Oh.. great... I get the chapter where circumcision is instituted by God as “sign of the covenant between us“... couldn’t God have thought of something a little less... painful? Maybe a tattoo? How about shaving the head? maybe a nose ring... but circumcision?! Ouch... I have never heard a good theory as to what circumcision was really all about. Maybe God used it as a reminder of the fall... of original sin; when Adam and Eve lost their innocence and found themselves naked.
After all if we were still naked non-circumcision would be preferred to protect the private part from being... shall we say damaged... maybe from walking in the woods... or getting too close to a cactus. (I’m out on a limb here)
Anyway this could have been a reminder of the fall and that God is the redeemer of the fall and wants desperately to be in relationship with fallen man. O.K. that’s enough about circumcision.
What about Abraham laughing at God? If God asked you to do something unbelievable would you laugh in his face? This section is really kind of funny. Both Abraham and Sarah laugh at God’s statement about giving them a child. God has a sense of humor and asks them to name their son “Isaac” a name meaning Laughter.
17-19 Then God said, “all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him". We are part of this hope of God’s that his people will bless the world? How are Christians doing this? How are we as a church doing with this?
Psalm 9
Laughter and Joy comes in to play here again in the psalms. Did you know that experiencing joy is our lives is a core value here at Crosswinds? Psalm 9 is a Psalm of hope what stands out for me in verse 9: “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,a refuge in times of trouble” What verse stands out to you?
Proverbs 9:
Hey have you ever had an attribute talk to you? In this Proverb “Wisdom” speaks to us and does a sort of sales pitch. In this chapter it changes gender from male in chapter 8 to female in chapter 9. Suggesting that you take “Wisdom” home with you and use it as a tool for successful living. The benefits of wisdom described in chapter 8 reflect the fruits of the Holy Spirit that are articulated in the New Testament (Galatians 5). Here it suggests that living wisely will help you live longer... And then, like a good movie, Wisdom’s nemesis “Folly” comes in and tries to wreck your life. Where is the hero in this drama?
John 9
This chapter starts out with Jesus’ disciples using a common cultural thought of the day that bad things happen to bad people; that this man must have sinned to be blind. Jesus explains that God is a healer and redeemer and want to bring wholeness to man. This wholeness and redemption seems to morph into spiritual wholeness by the end of the chapter. Are we seeking God as a healer of our hearts?
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ReplyDeleteTry standing on the U.S. Capitol steps with 50 8th graders and watch several hundred people arrive to protest 'male genital mutilation', otherwise known as circumcision. Visuals were provided!! That was a banner moment on our spring break field trip!!
ReplyDeleteMerv, you definetly drew the short straw to have to discuss circumcisions. I think you were set up. Interesting that Isaac means laughter. I do think that Jesus had a great sense of humor, just the fact of the huge difference in men and women proves he had a big dose of humor on that day. Wisdom is the key to many things - if you have "knowledge" of something it gives you more understanding and more abilities. You can read words, but if you don't understand them they are useless, You can believe in Jesus but if you don't get to know him it makes life harder.
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