From Ur to Haran, but No Further… May 14, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Abram, Canaan, Charan, Genesis 11, God's Call, Haran, Sovereignty, Terach, Ur
add a comment
3/26/13
“These are the descendants of Shem: when Shem was a son of one-hundred years, he begat Arpakshad — two years after the deluge. And Shem lived, after he begat Arpakshad, five hundred years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:10-11)
Essentially, this list of genealogies picks up where the genealogies in Genesis 5 leave off. Here we find the descendants of Noah that lead us to Abraham. And, much like we find in Genesis 5, we are not seeing an exhaustive list, but simply the covenantal line that leads from Adam to Noah (Genesis 5) and now from Noah to Abraham. God is a God who elects to bestow his grace and blessings upon a specific people, not vague generalities, and out of one lump of clay (in this case, the children of Shem), he has every right to make some vessels for honored use and others for dishonored use (Romans 9:21). We know nothing of most of these people apart from the fact that God called them to be part of the line of Abraham — the man with whom God would establish his covenant. But that is why we call God’s election: “Grace.” It is not what I have done, but what God has done, praise be to God.
Traditionally, Arpakshad’s name has been understood to mean, “healer,” though the etymology of this is a bit stretched. The Hebrew word apr (rapha) is seen as the root, being the verb, “to heal.” The word dv (shad) in Hebrew refers to one’s chest or perhaps to one’s mother’s breast. The Aleph at the beginning could be a use of the first person singular verbal prefix in the imperfect tense, but we are really beginning to stretch the speculative realm of things further than I am comfortable doing. The key is that while we know very little of this particular man, we know that he was born two years after the flood and that he is in the line of Abraham and for that we can celebrate our inheritance with him.
Shem lived a total of 600 years, had other sons and daughters, and then passed away. He had a full life, but we know nothing of what that life entailed apart from his connection to his father and to his son, though it should be noted that in Genesis 10:22 we have a fuller list of Shem’s sons. How often it is that the things that we consider important are not really that important in the economy of God. May we find our satisfaction not in all the things we have done but in the fact that in Christ our names have been preserved in the Lamb’s Book of Life — something far more important than those works that might be attributed to us during our lifetime.
3/27/13
“When Arpakshad lived thirty-five years he begat Shalach. Arpakshad, after he begat Shelach, lived four hundred and three years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:12-13)
When reading these genealogies, I often get asked why some of these Old Testament saints waited so long to have children. Thirty-five perhaps is not terribly old, but read this way, Shem was 100 before he had Arpakshad. Yet, to read the text in this way misses the thrust of what is being communicated. It is not that Arpakshad waited until he was thirty-five to have children, it is that Arpakshad was thirty-five when his wife gave birth to Shelach. Shelach stands out from his other brothers and sisters because Shelach is in the line of Abraham who is in the line of David who is in the line of Jesus. This genealogy is not seeking to be exhaustive, simply to trace the covenantal line from Noah to Abraham.
In these two verses, you will note that I spelled Shelach’s name differently. This is not a typo, but a reflection of the Hebrew vowel markers changing shifting from one use to the next. Remember, that Hebrew is a consonantal language, and in most cases, vowel pointing is not written, just simply pronounced. Thus, the change from an “a” to an “e” should not throw us off very much as we understand his name. Shelach means “to stretch out” or “to send.” Again, we do not know much about the context of his naming or character, but his purpose is that of being a pointer to the covenant mediator to come. Beyond that, all other things are secondary.
Once again, scripture reminds us repeatedly that human life is passing like the flowers of the field in the scope of eternity. What is more important is not so much all of the accomplishments we think are important, but whether we have faithfully pointed others to Jesus, using all of our gifts to do that task. May we commit ourselves to being pointers to one greater than we are and not to ourselves.
4/4/13
“It came to pass that Shelach had lived for thirty years, and he begat Eber. And after he began Eber, Shelach lived another four-hundred and three years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:14-15)
And here the pattern continues. At times this may seem to get redundant, but the presence of these genealogies reminds us of God’s patience through the generations and the long gaps of time in between his covenantal activities. Our tendency is to be impatient and we want everything yesterday. God’s design is that he may never intend to bring earth-shattering events in our generation, but it may be through our children, our grandchildren, or through our great-great-great grandchildren whom we will never live long enough to meet in this life. There are basically ten generations that are traced here from Noah’s son Shem to Abraham. In which generation are we? We may be called simply to live in faith and obscurity, setting an example in our children or grandchildren to follow, for it may be in their generation that God is going to fulfill our prayers and move. We may pray for revival, but God is the one who brings such revival and he does so in His timing.
The name Eber comes from the Hebrew word meaning, “to pass by” or “to cross over.” Typically this is seen to reflect the nomadic lifestyle given to the descendants of Noah (they were to multiply and fill the earth — Genesis 9:1). It could also reflect the deliverance that God had given to his people through the flood as they passed over the waters of judgment if only still in the loins of Shem. It is also rather prophetic, because the people of God would pass through the Red Sea and the Jordan River by God’s divine working. There is some debate as to the origin of the word Hebrew, but some trace the word back to this son of Shem’s name. Hebrew traditionally is understood to be taken from the term “the ones who come from across the river.” Prophetic indeed.
The bottom line is that God is still continuing to work. Shelach and Eber may not be mighty judges or covenant mediators, but they prove faithful to God and hand down what they know from one generation to the next — something that we are all called to do as believers. We must be engaged in this privilege — teaching our children and grandchildren about the mighty works of God. The sad thing is that in our culture today, many parents are not doing that, but rather are taking the attitude that children should make up their own mind on such matters. Yet, for a plant to grow strong and healthy, it must be biased by good soil, plenty of water, and good sunshine; for a child to grow strong and healthy, he or she must be biased toward the truth — we are called to do that biasing by the way we live and by the way we teach our children. And while history may simply record us as a name in the line of another, our faithfulness will bear fruit in the generations that follow in faithfulness to God’s call and design.
4/12/13
“It came to pass that Eber had lived thirty-four years and he begat Paleg. After Eber begat Peleg, he lived four-hundred and thirty years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:16-17)
Like Shelach, we find Peleg presented with two sets of vowel, which again should not cause us to stumble greatly as we are reminded that the vowel pointing is present for pronunciation, not for definition. Of the Sons of Shem, this is the first case where more than one son is mentioned (see Genesis 10:25) and in that context we are also given the meaning of his name: “division.” We are told that it was in this generation that the earth was divided up — in context, most likely speaking about the various clans going in their separate directions. God had commanded the children of Noah to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth with their kind (Genesis 9:1), yet the children of Noah settled in Shinar and set forth to build a city in their own honor (Genesis 11:1-4). God confused their languages and thus divided the people, forcing them apart and to migrate to every corner of the earth, leaving behind their plans for vain-glory and being made to be obedient even if that was not their intent. While we do not know for sure exactly which “division” that Eber had in mind when he named his son, it is not unreasonable to consider Babel as the event behind the division. Peleg’s brother’s name was Yoqtan, which means “watchful,” and traditionally is seen as the forefather of those who live in the Arabic nation of Yemen.
How often disobedience brings division. Our culture is one which celebrates the individual and tends only to think of the ramifications that one’s actions may have on oneself. Yet, what of the ramifications of one’s actions on the community around us? God would have us understand that one’s actions either bless or bring trial upon the community around us — hence the seriousness of the punishments prescribed for Old Testament Israel were incremental based on the seriousness of the crime within the covenantal community. Division was brought in Peleg’s day. If as a result of Babel, then we know exactly the kind of disobedience that caused the division. If as a result of something else, then all we know is that the actions of the day were ones that brought division — something that brought grief and separation on the face of the earth — no longer could the people dwell together but they had to separate and divide.
As Christians, we are called to be a people of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Yet how often we act as Pelegs — people of division. Numerous protestant denominations are a testimony to this fact. And, though there are certainly times when denominations separate themselves from the body of Christ by their unfaithfulness, how many small, faithful denominations are there whose only point of separation was on whether one sang psalms, hymns, or praise choruses? Loved ones, we are quick to divide and slow to reconcile…it ought to be the other way around.
4/13/13
“And it came to pass that Peleg was thirty years old and he begat Reu. And after he begat Reu, Peleg lived two-hundred and nine years. And he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:18-19)
Here we find the first real indications that the effect of the Fall upon our lifespan is progressive, for Peleg’s lifespan is significantly shorter than that of his fathers’ before him. Shem lived to be 600, Apakshad to 438, Shelach to 433, Eber to 464, and now Peleg dies at 239 — a comparatively young man compared to those who have gone before him. And, as we continue to see the lives of these Old Testament saints go forward, we find that their life expectancy continues to drop until they are within our range. Isaiah speaks in terms of the new creation to come that those who only live to 100 would be counted as cursed (Isaiah 65:20) — how accursed a race we are then!
This change in longevity is worth noting because Peleg is the first of these patriarchs to die before his father. In fact, he died before his father, before his grandfather, before his great grandfather, and before his great-great grandfather. In fact, Peleg dies ten years before Noah, his great-great-great grandfather, dies. What a devastating reminder that while the world has been remade new through the flood, people still are under the weight of the fall and thus death still reigned in their bodies. To put things in even clearer perspective, Shem outlives almost all of his named descendants for nine generations — only Abraham and Eber outlive their great ancestor — and Eber (Peleg’s father) outlives Abraham by four years!
Reu’s name means, “companion” or “friend.” How profound a name that is given the context of death that the descendants of Shem now need to face. How often, in the wake of death, what we need most is friendship — those who will comfort and not condemn. Loved ones, we live in a dark and fallen world, we need those Godly friends and companions that he gives us to accompany us on our way. May there be many “Reu”s in your life.
“And it came to pass that Reu lived thirty-two years and he begat Serug. Reu lived two-hundred and seven years after he begat Serug. And he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:20-21)
And the pattern continues. Sometimes we can get a little weighed down by lists of genealogies like this, but do remember always that these are real people in time and space that are striving to live faithfully before the Lord and to teach their sons and daughters the ways of God. More importantly, they are the line from whom God would raise up Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and eventually Jesus. It is important to be able to trace these roots — a reminder to all of the sovereign hand of God upon his elect through the ages.
The name Serug is typically understood to be an adaptation of Sarugi, an Akkadian place name marking a region about 35 miles from Haran (though spelled, “Charan”). Perhaps this is where he lived and settled or perhaps his name is somewhat prophetic of the travels that his grandson, Terah would make when he left Ur and settled in Haran. This we do not know. Perhaps his name is simply a reminder that they were not a people to be settled in Ur, but meant for a place distant from there in the direction of Sarugi and Haran.
It is interesting to me how our nature can often be so radically distinct from God’s call. Abraham was to be a wanderer — a traveler — in a land promised to him and to his children, but not his own. I wonder how many of us would accept a call like that in our lives today. How often we choose comfort and security over the call that God places upon us. Yet God’s call and God’s way is always better than our own. Loved ones, do not despair, God is sovereign over all things — big and small! — and he has your life in his hand. When he calls you to step out in faith, do not hesitate to do so. Be messengers of his grace in all you do and trust the bigger plan to God’s hand.
4/18/13
“And it came to pass that Serug was thirty years old and he begat Nachor. And Serug lived two-hundred years after he begat Nachor and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:22-23)
Some names in the Bible are more flattering than others. This one is not one of the more flattering ones… Nachor literally means, “snorter,” and is typically understood to refer to the kind of snort that an aquatic whale would make when they surface and snort, or blow out, the carbon dioxide stored in their bodies from long dives. Being called a “whale” is unflattering enough, but even more so when you realize that the ancient Hebrew culture was never overly fond of the water in the first place. One can speculate that perhaps this name came from the way the baby snorted or played, but that is entering into speculation. The reality is that we do not know for sure.
Yet, as unflattering as we might find the name to be, Nachor’s grandson — the son of Terah — would be named after him. That simple fact should remind us of the importance of honoring those who have gone before us and one way to do so is for our children to carry their names. There is a tribute that is made to that end and Terah saw that as a way to honor the one who had raised him up in the world. So often we are prone to live only thinking of ourselves; this is a reminder to us that we stand on the shoulders of the giants that have gone before us.
4/19/13
“And it came to pass that Nachor was twenty-nine years old he begat Tarach. And after Nachor begat Terach, he lived one-hundred and nineteen years and begat sons and daughters. And it came to pass that Terach had lived seventy years. He begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran.”
(Genesis 11:24-26)
And the bridge has now been crossed — the covenantal transition between Noah and his sons and Abram — a period spanning 352 years beginning with the flood and taking us to the birth of Abraham. And all of that three hundred and fifty two years summarized within 17 verses of scripture. There may perhaps be a temptation to be discouraged, wondering if our own lives will prove to be such a small footnote of history — or even to make the text of the history books, for many do not. Yet, we are to always remember that it is not our lives that are of significance; it is Jesus who is of significance. And that means that if we labor all our lives in humble obscurity yet in a way that honors our Lord and Savior, that ought to be enough — and enough it is.
We have seen the subtle vowel changes between the first and second readings of several of the names in this genealogy already, so Terach’s name should not cause us to stumble. There is a great deal of discussion as to what the origin of Terach’s name actually is. Some have suggested that it goes back to a town on the edge of the River Balikh which is north-east of Haran, Turāhu. Others have connected his name with the Akkadian word turāhum, which means “mountain goat” — typically understood as referring to an ibex. The answer we just may never know in this life.
We have already seen the meaning of the name Nachor; Haran is typically understood to refer to a mountainous countryside as the root of the name, rAh (har), means “mountain” or “rough hill.” Abram’s name means, “Great Father.” And that is exactly what he is.
There are some who would be slightly tripped up by the way verse 26 leaves things off. Was Abraham the oldest of the three brothers (hence is mentioned first) and if so, was Abraham born when Terah was 70? Traditionally, it has been understood that Abraham left Haran at the age of 75 (Genesis 12:4) and at the death of his father, Terah. Yet, that means that Terah was 130 years old when he Abraham was born, thus making him a younger son of Terah, not the oldest.
The answer to this question lies in the fact of who Abram is — he is the son of the covenant, the one through whom God will be continuing his covenantal promise. Just as the language of Genesis 5:32 leaves us with the birth of Noah’s three sons, yet only through Shem would the line continue, we find the same pattern being preserved here, hence he is listed first (just as Shem is listed first in Noah’s lineage — and note that Shem was 97 years old when the flood hit, making his father, Noah, 503 when he was born — so again, he was not the oldest of the three.
What will follow in this chapter is the beginning of the call that Abraham would receive — in portion given through his father Terah. Perhaps, though, as we continue to introduce the life of Abraham, it would be valuable to lay out the timetable of births and deaths that bridges us from the flood of Noah to the life of Abraham.
- The Flood of Noah’s Day takes place (the floodwaters themselves lasting a full year)
- 2 AF (After the Flood): Arpakshad born
- 37 AF: Shelach born
- 67 AF: Eber born
- 101 AF: Peleg born
- 131 AF: Reu born
- 163 AF: Serug born
- 193 AF: Nachor born
- 222 AF: Terach born
- 292 AF: Terach begins having sons
- 340 AF: Peleg dies (the first of the covenantal line to die post-flood)
- 341 AF: Nachor dies
- 350 AF: Noah dies
- 352 AF: Abraham born
- 370 AF: Reu dies
- 393 AF: Serug dies
- 427 AF: Terach dies and Abram migrates to Canaan
- 440 AF: Arpakshad dies
- 452 AF: Isaac is born
- 470 AF: Shelach dies
- 502 AF: Shem dies
- 527 AF: Abraham dies
- 531 AF: Eber dies
Sobering, isn’t it?
4/23/13
“These are the descendants of Terach. Terach begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran and Haran begat Lot. Haran died before the face of Terach, his father. It was in the land of his descendants, in Ur of the Kasdiym.”
(Genesis 11:27-28)
As we have mentioned, the scriptures are transitioning us from the life of Noah to the life of Abraham. Terach had three sons, but it would only be Abraham that is the line through which God will work, calling Abraham’s descendants to himself. These verses and the verses that follow really mark the setting apart of Abraham from his brothers — the first of his brothers, Haran, died at an unrecorded age in the land of his children. No children are mentioned by name as they are not connected to the covenantal line, but the text indicates their presence.
In Hebrew, the name of their homeland is MyIÚdVcAÚk (Kasdiym), and typically that is recognized to be the land of the Chaldeans, the predecessors of the later Babylonians. This is likely a connection back to Babel and the tower that those who dwelled in that area were seeking to build. We are introduced to Haran’s son, Lot, whose name refers to a covering or a wrapping over top of something. Lot will be taken in by Abram and Sarai and thus we know a great deal more about this man and his family (though much of it is not good), but we get ahead of ourselves.
For now, God is situating Abram to be separated from his people back in Ur. One step at a time, he is preparing to take this man and his wife on a journey of a lifetime — a journey of covenantal promise. For those who doubt the election of God, this is one of portions of scripture that must not be ignored. Here is a God who is intentionally separating a man and his line from all the rest of his family to be the bearer of the covenant. That, my friends, is election, plain and simple.
Yet, we would be remiss if we did not bring out a final principle by way of reminder. When God calls a person to follow, we must follow. He expects obedience from his own. Does that obedience characterize your life? If not, repent and follow the calling of the King of Kings wherever that may lead you.
5/10/13
“And Abram and Nachor took to themselves wives. The name of the wife of Abram was Saray and the name of the wife of Nachor was Milkah — the daughter of Haran who was the father of both Milkah and Yiskah. And it came to pass that Saray was infertile and had no child of her own.”
(Genesis 11:29-30)
I suppose that there are no great surprises in the various spellings of familiar names — again, transliteration is not a precise science and there are many agreed upon spellings of these names that do not reflect the literal transliteration from the Hebrew into English. Saray, is better known to us as Sarai, whose name means, “My princess.” Milkah is the daughter of Haran, which makes her the sister of Lot. Milkah (or Milcah) means “Queen.” It is interesting that, based on names, both Abraham and Milkah marry women whose names denote royalty. Milkah has a sister named Yiskah, or Iscah in our English Bibles, whose name probably is derived from the word for “to look” or “to look at.”
And now we have the family line laid out before us as well as another tidbit — Sarai was barren and could bear no child. Perhaps that is the reason for Abram taking in Lot, his nephew, when his brother dies. We do not know the answer to that particular question. What we do know is that God is waiting until Abram’s father dies (and thus Abram becomes the covenant head of his home) and then is going to begin doing mighty things in this man’s life. The wait is for another purpose as well — so that the only explanation for this man’s success could be attributed to God.
How we like to have our successes attributed to our persons. Yet, how much better it is when our successes are attributed to the one from whom the success originated! For any good success that I might have is only because of the grace of God and the hand of God working in my life. It is all about God and his work from beginning to end — I am not my own. How often we fall on our faces because we do not recognize that truth and how often we allow our bloated egos to become so puffed up with pride that we become a blight even to ourselves and need be laid low all over again. Oh how the “mighty” have so often fallen. Loved ones, cling to God, trust his leading, but also ensure that you understand that any good credit belongs to God alone. We are but tools in his hand — may we be always sharp and ready for use.
5/14/13
“And Terach took Abram, his son, and Lot, the son of Haran — the son of his son, and Saray, his daughter-in-law — the wife of Abram, and they went out together from Ur of the Kasdiym traveling toward the land of Canaan. But when they entered into Charan, they dwelt there. And the days of Terach were two-hundred and five years. And Terach died in Charan.”
(Genesis 11:31-32)
It strikes me that the call of Abram to leave behind the land of Ur and enter the land of Canaan was initially heard, at least in part, by Abram’s father, yet Terach did not complete what he started out to do. Perhaps the roads ahead were hard and the place in Haran more comfortable. Perhaps his health was waning and there was a need to stop here and allow him to rest out the final years of his life. We are simply not told the human reasons for this rest stop.
Though we will come back to this as we explore the life Abram and Abram’s following of God’s call where his father failed, it should be noted here the significance of God’s sovereign plan. Ultimately, it was for Abram, not Terach, to receive the promise of the land of Canaan and in God’s sovereign design, all of the human events that took place or failed to take place that caused Terach to stop in Haran were ordained by God so that it would be Abram and his household that would enter into the promised land. It is Abram who is the great father, not Terach.
We often talk of the plan of God but we also often fail to see God’s hand in our failures as well as in our successes. That, of course, does not let us off the hook, but God uses us in spite of ourselves, our foibles, and our abject failures. Bottom line is that we are to strive to be faithful to God’s calling upon our lives, but God has ordered all things — even our failures — to bring about his will. On one level that ought to boggle our minds. On another level, it ought to drive us to our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Personally, I have walked some very dark roads of sin over the years of my life; to be reminded that even in those dark valleys, God was directing my steps is a remarkable thing. It was my sin, but God was using even that sin to conform me into the image of his Son. And for that, I am eternally grateful. Thus begins the call of Abraham.
God Gets the Glory…Great Things He Has Done May 10, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: A Reason to Live, Future, Genesis 11, Glory, God, Iscah, Milcah, Milkah, Pride, Sarai, Saray, work, Yiskah
add a comment
“And Abram and Nachor took to themselves wives. The name of the wife of Abram was Saray and the name of the wife of Nachor was Milkah — the daughter of Haran who was the father of both Milkah and Yiskah. And it came to pass that Saray was infertile and had no child of her own.”
(Genesis 11:29-30)
I suppose that there are no great surprises in the various spellings of familiar names — again, transliteration is not a precise science and there are many agreed upon spellings of these names that do not reflect the literal transliteration from the Hebrew into English. Saray, is better known to us as Sarai, whose name means, “My princess.” Milkah is the daughter of Haran, which makes her the sister of Lot. Milkah (or Milcah) means “Queen.” It is interesting that, based on names, both Abraham and Milkah marry women whose names denote royalty. Milkah has a sister named Yiskah, or Iscah in our English Bibles, whose name probably is derived from the word for “to look” or “to look at.”
And now we have the family line laid out before us as well as another tidbit — Sarai was barren and could bear no child. Perhaps that is the reason for Abram taking in Lot, his nephew, when his brother dies. We do not know the answer to that particular question. What we do know is that God is waiting until Abram’s father dies (and thus Abram becomes the covenant head of his home) and then is going to begin doing mighty things in this man’s life. The wait is for another purpose as well — so that the only explanation for this man’s success could be attributed to God.
How we like to have our successes attributed to our persons. Yet, how much better it is when our successes are attributed to the one from whom the success originated! For any good success that I might have is only because of the grace of God and the hand of God working in my life. It is all about God and his work from beginning to end — I am not my own. How often we fall on our faces because we do not recognize that truth and how often we allow our bloated egos to become so puffed up with pride that we become a blight even to ourselves and need be laid low all over again. Oh how the “mighty” have so often fallen. Loved ones, cling to God, trust his leading, but also ensure that you understand that any good credit belongs to God alone. We are but tools in his hand — may we be always sharp and ready for use.
The descendants of Terach April 23, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Babylon, Chaldeans, Genesis 11, Kasdiym, Lot, Terach, Terah
2 comments
“These are the descendants of Terach. Terach begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran and Haran begat Lot. Haran died before the face of Terach, his father. It was in the land of his descendants, in Ur of the Kasdiym.”
(Genesis 11:27-28)
As we have mentioned, the scriptures are transitioning us from the life of Noah to the life of Abraham. Terach had three sons, but it would only be Abraham that is the line through which God will work, calling Abraham’s descendants to himself. These verses and the verses that follow really mark the setting apart of Abraham from his brothers — the first of his brothers, Haran, died at an unrecorded age in the land of his children. No children are mentioned by name as they are not connected to the covenantal line, but the text indicates their presence.
In Hebrew, the name of their homeland is MyIÚdVcAÚk (Kasdiym), and typically that is recognized to be the land of the Chaldeans, the predecessors of the later Babylonians. This is likely a connection back to Babel and the tower that those who dwelled in that area were seeking to build. We are introduced to Haran’s son, Lot, whose name refers to a covering or a wrapping over top of something. Lot will be taken in by Abram and Sarai and thus we know a great deal more about this man and his family (though much of it is not good), but we get ahead of ourselves.
For now, God is situating Abram to be separated from his people back in Ur. One step at a time, he is preparing to take this man and his wife on a journey of a lifetime — a journey of covenantal promise. For those who doubt the election of God, this is one of portions of scripture that must not be ignored. Here is a God who is intentionally separating a man and his line from all the rest of his family to be the bearer of the covenant. That, my friends, is election, plain and simple.
Yet, we would be remiss if we did not bring out a final principle by way of reminder. When God calls a person to follow, we must follow. He expects obedience from his own. Does that obedience characterize your life? If not, repent and follow the calling of the King of Kings wherever that may lead you.
The Genealogy brought to a Close… April 19, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Abram, Flood, Genesis 11, Haran, Nachor, Nahor, Tarach, Terach, Terah, Transitions
add a comment
“And it came to pass that Nachor was twenty-nine years old he begat Tarach. And after Nachor begat Terach, he lived one-hundred and nineteen years and begat sons and daughters. And it came to pass that Terach had lived seventy years. He begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran.”
(Genesis 11:24-26)
And the bridge has now been crossed — the covenantal transition between Noah and his sons and Abram — a period spanning 352 years beginning with the flood and taking us to the birth of Abraham. And all of that three hundred and fifty two years summarized within 17 verses of scripture. There may perhaps be a temptation to be discouraged, wondering if our own lives will prove to be such a small footnote of history — or even to make the text of the history books, for many do not. Yet, we are to always remember that it is not our lives that are of significance; it is Jesus who is of significance. And that means that if we labor all our lives in humble obscurity yet in a way that honors our Lord and Savior, that ought to be enough — and enough it is.
We have seen the subtle vowel changes between the first and second readings of several of the names in this genealogy already, so Terach’s name should not cause us to stumble. There is a great deal of discussion as to what the origin of Terach’s name actually is. Some have suggested that it goes back to a town on the edge of the River Balikh which is north-east of Haran, Turāhu. Others have connected his name with the Akkadian word turāhum, which means “mountain goat” — typically understood as referring to an ibex. The answer we just may never know in this life.
We have already seen the meanings of the name Nachor, Haran is typically understood to refer to a mountainous countryside as the root of the name, rAh (har), means “mountain” or “rough hill.” Abram’s name means, “Great Father.” And that is exactly what he is.
There are some who would be slightly tripped up by the way verse 26 leaves things off. Was Abraham the oldest of the three brothers (hence is mentioned first) and if so, was Abraham born when Terah was 70? Traditionally, it has been understood that Abraham left Haran at the age of 75 (Genesis 12:4) and at the death of his father, Terah. Yet, that means that Terah was 130 years old when he Abraham was born, thus making him a younger son of Terah, not the oldest.
The answer to this question lies in the fact of who Abram is — he is the son of the covenant, the one through whom God will be continuing his covenantal promise. Just as the language of Genesis 5:32 leaves us with the birth of Noah’s three sons, yet only through Shem would the line continue, we find the same pattern being preserved here, hence he is listed first (just as Shem is listed first in Noah’s lineage — and note that Shem was 97 years old when the flood hit, making his father, Noah, 503 when he was born — so again, he was not the oldest of the three.
What will follow in this chapter is the beginning of the call that Abraham would receive — in portion given through his father Terah. Perhaps, though, as we continue to introduce the life of Abraham, it would be valuable to lay out the timetable of births and deaths that bridges us from the flood of Noah to the life of Abraham.
- The Flood of Noah’s Day takes place (the floodwaters themselves lasting a full year)
- 2 AF (After the Flood): Arpakshad born
- 37 AF: Shelach born
- 67 AF: Eber born
- 101 AF: Peleg born
- 131 AF: Reu born
- 163 AF: Serug born
- 193 AF: Nachor born
- 222 AF: Terach born
- 292 AF: Terach begins having sons
- 340 AF: Peleg dies (the first of the covenantal line to die post-flood)
- 341 AF: Nachor dies
- 350 AF: Noah dies
- 352 AF: Abraham born
- 370 AF: Reu dies
- 393 AF: Serug dies
- 427 AF: Terach dies and Abram migrates to Canaan
- 440 AF: Arpakshad dies
- 452 AF: Isaac is born
- 470 AF: Shelach dies
- 502 AF: Shem dies
- 527 AF: Abraham dies
- 531 AF: Eber dies
Sobering, isn’t it?
The Snorter… April 18, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Genesis 11, Nachor, Nahor, names, Naming after one's parents, Narwhale, Snorter
add a comment
“And it came to pass that Serug was thirty years old and he begat Nachor. And Serug lived two-hundred years after he begat Nachor and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:22-23)
Some names in the Bible are more flattering than others. This one is not one of the more flattering ones… Nachor literally means, “snorter,” and is typically understood to refer to the kind of snort that an aquatic whale would make when they surface and snort, or blow out, the carbon dioxide stored in their bodies from long dives. Being called a “whale” is unflattering enough, but even more so when you realize that the ancient Hebrew culture was never overly fond of the water in the first place. One can speculate that perhaps this name came from the way the baby snorted or played, but that is entering into speculation. The reality is that we do not know for sure.
Yet, as unflattering as we might find the name to be, Nachor’s grandson — the son of Terah — would be named after him. That simple fact should remind us of the importance of honoring those who have gone before us and one way to do so is for our children to carry their names. There is a tribute that is made to that end and Terah saw that as a way to honor the one who had raised him up in the world. So often we are prone to live only thinking of ourselves; this is a reminder to us that we stand on the shoulders of the giants that have gone before us.
Serug April 17, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: election, Follower, Genesis 11, God, Haran, Sarugi, Serug, Sojourner, Traveler, Wanderer
add a comment
“And it came to pass that Reu lived thirty-two years and he begat Serug. Reu lived two-hundred and seven years after he begat Serug. And he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:20-21)
And the pattern continues. Sometimes we can get a little weighed down by lists of genealogies like this, but do remember always that these are real people in time and space that are striving to live faithfully before the Lord and to teach their sons and daughters the ways of God. More importantly, they are the line from whom God would raise up Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and eventually Jesus. It is important to be able to trace these roots — a reminder to all of the sovereign hand of God upon his elect through the ages.
The name Serug is typically understood to be an adaptation of Sarugi, an Akkadian place name marking a region about 35 miles from Haran. Perhaps this is where he lived and settled or perhaps his name is somewhat prophetic of the travels that his grandson, Terah would make when he left Ur and settled in Haran. This we do not know. Perhaps his name is simply a reminder that they were not a people to be settled in Ur, but meant for a place distant from there in the direction of Sarugi and Haran.
It is interesting to me how our nature can often be so radically distinct from God’s call. Abraham was to be a wanderer — a traveler — in a land promised to him and to his children, but not his own. I wonder how many of us would accept a call like that in our lives today. How often we choose comfort and security over the call that God places upon us. Yet God’s call and God’s way is always better than our own. Loved ones, do not despair, God is sovereign over all things — big and small! — and he has your life in his hand. When he calls you to step out in faith, do not hesitate to do so. Be messengers of his grace in all you do and trust the bigger plan to God’s hand.
The Dividing Peleg April 12, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Babel, Division, Genesis 11, Joktan, Peleg, Reconciliation, Yemen, Yoqtan
add a comment
“It came to pass that Eber had lived thirty-four years and he begat Paleg. After Eber begat Peleg, he lived four-hundred and thirty years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:16-17)
Like Shelach, we find Peleg presented with two sets of vowel, which again should not cause us to stumble greatly as we are reminded that the vowel pointing is present for pronunciation, not for definition. Of the Sons of Shem, this is the first case where more than one son is mentioned (see Genesis 10:25) and in that context we are also given the meaning of his name: “division.” We are told that it was in this generation that the earth was divided up — in context, most likely speaking about the various clans going in their separate directions. God had commanded the children of Noah to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth with their kind (Genesis 9:1), yet the children of Noah settled in Shinar and set forth to build a city in their own honor (Genesis 11:1-4). God confused their languages and thus divided the people, forcing them apart and to migrate to every corner of the earth, leaving behind their plans for vain-glory and being made to be obedient even if that was not their intent. While we do not know for sure exactly which “division” that Eber had in mind when he named his son, it is not unreasonable to consider Babel as the event behind the division. Peleg’s brother’s name was Yoqtan, which means “watchful,” and traditionally is seen as the forefather of those who live in the Arabic nation of Yemen.
How often disobedience brings division. Our culture is one which celebrates the individual and tends only to think of the ramifications that one’s actions may have on oneself. Yet, what of the ramifications of one’s actions on the community around us? God would have us understand that one’s actions either bless or bring trial upon the community around us — hence the seriousness of the punishments prescribed for Old Testament Israel were incremental based on the seriousness of the crime within the covenantal community. Division was brought in Peleg’s day. If as a result of Babel, then we know exactly the kind of disobedience that caused the division. If as a result of something else, then all we know is that the actions of the day were ones that brought division — something that brought grief and separation on the face of the earth — no longer could the people dwell together but they had to separate and divide.
As Christians, we are called to be a people of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Yet how often we act as Pelegs — people of division. Numerous protestant denominations are a testimony to this fact. And, though there are certainly times when denominations separate themselves from the body of Christ by their unfaithfulness, how many small, faithful denominations are there whose only point of separation was on whether one sang psalms, hymns, or praise choruses? Loved ones, we are quick to divide and slow to reconcile…it ought to be the other way around.
Eber… April 04, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions in Genesis.Tags: Eber, Faithfulness, generations, Genesis 11, Hebrew, Raising Christian children, Teaching our Children faith
add a comment
“It came to pass that Shelach had lived for thirty years, and he begat Eber. And after he began Eber, Shelach lived another four-hundred and three years and he begat sons and daughters.”
(Genesis 11:14-15)
And here the pattern continues. At times this may seem to get redundant, but the presence of these genealogies reminds us of God’s patience through the generations and the long gaps of time in between his covenantal activities. Our tendency is to be impatient and we want everything yesterday. God’s design is that he may never intend to bring earth-shattering events in our generation, but it may be through our children, our grandchildren, or through our great-great-great grandchildren whom we will never live long enough to meet in this life. There are basically ten generations that are traced here from Noah’s son Shem to Abraham. In which generation are we? We may be called simply to live in faith and obscurity, setting an example in our children or grandchildren to follow, for it may be in their generation that God is going to fulfill our prayers and move. We may pray for revival, but God is the one who brings such revival and he does so in His timing.
The name Eber comes from the Hebrew word meaning, “to pass by” or “to cross over.” Typically this is seen to reflect the nomadic lifestyle given to the descendants of Noah (they were to multiply and fill the earth — Genesis 9:1). It could also reflect the deliverance that God had given to his people through the flood as they passed over the waters of judgment if only still in the loins of Shem. It is also rather prophetic, because the people of God would pass through the Red Sea and the Jordan River by God’s divine working. There is some debate as to the origin of the word Hebrew, but some trace the word back to this son of Shem’s name. Hebrew traditionally is understood to be taken from the term “the ones who come from across the river.” Prophetic indeed.
The bottom line is that God is still continuing to work. Shelach and Eber may not be mighty judges or covenant mediators, but they prove faithful to God and hand down what they know from one generation to the next — something that we are all called to do as believers. We must be engaged in this privilege — teaching our children and grandchildren about the mighty works of God. The sad thing is that in our culture today, many parents are not doing that, but rather are taking the attitude that children should make up their own mind on such matters. Yet, for a plant to grow strong and healthy, it must be biased by good soil, plenty of water, and good sunshine; for a child to grow strong and healthy, he or she must be biased toward the truth — we are called to do that biasing by the way we live and by the way we teach our children. And while history may simply record us as a name in the line of another, our faithfulness will bear fruit in the generations that follow in faithfulness to God’s call and design.
Good Friday Devotional: Words of Jesus on the Cross March 29, 2013
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Various.Tags: 7 Words, Devotions, Good Friday Devotional, Prayer Vigil, Seven Words, Words of Jesus on the Cross
add a comment
Good Friday Prayer Vigil: This is the text of the devotional guide used for the prayer vigil we are practicing here at St. John’s (Burry’s) Church. I pray that it proves to be a blessing to you.
-Pastor Win
Introduction:
On the sixth hour of the day (about 12:00 PM), Jesus was crucified upon the Roman Cross on the hill called Golgotha — “The Skull.” And for three hours he hung upon the cross suffering not only physical death, but also the wrath of God upon his shoulders. The prophet Isaiah writes of this event saying of God:
“It was the pleasure of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.” (Isaiah 53:10a),
and: “By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11b),
and: “because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12b)
In death, the one who deserved no death redeemed us from the death that we all rightfully deserve. It is you and it is me that deserved to receive upon our shoulders the righteous wrath of God. It is you and it is me that have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet, Jesus, the God-and-Man savior, took our place. His work on the cross is the demonstration of God’s Love and his calling us to enjoy fellowship with him is the demonstration of God’s Grace. For it indeed is by grace that we have been saved — not by our own works lest any man should boast.
From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, as our Lord suffered upon the cross, the sun in the sky was darkened. This was no mere providential eclipse as some would imagine, but a miraculous and utter removal of the light from the people who had perpetrated such a tragic act upon the King of Glory. It was judgment…
As we reflect and pray over these next 3 hours, it is my hope that this short devotional aids your reflections and your prayer. During Jesus’ agony on the cross, there are seven sayings that Jesus is recorded as uttering. With that in mind, this devotional is broken into seven portions, each one reflecting on one of Jesus’ sayings. Along with each devotional reading is a prayer designed to aide your personal prayers as well as things for which to pray.
This devotional is meant to be a guide and an aid, not a set of shackles. Please feel free to pray as the Holy Spirit leads. Upon each half-hour mark, Pastor Win will introduce each new saying of Jesus. As you are praying, if you find yourself in need of further structure, I would encourage you to pray through the words of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22.
Forgiveness
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his garments by casting lots.”
(Luke 23:34)
As the soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothing and as the crowds mocked all that was taking place, Jesus uttered these words of forgiveness. This is the purpose for which Jesus came — to bring forgiveness to a deeply rebellious people — to show us the meaning of grace. Even here, this is not forgiveness in light of repentance, but it is forgiveness while we were yet sinners shaking our angry fists at God in rebellion.
The word “forgive” is a legal term and refers to the total removal of debt for one’s crimes — in this context, the removal of one’s debt to God for having broken his law and for having reviled the Son of the Living God upon the cross. Indeed, they did not know the fullness of the wickedness they were committing. Yet beware, beloved, lest you judge the motives of others and not the darkness of your own soul. In those deep dark places where we allow sin to hide and take root, do we really recognize our part in placing Jesus upon that cross? Do we really treasure the grace that God offers in Christ? I think that the answer is often, “no.”
As we reflect on these words of Jesus, my prayer is that you look deep into your heart and examine your sins. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you those things that you have kept buried and hidden away from the world — even to the point of forgetting them yourself — and confess them to God and seek forgiveness. A broken and contrite heart is a sacrifice that God takes pleasure in. Bare your soul before God and ask him to show you the fullness of His grace and then fill you with that grace. Beloved it is because of you that Jesus was upon that cross. Your sins and my sins placed him there. Yet, even if you or I were the only one that God were to have elected as his own from eternity, the Son would have gladly died to redeem us. Praise the Lord that he has elected a multitude of brothers and sisters to be his own.
Yet, there is one more element that is tied inseparably to being forgiven. Because we have been forgiven we have a moral obligation to forgive others. One of the greatest stumbling blocks for many professing Christians is holding on to unforgiveness. Yet, Jesus clearly states that if we are unwilling to forgive others their debts against us, our heavenly Father will not forgive us our debts toward him (Matthew 6:14-15). That is a devastating pronouncement.
As you pray over this next half-hour, seek those things for which you need to be forgiven recognizing that by our sinful actions we are more like those mocking Jesus than like a follower. But also pray that your heart may be sensitive toward those from whom you have withheld forgiveness. Jesus forgave us in the midst of his agony, may we forgive others.
Heavenly Father, we have sinned against you in action, word, and thought. We have done those things that we ought not to have done and we have failed to do those things which we ought to have done. Worst of all, in knowing your forgiveness, we have failed to offer forgiveness to others. Forgive us and help us to forgive. Give us the faith to see the beauty of the glory of Christ and to live out each and every moment of our days in that glory. And may others see the beauty of Christ in our actions as well as in our words.
Father, we have no right to ask of you these things, yet we come to you in the boldness of faith in Jesus Christ. Do not give us these things because of who we are, but give us these things because we belong to your son and help us to live gratefully because of the grace that has been purchased for us — purchased at the cost of the death of your Son, Jesus. He, indeed, is our passover lamb, slain from before the foundation of the world, on behalf of our sin. Transform me according to your word and remake this sinful person that I am into the image of your Son, Jesus. Help me to forgive as your son forgave so that I may enjoy the fullness of your grace.
Pray For:
Forgiveness of our Sins
Reconciliation to take place in our community and in our church
For the strengthening of our families and of our relationships
For wisdom as to how you may make Christ known through your actions and through your words
Salvation
“And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
Paradise. The Bible begins and ends with paradise. After God created man, God set forth and cultivated a garden in which to raise up man and to fellowship with him. The Greek translation of the Old Testament renders the language of the Garden of Eden as “the Paradise of God.” Yet Adam and Eve chose to pursue a life of sin instead of a life of obedience. And, as a result of their sin, they were cast out from the Garden and no longer was it paradise that they had the privilege of living in, but from the ground came thorns and thistles and life was eked out by the sweat of the brow.
Yet, while we lost the Paradise of God, by his work, Jesus earned that Paradise for us and has reserved a place for all of his elect — a mansion with many rooms wherein we will live in perfect fellowship with God himself as well as with each other. That is the paradise that is to come. In the meantime, when we lose our lives here on this earth, our spirits immediately go into the presence of God himself if we are believers and into judgment if we are unbelievers.
What is paradise? Paradise is not so much the beauty of the Garden nor is it the glory of Heaven. Paradise is the presence of God and the perfect fellowship that is found with him. Where Christ is, there too is paradise. There is no other place that I would rather be. Thus, for the thief on the cross, the significance of this statement weighs more on the “with me” than on the “in paradise.”
Who is this thief? We are not sure. The Greek word that describes him is probably better rendered as “insurrectionist,” which would explain the severity of his punishment. The cross was typically reserved by the Romans for those accused of political crimes and other punishments were rendered upon those who stole or cheated, etc… Beyond that we know that he professed Christ. That is it, he recognized his sin and asked Jesus to remember him in paradise — he refused to take part in the mockery of the others. And to those who call on Jesus in faith, God gives eternal life. It is not works — were it works, this man could never know salvation — it is the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Loved ones, spend some time asking yourself in whom your faith rests. Is it Jesus? Is it really Jesus? Sometimes we know the right things to say but the way we live our lives betrays our disbelief. May it be Jesus and Jesus alone upon whom you rest. What of your loved ones? Do they know Jesus as Lord and as Savior? How about your neighbors and coworkers? What of your friends? Let us spend time reflecting on the salvation of others and pray that the Holy Spirit would work in their lives in drawing them to Christ as well. For salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb who sits upon the throne.
Heavenly Father, we rejoice in the salvation that you have given us in Jesus Christ. We do not deserve this gift, but you have given us paradise in a relationship with him who is our savior. Help us never to take this gift for granted. Help us always to be humble and broken before you as was this man on the cross beside Jesus.
Because of what you have done, we are yours. We pray that you would use our lives well. May, all of our living breaths honor you and proclaim the good news that there is salvation offered in your Son. May others also see in us a joy that flows from that salvation that overcomes all of the hardships of living in this fallen world.
Yet, Father, there are many that I care about that do not know you. I pray for them. I pray that you would draw them to yourself and I pray that you will give me opportunities to speak truth lovingly into their lives. And, if it is your will, I pray that you will use my words and my life as a tool in your design to draw them to faith. There are also people in our community that do not have a relationship with you and these I pray for as well. May I be an instrument of your grace in their lives as well.
Pray for:
Salvation of Specific people you know
Spiritual maturity in Christians you know
God to bring revival in the church and in the community
God to draw people to faith in himself through the work and ministry of Burry’s Church
Relationship
“When Jesus beheld his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
(John 19:26-27)
As Jesus steps in and takes our place under the wrath of God, here he has one of the disciples take his place in terms of the responsibility for caring for his mother. While the Gospels never tell us for sure which disciple Jesus is speaking to, tradition has consistently held that this is the Apostle John. The question is often asked as to why Jesus needed to hand over the care of his mother to John. Wouldn’t Mary naturally go to live with one of Jesus’ brothers or sisters? Wouldn’t the responsibility for caring for his mother fall to James, the next oldest child of Mary?
The Answer is, ‘yes,’ but none of these other brothers and sisters were, as of yet, believers. Likely they had gone about their own lives and trades and thought their oldest brother was a bit off-balanced. The care of a widow would fall to the Eldest son and Jesus cared well for his mom but in his death he wanted to ensure that she would be cared for. John accepted and fulfilled that role.
This also portrays a little more about the relationship between Jesus and John in that he would entrust his mother’s care to this friend. This would not be the kind of thing that one would casually do, but her care would only have been given to one who would care for her and who would also live long enough to provide for her throughout her natural life. It is interesting that it is John who does not die a martyr’s death. Responsibility for one’s parents…or in this case, responsibility for the parents of a friend, is something that is often neglected in our modern age. And that fact goes to our shame, not our credit.
Traditionally, though, this is meant to be a time where we reflect upon the relationships that we have with others. Where do we need to reconcile? With whom have we grown distant? How do we re-connect in a healthy way? And how can we use those relationships to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ? It is my conviction that churches grow because people in the church make friends with people in the community and then invite their friends to join them in worship. The question is whether or not we are looking at our relationships in this way. Take some time to pray for those relationships you do have and to pray about ways that you might use those relationships to point others to the salvation you have found in Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Heavenly Father, Lord of all People, you have called us out of the world and made us your Church — a people for your own possession. Yet, there are many people around us in our circle of relationships that do not know you or whose relationship with you does not shape the way they live.
Father, I pray that my own relationship with you would be visible to those with whom I interact on a regular basis. May they see something in me that is different than others that they interact with in the world. And May I be a faithful witness of you to them and be bold enough to invite them to join me for worship.
Father, I also pray that you engender other relationships in my life — new friends and new people that I might point toward you. Give me opportunities with those I meet on a daily basis at work, while shopping, or while working in my yard that will honor your name and point others toward you. We do not know the names of your elect. May we be faithful in telling all of your marvelous grace and may our church burst at the seams because we have built relationships that point others toward you through faith in your Son, Jesus.
Pray for:
Relationships, particularly those people with whom you are in relationship that do not know Jesus.
Church Growth
Faith in our community
Abandonment
“And around the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying ‘Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani!’ Which is, ‘My God, My God why have you forsaken me!’”
(Matthew 27:46)
For many, these are the hardest words to hear Jesus say when upon the cross. It is here that Jesus is experiencing the fullness of alienation that sin brings into our lives. Scripture reminds us that we have a savior — a mediator in heaven — that knows our every sorrow. Here the one who will never leave or forsake us learns the fullness of what it means to be forsaken of God.
This is one of those passages that non-believers like to cite when trying to make the case that Jesus was not fully God. They say, “Look, God is separable, the Trinity must not be true!” This is not the place to launch into a defense of the two natures of Jesus and how these words reflect the agony of the human nature, not a separation in the divine nature. But it is a place to remind you that Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22:1 and of the significance of that psalm. For while the psalm begins with David expressing his agony and separation of God, we must be reminded of two things. First, though David is not experiencing the nearness to God that he would like, he still knows that God is there…always. Second, as this psalm progresses, it moves from the depths of despair to triumph, for God hears the cries of his people and will not hide his face from those he loves and even the most lowly child of God will be lifted up on heights of glory in God’s good timing.
You who know what it means to be abandoned by men and who know what it means to feel abandoned by God, take courage in these words. For though men may fail you, Jesus will never leave nor forsake you. And though you may walk through the valley of the shadow of death and feel the darkness of the hand of the wicked pressing down upon your life, God is still there in the darkness carefully guiding you with his staff and rod. Christian, he will not abandon you to the snares of the wicked one — and he himself entered into those snares to demonstrate that great truth. Though by the end of this day, Jesus’ body will be laid in a cold, dark grave, he would not remain in that grave, but would burst forth in glory on the third day. And he has promised that in the last day, you and I will also burst forth from the graves in resurrected bodies and dwelling eternally with Him in glory. Though we face dark times, let the weight of the glory of God tip the scales of despair in your life and give you hope. He is risen as he has said…and he will never leave you or forsake you nor will he abandon you to the grave.
During these thirty minutes, pray for those who are feeling lost and abandoned, those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been separated from loved ones by sin or failure. Ache for them. Yet ask the Lord to show you ways in which you may become ministers of grace into those people’s lives. How may your presence alongside of them be a tangible reminder to them that Jesus will never leave nor forsake them?
Heavenly Father, Father of the Fatherless and Comforter of all who come to you seeking rest from the affliction of this world. We confess to you that during times of distress we too have often felt that you were not there — that you had hidden your face behind the clouds and would never return to our lives. Yet, in your time, you showed yourself to us and brought us through the trials into your marvelous light.
Father, may we be people who remind others of the grace you show to your own. Give us discernment to know who in our lives is in need of reminding grace by our presence and mercies and then give us the strength to follow through and to minister to them. May your mercies follow us all the days of our lives and may we share those mercies as long as you give us breath to breathe — that the world may know that you have been good to your people and that you bid us to come and find rest in your presence.
Pray for:
Those who have been lost and abandoned
Believers in other parts of the world who face trials and persecution daily
Those in your life experiencing that abandonment and for specific ways that you may reach out to them
Distress
“After this, Jesus knowing that everything was already complete, in order to fulfill Scripture, said, ‘I thirst.’”
(John 19:28)
There are no accidents in the providence of God. John the Apostle is pointing out that Jesus’ crying out in thirst was not simply a cry of distress, but that this cry of distress was a fulfillment of prophesy. Psalm 22:14-18 is the primary passage to which John is referring. We have already spoken of Psalm 22 in terms of Jesus’ own cry from the cross, but here prophesy is coming to light. When David wrote that psalm, he speaks not only of thirst but of the utter weariness of being on the verge of death, he speaks of the evildoers circling around him who have pierced his hands and feet, and he speaks of those wicked who were dividing his clothes amongst themselves by casting lots. And In Psalm 69:21 we also find the prophesy that the people would give Jesus sour wine to drink — a kind of vinegar and water solution that Roman soldiers typically carried with them to drink (vinegar killed the bacteria that would make them sick).
When Peter is questioned on the day of Pentecost about what has transpired, he talks about the delivering up of Jesus according to the definite plan of God (Acts 2:23). There are no mistakes, questions, or accidents when it comes to God’s divine plan — even when it comes to little things — and even when it comes to the things that transpire in our lives. God who delivered up his Son in his own definite plan to redeem our lives is the same God who orders our lives in every way. He provides for the lily and the sparrow, how much more for those he loves.
As Jesus’ hours of agony are coming to a close on the cross, it is important for us to remember our Lord’s distress, distress that he undertook on our behalf. It is also important to remember those who are in distress in the world and in our community. Pray for them and pray that you might become a steward of mercy in their lives.
Heavenly Father, we come to you in our distress knowing that your Son endured horrible distress to the point of death on our behalf. May we lay before you our trials and our cares. And in doing so, may we never forget that we have a mediator who knows what it is that we have been going through and who lives to intercede for us in our times of need.
Yet, Father, let us not only look within. Show us those people in our lives who are hurting and in distress and show us how we may minister to them — if only with our presence. May we be willing to walk alongside of those who are hurting and to hurt alongside of them, sharing their pain, but always seeking strength in you. And when we are going through times of distress, may our lives be a model of reliance upon you to which others may look and then be drawn to you as a result. We thank you, Lord for all you have given us in your Son, Jesus, may we be faithful messengers of your Good News to a world in distress around us.
Pray for:
Those in distress
Soldiers, Policemen, Firefighters, Missionaries
Families and children in our midst
Those in distress that we know and how we may minister to them in specific ways
Reunion
“And, calling out in a great voice, Jesus said, ‘Father, into your hand I entrust my Spirit.’ After he said this, he died.”
(Luke 23:46)
Only God himself has the right to give up or to take life. Jesus demonstrates his Godhead not by dying the slow death of asphyxiation that typically takes place upon the cross, but by faithfully completing the task that God had sent him to complete, by crying out in a loud voice, and by giving up his Spirit. The Roman soldier watching would proclaim, after witnessing this, “Surely this must have been the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39) It should be noted as well that Jesus again is looking back to the psalms, in this case quoting from Psalm 31:5.
The wages of sin is death. And Jesus loved us so greatly that he, who had never sinned, was willing go go unto death. The most wicked and evil event of all history was perpetrated on this afternoon — the Lord of Life was placed into the grave. What wondrous love is this, Oh, my soul, Oh my soul? What wondrous love is this, Oh my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of Bliss, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul. To bear the dreadful curse for my soul…
Yet, even in Jesus’ death and entrance to the grave, there is hope for us. The grave did not keep Jesus and he has promised that it will not keep us. There are many people buried just outside the walls to the west side of our church — those graves are not permanent resting places. They are temporary. For when that day comes, when Jesus returns as he left us, those dead will rise from the grave — some to glory and others to eternal horror — but one day every single tombstone and marker will be overturned and those who are laid there will rise up and pronounce Christ as blessed — even those under judgment. Loved ones, we need not fear the grave for Christ has been there already and has sanctified the grave on our behalf. It cannot keep us. It is not permanent. We will rise again on the last day.
Yet, as you pray, pray for those who are in their last days, closing in on death. We know not the day nor the hour, but we know who holds our days in his hands. Let us commit ourselves to offering mercies to those who are dying and grace to those who are grieving their immanent demise. Here we stand together in need of mercy, let us be quick to show the mercy of Christ to those who will soon be laid out in those temporary holding cells that we call the grave.
Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God of the living, and God of our Fathers, may you be praised every time we open our mouths to speak and every time we draw breath. May your glory radiate from our lives and in our days. You have removed from us every obstacle that sin has brought into our lives and in grace you have drawn us into your presence. Help us to live like it. Help us to sacrifice for others knowing the sacrifice that was made for us. Help us to serve those who are the least in our midst so that they may know of your greatness. Help us also to minister to those who are dying in our community. Help us to show them grace as we have received grace. Help us to direct those dying to place their spirits into the hands of the one who is the judge of all spirits and help us to teach them of the grace of Jesus Christ. Change us, Oh God, from the selfish men and women we tend to be, into those who serve selflessly. Not for our praise, but so that you may be praised in us.
Pray for:
Those who are dying
Those who are spiritually dead, though their bodies have life.
Triumph!
“And when he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, ‘It is Finished.” And he laid over his head and gave up his spirit.”
(John 19:30)
It is Finished. That is all that needs to be said. The work of Jesus in terms of taking Judgment upon his head on our behalf is finished — once and for all time. No more sacrifices ever need to be made (hence God’s destruction of the Temple and, in time, the placement of a Muslim Mosque on the spot of the Temple mount so that never again would a temple stand in its place. It is finished.
Yet, the resurrection will not take place until Sunday. As you leave, reflect upon the grief and sorrow of the disciples as they saw their Lord and Master die. Reflect upon the agony of his mother and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Reflect upon the agony of Peter, who had just the night before denied his Lord three times. Reflect upon your own sin and the penalty that Jesus paid for you to be delivered from that sin. Triumph will find its culmination on Sunday, but here upon the cross where Jesus died, my sins and your sins were paid for in full. It is finished…
