THE NOT SO OBVIOUS IN ENGLISH
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Genesis [MKJV] 12:2
And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless [ ] you and make
your name great. And you shall be a blessing [
].
Last evening in
Pastor John’s class I was again reminded that understanding Scripture in
English is not always so obvious.
As he was
teaching about the ongoing presence of God he led us to read of God’s promise
to Abraham recorded in chapter 12 of Genesis. Curious about “bless” and “blessing”
in verse 2 I searched Hebrew meanings and discovered that though the “bless” is
about receiving and “blessing” is about dispensing there is further distinction
within Abraham’s tale. I fell asleep mulling and awoke this morning still
thinking of our responsibility as God’s John 1:12 children to receive . . . and
dispense while doing so.
Commonly it is
happy occasion to receive God’s favor, but not entirely; testing is typically
involved. When agreeing to His provision it may be emotionally stressful. It
may be like joyful deliverance and then being confronted by the Red Sea.
WHAT, leave home
. . . family, friends, culture and geography accustomed to and loving . . . and
go to a new unfamiliar setting?! And while doing so share your prosperity with
others that don’t want you there? When I read of Abraham I do identify with
him. Though in 1984 God definitely favored me and my dependent family it was
not a care free comfy transition.
Why read of
Abraham? Why remember our similar experiences? To learn, trust, and be
fortified as citizens of the kingdom of heaven pleasing the King, that’s why.
Amen?
EBB4
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