WE do not undertake to harmonize any expositions of Scripture outside of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. To illustrate: One Band member writes that such a book says that a text means this, another book teaches that it means that; now with which does the SIGNS agree? To settle such questions is not our province or purpose. When we can help our readers to a better understanding of the Bible we are glad to do so, but such questions as the above must be answered by mail or not at all. These notes and our question page are for Bible and historical questions pertaining thereto.
Some of our readers have been amazed and alarmed in reading Genesis to find that some of the noted characters there named were very imperfect, that they did not always tell the truth, yet God greatly blessed them, and did not seem to reprove them for their sins. These thoughts may help them: (1) The book of Genesis is not a record of law, but of God's providential care and guarding of the channel of the promised Seed for more than 2,500 years, despite all the efforts of Satan to overthrow His plan. From the implication of the promise in Gen. 3:15 to Israel in Egypt God preserved them thru whom the Seed should come. (2) God takes people as they are, and He weighs them, not according to outward appearance nor specific knowledge, but according to the purpose of their lives. 2 Chron. 16:9. They may be very imperfect, but the perfect purpose rules, gradually molding their lives to its high standard. God works with us poor mortals only as we will and choose to let Him; for the awful responsibility of choice is left with us. (3) We do not know how often God reproved and rebuked sins simply from this brief record. He doubtless did reprove, and He has shown us the working out of this. He reveals the sin, He also reveals the consequences. Note this emphatically in Jacob's life.