Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20
Today is the 16th day of January, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is fantastic to be here with you today, as we gather and find a place around the Global Campfire here and move forward together. We are still continuing our journey through the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, and we are with Jacob, who has fled Laban, after 20 years in his service, he’s taken his entire household and is going back home and on his way. He has sent messengers to Esau his brother, if we remember right, last time we saw Jacob and Esau together, Esau wanted to kill Jacob, for all of the trickery, the fatherly blessing, the inheritance, the birthright that was taken through deception. And so, last time they parted company it was not on good terms and Jacob is a little freaked out about it. And that’s where we pick up the story, Genesis chapter 32 verse 13 through 34 verse 31.
Commentary:
Okay, so we have a bunch of stuff happening in the Scriptures today. In the book of Genesis, we have been traveling alongside Jacob. And again, not to be like overly redundant, but this is important for us to remember. Abraham was called by God into a land that he didn’t know. Right, and he entered into a covenant with God. A child of promise was born to Abraham and Sarah his wife, the child Isaac. Isaac has children of his own now. Jacob and Esau and we’ve gone through their whole story. We even talked about it at the beginning, how the last time we saw them together, there was a lot of animosity. But they’re heading toward each other again and they meet again. Jacob is fairly well terrified, he’s moving all of his household around into different camps trying to figure out, like, if one camp gets attacked maybe another camp can get away. He’s selecting all these gifts and sending them ahead to sort of soften Esau, if Esau is still mad. And it gets dark, and so Jacob has everybody separated into camps and trying to keep them safe and he’s by himself and he has a wrestling match all evening with somebody. And that somebody has been appointed great conjecture over the years. On the one hand, many people say he’s wrestling with his brother Esau they’re…they’re fighting with each other, they’re working it out. Other people say no, he’s wrestling with God. And that other people would be like, no, no, really, it really does have to be Esau, because when he does see Esau, he says you look, you know, seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. And so, this has been wrestled with and it could be easy enough for us to go, does it, I mean like how, like what, why does this matter? And the reason that it does kinda matter in this particular context is that this is where we see Jacob’s name get changed. Jacob’s name has been changed to Israel, that’s a pretty important name in the Bible. And as we’ve kind of pointed out before, if Jacob’s name has changed to Israel, then…then Jacob’s children are the children of Israel. And that is what we are indeed watching be formed before our very eyes.
And then, just real briefly, we flip over to the book of Matthew, and we see Jesus having a conversation about John the Baptist. And what we’re beginning to see is the tension that is arising around Jesus. The people, including John and his disciples, are expecting a certain kind of Messiah, a certain kind of anointed one. They have some expectations about God sending a…a Redeemer, a deliverer. And in their mindset, they’re…they’re looking at…at their status. They are a people that live within a land of Empire, the Roman empire. They are in their ancestral homeland but it’s not there’s and it hasn’t been since the Babylonian exile. So, it’s been centuries and the Jewish people have a little bit of exemption in the Empire around their worship. They, the Jewish religion is a very ancient old religion, and it was already in the first century, a very ancient old religion. And typically, people inside the Roman Empire are expected to worship a variety of God’s, the gods of the Empire, the gods that protect the Empire. The Jewish people had sort of an exemption from that, they worship one God. And but…but sort of the repercussions of that are that they’re marginalized inside of the culture. And so, they’re within the Empire’s boundaries, but they don’t have citizenship, they don’t have a voice. They’re in their ancestral homeland, but they have no control. And so, this breeds all kinds of tensions. So, we have groups of spiritual leaders, like the Sanhedrin, especially the Sadducees, trying to keep the tension, like trying to work with the Roman people, collude with the Romans and just keep the people under control, keep the Romans from getting mad enough to just, you know, wipe them out. But then you have people on the other extreme, like zealots who are like we’ve got to get the sword of the Lord and unsheathe it and go and destroy God’s enemies. So, there’s this kind of waiting for somebody to rise up that can lead like that and pull all of the people together. And here comes Jesus, clearly and anointed of God, moving about the countryside, speaking of the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, with signs and wonders following Him and people are wondering, is this the one, is this guy. Even…even John sends his disciples to Jesus because that’s the talk, like that's…that’s what’s going on underneath the surface here. And so, John’s disciples come to Jesus, essentially going John wants to know, are you the one or should we be waiting for somebody else, because Jesus is kind of fitting…fitting the bill. He's…he kind of looks like what He should look like, except for He’s not doing a lot of like battle cries and raising swords and rallying people together in some sort of military move. So, Jesus ends up telling John’s disciples, go back and tell John what you’re seeing and what they’re seeing is that the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are being raised, infirmities are being healed, good news of the kingdom is being announced to the poor. Like, yes, this looks different than what you’re expecting but go tell John that what’s happening is that the kingdom is breaking forth. And so, it’s very clear that the kingdom Jesus is talking about is different than what the expectations are. And so then, Jesus in today’s reading is simply asking the crowds why did you even go to see John in the first place? What was the motivator? We’re you trying, what we’re you trying to see? Did you want to see or read swaying in the wind? Did you want to see somebody dressed in soft clothes? What did you go to see, a prophet? Yes, you went to see a prophet, and that is what you saw. And so, you have gone out to see a prophet and you have come to me and we have different styles and none of it is good enough for any of you. Are none of you getting what’s going on? And then Jesus says to what could I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplace who call out to other children, we played the flute for you, but you wouldn’t dance. So, we got sad and sang a lament, but you wouldn’t mourn. Right, like no matter what we did, you wouldn’t respond. For John, and I’m quoting Jesus, “for John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon. And then I come eating and drinking and you say, look, there’s a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” And so, we’re able to get some insight here in the, to a little bit of the exasperation like Jesus is like I’m doing this right in from your very eyes and speaking to you plainly, but your set of expectations are different than this. And so, what can we do? Like what hoop do we need to jump through to actually get your attention? And we’ll watch this tension continue to…to build. We probably know where this story goes, but at this juncture, we get the opportunity to consider our own expectations of God. And God’s presence is not something we can escape. Like, wherever we go, He is. We just spend a lot of our time asking Him where He’s gone. When He’s right here. It gives us the opportunity to consider our own relationship with God and is it just a series of expectations? Is God, the powerful one, who goes about making our lives easy? Are we putting God in the same position that Jesus is talking about, where it’s like all these hoops that have to be jumped through and no matter what happens we’re not having eyes to see what God is at work doing in our lives, because…because it’s just different then our expectations? Some things to think about today.
Prayer:
And so, Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You that each day we have plenty to consider, plenty to go back to, plenty to wrestle with, plenty to consider more deeply, and we thank You for this opportunity. Holy Spirit, come do this work within us, transform us, align us with what is true, that we may walk the pathways of truth and wisdom. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.
Prayer and Encouragements:
Good morning Daily Audio Bible family. I’m calling in to request a special prayer for my 20-year-old daughter who has so far, an undiagnosed physical illness. We’re getting more diagnostics later this month. And but it is unable for her to stand and so we have been bed ridden for several months. She has a hospital bed and a wheelchair. She also has Asperger’s and anxiety. And her, she’s been having more frequent manic episodes that are just terrible. And it is very difficult on me to manage because I also have been recently diagnosed with MS. So, I’m a single mom in this situation. I’ve got to still work. We’re trying to secure some in home health care, and it’s just been very overwhelming. And we really appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much.
Good morning DAB family. Happy New Year. This is Bridgett from New York City. I’m calling in first and foremost to say hi, Happy New Year, God bless you all. Welcome to everyone who has just joined us. Looking forward to a New Year and just being steady and consistent in the Lord. I wanted to pray for Hudson’s brother, he said that his brother is diabetic and that he’s having trouble. So, I’m just gonna lift him up right now. And Father, Jesus, thank You for a brother that cares, Lord God. Thank You for a brother that has asked for prayer. Thank You for this brother, Lord God, that called on Your Saints, Lord God, to pray for his brother, Lord God. And I just ask You that by Your Holy Spirit, my God, that You would come, that You would come and eradicate this diabetes in this child, Lord God, in this young man, Lord God. That You would come, Holy Spirit, and remove, Lord, and steady his blood and insulin levels, and Father, He would not have these boughts any longer. In the name of Jesus, Lord God. I ask You Father, for a full healing, Lord God, and a restoration to his body, Lord God. That this young Hudson would see Father, that You are true, that You are true to Your word. You say ask, see, knock and the door will be open, and you tell us to bang on the door when we struggle, Lord. That we will answer that You will answer, Lord God. So, I thank You Father for this young man and I pray Father, for a supernatural healing upon him. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Good morning DAB, this is Diana. I’ve walked with the Lord for 47 years and continue to grow, daily, every year. The Lord gave me a word last year, of trust and boy have I had to walk through trust. And now, this year, He has given me the word, faith. And we are continued on a walk that daily, takes faith. So just pray, that I will learn everything the Lord has for me to learn in trusting and having faith in what He is doing in our life. Thank you, God Bless.
Hey DABers, this is Slave of Jesus, North Carolina. Alright Holy Spirit let’s role. I mean we gotta a guy Chameleon, you’ve been listening for 15 years, you just called in for the first time. How cool is that? Great call, hope to hear you back. Micah in Awe, you talking about how you’re tithing 5% to DAB and you just keep getting blessing. I know, is that the weirdest thing in the world. So, the more we give, the more God pours on the blessing. Is not a magic formula, you don’t do it for that. But it’s just, I don’t know, mathematically, the more I give, the more money I have, it doesn’t make any sense. But yea, that’s just the way that it seems to work for me too. So, last year it was get ready for 2023, I had this vision that it was the first time that we were gonna get our special needs daughter living separate from my wife and I, after 20 years of marriage, 21 years of marriage. And that does not look like that is on the horizon. Actually, it’s just the opposite. We bunch a step, backwards yesterday, her main worker gave us three weeks’ notice that takes her to all her volunteer jobs. And the lady that my wife has finally been comfortable with staying overnight, including me and we had three nights in a row last week, I was so excited because I’d see light at the end of the tunnel. She’s moving in a couple months. So, we are back to square one of what to do, but God, if you’d just pray that my wife and I have wisdom and know how to integrate taking care of our special needs daughter with us trying to have a intimate marriage. Yeah, just prayers for that, I would really appreciate that. You guys are the ones that will help us see the answer that God wants and that’s what I should be praying for. Rather than, what I want. Love you all, have a great day.
Hello, my DAB family, this is Jamie in Jersey, Standing on the Word of God. I humbly ask you to please pray with me. Dear Father in Heaven, we want to praise, honor and glorify You but so often our faith is weak. Though, sometimes, we may waver, we know that at the end of every day, you are always waiting for us to come home to You. Remind us, that whatever we are feeling, there is one truth that prevails above all else, that You are faithful, and we are always going to be safe in Your hands. Help our heads and our hearts and our souls to believe in You and trust in You fully, without a doubt, knowing that in You, all things are possible. Father, help our faith to grow stronger every day, help us to continually realize that You are working everything for our good. Lord, may Your great love and sacrifice for us, inspire and encourage us to truly live our lives for You. Help us please to strengthen our faith. Help, let our faith grow strong and obedient to Your word, to love, serve, forgive and to always trust in You. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for praying along with me my brothers and sisters. May God richly bless you and give you the desires of your hearts. I love you all, have a good night.
Hi, it’s Andrew Buntner calling again, and I think for simplicity, I’ll go off my nickname which is the Bush Man. I just wanted to thank everybody for your prayers. I called in regard to divorce and what I’m going through there. And the blessing that I was given through the church, the miracle roof repair. Where I got everything that I needed for my kids. I feel I owed it to you guys to give you all an update. Unfortunately, the courts weren’t able to get the kids in my custody, just as of yet. The judge did go ahead and say that I should have parenting time, I should have unrestrained 50/50 custody for my kids. But unfortunately, my wife isn’t obliging. And it looks like I’m gonna be at least another month without them. And I just wanted to say that I find comfort in this program and Brian. And the gospel itself. Lots of help from the church, reading the Bible and listening to it here, and also listening to everybody else who, you know, everybody else’s stories and praying for you guys too. I’m happy to do it, it’s the least I can do because I feel the results of your prayers. I mean, today was a day where I, it started off a little rough and I realized that the job I’m at it’s causing me an allergic reaction and I wasn’t, I’m not able to continue on. But I mean, at 1 o’clock today another miracle happened, and I had another employer reach out to me and it’s gonna be a raise in pay and it’s gonna be something I’ve worked for doing. As, I, I don’t even know what to say there. I can’t believe all these miracles that keep on happening to me in this dark time. And I can only, I’m sure contributed to the prayers and the Lord Almighty. Looking out for little ol Bush Man here. I wanna thank …