Tag Archives: Self Help

Isaac Blesses Jacob (Gen 27)

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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!

God’s Ultimate Test for Abraham (Gen 22)

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Bible Summary:

God demands the ultimate test of Abraham, the sacrifice of his son Isaac.  Abraham takes Isaac on a three day journey to the mountains.  Isaac asks where the lamb is for the sacrifice.  Abraham says God will provide one and then a little later ties Isaac to an altar and goes after him with a knife.  An angel of the Lord stops Abraham and provides him a ram to sacrifice instead.   From heaven, God tells Abraham he will richly reward him for his obedience with “as many descendants as there are stars in the sky.”

My Thoughts:

Loyalty: I guess God needed to test Abraham’s loyalty since he didn’t believe Isaac could be born to him and Sarah at such an advanced age (Gen 17 & Gen 18).  Being a parent, I find it amazing that Abraham could even try to go through with killing his own son.  But, Abraham proved true to God.

Belief: The Jewish people “believe” they are the chosen ones of God because of stories like this, which helps them “act” like chosen ones.  In reality, we are all chosen ones, no matter who you are!  I challenge you to believe you are a chosen one of God and act like it. You will be surprise how your life will improve.

STOP: Do NOT try to kill your child based on this Bible story.  Please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 if you need help.

Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen: 18:16-33, 19: 1-29)

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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)

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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!

God’s Promise to Abraham (Gen 17)

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Text Summary:

Thirteen years later, God appears and basically repeats his promise to Abram, now 99, of many descendants and the land we know as Israel.  He tells Abram to obey and always do what is right.  God demands Abram agree to circumcision of all males, which he shows by having all males circumcised, including himself and Ishmael.  He also renames him Abraham and his wife Sarah.  God promises to bless Sarah with a son, Isaac.  Abraham bows, laughs that they can have kids at such an advanced age, and then asks God why Ishmael can’t be his heir.  God says Isaac will be the one, but blesses Ishmael with many descendants as well.

My Thoughts:

Obedience: Obedience is a persistent theme throughout the Bible, likely because God was talking to some very strong-willed individuals like Abraham.  It is also likely because these stories were also told to children by adults seeking their obedience.

Doing Right: Emphasizing doing right in the Bible was likely for the same child education reason.  These were the first stories ever told.  There were no Mother Goose rhymes, Dr. Seuss, Curious George, Eric Carle, or Harry Potter books back then. We will have to wait until Exodus for Moses and the Ten Commandments to find out what defines “right”.

Circumcision:  Okay, I have no clue about circumcision (find details at Wikipedia Circumcision).  Here again, I think the storyteller uses God’s command as the reason for continuing the practice.

Changing Names: So, what is the significance of changing their names?  I think it shows a break from Abraham and Sarah’s past lives into this new covenant of their lineage with God.

Belief: Abraham and Sarah do not truly believe in God’s promise or His power.  Abraham laughs that Sarah can become pregnant at ninety years old.  I mean, who wouldn’t?  And, Sarah gave him her slave girl to impregnate 13 years earlier.  Maybe this is why God waited 13 years to reestablish the promise with Abraham.  The proof will be when Isaac is born and then they will believe.

For Us: It can take us a long time to believe in God, but he will patiently wait for us to come around.  Sometimes, we have a hard time believing in God or what he has in store for us. The proof for us is always when something is actually accomplished.  During the struggle, we often think God has abandoned us, but He is always there.  Talk to Him!  Pray.  He will listen.

Abram’s First Son (Gen 16)

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Text Summary:

Abram’s wife Sarai suggests he have a child with her Egyptian slave Hagar since she had not given him any children into their eighties.  Hagar gets pregnant, becomes proud, and despises Sarai, so Sarai treats Hagar so cruelly that Hagar runs away.  An Angel of the Lord tells Hagar to return so she can have many descendants from her son.  He warns that Ishmael will be wild and against everyone and live apart from his relatives.  Abram is 86-years-old when Ishmael is born.

My Thoughts:

Aging Legacy: Getting closer to their mortality – Sarai and Abram are in their eighties – has likely made them realize they have no one to leave their great wealth.  Sarai is too old to have children, so she offers up her slave girl as a solution.

Pride: Sarai is all for Hagar’s pregnancy until Hagar throws it in her face. Hagar’s pride triggers Sarai to become cruel enough to force her to leave.

Wearing pride on the outside may feel good at the time, but more often than not boasting causes resentment that can flair against you later.  Instead, wear your pride on the inside – just smile and enjoy the moment to yourself.  If you can’t keep it inside, run to a place where you are alone to celebrate out loud.

Karma: It is kind of ironic that Abram has Egyptian slaves and his descendants later become enslaved by the Egyptians.  I guess things ultimately come full circle.

God’s Promise to Abram (Gen 15)

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Text Summary:

God tells Abram not to fear and promises him as many descendants as the stars and all the lands of modern day Israel. Abram trusts God and sacrifices a few animals. Abram dreams his descendants will be enslaved for 400 years but the enslaving nation will be punished and his descendants will gain great wealth.

My Thoughts:

God’s Promise: God promises Abram many descendants and land.  The perspective is interesting, to be focused on ones lineage instead of just oneself for today.  This perspective drives strong marriages, interest and dedication to educating children, and building long-term family assets instead of borrowing against future generations.  We desperately need this perspective today.

Do Not Fear: From a personal perspective, the key message of this story is not to fear. Trust in God and things will work out – eventually.  We have all had fears since the dawn of time:  fear of not having enough to eat, fear of losing a job and not being able to provide for our family, fear of losing our house, fear that our children will come to harm or not be successful, etc.

Fear can keep you from a fulfilling life by preventing you from simple things like trying new foods or meeting new people.  Fear also causes stress that weakens your immune system and reduces the quality and quantity of life.  In extreme cases, fear can even paralyze a person into total inaction.

Put your mind at ease and trust in God.  It may take time.  Don’t expect things to happen overnight, in weeks, or even months.  Life is not a TV show where the issue is solved in an hour, less commercials if you DVR ;-).

Take little steps towards your goals.  Listen to what is in your heart.  Pray for guidance. Push through the fear and do it anyway.  Your confidence will grow after each little step you overcome.  Do something different today: smile and say “Hi” to someone passing by, sign up for that cooking class you always wanted to take, write down some things you would like to do or accomplish.  It is your life, make the most of it each day!

God be with you.

Noah and the Flood (Gen 6-9)

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Best Known Bedtime Story: Noah and the Flood was probably based on a true story about a tsunami that devastated the Mediterranean around 8,000 years ago (see story), but got better after each telling.  It probably went something like this:

DAD: So, that’s how the great flood covered the earth.
KIDS: Wow!  That was a lot of water.  How did the people survive?
DAD: Uh, this man named Noah was saved with his wife, sons, and their wives.
KIDS: How about all the animals?  Wouldn’t they have all died in the flood?
DAD: Uh, Noah saved them too.
KIDS: How did he do that?
DAD: Let see, he put them on a boat.
KIDS: That boat must have been huge to fit all the animals.
DAD: Yes, it was very large, but it didn’t fit ALL the animals just two of each kind.
KIDS: It must have taken a long time to build.  How did Noah know the flood was coming?
DAD: Well, God told him of course.
KIDS: Why did God do such a bad thing and send the flood?
DAD: He was very angry at the bad people.
KIDS: I’m afraid.  Will God wipe out the world again?
DAD: Don’t be afraid. God said He’d never wipe out the earth again. Okay, it’s time for bed.

Additional:

End Days?: Noah and the Flood brings to mind the two tsunamis in Indonesia (2004) and Japan (2011), hurricanes like Katrina (2005) and Ike (2008), Tornadoes like the ones in Alabama and Joplin, Missouri (2011) and earthquakes like in Haiti (2010).

These events make us wonder if these are the end days?  The answer is “NO”. Earthquakes happen somewhere on the planet every day, hurricanes and tornadoes follow regular season patterns, and tsunamis happen periodically as well (see List of Tsunamis).

The earth has not changed, but we have:

  • Over-population makes all these disasters worse.  With larger population centers in harms way of natural disasters, we will continue to see more damage and loss of lives in the near future, but that does not mean the earth is coming to an end.
  • Sensationalized media coverage is probably the biggest reason we feel like these are the end times.  Fifty years ago, most people never knew when a disaster struck Southeast Asia.  Now it feels like it is happening right next door.  Movies like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 flash the end of the world right before our eyes.
  • Mayan Calendar 2012: The media’s latest fear device is the Mayan calendar that ends in December 2012.  Now many people believe the end of the world will happen on 12/21/12.  My calendar ends December 31st every year and we’re still around each New Year’s Day.  Of course, I’m not as all-knowing as the Mayans who practiced human sacrifices as offerings to their gods thousands of years ago.

Personally, I think this is irresponsible journalism that is bound to get many people killed. Watch, I am sure the number of suicides will increase as we approach December next year.  I just hope nothing worse … manmade … happens.

There is Always Hope: the best message from Noah and the Flood is that there is always hope.  The story tells us not to give up.  Noah, his family, and the animals were stuck on the ark for 150 days.  I can only imagine how they felt when the first dove returned empty-handed (or beaked) as they looked at their dwindling food.  But, with hope they sent out the second dove that returned with the olive branch.  We must always have hope and continue to try in our daily endeavors.

Creation (Gen 1)

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Initial:

  • Kid Story: The creation story seems like it was made up to answer kids’ questions of how the earth, sky, animals, and humans came to be.
  • Introducing God: Like all great stories, the main character God is introduced in the first sentence.  We are not told what He looks like, though presumably “He” is male. We are not told where He was before He created the universe and during the story He seems to be in some “out-of-universe” lab creating everything.
  • We are in Charge: God put us in control of the earth.  It is very interesting that a storyteller from over 4000 years ago, when there were only 35 million people scattered around the world (per Wiki World Population), realized that humans would populate every corner of the earth and control its outcome.  We are in charge of the animals, birds, and seas, whether we realize it or not.  It is our collective actions, deliberate or consequential, that affect our environment.  I truly believe that over-population of humans is the biggest issue of our time.  Everything else is just a symptom!
  • Stop and Smell the Roses: On a lighter note, the first story of the Bible includes some self-management tips like “God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased.”  I read this to mean stop and smell the rose once in a while.  We are so caught up in doing so much in our lives that we never seem to stop, look back, and admire what we have accomplished.  Take a day off this weekend and write down what you have achieved.  Be positive and include things no matter how small they seem to you.

Controversy:

The story of creation has been rocked by controversy between creationists and scientists since the days of Galileo (1633), to the Scopes Monkey Trial (1925), and even to today. Both sides seem to be converging on common ground, though ever so slowly (think centuries).  The biggest advance has been that scientists are approaching the limits of their abilities and have no other explanation except that God did create the universe.

  • God is in the Details: Cosmologists, scientists who study the workings of the universe,  have worked their way back to a “singularity”, the point where all the matter of the universe was compressed into a single, very dense mass no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.  They believe that singularity exploded in a Big Bang to fill our universe with galaxies, stars, and ultimately planets.  However, scientists get hung up on three things: (1) what existed before the singularity, (2) what created the singularity, and (3) what made it explode into the universe?  Many scientists have concluded the only explanation is that God created the universe.  “Let there be light” sure sounds like a Big Bang.
  • On a Small Scale: Cosmology is very intertwined with Quantum Physics, the study of the real small.  Physicists have peeled back the layers of matter to ever smaller levels of molecules, atoms, protons and electrons, and particles of quarks, leptons and muons.  Scientists are still chasing the “God particle”, the smallest portion of matter that makes up everything.
  • Size of a Dime: Along the lines of quantum physics is the realization that ALL matter is mostly made up of “air”.  An atom is composed of a tiny nucleus of matter circled by an electron (see Wiki Atom).  So, in reality most of what we see and what we are is just air.  For example, a Carbon-12 atom is 33,000 times larger than its nucleus (per Georgia State University).  In comparison, a 165 pound person removed of all “electron air” would be just the size of a dime!
  • Try to Understand Each Other: Back to the controversy.  Wherever there is more than one there will be a difference of opinion.  Life is too short to doggedly cling to one idea “because I am right” or simply because it is tradition.  Times are changing, and quickly.  We need to be able to adapt.  Try to understand other’s thoughts, ideas, views, and concerns.  At the very least, agree to disagree but don’t continue down the path of an inquisition to the exclusion of other ideas.  You never know from when or where a great idea or person shall come.