13 March 2010
Psalm 87, 90; Gen. 47:27-48:7; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Mark 7:1-23

Jacob wants to be buried in the land of the promise. After seventeen years in Egypt he is concerned that he be returned to his land, whether he possessed the land or not. Egypt is not his home nor is it to be the home of his family and the people of Israel. It is odd that Jacob includes the sons of Joseph in the family, which would have included both inheritance and blessing. At the time it may not have seemed like much to offer, but ultimately it would mean that these two families would share in the promise of God, far more than the man himself had to offer. The motivation seems to have been connected to his love for Rachel and a desire to see these children, the second generation fruit of her womb, well blessed. Joseph could offer his children the best of Egypt but his father could pass along something in some ways less tangible for not being seen at present but more tangible in that it was backed by the full faith and credit of Yahweh.

Jesus confronts the scribes and Pharisees, but only because they come to Him for confrontation. The washing of hands was an important topic in Judaism. They were to be a holy people and defilement came through contact with “the world.” They were the people of God and those people out there were not. The earth itself was a source of defilement through the fall. Things like mold and other airborne bacteria were not simply hazardous to health, they were proof that the world was defiled by sin. Jesus’ answer seems obtuse in that it doesn’t respond to the question but He raises the bar by pointing to the commandment to love and honor your parents. They have been focusing on the wrong things. His comments concerning defilement rearrange their perspective. The problem isn’t “those people” it is us and the desires of our heart. How do we deal with defilement from within? We are at war with our own hearts, we need divine help to conquer that enemy.

Paul sees the danger in complacency. We have the Holy Spirit within us if we confess Jesus as Lord but does that mean that we cannot fall into sin? Paul says that we remain capable of horrible things, we aren’t better than those who came before us, our desires continue to have the power to control and devour us if we choose to give in to them. We must consciously live by the Spirit, filling our hearts and minds with those things which build up the inner person in the Spirit of God. We must live by prayer and the disciplines of the life of faith that have sustained those who have gone before us in order that we might truly follow the Lord rather than our desires.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.