Jan 6, 2025
May God richly bless you as we read God’s Word together!
GENESIS 22-23:
In
yesterday's reading in Genesis, Abraham deceived Abimelech, Isaak
was born, and Sarah demanded that Hagar and her son be sent away—
which grieved Abraham. (But remember that story, because Paul uses
it as a spiritual metaphor in Galatians 4.) Finally, Abimelech
visited Abraham, and the two made several formally ratified
promises.
JOB 12:
Yesterday in Job chapter 11, Zophar said to
Job,
Job 11:1-2 GNT Will no one
answer all this nonsense?
Does
talking so much put you in the right?
3
Job, do you think we can't answer you?
That
your mocking words will leave us speechless?
4
You claim that what you say is true;
you
claim you are pure in the sight of God.
5
How I wish God would answer you!
6 He
would tell you there are many sides to wisdom;
there are things too deep for human
knowledge.
God
is punishing you less than you deserve.
Having accused Job of sin in that way, Zophar then goes on to give this lovely advice:
13 Put your heart right, Job.
Reach out to God.
14
Put away evil and wrong from your home.
15
Then face the world again, firm and courageous.
16
Then all your troubles will fade from your memory,
MARK 8a:
Yesterday in Mark chapter 7, Jesus gave this
very significant teaching in verse 15:
15 GNT There is nothing that goes into you from the outside which can make you ritually unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of you that makes you unclean.”
And we heard the way that Jesus gave a difficult test to the Gentile woman. And again I say, please don’t just assume that Jesus was unfeeling to that woman. There is treasure to find hidden there under the surface in that enigmatic test!