Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 5 November 2023
Our Dysfunction and God's Grace
Scripture References: Genesis 38:1-30, Psalms 42:1-11, Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:1-6
Gathering Growing Going
Loading Content...
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseGenesis 38 really does stand out! For many, it interrupts the natural flow of Joseph’s story, it lays out the sordid life of a culture and a world we do not understand, and there seems nothing to redeem Judah in his behaviour towards God, his own family and Tamar, his daughter-in-law. In fact, you might get to the end of Genesis 38, throw your hands up, and cry out, ‘Who can save this family, which is the hope of the world?’ And, yet, this account is here for a very clear purpose. This is the account of Jacob’s family, and so a focus on other sons should not surprise us. Judah is the nominal head of the sons of Jacob, after the fall from grace of Reuben, Simeon and Levi. Judah’s nature and character is clearly on show here, contrasting with Joseph, and setting our lenses for reading the rest of Genesis. And whilst this is a foreign landscape, the promises of God are not foreign – his grace is evident, his judgement of sin is evident, his work in human nature is evident… and his promise to reverse the curse will emerge from this sordid episode – just read Matthew 1!
Scripture References: Genesis 38:1-30, Psalms 42:1-11, Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:1-6
Related Topics: Grace | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
It all begins in Adam | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 21 April 2013 | Listen | ||
Why is it so? Part 1 | Bernard Gabbott | Saturday, 4 June 2011 | Listen | ||
Why is it so? Part 2 | Bernard Gabbott | Saturday, 4 June 2011 | Listen | ||
Why is it so? Part 3 questions | Bernard Gabbott | Saturday, 4 June 2011 | Listen |
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
13 Dewhurst St, Narrabri NSW 2390
Ph: (02) 6792 2151
Email: Click Here
8:30am & 10:30am each Sunday
9:30am each Sunday in January
Copyright © 2024 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in