Dont Cry Daddy...

Day Four: Genesis 20:1 - 28:22

Before I get into my readings, I would like to talk about a few things.


Just last night I recieved an email from my old friend Marge, telling me how much she enjoyed what I was doing. She spoke extremely highly of my post concerning the sun and my connection with God. She talked about how everyones relationship with God is different. She explained to me how when she would look at the stars, she could feel Gods presence and almost hear him speaking to her. This was exactly the point I was trying to make :). Another friend, Leona, also discussed with me, a little about Adam and Eve. In my post, I explained how I thought Adam and Eves actions must have really hurt God. Leona exaplined to me how she (being a parent) did not think that God had put the fruit there as a test. He was really trying to protect Adam and Eve. I think Leona makes a very good point.





Then a few nights ago I had a nice conversation with Shanon :). After discussing a few things I had been reading about in the Bible, Shanon said..."Gods love is something beyond what people could ever imagine."

I loved this! It truly touched me, and changed my outlook on all questions I had.

So here we go....

Abraham once again.
I am a fond believer that sin is sin. There is not a ranking, or a scale or "sin-ness". After explaining this to people they often say ,"but even a white lie is a lie, do you think that telling someone a white lie is as bad as killing someone?" No I dont, and after reading about Abraham, I firmly believe that God takes a white lie into consideration, for example: Abraham has now lied twice about Sarah being his sister, not his wife (even though she is his half-sister). Instead of God being angry, he still continues to bless Abraham, because God knows that Abraham only lied to save him and Sarah. He did it for Sarahs own good, not out of selfeshness.

I do still firmly belive that sin is sin, but just like every rule, I do feel that there exceptions.

I never knew how highly God thought of Abraham until reading this. God tested Abraham several to prove his love for God, and Abraham passed every one. Even when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (his son) as a burnt offering on the mountain. Abraham was going to do it. Thanks goodness God stopped him in time.

The Death Of Sarah ( Kinda sad. I really liked Sarah ).

Sarah has passed away due to old age. Abraham told the Hittites that he would sell all of his land to bury Sarah, but the Hittites told Abraham that they saw him as a prince, and to bury Sarah wherever he wanted. Ephron did not even want the four hundred shekels of silver.

If you think about it closely. This is probobly the oldest recorded business deal. The elaborate politeness sounds very much like bargaining in the Middle East today. Underneath the smooth words, shrewd negotiating is going on.

Not that everything in between Sarah dieing and Isaacs sons wasnt important. But the next thing to really stick out to me was Rebekah

Rebekah
Rebekah was an extremely forceful woman.
When offered marriage to an unkown relative hundreds of miles journey across dangerous lands, Rebekah did not hold back. Although her family wanted her to take time and adjust to the idea. Rebekah gatheres her things and was ready to leave the next day. In todays society Rebekah would be considered someone like Marilyn Monroe, or Gloria Steinem. She was very much like the Scarlett O'hara of her time. She was willing to leave even though she knew she would never see her home again.

Initiative is admirable, but an overdose can lead to trouble. Rebekah waited twenty years to have a child and then gave birth to twins. God told her that Jacob, the younger of the twins, would be God's chosen. In an attemp to manage Jacobs success, Rebekah made him lie to his father. Isaac (who is now blind) had no idea that he was giving his blessing to Jacob, he tought he was giving it to Esau.

Esau's birthright, which he sold for a meal, was his inheritance as the firstborn son. He stood to be head of a large extended family and its property. Though his brother Jacob took advantage of him, The Bible gives Esau little sympathy for this. I think this is because of how angry Esau had gotten when finding out, even threatening to kill Jacob. Although I dont agree with what Jacob and Rebekah did. They were still his brother and mother. He even also grew to despise his birthright. Which was his initial blessing anyway. Not cool.

So all in all. Jacob through his own greedy scheming had won the family birthright, and then ironically, had to run away from his family. Yet God came to him full of promises. Jacob had not looked for God,, but God had been looking for Jacob. This is exactly what my friend (who i accepted this challenge from) was explaining to me just last week. He was telling me that God loves to be pursued. He loves to be chased after just as people do. Even if we are in a relationship, it feels great to be chased after. It is a natural instinct. God is the same way.

Feeling Great

Kale