Christmas 2018 The Son of Jacob
Hello this is Eric again. A friend asked me, “How can I know that the Bible is true?” So, I am taking some time to answer my friends question and to do this I am looking at one of the evidences the Bible gives to answer this question, Prophecy.
(Read the previous blogs here)
"Me, me, me, me, me, me, me…."
No I’m not doing my Beaker impersonation, and I’m not humming a new ‘Christmas classic in the waiting’—I’m thinking about an ailment that the Christmas season marketing seems to bring on called “The Me-Me’s.” It’s symptoms include habits of creating long lists of wants, frequent financial calculations to see how much can be spent under the guise of ‘savings.’ These lead to a spectrum of outbursts that range from the “Pretty-Pleases” to the “I-Must-Have-It’s”; all the way to the indicative “I-Should-Get-Myself-A-Present-ituses.” This can lead to moments of irritability and anxiousness, and short tempered spells of driving—not only a car, but at times it is so intense that it can effect the way one might drive a shopping cart. This sometimes leads to hallucinations where fictitious avatars are imagined to help us legitimize our dealing with “The Me-Me’s.” These hallucinations sometimes manifest as a an airborne vector that spreads from being a hallucination—to the point that one takes on the identity of the hallucination to spread the disorder in others. Another symptomatic hallucination presents itself as a behavioral vector where older carriers use curiosity to contain capricious energies in younger sufferers. Unfortunately, the realization that one has a case of “The Me-Me’s” is often diagnosed too late, say in a 30-45 day window, and usually is identified through the receipt of a large stack of bills, and an inflated self.
All humor aside, does Biblical prophecy have anything to say about our tendency to contract “The Me-Me’s?” Yes. We’ve met Isaac, so let’s read a bit more of his families story in Genesis 25:21-26,
“Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. ‘Why is this happening to me?’ she asked. And the Lord told her, ‘The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.’ And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob [which means Deceiver].”
Jacob was born into a setting where “The Me-Me’s” could thrive, and they did. Can you imagine being named “Deceiver or Liar?” Especially in a culture where your name defined you and your character? God knew that these two would struggle as a way of life, and the older would serve the younger. Now, those of you who have siblings know that this struggle is real, but to add to that struggle—In Jacob’s culture the older child got the bigger inheritance. The older child got the authority, and was the one who would carry on the family heritage, and so that child got the birthright—which meant that they inherited the family business and had the responsibility to fill in dad’s chair when dad was done. (It also meant that they had to care for mom and dad for the rest of their lives—but “The Me-Me’s” miss this point.)
Now, to make things worse, Jacob lived up to his name. He took advantage of his brother at a weak point, and manipulated the birthright from his brother—who BTW despised it. Then Mom and Dad played favorites—‘cause hey, nothing like playing favorites to give a medium for “The Me-Me’s” to thrive. Then, Mom and Dad decided to make it worse. Not only did they model deceit as an acceptable option in life, they ignored God’s prophecy about his son, and Dad decided that he was going to bless the older son, Esau, and not listen to God. Mom heard this, and instead of having a conversation with her husband and praying together, she convinced her youngest to conspire against Dad, lie to him, and steal the blessing—which they did.
At this point, the oldest started to nurse a grudge, and was contemplating ridding the earth of his sibling. So, Mom to the rescue with a bit of emotional ‘Mom-nipulation’ about a better wife for her son, and off he went to her family, a long ways away.
On this journey God met with Jacob and gave Jacob the amazing promise that He had made to Abraham (Genesis 28:10-19). What stuns me, is Jacob’s response in Genesis 28:20-22,
“Then Jacob made this vow: ‘If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.’”
Jacob uses the personal pronoun ‘9’ times in three verses. Jacob has a case of the “Me-Me’s.”
I want to encourage you to go and read the rest of the story of Jacob, especially if you think that you might have be presenting with symptoms of “The Me-Me’s.” As a short overview; Jacob meets a better con-artist than himself, and for the next 21 years suffers through a healing process that he didn’t intend, but God did.
Why do I say that? Jacob asked God to protect him, and be with him. Jacob asked God to provide for him, and bring him safely home. What Jacob didn’t realize, was that he was deathly ill because of his case of “The Me-Me’s.” Left on their own, this disease would certainly have destroyed his life, and the lives of those around him. In order to answer Jacob’s prayer, God would have to work in Jacob’s life to cure him of “The Me-Me’s.” Yes, the disease did great damage, but God answered Jacobs prayer, and was with Jacob. God used this distressing season, to save Jacob and bring him home, and so much more.
In Genesis 32:24-28 we find Jacob having fled from the con-artist who manipulated him for the past 21 years, and is now hours away from being confronted by his brother who he had conspired against (and his brothers 400 armed friends). Jacob has done his best to protect his family, and his stuff, and now is alone. As if things couldn’t get worse—someone attacks him;
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
Somewhere in this wrestling match, Jacob realizes that this is more than he bargained for—God is answering his prayer. How does God do this? God wrestles with him—and Jacob is allowed to keep up. At dawn God miraculously, with one touch, dislocates the most powerful joint in Jacob’s body. Then, God does another miracle. God changes Jacob’s name. Jacob is now know as Israel, one who fought with God and with me and have won. The reality check begins to set in. Being in control is not all it’s cracked up to be. God is God, and that is good. God changes his character. God answers all the “Why’s?” that seem left unanswered. God was healing Jacob—now Israel, from “The Me-Me’s.”
God is in the business of rescuing; and yet, God does this by seemingly losing. He answers prayer; and yet, in ways more deep and thorough than we intended. The Master Creator who shaped us, the Great Physician who heals us—is more than able to meet us in our need—even if we don’t know how much we need Him; and, He wants to.
Would it surprise you to know that God gave a prophecy that said the Messiah—the Rescuer, would come from Jacob—the Deceiver’s line? After our discussion here, I hope your answer is ‘Yes and No.’ Numbers 24: 17a says,
“I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob;”
Luke 3: 23, 34a says,
“Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph… Judah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham.”
God chose to bring the Messiah through a very unlikely family. God chose to love Jacob and walk with and heal him. And, God has chosen to love you and wants to walk with you and heal you too. Romans 5:8 says,
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
May God’s loving presence cure us our case of “The Me-Me’s.”
(Did someone mention a star?)
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
(Read the previous blogs here)
"Me, me, me, me, me, me, me…."
No I’m not doing my Beaker impersonation, and I’m not humming a new ‘Christmas classic in the waiting’—I’m thinking about an ailment that the Christmas season marketing seems to bring on called “The Me-Me’s.” It’s symptoms include habits of creating long lists of wants, frequent financial calculations to see how much can be spent under the guise of ‘savings.’ These lead to a spectrum of outbursts that range from the “Pretty-Pleases” to the “I-Must-Have-It’s”; all the way to the indicative “I-Should-Get-Myself-A-Present-ituses.” This can lead to moments of irritability and anxiousness, and short tempered spells of driving—not only a car, but at times it is so intense that it can effect the way one might drive a shopping cart. This sometimes leads to hallucinations where fictitious avatars are imagined to help us legitimize our dealing with “The Me-Me’s.” These hallucinations sometimes manifest as a an airborne vector that spreads from being a hallucination—to the point that one takes on the identity of the hallucination to spread the disorder in others. Another symptomatic hallucination presents itself as a behavioral vector where older carriers use curiosity to contain capricious energies in younger sufferers. Unfortunately, the realization that one has a case of “The Me-Me’s” is often diagnosed too late, say in a 30-45 day window, and usually is identified through the receipt of a large stack of bills, and an inflated self.
All humor aside, does Biblical prophecy have anything to say about our tendency to contract “The Me-Me’s?” Yes. We’ve met Isaac, so let’s read a bit more of his families story in Genesis 25:21-26,
“Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. ‘Why is this happening to me?’ she asked. And the Lord told her, ‘The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.’ And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob [which means Deceiver].”
Jacob was born into a setting where “The Me-Me’s” could thrive, and they did. Can you imagine being named “Deceiver or Liar?” Especially in a culture where your name defined you and your character? God knew that these two would struggle as a way of life, and the older would serve the younger. Now, those of you who have siblings know that this struggle is real, but to add to that struggle—In Jacob’s culture the older child got the bigger inheritance. The older child got the authority, and was the one who would carry on the family heritage, and so that child got the birthright—which meant that they inherited the family business and had the responsibility to fill in dad’s chair when dad was done. (It also meant that they had to care for mom and dad for the rest of their lives—but “The Me-Me’s” miss this point.)
Now, to make things worse, Jacob lived up to his name. He took advantage of his brother at a weak point, and manipulated the birthright from his brother—who BTW despised it. Then Mom and Dad played favorites—‘cause hey, nothing like playing favorites to give a medium for “The Me-Me’s” to thrive. Then, Mom and Dad decided to make it worse. Not only did they model deceit as an acceptable option in life, they ignored God’s prophecy about his son, and Dad decided that he was going to bless the older son, Esau, and not listen to God. Mom heard this, and instead of having a conversation with her husband and praying together, she convinced her youngest to conspire against Dad, lie to him, and steal the blessing—which they did.
At this point, the oldest started to nurse a grudge, and was contemplating ridding the earth of his sibling. So, Mom to the rescue with a bit of emotional ‘Mom-nipulation’ about a better wife for her son, and off he went to her family, a long ways away.
On this journey God met with Jacob and gave Jacob the amazing promise that He had made to Abraham (Genesis 28:10-19). What stuns me, is Jacob’s response in Genesis 28:20-22,
“Then Jacob made this vow: ‘If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.’”
Jacob uses the personal pronoun ‘9’ times in three verses. Jacob has a case of the “Me-Me’s.”
I want to encourage you to go and read the rest of the story of Jacob, especially if you think that you might have be presenting with symptoms of “The Me-Me’s.” As a short overview; Jacob meets a better con-artist than himself, and for the next 21 years suffers through a healing process that he didn’t intend, but God did.
Why do I say that? Jacob asked God to protect him, and be with him. Jacob asked God to provide for him, and bring him safely home. What Jacob didn’t realize, was that he was deathly ill because of his case of “The Me-Me’s.” Left on their own, this disease would certainly have destroyed his life, and the lives of those around him. In order to answer Jacob’s prayer, God would have to work in Jacob’s life to cure him of “The Me-Me’s.” Yes, the disease did great damage, but God answered Jacobs prayer, and was with Jacob. God used this distressing season, to save Jacob and bring him home, and so much more.
In Genesis 32:24-28 we find Jacob having fled from the con-artist who manipulated him for the past 21 years, and is now hours away from being confronted by his brother who he had conspired against (and his brothers 400 armed friends). Jacob has done his best to protect his family, and his stuff, and now is alone. As if things couldn’t get worse—someone attacks him;
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
Somewhere in this wrestling match, Jacob realizes that this is more than he bargained for—God is answering his prayer. How does God do this? God wrestles with him—and Jacob is allowed to keep up. At dawn God miraculously, with one touch, dislocates the most powerful joint in Jacob’s body. Then, God does another miracle. God changes Jacob’s name. Jacob is now know as Israel, one who fought with God and with me and have won. The reality check begins to set in. Being in control is not all it’s cracked up to be. God is God, and that is good. God changes his character. God answers all the “Why’s?” that seem left unanswered. God was healing Jacob—now Israel, from “The Me-Me’s.”
God is in the business of rescuing; and yet, God does this by seemingly losing. He answers prayer; and yet, in ways more deep and thorough than we intended. The Master Creator who shaped us, the Great Physician who heals us—is more than able to meet us in our need—even if we don’t know how much we need Him; and, He wants to.
Would it surprise you to know that God gave a prophecy that said the Messiah—the Rescuer, would come from Jacob—the Deceiver’s line? After our discussion here, I hope your answer is ‘Yes and No.’ Numbers 24: 17a says,
“I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob;”
Luke 3: 23, 34a says,
“Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph… Judah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham.”
God chose to bring the Messiah through a very unlikely family. God chose to love Jacob and walk with and heal him. And, God has chosen to love you and wants to walk with you and heal you too. Romans 5:8 says,
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
May God’s loving presence cure us our case of “The Me-Me’s.”
(Did someone mention a star?)
Do you want to walk on this journey with us?
Subscribe here
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