Ascension Presents with Fr. Mike Schmitz- YouTube. Day 6, 2024
Genesis 12-13, Job 1-2, and Proverbs 1:1-7
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Additional information about the Bible books that refer to the time period of the early patriarchs, and how the themes of Genesis 12-50, differ from Genesis 1-11 (Hebrew Poetry/pre-history/early world) can be found here.
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Reflection:
Genesis 12 Abram is described as the Father of the Faith when he becomes Abraham. Abram is called forth to leave his father’s land with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. When in Egypt, Abram lies to the Pharaoh about Sarai and says she is Abram’s sister. Pharoah takes Sarai as his wife and lavishes gifts on Abram because of it, but then plagues afflict Pharaoh’s land. Why did Abram lie and sell off his own wife that way? this passage shows that Abram is still a broken man.
Genesis 13 Lot and Abram need to seperate as their flocks and herdsman are too amny. Abram offers Lot the choice of which way he will go to find new land. Lot goes towards the Jordan Valley, near Sodom, and Abram stays in the land of the Canaanites. Remember that the Canaan line are of Cain’s generations, so this should end well! Abram does not jockey for more power or better land from Lot. So here he shows humility and graciousness in alignement with the expectations of God.
Job 1 A good and wealthy man who does not skimp on his best offerings to the Lord on behalf of all of his rather large family. Satan asks God if Job would be so faithful if he were to be blighted by God. So God allows Satan to take away all his wealth, but Job remains steadfast. Why this wager with God and Satan? —Satan is the accuser and the most broken of God’s creatures. Where Abram will have the capacity to more fully follow God’s word, Satan, as a fallen angel cannot be saved as a being with divine and eternal intellect, he made his choice to defy God with full knowledge of what the outcomes would be. Satan cannot receive grace or redemption from his flaws, but humans can. So, Satan hates humans for the gifts that they have been given by God that he can never attain. Satan is wounded pride.
Job 2 Satan wants to try again as Job did not waver, so God allows him to blight Job’s health, but not kill him. Job still holds to his faith in God’s providence, both good and ill. It is interesting that Satan does not step beyond the bounds of what God will allow him to do to Job. So, why does God allow evils to befall Job? Satan is wounded pride and his pride drives him to still wager with God, even though he cannot change his path, judgement or eternal punishment. He tries to wound humans in order to wound God.
Proverbs 1: 1-7 —Proverbs are a collection of generations of wisdom and offers a way to understand how God’s Law applies in the daily lives of humans. Verses 1-7 are teachings from King Solomon, son of David- the King of Israel. These verses speak of the need for humans to seek knowledge, skills and wisdom; to be prudent and just in their dealings; and, to take instruction from the Lord.
Rebekah Martin
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Citations:
The Bible in a Year & More: Fr. Mike & Jeff Cavins. (2021f, June 13). Day 6: Trust in the Lord — The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7YdwPuam-k
The Bible in a Year & More: Fr. Mike & Jeff Cavins. (2021g, June 13). Introduction to the Patriarchs (with Jeff Cavins) — The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D3K9pOQxLU
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