After Dinner Mintz

Jo's Photos

2011-11-14T15:36:00.001-06:00

Jo's Photos, a set on Flickr.

Be Still And Know...

2011-11-12T19:34:00.002-06:00

My life normally travels at a speed of about 110 miles per hour. I spend the majority of my life in my car, shuttling from one place to another and my calendar always looks as though several pens of different colors exploded all over it. With a husband and kids, a job, a volunteer position, a dog and a cat, it's a wonder I ever manage to take a shower, let alone find time for just me (and no, time in the bathroom with kids banging on the door shouting questions does NOT count).

But recently, due to two surgeries in a span of a month, I found myself forced to spend time recovering. In bed. Off my feet. Completely. During this time I realized something. Not only do I not know how to be still, I don't really like to be still. I've spent so much time telling myself that when I can just find the time to be still I'll read my Bible more, learn how to listen to G-d, work on that novel I started... You can fill in the blank with about any altruistic goal and I've probably said I'm going to do it--when I find the time. Yet when I was finally confronted with nothing but uninterrupted time, it nearly killed me. I could not stand being still. I found countless little activities to fill the time. I read books, I organized my photos, I watched television. I even played video games!

Now, none of these things are bad in moderation. Some of them are even worthwhile. But the point is that I was doing them to avoid the silence. I was filling each and every moment with something, anything but time spent alone with myself and G-d. What is it about silence that's so frightening? Why is it so hard to just be still, to reflect and to listen for G-d's direction?

It could be argued that, given the fact that I was in a bit of a perscription-pain-killer induced fog, no major life decisions should have been made based on any epiphanies I might have had during that time. I'll grant that. But if I had spent even a little of that time reflecting on my life and listening for that still small voice, perhaps I would have gained some unexpected insight. The point is, I'll never know until I learn to be still.

New Year, New Me

2011-11-07T09:49:00.002-06:00

I'm beginning to think that if everyone has one word that describes their life, my word is "transformation." It seems that I'm always in a state of flux, questioning where I am and wondering where I'm headed down life's road. Just take this blog page, for example. At a glance, it appears to have a bad case of multiple personality disorder. This blog has changed in format and content over time, just as I never seem to be able to pin down my own personality.

This used to bother me. I used to worry that I would never find myself, never be comfortable in my own skin. I'm beginning to realize, however, that perhaps change is part of my personality. I've never been someone who fit neatly into a box. My tastes in art, music and literature cover a wide range of genres, and that range is constantly growing. My friendships reflect this diversity as well, with dear friends from a broad scope of religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups. Each one of these wonderful people enriches my life in a different way. They challenge me to stretch and grow. By exposing myself to a wide variety of tastes and ideologies, I expand my understanding of the world and, ultimately, of myself.

So once again, dear friends, this blog will transform into something new and hopefully even better. You see, one advantage to being Jewish is that you get two New Years. That means I get two chances, or a span of a couple months, to make resolutions. At least you do in my mind, anyway. I've always wondered what my life would be like if I lived without worrying what other people thought of me. What decisions would I make differently? What could I accomplish? So today I officially resolve to embrace my eclectic personality and jettison my fear of failure. I hope this blog will reflect my new perspective. I plan to keep some elements of the page, and add new ones. I hope you'll join me for the ride and maybe we'll all learn something about ourselves along the way.

And just to give a little shout-out to a great place to hang out, I'm writing from a terrific little coffee shop I just discovered called The Buddha Bean Coffee and Tea Garden. Long name, nice people, great coffee. Look it up and check it out!

Metamorphosis

2011-06-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

Once again I find myself at a crossroads. Some might call it a full-blown mid-life crisis, but I like to think it’s a bit more complicated than that. Perhaps I’m just deluding myself. Yet, when I reflect on the past two or three years I see a gradual change in myself. And when I reflect on my life as a whole, I see a recurring cycle of change and growth.

I’ve never been one who is overly fond of routine. I get bored easily and I’m always open to new adventures. At times I’ve even been known to make drastic changes just because I feared I was getting into a rut in life. Plus, there’s a sort of perverse thrill in keeping my family and friends on their toes, always wondering what my latest hobby or hairstyle will be!

This time around, though, I think the change is deeper. For the last several years I’ve been on a quest to find myself. No, not in a starry-eyed college kid backpacking across Europe kind of way. I want to discover what I’m truly good at, what I really believe about politics and religion, whether I can make a career out of doing something that I love. Instead of always swaying this way and that on a whim, I want to finally be grounded in the real me and feel confident in being myself.

So now we come to the subject of this blog. Writing is one of my biggest passions in life. As my writing is often infused with my state of mind, this blog as a whole seems to have multiple personalities. I find politics and culture fascinating, so I began by writing about that. After a while, that seemed to be bringing me down so I tried something uplifting. I started writing short devotions. Then circumstances in my personal life became incredibly consuming, and I didn’t have the same amount of time or emotional energy to write for a season. Now I’m back, but I find myself wanting to head in a new direction. Nothing too drastic because my intent for this blog is still to benefit others as well as myself. I’ve no interest in writing a blog devoted entirely to navel gazing. (Regardless of what this particular entry might suggest!)

Where will I go from here? In terms of this blog, I’ll still be focused on life’s lessons. But now I’ll try to draw on a variety of sources. I will soon be traveling to Israel, and I look forward to the ways in which my experiences there will change me and help me grow. As always, I’ll process these changes through writing, and I hope others will want to come along for the ride, even if it’s only to see how many times I change the color of my hair!

The Amazing Race, Sibling Style!

2010-11-08T12:09:00.002-06:00

Today's reading from Parshah Vayeitzei:
Genesis 29:18-14:27

When we last left Jacob, he had been staying with and working for his Uncle Laban for a month; and Laban now wants Jacob to name his wages. Laban's younger daughter, Rachel, had caught Jacob's eye because of her beauty. As today's reading begins, Jacob tells Laban that he will work for him for seven years if Laban will give Rachel to Jacob for a wife. Laban agrees and we see in Genesis 29:20 that those seven years fly by for Jacob because of his love for Rachel.

At the end of the seven years, Jacob goes to his uncle and asks for his wages, that is, Rachel. But Jacob, "the deceiver" who outwitted his brother not once, but twice; and who tricked his own father as well, has finally met his match. It seems that when it comes to trickery and cunning, Jacob has nothing on his Uncle Laban. Laban agrees to give Jacob his "wages", and after giving a huge feast that culminates in a wedding, Jacob takes his new bride into his tent to be with her.

Just a quick background note on wedding customs in that culture. The bride would have been veiled during the public festivities, so the groom would be unable to see her face during the wedding (IVP Bible Background Commentary). This, combined with perhaps a little too much celebration on Jacob's part, or just the general whirlwind of excitement leads to Jacob waking up the next morning with, not Rachel, but Leah! It seems Laban pulled a switch on Jacob (Gen. 29:23), giving him his older daughter instead. The deceiver has just been double-crossed!

Jacob is understandably angry, but Laban invokes a certain (apparently unmentioned) custom of his people never to marry off the younger daughter before the older. He then agrees to give Rachel to Jacob after another week, in exchange for seven more years of service. Jacob agrees and is able to marry Rachel too. This treachery on the part of their father, combined with Jacob's open preference for Rachel, leads to some extreme sibling rivalry on the part of Rachel and Leah. Once again we see themes of deception and parental preference in the lives of our patriarchs, and as we've noted before, these are never without consequences. The consequences may not be fully experienced for a generation or two, but they will eventually be felt.

In Genesis 29:31, G-d has mercy toward Leah because Jacob loves Rachel more, so G-d blesses Leah with children while Rachel is unable to conceive. Leah, for her part, gives G-d credit each time she bears another child, and gives them names that acknowledge what G-d has done for her (Gen. 29:32-35). Rachel, on the other hand, actually blames Jacob for her inability to conceive! Not to be outdone by her sister, she gives Jacob her maidservant and tells him to conceive children with her that Rachel can claim for her own, just as Sarah did so many years before her.

When Rachel's servant does bear children, Rachel gives G-d credit for "vindicating" her, despite the fact that these children were born of her own machinations. In fact, in Genesis 30:8 we see the intensity of Rachel's rivalry with her sister:

8 So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have
indeed prevailed.” And she named him Naphtali.*

Leah then takes up this spirit of competition and gives Jacob her maidservant to bear children through as well; so the situation escalates into a bizarre contest between Rachel and Leah to bear the most children! (It is important to note here that women who produced children, especially sons, were highly esteemed in that culture; while barren women were looked down upon.)

Leah then begins bearing children of her own once again and, sadly, in verse 20 she appears to believe that with the birth of her sixth son she will finally "earn" her husband's love. By this time, however, G-d has mercy on Rachel at last, and she bears two sons of her own. One can only wonder about the impact of their parents' immaturity and selfishness on these children. If we truly believe that children are a blessing from the L-rd, then parenthood should be undertaken with the utmost prudence and responsibility. Using children as pawns in some sort of game will have far-reaching repercussions.

As the reading concludes, Jacob has prospered greatly, just as G-d promised. He asks to leave Laban's service at last, but by this time Laban has figured out that G-d has been blessing him on Jacob's account. He states this openly and urges Jacob to stay. The self-serving Laban isn't quite ready to let his son-in-law go.

My prayer today is that I would take my parenting responsibilities seriously. May I seek to honor G-d in the decisions I make regarding my home and family.

Tomorrow: Genesis 30:28-31:42

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 30:8). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Parshah Vayeitzei

2010-11-07T17:19:00.003-06:00

Today's Reading from Vayeitzei:
Genesis 28:10-29:17

As we begin Parshah Vayeitzei, we pick up where we left off in the story of Jacob. Jacob is traveling to find a wife (not to mention running for his life from his brother!) from among his mother's relatives in Haran. During the journey, as Jacob camps overnight, G-d visits him in a dream (Gen. 28:10-15). G-d speaks with Jacob and reiterates His covenant promise to Abraham:

13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your
father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to
you and to your descendants.
14 “Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread
out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and
in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back
to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised
you.”*

G-d promises Jacob the same things He promised Abraham: to give him the land, that his descendants would be too numerous to count, and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his descendants.

This encounter deeply impacts Jacob (Gen. 28:16-17), and in verse 18 he sets up a sacred pillar to commemorate the spot where he met the L-rd. The remainder of chapter 28 (especially verses 20-22), seems to indicate that it is at this time that Jacob begins to own his personal relationship with the G-d of his fathers.

As chapter 29 opens, Jacob comes upon a well and asks the local shepherds where they are from, to which they reply that they are from Haran. This is the very place he is headed. Not only that, but these shepherds know his mother's relatives (Gen. 29:5). As if this wasn't enough evidence of G-d's providence, who should come along right that moment but Rachel (Gen. 29:6), the beautiful younger daughter of Jacob's uncle?

This is all too much for Jacob, who begins to cry as he greets Rachel and waters her flocks. They return to her father's house where Jacob is greeted with open arms. He stays there a month, working for his uncle Laban. At the end of this month, Laban insists on paying Jacob for his efforts (Gen. 29:15), then verses 16 and 17 seem to switch topics quite suddenly, offering a description of Laban's two daughters. Why? Perhaps Jacob's good fortune isn't going to be handed to him quite as easily as he imagines. Maybe, just maybe, G-d has a few lessons to teach him along the way.

My prayer today is follow the L-rd's direction and trust Him completely. In times of difficulty, may I seek to learn the lessons He wants to teach me and not depart from His ways.

Tomorrow: Genesis 29:18-30:27

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 28:13–15). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Children of Promise

2010-11-07T16:43:00.003-06:00

Reading from B'rit Chadashah:
Romans 9:1-13

Today's reading from the B'rit Chadashah is, at its core, about choice: G-d's choice. Paul begins this passage by expressing his passionate sorrow and longing for his people to recognize Y'shua as the promised Mashiach. His burden for his people is so deep that he states he would actually wish himself damned if it would mean the salvation of the Jewish people. In verses 4-5, Paul elaborates on the blessings given to G-d's chosen people:

4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the
covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is
over all, God blessed forever. Amen.*

G-d chose Israel, the descendants of Abraham, as His special possession. But centuries later, Israel rejected Y'shua as Messiah. So are we to believe then, that G-d's plan failed? Based on verse 6, Paul's answer would be "no", as he explains that "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel." What does this mean, exactly? In the remainder of the passage, Paul lays out an argument for G-d's sovereign choice. Abraham had many sons, but it was only Isaac through whom G-d chose to fulfill His covenant promise. Some might argue that this is because only Isaac was the son of Sarah. However, Paul goes on to point out that both Jacob and Esau were sons of the same parents, yet G-d chose Jacob over Esau while still in the womb, before either child had a chance to "earn" any merit or disfavor (Rom. 9:11).

So is Paul saying that all is predestined and there is no hope for Jew or Gentile? Absolutely not! In fact, the good news is that there is hope for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, because of G-d's sovereign choice. G-d chose the descendants of Abraham and to them He gave the Law. But that was not the end of His promise. Because the Law could not be kept perfectly by His human creation, G-d made a way through Mashiach that all might be reconciled to Him. Does this mean that one people has replaced another in G-d's eyes? No, because if we remember back to Genesis 12:2-3, the L-rd promises not only to make Abram a great nation, but also that "in [him] all the families of the earth will be blessed." So instead of allowing this to polarize us, we can instead rejoice in G-d's sovereignty and His great love for His children.

My prayer today is that I would have the kind of burden for others that Paul did, that would cause me to weep over those who are far from G-d.

Next: Parshah Vayeitzei

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 9:4–5). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Walking the Talk

2010-11-04T21:39:00.002-05:00

Today's Haftorah Reading:
Malachi 1:1-2:7

This haftorah portion is an oracle given by the L-rd to the prophet Malachi. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, this oracle was given at a time when the nation of Israel was dominated by foreign governors and in economic hardship.

The passage begins with G-d declaring His love for Israel. He points out that He intentionally chose to bless the line of Jacob (the Israelites) over the line of Esau (the Edomites). Yet as we see in Genesis 1:6 and following, Israel's priests have essentially given G-d a slap in the face by offering blind, lame and otherwise defective animals as sacrifices. Sacrifices were meant to be from the first and best of the flock - an appropriate offering to a holy G-d. By using as offerings the unwanted and leftover animals, the priests were not only profaning G-d's sacrificial system (Gen. 1:11-13) but they were setting a terrible example for all G-d's people as well.

The first three verses of Malachi 2 offer a stern warning to these priests: they are to listen to these words and take them to heart, because if they don't, G-d will turn their blessings into curses. Then the L-rd reminds them of His covenant with Levi and his descendants (Levi was the priestly tribe) and Genesis 2:5-7 describes Levi's relationship with G-d, his reverence and righteousness. Finally, in the last few verses of this reading, G-d explains the heart of the issue:

7 “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek
instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 “But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to
stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the
LORD of hosts.
9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you
are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.*

By treating the L-rd's sacrificial system with such disrespect, by profaning His altar, the priests were not only sinning themselves, they were leading an entire nation astray! Malachi 2:7 makes it clear that those in spiritual leadership positions have an enormous responsibility to reflect the L-rd's righteousness to those whom they lead.

This responsibility did not end with Malachi's generation. From the Rabbi, Pastor or Priest to the humble blogger, all those who endeavor to teach G-d's Word to others must accept the responsibility to live a life of integrity before G-d and man. Does this mean our spiritual leaders should be perfect, should be without sin? Of course not. After all, they're human just like us. But it does mean they have a responsibility to humble themselves before G-d, to seek His will and walk in His ways. And when they do stumble, they have a responsibility to repent, to ask forgiveness and to do what it takes to make things right.

My prayer today is that I would be constantly aware of my responsibility to live a life of integrity. May I be a light to those around me, leading them to truth and not causing them to stumble.

Tomorrow: B'rit Chadashah: Romans 9:1-13

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mal 2:7–9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Too Little, Too Late

2010-11-03T15:42:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Toldot:
Genesis 28:5-9

This short passage ends a sort of first chapter in the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob has now received the birthright, the blessing of his father and the Abrahamic blessing as well (Gen. 28:1-4). Isaac then sends Jacob on a journey to distant family members to find a wife from among his own people.

Esau, seeing this, decides that the reason he is not receiving more from his father is because he has married Canaanite women (Gen. 28:6 and Gen. 28:8). His solution to this perceived problem? He takes a third wife, this time from Ishmael's family line. We are not told whether Isaac and Ishmael were on better terms by this time. However, the fact remains that Esau perceives the problem (his lack of blessing) on a purely earthly level (his choice of wives). He then proceeds to try to remedy the situation using earthly logic - add a new (improved?) wife. I like the way The Bible Knowledge Commentary puts it: "Ironically the unchosen son of Isaac married into the unchosen line of Ishmael!"* This commentary goes on to explain that this further indicates Esau's lack of understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant, which in turn would seem to underscore his lack of fitness to lead his people.

My prayer today is that I would approach life's problems with heavenly eyes. May I learn to seek divine wisdom instead of relying on earthly reasoning.

Next: Haftorah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

*Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Ge 28:6–9). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Mom Always Did Like Him Best

2010-11-02T18:47:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Toldot:
Genesis 26:30-28:4

Today's reading is the account of Jacob receiving Esau's blessing. As we open this portion of the reading, we return to the conclusion of the story of Isaac and Abimelech. Isaac and Abimelech have just forged their treaty, and depart in peace. Then the account of Esau and Jacob begins in a rather strange way. Genesis 26:34-35 begins the account by pointing out that Esau brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah by marrying not one, but two local Hittite women. Just as Esau had proven he had little regard for his own birthright by trading it for a bowl of stew years ago, Esau now shows contempt for his grandfather Abraham's desire that his heirs should choose wives from among their own people.

Given his careless attitude for the rites and customs of his people, it is evident that Esau is unfit to lead. This was even predicted by G-d while the babies were still in Rebekah's womb, when He told her that the older would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Yet in spite of this, Isaac is intent on giving the blessing to Esau. As a hunter and outdoors man, Esau appears to be Isaac's favorite. (This becomes apparent in Gen. 27:27 when Isaac describes Esau, the son he believes he is blessing.)

Isaac tells Esau to go hunt some wild game and prepare it just the way Isaac likes it, so he can bless Esau. According to the IVP Bible Background Commentary, this feast would provide a celebratory context for the blessing. Rebekah, however, overhears Isaac's plan and decides to take action to ensure that her younger son receives the promised blessing. Just as Sarah did before her, Rebekah decides she must "help" G-d fulfill His plan.

She calls Jacob and tells him of her plan to deceive Isaac and secure the blessing for Jacob. She will prepare some goat's meat stew to taste like wild game and Jacob can bring it to his blind father, pretending to be Esau. Amazingly, Jacob's only objection to this plan is that he might be caught in the lie and punished for it, because he is not as hairy as his brother! Esau may be unfit to lead the family, but Jacob still has a lot to learn about integrity as well.

Jacob's mother disguises him with Esau's clothes and some goat hair. Then, in Genesis 27:18-29 Jacob brings the stew to Isaac and pretends to be Esau. Jacob blatantly lies to his father three times during this exchange (besides the fact that he is dressed in his brother's clothes). In verse 19, Jacob states that he is Esau, in response to his father's query. Then, when the suspicious Isaac asks how he was able to kill and prepare the game so quickly, Jacob invokes G-d in his lie, saying "the L-rd your G-d caused it to happen to me." Isaac is still unsure, and feels Jacob's hands, which now feel hairy like Esau's because of the goat hair. In verse 24, Isaac asks once more if he is really Esau and Jacob lies and says he is.

Finally, Isaac pulls his son close and, convinced it is Esau because of the smell of his garments, proclaims the blessing:

27 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments,
he blessed him and said,
“See, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed;
28 Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
29 May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

Almost immediately after Jacob leaves, Esau enters and the deception is uncovered. However, it is too late. The promised blessing has already been bestowed upon Jacob. Esau is distraught and in his fury even vows to kill his brother. Now to our modern minds, this may all seem like a lot of people making a huge deal over something trivial. It's just a blessing, right? Only words spoken by a father over his son. However, the IVP Bible Background Commentary reminds us that in that culture, a patriarch's blessings or curses were considered powerful and binding. These pronouncements were taken very seriously. So Esau had not only lost his material inheritance to Jacob, but a blessing that provided for future good fortune as well.

After hearing of Esau's vow to kill Jacob, Rebekah decides she must send Jacob away for his own safety. She explains to Isaac that she doesn't want Jacob to take a local woman for a wife like Esau did, and arranges for Jacob to go live with relatives for a time. Isaac, who appears not to bear any grudge whatsoever regarding Jacob's deception, blesses Jacob again and sends him on his journey. A happy ending, right? Well, not really. In her haste to "help" G-d, Rebekah's actions drove a deeper wedge between her two sons; and in the end she was forced to part with the son that she, herself favored. Recalling G-d's promise to Rebekah while the twins were still in her womb, is it possible that G-d could have made a way for Jacob to become the leader he was destined to be? Of course. Would it have involved tearing apart an entire family? Probably not. But thanks to Rebekah's scheme to "help" Him, we'll never know exactly what G-d might have done.

My prayer today is that I would trust G-d's way of doing things and His timing, no matter how long the process may take.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 27:27–29). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Room to Grow

2010-11-02T13:42:00.002-05:00

Reading from Toldot:
Genesis 26:13:29

This reading continues the story of Isaac's sojourn in Gerar, the land of King Abimelech and the Philistines. True to His word, G-d begins to bless Isaac and soon the local people become envious of him and feel threatened. During his journey through this land years before, Isaac's father Abraham had dug several wells. Wells noted an intention to stay in the area and, according to The Bible Background Commentary, were tangible evidence of divine blessing. The Philistines, possibly seeking to reassert ownership of the land, filled these wells with dirt. Despite this, Isaac becomes so prosperous and powerful that Abimelech tells him to leave (Gen. 26:16).

Isaac promptly leaves and he and his entourage settle down in the valley, where he begins digging wells of his own. Isaac's servants strike a plentiful water source in the first well they dig, but the locals argue that the well is theirs. Thus, Isaac names the well "Esek" or "contention" because the local people contended with him. By naming the well, Isaac asserts ownership over the well, according to the IVP Bible Background Commentary. Yet instead of continuing to fight over the well, Isaac lets the local shepherds have it and digs another one. This well, too, becomes a source of argument, so Isaac names it "Sitnah" or "enmity" and moves on.

Finally Isaac digs a well that no one tries to claim from him. He names this well "Rehoboth" meaning "broad places" or "room." Genesis 26:22 explains why:

22 He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it;
so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and
we will be fruitful in the land.”

Two things are important to note in this story. First, although G-d blesses Isaac, He doesn't take away all his problems. Isaac still has to contend with jealousy and strife on the part of the local people. Isaac, for his part, takes this in stride. This leads us to the second important point. While Isaac knows the wells are his - even going to the point of naming the wells, asserting his ownership - Isaac does not fight with the local people over the wells. Whenever they contend with him over a well, he moves on, trusting his G-d to provide. Isaac's trust allows G-d to shape and build Isaac's character through adversity.

In the end, G-d rewards Isaac's trust by providing an uncontested well, and by reassuring him in verse 24:

24 The LORD appeared to him the same night and said,
“I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you, and multiply your descendants,
For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

This blessing is further confirmed in verses 26-29, when Abimelech comes to Isaac to ask for a formal peace treaty between Isaac's clan and Abimelech's people.

My prayer today is that I would not be discouraged and give up when things don't come easily. May I trust G-d and persevere, knowing that all good things come with a price.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 26:24). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 26:22). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Toldot - "Generations"

2010-10-31T15:54:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Toldot:
Genesis 25:19-26:12

Perhaps an appropriate heading for today's reading would be "Everything Old is New Again." Now we begin the story of Isaac, the promised heir of Abraham. Like Sarah before her, Rebekah is barren - she cannot conceive a child. In Genesis 25:21, Isaac demonstrates faith in the G-d of his father by asking Him to help Rebekah to conceive, and G-d subsequently blesses the couple with twins. For her part, Rebekah also demonstrates faith in the G-d of Abraham. When she notices the babies appear to be struggling within her she asks the L-rd about it. G-d then gives her an explanation and a prophecy in verse 23:

23 The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”

Rebekah does indeed have twins, whom the parents name Esau and Jacob. It is interesting to note the comment at the end of verse 26 that Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had the twins. As Abraham's promised heir, Isaac surely knew all that G-d had promised Abraham and that those promises were to be fulfilled through Isaac. Yet Isaac himself had to wait until he was 60 years of age to see his hope for the promise to become a great nation. Once again the L-rd chooses to cause His servant to wait on the promise in order to build his faith.

It is important to note, however, that Isaac deviates from his father's ways in one very important respect. While Abraham and Sarah tried to help G-d's plan by having Abraham conceive a child through Hagar, Isaac went directly to the L-rd to ask for a child. Perhaps, after seeing what happened with Ishmael and Hagar, Isaac learned that it is best to wait for the L-rd to answer in His timing.

In Genesis 25:31-34, we fast-forward to the now grown Jacob and Esau and the story of Esau selling his birthright. We may be tempted to feel a great deal of sympathy for Esau in this instance. However, as is often the case, there is more to the story than appears on the surface. The IVP Bible Background Commentary explains that the birthright was the material inheritance of the firstborn. The birthright of the oldest son was to receive a double portion of the material possessions of the parents. So Esau's choice to satisfy his immediate appetite with a bowl of stew by forsaking his birthright shows his cavalier attitude toward his status and rights as firstborn.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary goes on to explain that while Jacob may not have shown the strictest moral standards in the way he gained Esau's birthright, he was not deceptive in the matter either. He openly (most likely in the presence of others) declared that he would give Esau a bowl of stew if Esau promised to give Jacob his birthright. Esau's gives quite an exaggerated response in verse 32:

32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to
me?”

Now we know from the earlier portion of the passage that Esau was not literally starving to death. He had simply been out hunting all day and was extremely hungry.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 25:32). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 25:23). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Shaking the Family Tree

2010-10-29T12:05:00.002-05:00

Today's B'rit Chadashah Reading:
Matthew 1:1-17

Today's passage is a straight genealogy tracing the ancestral line of Y'shua. Matthew's intent in this passage is to trace Y'shua's family line back to King David and then to Abraham. He did this to demonstrate that Y'shua came through the royal line, the line from which Mashiach would come.

What I find most interesting about this ancestral list is the people who are included in it. After all, if you wanted to prove someone's right to a particular status or position by presenting their lineage, wouldn't you include mostly the "family heroes"? You might be tempted to leave off, say, Great Aunt Gertrude who was known around town for dressing up her cats. Or maybe Uncle Harry with the drinking problem might not make the cut. But as we've seen over and over again this week, G-d sees things differently.

Thus, in this passage the writer was inspired to include several women (two of whom were prostitutes and one an adulteress according to The Bible Knowledge Commentary) who did trust G-d, not to mention some unsavory kings such as Rehoboam, Abijah and Manasseh who did not. The point, again, I think is that G-d is bigger than the whole of human history. No matter what our faults or shortcomings are, we can be used by G-d to impact this world. In fact, we are all a part of G-d's plan, regardless. Whether we choose to allow Him to use us to make a positive impact on the world or whether we choose to go our own way and leave a negative legacy is up to us.

Next Week: Parsha Toldot

G-d's Plan Supersedes Human Ambitions

2010-10-28T09:57:00.002-05:00

Today's Haftorah Reading:
1 Kings 1:1-31

Today's Haftorah reading recounts the events at the very end of King David's life. David was the nation of Israel's second king. He was a descendant of Abraham, and was chosen by G-d himself to be king, despite the fact that he was the smallest and youngest of his brothers.

As 1 Kings opens, we see that David is now very old and ill, probably in the last days of his life. In verse 5, we learn that Adonijah, the king's oldest surviving son has decided to seize this opportunity to proclaim himself king. He does not seem to expect any real opposition to his plan because, as verse 6 tells us, he was very good looking, rather spoiled and used to his father turning a blind eye to any misdeeds he might commit. Plus, as the oldest surviving heir, it was expected that he would ascend to the throne on his father's death anyway. But G-d saw things differently.

Remember, G-d fulfilled His promises to Abraham through Isaac as the primary heir, despite the fact that Ishmael was technically older. G-d also chose David, a shepherd boy, the youngest child from a family of the smallest tribe, to rule the entire nation of Israel. A given course of action may seem logical to the human mind, but that has no bearing on whether it is right in G-d's eyes. So often we convince ourselves that the picture we see is all there is, when it is but a speck compared to the vast viewpoint of the Almighty G-d.

Picking up in verse 11, the prophet Nathan has learned of Adonijah's plot. We are not told exactly how he hears of it, but he immediately goes to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, with the news. Nathan has never been presented as anything but a faithful prophet of the L-rd and a truth-teller, so we can assume that since he goes to great lengths to have Solomon proclaimed king that it is because that is G-d's plan which He revealed to Nathan.

Nathan then advises Bathsheba how to proceed (verse 13-14) and the two of them rush to tell David the news before it is too late. Bathsheba relates Adonijah's actions to David and the danger this presents to her and to Solomon, Nathan confirms her story and they remind David of a promise he made before G-d that Solomon would be the next king. David wastes no time in acting on their behalf and in verse 30 states that he will install Solomon as king that very day.

So once again we see that despite all human efforts to the contrary, G-d's plan wins out. And once again we see that the chosen individuals through whom G-d fulfills His plan are far from those we would expect. Instead of choosing the popular, handsome eldest son, G-d chooses the son of a woman whose relationship with the king began in an act of adultery. Why? Is it a reminder to us not to evaluate people by external factors? Is it to demonstrate to us that G-d's strength is made perfect in our weakness? Whatever the lesson may be, G-d has many things to teach us through every detail of history if we will only open our hearts and minds to His Word.

My prayer today is that I will be open to G-d's life lessons, and that I will see others with His eyes.

Tomorrow: B'rit Chadashah: Matthew 1:1-17

G-d Remembers All His Promises

2010-10-27T11:51:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading:
Genesis 25:12-18

We finish up the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah with a brief account of Ishmael's line. We see a list of Ishmael's descendants, which includes twelve princes (Gen. 25:16), the fulfillment of G-d's promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:20.

Since Ishmael was not the covenant son, and was in fact born through Sarah and Abraham's method of "helping" G-d with His plan, G-d could have chosen to forget Ishmael altogether. But instead, G-d remembers His promise to Abraham and multiplies Ishmael's descendants and they are listed in the Torah record.

Yet the consequences of Abraham's choices did not die with Abraham. Just as G-d predicted to Hagar in Genesis 16:12, Ishmael's life and family line were marked by strife and dissension (Gen. 25:18).

My prayer today is that I would rely on G-d's wisdom and not my own.

Tomorrow: Haftorah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

Every Ending Brings a New Beginning

2010-10-27T11:10:00.002-05:00

Reading from Chayei Sarah:
Genesis 24:53-25:11

This reading wraps up the account of the life of Abraham and begins the account of Isaac, the promised heir. We are also introduced to a few other descendants of Abraham. As the story picks up, now that Abraham's servant has found a wife for Isaac, he wants to leave with her right away. But in Genesis 24:55, Rebekah's mother and brother (if her father was deceased, her brother may have been the acting "head of household" in that culture) ask the servant to wait ten days before departing. This request could be for many reasons. It might be because they loved her and had a hard time letting go. Some commentaries suggest that the family may have wanted time to make sure the whole scenario was what it seemed to be and not something unsavory. Or, given the fact that the verses before recount some of the gifts lavished upon Rebekah's mother and brother, they may have wanted the royal treatment to go on a bit longer.

In any case, what is unusual is that in verse 58 they ask Rebekah what she would like to do. In that culture, Rebekah would have gone from being under her father or brother's protection directly to that of her husband. She normally would have had no say in the matter. We don't know what prompted her family to ask her opinion, but this gave Rebekah the opportunity to take her own step of faith. She obviously trusted the words of Abraham's servant and she agrees to go with him immediately. Her family then sends her away with their blessing (Gen. 24:60).

The remainder of the chapter describes the union of Isaac and Rebekah. Upon seeing him from a distance and learning that he is her intended, she quickly veils herself. Both the IVP Bible Background Commentary and the JFB Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible indicate that women in that culture were only veiled during their wedding. Thus, by veiling herself she was demonstrating her willingness to marry Isaac. Isaac happily takes her as his bride and loves her (Gen. 24:67).

In the beginning of chapter 25, we see that Abraham has taken another wife as well, and had children with her. However, Genesis 25:5-6 makes it clear that Isaac was still the primary heir. As he had done with Ishmael, Abraham gave his other sons gifts while he was still living and sent them away. They could not be allowed to compete with Isaac for primacy. This may seem harsh, but we have to remember that only Isaac was promised to Abraham by G-d. All his other children were the result of Abraham's own choices. Also, the IVP Bible Background Commentary and The Bible Knowledge Commentary point out that Hagar and Keturah are the "concubines" of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 25:6. They were secondary wives who had no dowry, thus their children had no primary inheritance rights. Therefore the fact that Abraham gave all these children gifts (most likely substantial ones, given his great wealth) is significant.

We close this reading with the death of Abraham. Both Isaac and Ishmael are listed as present at his burial. He is buried with his wife, Sarah, in the cave that he purchased in his promised land. After Abraham's death, Isaac begins receiving his blessing from the L-rd. Still, as we will see, Abraham left a complicated family legacy.

My prayer today is that I would earnestly seek G-d's will in my parenting choices.

Is She the One?

2010-10-27T10:23:00.002-05:00

Reading from Chayei Sarah:
Genesis 24:10-52

In this section of Chayei Sarah, we pick up with Abraham's servant searching for a suitable wife for Isaac. Abraham's servant seems not only to want to succeed because of his oath to Abraham, but because of his regard for Abraham as well. In Genesis 24:12, the servant asks the G-d of Abraham not just for success, but for G-d to give him success in order to show lovingkindness to his master, Abraham. This is hardly the prayer of someone who is facing a task grudgingly and under duress.

As the story unfolds, we see more evidence of the relationship between Abraham, his servant and the G-d of Abraham. In verse 14, Abraham's servant approaches the city well and asks the L-rd for a specific sign to point him to the right girl:

14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I
may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she
be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will
know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”

The IVP Bible Background Commentary notes that while it would be within social customs for one of the women to offer a stranger a drink, it would be well out of the norm for someone to offer to water all their camels too. So here we see the servant trusting the G-d of Abraham to provide a very specific indication of the answer to his prayer.

In verses 17-19, G-d gives him the very sign for which he asked. Rebekah gives the man a drink, tells him she will water his camels as well and promptly does so. Still, the servant hesitates, wondering in verse 21 whether this sign was truly from the L-rd. So in His great mercy and lovingkindness - to Abraham, his servant and Isaac - the L-rd provides further proof that Rebekah is indeed the chosen bride. When the servant asks her whose daughter she is, it turns out that she is from Abraham's family, the very people from whom Isaac's bride was to be chosen!

After receiving this good news, Abraham's servant could have continued on his mission, rejoicing inwardly, perhaps offering a silent "thank you" to G-d. I think if we're honest, most of us would admit that this would be our likely course of action. However, the servant doesn't do this. Instead, in verses 26-27 we see:

26 Then the man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.
27 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not
forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD
has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

This servant, most likely a foreigner in his master's household, bows before the G-d of his master right then and there, blessing Him for His gracious favor! And he doesn't stop there. After meeting Rebekah's family, he again recounts the story of G-d's faithfulness and guidance. And when Rebekah's family agrees to let her return with him he again remembers to thank the L-rd (Gen. 24:52). This reminds me once again of the legacy of Abraham's faith. What an impression Abraham must have made on this servant that he would seek G-d's guidance, trust in G-d to provide an answer, proclaim G-d's goodness to others and humbly and reverently thank G-d for His loving provision.

This story causes me to reflect, do I trust G-d as this servant did? Do I remember to thank Him for the things He's done for me? Do I share stories of His faithfulness to me with others? And am I like Abraham? Do others around me see such evidence of G-d's truth in my life that they are compelled to seek Him as well?

My prayer today is that I would live out my faith in the style of Abraham and his servant.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 24:26–27). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 24:14). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Chayei Sarah - Life of Sarah

2010-10-25T16:08:00.002-05:00

Reading:
Genesis 23:1-24:9

As we open this week's Parsha, Sarah passes away and Abraham approaches the local people to purchase a cave (Gen. 23:3) to use for a tomb in which to bury her. In Genesis 23:3-20 we are given a fascinating glimpse into the customary bargaining practices of the time. In verses 8-9, Abraham asks to purchase a cave from a local man named Ephron. In verse 11, Ephron offers to give Abraham the entire field and the cave that is in it (Abraham had only requested to buy the cave). Both the Bible Knowledge Commentary and the IVP Bible Background Commentary point out that this was standard bedouin bargaining practice. By offering not only the cave but the field as well, Ephron was indicating that he would not sell just the cave by itself. In verse 13, Abraham insists on paying the full price for the field with the cave, whatever that price may be. The IVP Bible Background Commentary also points out that if Abraham had not paid for the field but taken it as a gift, Ephron's heirs could have legally reclaimed the land after his death.

In Genesis 23:15, Ephron casually mentions an amount, a culturally polite way of naming his price, and in verses 16 and following, Abraham pays the amount (one that many commentaries agree is quite high) and the transaction is completed. A few other points are interesting to note during this exchange. First, in Genesis 23:6 we see that Abraham has a good reputation among the local people, being referred to as "a prince among us." Now this may just be empty flattery and another part of the negotiating process, but had Abraham not had some sort of decent reputation, I doubt they would have wanted him to own any of their land. In fact, the Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that people of that time customarily buried their dead in their native land; so by purchasing this land, Abraham was staking his hope on this new land in faith, becoming forever tied to it.

It is also interesting that Abraham is both familiar with the local way of conducting business, and willing to work out the transaction according to their customs. This again shows Abraham's trust in G-d and his commitment to G-d's plan. Abraham is willing to interact respectfully with his neighbors in purchasing land, demonstrating his intent to continue to live alongside them and his trust in G-d to care and provide for him in the transaction's outcome. He also insists on paying the full price for the land (Gen. 23:13), sealing his commitment to the land and trusting the L-rd to fulfill His promise to give the entire area to Abraham's descendants in His way. Abraham's hope and faith were no longer in his own ability to manipulate situations for his benefit, but in G-d who had always proven faithful in keeping His promises.

Finally, in the beginning of Genesis 24, Abraham commands his servant to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham's people. In verses 3-4, Abraham impresses upon his servant the importance of Isaac's future wife being one of Abraham's people, as opposed to a local Canaanite woman. While this attitude may seem incongruous to our modern sensibilities, it is likely that the reason behind it was to protect Isaac (and thus Abraham's family line) from turning to idolatry. While Abraham's own relatives may not necessarily have been following the G-d of Abraham, a woman from Abraham's own family would be more likely to adhere to the monotheism in which Isaac was raised. A Canaanite woman, on the other hand, would be close to her own family and have ample pressure/enticement to continue local idolatrous practices and possibly even corrupt Isaac.

So here again we see evidence of Abraham's faith. Abraham and G-d had made a covenant. Abraham does everything in his power to see that his offspring continue to be faithful to G-d, and trusts G-d to fulfill His promises regarding Abraham's descendants. When, in verse 5, the servant questions whether he should take Isaac back to Abraham's native country if the prospective bride will not leave her land, Abraham again demonstrates his commitment to G-d. He insists that Isaac not leave the land promised to him under any circumstances, trusting G-d to provide a suitable wife for Isaac, that Abraham's family line might continue.

My prayer today is that I would seek G-d's will and walk the path He sets before me in faith, leaving the details up to Him.

Next: Genesis 24:10-52

Nothing Is Impossible With G-d

2010-10-22T19:52:00.003-05:00

Today's B'rit Chadashah Reading:
Luke 1:26-38; 24:36-53

Today's reading continues our look at G-d's promises and power. In Luke 1:26, an angelic messenger visits Miriam (Mary) and tells her that she will bear a miracle child. This echoes Abraham's visitation by angelic messengers who also gave him news of a miracle child to be born to his wife Sarah. Just as the L-rd commands Abraham concerning his child's name, Isaac (he laughs), the angel tells Miriam to name her child Y'shua (the L-rd saves).

In Luke 1:32-33 we see how the two stories intersect. It is through Miriam's child that G-d's promises to Abraham will be fulfilled:

32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord
God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no
end.”*

Miriam is understandably confused and asks how this can be, since she is a virgin. The angel answers that nothing will be impossible with G-d. Just as the L-rd opened the wombs of Sarah and the Shunammite woman in our previous readings, He is able to place a child in the womb of a virgin.

We then fast-forward to a time after Y'shua's death and resurrection, when He appears to His followers. He allays their fear and disbelief by proving to them that He is not a ghost but is indeed risen in His physical body. Luke 24:47 then explains why He came: so that repentance for forgiveness would be proclaimed to all the nations, starting in Jerusalem; just as G-d promised Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through his descendants.

My prayer today is that I would remember that the L-rd always keeps His promises, and that nothing is impossible with G-d.

Next Week: Chayei Sarah: Genesis 23:1-25:18

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Lk 1:32–33). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Mothers of Faith

2010-10-21T17:20:00.003-05:00

Today's Haftorah Reading:
2 Kings 4:1-37

Our Haftorah reading is similar to the story of Abraham's faith and G-d's faithfulness. However, it is interesting to note that today's stories both place the primary focus on women receiving a blessing from the L-rd.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the widow of a local prophet comes to Elisha because she is in debt and her creditors are threatening to take her children as slaves to settle the account. When he hears that the only thing the woman still has in her possession is a jar of oil, Elisha tells her to go out and borrow as many empty jars as she can (2 Kings 4:3). She and her sons are then instructed to close the door and start pouring the oil from her jar into the borrowed jars (2 Kings 4:4). Miraculously, the small jar fills every single borrowed jar before it runs out. Elisha tells her to sell the oil (a valuable commodity at the time) and pay her debt and what is left over will be enough to support her and her sons (2 Kings 4:7).

Here we see our first example of a mother's faith in G-d. As the widow of a prophet, she would have known that Elisha was not a wealthy individual. He could not offer her money to pay her debt and save her sons from slavery, but this was not what she was seeking. I think this mother approached Elisha because she believed that as a man of G-d, he could intercede on her behalf and ask G-d to perform a miracle. Because of her faith and the faith of Elisha, as well as His great mercy and love for His children, that is precisely what G-d did.

It is also interesting to note that Elisha did not provide the vehicle for the miracle. Instead, the woman was asked to borrow the jars and fill them with the only oil she had in the house. In essence, she was asked to step out in faith and trust G-d to help her.

In verses 8-37, we read another account of G-d's provision for a woman through the prophet Elisha. It seems there was a wealthy woman on Elisha's regular travel route who often provided food and shelter for Elisha when he traveled through her town. Elisha decides to ask the L-rd for a special blessing for the woman because of her kindness, and when he discovers that she has no son (and is presumably too old to conceive) he summons her and tells her that she will have a son within a year's time. The woman is indeed blessed with a son (2 Kings 4:17), but at some point he falls ill and dies. (While verse 18 says "when the child was grown" all other parts of the account indicate that the boy was still a minor. Perhaps "grown" in this context simply means that he was old enough to help his father in the field, as he was doing when he became ill.)

The mother immediately rushes off to Elisha and will not speak of what happened to anyone until she has seen the prophet. When she reaches the him, she is so overcome with grief that all she can do is fall down before him and grasp his feet. Elisha sends his servant ahead with his staff, with instructions to lay it on the boy (2 Kings 4:29), but it has no effect (2 Kings 4:31). It is not until Elisha himself comes to where the boy is, prays to the L-rd and lays himself bodily on the child that the child revives.

Here again we see a mother with strong faith in G-d and His mercy toward her. This woman reveres the L-rd and goes out of her way to minister to His prophet Elisha. When her son (like Isaac, a child miraculously granted by G-d) dies, she does not lose faith or curse G-d. Instead she rushes to His prophet to intercede for her. The L-rd uses another curious method of performing the miracle in this story. Elisha's first try (having his servant lay the prophet's staff on the child) doesn't work. Perhaps this is because G-d wants to demonstrate that there are no "magical" properties in the staff itself, but it is through His might alone that miracles happen. The bereaved mother acts on her faith by running to Elisha. Elisha prays to G-d and must then act on faith by laying on the child. It is only at that point that G-d revives the child and restores him to his mother (2 Kings 4:35-37).

So what can we learn through these stories? I think there are two key lessons we can take away from this portion. First, G-d hears the cries of a mother's heart. The first woman faced losing her children to slavery, the second faced losing her son to death. Both cried out to the L-rd through the prophet Elisha and G-d answered both their prayers. However, this brings us to the second point. G-d did not answer their prayers instantly. In both cases the women and even the prophet himself, had to step out in faith before receiving their answer from the L-rd. This involved the risk of embarrassment and disappointment, but the reward was far beyond the small demonstration of faith G-d required.

My prayer is that I would not let fear or insecurity keep me from stepping out in faith and expecting the L-rd to do great things.

Tomorrow: B'rit Chadashah: Luke 1:26-38; 24:36-53

G-d Will Provide

2010-10-21T07:42:00.008-05:00

Reading from Vayeira:
Genesis 22:1-24

We now come to one of the more confusing passages in the Old Testament: the story of G-d's call for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Later, as we shall see in readings in Deuteronomy (Deut. 12:31, Deut. 18:9-12), G-d specifically declares that child sacrifice (which was practiced in pagan rituals of the time) is detestable to Him (see also 2 Kings 16:3, Ps. 106:38 and Jer. 19:4-5). So how could the Most High G-d, whose character never changes, seem to condone child sacrifice in this instance?

I believe the solution to the puzzle is found in Abraham himself, and his response to G-d's request. First, remember in past accounts how Abraham had tried to "help" G-d or to work out G-d's plans in his own way. Whenever Abraham did that, the situation always ended up creating more problems than if he had just waited for G-d to act in His time and in His way. By this time in his life, it seems, Abraham had learned his lesson: G-d always has a plan, and G-d's way is always infinitely better than ours.

Second, look at Abraham's response to Isaac in verses 7-8. In verse 7, Isaac asks his father "where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham replies in verse 8 that G-d will provide the lamb. Now it may seem that Abraham is simply speaking out of wishful thinking, or perhaps trying to avoid alarming Isaac. However, I suspect it goes deeper than this. Abraham knew why he was bringing his son alone to the top of that mountain. Abraham could have told Isaac something cryptic, such as "you will see the sacrifice at the top of the mountain." After all, Abraham was bringing the sacrifice--Isaac. But instead, Abraham specifically states that G-d will provide the sacrifice. Abraham knew that Isaac was his promised heir, the covenant son through whom all G-d's promises to Abraham would be fulfilled. G-d had also demonstrated His care for and protection of Abraham time and time again. I believe that Abraham had finally come to the point in his faith that he trusted G-d completely.

Abraham trusted G-d to keep all His promises. Abraham trusted that G-d loved him and would continue to care for him rather than harm him. So even though this request to sacrifice his only son, the son he had waited all his life for, was so out of his realm of understanding, Abraham obeyed. He obeyed because he trusted that no matter what happened up there on that mountain, G-d would provide a way for him to come back down with Isaac.

This is precisely the lesson G-d wanted Abraham to internalize, as we see in verses 11-14:

11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.
14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”

G-d then declares that because Abraham withheld nothing from Him, not even his most beloved only son, G-d would multiply Abraham's blessings and bless all the nations of the earth through his descendants.

My prayer today is that even when life seems bleak, when circumstances are beyond my comprehension and it seems the L-rd is far off, I will trust in G-d - in His character and in His promises. May I walk in His ways even when my human intellect cannot understand them.

Next: Haftorah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 22:11–14). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

G-d's Mercy Extends to Everyone

2010-10-19T20:23:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Vayeira:
Genesis 21:5-34

We open with a joyful celebration at last. Abraham has thrown a feast to celebrate the weaning of his son Isaac. Isaac, the name G-d told Abraham to give his son, is in itself joyful - it means "he laughs". For Abraham and Sarah this is a time of joy and celebration, as their son is now 2 or 3 years old, past the fragile infant stage and clearly becoming a little boy.

Yet Sarah's joy turns to anger when she sees Ishmael (whom she previously claimed as her own son) mocking Isaac (Gen. 21:10). In her anger she orders Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. This greatly distresses Abraham. After all, Ishmael is his son too, and as a teenager he has spent many years as the only son of his father. So in Genesis 21:12-13, G-d promises Abraham that He will protect and bless Ishmael for Abraham's sake. Still, G-d allows Hagar and Ishmael to be sent away, because Isaac is still the prophesied heir. G-d does not deviate from His divine plan even though Abraham and Sarah complicated things by taking matters into their own hands many years ago. In fact, G-d, in His infinite mercy, provides for both children.

Hagar and Ishmael (who is 15-17 years old by this time) are sent away, become lost in the wilderness and run out of water. Hagar leaves her son in the shade and retreats from him because she is afraid of watching her son die. Finally she cries out to G-d (had she forgotten the promise G-d made to her when she originally ran away from Sarah?) and He answers. G-d's response to Hagar in verse 17 is interesting because He answers and says that He heard Ishmael's cries. Perhaps this is because she forgot G-d's promise to her, or because her cries were those of defeat, while Ishmael's were sincere. He had, after all, spent the last 15-17 years as the son of Abraham, a man of faith. Whatever the case, the L-rd responds by reassuring Hagar that He will bless Ishmael greatly and shows her a well from which to draw water for the both of them, which enables them to survive.

In verse 22 and following, we return to Abraham. He is now in negotiations with Abimelech (the king he deceived at the end of chapter 20) over some of the area's wells. Both Abimelech's men and Abraham's clan claim rights to the wells, but the two leaders are able to work out a peace treaty by which Abraham retains control of the most recent well his men dug. As a king, Abimelech would have had many military resources at his disposal, so it is possible that Abraham was able to negotiate this treaty because Abimelech previously saw that the L-rd was with Abraham in a powerful way. In the end, Abraham plants a tree by the well to commemorate the treaty, and once again calls on the Name of the L-rd.

As we have seen before, these two seemingly dissimilar stories share a common theme. G-d is sovereign and works out His purposes despite human meddling and mistakes. In fact, He is even able to weave our mistakes into His plan and use them for good.

My prayer today is that I would realize that G-d is infinitely bigger than my own mistakes and insufficiency.

Tomorrow: Genesis 22:1-24

The Folly of Human Wisdom

2010-10-18T21:24:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Vayeira:
Genesis 19:1-21:4

Our second portion of Parsha Vayeira opens in the city of Sodom, with Abraham's nephew Lot sitting at the city gate. This may seem like a strange place to hang out, but it was actually quite normal in ancient times. The city gate was where prominent men of the city, such as judges or businessmen, gathered to conduct business.

Lot greets two approaching strangers (the angels that had just come from their visit with Abraham) and invites them to spend the night at his home. This also may seem odd to our Western sensibilities, but it was customary in that time. It is also important to note that a guest in someone's home was under the protection of the master of the house.

The two men state their intention to spend the night out in the city square, but in Genesis 19:3, Lot strongly urges them to stay at his home and they relent. Now this may simply have been another practice of that culture, but it may also have been because Lot knew how dangerous the city really was. This danger is clearly demonstrated in Genesis 19:5 when the men of the city besiege Lot's home and demand that he send out the visitors so they can rape them. Lot pleads with the attackers to leave, and then goes to the outrageous extreme of offering them his two virgin daughters instead. While it's true that Lot was bound by honor and custom to protect his guests from harm, there is no indication that he needed to do so by way of offering up his daughters to be raped. Thankfully, before things go to far the angels strike the men with blindness and they leave (Gen. 19:11).

The angels then explain to Lot that they are there to destroy the city, so Lot runs to warn the men betrothed to his daughters of the impending doom. They don't believe him. This might give us an indication of Lot's character and his degree of assimilation into the climate of that wicked city. Is it possible that if Lot had been well known as a righteous man, someone who stood out from those around him, that his future sons-in-law may have taken him seriously?

Furthermore, in Genesis 19:16 Lot demonstrates his attachment to the city in his hesitation to leave it even though he knows it will soon be destroyed. It is only because the angels are filled with "the compassion of the L-rd" that Lot is saved. They practically have to drag Lot and his family to safety. Then, when they urge him to flee far into the hills, he asks to go to a nearby town instead. The angels mercifully agree to his request, yet as we see later, he chooses to live in a cave outside this town anyway.

In verse 26 of chapter 19, we are told of a particularly strange occurrence. As the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are being annihilated in a torrent of fire and brimstone, Lot's wife looks back after being specifically forbidden to by the angels. She is turned into a "pillar of salt." This may have been a direct punishment for disobeying the angels or for harboring too deep an attachment to the city. It could also be a result of Lot's wife not heeding the angels protective warning. The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - JFB offers a theory that she may have been covered by some sort of lava flow, much like the citizens of Pompeii. Whatever the case, she paid the ultimate price for her disobedience.

In the next section, Genesis 19:30-38, we again see the dangers of assimilation into a wicked culture. While living in the cave with their father, Lot's daughters decide that there will now be no possibility for them to bear children...ever. How they came to this conclusion I don't know, but their disturbing solution to the problem is to get their father drunk and have intercourse with him. So way back in our first introduction to Lot, he sins by greedily choosing the best land for himself. Then he chooses to stay in a wicked and pagan city. Later he makes the appalling offer of his daughters to a group of would-be rapists in exchange for his guests' safety (an act which certainly wouldn't have given his daughters the idea that they were worth anything in his eyes). After the escape, his wife deliberately disobeys the angels in her desire to look back at the city. Now Lot's daughters debase themselves and their father through an incestuous act. Do we see a clear pattern of sin in this family yet?

In chapter 20, Abraham is not faring much better. This chapter covers Abraham's sojourn in the land of Gerar. By this time Abraham has apparently forgotten the trouble he got himself into back in Egypt, because the entire event plays itself out again, almost exactly. Abraham fears for his life and he introduces Sarah as his sister. The local king takes Sarah into his harem, which results in his household being cursed by G-d. The king then angrily returns Sarah to Abraham along with a sum of money to make things right. Sound familiar?

So what is the common thread in these stories? I see it as humans acting on their own wisdom without bothering to consult G-d. Lot has the not-so-bright idea to sacrifice his daughters to guarantee his guests safety instead of crying out to G-d for protection. Lot's wife chooses to look back at a doomed city in direct opposition to a command given by divine messengers. Lot's daughters take the continuation of the family line into their own hands and commit a shameful act. And Abraham tries to guarantee his own protection through lies and deceit. None of these people cried out to the L-rd for wisdom or protection. They handled situations in a way that seemed right to them but that ended in shame and even death.

Yet G-d is still loving, merciful and patient with His human creations. In the beginning of Genesis 21, G-d's covenant blessing to Abraham finally comes to pass. A son is born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. And in Genesis 21:3-4 we see Abraham's return to obedience, as he names his son Isaac and circumcises him on the eighth day, just as G-d had commanded.

My prayer today is that I would take the time to consult G-d before making decisions. In all my decisions, big and small, may I look to the L-rd's wisdom instead of leaning on my own understanding.

Tomorrow: Genesis 21:5-34

Vayeira - And He Appeared

2010-10-17T20:17:00.003-05:00

Note: With this post we are finally caught up on the daily Parsha readings. We will now return to one reading per day. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Today's Reading:
Genesis 18:1-33

Parsha Vayeira opens with Abraham receiving three visitors. These special visitors appear to be the L-rd and two angels. Abraham appears to realize that these are celestial visitors (Gen. 18:2-3), but we do not know exactly how he knows this. He receives them warmly (as is the custom) and asks Sarah to prepare a meal for them. The visitors then announce to Abraham that his long wait is almost over and Sarah will have a child by that time the following year (Gen. 18:10). On overhearing this statement, Sarah laughs derisively to herself. Given her advanced age, she does not believe she could bear a child under any circumstances. In verses 13-15, the L-rd confronts Sarah with her lack of faith. He asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for G-d. Sarah blatantly denies laughing, yet G-d doesn't punish her. He is honest with her, reasserting that she did laugh, but he mercifully lets the matter drop. This reminds us once again that our G-d is omniscient and true, yet also full of grace.

As the story unfolds, we learn just how close Abraham was to G-d. In Genesis 18:17, the L-rd reasons with Himself that He will not hide His current plans from Abraham. Let's stop for a moment and imagine that verse in reference to ourselves. Are we people of whom G-d would say, “Shall I hide from ________ what I am about to do"? Are we walking that closely with the L-rd, that He would make us His intimate confidant?

Verse 19 then explains why Abraham is worthy to be privy to G-d's plans:

19 “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and
his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness
and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken
about him.”

Abraham's righteousness and obedience to G-d then stands in direct contrast to the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. These two cities were so filled with depravity that G-d saw fit to obliterate them. Even so, righteous Abraham pleads their case. In verse 25 he respectfully appeals to G-d's merciful character, asking that the cities be spared if only 50 righteous people can be found in them. What follows is a fascinating exchange in which Abraham begins to negotiate with G-d, lowering the number to 40, then 30 and so on until G-d agrees to spare the cities if just 10 righteous people can be found in them (Gen. 18:32).

Once again G-d demonstrates His merciful character toward both Abraham, who seems to be haggling with Him, and to the cities on whose behalf Abraham is pleading. G-d, who is holy and just and in whom there is no sin, is willing to spare two notoriously degenerate cities for the sake of ten righteous people and His righteous servant Abraham. How great must be G-d's love for His creation and how great His patience with us!

My prayer today is that I would remember G-d's great mercy toward me, and show that same mercy toward others.

Tomorrow: Genesis 19:1-21:4

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 18:19). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ge 18:17). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

First, Faith

2010-10-17T17:42:00.004-05:00

Note: I apologize that we are still not completely caught up. My intent is to post several entries today so that we will be back on schedule by the end of the end of the day. Thank you for your patience.

B'rit Chadashah Reading:
Romans 4:1-25

In Romans 4, Paul argues for justification by faith by referring to the story of Abraham's life. No one would doubt that Abraham was a man chosen and loved by G-d. Paul reminds us (by quoting from Genesis 15:6) in Romans 4:3 that "Abraham believed G-d, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Paul goes on to point out that if Abraham earned his righteousness through works, he would only have been receiving what was due him, much as an employee receives a pay check. But G-d credited righteousness to Abraham based on his faith.

In verse 11, Paul reminds us also that Abraham's faith came before his circumcision and before the Law was given. Therefore, the covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants was based solely on Abraham's faith in G-d, and not on anything Abraham achieved through works.

Does this mean, then, that because we have received the covenant through grace and faith that we can be completely lawless? Absolutely not! Remember, Abraham first had faith in G-d, which was credited to him as righteousness, but he was then obedient to G-d's commands. While our obedience to G-d's laws does not earn us righteousness, it does demonstrate the faith we have in our hearts. In verse 18 Paul reminds us that Abraham believed in "hope against hope." In whom did Abraham have hope? He did not have this hope in himself. In fact, as we have seen in Parsha Lech Lecha, every time Abraham put his faith in his own way of handling things the results were disastrous. No, his hope was in G-d alone. And because of this hope, this faith, Abraham obeyed G-d's commands in relocating, in circumcision, and later in his willingness to sacrifice his only son.

This reading ends with good news for us, too. We find in Romans 4:23-25 that it was not only for Abraham's sake that his faith was credited to him as righteousness. It was written for our sake also, so that we can be assured that if we put our faith in the G-d who raised Y'shua from the dead, it will be credited to us as righteousness also. What good news that our G-d is a holy G-d and is also a merciful G-d who understands the fragility of His creatures!

My prayer is that I would grow in my faith in G-d and live out my faith through obedience to Him.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 4:3). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Mighty to Save

2010-10-17T16:00:00.002-05:00

Note: I apologize that we are still not completely caught up. My intent is to post several entries today so that we will be back on schedule by the end of the end of the day. Thank you for your patience.

Haftorah Reading:
Isaiah 40:27-41:16

This Haftorah reading is a beautiful message of comfort to the nation of Israel. At the time this message was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, the nation was divided and the Northern Kingdom had already been exiled to Assyria. The faith of the people must surely have been shaken, as evidenced by Genesis 40:27. But just as He did with Abraham, G-d reached out to Israel with words of comfort and encouragement.

G-d reminds His people that He alone gives strength to the weary and He, himself, never tires (Gen. 40:28-29). It is important to note that the gods of the surrounding peoples were often believed to have human characteristics (IVP Bible Background Commentary), so G-d is also affirming the fact that He alone is the Supreme Being and no other is like Him. Who, when tired and discouraged, wouldn't want to know that the omnipotent G-d is on their side and that He will never grow weary?

In Isaiah 41, the L-rd goes on to reiterate His ultimate power over all creation; and in verse 8 He reaffirms Israel's status as His chosen people. In Isaiah 41:9-10, G-d reassures the people that He has not rejected them and exhorts them not to fear. The remainder of chapter 41 follows this pattern of G-d's reassurance to Israel. This is perhaps best expressed in verses 13 and 14:

13 “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
14 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;
I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One
of Israel.*

This prophetic passage stresses that Israel will ultimately be victorious, and at that time they will "glory in the Holy One of Israel" (Gen. 41:16). How far off that day must have seemed to the people at that time! Still, it gave them a blessed hope to cling to in their time of sorrow.

My prayer is that I will run to the Almighty G-d in times of trouble, clinging to hope in Him and trusting that He is mighty to save.

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Is 41:13–14). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

A Sign of Trust

2010-10-17T07:58:00.002-05:00

Note: I apologize that we are still not completely caught up. My intent is to post several entries today so that we will be back on schedule by the end of the end of the day. Thank you for your patience.

Reading from Lech Lecha:
Genesis 17:7-27

We pick up today as G-d is reaffirming His covenant with Abraham. Since G-d's covenant promises to Abraham were not fulfilled for many, many years; these times of reassurance from G-d must have been particularly heartwarming to Abraham. I would suppose that G-d's loving reminders that He had not forgotten His promises sustained Abraham during the long wait.

This time, however, G-d also tells Abraham to do something to demonstrate his commitment to G-d. In Genesis 17:10 G-d commands that Abraham and his male descendants and all the males in their households be circumcised. According to both the IVP Bible Background Commentary and the Bible Knowledge Commentary, male circumcision was already practiced in the region at that time. However, it was performed either as a rite of puberty or associated with marriage. G-d directed, instead, that all Hebrew males should be circumcised on the eighth day. Circumcision would then become a sign of both commitment and obedience to G-d, and a visual reminder for all Abraham's descendants of their status as set apart by G-d.

G-d then changes Sarai's name to "Sarah" (Gen. 17:15), which sounded like the word for "princess" because she would become the mother of kings. Abraham assumes that this prophecy will be fulfilled through Ishmael, whom they consider to be Sarah's son. But in Genesis 17:19-22, G-d stresses that while He will bless Ishmael for Abraham's sake, the covenant will be fulfilled through a son physically born of Sarah, a son to be named Isaac. This is yet another reminder that G-d is in control and that He will carry out His plans according to His will and not by human means.

The passage concludes with Abraham obeying G-d's command regarding the covenant of circumcision. In fact, we see that Abraham doesn't hesitate in his obedience. In Genesis 17:23 it states that Abraham and all the males in his household were circumcised that very day. Abraham trusted G-d so much that he obeyed G-d's commands even though he may not have always understood why G-d asked him to do something. History had already shown that G-d's way proved much less arduous than any human plan.

My prayer is that I would have the child-like trust in G-d that Abraham demonstrated. May I learn to obey G-d swiftly and without question.

Next: Haftorah: Isaiah 41:27-41:16

Covenants Revisited

2010-10-14T17:42:00.002-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

Reading from Lech Lecha:
Genesis 14:21-17:6

This is a rather large portion of this Parsha reading, but the focus can be boiled down two a couple of major themes: covenant and relationship.

While Abram is pleased that G-d has chosen to bless him, he seems to be curious as to how this blessing will actually travel down his family line, since he has no children. His legal heir, according to the custom of that time, is a servant born into his household. G-d reassures Abram that His plan is to give Abram a child of his own (Gen. 15:4). That may have been enough to cheer Abram, but G-d doesn't stop there. In Genesis 15:5 He goes on to tell Abram that He will make Abram's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky! G-d does not merely throw Abram a token blessing for his faith, but promises him blessing in such abundance that the human mind almost cannot conceive it! All because Abram believed in G-d and G-d attributed it to him as righteousness.

In the next section, Genesis 15:8-21, G-d Himself enters into a covenant with Abram. The ritual described may seem unusual to our modern sensibilities, but it was a common one at that time. It is even referenced later in Jeremiah 34:18, so this ritual's use continued beyond this instance as well. During this covenant-making process, G-d even gives Abram a glimpse into the future when He foretells the nation's slavery, exodus and eventual return to the land. How closely must Abram have walked with the L-rd, for G-d to physically enter into a contract with this man and share with him the future of his dynasty!

Unfortunately, Abram's wife Sarai does not seem to have the great faith of her husband. In Genesis 16, Sarai decides to take matters into her own hands by following the local custom of having children through one's maidservant. The IVP Bible Background Commentary explains this custom further. The servant was the legal extension of her mistress, so any children born to her could be considered the children of her mistress. It seems as though Sarai was trying to "help" G-d carry out His divine plan. While this may seem audacious, aren't we often guilty of the same thing? I'm ashamed to think how little I consult G-d on my day-to-day decisions.

Of course Sarai's plan has disastrous results. She and her maidservant Hagar develop a bitter rivalry and the conflict between their respective descendants (Isaac - the Jewish people and Ishmael - the Arab peoples) continues to this day.

Still, G-d is gracious and in the beginning of Genesis 17 we see that He re-establishes His covenant with Abram. At this time he changes Abram's name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). This new name would be a constant reminder of G-d's promise and signify Abraham's status as G-d's chosen (IVP Bible Background Commentary).

My prayer today is that I will wait patiently for G-d to act, and not try to "help" Him by any human means.

Next: Genesis 17:7-27

Choosing Wisely

2010-10-14T09:33:00.002-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

Reading from Lech Lecha:
Genesis 13:5-14:20

In this second reading in Parsha Lech Lecha, we are given more information about Abram's nephew, Lot, with whom he is traveling. In Genesis 13:6 we learn that G-d had already blessed Abram and his family to the point that they were incredibly rich. So rich, in fact, that the land in which they settled could not sustain both households. It may be difficult for us to understand how a vast new land could not provide for two households, but these were no ordinary households. In fact, if we jump ahead to Genesis 14:14, we see that Abram alone had 318 trained fighting men within his household. Add to that number the family members of those men, Abram's family members and other servants and we can see just how big this group might have been.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary offers additional insight. This commentary points out that Abram and Lot weren't the only clans in the area. In fact, indigenous peoples already held the best of the land, which led to the quarrels over scarce resources among Abram's and Lot's herdsmen described in Genesis 13:7.

To put a stop to this quarreling, Abram proposes that he and Lot separate, each choosing a different location in which to settle. Abram then allows Lot first choice of location. This is striking for a couple of reasons. First, Abram is Lot's uncle and thus his superior. Second, and more importantly, G-d had already promised all the land to Abram. So we see that Abram may have learned something from his disastrous lack of trust in G-d during the trek through Egypt. Now we see him holding loosely to what is rightfully his, trusting G-d to provide for his needs. Lot, on the other hand, chooses what appears to him to be the best, most fertile land (Gen. 13:10-11) and settles in a city called Sodom.

Because of Abram's trust in Him, G-d promises to bless Abram with vast amounts of land and descendants. Lot, however, doesn't fare quite as well. Not long after he settles in Sodom, the city is attacked and looted and Lot is taken captive (Gen. 14:11-12). What a sharp contrast between the outcome of trust in G-d and trust in what seems best to our own human eyes and minds!

But Abram is still faithful and generous to his nephew. Instead of leaving Lot to his fate, he gathers his 318 fighting men (Gen. 14:14) and chases Lot's captors 140 miles (according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary), rescuing Lot as well as the people captured with him and the goods plundered from Sodom. Once again Abram displays exceptional character as a devoted follower of the one true G-d.

The passage ends with a fascinating encounter. A king and priest of G-d named Melchizedek comes to Abram and proclaims a blessing over him. And while Abram refuses to accept a reward from the king of Sodom (Gen. 14:22-24), he instead gives a tithe (a tenth) to Melchizedek, the king of Salem (Gen. 14:20b). By this Abram demonstrates both his distrust of the king of Sodom and his recognition of Melchizedek as his superior. Who was this Melchizedek? There are many theories, but no one actually knows. He was obviously someone so righteous, so close to G-d that Abram deemed him worthy of a tithe of his numerous possessions.

My prayer today is that I would recognize that G-d's ways are higher than mine, and make choices accordingly. May I choose the path of humility and trust in G-d to meet all my needs.

Next: Genesis 14:21-17:6

Lech Lecha - Go forth, yourself.

2010-10-13T19:01:00.003-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

First Reading:
Genesis 12:1-13:4

In our first reading from Parsha Lech Lecha, we learn more about Abram who eventually becomes Abraham, the patriarch of the children of Israel. Genesis 12 opens with G-d telling Abram to leave his home and travel to another country, and that G-d will bless him and make him a great nation. Abram does obey G-d and travels to a distant land. Now remember from our past readings, that Abram's father Terah worshiped other gods, as did the people around him. Despite this, when G-d speaks to Abram and asks him to uproot his entire family and move to a distant land, Abram listens and obeys. So just as in the case of Noah, we see one man with faith in G-d so great that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to follow Him.

Abram travels to the land that G-d promised to give to his descendants and is in communication with G-d, building an altar to Him along the way (Gen. 12:8). But Abram is still human. So when he enters Egypt and realizes that the local men might want his beautiful wife Sarai for themselves, and might even kill him to get her, he tells Sarai to say that she is his sister. This is actually a half-truth, as they shared the same father but had different mothers. Yet as we shall soon see, a half-truth is still an untruth in G-d's eyes.

It turns out that none other than Pharaoh himself sees Sarai and takes her for his own (Gen. 12:15). But while Pharaoh lavishes gifts on Abram, whom he thinks is Sarai's brother, G-d strikes the household of Pharaoh with plagues until the truth is found out and Sarai is returned to Abram. Abram may have seen nothing wrong in passing off Sarai as his sister. After all, she was technically his half-sister. But G-d saw things differently. What Abram saw as a half-truth, G-d saw as a lie. And while Abram was willing to trust G-d enough to travel to a distant land, he didn't trust G-d quite enough to protect him on the way there.

How different are we from Abram? Don't we often rationalize our sin, telling ourselves that it's really not that bad although our conscience tells us otherwise? And how often do we claim to trust G-d for big things in our lives, asking Him for help or things we need, but then we try to take care of the details ourselves without even consulting Him?

I am often guilty of this. And when I am, I need to follow Abram's example in Genesis 13:4, where he returned to the altar he had built (in Gen. 12:8) and "called on the name of the L-rd."

My prayer today is that I will be made aware when I am trying to achieve things through my own manipulations and return to the altar and surrender those things to the L-rd.

Next: Genesis 13:5-14:20

Ready or Not

2010-10-13T17:05:00.002-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

B'rit Chadashah:
Matthew 24:36-46

In the B'rit Chadashah passage, Y'shua is teaching about what is commonly called the Second Coming. He states in verse 36 that only G-d alone knows the day and hour of His coming. Because of this, Y'shua urges us to be prepared at all times. He uses the days of Noah as an illustration, pointing out that up until the time of the flood, the people on the earth were going about their business, not giving a thought to what might be coming. The only one who was prepared at that time was Noah.

Y'shua also uses the illustration (verse 43) of a thief breaking into a house. If the owner knew when the thief would enter, the house would not be robbed. Why? Because the owner would be prepared. In the same way, we must make sure we have our spiritual "house" in order. Not only do we have no idea when the L-rd will come again, we have no guarantee that we, ourselves will live beyond tomorrow. If we were to meet G-d today, how would He find us? Have we accepted His path of redemption through Y'shua ha Moshiach? Are we walking in His ways? While we cannot attain perfection or earn salvation, are we at least striving to lead lives that are good and acceptable to a Holy G-d?

My prayer today is that I would not be content with mere "fire insurance," but that I would desire to continually grow in my walk with G-d.

Next: Lech Lecha: Genesis 12:1-13:4

Mourning into Dancing

2010-10-13T14:12:00.003-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

Haftorah Reading:
Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Up until now, the readings from Noach have focused mostly on G-d's judgement, with glimpses of His mercy. The Haftorah portion now turns to focus on G-d's mercy and forgiveness. Verse 1 of Isaiah 54 begins with the words "shout for joy." G-d's message here, through the prophet Isaiah, is one of comfort for the nation of Israel. In verse 4 of chapter 54, the L-rd tenderly consoles His people, saying they will not be humiliated and will forget the shame and reproach they have felt. In verse 5 He goes on to explain why:

“For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth."*

In other words, Israel's redemption is not because of anything they have done or will do to deserve it. In fact, the omniscient G-d knows that His human creations will continue to fail and to stumble. Thus their redemption is not because of them, but because of their G-d. It is because of G-d's good and merciful character that His people are redeemed. He alone is mighty to save.

Verses 9 and 10 of Isaiah 54 recall the time of Noah and the flood, but again end with a reminder that G-d has compassion and His covenant will not be shaken. This theme of comfort and encouragement continues into the beginning of Isaiah 55, where the L-rd entreats His children to look to Him to meet all their needs and bear their burdens.

This portion concludes with a promise in Isaiah 55:3b-5 that G-d will make an everlasting covenant with His people Israel, that they will be a witness to the nations and that a nation that they do not know will run to them, because the L-rd G-d Himself will glorify them.

My prayer today is that I would remember that there is nothing I can do to make myself right with G-d. Redemption and grace are His alone to give, and He gives them because of who He is, not what I have done to earn them.

Next: B'rit Chadashah: Matthew 24:36-46

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Is 54:5). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The Higher They Climb, The Farther They Fall

2010-10-12T08:53:00.003-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will increase this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

Morning Reading from Noach:
Genesis 11:1-32

This morning's reading can easily be divided into two parts. The first is the account of the tower of Babel. The second is the genealogical record of the line of Shem. While these two parts of Genesis 11 may seem vastly different in style and content, the lessons they teach us are consistent with themes seen in earlier passages.

As Genesis 11 opens, we see the people of the world returning to sin once again. At this time in history they speak the same language (Gen. 11:1) and are unified in purpose (Gen. 11:4). They determine to build for themselves a gigantic tower in order to make a name for themselves (Gen. 11:4). So what is the sin here? What could be so terrible about building a large tower? Given that the motivation for this construction project was a sinful pride, there was great potential for this to result in other sinful practices, and on a grand scale.

To begin with, in Genesis 11:4 where it says the people desire to make a name for themselves, my Bible has a cross reference on the word "name" to Genesis 6:4 and 2 Samuel 8:13. Both verses describe someone making a name for themselves in reference to domination over or killing of other people. In other words, the tower builders weren't just looking for fame, they were seeking power.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary further points out that part of their motivation for building the tower was to avoid being scattered abroad (Gen. 11:4), which appears to be in direct disobedience to G-d's command in Genesis 9:1 to "multiply and fill the earth."

Thus in verse 7 we see a demonstration of G-d's power in confusing their speech so they were no longer able to communicate with one another. My Bible cross references this with Exodus 4:11, in which the L-rd says to Moses "Who has made man's mouth?...Is it not I, the L-rd?" Another verse that springs to my mind at this time is Proverbs 16:9, which states "The mind of man plans his way, but the L-rd directs his steps." Ultimately the very project mankind used to avoid being scattered resulted in a punishment that caused them to scatter across the earth.

Now we come to the list of the descendants of Shem. Like other ancestral lists we've seen, it gives an account of the family line down through the generations, including some women (again, highly unusual for that time and place in history). In verse 31 it also gives a little more information about a man named Terah, who is the father of the patriarch Abraham (verse 25). It mentions that Terah took his family and left Ur to settle in the land of Canaan. However, there is another mention of Terah in the Bible. In Joshua 24:2 we learn that Terah served other gods. So Abram, who had a father (Terah) who worshiped other gods and lived among people who worshiped other gods, eventually becomes Abraham - the patriarch of the children of Israel and worshiper of the one true G-d. A change like this could only be possible through G-d's boundless mercy and incredible redemptive power.

My prayer today is that I would put away any pride and allow myself to be used by G-d for His purposes.

Next: Haftorah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Covenants and Curses

2010-10-11T16:25:00.003-05:00

This Afternoon's Reading from Noach:
Genesis 9:8-10:32

In the beginning of this passage, G-d covenants with Noah and all other living creatures never to destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 9:9ff). Not only does G-d in His great love establish this covenant with His creation, in His great mercy He also introduces them to the sign of this covenant: the rainbow. One would expect that after a major catastrophic event such as the flood, any subsequent threat of rain became cause for alarm among the earth's inhabitants. So from that time on, whenever it rained, humanity would have a visible reminder of G-d's covenant promise not to destroy the earth by flood.

Now in Genesis 9:20-27 we encounter one of the Bible's more confusing accounts, that of Ham seeing his father Noah naked and subsequently being cursed. I've always found this story rather difficult, because on a surface level it seems as though Ham is punished for something he did by accident. A bit of research in a couple of commentaries has shed some light on this.

According to the IVP Bible Background Commentary, Ham's deed may not have been the "cause" of the curse, but simply the circumstance that elicited it. The commentary goes on to point out that the curse originated from the patriarch himself, rather than G-d, but was still taken seriously and thought to have influence on future generations.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary also offers a more detailed explanation of this passage. This commentary points out that at that time in history, even seeing one's father naked constituted a violation of family propriety. In that instance, the father's dignity was destroyed and his strength brought into question. So while Ham accidentally saw his father's nakedness, he intentionally bragged about it to his brothers, almost as if he had prevailed over his father in some way. This is in stark contrast to the way his brothers handled the situation.

Given this deeper explanation, we can perhaps understand a little better Noah's response upon realizing what his son had done. He proclaimed a curse upon Ham's line and a blessing upon those of Shem and Japheth. This also shows us how a seemingly inconsequential event can have great impact, not only on those directly involved but on successive generations as well.

Speaking of generations, in Genesis 10:1-32, we encounter another genealogy list. This list gives us an explanation of how the different nations came about through the respective offspring of Noah's three sons. One final thing that stands out is the singling out of one person in an otherwise monotonous record. In Genesis 10:8-9 the writer pauses to tell us that Nimrod was "a mighty one on earth" and a "mighty hunter before the L-rd." Much like his ancestor Noah, one man of integrity in a generation of corrupt people, Nimrod is singled out in this list of generations. Not only that, ironically, Nimrod is a descendant of Ham! To me this demonstrates that we do not have to be a product of our genetic code or family environment. We can choose to break sinful patterns and impact future generations in a positive way. Once again we find a redeeming nugget hidden in a Scriptural account that might easily be skimmed over. Similar to the sign of the rainbow, only smaller in scale, we see a reason to rejoice in G-d's goodness.

My prayer today is that I would choose to follow G-d's laws and walk in His ways, that I might be a positive influence on future generations.

Next Reading: Genesis 11:1-32

Hurry Up and Wait

2010-10-11T08:26:00.002-05:00

This Morning's Reading from Noach:
Genesis 7:17-9:7

Today's reading begins with the flood sent to destroy the earth. In Genesis 7:21 and following we read that all living things on the earth that were not in the ark perished. Many of us have heard this story throughout our childhood. When we tell this story to children the focus is on those in the ark who were spared, and rightfully so. But as adults, perhaps it would do us good to take a closer look at this story.

Genesis 7:23 says that G-d "blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky" (NASB). Presumably men, women and children were all destroyed. On first reading, I find this rather shocking. But then I consider, here we have a Holy G-d and a depraved creation. I think we often look at this and picture bad people, but not a truly evil society. As a Jew, it strikes me that if Hitler had succeeded in his plan of world domination, this might very well be what the earth would have looked like. In that context, I can visualize a world where every being on earth has been or is being indoctrinated to extreme hate and a callousness to inhumane acts of torture. What is the future for a society like that? What response would we expect of a Holy G-d looking down on such a society?

Once Noah, his family and the selected animals were in the ark, the rain fell for forty days. According to Eerdman's Bible Dictionary, however, the flood itself lasted for 150 days. So after all that time spent waiting for the rain to fall, the rain does fall and Noah is asked to...wait...again. We might be tempted to think that a second round of waiting would be easier to bear, since G-d proved Himself faithful after the first. But is that always the case? Don't we, as humans, tire quickly of waiting for anything? Surely G-d wouldn't make them wait long this time, right? But it isn't until the third bird released from the ark finds roost and does not return that Noah is assured that his wait is almost over.

At the close of our reading, we see that G-d, in mercy, decides he will not destroy every living thing again (Gen. 8:21). We end with G-d's blessing on Noah and his sons (Gen. 9:1) and instructions to them (Gen. 9:2) that sound strikingly similar to those given to Adam and Eve. They are given dominion over all creation, and they are given explicit instructions on what not to eat (the life, that is the blood of a creature). It is now their responsibility to honor G-d's faithfulness by following His commands.

My prayer today is that I will not give in to discouragement, but instead hold fast, trusting G-d in faith.

This Afternoon: Genesis 9:8-10:32

Noach - Noah

2010-10-10T19:53:00.002-05:00

Note: Due to a rather hectic start to this year, I am slightly behind on these postings. To remedy this, I will double this week's postings in order to get back on schedule. Thank you.

Today's Reading:
Genesis 6:9-7:16

Today's passage gives us more insight into the life of Noah. He is introduced in Genesis 6:9 as "a righteous man, blameless in his time." The notes in my Bible define "blameless" as "having integrity." We are also introduced to the state of humanity during Noah's time. The earth is described as a violent and corrupt place. So here, in a place so violent and corrupt that G-d deems it beyond repair, one man stands out because of his integrity. Others may be more powerful, more wealthy and more popular; but no one in all the earth has the integrity of this one man - Noah.

In Genesis 6:13 we see that Noah walked so closely with G-d that He let Noah in on His plan to destroy the earth. He then gave Noah a daunting task. Noah was to build a huge ark, a boat big enough to hold all the beings G-d wanted to save from the flood. In Genesis 6:20 G-d explains to Noah that "two of every kind [of animal] will come to you to keep them alive."

So here we have Noah, very likely not the most popular man in town because of his integrity, tasked with predicting an earth-destroying flood, building a giant boat, filling it with all the beings G-d chooses to save and keeping them alive. How's that for a tall order?

Yet Noah obeys (Gen. 7:5). He follows G-d's blueprint and builds the ark. And not only that, his family members obey as well, by entering the ark with him. Now according to both the New Bible Dictionary and the Easton's Bible Dictionary, it took 120 years (life spans were much longer in that time) to build the ark. Given the corrupt and violent nature of the time in which Noah lived, do you think his neighbors just calmly sat by and watched him build a giant boat while predicting the earth's destruction? My money's on "no." I think it's much more likely that Noah and his family endured years of harassment and contempt from those around them.

What emotions did Noah go through during this time? Did he become unsure about whether he truly heard G-d's voice? Did he doubt G-d? Did he become discouraged and want to give up? Surely there were times when he faced ridicule, embarrassment and disillusionment. In that length of time, it's probable that there were many times when he wanted to quit. But he didn't. He persevered. He and his family made their preparations and loaded the ark. In the end they entered the ark, G-d Himself closed the door and the deluge began. Once again G-d proved faithful to His word.

My prayer today is that I would have the fortitude to persevere in times of waiting on G-d. May I remember that His timetable is far superior to mine and that He is faithful.

Tomorrow Morning: Genesis 7:17-Genesis 9:7

Come Quickly

2010-10-08T17:21:00.002-05:00

Today's B'rit Chadashah Reading:
Revelation 22:6-21

Today's reading is short, but intimidating. It comes from the book of Revelation. True scholars and theologians - much worthier people than I - have written volumes on this book. I will be the first to admit that I find this book more than a little confusing. That being said, I would like to offer the small crumbs of insight I gleaned from reading today's passage.

Today's reading opens with an affirmation of the truth of the Bible and the command to worship G-d alone. I found the next part interesting. In Revelation 22:10 we see that the writer is commanded not to "seal up the words of the prophecy of this book." In the very next verse it goes on to say "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong...and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness..." What I understand this to be saying is that while we are called to proclaim G-d's truth, we are not made responsible for the response of those who hear. In other words, I have a responsibility to speak truth and let those who hear that truth respond however they may. It is not my job to force-feed anyone or to make them change. Their response to G-d's word is between them and the L-rd.

This makes sense to me, given our other readings from Bereishit, because those readings describe a holy, yet loving G-d. A holy G-d calls for righteousness among His people. A loving G-d then allows those people to choose for themselves whether they will follow truth or a lie. G-d does not drag His children kicking and screaming into heaven. Our choice regarding eternity is in our hands. In the same way, G-d does not force His followers to obey Him. He is a holy and just G-d and He calls us to obedience; but we are then responsible to choose to obey His commands.

Our passage ends with two things. First, an Affirmation of Y'shua as the promised Mashiach and a plea for Him to come. This sentiment resonates with me. Every time I look at the depravity of the world around me, every time I turn on the TV or read the news and hear of war, starvation, child abuse and man's inhumanity to man, my heart cries out, "Yes L-rd, may Your kingdom come quickly." Second, the final part of the passage asks that grace be with us. In a world such as ours, what more could we need than G-d's grace?

My prayer today is for G-d's grace upon us all.

Sunday: Noach

Eyes to See and Ears to Hear

2010-10-07T17:25:00.002-05:00

Today's Haftarah Reading:
Isaiah 42:5-43:10

Our reading today is a bit longer, but the message is very plain. We begin in Isaiah 42:5 with an affirmation that it is G-d who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He gave us life and made us who we are. But He didn't stop there. G-d didn't just create the world and set it in motion only to step back and leave us to ourselves. In Isaiah 42:6 G-d says he will "also hold you by the hand and watch over you." These are not the words of an aloof, disinterested G-d, but those of a loving Creator whose heart is for His people.

As we continue in the passage we see that earth and all that is in it should give glory and honor to G-d. Evidence of His work is all around us, if we would but open our eyes and ears (Isa. 43:18-20). Why is it that we refuse to see what is directly in front of us? Why do we refuse to hear truth? In Isaiah 43:22 it describes a people "trapped in caves" or "hidden away in prisons." I wonder, just how do people come to be in these caves and prisons? Are we in prisons of our own making? Often when I find myself trapped and in despair, I look around and realized that I am the one who fashioned the very bars that now hold me prisoner. Why do we do this to ourselves over and over, when our loving Creator wants nothing more than to set us free from our bondage?

As Isaiah 42 winds down, we see the results of sin and disobedience. It is a sad and ugly picture, yet in the end we notice that despite every consequence, people continue down this pathway, oblivious to the destruction around them.

Thankfully, the prophet Isaiah does not end there, nor does our reading. Chapter 43 begins with something beautiful - hope. We see that the L-rd redeems His people Israel. He claims them, calls them His own and tells them not to fear because He will not forsake them. What I love most about this picture of redemption is in the beginning of Isaiah 43:4. Through the prophet Isaiah the L-rd tells the people this is because "you are precious in My sight" and "you are honored and I love you." G-d redeems His people Israel not because of them, but because of Him! His redemption, his mercy is not based on anything they did to merit His grace. Instead it is based solely on His character - He chose them and He loves them. He is the one who made them His special possession.

And so it is with us. There is nothing we can do to earn G-d's favor by ourselves. No matter how hard we try to be good, we can't sustain it. We will always fall short. But take heart, there is hope! G-d still loves His people. That is why Y'shua ha Mashiach came, because G-d chose to make a way for His beloved creation to be reconciled to Him once and for all.

In the end of our reading we see the result. One day all nations will acknowledge G-d as L-rd. My prayer is that I will proclaim this today and that my life will bear witness of His glory.

Tomorrow: B'rit Chadashah: Revelation 22:6-21

Standing Alone

2010-10-06T14:09:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Bereishit:
Genesis 5:25-6:8

In today's short passage, we complete the generational list, and are introduced to Noah. Once again we find that humans have decided they know what is best, and have gone the direction of their own choosing (Genesis 6:2) rather than G-d's.

We have only the briefest glimpse of that generation's depravity, but it must have been substantial because G-d, himself, lost patience with His beloved creation. In Genesis 6:3 we read that G-d shortened the human lifespan. Still mankind was not dissuaded from evil. Finally, the L-rd regretted making this world. All the things that He proclaimed good had become twisted, tainted by evil and sin. G-d determined that the only course of action left was to destroy all that He had created. This is not a decision He took lightly. In fact, the Bible says He was "grieved in His heart" (Gen. 6:6). What must it take to cause the all-powerful G-d to grieve in His heart? And what love must He have for His creation if even in the face of their disloyalty and depravity He grieves their loss?

Today's passage does not end without hope, however. In Genesis 6:8 we meet the one man who "found favor in the eyes of the L-rd." This seems like such a small statement. We might be tempted to gloss over it, especially since many of us have heard this story time and time again. But let's think about this carefully. The entire human race had become so bad, so vile that the very G-d that created them decided they must be destroyed. But one man - one simple, insignificant being gets noticed. He alone is good. He alone finds G-d's favor. What would it be like to be that person? What would it be like to have the courage to stand up for what is right when literally the entire world is against you and what you believe? Imagine the pressure, the ostracism he must have faced. Would I have that kind of courage? Would you?

My prayer today is that I would be willing to stand for what I know is right and true, even in the face of rejection. May I be willing to count G-d's opinion of me as greater than that of any mere human.

Tomorrow: Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

G-d's BFF

2010-10-05T19:55:00.002-05:00

Today's Reading from Bereishit:
Genesis 4:19-5:24

Today's reading may seem tedious at first glance. Most of the passage is a veritable laundry list of who begat whom. However, I actually love reading the genealogy lists in the Bible. Why? Because I believe they affirm women.

For example, in today's passage, Moshe goes out of his way to specifically name the two wives of Lamech: Adah and Zillah. It's my understanding that in other genealogical writings from that time period, especially those from patriarchal cultures, women are not mentioned. They are not considered important. After all, the man's name is carried on through his sons, right?

But this does not appear to be G-d's plan. G-d created man and he created woman, and they were both good. And in the lists of generations recorded in the Bible, in the Torah, Tanach and B'rit Chadashah, G-d affirms women by not only including them, but including them by name.

Men and women were created differently. We have only to look in the nearest mirror to determine that fact. G-d created each of us with different roles and responsibilities. Yet the fact remains: He created both of us. G-d created both man and woman and proclaimed them very good! The Almighty ruler of the universe does not show partiality here. He loves both men and women equally, and longs for relationship with all the human beings He placed on this earth! What could be more affirming than that? So to those who claim the Bible is anti-woman, I say look no further than the lists of generations. From those alone it is clear that G-d values women, and this is supported by many other passages in the Bible.

Another interesting nugget in today's reading is a simple statement hidden at the end of chapter 4. This chapter ends with Adam and Eve having a third son named Seth, and Seth having a son named Enosh. Then in verse 26 it mentions that it was then that "men began to call upon the name of the L-rd." Why specifically point this out? Could it be that after the expulsion from the garden and the murder of Abel, man decided to go his own way? If so, he obviously discovered that his way was not the best way, as he soon began to call upon the name of the L-rd.

Finally, we end our passage with the mention of Enoch, one of the descendants of Seth. Enoch walked closely with G-d. So closely, in fact, that it's my understanding that one day G-d simply took Enoch up to be with him. No death, no passing through the invisible curtain, just immediate and physical transport into the presence of G-d. What would that be like? Can you imagine being so close with G-d, so intimate with Him, that He would decide to bring you into His presence immediately, without death?

Now I will be the first to admit that I'm probably more attached to this world than I should be. I adore my family and can't imagine leaving them. Still, my prayer today is that I would have the type of communion with G-d that Enoch had. I want to walk so closely with Him that He is my best thought and my sustenance. I want to stop worrying what other human beings think of me and seek His approval only. What would my life be like if I feared G-d alone, and not man?

Tomorrow: Genesis 5:25-6:8

Relationships 101

2010-10-04T16:00:00.005-05:00

Today's reading from Bereishit:
Genesis 2:20-4:18

The majesty and greatness of the creation account in yesterday's reading is in sharp contrast to humans' fall from grace in today's reading. As this section begins, we once again see G-d's loving provision for His creation. Adam was able to talk with G-d himself, and now he could have any of the beings in G-d's creation for companionship. But G-d didn't want Adam to simply have a companion. He wanted him to have a specific companion who would complement him perfectly. Thus, G-d created Eve. We can understand wanting the best for our kids, right? When we shop for their birthday, we don't just grab the first item we encounter in the store. We search for a gift that they will cherish; one that will fill a need or bring them joy. In the same way, Almighty G-d looked down on this fragile, created being and longed to present him with a cherished gift - the gift of relationship.

Now G-d could have chosen to create Eve from the dust of the earth, just as He did with Adam. Instead, G-d fashioned Eve from Adam's rib. Why? Could this be another picture of the bond, the depth of relationship we are designed to have as humans? And could there be yet another picture within that one? Adam and Eve became two from one, and then became one again through intimacy. We are created by a loving G-d, but we are separated from Him. And through the gift of Messiah, we will someday be joined again to Him for eternity. This will be the ultimate fulfillment of our journey.

As humans, we are designed for relationships - relationship with G-d and relationships with one another. But this inner drive for relationship can be a double-edged sword, as the rest of today's passage illustrates. In Genesis 3: 6, Eve disobeys G-d's command and eats the fruit from the one forbidden tree. The verse goes on to say that "she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." Now why did Adam eat the fruit as well? Surely he knew where she got the fruit. He may even have been there when she took it. And like Eve, Adam was well aware of G-d's command regarding the fruit of that tree. So why did he eat? Why didn't he stand up to her or at least walk away from her? Could it be that he wanted to join her? Perhaps this relationship had become so important to him, above even his relationship with G-d, that he wanted to share in whatever she was doing. Or maybe it was competition. Maybe he didn't want his companion, his equal, to have knowledge or power he, himself didn't possess. Whatever his motives, the moment Adam put his relationship with another human above his relationship with G-d, he sealed his fate. His relationship with G-d was irrevocably broken and his
relationship with Eve was damaged (Gen. 3:16b) as well.

Unfortunately, this pattern didn't end with Adam and Eve. Their relationship difficulties passed down to their children. Cain and Abel grew up together, presumably in relationship with their parents and one another. They were definitely in relationship with G-d, as evidenced by the fact that He conversed with them. So when Abel's offering was accepted over Cain's, Cain became so jealous over what he perceived to be his brother's favored status with G-d that he murdered his brother. The Bible doesn't tell us why Abel's offering was accepted while Cain's was not. The fact that Cain went to the extreme of murdering his brother may indicate that the state of Cain's heart was not right for some time.

Once again, humans have sinned. Once again they have turned away from G-d's direction. So G-d imposes a consequence on Cain. The consequence is that Cain will be a nomad, a wanderer with no place to call home, no anchoring relationships. In Cain's own words, his punishment is too great to bear.

My prayer today is that I will put my relationship with G-d above all other relationships. May I also be willing to do what it takes to keep my relationships with other people healthy, edifying and glorifying to G-d.

Tomorrow: Genesis 4:19-5:24

Bereishit - "In the Beginning"

2010-10-03T16:17:00.002-05:00

Bereishit - "In the Beginning"
Torah: Genesis 1:1-6:8, Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10,
B'rit Chadashah: Revelation 22:6-21

Today's Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:19

Bereishit (or B'Reisheet) means "in the beginning." Today's reading looks at the first week of creation. Genesis 1:2 states that the earth was "formless and void." My translation has a note that also translates this as "a waste, emptiness." Imagine...a lonely wasteland, void of light, form and beauty. G-d looked at this dark, barren, formless planet and chose this as the very spot to establish His glorious creation.

He approached this creation in an orderly fashion, starting with light and darkness, then moving on to skies, earth and seas. Once the larger elements were brought into being, the Master Artist began on the details: adding plants, animals and the culmination of His creation - humans. This brief overview doesn't even come close to doing justice to the wonder of this miracle. One of the most beautiful and vivid descriptions of the creation account I've ever read comes from C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. In The Magician's Nephew, he pictures Aslan, the lion, pacing to and fro on a lonely land, singing its details into being. As the lion sings his new song, every created thing ripples out from him on the music; each strain, like each new detail, more achingly beautiful than the last. And as all things are created, they are proclaimed "good" and in the end, "very good."

What an amazing thought! The Most High G-d, a being more majestic and holy than any of us could ever conceive, looked down on a barren wasteland and chose to fill it with beauty and abundance and make it "very good." And is that so different from what he still does today? He looks down at us - small, inconsequential and depraved beings that we are, and He sees potential. He looks at us and longs to redeem us, to restore us to the glory of His original creation.

In the beginning, G-d created us and loved us and gave us all the gifts of His bounty and His rest in Shabbat. Did human beings then recognize the gifts they had been given with an attitude of thankfulness and reverence? Did they treat His beautiful creation like it was "good" as had been proclaimed by G-d himself? Perhaps more importantly, do we recognize the gifts He bestows on us today? Are we thankful for His redemption, His sanctifying acts, His blessings in our lives?

My prayer today is that I would have an attitude of reverence toward the G-d of creation. May I admire the beauty and artistry of His creation with a spirit of gratitude. May I never forget that, just as He did in creation, He looked down at this sad, pitiful creature that I am and chose to redeem me. He has blessed me abundantly and He is not content that I should be stagnant, but continues to stretch me and grow me into the person He designed me to be, that I might be proclaimed "very good." For this reason I want to strive for a heart of thankfulness in all seasons of life.

Tomorrow: Genesis 2:20-4:18

A New Beginning...

2010-10-02T19:29:00.003-05:00

Shabbat shalom!

I hinted a few weeks ago that I would be changing the nature of this blog to something more uplifting. Well, the time has come. Today is the day. Today is Simchat Torah.

For those of you who don't know, Simchat Torah means "Joy of the Torah" or "Rejoicing in the Torah." It is the day when, in Synagogues around the world, we roll back the Torah scroll and start the yearly reading cycle again from the beginning. At this time we rejoice with a processional, singing and dancing. It is an uplifting and heartwarming experience to watch as the Torah is paraded around the congregation while everyone follows and sings and reaches out to touch it with a tallis or siddur or Bible, then brings the item reverently to their lips to kiss it. Watching the faces of the children as the scroll is unrolled, their eyes wide with excitement, is truly a joy to behold.

So it is at this time of joy and excitement that I embark on this new endeavor. As you may have noticed from the above account, the Word of G-d is precious to me. Thus, I have decided to use this blog to process my thoughts on the parshah texts, the weekly Jewish reading cycle. I suppose you might call this a devotional, of sorts. For me, this will include the Torah, Haftarah and B'rit Chadashah readings. I will break them down into smaller, daily portions in order to reflect on them more fully.

My earnest desire is that whatever insights G-d may give me will bless others through this blog. I welcome your comments and responses as we all grow together on this journey. I don't pretend to be an expert in theology or even someone who is exceptionally pious. I am simply a fellow traveler who wants to humbly share her journey with others.

Sincerely,

Josie

Tomorrow: Bereishit

Another Year, Another Blog

2010-09-06T20:37:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! Well, almost. I can't believe the High Holy Days are almost upon us. On Rosh Hashanah, we'll ring in the year 5771 on the Jewish calendar. We'll have apples and honey and wish everyone L'shanah Tova!

Now I don't know about you, but I associate the New Year with resolutions. Maybe it's an American/diaspora thing. Anyway, as you may have noticed, (yes, by "you" I mean my one loyal follower!), I've not been especially good about posting to my own blog. This, I have decided, is a result of my focus.

You see, when I started this blog, I thought I wanted my focus to be news/current events/pop culture. It was a daunting task, but I thought I would be up for it, as those things interest me and, as any good Jew, I'm not lacking in opinions on anything and everything!

But alas, along the way I've realized that my chosen topics have not been as easy to write about as I first imagined. While I still have many opinions on those topics, they are the very topics that seem to bring me down rather than encourage me and build into me. This has served to discourage me from the very thing that I love... writing.

But now a new year is approaching, and with it a new opportunity to re-invent myself, or at least my blog. For the next few weeks, I will focus on the High Holidays and my spiritual journey through them. Then, at Simchat Torah, I will turn my focus to a devotional format based on the Parashot readings.

I hope you will join me on this new phase of my spiritual journey. I'm going to keep the name of this blog the same, because I see it not as a discard, but instead as an evolution or growth, if you will. My prayer is that this will become a place of respite and spiritual renewal, a safe haven for me and for you. Once again I invite you to relax, have a nice glass of wine or cup of tea, and join me for your After Dinner Mintz. Stay tuned...

America's Moral Compass

2010-05-04T10:17:00.002-05:00

The beauty of the animal form is in exact proportion to the amount of moral and intellectual virtue expressed by it.
- John Ruskin

The so-called new morality has too often the old immorality condoned.
- Lord Shawcross

Let me begin by saying, "Thank you, Richard Roeper." It seems very few these days are inclined to call a public figure to the carpet regarding their behavior. I'm referring to the case of Roman Polanski. Let me begin by quoting a passage from Richard Roeper's recent blog article on the subject:

"Fame is indeed a double-edged sword. If Roman Polanski were an accountant or a carpenter or a gardener who drugged and gave champagne to a 13-year-old girl, raped her, was interrupted, resumed raping her, took her home and instructed her not to tell anyone, there's a good chance he would have done some serious prison time back in the 1970s. If Roman the accountant or Roman the carpenter had fled the country because of a grandstanding judge's incompetence, you wouldn't see 138 of Hollywood's biggest players signing a petition demanding his "immediate release." (Harvey Weinstein said Polanski's assault of the 13-year-old girl was "a so-called crime." I wonder if Weinstein would call it a "so-called crime" if the exact same set of circumstances involved a 13-year-old relative of his?) Then again, would authorities be this interested in pursuing an unknown offender more than 30 years after the fact?"

Personally, I think the Roman Polanski case demonstrates a serious decline in our cultural integrity. In my admittedly brief reading of the archives from Mr. Polanski's 1977 arrest and subsequent court appearances and legal wrangling into 1978 to 1997 and then into 2000 and beyond, I've noticed a distinct difference in public opinion. I've not found documentation of a major outcry from Hollywood at the time of his arrest, indictment and sentencing. If there was one, it certainly was not as prominent as the recent petition demanding his release and the public statements by various influential stars of today.

My question, then, is this a result of a decline in our society's valuation of childhood, innocence and virtue? Is it evidence of our society's increasing tendency to dehumanize and objectify women? Or is it even more sinister? While I did not find a large outcry in the 1970's demanding Mr. Polanski's release, neither did I find a public outcry demanding his conviction. Was Hollywood, now so vocally in favor of extending forgiveness to this man, completely silent back then? If so, what does that silence mean? Were his peers ashamed of his actions at the time? Or did they actually not care or even approve of his deeds, but were unwilling to speak up lest they damage their careers?

Time and distance often lessen the psychological impact of a crime for outside observers. I would be willing to bet that those who are so adamantly demanding his release now were mere children at the time of his arrest. They probably see an acquaintance or even a friend, a peer whose art they respect, and whose personal tragedies seem to have clouded his judgment. I get that. I understand that he is an Auschwitz survivor and that years later his beloved wife was brutally murdered. Terrible things have happened to this man. But does that give him the right to brutalize a young girl?

Here are Mr. Polanski's own words, shortly before he fled the country to avoid prison time: The British Broadcasting Corp. quoted Polanski as saying by telephone, "I've been tortured by this for a year and that's enough." Really, Mr. Polanski? You've been tortured? How about the torture you inflicted upon an innocent young girl? What about the fact that the severe emotional scars you left her with will impact her entire life? No wonder she would now prefer to live in anonymity and have this whole terrible episode just go away.

Shame on you, Mr. Polanski. You, the former victim, became a brutal victimizer. And shame on you, those Hollywood elites that signed the petition demanding the release of a child rapist. Yes, much time has passed since the time of his arrest and conviction. But that is time that he, in effect, stole by fleeing the country rather than face the consequence of his actions like a man. That is time he stole from his victim by living in freedom while she existed in the emotional prison of the trauma inflicted upon her.

I sincerely hope that our society will not fall into the trap of looking to our "stars" for moral guidance. I truly admire the work of my fellow artists, especially those who have reached the top of their craft. Yet I understand that expertise in one's chosen profession does not equal expertise in every subject across the board. People who have achieved greatness in all walks of life can still be some of the world's greatest moral failures. Conversely, the most meek among us are often the most virtuous. In my case, my conscience compels me to stand up not for the powerful, but for those who often cannot stand up for themselves.

Enough With The Rhetoric...Let's See Some Action

2010-04-19T10:00:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr. President:

I realize you are a busy and important man. I know you have much more pressing matters to attend to than listening to a lowly internet blogger. So to get right to the point, I offer not my own words, but those of Theodore Roosevelt: I want to see you shoot the way you shout.

Just last week, Mr. President, you poked fun at the Tea Party movement, evidenced in this quote from a story reported by ABC News reporters Karen Travers and Rachel Martin:

Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser tonight, President Obama touted his administration’s tax cuts and said that the recent tea party rallies across the nation have “amused” him.

“You would think they should be saying thank you,” the president said to applause.

Members of the audience shouted, “Thank you.”

I myself, am not a Tea Party supporter or detractor. At this point, I'm more of an interested observer. While I like the Tea Party movement's grassroots activism, I'm uneasy about the appearance of ties to Republican politicians. Once a movement marries itself to one political party, I think it ceases to be a movement of the people and becomes another tool in the political machine.

Now I'll grant you that Tea Party members sometimes make themselves easy targets for jokes. Still, I must say, Mr. President, that I'm concerned about what I see as your willingness to fall back on your powers of charm and persuasion rather than answering direct challenges presented by any segment of the American people. When you ran for office, you ran on a platform of "Change We Can Believe In." You presented yourself as a new breed of politician, one who would put the good of the country ahead of partisan politics. Many of us appreciated that stance. It felt like a breath of fresh air capable of sweeping away the cloud of partisan stench.

Unfortunately, thus far I've seen nothing more than politics as usual. Mr. President, you are a gifted and persuasive speaker. You have a natural charm and charisma that puts people at ease when you address them, whether in a large group or, presumably, one-on-one. Yet for all your talk of change and bipartisanship, your voting record in the Senate even before your election was something like 98% along party lines, more than almost any other senator. And in your administration thus far, there has been an alarming trend of poking fun at and even demonizing any detractors, regardless of whether they are politicians, members of right-leaning press or individual citizens.

This is not encouraging and it is little wonder then, that a recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that nearly 80% of Americans say "they can't trust Washington" and "have little faith that the massive federal bureaucracy can solve the nation's ills" (Quote from ynet news.com). Also interesting, is that while widely reported in international news sources, this poll result was difficult to find among American news agencies. Could it be that Americans as a whole, and our media in particular are being bullied into a position of not daring to criticize the current administration? It's a bit like junior high when no one dared to criticize the captain of the football team, even when his fly was down all during third period, for fear of the social repercussions.

In summary, Mr. President, I think you have some wonderful qualities that can make someone a strong and capable leader. But I think you have become too quick to assume the rightness of your every position and rely on those same qualities to shame your detractors rather than listen to them. This will not only lead you and your administration down a slippery slope, as some of those detractors are the same people who voted for you; it can potentially lead our country down the same slippery slope on the international stage.

So Mr. President, please, when someone challenges your position, just listen--really listen--to them. Even if they don't share your ideology, they might have a valid point. Oh, and if someone tells you your fly is down, be sure to check. You never know when they might be right.

Sincerely,

Josie Mintz

America's Next Top...Ghetto Mama??

2010-04-16T20:03:00.002-05:00

OK, I admit it. I watch reality TV. In fact, I even enjoy it. One of my favorite secret vices is the reality show America's Next Top Model. This is the Tyra Banks vehicle where she and her cronies in the industry set themselves up as mentors for the next generation of would-be models. They hold nation-wide casting calls, and about a dozen lucky girls get to compete for the privilege of being represented by one of America's top modeling agencies.

The show is now in it's 14th "cycle" and at this point, it has definitely jumped the shark. In addition to the obligatory nude photo shoot they've also had the models pose as vampires in a bathtub of fake blood while wearing contacts that rendered them blind, and they've also had the models create "chemistry" with a comedian for a shoot. The comedian was wearing a tux. The models, of course, were clad in lingerie.

Now I admit that my years in the lower levels of the industry hardly qualify me as an expert. But even my limited experience tells me that these contrived shoots are over the top and would be very unlikely assignments for a successful model. Yet even with its ridiculous shoots and outrageous cast of characters (yes, I have a certain affection for Mr. Jay and Ms. Jay, both men) I find the show quirky and appealing.

Mind you, I would never recommend this show for anyone under the age of 16...maybe even 18. The show has never struck me as a proper place for young girls to learn how to be women, much less models. This week's episode, however, really stopped me in my tracks. This season's show features a group of young women that is divided decidedly down the middle. That middle, would be "the tracks." Yes, I mean that half the ladies are from what would be considered the upscale side of the tracks, and the other half are from what many would consider the wrong side of the tracks.

If you haven't watched reality TV, let me just clue you in to the fact that this is a common ploy. This is exactly why reality TV shows have casting directors. In any show, there are really only 2 or 3 viable winners. The rest are thrown in for drama. The formula is to take a bunch of people who, under normal circumstances, would never tolerate one another and throw them in a house together. The last one left standing is usually the winner.

So back to this week's episode. Three of the girls in particular, Angelea, Krysta, and Alasia are from the hood. They are very open about this, quite proud of it, in fact, so don't think I'm unfairly categorizing anyone. Angelea is especially combative. In fact, she was rejected in a past season because of her anger issues. She was allowed in this season because, apparently, she's had therapy. Frankly, I think she needs to ask for her money back from that therapist! This week, Angelea and her cohorts spoke, as always, in complete ghetto speak and were openly combative and even threatened the other contestants. The teaser for the show claimed that one of the models was going to get a dressing down from one of the judges. I thought, finally! Someone will point out how completely inappropriate these girls are.

Well, shame on me for thinking my favorite little vice would have some redeeming value! After a challenge that involved impressing a high-level purse designer at a fancy cocktail party, one of the upscale girls won. This caused our friend Angelea to lash out at all the girls not from her side of the tracks and attempt to bait them into fights. She was verbally abusive and downright cruel. Her cronies weren't much better, with one of them even threatening physical violence!

So now we come to the judging. First, the upscale girl who won the challenge was told her shoes made her look trashy. She replied with a surprised, "Really? I thought they looked good." Then came the final blow, not only did Angelea win for best picture of the week, the judges held her up as an example for all the other girls to follow! They claimed that while the poor girl who liked her own shoes was combative when criticized (Combative? Really? If that's combative I'd hate to see downright angry!) but Angelea was "keepin' it real" and all the other girls should learn to be as real as Angelea, Krysta, and Alasia.

This left me not only flabbergasted, but incensed. Now I admit, I get a kick out of reverting to a little ghetto-speak from time to time, but it's just an act, a lark for fun. Yet these judges (specifically one judge who is about as phony wanna-be drag queen as they come) sent a message to everyone watching the show that the people to emulate are those who speak inarticulately, who are openly combative, and who treat anyone in the way of their goals with complete contempt. Now I am not naive. I know that just because I would never let my children, especially a daughter, watch this show; that doesn't mean that there aren't thousands of impressionable young girls tuning in each week. Now, not only are we bombarding these girls with Bratz dolls and clothing designed way to old for their size, we are now sending them the message loud and clear: "If it ain't ghetto, it ain't real!" Then we wonder why teen pregnancy rates are up, girls are now almost as likely as boys to engage in physical altercations, and an alarming number of young women are joining street gangs. Gee, now how did that happen?

Now before you accuse me of slamming any particular race or socio-economic status, you should know that I firmly believe that one's circumstances need not dictate one's identity. I've known plenty of individuals, male and female, who have overcome terrible life circumstances to achieve great things in business and academia. We've all heard of politicians, athletes, actors and musicians who came from the most humble of beginnings. There are countless others who may not have achieved high levels of fame and fortune, but have become respectable, hard-working members of society. What you become has less to do with your surroundings and much more to do with your life choices. That's the message I want to pass down to my children. And that's the message I wish more people in positions of influence, like Tyra Banks, would pass down to all the impressionable young minds who look up to them.

An Addendum

2010-04-12T15:46:00.003-05:00

It occurs to me that my most recent blog post may portray me as having a negative attitude toward adoption. If so, I'd like to reiterate that this is not at all the case. I believe adoption is a wonderful way to create a family, and, as I said, I am currently in the process.

My point was that some people may see news reports or pictures of children in underprivileged countries and choose adoption as a misguided attempt to help those children. Adoption is a wonderful and beautiful option, but you must be prepared to commit long-term. Just like marriage, it is not a decision to enter into lightly.

For those who would like to help children in need, but don't feel called to adoption, here are some links that may be helpful.

Shaohannah's Hope
http://www.showhope.org/

Bright Hope International
http://www.brighthope.org/

World Vision International
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf

Heifer International
http://www.heifer.org/#

Compassion International
http://www.compassion.com/

Please note that I am in no way endorsing particular charitable organizations. These are just a few that I have come across over the years. Before giving to any organization you should do your homework and make sure that the organization is reputable and fits with your personal beliefs.

The Bigger Picture

2010-04-12T13:12:00.002-05:00

If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
-Confucius

I admit it. By nature, I tend to be an impulsive person. I'm hard-wired to be extremely emotional, and I've spent a lifetime combatting the waves of that emotional sea that would have me turn this way or that (Buy this! Move here!) on a whim. However, if my emotionally driven mistakes have taught me anything, it's this. While being led by your can help you identify and even realize your dreams; you darn well better keep your head engaged in the process, or you risk bringing a world of hurt upon yourself and others.

I can think of no better example of this principle than the adoption stories in the news lately. First, we had the story of the Baptist missionaries in Haiti. Unless you've been living in a cave, you know this story inside and out. To sum up, a group of Baptist missionaries tried to take a group of children they claimed were orphans over the border into the Dominican Republic. It turns out, not only did they have no paperwork for the children, the majority of the children weren't even orphans. They had been turned over to the missionaries by their families based on the promise of a better life and continued familial contact.

If I were to categorize this story, I would file it under "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." I don't care how altruistic the missionaries' motives might have been. They got caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and rushed headlong into a catastrophic situation without considering the consequences. They claim to have been starting an orphanage, but do not seem to have bothered to educate themselves on the international laws governing their actions, not to mention the psychological ramifications of taking a group of children in a crisis situation and removing them from the only stable connection they had left. Considering "what is distant"? I'm not sure they even considered beyond the next week.

Now in current news, we have another story of adoption plans gone awry. A Tennessee mother decided she could no longer parent her 7-year-old Russian-born adopted son. She placed a note in his backpack, put him on a plane, and shipped him back to Russia. The woman claims that the Russian orphanage workers had lied to her and that the boy exhibited violent and psychotic behavior. She further claims that an attorney she found and communicated with online advised her that this method of nullifying the adoption was legitimate.

Once again, I have to ask, what on earth was this person thinking? Adoptions do disrupt, it's true. It's also traumatic and heart-wrenching for all involved. However, there are concrete steps in place to mitigate the pain and suffering involved. The woman in Tennessee could have contacted the agency she used for the adoption (one source does mention that she used an agency) and expressed her desire to disrupt the adoption. A reputable agency would have asked her questions, tried to help the family through counseling, or ultimately placed the child with a family experienced in handling the boy's particular issues. Sticking an unaccompanied minor on a plane with a note saying, essentially, that you don't want to be his mom anymore is unconscionable.

Obviously, once again, someone didn't count the cost. And both these stories have a personal connection for me, because I am a parent currently waiting for the referral of a child through international adoption. So if I seem angry at these individuals, I am. That is my bias. In each case, all it would have taken to avoid an international incident was to slow down, do some research, and think rationally and long-term. Instead, they acted in a rash and irrisponsible manner and the consequences for their actions may impact all of us engaged in international adoption.

There are many, many wonderful children here and abroad who are in need of loving families. One google search alone will bring up thousands upon thousands pictures that will tug your heartstrings relentlessly. And while it is right to want to help children in need, adoption is not the right choice for everyone, and it is not a decision to be taken lightly. In any adoption, you will be taking a child from the only home he/she has ever known and thrusting him/her into a new and strange environment. Add to that the baggage involved in coming from an institutional setting, and you multiply the potential trauma exponentially. This is not to say that most adoptions don't work out well. In fact, the majority of adoptions end in a wonderful, loving family; which is why stories like the above make the news. They are an anomaly. I have personally known families on both sides of the fence, families with successful adoptions and families who have experienced disruption. The most important factor in determining success, besides knowing your limitations, seems to be proceeding with an open heart, but also a teachable mind.

The Huddled Masses

2010-01-31T14:42:00.003-06:00

Ok, I originally had a completely different topic for my blog today. But as I sit here in a crowded Panera trying to work, I'm unable to concentrate due to the loud conversation next to me. As I think more about it, this conversation is indicative of one of the major problems I see in our society as a whole.

Two very expensively dressed women are sitting next to me. After complimenting one another on their latest plastic surgery (I kid you not!), they have proceeded to pick apart every friend and family member that appears to disagree with them.

Their politics are quite definitely liberal. Frankly, I have no problem with that. The reason I know their politics are liberal, is that anytime they finish picking apart someone's looks, clothing, and religion, they finish up with, "and you know, she's a Republican!" They then finish how there's no reason to talk to "those people" since they don't believe in "facts."

Now honestly, I don't care whether someone is a Democrat or Republican. I have very close friends who are solidly in both camps, and I consider myself an independent. My problem, is with extremists in any form. Recently, I confronted some men protesting in front of the post office. They had doctored a picture of President Obama to look like Hitler, and then written "Obama Sucks" underneath it. I explained to them that regardless of politics, as a Jewish person and as a mother, I found it completely offensive that I had to drive by that display with my children. One gentleman actually seemed to listen. Another kept getting in my face, trying to bait me into a fight. I spoke my mind respectfully, then left.

For me, these two scenarios illustrate one of the most pressing problems for our country: the complete inability to put ourselves in another's shoes. The Right accuses the Left of spreading lies and manipulating statistics. The Left accuses the Right of the same. Does anyone take the time to listen anymore? I mean REALLY listen, not just listen to the extent that you can form your next argument. What is more important to us? To "win"? To be "right" at all costs? What does that really accomplish? What if, instead, we sought to understand one another, to find common ground with one another, and build on that common ground to find real ways to work together to improve life for all people?

So, in retrospect, was I a little hard on my fellow diners? Perhaps. Perhaps I was a little hard on the Post Office protesters, too. I guess it just gets under my skin to hear someone, anyone, harshly and vocally judge another person, and then accuse that person of being judgemental. But aren't we all guilty of that at some time or another? Don't we all "look at the speck that is in [our] brother's eye, but...not notice the log that is in [our] own eye? (Mat.7:3)

Perhaps I should thank my lunch neighbors. Even though I dismissed them as shallow and self absorbed, listening to them (eavesdropping doesn't count when the other parties are speaking above a certain decibal level, right?) taught me something about myself. Perhaps if I'm more inclined to honestly try to understand another person's heart and love those who, to me, seem unlovable, my attitude might rub off on others. Maybe there would even be a domino effect that could start some sort of positive revolution! Well, maybe not. It doesn't matter. The only one I can be responsible for is me. From now on, I want to choose to love. At least most of the time.

But just for the record, Peggy and Elena, whoever you are, watch your backs! Your friends secretly think you're ignorant and they don't think you chose the right plastic surgeon either!

Blessed Are the Poor...

2010-01-14T09:08:00.003-06:00

Earthquake. Wildfires. Tsunami. Wars. Sound a little overwhelming? I know it does to me. Whenever there is a new catastrophe somewhere in the world, I'm glued to the news. I feel terrible for the victims and I want to help. Yet at the same time, I feel overwhelmed, paralyzed. After all, who am I? I'm just one person. I'm not rich or famous or influential. What can I possibly do? Well, it turns out, maybe I can do more than I think.

The images and reports from Haiti are devastating. Most of us cannot fathom a level of destruction on this scale. Perhaps some of you have been through an earthquake and have just a tiny taste of what it's like. I've never experienced one, but I'm sure I would feel fear, loss of control, grief. Now multiply that by about a thousand, and you have Haiti. If you haven't looked at the images of the destruction or read any of the stories, you should. I know it's sometimes frightening and depressing to read such things. But isn't it our responsibility to know what goes on in our world (and not just our little corner of it)? Don't be afraid to look. You will be impacted, yes, but perhaps you will also be led to act.

So, what can we do? Well for starters, we can realize that although we're each just one individual person, we are not alone. There are thousands of other people just like us, wondering how to help. If we coordinate our efforts through organizations such as Compassion International, World Vision, etc., we could make a sizeable impact.

And then what? Let's not stop there. Proverbs states "He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor" (Prov. 14:21, NASB). It's easy to think of serving our neighbors (global or local) when they're splashed all over the news. Yet what about when the headlines fade? What happens when the latest celebrity indiscretion or political scandal takes its place? Do we just move on, having assuaged our guilt and patted ourselves on the back for being such fine, upstanding human beings? I certainly hope not, because that might be an even bigger tragedy.

I hope we all find a way to reach out to the people of Haiti in their time of need. I hope those images and stories stay with us, to remind us of all we have; and more importantly, of those around the world who have little to nothing to call their own. Most of all, I hope the desire to serve those in need stays with us. I hope this event develops within all of us a heart for each and every one of our neighbors, right next door or around the globe. Imagine what life could be like if each of us "[did] not merely look out for [our] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:4, NASB).

New Year, Same Old Resolutions?

2010-01-07T20:11:00.002-06:00

So here I am again, back on the blog wagon. I'm sure you (yes you, my one fan!) noticed I dropped off the face of the blogosphere for quite a while. Well, now I'm back and I'm ready to try again. After all, it's a new year, and that means resolutions, right?

Truth be told, I don't have the greatest track record when it comes to resolutions. Over the years I've resolved many times to lose 10 lbs., quit drinking caffiene, workout more, paint more, write more, etc. Most of these last all of about three to four weeks. Well, some of them anyway. At least the ones that involve the price of a gym membership or a treadmill.

So this year, I'm making only one resolution: to stop making resolutions. After all, what are resolutions but campaign promises to ourselves? We've just come off the excesses of the holiday season (or the previous administration), and we promise ourselves if we will only believe in ourselves, we'll be different this time. We'll be wiser, stronger, more dedicated to our betterment. But alas, at the end of the day, or month, or election year, all we're left with is the same old thing. Eloquent promises and pretty packaging are unwrapped to reveal an empty box.

So what's the answer, then? Do we just sit down in self pity and give up? No, I don't think that's the solution. For me, the solution is what I choose to put in the box. If I really want a better me, a better country, a better world; then I need to dig deeper than the packaging and bows and external trappings. I need something of real substance, eternal truth, to put in the box. I need to seek and support others with something real and substantive in their boxes too, who will challenge me to keep mine full. Otherwise, an empty box will just become trampled and crushed over time, and ultimately discarded.

So here's to filling our boxes with that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute; all things excellent and worthy of praise. Here's to a new year, a fresh start, and mercies that are new every morning.

Josie on Julie on Julia...

2009-08-26T11:20:00.002-05:00

I finally saw the film "Julie and Julia" last night. I went into it with only the foggiest notion of the movie's content. Note to readers: do NOT see this movie on an empty stomach! You will be absolutely STARVING by the end!!

Despite the protests of my aforementioned empty stomach, I had a wonderful time out with my girlfriends, and even learned a few lessons along the way. For starters, I think the main lesson I took away from this film was to a)follow your dreams, even if it means taking a risk; and b)don't become a complete narcissist while doing so. That seems pretty obvious. However, for the aspiring blogger/writer, I see how narcissism could creep up on you, rearing its ugly head when you least suspect it. In short, point taken.

The other lesson I took away from the film was a bit more subtle. Julie, the main character, looked up to her hero, Julia. Nothing wrong with that. Most of us have people we admire or aspire to be more like. The lesson comes in this. Julie didn't just seem to look up to Julia. She loved her, practically worshiped her. At times, it seemed she wanted to be her; sometimes in an almost "Single White Female" kind of way. SPOILER ALERT: When her idol ultimately seemed, at best, annoyed by the fixation of her biggest fan, Julie was crushed. But then Julie's supportive husband reminded her that the important Julia wasn't the real Julia, it was the Julia in Julie's head. You follow?

You see, what really mattered was how Julie's idealized version of Julia helped her to become a better person. Thus, Julie was able to continue her quest and achieve her dream. Happiness all around! Perhaps, but I would beg to differ.

To be clear, I have nothing against looking up to admirable people, or striving to achieve one's goals. These can be worthy endeavors. However, to hold another human being in such high esteem that they can seemingly do no wrong is problematic at best and dangerous at worst. Our most noble human heroes will ultimately fail us. Then we are faced with two options. We can turn a blind eye to their failures and shortcomings, thus keeping them on their pedestal. Or, we can allow ourselves to be devastated, wallowing in regret and self-pity, and ultimately becoming hardened to trusting in others. Neither option strikes me as very appealing.

Yet, as much as we might want to argue that we would never go that far in our adoration, we have only to look at our news headlines (and our reactions to them) to see that it happens all the time. How many of us become offended or angry when a person or group appears to attack our favorite politician, religious leader, or even movie star? How many of us feel a twinge of almost personal wounding when we read that someone in the public eye we truly admired has fallen from grace? Is this not indicative of our human desire to worship, whether directed toward G-d, other humans, or material objects?

In the end, I would still heartily recommend this film. I'm glad I saw it. It's a delightful movie, and the actors give themselves completely to their characters, drawing us into their world. But oddly enough, the reason I'm most thankful that I saw this movie, was that it reminded me that only G-d is truly worthy of our worship.

A Fine Whine and the Art of Entitlement

2009-08-21T17:05:00.002-05:00

I was listening to NPR's "Marketplace" yesterday, as I drove to meet my girlfriends for dinner. I didn't hear the entire show, but the topic seemed to be the economic recession and the effects of the economy on those whose wages have been cut.

Now I don't have a problem with anyone doing a news story on today's economy. After all, this is a topic that is on the minds of most people in our nation. Yet I was a bit bemused by the reporter's choice of people to interview.

The first person the reporter interviewed was a corporate CEO who had cut his own salary, as well as his employees' salaries, by 10%. He spoke of having to by a nice used car this year, instead of a new one. He chuckled about how his wife would insist on ordering an appetizer for her dinner instead of an entree whenever their family went out for dinner. He seemed to find all this "belt-tightening" in his home a bit of a lark, and found it cute that his wife was cutting back. I wonder what life is like for his employees. After all, their salaries were cut by the same amount, but I'm guessing they don't have nearly the amount of cushion in their budgets as the CEO.

The second person interviewed was a woman who worked for a major accounting firm in downtown Boston. Her husband worked in the corporate sphere downtown as well. They had never had children and had both recently experienced temporary pay cuts. She spoke of their lifestyle changes such as putting a little less in savings than they usually did, eating at home, making their own yogurt, and attempting to make their own cheese. She seemed beleaguered, and stated she couldn't wait until the end of summer when they would receive their full salaries again. Again, I can't help but wonder about the people who didn't make enough to have a savings in the first place. You know, those who buy generic cheese slices at the grocery store, because they can't even afford the tools and ingredients to make their own cheese? I doubt their pay cuts are only for the summer.

Yet, lest I sound like a whiner myself, I'm actually glad I heard this report. It caused me to look inward at my own sense of entitlement. How many times have I inwardly whined that I can't afford a better wardrobe or a monthly cleaning service? I admit this to my shame. My husband and I make it a point to teach our children how good they have it, and how many people in other parts of the world are truly destitute, without even the most basic necessities on a regular basis. And yet, here I sit, coveting my neighbor's new car.

It's funny, the things to which we believe we're entitled. As if by virtue of being human, we have a right to a certain standard of wealth or health. Are we entitled to anything, really? And what happens when we have competing entitlements? Who wins? I'm thinking of the situation in the news in Scotland, where the Libyan terrorist was released from prison because he has cancer and does not have much time left to live. Scotland claims it is humane to allow a terminally ill man to die at home. The families of those killed on the plane he bombed claim that there is no justice, because their relatives are dead, yet the perpetrator was released to a hero's welcome in his home country. Quite honestly, I can see both points. The merciful part of me can agree that human beings are entitled to die with dignity. However, the part of me that craves justice realizes that his victims were not given that courtesy, and that their families are entitled to retribution.

So who is in the right? I don't know. Life is complicated like that. But I believe that if we could put aside our own sense of entitlement (that whining voice inside us) and step into our adversary's shoes just for a moment, we would find a lot more common ground.

What's In A Name?

2009-08-18T20:20:00.002-05:00

I really can’t believe the amount of time I spent agonizing over the name for this blog. I mean, after all, it’s just a blog, right? It’s one of a million other blogs out there on the web. Will anyone actually read it? Will anyone besides me ever even know that it exists?

And yet I spent precious time fretting over just the right name. Why is that? I’d like to think it’s because I’m a perfectionist as a writer; a true artist, if you will. However, I believe it goes much deeper than that. Just as our personal names are tied to our identities, my blog’s name is tied to my web persona. It defines who I am out there in the vast social sea that is the internet. People read a name and instantly form a concept in their minds of what a site/blog/person is all about.

This line of thinking leads me to ponder the many other names by which we try to define ourselves. We affix labels to ourselves and others that denote political preferences, religious (or non-religious) ideologies, professional achievements, and even familial roles. Obviously, for the sake of communication we must find concise terms to describe ourselves and those around us. But if they’re simply utilitarian descriptors, why do we become so attached? Why are we, as human beings, so passionate about choosing our own labels and rejecting those chosen for us? For example, note the subtle (and not so subtle!) nuances between “Pro-Life” and “Anti-Abortion”; “Democrat” and “Left Winger”, “Religious Right” and “Fundamentalist”, "At-Home-Mom" and "Housewife."

So how does this relate to me and my little blog? Well, I guess as naïve as it sounds, I wanted a name that would attract people, let them know who I am and what to expect. I am a woman, a wife, a mother. I am a Messianic Jewish person. I am a lover of art and literature, theater and dance, fine wines, coffee and chocolate. But how do I pack all that into one phrase, and manage to make it catchy?

That’s how I landed on the name “After Dinner Mintz.” In addition to the little play on words, it’s an invitation for anyone who’s willing to curl up at the end of the day with a nice glass of wine or a cup of hot tea and enter into a dialogue with me about current events, politics, religion, art, or even the mundane happenings of every day life. I hope you’ll join me and I hope it makes your journey in this world a little sweeter.