From the three sons of Noah the whole world became populated. The Bible preserved only the line that leads to the Messiah as we see in this genealogy. Nimrod from the line of Ham became mighty in the earth and Lord it over his neighbours. This was the spirit of the giants before the flood (Gen 6:4), revived in him. Being a great hunter over the beasts he surely used his courage to command others and to force others to submit. He was a great builder with ambition. Nimrod’s name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to God. Canaan was under Divine curse. Those under God’s curse, may thrive and prosper in this world, but God’s curse is always sure and terrible. So we cannot know God’s curse by what is before us but by what is within us. It may be a curse to the soul, secret curse, or a slow curse, but sinners are reserved by it for a day of wrath. So Canaan has a better land than Shem or Japheth, yet they have a better part because they inherit the blessing. Abraham and his seed descended from Eber from where the Hebrews originate.
After
the flood God asked Noah and his family to multiply and repopulate the entire
world. They had to spread over the whole world. But they decided to stay
together because of their language and make a name for themselves. Reason why
they build the tower of Babel. So God confused their language so that they
could not communicate their ambitions or dreams; so they set out across the
world in obedience to the original plan of God. We are reminded that all
genealogies before the birth of the seed (Gal 3:16) were meant to bring our
attention to the fulfilment of God’s promise that from the seed of woman (Gen
3:15), Satan’s head would be crushed.
Even
during Noah’s life-time after the flood, wickedness increases. Nothing but the
sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit can remove the sinful lusts of the human
will, and the depravity of the human heart. We get the genealogy from Eber to
Abraham. Nahor, from whose family Isaac and Jacob had their wives and Haran who
died before their father Terah were Abraham’s brothers. Like Haran, children
cannot be sure they will outlive their parents. Abraham departed out of Ur with
his father Terah and nephew Lot in obedience to God’s call and they settled in
Haran. But Haran, Abraham’s brother died in Ur. It is good to hasten out of our
natural state, lest death surprise us in it.
Abraham
was first called by God while he lived in Ur of the Chaldees (Act 7:3; Hb
11:8). This may be why Terah his father moved the entire family toward Canaan. Because
of Sarah’s beauty, Abraham conceived a plan to spare his life in view of the
lust of the Egyptians for beautiful women as he had to enter Egypt to feed the
people and animals with him out of drought in Canaan. So he instructed and
Sarah lied about her being his wife. But Sarah was his half-sister (daughter of
one of Terah’s wives; Gen 20:12). It was half-truth, but a total falsehood.
The
call God gives to Abraham to leave his relatives will also test his faith. Those
who leave their sin and turn to God always receive unspeakable gain by the
change. This is the same as the gospel call, for natural affection must give
way to Divine grace. We must forsake sin and bad company. God promised Abraham
great things if he remains obedient just as He does to us today. God said I
will make you a great nation, your name will be great, I will bless you and you
shall be a blessing, I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse
you and in you Abraham all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Despite these
great promises, Abraham still fell in trusting God else he would not have lied
about Sarah, causing Sarah and Pharaoh to almost sin.
Jesus
Christ is the blessing of the world. We see His ministry starting from the
desert. When God starts great movements, His messengers are called to the
desert. Moses, John the Baptist, Paul and Jesus are examples. It was God’s will
that Jesus be tempted in various ways as those he would save (Hb 4:15). The 40
days of fasting of Jesus will begin his temptations which will not cease till
his ministry on earth. In the same way that Satan tempted Eve in the garden of
Eden (Gen 3), he does to Jesus. Tempting Him after the lust of the eyes and
flesh, and the pride of life (1Jn 2:16). Jesus did not yield to these even
though he was at a most vulnerable situation. He answered all temptations with “It
is written”, setting us an example to use what is written in scriptures each
time we face temptations. He took Jesus to a high place to tempt Jesus to pride
and presumption. All high places are slippery places, advancements in the world
makes a man a mark for Satan to shoot his fiery darts at. He also tempted Jesus
to idolatry. The glory of the world is the most charming temptation to the
unthinking and unwary. If we resist the devil he will flee from us. But the
soul that deliberates is almost overcome. Angels came and ministered to the
physical needs of Jesus after the fasting and temptations. We should trust God
is always with us in every difficulty and that he will meet our needs if we
remain faithful.
Jesus
moves to Galilee. He does not stay where he is not wanted. When he is needed he
brings light that brightens the dark places and lives. Not only the austere John
the Baptist, but the gracious Jesus preached repentance. As Christ preached he
gathered disciples who would listen as students and afterwards be preachers of
his doctrine. He chosed fisher men and tax collectors, he did not go to the
theological men of the temple. He chooses the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise. We need to ask the questions, Am I in Christ? Am I in my
calling? They followed Christ as disciples (Jn 1:37), now they must leave their
calling; and live God’s calling for their lives.
He
confirmed His mission with healing as He preached. He healed every sickness or
disease; none was too bad; none too hard, for Christ to heal with a word. Sin is
the sickness of the soul. Christ came to take away sin, and so to heal the
soul.
Prayer:
Our Father, who is in the heavens, mighty healer and sustainer of our lives. God,
you are our security. I thank you for the opportunity you’ve given us to come
back to you Jesus our Lord. Thanks for the promises of blessings to those who
continue in obedience to your command. Your word is true Lord. Thank you
Father. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment