Snow cones
In the winter
Freeze my taste buds
So I must melt my insides with
Coffee
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Judah's Promise Part III
Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him, when they came to Egypt to buy grain. Speaking through an interpreter, Joseph accused them of being spies, and questioned them about their family. They told him they were the sons of one man, one brother was no more, and the youngest brother was with their father.
After hearing their story, Joseph held them in prison for three days. He told his brothers that he would refuse to see them again, if they returned to Egypt without their youngest brother Benjamin. To ensure their return, Joseph held Simeon as a prisoner.
On the way home, they discovered that their money was inside the sacks of grain. Jacob was also angry with them for telling the governor about Benjamin. As the famine continued, Jacob’s family was in need of more grain. But he refused to let Benjamin go.
Rueben, the oldest son, offered his son as a ransom for Benjamin’s safety. Jacob still refused. But when Judah came forth, and promise to protect his youngest brother. Jacob permitted Benjamin to with them to Egypt.
On the return to Egypt, Simeon was released, and Joseph held a feast. Benjamin was the only one of Jacob’s sons that was his full brother. All the others were half-brothers. To see if they had changed, Joseph made sure Benjamin was given a bigger portions of food. To his delight , they showed no signs of jealousy.
As the brothers were leaving for Canaan, Joseph had his personal silver cup placed in Benjamin’s bag of grain. Outside the city, the soldiers stopped them, and inspected the bags. When the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s bag, he was arrested.
Appearing before Joseph, Judah pleaded for Benjamin’s life. He told him that their father was old and that he would die if anything happen to his youngest son. Judah agreed to take the punishment for the crime so Benjamin could be set free. Joseph then realized that his brothers had truly changed. After all it had been Judah’s idea, years earlier, to have Joseph sold into slavery.
Years later a descendent of Judah would follow in his ancestor’s footsteps. He would come forward , and be willingly punished for a crime that he never committed. But his punishment would allow many to walk away with freedom, they did not deserve. This descendent of Judah was Jesus Christ.
After hearing their story, Joseph held them in prison for three days. He told his brothers that he would refuse to see them again, if they returned to Egypt without their youngest brother Benjamin. To ensure their return, Joseph held Simeon as a prisoner.
On the way home, they discovered that their money was inside the sacks of grain. Jacob was also angry with them for telling the governor about Benjamin. As the famine continued, Jacob’s family was in need of more grain. But he refused to let Benjamin go.
Rueben, the oldest son, offered his son as a ransom for Benjamin’s safety. Jacob still refused. But when Judah came forth, and promise to protect his youngest brother. Jacob permitted Benjamin to with them to Egypt.
On the return to Egypt, Simeon was released, and Joseph held a feast. Benjamin was the only one of Jacob’s sons that was his full brother. All the others were half-brothers. To see if they had changed, Joseph made sure Benjamin was given a bigger portions of food. To his delight , they showed no signs of jealousy.
As the brothers were leaving for Canaan, Joseph had his personal silver cup placed in Benjamin’s bag of grain. Outside the city, the soldiers stopped them, and inspected the bags. When the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s bag, he was arrested.
Appearing before Joseph, Judah pleaded for Benjamin’s life. He told him that their father was old and that he would die if anything happen to his youngest son. Judah agreed to take the punishment for the crime so Benjamin could be set free. Joseph then realized that his brothers had truly changed. After all it had been Judah’s idea, years earlier, to have Joseph sold into slavery.
Years later a descendent of Judah would follow in his ancestor’s footsteps. He would come forward , and be willingly punished for a crime that he never committed. But his punishment would allow many to walk away with freedom, they did not deserve. This descendent of Judah was Jesus Christ.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Judah's Promise Part II
Most of us know the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. When he was thrown into the pit, Judah came up with the idea of selling him into slavery. Afterwards Judah left home and lived among the Canaanites.
At this time Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons, who were named Er, Onan, and Shelah. When Er reached manhood, his father arranged for him to marry a Canaanite girl by the name of Tamar. Since Er was a wicked man, God took his life, and he died childless. It was Onan’s responsibility to marry Tamar, and have children in his brother’s name. Onan slept with Tamar but he refused to get her pregnant. For this God killed him. Shelah was not an adult, and his marriage to Tamar was put on hold.
After the death of his two oldest sons, Judah’s wife also died. It appears that Judah became very depressed. Genesis 38:12 states that once Judah overcame his grief, he and his friend Hirah went to Timnah to visit the men who was watching over his flocks. At the gate of the city, Tamar took off her widow’s garment, and had her face covered. Thinking she was a prostitute, Judah asked her to sleep with him She asked what he was willing to pay. He promised to give her a young goat from his livestock. As a pledge, Judah gave her his seal, bracelets, and staff.
Days later, Judah had a young goat sent to the masked prostitute, but she could not be found. Then Judah went himself to locate her. He was told that there were no prostitutes in the area. To avoid embarrassment, Judah decided to call of his search.
Three months later, Tamar was pregnant. She came to Judah with his seal, bracelets, and staff. Since she was pledged to his son, Judah admitted he had sinned. Genesis 38:26 states that he never slept with her again.
When it came time for her child to be born, the nursemaid tied a scarlet thread around the infant’s wrist to mark him as a bastard. Then something miraculous happen, the child went back into his mother’s womb, and his brother was born first. The child with the scarlet thread came out second.
You may wonder why the birth of the marked son was held back. God had already planned that Jesus would come form the tribe of Judah, and that Tamar’s first son would be the one who would carry on the family name. The oldest twin was named Perez and King David was his descendent. And we all know that Jesus came from the house of David. Zerah was the name of the son who was marked with the scarlet thread.
After the birth of the twins, Judah returned home, and won his father’s confidence
At this time Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons, who were named Er, Onan, and Shelah. When Er reached manhood, his father arranged for him to marry a Canaanite girl by the name of Tamar. Since Er was a wicked man, God took his life, and he died childless. It was Onan’s responsibility to marry Tamar, and have children in his brother’s name. Onan slept with Tamar but he refused to get her pregnant. For this God killed him. Shelah was not an adult, and his marriage to Tamar was put on hold.
After the death of his two oldest sons, Judah’s wife also died. It appears that Judah became very depressed. Genesis 38:12 states that once Judah overcame his grief, he and his friend Hirah went to Timnah to visit the men who was watching over his flocks. At the gate of the city, Tamar took off her widow’s garment, and had her face covered. Thinking she was a prostitute, Judah asked her to sleep with him She asked what he was willing to pay. He promised to give her a young goat from his livestock. As a pledge, Judah gave her his seal, bracelets, and staff.
Days later, Judah had a young goat sent to the masked prostitute, but she could not be found. Then Judah went himself to locate her. He was told that there were no prostitutes in the area. To avoid embarrassment, Judah decided to call of his search.
Three months later, Tamar was pregnant. She came to Judah with his seal, bracelets, and staff. Since she was pledged to his son, Judah admitted he had sinned. Genesis 38:26 states that he never slept with her again.
When it came time for her child to be born, the nursemaid tied a scarlet thread around the infant’s wrist to mark him as a bastard. Then something miraculous happen, the child went back into his mother’s womb, and his brother was born first. The child with the scarlet thread came out second.
You may wonder why the birth of the marked son was held back. God had already planned that Jesus would come form the tribe of Judah, and that Tamar’s first son would be the one who would carry on the family name. The oldest twin was named Perez and King David was his descendent. And we all know that Jesus came from the house of David. Zerah was the name of the son who was marked with the scarlet thread.
After the birth of the twins, Judah returned home, and won his father’s confidence
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Judah's Promise Part I
Jacob gathered his son’s together in Genesis 49 and told them what the future had in store for their descendents. Judah, his forth son, was given a great promise. The old patriarch referred to Judah as a young lion, whose father’s children would bow down to him.
Most of us know the story of Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son. But Judah is also a special son, because Jesus descended form him. Genesis 49:8-12 can be considered the first Christmas prophecy. So for the rest of the month, I plan to look at the life of Judah.
***
After Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright, Esau sought to take his life. When Isaac, their father, heard of this he sent Jacob away. Jacob spent the next several years in Pandaram and lived with his uncle Laban. The first person Jacob met was Rachel, Laban’s youngest daughter. It was love at first sight. Laban agreed that he could marry Rachel for seven years of labor.
When seven years was fulfilled, a wedding did take place. But Jacob, unknowingly, married Laban’s oldest daughter Leah. The scriptures states that she was tendered eyed, which means that she was unattractive. Jacob didn‘t realize he had been tricked until the next morning. Laban explained that is was against their customs for the youngest daughter to marry first. So Jacob had to labor another seven years to marry Rachel.
Many would consider this story tragic, since Jacob was tricked into marrying a women he did not love. However, God’s hand was at work. God favored Leah over Rachel because her son Judah would be the one who received the promise.
There is a lesson here to be learned. At times in our life, we don’t get the things we really want. But as times passes, we discover that things worked out for the best. And God’s blessing went beyond our on dreams. The same can be said for Jacob’s marriage to Leah. On his deathbed, he looked into Judah’s eyes, and realized Leah had given him a special son.
Most of us know the story of Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son. But Judah is also a special son, because Jesus descended form him. Genesis 49:8-12 can be considered the first Christmas prophecy. So for the rest of the month, I plan to look at the life of Judah.
***
After Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright, Esau sought to take his life. When Isaac, their father, heard of this he sent Jacob away. Jacob spent the next several years in Pandaram and lived with his uncle Laban. The first person Jacob met was Rachel, Laban’s youngest daughter. It was love at first sight. Laban agreed that he could marry Rachel for seven years of labor.
When seven years was fulfilled, a wedding did take place. But Jacob, unknowingly, married Laban’s oldest daughter Leah. The scriptures states that she was tendered eyed, which means that she was unattractive. Jacob didn‘t realize he had been tricked until the next morning. Laban explained that is was against their customs for the youngest daughter to marry first. So Jacob had to labor another seven years to marry Rachel.
Many would consider this story tragic, since Jacob was tricked into marrying a women he did not love. However, God’s hand was at work. God favored Leah over Rachel because her son Judah would be the one who received the promise.
There is a lesson here to be learned. At times in our life, we don’t get the things we really want. But as times passes, we discover that things worked out for the best. And God’s blessing went beyond our on dreams. The same can be said for Jacob’s marriage to Leah. On his deathbed, he looked into Judah’s eyes, and realized Leah had given him a special son.
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