Walking in Faith

Reading: Genesis 37, 39 and 40

Make a note of all the sins committed. In what ways did God use these sinful acts to good purpose?

• Genesis 37:4 — Joseph’s brothers hated him and would not speak peacefully to him
• Genesis 37:5, 8 — They hated him even more after he told them a dream
• Genesis 37:18-28 — His brother’s conspired to kill him but threw him into a pit instead, then they sold him into slavery for silver
• Genesis 37:31-32 — Hid the fact that they sold Joseph into slavery; lied to their father by presenting him with the robe dipped in goats blood
• Genesis 39:7-10 — Potiphar’s wife tried to have sex with Joseph
• Genesis 39:12-18 — She tried to lie with him again but when he fled, she lied and say he tried to lie with her
• Genesis 40:23 — Cupbearer forgot his promise to Joseph once he was comfortable

How was God preparing Joseph for the future?

God was building Joseph’s character. He was making Joseph reliant on Him. Joseph was put into positions where he could not succeed. He was cheated three times in these passages. He didn’t deserve any of them — he was an honest man with integrity. God kept his heart pure while he put him through these trials and tribulations. It was all for the glory of the Lord. To say that this man who went through all of these things would rise to the power that he achieves and the success that he has is only a gift from the Lord.

(information is gathered from the bible.org theology program)

Canon: Lit. “rule” or “measuring rod”.  Refers to the accepted books of the Old and New Testaments.

Canon is a descriptive word to describe what the accepted books are in the Bible.  There is no closing implied in Scripture.  The canon is simply the books that we need to be equipped in the age that we are in.

Is the canon closed?  Could God add to the canon?  God can do whatever He wants.  Scripture states that no one should take away or add to this word but it is talking about the closing of that book, not of the Bible as a whole.  Otherwise, we would have to stop the Bible at Deuteronomy and Proverbs.

Facts Concerning the Canon

1. Prophetic nature and Apostolicity comprises canonicity.
2. The body of Christ recognizes the canon.
3. God alone determines canonicity.

Old Testament Canon
Christ never mentioned anything about the canonicity of the Old Testament.  If there was truly debate on the topic, Jesus would have cleared up confusion.

Five Tests for Canonicty of OT
1.  Does the New Testament attest to its authority?
    Luke 24:44
    Matthew 7:12
2.  Do extra biblical Jewish writers affirm them?
    Josephus
    Babylonian Talmud
    Philo (Jewish writer from Alexandria (or Egypt)) attests to a closed threefold division of the OT (Law, Psalms and Prophets)
      Council of Jammia (AD 90)
3.  Is the book consistent with other revelation?
    Does it contain any inconsistencies?
    Does it contain any contradictions?
4.  Was it written by a prophet or someone of divine authority?

5.  Did Christ attest to its authority?
    “Since Jesus is the Messiah, God in human flesh, He is the final matter on all matters.  He had the divine authority to endorse all Scripture or only some of it.  He universally affirmed all Scripture, in every part, as the divine Word of God” — Don Stewart, The Ten Wonders of the Bible (Orange, CA; Dart Press, 1990), pg 123

The Apocrypha
Apocrypha: Lit. “Hidden writings.”  This describes the group of writings, mostly written in Greek during the intertestamental period (400–100 B.C.) that are contained in the Christian Septuagint and Latin Vulgate and accepted by Roman Catholics and some Eastern Orthodox as Scripture, but rejected by Jews and evangelical Protestants.

Protocanonical: Lit. “first canon.” In contrast to the deuterocanonical books, refers to the books of the Old Testament that have always been accepted by all as Scripture.  The books we have in the OT are protocanonical.

Pseudepigrapha: Refers to rejected books that are falsely attributed to an author (e.g., The Apocalypse of Peter, Gospel of Thomas).

Arguments for its inclusion:

1. These works were included in the LXX (BC 300-150) from which the NT writers often quoted.  Paul quoted from the LXX many times. 
2. Several apocryphyal works were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
3. Early Christians reflect some knowledge of the books.
4. Certain early Church farthers used them authoritateively (quoting as Scripture)
5. Many official Church counsels included them as part of the Scripture (Rome 382, Carthage 393, Hippo 397).
6. Martin Luther deleted it from the canon in the 16th century because it contained elements of theology he didn’t agree with.

Response to the argument for its inclusion:

1. It is disputed where the books were included in the LLX for many reasons: earliest copies were not copied until 4th century; three existing copies of LLX do not agree; Philo did not mention th Apocrypha but quotes from LLX (he lived in Alexandria).
2. Many works were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls which are not canonical.
3. Knowledge of a work does not make it authoritative.
4. Quoted does not mean the work was inspired and accepted as Scripture.
5. Hippo, Rome, and Carthage were all North African or Roman local church councils that did not have the authority to declare the canon.  St. Augustine accepted much of the Apocrypha.  He had huge influence on these locations.  This explains their acceptance.
6. Martin Luther rejected the Apocrypha just like many others.  He did not introduce this.  There was no official “infallible” declaration on the canon by Rome (at the Council of Trent) until after Martin Luther rejected them.

Arguments for their exclusion:

1. NT never directly quotes from any apocryphal books as Scripture.
2. Palestinian Jews (those who lived in Israel) never accepted the deuterocanonical books.  Christ did not recognize them.
3. Significant theological and historical inaccuracies.
4. Apocrypha itself assets to the absense of the prophets in its own time.
5. Books were in dispute for so long and held to secondary status that it would be problematic to say that they contain the voice of God since most people did not recognize them to be His voice.

Reading: Genesis 32:1-33:20

Reading these chapters, what changes can you detect in Jacob?

Jacob became dedicated to the Lord. When he learned of Esau’s coming, he didn’t try to take the matters entirely into his own hands — he prayer. He was faithful to keep the command the Lord gave him — returning to his kindred. Of course, later on in this passage, he falls again and decides to go his own way. This was not honest to his brother which is not the way of the Lord.

What promises, made at Jacob’s encounter with God at Bethel, had been fulfilled? What does that say about the kind of God we have?

God had promised him land and servants. He had promised that his offspring would be like the sand. All of these things had happened. God keeps His promises. He will never break a promise He makes with us. It is amazing to know that we can fully trust that the Lord’s promises for each of us hold true. If it were a man’s promise, you would never know for certain. With the Lord, there is no question. It is not in the Lord’s character to lie or deceive — He is perfect and sinless.

What can we learn from Jacob’s prayer in 32:9-12 about showing our gratitude to God and persistence in prayer?

Jacob claimed the promises that the Lord have given to him. He knew that God would keep His promises, she he claimed them back to the Lord. He also knew his place — insignificant in the scheme of things. Amazing how the Lord uses a simple, insignificant person and does such an awesome thing. Jacob also knew he didn’t deserve these blessings. He was not worthy for the Lord’s favor. I should remember my place when I am praying to God. He is the Creator and the Heavenly Father. He knows exactly what I really need. I know what I want. There is a huge difference. Luckily, God is the one who calls the shots and not me!

Look again at Abraham’s prayer in 18:16-33. Write down what you notice and see how you can use it in your own prayer time today.

Abraham was bold. He knew his place but also had a very strong relationship with the Lord. He knew that the Lord cared for him. While he showed the Lord respect, he questioned him to try to protect his brother. Again, he prayed boldly. This is a key to me. Not only do I need to improve my prayer time, I need to pray boldly. Instead of praying for the Lord to help me with my witness at work, I should pray that the Lord give me three people to lead to Christ today. I can pray that based on the fact that I know that the Lord God wants me to share the Gospel. He wants me to tell others about His glorious son, Jesus Christ.

Reading: Genesis 25:19-34, 27:1-28:22

As you look at these chapters, and in the light of your weekend reading, make a note of the ways in which Jacob tried to make things happen his own way and in his own time. What were the consequences of his behavior?

• Jacob made Esau sell his birthright for some stew.
• Jacob betrayed his father and stole Esau’s blessings.

Because Jacob was selfish and relied on himself and his mother for instruction. He did not trust in the Lord to provide for him. God spoke directly to Rebekah yet she did not listen. As such, she influence Jacob and he stumbled in his obedience to the Lord very quickly for his mother. Ultimately, the Lord was still with him but he did things in his own way and in his time instead of trusting in the Lord to provide.

In what ways have you been like Jacob? Have you suffered the consequences?

I am not necessarily patient in waiting for the Lord. I want to do things in the way that I feel I can accomplish best. For example, I am not completely sure of how to be successful at my new job. Instead of trusting in the Lord to give me wisdom on this topic, I look to earthly advice. That advice may or may not be God’s plan for me. I have to stop trying to solve all of my problems and let the Lord help guide me. The Lord has greatly blessed me. While I certainly have my own fair share of challenges in my life, I do not feel that I have had to truly suffer. I look at others and their experiences and feel very blessed every single day.

Look at 28:10-22 and in your own words describe Jacob’s response to the Lord.

Jacob was putting limits on his God. He starts off by saying that the LORD was in this place but he did not know it. Obviously, Jacob didn’t realize that the God we worship is everywhere all of the time. He didn’t realize that God walked with him and was influencing and shaping his life. The Scriptures also tell us that he was afraid. It only mentions this so I am a bit curious as to what drove his fear. I am not sure he was fearful of the Lord in a good way but more fearful for himself. Fear of the Lord because we don’t want to experience pain or discipline is not true fear of the Lord — it is selfish fear. True fear of the Lord can be seen in the person that despises their sin and wants to be walking with the Lord so that they do not experience the wrath of the Almighty Father. Finally, I noticed that Jacob puts conditions on God. He says that God will be his God if God will be with him and keep him. We shouldn’t put conditions on our Lord. When we do, we put ourselves in control and not Him. He is truly in control of every situation, however. Instead, Jacob should have dropped to the ground and worshipped the Lord asking for to forgive him for his sins. Instead of putting conditions on his faith, he should have promised to be obedient to the Lord knowing that God would bless him abundantly as He promised.

Tonight, I asked my wife to pray and ask the Lord for discernment on a good topic to study. As is evident by the blog, she has struggled with her quiet time over this past week. Most of that has to do with her trying to manage the kids, clean the house so we can sell it, feeling under the weather, and the list goes on… She prayed and this passage came to her mind. Thus, a quiet time study of 1 Peter 3:1-7.

ESV uses the word “subject”, NIV and NASB use the word submissive. Strong’s defines the word submissive as:

1. to arrange under, to subordinate
2. to subject, put in subjection
3. to subject one’s self, obey
4. to submit to one’s control
5. to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6. to obey, be subject

A Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use,it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.

There is no difference in the word submissive or subject from the Greek perspective.

In this context, I think of how a husband is told he is the head of the house (Numbers 1:4, Ephesians 5:22-31) just as Christ is the head of the Church. Peter does not give us this verse to be controversial about the relationship between husband and wife but to make very clear the expectations of the Lord. The controversy around this piece of Scripture exists only because we are sinful. We are not obedient to the Lord. If every man loved his wife like the Lord loved him and if every woman loved her husband like the Lord loves her, marriages would be very different today. As is, my opinion is that many women do not like the idea of being subject to anything or anyone. They have their rights and are equal to a man. Well… yes, if you mean in the way that the Lord loves us. A woman is built different and a woman serves a different purpose on earth. Woman was created by God for companionship for man.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit him.” (Genesis 2:18 ESV)

…and…

⁸For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. (1 Corinthians 11:8-9 ESV)

I’m not trying to say that this is a bad thing, this is a great thing! I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for my wife. As Scripture said, I left my family so that I could be joined with my family. I want that to be for eternity. I am not with her because I want her to subject herself to me and be obedient to me. I want her to be obedient to the Lord. Hopefully, if I am doing my job correctly, the only thing I am really disciplining or rebuking her about is obeying and listening to the Lord.

Peter also tells us that a woman should conduct herself in a way that could win over her husband just by her conduct. Peter tells us exactly what that conduct should be:

when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
(1 Peter 3:2 ESV)

Respectful and pure conduct only comes from the Lord. If the woman is living in sin, she will never win over her husband to the Lord. She must show him Christ in her life every moment possible. Respect and pure conduct could be restated as Jesus’s command:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself…
(Mark 12:31)

Your neighbor can be your husband (or wife) as well. People simply need to show others love. Not puppy dog love but true, heart wretching, love.