The Pattern of Shem (Advent 6, 2022)

Continuing our look at Jesus’ ancestry, we’re on verse 36 : “the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,” (Luke 3:36)

Out of the 8 people in the ark, the remnant comes through Noah’s son Shem (which means Name, Fame, Conscious Knowledge of The Whole of Creation). Interestingly, we begin to see a pattern. Seth (third born replacing Abel who was Adam and Eve’s deceased second child and became the second son) and now Shem was the chosen line though he also was the second born. (Genesis 10:21)

This probably isn’t like the old parenting joke about how the firstborn is the “practice child” on whom every parent makes their mistakes and knows better by the time #2 shows up.

This is setting down a pattern that God doesn’t go by birth order but by His will. It affirms His choice and His ways being different than ours. If we could predict God’s every move, we’d be smarter than God and we’re not.

The Apostle Paul talks about this, what is in Christian circles called “election.”

“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad– in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls– she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (Romans 9:10-12)

Paul’s point is that “election” is not because of what any person has done to earn it. God simply chooses–He elects them for reasons He alone knows, even if a leapfrog (at times) over birth order.

Questions for further thought:

Modern people often have a tough time with the idea that God would elect anyone to salvation because it implies that He doesn’t elect others. Like He’s picking favorites for a basketball team.

How would it be different if He was electing us to salvation in the Messiah? In other words, He identified the pathway…in Christ…before a single human was created?

Does it matter that we don’t understand fully why God does things?

In what way is that a function of being made in the Image of God, but never intended to be gods?

Prayer:

Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be with You in heaven, despite our sin. We praise You for the greatness of Your wisdom in making us righteous through Your forgiveness in Christ. Thank You that salvation isn’t something we earn which falls short time and again, but that it is based on Your grace which is always dependable and wise. We love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.