- Jun 21, 2009
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Thought bubble: . o O ((It's been too long since I've posted but I was wondering . . .))
So, I remember reading about when Jacob requested only the specked and spotted sheep and goats from all Laban’s flocks that he tended, to make flocks of his own. It is unclear how or why it worked, but Jacob put striped branches in front of the flocks when they mated, and it resulted in specked and spotted offspring that he could claim for himself. Jacob did this only with the strong animals so that his flocks grew strong while Laban had weak flocks (Genesis 30:31–43 especially Gen 30:41) .
We know that Jacob’s name is translated as 'he deceives' or 'he cheats' (grabber?) (Genesis 25:26). This seems more like spiritual cunning than deception, except, perhaps in Laban's view. Here we have a story that defies explanation. What kind of "science" might be used to explain Jacob's plans for increase? What scientific explanation could there be for striped branches begetting speckled and spotted lambs, or if not 'begetting' at least being a causative agent in the process???
God blessed him, is my guess. But then, I wonder about these things too. Yes, and obviously, it was the blessing of God. It could be nothing else. But what of the secret / unseen things? Those things unobserved and hence inexplicable to the Scientific Method?
Here's the passage that I've been pondering: Genesis 30:31–43 English Standard Version
Maybe it was "aliens"? (he suggests, tongue-in-cheek). What was the mechanism of that heredity? How was the passing on of physical characteristics genetically from one generation to another accomplished that time? God's hand? Yes. Certainly. That's a simple (true enough) explanation. It seems though that there may be more going on than that. My mind goes toward 'extra-terrestrial' beings but not 'aliens'.
"What are Your thoughts, Father?" May I search them out on this? Could it be that Jacob was directing angels? And now a thought of Jacob's ladder. Earlier in Jacob's journey he had a dream of a ladder to heaven (with God at the top) and angels ascending and descending. This same imagery is found in Jesus' words to Nathanael in John 1:51.
I trust that I'm on-topic still as I take another leap into the N.T. for another peak into the "how?" of it all: Matthew 8:9: "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Before you reply, "Hold on there, brother! Let's not lose the focus. To God be the glory!"
Let me reply, "Amen, to that!" And add, Science (from the Latin word scientia, meaning "knowledge") is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions.
As Shakespeare once penned,
Perhaps there is more than one such something that nature and/or Science fails to see.
So, I remember reading about when Jacob requested only the specked and spotted sheep and goats from all Laban’s flocks that he tended, to make flocks of his own. It is unclear how or why it worked, but Jacob put striped branches in front of the flocks when they mated, and it resulted in specked and spotted offspring that he could claim for himself. Jacob did this only with the strong animals so that his flocks grew strong while Laban had weak flocks (Genesis 30:31–43 especially Gen 30:41) .
We know that Jacob’s name is translated as 'he deceives' or 'he cheats' (grabber?) (Genesis 25:26). This seems more like spiritual cunning than deception, except, perhaps in Laban's view. Here we have a story that defies explanation. What kind of "science" might be used to explain Jacob's plans for increase? What scientific explanation could there be for striped branches begetting speckled and spotted lambs, or if not 'begetting' at least being a causative agent in the process???
God blessed him, is my guess. But then, I wonder about these things too. Yes, and obviously, it was the blessing of God. It could be nothing else. But what of the secret / unseen things? Those things unobserved and hence inexplicable to the Scientific Method?
Here's the passage that I've been pondering: Genesis 30:31–43 English Standard Version
Maybe it was "aliens"? (he suggests, tongue-in-cheek). What was the mechanism of that heredity? How was the passing on of physical characteristics genetically from one generation to another accomplished that time? God's hand? Yes. Certainly. That's a simple (true enough) explanation. It seems though that there may be more going on than that. My mind goes toward 'extra-terrestrial' beings but not 'aliens'.
"What are Your thoughts, Father?" May I search them out on this? Could it be that Jacob was directing angels? And now a thought of Jacob's ladder. Earlier in Jacob's journey he had a dream of a ladder to heaven (with God at the top) and angels ascending and descending. This same imagery is found in Jesus' words to Nathanael in John 1:51.
I trust that I'm on-topic still as I take another leap into the N.T. for another peak into the "how?" of it all: Matthew 8:9: "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Before you reply, "Hold on there, brother! Let's not lose the focus. To God be the glory!"
Let me reply, "Amen, to that!" And add, Science (from the Latin word scientia, meaning "knowledge") is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions.
As Shakespeare once penned,
Perhaps there is more than one such something that nature and/or Science fails to see.
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