2/1/2018 – Genesis 2:18-25, Genesis 3, Genesis 4:1-16 – Matthew 2:1-18 – Psalm 2:1-12
Genesis 3:1 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Have you ever thought how outrageous and over the top this statement is? The serpent is suggesting that God had said they couldn’t eat any fruit from any tree. It’s not even close to what God said. This prompts a strong apologetic from Eve. She corrects the serpent right away: Genesis 3:2-3 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” She starts off right. She’s defending the word. But she doesn’t keep it up. And when the serpent gives another challenge – doubt creeps in. How often have we started defending the word and our argument seem solid, but then a question comes that rattles us? It can knock your faith. If Eve had stuck with her original defence of the word, the serpent had no grounds – no argument. But doubt came in. Sometimes we are ready for the first question… but the second one catches us off guard.
Genesis 4:7 – If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
If you do well will you not be accepted? And if you don’t, sin is crouching at the door. What a verse – because initially this sounds like we have to work hard to please God or He won’t accept us. But that’s not what this means. Cain didn’t give a good offering – Able brought the firstfrust but Cains is just described as an offering. It doesn’t sound like his heart was in it and as a result he was angry and brought condemnation upon himself. How often, when we’ve failed God or done a poor job we are the ones who first get down on ourselves. And we need to be careful when we do so. When we allow ourselves not to do well, we can start to spiral. Sin is crouching at the door – ready to pounce. And often we open that very door ourselves. Sin wants to get you – but you must rule over it, control it and keep it at bay. Cain’s offering didn’t have to lead to murder – it could have led to repentance and a better job next time. But anger took over.
Matt 2:3-6 – When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Reading this, something occurred to me that I’d not thought about before. The prophecy given by Micah was given to the Jewish people, but was also used to help the Magi find Jesus. When the word of God is given to the right people, maybe not even the people you might think it’s for, it makes a powerful difference. But the word of God in the wrong hands – such as Herod is a dangerous thing indeed. Micah never intended for his prophecy to be used by a man such as Herod. We must be very careful handling the word of truth, that we use it righteously and not for our own agenda.
Psalm 2:8 – Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Sometimes we claim this verse for ourselves – but is it meant for us? Who is the Lord speaking to? He’s speaking to His son – it’s in a Messianic part of the Psalm. So whose Inheritance is it? Christ’s. Now, we are also grafted into the family and have the right to sonship, so we can step into that inheritance – but it belongs to Christ not us. The nations are His inheritance and the day is coming when they will ALL give Him glory.
