THE LORD SPOKE (January 10)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Genesis 25-26

“Abimelech”. Several kings of the same name appear in Scripture, which has led some critics to suggest that the Bible is imprecise or inaccurate. But that is by no means a necessary conclusion. The name, which means “my father [is/was] the king” is probably a dynastic title similar to “Pharaoh” or “Henry”. Just as there was a Pharaoh Shishak, a Pharaoh Neco, etc., etc. or a Henry I...all the way to Henry VIII and more, so could there be several rulers by the name of Abimelech. By the way, the same is probably true of “Jabin”, which accounts for a series of kings from Hazor by the same name - a subject that has cause no small amount of confusion with Bible critics.

Perhaps the greater problem here in Genesis 26 is the presence of Philistines in the days of the Patriarchs. According to archaeology, the Philistines were “sea peoples” from the Aegean who attempted to invade Egypt in the 13th century BC and several times later but were repulsed. Instead, they settled along the coast of the Levant. There were actually five different groups of “sea peoples” of whom the Philistines are best known to us because of the many references to them in Scripture. The problem with that is it’s much too late for the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which should be placed back around 2000-1800 BC. What are the Philistines doing here in the days of the Patriarchs?

Two possible answers could be given which would maintain the integrity of Scripture. First, it’s possible that the author or subsequent editors of Genesis used a common name for Israel’s enemies from that region. For centuries the bad guys along the southern coastal plain were known as “Philistines” so that was the acceptable moniker to be used in this text. Just as Kiriath Arba was changed to Hebron or Laish was changed to Dan because of common usage, it was a name with which readers would have been more familiar.

Second, and this is probably the better of the two explanations, it could just be that we don’t know yet everything about the Philistines. For instance, these Philistines were agriculturalists, involved in herding flocks and digging wells. The later Philistines were mariners and had the secret of metallurgy. Just because we have excellent archaeological evidence for one event in the 13th century BC, it does not follow that we’ve pieced together all the history of the Philistines. After all, this historical text does clearly say they were Philistines (whether you believe the Bible to be inspired or not). Perhaps an earlier wave of Philistines came to the region and we just haven’t yet found any archaeological evidence. It’s a bit presumptuous to imply we know it all. That’s like the cosmonauts who came back from space and assured us there was no God since they’d been out there and didn’t see him anywhere.

Let’s let the Bible say what it says and hold back for awhile to see if a good explanation doesn’t pop up somewhere.


New Testament: Matthew 10

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost,
And I walked life’s highways, grieving,
In my rags and poverty,
‘Til I heard His voice inviting,
“Lift your empty hands to Me!”

So I held my hands toward heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
‘Til they could contain no more.
And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
- Martha Snell Nicholson

What is it that stands in the way of your full commitment to God? Jesus speaks of loving parents or children more that Him and thereby missing His reward (Mat. 10:37-39). Our own desire to hang on to something can result in losing that very thing or person that we so desire.

Corrie ten-Boom used to say, “I’ve learned not to hold onto things too tightly, because it hurts so much when He pries my fingers apart.” It may very well be a good thing - there’s certainly nothing wrong with loving your parents or your children. But even a good thing can become a danger to our walk with the Lord if we allow it to pull us away from Him. Any substitute for that relationship becomes an entrapment that leads to sin.

So, take stock. Examine your heart. See if there is something or someone who is more important to you than Jesus Christ. Then, turn that person or relationship or thing over to Him. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this...” (Psalm 37:4-5).

“He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot)