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Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes (unless he is from Seattle and then it should be rainboots -- but I digress). That's the saying. For humans this is impossible. As much as we may think we understand someone else's life or troubles or problems, our information and comprehension of that information is limited. But for Jesus, this is not only possible, it is exactly what He did. Perfect information, perfect understanding -- He didn't need to walk in our shoes to know it all. But He did it as our High Priest. He allowed Himself to be touched with every condition we as His beloved creation face (Hebrews 4:15). For what purpose? First, so that we can be confident in our faith (Hebrews 4:14). He has fought and He has finished victoriously. And second, because Christ has entered into our need, we can approach His throne boldly in prayer knowing His great love and compassion toward us. In this place, God's children are able to find grace and mercy, not only when we are happy and healthy, but when we are desperate (Hebrews 4:16). Hallelujah! What a Savior!  A man like us. Jesus worked. He was tired. He had to have help to lift things. At times, He felt helpless. Jesus had family members die -- John the Baptist. He knew sorrow. He went hungry. He thirsted and hurt. So when He said, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" -- He knew. He knew what it was to labor, to bear burdens too big and to need rest deeper than sleep. And He said that rest and comfort and peace was found in Him: the Prince of Peace. May this peace be yours as you seek Him this week.  Of the patriarchs, Abraham's last recorded words are arguable the longest before he physically died. Genesis opens with his conversation with a servant sent to procure a bride for Isaac. And in this a pattern emerges:
Isaac blessed his sons before he died. Jacob -- even though these are not his technical last words -- blessed his sons before he died. Joseph brought his sons to Jacob so they could be blessed. Abraham arranged for a blessing for his son before he died. But unlike most of the forefathers, Abraham does not give a verbal blessing -- but a physical and spiritual one. His son was already grown and raised; a wife was the strongest influence Abraham could make on the next generation. This vignette -- a less than romantic story of fatherly love and care -- is how the deathbed blessings of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were made possible. And together, these stories prompt us to consider: How do we bless our children and grandchildren? In Genesis 27, Isaac, believing he was close to death, called his oldest son, Esau, to bless him. But his last Biblically recorded words, Genesis 28:3-4, are a blessing to Jacob -- not Jacob pretending to be Esau -- but Jacob as who he truly was, God's chosen, receiving the prophetic blessing as a result of the Abrahamic covenant. This blessing was always going to be Jacob's. He didn't need to lie or steal or manipulate his father, because the blessing (and the inheritance for that matter) were from God ultimately, not Isaac. And Rebekah and Jacob's deception did not represent a mistrust of Isaac so much as ultimately proved their distrust of God. But Isaac's final words prove God's faithfulness to a deceiver -- just like us. In the midst of deception, God never lies. In the middle of conflict, His will triumphs. He is trustworthy, at all times. And His blessing is indeed on those who fear Him (Luke 1:50).  |
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
February 2025
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