OLD TESTAMENT ARTICLE
SUPPLANTING THE SUPPLANTER
While still in elementary school, I arrived one day not knowing my class had decided to investigate the meaning of my first name. Needless to say, they found it quite humorous that my physical appearance was somewhat different from what my name indicated. Do you know what your name means? Probably not. However, in Old Testament times such was not the case. Each child was given a name based upon looks, their supposed character, circumstances surrounding their birth, or the emotions of the parents at the time. The name given to one of Isaac's sons was no different.
In Rebekah's womb there existed a constant struggle. This so disturbed Rebekah that she inquired of the Lord, who promptly told her she had twins but that the older would serve the younger, (Genesis 25:23). Needless to say this was quite out of the ordinary. However the struggling in the womb coupled with the younger grabbing the older's heel at birth indicated things would be different with these two. Because the younger had grabbed the heel, he was given the name Jacob, which meant heal grabber, supplanter, one who overtakes.
Some years later Jacob began living up to his name when he acquired Esau's birthright by trading him a bowl of stew for it, (Genesis 25:27-34). Not long thereafter he again proved the worthiness of his name when he stole Esau's blessing by tricking Isaac into giving it to him by pretending to be Esau, (Genesis 27:1-29). This led Esau to exclaim, "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times." (Genesis 27:36).
However it wasn't long before the supplanter was himself supplanted. Jacob, fearing for his life, traveled to Paddan-aram where his uncle Laban lived. Jacob loved Laban's daughter Rachel so Laban said if he worked seven years for him Jacob could have her for a wife, (Genesis 29:18-29). At the end of seven years Jacob thought he married Rachel only to find out Laban had given him Leah, (Genesis 29:21-25). The supplanter had been supplanted. The deceiver had been deceived.
It may be that we have read this story of Jacob working for Rachel only to get Leah and felt some sympathy for poor ole Jacob. But what about poor ole Esau. There's a phrase we sometimes use which I believe adequately describes this situation. "What goes around comes around.' God might put it a little differently, 'You reap what you sow.' I can't say with certainty that what Laban did to Jacob was punishment for what Jacob had done to Esau. But it's funny how those who engage in trickery and deceit often become the tricked and the deceived. Therefore let us learn to provide things honest in the sight of all men. If someone tricks or deceives you, don't sink to their level. God will take care of them.
NEW TESTAMENT ARTICLE
YOU HAVE A HEART CONDITION!
Luke 8:4-15
There is surely not a parable which the Lord uttered as well known as the parable of the sower. It is striking that with the passing of almost 2,000 years the descriptions given of differing heart conditions are just as relevant today as it was then. Surely, it says something about the timelessness of Jesus' message as well as the unchanging nature of man. That being the case, our heart is somewhere described therein. So which description best fits?
One observation before we continue. Three out of four hearts heard and received the word but only one of the three which heard actually did anything with it. Thus hearing and receiving is good but not enough! Overall only one in four will have the proper heart.
Closed. For some there is little interest in the hearing of the good news of Jesus. The Devil is given the credit for their hearts being so hardened that the message of God's love cannot penetrate it. Surely this impresses us with the power of the Devil. How could one NOT be touched with the dying of an innocent man for the guilty hordes?
Crazed. In the '70's it was disco, the '80's it was rap, and on and on we could go listing various crazes which were popular for a while but soon vanished. Such is this heart. It is unlike the first in that it both heard and received but little consideration was given to possible difficulties arising as a result of their receiving the message. Thus the first little temptation which comes along blows them out of the water and suddenly they're crying "Abandon Ship!" Look before you leap! Count the costs!
Cluttered. Talk about relevant! As the old country preacher might say, "It don't get more relevanter.' Actually, Luke's record of this parable might one day serve as an adequate epitaph for our society: "worries and riches and pleasures." There's not a one of us who doesn't battle one or all of these things. One should never worry. However, there's nothing wrong with having riches and pleasures. The problem? The priority they hold. We can't be seeking riches and pleasures and worrying about how to get them all while we serve the Lord. Something will give, usually the Lord. You can't serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Committed. There is nothing out of the ordinary regarding this type of heart. They too will have their temptations to give up and their battles with 'worries and riches and pleasures" but they have one quality the others don't. PERSEVERANCE. It's so important that Jesus mentions it twice ("hold it fast'). This heart is committed to God come what may. No matter the trials or difficulties they "keep on a keepin' on." .They stay focused on what is TRULY important. The result? Fruit is born. Remember John 15:2. (Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every {branch} that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.)
Now which heart best describes you?