The AMI QT devotionals from Jan. 15-21 are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is currently serving as a staff at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
ONAN | SELFISHNESS KILLS
Genesis 38:6-10
Judah acquired a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he had sexual relations with his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely so as not to give his brother a descendant. 10 What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too.
Have you ever been in an impossible predicament – where all options seem undesirable? In some ways, this is where Onan found himself. I don’t believe Onan deserves defending (God doesn’t seem to think so either – see v.10). However this story could use some contextualization. As the second of three sons, Onan was entitled to one-fourth of his father Judah’s inheritance (his younger brother receiving the same and his older brother receiving double). If Tamar had a son, that son would be entitled to his father’s two-forth portion. With no heirs from Er, Onan was entitled to two-thirds of Judah’s wealth. And so the predicament—fulfill his legal and familial responsibility of giving Tamar children (see yesterday’s Devotional Thought for more info on this), or be disgraced for refusing to do so.
Onan chose (drum roll please)… SELFISHNESS (and in the worst way). Instead of honoring his brother, family, and culture, he chose selfish gain. He chose to allow both his brother’s name and memory to be erased (which would happen with no male heir) and the end of a genealogical line in the family of God, all for a two-thirds inheritance (i.e. he did it for the money). Worst still, instead of being honest about his choice (in which case he still would get the money), instead of being upfront regarding his unwillingness, he feigned honor by repeatedly exploiting Tamar, having sex with her knowing full well she would not conceive. Instead of doing what was required or releasing her so other arrangements could potentially be made for her livelihood, Onan chose cowardice and used her. So God released her (again see v.10).
Sometimes systems are in place that leaves us with unfavorable options. Patriarchy is a system that leaves women completely vulnerable and youths (younger brothers in this instance) over-exposed. But no matter the system, we always have a choice—to be selfish and exploitative (using systems and others for our own gain) or to be just and loving (working within the system to do what is right and good—or overturning it all together). Onan made his choice and “it was evil in the Lord’s sight.”
Prayer: Almighty God, help me to be a person who chooses to do what is right and good, even when I’m presented with unfavorable options. Give me the courage to not only look to my own interests but also to the interests of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 5
Lunch Break Study
Read Philippians 2:1-11: Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, 6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! 9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Questions to Consider
- What do you think it means “to be moved to treat others as more important than yourself”? Why do you think Paul gives these instructions?
- In v.4 Paul does not say that we should not have any concern for our own interests. Instead, he says that we should also look to the interests of others. How does this challenge or align with how you typically think of considering others (loving and serving others)?
- What would it mean for you to “have the same attitude… that Christ Jesus had”? What are some practical ways you could follow Jesus’ example in the specific relationships in your life?
Notes
- Whatever considering others better than ourselves means, it is set up as the opposite to being motivated by selfish ambition (doing things purely for our own gain) and vanity (self-absorption). In most of my relationships, I have found that self-absorption is something people do unintentionally and absent-mindedly. People are naturally self-absorbed (some more than others). Therefore, it requires intentionality and an explicitly command to lead us to the kind of love and rationality God calls us to as believers. Yes, self-absorption is natural, and selfishness is what we naturally pursue as an ultimate gain, but God calls us to a better way. And from Jesus we see that as we consider others, we too are blessed. In their gain is our gain!
- Oftentimes, Christian love is characterized as something that is utterly selfless. So much so that I’ve found in ministry (and in my own life) it difficult to convince Christians to do simple things for the purpose of self-care or basic self-sustenance. Paul reminds us that our interests are not wholly unimportant; they are just not singular and ultimate. We also have others to consider.
- Spend some time in personal reflection.
Evening Reflection
What are some of the specific areas or relationships in your life where your tendency toward selfishness (pursuit of selfish gain or absentminded self absorption) is harmful to the people around you? Ask God for discernment and clarity and for ways to you can practically look also to the interests of others. Consider asking those closest to you (your closest friends, family members, coworkers—those with whom you do life regularly) to help you answer these questions as well.
Judah, Joseph’s jealous brother who spearheaded his sale into slavery, moves away, marries, and has sons. The eldest grows up and marries. Yet he does evil and God takes his life. (We can only imagine what he must have done!) There was a common practice in the Ancient Near East (i.e. back in OT days) called Levirate marriage. In a society where it would have been forbidden for a woman to re-marry outside the clan and where women were utterly dependent upon the men in their family (father/husband/son – in that order) for protection and sustenance, in the event that a woman became a widow but had no sons, her husband’s brother was required to marry her and bring forth a male child. Think of this not only as a way to propagate the family name (which was important), but also as a kind of life insurance policy for the widow— ensuring her care and protection. This is what is happening in the verses above.
Joseph finds himself in such a moment. Things are not going well for him (understatement of the century!). Instead of rising to the place of supremacy over his family, he is descending into servitude in a foreign land.
Years ago, I had a recurring dream of the most amazing song that I could never remember when I woke up. I’m still tempted to think that I have written the world’s greatest song, and I just can’t remember what it is! One journal told the story of a Doctor Holmes who took up an interest in ether (a chemical used as an anesthetic). After administering it to his patients many times, he decided to have his nurse administer it to him so he could better understand its affects. As he went under and found himself in a “dream-like state,” he became fully persuaded that he had “suddenly grasped the key to all the mysteries of the universe,” but once he awoke, he couldn’t remember what it was. So he decided to do it again, and this time, he had his nurse write down the thoughts that came to him. Again, this key to the universe’s mysteries dawned on him; he muttered it to his nurse who wrote it down. When the analgesic effects of ether wore off, Dr Holmes eagerly asked the nurse to read back to him what he’d said. The nurse read: “The entire universe is permeated with a strong odor of turpentine.” He was, to say the least, underwhelmed. I guess some thoughts in our dreams are better left unsaid (and probably also unsung!).
Let’s get to know one another for a moment! What is your favorite color? (Mine is black. Weird, I know.) What is your favorite food? (Mine is steak—medium rare please and thank you!) What is your favorite drink? (Mine is hot tea—I’m really loving all tings oolong these days.) Who is your favorite singer? (Ugh— too tough to choose. I’d have to say a tie between Donny Hathaway, Nina Simone, and Sam Cooke). We all have favorites—things that bring us the most joy, things attached to precious memories from our past, things that speak to us in a special way.
The AMI QT Devotionals for January 8-14 are provided by Tina Hsu. Tina, a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), currently serves as a staff at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.
As we are two weeks into the new year, some of us may have already made New Year’s resolutions, while others may still be in the process of making some. In my own reflection, I thought of a few skills and habits I want to build for my own self-improvement, but the Lord also reminded me of resolutions to make for the sake of others—which led me to think about the habit of appreciation.
While serving in China, I was given the daunting—yet privileged—task of preaching on Sundays on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Before going to China, I remember God telling me that His call for me to serve overseas is an invitation to serve Him in my weakness; and if I was willing to dive into this discomfort, then I could go ahead and commit to going. Though I didn’t know specifically what I would dive myself into, His voice gave me the strength to trust that He would be with me in my discomfort.
This past summer, I visited the elementary school in the countryside of Taiwan that my great-grandfather planted. The building is now a cafe restaurant but the owners kept the atmosphere and design to look like a school. I also learned he was a pianist by training, and he planted the school initially to provide music lessons for children. I loved learning about my family history and was so blessed to visit the historic place.
In my early 20’s, I naively believed that God placed me in positions because I had what it took to do it—and I took in people’s praises a little too much. Then, in the process of struggling through jobs, studies, and ministry, I began to swallow the fact that He chose me for certain roles so that He could reveal Himself to me, as well as to reveal more about myself —particularly, my weaknesses. Though learning more about myself isn’t fun sometimes, I’ve gained much freedom through it and have tasted more of God’s grace.
In today’s passage, there is a strong sense of intimacy and directness towards Jacob, and God brings Jacob to a deeper revelation of Himself by saying he is “God Almighty,” a name God used when he revealed Himself to Abraham (17:1), blessing him with the blessing that He first gave to Abraham and Isaac. This is the second time that God appears to Jacob and tells him of his new name, “Israel” (meaning “he struggles with God”) and says he is no longer called “Jacob” (meaning “he deceives”).