Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

I read Genises the other day, and i'm just wondering why the two of them have some weird little wrestling match in the country of hills.



Also, how comes after God tells Jacob that his name is now Isreal, he's still called Jacob from that point on in the story.



Also, Jacob pledges to give one tenth of the food and clothing god provides for him on his journey.

Why would he give something back, that god is giving him.



That's like giving your child an allowance, then charging him or her tax.

Esau :)



I don't think God literally means Jacob's name is Israel.. He means Jacob will be the 'father' of Israel.



And in terms of tithing.. it's kinda like a way of showing you're not too attached to the material things in life: you have the ability to give those things back to God without selfishness taking over.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

But what use does God have for food and clothing.

Jacob was traveling alone, and didn't come across any one in need of charity in his journey. So how did he give god his 10 percent?

Just burn the perfectly good robes and livestock?

No.. they used to burn things to atone for their sins. That's different.



He doesn't have a 'use' if by that you mean.. did God wear all those clothes and eat all the livestock. It's a mark of respect.. being able to let go of your worldly possessions.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

But what use does God have for food and clothing.

Jacob was traveling alone, and didn't come across any one in need of charity in his journey. So how did he give god his 10 percent?

Just burn the perfectly good robes and livestock?

No.. they used to burn things to atone for their sins. That's different.



He doesn't have a 'use' if by that you mean.. did God wear all those clothes and eat all the livestock. It's a mark of respect.. being able to let go of your worldly possessions.

But God gave him these things.

You wouldnt give someone a twix, and then ask for one finger back.

No... but if you loved that person, wouldn't you offer them a bit back anyway? It's only a tenth, for goodness' sake!

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

But what use does God have for food and clothing.

Jacob was traveling alone, and didn't come across any one in need of charity in his journey. So how did he give god his 10 percent?

Just burn the perfectly good robes and livestock?

No.. they used to burn things to atone for their sins. That's different.



He doesn't have a 'use' if by that you mean.. did God wear all those clothes and eat all the livestock. It's a mark of respect.. being able to let go of your worldly possessions.

But God gave him these things.

You wouldnt give someone a twix, and then ask for one finger back.

No... but if you loved that person, wouldn't you offer them a bit back anyway? It's only a tenth, for goodness' sake!

Yes, if someone gave me a twix, i'd give them some back.

But God isn't a person. God has no need for a twix. It would just be wasteful.

*sigh*



Y'know.. I share everything I own with my boyfriend. Even though he's a lot richer than me, and could technically get by very well without me ever spending money on him.. because I love him, I don't see it as wasteful. Some people would. Maybe we're just coming from different mindsets here.



In terms of the hypothetical twix.. you're showing that you're able to give Him something back - just a measly tenth of the twix - but you're still giving something back. It's not the twix He cares about; it's the fact that you're willing to give.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

The you and your boyfriend situation is different though. He can actualy use what you give him.

God can't. So it's wasteful. You might have good intentions. But it's still wasteful.

Mebbe. The thing is.. we believe God's provided *everything* on this earth for us. So it's a case of, who are we to complain, if He wants a bit back? It might *seem* wasteful to you, because you're judging by earthly standards.. as if it were a person who had no need of something, asking for it.



God moves in mysterious ways, and all that... :)

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Also, God didn't technically ask for this give a tenth thing, so does that mean you don't have to do it.

Well... it's not one of the ten commandments, is it?



Seeing as we're saved by Jesus' blood - no.. you, as a Christian, wouldn't be packing your bags to hell if you didn't tithe. I'd feel incredibly selfish if I kept all God had given me to myself, though.



You know what happens with modern-day tithes, don't you?

Queen Chris wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Also, God didn't technically ask for this give a tenth thing, so does that mean you don't have to do it.

Well... it's not one of the ten commandments, is it?



Seeing as we're saved by Jesus' blood - no.. you, as a Christian, wouldn't be packing your bags to hell if you didn't tithe. I'd feel incredibly selfish if I kept all God had given me to myself, though.



You know what happens with modern-day tithes, don't you?

I'm not a big fan of tithing. Not because I don't want to give anything back, but because I don't agree with the current trend of saying, "Tithing gets you a blessing."

Ewww yeah. That's just gross. I agree ^_^



I tithe because I want to... God loves a cheerful giver, and all. But for me, it's anything from charity donations, to buying a homeless person lunch, to paying for an activity for my Sunday School kids to do, to paying my bit towards my church's renovation.. etc.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Also, God didn't technically ask for this give a tenth thing, so does that mean you don't have to do it.

Well... it's not one of the ten commandments, is it?



Seeing as we're saved by Jesus' blood - no.. you, as a Christian, wouldn't be packing your bags to hell if you didn't tithe. I'd feel incredibly selfish if I kept all God had given me to myself, though.



You know what happens with modern-day tithes, don't you?

No i don't know what happens to modern tithes.

I'm not a christian, but i do do the direct debit thing the NSCPA and Cancer Research.

See the post I just made to Chris, about where my money goes. That's not a-typical of modern-day Christians.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

The you and your boyfriend situation is different though. He can actualy use what you give him.

God can't. So it's wasteful. You might have good intentions. But it's still wasteful.

Mebbe. The thing is.. we believe God's provided *everything* on this earth for us. So it's a case of, who are we to complain, if He wants a bit back? It might *seem* wasteful to you, because you're judging by earthly standards.. as if it were a person who had no need of something, asking for it.



God moves in mysterious ways, and all that... :)

God provided everything for us, the same way a parent does for his (or her) child. God is even often referd to as the father.

If you were a parent, would you take things away from you child that you're never going to use.

Naw.. you wouldn't wrench it out of their fingers, would you?



But if they loved you enough to give you something, you'd take it gratefully and feel glad they wanted to, regardless of whether you were going to 'use' it or not. They'd be kind of hurt if you said no, when they wanted to give you something.

Queen Chris wrote:

Tithing doesn't always have to be money either. If I recall correctly, it was ten percent of whatever you produced. Before my husband rededicated his life to God, I didn't tithe money at all because I'm a stay home mom and didn't have an income. However, it was suggested to me that since I write a lot of poetry, to tithe those. Come to find out, the pastor of the church I was attending looked forward to my "tithes" every month.

Quite true. When I've not had any income, I try to make my contribution by playing the music for the hymns. It's not much, and it's something I do even when I do have an income, but I know God's not up there shaking His fist at me because I can't afford to give anything.. He's just glad we'll do what we can.

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Vivere nelle memorie. wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Nope. It's a waste.

When dealing with irrationality such as the Bible...most of the nonsense is "just because."

Well. I'm a new born christian. And "just because" isn't good enough for me.

It should be.. if you were really a 'new born Christian'. There's loads in the Bible about not being facetious, and demanding answers... if you're sure God's there, who are you to argue with Him?

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

*ellen marine* wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Vivere nelle memorie. wrote:

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:

Nope. It's a waste.

When dealing with irrationality such as the Bible...most of the nonsense is "just because."

Well. I'm a new born christian. And "just because" isn't good enough for me.

It should be.. if you were really a 'new born Christian'. There's loads in the Bible about not being facetious, and demanding answers... if you're sure God's there, who are you to argue with Him?

Oh i'm sure Gods there, i'm just not sure that the bible is his word.

Sorry, should've clarified that.. if you're sure the God of the Bible is there.. etc, etc. :P

Agent Rocket Baby Doll wrote:



Also, how comes after God tells Jacob that his name is now Isreal, he's still called Jacob from that point on in the story.

G-D only refers to himn a Israel when his actions involve the future of a nation.