Genesis 22-23

Genesis 22-23


God tests Abraham. We see here in Genesis 22 that Abraham's obedience is tested. God tests the commitment of people, but he does not tempt. It is important to recognize that distinction.

Here Abraham's testing involved taking his son to the mountain for a burnt offering, and it is huge! When Abraham's son is mentioned: it is only son. This is all Abraham had left to treasure other than his wife and possessions. He had longed for a son, and finally was given his son. Ishmael was sent away from Abraham, so in a sense Isaac was Abraham's only son.

What I am reminded of is his obedience, but also his faith. If Abraham had given up too soon, he  would not of gotten to know God as the One who would provide. I cannot imagine beginning to take this journey with two others and my son whom I would slaughter.. I believe Abraham thoroughly knew God would provide, but it is still scary as we wait for those provisions. If Abraham had given up too soon, he would of missed God's blessings. He would not of known God as his provider. Coming to know God as we experience Him is something beautiful and a treasure. So often we want to think about our pain and suffering, but there is this other side. We have the awesome chance to know God more as we experience Him at a greater depth. Out of pain and suffering is birthed experiences where I get to know God is my provider. Opportunities where I know God is my healer. Only because I get to know God more through the trials I face! Our faith is strengthened greatly! This is where raw faith is found: we are pushed to a place where we can grow tremendously as we choose to focus on Him. Let me explain what that meant for me: there are a lot of times when I do not want to do my Bible study. At times, it just does not flow naturally. But in pushing myself to not watch tv, I instead focus on being in His Word and becoming closer in my relationship with Him. Is it uncomfortable? Yes. Does He use it to bless me in my walk with Him? Yes, tremendously. When we wholly follow God, blessings will flow out. He will continue show us who He is. We will experience God like we never have before!

Abraham knew God would provide: "8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together (Gen. 22:8)." As we go through our lives, we need to TRUST that God will provide!

Notice the blessing God provided for Abraham as he continued to be obedient in preparing the altar, wood, just as he would for a burnt offering: "behold, behind him [Abraham] was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son(Gen. 22:13)."


GOD WILL PROVIDE!
Just knowing God will provide is huge and life-changing! We need to keep the faith, trusting, and knowing God will provide. Even when we don't see it, our faith is growing. No matter what we may see happening in our lives, God can use it for help us know Him more! He is our help…when we turn to Him and trust Him! Imagine if Abraham tried to do things his own way… he would of definitely missed tremendous blessings.

God blesses Abraham saying, "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

In Genesis 23:
1. Sarah died when she was 127 years old.
2. Abraham went and bought a place to lay to rest her body.
   
   More on testing: "Why does God test us?"

Genesis 19:30-21:34

Genesis 19:30-21:34

When we are afraid, we act differently than when we are not afraid. There is such a difference in how we act, especially when we are focused on our feelings or they overwhelm us. Our feelings may led us down one road, but God is calling us to go down another. Feelings can misguide us, so we need to seek God's discernment.

If Abraham was confident (not fearful), he would of obeyed God through his actions. Instead of telling others that Sarah is his sister, he would have been honest and said, "she is indeed my wife." For Lot, his fear is what drove him to a far away cave with his daughters where no one was around to harm them. Also, not one was around to be a potential mate for his daughters. His daughters' fear is what drove them to be manipulate their father, so they could bear children. Fear can drive and control people. It can control us, and our actions. This is why it is so important to recognize the truth of 2 Timothy: " God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (1:7)."

God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of self-control, love, and power. Ahh, yes. Power: God has given us power. There is power in the blood of Jesus. Through Jesus, we are given forgiveness of sins. God's power for our lives doesn't stop there. God chooses to give us power to help us overcome the temptations we may face. God can give us the power to say "No" to all ungodliness and worldly passions(See Titus 2:12). God can give us the strength to not get into arguments with someone. He can give us the strength and power to be gentle towards another person.

God has given us all we need. We can overcome the fear with His help. In this passage, God has power over fertility, even fertility. Also, we know that God promises to Sarah and Abraham that she, who is barren, will bear a child to be an heir of Abraham. God has power over all. If He has power over all, He can be our help and we can overcome the fear we feel…Further in Scripture, God uses Paul to speak these words: "In your anger, do not sin." We may have feelings. Even when our feelings are elsewhere, we still need to make it our priority to not sin. We need to make it our priority to seek God and be obedient to Him. Serving Him despite what our feelings may be (anxious, fear, sad, joyful). I say this, because a relationship with God is not based on our feelings. Our relationship with God is based on His truth! Our feelings are completely different. They are part of who we are, as a human being. Our feelings may be out of place. It is all much more than our feelings..

Love this verse in Romans as I think about overcoming sin, this sinful self, and feelings that try to stop me from doing what God wants for me to do:

Romans 7:24-25

Expanded Bible (EXB)

24 What a ·miserable [wretched] man I am! Who will ·save [free; rescue; deliver] me from this ·body that brings me death [body doomed to die; or burden of death]? 25 ·I thank God for saving me [Thanks be to God!] through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Also in this passage:

•  God spoke to Abimelech in a dream to keep him from sinning. Abimelech had taken Sarah as his wife. All Abimelech's household was barren as a result of his taking Sarah as a wife. They are then restored after Sarah is given to Abraham. Abimelech also displayed tremendous generosity to Abraham, giving him many things out of kindness.
• Abraham becomes known as the first prophet.
• Isaac is born! God's promise is fulfilled!
• Hagar is sent away with her son Ishmael. God provides water when she had none, and were ready to die. Ishmael would become a nation, and takes an Egyptian wife.
• Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech, promising to deal kindly with Abimelech and his descendants.
• After the treaty, Abraham plants a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called upon the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God!

Genesis 18:16-19:29

Genesis 18:16-19:29

God -could- hide His ways from us. But, He doesn't!
His ways are so much higher than our ways. We cannot even fathom the ways of God. We cannot even fathom how God begins to work. God is SOVEREIGN!! He can do anything! He is SOVEREIGN! Look at this part of the passage:

17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:17-19)

God chose not to hide from Abraham what He was about to do! God was getting ready to go see in person the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, which would be brought to destruction, because of the great evil. He is choosing not to hide from Abraham a way in which He will work and act with justice!

Some things about this encounter with God for Abraham:
Before the beginning of the world, God chose us. Just as He chose me, He chose you. Just as He chose us, He chose Abraham! 

He chose to reveal to Abraham His plan for Sodom and Gomorrah!
God chose Abraham to be used by Him.

He knew Abraham's heart.

This passage reminded me of the privilege God gives me. It is not a right to be able to join Him where He is working. It is definitely not a right to know WHAT God is about to do. It is such a blessing to see how God is  working, and to know how He is going to work! (Isaiah 40:10-31 reminds us HE IS SOVEREIGN! He can do whatever He wants. He is GOD!!) God chose to allow Abraham to know what was about to happen, so Abraham could intercede on the behalf of the righteous in these cities.. There is great POWER in interceding before God for others! Abraham interceded, so God would save Lot and his family from the destruction that was coming, because of the sin in these cities.

About God's Sovereignty: Nothing is mandatory. God doesn't HAVE to reveal what He is doing. We are in God's hands! He is our Creator. We are in HIS hands, and NOT the other way around! So often we focus on what we want God to do. We don't realize that He is sovereign. We need to remember the truth: God is ABOVE ALL! 

Abraham knew who God was and is, and chose to submit to Him. He also knew the power of prayer as he intercedes for the righteous! He knew God acts with justice, and would save his family! Abraham chose to be obedient and follow God, and follow His ways: being an example to those in his household. He showed them the truth, and they lived what they believed! This is what it looks like to recognize who God really is. It isn't about us. It is about Him. The more we realize who God is, the more we will want to wholly follow Him! We will leave self-centeredness, sin, our wants, and everything behind, so that we will seek Him and what His will is!

Also in chapter 19, it adds to the depth of realizing it is about Him and not us. It adds to what kind of relationship with God we could have. It changes our focus as we realize who He is... There is the significance of not looking back at the past. Lot's wife (when spared from Sodom and Gomorrah's great judgment) looked back at the cities when God told them to keep looking ahead and not to look back. Notice it was the woman. (Again, it was the woman.) Maybe it is the women who struggle more with letting go of our pasts. Maybe, we are more plagued and bothered by our pasts than men. Lot didn't look back. It was the wife. Our pasts get in the way of focusing on God. Reminding ourselves of our pasts like this brings destruction on my minds and spirits. The devil will use our pasts to bring upon us destruction!

God has brought us to freedom. Check it out: God had given Lot and his family freedom, and they were on their way to a new town to live a very new life. So often as God takes me on this journey of my new life, I look back. I look back at past mistakes. Those recaps of my past come up in my mind repeatedly and beating myself up again, it gets in the way of God's will for me. He has redeemed me from my past! Looking back gets in the way of where God has me in my NEW life. He has set me free. Just as He has set Lot's family free, He has set me free. I cannot let myself keep looking back and missing blessings in the process!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary includes this about the passage:

19:1-29 "Lot was good, but there was not one more of the same character in the city. All the people of Sodom were very wicked and vile. Care was therefore taken for saving Lot and his family. Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a change, defer that needful work. The salvation of the most righteous men is of God's mercy, not by their own merit. We are saved by grace. God's power also must be acknowledged in bringing souls out of a sinful state If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin. Lot must flee for his life. He must not hanker after Sodom. Such commands as these are given to those who, through grace, are delivered out of a sinful state and condition. Return not to sin and Satan. Rest not in self and the world. Reach toward Christ and heaven, for that is escaping to the mountain, short of which we must not stop. Concerning this destruction, observe that it is a revelation of the wrath of God against sin and sinners of all ages. Let us learn from hence the evil of sin, and its hurtful nature; it leads to ruin."

Genesis 18:1-15

Genesis 18:1-15

Abraham was a man of success. In verses 1-5, we see Abraham: he spots the visitors, runs to meet them, bows out of great respect for them. Then, he makes a request before God to serve these visitors. Abraham knew these visitors were not ordinary men. He knew there was something divine about these men, and his encounter with them. His hospitality is seen; he runs to make preparations to serve the men. Abraham involved others in the work of preparing their meal, and it was done quickly. Abraham made sure to act quickly (See 18:6-8).  The men asked about Sarah. We are reminded of the promise God made about Sarah: the promise of a newborn son who will be called Isaac.

Overhearing Abraham's conversation with the men, Sarah laughs out of disbelief that God would give her a child in her old age. In bad situations, things seem unlikely. Hope may be dim, but it is never gone. Nothing is too hard for God!

Job reminds us of this truth when he spoke these words: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2)." Jeremiah 32:17-27 continues to share the truth that nothing is too hard for God. Nothing I face. Nothing you face. None of it is too hard for God. God delights when we come to Him, and He longs to help us. Let us come with great confidence to His throne! Our situations are not greater than our God!

We are God's creation. His chosen masterpiece. He chooses to call us His children. He chose to adopted us. He paid a great price to call us His own. Sin costs greatly. We aren't let off the hook. We needed a SAVIOUR!!! Jesus came to save us from our sins! God chose to REDEEM us! Because of His great love!

We try to do things without God. This is one of the greatest mistakes we could ever make. We must give Him control~ Trusting Him! He delights in being with us, and being our help! Read these words on the greatness of God, there is nothing too hard for Him! If only we were reminded daily of how significant He is! Nothing compares with God!! Nations are less than nothing in comparison with God. Nations are filled of millions/billions of people, yet nations are less than nothing in God's sight. Even though we have nothing to offer, God still loves us and chooses to have a relationship with us through His son Jesus!

Isaiah 40:10-15;21-31

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

10 Look! The powerful Lord God is coming to rule with his mighty arm. He brings with Him what he has taken in war, and he rewards his people. 11 The Lord cares for his nation, just as shepherds care for their flocks. He carries the lambs in his arms, while gently leading the mother sheep. 12 Did any of you measure the ocean by yourself

or stretch out the sky with your own hands? Did you put the soil of the earth in a bucket

or weigh the hills and mountains on balance scales? 13 Has anyone told the Lord what he must do or given him advice? 14 Did the Lord ask anyone to teach him wisdom and justice? Who gave him knowledge and understanding? 15 To the Lord, all nations are merely a drop in a bucket or dust on balance scales; all of the islands are but a handful of sand.

21 Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? Isn’t it clear that God created the world? 22 God is the one who rules the whole earth, and we that live here are merely insects. He spread out the heavens like a curtain or an open tent. 23 God brings down rulers and turns them into nothing. 24 They are like flowers freshly sprung up and starting to grow. But when God blows on them, they wilt and are carried off like straw in a storm. 25 The holy God asks, “Who compares with me? Is anyone my equal?” 26 Look at the evening sky! Who created the stars? Who gave them each a name? Who leads them like an army? The Lord is so powerful that none of the stars are ever missing.

27 You people of Israel, say, “God pays no attention to us! He doesn’t care if we

    are treated unjustly.” But how can you say that? 28 Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured. 29 The Lord gives strength to those who are weary. 30 Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.

Psalm 10

Psalm 10:

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?

    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—

    let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,

    those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.

4 In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”;

    all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”

5 Their ways prosper at all times;

    your judgments are on high, out of their sight;

    as for their foes, they scoff at them.

6 They think in their heart, “We shall not be moved;

    throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.”

7 Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;

    under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.

8 They sit in ambush in the villages;

    in hiding places they murder the innocent.

Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;

9     they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;

they lurk that they may seize the poor;

    they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.

10 They stoop, they crouch,

    and the helpless fall by their might.

11 They think in their heart, “God has forgotten,

    he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;

    do not forget the oppressed.

13 Why do the wicked renounce God,

    and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”?

14 But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,

    that you may take it into your hands;

the helpless commit themselves to you;

    you have been the helper of the orphan.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;

    seek out their wickedness until you find none.

16 The Lord is king forever and ever;

    the nations shall perish from his land.

17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;

    you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear

18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,

    so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

Genesis 17

Genesis 17

Abraham's name is changed… "for I (God) have made you (Abraham) the father of a multitude of nations." This covenant is an everlasting covenant between God and Abraham, and Abraham's offspring. God is promising to always be their God (see 17:7).  The covenant isn't just with Abraham, but will be carried from generation to generation of his offspring.

As the covenant is being made, God tells Abraham: "I am God Almighty, walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." The condition of the heart is very important for the covenant. Abraham's faith is what counted to him as making him righteous. It wasn't the circumcision. It was his faith. This everlasting covenant would be for his descendants, but it would only benefit those who walked humbly with God. God is choosing to bless Abraham. It isn't because Abraham is successful, but because God loves Abraham. Abraham chose to trust God and have faith. He had active faith where his life was much different than others, because he chose to believe and live based on his relationship with God. Active faith: this is what makes our lives look different from others!

Circumcision: as a sign of the covenant, Abraham and his household are circumcised as are the generations to follow. While Paul states through his letters that it is the heart that matters, not the actual act of circumcision. While following the letter of the law, circumcision is of great value, which is what the Israelites follow in the days to come (after Abraham). They followed the law, because Christ had not come yet. Circumcision is pointed out to be "a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter. (Romans 2:29)" Galatians 6:15 points of what matters is being a new creation, not whether we are or aren't circumcised. What sticks out to me about circumcision of the heart is cutting off flesh. As a new creation, my goal should be to cut off the flesh. Seeking Christ, not sin! Seeking His Word, not this world! Walking by His Spirit, so that I don't gratify the desires of my sinful self.

Galatians 5:16-17 says: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

In keeping with the covenant God made with him, Abraham circumcised himself and his household. In keeping with the work of Christ on the cross and the resurrection, our goal should be to "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.." (Hebrews 12:1) Putting everything aside to wholly follow God, leaving nothing to be a stumbling block, and ensuring our hearts are undividedly given to Christ!

Just as God made a covenant with Abraham, he made one with the Church also. With the new covenant, we are not under law but grace. God's grace is lavishly poured out to us! Salvation is a free gift: not of us, but of HIM! Hebrews 9:15 says: "That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant."

Genesis 15-16

Genesis 15-16

God cares for me, just as he cared for Abraham. He tells Abraham, "I am your shield. Your reward will be great." God heard Abraham's concern: he is childless. How could his offspring become a great nation? He was probably full of questions and concerns, just as we often are. God reveals truth to Abraham that no one else would know: about the sufferings of Israel in Egypt, the judgment of Egypt, and his deliverance he will bring to Israel.

Only God can have complete compassion on us, reassure us, take away our fears, deliver us, and speak truth that no one else has ever known!

In chapter 16, Sarai is lacking faith, choosing to take things into her own hands because she just sees herself as 'barren'. God can reverse any situation! So Sarai gives her Egyptian servant to Abraham, so he may have a son. Sarai is looked down upon by Hagar, the Egyptian servant, as a result of Hagar's conception of Ishmael. The interesting thing is: Sarai gives Hagar to Abraham, he obeys his wife too readily, and then Hagar's conception brings Sarai to blame Abraham. The problem with sin: tell someone to do something, then blame them when they listen to you… It is wiser to be obedient and trust God. No matter what our circumstances, we can TRUST Him, knowing His will is best and His timing is perfect!

In the midst of all this: Sarai drives Hagar away when she deals harshly with her, but it is here that this Egyptian servant encounters God. She "calls the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "you are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me. (Gen. 16:13)"" What a wonderful picture we have here. Even when we are alone, fearful, and hurt by others, God still sees us and has compassion on us!

What really hits me in the passage is God says: "Fear not…I am your shield, and your reward is great." So often fear feels so much greater, but we need to surround ourselves with the reality that we are not alone. He is so much greater than our fears or whatever we may be facing. We cannot let those fears override who we know God is and what He is capable of. Our response should be to praise Him. In the midst of Job's circumstances, he bowed down and praised God when tragedy strike. Our response should be to praise Him. God can increase our faith, and move mountains as we keep our eyes focused on Him!

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us: "

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.."

Genesis 13-14

Genesis 13-14

Abraham and Lot went their separate ways due to strife between herders. I like the point shown to me throughout the text that separating from family isn't out of hatred, but sometimes necessary to keep the peace and keep loving them.

The character of Abraham's heart was shown through in both of these chapters. When Abraham went back to his altar in Ai, he called out to the Lord! The Lord had strengthened Abraham, not in materials (though he was rich) but in his faith and character. God was making Abraham great in the sight of the nations, but it is his dependence on God that sets him apart!

Even though Abraham and Lot had separated, Abraham went with all of his trained men when he learned Lot had been captured along with many others. Abraham was a man who sought after God. Even as he met with the king of Sodom afterwards, he rejected the plunder that had been returned with the captives who had been set free. Abraham knew it was God alone who would make him prosper. He took only the food they ate, and the trained men he brought with him.

The important part out of this lesson is Abraham seeking God, but as it relates to family matters. Often times, it is necessary to distance ourselves from others. Even if it is only for a little while, it is still okay to do that. It doesn't mean we don't care for them, but it is for our own good. It was for Abraham's good that he separated from Lot. There was less drama between workers and gave his people and livestock the space they needed on the land. Through Lot's capture, we can see that Abraham still greatly cared for Lot to go after kings who had captured Lot and many others. This is nearly 10 years after the separation between Abraham and Lot. Abraham cared greatly!

His relationship with God is central to how he treated Lot. Had he not called upon the name of the Lord first, Abraham may have reacted differently to the strife between his and Lot's herdsmen. He may have reacted out of anger at Lot. Instead, he acted out of love stating that there was much land around them to choose from…

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is central to how we treat others. He can help us avoid saying words we wish we had never said. He can help us learn how to love in the difficult circumstances. It is only because of God that we can do these things! An important part in separating ourselves from someone is praying for them. Praying for someone even as we distance ourselves from them is such a huge thing. God can work greatly, and radically change circumstances. If there is strife, he can remove it. Whatever it is, God is able to move mountains!

Genesis 11:27-12:20

Genesis 11:27-12:20

God gave Abraham (then Abram) a command in 12:1. It is followed by a great promise. (12:2) God is promising to do something that only God is capable of doing. Only God could make Abraham's offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky. Only God could make such a promise, and deliver it fully!

Abraham immediately obeys. Going with God to a foreign land he didn't know: trusting God and believing God is calling him. When God asks us to go, we should follow Abraham's example and go fully trust in the Lord our God, and going immediately. When Abraham arrived in Canaan, God appears to him and says: "To your offspring I will give this land" (12:7). Abraham's response was to immediately worship God. He built an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him! He moved to another place and again he built an altar to the Lord out of praise and called on the name of the Lord! Worship should be a daily part of our lives!

Abraham is experiencing an intimate relationship with God. God is giving Abraham a command to "go", but he also gave a promise. He promised to make Abraham's offspring to be a great nation. In addition, God states to Abraham that he will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. He is going to protect Abraham! Abraham experienced an encounter with God as he appeared before Abraham. Abraham is brought to his knees and builds an altar to worship the Lord.

A short time later (later that year)…
God sent Abraham, Sarai (his barren wife), and Lot (his nephew) to Egypt. As they are on their way to Egypt, Abraham is preparing his wife for the half-truth he is going to have her speak. Abraham is fearing his life, because of her beauty. He wants her to lie in hopes of sparing his life in case the Egyptians would kill him for Sarai. While she is his sister, he is leaving out one little detail: They are married: Husband and Wife!

Jesus says: "for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. (Matthew 19:5-6)"

Can you imagine why God would afflict Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, for taking Sarai as his wife, because of their deception? Can you imagine why this would displease God? Abraham is acting in unbelief! He is choosing to take things into his own hands instead of trusting in God!

When we sin or disobey God, we don't just hurt ourselves. We hurt God! We hurt others. Ignoring opportunities God has given us could affect someone else's life too. They will miss blessings, because we weren't obedient to God. Pharaoh missed blessings and instead was cursed, when Abraham told his wife to lie and say she was his sister. While she was his sister, she was also his wife.

This passage is also a reminder of how quick we forget. We can hear God speak mightily and see his work in our midst, yet we allow fear or emotions to dominate once again in our lives. We need to replace those moments of "unbelief" with reminding ourselves of God's great SOVERIGNITY!!

Genesis 11:10-26

Genesis 11:10-26

"And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters. When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran." Genesis 11:25-26

The beginning of Abraham. The stage is setting for the relationship Abram has with God: something so great that it has to be learned about again and again.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrew 11:8 

Abraham was a man who knew to trust God, having faith, and walk by God's leading alone. The trust replaces the need-to-know details! Abraham walked completely by faith. He had no idea where he was going, but knew God is much greater, and counted on God to show him the steps to take. He had faith that God would make Sarah able to bear children even when she was childless and had been barren.

Faith.
Faith*

Faith!

Because Abraham trusted God, and had faith, Scripture says: "And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:12)

13 "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (11:13-16)

Abraham trusted that God would do as he said: making his offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky! He did not see the fulfillment of God's promise, but he knew God's promise would come in full. Abraham's descendants became as numerous as the stars in the sky? Why Abraham? He chose to trust in God and have a relationship with Him. He chose to walk in continual, habitual fellowship with God, just as Enoch had done earlier in Genesis.

17 "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.""(17-19)

His faith is well worth noting. His faith in God was great. Also, his obedience. He walked by faith..

Genesis 10-11:9

Genesis 10-11:9

During this time, people were settling on their own lands. One specific group settled in the land of Shinar. They sought their own human ways. They sought out ways to do what *they* wanted to do, just as we so often do. I have been thinking about ways we try to do things our own ways instead of trusting in God and His will. We choose to be disobedient and say "no" to God. Maybe it is because we do not want to wait. Or, we do not like our circumstances. We become tempted to "force" something that we really wanted to happen. IE) Like sticking together as a group. Whatever the "excuse" may be, we choose to not trust Him and follow our own destructive paths.

For these people, they sought to steal God's holy glory. They committed the same sin that Eve did. This is 100 years after the flood, and they cannot learn from the traps that others have fallen into. They cannot seem to learn from the sins of others that resulted to the great flood. The people chose to make for themselves an idol (the tower), and follow their own whims that will lead to destruction and the nightmare they wanted to avoid: scattering among the nations. If only, they chose to follow God wholly! God is full of wisdom and power; He always knows what is best!

 

Their desire: "They said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world." (Genesis 11:4)

Something noteworthy: Their desire is not much different than what the serpent whispered to Eve: "But the serpent said to the woman "…. God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) In a way, they sought to be like God. They sought to steal His glory. They sought to change what may be happening to them, even though they had absolutely no control. Instead, they should of submitted to God: seeking Him!

Application

It is the idea of wanting to take our entire lives into our hands instead of trusting Him. For those in the land of Shinar, they sought to take their lives in their own hands. They wanted to be "famous", in hopes that they will not be separated. God exercised judgment. He did not deal with them according to their sin. If he had, it would have been much worse. When God came down to see what the people were doing, it was not out of fascination, but to be just and merciful. He knew the intentions of their hearts. They sought to do evil. They did not want to trust God; they wanted to do evil in hopes of getting what they wanted. He stopped them from their plan to become "great" (great in the world's eyes is nothing compared to the greatness of God). He confused their language, so they would not be able to understand each other. God judged justly.

Pondering

When we get together with others, it can be very tempting to sin and not seek out God. This is why God confused the language. God continues to give us chance after chance. We need to SEEK Him! We need to TRUST Him! God knows what He is doing. We need to trust Him, seeking ways to draw ourselves closer to Him. Bottom line: Trust Him! We may be waiting for certain prayers to be answered (healing; future mate; job; etc), but in the meantime while we wait we need to rely on Him. He may have a bigger yes in store for the future. Our "not right now" answer to prayer may be for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Quit screaming and whining: trust Him. Come to Him. Realizing He is GOD, He is Sovereign. He wants the absolute best for us. We need to keep trusting Him. Keeping Him at first, not letting "desires" get in the way. Our desires can draw us further away from Christ!

Genesis 6:9-9:29

Genesis 6:9-9:29

The earth was corrupted and filled with violence, but Noah was righteous, a blameless man. Noah walked (continual, habitual fellowship) with God (Gen. 6:9), just as Enoch did. God begins to give Noah instructions on the ark that he would make. He was given instructions on taking animals in to keep them alive, and storing up food for them to eat. God was leading Noah to be his hands and feet. Noah walked with God! God chooses to use and work through those that are humble, teachable, and seek God wholly. God chose to work through Noah.

The flood lasted for forty days. Those on the ark were: Noah, his wife, his sons, and his son's wives. Also, the animals that God commanded him to bring into the ark.

The Lord is the One who sustained them during this time. It is noted that "the Lord shut them in." Noah and his clan: their safety was dependent on God's action and human action. It points us back to God's special relationship with Noah. God chose to use Noah, allowing Noah to join him where he was at work!

God is acting in judgment over the earth during this time. He is removing the wickedness from the earth. After the flood is over, imagine what it would be like to walk outside the ark for the first time: to see the sun shining, no other human beings around aside from your family, and to see the land again. God chose to make a covenant with Noah and his family--promising he would never again flood the entire earth. The promise is sealed with a rainbow. God blesses Noah and his family telling them and the animals to multiply and be fruitful: to fill the earth.

Notice God's change of attitude toward humanity after the burnt offering Noah gives in Genesis 8:20-21. Think upon the sacrifice of Jesus!

Although man's heart is not changed, God's attitude has changed. He promises not to blot out all of mankind like he did with the flood. Atonement makes a peaceful relationship with God and humanity possible. We do not seek out burnt offerings for animals cannot take away our sins. (See Hebrews 10) Only God could take away our sins, which he did. The perfect, lasting sin offering: Jesus Christ came to die on the cross to make me right with God, so that I may have a right relationship with God! His attitude toward me has changed not because of what I have done: for no deed I do could make me right with God. It is through the blood of Jesus, his atonement, that I am able to experience the love relationship with God that I have! God has chosen to love me with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). My sins completely blotted out, because God sent his son Jesus to take my place on the cross. It does not stop there: God rose Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus experienced death, but death could not hold him. God's power is SO much greater!! He came to bring me deliverance, freedom, and a just relationship with God. He sought me out. God initiated a love relationship with me when I wasn't lovable.

Eph 5:2 says, "walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Think about how great God's love is. He gave up his one and only son as a sin offering: to pay the debt we could not pay. God's love is so great: reaching out to us! He is desiring to have a relationship with us. Only thing that stops us is US!

Genesis 5-6:8

Genesis 5-6:8

Noah was the great-great-grandson of Enoch. Enoch pleased God: Their relationship was close, so much so that God chose to "take" Enoch. He was taken up, spared from the toil of life and evil found on earth. Genesis 5:24 says: "And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]."

I love the notes in my study Bible for Genesis 5:22-24: " "Walked" is a distinctive form that conveys the sense of ongoing intimacy with God. Remarkably, because of this special relationship, Enoch does not die." Also in 2 Kings 2:1-12, we see the Elijah does not die. He is taken up by God.

During this time, only 2 men are mentioned as finding favor in God's eyes. Only 2 sought to devote themselves to intimate fellowship with God. Many other devoted themselves to sin and destruction. Furthering, the destruction of relationships. Following foolish desires, instead of living honorably. Mixing themselves in with rebellion. Giving themselves over to sexual perversion.

God's heart is deeply grieved. It is just as so now, as it was then. God's heart is grieved! This is what sin does. It grieves my heavenly father's heart, and it draws us away from him. It destroys our relationship with God! The human heart is continually seeking after evil. Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 15:19 share this truth. "The human heart is beyond deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who could understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). The following verse is not to be missed: "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind…" God is a just God! He decides what we deserve. He is Lord over all! He knows our hearts, our motives, thinking, decisions. God understands all those things. He is the cure! We need him. Without him, we are stuck deep in the waters of sin with no way out. We will find nothing, but agony and deep seated despair.

Jesus came to save us, yet so often we refuse help. We continue to look for something else to feel whatever void we have in our lives. We continue to see out the deceitful desires of our hearts. No matter what, we are left feeling empty. Nothing soothes that desire. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ will satisfy. He is where our pleasure is found. God loves us so much he sent his only son to the cross (that was meant for us) to die on the cross for our sins and was raised from the grave (and death) by the power of God. Sin brings death, but Christ came to bring us life, freedom, and so much more.

For Enoch and Noah, they desired to please God. Are we seeking to please God? Just as with a relationship with my mom or someone else, I learn their likes and dislikes. We learn how to enjoy each other's company and bring joy to each other. It is like that with God. The more time you spend with him: the more joy there is and a deep desire to please him in whatever you are doing. This is the key to it all! This is why it is a relationship: it is choosing continual, habitual fellowship with God. Realizing the great price that was paid for us by Jesus Christ on the cross, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and seeking to have a relationship with him!

Closing passage:

5 Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Heb. 11:5-6)

Genesis 2:4-4:26

Genesis 2:4-4:26

When God placed Adam in the garden, there was food throughout the garden. In the center of the garden, there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… Adam was to tend to the garden. He couldn't find a suitable helper for him. This is when God put Adam into a deep sleep, and took one of his ribs out to form Eve. A man and wife are joined together: Adam exclaimed "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." when he saw Eve..

The unity of the husband and wife: so unique. There is a togetherness that cannot be taken away. God made some things to be separated. That is one of the things I noticed yesterday, but today there is no separation. The separation is replaced by togetherness, as the husband and wife come together. It is about putting past lives aside, and coming together as one. New Testament also reminds us that "man cannot separate what God has joined together" (Mt 19:4-6).

Through deception and sin, the relationship between a man and his wife will forever be altered. The result of sin would bring sorrow, pain, strife, and much more. For the wife, Eve, her desire would be to control her husband, but her husband would rule over her. Matthew Henry's commentary helps shed some light on the result of sin in the marriage aspect: "If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; if the woman had not sinned, she would always have obeyed with humility and meekness."

The man is sent from the garden with his wife to toil. It wasn't a place of torment where he was sent. He is experiencing the repercussion of breaking the covenant with God. A cherium is there to protect the tree of life. Adam did not go willingly out from the garden. The scripture (Gen. 3:22-24) says that God "drove" him out. These are only the beginning of the consequences of sin. Sin is what separates us from God. There is so much more that happens as a result of "the fall", because of one woman's decision to sin. 

Man's relationship with God is forever changed! 

Man's relationship with his wife and the togetherness they shared: also forever altered.
Everything CHANGED!!

Sin makes us an enemy of God!
That's not a light statement or over-exaggeration!

Cain was driven from the presence of the Lord when he killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. Sin has long lasting effects on more than we could ever imagine. One's decision to sin leaves the rest of humanity stuck in the same "sin" battle. The only cure is Jesus Christ!! God still loves us and desires for us to have an intimate relationship with him. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, so that we may have a personal relationship with him through his son Jesus. There is no greater love than that of our Father's love!

Genesis 1-2.3

Genesis 1-2.3

The Creation

God is sovereign! He reigns: he is in total control! God is creating everything, and making beauty in everything he touches. The earth was formless, void, and darkness covered it. This is where we see God really begin to work. Separation also becomes a theme in this chapter. This chapter can really connect to things we find in the New Testament. Here we see: he separates the light from darkness and also the water from the sky. God separates. Separate is necessary for his creation.

One thing I have not noticed before is the blessings given to the birds and animals in the sea, where the text says: God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” (Genesis 1:22) It is only given to the birds in the air and the living creatures that live and move in the sea. It is not given to the livestock, beasts of the earth, or creeping things that God has created the following day. The blessing is only immediately after creating the birds of the air and the sea creatures. There is a significance about the birds and creatures of the sea (ie, fish).

While the birds of the air, and sea creatures were blessed by God, look who is going to be in charge of them: man and woman. We, as God's representatives, are put in charge of taking care of God's creation: birds, creatures, and the earth itself. God has give us exactly what we need: making sure we would have food to eat. He takes care of us in everything..

 How can we take better care of the birds of the air, creatures, and the earth itself? How can we use wisely the earth's resources (gas, water, recyclables, etc)? In my study Bible, there is a note for Genesis 1:27 that says: "God's expectation (is) that human beings will use the earth wisely and govern it with the same sense of responsibility and care that God has toward the whole of his creation."

Humans have not made great use of the earth's resources. The resources have been thrown away and wasted. In the passage of Genesis 1:28-29, God is showing us he has given us food. Here it says:  

"28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food."

Today's food is much different from the food God originally gave us through his creation. Later in the New Testament, Peter received confirmation from God that it was okay for him (and others who followed) to eat meat. That was a very new thing for them. In 1 Timothy 4:4, others were told to abstain from certain types of food and were given the reminder that they could eat anything as long as we receive it with thanksgiving to God! It is about glorifying God, and giving thanks. God will lead us to what to eat.

More of a note than anything: Food today is much different. It has now become chemically altered, and individuals have to go out of their way to make food that hasn't been altered in some way. (which is why I haven't acted on wanting to eat differently) For me, it is about being wiser in how I choose to eat. My goal is more veggies, less words I can't pronounce (still not healthy, but I need easy access, low prepping food).

It's bigger than food!
We need to be aware that many have used God's earthly resources for evil. God has instructed us to care for his creation, but many have manipulated the God given resources we have. Many try to exploit the earth: not replacing what they have taken! Think of the many animals going extinct. Why? Because humans have become greedy and not diligently caring for God's creation.. Recently, the Vietnam's Javan Rhino population is down to 35 left: they are extinct. That article is 3 months old. You can only wonder how many are left now. We need to pray for God to soften hearts, and lead others to help care for these endangered animals.

God's beautiful animals are endangered, because many exploit God's creation, living with a "I am going to take all I can get my hand's on" sort of mentality. I am not talking about going all green. (If you can, great!) What I am talking about is how we are using God's creation. What gradual changes can you make? How can we make a difference?

Also worth noting is this: God shows us the significant importance of rest. Our bodies need rest. How can we take care of everything we have going on without rest?