A Great Perspective on Life

An old fraternity brother of mine is currently undergoing chemothermapy treatments for cancer. Attached is something he wrote last week. His perspective on life humbles and amazes me and I look forward to his next update to see what he has learned in addition to following his progress. Here it is:

"It sometimes strikes me as funny (funny-weird, not necessarily funny-ha-ha) when I’m praying and asking God to keep my side effects minimal: here I am, small dude in the small town of [XXXXX], totally caught up in my own little world, and I’m asking the Almighty – the God of the Universe – to take a moment and help me out.  It strikes me weird because I’m just a tiny cog in a vast machine, and with all the stuff – good and bad – going on the world, here I am just pretty clueless as to how good I really have it, and how wonderful our Savior Jesus Christ truly is.  But it also is truly humbling to realize that it’s this Mighty God – Alpha and Omega – who doesn’t leave his answering machine on to pick up my prayer or say, “Wait a bit, Jevin, I’m busy in Europe right now.”  He hears my prayers and knows my needs & desires, even before I have made them known in prayer.  It’s so humbling, and yet it’s also hard to fully grasp what it means to have such a close connection to God.  It’s better than the red phone that called the Bat Cave directly."

I don't have too much to add. God asks us to come to him with every desire of our heart and he hears every one. My life tends to go more smoothly when I do bring my desires to him. So why don't I do it more often? Pride? Self Reliance? We are all children until our glorious arrival in heaven as believers. We need to act more like children and ask our Abba Father for the things we desire rather than say "I can do it myself." The one instance of a father not teaching his children to be self reliant. I think now onto my own son (3 1/2) and how many times I say you can do it yourself. But our God says you don't have to do it yourself, I will do it for you and with you if you only would ask.

BIY - Genesis 32-35

Initial Thoughts
1. Jacob crisis of Faith
2. Jacob's name is Israel
3. Esau's reception of Jacob

Detailed Thoughts
1. I think we see here how even the most connected men of the old testament still had doubts and strayed at times. It is comforting to see how God blessed them even during those times of being apart.

2. Reminds me of song by Apologetix. Anyway interesting to see how some of the names we know from modern times progressed. Israel was not just the name of the Land but the name of it's ruler and virtual patriarch.

3.The bonds of family run deep. Even after all the deceit from Jacob, Esau welcomed his brother back with open arms. It was nice to see Jacob take responsibility as well.

BIY - Genesis 29-31

Initial Thoughts:
1. Laban was deceitful
2. Jacob punished in a way for Laban's deceit.
3. Leah was a victim, Maybe
4. Jacob caught in the middle?
5. Did Jacob exert revenge on Laban?
6. or take his due "wages"?
7. After the posturing Laban folds.

Detailed Thoughts
1. First and formost the underlying theme in these three chapters is the deceit from Laban. First with Leah, than with the sheep and goats and finally with the household goods (Even though this one was true). Such a prominent role he plays in these early histories and yet he does not appear to have been a man of his word or a man of God.

2. In a way Jacob is punished for Laban's deceit. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel. He got Leah as a underhanded manipulation. Then because Leah is not loved, Rachel and by extension Jacob is punished. He didn't ask for Leah in the first place how is this his fault?

3. Then, extending point 2, Jacob gets caught in the middle of a sibling rivalry between his wives! Need I say more, ok I will. Read on dear reader...

4. OK what part of the Laban back story with Leah did we miss? Was there more to it than, " It is not our custom to marry the younger daughter first?" Maybe Leah was the driver! I feel sorry for Jacob.

5\6. Did Jacob exert revenge on Laban by selectively mating the flock or was he taking what was owed him? I think after 20 years of working for Laban and getting nothing but underhanded schemes as well as enhancing Laban's worth, Jacob got what he was owed. Did he exert a little "influence?" Probably. Was it a little unethical? Probably. But so far no one was perfect in this story.

7. Laban talks a big game but folds. Maybe this is why he such a small net worth to begin with. He liked to throw weight around but had no follow through.

BIY - Genesis 28

Initial Thoughts:
1. Esau's spite
2. Isaac's Forgiveness or Ignoring of Jacob's Actions

Detailed Thoughts:
1. Sounds like Esau to act out of spite and take a Caananite wife. And then for her to be from Ishmael's family as well. Intrigue abounds.
2. I also find it interesting that Isaac either forgave Jacob for stealing what was rightfully Esau's or ignored it completely. Then the argument can be made was it Jacob's all along when he purchased the birthright from Esau? Seems like Esau was content to be the "black sheep" of the family in the short term. If he expected his life to be short why did he care about the blessing when he cared nothing for the birthright?

BIY - Genesis 27

Initial Thoughts:
1. Talk about family issues!
2. Esau doesn't want the birthright but then throws a fit over the blessing?
3. Rebekah is an interesting personality.

Detailed Thoughts:
1.And you thought your family was bad. Mother picks a favorite son and sets out to deceive her husband. I'll visit this some more in point 3.
2. First some definitions:
Brithright: Double portion of the inheritance typically to the eldest son. Responsibility for the remaining family at home. Did Esau not want the responsibility but wanted the benefits? Looks to me like Esau wanted to be blessed but was not necessarily interested in father's possessions. Though it appears that Esau and Isaac shared a general like for hunting. Isaac also seemed to know it was not Esau but did not push the issue.
3. Where did the animosity come from for the land and Isaac. Intentionally defrauding your spouse, complaining about the land. And perhaps an early incidence of racism. An interesting personality.

BIY - Genesis 26

Initial Thoughts
1. Oaths were as strong a contract as there needed to be.
2. What is it with passing off wives as sisters?

Detailed Thoughts:
1. Interesting that no one needed to write any long word filled contract. A simple oath was all that was needed to secure a treaty or business deal. When did we lose the ability to be men and women of our word. What would it take to get it back? When did we lose respect for our fellow men and women that we became untrustworthy? I hope in my dealings with other people I am man of my word. If I'm not, CALL ME ON IT!

2. It seems that people had high respect for the marriage covenant. Abimelech and others in the last few chapters would have felt shame and guilt for violating that covenant. Why did Abraham and Isaac feel the need to pass their wives off as sisters. Sounds like they were inviting the betrayal rather than avoiding. An oath is good enough for business but not good enough to keep someone from killing for your wife. Seems like a double standard in a way but interesting.

BIY - Genesis 25

Thoughts
1. Isaac and Ishmael - Find the September 11th, 2001 episode of The West Wing.
http://www.tvduck.com/The-West-Wing.html# Season 3, Episode 1

2. Rebekah seemed a little concerned to be pregnant

3. Esau appeared to have no interest in family traditions


Details
1. That episode of West Wing was the first time I put two and two together to connect Christianity and Islam. Sparked some curiosity to find out more about the roots of the two and what makes them different. Still not satisfied yet and I look forward to some more research on the two when I have time.

2. Maybe it is my personal experiences that color this but Rebekah seemed upset that she was pregnant or maybe just being away from her own family felt like an outsider and didn't have an experienced woman to consult. Knowing what happens next it is also interesting maybe there is some animosity towards Isaac for praying for her to give birth or as a result of her barrenness. Did her faith fail when she was barren? Some of these are similar questions I have been through in my own experiences.

3. I see Esau as showing complete disgust for anything related to his father. Even though he was close to dying, in his words, he rejected the ultimate gift a father could give his son during that time. Again knowing what happens next the warning signs are there.