SOAP 01/24/2015; Genesis 38:26

Today's reading: Genesis 38

S) "²⁶ Judah recognized them, and said, 'She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.' And he did not have relations with her again."

Genesis 38:26 (NASB)

O) First of all, this is a prime example that not everything in the Bible should be repeated. Context is everything, because the actions of both Tamar and Judah are not right. When Judah said that Tamar was more righteous than him, it's still by way of comparison. Judah already had his first two sons die for their wickedness, and Tamar was the widow of his first son. When he failed to give her to his third son, she got desperate, and tricked him into sleeping with her. The ploy worked, and she bore twins to Judah. When I read the first six of Judah's words above, I wasn't even considering his broken promise. I immediately thought of the double-standard that was so painfully obvious in v.24, when Judah was ready to burn Tamar for playing the harlot, while he was in fact guilty of harlotry.

A) There are tons of ways to downplay this turn of events, based on the time period, but there is no excuse for hypocrisy. Jesus was very clear about that, throughout the gospels. So, what really made an impression on me, from this story of Judah and Tamar, was the complete lack of grace that Judah had for her. Knowing his own failings, in the fact that he had admittedly gone to a prostitute (even employing his friend to find her and pay her), he was so brazen about that fact, and yet it was Tamar he was ready to put to the brazier. God calls us to a higher level of grace and mercy. I am fully aware of my own shortcomings - to be clear, I know my own sins. In light of the mercy I have received, I can only ever offer mercy and grace to those who have sinned against me.

P) Father, the grace and mercy You offer are for more than just me. It is a foolish and arrogant heart, if I ever cease to have mercy and grace for others. Keep me from such a despicable state of being, Lord. I celebrate with thanksgiving, the new life You have given me. Let me also celebrate with thanksgiving, whenever another person repents of their sins, even against me, because they are receiving that same new life from You. Soften my heart to be compassionate and empathetic toward those who have sinned against me. Please forgive me, just as I forgive those who have sinned against me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/23/2015; Genesis 36:31

Today's reading: Genesis 36

S) "³¹ Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel."

Genesis 36:31 (NASB)

O) This chapter is primarily about Esau's family line, but this verse serves as a small transition, as the subsequent verses list the various kings that ruled the lands where Esau moved. What struck me, as I read this particular verse, was the authorship of Genesis. The book was penned by Moses, after the Israelites had just escaped Egypt. It's somewhat common knowledge that most of the Israelite history up until that point, was kept via oral tradition. But, what occurred to me while reading this, and this verse in particular, was that Moses was recording the history of a people not his own, while his entire family line was in bondage in Israel for the preceding four hundred years. It seemed peculiar that Moses would have knowledge about a family line, and what was happening to it during a period when his own people had been slaves, kept in Egypt. Then, when I read this verse, and those that followed that talked about kings, I realized the connection: Moses had a nobleman's education. He was raised as a prince in Egypt, and he would have been educated about the rise and fall of the various kingdoms, nations, and tribes that surrounded Egypt, including that of Esau (nation of Edom), his fore-uncle, if you will.

A) This was another humbling line of thought. God was so faithful, so deliberate, in all of his planning of the Exodus. He was minutely detailed in the execution of His will, ensuring that Moses was given everything he needed to fulfill God's will for their escape, their education, and the preservation of His words. The story of Exodus, and how God redeemed His people, providing for them, protecting them, it all points to Jesus. Consequently, it's directly relatable to me here, now. Furthermore, this is a reminder that my life is not my own. Just as Moses' life was prepared to glorify God and bring about His plans, mine is as well. I will probably never see myself used on the same scale as Moses, but that doesn't give me any license to ignore God's call. I do not know how God will use the circumstances of my past (or future) to further His kingdom, but I should prepare myself to be ready to obey at all times.

P) Father, the vastness of Your plans, and the depths of their layers, never ceases to amaze me. I don't know the exact details of how You ensured that Moses would have this knowledge, but it is clear that You caused it to happen because You wanted it included in Your holy Word. In my life, I may not see how the tiny details might be used for Your glory in the future, but I pray that I am ready to glorify You with any part of my life or experience. Use me, Father God, to further Your kingdom according to Your will. Thank You for preparing me to do the work that You call me to do. Thank You for the promise that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength. Remind me that, apart from Him, I can do nothing. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/22/2014; Genesis 35:18

Today's reading: Genesis 35

S) "¹⁸ It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin."

Genesis 35:18 (NASB)

O) This is the death of Rachel, who passed away while giving birth to the youngest of Israel's sons. The footnote about these two names, reveal that Ben-oni means, "the son of my sorrow," while Benjamin means, "the son of the right hand." Obviously, these two definitions carry vastly different connotations. Having the name Ben-oni would be a constant reminder that he had died while his mother gave birth to him. On the flipside, having the name Benjamin would be a great honor. While we learn that Joseph was the favorite of his father (see Genesis 37), he also held Benjamin close (see Genesis 42), as these were the only two children from the woman he loved most.

A) Names don't carry the same weight that they used to. So often, the definitions of our names today (at least in English, in America) are mostly trivial. It is uncommon, I think, for us to know the roots, origins, or etymology of names other than our own (and we only know that because of novelty gifts, usually). With my oldest daughter, my wife and I named her Ella (because it was nearly the last name we each liked) Renee (to share Kristin's middle name). Our son was named Caleb (after the friend of Joshua son of Nun) Ryan (to share my middle name). Our youngest, we named Kaia Noelle, with purpose in each name. While we may have gotten a little more purposeful with the names of each child, what I've come to realize is that their names are not so important as what I call them. While I sometimes regret not being more purposeful about naming all of my kids, the most important thing is that I am purposeful in what I call them, how I describe them, and what they hear me say about them.

P) Father, You have been so good to me, and it amazes me to think about the grace You have when You see me. I wonder what You might call me, if You were to rename me, but I am comforted by the promise I have, that You see me in Christ Jesus, the Son in which You are well pleased. Help me to consistently see my children with the same kind of grace, Father God. Remind me to be very purposeful, thoughtful, and even prayerful about what I call my children. I want to build them up, not tear them down, and I know that the way I talk about them and to them, goes a long, long way in that goal. Please let Your grace prevail in my parenting, that my children will grow up with a love for You that exceeds my own. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/21/2015; Genesis 32:9-12

Today's reading: Genesis 32

S) "⁹ Jacob said, 'O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, "Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you," ¹⁰ I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. ¹¹ Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. ¹² For You said, "I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered."'"

Genesis 32:9-12 (NASB)

O) Jacob began his prayer in humility, acknowledging that God existed, and was good, before Jacob was even born. God was faithful to his father and grandfather. He remembered the promise God made to him, but not in order to coerce God into action. He humbled himself in light of God's great promise to him. while praising God for the blessings He has already given. Then, Jacob laid bare the concerns of his heart. He wasn't seeking justice or trying to plead his case for innocence. Instead, he simply confessed how afraid he was, for his life and his children and their mothers. Lastly, he closed his prayer repeating the promise the LORD made to him. It seems that may have been for Jacob's own encouragement, more than some kind of "but You said," aimed at God.

A) What struck me the most, in reading Jacob's prayer, was the importance of his promise. Without that promise, I wonder how hopeless Jacob may have felt. No doubt, he still would have prayed. After all, he still knew the greatness of God, and had still experienced the goodness of God. But, reminding himself of the promise which was given to him, must have given him the resolve to hope. I have no doubt that God still desires to speak directly into the lives of His children, even to make promises to them. However, we need look no further than the Bible, to find the most important and eternal promises of God to His people. I have seen people make the mistake of assuming God has promised them something in prayer, but the promises of the Bible are unmistakable. I must still be careful not to assume promises in the Bible are for me, just because I like the way they sound, though; context is everything. In the end, in my times of fear or doubt, I must repeat the most sure and everlasting promises of God. Whatever storm or trial may come, nothing will shake the certainty of those promises. Heaven, salvation, His patience and love, His mercy and grace; these are some of those unmistakable promises. In their eternal coming, I can be comforted through any temporal goings.

P) Father, You are the God of my mother, the God of my grandmother. You have been faithful and good for an eternity before I existed. You promised to prepare a place for me, an eternal dwelling in the house of Your Father. You have given the Holy Spirit as my Comforter. In whatever shaky circumstances I may find myself, let me rest in the assurance of Your everlasting promises, that nothing would ever shake my faith in You. Let Your will prevail. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/20/2015; Genesis 29:35

Today's reading: Genesis 29

S) "³⁵ And she conceived again and bore a son and said, 'This time I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing."

Genesis 29:35 (NASB)

O) The story of Jacob and Leah is a tragic one. Jacob had come to his uncle's land to seek a wife, at the direction of his parents. He met Rachel, and it was love at first sight (see vv.9-12). Jacob worked seven years for Laban, for the right to marry Rachel, and it's a breeze because he is so taken by her (see vv.18-20). All of this happened while Rachel's older sister was unmarried. She lived with her father, just as her little sister did, so none of this would have been a secret to her. It was not, however, the custom of their people to marry younger daughters off, while the older daughters were unmarried (see v.26). This means that, not only did this handsome rich man come to marry her younger sister, but her dad was willing to ignore tradition and his oldest daughter. Finally, when Jacob had worked the seven years, Laban (for whatever reason) decided to give Leah to Jacob - but not openly. He tricks Jacob, by having Leah wait for him. I'm not sure how the conversation went, but when she was told to go into the room and wait for Jacob, a man in love with her little sister, and trick him into sleeping with her instead - that must have been painful. She and her sister both end up married to Jacob, but Leah is unloved (see v.31, where the Hebrew is like "hated"). God saw her, though, and opened her womb and she conceived, giving birth to three sons in a row. With each son, she held onto hope that their births would turn her husband's eye to her, his first wife. Alas, it does not work. Finally, when she had a fourth son, she had the resolve to stop seeking the attention of her husband, and instead put her focus on her God.

A) This was not the end of this sororal rivalry, but it does mark an important turning point. There have been times when I have looked to God for validation in my life. While there is nothing inherently wrong with seeking the approval of my Father God, there is something wrong with misplaced identity and value. God was blessing Leah with children, and she was taking those blessings and using them as an attempt to redeem her marriage. That was not God's intent or plan, though. God wanted Leah's praise. When she finally understood that, God stopped giving her more children, as if to say, "Finally, you're getting what I'm doing." In my life, when God is using me to accomplish His will and I am blessed, like with my marriage and children, I cannot assume a false sense of accomplishment or purpose in that. I love being a husband, but being a husband cannot be my identity. If I am using marriage to validate my life, then what happens when I am no longer married? The same is true for my fatherhood. The same could be true for ministry, my career, anything. Instead, the blessings of God should prompt me to praise Him, and seek His will further.

P) Father, I am amazed by the grace You have given me. It stretches further back than my memory, and I am continually humbled by the many facets of that grace. Where I am with my marriage and fatherhood, my career and the ministry I am doing - all of it reminds me of Your unceasing goodness. I confess that there have been times when these things have wrongly defined me. Thank You for showing me that my identity should be found in Jesus Christ alone. The blessings I receive, in whatever form they come, should only serve to cause worship and draw me closer to You, LORD. Be glorified in my life, and let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/19/2015; Genesis 28:16

Today's reading: Genesis 28

S) "¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'"

Genesis 28:16 (NASB)

O) There are many, many verses in the Bible that tell us of God's omnipresent quality. He is everywhere. However, as mortal humans, we are not always aware of God's presence. This is a defining point. God is everywhere, but it makes little difference to most people, because most people are not aware of His presence. When we become aware of it, or are made aware of His presence, it will alter our view of our circumstances, a season, or our entire lives. To be clear, Jacob was not an explorer. He did not discover God. He was not on an expedition, either, looking to find God. God sought him out, choosing to reveal Himself to His servant.

A) The reality of God's presence does not change because of my ability (or inability) to perceive Him. Furthermore, I have the knowledge that God is omnipresent, but I do not often have the experience of it. This is a matter of the intimacy of my awareness. Like, I can know that childbirth is painful, but I cannot experience it. Coming from a Pentecostal church background, I've heard many phrases and Bible verses quoted, in efforts to somehow force God to manifest His presence, whether in a prayer meeting or worship service, or otherwise. The plain truth is, God is sovereign and it is only according to His will that His presence is experienced. I can have all of the most heartfelt, sincere, authentic worship in the world, but if God does not want to reveal Himself in an experiential way, a way that I can "feel," then it is plainly His prerogative. He is God, He will do what He wants. Jesus said if we seek Him, we will find Him, but the details of that revelation are not up to me. After all, I have the Bible, which is the Word of God. Jesus was the word of God manifested and made flesh. So, if I am seeking to be in His presence, I only need to open my Bible. I have been in worship services where I felt (what I would describe as) the manifested presence of the LORD, and I was overwhelmed by Him. I have had times of deep prayer (often with fasting), where God has chosen to let me experience the presence of His Spirit heavily upon me. Those times are wonderful blessings. However, I cannot chase those feelings. The reality is that my feelings are not why I serve God Almighty. If I am chasing those feelings, then I am actually idolizing the LORD, reducing my Creator to little more than a feel-good-pill. No, I must leave it to God to choose when, where, and how He will reveal His presence to me in a way that I experience, more than simply knowing in my head, the truth of His omnipresence.

P) Father, Your presence overwhelms me. I am not aware of Your presence often. I do not meditate on Your omnipresence as often as I might, and I do not enjoy the experience of Your overwhelming Spirit as often as I might like. But I thank You for the knowledge of Your presence. It is a great comfort to think and know, that You are everywhere. Nothing escapes Your notice, and You are never far from me. It is even greater a comfort, to be enthralled in Your presence. I ask You to make Yourself known to me often, in ways I cannot deny or ignore. But, I concede that it is only according to Your will. Forgive me for any arrogance I have shown, in ever trying to force a connection that is not mine to control. I confess that You are sovereign in Your every move. So, let Your will be done, alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/18/2015; Genesis 27:2-4

Today's reading: Genesis 27

S) "² Isaac said, 'Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death. ³ Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me; ⁴ and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.'"

Genesis 27:2-4 (NASB)

O) Isaac is speaking to Esau in this passage, just before his death. Esau had already lost his birthright (i.e., inheritance) to Jacob, when he sold it for some soup (see Genesis 25:27-34). We don't know for sure, but it's pretty safe to guess that Isaac knew that happened. The other hope Esau had was that his dad would bless him in prayer, since Isaac was also a prophet. It's also notable, that Esau was Isaac's favorite son, too (see Genesis 25:28). Yet, as this time approaches that Isaac can still bless his favorite son, his blessing is still quite conditional. This speaks volumes to the nature of man, that we so heavily associate blessings with performance. It makes me wonder how different the history of God's people would be, had Isaac chosen to bless his favorite son, even without a last meal. If he had simply told his son that he loved him, and prayed for him on the spot. Now, we can never underestimate the sovereignty of God. If God intended for Jacob to become Israel, then who can say the actions of Isaac or Esau could ever have changed that (see Malachi 1:2-3)? But, as it stands, we see this is an example of blown opportunity. Isaac knew time was short, although he didn't know how short. He had a chance to bless the one who was his most favored, and he didn't. Because he required obedience and performance, he was changing his blessing from grace to payment. Because of that change, Esau received none of the blessing that Isaac intended to give him.

A) This serves as a significant reminder of a few principles. First, I do not control time, not the length of my life or the opportunities I get. Second, if I intend to bless my children in grace, through prayer, then there should be no delay. I cannot ask them to earn my prayers for them, because that sets a wrong precedent about the grace of our Father God in heaven. I'm no prophet, but I know God responds to prayers. I should never delay when I intend to pray for my children. In addition, this story reminds me of the sovereignty of God. If it was His purpose to bless Jacob and make him Israel, and begin the kingdom of God's people through him, then Esau was going to lose that blessing regardless. It is sobering to remember that God's sovereignty is complete. As much as we have free will, He still leads and directs the hearts of men.

P) Father, the grace and mercy I have received are perfectly timed. You prepared to bless me, even before I was ever born. Help me to be faithful in accomplishing Your will, being used for Your purposes, when You intend me to obey. I never want to miss opportunities, especially to bless my own family, my children. With that, please bless my children. First and foremost, draw them to You, Father God. By the Holy Spirit, lead them to Your throne, God. Open their eyes to see and their eyes to hear, and soften their hearts to the gospel. Lead them to confess their sins and repent, as they learn to love You with all of their hearts, minds, soul, and strength. Every other way You intend to relate to them, in blessing them with Your very self, let Your will be accomplished in their lives. As it may happen, please let them find perfect spouses, who love and trust them, encouraging them in their walk with You. Bless their careers, that they would be able to use their God-given skills and passions to earn a living and serve You, simultaneously, even. And bless them with children, who in turn, learn to love You completely. With all of these requests, Father God, I know that Your will is not only better than my plans, but the best they could ever have. So, let Your will be done in each of their lives, both today, and forever. Be glorified in my life, and in theirs. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.