Read Genesis 17.
After Abram disbelief and failure of chapter 16, the LORD appeared to Abram again to reaffirm the covenant. God would fully indeed keep his promise. The LORD waited until it was humanly impossible for this couple to conceive a child so that He alone would receive the credit. It would be a miracle!
Several things were about to change. For all these years his name has been Abram, which mean father. A man called father at 99 who had no legitimate children. But from this point on his name shall be Abraham, which means father of a multitude.
Sarai, who name means princess, will now be called Sarah. This is only a slight change in meaning, but it is enough to give her something to live up to. At about age 90, God foretells that she will give birth to a son.
Abraham laughed. How incredible this seemed to him! In chapter 18, Sarah laughed when she heard the news. By the reaction she received, her laughter seems to be more of disbelief than wonder. So, the child's name would be called Isaac, which means laughter. Only this "laughter" was the hope of the future, the first of generations to come, the founding of a nation of God's chosen people.
I believe, from a human stand point at least, God does have a sense of humor. Sometimes the laughter comes when we get to see the LORD's hand move in a wonder-filled way. There is also a warning here to scoff with laughter in disbelief about what God has promised. Today is a day to rejoice with laughter in the hope He has given us for eternity.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
A Personal Meeting with God
Read Genesis 16.
At this point in the story, Abram is on the land God promised and he is propering. But the second part of God's covenant to him has not happened. He had no descendants. He was 85 and his wife was 75. They reasoned that God was not meeting their need. Times of "little faith" or "loss of faith" in God causes us to be vulnerable to selfish, silly and even satanically influenced decisions.
So, Sarai and Abram decided not to wait on God. Instead, they took matters into their own hands. Hagar was an Egyptian servant to Sarai, who was probably given to them by Pharaoh in chapter 12. It turned out to be one bad decision followed by another, as now this pregnant servant is abused. Hagar fled.
We get to see another personal appearance of God. This time as "the angel of the LORD". This is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Himself!
Do not miss the character of God displayed toward Hagar.
1. The LORD found her. It is a picture of God pursuing those who need Him.
2. The LORD questioned her. Doesn't He already know the answer? Yes. But will she listen to His voice and respond? God wants us to voice, admit, confess the truth back to Him.
3. She responded. She confessed, "I am running" from my problems. It is most often a turning point in one's life, when they can admit this. Running from issues, rather than facing them, only worsens the situation. In addition, no one can out run God.
4. The LORD's message to her was to turn around. The word repent means to turn. It is a turn FROM going the wrong direction and turning TO God's way for life.
5. The LORD made a promise to her and described a future for her descendants. He did not have to do this. It is called grace. When God made the promise to all of us of eternal life through faith in Jesus, it was solely provided to us by His grace.
6. The result was a personal relationship with the God of heaven and earth. Surely, she had witnessed Abram's worship, but now this relationship has become hers. She had her own encounter with the living God. Ishmael means "God hears". Then, she declared, "You are a God of seeing." God sees. More than that, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." God cares.
This same One pursues me today, to show me His grace, as He hears, sees, and cares about the needs in my life...and yours.
At this point in the story, Abram is on the land God promised and he is propering. But the second part of God's covenant to him has not happened. He had no descendants. He was 85 and his wife was 75. They reasoned that God was not meeting their need. Times of "little faith" or "loss of faith" in God causes us to be vulnerable to selfish, silly and even satanically influenced decisions.
So, Sarai and Abram decided not to wait on God. Instead, they took matters into their own hands. Hagar was an Egyptian servant to Sarai, who was probably given to them by Pharaoh in chapter 12. It turned out to be one bad decision followed by another, as now this pregnant servant is abused. Hagar fled.
We get to see another personal appearance of God. This time as "the angel of the LORD". This is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Himself!
Do not miss the character of God displayed toward Hagar.
1. The LORD found her. It is a picture of God pursuing those who need Him.
2. The LORD questioned her. Doesn't He already know the answer? Yes. But will she listen to His voice and respond? God wants us to voice, admit, confess the truth back to Him.
3. She responded. She confessed, "I am running" from my problems. It is most often a turning point in one's life, when they can admit this. Running from issues, rather than facing them, only worsens the situation. In addition, no one can out run God.
4. The LORD's message to her was to turn around. The word repent means to turn. It is a turn FROM going the wrong direction and turning TO God's way for life.
5. The LORD made a promise to her and described a future for her descendants. He did not have to do this. It is called grace. When God made the promise to all of us of eternal life through faith in Jesus, it was solely provided to us by His grace.
6. The result was a personal relationship with the God of heaven and earth. Surely, she had witnessed Abram's worship, but now this relationship has become hers. She had her own encounter with the living God. Ishmael means "God hears". Then, she declared, "You are a God of seeing." God sees. More than that, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." God cares.
This same One pursues me today, to show me His grace, as He hears, sees, and cares about the needs in my life...and yours.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
4 Steps to Seeing God Act
Genesis 15 is one of the linchpin chapters in understanding the Bible. This is the first appearance of God in a vision. It contains the first mention of "I am" in reference to God
God moved from making a promise to Abram (chapter 12) to sealing it with an everlasting covenant. In doing so, God also foretells, about 500 years in advance, of the future suffering of the yet-to-be nation. They will be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years.
Note that the covenant is not a mutual agreement. It is not dependent upon Abram or his descendants. It is from God, for God, made by Him alone. It is from Abram's response to God that we learn a timeless Biblical principle. Verse 6: "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." Abram stood righteous before God because of simple faith. The New Testament quotes and upholds this as a basic tenet on establishing a personal relationship with the LORD.
Abram asked a great question: "How am I to know that I shall possess it?" God then gave him clear instructions.
1. Abram sacrificed. He gave to God what God asked.
2. Abram obeyed. He did what God said to do.
3. Abram waited. This may have been the toughest part.
4. God acted.
Our human nature wants the four steps above in reverse order. We want God to prove Himself, answer our prayers, bless us in someway first. Then, we will trust and obey Him. And, certainly, we do not want to wait.
Sometimes God calls us to action. Many times we are called to wait. If the latter is true, waiting is not inaction, but obedience. Psalm 27:14-"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" And, watch what He alone can do. Selah.
God moved from making a promise to Abram (chapter 12) to sealing it with an everlasting covenant. In doing so, God also foretells, about 500 years in advance, of the future suffering of the yet-to-be nation. They will be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years.
Note that the covenant is not a mutual agreement. It is not dependent upon Abram or his descendants. It is from God, for God, made by Him alone. It is from Abram's response to God that we learn a timeless Biblical principle. Verse 6: "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." Abram stood righteous before God because of simple faith. The New Testament quotes and upholds this as a basic tenet on establishing a personal relationship with the LORD.
Abram asked a great question: "How am I to know that I shall possess it?" God then gave him clear instructions.
1. Abram sacrificed. He gave to God what God asked.
2. Abram obeyed. He did what God said to do.
3. Abram waited. This may have been the toughest part.
4. God acted.
Our human nature wants the four steps above in reverse order. We want God to prove Himself, answer our prayers, bless us in someway first. Then, we will trust and obey Him. And, certainly, we do not want to wait.
Sometimes God calls us to action. Many times we are called to wait. If the latter is true, waiting is not inaction, but obedience. Psalm 27:14-"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" And, watch what He alone can do. Selah.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Starting Point of Giving
In Genesis 14, we read the third recorded test of Abram's faith. Because of the capture of his nephew, Lot, Abram quickly assembled a small army and completely overturned the disaster with a great victory. Abram could have claimed rulership of the entire area for himself. Instead, it almost appears as if he had made a prior commitment to God that if God gave him success he would take nothing for himself.
Upon Abram's return, he meets the king/priest of Salem (later known as Jerusalem). Melchizedek did three things in this encounter:
1. Blessed Abram-giving God the credit
2. Acknowledged God's ownership of heaven and earth-giving God the glory
3. Received a tenth of everything-giving God worship
True worship of God and giving is inseparable.
This the first mention of tithing in the Bible. Here are some modern questions about tithing:
A. "Should I give a tenth of the gross or the net?"
The verse says "everything."
B. "Should I give a tenth before or after I pay my bills?"
Abram gave in verse 20 and paid his bills in verse 24. Proverbs 3:9 underscores this priority. It is a matter of trust in God. If I honor Him first, then I trust He will bless the rest.
C. "But isn't tithing Old Testament law and we are no longer under the law?"
Note that Abram did not live under the law of Moses. He at least lived 450 years before Moses received the law at Mount Sinai. The law did not inititate tithing.
Abram did not give in worship because he felt he owed God 10% of his gain. Rather, he gave in acknowledgement that God owns it all. The first lesson of stewardship is that God is the rightful Owner of everything.
Upon Abram's return, he meets the king/priest of Salem (later known as Jerusalem). Melchizedek did three things in this encounter:
1. Blessed Abram-giving God the credit
2. Acknowledged God's ownership of heaven and earth-giving God the glory
3. Received a tenth of everything-giving God worship
True worship of God and giving is inseparable.
This the first mention of tithing in the Bible. Here are some modern questions about tithing:
A. "Should I give a tenth of the gross or the net?"
The verse says "everything."
B. "Should I give a tenth before or after I pay my bills?"
Abram gave in verse 20 and paid his bills in verse 24. Proverbs 3:9 underscores this priority. It is a matter of trust in God. If I honor Him first, then I trust He will bless the rest.
C. "But isn't tithing Old Testament law and we are no longer under the law?"
Note that Abram did not live under the law of Moses. He at least lived 450 years before Moses received the law at Mount Sinai. The law did not inititate tithing.
Abram did not give in worship because he felt he owed God 10% of his gain. Rather, he gave in acknowledgement that God owns it all. The first lesson of stewardship is that God is the rightful Owner of everything.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
3 Life Lessons and 3 Life Questions
Read Genesis 13.
Here is another test of Abram's faith. There arose a major conflict within his own family. In the culture of the day, being the patriarch of the family, Abram could have pulled rank and made certain demands. But to his credit he saw this in a much larger perspective than relational strife. Lot was not an enemy but family. Abram's commitment was more than just to appease the strife, but to resolve the conflict and trust God for the outcome.
If you wish to start a fight, demand your rights. If you want to end a conflict, yield your rights voluntarily and work peaceably toward an equitable resolve.
Three life lessons from Abram's responses:
1. He humbled himself when he could have stood up for his rights.
2. He trusted God to work rather than choosing his own way.
3. He worshipped God when the decision was made. Building an altar and worshipping at these strategic times had now become a habit of his life. He passed the test.
Three life questions to ask when faced with some major decisions from Lot's responses:
1. Am I viewing this decision with spiritual insight or only physical eyesight?
2. Am I making spiritual goals my priority rather than material goals?
3. Am I more concerned with developing eternal prosperity or temporal prosperity?
Here is another test of Abram's faith. There arose a major conflict within his own family. In the culture of the day, being the patriarch of the family, Abram could have pulled rank and made certain demands. But to his credit he saw this in a much larger perspective than relational strife. Lot was not an enemy but family. Abram's commitment was more than just to appease the strife, but to resolve the conflict and trust God for the outcome.
If you wish to start a fight, demand your rights. If you want to end a conflict, yield your rights voluntarily and work peaceably toward an equitable resolve.
Three life lessons from Abram's responses:
1. He humbled himself when he could have stood up for his rights.
2. He trusted God to work rather than choosing his own way.
3. He worshipped God when the decision was made. Building an altar and worshipping at these strategic times had now become a habit of his life. He passed the test.
Three life questions to ask when faced with some major decisions from Lot's responses:
1. Am I viewing this decision with spiritual insight or only physical eyesight?
2. Am I making spiritual goals my priority rather than material goals?
3. Am I more concerned with developing eternal prosperity or temporal prosperity?
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Blessing for Today
The end of Genesis 11 and chapter 12 are turning points in world history. Of all humanity, God chooses Abram and sovereignly makes a covenant with him. The covenant contains three parts: God will give Abram and his family a land for their own; God will make Abram a great nation of people; God will bless Abram to such an extent that all the world will be blessed through him.
Today, the land is dispute. In spite of many satanic attempts to annihilate the Abrams descendants and the nation of Israel, by God's grace they have survived. Matthew 1 provides the genealogy details that the Messiah is humanly a direct descendant of Abram. Indeed, the blessing to all the world has come and will come again.
Next, we get to see how Abram responded. It humbled him to realize what God had promised. His response to major incidents in his life was to build an altar and worship.
That did not mean that Abram lived a perfect life. The rest of chapter 12 displays his humanity. And, like all humans, he sinned when he got out of God's will. Sin may be characterized by one or more of the following from Abram's bad example:
In the wrong place (Egypt, instead of the place God provided)
With the wrong thinking (fear, instead of faith)
With the wrong speech (lying, instead of truth)
With wrong actions (instead of being a blessing, he became a curse)
With wrong results (instead of building relationship, he was asked to leave in disgrace)
But there is hope. God's promises were not dependent upon Abram's behavior. In further reading of this book we find that God blessed Abram. God still kept His promises. Abram was still God's friend.
I am encouraged that through my failures and sin, God's promises of forgiveness are sure, not because of me and my behavior, but because the price for sin was paid on the cross by Jesus. My relationship, yes my friendship, with Jesus is not based upon my good works, but the grace of God. As a result of what we read in Genesis 12, we are blessed today. To Him be the glory!
Today, the land is dispute. In spite of many satanic attempts to annihilate the Abrams descendants and the nation of Israel, by God's grace they have survived. Matthew 1 provides the genealogy details that the Messiah is humanly a direct descendant of Abram. Indeed, the blessing to all the world has come and will come again.
Next, we get to see how Abram responded. It humbled him to realize what God had promised. His response to major incidents in his life was to build an altar and worship.
That did not mean that Abram lived a perfect life. The rest of chapter 12 displays his humanity. And, like all humans, he sinned when he got out of God's will. Sin may be characterized by one or more of the following from Abram's bad example:
In the wrong place (Egypt, instead of the place God provided)
With the wrong thinking (fear, instead of faith)
With the wrong speech (lying, instead of truth)
With wrong actions (instead of being a blessing, he became a curse)
With wrong results (instead of building relationship, he was asked to leave in disgrace)
But there is hope. God's promises were not dependent upon Abram's behavior. In further reading of this book we find that God blessed Abram. God still kept His promises. Abram was still God's friend.
I am encouraged that through my failures and sin, God's promises of forgiveness are sure, not because of me and my behavior, but because the price for sin was paid on the cross by Jesus. My relationship, yes my friendship, with Jesus is not based upon my good works, but the grace of God. As a result of what we read in Genesis 12, we are blessed today. To Him be the glory!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
God's View of Nations
After the flood, the only humans on earth were Noah and his family. From his three sons came three strains of peoples of which all today trace their heritage. In Genesis 10 and 11 we read how nations began.
Famously, Nimrod founded a city called Babel. In defiance and open rebellion against God, the population decided to build a tower. Archaeologists have discovered in that part of the world a style of construction called ziggurats, a type of tall temple pyramid, often decorated with symbols of the sun, moon and stars with an altar for false worship on top.
Babel, then, is the birthplace of astrology and all other false religions that worship the host of heaven, instead of the God of heaven. They look to the creation for signs, instead of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In response to Babel, God intervened by giving them different languages so they can no longer work together in such united rebellion. To this day the word Babel refers to confusion. And, Babylon remains in current news.
Arrogant independence and open defiance against God will only lead to destruction of a nation and a life.
Psalm 9:17-"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God."
Proverbs 14:34-"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
How does God respond to those who think like William Ernest Henley-"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"? Psalm 2 should strike such a fear of God that all humble themselves before Him. Verse 4 states, "He who sits in the heavens laughs." God does not laugh because sinful rebellion is funny, but because a human being thinking of challenging Almighty God and living without Him is so absurd. It is insane.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10 that one day-"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
May our nation return to its true spiritual roots before its too late. May this be the year when those we love who continue to defy the Lord surrender themselves to Him.
Famously, Nimrod founded a city called Babel. In defiance and open rebellion against God, the population decided to build a tower. Archaeologists have discovered in that part of the world a style of construction called ziggurats, a type of tall temple pyramid, often decorated with symbols of the sun, moon and stars with an altar for false worship on top.
Babel, then, is the birthplace of astrology and all other false religions that worship the host of heaven, instead of the God of heaven. They look to the creation for signs, instead of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In response to Babel, God intervened by giving them different languages so they can no longer work together in such united rebellion. To this day the word Babel refers to confusion. And, Babylon remains in current news.
Arrogant independence and open defiance against God will only lead to destruction of a nation and a life.
Psalm 9:17-"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God."
Proverbs 14:34-"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
How does God respond to those who think like William Ernest Henley-"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"? Psalm 2 should strike such a fear of God that all humble themselves before Him. Verse 4 states, "He who sits in the heavens laughs." God does not laugh because sinful rebellion is funny, but because a human being thinking of challenging Almighty God and living without Him is so absurd. It is insane.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10 that one day-"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
May our nation return to its true spiritual roots before its too late. May this be the year when those we love who continue to defy the Lord surrender themselves to Him.
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