That's right...when I eat cereal (like Rice Crispies with banana slices), I eat a lot. I don't like soggy cereal, so I usually try to barely put any milk in the bowl. If I do put more than I wish, where there actually is some milk at the bottom with little pieces of cereal floating in it, I'll grab the box and add more cereal. It helps provide my mouth with some crunchy bits, which drowns out the soggy pieces.
Genesis 12 gets into some exciting details, as Abram is called of God, which sets in motion a foundation that still shakes our world.
On their most recent tour, U2's Bono deftly pointed out that "Jesus, Jew, Mohammad, too -- all sons of Abraham." (forgive me if I didn't quote him exactly) With the vastness and breadth of these world religions, with the majority of the world falling into one of these three camps, these numbers point to a conclusion that one of these three must have it right. There's too many things connected here for all three of these religions to simply be myths like the Greek gods of ancient Rome -- figments of the imaginations of their fathers. This beginning of the Jewish nation set so much into motion. It's incredible.
"The Lord had said to Abram, '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; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'"
This is an amazing covenant that God makes with Abram (who after he has Isaac is called Abraham, which signifies his fatherhood). This was a messianic prophecy and covenant, too. For it was through his bloodline that Jesus was one day born, Who truly has blessed all the nations of the earth. Abraham's faith to obey God was great, but his propensity to screw things up royally was just as present, too. When a famine drove him and his people to Egypt, he concocted a plan to lie to people when they saw how beautiful his wife, Sarai, was. "She's my sister," they'd tell people. Abram was afraid that people would kill him to take his wife from him. Sure enough, people gawked at her beauty and reported it to the local rock star -- Pharaoh. She was taken into his palace. By Pharaoh's outburst after finding out the truth, we can deduce that he had sex with Sarai ("...I took her to be my wife"). While Sarai was commiting adultery with the greatest ruler in the world, Abram was receiving gifts of sheep, cattle, camels, and slaves. While what he accomplished in the big picture of his life is commendable, I think he made a mistake that's low and pathetic. I trust that Sarai let him have it (with fists, words, and long hours of the silent treatment) after they went on their way together.
I tell ya, this story authenticates the accuracy and reliability of the Bible in another way, too. It shows the leader/father of the Jewish faith (which is the foundation of Jesus' life and the New Covenant God made with man) being a complete idiot and failure. If I was writing a fake/pretend book of myths with which I could "control the masses" by believing my myths, I certainly wouldn't make my heroes look like idiots. I would "clean them up" and make them look real good.
Another thing that I can glean from this story is that I, who have failed and been an idiot in many ways myself, can look to God for a second chance, grace, and redemption. Praise be to His Name!
only my son could have written this blog!!!
Posted by: ma at October 3, 2006 11:54 AM