THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013
Genesis 35:1–36:43
Matthew 12:1–21
Psalm 15:1–5
Proverbs 3:21–26
Today’s reading prompted reflection on the following themes:
1. God’s sovereignty in revelation.
In yesterday’s reading, Jesus spoke to His Father: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Matthew 11:25,26) We read today of Jacob’s building an altar at Bethel “because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.” (Genesis 35:7)
Encouragingly, even in the account of the patriarch Jacob, we witness God’s sovereign self-revelation amid Jacob’s point of weakness (Genesis 28:10–22). As he fled from a deceived Esau, Jacob would likely have been far from the ideal candidate of a trusting, resting servant. Instead, he would likely have been frantic, feverishly arranging his plans for avoiding Esau and moving on with his life. During this point of weakness, however, God intervened and reiterated the Abrahamic promise that “all people on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
(Genesis 28:14b,15)
This revelation may contrast conventional wisdom, as with the Pharisees’ teaching on prohibitions for the Sabbath. Instead of trusting in ourselves or the world, we should listen to the “Lord of the Sabbath.” His Word describes an economy in which “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30)
His sovereignty involves both purpose and goodness, conforming to His character, as Romans 8:28,29: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
2. Insecurity.
In a conversation with friends today, we covered the prevalence of insecurity in people. We agreed that nearly everyone has deep insecurities about themselves but that they choose inventive means of covering these insecurities. Our methods for covering our insecurities may involve physical, emotional, or mental means, much like Adam and Eve hid from the Lord God in the Garden after taking the fruit.
Graciously, God reveals our lostness and emptiness apart from His side; any insecurity emerging from this source ultimately drives us closer to Him and brings Him glory. In the all-sufficiency of Christ’s atonement and redemption on our behalf, we find ready appeasement of this insecurity.
Yet, other insecurities most likely come from a combination of the world, our flesh, or the Evil One. For example, we may have insecurities regarding our body image, our finances, our education, our athletic talents, our social skills, or our level of perceived success. Ultimately, these insecurities drive us to question our worth and to measure it by some external standard. We judge that attaining some goal or receiving affirmation from another person may assuage our insecurities. We press for control and even manipulate others’ perceptions of us in order to achieve these goals.
The Scriptures explain that “godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) In a similar fashion, confronting our insecurities arising from our sinful brokenness leads us towards God, while guarding ourselves from other insecurities draws us away. It appears that insecurity prompts us to pursue many sinful courses, even addiction, in order to fill the void. We anticipated that Lance Armstrong may even voice these sentiments in his anticipated confession with Oprah this evening.
I too struggle daily with many insecurities, and they often distract me from my true life purpose of glorifying God. Instead of allowing the insecurities to control my thoughts and actions, however, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may train our focus on the Jesus, granting Him Lordship over our lives: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:17–20)
3. Security in integrity and wisdom.
In contrast to the foregoing discussion on insecurity, God provides a pathway to security – through living with integrity and trusting in His wisdom. Please consider the powerful testimony of these two passages:
“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
“ He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent
“He who does these things
will never be shaken.”
(Psalm 15:1–5)
“[Trusting in wisdom,] have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being ensnared.”
(Proverbs 3:25,26)
These truths offer a beautiful antidote to insecurity: obedience and trust, the linchpins of our daily walk with Christ. May you rejoice in the Lord Jesus, our “confidence,” in whom we “will never be shaken.”
QUESTIONS
1. How may you praise God for His gracious revelation to you?
2. How may you respond to your insecurities in light of today’s reading?
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