I am LOVING this week! The heat of the winter (Yeah, I said it. What winter?) has given way to almost fall-like temperatures this week. This is the weather I love. This is the weather that makes me feel alive. Now, if only I had a window in my classroom…
In case you are new here, Wednesdays around here are devoted to the Word. This year, we are going through Genesis one chapter at a time and letting God reveal something to us out of that one chapter. This week is 14, which means 15 is next week. Please feel free to drop into the comments and share what God says to you!
Genesis 14: 14 (GWT)–When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed his 318 trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.
Note to self: be as forgiving and loving and sacrificial as Abram in this verse.
Last week, I wrote about how Lot got all self-centered and two-year-old-ish and snatched up the best land for himself, even though it meant taking a turn around the dance floor with some major sin. This week, Lot and his family are carted off by four kings as part of the spoils of war.
And, naturally, Abram thumbs his nose in Lot’s direction and says, “Hey, you asked for it.” Right? Isn’t that what he did?
Uhm, no. Going entirely against human nature (because, admit it, we love to see people get “what’s coming to them,” don’t we?), Abram gathers up a group of his own men and takes off after the whole group, fights a battle, and frees his nephew and a whole lot of others.
We aren’t given Abram’s motivation here, but I’m willing to guess it has to do with the fact that Lot was family, and family takes care of family, even when they grab all of the best land and clutch it to their chests in a fit of bad decision-making. Thing is, well, everybody on this planet is our family. How often do we rejoice when someone gets their comeuppance? We’ve all done it, and we all shouldn’t. Trust me, we have our own comeuppance held back only by a barrier that has a striking resemblance to a cross. Aren’t we glad we don’t get what we deserve?
It’s hard to help instead of judge, isn’t it? I think I might need to pin this verse to my bulletin board. Or tattoo it to my hand. Or something where I see it every day.
Help. Don’t judge. Yikes. That’s a tough one, isn’t it?
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
I love when God decides to make a point of something that I apparently need to be focusing on. Well, I love it and hate it at the same time because once I realize it, I must have to do something about it.
I host a middle school girls’ bible study at my home once a week. We are currently studying the book of James. Last night we were discussing James 3:17 – But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit; impartial and sincere.
Until this moment, I would not have tied this verse in James to the verse Jodie wrote about, but God must want me to see something here. Our discussion last night out of James had to do with Mercy and gentleness toward others, even when the situations some people find themselves in are of their own making. We found many different examples to discuss from the girls’ lives and even talked about some bigger worldly ones. We talked about how regardless; we must give Mercy and love. This isn’t to say that people shouldn’t have some accountability, but they should receive Mercy. At first the girls weren’t buying into this thought until we looked at God’s love for us and how undeserving we are of the Mercy and love he gives us.
As an additional thought, we also talked about some of the judging we do without knowing the whole story. One girl honestly shared that sometimes she gets mad when she sees a homeless person begging for money because they “should just get a job.” We discussed how some homeless people may have gotten themselves into that situation, but how there are many hard working people who just have a bad situation happen. We don’t know the whole story and it is not for us to judge. How often do we find ourselves doing it though?
Jodie says
Okay, you stomped my toes. “…once I realize it, I must have to do something about it.”
Judging is hard, and I catch myself doing it way too often. God’s working on me, and I’m trying, but I wonder… Am I the only one who struggles this much with it, or is this a general thing that comes with being human?
Sandi says
What a great post. I read it three times and just might do it again!
Judging=ugh…So many times I catch myself about to say something and STOP….but, God heard me! I want to erase the thoughts so they dont accidently…or deliberately come out! I love the verse in the Psalms, “set a guard over my mouth, O Lord. Keep watch at the door of my lips”
Great post, Jodie!
Jodie says
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord.” Don’t I need that! It seems we all have trouble with our mouths. That’s probably why God led James to write his book, huh? Thanks for commenting, Sandi!