Biblical Teachings
Wrestling With God
Reflections Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. (Gen. 32:24) Jacob was promised his inheritance from God. But he did not abandon himself to God and allow God to bring it to pass. He represents ourselves – and the efforts of religious flesh – not to directly rebel against God – but to try to wrestle from God what God has already freely given. God has made many promises in His Word. It is good and right for us to believe Him. But if we are continually trying to wrestle …
THE WORDS WE SPEAK
2 Timothy 2:23-26(KJV) 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV) 3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men …
Genesis Message 62 Jacob Children with Four Women
Leah was hated. The Hebrew word used here for hated is sanooah.
It simply means that there was hatred toward her. Some see this word as meaning to be loved less not necessarily hated. She had it from Jacob and Rachel both. She might have even experienced it from her father Laban for being so difficult to place into an arranged marriage. Never the less when one is in this situation it is painful. Psalm 69: 33 speaks to this issue well. The Lord heard her.
33For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners (ASV 1901).
One who is childless is a despised member of the families of ancient Israel. Leah’s family would be the worst to deal with in this matter because they would not let up on her as she was hated. In other words she was a prisoner in her own house. The Lord was going to bring the Messiah through her so He opened her womb and gave her four children in succession. In fact her first-born son Ruben (see ye a son) was so named signifying the Lord seeing her affliction. With this she thought that Jacob would begin to love her. It seems that the lack of love toward her continued because she said after the second son Simeon (hearing) was born Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated He gave me another son. Again after the third son Levi (joined) she said this time will my husband be joined unto me because she had born him three sons.
The Value of God’s Word
Scripture reveals who God is, explains how to follow Him, and equips us to be victorious in the challenges of life. 2 Timothy 3:14 – 3:17 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 …
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8
The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their abilities, because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own weakness. If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing …
Rewards and Punishments
Reflections It is an amazing contradiction that most professing Christians rightly proclaim that we are saved, “by grace through faith,” but then many put much of their Christian life AS a saved person under law. This is what the Galatians did. Paul answered, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3) Note that the issue here is NOT their salvation. It is their means of living the Christian life. They were living by law, and not by faith from out of Christ. One subtle way Christians err on this …
The Armor of God By Jim Allen
Do you ever feel life is full of contradictions? Do you sense the world is no longer making much sense? I do. We all do. In fact, one example of a contradiction is die to live (Romans 8:13). Another is give to receive (Luke 6:38). Still another is love your enemies and do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27). These are paradoxes, ideas that seem absurd and entirely rejected by the world. But these ideas are tenants of truth and fundamental to you and me. Even though Christian ideas are growing less valued by our culture, they are …
Genesis Message 61 – Jacob’s Marriages & Correction
Rachel’s father, Laban says that just because you are a close relative you should still receive payment for your efforts here. He point blank asks Jacob, “Tell me, what shall thy wages be?” God was with Jacob. God corrects His children when we break His moral law. Yes He was guiding Jacob and gave him the covenant. There still had to be divine retribution for Jacob’s deception. Jacob’s happy prospect of marrying Rachel turned, by Laban’s counter deception, into a difficult situation for Jacob. The Lord was going to use Laban as His means of discipline for Jacob. The deception he had practiced upon Isaac and Esau did not go unnoticed with the Lord. The Lord took Jacob, fine-tuned, and developed him into the patriarch of the Nation Israel that he would become. What now follows is a parenthetical description of Laban’s two daughters. This is preparing us to receive the rest of the story.
Laban had two daughters, Leah the eldest and Rachel whom Jacob has just met. Leah’s name means “cow or strong woman” in Hebrew and we have seen that Rachel’s name means “ewe lamb.” This again shows us the disposition of Laban and his wife toward each daughter by the characterization of the names they gave them. Leah was tender-eyed or as the Hebrew states, “weak-eyed.” Much diversity surrounds this term in the various scriptural contexts where it appears. Some say that she had poor vision and others say that she had cried her eyes out with the prospect of possibly having to marry Esau or some other equally undesirable man (Bereshit Rabbah 70: 16). The Hebrew word is rakkot רַכּוֹת . It can refer to a tender nature or genuine poor eyesight. Since the eyes are the gateway to the soul it would seem that Leah’s poor eyesight gave insight into her tender delicate nature.
Purpose of God’s Law
Now we know that what things that the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:19-20) The purpose of the law was never to give man a standard he must keep. The purpose was to reveal the righteousness of God in written form, and to prove to man that he could never be righteous enough …
The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.
Psalm 2 (KJV)
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Dr. Mark Hitchcock Psalm 2
Be Holy
1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” _____________________________________________________________ Because of the degradation of our society and the loss of values, the word “holiness” sounds to us to be almost archaic or even Elizabethan, but make no mistake about it; all those who will live in heaven forever will be perfectly holy and sinless. The sinful nature that you and I are plagued with today will be done away with and only our redeemed selves will exist. Once in …
WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?
John 16:23-24 (KJV) 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. If I were to ask you to name the desire of your heart, would you have an answer? How long would it take you to express your deepest, most genuine yearning? Of course, most of us have a seemingly endless list of things that we want, whether …
God With Us Always
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18) I am with you always. (Matt. 28:20) These are not merely sentimental promises meant to stir emotions. Rather, they are concrete promises of God based on the reality of Christ in us. The idea that God is floating around, comes and goes, is with us one day, and far away the next, is contrary to the Truth. We may FEEL like God is that way, but the Truth is not determined or apprehended by how we feel. Indeed, even if we feel like God is with us, …