Genesis 22:20-24
One of the advantages of a written meditation is that you don’t have to pronounce the names! No, that’s not my thought for the day, but in sharing such a thought I’m giving away that I don’t find depth of meaning in this passage readily. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Does that mean that all Scripture is equally useful? Tell us all what you think.
Meanwhile, there’s this brother of Abraham, Nahor, who has 12 children – just like Israel (i.e. Jacob) would. Four of them are from a concubine. But once again we find those we might call "lesser lights" who are worthy of note and apparently blessed by God. This may not be the most exciting passage we’ve read for a while, but it is here, so it is here for a reason. I think we’re getting the message again – so it must be important – that although some characters are called for particular purposes, others have their own identity and lives and value and purpose.
We’ve just come to a climactic point in the Abraham saga, in which Abraham has demonstrated that he is, after all, trusting of God and worthy of being described as the (human) father of faith. We should note the point of inclusiveness God seems to be underlining as we move on. When God works special faith in some way, it is designed to spill over to others in ways we would never expect.
Prayer:
Lord, what kind of role do you have for me? For any of us? It may be hard to perceive while we’re in the middle of it. Thank you for the assurance that, whatever it is, each of us matters to you, and we each have our part to play. Thank you for the privilege. Through Christ. Amen.
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5 comments:
Testing the equal usefulness of the scriptures, I pulled out my Dad's Bible and flipped it open and read: "I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?" Job 31:1
Hmph! Men!
as noted a few times in this blogging about genesis, patriarchal values thrive in the old testament. no bit parts? what about mrs. noah?
it's evident that patriarchy goes hand in hand with fallen humanity.
it's also evident that the perfect human, within the time and culture he chose, taught nonpatriarchal lessons.
it seems to me that sometimes old testament passages are useful in their contrast to the new testament.
and useful too, as i compare myself to men from 3000 or 4000 years ago. and after all these millenia, i'm not much different...
Ev'ry time I look into the Holy Book I want to tremble (tremble)
When I read about the part where the carpenter cleared the temple (temple)
For the buyers and the sellers were no different fellas
Than what I profess to be
And it causes me shame to know we're not the people we should be.
--GENE MACLELLAN
hey! can i try your dad's bible?
You can, but gently brother, gently, pray.
As far as I can determine, these items 20 t0 24 have no significance except that they were put there by an editor to prepare the way for the story in Genesis 24. with respect to Rebeccah.
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