Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

A Bruised Reed He will not Crush. Matthew 12, Day 33, Feb 2

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Matthew 12

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Following Jesus trumps following any laws or rules. It is okay to suspend the laws we place on ourselves–strict Sabbatarianism for instance, for a greater good–in this case, to satisfy hunger.
God desires us to act mercifully rather than to keep rules.
The whole of the Old Testament Law and the Prophets is now embodied in Christ, the promised Messiah, who is greater than the whole system of temple, priests and law, who commanded the Sabbath as a gift to man, and is Lord of it. 
ESV As Messiah, Jesus authoritatively interprets every aspect of the law, and here points out the Pharisees blindness to the actual intent of the sabbath–to bring rest and well-being. He is greater than the law.

 9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
 11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
The purpose of the Sabbath was to be a blessing to people. So it is okay to do good on the Sabbath.
NIV The fact that he stretched out his hand shows the connection between faith and healing.
The Pharisees care more about maintaining their power than the fact that Jesus was healing the sick and showing mercy. Their response to this is to go out and attempt to kill Jesus. 
God’s Chosen Servant

 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 
He warns people to keep the Messianic secret until the time was right for his glory to be revealed.




17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

 18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
   the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
   and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
   no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, 
till he has brought justice through to victory.
 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
The quiet ministry of Jesus, the Messiah.
Gentleness and mildness are the distinguishing features of the Messiah. He will be merciful. The nations will put their hope in him.

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food

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I came across this idea on Ann Voskamp’s blog, Holy Experience. I don’t think I will buy the book because my stack of unread books is looking dangerous, but I like the idea.

I have used chocolate and crisps and fudge to deal with stress for years.  Though it is a short-term solution which creates long-term problems. Weight, health, annoyance with oneself for succumbing. No long term good at all.
Finally, in despair at my lack of fitness, I started working one on one with a holistic trainer in September. I have shed about 9 pounds, but more importantly, as far as I can tell, seem to have shed the chocolate and sweets addiction. For the first time in my life!!
I think reading books on just how bad sugar is for the human body helped.
Now, I need to retrain my reflexes. If I am stressed or depressed or very low, I need to remember not to reach for chocolate or crisps to raise my blood sugar. Instead pray, or exercise and pray.
I like mid-life. The biggest discovery of this decade for me has been that it is never too late to learn new things, and it is never too late to change.
Anyway, there is an excerpt from the book
His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:22–24)
 
The term “portion control” took on a whole new meaning for me one day when I read the response that God’s people had after Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt.
 
God had performed several sensational miracles to help them escape their captors. Yet they panicked when food became scarce. They even asked to go back to slavery in Egypt where food was supposedly abundant. But God planned to use their desire for food to teach them about daily  dependence on him.
 
As Israelites traveled through the desert, each morning God would rain down exactly what they needed for nourishment—a provision called “manna,” which I imagine was something like little, sweet, potato flakes. They were to collect just enough manna for the day. They couldn’t gather extra, except before the Sabbath day of rest, or it would rot. This daily process was intended to put them in the habit of dependence on God, and only God.
 
However, the Israelites began to grumble and turned their hearts against God. So He took them on a detour. Instead of heading straight to the Promised Land of freedom, they wandered in the desert for forty years while they learned how to truly depend on God.
 
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the next forty years of my life learning this lesson.
As we apply this same process to our struggles, we can find that God is the perfect portion for everything we need, every longing we have, every desperate desire of our soul.
 
God is there when my husband and I have a big argument, my kids are unruly, a business deal doesn’t go as planned, or the bills start piling up. Instead of grabbing a tub of ice cream or ordering pizza, I can ask God to be my daily portion in these tough times. 
For example, if your boyfriend breaks up with you, instead of inhaling a big bowl of chips and dip, ask God to be your daily portion of companionship in this lonely time. “God, I hate this rejection and hurt. Sometimes I feel like the loneliness is going to swallow me alive. I can’t deal with this on my own. Will You be my portion of healing and companionship just for this day?”
 
Or, when your kids are driving you crazy, instead of chowing down three pieces of chocolate cake, you might pray, “God, I so desperately want to be a patient mom. I don’t know if I can be a patient mom the rest of my life. But with Your portion of strength I can rely on You in this moment and not try to medicate my shortcomings with food.”
 
 Whatever your situation, ask God to be your daily portion of companionship, provision, and patience—over and over.
 
Soon, you’ll find yourself walking in victory over those things instead of looking back over tears and a pile of cake crumbs.

Who may dwell on God’s Holy Mountain. Psalm 14 and Psalm 15 Day 33, Feb 2

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Psalm 14

NIV–A testimony concerning the moral folly of those who live as if there were no God, and therefore feel free to cruelly prey on others who are at their mercy.

For the director of music. Of David.

 1 The fool says in his heart,
   “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
   there is no one who does good.
Acting as if there is no God who sees and will judge–practical atheism– is the act of a fool.
There are three Hebrew words for fool, and they all refer to moral orientation rather than intellectual ability. 



 2 The LORD looks down from heaven
   on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
   any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
   there is no one who does good,
   not even one.

 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
   They devour my people as though eating bread;
   they never call on the LORD.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
   for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
   but the LORD is their refuge.
God is the refuge of the poor. We take this on faith, and are glad for it.
ESV When suffering at the hands of the wicked, the faithful must remember that God is their refuge, and that he will protect them and defeat the evildoers.

 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
   When the LORD restores his people,
   let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!




Psalm 15
A wonderfully calming Psalm.


A psalm of David.

 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
   Who may live on your holy mountain?

 2 The one whose walk is blameless,
   who does what is righteous,
   who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander, 
   who does no wrong to a neighbor,
   and casts no slur on others; 
4 who despises a vile person
   but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
   and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
   who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

   Whoever does these things
   will never be shaken.

Who may live in the presence of God. The one who does the right thing, and speaks the truth. Who does not slander others. Who is generous. God will help this man stand firm.

Who may dwell on God’s Holy Mountain. Psalm 14 and Psalm 15 Day 33, Feb 2

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Psalm 14

NIV–A testimony concerning the moral folly of those who live as if there were no God, and therefore feel free to cruelly prey on others who are at their mercy.

For the director of music. Of David.

 1 The fool says in his heart,
   “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
   there is no one who does good.
Acting as if there is no God who sees and will judge–practical atheism– is the act of a fool.
There are three Hebrew words for fool, and they all refer to moral orientation rather than intellectual ability. 
 2 The LORD looks down from heaven
   on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
   any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
   there is no one who does good,
   not even one.
 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
   They devour my people as though eating bread;
   they never call on the LORD.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
   for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
   but the LORD is their refuge.
God is the refuge of the poor. We take this on faith, and are glad for it.
ESV When suffering at the hands of the wicked, the faithful must remember that God is their refuge, and that he will protect them and defeat the evildoers.
 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
   When the LORD restores his people,
   let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!




Psalm 15
A wonderfully calming Psalm.


A psalm of David.

 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
   Who may live on your holy mountain?

 2 The one whose walk is blameless,
   who does what is righteous,
   who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander, 
   who does no wrong to a neighbor,
   and casts no slur on others; 
4 who despises a vile person
   but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
   and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
   who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

   Whoever does these things
   will never be shaken.

Who may live in the presence of God. The one who does the right thing, and speaks the truth. Who does not slander others. Who is generous. God will help this man stand firm.

On Tiger Mothers, Distracted Mothers, and Just About Good Enough Mothers

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Here’s Irene, her prize, and Grandmaster Aaron Summerscale 

So I flick through Amy Chua’s  book, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger-Mother, and feel I have failed as a mum. (This, of course, is the reaction the sassy book was intended to evoke–and the reaction which has propelled it to best-sellerdom.)
“Zoe and Irene,” I say dramatically. “I have failed as a tiger-mother.”
Zoe snorts. “You never were a tiger-mother, Mum. Especially now. You spend too much time with imaginary friends on your blog.”
“Zoe, cyber-friends. NOT imaginary friends.”
She, “Whatever.”
Irene nods absently. She is playing a game on her iPod. Thus highlighting my failure as a tiger mother!!  I have a strict rule : Only educational games, but, apparently, the word educational has multiple meanings. Who would have thought?
                                                              * * *
Amy Chua, however, is not a failure as a tiger mother. Her article at The Wall Street Journal subtly and modestly titled, ” Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” commences as it continues,

“Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:
 • attend a sleepover
• have a playdate
• be in a school play
• complain about not being in a school play
• watch TV or play computer games
• choose their own extracurricular activities
• get any grade less than an A
• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama
• play any instrument other than the piano or violin
• not play the piano or violin.”
                                                                       * * *
Oh dear!
Readers are either impressed or disgusted. I am not impressed, though I have, off and on, attempted to be a tiger-mother, insofar as my spirited children will let me. However,  my list would be closer to a Western parents’ than to Chua’s.
All I have in common with Chua is that my kids have never watched TV in our house, since I passionately believe in the virtues of silence and reading and creative downtime. And they do treasure long hours of silence to read or do their homework or “chill” and have never asked for TV, –surprisingly. We do, of course, watch lots of carefully chosen DVDs, and watch movies on family dates.
Computer games were banned for Zoe, and reluctantly permitted for Irene, the rebel, in limited quantities. However, her joy in these games equals our joy in our work, and when we retreat into our zones of private joy, she retreats into hers. A battle is being waged, for her mind and heart and conscience and intellect, and  I think we might be winning. Fingers crossed.
Chua says it is selfish careless parenting to allow your children to waste time on computer games and Facebook. I agree with her on that, and try not to. Facebook is banned for my younger daughter, who is under-age according to FB’s policies. Zoe didn’t want one, and, in fact, after I had accepted friend requests from her friends, I thought it was time she had one, and set it up for her. She now uses it somewhat sparingly, as I do mine.
                                                                           * * *
Chua’s parenting is incredibly unbalanced, as she knows, no doubt. The goal is success. To work very hard as a child to get a pleasant job as an adult later. 
This is a common attitude in Asia, among middle class Africans, and among immigrants to the West.
There is something to it. The Polgar sisters were pulled out from school and made to practice chess for 8 hours a day, 50 hours a week. All of them became grandmasters, I believe. They say, and I write from memory, “We worked hard as children and now have more leisure and opportunities and fun as adults. Our friends did not work as children, and now work hard as adults.”
If one does not factor in inherited money, there is some truth to this. Hard work as a child can give you a pleasant, gratifying job with less work and more opportunities as an adult. My husband worked really hard as a child, as he had a few goals: he wanted to win a three year all expenses paid scholarship to Cambridge University (the Girdlers’ scholarship), to win a Rotary scholarship for a year in Japan learning Go and other Japanese things; and to be a mathematician. He achieved all these goals, and the latter did provide him with more free time and travel, and fewer hours at his desk than most of our friends had. 
                                                                        * * *
What annoys readers, and the flaw in Chau’s parenting, is its obvious egocentrism. When she won a second prize at a school assembly, her father was furious. “Never ever disgrace me like that again,” he said. 
Sorry, disgrace whom? Chua’s parents came to America as poor immigrants; apparently, they attempted to achieve their dreams of success through their children. She says, “Knowing the sacrifices they made for us makes me want to uphold the family name, to make my parents proud.” Was it impossible for Chua’s parents to do something themselves of which they could be proud? Why burden her with having to bring them honour or disgrace?
Chua has been condemned to a treadmill in which she is a disgrace unless she does something spectacular so her parents can be proud. She condemns her children to the same treadmill–20 practice tests every night if they ever get the second highest grade, three hours of violin practice every evening. She condemned them to a life of having to be the best, compensating for any deficiences in intelligence by hard work, and more hard work. 
And what if they encounter another tiger cub, who is naturally smarter, and works equally hard? Sounds like a recipe for a nervous breakdown to me. 
The flaw in the plan is that her children, who are not allowed playdates, sleepovers, gym, drama, TV or computer games, will naturally do better than children with equal intelligence who lead a more balanced life. They will therefore get into a better university than they would have–with smarter children, who have led a balanced life. And then the relentless treadmill of overwork to keep pace. 
And if they succeed, and get an academic job at a leading university, as Chua has–again the treadmill to keep pace with those smarter than themselves who have got there while leading a balanced life. 
It seems a pretty pointless life, dominated by fear and pride. 
                                                  * * * 
All this comes close to the bone with me, as with most mothers who read it.
Roy, my husband, was unusually gifted at math and chess. He was the national high school chess champion in New Zealand where he grew up. Both our daughters are good at both these, as well as being very verbal. 
We taught Zoe chess somewhat late, at 8, after she was housebound after breaking her leg in a freak accident. (A massive branch fell on her, and just her, as we went on a family walk. I believed board games are a waste of time compared to reading, but she was housebound and sad, so we taught her chess.) Irene at 3 watched us play, played against herself, first, then with us, and emerged as a fairly formidable player by 5. At six, coaches noticed her talent. She has played at a city, county and national level, and has won prizes in all these, about two shelves of prizes, 50-60 of them. For several years, she was among the top two girl players of her age in the UK, and among the top handful of all players her age.
She loved chess when it was fun, just loved it and lived it. When, however, she reached the stage at which it was estimated to take 1-3 hours a day of practice to be competitive at a national level, and when, 6 or 7 days a week, she was spending her evenings at chess clubs or tournaments, and was away most weekends at tournaments around the country, she began to lose interest. She did not want to practice as much as she needed to.
Chess is brutal. The games were three hours long at the level she was playing at. A momentary flicker of concentration in the end game, and you could lose a game you had so carefully played for three hours.
Your opponent can take up to 15 minutes to think–or more–and this is torture for a quick-thinking, mercurial child. 
And she loves reading. She has a stable of books she knows almost by heart–the entire Little Women series, the entire Anne of Green Gable series, Harry Potter, Alice, some George Macdonald, Narnia. She has read and re-read them, and listened to them again and again on her iPod. Reading was being compromised for chess. I was sad about that.
We fought epic battles over chess. I thought she was instinctively preternaturally good at it, judging by her success with very little practice. I thought chess was part of the story God was writing in her life. I did not think an extraordinary talent should be so lightly given up.
We rowed, shouted, screamed, cried, both of us. And eventually she won. By default. Because after having taken 4 years off creative work to establish a publishing company, I now wanted to write again, and when I write, I go under, and forget deadlines for tournaments, entry forms and all that. And now that I was working intensely again,  I needed Roy to hold the fort, and keep our family’s life running–laundry, meals, homework, organization–and could no longer surrender him to chess weekends. We kept “forgetting” tournaments. 
And so with much sadness on my part, and no doubt, some sadness on Irene’s part, we surrendered something which had been part of her identity, life, friendships, self-image for 6 years. And only because that was her desire, I hasten to add, assuaging the last of my tiger-mother guilt.
                                                                 * * *
It is very hard to both be a tiger mother and do your own life-work. Most tiger mothers I know are living their lives through their children, forcing achievement for bragging rights, seeking brilliance from their children so as to impress their own peers, and be the envy of mouse-mothers. 
I am still in my forties, so haven’t seen the end of the story–seen what happens to tiger cubs and their mums when the latter grow up.
My mother-in-law, who was a highly successful tiger mother, didn’t know what to do with herself once the children grew up, and attempted to continue tiger-mothering after her three sons married tiger wives. Well, one doesn’t need a degree in psychology to predict how that worked out!
                                                         * * *
 What about the tiger cubs I knew in my own generation? I read English at Oxford, and knew lots of tiger cubs.
I can’t say with Allen Ginsberg in Howl, “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical, naked,” but of the high-achieving people I went to Oxford 
with and was friends with, one had a breakdown while at 
Oxford, due to overwork and later committed suicide; another has had depressive illnesses, I myself have had a long burn-out (and have completely recovered); chronic fatigue and
adrenal fatigue are not uncommon; some have earned a 
Ph.D and are now home, tiger-mothering. Some still tread the paths of glory.
                                                                        * * *
So, what’s my conclusion? Chua is partly wrong in my opinion. The best gift we can give our children is not to
 be the best at whatever they do. They may meet a more 
naturally gifted Siberian tiger, who also puts in the necessary hours, and so let competitiveness and jealousy poison their
 existence.
I honestly believe the best thing we can do for our children as Christian parents is to give them a solid, durable faith, and to introduce them to a personal friendship with God.
Apart from that, the best thing we can do is probably to help them discover life-work which they love, enjoy and are good at. And for this, if our children are academically inclined, we need to ensure that they are competent at academic tasks of ever-increasing difficulty, so that they have broad choices later on, and get to do the work they really want to do. 
I more or less agree with Solomon, “There is nothing better for a person than to enjoy the work at which he toils at under the son.” (Ecc 3:22).   And good mothering will help children find work they really enjoy. And I really hope my two do so.

The Blessing works out in mysterious ways, Gen 33-34 Day 32, Feb 1st

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Jacob meets Esau, Andrea Pozzo

Genesis 33

Jacob Meets Esau

 1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
Jacob puts his favourite child and favourite wife at the back. His favouritism of Joseph will sow the seeds of future misery–for both himself and Joseph.

 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 
And inexplicably God softens the heart of Esau, the wronged brother. Esau apparently forgives Jacob.
Jesus perhaps recalls this incident when he describes the father running to meet the Prodigal Son.
Impulsive Esau ever wears his heart on his sleeve, unlike the more careful and scheming Jacob.


5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.
   Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
 6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.
 8 Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”
   “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.
 9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”
God had been at work and had so blessed Esau that he no longer held a grudge against Jacob.


 10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 
ESV Jacob draws a remarkable parallel between his earlier encounter with God and his meeting with Esau. Esau, like God, shows him unmerited favour.


11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
In a sense, Jacob has repaid Esau for the birthright and blessing he stole from him. Though he cannot restore that blessing, he blesses Esau from the blessing God has blessed him with. And God has not turned away his face from Esau who now has plenty.

 12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”
 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. 14 So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
 15 Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”
   “But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”
Jacob is not confident that Esau will not change his mind, once removed from the emotion of the moment.

 16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. 17 Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.[a]
 18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram,[b] he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. 19 For a hundred pieces of silver,[c]he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. 20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.[d
El Elohe Israel means Mighty is the God of Israel.God has been with him, and blessed him just as he promised. ESV–Jacob formally acknowledges the God of his fathers as his God also. He identifies the God worshiped at this altar as the One whom he had encountered at Peniel, and who had changed his name.

Genesis 34 

 1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her. 3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as my wife.” 5 When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled, his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he did nothing about it until they came home.


 6 Then Shechem’s father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob. 7 Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in[a] Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.
 8 But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9 Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You can settle among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade[b] in it, and acquire property in it.”
 11 Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12 Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife.”


 13 Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. 14 They said to them, “We can’t do such a thing; we can’t give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. 15 We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. 16 Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We’ll settle among you and become one people with you. 17 But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our sister and go.”
Ancestral sins modelled for children can become default ways of reacting. Under stress, Abraham and Isaac lied, Jacob did so to gain personal advantage, Jacob’s sons do it to gain revenge.




 18 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19 The young man, who was the most honored of all his father’s family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to the men of their city. 21“These men are friendly toward us,” they said. “Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours. 22 But the men will agree to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are. 23 Won’t their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us.”
 24 All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.
The people of Schehem agree to the circumcision, partly because of the hope of financial gain.


 25 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. 26 They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where[c] their sister had been defiled. 28 They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. 29 They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.
Though Jacob’s sons resemble Jacob whose name means “he deceives,” they go beyond anything he has done.
 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
 31 But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”


Because of God’s protection on Jacob, the consequences of this despicable action are not visited on his sons. 


See Charles Spurgeon’s comment on this chapter http://theoxfordchristian.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-will-silence-your-enemies-ch.html



The Easy Yoke, Matthew 10-11, Day 31, Jan 31

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His eyes are on the wonderful sparrows he has made–and I am not surprised–and also on those who believe in him.
  
Matthew 10

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

   26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
I love Jesus counsel, and just the way he thinks. If the things he said led people to call him diabolical, how much more will those who follow him be called diabolical.
And then he goes on to say, SO, do not be afraid of them.
All concealed and hidden things will one day be disclosed and openly known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;
Be fearless about saying what God tells you to say.

 What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Do not be afraid of people. Be afraid of evil and of Satan.
 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Not even the smallest of creatures, sold for the smallest Roman coin is outside the care of the Father.
The Father is sovereign over even seemingly insignificant events. 
You are under your Father’s care, so do not be afraid. If the sparrows are under the Father’s care, how much more are you!

   32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
He will acknowledge his fearless followers. Those who disown him for personal gain or to be cool, he will also disown.

   34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
   “‘a man against his father,
   a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
   36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Doing what Christ tells you to do will always be divisive, because he has to come first.
NIV The inevitable result of following Christ is conflict–between light and darkness, between those who follow Christ, and those who do not.

   37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Jesus says that those who do not grasp the fact of who is–his grandeur, his sublimity, his eternal nature–and thereby treasure something else more than they treasure him are not worthy of him.
ESV–Jesus asked for unqualified allegiance, something even the most esteemed rabbis did not demand.

 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Those who do not make the necessary sacrifices to follow him are not worthy of him.
ESV Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor of discipleship–and the painful death of the old self.

39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Those who lose some of the pleasantness of their life for the sake of Jesus will find true life.

   40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
The Lord rewards hospitality. I know from my own life that there is no question about this.
ESV on “one of these little ones.” Those of little standing, who may be overlooked as leaders focus on the more prominent in the community.

Matthew 11
 1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Even the greatest of Christ’s followers can be prone to despondency and depression.
 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
His actions–the signs of the kingdom– are the proof that Jesus is the Messiah. His works speak for him.
ESV –Jesus ministry is in line with the prophetic promises about the time of salvation, esp. in the words of Isaiah.


 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
   “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.’[c]
   11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 
The least in the Kingdom of Heaven who have the spirit of Jesus himself living within their hearts are greater than even John the Baptist.


12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 
It takes effort and self-denial and violence to our natural desires to enter the Kingdom of God.


13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
   16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
   17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
   and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
   and you did not mourn.’
   18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
It is near impossible to avoid hostile criticism, whatever one does.
The criticism of the Pharisees actually provides quite a winsome picture of Jesus who comes “eating and drinking, and is accused of being, ‘a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

There will be judgement for those who see God’s mighty works, but do not repent. 

The Father Revealed in the Son

 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
The truths of the Kingdom are revealed to those who have simple, childlike hearts.

   27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
We can only know God fully through a revelation of Jesus.

   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These are puzzling lines.  Jesus suggests that those who are weary and burdened take his yoke upon themselves to find rest. 
Take the light yoke of obedience to find rest from burdens we were never meant to bear.
Many of our burdens are unnecessary and self-imposed–by pride, by ambition, by fear. Following Jesus is walking in step with him in a measured way, but it does lead to a easier and lighter load then when we are careering wildly doing whatever comes into our head to do. 
NIV–Possibly a reference to the heavy yoke the Pharisees places on men’s shoulders. 
ESV notes–The wider application is that Jesus provides eternal rest for all who seek forgiveness of their sins and freedom from the crushing legalistic burden and guilt of trying to earn salvation by good works. 
In contrast to the multiplicity of the lay, Jesus’s yoke of discipleship brings rest through simple commitment to him.

And here’s another post on the easy yoke.