Year: 2009

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Bible

Bless Me, Indeed!

The first line of the Prayer of Jabez, is:

“Oh, that you would bless me, indeed,”

First of all, the word “indeed” is a way of adding emphasis, much like we would do with an exclamation point.  It wasn’t enough for Jabez to merely make his request, he made it passionately and emphatically.

The request of Jabez is that God would bless him, really bless him.  This is an entreaty for supernatural favor.  The desire to be blessed, however, is not so that Jabez could have a better life or live in comfort and with ease.

He sought blessings so that he in turn could be a blessing to others.  This is what God earlier promised to Abram (later called Abraham), when he said, “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.”

Asking for blessings for ourselves would be selfish and self-serving and not likely to receive a favorable response from God.  However, once we realize that all we have is God’s, which can therefore be used to help others, a request for blessing is in reality a plea to be able to help others even more.

Indeed!

(Read more on The Prayer of Jabez. See 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, NKJV and Genesis 12:2, NIV.)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

The Prayer of Jabez

The Prayer of Jabez* is a short prayer and is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10; it is also the subject of a recent popular book by the same name.

After a short, very short, bio of Jabez, his equally short prayer is given, followed by a concise commentary.

Jabez’s five line prayer is:

Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and
enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!

The prayer concludes with the affirmation that God answered this prayer.

There is much that can be learned from his petition, as well as wrong assumptions that can be made.  Check out this short prayer and meditate on it.  In upcoming posts, we will look at it more closely.

[Read more on The Prayer of Jabez; 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, the New King James Version is quoted.]

*Jabez is alternately pronounced with
either a long “a” sound or a short “a”.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

What Gender is God?

What gender is God?  Although I’m not sure how important the answer is in the overall scheme of things, it is nonetheless often debated and speculated.  Here is a smattering of responses to this query:

  • God is male since the Bible refers to God the Father (male) and God the Son (male), who came to earth as Jesus (male).
  • God is portrayed as male in the Bible because that is how the culture of that day could best comprehend a supreme being.
  • God is neither male nor female.  Although the predominance of references and inferences in the Bible are masculine, there are also feminine allusions given to the Godhead.
  • God transcends gender.  As a spiritual entity, there are no male or female distinctions; as the creator there is no need for procreation.
  • God is both male and female.

Although I refer to God in the masculine, it is more out of convention and for ease of communication.  In reality, I see viability in each of the preceding viewpoints. 

While it is not my intent to end the debate with this reflection, I do want to point out an intriguing passage in the Bible, the implications of which are usually overlooked.

In Genesis 1:27 it says that God created man (people) “in his own image,” “male and female he created them.”  That suggests that God is both male and female or alternately that God transcends gender, with both maleness and femaleness reflecting his character and reality. 

Either way, this is a profound and beautiful image to expand our understanding of who God is.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Peter: Disciple, Confidant, and Leader

It’s interesting that we tend to equate writing prolificacy with profundity.

  • As such, the numerous writings of Paul, which account for about one third of the New Testament, are highly esteemed.
  • The two books of Dr. Luke (Luke and Acts) account for about 25% and are also highly valued.
  • Then there is John, whose five contributions make up another 20%.  His gospel is frequently praised, while his “revelation” sends our imaginations soaring.

After these three, the reminding New Testament authors, especially those of shorter letters, fade into obscurity and are barely noticed by most readers of the Bible.  Such is the case of Peter, whose two short letters comprise but 2.5% of New Testament content.

However, consider Peter’s stellar credentials:

  • One of only 12 disciples of Jesus, having spent three years with him and an eyewitness of his ministry.
  • Part of Jesus’ inner circle of three (comprised of Peter, James, and John).
  • The first leader of the movement after Jesus died.

As such, Peter has a special vantage from which to write.

This is not to diminish the other writers of Biblical text, but rather to elevate Peter’s writings to the place they deserve.

If you’ve never read First and Second Peter — or if its been awhile — check them out; he has much to say that is worthy of careful consideration.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

John the Baptizer

John (referred to as John the Baptizer) was Jesus’ cousin and a couple of months older.  John preceded Jesus in ministry, pointing people to Jesus.

John did his work admirably and without fault, albeit amidst criticism.  He was eventually imprisoned because of what he said.

With all the amazing things Jesus did and the miracles he preformed, you’d think that he would have freed John from jail.  He could have, yet he didn’t.  At least he could have visited his cousin, yet that doesn’t appear to have happened either.

So, John is sitting in jail, pondering his fate (he would soon be executed); his faith in Jesus begins to waver.  We know this because in what is likely the darkest days of his life, he sends his followers to Jesus, asking if Jesus is the “one” or if they should be expecting someone else.

John seemingly wants validation for his work and confirmation that his life of service to Jesus was not in vain.

Jesus replies, providing John with the assurance that he sought.

Sometimes God acts strangely, not giving us what we want or expect, but he does give us what we need — just like he did for John.

[See Matthew 11:3-6.]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

To Heal and to Save

Jesus came to heal and to save; that was his mission and his purpose.

At that time, the people largely accepted Jesus’ healing ministry, but not so much his saving ministry.

Today, it is the opposite, with his followers accepting his saving ministry, but not so much his healing ministry.

There is a wonderful story that covers both of his ministries in one account:

A paralyzed man is carried to Jesus.  His need seems self-evident — to walk.  Yet, Jesus’ first response is to forgive the man of his sins.  (Forgiving his sins, made him right with God, thereby saving him.)

The religious elite are aghast at Jesus’ audacity.

Then to prove his authority to forgive sins, Jesus also heals the man — who then gets up and walks home.

Yes, Jesus came to heal and to save.  He did it then; he does it today.

[See Matthew 9:2-7.]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth — Not

Moses gave a curious command: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”  This seems to be an excessive response when one is wronged, but given the culture of that day, it was actually a move towards moderation.

For example, when Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped, her brothers avenged her violation by killing the perpetrator and all the men in his village and then sacking the city.  That is excessive—and what God, through Moses, wanted to rein in with his “eye of the eye, tooth for tooth” imperative.

Jesus, however, took this one step further when he told us to love our enemies and pray for them.  That’s how we should act today—lovingly, not vengeful.

[See Deuteronomy 19:21, Genesis 34:1-31—especially verse 2 and 25, Matthew 5:38-48—especially verse 44.]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Clean versus Well

There is a story of Jesus dealing with 10 lepers (leprosy is an infectious skin decease that eats away the flesh). Keeping their distance, as was the practice of the day, they call out to Jesus for help.

Jesus tells them to go present themselves to the priest. (It was also the practice that a leper who became better, needed to go to a priest for confirmation before re-entering society.) The lepers comply; as they do, they are “cleansed” of their leprosy.

One man, seeing what happened, returns to Jesus, thanking him.

Jesus commends the man for doing so but is surprised that only one person returned to give thanks. Then the man was made “well.” (Other translations say he was “healed”,“ restored,” or “made whole.”)

There seems to be a distinction between being “cleansed” and being made “well.” One thought is that being cleansed meant that the leprosy was gone, but its ravages remained, whereas being made “well,” restored the flesh to its pre-leprous condition.

Another thought is that being made “well,” addressed the whole person, encompassing the psychological and emotional aspect of having been ostracized and devalued as a person.

Whatever the precise meaning, it is clear that the man who thanked Jesus— nd didn’t take his generosity for granted—was given even more as a result.

(See Luke 17:11-19.)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

The Meaning Behind the Names

In ancient times, names were given to people for a reason, no matter how trivial.  The meaning of the names of Jacob’s twelve sons gives great insight into the competitive struggle between his two wives, the sisters, Leah and Rachel:

Reuben means “See, a son! ” (Leah said, “The Lord has seen my humiliation and affliction; now my husband will love me.”)

Simeon means “God hears.”  (Leah said, “Because the Lord heard that I am despised, He has given me this son also.”)

Levi means “companion.”  (Leah said, “Now this time will my husband be a companion to me, for I have borne him three sons.”)

Judah means “praise.”  (Leah said, “Now will I praise the Lord!”)

Dan means “judged.”  (Rachel said, “God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son.”  Rachel named him; not Bilhah.)

Naphtali means “struggled.”  (Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings, I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed.”  Rachel named him; not Bilhah.)

Gad means “fortune.”  (Leah said, “Victory and good fortune have come.”  Leah named him, not Zilpah.)

Asher means “happy.”  (Leah said, “I am happy, for women will call me blessed.”  Leah named him, not Zilpah.)

Issachar means “hired.”  (Leah said, “God has given me my hire.”)  [For the details behind this, see Genesis 30:14:18]

Zebulun means “dwelling.”  (Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good marriage gift for my husband; now will he dwell with me because I have borne him six sons.”)

Joseph means “may he add.”  (Rachel said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”)

Benjamin means “son of my right hand.”  (Rachel, as she was dying, named him Ben-Oni, which means “son of my trouble,” but Jacob called him Benjamin instead.)

[See Genesis 29:1-35, Genesis 30:1-24, and Genesis 35:16-19.]

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Bible

More on Jacob’s Twelve Sons

So, we know that Jacob’s twelve sons had four mothers: Leah was the spurned wife; Rachel was the favorite wife; Bilhah was Rachel’s maid and Zilpah was Leah’s maid.  Here is their birth order and how it all breaks down:

1. Reuben, his mom was Leah
2. Simeon, his mom was Leah
3. Levi, his mom was Leah
4. Judah, his mom was Leah

5. Dan, his mom was Bilhah, Rachel’s maid
6. Naphtali, his mom was Bilhah, Rachel’s maid

7. Gad, his mom was Zilpah, Leah’s maid
8. Asher, his mom was Zilpah, Leah’s maid

9. Issachar, his mom was Leah
10. Zebulun, his mom was Leah
(Then Leah also had a daughter, Dinah.)

11. Joseph, his mom was Rachel
12. Benjamin, his mom was Rachel

It was a tough way to have twelve sons.  Just because that’s how it happened, does not mean that God approves of such an arrangement!

[See Genesis 29:1-35, Genesis 30:1-24, and Genesis 35:16-19.]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.