Genesis 35:2 - 4 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
There are many gods in this world today. Many have questions as to whom the right god is and to whom we should offer our praise, love, thanks, and admiration too. One theme I have consistently seen throughout Genesis is the case for why God is the true god and only god in which we should lay our trust in. In these versus, we see that even in the time of Jacob, people probably had the same questions we have today. According to Genesis 35, the people that traveled with Jacob had gods that were not the same as Jacob's god. In the end, Jacob is the one to reveal to his people and to us who the true god is, that is the god of Noah, Abraham, and Isaac. The individuals that are a part of that list, make up a list of great individuals of the history of our faith. Through them, we have seen God revealed through the blessings and covenants of their lives. With Jacob, God continues his legacy and solidly reveals Himself to us as the true god.
It is all up to us to drop our strange gods, be it idols, money, etc, and follow the one true god, God. Remember, there will be times in which we come face to face with individuals that have other gods, and we must understand they have the same choice we have in choosing the correct god. Through your life and through your faith, help to influence the right choice to others. God is the one and only true god.
Questions for follow up:
Q - Genesis 33:10 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael. and Genesis 34:7 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done. Previous to God naming Jacob Israel in Genesis 35:10 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel, we see the name or place Israel named earlier in Genesis. What then is the significance of God naming Jacob Israel?
Q - Genesis 36 refers to many of the lineage of Esua and Jacob as Dukes. What was the significance of Dukes in Jacob's days?
Matthew 11, 12:1 - 21 Reflections
There were many people, including John the Baptist, who were surprised at what they were seeing in Jesus Christ. As I sat and read Matthew 11, which is excellent, I could not help but notice the image that John the Baptist and the Jews were painting of their promised king and messiah. I imagine them seeing an image of a man, wrapped in the finest linens, surrounded by the largest riches, crowned with gold, and a wearer of fine jewels. I imagine them waiting for a king that was going to be just to their bondsmen, not only setting the Jews free, but persecuting those that kept them in bondage. They saw a king rising up and leading them to victory, where he would rule over them on this earth and no one could touch him. Not even needing to peak ahead, we already know the true image, nature, and characteristics that made up Jesus Christ. I look back at Matthew 5 to derive a list of what Jesus would have been like in his perfect nature: mourner, meek, giver of spirit, giver of food, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemaker. All of these characteristics would be a make up of a great king. Problem is, a feared king usually does not portray a majority of those characteristics. With what they were seeing in Jesus, how were the Jews going to be set free? Matthew 11:2 - 3 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? John the Baptist, was a prophet in a league of his own. Jesus even says in Matthew 11:11 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. A man well liked and listened too by many even had doubts early about Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:7 - 9 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. Jesus even knows what his people were waiting for. He knows what type of king they were imagining. Matthew 11:12 - 13 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Jesus even knows by what means his people think he is going to seek justice, through violence and force. But, from the characteristics listed above, we see that Jesus was not anything that his people could imagine. Jesus is going to save them, but not with force. He is going to save them through faith. He is going to save them through his death. He is going to set them free from their bondage of sin and liberate them to eternal life. Jesus is a peaceful, meek, and giving king. He is a king not crowned with gold, but crowed with thorns. He is not a king that set us free with violence and hostile takeover, but through a violent and life giving death. He may not be the king we all imagine a king to be, he is much better. He is our Lord and Savior, he is our peacemaker, he is our king, and he is our God.
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for you son and our king. We thank you for sending your only son and changing our view of what a king truly is represented by. I ask that you fill our hearts with your likeness and your characteristics. That you guide us in our lives to personify the lifestyle and choices of our king, Jesus Christ. Through your name dear God, and your son Jesus Christ I ask this...Amen.
Questions for follow up:
Q - After reading Matthew 12, a topic is brought up about working on the Sabbath day. Could anyone help me understand the context of Matthew 12 and helping me filter through what is the best way to implement this into my life?
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