Favor Recognized

Favor Recognized

Genesis 23: ⁵ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ⁶ “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”

 

⁷ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. ⁸ And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, ⁹ that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

 

¹⁰ Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹ “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”

 

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Sarah had come to the end of her life. Abraham wanted to bury her some place special. Ephron had a cave that would have been suited for a ruler of that day. Abraham offered to pay for the cave, but Ephron wanted to give it to him.

 

My Observations:

• Ephron recognized the favor GOD had on Abraham.
• Even in a land of people who did not follow GOD’s ways, Abraham was seen as special.
• Abraham and Sarah were feared because of the many supernatural things that happened in their lives.

 

The Hittites were powerful from a human perspective. They probably took what they wanted, when they wanted it. But Abraham did not want a gift from Ephron, probably for the same reason he did not want money from the king of Sodom.

 

Ephron and the other Hittites saw Abraham as someone who could bring on destruction to their city and respected GOD’s power, but only out of fear. They still did not follow GOD. Abraham’s relationship with GOD seemed known, even by those who did not believe in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about these conversations?
• Have you ever been in a place where you were the only follower of CHRIST?
• Do you realize that when JESUS called you light, you brighten up dark places just by being present?

Broken, Abolished and United

Broken, Abolished and United

Ephesians 2: ¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. ¹⁵ He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. 

 

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“Give me that” the teacher said to us. We were fighting over a certain toy. I said it was mine because I saw it first. She said it was hers because she always played with it. Both arguments were sound, but flawed.

 

• I wanted to win the argument.
• I wanted to get my way.
• I wanted to be the one with favor so I presented “my” case so I could get “my” way.

 

Paul continues speaking about racism and classism. Church leaders were using the Law as a means to keep people separated. The outcasts and those who were not born into a certain race, developed their own communities where they could be accepted. Nothing was working. Hatred abounded. BUT GOD did something about it.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to have peace so HE broke down the rules that cause any separation from HIM or HIS children.
• GOD wants me to belong to the entire family rather than dividing into factions.
• GOD wants me to receive HIS peace by understanding HIS desire for unification.

 

“CHRIST HIMSELF brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. “ HE does not condone favoritism, nor is one race higher than another. HE sees the efforts of each human trying to reign superiority over one another, so HE came up with a plan. HE took the thing they were fighting over away and told all humans to reconcile.

 

Unfortunately we have a sin nature that blinds us to unity. We settle for a smaller group that accepts our sin rather than trying to bring all people back to GOD in union with CHRIST. HE made us special to reach a specific group. I am grateful JESUS accepted me into HIS family and gives me peace.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s appeal about racism?
• Have you ever experienced racism. classism, sexism, ageism or something else that separates you from being united in CHRIST?
• Will you break down the barriers, abolish whatever rule you may hold onto and point people to the one true answer, namely JESUS?

Prejudiced? Yeah that’s me!

James 2: ¹ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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When the train arrived everyone was focused on getting to work. An ocean of business people flooded downtown focused on the day’s meetings and events. A group of homeless people waited near the train station. “I’ve seen this guy before” I thought to myself. “Why doesn’t he get a job and why does he have new expensive gym shoes? I’m not giving him any money!”

• Prejudging someone is always wrong.
• Prejudging someone implies I know better than that person.
• Prejudging someone is an easy way for me to shirk my GODLY responsibilities of getting to know the person.

Prejudging people was my defense mechanism. I looked at their wealth, title and position in society and made judgment calls about them because I wanted to be wealthy like them or protect myself from giving to them depending on what they wore.

Treating people inconsistently is truly a problem with GOD.  HE wants us to treat every human with respect, dignity and love. HE doesn’t want us to laugh at the poor and praise the wealthy. GOD wants me to see HIS humans as HE does.

• Every human is a creation of GOD.
• GOD delivers some humans to me for the purpose of me showing HIS love.
• No matter what status a human has placed on another human, GOD is still over all.

It actually takes practice to treat everyone the same because of wounds or past unfair actions. BUT GOD wants me to erase my memory and take each person on a case by case basis.  I should serve in all countries, languages and social standings because I can never tell how my kind actions can positively affect the person.

• Have you ever prejudged someone?
• Do you make snap decisions about people based on what you see?
• Can you get to know a person who you wouldn’t normally interact?
• Will you serve someone today without prejudging them?