Read 1 Samuel 8

Many family counselors have observed that people who grow up in a dysfunctional home are more likely to reproduce the same patterns as adults. But childhood circumstances don’t always determine the future. Growing up in a good home does not guarantee we will share those values. Others who grow up in shocking circumstances transcend their trauma and build a very different life.

Eli had been an indolent and neglectful father. Samuel was a man of integrity. Unfortunately, Samuel was no more successful in parenting than Eli had been. After Samuel had grown old, the leaders of Israel came to him and demanded that he appoint them a king (v. 5). This was a double disappointment for Samuel, who understood their request as a personal rejection.

When Samuel expressed his displeasure to God, the Lord told him to go through with it. “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you” (vv. 7–8).

None of us will parent perfectly, and some disappointments result from our own mistakes. But children also make their own choices for which we are not to blame. Samuel and Eli are not the only fathers whose children have rebelled. God the Father has shared the same experience since the Garden of Eden. Who is a better parent than God the Father? If He has children who refuse to follow in His ways, should we be surprised if the same thing sometimes happens to us? Perhaps we can learn to see our disappointment as an opportunity to appreciate the perfect love and faithfulness of God the Father.

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We would like to believe parenting can be reduced to a few principles, a guaranteed formula, or the right perspective. The truth is that human relationships are far more complicated. Whether you have felt disappointment as a parent or neglected as a child, take comfort in the perfect parent, God our Father, who perfectly loves, forgives, and cares for us.

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Read 1 Samuel 2

One of the most popular Christian books on parenting is The Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson. The title suggests that some children are less responsive to discipline than others. They are like the little boy who told his mother, “You might as well go ahead and spank me now because I am going to cross the street!”

Today we leave the Patriarchs to focus on three other fathers in the Bible, beginning with Eli the priest. He was the mentor of the prophet Samuel, but the first picture we have of Eli in Scripture is not very rosy. He mistook Hannah’s silent prayer for drunkenness and reproved her (1 Sam. 1:12–14).

Hannah had a heart of worship in response to Eli’s reproof, but his own sons ignored his rebukes about their sins (vv. 22–25). Hophni and Phineas were priests of the tabernacle like their father, but they seduced the women who assisted them in worship (see Ex. 38:8). They also took uncooked meat brought for offering by worshipers without allowing them to burn the fat as the Lord’s portion. If anyone raised an objection to their behavior, Eli’s sons threatened to take the meat by force (v. 16).

Eli’s sin was that he turned a blind eye to his son’s behavior. He reproved them, but only after public complaint made it impossible to ignore. Even worse, it seems that Eli ate the food along with them (v. 29). This was like chastising his sons for stealing and then helping them spend the money. No wonder Hophni and Phineas failed to take their father’s reproof seriously. But there was also a spiritual reason for their hardness of heart. They were being judged by God for their sacrilege (v. 17).

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Keeping silent when we should offer reproof is not grace; it is complicity in sin. Genuine love confronts transgression with the hope of restoration. The entire church shares responsibility (1 Cor. 5:9–13). Ignoring this task hurts the one who is caught in sin and places the rest of the community at risk. Do you care enough to say the hard thing?

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Read Genesis 32:22–33:4

Boxers train for months leading up to a match. They lift weights and engage in rigorous exercise to build up their stamina and strengthen their core. They do pull-ups, chin-ups, and squats. Before the fight they pose for the media in an effort to show that they are ready to beat their opponent. The goal is to be as strong as possible. Nobody aims to look weak.

But weakness was exactly what Jacob needed in his approaching face-off with Esau. After his encounter with the mysterious being described in today’s reading, he was left physically weaker, not stronger for the possible battle ahead. Who was the “man” who wrestled with Jacob until daybreak but refused to reveal his name (32:24)? According to Hosea 12:4–5, this was the Lord God Almighty! This interaction is an example of what theologians call a theophany, an appearance of God in human form before the Incarnation.

This event is the fulcrum of Jacob’s spiritual pilgrimage. Caught between the anger of his father-in-law and his brother, he encountered a power greater than all of them. According to the prophet Hosea, “He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor” (Hosea 12:4). The favor Jacob received was a wounded hip and a name change. From this point on Jacob would walk with a limp and would be called Israel, which literally means “he struggles with God.”

The brother that Esau met shortly after this encounter with God was not the same deceiver he once knew. Jacob’s pilgrimage was not yet over, and neither was the strife between these two rival branches of the family. But the intervention of God made a difference. Instead of a clash of armies, the reunion of Jacob and Esau was marked by a tearful welcome.

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The apostle Paul prayed for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh.” The Lord’s responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:6–10). Whatever your source of weakness might be, ask the Lord to reveal His sufficient grace through it. Thank Him that you can rely on His power and not your own.

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Read Genesis 32:1–21

The hymn “God of Our Fathers” was written by Daniel C. Roberts for the centennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Roberts was an Episcopalian rector serving in Brandon, Vermont. The hymn begins by celebrating God’s work of creation, and the fourth stanza is especially fitting in view of the events in today’s text: “Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way, / Lead us from night to never-ending day; / Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, / And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.”

After Jacob separated from Laban, he encountered a band of angels. We have no details about the encounter other than the name Jacob gave to the location. He called it Mahanaim, which meant something like “two hosts” or “two armies.” This vision was a reminder of God’s continued protection. But Jacob also took practical measures to protect what was most precious to him. He sent a message to Esau to warn him of his arrival. Then he divided his household into two groups, reasoning that if one were attacked the other might escape.

Jacob asked for God’s protection, praying to the God of his fathers in a way that both reflected his sense of vulnerability and showed evidence of a changed character. In his prayer Jacob acknowledged God’s blessing and admitted that he was unworthy of His protection. Finally, Jacob sent gifts ahead to Esau in the hope that it might appease his anger. Once these measures had been taken, Jacob lay down to sleep. How should we view the gifts that Jacob sent on ahead to Esau? Perhaps they were a tactical maneuver of appeasement. Maybe they were proof that Jacob had changed. Perhaps they revealed Jacob’s inability to fully trust in God. But we might also view them as a form of restitution.

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Are you finding it hard to trust God today? It is reasonable to take responsible measures to secure your future. You might take a few minutes to write down some action steps you need to take. But don’t forget to follow Jacob’s other example: cry out to God and ask for His protection and provision. Put that in writing too!

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THE BATTLE OF THE BABIES: PART II

Biblical narratives often have two plot lines. One is the story line contained in the events themselves; these are the things that happen to the characters. They represent real-life circumstances that people just like us faced. The other might be called the theological plot of the narrative. Behind the particular events that shaped the lives of people like Jacob, Leah, and Rachel was the unfolding plan of God. This plan was not always apparent to those who were part of the story.

This was certainly true in the battle between Rachel and Leah. On one level God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham. He was building Abraham’s line of descent. On another level He was setting the stage for the birth of Joseph and Jacob’s eventual relocation to Egypt. This in turn would pave the way for the great redemptive event of the Old Testament—Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt led by Moses. On a much larger scale, all these smaller plot lines would eventually coalesce in God’s ultimate work of redemption.

The connection between these plot lines is implied in Elizabeth’s song of praise in Luke 1:25, in which she echoes the words of Rachel and Leah. God was doing more than giving Jacob a family. He was creating a line through which He would one day send a Redeemer. But as far as Jacob’s experience went, it just seems like a mess. Like Jacob, Leah, and Rachel the story of our lives also reflects two plot lines. We are mostly aware of the story line of our daily events. We experience the struggle or see the mess. We usually do not know how they fit into God’s larger plan until after the fact. But we do have one great advantage. We know how the story ends.

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The conclusion to our story is recorded in Romans 8:28–30. God works all things for the good of those who love Him. He redeems our experiences—even the messes—into an outcome that will be good. Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of Christ. The end of our story is to see and experience the glory of God.

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Read Genesis 29:31–30:13

For years, China prioritized women’s value as workers and supporters of the state, not as mothers. But in October 2015, China abandoned its policy of limiting families to one child. The one- child rule was implemented in the late 1970s in an effort to limit population growth. Parents who had a second child were fined and could even lose their jobs. The Chinese government made the recent change in the hope that it would help with China’s rapidly aging population and improve the gender balance.

The battle between Jacob’s two wives reveals the opposite cultural value: a woman’s worth was based on her ability to have children. The inability to bear children was considered a mark of shame. In Jacob’s family, this shame was even more acute, and the tension between Rachel and Leah further aggravated by Jacob’s preference for Rachel. This resulted in what might be called “the battle of the babies.”

Rachel and Leah vied with one another and even schemed to see who would have the most children. Some of their plots seem reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to force God’s hand through human effort. God had promised to use Jacob’s family line to fulfill the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of nations. Both Leah and Rachel wanted to be the mother God used to keep that promise.

God granted children to both, but not because of their schemes. His actions were motivated by compassion for the two women and in response to their prayers (Gen. 29:31; 30:6). Meanwhile Jacob seems like a hapless tool in all of this. He is passed back and forth between these women and their servants. His only comment is

an exasperated admission that the outcome rests in the hands of God (Gen. 30:2).

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Medical science might make advances in reproductive technology, but it is ultimately still God who opens or closes the womb. We can trust Him to deal with us compassionately. He will hear our prayers. Whether you have more children

than you ever expected or you are grieving over infertility, God will be faithful to keep His promises.

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Read Genesis 29:15–30

In mythology, legend, and story, the trickster is a character who survives through lying or deceit. Tricksters often violate cultural norms and subvert those who are in power. Every culture has stories in which the trickster is a key player. Some scholars have seen elements of the trickster in Jacob. He was a man who survived by cunning and deceit. But in today’s text Jacob the Trickster meets his match—both in love and war.

Today’s passage is a love story, describing how Jacob fell in love with Rachel but was tricked into marrying Leah by their father, Laban. Why would a father do such a thing to his daughter? Laban’s explanation was that it was not customary for the younger daughter to marry first. This was probably true, but Laban also had another motive. By deceiving the deceiver, Laban tricked Jacob into giving him fourteen years of service instead of seven.

Family drama fills this account. Laban uses his own daughters to barter for Jacob’s services. Rachel is loved more than Leah. Yet once again we will see that God is working out His purposes in the midst of what most of us would call serious family dysfunction.

As for Jacob, this turn of events was part of God’s long process of taming the trickster and turning him into a man of faith. Jacob’s trials were far from over. But by turning the tables on him, God had begun to wean Jacob away from a lifestyle of self-reliance. In time Jacob would learn that God’s promise comes by faith and not by human effort, schemes, or trickery.

Jacob did not learn this lesson easily and neither do we. The overall nature of his life was one of struggle—with his brother, then with his father-in-law, and eventually with God Himself (see Gen. 32:28).

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One of the primary tools God used to reshape Jacob’s character was disappointment, which weans us away from self-reliance and inordinate desire. If you are struggling with disappointment in your life, you may want to read The Surprising Grace of Disappointment: Finding Hope When God Seems to Fail Us (Moody Publishers).

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Read Genesis 25:19–34

In his book Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them, John Ortberg writes about the tendency we have to exclude other people. He uses the example of the different ways an airline will treat the people in first class compared

to those in coach: “The first-class passengers were served gourmet food on china and crystal by their own flight attendants; those of us in coach ate snacks served in paper bags with plastic wrappers,” Ortberg writes. “The first- class passengers had room to stretch and sleep; those of us in coach were sitting with a proximity usually reserved for engaged couples in the back row of a movie.” Preferential treatment is a common feature of human behavior.

What about God? In today’s passage we learn that God’s plan for Jacob differed from His plan for Esau. Both would become the father of a nation, but the younger brother was to have supremacy. This plan violated cultural norms. In Isaac’s day, the right of inheritance was reserved for the firstborn.

What is the difference between grace and favoritism? The chief difference is that favoritism is based on some perceived advantage inherent in the one who is treated differently. It may be wealth, social status, or simply the fact that the one who is treated as a favorite is part of the same club. Grace is not bestowed on the basis of personal worth. Jacob did not deserve the primary place in God’s plan. Isaac and Rebekah demonstrated favoritism in their attitude toward their sons, preferring the child who shared their own interests. God does not show favoritism, but neither does He treat everyone the same. We are not all granted the same abilities, resources, or opportunities. God showed grace in His promise to Jacob, who had done nothing to deserve it, because of His own plans for His people.

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Favoritism is rooted in selfishness and motivated by self-interest. We play favorites because we derive some benefit from the relationship. Grace is rooted in God’s character and motivated by mercy. It is a blessing bestowed upon the unworthy. In what way can you bless someone who can give you nothing in return as an act of worship for God?

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Read Genesis 22:1–19

Many parents make sacrifices for their children, but Milwaukee father Eulos Rounds Sr. went beyond what most parents have to do. When his son was diagnosed with liver disease, Rounds volunteered to donate 30 percent of his liver. Rounds not only saved his son’s life but also became the first African- American live transplant donor in the state of Wisconsin.

Abraham was asked to make a different kind of sacrifice. God asked him literally to sacrifice his son Isaac. The demand must have seemed strange to Abraham. Isaac was the child through whom God had promised to make Abraham a father of many nations. Yet as far as we are told in Scripture, Abraham did not argue with God. The author of Hebrews tells us why: because of faith in God’s trustworthiness, not mindless obedience. Abraham believed that God was able to raise his son from the dead (Heb. 11:19). God never intended that Abraham would go through with the slaughter; instead, He wanted to make a point: “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Gen. 22:12).

Is it possible to love God’s promises more than God Himself? We can be so distracted by the things God provides that we lose sight of God. When this happens, God may ask us to choose. The language God uses to describe Isaac reveals the importance of this test for Abraham. God calls him Abraham’s “only son” in verse 2. This was not technically true; as we have already seen, Abraham had another son by Sarah’s maid Hagar. But this designation underscored the uniqueness of Isaac both in Abraham’s affection and in God’s plan. Isaac was Abraham’s unique son. He was the child of promise.

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Read Genesis 15

A popular children’s song begins, “Father Abraham had many sons / and many sons had Father Abraham.” The Scriptures name eight sons of Abraham. One was his child with his maid Hagar (Gen. 16:3–4). Another was his son with Sarah (Gen. 21:1–3). The other six were born to Keturah, the woman he married after Sarah died (Gen. 25:1–6). But we don’t sing about “Father Abraham” because he gave birth to numerous sons. More importantly, he is our father in the faith.

Today’s passage shows why Abraham deserves this title: not because of his parenting skills but because of his faith. Up until this point Abraham had relied on God to provide for his needs (see Gen. 14:21–24). But he was troubled

by his lack of an heir, despite God’s promise to make him a great nation (Gen. 12:2). The Lord reiterated His promise in a vision, and Abraham’s response was one of faith (vv. 5–6). Because of his faith, the Lord rewarded him with the gift of righteousness. In this way Abraham became the prototype of all who believe (see Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23).

Abraham continued to struggle with doubt. His son by Hagar was the result of an attempt to bring about God’s promise through human effort. But in the end, he “was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Rom. 4:20–21). God waited until Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children by any means other than divine intervention to show that the promise came from God.

We are Abraham’s children if we believe God’s promise to give us the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:7).

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We can become frustrated when God does not answer our prayers as quickly as we would like, especially when we are praying for God to work in our family life. Trust God to act in His own good time. Ask the Lord to increase your faith that He will not only keep His promises but also will do so in the best way and the perfect time.

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Read Geness 10

Many cultures have creation or migration legends that tell how a people group or nation began. Some skeptics view the table of nations in Genesis 10 this way. Seventy names are listed along with the nations that proceeded from Noah’s descendants. The biblical narrator does not give any indication, however, that this list is legendary or allegorical. The list includes the names of individuals along with some of their accomplishments, including some of the greatest cities in biblical history.

The purpose of the list is to set the stage for the destruction of the Tower of Babel. The overall impression is one of proliferation and growing ambition. In the next chapter this will culminate in an arrogant attempt to supplant God Himself.

Instead of multiplying and filling the earth as they had been commanded (see Gen. 9:1, 7), the men of Babel chose to build a monument to themselves in the form of a city with a tower that reached to the heavens (Gen. 11:4). The function of this tower does not appear to have been for the purpose of worshiping God or even astrological deities. Instead, it was part of their project of self-worship. They were more intent on making a name for themselves than they were on glorifying God’s name. God thwarted their plan by destroying their tower, confusing their language, and scattering the people. This judgment was also a blessing, for it halted their rebellion.

This curse was reversed on the day of Pentecost—not by restoring everyone to a single language, but by allowing everyone to declare the wonders of God in the langue of “every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). Despite mankind’s rebellion, God continues to work out His ultimate purpose for His creation. The whole earth will be filled with His glory.

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Have you ever wished that God had placed you in another family? Paul’s words in our key verse for today, Acts 17:26, are also true of our family background. God’s sovereign purpose was at work in selecting our appointed time and place. Pray for each of your family member by name today and ask God to extend His grace to them.

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Read Genesis 9:18-29

Ernest Hemingway was raised in a Christian home. So was pop superstar Katy Perry and best-selling author Bart Ehrman. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins sometimes claim people have faith only because of their family background, but plenty of evidence demonstrates that belief is not passed to the next generation like hair color. The faith of a father or mother does not automatically guarantee that their children will believe.

Noah’s family is one of many biblical examples of this. Noah experienced grace, but his son Ham rejected God’s truth.

It’s important to see that the experience of grace did not make Noah perfect. He behaved scandalously by becoming drunk and passing out unclothed in his tent. Some scholars have suggested that Noah behaved this way out of ignorance, arguing the phrase “proceeded to plant” implies that this was his first experience with wine. The biblical text includes the reaction of Shem and Japheth, however, to suggest that Noah’s behavior was shameful. Unlike his brothers, Ham sinned by failing to show his father respect (v. 22).

The focus of the passage is on the curse and blessings that follow. Noah’s curse foreshadowed the struggle between Israel (descended from Shem) and the inhabitants of Canaan (vv. 25– 26). God had spared a remnant from the Flood, but sin and discord would still characterize human relationships. Some have suggested that the curse on Canaan implies that he might have been complicit in this incident. It at least suggests that Ham’s son was already following in his father’s footsteps.

The entrance of grace into a family is no guarantee that everyone will walk in faith. Even those who experience God’s grace sometimes fall. It is natural to be disappointed when this happens, but we should not be shocked.

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One way to deal with the collateral damage that sin creates in family life is by covering sin. This is not the same thing as denying or ignoring sin. The grace of covering is the decision to follow this exhortation from Scripture: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13).

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SONS OF ADAM

Popular websites such as Ancestry.com have helped millions of people trace their family tree. Some who have been adopted hope to learn something about their family of origin. Many people are hoping to discover that they are related to some notable or interesting historical figure. But the results are not always happy. We may discover that our ancestor was a thief or a murderer rather than a laudable hero.

That is certainly true when we trace our human genealogy back to the first family. Instead of success we find failure on an epic scale.

In these first few studies we have been focused on God, who is the perfect Father. As we shift our attention to earthly fathers, we see a different picture. Today’s passage helps us to understand why. All earthly families are affected by the curse of sin. The relational consequences show up early in human history in the form of shifting blame (see Gen. 3:11–13). Tragically, these consequences were passed on to the descendants of Adam and Eve. In today’s passage we learn how Adam’s firstborn son Cain murdered his brother Abel. The motive was spiritual jealousy. God had accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s. Subsequent chapters show how this tragic cycle of sin continues in all of Adam’s descendants.

This sad fact is important to know and helps us to understand the stories we will study in the days ahead. It also explains much about our own family experience. The stark reality of sin combined with the mystery of God’s grace helps to explain why good parents can sometimes have bad children and why children from bad homes can turn out better than expected. It explains the root cause of abuse within families. The intrusion of sin into human experience means no perfect families populate this world. We are all dysfunctional in some way.

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Are you disheartened by your family tree? Are you discouraged by a wayward child or an unresponsive parent? Take heart: “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom. 5:20). God’s grace extends to broken families. He can redeem and transform hurt and pain, forgive generational sin, and restore relationships.

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Read 1 Corinthians 13

What would you expect to pay for a scoop of gourmet ice cream? How about $816? The Scoopi Café in Dubai offers the “Black Diamond,” which is ice cream flavored with Madagascar vanilla, Iranian saffron, black Italian truffles, and edible, 23-karat gold sprinkles. This treat comes with a Versace bowl and spoon that the customer keeps. It’s the most expensive ice cream in the world!

The most, the best, the highest—we find superlatives fascinating. When Paul wrote that he would describe “the most excellent way” (12:31), our ears perk up. This chapter is an encomium, that is, a poem written to praise an abstract idea or quality. Paul used poetic techniques such as hyperbole and metaphor to make his points more vividly.

First, he described the worth of love (vv. 1–3). Its value is incalculable, to the point where anything else, lacking love, is worthless or empty. He used examples that we might (and the Corinthians did) think of as spiritually impressive, which made his conclusion that much more shocking. Second, Paul defined or explained love (vv. 4–7). The Greek word is agape, meaning love that is selfless, self-sacrificing, warm, and full of good will and brotherly affection. It prioritizes the well being of others. This list should take our breath away! Who among us can claim to live like this? Only by the power of the Spirit can we grow in this direction.

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Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

A classic series of Peanuts comic strips by Charles M. Schulz features Snoopy taking up jogging. As he runs, his body parts speak up. The lungs complain, “This is hard on us lungs.” The feet whine, “Why do we feet have to do all the work?” And the heart warns, “If I start complaining, you’re all in trouble.”

Sometimes the body of Christ acts this way as well! But that’s not what God intended. By comparing the church to a human body, Paul has highlighted its diverse yet unified nature. He had already taught on the imperative of unity, but unity doesn’t mean sameness. God’s design includes amazing, wonderful diversity, and this is beautifully communicated in the metaphor of the body with Christ as the Head (vv. 12–14). A body has many parts and functions and differences, yet it has a single identity and passes through experience as a unified entity. So, too, does the church.

In Paul’s first cycle of rather humorous examples (vv. 15–20), his point was that no part of the body is inferior or unneeded. Jews were not more important than Gentiles; slaves were not less essential than free believers. In context, then, we know there is no pecking order in the second list of spiritual gifts in verses 28 through 30—none are inferior or unneeded. The second cycle of examples (vv. 21–27) makes the same point from the other direction, as Paul asserted that all parts of the body are indeed necessary and interdependent.

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