Backing the right horse?

 

As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Genesis 25:27-28)

I have heard it taught that Esau was a "Man's man" and Jacob was a "momma's boy." As if God hadn't stepped in that Jacob would have starved if someone wasn't there to take care of him. I believe this is wrong. Though Esau was a skills hunter when you read the rest of the life of Jacob he was no wimp. Jacob worked hard, my goodness he worked for 14 years just to get to marry the woman he loved. 

However, we do see that Rebekah favored Jacob. I want to consider that maybe the reason Rebekah was so connected to Jacob is more than just he was a quiet man. Maybe it in some way had to do with the inside information she had, therefor she was backing the person she knew was going to win?

In horse racing, it is said that you need to back (bet on) the right horse if you want to win. There are lots of ways people guess which horse is the right one. Bookies change the odds depending on what they see and people bet and lose more often than not because you can't know for sure who is going to win. One way to guarantee you can win is to cheat another way (which is also considered cheating both in horse racing and in the stock market) is to get inside information on the state of the horses. If you know a race with two horses is taking place and one has a severe handicap and can't win, you would be a fool to bet on it. 

Looking at these verses, Jacob is the one who would decide who would get the lion's share of the inheritance and God's blessings and he was going to give it to Esau. Yet Rebekah whose future security when Jacob died was in the hands of the heir, bet as it were on Jacob. Why would she? I don't think it was just because he was a "nice boy." Rebekah had inside information. 

"the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked. And the LORD told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son” (Genesis 25: 22-23)

Rebekah was betting on the right son because, well, she cheated. When you see what she encourages later, you have to agree that she wasn't above it. No, I'm not saying she was right. I'm sure she and Jacob should have treated their sons equally but unfortunately, they didn't. This inequity may have been what led Esau and his descendants into disobedience, only God knows. However, without looking at the deeper ramification it is funny to me that this momma was cheating to make sure she was on the right side. It might be strange to see this as a little humorous, but I do. 

What about us? Who are we backing? We have inside information and unlike Rebekah, this isn't hidden information it's open to all. The information is Jesus has won, and will return again fully victorious. Wouldn't it be silly not to back him? Especially, when we consider He loves us and wants us to be on the winning side?  

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

I believe, but...

Jesus said. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

This is probably one of my favorite scriptures. The reason isn't the promise that if we believe that everything is possible but that after the father's confession of incomplete faith, Jesus heals the child. 

There are more times than I would like to admit when I believe but not completely. I struggle with doubts and as much as anything a bit of self-will. I believe that God will provide but maybe not the way I want or as soon as I want and I act on my own. I regret it eventually, so I get up from my fall and say, "God, I'm sorry. I didn't trust you." The beautiful thing about God is that he forgives. Yes, there are consequences but He will help with that if I believe and act as He would call me. It's work and often it isn't straightforward. For me, right now, I know much of my less-than-stellar attitude at times is more a result of exhaustion and I can ask God for help but his answer is rest. I, however, don't always believe me resting will help the "big picture," but God says if we do things his way then things work out. 

So will I believe it?

I wish I could say otherwise but the best I can do right now is to say, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

PS> Yes, I did promise some funny Bible stuff and I will get it done. 

Good Friday

Quiet Reflection and Communion

Selma Christ Global Methodist Church

 

Palms on the ground

Forgotten, trampled.

Reminder of triumphant praise

Swallowed in rejections chant,

 

CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY,

We reject this king.

 

Palms on the ground

Forgotten, forsaken.

Reminder of devotion’s praise

Swallowed in rebellion’s sin,

 

Actions, Attitudes

We rejected this king.

 

Palms on the ground

Remembered, burned.

Reminder of Wednesday’s return

Swallowed in repenting cry,

 

Forgive, Forgive,

We need this king.

 

Traditionally, Palm Sunday’s palms are gathered, dried, and burned. The ashes which remain are used during Ash Wednesday Services. However, we need not wait until Ash Wednesday to ask for and receive forgiveness from our gracious Savior and King. Receive communion today in an attitude of repentance and gratitude for all Jesus suffered so that we may have salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just cause..

 We have been in the process of moving and getting settled in a new home and a new church. Things haven't gone as smoothly as I would like but God is still faithful. He has a great group of people who are working hard to get the parsonage we are living in up to a higher standard than it was and make it very livable. We have had help when desperately needed and things are going to work out. I even might get caught up on my writing but not today. However, thanks to everyone who has prayed, helped, and given. 

Crazy Love Story

 

Growing up I remember people giving each other Mizpah charms when they were going to be away from each other. As I grew up and read my Bible I realized this was a horrible thing to do. Give your sweetheart a Mispah charm in the Biblical sense was saying. "I love you, but I never plan on seeing your face again. You have been nothing but trouble for me and if we stayed together someone would end up dead."

Of course, if you said that to some young teenage girl, you might end up dead when their dad got a hold of you. 

Now I realize you might object and say that isn't what this charm says and in one way you would be right. Taken out of context the Mizpah sounds perfectly sappy for a couple in love to say to each other when they are going to be away from each other. 

However, this is not the context in scripture. In Genesis 34, Jacob is fleeing from his Father-in-law, Laben. Laben feels Jacob has robbed him but that is okay because Jacob felt that Laban has robbed him also. These two didn't like or trust each other. God stepped in and to make a long story short they agreed to stay away from one another for as long as they lived. 

The lessons from this; First - there are sometimes godly reasons to stay away from some people. Second - This is actually a horrible valentine's gift for anyone. Just saying.

Devotions with a Twist

 I read a tweet not long ago from someone who wanted a recommendation on a devotional preferably one with humor. I enacted with the person not realizing it was someone I would never have made a recommendation to if I had known who they were. Not that it was a bad recommendation, but it was my own stuff (What was I thinking, duh!)

So where am I going? Though there is some humor in Bible Reflections it wasn't exactly what she was asking for. Therefore, I thought I would give it a try and create 30-40 devotionals that are quirky, funny, ironic, or maybe even FOFL. 

Things like: 

Aaron tells Moses, "I threw gold into a fire, and out came this idol." (REALLY AARON?)

God told Laban and Jacob to go to their rooms.

God telling husbands, "Die to make your wife the best version of herself."

Well see what happens and I might post them more than once a week but I don't want to promise and not deliver so you'll have to wait. I hope it will be worth it. 

God Bless,

CSA

New Journey

Update: Just sent out this email last week.

Dear ST Marks Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I will be leaving my employ with St Mark’s Church on March 5, 2023.  The Global Methodist Church has appointed me as the new pastor of Selma Christ Church in Selma, Indiana. The distance and responsibilities of this new charge make it impossible for me to continue fulfilling the responsibilities for which I was hired here at St Mark’s.

It has been a privilege and an honor to partner in ministry with you. I have learned a lot and appreciate you taking me and my family into yours. I pray that our time here has been as much a blessing for you as it has been for us. We have walked through a lot this past year, we have ended up in a place we never expected, or at least not in the timeframe we imagined, and now God is moving again. I look forward to doing ministry with you in the future, not as the associate pastor but as the pastor of another Global Methodist Church moving forward into the work God has called us into. I’m reminded of the words God gave the children of Israel through Jerimiah “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (29:11 NLT).

May God continue to bless you.  

Sincerely, 

Rev. Charles Wesley Areson