When we think of perfect we think of something as extraordinarily wonderful. A perfect wife. What comes in your mind? A perfect husband, what comes in your mind? A perfect grade, what comes in your mind? And so on. We imagine, the super best there is. When children are like their parents, and then the child marries, and the wife is just like the husband, her in laws, and her own father- we would say that is a perfect match-up. Every one is the same. Gen 27: 11-13 Jacob was going to deceive his father, with his mother Rebekah’s blessing. So he deceived his father. He had deceived his brother as well; so father and brother Gen 27: 36. Later, he worked for his uncle- and his uncle deceived him- Gen 29: 25. And later the uncle’s daughter, Jacob’s cousin, his wife, deceived her father- Gen 31: 35. So Laban, his sister Rebekah were deceivers. They both had children Rachel and Jacob. And all of them deceived each other. Judah was later deceived by Tamar. The perfect family. A family of deceivers. We know Abraham lied to protect himself, as did Isaac. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob- all the wives- all lied and deceived. And this is the original family Israelite, the people of God- family, after the flood, for the world of Adam was destroyed. As I read these sections, I was in wonderment of how the LORD allowed this to happen, and crowned Abraham and Sarah the Father/ Mother of all nations Gen 17: 5, 16. Right after Rachel and Leah, Jacob’s wives said to him Gen 31: 14-16 do whatever God tells you to do, he then goes on to deceived Laban Gen 31: 20. Extraordinary! Do what God tells you. Ok. Jacob- deceive!! In case you were not aware, lying and deceiving are a manner of how something is done, the result, is the same. God asked- who will lie for me? 2 Chron 18: 20-21. God said- go, you will succeed. In all these scenarios, was this the “permissible“ plan of God or the “perfect“ plan of God? God’s permissible will or God’s perfect will? I never knew God had two plans, and swing around from one to the other. I understand God, the world, simply as – Is 37: 26; Is 46: 11. This seems to imply one thing. God plans, God makes it happen. Now, if you understand he permitted it, because he planned it- of course he permitted it, because he planned what will happen, his perfect will. That’s easy. What is difficult, is the negative aspects of man’s character that God uses to bring about his plan. This is when we start to understand Rom 8: 28. But it must be held in balance with Rom 6: 2. Without understanding all these dynamics, you leave yourself open to thought- well, I have no choice. That argument is wiped with Joshua 24 : 15 and John 5: 24. A choice. A choice A choice. Do make a decreed decision. Let us diligently spend time this year in not just reading, but understanding what we are reading.
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