This (last) week covered Genesis 23:1 to 25:18,
which is half way into chapter 25.
The summary:
Chapter 23: Sarah dies at the age of 127. With some negotiations, Abraham buys a burial place, cave of Machpelah, from Ephron son of Zohar among the sons of Heth, for 400 shekels of silver, and buries Sarah.
Chapter 24: Abraham sends out his servant to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prays to Yahweh about the girl, Rebekah arrives; the servant is welcomed, especially by her brother Laban and mother, the father consents it's of Yahweh after hearing the servant; next day, the servant readies to leave, but Laban and mother insists on Rebekah staying; Rebekah says she will go, the family blesses Rebekah at her departure. Isaac sees Rebkah while meditating in the field, Isaac takes Rebekah to Sarah's tent and loved her as his new bride.
Chapter 25:Abraham takes Keturah as his wife, and has children, among them is Midian and Sheba. Abraham gives everything to Isaac; Abraham dies at 175, and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, where Sarah is buried. Genealogy of Ishmael's descendants is listed.
This reading finishes up the section on Abraham, friend of God.
Jesus, in John 15:14 says that if we follow His commands, we are His friends.
The statement is conditional, which is double edged; that is, there could be people that may say that being His friend is "work based," which is probably a symptom of the lack of willingness to express any kind of friendship, as stated in Proverbs 18:24.
Of course, being a good friend takes effort, and if one thinks otherwise, that relationship needs to be called by another name, such as parasitic leeching.
The beautiful (and the dangerous) thing about this conditional is that we, as mortal human beings, have the ability to make a choice to befriend God or not. If we do not want to befriend God, we have the freedom to do so.
This One who is willing to befriend us has put His life on the line, rather, has died for us so that we may benefit not only in this life, but especially after we breathe our last breath on this cursed sphere we call earth.
I'm completely digressing from the beautiful narrative of the miraculous answer God grants to the servant of Abraham. This is a wonderful example of what I like to call how God "has been on it."
To explain, the concerns that we have, and the prayers that we pray with regards to the details of our lives, God "has been on it." That is, these concerns aren't catching God by surprise, and God is not scrambling to get things together for the emergencies that we face; He's been on it.
I keep going back to it, but again, Romans 8:28, rather, in this case, the whole paragraph from v.26-31 fits wonderfully with respect to what went on in Chapter 24.
All of the above passages confirm that
God is good.
--
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
and He appeared...
This week covers Genesis 18:1 to 22:24.
My rough summary of the chapters:
Chapter 18: The visitation of Yahweh: Abraham entertains; Sarah denies her laughing, Yahweh calls her bluff, and remains gracious about Abraham's third degree.
Chapter 19: The angels visit Sodom. Lot has no influence on Sodomites. When the angels hasten to leave, Lot lingers and pleads for Zoar. Lot's wife perishes. Lot and daughters end up isolated in a mountain with illegitimate kids Moab and Benammi (The Ammonites).
Chapter 20: Abraham goes south, to live in Gerar. Abimelech gets in trouble with God because of Sarah. Abraham makes excuses. Abimelech blesses Abraham with goods. Abraham prays for Abimelech and his people.
Chapter 21: Sarah births Isaac. Hagar and child is cast out, they cry out, and God reaches out to them. Hagar gets an Egyptian for her son. Abimelech and Phicol visit Abraham to make a covenant. Abraham plants a tamarisk and calls on Yahweh, also sojourns in Philistia.
Chapter 22: God directs Abraham to offer Isaac on mount Moriah. Abraham, Isaac and 2 servants travel for 3 days. Abraham is stopped in offering Isaac by Yahweh's angel. Abraham names the place Jehovahjireh. Rebekah mentioned among others in a short genealogy.
The key portion of this reading is clearly Chapter 22, where Abraham obeys God. As easy as it is to say it, it is an entirely different matter when it comes to living it.
In relation to obeying or [(gasp) the "s"-word] submitting to God's leading, there is yet another song that is one of my favorites, which is
"Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman.
There is a line that goes,
"...He gives and takes away... Blessed be the Name of the LORD..."
As my pastor in California mentioned, that in itself is a sermon.
Relinquishing control of one's direction, even if it is completely Scriptural or good, according to where God leads, is many times heart-breaking.
Although it is another rehashing of last week's idea, it is essential to trust in God especially in these times. Again, the passage reference of Romans 8:28.
Although it may be very difficult to feel it at that time, but because we know God does not spare even His most precious treasure, we can have faith and believe that...
God is good.
--
My rough summary of the chapters:
Chapter 18: The visitation of Yahweh: Abraham entertains; Sarah denies her laughing, Yahweh calls her bluff, and remains gracious about Abraham's third degree.
Chapter 19: The angels visit Sodom. Lot has no influence on Sodomites. When the angels hasten to leave, Lot lingers and pleads for Zoar. Lot's wife perishes. Lot and daughters end up isolated in a mountain with illegitimate kids Moab and Benammi (The Ammonites).
Chapter 20: Abraham goes south, to live in Gerar. Abimelech gets in trouble with God because of Sarah. Abraham makes excuses. Abimelech blesses Abraham with goods. Abraham prays for Abimelech and his people.
Chapter 21: Sarah births Isaac. Hagar and child is cast out, they cry out, and God reaches out to them. Hagar gets an Egyptian for her son. Abimelech and Phicol visit Abraham to make a covenant. Abraham plants a tamarisk and calls on Yahweh, also sojourns in Philistia.
Chapter 22: God directs Abraham to offer Isaac on mount Moriah. Abraham, Isaac and 2 servants travel for 3 days. Abraham is stopped in offering Isaac by Yahweh's angel. Abraham names the place Jehovahjireh. Rebekah mentioned among others in a short genealogy.
The key portion of this reading is clearly Chapter 22, where Abraham obeys God. As easy as it is to say it, it is an entirely different matter when it comes to living it.
In relation to obeying or [(gasp) the "s"-word] submitting to God's leading, there is yet another song that is one of my favorites, which is
"Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman.
There is a line that goes,
"...He gives and takes away... Blessed be the Name of the LORD..."
As my pastor in California mentioned, that in itself is a sermon.
Relinquishing control of one's direction, even if it is completely Scriptural or good, according to where God leads, is many times heart-breaking.
Although it is another rehashing of last week's idea, it is essential to trust in God especially in these times. Again, the passage reference of Romans 8:28.
Although it may be very difficult to feel it at that time, but because we know God does not spare even His most precious treasure, we can have faith and believe that...
God is good.
--
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Get thee out of thy country...
This week's reading is from Genesis 12:1 to 17:27.
Here is my little summary of the sections:
Chapter 12: Yahweh calls out Abram. Abram gets in trouble in Egypt, Yahweh intercedes.
Chapter 13: Abram and Lot part ways.
Chapter 14: Abram: rescues Lot from captivity, tithes to Melchizedek, and refuses gifts from Sodomite king.
Chapter 15: Yahweh's covenant with Abram.
Chapter 16: Hagar is mistreated by Sarai, Yahweh intercedes for Hagar.
Chapter 17: Abram becomes Abraham. The covenant of circumcision. Sarai becomes Sarah. Abraham laughs regarding a son that is to be (Sarah laughs in the next chapter).
There really isn't a particular passage I focus on this time;
instead, it's more of a theme.
The theme is waiting, as in Abraham waiting for his promised son.
There are many things in life in which we have to wait, small things, and especially the big ones...
One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is "Everlasting God" by Chris Tomlin. The song reverberates the passage from Isaiah 40:29-31.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
It's a wonderful passage that speaks of exercising one's faith and trusting in God. Romans 8:28 comes to my mind in this context at the same time...
Waiting. It's not always easy, but...
God is good.
--
Here is my little summary of the sections:
Chapter 12: Yahweh calls out Abram. Abram gets in trouble in Egypt, Yahweh intercedes.
Chapter 13: Abram and Lot part ways.
Chapter 14: Abram: rescues Lot from captivity, tithes to Melchizedek, and refuses gifts from Sodomite king.
Chapter 15: Yahweh's covenant with Abram.
Chapter 16: Hagar is mistreated by Sarai, Yahweh intercedes for Hagar.
Chapter 17: Abram becomes Abraham. The covenant of circumcision. Sarai becomes Sarah. Abraham laughs regarding a son that is to be (Sarah laughs in the next chapter).
There really isn't a particular passage I focus on this time;
instead, it's more of a theme.
The theme is waiting, as in Abraham waiting for his promised son.
There are many things in life in which we have to wait, small things, and especially the big ones...
One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is "Everlasting God" by Chris Tomlin. The song reverberates the passage from Isaiah 40:29-31.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
It's a wonderful passage that speaks of exercising one's faith and trusting in God. Romans 8:28 comes to my mind in this context at the same time...
Waiting. It's not always easy, but...
God is good.
--
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