The pathway to salvation
is as narrow and as difficult to walk
as a razor’s edge.
– Tibetan Monk in The Razor’s Edge [1984]
Tag Archives: Doing Right
Jesus gives us the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12)
Bible Summary:
Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
– From the English Standard Version Bible at Bible.com which is how I know it.
My Thoughts:
Doing right can be hard, but rewarding: In less than 150 words, Jesus touches each person’s heart, since they had experienced at least one of the characteristics – poor in spirit, mourning, meek, and hunger or thirst; teaches them how to behave – merciful, pure of heart, peaceful, and righteous; and warns them that doing right can cause others to revile and persecute them, but they will be rewarded in heaven.
Foreshadowing: the last part about persecuted prophets describes the past but also foreshadows what will happen to Jesus and the apostles.
Jesus Begins to Preach (Matthew 4: 12-17)
Bible Summary:
Jesus hears that John the Baptist is imprisoned so he flees from Nazareth to Capernaum, near Lake Galilee. This location matches what prophet Isaiah foretold and is the land of the people who live in darkness that will see a great light, the Gentiles. Jesus begins to preach his message, “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
My Thoughts:
Prophecies: Jesus matching so many prophecies (born in Bethlehem, flees to Egypt so they can say he came out of Egypt, lives in Nazareth, moves to Galilee) sure seems too convenient, like Matthew “fit” Jesus into the criteria of the Messiah.
The Message: Jesus begins preaching in Galilee, telling people to turn away from their sinful behavior in his campaign to teach people to be kind to each other and do right.
People do not like to be told they are wrong and especially when they are doing wrong, even though in their hearts they know it is true. Take a look today, inside at the thoughts that come up and outside at the things that are done or said. Be the witness to your own behavior and decide if you have room for improvement. I know I have areas where I continue to struggle, so keep the faith and with God’s help we can beat them together. Peace.
Joseph Helps His Family (Gen 44-45)
Bible Summary:
Joseph sends his brothers away with full sacks of grain and secretly all their money plus a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. His servant follows to question the brothers about stealing the cup. They all deny it, but the cup is found and Benjamin is ordered to stay. The brothers return to Joseph and Judah tries to negotiate Benjamin’s release because their father Jacob has already lost one son and would just die without Benjamin.
Joseph can no longer control his feelings so he sends his servants from the room and confesses his true identity. The brothers are so terrified they are speechless. Joseph calms them by saying God really sent him ahead to become ruler of Egypt to save people’s lives from the famine, including their family. He embraces each of them and cries for joy with Benjamin.
The news reaches the king and he tells Joseph to move his family from Canaan to Egypt to survive the last five years of the famine. He gives them wagons to move everyone. The brothers arrive back in Canaan with the stunning news of Joseph. When he can finally speak, Jacob tells them the only thing he would like before he dies is to see Joseph.
My Thoughts:
Forgiveness: Joseph tries to trick his brothers into leaving Benjamin but is overwhelmed by the possibility of his father dying over it. He does an incredible thing and forgives his brothers for selling him into slavery over twenty years prior. His forgiveness is possible from his everlasting faith in God having a plan for him, even though it took many years to fulfill. God has a plan for you. Be purposeful in all you do.
What is Success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have Succeeded.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jacob’s Ladder (Gen 28)
Bible Summary:
Rebecca tells Isaac she is sick and tired of Esau’s foreign wives and would just die if Jacob marries one of the Hittite girls. Isaac sends Jacob to Mesopotamia to marry one of Uncle Laban’s daughters and blesses him to receive many children, so he will become the father of many nations.
Esau learns of this new blessing, Jacob’s leaving, and that Isaac does not approve of local women, so he marries one of his Uncle Ishmael’s daughters.
On the way to Uncle Laban’s, Jacob camps overnight and dreams of a stairway to heaven, with angels going up and down. God stands beside him and promises many descendants and the land he is lying on, and blesses all these nations through Jacob. God tells Jacob He will protect him wherever he goes and will bring him back safely to this land.
Jacob wakes and becomes frightened since this must be the house of God with a gate that opens to heaven. The next morning, Jacob dedicates a memorial to God and renames the place Bethel. He vows upon his safe return to worship God there and give Him a tenth of everything he is given.
My Thoughts:
Marry Your Kind: The message is pretty clear that the author thought Hebrews should marry their kind and not foreigners, especially since biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob married other Hebrews. My opinion is that we are all of the humankind and no one is a foreigner. Differences between us are only manmade.
Jacob’s Ladder: Led Zepplin aside, this stairway to heaven is also known as Jacob’s Ladder in other Bibles. I believe this story is the beginning of formal religion with a vow by Jacob to worship God at Bethel. I don’t understand why Jacob would be frightened though. He just saw God who vowed to take care of him. Seems to be the religious establishment putting fear into people that they need to worship God and tithe.
Tithing: There is a lot of debate about tithing, especially since a few have taken advantage of it and are now living in multi-million dollar homes from donations of their members. I believe tithing is healthy, but in your own way. Give some to your church, temple, or mosque, some to charities, and to others you know really need help. I’m not sure 10% is the magic number, so give what you feel is appropriate. If you are short on money, give your time and expertise by volunteering, even if only a couple times a year.
The key to tithing is in the giving. It is about thinking of others, thinking of the greater good, and making a difference on a regular basis. This is what I believe is pleasing to God.
Isaac Blesses Jacob (Gen 27)
Bible Summary:
Old and blind Isaac sends his eldest son Esau out to hunt for a tasty dinner after which Isaac will give him his blessing. Isaac’s wife Rebecca overhears and helps their younger son Jacob disguise himself as Esau so he can receive the blessing instead. She even agrees to accept any curse if the deceit is discovered.
Isaac does not believe Jacob is Esau, so tests him in several ways. With Rebecca’s help, Jacob passes all the tests and Isaac gives him his final blessing.
Esau returns and discovers he has been cheated out of his blessing. Esau cries and pleads for any blessing from Isaac. Isaac says the blessing is final and forever, that Esau is now Jacob slave along with all their other relatives, and that Esau will “live by the sword, be his brother slave, rebel, and break away from his control.”
Esau hates Jacob and plots to kill him when their father dies. Rebecca overhears the plan and tells Jacob to live with her brother Laban far away until Esau cools off.
My Thoughts:
Is Deceit Good? Okay, on the surface, this story is right out of a Hollywood film, with favoritism, deceit, lies, mother and brother against father and brother, and revenge. It makes for a captivating story, but what is the lesson? Is deceit really good? It seems to work well for Jacob. Do you need to be cunning and do whatever it takes, even against your brother, so you can get ahead?
Following God’s Will: Rebecca is the instigator in this story. She listens to other peoples’ conversations and guides Jacob into deceiving father and brother even though he knows it is wrong. However, maybe Rebecca is just following God’s will. In Genesis 25, she is told by God that “the older will serve the younger”. Maybe this is why she takes extra care of Jacob and makes sure he receives the power God intended.
Verbal Contracts are Binding: Isaac sticks by his word even though he gave the blessing to the wrong person through deception. Maybe Esau should have stuck to his word and told his father about selling his birthright to Jacob.
You know, if our word was our bond today, then we would not have hundred page legal documents for every transaction between people. Of course, no one likes to get deceived either!
Family can be tough: Boy, you thought your family was bad. No matter how bad things are, you can always find someone else in a worse situation, like Esau. Be thankful for your blessings.
Self-Help Tip: I think Rebecca has a great tip for Jacob to leave until Esau cools off. This can also work the other way: if you are angry, you can go to another room or leave until you cool off.
NOTE: no matter how much I try to be objective, I still don’t like the deceit, especially against family members, in this story!
A Wife for Isaac (Gen 24)
Bible Summary:
Abraham wants to find a wife for his son Isaac from his own people back in northern Mesopotamia. He sends a servant, but tells him under no circumstance is Isaac to go there since God promised them the land of Canaan.
The servant takes ten camels, stops at a well outside the city, and prays to God to let the woman that offers him and his camels water to become Isaac’s wife. Rebecca, a beautiful virgin and second cousin to Isaac, fulfills the water offer. The servant gives her gold jewelry. She says they can stay at her father’s place and leaves to tell him.
Rebecca’s brother Laban returns to bring the servant to their home. The servant tells Rebecca’s family about Abraham, how Sarah died, and that Isaac is to inherit great wealth. Rebecca’s father Bethuel and Laban say Rebecca can go since God decided the matter. The servant gives expensive gifts to Rebecca, Laban, and her mother. Laban and their mother ask if Rebecca can stay home for 7-10 days before leaving, but the servant wants to leave immediately, so they ask Rebecca and she agrees to leave right away.
Rebecca’s family gives her a blessing, “May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendents conquer the cities of their enemies.”
Upon the servant’s return to Canaan, Isaac meets them in a field. Rebecca covers her face with a scarf. The servant retells everything to Isaac. Isaac takes Rebecca into his mother’s old tent and she becomes his wife. Isaac loves Rebecca and is comforted for the loss of his mother.
My Thoughts:
The First Princess Fairy Tale: The king, Abraham, wants a nice princess for his son. Isaac. The king searches for said princess in a land of his ancestors far, far, away. Rebecca does the right thing, serving others, to be worthy of being a true princess. She and her family are glad to join such a rich family. Her mother and brother want her to stay just a little longer, but alas she agrees to leave forthwith to be with her betrothed. Isaac takes his princess to his mother’s old castle and makes her, Rebecca, his wife. Isaac loves Rebecca. The end.
Kind of sounds like Cinderella and many of the other princess stories, doesn’t it? I think this one from about 4,000 years ago was likely first!
Foreshadowing: This is a great story. I am sure the “conquer the cities of their enemies” is foretelling some future events. The suspense is killing me.
Money: This story shows that the pursuit of money has been around for thousands of years. Money can buy nice things, but not always happiness. The real challenge of money is to know when you have enough. Most people continue to strive for more and never stop to “smell the roses” until it is too late: a health problem surfaces, they become too old to enjoy it, or they lose the one they wanted to share it with. Be sure to enjoy life and your family along the way.
Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen: 18:16-33, 19: 1-29)
Text Summary:
The Lord tells Abraham he has heard great accusations about Sodom. Abraham negotiates with God to spare Sodom if He finds 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally only 10 innocent people. God agrees.
Abraham’s nephew Lot urges two Angels to stay at his house. The men of Sodom surround Lot’s house and demand he give up the two men so they could have sex with them. Lot begs them to take his two virgin daughters instead. The men try to barge their way in but are struck with blindness by the Angels.
The Angels tell Lot to leave Sodom for the hills before they destroy it. Lot negotiates for the small town of Zoar since the hills are too far. The Angels agree. At sunrise, the Lord rains burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife looks back and turns into a pillar of salt.
My Thoughts:
Negotiating: This story was likely used periodically to teach the next generation how to negotiate. I mean, if Abraham can negotiate with God, you can negotiate with anyone. It shows how to find a common point to agree on, like that God does not want to harm innocent people, and the whittling technique of slowly moving your counterpart down towards your goal.
Pillar of Salt: This story sounds right out of science fiction. Three men show up and all of a sudden men are blinded outside a house, two cities are destroyed by flames from the sky, and a woman is turned into a pillar of salt.
I think the answer is more geological. The middle-east is sitting on top of the world’s largest oil reserves. It is possible that an earthquake caused a huge reservoir of underground petroleum to explode, destroying the area. This would explain the raining down of sulfur. The pillar of salt is likely that Lot’s wife was covered in ash. See an example in this 9/11 picture of Marcy Borders.
Golden Rule: Lot serves and protects the Angels, so is saved from the destruction.
Homosexuality: It sounds like the storyteller is trying to teach the listener not to be homosexual. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their sins as pointed out by the gay men wanting to have sex with the men Lot was protecting in his house.
I’m in a catch-22 here. No matter what I write, some people will perceive me to be anti-gay and others that I am pro-gay. What I would like to address is the fear in the topic of homosexuality.
Prior to the 1980’s, gays feared about “coming out” because they would be ostracized by their families and friends and could even lose their jobs over this “socially unacceptable behavior”. The 1980’s added the hysteria of catching AIDS to this burden and gays kept very quiet about their sexual orientation.
In the 1990’s, movies like Philadelphia with Tom Hanks portrayed gays as real people and opened the doors for acceptance of gays in films and TV shows.
Gays have “come out” in droves and with their new found freedom are now demanding their rights; the biggest being marriage that has now become legal in many states. I’m not sure gays and lesbians are looking to be recognized as married as much as they want to gain the same benefits as a husbands and wives: insurance, social security, common law property, etc.
The scale of fear seems to have tipped in the opposite direction today. Now, all the heterosexuals are afraid to make any negative comments about gays for fear of not being “politically correct” and potentially losing their jobs.
Frankly, I believe we are all people on this little blue marble cruising through space and we need to figure out how to get along with everyone and stop labeling and stop judging just so we can feel superior. It should not matter about a person’s color, religion, sexual orientation, height, age, weight, job, economic status, hobbies (as long as they are legal), shoe size, or where their ancestors happen to have lived. We are all human beings. We all eat, breath, sleep, and bleed the same. We all dream, hope, want someone to listen, and wish to be loved the same!
The only way to reduce fear is to open yourself up to new experiences. Meet other people. Find out what they like, dislike, do for work, do for fun, eat and don’t eat. You will discover that we are all not much different from each other.
God Promises Abraham a Son (Gen 18: 1-15)
Text Summary:
The Lord appears to Abraham with two other men. Abraham serves them humbly, even though he is like a king in that area. One of the men said Sarah would have a son nine months from then. She laughed since she is so old and her periods have stopped. The Lord asks, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Sarah denies laughing since she is afraid.
My Thoughts:
Repetition: This shows the repetitive nature of the storytelling of old, being the second time in a row that God has told Abraham he will have a son.
Two Other Men: This story seems more like three wise men show up and one foretells the coming of Sarah’s son. Maybe Abraham sees God in many people like Mother Teresa of Calcutta did.
Doing Right: Okay, I was wrong, it looks like the storyteller is showing how to “do right” before the Ten Commandments. This passage shows how people, even in high places, should serve others humbly. It illustrates the Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated, thousands of years before Jesus.
Belief: God finally questions them about their belief in his power, in this case to give Sarah a son. Sarah fears God enough to deny she had laughed.
It is so hard to believe without concrete proof. That is what faith is about. Don’t give up. Believe!