Genesis 23

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Genesis 23

 

Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

 

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

 

17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

This Is Only a Test – Genesis 22

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Creatures are contingent. Creatures who have sinned against their holy Creator are most certainly contingent, only breathing by the mercy of their kind Creator who desires their repentance.

this_is_only_a_test_by_bandew444-d3h078m In Genesis 22 Moses recounts the history of God’s testing of Abraham. The test consisted of God’s commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. God’s command was therefore in direct conflict with his promise that through Isaac would come about a great nation that would bless all other nations.  As Israel first listened to this account, they would have sensed the contingency of their own lives, as they imagined Isaac bound on the altar with a knife barreling down towards his throat. They would have been relieved when the angel of the LORD declared that Abraham need not touch Isaac and that through Isaac the covenant for creation’s renewal would continue. (The covenant with Abraham can be termed “the covenant for creation’s renewal,” as that is God’s purpose for entering into this covenant: to renew all of creation back to its original harmony). Yet, God’s command could still be kept, for the LORD provided a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. Not only so, but the ram was provided in the exact place (Moriah) that would later be the location of the temple where the LORD accepted the sacrifices of Israel for their sins. Even more significant is that just outside the walls of the same city is where the LORD provided a sacrifice on behalf of the life of his people: Jesus Christ, crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem.

The Sacrifice of Isaac, by Marc Chagall, 1966

The Sacrifice of Isaac, by Marc Chagall, 1966

The covenant of creation’s renewal could only continue through Isaac, Israel and Jesus’ people today because of the LORD’s provision. Jesus Christ, the Ram of God, sacrificed in the place of the people of God so that God’s good intentions for the nations can be accomplished by his grace and through his people. If the ram had not been provided, then the covenant promises could not have been accomplished and the world would have reverted back to Genesis 11. But I wonder if we really believe that. Do we really think that without the offspring of Abraham the world would revert back to the chaos of the Tower of Babel? Do we really feel the full impact of what was on the line as Isaac was on the altar? Do we sense the need for the Church, or do we think that the world will get along just fine by virtue of good governments, good schools and strong individual responsibility and hard work? Have we slipped into thinking that individual responsibility and ingenuity are the answer to the world’s problems? If so, we ought to be reminded that the LORD is the one who provides for the world’s true, deepest problems – and he does so through Jesus Christ: who gives life to his people for the sake of renewing creation by God’s power.

Questions for Conversation

  • Can you think of a movie, TV show or recent book in which the answer to the world’s problems came through individual responsibility and ingenuity?
  • How would you counter that philosophy using the book of Genesis and God’s covenant with Abraham?
  • This passage can be troubling. If you are troubled by it can you explain why? Does knowing that this is a test of Abraham help you? How?
  • Where would you go in the Scripture to defend God’s honor regarding child sacrifice?
  • How does this passage help you to better understand God the Father’s intention in Christ’s sacrifice?

Genesis 21:8-21

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Genesis 21:8-21

 

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspringwill be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, shebegan to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

Why Family Matters

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Justice League of Heaven – Genesis 18:16-33

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Justice_League_of_America_(FOUNDERS)Did you ever read comic books or enjoy watching one of the recent Avengers movies? If so you are probably also familiar with The Justice League of America. The Justice League was made up of all the DC Comic Books greats: Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, Superman and others. Their whole mission was about bringing justice and righteousness into the world. With some modifications the same can be said of the Church of Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham – we are the Justice League of Heaven.

As those who know that they are secured a home in the new heavens and earth by grace through faith in Jesus we may wonder how living lives of justice and righteousness fits into the life of the Church. Maybe we are even tempted to think that justice and righteousness are for people caught up with being self-righteous. Certainly humans, in their rebellion against God, have shown the propensity for using their good works to turn their nose up at the world. But, when understood in the right way we see that justice and righteousness are simply the right response to  God’s mercy towards us. Living lives of justice and righteousness, God says, is what God called Abraham to do so that all the nations would be blessed. For you and I who have trusted in Jesus Christ, the Offspring of Abraham, we too have been ingrafted into the people of Abraham; through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection on our behalf we have been given redemptive roles. As God says in Genesis 18:17-19, the nations will be blessed when Abraham and his household live up to their calling – to live lives of justice and righteousness.

So, suit up Wonder Woman! Get your tights on Green Lantern! The Just and Righteous Lord of Heaven has forgiven you, adopted you and gifted you with his Holy Spirit so that you can help further the work of the greatest bunch of superheros ever – the Justice League of Heaven.

Questions for Conversation

– We learned about how God displays justice and righteousness through being non-prejudiced in his judgments of others, through hearing out the oppressed and correcting the oppressor, and by being more concerned to bless the world than to condemn. Which of these makes you admire God most? Why?

– Who were your heros growing up? Why? Did they display aspects of justice and righteousness?

– Where have you experienced injustice in life? Does that motivate you to want to address that injustice in life?

– We learned that Abraham demonstrated the way of the Lord by interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah. Who do you have a hard time loving but need to begin praying for their good?

Gods Mysterious Ways

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Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer.

  • Donec posuere vulputate arcu.
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Communion Diet Plan – John 6

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take-and-eatYou’ve got to eat to live, and some diets promote life better than others. For example, the all-fried-chicken-and-cake diet isn’t going to leave you as fresh and healthy as the all-cabbage-and-low-fat diet (although you may be happier on the other). For as long as I can remember there has been a yearly frenzy about one new diet or another. Our hope at Crossroads is to be part of a movement to make a different diet all the frenzy: the Communion Diet.

Jesus advocates this diet plan in John 6. Here is a short breakdown:

  • The meal plan consists of Jesus’ flesh and blood.
  • The food is absolutely free, provided at the expense of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • The food never goes bad – it is imperishable.
  • The benefits are eternal life beginning now and a perfect body at the resurrection.
  • It energizes you to live life for the right reasons.
  • 100% satisfaction is guaranteed.

The reason it is called the “communion” diet plan is because of the relational nature of it. It is actually a feeding upon Jesus in the deepest of intimate relations. Or, to put it in other terms, by trusting in Jesus, we enter into a moment-by-moment daily transaction of receiving life from the Father through the Son and by the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to feed on Jesus.

Of course, if you have been around church long enough, you are thinking of the Lord’s Supper or Communion. You should. Those who first read the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John would’ve been thinking of it also. During our faithful participation in the Lord’s Supper, we actually are fed the living and resurrected Christ by the mysterious power of the Holy Spirit. Although God’s people are always in union with Jesus Christ, there is a special way in which the Church communes with Jesus at the Table. Maybe it’s something like living in your family’s home all year but really deeply relating with everyone over Thanksgiving dinner.

Not only do we deeply commune with the Triune God at the Lord’s Table, eucharistbut we also keep the main thing the main thing. A church can easily become centered around lots of peripheral issues, but the Communion Diet keeps us focused on what’s important: the Trinity, the Incarnation, the atonement and forgiveness, the resurrection and eternal life, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone.

QUESTIONS FOR CONVERSATION

  • Have you ever become bored with diets you’ve been on? Why?
  • Can one become bored with God’s Diet Plan? How come?
  • What kinds of emotions well up when you hear Jesus say that you must eat his flesh and blood (John 6:53)?
  • Put in your own words what Jesus means by feeding upon his flesh and blood based on 6:56-57.
  • Think of a neighbor, co-worker, or family member who is not on this Diet Plan. If you were to tell them about how to get on this Diet Plan, what would be the most important element to emphasize for them?

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

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corinth-copyright1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

You Can Trust These Guys – He’s Risen! – John 20:24-28

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incredulity-of-saint-thomas(1).jpg!Blog

Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio, c. 1602

     24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

     26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

     30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.