December 29 - Genesis 33-38
This passage is a great example of how we know the Bible is God's Word, and it is true. The Bible does not gloss over the problems and failures of people. The truth is told clearly. This is the case when it is good event or a bad event. Here we see a series of family problems. We might say that the theme of this passage is the difficulty of raising children, but it is much more than that, too. God wants us all to depend on Him completely each day. He wants us to realize that living in our wisdom brings problems. Allow Him to speak to you through all of these examples.
Jacob and Esau are reunited in chapter 33, and Esau does not kill Jacob. That is a great outcome to a very bad situation between these brothers, but it does not appear that they were very close to each other even after their happy reunion. As parents, we want our children to be close to each other, but it does not always happen, because of wrong choices and differing values. Chapter 34 shows how siblings take up for each other, but their actions are not always wise. When we let the flesh get involved, and we carry out vengeance, God can't bless that kind of behavior. Therefore, Jacob's family had to move from the sight of Dinah's revenge.
Jacob did follow God back to Bethel, where he had first experienced God in his flight from Esau. Notice, that he called his family to turn to God and to put away the foreign idols. That is a clue to their problems. Their minds were not focused on the Lord, so their attitudes and actions were wrong. It is up to the father to keep the family on track spiritually, and to lead his children to follow the Lord on their own once they are grown. This is a big job, but it is so important.
Chapter 38 shows the results of parental preference for one of their children. Joseph was hated and sold into slavery because Jacob obviously favored him over his brothers. God does not show partiality and neither should parents. It is hard to be loving to each child in the way he or she needs it, but it is very important. It is a full time job for both of the parents. The sad story of Judah's family in chapter 38 underscores this problem. Judah had a wicked son, who was killed. He had a disobedient son, who was killed. Judah made a terrible decision to ignore his daughter- in-law and to visit a harlot. Look at the mess that was caused by not following God. It must have had something to do with Judah's spiritual leadership, even though each child was responsible for his own actions. We must be careful to live in close relationship with the Lord all of the time and to lead our children to do the same. Then, if they choose to go away from God, at least, they have been taught the truth and loved in the right way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 39-44.
Jacob and Esau are reunited in chapter 33, and Esau does not kill Jacob. That is a great outcome to a very bad situation between these brothers, but it does not appear that they were very close to each other even after their happy reunion. As parents, we want our children to be close to each other, but it does not always happen, because of wrong choices and differing values. Chapter 34 shows how siblings take up for each other, but their actions are not always wise. When we let the flesh get involved, and we carry out vengeance, God can't bless that kind of behavior. Therefore, Jacob's family had to move from the sight of Dinah's revenge.
Jacob did follow God back to Bethel, where he had first experienced God in his flight from Esau. Notice, that he called his family to turn to God and to put away the foreign idols. That is a clue to their problems. Their minds were not focused on the Lord, so their attitudes and actions were wrong. It is up to the father to keep the family on track spiritually, and to lead his children to follow the Lord on their own once they are grown. This is a big job, but it is so important.
Chapter 38 shows the results of parental preference for one of their children. Joseph was hated and sold into slavery because Jacob obviously favored him over his brothers. God does not show partiality and neither should parents. It is hard to be loving to each child in the way he or she needs it, but it is very important. It is a full time job for both of the parents. The sad story of Judah's family in chapter 38 underscores this problem. Judah had a wicked son, who was killed. He had a disobedient son, who was killed. Judah made a terrible decision to ignore his daughter- in-law and to visit a harlot. Look at the mess that was caused by not following God. It must have had something to do with Judah's spiritual leadership, even though each child was responsible for his own actions. We must be careful to live in close relationship with the Lord all of the time and to lead our children to do the same. Then, if they choose to go away from God, at least, they have been taught the truth and loved in the right way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 39-44.