Tomorrow’s Reading: Gen 25-26/Matt 18:1-20
Reading plan update: I'm 1/2 way complete in migrating our reading plan to match the days were on. I know it's been tough to follow.
Today: Out of Job now and reading requires a little more ‘association’ with names and places. Take your time.. it pays off to make these associations early. Setting; we’re in the Hebron, just west of Salt Sea (Dead Sea). Last reading in Genesis was when Abraham was tested to sacrifice Isaac in the region of Moriah – today known as the Dome of the Rock.
Matthew reading is the Transfiguration - wow.
Comments for more..
3 comments:
Genesis 23-24
Abraham pleads with the Hittites for land, as he was not from this area remembering – God had asked Abraham to take all he had a leave his home land. NOTE: Hittites were somewhat a ‘controlling force’ in this region (Canaan) from 1800-1200BC. Just reading vv10-16, I thought this was speaking to good heart of Ephron. As it turns out, Ephron was in it for himself – 400 shekels (over 2years wages) was an extremely high price for land.
Abraham doesn’t want Isaac to marry from the people of this land, but from home land in Mesopotamia (Job’s home land) – see map March 23. Servants head out to Aram Naharaim in v10, river of two rivers… Euphrates and Tigris. All of chapter 24 speaks of ‘faith, trust, and honor’.. and of course, God’s perfect timing.
Matthew 17
Setting: Back in the land of Galilee… in Capernaum, NW side of Sea of Galilee (see maps). From v1, we’re 6 days after they left Caesarea Philippi north.
The transfiguration; one of my favorite places in the bible. I was reading bible ‘left to right’ and hated it for ‘my boy’ Moses. To see him ‘reappear’ at the transfiguration was a ‘high five’ moment for me.
Many thought Elijah was ‘the one to come’; thoughts here? Jesus had told the disciples they would have powers to heal… apparently they didn’t really get that in v20. Seems the tax-collectors were part of the Pharisee ‘mafia’, in that clan, as it were. What do you think was going on in vv24-26? NIV Notes say that ‘Peter and the rest of the disciples belonged to God’s royal household, but unbelieving Jews did not’.
C. and I have been kicking around the nose ring Abraham's servant gave to Rebekah. I've checked several commentaries and can find no special significance to it other than it was/is customary for women in that region to wear a ring on/in the left side of the nose. Consider this though. A camel can drink up to 25 gallons of water at a time. The servant had 10 camels plus other men with him. Rebekah did some serious water hauling. Abraham's servant was impressed to see a young woman with the work ethic and hospitality resembling that of his master Abraham.
I saw the picture of the Dome of the Rock on Mt. Moriah. Did you know that 1) This building was erected by muslims 2) It is considered to be the location Mohammid was taken by Gabriel into Heaven to talk to Moses 3) It is also considered to be the location Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac and 4)Although scolars disagree...orthodox Jews also believe it to be the location Jacob dreamt of the stairway into heaven. Obviously this location is considered sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Matt 17:11 has Jesus saying "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they have done to him everything they wished". My study notes say this is a reference to John the Baptist. I haven't gotten my brain around the Elijah/John the Baptist thing yet. Somebody hep meh!
Ya'll bust on Kelvin. He's behind in his reading.
To be expected - Kelvin is a non-post'n/participat'n, girly-man. He should 'brace up' - maybe just needs a little gig'n to get him going.
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