THE LORD SPOKE (January 15)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Genesis 36-37

He probably should have been spanked. Jacob did rebuke him (Gen. 37:10) but Joseph would have done well to keep his dreams to himself or, at least, to be more discrete in how he recounted them to others. His not-so-innocent story-telling bordered on brashness and got him in trouble.

Not that his brothers were justified in what they did. The whole problem had started back in Paddan Aram with Jacob’s polygamous philandering. It was a recipe for disaster from the start. How God over-ruled the entire affair is just one spectacle of His amazing grace. His ability to work with shattered lives and to fashion a masterpiece out of earthy clay is part of why I love Him so.

One of the interesting character sketches throughout this story is Reuben. Jacob’s firstborn came from Leah, the unloved bride. She was the sisty ugler, the shocking surprise at sunrise, the attached “benefit” on the marriage contract with Laban. Under the circumstances, Reuben probably never got full coddling rights usually associated with a firstborn. With four sets of siblings in way-too-quick succession, primogeniture didn’t count for much for him.

He didn’t do so well in the big brother role in the affair with Dinah (Gen. 34). He’s not even mentioned there. Early on he made a very bad choice (Gen. 35:22) and his arrogant incest cost him his birthright (Gen. 49:3-4; I Chron. 5:1). It also cost him a natural leadership role that should have gone along with being the oldest boy in the family. Twice we have record of him attempting to do well but ultimately failing.

First, he tried to rescue Joseph’s life by suggesting to his brothers that they throw him into the pit rather than kill him, intending to come back himself and take Joseph home to his father. The brothers listened only so long as it suited their purposes but didn’t share Reuben’s intent and he was too slow or too weak to pull it off.

The second instance also involves Joseph, by now down in Egypt and requiring the twelfth brother to be brought to him. Reuben offers his own sons as security but his offer is turned down by aged Jacob. By then effective leadership had passed from Reuben to Judah (Gen. 37:26-27; 43:3-5 ,8-10; 44:18f; 46:28; 49:8-12). This was, of course, according to God’s plan for it was His design that...

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. (Gen. 49:10)

In spite of Jacob’s, or Reuben’s, or our own miserable failings, God’s purposes will be fulfilled, often in ways quite surprising to us. Take great comfort in knowing that He is always in perfect control of all things.


New Testament: Matthew 15

“Tradition!” shouts Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof in answer to many questions, from why he wears a hat to why he kept Shabbat. It’s still the answer to many questions, and not just those of Jewish people.

We all have traditions and, for the most part, they’re good things. They’re what tie us together as a family through multiple generations. They’re what remind us of the past and keep us conscious of our history and linked to our heritage. They’re often good object lessons to teach useful things to our children. They’re what give expression to our colorful ethnic differences the world over.

But, they can also be a stumbling block that keeps us too long on the same trail. They can hinder positive progress. They can pull us in wrong directions. They can reinforce wrong patterns of thinking. They can become so ingrained in our thinking that, by constant repetition, they take the place of truth.

Such was the case in Matthew’s day. Jesus was critical of people that “break the command of God for the sake of [their] traditions” (Mat. 15:3). You don’t have to be Jewish to fit that category. They never cornered the market on this problem. What about some of our Christmas and Easter traditions that detract miserably from the Truth that is to be remembered on those occasions. Really now! Bunnies laying chocolate eggs on the church lawn??

How sad! Jesus likens such practices to noxious weeds that need to be jerked out of the ground (Mat. 15:13). They “nullify the Word of God” (vs. 6). Does that offend you? It did the Pharisees (vs. 12). Jesus called them hypocrites (vs. 7) because they used lots of pretty God-words but didn’t have a place for Him in their hearts. Their “teachings are but rules taught by men” (vs. 9).

So, examine your traditions! Make sure you have a reason for what you do and make sure that reason will stay standing when you stand before the Throne.