January 18
GENESIS 47:28-50:26
God has a way of subverting the values of a culture. Sometimes he does this in radical ways, other times they are subtle and we may struggle with why he sometimes did not radically overthrow structures like slavery sooner. As God works in our world, he sees no problem with radically flipping the script to which we may be accustomed. Today we see God doing that through his willingness to not follow the sacrosanct birth order of the ancient near east. In Jacob's time, the firstborn received double the inheritance, was heir to royalty, and essentially, the chosen one. When it comes to Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, he feels no need to obey this, but instead, blesses Ephraim over Manasseh. This idea has already been seen in Jacob and Esau, Ishmael and Isaac, and will be seen again throughout the Bible. It is also seen in the promise that Judah, the fourth born, would be the one who would have a son with a "ruler's staff." From this line of Judah would come the Messiah and the king of kings. We see this cultural subversion in these texts, but we see it most clearly in Jesus' life and teaching. The role of a servant is exalted, the poor are blessed, and through suffering comes glory. God calls us to take off the American script and replace it with Jesus'.
Father God, help me to follow you and not the ways of the world. Help me to embrace your path and the ways of Jesus, rather than the ways of America. Help me to see true greatness is found in following you and not in the power, wealth, and prestige of my society. Amen.
Question: How do you see American cultural values at play in a harmful way in your life and in our church? How can we replace these values with those of God?
God has a way of subverting the values of a culture. Sometimes he does this in radical ways, other times they are subtle and we may struggle with why he sometimes did not radically overthrow structures like slavery sooner. As God works in our world, he sees no problem with radically flipping the script to which we may be accustomed. Today we see God doing that through his willingness to not follow the sacrosanct birth order of the ancient near east. In Jacob's time, the firstborn received double the inheritance, was heir to royalty, and essentially, the chosen one. When it comes to Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, he feels no need to obey this, but instead, blesses Ephraim over Manasseh. This idea has already been seen in Jacob and Esau, Ishmael and Isaac, and will be seen again throughout the Bible. It is also seen in the promise that Judah, the fourth born, would be the one who would have a son with a "ruler's staff." From this line of Judah would come the Messiah and the king of kings. We see this cultural subversion in these texts, but we see it most clearly in Jesus' life and teaching. The role of a servant is exalted, the poor are blessed, and through suffering comes glory. God calls us to take off the American script and replace it with Jesus'.
Father God, help me to follow you and not the ways of the world. Help me to embrace your path and the ways of Jesus, rather than the ways of America. Help me to see true greatness is found in following you and not in the power, wealth, and prestige of my society. Amen.
Question: How do you see American cultural values at play in a harmful way in your life and in our church? How can we replace these values with those of God?
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