Time with Jesus -17 Dec 2013
Hi all,
The movie was “The Godfather”. In
it we came across the expression, “I'm gonna make
him an offer he won't refuse. Okay?” The comment stirs up emotion in all
of us. It’s a bit reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition when the Jews were
asked to convert to Christianity. The alternative was death. So unless you
agreed….
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Scripture
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No
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Mother
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Name
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Meaning
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Words spoken by Leah or Rachel
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Gen 29:31-32
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1
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Leah
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Reuben
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See, a
Son
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Leah
said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love
me now.”
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Gen 29:33
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2
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Leah
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Simeon
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One
who hears
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Leah
said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.”
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Gen 29:34
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3
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Leah
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Levi
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Attached
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Leah
said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have
borne him three sons.”
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Gen 29:35
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4
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Leah
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Judah
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Praise
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Leah
said, “This time I will praise the LORD.”
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Gen 30:4-6
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5
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Bilhah
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Dan
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He has
vindicated
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Rachel
said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.”
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Gen 30:7-8
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6
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Bilhah
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Napthali
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My
struggle |
Rachel
said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.”
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|
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Gen 30:9-11
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7
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Zilpah
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Gad
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Good
fortune or a troop
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Leah
said, “What good fortune!”
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|
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Gen 30:12-13
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8
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Zilpah
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Asher
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Happy
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Leah
said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.”
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Gen 30:17-18
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9
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Leah
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Issachar
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Reward
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Leah
said, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.”
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Gen 30:19-20
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10
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Leah
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Zebulon
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Honour
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Leah
said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will
treat me with honour, because I have borne him six sons.”
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|
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Gen 30:22-24
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11
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Rachel
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Joseph
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May he
add
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Rachel
said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”
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|
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Gen 35:16-29
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12
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Rachel
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Benoni
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Son of
my trouble
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As she
breathed her last - for she was dying - she named her son Ben-Oni.
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|
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Benjamin
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Son of
my right hand
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But
his father named him Benjamin.
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Gen 30:21
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Leah
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Dinah
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Nothing
stated - she was a daughter
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In Genesis 29 we see several
examples of an offer you can’t refuse.
As we know, Jacob “fell in love”
with Rachel. She was Laban’s youngest daughter. He arrived almost penniless in
Haran. Not surprising since he had left home in a hurry fearing Esau’s revenge
for “stealing” the blessing of the eldest son. 
Jacob was virtually “stuck” in
Haran with his uncle Laban. (Jacob’s mother’s brother). He certainly couldn’t
leave and take Rachel with him unless he paid Laban the “bride price”. 
But
Laban was a bigger swindler than Jacob would ever be. So our love-sick swain
agreed to work for Laban for 7 years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. It was an
offer he couldn’t refuse. Not if he wanted to marry Rachel. 
18 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her
father, "I'll work for you
for seven years if you'll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my
wife." 19 "Agreed!" Laban replied. "I'd
rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me." Gen 29:18-19 NLT
We know he agreed. Seven years later Laban tricked him into
marrying Leah, Laban’s eldest daughter.
One week later he also married Rachel. It was another offer he
couldn’t refuse. Thus Jacob acquired two wives. Along with his wives, he
acquired two female slaves. They were the servants of Leah (Zilpah) and Rachel (Bilhah)
respectively. 
That’s when the “fun” started. Leah had no problem conceiving and
in quick succession produced 4 sons. Rachel did not have children. 
So Rachel
did what Sarah had done with Hagar. Jacob had two sons by her slave Bilhah. It
was an offer Bilhah couldn’t refuse. Then Leah got in on the act and Jacob had
two sons by her slave Zilpah; a total of 8 sons to date. Leah then “bought” a
night with Jacob by selling her mandrakes to Rachel. 
Since mandrakes were considered
an aphrodisiac which also heightened the likelihood of conception, it was an offer Rachel
couldn’t refuse.
Hey-presto, Leah produced another son, followed shortly thereafter
by a sixth son. Then Leah gave birth to a daughter. Finally, Rachel had a son,
followed some time later by a second son. 
In effect, Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter by two wives and
two concubines. 
Scripture tells us in advance that Jacob would have 12 sons who
would become the 12 tribes of Israel. So by running away from home and going to
stay with his uncle Laban, Jacob was given an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He
ended up with 4 “women at war” competing to produce his sons. Ag shame!
Shalom
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 17 Dec 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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HOBSON’S
CHOICE
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THOMAS
HOBSON – 1544-1631
Hobson's choice
is a free choice in which only one option is offered. As a person may refuse
to take that option. The choice is therefore between taking the option or
not. “Take it or leave it". It originated with Thomas Hobson a livery
stable owner in England. To rotate the use of his horses, he offered customers
the choice of either taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking
none at all. (Taken from Wikipedia via Google)
“To be or not to be, that is the question”, must be
one of the best known soliloquys ever written. Spoken by Hamlet, it is
perhaps an ideal example of Hobson’s choice. Shakespeare’s “take it or leave
it”. Do I, don’t I? Now Hobson and Shakespeare were contemporaries, maybe one
inspired the other?
The Bible is not written in “playwright” style. Not
as we read it in English today. One or two of the books could be compiled
that way. Job springs to mind, as does Habakkuk and Malachi. There is no suggestion
of this anywhere in the New Testament. But at the same time, the words of
Jesus are frequently presented to us in a “Take it or Leave it” style. A good
example comes from John’s Gospel: 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you
are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much
fruit. For apart from Me you can do
nothing. John 15: NLT This is
typical of Jesus’ “Hobson’s choice” references.
In our meditation today, I’ve compiled a small play.
There are only two characters. One is the Queen of Sheba. The other is Jesus.
The words of the Queen of Sheba are from 1 Kings 10.
I’ve used the information recorded about her there. This, I’ve combined with
a small amount of imagination to produce a soliloquy on with her impressions
of King Solomon.
Jesus’ soliloquy is based on His knowledge of the
Queen of Sheba. It takes into consideration the contextual background and His
words spoken to the Jewish leaders in Matthew 12. What happened was that they
had been walking through the grain fields. Because they were hungry, His disciples
had broken off some of the grain. They rubbed it in their hands in order to
obtain the nourishment they needed. This made the Scribes and Pharisees
furious. “They are harvesting grain on the Sabbath!” they said angrily. “This
is forbidden by the Law of Moses”.
Jesus’ answer to them was predictable and
liberating. Unfortunately for Him, He made the point that He, the Son of Man,
was Lord of the Sabbath. According to their strict interpretation, Jesus was
saying that He had authority to interpret the Mosaic Law differently from
them. If it had been possible for them to “foam at the mouth” like mad dogs,
that’s what they would have done!
In His soliloquy, I’ve taken phrases and statements
from elsewhere in the Gospels. They present these leaders with a Hobson’s
choice situation. A choice that is equally applicable to us today. What are
we going to do with Jesus? Do we believe Him or don’t we? Will we obey Him or
won’t we? Many of the Jewish leaders back then rejected Him. They will be
rejected on Judgement Day. You and I have the same choice. “To be or not to
be?” That is the question?
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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7 But I didn't believe
the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I wasn't even told half
of it. Your wisdom and wealth surpass the stories I've heard.
1 Kings 10:7 GW
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QUEEN OF SHEBA:
I wouldn’t
have believed it, or thought that it was true,
That
someone was as wealthy and wise O King as you!
Your temple
is fantastic. Your palace better still.
I thought
it was impossible in all the world until,
I visited
Jerusalem to see with my own eyes.
If what I’d
heard was genuine, or just a pack of lies.
But as I
look around me, the things that I can see,
Are so much
more resplendent than what I thought could be.
This
surpasses anything and everything I’ve heard.
And now
that I have seen it, I know it’s not absurd!
JESUS:
That’s what
the Queen of Sheba to Solomon did say.
Perhaps
that’s all she wanted before she went away?
But on the
Day of Judgement, be sure that she will stand,
And bring
her condemnation to many in the land.
Especially
the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law.
She saw a
man of wisdom and standing here before,
The leaders
of this Nation. A Man who is more wise,
Than
anything King Solomon had set before her eyes.
She
travelled a great distance, King Solomon to test.
And this
man now before you is wiser than his best.
Solomon’s
great wisdom was there for her to see.
But none of
you will listen to what I say to thee.
Ignorance
is fatal and you just close your ears.
One day at
the judgement, your eyes will fill with tears!
You will be
excluded from the Kingdom of the Lord,
Because of
your hard-heartedness; He’ll put you to the sword.
I know you
don’t believe it. You look for clever words.
You listen
to the speeches of the pompous and absurd.
Instead of
something simple that a child can understand,
You trust
in man-made customs that make you feel so grand!
And your
religious practices, that drive the folk away.
What is it
at the judgement that you are going to say?
The King in
all His splendour; before Whom you will bow,
Will say
that you are hypocrites. And He will ask you how,
The people
you ministered to will want to let you in?
You’ll
stand in condemnation for a wicked life of sin.
I’ve
nothing more to tell you, except my heart is breaking,
That even
at this instant, your ways you aren’t forsaking.
And you are
lost forever, unless you turn to me;
And you
display repentance for everyone to see.
So Priests
and Scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the Law.
Grab this
opportunity. It may come back no more!
Jim Strickland
Written
17th
December 2012
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42 The queen from the
south will stand up at the time of judgment with you. She will condemn you, because
she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. But look,
someone greater than Solomon is here!
Matthew 12:42 GW
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14 So the Word became human and made His home among
us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
John 1:14 NLT
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4 And my message and my
preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches,
I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but
in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NLT
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9 That is what the
Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind
has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 10
But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us
God's deep secrets.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT
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17 Your eyes will see the
king in all his splendour and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.
Isaiah
33:17 NLT
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2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but He
has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know
that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as
He really is.
1 John 3:2 NLT
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26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
Job 19:26 NLT
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15 Because I am righteous, I will see You. When I awake, I will see You face to face and be
satisfied.
Psalms 17:15 NLT
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