Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is: Exodus 16-18, Matthew 27:1-26
Good Sunday morning, ladies! Well, there is quite a bit going on in today's readings! It's been hard for me to pick what to focus on here. What first really caught my attention, was the manna that God provided the Israelites. First, let me quote some notes from my bibles...
"The manna, literally means, "What is it?" Not only was it remarkable for its size, shape color, taste, and variety of uses, but especially for its daily appearance at dawn, its tremendous abundance, its strange capacity for breeding worms at the end of each day except the sixth, and its sudden and permanent disappearance as soon as the Israelites entered Canaan. It taught the people to look Godward for their daily bread, and it pointed toward the One who claimed to be the true bread from heaven, even "the bread of life." "-The King James Study Bible
"Manna appeared on the ground each day as fresh white grains the size of pearls. The people gathered it, ground it like grain, and made it into honey-tasting pancakes. For the Israelites the manna was a gift-it came every day and was just what they needed. The Israelites were not to work on the Sabbath-not even to cook food. Why? God knew that the busy routine of daily living could distract people from worshiping Him. It is so easy to let work, family responsibilities, and recreation crowd our schedules so tightly that we don't take time for God."-Life Application Bible
This is just amazing, and special to me, to read these passages. God provided this miraculous substance, this manna, to take care of His people. These whiny, grumbly people who were constantly questioning God's ability to care for them, and saying they'd rather be enslaved again, than face these difficulties. Now I believe that they didn't truly want to be back in Egypt, but they just weren't happy with their situation, and wanted better for themselves and their families. I can understand that, I can. But hindsight for us, we know that had they just trusted God wholeheartedly, this would of been a much quicker walk through the Wilderness.
This manna is exquisite to me. It was just enough...not too much, not too little. It would go bad after just one day, so that God could teach them to depend on Him daily, rather than their own ability to store and preserve; their own means of self preservation. However, on the day that He wanted them to focus solely on Him, and not be distracted with the cares of this world, it would stay fresh from the night before, so that they would not have to gather and prepare it! I mean, how AMAZING! And yet, through this miracle that God provided, in all it's detail, they still resulted to lack of trust in God, and complaining about life once again over water, in chapter 17. We know God supplies water, miraculously, and yet the cycle continues as we will continue to see as we keep reading.
Haven't we done this time and again, in our own lives, even though God has shown us miraculous things as He cares for us, and provides for our every need?! And we've even had all these accounts in His word too, to show us that He will provide and care for His own. My husband recently lost his job, and a close friend of mine, had her husband lose his job a month later, so we have been on this journey together. God has done amazing things for both our families, and we have to stand in awe of how He has orchestrated it all! Our husbands are both in new jobs now, have been for a few months. Life moves on, and we now have to fight the earthly temptation to question whether God will meet our needs once again in new challenges that arise. We are praying so hard, and asking God to help us focus on Him, and KNOW that He will always be there for us, and provide for our needs, and often times, even our wants! She shared a thought out of her devotional a few days ago, and it really touched me. It said this...
"If we would only move straight ahead in faith, the path would be opened for us. But we stand still waiting for the obstacles to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles at all."
WOW! I mean, think about that for a minute. How blessed would our lives be, if we completely surrendered every aspect of them to God, and just walked in faith, never stopping to doubt?! Never stopping to try and figure out how WE are going to move the obstacles?! God's ways are above our own, and limitless! He created the mountains, and He WILL move them for you, if He needs to. No problem we have is too big for our God!
In chapter 18, the judges are finally appointed by Moses. This really took a large burden off of him. These were not to replace the spiritual elders. They had a whole different set of tasks, and really improved the quality of life for Moses, and the people.
I just want to touch real quick on the verses in Matthew too. Obviously, this is a sad passage, and Judas couldn't handle the guilt from his actions. Many believe that He had political motives for why He turned Jesus over, and wasn't expecting the outcome that came. No matter the reason, he couldn't live with what he had done. The thing that has always gotten me about this passage though, is Pilate.
Pilate was known for being a cruel, harsh leader, and excessively infuriated the Jews. There is a lot going on in his life at this point. Historical records indicate that he already had legal trouble from the people and his job was kind of at jeopardy here, so I know a lot was at stake for him. I just wanted to point out one obvious, but important thing. He had several chances to right the situation. He felt Jesus was innocent, Roman law stated that an innocent man shouldn't be put to death. His wife even told him of a troubled dream she had about this, yet he wouldn't do the right thing, for fear of what would happen to HIM! By not making a decision to do what was right, he chose to do what was wrong. He tried to give himself a false sense of peace, by saying he washed his hands of it all, but you can't do that.
Whenever we chose to do nothing, and not stand for what is right, and against what is wrong, we are in the wrong. Peer pressure, fear, all kinds of things and emotions can keep us from standing up for what it right. But you know what? When you think about it, they are all selfish motivations. What will this mean for me? How will people look at me? As Christians, we are never to be focused on self, but on others. We are to focus on God, glorifying Him, and doing His will. This means always putting God and others before ourselves. We can try to wash our hands of it, and ease our own conscience, but God will know, and we will know deep down inside.
Sorry it got long, that's what happens when I can't pick an area to focus on! lol!
Tomorrow's passage: Exodus 19-20, Matthew 27: 27-50
Showing posts with label Kristi's Posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kristi's Posts. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, February 8, 2010
February 8th Readings
Today's readings from the One Year Chronological Bible Reading Plan are Exodus 22:16-24:18
I cannot do anymore posts right now, per my husbands wishes. I e-mailed Tammy last week, but with her being on vacation, she must not have gotten it. Please just leave your thoughts about today's readings and share with one another as always! There is a lot of good stuff in today's readings. A lot of bad things too...that people were doing. It's amazing that some of those horrible, nasty things were done so early in history. It sure didn't take long for sin to destroy any descency in people. Even with starting all over after the flood, God is already having to give very detailed commandments and laws because of the sin of man.
Tomorrow's readings are Exodus 25:1-28:43. Click here to read online.
I cannot do anymore posts right now, per my husbands wishes. I e-mailed Tammy last week, but with her being on vacation, she must not have gotten it. Please just leave your thoughts about today's readings and share with one another as always! There is a lot of good stuff in today's readings. A lot of bad things too...that people were doing. It's amazing that some of those horrible, nasty things were done so early in history. It sure didn't take long for sin to destroy any descency in people. Even with starting all over after the flood, God is already having to give very detailed commandments and laws because of the sin of man.
Tomorrow's readings are Exodus 25:1-28:43. Click here to read online.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1st Readings~Guest Post By Kristi
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are Exodus 1-2:25; 1 Chronicles 6:1-3; Exodus 3-4:17. Click here to read online.
There is so much in these verses that could be pointed out, or talked about, but these are all pretty well known and easily understood. Therefore, I am going to go with the SOAP approach today.
Scripture~ "And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11
Observation~ Moses instantly dwells on the thought of how hard the task asked of him is. He doesn't even hear all the details before he questions God about His request. He's already asking why God wants him to do it, and who is he, that God would have him to do this. Then he questions how and why and comes up with every excuse he can think of, for why it won't work(4:1), and why he shouldn't be the one to do it(4:10). In verse 14 we see that God gets angry with Moses, and brings in Aaron to assist Moses in this great task that will come to be.
Application~ It is so easy for us to question our abilities and try to think through how situations are going to work or not work. But when God asks things of us, we need to trust and obey. We don't hear God audibly, so yes, we do need to pray about things and make sure they are God's will, but when we know He is calling us to do something, we need to trust who He is, and the power that He has, and just do it. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called...so that He will get the honor and the glory.
When my oldest son was getting close to school age, my husband and I had to come to a final decision on what we were going to do about his education. Were we going to put him in public school, or were we going to homeschool? (We had never heard of homeschooling before, and didn't know the slightest thing about it. We were very ignorant to just how much is out there to make sure homeschooled children get exceedingly wonderful educations.) This question arose again and again even after we had been homeschooling him for quite sometime. Every time things got hard, I would question my abilities and try to reason everything out over the next 12 years. What if I don't do a good enough job? What if colleges won't accept him? Am I smart enough to do this? What do other people think about what we are doing? I remember looking at my husband one day when I was almost in tears over the frustration of making this "all so important decision" and telling him, "if I knew the world was going to end and Jesus would take us home before he needed to go to college or support a family, I would homeschool him without any question." I wanted to see the future so I could make an informed decision. We even put him in public school for 2 or 3 months when he was in second grade, and then something happened.
God spoke to me so clearly, you would have thought it was audible. He said, trust in me, follow My will, and take it one day at a time. Don't look to the future, look to Me...just keep your eyes on Me. Don't question your abilities, because my strength is perfect in your weakness. I will give you ALL you stand in need of to do My will. I took my son out of school that day and we've never looked back. When times get tough, we look to God and work through them because there is no alternative anymore. Now we have 3 out of our 4 children homeschooling, and the littlest one can't wait to get started next. I am amazed every day at how good of a teacher I am (WITH THE LORD'S HELP...I fail miserably if I'm not teaching behind His leadership), and how much my children thrive in the environment they are in. Every day that I get to teach them, and instruct them in a safe, loving home with Godly values along side their needed education, I just thank God for not letting me ruin what we have. God has since blessed me with many resources for homeschooling that make the future look a lot brighter. As well as many people around us who were homeschooled and now have successful carriers, and are homeschooling their own children.
God doesn't give us our life's story book to read before we live it. Honestly, I don't think we could handle it anyway. We just have to deny ourselves and let God lead. We shouldn't be asking Him, Who am I...to teach that Sunday School class? ...to witness to my neighbors?...to move to a new city? ...to lead a bible study? ...to have another child? We shouldn't be listing our imperfections to Him either as Moses did in verse 10 of chapter 4. Look at God's response again... "Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?" Exodous 4:11 God made us, He knows what we are and are not capable of. He will not ask of us something we cannot already do, or something He won't give us the ability to do. How blessed we can be, and how blessed others can be through us, if we will just obey.
Prayer~ Father, I thank you and praise you for all that you are, and all that you do. I pray that you would speak to me and let me know what your will is for me. Open my heart Lord, and show me the things you would have me to be doing in my life. For those things you've already asked of me Lord, I surrender them to you. Please give me the strength I need to trust in you and to do that which you have asked of me. Provide me with all that I stand in need of, to do your will and stay in the path that you have laid for my life. Forgive me for questioning you and not fully obeying. May all that I do give you honor and praise, in Jesus name, Amen.
Tomorrow's readings are Exodus 4:18-7:13
There is so much in these verses that could be pointed out, or talked about, but these are all pretty well known and easily understood. Therefore, I am going to go with the SOAP approach today.
Scripture~ "And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11
Observation~ Moses instantly dwells on the thought of how hard the task asked of him is. He doesn't even hear all the details before he questions God about His request. He's already asking why God wants him to do it, and who is he, that God would have him to do this. Then he questions how and why and comes up with every excuse he can think of, for why it won't work(4:1), and why he shouldn't be the one to do it(4:10). In verse 14 we see that God gets angry with Moses, and brings in Aaron to assist Moses in this great task that will come to be.
Application~ It is so easy for us to question our abilities and try to think through how situations are going to work or not work. But when God asks things of us, we need to trust and obey. We don't hear God audibly, so yes, we do need to pray about things and make sure they are God's will, but when we know He is calling us to do something, we need to trust who He is, and the power that He has, and just do it. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called...so that He will get the honor and the glory.
When my oldest son was getting close to school age, my husband and I had to come to a final decision on what we were going to do about his education. Were we going to put him in public school, or were we going to homeschool? (We had never heard of homeschooling before, and didn't know the slightest thing about it. We were very ignorant to just how much is out there to make sure homeschooled children get exceedingly wonderful educations.) This question arose again and again even after we had been homeschooling him for quite sometime. Every time things got hard, I would question my abilities and try to reason everything out over the next 12 years. What if I don't do a good enough job? What if colleges won't accept him? Am I smart enough to do this? What do other people think about what we are doing? I remember looking at my husband one day when I was almost in tears over the frustration of making this "all so important decision" and telling him, "if I knew the world was going to end and Jesus would take us home before he needed to go to college or support a family, I would homeschool him without any question." I wanted to see the future so I could make an informed decision. We even put him in public school for 2 or 3 months when he was in second grade, and then something happened.
God spoke to me so clearly, you would have thought it was audible. He said, trust in me, follow My will, and take it one day at a time. Don't look to the future, look to Me...just keep your eyes on Me. Don't question your abilities, because my strength is perfect in your weakness. I will give you ALL you stand in need of to do My will. I took my son out of school that day and we've never looked back. When times get tough, we look to God and work through them because there is no alternative anymore. Now we have 3 out of our 4 children homeschooling, and the littlest one can't wait to get started next. I am amazed every day at how good of a teacher I am (WITH THE LORD'S HELP...I fail miserably if I'm not teaching behind His leadership), and how much my children thrive in the environment they are in. Every day that I get to teach them, and instruct them in a safe, loving home with Godly values along side their needed education, I just thank God for not letting me ruin what we have. God has since blessed me with many resources for homeschooling that make the future look a lot brighter. As well as many people around us who were homeschooled and now have successful carriers, and are homeschooling their own children.
God doesn't give us our life's story book to read before we live it. Honestly, I don't think we could handle it anyway. We just have to deny ourselves and let God lead. We shouldn't be asking Him, Who am I...to teach that Sunday School class? ...to witness to my neighbors?...to move to a new city? ...to lead a bible study? ...to have another child? We shouldn't be listing our imperfections to Him either as Moses did in verse 10 of chapter 4. Look at God's response again... "Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?" Exodous 4:11 God made us, He knows what we are and are not capable of. He will not ask of us something we cannot already do, or something He won't give us the ability to do. How blessed we can be, and how blessed others can be through us, if we will just obey.
Prayer~ Father, I thank you and praise you for all that you are, and all that you do. I pray that you would speak to me and let me know what your will is for me. Open my heart Lord, and show me the things you would have me to be doing in my life. For those things you've already asked of me Lord, I surrender them to you. Please give me the strength I need to trust in you and to do that which you have asked of me. Provide me with all that I stand in need of, to do your will and stay in the path that you have laid for my life. Forgive me for questioning you and not fully obeying. May all that I do give you honor and praise, in Jesus name, Amen.
Tomorrow's readings are Exodus 4:18-7:13
Monday, January 25, 2010
January 25th Readings-Guest Post By Kristi
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Job 22 - 25. Click here to read online.
Chapter 22
Key Verses- "Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles...For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee..." Job 22: 22,23,27
What We Can Learn- In his last speech, Eliphaz gives Job his most vicious attack, but he also says some beautiful things about the forgiveness of God, even though it is directed at the wrong person. When we sin, we must recognize it as just that, sin. We must read God's Word, His commandments and wishes for our life, and hold them close to our heart. Meditate on them day and night. The closer we are to God, the better we see sin when we are confronted with it, and can call it what it is. If we turn away from our sin and back to God, he will build us up, and give us the power to resist the sin. He will always be willing to take us back into his open arms, no matter what we have done. God's forgiveness and mercy are completely unmeasurable. He is always waiting to hear our prayers of repentance and restore us unto righteousness. The peace that comes from being right with God, is unlike anything this world can offer.
Chapter 23
Key Verse- "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
What We Can Learn- Job was confident that no sin would be found in the fires of refinement, despite what his friends are still accusing him of. When we face God, our deeds will be tried by fire. Anything we have done in vain, or done selfishly will be burned to ash, to nothing. Only things we have done for God's honor and glory will survive the fire as Gold. Only the deeds which survive the fire will be rewarded. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 1 Peter 1:7) We should be ever conscious about our actions in life...what we are doing and why we are doing them. I wish I could speak with such certaincy as Job did when it comes to my own life!
Chapter 24
Key Verse- "And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?" Job 24:25
What We Can Learn- Job lists many crimes and criminal offenders and states that they seem to do these things with no judgement from God, or no intervention from Him. I'm sure he did feel that no one could disprove his thoughts. I think almost every Christian has related to Job's feeling here at one time or another. Almost all of us can also think of someone who carries on doing sinful things and has seemingly no retribution for their actions. Some even seem to be so much more blessed than ourselves...rich, endless "good fortune, or luck", one great thing after another happening to them. It can be all to easy to get envious, jealous, or just down right angry. What really gets me is watching good Christian people struggle to conceive, or suffer many miscarriages while so many wicked people are having baby after baby and not taking care of them...giving them up, or even killing them. I've heard many people ask, "Where's God" "Why does He allow this to happen if He's such a loving God?"
We have to be so careful here. God doesn't cause the wickedness to happen, and He's never promised that all those who commit sins will be judged here on earth. Their judgment will come later...(Revelation 20: 11-15) Instead of being angry with them, we should be praying for them to get saved, since we know how devastating their end punishment will be if they don't. The bringing of sin into the world through Adam and Eve, is what caused all the horrible things that go on in this world. God didn't cause it, we did. He's not going to stop every bad thing from happening here on earth. What we also need to remember, and what Job's friends didn't know, is that not all trials and tragedy are a curse or punishment from God. Trials are the means by through which God's blessings can come, and how we are made to be more like Him. (Romans 3: 3-5) We should not always be looking for a way of escape. We should ask God what we can learn from the trial He has given us, and embrace them leaning on Him and using His grace and strength to get through it. (2 Corinthians 12:9) When it comes to temptation, God will not make us to bear more than we can handle, without giving us a way of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Chapter 25
Key Verse- "How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?" Job 25:4
What We Can Learn- Bildad's short reply might indicate that his friends have exhausted all their answers or were just done arguing and putting forth accusations. He's basically saying in this chapter that if the moon and the stars are not pure in God's sight, how can Job who is like a worm hope to escape unscathed. But Job never claimed that he was without sin, he's just been saying that his current suffering was not incurred because of sin. Job's been saying that he's blameless in this situation. Since I won't be doing another post on this book, I want to leave you with a link to an article that I think sums up what we should learn from the life of Job...
Tomorrow's readings are from Job 26:1-29:25. Click here to read online.
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 18 Readings-Guest Post by Kristi
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are taken from Genesis 47:28-50:26 which completes the book of Genesis! Click here to read online.
There is A LOT going on in today's section of scripture. I won't go over it all, as I am very tired and it would be a very, very long post! You all are welcome, as usual, to add notations and references in the comments section!
It starts out with Jacob making Joseph swear unto him, that he will bury him in the land that Abraham had purchased and that he, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were already buried.
Then Jacob blesses Josephs son's. He gives the youngest a higher blessing, once again showing that is was ultimately rank, not origin that decided who it would go to. Joseph was bothered by this, and tried to correct his father as to who the oldest was, and who should get the blessing. Jacob told him that he knew who the eldest was! I find this so funny. We can only speculate as to Joseph's feelings here, but he was the younger who replaced Reuben. You would think he would have understood what his father was doing. But, he could of wanted it the way he would have done it with his own children, or he could have thought that Manasseh hadn't done anything wrong to be moved down in rank. He may not have wanted him to experience the jealousy that his brothers displayed to him. However, here their was no jealousy, bitterness or scheming! We don't know what he was thinking...I just think it's ironic, and I like to speculate about what might have been going through his mind.
The next chapter is full of prophecy from Jacob concerning his sons...the twelve tribes of Israel. He gathers them all and tells them what will come of them and their ancestry. There is so much here that can be commented on, and feel free Tammy, if you wish. However I feel the Lord leading me in a different direction today.
Chapter 50 starts of with the death of Jacob, and Joseph has him embalmed by his servants the physicians. Generally this is done by the embalmers and priests but Joseph may have wanted to avoid the magic and mysticism involved. Joseph asks Pharaoh to let him and his family take their father to the special land to be buried. It amazes me that Pharaoh let them go. It just shows the love and respect he had for Joseph, and how grateful he was for all Joseph had done for him. Joseph was a great servant...to God and those in greater authority than he. After many years pass, Joseph dies as well and he is embalmed, put into a coffin and buried in Egypt. His bones were transferred with his people to the Promised Land which we will read in Exodus and Joshua.
There is A LOT going on in today's section of scripture. I won't go over it all, as I am very tired and it would be a very, very long post! You all are welcome, as usual, to add notations and references in the comments section!
It starts out with Jacob making Joseph swear unto him, that he will bury him in the land that Abraham had purchased and that he, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were already buried.
Then Jacob blesses Josephs son's. He gives the youngest a higher blessing, once again showing that is was ultimately rank, not origin that decided who it would go to. Joseph was bothered by this, and tried to correct his father as to who the oldest was, and who should get the blessing. Jacob told him that he knew who the eldest was! I find this so funny. We can only speculate as to Joseph's feelings here, but he was the younger who replaced Reuben. You would think he would have understood what his father was doing. But, he could of wanted it the way he would have done it with his own children, or he could have thought that Manasseh hadn't done anything wrong to be moved down in rank. He may not have wanted him to experience the jealousy that his brothers displayed to him. However, here their was no jealousy, bitterness or scheming! We don't know what he was thinking...I just think it's ironic, and I like to speculate about what might have been going through his mind.
The next chapter is full of prophecy from Jacob concerning his sons...the twelve tribes of Israel. He gathers them all and tells them what will come of them and their ancestry. There is so much here that can be commented on, and feel free Tammy, if you wish. However I feel the Lord leading me in a different direction today.
Chapter 50 starts of with the death of Jacob, and Joseph has him embalmed by his servants the physicians. Generally this is done by the embalmers and priests but Joseph may have wanted to avoid the magic and mysticism involved. Joseph asks Pharaoh to let him and his family take their father to the special land to be buried. It amazes me that Pharaoh let them go. It just shows the love and respect he had for Joseph, and how grateful he was for all Joseph had done for him. Joseph was a great servant...to God and those in greater authority than he. After many years pass, Joseph dies as well and he is embalmed, put into a coffin and buried in Egypt. His bones were transferred with his people to the Promised Land which we will read in Exodus and Joshua.
Digging Deeper
After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers were afraid that Joseph would show outward signs of hostility for them now that their father was gone. This is just ridiculous to me. After all he had done for them, and the tears he shed for them at their reunion, it just amazes me that their faith in him would be that little. This is humble and magnificent Joseph's reply;
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." "And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." Genesis 50:19-21 Joseph is by far my favorite person in the Old Testament. I can't wait to meet him when I get to heaven.
"...ye thought evil...but God meant it unto good..."
This is one of the most comforting verses for me in the Bible. When we are faced with hard times, and horrible situations this brings great comfort. When we look around us at things that are going on in this world, this verse brings great comfort. It is hard to find the good in some situations and sometimes it seems that there is no end to the evil of this world, but God is ALWAYS in control! What we may only see as evil, can be used by God for good. We don't know the future and we don't know what things and events can be eventually used and turned into something great and wonderful! Joseph's brothers meant their actions to be for evil, but God meant them to be for good. God used their hatred and jealousy to save thousands of lives. Joseph's faithfulness to God and his servant heart that obeyed with optimism no matter what the situation brought physical salvation to many people and kept his family alive and gave them the ability to flourish and prosper together in Goshen. If we can just cling to this verse, and not be discouraged when we face hard times and see all this evil, despicable stuff going on around us...just keep our eyes on God and our focus on His will, He can use that for good!
Tomorrows readings are Job 1:1-4:2. Click here to read online.
Monday, January 11, 2010
January 11th readings~Guest post by Kristi
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Genesis 30:25-31:55. Click here to read online.
We have some relatively short and not to exciting text today. However, I do believe there are some lessons to be learned here. I'm going to summarize the verses and then pick out something I think is of real importance and applies to us today.
Because of this, Labans sons and Laban himself, had become openly hostile towards Jacob. Jacob decides it's time for him to leave and it is confirmed by God telling him to return to Canaan. He asks his wives, and they agree that he is to do what God says. However, instead of leaving the right way, he flees without telling Laban. Laban finds out three days later and goes after him. Fortunately, God tells Laban not to do Jacob harm. Laban catches up with Jacob and tells him how angry he is with what he has done. Jacob states his case and puts up a pretty good defense in my book! They make a covenant between themselves to not do each other harm and for Jacob not to do harm to Labans daughters or take any other wives.
Now in verse 19 of chapter 31 it says that, "...Rachel had stolen the images that were fer father's." Then in verses 30-37 when he ask of their whereabouts she lets him look all over for them and she hides them(v34) and lies to him (v35) saying "...let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me."
Jacob had been blessed. Really blessed, and so had Rachel. God had given them cattle, camels, servants, goods, children of abundance. Yet, this isn't enough for her. She has to steal from her father and then lie to him. (and using her cycle as an excuse to not get up...I guess this dates back this far ladies...is there nothing we won't use it as an excuse for?) Ahem, but seriously, she still wants more. It is so typical of our human nature to always want more. To not be satisfied with what God has given us. Through this whole passage we read today, everyone in this passage wanted more, and was not satisfied with what they had.
So many have gone so far as to STEAL what they desire. I'm no different. Just because I may not physically steal something from someone else's possession, doesn't mean I'm not guilty of theft. When I take money from tithes or offerings to have a nicer car, or take money from the grocery budget to buy clothes, or whatever the situation may be, that's stealing. I'm stealing from God, or stealing from my family to fulfil my desires. Even spending time in longing for something I can't have, is robbing time from God that should be spent on thanksgiving for what He has provided me with. We live in such a materialistic world and even when we're not trying to "keep up with the Jone's," we are trying to keep up with ourselves, and our selfish desires. We come up with all kinds of them. I want more space, a bigger house. I'm tired of not getting the car started, I need a new one. Little Timmy just walks around bored all day, he needs new toys. The list could go on and on. This subject is really close to my heart because it is one of my main goals for this year. To be thankful for what the Lord has provided me with, and keeps my eyes on what I have, instead of what I don't have.
I'm the kind of person who always looks to the next thing. What can I improve on now? What can I change now to make things more efficient? How can I make my house look nicer and feel more peaceful? This can be good to a certain extent, but I have to be careful. Because I will say that I'm done spending money for a while, but then next thing you know, I need to buy organizer shelves, because they are needed to make the house run more smoothly! It just doesn't end. Somewhere, somehow God has to be put first! Thanksgiving has to come before requests. During our prayers, we need to give thanks for what God has done before we ask more of Him. I have now begun to pray as I am going to the store that God would show me exactly what He would have me to get, nothing more and nothing less. I ask Him before every purchase that I make, and then I ask Him to give me the strength to say no to the things He doesn't want me to have. I've even done this when going grocery shopping, and you wouldn't believe how far my dollar has gone lately!
I'm earnestly trying to be thankful for all of His provisions. Health, safety, protection, provision, salvation, family, friends, mercy, grace, strength! God is so good and I don't want to spend my time longing for that which I don't have. I don't want to be lured into stealing, figuratively or literally! This can go for all things, it doesn't just have to be monetary in context. Wanting our children or husbands to be like someone else's isn't being thankful for what God has given us either. I even charge you to be thankful that you are who you are today! God made you precious in His own sight! Join me in thanksgiving today and let's try to make it something we strive for on a daily basis. Lets learn from Rachel's example here.
Tomorrows readings are Genesis 32:1-35:27. Click here to read online.
We have some relatively short and not to exciting text today. However, I do believe there are some lessons to be learned here. I'm going to summarize the verses and then pick out something I think is of real importance and applies to us today.
Summarization
Jacob decides that he wants to leave Laban, and go back to his own people. He asks Laban to give him his wives and his children and let him go. (I must say, I find it so weird that he had to ask him. I'm glad we live in this day and time!) Laban does not want him to go because he believes that God has blessed him because of Jacob. Laban asks Jacob to name his price (so to speak) and Jacob starts to lay out his plan of trickery. Thanks to some superstition, selective breeding, and divine help, it works and Jacob is soon very prosperous.Because of this, Labans sons and Laban himself, had become openly hostile towards Jacob. Jacob decides it's time for him to leave and it is confirmed by God telling him to return to Canaan. He asks his wives, and they agree that he is to do what God says. However, instead of leaving the right way, he flees without telling Laban. Laban finds out three days later and goes after him. Fortunately, God tells Laban not to do Jacob harm. Laban catches up with Jacob and tells him how angry he is with what he has done. Jacob states his case and puts up a pretty good defense in my book! They make a covenant between themselves to not do each other harm and for Jacob not to do harm to Labans daughters or take any other wives.
Now in verse 19 of chapter 31 it says that, "...Rachel had stolen the images that were fer father's." Then in verses 30-37 when he ask of their whereabouts she lets him look all over for them and she hides them(v34) and lies to him (v35) saying "...let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me."
Digging Deeper
*Where do I start. It does not tell us why she took them in the first place. In these days, it was customary for these household items to be given as part of an inheritance. Perhaps she took them because she was leaving her homeland and would have little other legal claim to her father's inheritance. She may have wanted some extra security. She may have felt as though she deserved them. She may have just been angry at her father for marrying Leah to Jacob. We'll never know until we get to Heaven...but I think the reason she took them was purely materialistic or monetary in nature. I'm going to stretch this a little, but bear with me...Jacob had been blessed. Really blessed, and so had Rachel. God had given them cattle, camels, servants, goods, children of abundance. Yet, this isn't enough for her. She has to steal from her father and then lie to him. (and using her cycle as an excuse to not get up...I guess this dates back this far ladies...is there nothing we won't use it as an excuse for?) Ahem, but seriously, she still wants more. It is so typical of our human nature to always want more. To not be satisfied with what God has given us. Through this whole passage we read today, everyone in this passage wanted more, and was not satisfied with what they had.
So many have gone so far as to STEAL what they desire. I'm no different. Just because I may not physically steal something from someone else's possession, doesn't mean I'm not guilty of theft. When I take money from tithes or offerings to have a nicer car, or take money from the grocery budget to buy clothes, or whatever the situation may be, that's stealing. I'm stealing from God, or stealing from my family to fulfil my desires. Even spending time in longing for something I can't have, is robbing time from God that should be spent on thanksgiving for what He has provided me with. We live in such a materialistic world and even when we're not trying to "keep up with the Jone's," we are trying to keep up with ourselves, and our selfish desires. We come up with all kinds of them. I want more space, a bigger house. I'm tired of not getting the car started, I need a new one. Little Timmy just walks around bored all day, he needs new toys. The list could go on and on. This subject is really close to my heart because it is one of my main goals for this year. To be thankful for what the Lord has provided me with, and keeps my eyes on what I have, instead of what I don't have.
I'm the kind of person who always looks to the next thing. What can I improve on now? What can I change now to make things more efficient? How can I make my house look nicer and feel more peaceful? This can be good to a certain extent, but I have to be careful. Because I will say that I'm done spending money for a while, but then next thing you know, I need to buy organizer shelves, because they are needed to make the house run more smoothly! It just doesn't end. Somewhere, somehow God has to be put first! Thanksgiving has to come before requests. During our prayers, we need to give thanks for what God has done before we ask more of Him. I have now begun to pray as I am going to the store that God would show me exactly what He would have me to get, nothing more and nothing less. I ask Him before every purchase that I make, and then I ask Him to give me the strength to say no to the things He doesn't want me to have. I've even done this when going grocery shopping, and you wouldn't believe how far my dollar has gone lately!
I'm earnestly trying to be thankful for all of His provisions. Health, safety, protection, provision, salvation, family, friends, mercy, grace, strength! God is so good and I don't want to spend my time longing for that which I don't have. I don't want to be lured into stealing, figuratively or literally! This can go for all things, it doesn't just have to be monetary in context. Wanting our children or husbands to be like someone else's isn't being thankful for what God has given us either. I even charge you to be thankful that you are who you are today! God made you precious in His own sight! Join me in thanksgiving today and let's try to make it something we strive for on a daily basis. Lets learn from Rachel's example here.
Tomorrows readings are Genesis 32:1-35:27. Click here to read online.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Kristi's Testimony
I don't know how to write this in short form. God has worked more miracles in my life than I could write. I literally could write a book about it. Maybe I should...could use the income! I'll try to shorten it here.
We did not attend church when I was growing up. I would occasionally go to Catholic church with my cousins and to the Protestant church with my grandma. From the time I was 14 to the time I was 17 was trouble. I had a 4.0 GPA and was captain on the Varsity Volleyball team, but "after hours" I was partaking in illegal substances, smoking, going will any guy who would give me the time of day, and putting my life in jeopardy over and over again. The emotional turmoil was almost more than I could handle. My mom had enough sense to move me away from Colorado when I was 15, but you can find trouble wherever you are, and once I lost my love of Volleyball by switching schools when teams were already established, I quit school my sophomore year. I moved out of my parents house the day after my 16th birthday. I won't tell you what all went on during that year for sake of time, but I will say that ONLY God kept me alive. I met what would be my future husband during this time.
We were married two weeks after I turned 17. He wanted to go back into the army and we had to be married for me to go with him. My dad thought it would be good for me to get out of the area, so they agreed to give the courts their permission for me to be married. Unfortunately, Mike, my husband, changed his mind after we were wed. He was an addict, and an alcoholic and neither one of us were faithful to our vows. During this time my dad ruptured his colon and almost died. A baptist preacher came to visit him in the hospital, and shortly thereafter, my dad got saved. When I saw the change in his life at 40 years old, I had to see for myself what changed him. After months of attending church, and hearing about how Jesus died for someone as awful as me; listening to how I could be saved too, I finally accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and prayed that He would forgive me of my sins, and be Lord of my life; come in to my heart and save me from the wicked that I knew. I can't tell you the exact day, but I know from that point on my life...scratch that....myself was different. My circumstances didn't change, but how I handled things, and what I felt in my heart was different. God was leading my life and He was carrying me when I couldn't walk. (Footprints is my all time favorite poem and always will be) I went through what I consider to be hell on earth for the next two years. I say that literally, not swearing, because that's what it felt like. At times I felt as though I was staring Satan in the face in my own home. What Mike put me through, as an addict, I couldn't even tell my own mother, because I knew it would hurt her to much. Some things that happened, only the Lord and I know they happened. Only God has the power to get someone through that, and He did. I know I am a strong person, but I know God was the one who made me strong, and He made me stronger and I was living off of His strength in that time of my life.
But, while in jail for a DUI, 3 months after I left him, to protect our firstborn, Mike was saved...led to the Lord by the same preacher that led my father, myself, my brother, and my biological grandmother to the Lord. PRAISE GOD!!! I had given up on Mike, but God hadn't. I know I'm getting long here, I need to wrap this up...It's been a long road. You don't recover from all that overnight, but here we are almost 9 years later and we are getting ready to celebrate our 11 year anniversary next month. We now have 4 beautiful children. We attend church 3 times a week without excuses (unless we're sick). I haven't said a curse word in 6 years. We don't watch movies that have to much cursing in them, or any nudity at all. Mike even quit smoking 2 years ago. He hasn't had a drink in several years. We now believe that drinking, even a casual beer or glass of wine, is unacceptable. It's just letting Satan put his foot in the door. I now try to stay as submitted to my husband's leadership as I can. I still need help with this. I do have a very strong personality. We gave up financial wealthiness to homeschool our children and make sure that they live a better life than we did. Train them to be among the world, but not of the world. Teach them where their home is, and how to live for God, and why. Make Him a part of every single thing in their life..right down to where to park at the grocery store! I want my children to have the testimony that Pamela and many others have. I want my kids to say in their testimony, that they grew up in church and always knew about the Lord. I want to go further and have them be able to say that mom and dad were a true witness to Christ and lived a very Godly life!
So my hope for this bible study, is to grow even closer to the Lord. My biblical knowledge is great now, and I'm a million miles away from where I once was, but no Christian has arrived! God's Word is Divine, and every time you read it, it is going to speak to you in different ways, because it's the way God speaks to us in this day. When you and I read the same passage, some of it is going to mean something different, because God is talking to you where you are at spiritually in life, and giving you answers to your needs in your life and then He is talking to me where I am at, and meeting my needs. I think we can all learn and grow together in knowledge, and support each other, and pray for one another. But I know we all will see somethings differently as our Father instructs us each individually as well. Just as we do our own children.
My goal is to stay in His word every single day. Something I have never done before. I'm hoping it will help me to see things His way and think like Him more often. I want to make better decisions for me and my family. I spent way too much money last year on things we didn't need, and that puts my family into debt. I want to help reverse that this year. I loose my patience too easily with my children. I've let my health and weight spiral out of control. I have a food addiction that mirrors sin in my life. I want those things gone! I know staying in His word will help, and I ask for your prayers as well!
We did not attend church when I was growing up. I would occasionally go to Catholic church with my cousins and to the Protestant church with my grandma. From the time I was 14 to the time I was 17 was trouble. I had a 4.0 GPA and was captain on the Varsity Volleyball team, but "after hours" I was partaking in illegal substances, smoking, going will any guy who would give me the time of day, and putting my life in jeopardy over and over again. The emotional turmoil was almost more than I could handle. My mom had enough sense to move me away from Colorado when I was 15, but you can find trouble wherever you are, and once I lost my love of Volleyball by switching schools when teams were already established, I quit school my sophomore year. I moved out of my parents house the day after my 16th birthday. I won't tell you what all went on during that year for sake of time, but I will say that ONLY God kept me alive. I met what would be my future husband during this time.
We were married two weeks after I turned 17. He wanted to go back into the army and we had to be married for me to go with him. My dad thought it would be good for me to get out of the area, so they agreed to give the courts their permission for me to be married. Unfortunately, Mike, my husband, changed his mind after we were wed. He was an addict, and an alcoholic and neither one of us were faithful to our vows. During this time my dad ruptured his colon and almost died. A baptist preacher came to visit him in the hospital, and shortly thereafter, my dad got saved. When I saw the change in his life at 40 years old, I had to see for myself what changed him. After months of attending church, and hearing about how Jesus died for someone as awful as me; listening to how I could be saved too, I finally accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and prayed that He would forgive me of my sins, and be Lord of my life; come in to my heart and save me from the wicked that I knew. I can't tell you the exact day, but I know from that point on my life...scratch that....myself was different. My circumstances didn't change, but how I handled things, and what I felt in my heart was different. God was leading my life and He was carrying me when I couldn't walk. (Footprints is my all time favorite poem and always will be) I went through what I consider to be hell on earth for the next two years. I say that literally, not swearing, because that's what it felt like. At times I felt as though I was staring Satan in the face in my own home. What Mike put me through, as an addict, I couldn't even tell my own mother, because I knew it would hurt her to much. Some things that happened, only the Lord and I know they happened. Only God has the power to get someone through that, and He did. I know I am a strong person, but I know God was the one who made me strong, and He made me stronger and I was living off of His strength in that time of my life.
But, while in jail for a DUI, 3 months after I left him, to protect our firstborn, Mike was saved...led to the Lord by the same preacher that led my father, myself, my brother, and my biological grandmother to the Lord. PRAISE GOD!!! I had given up on Mike, but God hadn't. I know I'm getting long here, I need to wrap this up...It's been a long road. You don't recover from all that overnight, but here we are almost 9 years later and we are getting ready to celebrate our 11 year anniversary next month. We now have 4 beautiful children. We attend church 3 times a week without excuses (unless we're sick). I haven't said a curse word in 6 years. We don't watch movies that have to much cursing in them, or any nudity at all. Mike even quit smoking 2 years ago. He hasn't had a drink in several years. We now believe that drinking, even a casual beer or glass of wine, is unacceptable. It's just letting Satan put his foot in the door. I now try to stay as submitted to my husband's leadership as I can. I still need help with this. I do have a very strong personality. We gave up financial wealthiness to homeschool our children and make sure that they live a better life than we did. Train them to be among the world, but not of the world. Teach them where their home is, and how to live for God, and why. Make Him a part of every single thing in their life..right down to where to park at the grocery store! I want my children to have the testimony that Pamela and many others have. I want my kids to say in their testimony, that they grew up in church and always knew about the Lord. I want to go further and have them be able to say that mom and dad were a true witness to Christ and lived a very Godly life!
So my hope for this bible study, is to grow even closer to the Lord. My biblical knowledge is great now, and I'm a million miles away from where I once was, but no Christian has arrived! God's Word is Divine, and every time you read it, it is going to speak to you in different ways, because it's the way God speaks to us in this day. When you and I read the same passage, some of it is going to mean something different, because God is talking to you where you are at spiritually in life, and giving you answers to your needs in your life and then He is talking to me where I am at, and meeting my needs. I think we can all learn and grow together in knowledge, and support each other, and pray for one another. But I know we all will see somethings differently as our Father instructs us each individually as well. Just as we do our own children.
My goal is to stay in His word every single day. Something I have never done before. I'm hoping it will help me to see things His way and think like Him more often. I want to make better decisions for me and my family. I spent way too much money last year on things we didn't need, and that puts my family into debt. I want to help reverse that this year. I loose my patience too easily with my children. I've let my health and weight spiral out of control. I have a food addiction that mirrors sin in my life. I want those things gone! I know staying in His word will help, and I ask for your prayers as well!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
January 5th Readings and Explanations - Kristi
Today's reading from the Chronological Plan is Genesis 15-17. Click here to read it online.
Hello everyone! It is so nice to "meet" you!
Today's Reading includes the introduction to the Abrahamic covenant, by which God promises Abraham an heir and eventual descendants who will one day possess the land of Canaan. He also promises Abraham that his descendants will eventually be as innumerable as the stars in the sky (verse 5 of chapter 15). Huge prophecies, parts of which we know came true in later chapters and parts that still continue on being fulfilled today. What I love about all the prophecy in chapters 15-16 is that they show the love that God has for His creation and His people. I'll get to that more specifically, in a moment. One thing I will note is the use of Abram and Abraham. They are one in the same person. God changes Abrams name to Abraham as you will see in chapter 17, verse 5.
Years have passed, and Abram was still without an heir. He pleaded his case to God and suggests adopting his servant as his heir. God tells him no and promises him that he will have an heir out of his own bowels (meaning physically procreated). This is the first sign of God's love. We just discussed Abrams previous short comings in previous text, and yet he brings his hearts desires to the Lord, and God hears him. Not only does He hear him, but He answers him and has compassion for him. God then tells Abram of His promises for him and his descendants.
In the beginning of chapter 16, we see me. No not really, but we see a woman with my temperament. We are told of Sarai, Abram's wife and how she decides that since she can't give her husband a son herself, she must figure out how to fix the problem on her own. Surely, God meant that you are to have a child with our handmaid, that must be it. And she gives her husband her maid, to conceive a child with. I have to hand it to her, that must of taken a lot of strength and desire to please her husband, in order to do that. But what she should have done, was believed in God's promise and waited upon Him. This is all to often what I do. If things aren't going along fast enough, or as I think they should be, I work my way in the middle of all of it, and think of what I can do to fix it. Like God's too busy, and needs me to step in and take over for Him....I don't think so. There are times where we need to put footwork to our prayers, but most of the time we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. He does not forget His promises and He will NEVER fail us!
Of course, I can't leave out that Abram gave in to Sarai's plea, and joined in on her plan. He could have stopped this whole thing at any time. It shows his giving into the desires of the flesh rather than the desires of the spirit.
Hagar flees from Sarai and Abram due to harsh treatment, but is met by an angel in the wilderness. Here, the angel tells her that she is to go back and bear her child who is to be called Ishmael. Read verse 11 of chapter 16 carefully....in the King James, it is written, "...because the Lord hath heard thy affliction." Isn't that beautiful? God doesn't even forget about the maid. His compassion is more deep than we will ever know here on this earth! Hagar is told that Ishmael's seed will be great in number as well, but that he will be a wild man and there will always be turmoil between he and every man. God later provides for Hagar and Ishmael when they are alone and hungering in the desert. He never leaves us...ever.
Lastly, in chapter 17 we have the covenant to Abraham, now, and his seed. That they will have the land given to them by God as an everlasting possession. (verse 7,8) Everlasting, means that as long as this earth is here, that land is rightfully theirs. To this day, that land rightfully belongs to the Jews, and there will always be fighting and turmoil there as long as the Jews are being forced off it. America is in BIG TROUBLE as a nation when we stop backing the Jews. Then, God changes Sarai's name to Sarah, and promises to bless her and give her a child. This is another example of God's love I was talking about. All these horrible things that Sarah did, and God is blessing her. The seed of Ishmael today is still a thorn in the side of God's people, and Sarah and Abraham were at fault, but God looked past that and blessed them, and they still were able to do many wonderful things for God in their lives. We can too! No matter what our past, no matter what our present, we can change it, submit it to God and still be used for His honor and glory!
God promised Abraham that He would make Ishmael a great nation, and later Abraham and Ishmael, and all the men of Abraham's house, were circumcised as a part of the covenant. It indicated that his offspring were set apart and uniquely dedicated to God.
I'm sorry, I know it's a lot. A long post, but there are soooo many important things in these 3 chapters! As I said, I love these chapters and the characteristics of God that they display. Love, compassion, faithfulness, all knowing power. It's incredible! However on the sad note, this is where all the fighting in the middle east originates from. The Jews and the Arabs. God has promised us here that there will not be peace amongst these nations until His return. All we can do is pray and be thankful that there will be peace in eternity. And these chapters show His faithfulness, and truthfulness, and we can rest on that and have peace.
Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 18-21:7. Click here to read it online.
Hello everyone! It is so nice to "meet" you!
Today's Reading includes the introduction to the Abrahamic covenant, by which God promises Abraham an heir and eventual descendants who will one day possess the land of Canaan. He also promises Abraham that his descendants will eventually be as innumerable as the stars in the sky (verse 5 of chapter 15). Huge prophecies, parts of which we know came true in later chapters and parts that still continue on being fulfilled today. What I love about all the prophecy in chapters 15-16 is that they show the love that God has for His creation and His people. I'll get to that more specifically, in a moment. One thing I will note is the use of Abram and Abraham. They are one in the same person. God changes Abrams name to Abraham as you will see in chapter 17, verse 5.
Years have passed, and Abram was still without an heir. He pleaded his case to God and suggests adopting his servant as his heir. God tells him no and promises him that he will have an heir out of his own bowels (meaning physically procreated). This is the first sign of God's love. We just discussed Abrams previous short comings in previous text, and yet he brings his hearts desires to the Lord, and God hears him. Not only does He hear him, but He answers him and has compassion for him. God then tells Abram of His promises for him and his descendants.
In the beginning of chapter 16, we see me. No not really, but we see a woman with my temperament. We are told of Sarai, Abram's wife and how she decides that since she can't give her husband a son herself, she must figure out how to fix the problem on her own. Surely, God meant that you are to have a child with our handmaid, that must be it. And she gives her husband her maid, to conceive a child with. I have to hand it to her, that must of taken a lot of strength and desire to please her husband, in order to do that. But what she should have done, was believed in God's promise and waited upon Him. This is all to often what I do. If things aren't going along fast enough, or as I think they should be, I work my way in the middle of all of it, and think of what I can do to fix it. Like God's too busy, and needs me to step in and take over for Him....I don't think so. There are times where we need to put footwork to our prayers, but most of the time we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. He does not forget His promises and He will NEVER fail us!
Of course, I can't leave out that Abram gave in to Sarai's plea, and joined in on her plan. He could have stopped this whole thing at any time. It shows his giving into the desires of the flesh rather than the desires of the spirit.
Hagar flees from Sarai and Abram due to harsh treatment, but is met by an angel in the wilderness. Here, the angel tells her that she is to go back and bear her child who is to be called Ishmael. Read verse 11 of chapter 16 carefully....in the King James, it is written, "...because the Lord hath heard thy affliction." Isn't that beautiful? God doesn't even forget about the maid. His compassion is more deep than we will ever know here on this earth! Hagar is told that Ishmael's seed will be great in number as well, but that he will be a wild man and there will always be turmoil between he and every man. God later provides for Hagar and Ishmael when they are alone and hungering in the desert. He never leaves us...ever.
Lastly, in chapter 17 we have the covenant to Abraham, now, and his seed. That they will have the land given to them by God as an everlasting possession. (verse 7,8) Everlasting, means that as long as this earth is here, that land is rightfully theirs. To this day, that land rightfully belongs to the Jews, and there will always be fighting and turmoil there as long as the Jews are being forced off it. America is in BIG TROUBLE as a nation when we stop backing the Jews. Then, God changes Sarai's name to Sarah, and promises to bless her and give her a child. This is another example of God's love I was talking about. All these horrible things that Sarah did, and God is blessing her. The seed of Ishmael today is still a thorn in the side of God's people, and Sarah and Abraham were at fault, but God looked past that and blessed them, and they still were able to do many wonderful things for God in their lives. We can too! No matter what our past, no matter what our present, we can change it, submit it to God and still be used for His honor and glory!
God promised Abraham that He would make Ishmael a great nation, and later Abraham and Ishmael, and all the men of Abraham's house, were circumcised as a part of the covenant. It indicated that his offspring were set apart and uniquely dedicated to God.
I'm sorry, I know it's a lot. A long post, but there are soooo many important things in these 3 chapters! As I said, I love these chapters and the characteristics of God that they display. Love, compassion, faithfulness, all knowing power. It's incredible! However on the sad note, this is where all the fighting in the middle east originates from. The Jews and the Arabs. God has promised us here that there will not be peace amongst these nations until His return. All we can do is pray and be thankful that there will be peace in eternity. And these chapters show His faithfulness, and truthfulness, and we can rest on that and have peace.
Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 18-21:7. Click here to read it online.
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