Genesis 28: Stairway to Heaven

He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."

Why would God choose a cheating rascal like Jacob to carry out His plan of building a holy nation? The answer is simple...God's grace. This undeserved gift is exactly what Jacob receives while traveling alone in the desert as a fugitive. Having cheated his brother out of the family birthright, he is fleeing from Esau and his murderous threats. Yet, God comes to him full of promises- not the reproaches that we would assume he deserves.

At nightfall with no place to stay, Jacob takes a stone to use for a pillow and goes to sleep. It is in a dream that he sees a great stairway, going from the earth to heaven. On the stairway are angels going up and down, and the Lord Himself is standing on the top. Jacob is so awed by the beauty and power of this dream, that upon waking, he takes the stone he had used as a pillow and makes a marker to remember this wonderful place. As if for the first time, Jacob recognizes that the "Lord will be my God" (Gen 28:21).

The dream has an ultimate messianic application - the very reason for it. Jesus Christ is humanly descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is our stairway to heaven that will provide us with the way to get from down here to up there. In John's Gospel, Jesus directly refers to Himself as the true object of Jacob's dream - "He then added, "I tell you the truth, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:51)

Life Question: What is something that we can use on a daily basis to serve as our own "stairway to heaven" and ultimately bring us closer to Christ?

Certainly, prayer and Bible study are tools that can serve us well. But, I also find it extremely helpful to surround myself with friends who share the same passion and values in life. Being able to worship with folks on Sunday at the Chapel is a perfect example. I know in my heart that they are all good, Christian men and women who truly aspire to be Christ-like in their words and deeds. I suppose life's journey towards salvation can be achieved alone, but I personally find it a bit easier to travel alongside some friends.

Genesis 27: the Con Man in God's Family

"He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"

How can a religion with such high standards include so many people who fail to meet those standards? The life of Jacob, grandson of Abraham, certainly poses this question. A twin, Jacob enters the world with one hand grasping the heel of his brother Esau who precedes him. Later in life, he takes advantage of his twin brother's weakened state to gain the birthright, an inheritance document similar to a family will. Seeing that his father still favors the older Esau, Jacob- along with his mother Rebekah- contrive another trick: he gets his aging father to bestow upon him the blessing that rightfully belongs to his elder brother. In the process, Jacob flatly lies to his father and even takes the Lord's name in vain. Nevertheless, Jacob is now the beneficiary of a blessing that will one day produce a whole nation of God's favored people.

Apparently God's choice does not depend on how a person behaves. God simply chooses the people He wants. In this case, Jacob- the deceitful younger brother. Is this fair? In Romans 9, Paul raises this very question. He tells us that we have no right to find fault with God's choices because we no so little, especially compared to God's infinite understanding. We may not see why God chooses people like Jacob, but unquestionably His choices work for good. In this case, Jacob may be seen as a blessing channel. In other words, by selecting a few at first, God plans to extend His blessings to all, which is exactly what happens in Genesis. Abraham's small, fault-ridden family grows into a sizable, fault-ridden nation that brings forth, in the fullness of time, a faultless Jesus.

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus...There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed" Galatians 3:26, 28-29

Life Question: God has a habit of choosing flawed people to achieve great good. How might the hypocrites/ "con-men" of our day serve a greater purpose in our life?

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God's plan can be extremely difficult to understand at times. I suppose human nature brings forth envy and jealousy when good things happen to "bad" people. Why did so and so move up in the company when we all know that he is a practicing flatterer? Or why did so and so graduate at the top of his class when we all know that he cheated his way through school? I'm guessing that we just have to put our faith in God and accept the fact that He knows what He's doing. The Bible is filled with "less than perfect" men and women, and yet God has used all of these individuals to lead us- here today- closer to Christ. So, maybe the next time that we encounter a "Jacob" in our lives, we should take the high road and try to understand God's ultimate purpose- a healthy relationship with His Son.

Genesis 22: A Final Exam

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.

Abraham, a man renowned for his faith, does not come by that faith easily. He leaves the land of Canaan (a land God told him to claim as his own) for a safer stay in Egypt where food was plentiful; he lies about his wife to the Pharoah to save his own skin; at age 85, Abraham gives up on God's promise of many descendents and sleeps with a female servant so that he can have a child whom he can call his own; and then at age 99, when he hears God confirm the original promise, Abraham laughs in God's face.

However, Abraham finally learns what it means to have unquestioning faith, a trial so severe that it makes all the others seem like preschool games. Against all odds, a son is finally born to Abraham and Sarah, fulfilling God's original promise. And yet, God then calls out Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering. What kind of game is God playing? What does God want? The answer: Faith- complete trust, regardless of the odds.

So, Abraham takes the wood for the burnt offering and actually places it on his own son's back before ascending the steep mountain with his son, Isaac. Yes, the same mountain to later become home to Jerusalem, the place where God will provide one day His only Son Jesus as the final sacrifice for all people who believe. Having doubted God too many times in the past, Abraham is now determined to obey. It has taken more than a hundred years, but this wandering nomad has finally learned to place his entire trust in God.

Life Question: Have you ever thought what might have happened if Abraham had said "No" to God when asked to sacrifice his only son? Would God have given him another chance, or would He have felt the need to start over- again- as in the Garden of Eden, Noah, and Sodom and Gomorrah stories. Think about a monumental course of action that God had called upon you to make. What might have happened had you chosen the "other road"?

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Uh...Fatherhood? Lord knows that I'm still learning the ropes of this gig, but I really cannot imagine what my life would be like without my three kids. I also think God had a plan in setting my life up in such a way that I would have a teenager, a 5 year-old, and a baby all in the same household- either that, or it's just another way to show that He has a great sense of humor! All three of my kids, though, offers such a unique gift to me each day, and I truly feel blessed to have them in my life.

Genesis 19: God's patience runs out

Do you have anyone else here- sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place.

This chapter shows what Abraham confronts in his efforts to found a new and godly nation. His own nephew Lot lives in the city of Sodom, a sordid place that looks on visiting strangers as prime targets for gang rape. Despite Sodom's woeful condition, God agrees to spare the city if Abraham can locate a mere ten righteous people there. When Abraham cannot find ten, God's patience finally runs out. Once more He steps in with direct punishment- not to destroy the whole world, but to wipe out two centers of evil.

Lot started out close to Abraham, but ultimately chose a very different pathway. Unlike Abraham who remained a nomad and followed God all his days, Lot preferred the cushy surroundings of the city- despite Sodom's reputation as a center of immorality. Even when God sent angels warning him to escape the coming judgment- the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah- Lot had a hard time tearing himself away. In the end, he lost everything- including his wife who turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at the city- and ended up in a cave only to engage in drunken incest with his two daughters.

Life Question: What practices common to our society do you think God considers intolerable?

Without hesitation, I have to believe that God despises any act that harms children. Kids are so innocent to the evils of the world, and for any adult to rip away a child's innocence through physical or sexual abuse can only be looked upon as the most heinous of all acts. It's these types of crimes that make it awfully difficult to offer the transgressors any sort of Christian charity and compassion.

Genesis 17: Who's Laughing Now?

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" Then God said, Yes...I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

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According to custom, a man could sleep with a servant and include her children in his household. Remembering God's promise of more descendants than the stars in the sky, Abraham was desperately trying to get the children he and his wife longed for and decided to "help God out" in fulfilling His promise of a son.

Abraham and Sarah's way, though, was not God's way; their actions led to considerable jealousy and sorrow. Obviously Sarah felt deep inner conflict about this decision, for when Abraham got Hagar (Sarah's maidservant) pregnant, Sarah mistreated her and sent her away. Hagar eventually returned, but Sarah's inner conflict persisted. She would ultimately drive both mother and son into the desert leaving Ishmael, the innocent child victim of this scheming, to suffer the consequences.

Meanwhile, God kept repeating the amazing promise of a son to this elderly couple. Abraham was a man of faith, but his faith was less than wholehearted at times. Nearing the age of 100, he falls face down and laughs incredulously at the notion of he and Sarah parenting a son. But, the joke turns on them both when Sarah finally becomes pregnant. After all her years of waiting, her longings were fulfilled.

Life Question: Have you ever tried to "help God out" when you thought He couldn't, or wouldn't, help you in the way you wanted? What was the result?

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Yeah...every time I'm quick to judge someone. It's very easy to justify my words and actions by believing that you're doing what you think God would do. The person who doesn't necessarily share the same views as I may very well be part of the "big picture" that God is trying to lay before me. It is these times where prayer can be invaluable. Trust that God knows what He's doing and listen to Him when He calls upon us.

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On a lighter note, I've often wondered if- as just a bit of retribution/ sense of humor towards Abraham's wavering faith at times- God waited to call him until the age of 99 to be circumcised. I would guess that Abraham would have preferred that part of the covenant to have been implemented when he was a baby.

Genesis 12: A Leap of Faith
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Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; and I will make your name great.

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After scanning centuries, Genesis changes dramatically in chapter 12. Leaving the big picture of world history, it settles on one lonely individual- not a great king or a wealthy landowner, but a childless nomad, Abraham. At God's call, Abraham uprooted himself and began wandering in the wilderness- moving his flocks from place to the next, negotiating with hostile locals, and searching for sources of food and water.

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What made this particular wanderer so important/ unique?

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God chose him as the foundation of a new humanity. The promises that God made to Abraham were hard to believe: his wife was barren, he was getting too old to have children, and he owned no land. Nonetheless, God asked Abraham to simply trust Him.

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Secondly, when God spoke to him, Abraham listened. He was far from perfect, sometimes straying from the path that God put him on, lying and trying to make the promises work out in his own way. Yet, in the decisive moments of life, he listened to God and obeyed. He was willing to sacrifice anything for God- even his own son (Genesis 22) With this trust, Abraham's descendants were to be foreever known as "God's people" and set in motion the story of God's long range plans... Look up at the heavens and count the stars- if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be. (Genesis 15:5)

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Life Question: God asked Abraham to leave his home, family, and friends and go to a far off foreign country. Has God ever asked anything hard or risky of you? How did you respond?

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I think God has probably called upon me numerous times, but I'm not so sure if I've always responded with the same "leap of faith" as Abraham. Sometimes, it takes a while- days, or even weeks, to realize missed opportunities in which I could have made a difference in someone's life- usually at God's beckoning- but found it to be either inconvienient or simply unimportant at the time: reaching out to a friend in need, truly listening to my spouse/ kids and giving them my undivided attention at times, doing more financially for those who have so little in life...yeah, I'm pretty much guilty of all of the above. This story can truly be a source of inspiration for folks like me who need to wake up and start listening to what God is calling me to do.

Genesis 9: A Solemn Promise

Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.
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The gloomy tone of Genesis' past few chapters brightens almost immediately as this chapter tells of Noah and the few survivors landing on earth, sprouting abundant new life. For the first time in years, people actually seek to please God, seen in Noah's first act on dry land in his preparing an offering of thanksgiving. God responds with a solemn promise, the first of several covenants in the Bible between God and the people whom He loves.
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God's covenant recognizes certain sad adjustments to the original design of the world, taking for granted that human beings will continue to sin and disobey God's laws. Even so, God promises that regardless of what might happen, never again will he destroy life on such a massive scale. In effect, God vows to find another way to deal with the rebellion and violence of humanity. What may be the most recognizable symbol in the Old Testament, the rainbow marks this first recorded covenant by God.
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Life Question: According to the story of Noah, God is discouraged by the corruption and wickedness of His creation. Do you think that the best way to fix a mistake is usually to obliterate it and start over? Or, do you believe that there is something redeeming/ good about everything that is created by God?

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I think this question lends itself certainly to the issues of abortion and capital punishment- hot-tempered topics in today's society. The lesson here, I think, is that we ought to follow God's lead when it comes to dealing with adversity and turmoil. Distruction isn't the answer, and it certainly will not rid the world of all evils. A far greater gift that God has given us- more than brute strength- is what should be a loving heart...a loving heart that will call us to pray and look for alternative choices when we are faced with the notion of destroying God's work.

Genesis 4: Crouching at the Door

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Chapter four is filled with "firsts": the first childbirth, the first formal worship, first division of labor, the first extended families, and the first cities/ signs of culture. But one "first" overshadows all others: the first death of a human being- a death by murder, one brother killing another.

Sin enters the world through the first family, and by the second generation people are already killing each other. Yet, not all the news is bleak. Humans begin to fulfill their assigned role as stewards over the created world. Some learn agriculture, some choose to work with tools of bronze and iron, and some discover music and the arts. Despite these advances, though, history continues to slide along the track of rebellion. Still today, we all face the same choice: to obey or disobey God's word. God's warning to Cain applies to everyone- even today in 2007... If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

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Life Question: Which of Cain's responses to God- anger, defensiveness, fear, shame- do you identify with most easily?

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Uh....all of them? That said, I would have to say, being a parent of three, that shame would top the list for me. Kids are so perceptive and impressionable in everything that we do. I so want to be a solid role model for my family, and I do feel a tremendous amount of shame when I fall short and stumble away from what God would like me to do. I've always been intrigued with Cain's defensive question to God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Uh... Absolutely! He should have been and we should constantly strive to be our brother's keeper throughout our mortal life. Letting my kids down through my words or actions brings more shame to me than just about anything else that I can think of...and I suppose that this is the lesson that we can all take from the tragic story of Cain and his brother.

Genesis 3: The Crash

But God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."

Even though Adam and Eve have everything a person could possibly want in Paradise, a thought still nags at them..."Are we missing out on something?" Though created good, we have disobeyed God right from the beginning. Genesis helps us understand why the universe is so strikingly beautiful, yet so terribly tragic. The former being because God created it...the latter because He trusted us to take care of it. The pivotal question that God poses to this couple is simply, "What is this that you have done, and are you ready to take responsibility for it?" Sadly, Adam and his wife tremble in fear and attempt to hide from their Lord. Fortunately for us, God, in His eternal love, reaches out and continues to guide us along our journey knowing that we are so like these first people who walked the earth.

LIfe Question: Have you ever felt hemmed in or stifled by one of God's commands? How have you responded to this feeling?

For years, I attended church services out of habit. I have so many fond memories of playing with the St. Vincent group, but as I look back on those years, I was so wrapped up worrying about keeping our group together/ "on the same page" that I missed out on the whole reason for participating in music ministry...to glorify Christ.

What did I do about it? Well, it took a while, but after a lot of soul searching and thanks to my sister's invite, I soon found myself sitting in the Chapel's worship center and simply feeling "at home"...and eventually gathering up the courage to ask to join the Worship Team. Having been here a little over a year, I truly believe that Christ is at the forefront of everything that we do in our music ministry, and as a result, leading Sunday worship comes relatively easy and is definitely a highlight of my week. When our hearts are in the right places, Christ isn't much into critiquing our every move/ note...instead, I think, He's ecstatic that we can all find a common time during the week to worship Him together as one family.