snacking on the Sabbath

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat them.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not allowed for them to do on the Sabbath.”

3 He answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and also those who accompanied him:

4 how he even entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not allowed for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple regularly desecrate the Sabbath but are innocent of wrong?

6 I am telling you, something greater than the temple is here.

7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I want you to show mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent ones.

8 Because the master of the Sabbath is the Son of Man.”

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snacking on the Sabbath

The mass rejection that Jesus and the apostles were now experiencing in the Galilean region was being spearheaded by the Pharisees. They had just had enough of Jesus’ failure to accommodate himself to their culture.

A case in point: Jesus’ disciples were breaking the taboo against doing manual labor when they grab a snack in the grain fields. That is an unholy thing, and an insult to good respectful people who know the boundaries and keep them diligently. The Sabbath was God’s idea, not man’s. Those disciples had no right to treat that holy day so casually.

Jesus obviously saw the issue differently. Like David in the Old Testament, Jesus put the needs of those with him above the cultural taboos of the self-righteous. It was not about the show. It was about showing mercy. Besides, as master of the Sabbath, it is Jesus who decides what is allowed, not the Pharisees, or the traditions of their society. Like the priests in the temple, if their ministry requires it, they can break the rules. Under the new kingdom from the sky, each believer decides how to keep the Sabbath. And each believer answers not to the Pharisees or even the church. He answers to his Lord, the master of the Sabbath.

LORD, forgive us for demanding that other believers live up to our standards. Give us your insight to see our fellow believers as equal workers for the same master, and the wisdom to let you be their judge.

Posted in consideration of others, discipleship, Jesus Christ, servanthood | Tagged | Leave a comment

remapping a relationship

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 30:31-43

31 Laban said, “What should I give you?” Jacob said, “You will not give me anything. If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it:

32 let me pass through all your flock today, putting aside from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they will be my wages.

33 So my integrity will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be considered stolen.”

34 Laban said, “Alright, It will be as you have said.”

35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons.

36 And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.

37 Then Jacob took new sticks from poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks.

38 He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs where they watered, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink,

39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock.

41 Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs in front of the eyes of the flock, that they would breed among the sticks,

42 but for the weaker of the flock he would not lay them there. So the weaker would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

43 Thus Jacob got much wealthier and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

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remapping a relationship

Jacob and Laban’s family/work environment had become so tense and toxic that it became clear to both that change was needed. They needed to put some distance between themselves, and establish new boundaries, with a better understanding of what belonged to whom. Both men had their own interests at heart, but God was at work in the remapping of the relationship.

The LORD’s interests were the same as they had been at first. He wanted Jacob to be safe, and to prosper. As we learn later, he orchestrates the elaborate stick ritual, not because there was some magical power behind the sticks, but as a way of teaching Jacob to trust his instructions. Another relationship is being remapped. Changes in the social structure of Jacob’s life are touching Jacob’s spiritual life as well.

LORD, give us the wisdom to let you guide our lives, and the sensitivity to your guidance that we will need in order to see our life adjustments as ways to become more like you.

Posted in conflict, dependence upon God, family, Jacob, relationship with God | Tagged | 1 Comment

infants and idiots

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus responded, “I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and introduced them to infants;

26 yes, Father, for it was your good pleasure to do this.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one gets to know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to introduce him.

28 Come to me, all who work hard and carry a heavy load, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 Because my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” _________________________________________

infants and idiots

Jesus is still reeling from a mass rejection of him and his message that is taking place in the Galilean region. He thinks about all those souls who had a taste of his coming kingdom through his ministry, and that of his twelve apostles. He thankfully confesses that those who did come to know the Father were drawn by the Father’s love. He is grateful for being the mediator who brought the Father into the lives of those orphaned infants.

As mediator, he then calls on all to come to him, learn from him, taking on his yoke. The world is filled with people doing hard work, and carrying a heavy load – a load too heavy for them to bear. Jesus offers the lighter option, the easier yoke. It is still work to learn from Jesus the ways of his coming kingdom and put those ways into practice in one’s life. But it is far harder to try to get to God on one’s own. That is the way of the idiot – the way of the rejecting cities. That way leads to disaster and destruction. Jesus is the only way to the Father and the eternal life he promises.

JESUS, we accept your yoke. Teach us your way – the only way to your Father. Give us rest from the idiotic path of “I can handle this.”

Posted in dependence upon God, destruction in hell, Jesus Christ, peace, works | Tagged | Leave a comment

trusting within the trial

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 30:22-30

22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her prayers and opened her womb.

23 She conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”

24 And she called his name Joseph,[1] saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

25 As soon as Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.

26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”

27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.

28 Designate your desired wages, and I will give it.”

29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has done well with me here.

30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

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trusting within the trial

Jacob’s household must have been an extremely toxic environment. Even the names of his children were reminders of a bitter rivalry between two mothers for his affections and respect . Added to that, Jacob himself felt like a servant. His father-in-law was in control, and Jacob was quite certain that Laban’s prosperity was due to his joining the team. So, Jacob wants to break away. Yet Laban does not want him to go. He is willing to pay more for Jacob to stay among his people.

Life gets complicated, and sometimes family is at the root of that complication. Sometimes families get broken from the outside, and sometimes they break apart from within. Sometimes your family can be a healing force, sometimes it can feel like a disease. Sometimes the pain gets so bad that it controls your life, and all you want to escape. Sometimes escape is the answer.

For Jacob, though, the time was not right for him to break away. He had been sent to Laban to protect him from another family rivalry. His staying with and working for Laban protected him from the vengeance of Esau. God would provide a release for Jacob. Until then, Jacob had to learn to trust within the trial.

LORD, for those caught in a toxic life situation, give them discernment to know when escape is your will, and when they should stay and trust you to protect them from within the trial.

[1] Joseph: he increases.

Posted in conflict, deliverance, family, Jacob, Joseph, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment

turning off the switch

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:21-24

21 “Tragedy is coming to you, Chorazin! Tragedy is coming to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I am telling you, things will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to the sky? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have stayed alive until this day.

24 But I am telling you that things will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

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turning off the switch

Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum had seen more proof of the power of Jesus than any other place. They had seen the Holy Spirit at work in all of the Galilean missions. Yet they were rejecting Jesus and his message. Jesus pronounces judgment upon them – a terrible destructive tragedy that they will experience on the judgment day. Even the three cities famous for being destroyed by God in the Old Testament (Tyre, Sidon & Sodom) will fare better on judgment day than them. It is a terrible thing to reject what the Holy Spirit is doing.

Oh, Christian, have you seen the Lord at work? Have you experienced his blessing on your life and your family? What is your response? The three cities in Galilee were being condemned by Jesus because after having experienced God’s grace, they stopped living in it. They did not have to publically declare their opposition to Jesus. All they had to do was stop being into Jesus, stop passing on the word. The light of the kingdom is not a switch that people have the right to turn off when they no longer feel the need for it.

LORD, help us to pass on the message about the ways that you have touched us, so that our experience of you does not stop with this time, this generation.

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entitlement

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 30:7-21

7 And Bilhah, Rachel’s servant concieved again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

8 Then Rachel said, “With god-like[1] wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have been able to win.” So she called his name Naphtali.[2]

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped giving birth, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

10 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, “Luck has come!” so she called his name Gad.[3]

12 Leah’s servant Zilpah gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

13 And Leah said, “I am happy! Because women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.[4]

14 In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Give me some of your son’s mandrakes now.”

15 But she said to her, “Is it a small thing that you have taken away my husband? Will you take away my son’s mandrakes too?” Rachel said, “Alright, he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have certainly hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.

17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.

18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.[5]

19 And Leah conceived again, and she gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob.

20 Then Leah said, “God has honored me with a good honor; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.[6]

21 Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.[7] _________________________________________

entitlement

This passage continues the story of how the children born to Jacob became pawns in a battle for Jacob’s love and respect. While God is still at work, this section focuses less on his sovereignty and more on the competition between the two sisters for their husband’s love. The children are merely objects used to gain the prize. In fact, it becomes less and less about Jacob, and more and more about what Rachel and Leah want. That is how selfishness works. We begin by telling ourselves all kinds of lies to justify our selfish acts, but eventually those lies do not matter anymore. All that matters is what we want — what we think we are entitled to.

LORD, purge from us the feeling of entitlement that we use to justify our selfish acts.

[1] The word is ‘elohim here, the word for God, but it is being used as an adjective. Most render it mighty.

[2] Naphtali: my wrestlings.

[3] Gad: luck

[4] Asher: happy.

[5] Issachur: hired.

[6] Zebulun: a gift of honor.

[7] Dinah: justice (the feminine of Dan).

Posted in conflict, greed, Jacob | Tagged | 1 Comment

calling off the game

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:16-20

16 “But what shall I compare this generation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not beat your breast in mourning.’

18 Because John came neither eating nor drinking, and they are saying, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they are saying, ‘See! A gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is proved right by what it does.”

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his miraculous works had been done, because they did not repent.

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calling off the game

The kid was losing, so he called off the game. It was his ball, so he took it and went home. That is the kind of thing that Jesus is talking about here. The cities who had been first to hear the gospel preached to them, and who saw all the wonderful miracles demonstrating its truth – they had begun to reject him.

These were the cities of Galilee. That marvelous light shone in the land of Zebulun & Naphtali – Galilee of the nations. Now that land who had been privileged to see so much of what the LORD was doing had second thoughts about joining him. Darkness was winning them back. They criticized John the Baptist for his austere ways, and then began criticizing Jesus because he accepted the dregs of society.

Basically, these cities were telling God that if he wanted to save them, it would have to be on their terms. You do not tell God that. It’s his grace, his salvation, his plan. He sets the rules. You can join this generation and take your ball and go home if you want, but you will be missing out on the only thing that truly matters.

LORD, thank you for the many ways you have blessed us with your word and involved us in your plan. Give us the wisdom to accept this grace, and stay true to you.

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thrift shopping

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:28 – 30:6

28 Jacob did what Laban asked, and completed Leah’s week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife also.

29 (Laban had given his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben,[1] for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my trouble; for now my husband will love me.”

33 She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.[2]

34 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” Therefore his name was called Levi.[3]

35 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah.[4] Then she stopped bearing.

30:1 When Rachel saw that she had not given birth to children for Jacob, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I will die!”

2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.”

4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.[5] _________________________________________

thrift shopping

Five boys are born into Jacob’s clan – so far; four by Leah, and one by Bilhah, Rachel’s servant. Each of these men will grow up knowing his name, and at some point, will also become aware that he was named in a sort-of contest. Their mothers were in a battle with each other for the love and respect of their father. They each were born into that context, and were part of that legacy, whether they wanted to be or not. Their names reflected a very partial understanding of what God was doing.

Whether our names reflect it or not, we are all born into an environment like that. There is something used and broken in each of our lives – usually several things. The grace of God is seen in his joining in the contest. He actually keeps Rachel from having children at first. He grants Leah children precisely because she is loved less. God is not taking sides as much as he is taking part.

The LORD does not choose perfect people from perfect families to be a part of his future kingdom. He does not shop in the posh specialty stores for souls that are just right. His grace visits the thrift shop and chooses to love the castaways.

LORD, when the enemy accuses us of being too imperfect for your kingdom, we will remember this dysfunctional family that you chose to bless. Thank you for your grace.

[1] Reuben: See, a son!

[2] Simeon: hearing.

[3] Levi: attached.

[4] Judah: praise.

[5] Dan: judge.

Posted in family, grace, Jacob, sovereignty of God | Tagged , | 1 Comment

the measure of a prophet

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:7-15

7 While they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothing? See, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I guarantee it, and more than a prophet.

10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘ See, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Indeed, I say to you, among those born of women there has appeared no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom from the sky is greater than he.

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom from the sky has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

14 and if you are willing to welcome him, he is Elijah, the one whose coming is predicted.

15 The one who has ears, let him hear. _________________________________________

the measure of a prophet

John’s disciples are preparing to return to him with Jesus’ answer. Jesus begins telling the crowd his estimate of John, knowing that as they leave, John’s disciples are listening to him.

He asks the crowd what it was that drew them to John. It was not that he followed the latest fads and techniques of oration. No, was not shaken by the wind. His message was trustworthy because he received from another source, an eternal source.

It was not that John was rich and successful in this life. No, a camel’s hair robe was not the fancy garb in vogue among the mucky-mucks. Locusts and honey was not the latest fad diet among the posh.

John was what he claimed to be. He told his world what God was thinking, and what God was planning. He warned his people to get ready for the kingdom coming down from the sky. John was not perfect – even the least of those perfected by that kingdom when it comes will be a better man than John was. But John did fulfill his role in his age.

LORD, thank you for the prophets who have come before us, and who walk among us. Thank you for using them to challenge us to walk in the ways of your coming kingdom.

Posted in integrity, John the Baptist, kingdom of God, prophecy | Tagged | Leave a comment

trusting amid consequences

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:15-27

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me as a favor? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

16 And Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in shape and appearance.

18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; remain living with me.”

20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him only a few days because of the love he had for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my days are completed.”

22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

24 (Laban had given his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

25 And in the morning, see, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 Laban said, “It is not customary in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

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trusting amid consequences

God is at work in the background of Jacob’s life, making sure that he stays with Laban long enough to cool down the anger of Esau, and so preserve Jacob’s life by his grace. But God has not forgotten that Jacob had gained the birthright by deception. So, he allows Jacob to be deceived in a similar manner. Jacob wakes up with his new bride and discovers that it is the wrong sister. No doubt it crossed his mind that not long ago he had pretended to be his brother in order to get what he wanted. God remembered. Although God saves us by grace, there are consequences to sin in our lives. Maturity as a Christian means trusting that the God of all grace will walk with you as you face them.

LORD, we accept your grace and the total forgiveness you offer in Christ. But we will not turn from you if you visit us with consequences of our past actions. We trust you to be with us whatever we face.

Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, Jacob, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment