John 11 Genesis 34-35 Psalm
94
As I read through the story of
Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 I noted how each step along the
way there were expectations that Jesus didn’t meet. When Lazarus’s sisters send
word he tells them the end of the story will not end in death. It is a story of
deep emotion, pain, questioning, timing and trust. Probably the most
interesting part is that in the end some still don’t believe and some begin to
plot to destroy Jesus to maintain their power.
One of the most disturbing stories
is told in Genesis 34-35 that opens with the rape of Dinah, daughter of Jacob
and Leah. Note the immediately we are told he loved her and spoke tenderly to
her. What a contrast. But it gets worse as over the rest of these two chapters there
is wheeling and dealing and once again deception. The result is many deaths,
worry about reputation and the need to run again from the land of birth. On a
side note, we should notice that God once again tells Jacob his name is Israel and
that the blessing promised to Abraham will still be fulfilled through his descendants.
Even at the end of his life he experiences great pain and the hands of his own
son.
This reading ends with Jacob having
another son with Rebekah, but she dies in childbirth and the pain continues. Returning
to his father Isaac who dies and he and his brother, Esau bury their father.
Plasm 94 reminds us God is one of vengeance
on those that turn from him and use their arrogant words to vaunt themselves.
We are reminded that God knows even our thoughts and that in his eyes we are but
a breath. When we are corrected by God it is to be viewed as a blessing and one
of the ways God teaches us his law. Those that band themselves together against
those that seek God’s ways will be condemned to death. For those truly seeking
God’s way the Lord will be their stronghold and refuge. The wickedness of that
against them will be returned to them.
Each of the reading today reminded
me that we need to make sure we keep our eyes on the Lord and not become those
that would rather please others. There are always great costs to walking away
from God’s ways, even when we do it in his name, and even when it takes time
God’s will is what will happen and those that work for anything else other that
God’s glory will pay a dear price.
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