365 Reflections

God has a word from Jeremiah to Israel in Jeremiah 4 but it is to a specific segment of the population. The men.  Jeremiah 4:3 (ESV)  For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. It's astonishing the impact men have on society. For both tremendous good and tremendous evil. Look at the story of almost any overachiever and you will most likely find a failed father in their past. They are desperate to undo the damage Dad did.  Jeremiah knows that the men need to repent if the nation is to rebound. And their hardness is causing hardship in the land.  Then this phrase: "So not among thorns." What a crazy statement! Who would sow seed where you could get stuck or pierced with pain? Only foolish men! Thorns are a picture of sin in Genesis 3. Adam's rebellion would cause the land to produce them. Jesus wore a crown of thorns on his brow symbolizing His payment for Adam's rebellion. Jesus also tells us th...

The world has always had a number of bad men in charge. These men have usually seen fit to glorify themselves at the expense and/or embarrassment of others without much thought. Take for instance the beginning of the story of Esther. We often focus on Mordecai and her efforts to save the Jews but we should take a long look at chapter 1 which underscores the culture into which both of these "heroes" of faith found themselves. It was a culture of chauvinistic dominance at the hands of the Persian king, Xerxes (Ahasuerus). Esther 1:1–4 (ESV) Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatn...

Numbers 30:2–5 (ESV) If a man vows a vow to the Lord , or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3 “If a woman vows a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father’s house in her youth, 4 and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5 But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her. I admit, when I read Numbers 30 there's a squeamish part of me that flares up. After all, are not all people equal in the eyes of God? How is it then, that a man can make a vow or take an oath for himself, but a woman (either living single in her father's house or married to her h...

Genesis 4:25–26 (ESV) And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord . Two very interesting things happen around the birth of Seth. First Adam finds his voice. Second, men begin to worship God. I think they go together. Adam speaking here contrasts Eve naming both Cain and Abel. Seth, however is named by the man who hasn't spoken much since sin entered the world (other than to call his wife "Eve."). It would seem that Adam is doing what he was meant to do - lead his family. He is curiously absent in the sibling rivalry, and of course before that, during the first temptation. When men step back from being Godly, watch the damage that is done. I know there are many who will disagree with me, but wherever you have men t...

1 Timothy 2:12–15 (ESV) I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. W come to one of the most confusing passages in the New Testament for our day.  Many a churches have relegated women to sub-standard roles in the church because of these verse.  At the same time, many churches, seeking to be all things to all people have overlooked Paul's admonition here in this text. This passage presents for us questions and at the same time, answer a question we may not actually be asking at first glance, but should.   What is the role of women in relation to man? If women are saved through childbirth, what about women who cannot give birth? It cannot be any clearer for Paul ...