The Chapter-A-Day thread.

[Jimmy P]

MAYBE....I only say that because the Bible tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever...and if that is what happened, I believe that would contradict that...it would show He changed from hangin' with us to not...

Remember, YEARS later, Jesus came and walked with man again..Jesus being God...

I guess when we're with Him in person, we'll be asking all sorts of questions

 

[bcmom]

You're right, God is constant. It's us that have moved away from Him due to our sin.

 

[graciesings]

I don't know if that was a common occurrence.
Was it also common to have multiple wives? If so, why is it now frowned upon in christianity?

In history, it was much more common to have multiple wives. I am not sure when that fell out of practice. My guess is that it was outlawed by the Romans and the early Christians picked that up.

 

[graciesings]

Notice back in the day, God 'spoke' audibly alot? But nowadays He doesn't? Is it now He doesn't because we now have the Holy Spirit that speaks to us from within'?

My theory is that the Bible only tells the stories of the few people who did listen, or who God chose to speak to. There could have been a million other people living in Abraham's time, but they aren't mentioned in the Bible because they either didn't listen or weren't chosen by God.

I somehow can imagine that one out of every million people in this world listens to God or is someone God has chosen to speak to.

 

[graciesings]

and I need to move the thread on to tomorrow. It is now March 17th global time, so the chapter for today is Genesis 27. Here's a link: Genesis 27 NIV - When Isaac was old and his eyes were so - Bible Gateway

 

[brinny]

What stands out for me is that Esau says that Jacob took away his birthright.....no, he didn't. Esau thought so little of his own birthright that he willingly GAVE it to Jacob. Kinda' makes ya' wonder...did Esau ferget that he had done that?

 

[graciesings]

Maybe. Although I have certainly seen siblings blame each other for their own bad ideas. (He made me knock it over! I only bumped into him because she pushed me! I'm not working because she isn't working!)


I am going to dig into foreknowledge and destiny a little.

In a way, it seems like God wanted to make Jacob the heir of the line. For example, the prophecy about Abraham's descendants being in Egypt for 400 years came true through Jacob. (Genesis 14) So, would that have happened if it weren't for Jacob tricking Esau? And what about wrestling with the angel, would Esau have wrestled with the angel? And it seems like Esau had more physical strength, so what if he beat the angel? Also important is the fact that Jacob's 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel and Esau may not have had exactly 12 sons.
We could also wonder if Christ would have been descended through Esau if Esau had been blessed.

Now, I'm coming to my point. What Rebekah did was rather deceitful and unfair, something it seems like God would frown upon. But did He allow or encourage it because it was part of his plan for mankind?

I seem to have thought myself into a knot there!

 

[Jimmy P]

So here you have Rebekah's fav boy gettin' the blessing that was due to Esau...she was a tricky chickie wasn't she?

I think though, when God's will is in play, whatever He wanted, would have happened...if it were Esau, I believe there still would have been 12 tribes of Israel...but for some reason, loox destined for Jacob to take the reins...maybe so Jacob could really see what he needed in order to be close to God? Maybe...

Sometimes I notice that a person that needs more help in something, gets more attention, priveleges, etc...just like Jacob...

So now we have Jacob knowingly lying to his Dad for that blessing...probably figuring "Oh yeah, I've got it all now buddy, w00t"....but then eventually Jacob will come to be a pretty cool dude...but for now, just a leech of a guy under the command of Mama...but it all worx out in the end...

When it comes to God, ALL things work in the end..

 

[brinny]

Interesting enough, later i think it is, Esau's heart is shown for what it is. What is interesting is that he thought so little of his birthright (and thus his father's legacy being passed on and of God), that he tossed it aside like a dirty rag for soup. Later there is more that reveals his true heart and why God had chosen Jacob to inherit the birthright.

 

[graciesings]

That's a really good point, Brinny. I've heard a lot of people speculate why God said "Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated." (Malachi 1:2-3) I have heard the idea that God favored Jacob because Jacob was ambitious. I thought, "Really? Satan was ambitious too!" But that idea that Esau disrespected his birthright (and maybe his father, and God's order for things) may be the reason God favored Jacob.

I think it's time to start the discussion of Genesis 28. Here's a link: Genesis 28 NIV - So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed - Bible Gateway

 

[Jimmy P]

Ok, how does a person use a stone for a pillow? Ouch...

Now with this dream, notice that God says I will not leave you UNTIL....does that mean God would leave him?

Jacob's journey has just begun...

 

[brinny]

Look at verse 21......Awesome!!!! I did not know this:

21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:

Jacob calls his father's God, HIS God!!!!! He calls God his own!!!!

Reminds me of what someone else said later in the Old Testament that was also phenomenal and rocked the course of history also....

 

[brinny]

and here in verse 22 Jacob vows to tithe to God:

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

 

[graciesings]

Yeah, this is the chapter where Jacob really becomes God's servant.

Sleeping with his head on a rock makes sense to me... but I live in a dry climate. Anyway, the sand and wind in a desert will sometimes blast a rock smooth.

Plus, it would be a much better deal to put his head on a rock, because if he put his head on the ground he would get sand in his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

And you're right, brinny, that does remind me of the NT. Jesus talked about going back to His Father's house, and at one point Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"

 

[Jimmy P]

Quick question, in Malachi 1:3, God says he hated Esau....now is this for real? God is a God of love...but to say Hate?

 

[graciesings]

Yeah! My way of looking at it is that it's the complicated nature of God. God is love, but since He is perfectly good he has to hate evil. It's a different kind of hate than when we hate each other. It's a just hate. That God wouldn't be good or just without...

Thoughts?

 

[bcmom]

Today's chapter is Genesis 29 - Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram - Then - Bible Gateway God Bless

 

[Jimmy P]

Wow, so Jacob hooks up with 2 of his Cousins?

Was pretty rotten how Uncle Laban was gettin' more work outta Jacob though...

And ya know, even nowadays, some women feel that by having kids, their husbands will love them more...so it's not a new thing...

 

[bcmom]

Poor Leah, in a loveless marriage. Insult to injury, her husband is also married to her sister Rachel and loves her But in verse 31 it says God blessed Leah with children because she was hated. And made Rachel barren.

 

[Jimmy P]

I wonder if Leah was blessed to make things a bit easier on her?