Parashat Hashavuah
Vayetze - :”And he went out”
Torah : Genesis 28:10-32:3
Haphtarah : Hosea 12:12-14:10
Gospel : Matthew 15-16
This week, we’re reading the story of Jacob and how his family came to be.
Can you imagine what the family dynamics are life? This would even make Jerry Springer roll his eyes. Jacob marries his cousin and then her sister...plus he has kids with their maids? How quickly did he have these kids? A household with four women and a dozen children would be seriously hard to live in. Plus Jacob has to deal with father-in-law and being far away from his home. Wow...
Each of the children has a name that is a prophecy of Israel and Messiah. I don’t have my notes in front of me now, but the one that sticks out is Zebulon. His name comes from dwelling place. “And you will be our dwelling place from generation to generation...”
Actually, this is an interesting topic. I will take time to post more details on my debriefing e-mail from Bible Study.
These words from the FFOZ weekly e-mail are quite comforting to me:
“ The Ideal Family
http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/vayetze/so_jacob_went_in_to.php
Adapted from Torah Club Volume One
Unrolling the Scroll
Thought for the Week
The Wrong Place: Jacob felt like he was in the wrong place and his years were being wasted. People often find themselves in jobs, careers, homes and even family arrangements that make them feel as if they are far outside of God’s plan. The story of Jacob teaches us that God might place us in such situations specifically to bless us and work out His purposes. Jacob teaches us to be faithful wherever we find ourselves and to keep committing ourselves to the care of God. Jacob’s term of service in Laban’s household resulted in the birth of the nation of Israel.”
Lord knows I’ve felt like I’ve been wasting a lot of time with my life and waiting a whole bunch. At lunch today, I heard this Switchfoot song at lunch (In the car when I was reading my lesson for the week) that got me thinking.
“We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Dreaming about providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we’ve been living with our eyes half open
Maybe we’re bent and broken, broken.”
And the song didn’t make me guilty for who I am in life...but it made me think about what is life...
...What is the good life?....
It’s kind of crazy, but the first think I think about is skydiving...those big, adrenaline-fueled activities. That’s surely not it. Real life is love, kindness...
“ 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5)
“ 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1)
So, Pastor Larry also talked about lousy investments in his sermon. This is a picture from Jeremiah. God tells him to buy a field from his cousin. But this field is in enemy-occupied territory. Jeremiah will never live in this place; he will never farm it; he will never benefit from it. But he does what God says. Sometimes in our lives, we can’t see why we’re called to do what we’re called to do. Sometimes it’s for the benefit of future generations, sometimes it’s for ourselves in the future, and sometimes it’s in the great plan of God.
Are you wondering where the title comes from for this post? It’s from a story in Matthew 15 after Jesus answers the Pharisees about the disciples’ propensities to not wash their hands (in a ritual way, I’m sure).
Jesus explains it this way:
“ 7"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "”
And then the next story is a woman begging to have her daughter healed. Jesus first sends her away. (Is that because he’s cruel or does he know the response he will get? It has to be something like the latter). But the woman counters that even the dogs get the crumbs from the table. The Greek is in the diminutive...so she’s saying aren’t we worth more than a puppy that eats the leftovers? And Jesus heals the women and comments on her great faith. Then the next story, he’s feeding the 4,000.
“ 32Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."”
Is that how we are meant to live?
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Taking the week off
My grandma’s visiting, so I’m taking this week off to spend time with her. I will try to post some thoughts when I prepare for next week.
This lesson is:
Parashat Hashavuah
Toldot “Generations”
Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haphtarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7
Gospel: Matthew 13-14
Isaac will pray for Rebecca because she was barren.
How will this connect to the Messiah? I am not sure and I’m too tired to speculate. So, I will write more later.
Update
Yeah...I never did prepare. Bad me!!!
This lesson is:
Parashat Hashavuah
Toldot “Generations”
Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haphtarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7
Gospel: Matthew 13-14
Isaac will pray for Rebecca because she was barren.
How will this connect to the Messiah? I am not sure and I’m too tired to speculate. So, I will write more later.
Update
Yeah...I never did prepare. Bad me!!!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Mother Sarah
This week’s reading:
Chayei Sarai
Torah Reading: Genesis 23:1-25:18
Haphtarah Reading: 1 Kings 1:1-31
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11-12
We’re looking for these titles of Messiah:
The Sent One
The Servant
Some thoughts:
This passage begins with the death of Sarah... Let’s stop and reflect: It’s with great love that Abraham buries his beloved wife. He was told to go...so he has to bargain for land. He was well esteemed by the Hittites. Ephron is willing to give him the land, but Abraham must pay for it. Isn’t amazing that Abraham is a military leader? He went into the battle already and now he’s dealing with another leader. Sarah has a place to rest (as Abraham will in short measure).
Because he’s getting older, Abraham needs a bride for his young son. He sends out Eliezer to find someone. Then the rest of the story here describes the servant’s fulfilling of this mission. He is sent...the word is shaliach, which would be apostolos in Greek. Apostle...Eliezer is an apostle for his master. That is too obvious to comment on.
Rebecca and the bride of Christ
A story of Evangelism and connections to Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Anyway...his faith is great when he stumbles upon a well and finds Rebekah, the young woman who is kind enough to offer water to camels. His faith is great in the Lord and in his master:
“ 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives.”
And Rebekah goes...she leaves with a blessing (after an exchange of hospitality and kindness between Eleizer and the family.) What great faith our forebears had. And she marries this greiving mama’s boy.
Who....as it turns out, prefigures the Messiah.
So Rebecca prefigures the church? This is a story of Evangelism? The notes sure seem to talk about this. I’ll fill this in more later.
But the author of our study guide notes the parallels between Rebecca at the well and the Samaritan Woman. Rebecca is a young, kind virgin from the right family and the woman at the well has had five husbands and she’s from the hated class of women. Yet Jesus talks to her and tells her of his mission. (At Jacob’s well now less. That’s Rebecca’s son.)
Listen to this story of faith:
“ 19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."”
And the Samaritan woman believes...and so to many others.
“ 39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."”
What wonderful messianic terms are used here.
(Chapter 25 is just messy...it talks about all of Abraham's other sons. I think the writer is more concerned with Isaac, so there’s not much ink spent of these sons).
Chayei Sarai
Torah Reading: Genesis 23:1-25:18
Haphtarah Reading: 1 Kings 1:1-31
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11-12
We’re looking for these titles of Messiah:
The Sent One
The Servant
Some thoughts:
This passage begins with the death of Sarah... Let’s stop and reflect: It’s with great love that Abraham buries his beloved wife. He was told to go...so he has to bargain for land. He was well esteemed by the Hittites. Ephron is willing to give him the land, but Abraham must pay for it. Isn’t amazing that Abraham is a military leader? He went into the battle already and now he’s dealing with another leader. Sarah has a place to rest (as Abraham will in short measure).
Because he’s getting older, Abraham needs a bride for his young son. He sends out Eliezer to find someone. Then the rest of the story here describes the servant’s fulfilling of this mission. He is sent...the word is shaliach, which would be apostolos in Greek. Apostle...Eliezer is an apostle for his master. That is too obvious to comment on.
Rebecca and the bride of Christ
A story of Evangelism and connections to Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Anyway...his faith is great when he stumbles upon a well and finds Rebekah, the young woman who is kind enough to offer water to camels. His faith is great in the Lord and in his master:
“ 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives.”
And Rebekah goes...she leaves with a blessing (after an exchange of hospitality and kindness between Eleizer and the family.) What great faith our forebears had. And she marries this greiving mama’s boy.
Who....as it turns out, prefigures the Messiah.
So Rebecca prefigures the church? This is a story of Evangelism? The notes sure seem to talk about this. I’ll fill this in more later.
But the author of our study guide notes the parallels between Rebecca at the well and the Samaritan Woman. Rebecca is a young, kind virgin from the right family and the woman at the well has had five husbands and she’s from the hated class of women. Yet Jesus talks to her and tells her of his mission. (At Jacob’s well now less. That’s Rebecca’s son.)
Listen to this story of faith:
“ 19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."”
And the Samaritan woman believes...and so to many others.
“ 39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers.
42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."”
What wonderful messianic terms are used here.
(Chapter 25 is just messy...it talks about all of Abraham's other sons. I think the writer is more concerned with Isaac, so there’s not much ink spent of these sons).
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Considering Abraham
Parashat Hashavuah
Vayera -”And he appeared”
Torah : Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haphtarah : II Kings 4:1-37
Gospel : Matthew 8-10
So, we were down to four last night, but again, the numbers did not keep us from having an amazing conversation. I’m not so sure that wasn’t one of the most transcendent conversations that I’ve ever been a part of. (That might be the most convoluted way of saying that). It was a wonderful discussion.
We had eight questions that lead us all around....we talked about the second coming of Christ, how to live from day-to-day, whether God revealed Christ to the patriarchs, and how precious these words of God are.
I didn’t know that the Jews recite the story of the binding of Isaac each day when they pray. This story is so troubling to me. If I were editing the Bible, I’d be sure to leave this one out. The only way I’ve been able to reconcile this story in the past is to say that it’s testing Abraham’s faith. But hasn’t he been proved righteous already? He got up and left .... He made the covenants with God ...waited for Isaac. So is there more to this story? Many Jews think this is the beginning of the sacrificial system. (In fact, the binding took place on Mount Moriah...where they built the temple).
And spent a lot of time considering whether the Jews will be saved outside of the work of Christ (or through the work of Christ?) What about faithful Jews. Well...we didn’t answer that...but we got stuck in Romans 11. Listen to this:
“ 25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
And this is Paul’s answer to this quandary:
“33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Vayera -”And he appeared”
Torah : Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haphtarah : II Kings 4:1-37
Gospel : Matthew 8-10
So, we were down to four last night, but again, the numbers did not keep us from having an amazing conversation. I’m not so sure that wasn’t one of the most transcendent conversations that I’ve ever been a part of. (That might be the most convoluted way of saying that). It was a wonderful discussion.
We had eight questions that lead us all around....we talked about the second coming of Christ, how to live from day-to-day, whether God revealed Christ to the patriarchs, and how precious these words of God are.
I didn’t know that the Jews recite the story of the binding of Isaac each day when they pray. This story is so troubling to me. If I were editing the Bible, I’d be sure to leave this one out. The only way I’ve been able to reconcile this story in the past is to say that it’s testing Abraham’s faith. But hasn’t he been proved righteous already? He got up and left .... He made the covenants with God ...waited for Isaac. So is there more to this story? Many Jews think this is the beginning of the sacrificial system. (In fact, the binding took place on Mount Moriah...where they built the temple).
And spent a lot of time considering whether the Jews will be saved outside of the work of Christ (or through the work of Christ?) What about faithful Jews. Well...we didn’t answer that...but we got stuck in Romans 11. Listen to this:
“ 25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
And this is Paul’s answer to this quandary:
“33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Amen indeed.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Go
This week’s study gets us to Abraham.
Father Abraham had many sons...but it seemed for a long time like he would have none.
We’re reading:
Lech Lecha =
Torah : Genesis 12:1-17:27
Haphtarah : Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Gospel : Matthew 5-7
Wow...the Sermon on the Mount was amazing to read in a whole bit. It sounds so much like Deuteronomy to me. Of course, others have noticed that, but this point came glaring through ... Jesus is teaching Torah there.
On the Isaiah passage...
This is, of course, one of my favorite passages. But I haven’t looked at in context for a very long time. I love the way this is phrased:
“Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.”
I surely don’t know any one who complains... Yeah, it’s a reminder of God’s love again. In chapter 41 we get a picture of judgment, but then God’s care for his chosen ones.
“For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
And how does God chose Israel? Through Abraham.
This passage seems obscure to me...and I’m not sure why. Who is this Abraham and why did he get picked? Is it random or is there something within him that makes him special to God? Did he just happen to be at the right place at the right time? And where did he get his faith from? We hear later in the text that his father worshipped idols. How does Abraham know God? Why does he go?
The story of Melchizedek is amazing. We have this tiny picture of grace and God’s works outside of what we understand.
Abraham’s basically gone to war against other kings and then he meets this guy.
“18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
The symbolism is deep here people: Salem = peace, Melchizedek = king of righteousness (it may not even be a personal name) and then we have a picture of the sacrament and then tithes...The title of God is interesting. El Elyon?
Then we have Psalm 110:
“The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."”
And the writer of Hebrews connects it to Jesus. Listen to Hebrews 6:19-20:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
And then all of Chapter 7 is devoted to comparing Jesus to this OT figure!
Wow...listen to the author’s reasoning here:
“ 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Wow!
Hey...Is Sarah Abraham’s niece?
Father Abraham had many sons...but it seemed for a long time like he would have none.
We’re reading:
Lech Lecha =
Torah : Genesis 12:1-17:27
Haphtarah : Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Gospel : Matthew 5-7
Wow...the Sermon on the Mount was amazing to read in a whole bit. It sounds so much like Deuteronomy to me. Of course, others have noticed that, but this point came glaring through ... Jesus is teaching Torah there.
On the Isaiah passage...
This is, of course, one of my favorite passages. But I haven’t looked at in context for a very long time. I love the way this is phrased:
“Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.”
I surely don’t know any one who complains... Yeah, it’s a reminder of God’s love again. In chapter 41 we get a picture of judgment, but then God’s care for his chosen ones.
“For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
And how does God chose Israel? Through Abraham.
This passage seems obscure to me...and I’m not sure why. Who is this Abraham and why did he get picked? Is it random or is there something within him that makes him special to God? Did he just happen to be at the right place at the right time? And where did he get his faith from? We hear later in the text that his father worshipped idols. How does Abraham know God? Why does he go?
The story of Melchizedek is amazing. We have this tiny picture of grace and God’s works outside of what we understand.
Abraham’s basically gone to war against other kings and then he meets this guy.
“18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
The symbolism is deep here people: Salem = peace, Melchizedek = king of righteousness (it may not even be a personal name) and then we have a picture of the sacrament and then tithes...The title of God is interesting. El Elyon?
Then we have Psalm 110:
“The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."”
And the writer of Hebrews connects it to Jesus. Listen to Hebrews 6:19-20:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
And then all of Chapter 7 is devoted to comparing Jesus to this OT figure!
Wow...listen to the author’s reasoning here:
“ 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Wow!
Hey...Is Sarah Abraham’s niece?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Comforting God
Reflecting on last night’s Torah Club
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll start by saying I’m really enjoying this mix of people and questions.
The study material is really wonderful, and the questions really lead to
great conversations.
Here’s the points I want to discuss:
€Grieving God’s Heart
€Seeing the twists and turns of the narrative
€The timing of the flood
Grieving God
Frankly, it surprises me that God’s heart can be grieved. It seems to me that a God who knows the future and has great love would ever regret what’s happening. Maybe it’s because our grief is wracked with sin. We get prideful, selfish, mopey...etc. Maybe it’s not the grief that’s sinful (obviously it’s not if God grieves)...but how our broken selves deal with it. We can take away the reminder that sin is not a joke. God is seriously affected by it (so much so that Jesus incarnated and died on the cross to deal with it).
But that’s a different point. I guess I’m talking again about the Openness of God. How much is God influenced by humanity? How do prayers, humanity’s sin, the movements of history affect God’s plans?
I’m not claiming to agree with it (because you can’t deny the sovereignty of God), but here’s more details about the openness of God. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_theism
Notice that I am not answering these questions!
Noah’s name means comfort. The Hebrew root (the Nun and Het if you must know) are part of the word for comfort. It’s a play on words (ah...the lovely play of the Hebrew language)...There’s a glimmer of hope. God never does destroy all of the creation; he always saves someone. Think of Abraham lobbying for Lot, Moses for the Israelites, the prophets for the people...
That’s what we can take out of this story. Even when things are at their worst, God makes a way. He is a God of grace. It’s all over the Old Testament, people!
Another thought: What was the nature of Noah’s relationship with God? How did he learn about God? This is pre-established religion.
The Twisting Narrative
Aaron brought up an excellent point; he’s more reluctant to see the little cool things that’s happening in the Biblical narrative than in a novel. We’re really skeptical to see play on words, random connections, and cool unexpected things in the Bible. I’m not expressing it well. I just think about all the time I’ve spent dissecting novels and get all excited about the tiny details. Think of how much time I’ve spent analyzing the cool little parts of the Matrix. Why do I think it can’t be possible there are cool little details in the Bible?
Timing?
Did you know there’s a date for the flood? Genesis states “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month”. When is the second month? It’s either in the spring or in the fall. Why does that matter? Well...if it’s in the fall, it’s close to the time of Atonement (Did you know the Hebrew word for atonement and pitch (Like what they smeared on the ark) is the same?). Surely the story talks about it. But if it’s in the spring, the timing for all of this places is smack in the middle of Passover, and the time of Resurrection. Interesting.
We also talked extensively about end time stuff, but I’m tired and will blog about that later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll start by saying I’m really enjoying this mix of people and questions.
The study material is really wonderful, and the questions really lead to
great conversations.
Here’s the points I want to discuss:
€Grieving God’s Heart
€Seeing the twists and turns of the narrative
€The timing of the flood
Grieving God
Frankly, it surprises me that God’s heart can be grieved. It seems to me that a God who knows the future and has great love would ever regret what’s happening. Maybe it’s because our grief is wracked with sin. We get prideful, selfish, mopey...etc. Maybe it’s not the grief that’s sinful (obviously it’s not if God grieves)...but how our broken selves deal with it. We can take away the reminder that sin is not a joke. God is seriously affected by it (so much so that Jesus incarnated and died on the cross to deal with it). But that’s a different point. I guess I’m talking again about the Openness of God. How much is God influenced by humanity? How do prayers, humanity’s sin, the movements of history affect God’s plans?
I’m not claiming to agree with it (because you can’t deny the sovereignty of God), but here’s more details about the openness of God. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_theism
Notice that I am not answering these questions!
Noah’s name means comfort. The Hebrew root (the Nun and Het if you must know) are part of the word for comfort. It’s a play on words (ah...the lovely play of the Hebrew language)...There’s a glimmer of hope. God never does destroy all of the creation; he always saves someone. Think of Abraham lobbying for Lot, Moses for the Israelites, the prophets for the people...
That’s what we can take out of this story. Even when things are at their worst, God makes a way. He is a God of grace. It’s all over the Old Testament, people!
Another thought: What was the nature of Noah’s relationship with God? How did he learn about God? This is pre-established religion.
The Twisting Narrative
Aaron brought up an excellent point; he’s more reluctant to see the little cool things that’s happening in the Biblical narrative than in a novel. We’re really skeptical to see play on words, random connections, and cool unexpected things in the Bible. I’m not expressing it well. I just think about all the time I’ve spent dissecting novels and get all excited about the tiny details. Think of how much time I’ve spent analyzing the cool little parts of the Matrix. Why do I think it can’t be possible there are cool little details in the Bible?Timing?
Did you know there’s a date for the flood? Genesis states “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month”. When is the second month? It’s either in the spring or in the fall. Why does that matter? Well...if it’s in the fall, it’s close to the time of Atonement (Did you know the Hebrew word for atonement and pitch (Like what they smeared on the ark) is the same?). Surely the story talks about it. But if it’s in the spring, the timing for all of this places is smack in the middle of Passover, and the time of Resurrection. Interesting.We also talked extensively about end time stuff, but I’m tired and will blog about that later.
Monday, October 15, 2007
What a letdown...
...or the story of the flood...
This week’s reading is the sidrah about Noah (Genesis 6:9-11:32)
The haphtarah is Isaiah 54:1-55:5 and the Gospel reading is Matthew 3 and 4.
Should I admit that I find the story of Noah a letdown?
There’s something about this story that has always bothered me. And it’s this verse: ”6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”
So, God’s not happy with humankind? I know they’re vile and wicked (more than we are? More than Las Vegas at 3 in the morning?) He regrets that he made humans? This is the same God who loves us so much that rejoices over us with singing? The same one who sent his very own son to combat the problem of sin? The God who gathers his children like a mother hen?
And then he wants to not only wipe out humankind, but the animals and birds he created too.
Why does God want to reverse the creation?
Then there’s Noah. He found favor in God’s eyes? How? Didn’t he basically earn his salvation then? I’m not sure I’m speaking soteriologically here...I mean actual salvation from death and the flood. Or am I speaking of spiritual salvation? I don’t know!
Listen to what Isaiah says in the haphtarah:
“"For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,"
says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 "To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.”
He was angry with Israel (How many times?) But yet he will spare them and show his love. I’m so confused!
I loved this story as a kid...the animals, the one brave family that was spared...but now it just seems weird. Of course, we’re running up on that intersection of love and justice. The one that makes no sense.
So, how will me see the Messiah? The notes were a bit fuzzy for me. Obviously we have one righteous man in the midst of a sinful generation. Sound like Jesus? We have the story of salvation with the ark. But I’ll have to talk more about this topic after the discussion tonight.
This week’s reading is the sidrah about Noah (Genesis 6:9-11:32)
The haphtarah is Isaiah 54:1-55:5 and the Gospel reading is Matthew 3 and 4.
Should I admit that I find the story of Noah a letdown?
There’s something about this story that has always bothered me. And it’s this verse: ”6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”
So, God’s not happy with humankind? I know they’re vile and wicked (more than we are? More than Las Vegas at 3 in the morning?) He regrets that he made humans? This is the same God who loves us so much that rejoices over us with singing? The same one who sent his very own son to combat the problem of sin? The God who gathers his children like a mother hen?
And then he wants to not only wipe out humankind, but the animals and birds he created too.
Why does God want to reverse the creation?
Then there’s Noah. He found favor in God’s eyes? How? Didn’t he basically earn his salvation then? I’m not sure I’m speaking soteriologically here...I mean actual salvation from death and the flood. Or am I speaking of spiritual salvation? I don’t know!
Listen to what Isaiah says in the haphtarah:
“"For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,"
says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 "To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.”
He was angry with Israel (How many times?) But yet he will spare them and show his love. I’m so confused!
I loved this story as a kid...the animals, the one brave family that was spared...but now it just seems weird. Of course, we’re running up on that intersection of love and justice. The one that makes no sense.
So, how will me see the Messiah? The notes were a bit fuzzy for me. Obviously we have one righteous man in the midst of a sinful generation. Sound like Jesus? We have the story of salvation with the ark. But I’ll have to talk more about this topic after the discussion tonight.
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