partial obedience

September 29, 2014

Tragic Consequences

Genesis 34

What has happened to Jacob? Where is Israel in all this? Just when Jacob seemed so close to realizing his new identity, he now appears to be so far away.

While there are a number of other characters involved in the story, Jacob’s the primary one. It’s his decision to settle down in Shechem rather than going to Bethel. And his compromise, his partial obedience, sets up the rest of the narrative. It allows Dinah to be in a dangerously vulnerable place. His failure to respond and to lead his family results in the brothers taking matters into their own hands.

This is another one of those episodes that we could ask where is God in the midst of this mess? His name is not mentioned even once. He doesn’t seem to be factoring into Jacob’s thinking, much less his family’s thinking, at this point. I don’t know how long he’s lived outside of Shechem…but it’s been too long. Partial obedience is disobedience…it’s compromise, and he’s compromised far too long. When we are in that place of compromise, God seldom factors into our thinking even when tragedy strikes…even when we experience the consequences of our choices.

So where is God? He’s still there in the midst of the mess. He hasn’t lost control. He is still working in the lives of His people. Jacob, like his daddy and granddaddy, is called to be a blessor of the nations. But also like Abraham and Isaac, his actions result in cursing rather than blessing. Instead of introducing the townsfolk to the love of Creator God, they’re introduced to a sword. Yet God is still in the process to transform Jacob into Israel. He’s not done, and He hasn’t given up on Jacob. But for Moses’ original audience, this episode would have highlighted the danger of compromise. It doesn’t turn out well.

God is still at work in our mess too. When the sin of others tragically impacts us, when our anger overwhelms us, when we are tempted to withdrawal and look out for number one, He sees and He cares. He knows and will one day judge. But praise God that He is patient. If not, all of us would be annihilated. For no one is innocent. Since the time of the fall, when the world was fractured by our sin and rebellion, God has been on a rescue mission. He’s promised a way back to the garden, a way back to life with Him through faith in the One He promised to send…the Genesis 3.15 Redeemer, the Head crushing Seed of the woman, Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died a bloody, horrible death, was raised the third day, conquering both sin and death, crushing the serpent’s head. He has provided the way back for us to Creator God.

I don’t know who you are today…Dinah, Shechem, Jacob, Simeon and Levi…but Jesus died for you. He understands your shame and your guilt, your anger, and your fear. He took it all with Him when He was nailed to the cross. He came to bring life. He wants to restore and heal you. And He wants to remind you that you are an image-bearer. You have infinite value. You are loved.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

September 22, 2014

There and Back Again

Genesis 33

Jacob is well on his way to becoming Israel. We’ve seen tremendous progress in his spiritual journey. When we think back to his selfishly, despicable treatment of his brother Esau and his father Isaac earlier in his life, it is amazing the changes that God has worked in his life.

Reconciling with Laban was nothing compared to making amends with Esau, but both are necessary before Jacob is ready to enter the land as Israel. And just when we think he’s arrived, Jacob starts to show up again, doing things his way, settling for “close enough”. At this point in the story, his partial obedience doesn’t appear to be a big deal, but trust me it is. We will see the disastrous consequences of it in living color next week.

Partial obedience is disobedience. It’s a symptom of our failure to trust God…fully. It whispers, “you can call the shots, you don’t need anyone else telling you what to do”. It’s evidence of our sinful rebellion against our Creator God. Not unlike Adam and Eve in the garden. So when we fail to do what God asks us…we compromise on the things He’s clearly revealed to us through His Word and through His Spirit’s work in our lives, it doesn’t matter that “it’s only a little white lie” or that “everybody’s doing it” or “it’s ok because we’re in love” or “it’s only wrong if you get caught” we are living in disobedience. We’re repeating the sin of the garden, saying we know better than God what is good. And the consequences of our rebellion are sure to come.

But the good news is…Jacob is well on his way to becoming Israel. He’s made great strides in trusting God more and more. And though he still has a ways to go, God’s not done with him yet. He’s a work in progress. And so are we. We too have been given a new name…child of God. Though we often fall short in our obedience, fail to live fully in our new identity, His grace is still at work in our lives. He’s shaping and molding us into the image of His Son. He’s calling us to trust Him more fully, more completely. Jacob’s struggle to become Israel is an Old Testament picture of the believer’s struggle to walk in the Spirit.

Maybe you haven’t taken that initial step in trusting God yet. Today is the day that you could do that. Your life will be forever changed…the Bible describes it as passing from death to life, transferring from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son. By believing that Jesus, the One whom God promised to send to rescue us way back in Genesis 3.15, the Head-Crushing Seed of the woman, really did come and live a perfect life, die a bloody, horrible death, was raised the third day conquering both sin and death and crushing the head of the serpent, we could be reconciled to our Creator God, experiencing peace with Him and living in His kingdom forever…returning to paradise.

May we be a people, living in His grace, letting go of half-hearted attempts at obedience and learning to trust Him more and more.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster