Exodus on Gen 3:15

This is not the first time I read the book of Exodus. When I read Exodus this time, I changed the way I read from looking at detail level to getting the big picture of the promise to fulfillment. Before I go through, let me build up the background of the book.

Gen 3:15 took place after Adam and Eve fall away, after eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil that was introduced by the serpent. This verse started with a promise that an offspring born of the woman (Eve) and the serpent will be at enmity. He shall bruise the serpent's head, and the serpent shall bruise his heel.

In Gen 49, Jacob foretold what will happen to the twelve tribes in the future.

Out of the 12, on my opinion there are only three that has a good fortune telling: Judah, Zebulun, and Asher. Judah's tribe was described that 'your brothers shall praise you', 'the sceptre shall not depart from Judah', 'to him shall be the obedience of the peoples'

Dan's tribe, however, 'shall be a serpent in the way'. I was wondering whether this points to Gen 3:15 serpent?! My attitude was that I want to keep reading the rest of the book, and see what kind of future lays for these 12 tribes.

THE EXODUS

Exodus is a book about exodus basically (hence the name), how Israel is going out from Egypt as they are oppressed.

There are mainly two names that are active in this book, namely Moses and Aaron. I come to question the foretelling that Jacob made earlier in Gen 49 about Judah, Zebulun, Asher. Moses and Aaron come from the family tree of Levi; and they are pretty much the main characters in the book of Exodus. Is it likely that either Moses or Aaron will be the one we are looking for?

Will there be an introduction to the hero that we are looking for?

I got a very little glimpse of hope, as I see a person of the tribe of Judah (Exo 35:30) namely Bezalel, the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he [Moses] has filled him with the Spirit of God, with .... and so on.

Wow!! He is filled with Spirit of God. He's just a craftsmen, from all that I know of (and out of the blue too), but he was in charge of building the tabernacle for the LORD.

The story of exodus ends with the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. How is the next book of Leviticus continue the legacy of finding the fulfillment of the promise? Let's read together shall we.

For the Love of God - Meditation

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD – MEDITATION

Holiness surrounds His throne;
All His angels bow.
Sheer delight is theirs alone,
Worshiping Him now.
Justice triumphs, beauty reigns,
Nothing's marred or flawed.

Countless millions join in praise.
For the love of God 2x

God so loved this sin-cursed world
That He gave His Son.
Jesus is God's love unfurled--
Our redemption won.
Contemplating such a love,
I am humbled, awed.

So I will proclaim His grace
For the love of God. 2x

Heart and mind and soul and strength--
Would that I were true,
Faithfully adoring Him,
Totally renewed!
How I long to praise His name,
All His ways applaud.

So I'll raise my halting* hymn
For the love of God. 2x

Words by D.A. Carson; Music by Rob Smith
© 2005 Carson/Smith; CCLI License # 34305

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*Halting means: faltering or hesitating; faulty or imperfect; limping or lame

So I'll raise my halting hymn For the love of God. May it be.

pondering genesis (part 2)

I got to write more stuffs about second part on my pondering from genesis.

I realized that there are so many words that i have heard many times that i'm not quite familiar with yet (such as tamarisk tree, wean). So i leave my laptop on to do a definition:search in case i need things quickly and free. I might have New Bible Dictionary stays with me too, see if i'm using it more or not.

Here are the bits of pondering:

• continuing from the historical account of Noah on the flood, this time (19:23) the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.
• The character in Genesis starting to be expertise in specific profession, i.e. Nimrod - the mighty hunter, Ismael - expert with the bow (archer)
• Abraham is a prophet (20:7)
• the part where Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah was quite scary for personal thought. God visited him specifically and asked him not to defile Sarah, someone's wife. He personally does not know about this, and was spared from God's anger because he was told so. In 20:18 however, God still closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife (don't ask me how okay). Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his household.
• The process where Abimelech tried to take Sarah, happens again with Rebekah (Isaac wife). Spot the similarities and the differences, and how God acted on both occasion.
• Abraham said: "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son" (22:8), when Isaac ask 'where is the lamb for a burnt offering'. Truly, Abraham was about to offer Isaac as the burnt offering (there is no account where Isaac talk at this time), until the angel of the LORD came with a ram (22:13), after seeing his God fearing attitude.
• At this point in time, I directly remember about God offering himself through Jesus Christ His Son, and was looking at the cross reference that was provided in my Bible. It links me to John 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19, and Rev 5:12

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Rev 5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

Little application:

• A slight little sexual affair that we see as nothing today, was really 'a big deal' at Abraham's time. Were God decided to close the womb of the whole household today in the 21st century because of one man sleeping with someone's wife (and also unknowingly!), how many people in our world will be affected by it?
  I am praying for more and more faithful husbands and wives to rise up, that they too become the role model in the society.
• The part where Abraham said 'God gives his own lamb' is a big note for me. The fact that the ram came shows He is in control even though Abraham did not foresee it (remember that God said Abraham is a prophet? there you go, prophecy fulfilled). But he might have not foreseen the double layer prophecy about Jesus "God offering himself as the ram".
  This tiny bits of detail continue to give me comfort on trusting God. and I hope it is for you too now :).

Till the next time of my pondering, shall we! may you have your own pondering too, and through that your love of God may be flourishing (ps: I am praying for God's Spirit to work continually in your heart to stir you up by way of reminder. Keep living up the godly lives.)

pondering genesis

i haven't written too much of a heavy content post, and i guess that is reflected in the quality of the post in overall. it is a mix of personal update, little book review, and a little bit of life journey flavoured with biblical bits that i get to ponder.

i've been wanting to finish the first 5 books of OT again, was expecting to do it in bigger chunk this time since i am much more familiar with it by now, and also i want to get the bigger feel of it.

it has been very encouraging to keep learning and pondering at new things when i read from the early chapters of genesis. here what i found during my pondering:

• Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD, might need to see NT explanation on this next time.
  
• Noah is called to 'teem' on the earth and multiple in it. the word 'teem' means make full.
• The flood during Noah's time: started in Noah age: year 600 month 2 day 17 - until - year 601 month 2 day 27. It takes literally more than a year to let the water dries up.
• The LORD send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, but the term that describes it is 'I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth ...'
• I remembered CG sort of explains Tower of Babel incidents in chapter 11 as a flashback of chapter 10. I was wondering again on this, since in 10:5, everyone already in their own language.
• Sarah happens to be 'very beautiful in appearance'
• When Abraham tell that Sarah is his sister, Sarah also consented and says that Abraham is her brother.
  
• 16:9 the angel of the LORD came to Hagar after she ran away from her mistress (Sarai). I sort of associate the appearance of angel with being afraid or scared (I have been reading Luke gospel that gives big note on being afraid)
• Like Adam, Abraham also was in 'deep sleep' (15:12), which then it comes the scene where the LORD talked to him.
• Circumcision is a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. How is this related to NT since Jesus is the one who brings better covenant? Is physical sign still a need today too?
  

Little application:

• I know this is not supposed to be direct application. But the naming convention of baby in some families is not quite of the mark with what happens in the Bible. People do name their baby with any historical events (such as Olympic, World Cup, Solar Eclipse, etc.) ... bible also records name such as Peleg (means the earth was divided), Isaac (means he laughes, note that Abraham and Sarah both laughed at different timing), and maybe one that is still in my memory is the way Hosea's 3 sons are named.

I still have some note jotted down that I don't put up here, maybe that's for you to work out first and try to read it yourself, and see how much of interesting things will come up when you read it.

"The Bible is different from any other books in that we need to read it in revere and obedience. It calls for a change in attitute, and a change of hearts."

Arus Balik, dalam Satu Hari 77 Pemudik Tewas

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