“Abraham and his family lived at Beersheba in the land of the Canaanites for a long time, and it was there where he called on the name of the LORD as the Eternal God, El Olam.” ___________________
π€ I. HISTORICAL 4.
What got me started on this Names of God series of blogs was when I researched and wrote the blog about the 10 times God ‘showed up’ in Abram/Abraham’s life. From the first time, when God appeared to tell him to leave his family, friends and home for the past 75 years, to the tenth time, when he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, although the ages are not exactly known, assuming it was about halfway between his birth and Sarah’s death, was about 45 years. That means God appeared to Abram/Abraham, on average, about once every 5 years after the first time.
I think this situation could be seen as a parallel with our own experience as a Christian.
Even condensing Abraham’s life of 175 years to our average age of 85 years, adjusting the age from him starting at 75 to us starting at 20, we could easily have 5 years between significant encounters with God from 20 to 80 years old.
So, what did Abraham do in between times when God showed up? What should WE do? We have a clue in our theme verse, “…he called on the name of the LORD…”
So, what does “calling on the Name of the Lord” mean?
To understand this practice, it helps to know the cultural situation better.
Worship and identifying with a god was a bigger part of everyone’s lives in those days. Compared to the people of the Bible in Abraham’s place and time over 4,000 years ago, we live in a very godless society.
It seems like, from the Genesis stories, that the peoples of Abraham’s day and region in this earlier part of history were closer to Elohim, the Creator Godhead. He spoke to King Amalek and Pharoah in dreams. There were other priests of God, such as Melchizedek, who served and worshipped Him as El Elyon. And it seemed that God expected a certain level of obedience to His natural laws or He would take a personal hand in punishing or destroying, such as the case of Sodom and Gomorrah.
We are a different people and we live in a different time and place. However, God is still the same, “yesterday, today and forever.” He is still El Olam, the Eternal God, and I believe there are truths about God as displayed to those people, in those countries almost half-way around the world and separated from us by over 4,000 years of history that are still true and meaningful to us today.For the men, “calling on the name of the Lord,” was a public act of worship at an open-air altar. For the women, it was more often a private act at a household altar. In the public event, all of the men in the nomad camp would attend. Abraham would sacrifice an animal from his flocks or herds to his God, and while all or parts of it was burning, offer up words of praise and thanksgiving for what God had done for them since the last time, and then make prayer requests for upcoming needs. This was even done when there were visitors to the encampment, so the ceremony also acted as a witness and testimony about their God.
To summarize, “calling on the Name of the Lord meant:
1. Worship and Praise:Β Public acts of devotion, thanking God, and acknowledging His rule in your life.2. Seeking Help:Β Asking God for protection, wisdom, and provision for upcoming journeys or during difficult times.3. Covenant Identity: Publicly declaring your faith and identifying with your God, thus distinguishing you from surrounding cultures who worshipped different gods.
π€ It seems to me that maybe we could use a little more of this public aspect in our worship today…? _________________
π II. Additional verses:
π Old Testament 4. Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting Godβ΅, the LORD (YHWH), the Maker of the ends of the earth; does not become weary or tired.”
β΅ EloheOlam= the second place where God is specifically named by a variation of the theme name, ElOlam.π New Testament 4. There are several places in Revelation where God describes Himself in a way that means the same as our theme Name–
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,β says the Lord God, βthe beginning and the end;who is, and who was, and who is to come…”Our pastor, J.D. Greear, described what these phrases mean when teaching about Revelation recently, they mean:Β God was there at the beginning of everything, He’ll be there at the END of everything, AND He IS everything in between! What an awesome concept for our awesome God! _____________________
π III. WORSHIP 4: As we’ve seen, the concept of God’s eternal nature is expressed using different words in the Bible. Following are some of those words, verses and concepts, interwoven so that you can pray them back to God in worship.
O ha’Olam, the Eternal One, βΎοΈ π You have loved me with an everlasting love. π Before the foundation of the world, Β Β Β Β Β You knew me. π§β𦲠Before I even drew breath, Β Β Β Β Β You loved me. β€οΈ π Before ever I sought You, Β Β Β Β You died for me,Β βοΈ So that I could be with You forever and ever. βΎοΈΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Amen. ππ I praise You, I glorify You, π I thank You for Your everlasting love β€οΈ Β Β Β That knows no bounds or boundaries. πͺ
When I was lost, you found me. π When I was trapped, You delivered me. π When I was sick in my trespasses and sins, Β Β Β Β You healed me. βοΈ
You’ve saved me from the judgment Β Β Β Β that is to come. βοΈ You’ve lifted me from the clinging mire π£ Β Β Β Β and placed my feet on solid stone. πͺ¨ Even the sting of death β°οΈ Β Β Β Β has been cleansed from my soul. π Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β HallelujahβοΈ πO El Olam, You are the Eternal God, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β with an eternal plan, π Β Β Β Β with an eternal love, β€οΈ You are too wonderful for me to behold.π₯
My mind cannot comprehend Your plan.βοΈ My heart cannot encompass Your love. π You are too great for me π Β Β Β Β In my little piece of space and time. π Β Β Β Β In my tiny, little human mind. π€You reached down from eternity βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β and saved me, even me.πββοΈπββοΈ My thoughts fail me, π Β Β Β Β and fall short of your glory.π₯ My heart fails me, π Β Β Β Β and falls short of your love.β€οΈ My will fails me, π Β Β Β Β and I fall short of Your holiness.π€ The holy, holy, holiness π― βοΈ π¨ Β Β Β Β Of only You, my God in heaven above.You have loved me Β Β Β Β with Your everlasting love, βΎοΈ β€ And have restored me Β Β Β Β with Your grace from above. βοΈ βοΈ Forever I will praise You, π Forever I will love You, π Forever I will know You, π Β Β Β Β and in Your heaven dwell π With You, the Everlasting God, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β The great El Olam.
Later, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God, El Olam… ________________________
π I HISTORICAL READING # 3:π€ WHERE did Abraham get this concept of an eternal God? Let’s look at some of the things God had said to him when He established the covenant, as recorded in Genesis 17.1. Genesis 17:7Β “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant(librit olam), to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”2. Genesis 17:8Β “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession(la’ahuzzat olam); and I will be their God.”
3. Genesis 17:13b “…thus (circumcision) shall be My covenant in your flesh for an everlasting covenant(librit olam).”
4. Genesis 17:19 ‘ButΒ GodΒ said, β…Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlastingcovenant(librit olam) for his descendants after him.”‘
It was God that hammered the idea of eternity (olam) in His covenantal communications with Abram/Abraham. It would make sense that he would use God’s own words to call on Him. After all, God’s words are for us–to tell us and remind us what we need to know about Him and remember from Him. ____________________
π II. INSTRUCTIONAL: This Name for God has three main meanings:
No Beginning or End: God exists outside of human time. El Olam existed before and spans all of past, present, and future history.Unchanging Nature: While the world around us changes and things fade away, El Olam stays the same, “yesterday, today and forever.”Faithful to His Promises:Β The Name El Olam reminds us that God keeps His promises across generations–what He has promised in the past, he stands by now; what He promises us now, He will fulfill in the future at the right time, in HIS timing, because He is also El Elyon, the Sovereign God. ________________________
π III. OTHER VERSES.
Although this Name for God is specifically used only twice in the Hebrew Bible, the concept of an eternal/everlasting God is frequently expressed using the Hebrew word olam and equivalent words in the New Testament. Here are two such verses.
π Old Testament verse3.
1 Chronicles 16:36 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlastingβ΄. Then all the people said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord.”
This verse is at the end of a wonderful song of praise to God written by King David for the dedication and celebration of the ark of the covenant arriving in Jerusalem. (Parts of which are also included in other psalms.) _______________
β΄ ha’Olamwe’adha’Olam – David uses our theme Name for God in his blessing.
π New Testament verse 3. Romans 1:20
In his introduction of the letter to the Christian believers in Rome, Paul states that the basic characteristics of God, the invisible Supreme being, should be obvious by His visible creation.
Although Paul listed those invisible qualities as God’s ‘eternal power and divine nature,’ he could just as easily have reversed the nouns and adjectives to say, ‘His eternal nature and divine power,’ and been just as accurate, and in line with the Hebrew Name, El Olam.
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π IV. WORSHIP: As we have seen, the concept of God’s eternal nature is expressed using different words in the Bible. Following are some of those words, verses and concepts, interwoven so that you can pray them back to God in worship and thanksgiving.
βΎοΈ From everlasting to everlasting, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β Β You are God. βΎοΈ From eternity past to eternity future, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β Β You alone are LORD. βΎοΈ You are the One who was, who is, Β Β Β Β and who forever will be. βΎοΈ There was no one before You, Β Β Β Β And no one is greater than You. You are the π °οΈlpha and the βοΈmega, Β Β Β Β The beginning and the end, βΎοΈ From everlasting to everlasting, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β You are the Eternal God, El Olam.π€² I give thanks to You, O LORD Jehovah, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β For You are faithful, Β Β Β and Your faithfulness endures forever. βΎοΈ π€² I give thanks to You, O God of gods, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β For You are good, Β Β Β Β and Your goodness endures forever. βΎοΈ π€² I give thanks to You, O Lord of lords: Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β For You are love, Β Β Β and Your love endures forever. βΎοΈ π€² I give thanks to You, O God of heaven, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β For You are gracious, Β Β Β Β and Your promises endure forever. βΎοΈ
βΎοΈ To You, AbbΓ‘ Olam, Everlasting Father, π³ββοΈ Β Β Β Β Β I give thanks. π€²And this is eternal life, βΎοΈ π± Β Β Β That I know You, the Eternal Father, βΎοΈπ³ββοΈ And Jesus Christ whom You sent; βοΈ Β Β Β Β The Eternal Son, One with the Father. π And living abundantly, Β Β Β Β Β Your everlasting gift.πAnd this is the eternal covenant that you made π Β Β Β Β with my forefather in the faith, Abraham, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β the father of many, many nations. π±π§ββοΈπ¨βπ¦²π§ With whom I am blessed through His descendent, Β Β Β Β Yeshua, the Savior.βοΈ By whom I am blessed with life everlasting, βΎοΈ In whom I have every heavenly blessing. β¨οΈ For whom I have been blessed and blessed; Β Β Β Β That I might be a blessing to the rest. πAnd this is the eternal joy βΎοΈ π₯³ Β Β Β Β that I have with You and in Him, βοΈ Life in abundance, forever and ever, βΎοΈ π± Fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. π Β Β Β Β A forever family of far-flung kin, π±π§ββοΈπ¨βπ¦²π§π¨β𦳠A home in heaven,Β π Β Β Β Β and world without end. π π π
These are the blessings of El Olam, The Everlasting Father, the Eternal God.
RECAP: In Genesis 20, the Philistine King of Gerar, Abimelek, tangled with Abraham’s God when he took who he thought was Abrahamβs sister for his harem.
The account does not record whether or not Abraham prayed and asked God for help. Although in my opinion he should have asked for guidance before he went to town and for help when his wife was taken, but it doesn’t appear he prayed either time.
When I was researching for the blog on Genesis 20 and noticed that omission, I got the impression that Abraham was still learning what it meant to walk with the God who had called Himself, El Shaddai, ‘The Almighty God.”
It didn’t matter, though; God took the initiative to deal with the situation and King Abimelek was seriously cursed, along with his household. Even though God allowed Abraham to pray for the king and God removed the curse, you could say the experience, “put the fear of God,” into the King. I also think it was intended as a learning experience for Abraham.
So, when King Abimelek heard that the wandering Abraham had returned to the neighborhood, he was just a little worried…
πREAD Genesis 21:22-34
King Abimelech took Phicol, the commander of his army, and a troop of guards and soldiers to see Abraham where he was camped in the countryside near their city.
After the formalities were seen to and everyone was settled, the King said to Abraham, “It is clear that God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. That you will show to me and this country, where you now reside as a sojourner, the same kindness that I have shown to you.β
Abraham said, βI so swear.β
Then Abraham brought up a complaint to King Abimelek about a well of water that he had dug previously and some of King Abimelekβs people had seized it from him.
When King Abimelek heard this, he said, βThis is the first I have heard of it! I donβt know who has done this. You did not tell me when it happened, you’ve only told me about it today.β
(Do you see how nervous the King was about maybe being cursed again because of inadvertently harming Abraham? Abraham didn’t do that to him, God did it because He had promised, “I will curse those who curse you.”)
So Abraham had seven ewe lambs brought from the flock, and King Abimelek asked him, βWhat is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart by themselves?β
Abraham replied, βAccept these seven ewe lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well here,” and the king did. So that place was called Beer-sheba, “Well of the Oath of Seven,” because the two leaders swore an oath there.
After the treaty ceremony and feast had been completed, King Abimelek and his guard returned to Gerar, their city-state in the land of the Philistines.
Later, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God, El Olam. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time afterward… ________________________
π INFORMATIONAL:The Tamarisk tree is especially adapted for the Negev plain where Abram / Abraham wandered with his flocks and herds, but it grows very slowly. The purpose of planting the hardy tree there was to mark the location of the well from a distance and it would provide much-needed shade to pitch the tents under to endure the hot midday sun for future generations.The implication is Abraham had believed God about his descendents inheriting the land, so he was planting for them. Kind of the same idea as planting olive trees, because olive trees take so long to mature and produce abundant olives, the children and grandchildren will benefit more from them, not necessarily the person planting them. =================
Although this Name for God is specifically used only twice in the Hebrew Bible, the concept of an eternal/everlasting God is frequently expressed using the Hebrew word olam and the equivalent words in the Greek New Testament. One of each is being presented with each devotional.
“The God of oldΒΉ is your dwelling place, and underneath are His everlasting armsΒ².”
ΒΉElohe qΙdem = the Ancient God or the God from Antiquity.
Β²zeroβotOlam = and here is our theme Name. ____________________________
π€ This second OT verse is from the blessing of Israel by Moses before his departure. The fact that half of our four key OT verses about the Eternal God are from Moses hints at just how much the time spent in God’s presence led to him understanding more about who God was.
π We have that same opportunity as Moses to learn of God by spending time in daily devotions that include Bible reading, prayer and worship.βοΈHow does it feel to know that your Heavenly Father is holding you in His everlasting arms in the same way that you would hold a child in your arms? _______________________
π IIb. NEW TESTAMENT VERSE 2: Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Hebrews 13:8The writer of Hebrews attributes the same eternal quality to Jesus Christ, describing His unchanging nature using the phrase, ‘yesterday, today and forever ‘ making it clear that Jesus is also God.
π€ We have our relationship with the Eternal God through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.
βοΈHow would you describe your relationship with God and Jesus on the following scale? π
10. I touch base with Him once per day. π€ : : 30. I spend a little time in His Word, in prayer, church, or talking about Him 3 times a day, just like eating my meals, so that I can stay spiritually nourished. π : : 100. I think about Him all the time, just like when I’m separated from someone that I love very much. I see His hand in everything around me. I hear His voice speaking to me through Nature and through my brothers and sisters in the faith. Everything that happens to me reminds me of Him. I can’t wait until I can get home and can spend personal time with Him in praise, worship and devotion. β€οΈ
π Obviously this is a spectrum from a little to a lot when it comes to how we feel about God and Jesus Christ. The point is, we should always be growing from where we are towards more and more of Him in our lives. I hope you are doing that. Do you have a strategy to help you?
Believe it or not, researching and writing my blogs is one way that I’m doing that! AND IT’S WORKING! I suspect I’m benefiting from my blogs more than anyone else. Just thinking about it right now is bringing tears of gratitude to my eyes. π (50)God is so good, He is so great! …and then there is His Son… I really just can’t say enough. =====================
π III. WORSHIP 2:Β Pray the following collection of personalized verses to God, our Eternal Father, and Jesus, our Everlasting Savior, as an act of worship.
O El Olam, Eternal God, βΎοΈ Β Β Β My Heavenly Father, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β AbbΓ‘ d’CelestiΓ‘l mΓ PatrΔ, π³ββοΈ There is no changing or shifting shadow with You. βοΈ You are the same yesterday, today and forever. βΎοΈ
All of your promises are “Yes” through Your Son, βοΈ Β Β Β Β Yeshua ha’Mashiah, He who You sent, – According to Your plan from ages past, – According to Your love from the beginning, β€ Β Β Β π To fulfill the plan of Your Creation, Β Β Β π To fill the Earth with Your goodness, Β Β Β π To fill the World with Your love. Β Β Β π€ To fill my heart with Your Presence.π€² Thank You, Spirit of the Eternal God, βΎοΈ Β Β Β Β Β For making Your home in me. π π€² Thank You, Heavenly Father, Β Β Β Β Β For making a home with You for me. π π€² Thank You, my Eternal Savior, for making a way to the Father. βοΈ
By Your eternal nature You have established this, βΎοΈ By your eternal Word You have promised this, π By Your Eternal Son You have purchased this– βοΈ –redemption, salvation and eternal life. π
H2a4 Names of Godfrom the Beginning 4.El-Olam,“The Eternal God” or “The Everlasting God.”
“The Eternal God” is the fourth Name of God from Genesis that I’ve been looking at. I ended up with too much material for a single blog, again, so I’m splitting it into four devotionals.
π I. HISTORICAL READING 1: Genesis 20:
SETTING THE SCENE In Genesis chapter 20, Abraham and Sarah had moved into the Philistine city of Gerar for a while. Even though Sarah was old by our standards, she was still a very beautiful woman and the King, Abimelek, sent soldiers to bring her to the palace to add to his harem. Abraham had been telling everyone that Sarah was his sister instead of his wife.
That night, God appeared to King Abimelek in a dream and told him that he was a dead man for taking the wife of His chosen one. Since the king had not known, God said he would allow Abraham to pray and end the plague of barrenness for everyone in his household, as the sentence of death included no future generations would be born either.
King Abimelek made a generous restitution to Abraham and Sarah and they moved away. See the following blog for a more in-depth treatment.
However, in Genesis chapter 21, after Isaac was born, Abraham moved the family close to the city of Gerar and when King Abimelek heard about it, he became a little worried… (continued in the next blog.) _________________________
π IIa. OLD TESTAMENT VERSE 1, Psalm 90:2
The actual Name in Hebrew, El Olam, appears only twice, but the word, ‘olam,’ meaning eternal or everlasting, is frequently applied to God in the OT. We’ll look at four of the key verses, one in each devotional.
Psalm 90 is considered the oldest psalm, since it was written by Moses. In verse 2, he uses this phrase, “…even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” In the Hebrew, that is “ume‘OlamadOlam,” the same Hebrew word as our theme Name.
π€ COMMENTARY: I think we can say that Moses understood or came to understand what God meant when He revealed Himself to Moses as “YHWH,” ‘I am that I am;’ meaning He was the self-existent God.
YHWH was not the product of people’s imagination, as the historical cultural gods were. He was not an idol made by someone’s hands and declared to be a god. He was the God who initiated creation of the Universe, with the implication that He exists outside of His creation and is not subject to its limitations, including time.
God as the ‘Initiator’ can be seen throughout the Bible in that He initiated contact with the people he chose in Genesis, then with Moses, with prophets throughout the nation of Israel’s history, and finally by sending His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ.
π IIb. NEW TESTAMENT VERSE 1. There are also many NT verses with the same idea of the ‘Eternal God.’ We’ll also look at four key ones, one each in the four devotionals.
1. In Romans 1:20, Paul’s dissertation to the Christian believers in Rome, he states that the basic characteristics of God, that is, the invisible Supreme being, should be obvious by His visible creation.
π€ COMMENT: Although Paul listed those invisible qualities as God’s “eternal power and divine nature,” he could just as easily have reversed the nouns and adjectives to say, ‘His eternal nature and divine power,’ and been just as accurate, and in line with the Hebrew Name, “El Olam.” __________________________
π III. WORSHIP 1. Earlier, I mentioned how the Eternal God was the initiater of Creation and of contact with many of the people in Genesis. It was because He had a plan; a plan to save a remnant from this sin-stained world, and we are the beneficiaries of that plan today. Pray the following from various verses about the Eternal God and His plan as a way to worship and thank Him for His initiative.
Thank You, Jesus and JehovahEl Olam, The Everlasting LORD God, βΎοΈ π °οΈ The beginning and the end, βοΈ
π€² Thank You that You came to save me. βοΈ π€² Thank You that You prayed for me; π That I would know You, Jesus, the Christ βοΈ And through You Your Father, the Everlasting God, βΎοΈ π€² Thank You for the Good News of Your salvation. βοΈ π€² Thank You for the gospel of Your love, β€οΈ –Your undying love, Thank You My Eternal, Heavenly Father. βΎοΈ
One day, not long after Jacob and all of his family had moved to Goshen in Egypt, word came to Joseph, βYour father is failing rapidly.β So Joseph went to visit his father, and took with him his two sons, Manasseh and EphraimWhen Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, βYour son Joseph has come to see you.β So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed.
Jacob said to Joseph, βGod Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, βI will make you fruitful, and I will multiply your descendants. I will make you a multitude of nations. And I will give this land of Canaan to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.β
βNow, I am claiming as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will be my sons, just as Reuben and Simeon are my sons.
Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. βAre these your sons?β he asked.
βYes,β Joseph told him, βthese are the sons God has given me here in Egypt.β
And Jacob said, βBring them closer to me, so I can bless them.β Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see. So Joseph brought the boys close to him, and Jacob kissed and embraced them.
Then Jacob said to Joseph as tears ran down his weathered face βI never thought I would see your face again, but now God has let me see you and your children, too!β
Joseph moved the boys, who were at their grandfatherβs knees, in front of Jacob. With his right hand he directed Ephraim, the younger son, toward Jacobβs left hand, and with his left hand he put Manasseh, the firstborn son, at Jacobβs right hand. But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boysβ heads. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, though he was the younger boy, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, though he was the firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and the boys saying,
βMay the God before whom my grandfather Abraham Β Β Β and my father, Isaac, walkedβ The God who has been my shepherd Β Β Β all my life, to this very day, The Angel who has protected me from all harmβ Β Β Β May he bless these boys. May they preserve my name, Β Β Β and the names of Abraham and Isaac. And may their descendants multiply greatly Β Β Β throughout the earth.β
But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraimβs head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraimβs head to Manassehβs head. βNo, my father,β he said. βThis one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.β
But his father refused. βI know what I have done, my son,β he replied.
Then Jacob said to Joseph, βLook, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, to the land of your ancestors. _________________
π€ It looked like everything was going well between Jacob, his son Joseph, and his two grandsons when Jacob changed things up.
The tradition was that the primary blessing would be passed to the older son. The laying of the right hand indicated which son would receive the double portion. However, despite Joseph’s careful maneuvering to have his older son on the right side of his half-blind father, Jacob crossed his arms and awarded the double portion to the younger son.
π€ Jacob was not a stranger to crossed blessings. When his mother was having a difficult first pregnancy, she went to a prophet to seek help from God. She was given a prophecy that she had twins and that the older would serve the younger. This was very much in contradiction to tradition, as was Jacob’s mixed-up blessing of Joseph’s two sons.
βοΈ Do you have certain ideas about how God should do things? Maybe it’s just the expectations of tradition. Maybe it’s based on what you want Him to do. It may come as a surprise to you, but God is not limited to our expectations or desires!
π God has His own plans for the salvation of the world and His own ways of doing things. As He says in Isaiah 55:9:
π Are you aware of any ways that you might be trying to make things happen the way you think they should come out, rather than trusting in and waiting on GodβοΈ
π Have some things you’ve been praying about played out differently than you were expectingβοΈ
βΉοΈ Does it appear God is not even answering your prayers about somethingβοΈ
π€ What can you learn from this situation with Jacob passing on blessings from God to his grandsons, while Joseph tries to manipulate things to come out the way he’s expecting them to, that will help you ‘let go and let God?’
____________________II. INSTRUCTIONAL Reading 5, Job 22, Eliphaz Speaks Again
(THEME) What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would He gain if your ways were blameless?
The atheists say to God, “Leave us alone! β’ What can the Almighty do for us? β’ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? β’ What would we gain by praying to him?”
(Eliphaz says about them:) Let them see their destruction with their own eyes; Let let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty!
(CONCLUSION) But Job, if you return to the Almighty, then you will be restored; If you remove wickedness far from your house. then the Almighty will be your treasure, He will be like fine silver for you.
Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty? Surely then you will be able to lift your face to God?
π€ Just as before, Job’s friend thinks Job has been cursed by God–that he has lost everything he had and been stricken with illness because of some great sin. Eliphaz says, in essence, “Quit saying you’re innocent and repent, already.Β God will forgive you if you’ll just repent!”
This is a truth about God and in principle he is right, but in application he was totally off base.
π€ There is a lot we can learn about responding to suffering from persecution (the meaning of Job) from this book of the Bible. In order to stay with the flow of these devotions about El Shaddai, I’m going to publish that in a separate blog before I move on to the next Name of God. But think about this one personal thing:
π Do you sometimes come across as accusatory when talking with people who are having some kind of difficulty, or are suffering pain from some event or loss? βοΈ
Yes, Lord God, Almighty, πͺ True and righteous are Your judgments.
No one can stand against You Β Β Β Β on the day of your judgment, Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β O God, Almighty. πͺ
Every city will fall ππππ Β Β Β Β on that great and terrible day, Every island will flee π Β Β Β Β from the outpouring of Your wrath, The mountains will bow before You Β Β Β and be no more. π But I will be sheltered Β Β Β Β in the shadow of Your wings. π¦ I remember the words of Your Son, Your Only Begotten Son and my Savior, Β Β Β Β Jesus Christ, βοΈ
“Behold I am coming like a thief, π₯· Like a thief in the night when no one expects it.”
“Blessed is the one who stays awake; πͺ Β Β Β Β Those who are alert and ready Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β when the Bridegroom comes. π°ββοΈ Blessed are those who buy robes from Him, Β Β Β Β Robes of righteousness that cover their sin. π₯Ό Blessed are those whose sins are covered when He comes, π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈ Β Β Β Β Who stand before Him without shame. For God’s judgment will pass over them, Β Β Β Β When that day comes.” π
π THANK YOU, JESUSβοΈ
Thank You for warning me to be alert Β Β Β Β and I will be! π Thank You for Your robe of righteousness Β Β Β Β that covers my sin. π₯Ό Thank you for the forgiveness Β Β Β Β in which I stand. π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈ Thank You that I don’t have to be afraid Β Β Β Β of God’s Judgment Day. π€²
I. HISTORICAL READING 4: Calling on El Shaddai for Mercy
BACK STORY:– A severe famine strikes the Middle East and it doesn’t rain for seven years.
– As the food stores run out, Jacob/Israel and his family living in Canaan, hears that there is food in Egypt.– Jacob/Israel sends his 10 sons in a caravan to Egypt to buy food for them, but keeps His youngest son, Benjamin, at home with him. He still has not recovered from Rachel’s death, his first and best love, and the loss of her other son, Joseph. – When the 10 brothers go to see the special governor overseeing the famine response in Egypt, they don’t realize it is their brother Joseph that they sold to slave traders about 22 years before.Joseph recognizes his brothers, but does not reveal himself to them. Instead, he decides to test them to see if they have become better people.1. First he accuses them of being spies for a foreign country. When they defend themselves, they mention their elderly father and youngest brother, Benjamin. 2. Next, Joseph says he will believe them if they bring their brother back with them when they come to buy food the next time.3. However, to make sure they will come back, one of the brothers must stay behind as a prisoner. 4. For the last test, Joseph has the servants place their payment–bags of gold and silver–in the mouth of the sacks of grain for the 10 men. They discover it when they make their first stop on the way back and open a bag for some food. – Now the food from Egypt has run out and they need to make another trip, but they HAVE to take their youngest brother to get their other brother out of jail. And what are they going to do about the original payment they found stuffed in with the grain?
At this point we see the God-blessed wisdom from old Jacob/Israel.π READ: Genesis 43:11-15; Then their father Israel said to his sons,
βIf you must go back to Egypt, then do this: take some of the best products of the land, and carry them down to the Egyptian ruler as a present–a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
“Take double the money to pay for the grain this time, and take back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake.
“Take your brother, Benjamin, also, and return to Egypt; and may El-Shaddai,God Almighty, grant you mercy in the sight of the Egyptian ruler, so that he will release to you your other brother and allow Benjamin to return also.
“And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, then I am bereaved.β
So the sons of Israel took presents, and they took double the money, and they took Benjamin; and then they arose and went down to Egypt to face once more the ruler…who was their long-lost brother, Joseph.
π€ When faced with what looked like an impossible situation, where he was going to lose at least one of his sons, Jacob/Israel falls back on his God, El Shaddai, as a source of hope. It wasn’t a great statement of faith, “MAYBE El-Shaddai will grant you mercy in his eyes.”
A lot of bad things had happened in Jacob’s life the past few years. The great love of his life, Rachel, had died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Jacob’s father and mother, of course, had passed away. His other sons had engaged in some outrageous scandals, filling him with great disappointment. In response, Jacob was clinging even more tightly to his youngest son, Benjamin. In a way, he was looking for this last son to be the success his older brother Joseph had been becoming, just before he was ravaged by wild beasts, or so Jacob believed. Benjamin was Jacob’s last hope of leaving a legacy of success.
The heart attitude, when we try to feel successful through the achievements of our children, is one of selfish self-centeredness. Jacob was putting his hope in something less than the God who had called him. God acted to break that false hope and re-center it where it should have been, on Himself.There was also a lot going on behind the scenes that Jacob didn’t know about–God’s plans to preserve the extended family from the famine and move them to Egypt where they could grow into a mighty people–part of His covenantal promise realized and the next step in His plan.
π We tend to have the same wrong heart attitudes that father Jacob exhibited, because they are common human failings.
π Have you fixed your heart on someone as more important to you than God is? That is the essence of idolatry.πΏ
βοΈDo you see where God is putting you in a situation where you need to detach heartstrings from your ‘idol’ and re-attach to Him? If so, how do you think you can make it easier on yourself?
π Do you realize God is active behind the scenes, carrying out His plan for salvation? You might not be aware of specifics, but you can be sure that He is. How can you integrate this understanding into how you respond to problems as they crop up?
Lyrics: Vs. 1. You are here, moving in our midst I worship You, I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You, I worship You
(Chorus) You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are. You are, Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, Light in the darkness, My God, That is who You are.
Vs 2. You are here, touching every heart I worship You, I worship You You are here, healing every heart I worship You, I worship You You are here, turning lives around I worship You, I worship You You are here, mending every heart I worship You, I worship You
That is who You are, That is who You are That is who You are, That is who You are.
Even when I donβt see it, Youβre working Even when I donβt feel it, Youβre working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working.
“Be quiet and let me speak now, then let come to me what may.
“Oh, that someone would listen me! Look, here is my signed complaint, And the indictment which my adversary has written against me.”
“Why do I put myself in jeopardy – and take my life in my hands by calling on God? Even though He slays me, Yet I will still hope in Him. I will surely defend myself to His face. Indeed, this will actually turn out for my deliverance, Because an atheist would not dare come before Him!
“How many wrongs and sins have I committed? God, show me my offenses and my sin. Why do you hide your face from me – and consider me your enemy?”
“Only grant me these two things, O God, β’ and then I will not cower from You: Withdraw Your hand far from me, β’ and stop frightening me with terror. Then summon me and I will answer, β’ or let me speak, and then You reply to me.”
CONCLUSION: “Let the Almighty answer me! For I’ve done nothing wrong, I deserve my day in the heavenly court!”
π² WOWβοΈWhat do you think about Job demanding a personal audience with God, where he can state his complaints, present his case for innocence, and then call God to account for making a mistake? π€
Words that come to mind are presumptuous, pretentious and preemptory.
DEFINITIONS:
1. Presumptuous = overly confident in an expectation or assumption, especially in a way that is rude.
β οΈ Job was presuming he had the right to demand God give an accounting for what had happened to him. That implies Job thought he was greater than God.2. Pretentious = having or showing an excessive appreciation of one’s own merits.
β οΈ Job didn’t think he had done anything to deserve such harsh treatment and that God was wrong for allowing it to happen. Job was magnifying his importance.3. Preemptory = acting out of turn, taking someone else’s role or authority for yourself.
β οΈ Job felt like he had the right to demand God answer his complaints. It doesn’t work that way. God demands an accounting from us, not the other way around.
π What about you? Do you sometimes feel God is letting you down and not meeting your expectations?
π₯± I think our tendency is just to ignore God when we’re not getting what we want and start looking to get it for ourselves somewhere else. π That makes us functional atheists. Maybe He’s not the One who walked away.
π Say what you will about how off base Job and his friends could be, at least they understood the preeminence of God in the world and life. We no longer see the hand of God in everything, especially compared to our forefathers of the faith, even in the United States. Maybe that’s because we’re not looking. Maybe it’s because we’re not seeking God in prayer for our needs, then waiting for Him to act when the time is right.
βοΈCan you think of some need in your life right now where you’ve lost faith in God’s provision?
βοΈHow do you think you can walk that back and trust in God again, rather than demanding you get what you want, how you want it and when you want it?
_______________________
III. WORSHIP4. Revelation 15, Pause Before the Final Seven Plagues:
SETTING THE SCENE:
“I, John, saw in heaven another great and marvelous sight:
“Seven angels with the last seven plagues,Β the final plagues of God’s judgment; And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire.”“Standing beside the sea were those who had been victorious over the Beast, and over his image, and over the number of his name, which is 666, even though it had cost them their lives on the Earth.
“They held harps given to them by God and they played the harps and sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and then they sang the song of the Lamb…”Song of Moses 2 – Deuteronomy 32, (Begin praying back to God.)
I praise Your name O LORD Yahweh; I praise Your greatness, O my God! π You are my Rock, Your actions are perfect, and all Your ways are right.
You are a righteous God who does no wrong, You are faithful and true. You are our Father, our Creator, You made us and You formed us. There is no God besides You.
You put to death and You bring back to life, You wound us and You heal us. βοΈ No one can escape out of Your hand. No one can escape the wrath of Your judgment.
You will avenge the blood of Your servants; You will punish Your enemies – for what they have done, βοΈ For what they have done to Your people, – and for what they have done to me.
Selah (Pause and think about it.) π€ __________________________________________
(The song of the Lamb,π continue praying back to God.)
Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! πͺ Righteous and true are Your ways.
You’re King of the nations! π You’re King of ALL the nations!
I revere You, O Lord; π For You alone are holy, I glorify Your name! For You alone are worthy.
I bow in worship to You, π Because Your righteouness will be revealed– When Your justice is made clear; When Your power’s no longer concealed.
You’re the God who lives for ever and ever. Heaven is filled with Your glory and power. I fall down before Your Greatness in honor, I declare You, O God, my Lord forever. π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈ
BACK STORY: Genesis 28, Jacobβs DreamAs Jacob was traveling to Harran, he stopped at a convenient place for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. As he slept, Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
There above it stood the Lord, and He said: βI am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
I am with you, β’ and I will watch over you wherever you go, β’ and I will bring you back to this land. β’ I will not leave you until β’ I have done what I have promised you.β
When Jacob woke up from the dream, he thought, βSurely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.β He was touched by the fear of God and said, βHow awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God; this is the Gate of Heaven.βThe next morning when Jacob got up, he took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Beth-El, the House of God.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, βIf God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking, and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear, so that I return safely to my fatherβs household, then the Lord will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a pillar will be Godβs house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.β ___________________ Twenty years later…
β’ Jacob has married…twice. β’ He’s had 12 sons, as well as many daughters, by his wives and their two maids. β’ He has prospered while working for his uncle by the blessing of God, gaining not only a large household, but extensive flocks and servants. β’ He’s returned to Canaan and reconciled with Esau. β’ He moved his flocks and people to Shechem to put space between his and Esau’s extensive families, households and flocks and herds.
And now we pick up the story…Genesis 35:1-12;Jacob Moves to Bethel
Then God appeared to Jacob in Shechem and said, βArise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.β
So Jacob traveled to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, along with all his household, flocks and herds. He built an altar there and called the place El-Bethel, “The House of God,” because God had revealed Himself to him there when he fled from his brother.
Then God appeared to Jacob again there, and He blessed him. God said to him,
βYour name is Jacob; But you shall no longer be called Jacob, β’ Instead Isra-el shall be your name. For you have struggled with God β’ and with men, β’ and you have triumphed.
Thus God named him ‘Israel.’ God also said to him,
βI am El-Shaddai,God Almighty;
Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a multitude of nations β’ shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. The land which I gave to Abraham and to Isaac, β’ I will give it to you, And I will give the land to your descendants after you.β
___________________
π€ Thoughts to ponder: God reaffirmed His choice of Jacob to continue the line of the Messiah by repeating the promises of the covenant made to his grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, and with his father Isaac.
Was Jacob chosen because he was a great guy, deserving of these special blessings and promises from God?
Well, NOT REALLY!
The Bible says, “God chooses whom He chooses.” (See Romans 9:18). It’s not that the people God chooses to carry out His plans are particularly qualified, instead God breaks them, then re-makes them and molds them into the people He needs them to be. We can see this in the story of Jacob, also in the story of his eleventh son, Joseph.
π God does that in our lives too. This principle is often summarized in the quote,
The ‘equipping’ process is often stepwise–we find ourselves in a difficult position and as we deal with it, we find we have to develop in a certain way. But one step is not the end of the process–it’s a lifelong process if you choose to walk with God and follow Jesus.
βοΈWhen you look back at your life so far, do you see times and places where God was ‘equipping’ you to do things for Him through difficult circumstances?
When we gain that perspective, it can help us with our faith in God when we find ourselves having to go through difficulties again.
βοΈIs there some current difficulty that a fresh perspective of the sovereignty of God could help you deal with it better in faith and trust in God? _______________________
π II. INSTRUCTIONAL READING 3.
Job 11: ZOPHAR speaks,(THEME 1) “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of theAlmighty?
They are higher than the heavens aboveβ β’ What can you do? They are deeper than the depths belowβ β’ How can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth β’ and wider than the sea. If He comes along and convenes a court of judgment, β’ who can oppose him? Surely He recognizes deceivers; β’ and when he sees evil, does he not take notice?”(THEME 2) “If you devote your heart to Him β’ and stretch out your hands to Him, If you put away the sin that is in your life β’ and allow no evil to dwell in your home; Then, free of fault, you can lift up your face; β’ You will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, β’ recalling it only as water under the bridge. Life will be brighter than noonday, β’ and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, β’ because there is hope; You will look around β’ and be able to take your rest in safety. You will lie down, β’ with no one to make you afraid, And many will court your favor.”
(CONCLUSION) “If we do right, we have no reason to be ashamed before God.” _________________
π Zophar made the same mistake as Eliphaz in trying to put God into a neat, little, cause-and-effect box where he felt he could control how God treated him. The things he said could be considered generally true on the surface, but there was a deeper truth he was missing.
π€ Think about Zophar’s conclusion and compare it to the ‘bad news’ part of the gospel. For example, verses in Romans say, “There are none good, no, not even one.” And, “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Does it sound like Zophar understands the full picture?
_______________________
π III. WORSHIP 3. Revelation 11:13-18
SETTING THE SCENE: “…there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified, but gave glory to the God of heaven. Thus the second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.”
The Seventh Trumpet: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:”
(Begin praying back to God)
“Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven…”βThe kingdoms of this world are Your kingdoms, β’ Our Lord and our Christ, And You will reign over them forever and ever.βAlong with the twenty-four elders β’ Who sit on their thrones before You, O God, I fall on my face and worship You.
I give You thanks, O Lord God, Almighty, β’ Who is and who was, Because by Your great power β’ You reign over heaven and Earth.Let the nations rebel, β’ And rage against Your rule. The day of Your wrath will come, β’ When You judge the living and the dead. The time of Your judgment will come, β’ When you destroy those who destroy Your Earth.
But the blessed day of our hope will come too, When You reward me, Your bond-servant, β’ Along with Your prophets β’ And Your holy saints, When you call out all who fear Your Name, β’ The small and the great from the grave. To be forever with You, our eternal reward.
Though I am small in Your sight, β’ I choose to serve You with all that I am. Although I am ignorant of Your Word, β’ I choose to listen to it through Your prophets. Though my sins have stained me scarlet, Yet You have sanctified me by the blood of Your Christ, β’ And washed me white as snow.
Though my eyes fall short, sometimes, of seeing Your glory, β’ Yet I revere and honor Your Name,
You are the Lord God ALMIGHTY!
Although I deserve to be condemned by Your judgment, β’ And destroyed forever, Yet You have chosen to save me, β’ And give me eternal life with You.
Thank you, Lord God Almighty. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Setting the scene: Genesis 27: When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau, his older son, and said to him, βI am now an old man and donβt know how much longer I have before I die. Now then, get your bow and arrows and hunt some wild game for me. Prepare the kind of savory stew that I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.β
Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to Esau. So when Esau left for the country to hunt, she said to her favorite son, Jacob, βI overheard your father say to your brother Esau, βBring me some game and prepare me some savory stew to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.β Now, my son, go out to the flock and select two choice young goats, so I can prepare some savory stew for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.β
Jacob then said to his mother, βBut my brother Esau is a hairy man, while I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would be discovered as tricking him and I would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.β But his mother said to him, βLet me worry about the curse. Just do what I say; go and get the goats for me.β
So he went and picked out two young goats and brought them to his mother. She prepared some savory stew with them, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took some clothes she had of Esau, her older son, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered the back of his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the skins from the goats. Then she gave Jacob the savory stew and the bread she had made to take to his father.
Then Jacob went in to his father and said, βMy father.β βYes, my son,β Isaac answered. βWho is it?β Jacob replied, βI am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.β
So, Jacob moved closer to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, βThe voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.β He did not recognize him as Jacob for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau.
But then he asked one more time, βAre you really my son Esau?β
βI am,β Jacob replied.
Then Isaac said, βMy son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.β
Jacob brought the bread and stew to him, and some wine to drink with it. Then when his father was finished eating, Isaac blessed him saying,
God will give to you heavenβs dew, β’ and earthβs richnessβ β’ and abundance of grain and new wine. Nations will serve you, β’ and peoples will bow down to you. You will be lord over your brothers, β’ and the sons of your mother will bow down to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, β’ and those who bless you will be blessed.β
After Isaac finished blessing him, Jacob had barely left his father before Esau came back from hunting. He prepared some savory stew and brought it to his father saying, βMy father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.β
His father Isaac asked him, βWho are you?β
βI am your son,β he answered, βyour firstborn, Esau.β
Then Isaac trembled violently and said, βWho was it, then, that brought game to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed himβand indeed he will be blessed!β When Esau heard his fatherβs words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, βBless me too, my father!β
But Isaac said, βYour brother has come deceitfully and taken your blessing. I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have blessed him with grain and new wine. So what more can I possibly do for you, my son?β
Esau said, βIsnβt he rightly named ‘Jacob’? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then Esau wept loudly.
Esau held a grudge against Jacob after that, because of the stolen blessing his father had given to him. He said to himself, βThe days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.β
When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had been saying, she sent for Jacob and told him, βYour brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you after your father dies. Now then, my son, flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him until your brotherβs fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, Iβll send word for you to come back from there.”
__________________
π€ Think about it…
βοΈ What attitude do you think Isaac had toward Jacob after the deception?
βοΈ Do you think Isaac would be supportive in any way toward Jacob after this? ___________________
Genesis 28, the story continues…
So, when Isaac heard Jacob was leaving, he called for him and blessed him further, saying,
“May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a multitude of peoples.”
“May He give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”
Isaac also commanded Jacob saying, βDo not marry a Canaanite woman. When you arrive in Paddan Aram, go directly to the house of your motherβs father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your motherβs brother.”
Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and Jacob left for Paddan Aram. ________________
βοΈDid you see that coming? After Jacob had stolen the blessing of the firstborn by deceiving his father, Isaac actually blessed Jacob further with the blessings God had given Abraham, for “he and his descendents.” So now Jacob becomes the official carrier of God’s promise to the next generation. It would appear that Isaac had come to accept the passing on of God’s blessing from Abraham to him, Isaac, now to Jacob, as a ‘done deal.’
It makes more sense in this light that Isaac would be concerned about who Jacob marries, because his wife would become a co-inheritor of the blessing, just like Sarah was. __________________
II. INSTRUCTIVE 2. Job 8, BILDAD says,
“Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?” (THEME)
“But if you will seek God earnestly, β’Β and plead with the Almighty; If you are pure and upright, β’Β even now He will rouse himself on your behalf; β’ and restore you to your prosperous state. Your beginnings will seem humble, β’Β so prosperous will your future be.”
“Ask the former generation, β’Β and find out what their ancestors learned; For we were born only yesterday and know nothing, β’Β and our days on earth are but a shadow. – Will they not instruct you and tell you? – Will they not speak words from their understanding?”“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless, β’ or strengthen the hands of evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, β’ and your lips with shouts of joy.”
(CONCLUSION) “Because God does not pervert justice, β’ nor does the Almighty pervert what is right.” __________________
π€ Ponder this: Bildad thought Job was suffering because Job had sinned. Bildad had placed God in a ‘box’ where he thought everything was simple and straight forward. That is, if you do good, God will reward you. If you sin, God will punish you.
βοΈDo you see ways that you believe this overly simple concept of who God is in your own thinking?
π€ The Jews in Jesus’ time had turned this idea around. They believed that if you were prosperous, that you had been approved by God and that He had blessed you.
The flip side was that if you were poor, had been born with a disability, or had some bad things happen to you (like Job), that you had been judged by God for either your sins, or maybe your parents’.
βοΈ Did Jesus agree with this belief about how God rewarded and punished people?
βοΈWhat do you believe about suffering versus prosperity and God’s part in it? __________________
III. WORSHIP2. Revelation 4, God’s Heavenly Throne
Setting the scene: “In the spirit I, John, found myself in heaven and I saw in front of me a throneΒ with Someone sitting on it.Β And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasperΒ and ruby.Β A rainbowΒ that shone like an emeraldΒ encircled the throne.”
“Surrounding the great throne were twenty-four lesser thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.”
“From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea made of glass, as clear as crystal.”
“Around the throne were four living creatures. The first creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle. And the four living creatures, day and night, do not cease to say…”
(Now pray to God in worship)
βHoly, holy, holy are You, Lord God, Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”
I give glory and honor and thanks; π β’ to You Who sits on the throne of heaven, πͺ β’ to You Who lives forever and ever. βΎοΈ
I bow down before You π β’ Who rules from the throne, πͺ I worship You π β’ Who lives forever and ever, βΎοΈ
I cast my rewards before Your throne, π For You are more worthy, π₯ β’ my Lord and my God, π You are worthy to receive π€² β’ glory and π₯ β’ honor and π β’ power.πͺ
You are worthy, π₯ β’ because You created all things. π You are worthy, π₯ β’ because of Your will all things exist, βοΈ
You are worthy, π₯ β’ because You created me.πββοΈπββοΈ You are worthy, π₯ β’ because for Your will I exist. π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈ
I love You, β€οΈ I adore You, π I worship You, Lord God Almighty, π I worship You on Your heavenly throne!πͺ
π The following 6 devotionals on El Shaddai, ” God Almighty,” and Shaddai, the “Almighty” pull from:
1. The six occurrences in Genesis, which give us historical context, 2. Six passages about the Almighty in Job, which are very instructive, and 3. Six episodes of worship of the Lord God Almighty in heaven as described in Revelation.
It will be the ones from Revelation that are most appropriate to pray back to God and Jesus as worship.
God speaks to Job from the whirlwind.
π€ REFLECT: God as the ‘Almighty,’ Shaddai, was already known in Abram’s time from a Middle Eastern oral tale of suffering from persecution, called in the Hebrew “Iyov,” that was later codified and expanded into what we know as “The Book of Job.” Thirty-one of the 48 Old Testament uses of Shaddai appear in Job.
Up until Genesis 17, the Name of the God that had called Abram to leave his home and family was not stated, instead, whenever God was mentioned, as in Genesis 13:18, YHWH is used in the existing manuscripts. Some Bible interpreters point to these passages as indications that YHWH was a known Name of God prior to the burning bush revelation in Exodus. However, that interpretation directly contradicts God’s own statement in Exodus 6:3,
“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddaiβ’God Almighty’βbut I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them.”
Instead, history points to a movement among Jewish scribes called the “Yahweists.” They went back to Genesis and changed many references using God’s other names to YHWH, so there was no doubt this was the same God of Israel. Since that is how the existing manuscripts read now, thousands of years later, that is how they are translated.
I.HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Questions to ponder: π€ 1. What did God do? 2. What did the people do? 3. What did God promise to do in the future? 4. What did God expect the people to do in the future?
π READING 1a: Genesis 17:1-8, 25-29; God’s Covenant withAbraham and Sarah
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said, βI am El-Shaddai,God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless. β’ I will establish My covenant between Me and you, β’ and I will multiply you exceedingly.β
Abram fell on his face, as God continued talking with him, saying,
βAs for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. β’ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and β’ I will make nations of you, and β’ Kings will come forth from you.
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. . .”
Then God said to Abraham, βAs for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her greatly, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.βThen Abraham fell down and laughed, and said in his heart, βWill a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?β
But God said, βSarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”
π€ REFLECT: What word(s) or phrase(s) did you notice that God, El Shaddai, used over and over again in His message?
What do these repetitions reveal to you about God Almighty?
___________________ II. π INSTRUCTIONAL from Job:
In Job there is a lot of correct theology, but some very incorrect assumptions about the why of what happened to Job. While the things said about God in Job are generally true, the Almighty is infinitely so much more than our finite minds can grasp.
π€ Question to ponder, what do we learn about God Almighty from this passage?
π READING 1b. Job 5, Eliphaz says…, Suffering is fatherly discipline, not arbitrary cruelty.
βBlessed is the man who God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.β (THEME)
For He wounds, but He also binds up; β’ He injures, but His hands also heal. From six calamities He will rescue you; β’ Even in seven no harm will touch you.
In famine He will deliver you from death, β’ and in battle from the slash of the sword. You will be protected from the harsh tongue, β’ and need not fear when destruction draws nears. In fact, you will laugh at destruction and famine!
You need not fear even wild animals. For you will have a treaty with the fields, β’ So that the wild animals will be at peace with you. You will know that your house is secure; β’ You will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. You will know that your children will be many, β’ and your descendents will be plentiful like the grass. You will come to the grave in full vigor, β’ like sheaves gathered in harvest time.
(CONCLUSION) So, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty, because He will bless those whom He corrects.”
π€ REFLECT: These statements could be interpreted as promises. What do you think you would have to do to receive these promises from God? _______________________
III. WORSHIP: Praying back to God. πRevelation 1:5-8; A Doxology to Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus Christ βοΈ, my Lord and Savior: You are the Faithful Witness for God, β’ Your and my Heavenly Father. You are the firstborn from the dead. π
Thank You for giving me this assurance that I too will rise from the dead on the Last Day. All power and authority have been given to You, Jesus, βοΈ β’ You are the ruler of all the kings of the earth. π I submit myself to Your rule over me as my Lord. π
Thank You for loving me, Jesus, π β’ and for redeeming me from my sins by Your blood.β€οΈ Thank You, Jesus, for sanctifying me π€ β’ and making me a part of Your kingdom of priests to God, Your Father.
( To Him be glory and dominion forever and everβοΈ)
Thank You, Jesus, that You will come back with the clouds, β οΈβοΈ β’ and every eye will see You, π β’ and the nations will mourn over You, πͺ But I will rejoice as I rejoice over You now! π₯³ HallelujahβοΈ
Jesus, you’ve promised that this shall be so, π world without end, βΎοΈ π I accept it in faith and believe. π πAmen and amenβοΈ
β The first name, Elohim, used ~2,600 times in the Hebrew Bible, established that there was a pre-existent, supernatural being that created the heavens and the Earth, and still claimed dominion over and possession of all His creation.
This is basically the definition of “God,” and Elohim is interpreted as such in English. In the Bible, we, as a part of His creation, are expected to acknowledge and worship Elohim, God the Creator, as He deserves.
β The second name, Elyon, used only 53 times on the Hebrew Bible, emphasizes God’s preeminence in His creation–the ultimate Authority and Supreme Judge. He didn’t just create the Universe and walk away, as some people think and some religions teach. He has a vested interest, especially in us, because we were made in His image. He has expectations for how we live our lives, and El Elyon, God Almighty, will hold us accountable.
π€ REFLECT This third of the three most common Genesis Names for God, El-Shaddai, used 48 times in the Hebrew Bible, is translated as ‘God Almighty.’ It is the first time we see God get personal. El-Shaddai is God’s covenant Name with Abram and his descendents, inheritors of God’s promises to: 1. Become a great nation and 2. Messiah will come through their lineage.
These blogs on El-Shaddai will be divided into seven devotional segments. There are six passages in Genesis where El-Shaddai is used by the Patriarchs, but then historically it drops to just an occasional use by Israel in the rest of the Old Testament, having been replaced by a new covenantal Name. I will be pairing these six passages with six New Testament passages where the Greek translation of ‘Almighty’ is used in the worship of God and the exalted Jesus Christ.
πΆ RECORDING ππ Before we repeat a passage back to God as El-Shaddai in prayer, there is a very pretty contemporary worship song using some of the names of God, especially featuring this week’s name, “El Shaddai.” Listening to it always puts me in a worshipful frame of mind and it helps with the pronunciation of some of the Hebrew names for God.
written by Michael Card and John Thompson, recorded by Amy Grant, 1982
LYRICS EXPLANATION:
Divine Names and Hebrew Phrases (Chorus)
El Shaddai“ = “God Almighty” first revealed to Abraham in Genesis 17:1.
“El Elyon na Adonai“ = Combines “God Most High,” Genesis 14:22, with the Hebrew particle of entreaty, na, meaning “O” or “we beseech you” and Adonai, “My Lord.”Erkamka na Adonai ” = from Psalm 18:1, “I love you, O Lord.”Age to age You’re still the same” reflects God’s unchanging nature. In Genesis, Abraham calls Him El Olam, ‘The Everlasting God.’
Old Testament Deliverance and Provision (Verse 1)
“Through your love and through the ram, You saved the son of Abraham.” Refers to the binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah where God provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice (Genesis 22:13). Jehovah Jireh.“Through the power of Your hand, You turned the sea into dry land.” The parting of the Red Sea during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:21β22, Psalm 74:13.)“To the outcast on her knees, You were the God who really sees.” This is Hagar in the wilderness naming God, El Roi, “the God Who Sees Me”, Genesis 16:13.“And by Your might, You set your children free.” The liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15, 6:21, and 7:8:). _______________________
The rest of this first blog for El-Shaddai contains a personalized devotion from Psalm 91, a very well-known use of El-Shaddai in one of only three of the Psalms.
π REPEAT: pray Psalm 91; The Security of Trust in the Almighty.
By faith I shelter in You, β’ El-Elyon, the Most High God; In faith I hide in Your shadow, β’ El-Shaddai, Almighty God. Because I trust in You, β’ My Lord and my God.
β’ O LORD,YHWH, You are my refuge and my fortress: β’ Deliver me from the snare of the entrapper, β’ Protect me from the deceit of sinners. β’ Save me from the wrath of the storm.
I seek refuge under Your wings, Adonai; β’ Cover me with Your pinions, β’ Shield me with Your faithfulness. β’ Assure me with Your love.
Selah (Stop and think about it.) π€
Because of Your protection, β’ I am not afraid of the terrors at night, β’ I am not afraid of the sneak attack from ambush, β’ I am not afraid of the sickness that creeps unseen, β’ I am not afraid of the disaster that looms waiting, Whether day or night, You protect me.
A thousand may fall at my side, β’ And ten thousand at my right hand; But I know destruction will not come near me. β’ I will only see it with my eyes, When You punish the wicked.
I know this because I make you, OYHWH, β’ I make You, the LORD, my refuge, I make You, O Most High, β’ I make You, Elyon, my dwelling place.
You have promised, β’ That no evil will happen to me, You have promised, β’ That no plague will come near my home. You have promised…,
I trust in You, YahwehShaddai, β’ Therefore I trust in Your promises, O Mighty LORD.
Selah (Stop and think about it.) π€
O LORD, you have given Your angels charge concerning me, β’ They guard all my comings and goings. β’ They bear me up in their hands, So that I don’t even stub my foot against a stone.
If I step on a lion’s tail, β’ Even the young lion I will stomp into the ground. If I step on a cobra’s coils, β’ Even the serpent I will trample into the dirt. Because you are my Shield, my Shaddai. β’ You are my Protector, Lord Adonai.
Selah (Stop and think about it.) π€
β’ I love You, O Lord, my God, Adonai Elohim, deliver me when I stumble. β’ You are my LORD and my God, Yahweh Elohim, lift me up when I fall. β’ Because You are my LORD.
Because I know You by Name. When I call on You, my Lord, β’ O Adonai, please hear me; My God, when I am in trouble, β’ O Elohim, please save me.
You have honored me with knowledge, β’ The knowledge of Elyon, the Most High; Please grant me a long and satisfying life; β’ And at the end that may I see Your face,Yah-Shua, That I may see the face of Jesus, β’ the God of my salvation.
