If Joseph had ignored the power and truth in prophetic dreams, he’d not have warned Pharoah of an impending famine; he’d not have rescued Egypt and the known world from that deadly famine. 

The prophetic is an offering from GOD. We need to recognise it today: its power, its goodness, its truth for those of us who can receive it.

Yes, of course the prophetic needs to be tested today. But the prophetic, and the prophet as part of the five fold ministry of Jesus (Ephesians 4:11), is a vital part to the fellowship of Believers. We have been ignoring, denying, refuting, distrustful of this for far too long. We see in the unfolding story of Joseph how what may seem an annoyance is actually a life-saving truth that needs addressing.

“Study to show yourself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15) and seek to prophecy (2 Peter 1:21) and of course, test the spirits (1John 4).

Enjoy now, as the next few posts will be an unraveling of Joseph’s story.

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GOD’s STORY: part 170 Infighting

Favouritism is not the way to parent. It causes jealousy, sibling rivalry, and infighting. 

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:3-4

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colours. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”

Can you imagine the atmosphere in the Jacobson household?

“Look what Dad made for me?” Says Joseph. Was he a boaster or just totally lacking in any kind of sensitivity. Was he so enamoured with the love of his father, he never realised the others didn’t get the same? Or was he aware his brothers hated him so he took solace in being his father’s favoured son?

Whatever Joseph’s perspective, we know that his brothers hated him and could not speak civilly to him (Genesis 37:4).

And how did Jacob see things? Did he acknowledge all his sons though favouring one, or was every bit of his attention lavished on Joseph with nothing left for his other sons? Like Esau who was left no blessing and no inheritance in favour of Jacob, did Jacob give all to him, leaving nothing for the others?

What we learn from other passages is the great resentment between Joseph and his brothers. Sadly, although resentment is not a good state or quality, the brothers had ample reason to be jealous.

What a household

Two brothers don’t speak to one another (Jacob and Esau) because the clever one pulled the rug out from the other.

Two sisters fight over mandrakes because one of them wants to have a baby. 

12 brothers – between 4 mothers – and the youngest is hated by all the rest. 

One father with 12 sons, but he lavishes attention on one in particular.

I wonder what it was like at the dinner table?

Perhaps the one thing the brothers had in common was their hatred for the youngest — that’s what would pull them together. And what would pull them apart was the idea to eliminate the problem.

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GOD’s STORY part 169 The heart of the Father

Sibling rivalry

The Jacob’s household was full of sibling rivalry. Here we will examine the root over the next few instalments. The heart of the father is so vital to family harmony, and so central to family disharmony. This we see right from the start of the story of Joseph.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:1-2

“Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.”

Introduction to Joseph

Here is the youngest of the sons of Jacob and what does he do? He tattles on his brothers. 

Perhaps because they were half brothers, sons of the servant “wives” who had lower status he does this. Perhaps Joseph was spoilt rotten. Perhaps he just lacked diplomacy, sophistication, or simply wanted to please his father. We don’t know Joseph’s motives but we do know his actions, and these actions would have created fury in the brothers.

And at the root of the entire story of Joseph lies the disharmony between the brothers and him.

Joseph lacked wisdom as a youth

Wisdom develops with age and experience. This youth lacked wisdom. And as a consequence, he sowed division between himself and the brothers, which would later cause him no end of grief. 

How might GOD be teaching us about — today?

What can we learn from this today?

As readers, we are likely to be older than Joseph was in these chapters. Perhaps older than the brothers. Perhaps as old as Jacob. A key for us is this,

Look ahead before we speak or act. What effect will our words or actions have on others? How can we ensure we sow love, joy and peace, even if we are calling others to account?

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GOD’s STORY: part 168 The Fate of a Nation depends…

Edom turned its back on Isreal

The fate of a nation depends…

When Moses wandered through the lands, leading the Hebrew people, he made many stops along the way. He spoke, at one point, to the leader of Edom, asking that he might travel through the land. “No!” Was the reply (Numbers 20). Moses found another route and Edom lost a blessing — forever.

“No!” Was the resounding answer.

Centuries later, “He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.” (1 Chronicles 18:13)

The fate of a nation rests in how it responds to Isreal.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 36:31-43

Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place. When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

All these names

Names of people prove existence; names of places mark location — and one location relative to another.

Edom was the family nation which was descended from Esau. Esau was Jacob’s brother. So the Edomites were kinsmen, cousins of the Israelites.

The Edomites did not support the wandering Hebrews. And the Edomites did not survive as a nation.

“I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12)

We have all been forewarned.

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GOD’s Story: part 167 Esau is Edom & Edom is Esau

Through Esau came the nation of Edom… In fact, Esau is Edom and Edom is Esau.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 36:1-30

“Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. 

“Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir. These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

“These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah. These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah. These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.

“These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom. And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna. These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah, Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.”

The Chronology of Esau is detailed

A theology of Esau is interesting and if I were more briefed in theological matters of this type, I would have knowledge of the various characters listed. My over-arching thought is that the depth is remarkable. Why are we given so much family tree detail?

I believe the LORD gives these details because Esau and his descendants matter to the LORD. We see their is a structure of leadership. There is a respect within the family line.

This information also offers further credibility as to the soundness of Biblical text.

Esau removed his family from vicinity of Jacob

In much the same manner as Lot separated from Abraham, Esau left the proximity of his brother Jacob (verse 6-7).

Was it simply in order to feed the flocks, as it states? Or was it to avoid rivalry? Was their a recognition in Esau that his brother would always be blessed and to experience his own blessing, Esau needed to separate from the competition?

Families are riddled with complication, competition, and Esau had been tricked repeatedly, and had observed the blessing over his brother. There is no wonder he wanted to start afresh, on his own.

A look into the Future

Esau’s land would become Edom and we know from later historical accounts, the Edomites would be a nation that would fight against Israel.

GOD is always for reconciliation, community and peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. How tragic that this first separation would be key in the warmongering and eventual disintegration of the nation GOD was so keen to ensure would survive forever (and its people, and the nation have survived!)

We have Israel even now. And where is Edom? Nowhere. May we learn from this and learn not to battle against but to support the Israelites as the LORD commands us to. 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem… May they prosper who love you.” (Psalm 122:6)

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GOD’S STORY: Part 166 Law before The Law

Before Moses recorded GOD’s Law, there was a law of humanity. There was a law before The LAW.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 35:22-29

“While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it.

“Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

“And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”

Reuben lay with his father’s concubine

This is shocking! 

Whilst the Law had not yet been given to Moses, the LORD looked down on Reuben’s behaviour and it would cost him the blessing of the first born. It was Judah, the forth son, who would be favoured and the line of Israel all the way to Jesus would be carried through the forth, not the first son of Jacob.

Why this matters today

We live in a Western world which was founded on Judeo-Christian values, where there are no boundaries to promiscuity, no boundaries to sexuality. We are raising confused and distraught children as a result. A precursor to this was a simple decency of honouring parentage. Spelled out in the Law would be with whom you may or may not sleep. Reuben already broke this even before the Law was given.

Simeon and Levi have already caused havoc through their violent revenge for their sister’s rape. Now Reuben commits this act of indecency. This brings Judah to the forefront for the continued lineage of the Hebrew nation. GOD will not be mocked by self-seeking or self righteous behaviour.

The sons of Jacob are born and mature before the death of their grandfather, Isaac. At his burial are the two brothers, Jacob and Esau. The family bond is unbroken.


GOD’s promises are “yes” and “amen” in spite of, not because of, our behaviour, our choices, our interactions and our relationships to one another and to Him.

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GOD’S STORY: part 165 From Sorrow to Joy


When we experience loss, how do we move forward? We move from joy to sorrow quite naturally. So, how do we move from sorrow to joy?

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 35:16-21

“Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labour, and she had hard labour. And when her labour was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.”

A show of Respect

The death of Rachel, Jacob’s great love, must have been difficult. How much more when they were not “at home”. What is home? A place of peace and security. Even at the death of Rachel, there was strife, a lack of peace, because they didn’t even agree on the name of the child. And yet, Jacob showed such respect for his wife, setting up a pillar to mark her tomb. And the mark of respect “which is there to this day.”

And then they moved on.

Grief is a part of life

When we lose something or someone and we enter into a time of grief, we don’t need to “be strong” ie be stoic. There is a season for us to weep, mourn and cry out. 

In the Jewish tradition, there is a time of mourning. 40 days in some circumstances. 1 year win others. But then, they are called to rise up and move forward.

Just as Jacob mourned and showed respect for his wife, so he moved forward thereafter. And of course there is a new baby, Benjamin, to raise and to enjoy.

A prayer

LORD, let us not hide our pain. But let us not dwell on it either. Let us grieve in a healthy and healing way, and then let us move forward, on to the next stage of the life the LORD has given us.

Amen.

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GOD’S STORY: pt 164 GOD honours His promises

GOD honours His promises

We see that GOD’s response to Jacob is that He honours His promises. GOD’s promises are “yes” and “amen” as He honours His promises.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 35:9-15

“God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.”

Wow! Imagine GOD’s promises to Jacob!

How would you feel to have GOD change your name and promise Kings shall come from your own body.

That’s impactful.

I get nervous just reading that!

What does GOD want to do in my life?

Have you asked yourself, or Him, that question — lately?

What does GOD Almighty want to do? 

Let’s mediate on that, while — as Jacob models — we build an altar to the LORD GOD of heaven and earth.

Let’s build an altar of prayer and praise!

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GOD’s Story: part 163 Honouring GOD

Honouring GOD is the greatest act

GOD does not excuse sin but He does honour honour.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 35:1-4

“God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.

“And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.”

Although Jacob failed… 

Jacob failed time and again; and yet, the LORD gave him grace. He is rewarded by GOD because he honours Him.

GOD tells Jacob to go, and to make an altar. And what does Jacob do? He stirs his household: his family and his servants, to put away idols, to purify themselves, because GOD gave him instruction.

And what do the family and servants do? They follow Jacob’s instructions. 

And what happens along they way? They all are protected from attack.

And what does Jacob do when he reaches his destination? He builds the altar GOD sent him there to build.

Honour yields honour

When we honour GOD, we will be honoured. It isn’t why we show honour, but we do reap what we sow!

As Jesus taught centuries later in Luke 6:37-38,

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

What you give will be returned. As you honour others, so you will be honoured; as you honour GOD, so will you be rewarded, not because you honour and earn or deserve it, but because GOD and His principles are good.

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GOD’s Story: part 162 Revenge

Is revenge ever right?

A sister raped, a man in love. What then?

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 34:25-31

“Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”

But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

Death and Destruction

Simeon and Levi got their revenge. But they went overboard; they destroyed an entire city rather than take revenge on the single culprit — the rapist, Shechem. In good faith, he had led all his people to follow through with circumcision on the word from Jacob’s sons, but his trust was betrayed by the two brothers, who came and slaughtered all the men — then took the women and children as hostages (which seems a bit hypocritical to me).

Jacob’s single-minded perspective

Jacob responds with anger, but he doesn’t respond with anger because of the slaughter, but because other cities will look on him and threaten him. He knows bloodshed will bring consequences but survival is his main concern and his sons are not held accountable.

Oh, the barbaric times before forgiveness

In Numbers 3, we see how GOD has the Hebrews count their fighting force within each tribe so that they would know how many soldiers they had. It was a necessity to go to war!

Jesus came to bring the light of love and forgiveness into the world. The LORD GOD Jehovah brought the Law to the Jews, to teach them how to live righteously. And to model it for others. But they would not and they did not. 

Jesus came to teach Israel and sent His disciples into the world to teach righteousness, a way to live in light, love, grace, mercy, and peace.

Gentile fruit

Even though they fought their own wars, Gentile society has borne the fruit of Jesus’ teaching in good laws and sound judgments for centuries.

As we remove Jesus from society, are we not descending into barbarism once again? I believe we are. The evidence is shocking!

“Progressive” is not progress when it leads us back to where we started. 

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GOD’s Story: part 161 Trust across Cultures

GOD’s STORY: part 161 Trust across Cultures

Cultural Clashes

Is it possible for two distinct cultures to mix? Is it possible to have trust across cultures when they are so fundamentally different even if that difference were in only one factor: that of the regard toward the female population? Where one is misogynistic, and the other is respectful of women, can they co-exist?

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 34:20-24

“And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.”

Innocence in their guilt

The naivety of Hamor and Shechem is astounding. Shechem is a rapist and yet he doesn’t see the fury in the eyes of Dinah’s brothers. He only sees his passion for Dinah and his own ambitious hope that the two communities will mix and live happily ever after.

Hamor doesn’t see the vulnerability of his clan either.

When you want something badly, and are passionate, you can easily be blind-sided.

When you lust or possess, you can easily think ownership is yours and will never be lost. 

Culture Clash

But when two hugely different cultures meet, is it possible to have peace?

I don’t think so.

We see this today. One culture views women as equal to men, another views women as inferior to men. Each culture wants to dominate. It can’t work.

In isolation, in the West where women got the vote over a hundred years ago, it is particularly respectful of women and they are viewed with equal status to men. That is on paper, but also largely within the framework of society.

There are chauvinists, and there are misogynists (there is a difference), but the respectable norm is to respect women; they have legal rights to men.

Enter Islam

I won’t politicise this post except to say that, in the West, with a growing Muslim population and also, with Western people being converted to Islamic belief, there has arisen a problem that needs tackling (and not in the way we see Simeon and Levi deal with it). 

Jesus’ regard for women

We see in Jesus’ ministry, He commanded equality for women. He respected them. He witnessed to them and healed them. He forgave the woman in adultery (Where was the man? Why was he not accused also?).

Righteous Justice

We cannot have 2 legal systems in one nation. We cannot have women with equal rights in some parts of a nation, and some without in other parts. It isn’t working. And we cannot ignore the issue.

Let’s find a way, far short of rape and murder, to resolve this issue, before it escalates any further than it already has.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s Story: part 160 Culture Clash

Love across cultures 

Love across cultures can end in tragedy. There are those who overcome prejudice and thankfully, we are a long way passed mixed race bias in society. But so often misunderstanding, prejudice, and revenge bear the fruits of death and destruction. Romeo and Juliet is a timeless theme and we see the original story of love across cultures ending in despair and death here. Culture clash arises in Jacob’s sphere, over a daughter and her rape.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 34:14-19

“Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

“But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, hen we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.

“And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honourable than all the household of his father.”

Dinah was raped

In this story we hear nothing of Dinah’s thoughts towards Shechem, the one who claims to love her, the one who raped her. We do know how her brothers felt and it is likely she felt the same.

But Shecham came from another world entirely. From the Hebrew perspective, He didn’t know love and respect toward a female. He didn’t know GOD. He knew lust and overtaking. 

The story is tragic because this is before an age of forgiveness. And it is tragic because, I believe, Shechem, in the way he understood love, did love Dinah. And it is tragic because we can foresee the death and destruction that will be borne out inevitably, because of one word: “deceitfully”. The brothers spoke deceitfully… and so we can guess what is to come….

When deceit is used, it is not a tactic that pleases the LORD. The end does not justify the means. Deceit is cowardly, deceit is wrong. 

According to Google, “Deceit is the act or practice of intentionally misleading, lying, or hiding the truth to cause someone to accept what is false as true. It involved dishonesty, trickery, or misrepresentation often for personal gain.” 

On the last phrase is what the judgement hinges upon: “misrepresentation often for personal gain.”

There are times throughout Biblical history, and history itself, where deceit leads to safety: Rahab protects the Hebrews from abduction; Christians hide Jews in attics from the Nazis. Not all deceit is wrong, categorically. 

In this instance, is revenge right and deceit right to ensure it is fulfilled? Let’s see what comes after the circumcision before we draw any conclusions…

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s Story: part 159 Rape is not an act of Love

How do brothers cope with the rape of a sister?

When Jacob’s sons discover their younger sister has been raped, they are full of rage. What do they do with that rage? Is it justified?

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 34:1-13

“Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”

“And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done. But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”

“Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favour in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

“But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.”

Morality of the West

Rape and Love in the same person. It seems heinous that a person can rape a woman and claim he loves her.

Some nations still believe the rape of a woman is acceptable. 

It has never been acceptable within Jewish law or Jewish culture. Western culture with Judeo-Christian values at its core, does not accept rape as acceptable. Whether liberal democracies choose to admit the connection or not, it is from Yehovah the LORD where respect for women originates, and is vigorously defended under the leadership of Jesus and the cultures of Judaism and Christianity.

When Dinah is raped, Jacob remains calm. His sons are livid. But they all hold their cool. 

The rapist didn’t recognise the daughter had been violated. He loved her, and wanted to marry her. That he raped her first didn’t seem to warrant regret. Instead, he simply asked to marry her. For him, rape was not violent but an act of love.

Hamor and Shechem embrace Jacob and his people

Hamor invites Jacob and his descendants to embrace the Hivite society. They should intermarry. But for Jacob this is impossible. We’ll see as the story unfolds, just how deceitful he is in order to save his family, to protect his daughter, and to ensure justice as he sees it, is done.

It is apparent co-existance is impossible after the rape of his daughter.

How can we co-exist with others whose culture is so different from our own?

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’S STORY part 158 Jacob’s plot of land

Everybody needs a home

Jacob puts down his own roots, finally. It isn’t his fathers, it isn’t Laban’s; it is his own plot of land, bought and paid for, by him.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 33:18-20

“Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of and, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.”

Putting down Roots

Everyone needs a place to call “home” and at last, Jacob finds his. 

Perhaps that’s one reason why — apart from out of fear and mistrust — he ventures away from his brother Esau and settles in Shechem.

And what is the first thing he does once he settles? He builds an alter to GOD.

His isn’t without honour. He had said, “If … Then” and GOD fulfilled his part of the bargain, so here we see Jacob fulfilling his. He promised to worship GOD if He would protect Jacob. 

Genesis 28:20-21 says, “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.”

His family now settled somewhere Jacob can call “home”, he honours GOD. 

This might be the single-most integral aspect to Jacob’s character that we see. And that seems to be enough for GOD. For Jacob is a patriarch and it is upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that the Hebrew nation is borne and prospers.

Message for Us

We might look at ourselves, or others, and say, “We aren’t good enough: mature enough, skilled or talented enough, surrendered enough…  for GOD to use us. 

But let’s let GOD be the judge, when we are ready, or what we have to offer. 

Blessings to all.

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’S STORY: part 157 Unrecognised love

Jacob makes an offer Esau cannot refuse

The two brothers meet. Esau is loaded to the hilt with “supporters”. Jacob has his family and his livestock. No wonder Jacob is petrified. 

But there is nothing from Esau that suggests he seeks revenge. Other than by sheer numbers, Jacob is not threatened in any way. They embrace tearfully, which on the surface looks like a good reunion.

Nevertheless, Jacob uses his feeling of fear (which we saw last week) to choose to demonstrate shrewdness toward his brother.

Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 33:10-

“And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favour in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of GOD, and you were pleased with me. Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because GOD has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.

“Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”

“But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And If the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

“And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.”

“But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favour in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.”

Personally, I don’t think Esau had it in for his brother. If he had, he’d have simply attacked. I think it more likely, through the passing of time and his own prosperity, he just let history go and was genuinely delighted to see his long lost brother. If not, he’d not have conceded to his brother regarding the gift or the meeting place.

Suspicion from the suspect

But shifty Jacob can only see shiftiness. Years with the unethical Laban, following his own lack of ethics that took him to Laban in the first place, has cemented a twisted view of how to operate with others, rather than how to build healthy family relationships.

The biggest irony

When Jacob offers a portion of “my blessing” to Esau, it’s obvious to me that this is the blessing which father Isaac had intended for Esau’s as the older brother. What an irony to offer something that was intended for the recipient anyway.

Jacob wants to pay him back. But unfortunately, his motive, I believe, is to pay in order to square the deal. Esau is not offered a gift out of guilt and shame, nor out of a sense of apology or responsibility, nor out of love, but on the part of Jacob I believe it is to avoid future accountability. I think he pays back Esau to remove any perceived outstanding debt, legitimate, or otherwise.

The Tragedy

The tragedy in all of this is that the schemer Jacob, is forgiven and loved. Esau prefers relationship to vengeance. 

But Jacob doesn’t see forgiveness and he doesn’t see relationship. He just sees threat. 

And for two brothers, that is truly a shame.

Afterword

Are there any family relationships where you can sow love in the hope it might be recognised. Reunion is a marvellous opportunity for relationship.