Read Genesis 19: 30 - 38 and let's close this chapter ...
This is the last we will hear of Lot. From a splendid beginning ... walking alongside Abram, his uncle and a man of faith ... Lot has spiraled down to this cave, this loss, this tragedy. As Abraham is moving upward from faith to faith ... Lot is moving downward from desire to sin to death. James 1:15 reminds us that "after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Lot is the poster boy for Hosea 8:7 "they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind." Is there anything for us to learn from this sadness?
Of course the obvious lesson for us is the spiraling downward path of sin. We have spoken of it before as we have considered Lot and his story. But it is so important for us not to read over it lightly! It is so important for us to deal with the sin in our lives immediately ... no delay ... not harboring it and nursing it along. If you have some nagging, perpetual sin in your life ... stop right now and go to your knees! Heed the warning of Lot. You really cannot play with it and expect to remain un-burned.
Another thought that intrigues me ... James Boice, in his commentary on Genesis, wonders if the angels in verse 17 ... when they told Lot to flee to the mountains ... not to stop anywhere in the plains ... that perhaps they were sending him back to Abraham. If that were so, it would place Lot in the same category with the prodigal son of Jesus' story in Luke 15. He could have gone home. He could have confessed to Abraham and realigned himself with the path of faith. Unlike that prodigal son, Lot evidently did not "come to his senses". Was it pride? Was it an unwillingness to admit to any wrongdoing? And his story reaches it tragic end. Our last view of Lot is in a drunken stupor, fathering 2 sons through his daughters, Moab and Ben-Ammi. And the peoples who come from these boys ... the Moabites and the Ammonites ... will be thorns in the side of Israel. Yes, sin has far-reaching tentacles.
Powerful lessons from Genesis 19 ...
1. Purity matters.
2. Sexual sin is wrong in the eyes of God - always.
3. Judgement from the holy God will come - always.
4. As believers, we are to be separate from sin, not engaged with it. Notice, we are not to be isolated ... but separate. We are to live differently. We are to honor God in our decisions, our bodies, our behaviors.
God, help us take seriously the warnings from Genesis 19.
September 30, 2010
September 29, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 4 Day 2
Read Genesis 19: 1 - 29.
What a sobering chapter. Mankind, without God, reaches depths that are hard for some of us to imagine and all too real for others of us! Today I want us to consider 3 truths that emerge for me from these verses.
First, I am surprised by the apparent lack of any sense of shame from the men of Sodom. Is that what happens when we live in sin so long, when it becomes so much the norm, that we can no longer see anything wrong, we see no shame? When Isaiah, the prophet, lets Judah know why God will be sending a judgement against them, he says in Isaiah 3:9: "They parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it." That warning causes me to mourn for my country. Will I intercede for her with the faithfulness and the trust that Abraham showed when he interceded for Sodom? Of course, the example in Genesis 19 is severe. But we must consider where it begins. I think it begins with ignoring the small things. It begins when we justify the "little foxes" that break through the fences of our own lives. It begins when we would rather continue in a pet sin than address it and deal with it. How do you talk? Listen to the words you use. How do you dress, girls? Come on - some of us need to cover up better. Just because our culture says 'bare it all' does not mean that it is a good thing for us to do! What kind of entertainment do you seek? Would you be pleased to have Jesus accompany you there? For myself ... for you ... I pray that we will NOT nurture even the smallest offense against our Lord. Bring it to the light of His Presence ... remember, it is in confession and repentance that forgiveness and cleansing come.
Secondly, are you as appalled as I am that Lot was willing to give his 2 virgin daughters to this mob of crazed, lust-hungry men? What a vivid reminder of how far from God's original design for humankind man has plunged. What a vivid reminder of the way women were treated in many ancient civilizations. They were property ... they were to be used ... even Lot was willing to throw them away. And then I watch our Lord enter the pages of history and lift woman back up to a place of value and significance. Jesus spoke with them as if they mattered to Him. He healed them alongside men. He taught them side-by-side. Reading verse 8 of Genesis 19 sends me straight to my knees in gratitude and love for my Lord. My own daughters do not have to live in that kind of world because of Jesus.
Third, I am amazed at the continuing mercy and grace of God toward Lot. God warns him - individually. And He provides a place for Lot and any who will go with him to flee for protection. Lot seems to be not quite as influential as his position of "sitting in the gateway of the city" would initially indicate. Only his wife and his 2 daughters (not their betrothed husbands) left Sodom before the rain of fire. But there was a way out. There was a path of protection and life. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:13
Lord, give us ears to hear ... and hearts willing and ready to respond to Your voice. In You is life and breath and our very being. Know our hearts, O God, and cleanse us. Cause us to stand upright before You because of Jesus and our faith in Him. We are totally dependent upon You ...
What a sobering chapter. Mankind, without God, reaches depths that are hard for some of us to imagine and all too real for others of us! Today I want us to consider 3 truths that emerge for me from these verses.
First, I am surprised by the apparent lack of any sense of shame from the men of Sodom. Is that what happens when we live in sin so long, when it becomes so much the norm, that we can no longer see anything wrong, we see no shame? When Isaiah, the prophet, lets Judah know why God will be sending a judgement against them, he says in Isaiah 3:9: "They parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it." That warning causes me to mourn for my country. Will I intercede for her with the faithfulness and the trust that Abraham showed when he interceded for Sodom? Of course, the example in Genesis 19 is severe. But we must consider where it begins. I think it begins with ignoring the small things. It begins when we justify the "little foxes" that break through the fences of our own lives. It begins when we would rather continue in a pet sin than address it and deal with it. How do you talk? Listen to the words you use. How do you dress, girls? Come on - some of us need to cover up better. Just because our culture says 'bare it all' does not mean that it is a good thing for us to do! What kind of entertainment do you seek? Would you be pleased to have Jesus accompany you there? For myself ... for you ... I pray that we will NOT nurture even the smallest offense against our Lord. Bring it to the light of His Presence ... remember, it is in confession and repentance that forgiveness and cleansing come.
Truth: Sin is a progressive poison - no exceptions.
Secondly, are you as appalled as I am that Lot was willing to give his 2 virgin daughters to this mob of crazed, lust-hungry men? What a vivid reminder of how far from God's original design for humankind man has plunged. What a vivid reminder of the way women were treated in many ancient civilizations. They were property ... they were to be used ... even Lot was willing to throw them away. And then I watch our Lord enter the pages of history and lift woman back up to a place of value and significance. Jesus spoke with them as if they mattered to Him. He healed them alongside men. He taught them side-by-side. Reading verse 8 of Genesis 19 sends me straight to my knees in gratitude and love for my Lord. My own daughters do not have to live in that kind of world because of Jesus.
Truth: Women are valued by God.
Third, I am amazed at the continuing mercy and grace of God toward Lot. God warns him - individually. And He provides a place for Lot and any who will go with him to flee for protection. Lot seems to be not quite as influential as his position of "sitting in the gateway of the city" would initially indicate. Only his wife and his 2 daughters (not their betrothed husbands) left Sodom before the rain of fire. But there was a way out. There was a path of protection and life. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."God did provide a way out for Lot. His wife started to take it ... but turned back, choosing destruction over life.
Truth: God always provides a path to life for those who will listen and follow.
Lord, give us ears to hear ... and hearts willing and ready to respond to Your voice. In You is life and breath and our very being. Know our hearts, O God, and cleanse us. Cause us to stand upright before You because of Jesus and our faith in Him. We are totally dependent upon You ...
September 27, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 4 Day 1
We have a difficult chapter in Genesis to consider this week. Today, let's get an overview by reading Genesis 18: 20 - 21 and Genesis 19.
Today, let's look at Lot, the man. Lot is a premier example of a worldly, compromising Christian. He had knowledge of God. He also wanted the world. Two masters. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:24 that "it is impossible to serve two masters." But some of us keep thinking that we can be the exception! That thinking is to our own peril ... and, as we see with Lot, to the peril of our children. Watch Lot's progression ...
He left Ur with his uncle Abram. Lived with him, traveled with him, learned from him. I suspect Lot worshipped with him in the places we see Abram stop and build altars.
Then the slide began when Lot and Abram decided to separate since their herdsmen were quarreling and there did not seem to be enough pasture land for both of their expansive flocks. (Wait - maybe the slide began when Uncle Abram decided to go to Egypt where there was no famine and life would be easier!)Genesis 13: 10 tells us that Lot "looked" toward Sodom. That word in Hebrew indicates that this was not a casual notice. It was a longing. It is similar to the idea of "lust". So Lot decided to head that direction ... just toward the cities on the plains.
Genesis 13:12 tells us that Lot "pitched his tents near Sodom". Like a moth drawing closer to a flame, Lot moves himself and his circle of people nearer to the place of prosperity, probably excitement and ease.
Genesis 14:12 finds Lot living "in" Sodom. There is no explanation for the move ... just from outside to inside. It's not hard for us to imagine the reasons, the logic, the desire.
Finally, in Genesis 19:1 we find Lot "sitting in the gateway" of Sodom. This is the phraseology used for the elders or principal men of a city - sort of a governing counsel. Lot is fully in.
James Boice says it this way:
Never assume that you are above the temptation to be more attracted to the world than to God.
Be ever so careful to know the dividing line between taking the good news of Christ into a wicked place and becoming engaged in the wicked aspects of the place.
"Becoming all things to all men in order to win some" (1 Corinthians 9:22) does not mean taking on sins to be more like particular sinners.
Never forget that association with the world leaves its mark on us. Remember Paul's advice in Galatians 6:1: If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Sometimes I ache for Lot ... sometimes I get so mad at him I want to scream! There is much about him that I do not understand. We see some good ... we see some horrific. Protect the visitors from the violent men of Sodom - You Go Lot! Throw your daughters out to be raped and most likely killed in exchange for your guests - What?! We will consider more of these things in Day 2.
For today ... Lord, am I leaning more toward the world than I am toward You? Are worldly things more important to me than things of You? Do I pray more for ease than I pray for righteousness? Do I long more for happiness than I do for holiness? Show me myself and my heart as You see it. I think I want to know ...
Today, let's look at Lot, the man. Lot is a premier example of a worldly, compromising Christian. He had knowledge of God. He also wanted the world. Two masters. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:24 that "it is impossible to serve two masters." But some of us keep thinking that we can be the exception! That thinking is to our own peril ... and, as we see with Lot, to the peril of our children. Watch Lot's progression ...
He left Ur with his uncle Abram. Lived with him, traveled with him, learned from him. I suspect Lot worshipped with him in the places we see Abram stop and build altars.
Then the slide began when Lot and Abram decided to separate since their herdsmen were quarreling and there did not seem to be enough pasture land for both of their expansive flocks. (Wait - maybe the slide began when Uncle Abram decided to go to Egypt where there was no famine and life would be easier!)Genesis 13: 10 tells us that Lot "looked" toward Sodom. That word in Hebrew indicates that this was not a casual notice. It was a longing. It is similar to the idea of "lust". So Lot decided to head that direction ... just toward the cities on the plains.
Genesis 13:12 tells us that Lot "pitched his tents near Sodom". Like a moth drawing closer to a flame, Lot moves himself and his circle of people nearer to the place of prosperity, probably excitement and ease.
Genesis 14:12 finds Lot living "in" Sodom. There is no explanation for the move ... just from outside to inside. It's not hard for us to imagine the reasons, the logic, the desire.
Finally, in Genesis 19:1 we find Lot "sitting in the gateway" of Sodom. This is the phraseology used for the elders or principal men of a city - sort of a governing counsel. Lot is fully in.
James Boice says it this way:
Lot had abandoned a high calling and was now the precise opposite of the upright man of Psalm 1. He had walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners and sat down in the seat of mockers. His delight was not in the law of the Lord, and he was certainly not meditating on it day and night. He was not a tree planted by rivers of water; his leaf was withering; his work was not prospering. He was dangerously close to being like the chaff that the wind drives away.The warnings are so clear they hardly need to be written down. But ... here we go ... and I write them down for myself ...
Never assume that you are above the temptation to be more attracted to the world than to God.
Be ever so careful to know the dividing line between taking the good news of Christ into a wicked place and becoming engaged in the wicked aspects of the place.
"Becoming all things to all men in order to win some" (1 Corinthians 9:22) does not mean taking on sins to be more like particular sinners.
Never forget that association with the world leaves its mark on us. Remember Paul's advice in Galatians 6:1: If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Sometimes I ache for Lot ... sometimes I get so mad at him I want to scream! There is much about him that I do not understand. We see some good ... we see some horrific. Protect the visitors from the violent men of Sodom - You Go Lot! Throw your daughters out to be raped and most likely killed in exchange for your guests - What?! We will consider more of these things in Day 2.
For today ... Lord, am I leaning more toward the world than I am toward You? Are worldly things more important to me than things of You? Do I pray more for ease than I pray for righteousness? Do I long more for happiness than I do for holiness? Show me myself and my heart as You see it. I think I want to know ...
September 24, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 3 Day 3
Enjoy Genesis 18 today. As you read, don't forget to pay attention to what you learn about God. Add your thoughts to your journal. Then I will meet you back here ...
There is so much in this chapter - lessons to learn from Abraham, from Sarah and from the Lord. You will have your own lessons and applications. You may want to share them with all of us via the comments portion of this post. Here are some of mine for your consideration ...
First ... from Sarah ...
There is no record that Sarah balked at her husbands offer of hospitality, including a meal, to the three men. We don't hear her saying, "Do what? Are you kidding? Right now? You didn't ask me about that. You invited them ... you take care of it." I may be stretching a point here ... but I know our tendency to sometimes feel "put upon" when extra things are asked of us. I respect Sarah for obviously just doing it. She, too, was hospitable and open to these visitors. I think that is why Peter uses Sarah as his illustration of a wife who is beautiful in the eyes of God (1 Peter 3:5-6).
But Sarah has her dark side ... as do we all. Her years of disappointment have led to a loss of hope. And when she overhears the Lord speaking about this promised heir again, her cynicism and bitterness rumble inside her own spirit. When challenged about it ... she denies it. How like us! Have you experienced a disappointment, a denied expectation, that has nagged at you year after year? In fact, it may have been a quiet presence in your life so long that cynicism has invaded your own spirit as well, like it had Sarah's. Faith still says to trust God with your life ... your circumstances ... your disappointments. Faith still says to trust God and His knowledge of "good". Faith still says to place your life, your circumstances, your desires, your very self into the hands of our merciful, omniscient, gracious Lord, our El Shaddai. I am well aware that it is much easier to type those words than it is to practice them. However, I want to practice that today ... and do it better, more fully today than I did yesterday. Join me?
Secondly, some things I learn from Abraham ...
I am moved by the comfortableness between Abraham and the Lord. When we witness that in this chapter we better understand scripture referring to Abraham as "God's friend". It occurs 3 times in scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23. We see companionship. Easy. Comfortable. We see communication. Friend to friend. Both parties participating. But this is Abraham, right? Certainly not us. Listen to Jesus in John 15:12-15:
Another lesson from Abraham is the importance of intercessory prayer. My friends, plead for those you love! Plead for your city! Plead for your country! Follow the example of Abraham.
And lastly, a lesson for me from the Lord in chapter 18 - know that the Lord, the righteous judge, will always do what is right. Abraham makes the statement in a rhetorical question (verse 25). It does not offend God. God is the judge of all the earth. We can know that not one injustice, not one wrong has ever gone unnoticed by God. Not one sin has ever failed to cry out to Him. He has heard the cries from Sodom and the cities on the plain. Know that He hears the cries from our land as well ... the abused children, the violated women, the hopelessness of poverty, the abandoned, the forgotten, the broken. God hears ... God knows. And, yes, Abraham ... the judge of all the earth will do right. Judgement always comes ... sin always exacts payment.
So what should we do? Intercede in prayer! Modestly, humbly,persistently ... intercede.
There is so much in this chapter - lessons to learn from Abraham, from Sarah and from the Lord. You will have your own lessons and applications. You may want to share them with all of us via the comments portion of this post. Here are some of mine for your consideration ...
First ... from Sarah ...
There is no record that Sarah balked at her husbands offer of hospitality, including a meal, to the three men. We don't hear her saying, "Do what? Are you kidding? Right now? You didn't ask me about that. You invited them ... you take care of it." I may be stretching a point here ... but I know our tendency to sometimes feel "put upon" when extra things are asked of us. I respect Sarah for obviously just doing it. She, too, was hospitable and open to these visitors. I think that is why Peter uses Sarah as his illustration of a wife who is beautiful in the eyes of God (1 Peter 3:5-6).
But Sarah has her dark side ... as do we all. Her years of disappointment have led to a loss of hope. And when she overhears the Lord speaking about this promised heir again, her cynicism and bitterness rumble inside her own spirit. When challenged about it ... she denies it. How like us! Have you experienced a disappointment, a denied expectation, that has nagged at you year after year? In fact, it may have been a quiet presence in your life so long that cynicism has invaded your own spirit as well, like it had Sarah's. Faith still says to trust God with your life ... your circumstances ... your disappointments. Faith still says to trust God and His knowledge of "good". Faith still says to place your life, your circumstances, your desires, your very self into the hands of our merciful, omniscient, gracious Lord, our El Shaddai. I am well aware that it is much easier to type those words than it is to practice them. However, I want to practice that today ... and do it better, more fully today than I did yesterday. Join me?
Secondly, some things I learn from Abraham ...
I am moved by the comfortableness between Abraham and the Lord. When we witness that in this chapter we better understand scripture referring to Abraham as "God's friend". It occurs 3 times in scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23. We see companionship. Easy. Comfortable. We see communication. Friend to friend. Both parties participating. But this is Abraham, right? Certainly not us. Listen to Jesus in John 15:12-15:
Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made know to you.Let the marks of friendship that are precious ... the companionship, the communication, the mutual caring ... be evident in your relationship with your Lord. Your good friends - you talk with, you spend time with, you enjoy! We can rest in the knowledge that Jesus does not require us to be as perfect a friend as He is. He only requires that we acknowledge our friendship with Him by doing what He says. Thank You, Lord!
Another lesson from Abraham is the importance of intercessory prayer. My friends, plead for those you love! Plead for your city! Plead for your country! Follow the example of Abraham.
And lastly, a lesson for me from the Lord in chapter 18 - know that the Lord, the righteous judge, will always do what is right. Abraham makes the statement in a rhetorical question (verse 25). It does not offend God. God is the judge of all the earth. We can know that not one injustice, not one wrong has ever gone unnoticed by God. Not one sin has ever failed to cry out to Him. He has heard the cries from Sodom and the cities on the plain. Know that He hears the cries from our land as well ... the abused children, the violated women, the hopelessness of poverty, the abandoned, the forgotten, the broken. God hears ... God knows. And, yes, Abraham ... the judge of all the earth will do right. Judgement always comes ... sin always exacts payment.
So what should we do? Intercede in prayer! Modestly, humbly,persistently ... intercede.
September 22, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 3 Day 2
Hagar returned home to her life as a handmaid to Sarai. She bore her son ... and Abram named him Ishmael, evidently believing her about her encounter with God. Thirteen years pass ... living life ... Abram managing his affairs ... getting older ... Sarai getting older. I suspect she quit watching each month ... hoping that the expected period would not occur ... her time was over.
Read Genesis 17.
So many interesting things to note from this chapter ...
1. In verse 1 - the Lord appeared to Abram. How? Was it a vision? Did He appear in bodily form? When the meeting was over we learn in verse 22 that "God went up from him" So I think God must have appeared bodily to Abram. We don't know but God appeared and He spoke. He calls Himself, "God Almighty". This is the Hebrew "El Shaddai" that Amy Grant made familiar to many of us through her song of the same name years ago. This name stresses God's omnipotence. The root of the Hebrew is the word shad which means the female breast. All of the images of nourishment, comfort, security seem to be wrapped up in this name. To a baby, the mother is all-powerful and all-necessary. Think of God as your El Shaddai today.
2. God changes Abram's name ... and Sarai's name. (verses 4 and 15)
Some scholars have noted that God adds a "h" to the names of both Abram and Sarai. That "h" signifies the sound of breath. Listen to James Boice:
3. God is ready to confirm His covenant with Abraham and He does so through the sign of circumcision. Instructions are given to Abraham. Some commentators address the health issues that perhaps were part of the reason. But there has too much emphasis on the "seed" of Abraham. This covenant has so much to do with the descendants. Circumcision is a mark in the very flesh of the man. A mark closest to the passing on of the seed of man. A personal mark. A private mark. It would be confirmation to the wife that her husband was bound to Jehovah God. It would be a mark to the man himself that he is forever bound to his God. And don't you love verse 23 - "On that very day ..." Abraham's obedience did not wait for convenience or further explanation. God spoke to him ... and he obeyed God. On that very day ...
Join me on your knees (or perhaps face down!) as I pray ...
El Shaddai, I worship You in Your holiness. You are the God of faithfulness and covenant. You are the God who keeps promises and never forgets. I so long to walk before You in faithfulness ... help us Lord do just that. Give us, through Your Spirit, the heart to hear You and the courage to obey.
Read Genesis 17.
So many interesting things to note from this chapter ...
1. In verse 1 - the Lord appeared to Abram. How? Was it a vision? Did He appear in bodily form? When the meeting was over we learn in verse 22 that "God went up from him" So I think God must have appeared bodily to Abram. We don't know but God appeared and He spoke. He calls Himself, "God Almighty". This is the Hebrew "El Shaddai" that Amy Grant made familiar to many of us through her song of the same name years ago. This name stresses God's omnipotence. The root of the Hebrew is the word shad which means the female breast. All of the images of nourishment, comfort, security seem to be wrapped up in this name. To a baby, the mother is all-powerful and all-necessary. Think of God as your El Shaddai today.
2. God changes Abram's name ... and Sarai's name. (verses 4 and 15)
Some scholars have noted that God adds a "h" to the names of both Abram and Sarai. That "h" signifies the sound of breath. Listen to James Boice:
"We have the Hebrew word ruah, which means both 'breath' and 'spirit' and which cannot even be pronounced properly unless you breathe out. Ruah. It is the sound of a breath. So when God called Abram, Abraham, what He was really doing was adding His mighty breath or Spirit to Abram's name. ... If that is right, God was joining His name to Abram's. Abram, the human 'father of many,' becomes Abraham - 'Abram plus Jehovah, the mighty God.'"Can you hear Jesus promising His Spirit to live within the believer - joined with? (John 14) We, too, do not have to walk with God in our own strength. We, like Abraham, can join ourselves to God and have His very life breath flow through us. In fact, my friends, if you are walking with your El Shaddai, believing Him, there is a "h" added to your name! I respond like Abraham ... and fall face down.
3. God is ready to confirm His covenant with Abraham and He does so through the sign of circumcision. Instructions are given to Abraham. Some commentators address the health issues that perhaps were part of the reason. But there has too much emphasis on the "seed" of Abraham. This covenant has so much to do with the descendants. Circumcision is a mark in the very flesh of the man. A mark closest to the passing on of the seed of man. A personal mark. A private mark. It would be confirmation to the wife that her husband was bound to Jehovah God. It would be a mark to the man himself that he is forever bound to his God. And don't you love verse 23 - "On that very day ..." Abraham's obedience did not wait for convenience or further explanation. God spoke to him ... and he obeyed God. On that very day ...
Join me on your knees (or perhaps face down!) as I pray ...
El Shaddai, I worship You in Your holiness. You are the God of faithfulness and covenant. You are the God who keeps promises and never forgets. I so long to walk before You in faithfulness ... help us Lord do just that. Give us, through Your Spirit, the heart to hear You and the courage to obey.
September 20, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 3 Day 1
God restated His promise to Abram in chapter 15 ... and days begin to pass by. In fact, weeks, months, years are passing by. Abram is prospering ... there seems to be relative peace in the land ... life progresses along ... but no offspring, no ownership of land, nothing.
Read Genesis 16 ... then come back.
Sarai seems to be the one to crumble first - the one to first decide that God's promises will not come about unless they step in and fix something. Rather like a woman, don't you think? We do like to fix situations. Are you trying to fix something right now that God has indicated for you to "wait"? Be wise. Her solution is staggering to our ears ... but not uncommon in her time and culture. Hagar "belonged" to her ... therefore, a child from Hagar would also "belong" to her. And Sarai's plan is conceived.
I wonder if she would have been as willing to place her husband in another woman's arms had Abram not already been willing to place her in another man's arms? Remember the whole scene in Egypt (chapter 12)?Ignoring God has long, far-reaching tentacles.
You have just read the details of these events. There are random things running through my mind about this chapter ...
First, I am amazed at the passivity of Abram. Where is our strong man of God? Is he too busy with his business to pay any attention? Does he really have no opinion in the matter? It seems to me that he just "goes with the flow" throughout this entire episode. But as I find myself frustrated with him, I am silenced by the realization that wives carry such powerful influence over their husbands. Dear reader, if you are married, don't let that thought leave you quickly. We wield strong influence. The NRSV translates verse 2 as "so Abram listened to the voice of Sarai". I am remind of Genesis 3 when another man, Adam, listened to the voice of his wife. Be careful here ... I am not saying that women, wives in particular, should not have a voice - that they should take, or stay in, a passive position! I am saying that we must be aware how powerful our voices can be! God give us wisdom as we open our mouths ... may we not speak quickly without prayer and forethought. May our silences be out of restraint and wisdom - not out of sullenness and passive anger.
Anytime we stop trusting God and choose to go our own way ... trouble will come. One of the interesting results is always blaming God or other people for our messes. Sarai is right on track! She blames God first for the fact that she has no children. (verse 2) Then, when she cannot tolerate the fact that Hagar is pregnant, she blames Abram for the whole mess. (verse 5) Wow. Everyone is to blame except poor Sarai! Ever been there? The powerful Twelve Step program found in Alcoholic Anonymous includes these: Step 4 - "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." Step 5 - "Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Lessons for us? Stop blaming others - family, friends, God. Take responsibility for the messes in our own lives. Examine the part you play (the part I ply) and be honest. Take it to prayer. God, give me eyes to see ... give me courage to admit ... give me strength to move forward in a different direction. Let's don't imitate Sarai in this way any longer!
Lastly, I love the name Hagar gave God ... Beer-lahai-roi ... "the God who sees". Listen to James Boice:
Read Genesis 16 ... then come back.
Sarai seems to be the one to crumble first - the one to first decide that God's promises will not come about unless they step in and fix something. Rather like a woman, don't you think? We do like to fix situations. Are you trying to fix something right now that God has indicated for you to "wait"? Be wise. Her solution is staggering to our ears ... but not uncommon in her time and culture. Hagar "belonged" to her ... therefore, a child from Hagar would also "belong" to her. And Sarai's plan is conceived.
I wonder if she would have been as willing to place her husband in another woman's arms had Abram not already been willing to place her in another man's arms? Remember the whole scene in Egypt (chapter 12)?Ignoring God has long, far-reaching tentacles.
You have just read the details of these events. There are random things running through my mind about this chapter ...
First, I am amazed at the passivity of Abram. Where is our strong man of God? Is he too busy with his business to pay any attention? Does he really have no opinion in the matter? It seems to me that he just "goes with the flow" throughout this entire episode. But as I find myself frustrated with him, I am silenced by the realization that wives carry such powerful influence over their husbands. Dear reader, if you are married, don't let that thought leave you quickly. We wield strong influence. The NRSV translates verse 2 as "so Abram listened to the voice of Sarai". I am remind of Genesis 3 when another man, Adam, listened to the voice of his wife. Be careful here ... I am not saying that women, wives in particular, should not have a voice - that they should take, or stay in, a passive position! I am saying that we must be aware how powerful our voices can be! God give us wisdom as we open our mouths ... may we not speak quickly without prayer and forethought. May our silences be out of restraint and wisdom - not out of sullenness and passive anger.
Anytime we stop trusting God and choose to go our own way ... trouble will come. One of the interesting results is always blaming God or other people for our messes. Sarai is right on track! She blames God first for the fact that she has no children. (verse 2) Then, when she cannot tolerate the fact that Hagar is pregnant, she blames Abram for the whole mess. (verse 5) Wow. Everyone is to blame except poor Sarai! Ever been there? The powerful Twelve Step program found in Alcoholic Anonymous includes these: Step 4 - "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." Step 5 - "Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Lessons for us? Stop blaming others - family, friends, God. Take responsibility for the messes in our own lives. Examine the part you play (the part I ply) and be honest. Take it to prayer. God, give me eyes to see ... give me courage to admit ... give me strength to move forward in a different direction. Let's don't imitate Sarai in this way any longer!
Lastly, I love the name Hagar gave God ... Beer-lahai-roi ... "the God who sees". Listen to James Boice:
"Are you aware that God sees you? Right where you are? He does. He sees you as you are and where you are. He sees where you have come from and where you are going. He sees what you need and what you do not need. Above all, He sees what He wants to make of you and how that final, glorious product is to be achieved. You cannot see it. But it is precisely for that reason that you must lay your own wisdom aside and return to the path God has give you to walk in. Hagar did this; and, from the final verses of the passage, I suspect that she returned a changed woman."God sees you ... God sees me ... today ... right now ... My God, may You be honored by what You see!
September 16, 2010
Abraham/Joseph Week 2 Day 3
Look again at Genesis 15: 12 - 19. God allows Abram a glimpse into the future for his descendants. There is pain there. But there is hope ... there is restoration ... there is "coming home". And God does an amazing thing ... He, and He alone, ratifies and seals the covenant promise with Abram.
The custom of the time was that the two parties making a covenant, a solemn, binding promise, with each other - BOTH walked between the pieces of the divided animal. But this covenant was not ordinary or customary. This covenant was unconditional ... and based solely on God and His promise. So only the presence of God passed between the animals. The symbols God chose for Himself revealed some of His character to Abram.
The "smoking fire pot" was a well known article in Abram's day. It was a small furnace use to purify metals. This may be the image in Peter's mind when he wrote about believers' faith. He said,
So the image was a common one ... signifying the ability and will of God to purify what is impure. He wants to do the same with you and me. We often find ourselves resenting the fire, the heat. But know this, dear believer, God will purify until He sees a reflection of His beloved Son in us.
The second image God uses is the blazing torch. How appropriate! Light is so often used in scripture to represent the presence of God. "God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) God appeared as light on Mt. Sinai with Moses ... and it penetrated Moses himself. God appeared as light to Saul on the road to Damascus. I find it very appropriate that God moves between the pieces to seal this covenant with Abram as "light".
The Abrahamic Covenant ... It will be followed about 4 generations later by the Mosaic Covenant, the Old Law given on Mt. Sinai. The Old Law, whose purpose it was to instruct us on what sin and righteousness mean. And then ... finally ... the New Covenant ... ratified on the cross through the flesh of our Lord, Jesus. The Covenant of grace ...
"Abram believed the Lord, and He credited to Him as righteousness."
Before you finish thinking about this business of "covenant", read Galatians 3. Savor it. And fall on your knees in gratitude!
The custom of the time was that the two parties making a covenant, a solemn, binding promise, with each other - BOTH walked between the pieces of the divided animal. But this covenant was not ordinary or customary. This covenant was unconditional ... and based solely on God and His promise. So only the presence of God passed between the animals. The symbols God chose for Himself revealed some of His character to Abram.
The "smoking fire pot" was a well known article in Abram's day. It was a small furnace use to purify metals. This may be the image in Peter's mind when he wrote about believers' faith. He said,
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6 - 7The Old Testament prophet, Malachi, wrote that God would "purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness." Malachi 3:3
So the image was a common one ... signifying the ability and will of God to purify what is impure. He wants to do the same with you and me. We often find ourselves resenting the fire, the heat. But know this, dear believer, God will purify until He sees a reflection of His beloved Son in us.
The second image God uses is the blazing torch. How appropriate! Light is so often used in scripture to represent the presence of God. "God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) God appeared as light on Mt. Sinai with Moses ... and it penetrated Moses himself. God appeared as light to Saul on the road to Damascus. I find it very appropriate that God moves between the pieces to seal this covenant with Abram as "light".
The Abrahamic Covenant ... It will be followed about 4 generations later by the Mosaic Covenant, the Old Law given on Mt. Sinai. The Old Law, whose purpose it was to instruct us on what sin and righteousness mean. And then ... finally ... the New Covenant ... ratified on the cross through the flesh of our Lord, Jesus. The Covenant of grace ...
"Abram believed the Lord, and He credited to Him as righteousness."
Before you finish thinking about this business of "covenant", read Galatians 3. Savor it. And fall on your knees in gratitude!
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