To all,
Today marks a very special milestone for me...entry 100. The If...Then Game marks the 100th time that the Lord has spoken through me to others and that is reason to rejoice. So I want to first thank the Almighty Lord for using me in such powerful ways.
Then, I would like to thank all of you who read and offer encouragement. I work 14 hour days and when I get home, I'm usually tired until I sit down at my keyboard and ask the Lord to enter in and grant me the words to type. At that moment, He ALWAYS energizes me and blesses me with the right things to say. It's simply amazing to be absorbed in His presence every single day.
So if you are have been blessed, are being blessed and will be blessed by this blog as we continue to journey on the Christian Walk together, please lift your eyes and hearts to Heaven and give thanks to the Author of ALL things. To Him be the glory, now and forever and may He richly bless all of you.
In Christ,
Mark
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
THE IF..THEN GAME
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Genesis 28:20-22
Yesterday, we examined the passage in Genesis 28 where Jacob dreamed about angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth on a stairway with God blessing him and his descendants from above. As Jacob awakes, we read about his very thoughts as he proclaims," Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." I defined his experience as a God-experience and proposed that we have these all the time but too often take them for granted or miss recognizing them thus missing the chance to be in a spirit of rejoicing like Jacob. Truly, God is everywhere and anywhere we might be.
Now you would think that an experience like Jacob had would fortify your faith and trust in God. Jacob clearly knew that God was in the place where he was. But the very next verses bring into question how much Jacob really understood about the God who was with him…and I think we’re too often just like him. Let’s look at what Jacob did and then examine some of the pitfalls in his spiritual attitude.
First off, Jacob negotiates with God using the classic "if…then" perspective. Jacob says, "The Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." But only if God meets certain conditions for Jacob. You see Jacob said he would honor God, give him a tenth and dedicate the location as God’s house, if God would:
1. Be with him.
2. Watch over him on his journey.
3. Give him food to eat.
4. Give him clothes to wear.
5. Grant safe journey back to his father’s house.
What’s implied by Jacob’s edict is that the Lord will not be his God if He fails to provide any or all of what Jacob has asked for. And if the Lord isn’t his God then why should he give Him anything. After all, God didn’t give him what He asked for. All this left me wondering what God thought about Jacob in all this. It also left me wondering how God feels about us as we make the same mistake that Jacob made today.
I say this because faith in God is too often conditional for many people. I will trust God if He gives me just what I want or need. In other words, "If God gives me what I want or need, then I will trust and have faith Him." Or…"If God gives me His everything, then I will give Him my everything in return." This mindset leads to a shallow understanding of God and a weak faith that results in a person feeling God doesn’t exist and/or God doesn’t love and care about them because He fails to answer their prayers and give them what they want. It just doesn’t work that way. We are telling God that, in all cases, our will must be done or else we won’t have faith in Him or give Him anything. The sad part of this mindset is that it isn’t about our will…it’s about God’s will for us.
God is God…almighty…all powerful…all majestic…all capable of anything. He is our Creator…our Father…our Master…He is in charge…not us. So it is all about His will for us. What does He want and need in our lives? That is what we should be asking. We should be praying and asking God what His will is for us and then pray for everything that will allow His will to be done. That is the proper way to approach the throne of grace and mercy…to come before the Everlasting, Almighty, Infinite God of Heaven. Keep this in mind…God ordains the conditions of life, not us. The only thing unconditional in God is His love for all of us and that’s good news we should always rejoice in.
Question: Are you playing the "If…then" game with God? If so, then stop…and get your attitude adjusted in the way you understand your relationship with the Almighty. He loves you and He wants the best for you and that might mean enduring hardship to grow in faith and perseverance (in other words, the best thing for us might not be something we necessarily enjoy). He also wants to help you grow more and more to be like His Son Jesus. Know and trust that if you turn to Jesus and live as He lived, then you will always be in the proper spiritual attitude and will ever first seek the Father’s will for you..no matter what that will may be. For that is what Jesus did…all the way to the cross.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Genesis 28:20-22
Yesterday, we examined the passage in Genesis 28 where Jacob dreamed about angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth on a stairway with God blessing him and his descendants from above. As Jacob awakes, we read about his very thoughts as he proclaims," Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." I defined his experience as a God-experience and proposed that we have these all the time but too often take them for granted or miss recognizing them thus missing the chance to be in a spirit of rejoicing like Jacob. Truly, God is everywhere and anywhere we might be.
Now you would think that an experience like Jacob had would fortify your faith and trust in God. Jacob clearly knew that God was in the place where he was. But the very next verses bring into question how much Jacob really understood about the God who was with him…and I think we’re too often just like him. Let’s look at what Jacob did and then examine some of the pitfalls in his spiritual attitude.
First off, Jacob negotiates with God using the classic "if…then" perspective. Jacob says, "The Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." But only if God meets certain conditions for Jacob. You see Jacob said he would honor God, give him a tenth and dedicate the location as God’s house, if God would:
1. Be with him.
2. Watch over him on his journey.
3. Give him food to eat.
4. Give him clothes to wear.
5. Grant safe journey back to his father’s house.
What’s implied by Jacob’s edict is that the Lord will not be his God if He fails to provide any or all of what Jacob has asked for. And if the Lord isn’t his God then why should he give Him anything. After all, God didn’t give him what He asked for. All this left me wondering what God thought about Jacob in all this. It also left me wondering how God feels about us as we make the same mistake that Jacob made today.
I say this because faith in God is too often conditional for many people. I will trust God if He gives me just what I want or need. In other words, "If God gives me what I want or need, then I will trust and have faith Him." Or…"If God gives me His everything, then I will give Him my everything in return." This mindset leads to a shallow understanding of God and a weak faith that results in a person feeling God doesn’t exist and/or God doesn’t love and care about them because He fails to answer their prayers and give them what they want. It just doesn’t work that way. We are telling God that, in all cases, our will must be done or else we won’t have faith in Him or give Him anything. The sad part of this mindset is that it isn’t about our will…it’s about God’s will for us.
God is God…almighty…all powerful…all majestic…all capable of anything. He is our Creator…our Father…our Master…He is in charge…not us. So it is all about His will for us. What does He want and need in our lives? That is what we should be asking. We should be praying and asking God what His will is for us and then pray for everything that will allow His will to be done. That is the proper way to approach the throne of grace and mercy…to come before the Everlasting, Almighty, Infinite God of Heaven. Keep this in mind…God ordains the conditions of life, not us. The only thing unconditional in God is His love for all of us and that’s good news we should always rejoice in.
Question: Are you playing the "If…then" game with God? If so, then stop…and get your attitude adjusted in the way you understand your relationship with the Almighty. He loves you and He wants the best for you and that might mean enduring hardship to grow in faith and perseverance (in other words, the best thing for us might not be something we necessarily enjoy). He also wants to help you grow more and more to be like His Son Jesus. Know and trust that if you turn to Jesus and live as He lived, then you will always be in the proper spiritual attitude and will ever first seek the Father’s will for you..no matter what that will may be. For that is what Jesus did…all the way to the cross.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
GOD-EXPERIENCES
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz." Genesis 28:10-19
As we continue studying Genesis, Chapter 28, we find Jacob on the way to his uncle Laban’s home to marry one of his daughters. Scripture tells us that at "a certain place" between Beersheba and Haran, Jacob decides to stop for the night. As he lays his head down on a rock and drifts asleep, he has a remarkable dream…not like any dream he had ever had before. For in this dream, he encounters the Lord and receives a special blessing from Him...an assurance that the Lord would give him the "land on which (he was) lying. The Lord also said, "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awakes, his response is one of overwhelming praise as he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." What an amazing moment for Jacob…as he has a God-experience. It’s an amazing moment for us too as we learn some great principles to apply to our Christian walk.
First, how often do we have God-experiences? Now we may not have had a dream where we saw angels ascending and descending from Heaven on a stairway and maybe we haven’t had the Lord impart special blessings upon us and our ancestors, but I think I can say with full confidence that we all have had a God-experience of a different type.
For example, how many times has your conscience convicted you when you were either about to sin or after you had sinned? You know what I’m talking about. The cartoon analogy that is more true than we might want to admit has a little white angel on one shoulder and a little red devil on the other of a person trying to decide between doing right and wrong. The little white angel will be saying something like, "Now you know you shouldn’t do this. It’s wrong and you know it." Meanwhile, the little devil is saying, "Don’t listen to the angel. Do it! Do it! You know you want to do it!" Well, consider that little angel…or that still small voice…or that sense that what you’re about to do is wrong (that conviction feeling), a God-experience. The Lord is speaking to you via the Spirit and is seeking to guide you the right way.
How about another matter to consider. How many times have you experienced a miracle of healing…a good fortune…a resolution of a long standing problem…a restoral of a broken relationship. All fall under the category of blessings and they are nothing short of a special, loving God-experience.
Need still more convincing…How about prayers that you have lifted up either for yourself, your family, a friend? What do you call it when those prayers are answered? For me, it’s an awesome, amazing God-experience…and it happens all the time.
So what happens when we truly realize how many God-experiences we have in life? Well, it brings us to the place of praise…just as it did Jacob. And in our rejoicing, we should find ourselves exclaiming with joy, "Surely the Lord is in this place!" and "How awesome is this place!" with the "place" being wherever you are when your God-experience happens. And that could be anywhere because God is with us everywhere.
Question: Have you had a God-experience today? If so, did you fall before Him in praise for His presence…His goodness…His guidance…and His love. Lift up your voice and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Amen
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz." Genesis 28:10-19
As we continue studying Genesis, Chapter 28, we find Jacob on the way to his uncle Laban’s home to marry one of his daughters. Scripture tells us that at "a certain place" between Beersheba and Haran, Jacob decides to stop for the night. As he lays his head down on a rock and drifts asleep, he has a remarkable dream…not like any dream he had ever had before. For in this dream, he encounters the Lord and receives a special blessing from Him...an assurance that the Lord would give him the "land on which (he was) lying. The Lord also said, "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awakes, his response is one of overwhelming praise as he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." What an amazing moment for Jacob…as he has a God-experience. It’s an amazing moment for us too as we learn some great principles to apply to our Christian walk.
First, how often do we have God-experiences? Now we may not have had a dream where we saw angels ascending and descending from Heaven on a stairway and maybe we haven’t had the Lord impart special blessings upon us and our ancestors, but I think I can say with full confidence that we all have had a God-experience of a different type.
For example, how many times has your conscience convicted you when you were either about to sin or after you had sinned? You know what I’m talking about. The cartoon analogy that is more true than we might want to admit has a little white angel on one shoulder and a little red devil on the other of a person trying to decide between doing right and wrong. The little white angel will be saying something like, "Now you know you shouldn’t do this. It’s wrong and you know it." Meanwhile, the little devil is saying, "Don’t listen to the angel. Do it! Do it! You know you want to do it!" Well, consider that little angel…or that still small voice…or that sense that what you’re about to do is wrong (that conviction feeling), a God-experience. The Lord is speaking to you via the Spirit and is seeking to guide you the right way.
How about another matter to consider. How many times have you experienced a miracle of healing…a good fortune…a resolution of a long standing problem…a restoral of a broken relationship. All fall under the category of blessings and they are nothing short of a special, loving God-experience.
Need still more convincing…How about prayers that you have lifted up either for yourself, your family, a friend? What do you call it when those prayers are answered? For me, it’s an awesome, amazing God-experience…and it happens all the time.
So what happens when we truly realize how many God-experiences we have in life? Well, it brings us to the place of praise…just as it did Jacob. And in our rejoicing, we should find ourselves exclaiming with joy, "Surely the Lord is in this place!" and "How awesome is this place!" with the "place" being wherever you are when your God-experience happens. And that could be anywhere because God is with us everywhere.
Question: Have you had a God-experience today? If so, did you fall before Him in praise for His presence…His goodness…His guidance…and His love. Lift up your voice and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Amen
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
WHO ARE YOU SEEKING TO PLEASE?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living. So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham." Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, "Do not marry a Canaanite woman,"and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had." Genesis 27:46-47, 28:1-9
One of the biggest stumbling blocks we fall over as we seek to find contentment in life is that we seek to please people instead of the Lord. Maybe you can relate. I know I can. Whether it’s our parents, our spouse, our children, our co-workers, our boss, our fellow Christian brothers and sisters…there is no shortage of people we’re around that want to be pleased in some way. We seem to always be under constant pressure to keep everyone happy…and everyone wants something different from you to make them happy, often times contradicting one another. We end up frustrated…despaired…stressed… unhappy because we can’t make everyone happy. We wonder to ourselves, "Will I ever be able to please everyone?"
Well, if we asked the Lord, He would answer with a resounding "NO!" In fact, He would let you know in a hurry that trying to please man or woman is pure folly. He doesn’t want you to live in a way that seeks to please people…He wants you to live in a way that please Him. You see…that’s the key to breaking this endless frustration of unsuccessfully pleasing everyone. For if we are pleasing God in the way we live, everything else will fall into place. If living in a way that pleases God, doesn’t please others, then simply say that you’re sorry but there simply isn’t any other way that you are going to live. The Lord would tell us not to conform to ways of the world but instead conform to His ways…always. Not just sometimes, all the times.
So how does this have anything to do with our scripture today? Well, Esau, fresh off his murderous intentions in wanting to knock off Jacob to get his blessing back, decides to do something else to get back into good favor with his father. Hearing that Jacob was ordered to not marry a Canaanite woman as he was sent away to take a wife from Laban’s (Rebekah’s brother) daughters, Esau decided to marry a woman first who was not a Canaanite…and not only this but to marry a woman who was akin to the great Abraham (one of Ishmael’s daughter). Surely, Esau had a motive in mind and sought to please his father before he thought about pleasing the Lord. He was carrying out his own will instead of asking the Lord what His will was for him.
Question: How often are you seeking the Lord to find out what His will is for you? How often in the midst of difficult circumstances are you asking the Lord to revel His will for you? How often do you seek to please people vice seek to please the Lord with everything you do in your life?
Maybe this devotion has spoken to your heart. Maybe it has shown you that you need to turn your eyes more toward to Lord than others. Maybe it has served to break the bondage of others who might have you ready to breakdown because you feel like a failure…all because you feel like you haven’t pleased them or could ever please them. Maybe just maybe…these words…spoken to you through me by the Father, have caused you to vow to only seek to please Him from here on out. This is my prayer for you. Where you have multiple expectations when you live to please people, God has only one set of expectations…only one set of standards…and the good news is that He’s always ready to help us meet them. We’re never in this alone.
Find peace in this truth…find joy in this truth…and rest peacefully in the arms of the Father who loves you. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living. So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham." Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, "Do not marry a Canaanite woman,"and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had." Genesis 27:46-47, 28:1-9
One of the biggest stumbling blocks we fall over as we seek to find contentment in life is that we seek to please people instead of the Lord. Maybe you can relate. I know I can. Whether it’s our parents, our spouse, our children, our co-workers, our boss, our fellow Christian brothers and sisters…there is no shortage of people we’re around that want to be pleased in some way. We seem to always be under constant pressure to keep everyone happy…and everyone wants something different from you to make them happy, often times contradicting one another. We end up frustrated…despaired…stressed… unhappy because we can’t make everyone happy. We wonder to ourselves, "Will I ever be able to please everyone?"
Well, if we asked the Lord, He would answer with a resounding "NO!" In fact, He would let you know in a hurry that trying to please man or woman is pure folly. He doesn’t want you to live in a way that seeks to please people…He wants you to live in a way that please Him. You see…that’s the key to breaking this endless frustration of unsuccessfully pleasing everyone. For if we are pleasing God in the way we live, everything else will fall into place. If living in a way that pleases God, doesn’t please others, then simply say that you’re sorry but there simply isn’t any other way that you are going to live. The Lord would tell us not to conform to ways of the world but instead conform to His ways…always. Not just sometimes, all the times.
So how does this have anything to do with our scripture today? Well, Esau, fresh off his murderous intentions in wanting to knock off Jacob to get his blessing back, decides to do something else to get back into good favor with his father. Hearing that Jacob was ordered to not marry a Canaanite woman as he was sent away to take a wife from Laban’s (Rebekah’s brother) daughters, Esau decided to marry a woman first who was not a Canaanite…and not only this but to marry a woman who was akin to the great Abraham (one of Ishmael’s daughter). Surely, Esau had a motive in mind and sought to please his father before he thought about pleasing the Lord. He was carrying out his own will instead of asking the Lord what His will was for him.
Question: How often are you seeking the Lord to find out what His will is for you? How often in the midst of difficult circumstances are you asking the Lord to revel His will for you? How often do you seek to please people vice seek to please the Lord with everything you do in your life?
Maybe this devotion has spoken to your heart. Maybe it has shown you that you need to turn your eyes more toward to Lord than others. Maybe it has served to break the bondage of others who might have you ready to breakdown because you feel like a failure…all because you feel like you haven’t pleased them or could ever please them. Maybe just maybe…these words…spoken to you through me by the Father, have caused you to vow to only seek to please Him from here on out. This is my prayer for you. Where you have multiple expectations when you live to please people, God has only one set of expectations…only one set of standards…and the good news is that He’s always ready to help us meet them. We’re never in this alone.
Find peace in this truth…find joy in this truth…and rest peacefully in the arms of the Father who loves you. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
WHAT IF GOD HELD A GRUDGE?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?" Genesis 27:41-45
Has anyone treated you the wrong way or violated you to the point where you harbor deep anger toward that person? If so, then maybe you can relate to Esau and his emotions after Jacob, under the tutelage of his mother Rebekah, tricks Isaac into giving his blessing and birthright to Jacob by thinking he was really giving it to Esau.
The passage above from the end of Chapter 27 tells us immediately that Esau held a grudge…a grudge that had him thinking murderous thoughts. And therein lies the danger in allowing ourselves to be consumed by anger for it can infect us and lead us to the place of revenge and retaliation. One can almost hear Esau thinking to himself, "He may have thought he got away with this but he’ll have a hard time enjoying the birthright that was rightfully mine if he’s dead." Esau was ready to be judge, jury and executioner on his brother.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we have seen this during our study of the bible’s first book. You’ll remember that Cain, jealous of Abel finding favor with God while he did not, lured his brother out into the field and murdered him. First jealousy…now anger and resentment…both sins conjure up deadly ambitions and actions…ambition and actions that are not of the Lord.
There’s several points to ponder as we examine this scripture and the topic of begrudging another.
1. God is the only true judge. We’re very good at pointing fingers at others and the way they live as if we have no sin within us. Jesus addressed this as the prostitute was about to be stoned by saying to her attackers, "He who hath no sin cast the first stone." As you’ll recall, no stones were thrown. So when someone violates us through sinful behavior, allow God to handle it. Believe and trust that He will address it and do so the right way, unlike how we would take care of things.
2. Where there’s anger, the Lord is not present. How can I say this? Well anger is sinful emotion and the Lord will not be in the presence of sin. It’s plain and simple. God is love and any action that is not of love is of sin. In the midst of his grudge, Esau planned to murder. God would not be in partnership with him in this…but the devil sure would. If you are harboring anger in your heart, you are giving the devil a foothold within you and rejecting God who want to replace the devil in your life. Deny the devil, move toward an attitude of love, allow God to be the judge on all matters and begin to act as you are…a sinner just like the person who has mistreated you…a sinner who needs God’s grace and mercy like everyone else.
3. Consider God and His attitude toward you before turning on another. What would happen if God decided to hold a grudge on anyone who sinned and violated His word and will? What if His standard was murdering us out of hatred because we have disobeyed and disrespected Him? Thanks be to God that we have a Father who is merciful, loving and forgiving. Before you harbor ill will and feelings toward another, you should turn to your Maker, the One who created you in His own image, and model your behavior after His. In other words, forgive and show mercy as He has forgiven and shown mercy unto you. For that is truly the antidote to sinful anger…to sinful grudges…and all by products and behaviors of the two. God is love…my prayer is that your heart will turn more toward His love this day…and in turn, reflect that same love in how you treat others.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?" Genesis 27:41-45
Has anyone treated you the wrong way or violated you to the point where you harbor deep anger toward that person? If so, then maybe you can relate to Esau and his emotions after Jacob, under the tutelage of his mother Rebekah, tricks Isaac into giving his blessing and birthright to Jacob by thinking he was really giving it to Esau.
The passage above from the end of Chapter 27 tells us immediately that Esau held a grudge…a grudge that had him thinking murderous thoughts. And therein lies the danger in allowing ourselves to be consumed by anger for it can infect us and lead us to the place of revenge and retaliation. One can almost hear Esau thinking to himself, "He may have thought he got away with this but he’ll have a hard time enjoying the birthright that was rightfully mine if he’s dead." Esau was ready to be judge, jury and executioner on his brother.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we have seen this during our study of the bible’s first book. You’ll remember that Cain, jealous of Abel finding favor with God while he did not, lured his brother out into the field and murdered him. First jealousy…now anger and resentment…both sins conjure up deadly ambitions and actions…ambition and actions that are not of the Lord.
There’s several points to ponder as we examine this scripture and the topic of begrudging another.
1. God is the only true judge. We’re very good at pointing fingers at others and the way they live as if we have no sin within us. Jesus addressed this as the prostitute was about to be stoned by saying to her attackers, "He who hath no sin cast the first stone." As you’ll recall, no stones were thrown. So when someone violates us through sinful behavior, allow God to handle it. Believe and trust that He will address it and do so the right way, unlike how we would take care of things.
2. Where there’s anger, the Lord is not present. How can I say this? Well anger is sinful emotion and the Lord will not be in the presence of sin. It’s plain and simple. God is love and any action that is not of love is of sin. In the midst of his grudge, Esau planned to murder. God would not be in partnership with him in this…but the devil sure would. If you are harboring anger in your heart, you are giving the devil a foothold within you and rejecting God who want to replace the devil in your life. Deny the devil, move toward an attitude of love, allow God to be the judge on all matters and begin to act as you are…a sinner just like the person who has mistreated you…a sinner who needs God’s grace and mercy like everyone else.
3. Consider God and His attitude toward you before turning on another. What would happen if God decided to hold a grudge on anyone who sinned and violated His word and will? What if His standard was murdering us out of hatred because we have disobeyed and disrespected Him? Thanks be to God that we have a Father who is merciful, loving and forgiving. Before you harbor ill will and feelings toward another, you should turn to your Maker, the One who created you in His own image, and model your behavior after His. In other words, forgive and show mercy as He has forgiven and shown mercy unto you. For that is truly the antidote to sinful anger…to sinful grudges…and all by products and behaviors of the two. God is love…my prayer is that your heart will turn more toward His love this day…and in turn, reflect that same love in how you treat others.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, October 27, 2007
DON'T BE DECEIVED INTO BEING A DECEIVER
"When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.' Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies." Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I'm a man with smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing." His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me." So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?" Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing." Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The Lord your God gave me success," he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not." Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied. Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me." So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing." His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I am your son," he answered, "your firstborn, Esau." Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!" When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me—me too, my father!" But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?" Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud. His father Isaac answered him, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." Genesis 27:1-40
Have you ever experienced deception in your life…a time when someone violated your trust in them? I think we all have encountered it or will encounter it at some time or another. I have gone through it on a rather grand scale in my life and I can tell you it is in my top 10 worse memories. Maybe you can relate.
I have also been guilty of being a deceiver as well. It may have not been as blatant as what happened to me but it is just as wrong. Have you ever told someone a lie? Maybe you didn’t tell the whole truth to someone when they were expecting it? Deceit is deceit just as sin is sin. Maybe you can relate.
In our scripture today, Isaac is ready to pass his blessing onto his firstborn son Esau as worldly tradition would have it. This isn’t just any ordinary blessing. It is a transfer of rights to Canaan and the promises of God. Much is at stake…and there is much to gain for the one who receives the blessing. There was only one big problem in this particular situation. The Lord had already pronounced who would receive the blessing and it was in direct contrast to what the world would see happen. Recall the following words of the Lord from Genesis, Chapter 25 as He answers Rebekah’s question about why the twin sons were jostling within her: He said, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."
Fast forward now to Genesis, Chapter 27. Isaac, old and suffering from poor eyesight, fears his death is coming soon and wants to give his blessing to Esau, his oldest son. Perhaps Isaac did not know about the words to Rebekah but I doubt it. She surely shared her experience with him. Nonetheless, God’s words to Rebekah showed that He would be passing on the blessing to Jacob for he was the younger of the two. So no matter how much Isaac wanted to do his own thing and pass the blessing to Esau, in the end, God’s will was going to be done…and it did get done just as He said it would. Isaac is tricked into giving the blessing to Jacob thinking he is really Esau, a plan devised by Rebekah and carried out by both Rebekah and Jacob. The irony of all this is that Isaac himself had played the role of deceiver in his dealings with Abimelech. Now, he got to know what it felt like to be on the receiving end. God not only ensures His will is done but also can teach us a lesson at the same time.
Question: Do you think that maybe God allows us to be victims of deception to show us what it feels like to those who we deceive? Is He trying to teach us lessons in the midst of that kind of experience?
Others were also at fault here. One might think that Rebekah and Jacob had to do what they did to make sure Isaac didn’t give his blessing to Esau. One might think their deception was justified. Think again. Deceptiveness, lying, cheating…they all are sin and God hates sin. He would never ordain sinful behavior to carry out any plan He devised. Sin is NEVER part of God’s design so if you are working through a situation and you start to think God is leading you while sinful thoughts are in your heart and mind, know and trust that it is Satan doing the leading, not God. God would have had the blessing transferred to Jacob in His way and in accordance with His will. Rebekah and Jacob trumped God by doing their own thing. Although the result is what God wanted, the steps taken were not of God. At least in Jacob's case, he is soon going to know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of deception but that is a different devotional on a different day.
Question: Have you ever been convinced by Satan that deceiving someone is necessary in some situations? Have you ever decided to come up with your own plan to make something happen instead of relying and trusting in God to make it happen?
We’ve covered Isaac, Rebekah and Jacob. Esau is the only one left in this story. One might see him as being the victim in all this. Surely, he didn’t do anything inappropriate. But he did…and it won’t be the last time.
Esau, you see, isn’t willing to accept the outcome of this matter as being God’s will. All he sees is his blessing and birthright being stolen away by his younger brother. Even if he didn’t know that God had already pronounced that Jacob would be the heir apparent to Canaan and His promises, he could have accepted the final outcome by faith that either God’s will was done…or if it hadn’t been done, that He would set it right. In other words, if it were God’s will for Esau to get the blessing, then he would get it…if not at that moment then it would happen in the future. Esau didn’t trust however, instead he wailed and cried after finding our Jacob had received the blessing he felt he deserved.
Question: Have you ever been resentful when someone received something you thought you should have gotten? Have you ever been reluctant to accept your circumstances as part of God’s plan for you?
I have and will share just a quick testimony. I was a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the year 2000 and was stationed at COMNAVAIRLANT headquarters in Norfolk VA. I was in an office with one other Senior Chief and the time had come for us to receive our annual performance fitness report. Because there were only two of us, only one could get the top promotion recommendation (early promote) and the other would get the secondary recommendation (must promote). I had worked extremely hard and everyone, including myself, thought I was a shoe-in for the early promote recommendation. When the reports came out however, I was the must promote and the other Senior Chief received the early promote. I was livid and remember having an attitude for weeks afterwards. No one could tell me I didn’t deserve the top honor. No one but God, that is. And He did tell me because the next year, just 8 months after the reports were issued, the promotion results came out for Master Chief (our next higher promotion point) and guess what, we were both selected for promotion. The moral of the story? I would have been promoted whether I finished first or second. The other Senior Chief would not have been selected unless he was number 1. Th Lord convicted my heart that day to never feel resentfulness again when things don’t seem to work out the way I thought they should. He taught me that His plan is far beyond my meager understanding. He taught me to simply trust Him and allow His will to be done.
Question: So how about you? Have you had a similar experience? Maybe you’re going through something similar right now? My prayer is that you’ll learn like I did that God is in control and He has perfect plan for each of us. Trust in His plan and have the patience to wait for Him to carry it out in your life. In the end, you will be blessed in ways you never could imagine…because our plans are nowhere as holy as His are. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Have you ever experienced deception in your life…a time when someone violated your trust in them? I think we all have encountered it or will encounter it at some time or another. I have gone through it on a rather grand scale in my life and I can tell you it is in my top 10 worse memories. Maybe you can relate.
I have also been guilty of being a deceiver as well. It may have not been as blatant as what happened to me but it is just as wrong. Have you ever told someone a lie? Maybe you didn’t tell the whole truth to someone when they were expecting it? Deceit is deceit just as sin is sin. Maybe you can relate.
In our scripture today, Isaac is ready to pass his blessing onto his firstborn son Esau as worldly tradition would have it. This isn’t just any ordinary blessing. It is a transfer of rights to Canaan and the promises of God. Much is at stake…and there is much to gain for the one who receives the blessing. There was only one big problem in this particular situation. The Lord had already pronounced who would receive the blessing and it was in direct contrast to what the world would see happen. Recall the following words of the Lord from Genesis, Chapter 25 as He answers Rebekah’s question about why the twin sons were jostling within her: He said, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."
Fast forward now to Genesis, Chapter 27. Isaac, old and suffering from poor eyesight, fears his death is coming soon and wants to give his blessing to Esau, his oldest son. Perhaps Isaac did not know about the words to Rebekah but I doubt it. She surely shared her experience with him. Nonetheless, God’s words to Rebekah showed that He would be passing on the blessing to Jacob for he was the younger of the two. So no matter how much Isaac wanted to do his own thing and pass the blessing to Esau, in the end, God’s will was going to be done…and it did get done just as He said it would. Isaac is tricked into giving the blessing to Jacob thinking he is really Esau, a plan devised by Rebekah and carried out by both Rebekah and Jacob. The irony of all this is that Isaac himself had played the role of deceiver in his dealings with Abimelech. Now, he got to know what it felt like to be on the receiving end. God not only ensures His will is done but also can teach us a lesson at the same time.
Question: Do you think that maybe God allows us to be victims of deception to show us what it feels like to those who we deceive? Is He trying to teach us lessons in the midst of that kind of experience?
Others were also at fault here. One might think that Rebekah and Jacob had to do what they did to make sure Isaac didn’t give his blessing to Esau. One might think their deception was justified. Think again. Deceptiveness, lying, cheating…they all are sin and God hates sin. He would never ordain sinful behavior to carry out any plan He devised. Sin is NEVER part of God’s design so if you are working through a situation and you start to think God is leading you while sinful thoughts are in your heart and mind, know and trust that it is Satan doing the leading, not God. God would have had the blessing transferred to Jacob in His way and in accordance with His will. Rebekah and Jacob trumped God by doing their own thing. Although the result is what God wanted, the steps taken were not of God. At least in Jacob's case, he is soon going to know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of deception but that is a different devotional on a different day.
Question: Have you ever been convinced by Satan that deceiving someone is necessary in some situations? Have you ever decided to come up with your own plan to make something happen instead of relying and trusting in God to make it happen?
We’ve covered Isaac, Rebekah and Jacob. Esau is the only one left in this story. One might see him as being the victim in all this. Surely, he didn’t do anything inappropriate. But he did…and it won’t be the last time.
Esau, you see, isn’t willing to accept the outcome of this matter as being God’s will. All he sees is his blessing and birthright being stolen away by his younger brother. Even if he didn’t know that God had already pronounced that Jacob would be the heir apparent to Canaan and His promises, he could have accepted the final outcome by faith that either God’s will was done…or if it hadn’t been done, that He would set it right. In other words, if it were God’s will for Esau to get the blessing, then he would get it…if not at that moment then it would happen in the future. Esau didn’t trust however, instead he wailed and cried after finding our Jacob had received the blessing he felt he deserved.
Question: Have you ever been resentful when someone received something you thought you should have gotten? Have you ever been reluctant to accept your circumstances as part of God’s plan for you?
I have and will share just a quick testimony. I was a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the year 2000 and was stationed at COMNAVAIRLANT headquarters in Norfolk VA. I was in an office with one other Senior Chief and the time had come for us to receive our annual performance fitness report. Because there were only two of us, only one could get the top promotion recommendation (early promote) and the other would get the secondary recommendation (must promote). I had worked extremely hard and everyone, including myself, thought I was a shoe-in for the early promote recommendation. When the reports came out however, I was the must promote and the other Senior Chief received the early promote. I was livid and remember having an attitude for weeks afterwards. No one could tell me I didn’t deserve the top honor. No one but God, that is. And He did tell me because the next year, just 8 months after the reports were issued, the promotion results came out for Master Chief (our next higher promotion point) and guess what, we were both selected for promotion. The moral of the story? I would have been promoted whether I finished first or second. The other Senior Chief would not have been selected unless he was number 1. Th Lord convicted my heart that day to never feel resentfulness again when things don’t seem to work out the way I thought they should. He taught me that His plan is far beyond my meager understanding. He taught me to simply trust Him and allow His will to be done.
Question: So how about you? Have you had a similar experience? Maybe you’re going through something similar right now? My prayer is that you’ll learn like I did that God is in control and He has perfect plan for each of us. Trust in His plan and have the patience to wait for Him to carry it out in your life. In the end, you will be blessed in ways you never could imagine…because our plans are nowhere as holy as His are. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Friday, October 26, 2007
SPIRITUAL TRUTH - BY INSTRUCTION
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." So Isaac stayed in Gerar. When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." Then Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." Genesis 26:1-11
After the birth of Esau and Jacob, we read where there is a famine that leads Isaac to visit King Abimelech, just as his father Abraham had done before (Genesis 20). Before he speaks to the king, he is engaged by the King…the one and only all powerful King of Heaven who gives him the following instructions…instructions that also open windows of further understanding into how God guides us in our Christian Walk:
1. Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land I tell you to live. Stay in this land for awhile and I will bless you. During one of my Navy sea duty assignments, I had a shipmate that used to say the following phrase during bible studies, "God might not always be there when we want Him but He’s always right on time." In other words, God works on His time frame not ours. He also puts us where He wants us to be. Rest assured that anywhere you go, God has a purpose for you to go there. We need to just stay open to what He wants us to do…He’ll take care of the rest. In our scripture, God wanted Isaac in Gerar, not Egypt. Isaac complied.
2. I will be with you and will bless you. This is an assurance that we always have with God. It is also an assurance that we too often forget we have from God. Satan is so good at exposing and exploiting our weaknesses, especially stress, anxiety and fear. The world would place us in many circumstances that would leave us hopeless and despaired if we didn’t have the Lord in our life. But we must remember that He is with us. He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. He also promised us He would never give us a burden we couldn’t bear. It’s such a comfort to have so many promises from the Father…He truly does bless us. We need to always remember that.
In our scripture passage, we read where Isaac didn’t exactly show he trusted God. Just as his father Abraham had done, Isaac lies about his wife being his sister, afraid that he would be killed if he told the truth. On can only hear the Lord saying, "Isaac…Isaac…oh ye of little faith." Isaac forgot God’s words. He either didn’t trust them or He misunderstood them I’m leaning more toward the former.His deceptive actions, just like Abraham’s, placed Abimelech and his people in peril. One only wonders what Abimelech was thinking about this family tree because son was definitely just like father in this matter.
Question: What are you going through in your life today? Have you found yourself struggling with
your circumstances, falling victim to fear and anxiety over things? Have you forgotten God’s words, "I will be with you" which are truth? He wants to liberate you from your burdens. Trust and turn to Him. For to you and your descendants, I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." God essentially tells Isaac how He will go about blessing him and his offspring. What makes this interesting is that this promise isn’t necessarily granted him based on what he has done but rather on the solid faithful life of his father, Abraham. This has led me to wonder how much this still happens today. I believe this scripture says that the actions of our ancestors can go a long way toward bringing blessings to their offspring. Consider this if you have children to raise or even if you just care for children in any capacity. Maybe the best gift you can give your kids is the turnover of a faithful, blessed relationship with the Father. He’ll do the rest in carrying on the tradition of watching over and blessing those who love and trust in Him.
In Isaac, we see nearly a mirror reflection of his father. They end up in many similar situations and disappointingly Isaac repeats the same errors of Abraham. Both, in the midst of trial, forgot God’s promises while trying to independently work out matters from a worldly perspective.
Question: Do you trust God fully in your life? Or do you just have a part time faith? God promised that He "will be with you and will bless you." Do you truly trust in that? If not, why not start right now. Pray this prayer:
Dear God,
I have failed to follow you and trust you fully in my life. I have forgotten that you told me you would always be with me, blessing me with Your presence and guidance. Forgive me Lord and please help me draw ever nearer to you until that day comes when I will see you face-to-face. Wipe away my anxieties and fears and bring me to the place of peace and rest only found in you. Thank you Lord for this opportunity called life. Help me walk best through this Christian Walk…and keep me obedient to Your will along the way. Thank you Lord for all you’ve done, all you’re doing and all you have yet to do. I love you and pray in the precious and holy name of your Only Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Trust in the Lord. Obey His word, will and way. Find blessing in Him. And share His truths with other.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." So Isaac stayed in Gerar. When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." Then Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." Genesis 26:1-11
After the birth of Esau and Jacob, we read where there is a famine that leads Isaac to visit King Abimelech, just as his father Abraham had done before (Genesis 20). Before he speaks to the king, he is engaged by the King…the one and only all powerful King of Heaven who gives him the following instructions…instructions that also open windows of further understanding into how God guides us in our Christian Walk:
1. Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land I tell you to live. Stay in this land for awhile and I will bless you. During one of my Navy sea duty assignments, I had a shipmate that used to say the following phrase during bible studies, "God might not always be there when we want Him but He’s always right on time." In other words, God works on His time frame not ours. He also puts us where He wants us to be. Rest assured that anywhere you go, God has a purpose for you to go there. We need to just stay open to what He wants us to do…He’ll take care of the rest. In our scripture, God wanted Isaac in Gerar, not Egypt. Isaac complied.
2. I will be with you and will bless you. This is an assurance that we always have with God. It is also an assurance that we too often forget we have from God. Satan is so good at exposing and exploiting our weaknesses, especially stress, anxiety and fear. The world would place us in many circumstances that would leave us hopeless and despaired if we didn’t have the Lord in our life. But we must remember that He is with us. He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. He also promised us He would never give us a burden we couldn’t bear. It’s such a comfort to have so many promises from the Father…He truly does bless us. We need to always remember that.
In our scripture passage, we read where Isaac didn’t exactly show he trusted God. Just as his father Abraham had done, Isaac lies about his wife being his sister, afraid that he would be killed if he told the truth. On can only hear the Lord saying, "Isaac…Isaac…oh ye of little faith." Isaac forgot God’s words. He either didn’t trust them or He misunderstood them I’m leaning more toward the former.His deceptive actions, just like Abraham’s, placed Abimelech and his people in peril. One only wonders what Abimelech was thinking about this family tree because son was definitely just like father in this matter.
Question: What are you going through in your life today? Have you found yourself struggling with
your circumstances, falling victim to fear and anxiety over things? Have you forgotten God’s words, "I will be with you" which are truth? He wants to liberate you from your burdens. Trust and turn to Him. For to you and your descendants, I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." God essentially tells Isaac how He will go about blessing him and his offspring. What makes this interesting is that this promise isn’t necessarily granted him based on what he has done but rather on the solid faithful life of his father, Abraham. This has led me to wonder how much this still happens today. I believe this scripture says that the actions of our ancestors can go a long way toward bringing blessings to their offspring. Consider this if you have children to raise or even if you just care for children in any capacity. Maybe the best gift you can give your kids is the turnover of a faithful, blessed relationship with the Father. He’ll do the rest in carrying on the tradition of watching over and blessing those who love and trust in Him.
In Isaac, we see nearly a mirror reflection of his father. They end up in many similar situations and disappointingly Isaac repeats the same errors of Abraham. Both, in the midst of trial, forgot God’s promises while trying to independently work out matters from a worldly perspective.
Question: Do you trust God fully in your life? Or do you just have a part time faith? God promised that He "will be with you and will bless you." Do you truly trust in that? If not, why not start right now. Pray this prayer:
Dear God,
I have failed to follow you and trust you fully in my life. I have forgotten that you told me you would always be with me, blessing me with Your presence and guidance. Forgive me Lord and please help me draw ever nearer to you until that day comes when I will see you face-to-face. Wipe away my anxieties and fears and bring me to the place of peace and rest only found in you. Thank you Lord for this opportunity called life. Help me walk best through this Christian Walk…and keep me obedient to Your will along the way. Thank you Lord for all you’ve done, all you’re doing and all you have yet to do. I love you and pray in the precious and holy name of your Only Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Trust in the Lord. Obey His word, will and way. Find blessing in Him. And share His truths with other.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, October 25, 2007
DEJA VU
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." Genesis 25:18-26
In the beginning of Genesis, chapter 25, we read where Abraham has passed away but not before he found his son Isaac a wife in Rebekah. As we begin to read about Isaac and Rebekah’s life after Abraham, we see a very ironic similarity to the marriage of Abraham and Sarah. You’ll remember that Sarah was barren and yet God promised both her and Abraham that they would bear a son together…a son who would assume the birthrights of Abraham…his full inheritance after death. Now, we read that Isaac and Rebekah face the same problem…for she is barren. What would they do? How would they produce a son to carry on the lineage of Abraham…a lineage that God promised would continue?
Well, in Isaac, we immediately see evidence of what we already knew for the most part: Isaac is a devout man of God who places his trust in God’s ability to do anything, including allow for Rebekah to become pregnant with a son to carry on the family name. We know this about Isaac because our scripture says, "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren."
Well, just as we saw in Abraham and Sarah where God blessed them with bearing a son Isaac, now Isaac and Rebekah find themselves ready to have children themselves…the Lord having removed Rebekah’s barrenness. What distinguishes the two birth stories however is that Isaac and Rebekah are getting two children. Scripture says, "The babies jostled each other within her"…so much so that Rebekah had to ask, "Why is this happening to me?" She knew who held the answer. She needed to approach the Lord.
And so she did ("she went to inquire of the Lord."). In return, the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." Immediately, the Lord lets Rebekah know that these two boys would be distinguished from one another (two nations, two peoples that will be separated). There was going to be more discord than unity.
So the time came for Rebekah to give birth to her twins and we’re told "the first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob." Even at birth, we see there will be competition between these two sons and God’s prophecy will come to fruition.
Question: Are you facing something that seems impossible? Do you remember God’s words to Sarah as she laughed at Him? He said, "Is anything too hard for God?" The answer to that question is a resounding NO. He blessed a barren Sarah with Isaac. He blessed a barren Rebekah with Esau and Jacob. What part of your life is barren and lacking? Trust that the Lord will provide for you as you fully place your faith in the One who is always willing to bless you in accordance with His will.
Question: If you are a husband or wife, do you pray over your spouse? We read that Isaac did because of her barrenness. And in response, the Lord blessed Isaac and Rebekah, just as He is willing to bless you and I if we faithfully bring our needs before Him. What is your spouse in need of from the Lord? Pray for that need and pray with thanksgiving that you have been blessed with a wonderful spouse to share life with. For marriage is ordained by the Lord…a privilege and blessing we should rejoice in.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." Genesis 25:18-26
In the beginning of Genesis, chapter 25, we read where Abraham has passed away but not before he found his son Isaac a wife in Rebekah. As we begin to read about Isaac and Rebekah’s life after Abraham, we see a very ironic similarity to the marriage of Abraham and Sarah. You’ll remember that Sarah was barren and yet God promised both her and Abraham that they would bear a son together…a son who would assume the birthrights of Abraham…his full inheritance after death. Now, we read that Isaac and Rebekah face the same problem…for she is barren. What would they do? How would they produce a son to carry on the lineage of Abraham…a lineage that God promised would continue?
Well, in Isaac, we immediately see evidence of what we already knew for the most part: Isaac is a devout man of God who places his trust in God’s ability to do anything, including allow for Rebekah to become pregnant with a son to carry on the family name. We know this about Isaac because our scripture says, "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren."
Well, just as we saw in Abraham and Sarah where God blessed them with bearing a son Isaac, now Isaac and Rebekah find themselves ready to have children themselves…the Lord having removed Rebekah’s barrenness. What distinguishes the two birth stories however is that Isaac and Rebekah are getting two children. Scripture says, "The babies jostled each other within her"…so much so that Rebekah had to ask, "Why is this happening to me?" She knew who held the answer. She needed to approach the Lord.
And so she did ("she went to inquire of the Lord."). In return, the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." Immediately, the Lord lets Rebekah know that these two boys would be distinguished from one another (two nations, two peoples that will be separated). There was going to be more discord than unity.
So the time came for Rebekah to give birth to her twins and we’re told "the first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob." Even at birth, we see there will be competition between these two sons and God’s prophecy will come to fruition.
Question: Are you facing something that seems impossible? Do you remember God’s words to Sarah as she laughed at Him? He said, "Is anything too hard for God?" The answer to that question is a resounding NO. He blessed a barren Sarah with Isaac. He blessed a barren Rebekah with Esau and Jacob. What part of your life is barren and lacking? Trust that the Lord will provide for you as you fully place your faith in the One who is always willing to bless you in accordance with His will.
Question: If you are a husband or wife, do you pray over your spouse? We read that Isaac did because of her barrenness. And in response, the Lord blessed Isaac and Rebekah, just as He is willing to bless you and I if we faithfully bring our needs before Him. What is your spouse in need of from the Lord? Pray for that need and pray with thanksgiving that you have been blessed with a wonderful spouse to share life with. For marriage is ordained by the Lord…a privilege and blessing we should rejoice in.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A "REBEKAH" EXPERIENCE
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." Genesis 24:62-67
Have you ever lost a parent? If so, you know the emptiness it leaves in your life…one of the people responsible for physically bringing you into the world…one of the people who invested so much in raising and teaching you about life…one of the main people in your life who you went to for advice, counsel and comfort as you grew into adulthood and faced life on your own…that person is now gone from this earth…no longer accessible to you. If you haven't lost a parent, just take a moment and imagine what it will be like when one of your dies because it will happen eventually.
If we have experienced loss of a parent then we can understand some of the emotions that Isaac had to have been going through as he deals with his mother, Sarah's passing. Her death left him alone with only his father Abraham still alive. You'll remember that Isaac was Abraham and Sarah's only son.
So picture Isaac on the day of our scripture passage. It's been about three years since his mother's passing and he was heading "out to the field…to meditate". We see that prayer was part of Isaac's regimen and it makes total sense since he was the son of such a man of faith in Abraham. One can only wonder if Isaac didn't often pray for companionship…that God might send him someone to share life with…someone who would break the bondage of loneliness…someone who could fill some of the void left by his mother's loss.
Well just as Isaac sets out to meditate, something breaks the tranquil field setting. He looked up to see camels approaching. We're also told that at that time Rebekah sees Isaac for the first time. The problem is that she doesn't know she is looking at her future spouse. We read where she has to ask the servant who Isaac was. The servant replies by saying, "He is my master" which prompts Rebekah to cover herself with her veil, showing humility, modesty and respect before her husband-to-be. After Isaac explains how the Lord led him to Rebekah, Isaac takes Rebekah "into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married" her. The servant's task is now over but a wonderful new bond has been formed between Isaac and Rebekah. We read that Isaac "loved her; and…was comforted after his mother's death." God sent Rebekah to Isaac when he needed her most…and the beauty of it all is that it was God's plan from the beginning.
Question: Have you experienced a loss that has left a void in your life? It doesn't have to be a death for it could be a broken marriage, friendship or family relationship. It could even involve losing a pet…for many people have close bonds with their animals that sometimes match the intimacy that human beings have for one another. No matter what the type of loss, it is never easy to deal with and it can often leave us abandoned, hopeless, sorrowful and feeling lost and alone.
If you have experienced this and are still in the midst of dealing with your loss, I would pray that you would draw encouragement from this chapter of scripture, Genesis, chapter 24. In it, we discover several key points to help us when we're in the midst of missing someone:
1. God always has a plan. It's ever difficult to have patience and wait for the Lord to do His work but we must wait and trust in faith that He is working in our best interest. We will all experience loss at some time in our life. God stands ready to teach us how to cope and comfort us in our loneliness. For He wishes to step into the gap and fills the void of our loved one. We simply need to ask Him in. If you're going through the pain of loss today, won't you allow Jesus to enter in and fill the void of your loss with the awesome, comforting, healing power of His love. He awaits your call.
2. He has people or a person in mind to enter in and fill the gap left by the loss of your loved one. Whether it is a wife, a friend or a new pet, the Lord is working on your behalf. Once again, be patient and allow Him to bring the person He wants to bring to you. In the interim, allow Jesus to fill your void with His love and fellowship.
3. Meditate and stay in close communion with God. Although Isaac was alone and had to be dealing with many of the same emotions we deal with when we lose someone, he took time to meditate daily. One has to think he prayed for companionship of some kind. And then along came Rebekah…the answer to his prayers. The Lord is working toward answering your prayers as well. Be patient and see who He might bring to you. Isaac was…for three years…and he was rewarded for his faithfulness. I know of a woman who waited well into her 40's, hoping and praying that the Lord would bring her the right man. She was willing to wait and wait faithfully for God's will to be done and she waited a lot longer than Isaac. And her faith was rewarded. A great man was brought into her life by the Lord…a man who feared the Lord and sought to be a strong disciple…and her prayers were answered. They have gone on to have an awesome marriage that has spanned nearly 15 years.
Question: Are you willing to wait on the Lord and do so patiently? He has shown that He will deliver. My prayer is that He will bless you as He did Isaac…may He bring you a "Rebekah" experience.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." Genesis 24:62-67
Have you ever lost a parent? If so, you know the emptiness it leaves in your life…one of the people responsible for physically bringing you into the world…one of the people who invested so much in raising and teaching you about life…one of the main people in your life who you went to for advice, counsel and comfort as you grew into adulthood and faced life on your own…that person is now gone from this earth…no longer accessible to you. If you haven't lost a parent, just take a moment and imagine what it will be like when one of your dies because it will happen eventually.
If we have experienced loss of a parent then we can understand some of the emotions that Isaac had to have been going through as he deals with his mother, Sarah's passing. Her death left him alone with only his father Abraham still alive. You'll remember that Isaac was Abraham and Sarah's only son.
So picture Isaac on the day of our scripture passage. It's been about three years since his mother's passing and he was heading "out to the field…to meditate". We see that prayer was part of Isaac's regimen and it makes total sense since he was the son of such a man of faith in Abraham. One can only wonder if Isaac didn't often pray for companionship…that God might send him someone to share life with…someone who would break the bondage of loneliness…someone who could fill some of the void left by his mother's loss.
Well just as Isaac sets out to meditate, something breaks the tranquil field setting. He looked up to see camels approaching. We're also told that at that time Rebekah sees Isaac for the first time. The problem is that she doesn't know she is looking at her future spouse. We read where she has to ask the servant who Isaac was. The servant replies by saying, "He is my master" which prompts Rebekah to cover herself with her veil, showing humility, modesty and respect before her husband-to-be. After Isaac explains how the Lord led him to Rebekah, Isaac takes Rebekah "into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married" her. The servant's task is now over but a wonderful new bond has been formed between Isaac and Rebekah. We read that Isaac "loved her; and…was comforted after his mother's death." God sent Rebekah to Isaac when he needed her most…and the beauty of it all is that it was God's plan from the beginning.
Question: Have you experienced a loss that has left a void in your life? It doesn't have to be a death for it could be a broken marriage, friendship or family relationship. It could even involve losing a pet…for many people have close bonds with their animals that sometimes match the intimacy that human beings have for one another. No matter what the type of loss, it is never easy to deal with and it can often leave us abandoned, hopeless, sorrowful and feeling lost and alone.
If you have experienced this and are still in the midst of dealing with your loss, I would pray that you would draw encouragement from this chapter of scripture, Genesis, chapter 24. In it, we discover several key points to help us when we're in the midst of missing someone:
1. God always has a plan. It's ever difficult to have patience and wait for the Lord to do His work but we must wait and trust in faith that He is working in our best interest. We will all experience loss at some time in our life. God stands ready to teach us how to cope and comfort us in our loneliness. For He wishes to step into the gap and fills the void of our loved one. We simply need to ask Him in. If you're going through the pain of loss today, won't you allow Jesus to enter in and fill the void of your loss with the awesome, comforting, healing power of His love. He awaits your call.
2. He has people or a person in mind to enter in and fill the gap left by the loss of your loved one. Whether it is a wife, a friend or a new pet, the Lord is working on your behalf. Once again, be patient and allow Him to bring the person He wants to bring to you. In the interim, allow Jesus to fill your void with His love and fellowship.
3. Meditate and stay in close communion with God. Although Isaac was alone and had to be dealing with many of the same emotions we deal with when we lose someone, he took time to meditate daily. One has to think he prayed for companionship of some kind. And then along came Rebekah…the answer to his prayers. The Lord is working toward answering your prayers as well. Be patient and see who He might bring to you. Isaac was…for three years…and he was rewarded for his faithfulness. I know of a woman who waited well into her 40's, hoping and praying that the Lord would bring her the right man. She was willing to wait and wait faithfully for God's will to be done and she waited a lot longer than Isaac. And her faith was rewarded. A great man was brought into her life by the Lord…a man who feared the Lord and sought to be a strong disciple…and her prayers were answered. They have gone on to have an awesome marriage that has spanned nearly 15 years.
Question: Are you willing to wait on the Lord and do so patiently? He has shown that He will deliver. My prayer is that He will bless you as He did Isaac…may He bring you a "Rebekah" experience.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A PRELUDE TO MARY
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master." But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." Then they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left." Genesis 24:53-61
Before Jesus was born into this world, He was conceived in His mother Mary. You’ll remember that God sent His angel Gabriel to speak with Mary and deliver news from God. Mary was first frightened but Gabriel told her that she would become pregnant and deliver a son that she would name Jesus. Mary was puzzled because she was a virgin and wondered how she could possibly have a child. Gabriel tells her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of God would overshadow her so that the boy she would bear would be called the Son of God. He adds the awesome testament, "For nothing is impossible with God." Mary’s response is one of the most remarkable statements of faith in scripture. She says to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant…may it be to me as you have said." Mary never questioned the Lord’s plan. She didn’t laugh at what Gabriel was proposing like Sarah did when God tried to tell her she would become pregnant. No…she responded in obedience…in obedience as the Lord’s servant.
Rewind now to our scripture today from Genesis. God has helped Abraham’s chief servant find a wife (Rebekah) for Isaac and the servant has dined and received support from Rebekah’s family (Betheul and Laban). He now seeks to finish his task by returning to Abraham from Nahor and bring Isaac’s future bride with him. All seems fine…but then something comes up that threatens to derail the plan.
Question: Have you ever had a plan laid out and everything seemed to be going just as expected…and then, something happens that disrupts the plan? How did you handle that situation?
Well, Abraham’s chief servant faced one in our scripture. As he prepared to leave Nahor with Rebekah the day after his dinner with her family, the family propose a delay. Betheul and Laban ask, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." It had to be hard for them to send her away. After all, she was a daughter and sister to them. They loved her. They were sending her off with a stranger to marry a stranger. I think we all could agree that would be difficult.
Faced with this request, we sense the chief servant is a bit annoyed at the proposal. He pleads with the family, "Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." The chief servant is ready to return home. He has accomplished the mission with the Lord’s help. He feels that it’s time to get going and get Rebekah to Isaac and her future father in law, Abraham. So there is an impasse in place.
Betheul and Laban propose a way to break the standoff saying, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." They were willing to go along with what Rebekah wanted to do. One doesn’t know what Betheul or Laban were thinking when they made this proposal but possibly they felt that Rebekah would want more time with her family before leaving and thus anticipated that she would side with them. And so they ask Rebekah, "Will you go with this man?" She doesn’t hesitate in replying, "I will go." And so Betheul and Laban send Rebekah on her way, blessing her before she leaves them to go to meet and marry a man she has never seen before.
Question: Could you exhibit the same faith as Rebekah…one that would obey God’s call to go into an unknown situation and know He would be with you to guide you and watch over you?
We have seen examples of this kind of faithfulness before Rebekah in Noah, Abraham, and Abraham’s chief servant but this was the first time it involved a woman…a great woman of faith who never wavered in the midst of a mysterious, challenging time in her life. We remember Mary and her faithfulness because we revisit the miracle every year at Christmas. My prayer is that we’ll also remember Rebekah as well…for the faith she showed would be a prelude for faithful women to follow, Mary included. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master." But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." Then they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left." Genesis 24:53-61
Before Jesus was born into this world, He was conceived in His mother Mary. You’ll remember that God sent His angel Gabriel to speak with Mary and deliver news from God. Mary was first frightened but Gabriel told her that she would become pregnant and deliver a son that she would name Jesus. Mary was puzzled because she was a virgin and wondered how she could possibly have a child. Gabriel tells her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of God would overshadow her so that the boy she would bear would be called the Son of God. He adds the awesome testament, "For nothing is impossible with God." Mary’s response is one of the most remarkable statements of faith in scripture. She says to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant…may it be to me as you have said." Mary never questioned the Lord’s plan. She didn’t laugh at what Gabriel was proposing like Sarah did when God tried to tell her she would become pregnant. No…she responded in obedience…in obedience as the Lord’s servant.
Rewind now to our scripture today from Genesis. God has helped Abraham’s chief servant find a wife (Rebekah) for Isaac and the servant has dined and received support from Rebekah’s family (Betheul and Laban). He now seeks to finish his task by returning to Abraham from Nahor and bring Isaac’s future bride with him. All seems fine…but then something comes up that threatens to derail the plan.
Question: Have you ever had a plan laid out and everything seemed to be going just as expected…and then, something happens that disrupts the plan? How did you handle that situation?
Well, Abraham’s chief servant faced one in our scripture. As he prepared to leave Nahor with Rebekah the day after his dinner with her family, the family propose a delay. Betheul and Laban ask, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." It had to be hard for them to send her away. After all, she was a daughter and sister to them. They loved her. They were sending her off with a stranger to marry a stranger. I think we all could agree that would be difficult.
Faced with this request, we sense the chief servant is a bit annoyed at the proposal. He pleads with the family, "Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." The chief servant is ready to return home. He has accomplished the mission with the Lord’s help. He feels that it’s time to get going and get Rebekah to Isaac and her future father in law, Abraham. So there is an impasse in place.
Betheul and Laban propose a way to break the standoff saying, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." They were willing to go along with what Rebekah wanted to do. One doesn’t know what Betheul or Laban were thinking when they made this proposal but possibly they felt that Rebekah would want more time with her family before leaving and thus anticipated that she would side with them. And so they ask Rebekah, "Will you go with this man?" She doesn’t hesitate in replying, "I will go." And so Betheul and Laban send Rebekah on her way, blessing her before she leaves them to go to meet and marry a man she has never seen before.
Question: Could you exhibit the same faith as Rebekah…one that would obey God’s call to go into an unknown situation and know He would be with you to guide you and watch over you?
We have seen examples of this kind of faithfulness before Rebekah in Noah, Abraham, and Abraham’s chief servant but this was the first time it involved a woman…a great woman of faith who never wavered in the midst of a mysterious, challenging time in her life. We remember Mary and her faithfulness because we revisit the miracle every year at Christmas. My prayer is that we’ll also remember Rebekah as well…for the faith she showed would be a prelude for faithful women to follow, Mary included. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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Monday, October 22, 2007
NO QUESTION!
"Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said. So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'
"Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you—you will be released from my oath.' "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master's son.' "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord." Genesis 24:33b-52
Have you ever questioned what God wanted you to do? Maybe He has called you to go somewhere and do something and you wondered why He wanted you to do it. Maybe He wanted you to speak to someone about Him and you questioned whether someone else might be more qualified to do so. Maybe He has told you to remain faithful and patience in the midst of circumstances and you questioned whether He really loved and cared for you as much as you thought He did. I think if we’re all honest with ourselves, we have all questioned God at one time or another.
Well, in today’s scripture passage, we learn a lesson in total faithfulness as we continue to study chapter 24 and the experiences of Abraham’s chief servant as he attempts to carry out Abraham’s tasking to find Isaac a wife.
You’ll remember that the Lord showed the chief servant who Isaac’s wife would be through a couple of signs (she offered the servant a drink of water and then gave his camels water as well). After the servant gave Rebekah a few gifts and explained that the Lord had called her to marry Isaac, she runs home to her family. Her brother then returns and invites the servant, a total stranger to stay with the family. Today’s passage picks up with the servant enjoying a meal from Rebekah’s family but he refuses to eat until he tells the story of how and why he was there. He then proceeds to share testimony as to how Abraham had tasked him and how the Lord took it from there, guiding him through making the right choice…and that right choice was Rebekah.
After sharing his testimony, the servant asks Betheul, Rebekah’s mother, and Laban, her brother, to bless him taking Rebekah away to marry Isaac. Here was a man who just showed up in Nahor…a total stranger who neither Betheul or Laban know…a stranger who was asking their permission to take away Rebekah for a marriage to a man she hasn’t even met. I don’t know about you but I have two daughters in their 20’s and I would be a little suspicious and skeptical about such a proposition if it came to me about one of my own. But something incredibly fascinating happens…something that could only be born out of an exceptional faith and trust in the Lord.
Hear the words of Betheul and Laban again, ""This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." Did you hear that? This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or another." The Holman Christian Standard translation states their position better. It reads, "This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter." That’s exactly right. What the servant was doing was playing his part in God’s plan. Now Betheul and Laban were also part of the plan as they were asked to allow Rebekah to go with the servant to marry Isaac…and they knew it. They understood that there was something big happening here and they shouldn’t question it or resist it but rather be obedient to what the Lord was asking them to do. Their decision once again illicits a response of praise from the servant who once again bowed down before the Lord in the spirit of worship and praise.
Question: What is the Lord asking you to do today? Are you going to respond in obedience, knowing you really have no choice when He calls on you…He expects your compliance. Or are you going to allow Satan to deceive you into thinking you do have a choice…that maybe you should ask God if He knows what He’s doing in asking you to do what He’s asking you to do. Betheul and Laban responded in a way that said they would respond faithfully to God’s call with no question. We would be well suited to follow their lead.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you—you will be released from my oath.' "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master's son.' "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord." Genesis 24:33b-52
Have you ever questioned what God wanted you to do? Maybe He has called you to go somewhere and do something and you wondered why He wanted you to do it. Maybe He wanted you to speak to someone about Him and you questioned whether someone else might be more qualified to do so. Maybe He has told you to remain faithful and patience in the midst of circumstances and you questioned whether He really loved and cared for you as much as you thought He did. I think if we’re all honest with ourselves, we have all questioned God at one time or another.
Well, in today’s scripture passage, we learn a lesson in total faithfulness as we continue to study chapter 24 and the experiences of Abraham’s chief servant as he attempts to carry out Abraham’s tasking to find Isaac a wife.
You’ll remember that the Lord showed the chief servant who Isaac’s wife would be through a couple of signs (she offered the servant a drink of water and then gave his camels water as well). After the servant gave Rebekah a few gifts and explained that the Lord had called her to marry Isaac, she runs home to her family. Her brother then returns and invites the servant, a total stranger to stay with the family. Today’s passage picks up with the servant enjoying a meal from Rebekah’s family but he refuses to eat until he tells the story of how and why he was there. He then proceeds to share testimony as to how Abraham had tasked him and how the Lord took it from there, guiding him through making the right choice…and that right choice was Rebekah.
After sharing his testimony, the servant asks Betheul, Rebekah’s mother, and Laban, her brother, to bless him taking Rebekah away to marry Isaac. Here was a man who just showed up in Nahor…a total stranger who neither Betheul or Laban know…a stranger who was asking their permission to take away Rebekah for a marriage to a man she hasn’t even met. I don’t know about you but I have two daughters in their 20’s and I would be a little suspicious and skeptical about such a proposition if it came to me about one of my own. But something incredibly fascinating happens…something that could only be born out of an exceptional faith and trust in the Lord.
Hear the words of Betheul and Laban again, ""This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." Did you hear that? This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or another." The Holman Christian Standard translation states their position better. It reads, "This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter." That’s exactly right. What the servant was doing was playing his part in God’s plan. Now Betheul and Laban were also part of the plan as they were asked to allow Rebekah to go with the servant to marry Isaac…and they knew it. They understood that there was something big happening here and they shouldn’t question it or resist it but rather be obedient to what the Lord was asking them to do. Their decision once again illicits a response of praise from the servant who once again bowed down before the Lord in the spirit of worship and praise.
Question: What is the Lord asking you to do today? Are you going to respond in obedience, knowing you really have no choice when He calls on you…He expects your compliance. Or are you going to allow Satan to deceive you into thinking you do have a choice…that maybe you should ask God if He knows what He’s doing in asking you to do what He’s asking you to do. Betheul and Laban responded in a way that said they would respond faithfully to God’s call with no question. We would be well suited to follow their lead.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, October 21, 2007
THE BLESSING OF HOSPITALITY
"The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. "Come, you who are blessed by the Lord," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. Then food was set before him…" Genesis 24:28-33a
As we continue to study the work of Abraham’s chief servant in carrying out his assignment of finding Isaac a wife, we pick up where we left off yesterday. The servant had prayed to God that he might receive help in finding the right wife for Isaac. He asked God to provide two signs to him so that he might know he had chosen the right woman and God provides what the servant asked for. The gift of a drink of water from Rebekah, first to the servant and then to his camels, showed the servant that she was the one. You’ll remember that this led the servant to bow down and worship God, praising Him for His goodness to Abraham and himself. He gives Rebekah a nose ring and bracelets for her wrist and as we start to look at our scripture for today, we find Rebekah running to let her family know what had happened.
It’s here that we are introduced to Rebekah’s brother Laban who hears the entire account of what transpired between Rebekah and Abraham’s chief servant. Seeing the gifts that Rebekah had been given and hearing her testimony, he goes to Abraham’s chief servant…a man who is a total stranger to him as the servant was to Rebekah moments before.
As Laban meets the chief servant for the first time, his words are not what on might expect from someone addressing a total stranger. For Laban doesn’t come up, shake hands, introduce himself by name and then ask the servant for his name in return. There is no preliminary conversation to try and develop some sense of relationship before. Instead, Laban immediately addresses the chief servant in a spirit of respect and praise saying, "Come, you who are blessed by the Lord," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." Amazing words to a total stranger and it leaves me wondering how many people in this day and time would show the same blessing of hospitality.
I’m afraid it wouldn’t come as quickly or easily as it did for Abraham’s chief servant.
But consider and ponder this as you think about the concept of hospitality…We serve a Lord who is willing to take us in, regardless how sin-stained we are…no matter what we might have done…He is always ready and willing to take us in, shelter us in His love, grace, and mercy, and nourish us with His Spirit, His Word and His Way.
Question: If we were created in His own image, shouldn’t we exhibit the same level of love and care for one another? Shouldn’t we share the blessing of hospitality with others?
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
As we continue to study the work of Abraham’s chief servant in carrying out his assignment of finding Isaac a wife, we pick up where we left off yesterday. The servant had prayed to God that he might receive help in finding the right wife for Isaac. He asked God to provide two signs to him so that he might know he had chosen the right woman and God provides what the servant asked for. The gift of a drink of water from Rebekah, first to the servant and then to his camels, showed the servant that she was the one. You’ll remember that this led the servant to bow down and worship God, praising Him for His goodness to Abraham and himself. He gives Rebekah a nose ring and bracelets for her wrist and as we start to look at our scripture for today, we find Rebekah running to let her family know what had happened.
It’s here that we are introduced to Rebekah’s brother Laban who hears the entire account of what transpired between Rebekah and Abraham’s chief servant. Seeing the gifts that Rebekah had been given and hearing her testimony, he goes to Abraham’s chief servant…a man who is a total stranger to him as the servant was to Rebekah moments before.
As Laban meets the chief servant for the first time, his words are not what on might expect from someone addressing a total stranger. For Laban doesn’t come up, shake hands, introduce himself by name and then ask the servant for his name in return. There is no preliminary conversation to try and develop some sense of relationship before. Instead, Laban immediately addresses the chief servant in a spirit of respect and praise saying, "Come, you who are blessed by the Lord," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." Amazing words to a total stranger and it leaves me wondering how many people in this day and time would show the same blessing of hospitality.
I’m afraid it wouldn’t come as quickly or easily as it did for Abraham’s chief servant.
But consider and ponder this as you think about the concept of hospitality…We serve a Lord who is willing to take us in, regardless how sin-stained we are…no matter what we might have done…He is always ready and willing to take us in, shelter us in His love, grace, and mercy, and nourish us with His Spirit, His Word and His Way.
Question: If we were created in His own image, shouldn’t we exhibit the same level of love and care for one another? Shouldn’t we share the blessing of hospitality with others?
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, October 20, 2007
GIVING GLORY
"Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar." "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor." And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night." Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." Genesis 24:15-27
I know we’re still in the same chapter and account of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis but there is a lot of great stuff for us to glean from this passage and I want to make sure we don’t miss anything. We have been examining the Chief servant of Abraham and how his actions and attitudes offer us great insight into what the Lord expects from us in our own service. Up to now, we have examined principles of servanthood and steps to effective prayer. In this entry, we are going to learn once again from the chief servant as he shows us steps to properly give God the glory.
You’ll remember that Abraham sent his servant to look for a wife for Isaac. The servant was to go to Abraham’s country and had no other guidance regarding the woman to select except that she couldn’t be a Canaanite. So the servant sets out and as soon as he arrives at his destination, Nahor, and settles the camels near the well, he immediately enters into prayer and petitions God to help show him the woman he was to select. The servant asked God to show him two signs through the woman so he would know for sure she was the one that God intended the servant to pick. If the woman first gives him a drink when he asks and then goes and gives his camels water, then that woman would be the one.
This leads us to today’s scripture where we read that God was already moving forward with His plan even before the servant finished praying as Rebekah went to the spring, filled her jar and began to return to town. The servant saw her and "hurried to meet her." He then asks her to "Please give me a little water from your jar." After which she replies, "Drink, my lord" as she lowered the jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink. The first validation point has been accomplished and Rebekah quickly meets the second when she says, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." So Rebekah proceeded to draw enough water from the well to give all of the servant’s camels some water. Rebekah is the one and the servant gives her a "gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels" before inquiring about her family and whether they had enough room for him to have a place to stay. Rebekah shows complete hospitality to the chief servant, a total stranger to her before now, and invites him to stay with her family. The servant, in response to everything he has just witnessed, enters into worship, bowing down and saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." In his response he teaches us three important factors needed to give God all the glory in whatever the situation.
1. We need to bow down and humble ourselves before Him. The servant began to come before God by bowing down…displaying humility…taking his rightful place before the His Almighty Father. As we approach God, we need to not approach Him casually but in total reverence. Bow before Him because He, and He alone, is God.
2. We need to worship and praise Him. Once the servant bowed and showed God the proper respect, he immediately began to worship Him and render praise. Have you stopped today to take account of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you? If not, won’t you bow down now and render praise and worship to the One who gives you…who gives us all every good and perfect thing from above. God is our Provider, our Sustainer, and our Redeemer through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. He is worthy of nothing short of our total praise and worship.
3. We need to acknowledge His goodness and give God all the credit for everything He does for us. The servant could have glorified himself for coming up with the clever signs to reveal the right woman. Instead, he praised God for His goodness, mercy and grace. Through providing the bride for Isaac, God had shown that He had "not abandoned and kindness" to Abraham, the servant’s master. Additionally, the servant added praise for what God had done for him. So again, what has God been doing for you that warrants you acknowledging His goodness? The answer is easy. God warrants our acknowledgement because He gives us everything good and perfect. No one else makes the way for you and I. No one is worthy of honor and praise but God and His Son Jesus. Give them all the glory…always.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
I know we’re still in the same chapter and account of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis but there is a lot of great stuff for us to glean from this passage and I want to make sure we don’t miss anything. We have been examining the Chief servant of Abraham and how his actions and attitudes offer us great insight into what the Lord expects from us in our own service. Up to now, we have examined principles of servanthood and steps to effective prayer. In this entry, we are going to learn once again from the chief servant as he shows us steps to properly give God the glory.
You’ll remember that Abraham sent his servant to look for a wife for Isaac. The servant was to go to Abraham’s country and had no other guidance regarding the woman to select except that she couldn’t be a Canaanite. So the servant sets out and as soon as he arrives at his destination, Nahor, and settles the camels near the well, he immediately enters into prayer and petitions God to help show him the woman he was to select. The servant asked God to show him two signs through the woman so he would know for sure she was the one that God intended the servant to pick. If the woman first gives him a drink when he asks and then goes and gives his camels water, then that woman would be the one.
This leads us to today’s scripture where we read that God was already moving forward with His plan even before the servant finished praying as Rebekah went to the spring, filled her jar and began to return to town. The servant saw her and "hurried to meet her." He then asks her to "Please give me a little water from your jar." After which she replies, "Drink, my lord" as she lowered the jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink. The first validation point has been accomplished and Rebekah quickly meets the second when she says, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking." So Rebekah proceeded to draw enough water from the well to give all of the servant’s camels some water. Rebekah is the one and the servant gives her a "gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels" before inquiring about her family and whether they had enough room for him to have a place to stay. Rebekah shows complete hospitality to the chief servant, a total stranger to her before now, and invites him to stay with her family. The servant, in response to everything he has just witnessed, enters into worship, bowing down and saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." In his response he teaches us three important factors needed to give God all the glory in whatever the situation.
1. We need to bow down and humble ourselves before Him. The servant began to come before God by bowing down…displaying humility…taking his rightful place before the His Almighty Father. As we approach God, we need to not approach Him casually but in total reverence. Bow before Him because He, and He alone, is God.
2. We need to worship and praise Him. Once the servant bowed and showed God the proper respect, he immediately began to worship Him and render praise. Have you stopped today to take account of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you? If not, won’t you bow down now and render praise and worship to the One who gives you…who gives us all every good and perfect thing from above. God is our Provider, our Sustainer, and our Redeemer through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. He is worthy of nothing short of our total praise and worship.
3. We need to acknowledge His goodness and give God all the credit for everything He does for us. The servant could have glorified himself for coming up with the clever signs to reveal the right woman. Instead, he praised God for His goodness, mercy and grace. Through providing the bride for Isaac, God had shown that He had "not abandoned and kindness" to Abraham, the servant’s master. Additionally, the servant added praise for what God had done for him. So again, what has God been doing for you that warrants you acknowledging His goodness? The answer is easy. God warrants our acknowledgement because He gives us everything good and perfect. No one else makes the way for you and I. No one is worthy of honor and praise but God and His Son Jesus. Give them all the glory…always.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
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Friday, October 19, 2007
EFFECTIVE PRAYER
"Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. Then he prayed, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." Genesis 24:10-14
Abraham’s servant has taken an oath to go to Abraham’s country and find a wife for Isaac with the only real requirement being that she not be a Canaanite. He sets out with ten camels and other goods, arriving in the town of Nahor and kneeling the camels near a water well where women would soon come and draw water. The servant did not know if this was the place where he would find the wife for Isaac but he did know this: he served an awesome God who would help him make sure he selected the right woman.
The evidence of this being true comes in the servant’s actions as he is near the well of Nahor for he prays saying, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
This prayer is simply incredible and reveals elements that we should always remember in our own prayer lives:
1. Acknowledgement of God’s supremacy. The opening of the servant’s prayer places God in His proper place of authority. Abraham may be the servant’s master but Abraham himself has a Supreme Master and that Master is God. He and He alone is Master over all of us and we are to acknowledge and testify as such about Him in every time we communicate to Him or about Him….prayer or otherwise.
2. Petition God for what is needed. In this case, the servant hoped to be able to complete the task given to him by Abraham. If God would only enter in and help him, the servant could find both success and happiness for Abraham…and the Lord would have showed kindness to the servant and to Abraham through His willingness to enter in. What do you need help with today? Why not try to pray for those things you need assistance with an ask God to grant you success and show you kindness? It worked for the servant.
3. Always look to see the way God’s work is revealed. The servant knew that if he asked the Lord to show certain signs through the woman He wanted the servant to select than the servant would be able to immediately recognize the right candidate. So the servant asks God to reveal the woman to him by having her not only offer him a drink but offer to provide water to his camels as well. This would be the sign and the servant would be assured that the Lord had shown kindness to Abraham, a fulfillment of His promise.
So we continue to learn more from this servant…still nameless but showing us that the name of the person doing God’s work isn’t as important as the work he accomplishes. Let’s keep that in mind as we prayerfully consider all that the Lord would have us do this day and forever more.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Abraham’s servant has taken an oath to go to Abraham’s country and find a wife for Isaac with the only real requirement being that she not be a Canaanite. He sets out with ten camels and other goods, arriving in the town of Nahor and kneeling the camels near a water well where women would soon come and draw water. The servant did not know if this was the place where he would find the wife for Isaac but he did know this: he served an awesome God who would help him make sure he selected the right woman.
The evidence of this being true comes in the servant’s actions as he is near the well of Nahor for he prays saying, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
This prayer is simply incredible and reveals elements that we should always remember in our own prayer lives:
1. Acknowledgement of God’s supremacy. The opening of the servant’s prayer places God in His proper place of authority. Abraham may be the servant’s master but Abraham himself has a Supreme Master and that Master is God. He and He alone is Master over all of us and we are to acknowledge and testify as such about Him in every time we communicate to Him or about Him….prayer or otherwise.
2. Petition God for what is needed. In this case, the servant hoped to be able to complete the task given to him by Abraham. If God would only enter in and help him, the servant could find both success and happiness for Abraham…and the Lord would have showed kindness to the servant and to Abraham through His willingness to enter in. What do you need help with today? Why not try to pray for those things you need assistance with an ask God to grant you success and show you kindness? It worked for the servant.
3. Always look to see the way God’s work is revealed. The servant knew that if he asked the Lord to show certain signs through the woman He wanted the servant to select than the servant would be able to immediately recognize the right candidate. So the servant asks God to reveal the woman to him by having her not only offer him a drink but offer to provide water to his camels as well. This would be the sign and the servant would be assured that the Lord had shown kindness to Abraham, a fulfillment of His promise.
So we continue to learn more from this servant…still nameless but showing us that the name of the person doing God’s work isn’t as important as the work he accomplishes. Let’s keep that in mind as we prayerfully consider all that the Lord would have us do this day and forever more.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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Thursday, October 18, 2007
THE ESSENCE OF SERVANTHOOD
"Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac." The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?" "Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said. "The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there." So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. " Genesis 24:1-9
Have you ever been given a task that seemed a bit overwhelming? Maybe you felt a little unsure you could accomplish what you were asked to do. Maybe as well, you were afraid of failure…of letting someone down who was depending on you. Well, in today’s scripture, we gain great insight into how we can best approach daunting assignments when they come.
The scene starts with Abraham calling on his chief servant to give him an important assignment. Sarah, his wife and love of his life, has died. Abraham realizes that he is "old and well advanced in years" as well and may not live much longer. He feel an urgency to ensure his son Isaac has a wife before he passed away and so he sends his servant to find a woman suitable to marry Isaac. The only real restriction given to the servant was that the woman could not be a Canaanite. The servant swore an oath that he would obey Abraham’s order and sets out on a journey to Abraham’s country to find a wife for Isaac.
I think there are two very interesting items to highlight in this preliminary encounter between Abraham and his chief servant:
1. The servant is being sent back to Abraham’s country to find Isaac a wife and that’s all he’s given for guidance except for the order that the woman could not be a Canaanite. He doesn’t have any idea who he is looking for…what she looks like…what her name is…where she lives in Abraham’s country….his options are extremely broad. You almost want to say, "Is there any way you could narrow this down a little Abraham?"
What I find most fascinating is that there is a direct parallel to Abraham when God first came to him and gave him an order. You’ll remember that God told Abraham to "leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Abraham didn’t know where he was going and yet he followed God’s tasking obediently…just like his chief servant would do for him now.
2. We are never told the servant’s name. The most we know is that he is a male. While every other key person in the event documented in Genesis 24 is named by name, the servant is called just that …servant. And I think that is by design for the events here aren’t about the servant as much as they are about Abraham, Isaac, and Rebekah.
Question: How often do we seek recognition or acknowledgement for our role in carrying out God’s plan? Too often, I’m afraid. Our human nature wants us to be the center of attention. We have a hunger for recognition…to be noticed. And as in so many other matters, God’s expectation for us is in direct conflict with our human nature. Like the servant, the Lord wants us to adopt an attitude of humility that would serve Him obediently to glorify Him, not ourselves. Our reward is already secured through Jesus Christ and one day we will claim our inheritance. Until then, we are to get out onto the field and execute the game plan that God draws up for us. We need to do so prayerfully and thankfully, yearning only to please God in a way that He might look down on us and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Through the example of Abraham’s servant, we get an excellent view of service and how to do it right. The servant was given tasking that was broad and extremely challenging…yet he went with an oath to carry our Abraham’s will…just as Abraham had done before him.
Question: What is God calling you to do today? Are you ready to respond in faithful obedience…no matter the cost? Are you ready to trust Him, knowing that He will lead you to where He wants you to be and guide you to what He wants you to do? Are you ready to go where He might send you? True discipleship answers yes to all these questions. It’s the essence of servanthood.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Have you ever been given a task that seemed a bit overwhelming? Maybe you felt a little unsure you could accomplish what you were asked to do. Maybe as well, you were afraid of failure…of letting someone down who was depending on you. Well, in today’s scripture, we gain great insight into how we can best approach daunting assignments when they come.
The scene starts with Abraham calling on his chief servant to give him an important assignment. Sarah, his wife and love of his life, has died. Abraham realizes that he is "old and well advanced in years" as well and may not live much longer. He feel an urgency to ensure his son Isaac has a wife before he passed away and so he sends his servant to find a woman suitable to marry Isaac. The only real restriction given to the servant was that the woman could not be a Canaanite. The servant swore an oath that he would obey Abraham’s order and sets out on a journey to Abraham’s country to find a wife for Isaac.
I think there are two very interesting items to highlight in this preliminary encounter between Abraham and his chief servant:
1. The servant is being sent back to Abraham’s country to find Isaac a wife and that’s all he’s given for guidance except for the order that the woman could not be a Canaanite. He doesn’t have any idea who he is looking for…what she looks like…what her name is…where she lives in Abraham’s country….his options are extremely broad. You almost want to say, "Is there any way you could narrow this down a little Abraham?"
What I find most fascinating is that there is a direct parallel to Abraham when God first came to him and gave him an order. You’ll remember that God told Abraham to "leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Abraham didn’t know where he was going and yet he followed God’s tasking obediently…just like his chief servant would do for him now.
2. We are never told the servant’s name. The most we know is that he is a male. While every other key person in the event documented in Genesis 24 is named by name, the servant is called just that …servant. And I think that is by design for the events here aren’t about the servant as much as they are about Abraham, Isaac, and Rebekah.
Question: How often do we seek recognition or acknowledgement for our role in carrying out God’s plan? Too often, I’m afraid. Our human nature wants us to be the center of attention. We have a hunger for recognition…to be noticed. And as in so many other matters, God’s expectation for us is in direct conflict with our human nature. Like the servant, the Lord wants us to adopt an attitude of humility that would serve Him obediently to glorify Him, not ourselves. Our reward is already secured through Jesus Christ and one day we will claim our inheritance. Until then, we are to get out onto the field and execute the game plan that God draws up for us. We need to do so prayerfully and thankfully, yearning only to please God in a way that He might look down on us and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Through the example of Abraham’s servant, we get an excellent view of service and how to do it right. The servant was given tasking that was broad and extremely challenging…yet he went with an oath to carry our Abraham’s will…just as Abraham had done before him.
Question: What is God calling you to do today? Are you ready to respond in faithful obedience…no matter the cost? Are you ready to trust Him, knowing that He will lead you to where He wants you to be and guide you to what He wants you to do? Are you ready to go where He might send you? True discipleship answers yes to all these questions. It’s the essence of servanthood.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
CHANGE OF PLANS
"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba." Genesis 22:1-19
Believers pride themselves on their faithfulness. We speak a lot about it and would like to think we would be obedient to whatever God might ask us to do. But could we sacrifice one of our own children?
In our scripture today, God issues the ultimate test of faithful obedience to Abraham. We have seen Abraham through several chapters now and have seen him display an ability to be very faithful (left everything behind to go where God directed him to go) and we have also seen him display less than adequate faith (laughed when God said he would bear a son with Sarah, twice failed to have the faith that God would protest him as Sarah entered into the company of kings…instead choosing to lie and conceal Sarah’s true relation to him). So it’s a toss up as we ponder how Abraham might respond to God’s calling this time. What will he choose to do? As we will learn, he passes with flying colors.
As Chapter 22 opens, we see God tell Abraham to "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." We get an indicator about how Abraham will do right off the bat because notice that Abraham doesn’t question or argue with God. He gets up the next morning, saddles his donkey and sets out with "two of his servants and his son Isaac." Once he had "cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about" and arrived there on the third day of travel. He orders his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac go to worship, then he loads Isaac down with the wood while he carries the fire and the knife. I can’t imagine how agonizing an experience this must have been for Abraham. What was rushing through his mind as he walked with the son he was soon going to kill and sacrifice…the son who was carrying the very wood he would be burned with? Abraham could have wavered. He could have decided to change his mind and not do what God has asked. But he didn’t.
He didn’t even after the innocent son Isaac asked him a question…a question that must have had his stomach tie up in knots. Isaac asks, ""The fire and wood are here…but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham’s answer once again gives us an indicator that he will not waver in his faith, even in what had to be one of the most difficult moments imaginable. He said to Isaac, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And he was right. God did provide and ensured this story had a happy ending.
For just as Abraham had prepared an altar, arranged the wood, bound Isaac and laid him on the altar and the wood pile, and then took the knife to sacrifice Isaac, God changes the plan, entering in and saying, "Do not lay a hand on the boy…Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Isaac is spared and the Lord sends a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. Abraham named the place "The Lord Will Provide."
In this test of Abraham’s faith, he shows awesome submission to God’s will, even though it meant sacrificing his son. We see where Abraham has definitely learned from the times he failed to display the proper level of trust in God. It is revealed in his works.
Question: How do you respond to God when He calls for you to do something? Do you question? Do you ignore? Do you become afraid of what might occur if you are obedient?
In Abraham, we learn that God will test us and will be watching to see how we respond. We see where God blesses faithful, obedient living. We also see where God shows mercy where needed. He could have let Abraham sacrifice Isaac but He didn’t. Instead, he sent a ram. Are you ready to accept what the Lord might send into your life to help you through situations He calls you to? We serve such a loving, merciful, gracious, powerful God. May everything we do be done to His glory, in faithful obedience to His will and way. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Believers pride themselves on their faithfulness. We speak a lot about it and would like to think we would be obedient to whatever God might ask us to do. But could we sacrifice one of our own children?
In our scripture today, God issues the ultimate test of faithful obedience to Abraham. We have seen Abraham through several chapters now and have seen him display an ability to be very faithful (left everything behind to go where God directed him to go) and we have also seen him display less than adequate faith (laughed when God said he would bear a son with Sarah, twice failed to have the faith that God would protest him as Sarah entered into the company of kings…instead choosing to lie and conceal Sarah’s true relation to him). So it’s a toss up as we ponder how Abraham might respond to God’s calling this time. What will he choose to do? As we will learn, he passes with flying colors.
As Chapter 22 opens, we see God tell Abraham to "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." We get an indicator about how Abraham will do right off the bat because notice that Abraham doesn’t question or argue with God. He gets up the next morning, saddles his donkey and sets out with "two of his servants and his son Isaac." Once he had "cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about" and arrived there on the third day of travel. He orders his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac go to worship, then he loads Isaac down with the wood while he carries the fire and the knife. I can’t imagine how agonizing an experience this must have been for Abraham. What was rushing through his mind as he walked with the son he was soon going to kill and sacrifice…the son who was carrying the very wood he would be burned with? Abraham could have wavered. He could have decided to change his mind and not do what God has asked. But he didn’t.
He didn’t even after the innocent son Isaac asked him a question…a question that must have had his stomach tie up in knots. Isaac asks, ""The fire and wood are here…but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham’s answer once again gives us an indicator that he will not waver in his faith, even in what had to be one of the most difficult moments imaginable. He said to Isaac, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And he was right. God did provide and ensured this story had a happy ending.
For just as Abraham had prepared an altar, arranged the wood, bound Isaac and laid him on the altar and the wood pile, and then took the knife to sacrifice Isaac, God changes the plan, entering in and saying, "Do not lay a hand on the boy…Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Isaac is spared and the Lord sends a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. Abraham named the place "The Lord Will Provide."
In this test of Abraham’s faith, he shows awesome submission to God’s will, even though it meant sacrificing his son. We see where Abraham has definitely learned from the times he failed to display the proper level of trust in God. It is revealed in his works.
Question: How do you respond to God when He calls for you to do something? Do you question? Do you ignore? Do you become afraid of what might occur if you are obedient?
In Abraham, we learn that God will test us and will be watching to see how we respond. We see where God blesses faithful, obedient living. We also see where God shows mercy where needed. He could have let Abraham sacrifice Isaac but He didn’t. Instead, he sent a ram. Are you ready to accept what the Lord might send into your life to help you through situations He calls you to? We serve such a loving, merciful, gracious, powerful God. May everything we do be done to His glory, in faithful obedience to His will and way. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
MEDIATOR, COUNSELOR, PEACEMAKER, LORD
"At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." Abraham said, "I swear it." Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. But Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today." So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well."
So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time." Genesis 21:22-34
You may remember the first encounter that Abraham had with Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-18), the king of the Philistines. Abraham had Gerar and lied about Sarah, telling Abimelech that Sarah was really his sister. He did this because he feared that Abimelech would steal Sarah away from him and put him to death if the king knew that Sarah was Abraham’s wife. We examined how Abraham lacked faith in God and decided to try and work out a plan by himself…a deceitful plan at that. You’ll remember as well, that God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him not to sleep with Sarah because she was married. This set up a confrontation between Abimelech and Abraham as Abimelech challenges Abraham concerning what he had done. You also recall that Abimelech’s wife and slave girls had been rendered barren by the Lord. Abraham prays and this impediment is removed by the Lord. So you can see that Abraham hasn’t exactly established a modicum of trust with the king. He gets a chance to redeem himself in today’s scripture.
Question: Have you ever done anything that brought your integrity into question? Have you ever reached a place where someone couldn’t trust you? How about a situation where you found yourself unable to trust someone else?
At the end of the passage in Chapter 20, Abimelech tells Abraham, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." So Abraham does and in today’s scripture he continues to have dealings with Abimelech. At the beginning of the passage, Abimelech attempts to reestablish trust in Abraham. He says, "God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." Abraham accepts the oath by saying, "I swear." Notice that Abimelech makes Abraham swear before God that he will not engage in any more falsehood. There was divine accountability ushered in when Abraham said, "I swear."
Question: Have you ever had to make an oath to tell the truth to someone you have deceived so you could start to regain their trust? Did you take the oath with God as your witness and accountability point? How about anytime you had to have someone take an oath toward you so you could trust them? Did you have them "swear to God"?
Well, we get a sense that Abraham taking the oath renewed channels of viable communication between him and Abimelech and that was a good thing because there was a problem they had to deal with.
We read that a dispute came up between Abraham’s people and Abimelech’s servants after Abimelech’s servants seized a community well. Obviously, this was critical for the well was needed to provide water to the people and water was necessary for survival. Abraham couldn’t see his people go thirsty so he takes the matter to the king. Abimelech tells Abraham, "I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today." It seems like things are at an impasse but Abimelech didn’t say that he wasn’t willing to work it out with Abraham. This allows Abraham to execute a plan of peace and resolution.
Scripture tells us, "Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well." So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there." It wasn’t uncommon for people to make peace by way of treaties back in biblical days. In this one, Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and cattle to make the treaty and there are seven ewes set apart. Abraham asks Abimelech to accept the lambs as a witness that Abraham had dug the well. Abraham was trying to establish Abimelech’s trust that he did indeed dig the well and thus the well should be rightfully his. To validate his point, Abraham used seven as the number of lambs offered. Seven is symbolic of perfection in the bible and so Abraham was implying a perfect truth in what he was telling Abimilech. Abimelech accepts Abraham’s offer and an oath is established between them.
Question: Have you ever offered anything as a gesture to someone to let them know you’re telling the truth in a matter? Have you ever had to enter into a truce with another? How did you seal the agreement?
In today’s scripture, we learn that the best way to resolve conflict is by peaceful means. No one got hurt in the dispute between Abraham and Abimelech’s servants because Abraham and Abimelech were willing to enter into a collaborative, cooperative relationship to ensure there would be a peaceful outcome. And that was just what they reached. But it wasn’t enough that Abimelech and Abraham desired to work things out…the key was that they did so under the witness of God. Abraham swore to truth to Him and He watched over the negotiations after that. We need to have this as our big takeaway from this devotional:
When you are in a place of conflict with another, always…and I say always…ask the Lord to enter in and resolve the issue. He, and only He will, will bring you to the place of peace. After all, He is the Wonderful Counselor…the Almighty Mediator….and the reconciling Prince of Peace.
Thanks be to God.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
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So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time." Genesis 21:22-34
You may remember the first encounter that Abraham had with Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-18), the king of the Philistines. Abraham had Gerar and lied about Sarah, telling Abimelech that Sarah was really his sister. He did this because he feared that Abimelech would steal Sarah away from him and put him to death if the king knew that Sarah was Abraham’s wife. We examined how Abraham lacked faith in God and decided to try and work out a plan by himself…a deceitful plan at that. You’ll remember as well, that God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him not to sleep with Sarah because she was married. This set up a confrontation between Abimelech and Abraham as Abimelech challenges Abraham concerning what he had done. You also recall that Abimelech’s wife and slave girls had been rendered barren by the Lord. Abraham prays and this impediment is removed by the Lord. So you can see that Abraham hasn’t exactly established a modicum of trust with the king. He gets a chance to redeem himself in today’s scripture.
Question: Have you ever done anything that brought your integrity into question? Have you ever reached a place where someone couldn’t trust you? How about a situation where you found yourself unable to trust someone else?
At the end of the passage in Chapter 20, Abimelech tells Abraham, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." So Abraham does and in today’s scripture he continues to have dealings with Abimelech. At the beginning of the passage, Abimelech attempts to reestablish trust in Abraham. He says, "God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." Abraham accepts the oath by saying, "I swear." Notice that Abimelech makes Abraham swear before God that he will not engage in any more falsehood. There was divine accountability ushered in when Abraham said, "I swear."
Question: Have you ever had to make an oath to tell the truth to someone you have deceived so you could start to regain their trust? Did you take the oath with God as your witness and accountability point? How about anytime you had to have someone take an oath toward you so you could trust them? Did you have them "swear to God"?
Well, we get a sense that Abraham taking the oath renewed channels of viable communication between him and Abimelech and that was a good thing because there was a problem they had to deal with.
We read that a dispute came up between Abraham’s people and Abimelech’s servants after Abimelech’s servants seized a community well. Obviously, this was critical for the well was needed to provide water to the people and water was necessary for survival. Abraham couldn’t see his people go thirsty so he takes the matter to the king. Abimelech tells Abraham, "I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today." It seems like things are at an impasse but Abimelech didn’t say that he wasn’t willing to work it out with Abraham. This allows Abraham to execute a plan of peace and resolution.
Scripture tells us, "Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well." So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there." It wasn’t uncommon for people to make peace by way of treaties back in biblical days. In this one, Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and cattle to make the treaty and there are seven ewes set apart. Abraham asks Abimelech to accept the lambs as a witness that Abraham had dug the well. Abraham was trying to establish Abimelech’s trust that he did indeed dig the well and thus the well should be rightfully his. To validate his point, Abraham used seven as the number of lambs offered. Seven is symbolic of perfection in the bible and so Abraham was implying a perfect truth in what he was telling Abimilech. Abimelech accepts Abraham’s offer and an oath is established between them.
Question: Have you ever offered anything as a gesture to someone to let them know you’re telling the truth in a matter? Have you ever had to enter into a truce with another? How did you seal the agreement?
In today’s scripture, we learn that the best way to resolve conflict is by peaceful means. No one got hurt in the dispute between Abraham and Abimelech’s servants because Abraham and Abimelech were willing to enter into a collaborative, cooperative relationship to ensure there would be a peaceful outcome. And that was just what they reached. But it wasn’t enough that Abimelech and Abraham desired to work things out…the key was that they did so under the witness of God. Abraham swore to truth to Him and He watched over the negotiations after that. We need to have this as our big takeaway from this devotional:
When you are in a place of conflict with another, always…and I say always…ask the Lord to enter in and resolve the issue. He, and only He will, will bring you to the place of peace. After all, He is the Wonderful Counselor…the Almighty Mediator….and the reconciling Prince of Peace.
Thanks be to God.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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