Leaven Once Allowed

"Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the first fruits to the LORD" Leviticus 23:17.

Leaven is forbidden in almost every Jewish feast and festival. It is a representation of corruption or sin. But in the Feast of the First Fruits leaven is one of the elements God commands eaten during this feast.

The Feast of the First Fruits comes 50 days after The Feast of Passover and today we know it as the Day of Pentecost. 

Remarkably, the Day of Pentecost is when the church was born and was the beginning of the Gospel being spread all over the world. 

What God began with making the Jewish nation from Abraham, where all peoples would be blessed through him, was started when the 'leaven' of Gentiles was brought into the Holy of Holies. When the veil was torn in two when Christ died, everyone could worship God directly through Jesus. Gentiles no longer have to be proselytes of Judaism to enter into the very presence of God.

That's Christianity. Christ-followers the world over, from every tribe, peoples and tongue because of the First Fruits of the Born Again Christians on the Day of Pentecost.

"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation" Ephesians 2:14.

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A Miracle Marriage

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; 

and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her 

conception, and she bore a son" Ruth 4:13.

God had a personal purpose in this marriage. When Adam sinned,God knew how He would bring forgiveness into the world. To do this, God formed a family line beginning with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. Matthew records the entire family line from Abraham to Jesus in the opening of his gospel. (Which, by the way, is a fascinating historical account of some of God's miracles).

The record of Obed's birth is God’s ability to work seemingly bad circumstances for the purpose of good. This impossible marriage of Boaz and Ruth took place as a God-blessed miracle union.

Here are a few incidents that happened for this marriage to take place.

• God chose Abraham out of idolatry and made him the father of the Jewish nation. (Gen. 12:1)
• Abraham begets Isaac and Isaac begets Jacob, who begets Judah. (Gen. 21:1-7, Gen. 24:66, Gen. 29:35)
• Judah is the father of Perez (Gen 38)
• God set up the law of the Gleaning as the system of welfare to support the poorest people. (Lev. 19: 9,10)
• God sets up the Kinsman/Redeemer law. (Deut. 25: 5-10)
• God saved Rahab at the destruction of Jericho. (Joshua 6: 22-23)
• Because of drought and famine in the land, Elimelech takes his family down to Moab where his son Mahlon marries Ruth. (Ruth 1:2)
• Mahlon dies. (Ruth 1:5)
• Following her mother-in-law, Naomi, Ruth comes to Israel, turning her back on her own land and its idolatry to follow Naomi's God. (Ruth 1:16-18)
• They return in the time of harvest. (Ruth 1:22)
• God helps Ruth to the right field. (Ruth 2:3)
• Boaz meets Ruth. (Ruth 2)
• Boaz is an honorable, God-fearing man who exercises the Kinsman Redeemer law to marry Ruth. (Ruth 3:10-4:12)
• Obed is born
• In this lineage, Jesus is born just as God had planned from the beginning. (Ruth 4:13)

Ruth was a poor, foreign widow, from a nation of idolatry, with no way of salvation. Boaz was a strong follower of the Jewish law. These two people would never be together in ordinary circumstances, yet, in His sovereignty, God moved the impossible to accomplish the extraordinary marriage of Ruth and Boaz.

This miracle marriage was an integral part of the Ancestry of Jesus. "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth" Matthew 1:5.

Nothing is impossible with God. All that He does is only miraculous from our viewpoint.

Miracles are standard procedure for Almighty God!

God Gets 'Er Done

Genesis 24: Seeking God's Help In The Workplace

You may be the boss or you may be the least recognized person in your workplace, yet by your faith in God, you can be the most effective in getting things done. Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

"I will make you swear by the LORD, 

and the God of heaven and earth...

Genesis 24:3

An Impossible Task:

    Genesis 24 tells us, with the exception of Isaac, all the people in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.  From this group of people he commands, Abraham sends a servant on a specific mission---find a wife for my son. (you shall go...and take a wife for my son..." Genesis 24:4) Even as he starts on his way, this man starts praying for success. There was no way he was going to trust his own judgment to get this job done. There is nothing impossible for God, even in your workplace.

"But you shall go to my country 

and to my family, and take a wife 

for my son Isaac" Genesis 24:4

Sincere Prayer:

    Trust God to help you get your work done. This slave prays a very sincere, simple, direct, specific prayer in faith, wanting to successfully complete his mission, and God answered with a miracle. Take the lesson from him that in anything we do, we need the power of God to complete it. God wants us to have faith in Him no matter what.
God's Glory in Our Work:
    After he sees the answer, he is humbled and gives God all the glory for a job well done. We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he prostrates himself in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52). Maybe you shouldn't prostrate yourself in your office, but at your work station, or office space, you can certainly prostrate your heart, unseen to anyone but God.
Spiritual Insight:
    This slave shows God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family in wanting to get away quickly. (vs 54) One aspect of his work had to interact with these ungodly people, yet he did what he had to do and he does it graciously, politely, but with his integrity intact. Now he wants to get the rest of the job done, which means moving on to the next phase. He had to return to his boss with the complete report and the woman. 

    The lesson here is to recognize and take charge where the job is yours alone and complete it to the very best of your ability to the glory of God. This Spiritual insight will help you stay out of trouble. You will have more knowledge of inter-office dealings, good and bad. And your humble recognition of God's power in your position may help you get a head start on jobs before you are asked.

"For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come 

knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2:6.

Co-worker's Recognize Your Faith:

    And Rebekah seemed willing to get out her family's house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in this servant that interested her about her future husband. But the main thing is she saw something different in the manner of this man and she got on board with his plan. Seeing his trustworthiness, took her on to success as well.

Get 'Er Done!
    While you may not see the same successes as this man, still you're connection to Almighty God gives you Spiritual insight into God doing something in your workplace. When you do see answered prayer or the awesome power of God where you work make sure you acknowledge that God Got 'Er Done!

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 

not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, 

doing the will of God from the heart" 

Ephesians 6:5,6.

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A Few Observations on Abraham

Though the Bible pulls no punches 

in telling where Abraham failed, 

the record of his faith is beautiful 

Genesis Chapters 12, 13
     Through Genesis chapters 1 through 11, God primarily stays to one genealogy line, 1st born to 1st born son, which ultimately counts down to Jesus, Messiah, in he fulfillment seen in the NT. Then Genesis switches to one man's life in ch 12. Here, the Biblical history branches out to include other familial lines and other sons. God now records how the pagan world interacts and intervenes with, and attempts to interrupt, His plan of Salvation for the world. With this new information of the pagan religions man creates, we see the sin from which we need salvation. From Genesis 12 to Revelation, the Bible includes all the problems, evils, and anger that come against the people of God.
     Genesis Chapter 13 records a shameful occurrence where Abram, (before God changed his name), totally forgets God's in control. In fear, he tells a lie and puts his wife, Sarai, in a dangerous position. By telling the Egyptians Sarah is his sister, her beauty is seen by the king who takes her into his harem. God intervenes and rescues them both from the situation. We could easily hear Jesus speaking to Abram, "Why were you afraid, O you of little faith?"

Genesis Chapter 14, 15
     Chapter 14-Abram with his little 300+ ill-equipped army goes up against a larger force of battle trained veterans. But Abram has the Commander of the Greater Army fighting his battles. Of course--Abram wins!
     Chapter 14:18 we meet a greater God-fearing man than Abram, Melchizedek. I don't have any trouble with his lack of explanation. In this place in the Bible, he is the only other Godly man described other than Abram. That is a very important point about God's omniscience.
     After the battle, that rescued Abraham's captive nephew Lot, the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abraham. He isn't concerned with anything but the return of his stuff that was taken. But after watching Abram give of his stuff to Melchizedek, he says to Abram, "Okay, you want the spoils of war? Fine, just give me the people who will build up my prosperity again." (I assumed & paraphrased)
     (more paraphrase) Abram replies, "God gave me the victory and I know it. My gift to God has nothing to do with the stuff but I am acknowledging from where the victory comes. I do not share your greed. Take your stuff."
     Melchizedek, because he knows what God did for Abram, praises God and blesses Abram for his faith. That is what Abram needed after the battle. He needed a brother in Christ to wash the world off of him. He needed the cleansing of an understanding brother.
     After a serious battle, we need someone like-minded to come along side to cleanse us and comfort us.
In this way, we see Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews, where he is mentioned as the picture of Christ, our Comforter, our Cleanser, and the One who comes along side for Strength, Power and most of all Leadership in worship to God the Father when/because we are weak.
     Chapter 15 begins Abram's next leg of his walk with God. We see a new Abram after the battle and his new exciting knowledge of God. We each need this growth and it is so awesome when we advance in our walk with Jesus.

Genesis Chapters 16, 17

     Abram fails and in lust takes Sarah's slave as a wife, though she is only the wife of his flesh. I think Hagar was likely pleased to become his token wife. As a slave, she had no rights and if Sarah never allowed her to marry, then she had no chance of become a mother or having a husband. It was probably very pleasant for her to become Abram's wife too as he was THE leader of a huge entourage of people. I am not sure but that Abram wasn't unhappy with taking a second wife. It was a common practice and Hagar was likely very pretty. Since she was around all the time, it would seem the natural thing to do, though the wrong thing to do in God's sight.

     In Chapter 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham and gives him the great promise that resounds throughout the world today. God makes the awesome covenant sealing the future of Abraham's descendants as God's people and Him as their God forever. God is keeping that covenant with Abraham's people today. All the promises in the Bible for Israel and their Messiah will come true. God cannot lie.

Genesis 18, 19--Abraham's faith & Lot's failed witness
     Genesis 18 records another Christophany, or OT appearance of Christ, when He comes to test Abraham's faith in God's sovereignty. This is my opinion, but I think Abraham was in prayer for his nephew when Jesus showed up. In conversation, Jesus explains the judgement He's bringing on Sodom & Gomorrah and Abraham immediately jumps in with intercessory pleas for Lot.
     Jesus seems well pleased with Abraham's request, yet, in the end, it appears Abraham quits asking, knowing God must do something and will do something, even if Lot is taken also. Abraham understands Lot's salvation depends on the man's own relationship with God.
     It seems Lot was saved through faith, (2 Peter 2:7) and is in heaven today, but entered the gates with his robe smoking! (Cor 3:11-16, Jude 23). Lot's short biography in Genesis is a sad commentary on what happens when we suppress our witness, or hide our Christianity.
     As a side note with no reason except an interesting observation---Lot seemed more comfortable living in cities. He was definitely not the outdoor type.

Genesis Chapters 20,21,22,23

     Chapter 20: If you don't think ALL of you're actions won't effect unbelievers, think again. Abraham let down his trust in his God and a pagan king had to tell him his witness was rotten. (Gen 20:9)

     Chapter 21: If you need proof God knows the future, here is a beautiful example of prophecy looking FAR down through history. The banishment of Hagar is reiterated in Galatians 4, as God, through Paul, explains the difference between saved and unsaved Israel. God had a plan. The difference between saved and unsaved anyone.
     Chapter 22: A lot has been said about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. What I will say is, I love the name YHWH Yireh--The LORD Will Provide.
     Chapter 23: Abraham loved Sarah. The only land he ever owned, he bought to bury Sarah. Through all those years of traveling with over 300, possibly 500 to 1000, (Gen 14:14), people in his nomadic group, many must have died and been buried wherever the group happened to be. Now, Abraham is concerned with his wife's grave site. She is important to him. Love

Genesis Chapter 24. A great chapter of faith (Here I take a lot of personal speculation without proof)

     Apologies to Bible Commentators, (who definitely know more than I do) I don't think this servant is Eliezer of Damascus, named in Ch 15, but here nameless. Since about 40-50 years have past, he's quite likely one of Eliezer's offspring. (Just saying)
     That said, this is fact, the only 'Hebrew patriarchs' in record in Genesis, are Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. God is building the Jewish nation on one man, Abraham, With the exception of Isaac, all others in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.
     BUT--it is reasonable this servant is a God-fearing believer. He prayed a very sincere, direct, specific prayer of faith, (vs 12-14), which God answered with a great miracle. (Vs 19),(Unbidden, this woman watered ten camels of a stranger! His exact prayer!)
     We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he humbly prostrated himself before God in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52).
     I think he had God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family and wanted to get away quickly. (vs 54) And Rebekah seemed willing to get out that house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in his servant that interested her about her future husband. Maybe the servant was able to tell her about her husband's God on the way back.

     Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

     Abraham is a great man to study with much to learn in his faith and his failures. 

God called him His friend. That says volumes.

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