Genesis 32, Matthew 23

Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker (Genesis 32, Matthew 23)

(Genesis 32)

Jacob’s name is changed to Israel. From a name signifying a supplanter, alternate or literally a “backup” to a name meaning a Prince with God. He’s come a long way. Once again I am reminded of the significance of an encounter with the living God. All that Jacob had experienced, all of God’s favor, His leading, His blessing and His communication with him had come to this moment of leaning on God and God alone in his most fearful of moments. And He wrestled. And God was faithful.

Each of us should wrestle with God more. We should struggle with what it takes to learn to trust Him. We should invest our mental and physical energies into finding out what brings Him great joy. We should seek to understand His greatness. We should fight to celebrate His great mystery. We should do whatever it takes to figure out how to remain in His presence, guidance, and favor more and more each day we live.

It’s so much a part of our nature to get to the point in which we think we’ve got God figured out enough that now we can take over. “Okay God, I got it, you can let go now. I think I know what you want and I’m pretty sure I can handle it.” Wrong. Instead, when we think we’ve got something figured out, how about if we fight to draw even closer. How about if we wrestle to stay in that intimate place a bit longer. How about if we do what Peter did in Matthew 17 when He saw the transfiguration of Jesus with Moses and Elijah (it was a pretty lame attempt but at least he tried) when he offered to build them each shelters so they could just stay there a while.

Father, give us the desire to know you more, search out your ways more, find out more of the things of YOU. Forgive us, God, for being lazy in our pursuit. Forgive us for not contending more for your Glory in our lives. God, we know you will be glorified. May we fight that you be Glorified in that which we are called to both as individuals of faith and as the Body of Christ.

(Matthew 23)

Can you even imagine this scene in Matthew 23? These are amazingly bold words of Truth. I can just feel the tension building. I wonder if the disciples wanted Jesus to back off a bit or if they where completely on board with what was happening. Surely they knew all that heard would not agree with his words. Surely they knew that he would be held to his words. Surely they knew they were guilty by association. But Jesus spoke with all authority in heaven and on earth. He continued with his accusations, “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Those were not soft words.

I’m reminded of a verse that a good friend encouraged me with recently. What an amazing truth, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Thank you Lord for your power.