Genesis 25 "Jacob, God's Sovereign Choice"

Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” (vv.20-23)

Here we see that even the son of promise (Isaac) did not come into the promise easily. It only came through years of waiting and prayer. This prayer was answered, but some 20 years after Isaac and Rebekah first married (Genesis 25:20, 26). Their faith and persistence in prayer was tested and invited to grow through many years. And, these would be the only children born to Isaac and Rebekah.

The struggle described here that was taking place in Rebekah’s womb made her seek God. As she sought Him, the LORD spoke to her regarding number of children in her womb, their gender, and the destiny of those sons in her womb. What God said to her was simple; Rebekah you will give birth to twins. The twins would each father nations. One shall be greater than the other, and the older shall serve the younger. 

The older serving the younger went against the culture of the day, for in Isaac’s day, the firstborn received a double portion of the inheritance always. However, the Lord does not follow man’s cultures or ideas. The reversal of this cultural norm would later become clear. God announced these intentions to Rebekah here before the children were born (the older shall serve the younger), and repeated His verdict long after Jacob and Esau had both passed from the earth, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have rejected." (Malachi 1:2-3). In Romans 9:10-13, the Apostle Paul used this choice of Jacob over Esau before their birth as an illustration of God’s sovereign choice.

Our greatest error in considering the choices of God is to think God chooses for arbitrary reasons, as if His choices were random and senseless. God chooses according to His divine wisdom, love, and goodness. We may not be able to understand God’s reasons for choosing (and they are reasons He alone knows), His choices are not random or capricious, but righteous. 

The Truth: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Genesis 24 “A Bride For Isaac”

Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who ruled over all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” (vv.2-4)

When selecting a wife for Isaac, Abraham wanted a woman who would retrace his own faith journey from Ur to Canaan. He made his chief servant swear that he would not choose a woman from Canaan (v. 3), but instead make the 500-mile journey back to the region Abraham had left about 65 years prior (see 12:4; 17:24; 25:20), and without Isaac. His direction was rooted in God's promise that Isaac would inherit the land of Canaan, so Abraham wasn't about to let him leave. He had witnessed God's miraculous provision enough times to trust Him for every need, even a wife. He had complete confidence that God's angel would ensure the plan's success (v. 7). 

Isaac's wife would have to be someone willing to leave her home and family to inherit the land God promised sight unseen. This extreme selectivity showed that Abraham wanted to build a family of faith. Even Abraham's servant Eliezar believed that God would provide, and as he acknowledged God in all his ways, the Lord directed Eliezar's steps. This reinforces the fact that belief in God was never exclusive to Abraham's direct descendants. Eliezar's prayer (vv.10-14) for the Lord's help also shows us that he depended on God for success. 

After arriving in the city where Nahor, Abraham's brother, lived, Eliezar devised a test based on character rather than beauty or charm—and it was no small test. The servant had ten camels that had just traveled 500 miles, and one thirsty camel can guzzle up to thirty gallons of water in just ten minutes! So, to water them all would take a special woman as we shall see in Rebekah; one of compassion, hospitality, strength, endurance, with a servants heart. Ten camels needing to drink 30 gallons each probably took her at least 100 trips to the well; drawing, carrying, pouring, refilling the troughs with her 3 gallon clay pot.

We also read that Rebekah was very beautiful to behold. She is one of the few women whom the Bible specifically describes as beautiful. The others are Sarah (Genesis 12:11-14), Rachel (Genesis 29:17), Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3), Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2), Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27), Queen Vashti of the Persians (Esther 1:11), Esther (Esther 2:7), and the daughters of Job (Job 42:15).

Eliezar let Rebekah complete the difficult job of providing water to his ten camels. Then from there, the wedding arrangements progressed rapidly. Eliezer gave her gifts and requested hospitality. At her house he introduced himself to the family and told them of his urgent errand before the meal had even begun. Then he negotiated, paid the bride price, and the next morning headed back to Canaan with the bride-to-be.  

We have plenty to glean from in this passage conserving faith and trust in God, especially when it comes to selecting a potential spouse. While beauty, charm and attraction do come into play in selecting such a person, it's important to look for someone of faith and character as well. Such a life long decision should not be rushed either. Ask God to guide you in your choice, even if it takes a long journey to find the right person. It will be well worth it in the end.

The Truth: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your path straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  

Genesis 23 "Sarah Lived 127 Years"

"Now Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah." (v.1)

The scripture evidently bestows great honor upon Sarah for she is the only woman of God in the Bible whose age at the time of her death is mentioned.  In fact, very few of the women of God in the Bible even have their death itself recorded.

 The New Testament speaks of Sarah as one of the great women of faith in the scripture: Sarah is honored in the “Hall of Faith” chapter of the book of Hebrews (11:11), “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” She is also looked at as an example of a godly woman in 1 Peter 3:6, “Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

 In Sarah's generation, 127-years was a disappointment because most people lived a lot longer than she did. Abraham would now live on for another 40 years without his beloved Sarah, who had influenced him in many ways. Evidently Sarah died rather suddenly and unexpectedly, For Abraham was away at the time of her death. Otherwise if she had been ill a long time one would assume that with the great love that Abraham had for her, he would have been at her side at the time of her death.

It is interesting to note that as rich and influential as Abraham must have been at this point in time, that he didn’t own a single piece of property, and hadn’t even built his family a house. In Hebrews 11:8-10 we read that Abraham lived in the promised land, but did so as an alien or sojourner living in tents, and he did this because he was really looking for the city whose architect and builder was God (that would be heaven). So Abraham had to purchase a plot of land (which included a burial cave) from the sons of Heth for 400 shekels of silver in order to burry Sarah his wife (vv.3-20).   

Whenever someone dear to us departs who is in the Lord, life here on earth becomes clearer. That is, it becomes very clear that we are just pilgrims here, this is not our home. Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Thus, when you begin see your treasure (family, loved ones) moved into heaven, your heart follows.

Loosing a loved one is never easy, especially when it seems to come prematurely. But remember, if they are in the LORD, we shall see them again.

The Truth: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) 

Genesis 22 “God Tests The Faith of Abraham”

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (vv.1-2)

This command of God was not so much a test to produce faith, as it was a test to reveal faith. God had built Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith. This test would reveal the depth of that faith God had built into Abraham. One cannot imagine a greater test of a man’s faith than this.

Abraham’s response to God’s call was simply, “Here I am.” Meaning, he was ready to obey, to surrender to God’s call even before he knew what would be requested of him. God’s call to, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac,” is significant here because Abraham had another son, Ishmael. Since Ishmael was put away from Abraham’s family (Genesis 21:8-14), as far as God’s covenant was concerned, Abraham had only one son, Isaac.

Then God told Abraham to, “take Isaac to the land of Moriah and, offer him as a burnt offering.” This was not an offering that was to be burned alive, but one where the life first taken by sacrifice and then the body completely burnt before the LORD. 

This test was difficult in yet another aspect, because it seemed to contradict the previous promise of God. God had already promised, “in Isaac your seed shall be called” (Genesis 21:12). It seemed strange and contradictory to kill the son who was promised to carry on the covenant when it had not yet been fulfilled in him. It seemed as if God commanded Abraham to kill the very promise God made to him. However, Abraham had to learn the difference between trusting the promise and trusting the Promiser. Trust the Promiser no matter what, and the promise will be taken care of. 

As we see in verse 3, Abraham immediately responded in faith. He rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took two of his young men with him, along with Isaac and the wood needed for the burnt offering (v.3). Abraham’s obedience showed that he trusted God even when he did not understand, or feel like it. In the remainder of the story Abraham journeys to the place of sacrifice with Isaac (vv.4-8). Isaac willing laid down on the alter built by his father (v.9), but God mercifully called to Abraham to stay his hand and Isaac was spared (vv.10-11).  

Abraham displayed his heart towards God in that he was willing to give up his only son. So God also displayed His heart towards us in the same way, by giving His only begotten Son that we too might be saved. (John 3:16).

The Truth: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Genesis 21 "The Miracle Of Isaac"

"So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him." (v.2)

Sarah's wait had been long and hard. It was so difficult, that she had given up any hope long ago that she would ever have a child. But, here she was, ninety years of age, baring a son to Abraham in his “old age” (100 years), just as God said. And, it was precisely at the time God had specified it was to happen. 

Our God is full of miracles. When He "speaks" to you, whether through His Word, in a dream or directly to your waking heart, take the risk of prayerfully responding to His plan for your life. Abraham did, and it led to this moment when he actually received the promise of God. You may think that having a son is not a miracle, but Abraham and Sarah would argue that point with you. This was their child of the promise and he knew unmistakably that God had brought this moment, this boy, into Abraham's and Sarah's lives.

I would venture to say that most of us have unrealized hopes in this life. Maybe to the point that you may feel the Lord has not been listening, that He has forgotten you or that He has placed a promise into your heart that has not become real in your life. Have faith in God - even though your ability to believe that God can and will do ANYTHING may be limited, His power is not.

Both Abraham and Sarah had at first laughed in disbelief at the promise of God. In Genesis 17:17, we see that Abraham "fell on his face and laughed" when God promised him a son. "Sarah laughed to herself" about this promise, as seen in Genesis 18:12. Proof, that our God loves to go above and beyond that which we could ever ask or think.

Therefore, if it seems like God is slow in fulfilling the promise in your life, even if it seems impossible to the point of laughter, wait. Wait hopefully and expectantly, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

The Truth: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:4-5)

Genesis 20 "I Withheld You"

"And God said to him (Abimelech) in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld you from sinning against me: therefore suffered I you not to touch her.” (v.6)

God gave Abimelech notice of his danger of sin, and his danger of death for his sin in verse 3. Abimelech then pleads ignorance of his sin in verses 4 and 5. Is ignorance an excuse? What if one has been mislead into a trap? 

Here in our text we are shown how God can restrain men from doing the ill they would do; either by His influence on men’s minds, or checking their inclination to sin, by His providence, or by taking away the opportunity of committing a sin, as we see here with Abimelech. 

It is a great mercy to be withheld from sinning, in which God must have the glory. But if we have ignorantly done wrong, that will not excuse us, nor if we knowingly persist in it unless we repent, and even then there are always consequences. 

Have you ever experienced His hand of protection from sin? Have you ever been turned away from potential harm by second thoughts? If so, give Him the glory.

The Truth: “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please Him.” (Proverbs 21:1)

Genesis 19 “The Angels’ Deliverance of Lot”

Then the men (Angles) said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. (vv.12-14)

Back in chapter 18 the LORD told Abraham of His plan to see if Sodom and Gomorrah were worthy of judgment (ch.18:20-21). Because the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous (Psalm 19:9, Revelation 16:7), God would only judge Sodom and Gomorrah on direct, accurate knowledge. We are not told this because God did not know, but to demonstrate to us the thorough character of God’s knowledge and integrity.

Abraham, upon hearing this and knowing his nephew lived in Sodom asked the question, “Will You destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (ch.18:22-26). Abraham here is boldly reminding the LORD of His own nature and principles (shall not the Judge of all the earth do right). Abraham thought that God, as a righteous Judge, could not and would not punish the innocent in the same way as the guilty. And, after much back and forth (ch.18:27-33), the LORD agreed to spare the cities for 10 righteous people. 

Now here in chapter 19 we see that God had sent two angles to Sodom to warn Lot and his family to “get out of this city” for “the LORD will destroy it” (vv. 12-14). Sodom and Gomorrah were destined for judgment because of their depravity, but God wanted to spare Lot and his family. 

However, not all were in agreement about the need to go. Lot’s son-in-laws took his warning of the coming destruction as a joke. This was clearly an effect of Lot’s life of compromise. When he spoke with utmost seriousness to his sons-in-law about the judgment of God, they did not believe him. Now, not even they would be saved from the judgment to come. So, the answer to Abraham’s question, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25), is found here in verse 25. God, bound by His own righteousness and honor, could not bring this judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah until the few righteous people were rescued. Lot’s family of 4 was not enough to save the cities.

The life of Lot shows us that it is possible to have a saved soul and a wasted life. Lot himself was a righteous man who was grieved by the sin he saw around him (2 Peter 2:7-8), but because of his deep compromises, few of his family and none of his friends were saved. Compromise destroyed his testimony.

The Truth: “If anyone builds on this foundation (Jesus Christ) using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

Genesis 18 “The Birth Of Isaac Promised”

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ “Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (vv.13-14)

In today’s reading Abraham and Sarah were well past the age of having children and were still childless. To boost their faith, the Lord Himself and two strangers (who turned out to be angels) paid them a visit. He came in Person to enjoy hospitality in Abraham’s dwelling. As we saw with Adam, Eve, and Noah, God deals with people personally, with implications that ripple far into history.

Abraham and Sara’s visitors specifically promised that they would have a son within a year. Sarah laughed at the news, an understandable human reaction, but one showing a lack of faith. With supernatural knowledge of her actions and attitude, the Visitor challenged her, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v.14). Abraham, on the other hand, “considered him faithful who had made the promise” (Heb. 11:11-12).

What a wonderful reassurance to know that God's power far exceeds our faith. Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). All things! Too often we don't really believe this. Instead of living by faith in who God is and what He has said, we “hedge our bets” to avoid embarrassing Him, so we think. We need instead to step out boldly, wholly trusting God to be all that He really is.

The Truth: But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) 

Genesis 17 “God Appears to Abram”

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him.” (vv.1-3a)

Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran (Genesis 12:4). He was 86 years old when the son Ishmael was born of Hagar, the servant girl (Genesis 16:15-16). He had waited some 25 years for the fulfilment of God’s promise to give a son through Sarai. It had been some 13 years since his last recorded word from God. Undoubtedly, this was another appearance of God in the person of Jesus, who took on a temporary human appearance before His incarnation on earth (as with Hagar in Genesis 16:7-9).

God’s first words to Abram made an introduction and a declaration of His being. By His name El Shaddai (God Almighty), God revealed His Person and character to Abram, “I am God all-sufficient.” From shadah, to shed, to pour out. I am that God who pours out blessings, who gives them richly, abundantly, continually. After the proclamation of His name El Shaddai, God then told Abram what was expected of him, “Walk before Me and be blameless.” The word blameless literally means “whole.” God wanted all of Abram, a total commitment.

God also reminded Abram He had not forgotten the covenant. Though it had been some 25 years since the promise was first made, and though it maybe seemed to Abram God forgot, God didn’t forget anything.  The last time we are told the LORD communicated with Abram directly was some 13 years before (Genesis 16:15-16). Seemingly, Abram had 13 years of “normal” fellowship with God, waiting for the promise all that time. It would be understandable if, at times during those 13 years, Abram felt that God forgot His promise.

However, in the waiting, Abram was becoming a great man of faith. This does not occur overnight, it takes years of God’s work, years of almost mundane trusting in God. So when God appeared to Abram, he fell on his face, showing submission and giving honor to God. Then God, to encourage Abram’s faith in the promise of descendants through Sarai, changed Abram’s name from Abram (father of many) to Abraham (father of many nations).

There are many wonderful name changes in the Bible, such as when God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (Genesis 32:28), and when He changed Simon’s name to Peter (Mark 3:16). We also read in Revelation that God also promises a wonderful new name to every overcomer in Him (Revelation 2:17). But for now you and I are called His saints, chosen by Him, sons of God, to do His will until He comes, or takes us home to His glory and gives us our “new name.” 

Therefore, be steadfast in your faith in Him and do not wavier at the promises of God. Serve the LORD with your whole heart even in the times of silence, for He is making each of you great servants of faith for His kingdom. 

The Truth: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:18-21) 

Genesis 16 "Be Patient"

 “Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian handmaid whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. After Abram lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went into her, and she conceived." (vv.1-4) 

Abram is now 86 and Sarai is 76. God had promised Abram, “You’re going to have a family as numerous as the stars in the heavens.” But, this promise seemed to be slipping away and Sarai begins to feel she will never conceive. So she devises a plan to help God out with His promise and offers her husband her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar. Sarai has become a schemer just as Abraham previously had. The consequences of that choice by Sarai will be long lasting.

When God gives a promise, there is often a gap of time between the giving of the promise and the fulfillment of it. In Abram’s case it would be a thirteen-year gap. God’s delays are usually due to preparation not procrastination or preoccupation. He is preparing us in the area of faith and thereby strengthening us to carryout His will and purposes. 

We’ve all been impatient or taken short cuts, and have probably experienced some sort regret for doing so. But, whenever we attempt to help out the Lord (as if He needs it) with one of His promises, we can get ourselves into real trouble.  The Lord wants us to trust in Him and to allow Him to do His work and provide for us, not for us to attempt to "make it happen" with the cleverness of our fleshly mind.  What great grief we cause ourselves and others by trying to help God out with His plan, as evidenced by this story and the events that followed. 

"So Hagar (the maid) bore a son; and Abram called the name of his son which Hagar bore, Ishmael" (v.16). 

With the birth of Ishmael, Abram and Sarai unwittingly gave birth to the Middle East tension that still exists to this day. The Arab nations (descended from Ishmael, the son of the maid servant) and Israel (descended from Abraham’s legitimate heir, Isaac) continue to be bitter enemies. The great lesson here for all of us is, as we seek God’s will for your lives, we need to seek His timetable as well. Don’t allow impatience to carry us ahead of God. Doing the right thing at the wrong time makes the right thing the wrong thing.

Be patient, prayerfully seek His guidance, ask for wisdom and He will direct your path. 

The Truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Genesis 15 "God's Covenant With Abram"

“In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:” (v.18)

Here the Lord made a (cut) covenant with Abram, which He confirmed by passing a flaming torch between the pieces of Abram’s sacrifice (v.17) then saying, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.” Thus, a huge tract of real estate would belong to his children's children.

Abram didn't know it at the time but he would have two principal sons, Isaac and Ishmael, and the descendants of those two would dispute the possession of the lands, as they do to this day - the Jews and the Arabs. 

As to whose land the promise is directed to, it’s important to see God's words to Isaac in Genesis 26:3 - "I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham (Abram) your father.” God loved (loves) both sons, but the promise is to Isaac and his son, Jacob, also known as Israel – and He keeps His promises.

Believe in the Lord, as Abraham did (Genesis 15:6), and God will bless you and fulfill the desires of your heart - forever.

The Truth: “He remembers His covenant forever, the Word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance,” (Psalm 105:8-11)

Genesis 14 “Abram Blessed By Melchizedek”

“He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;’” (v.19)

What do we know about the mysterious Melchizedek who appears in today's text? Not much. He was king of Salem, also known as Jerusalem, and his name means “king of righteousness.” He seemed to have been acquainted with the one true God. Abram gave him a tithe, which could be simply a sign of respect, though it is not recorded that he ever did so for anyone else. The blessing that Melchizedek gave Abram might also be a normal cultural gesture; notably, we don't have a record that anyone else ever blessed the patriarch (v. 19)

This episode also shows how rich and strong Abram had become.  He had allies. He had a sizable, trained militia. And, he probably had military experience already, for he showed a general's leadership and good tactical strategy in his pursuit of the enemy. After his victory, Abram showed the purity of his motives by declining any share of spoils or reward. Though he allowed his men to accept some, he refused because he didn't want to obligate himself to a pagan king and because he wanted God alone to receive the credit for his wealth—a lesson learned in Egypt (vv. 22-23).

Here Melchizedek, the king and priest, blessed Abram, who, unknown to him (Abram) at the time, was to be the father of Isaac, grandfather of Israel and that Christ should descend from him (Genesis 12:3, 22:18). Some have misunderstood this verse, thinking it meant that Abram is the “possessor of heaven and earth,” but that’s not what it means. It is “God Most High” who owns the title to everything, including you and me.

If we will just entrust ourselves to Him, we will be “blessed” with the blessings that come from God.

The Truth: “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)

Genesis 13 "Abram Shows Generosity To Lot"

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. “Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” (vv.8-9)

Abram and Lot’s problem was one that most people would like to have—they had too many possessions. So they had a “summit meeting” at which Abram offered Lot his choice of land.

Abram being the older, could have dictated the outcome; instead, he surrendered the decision, showing tremendous generosity. Doing so also revealed his faith, since he wasn't worried about the future but trusted God to take care of him. This action also marked him as a peacemaker, going the extra mile to resolve the conflict. Though he could have taken offense at Lot's attitude, he was at peace and content with whatever happened.

Lot’s choice on the other hand, hinted at selfishness and greed. He chose the plain of the Jordan River, the best land—the place where his wealth could most safely increase—for himself. He didn't seem concerned that with his choice to go east, his uncle would take the west and remain in Canaan, with its unpredictable climate and times of famine. He also showed a disregard for righteousness. By pitching his tent near Sodom, a wicked city, he put himself squarely in the way of temptation.

God’s response to the two men’s negotiations was to honor Abram’s faith and renew His promises to him. And because Abram relinquished the choice of land to Lot; God gave him all the land he could see.

The Truth: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38)

Genesis 12 “The Call of God to Abram”

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (vv.1-3)

In today's reading, Abram made an amazing journey. He left behind his home culture and everything he knew. By leaving his father's household, he may have also forfeited his right to an inheritance. He didn't even know his destination—all he had to go on was the character and promise of God. But for Abram, that was enough and the 75-year-old stepped out on faith. Earlier their family had moved from Ur to Haran; then after his father's death Abram set out again and stopped in Canaan, the “promised land” (v.7). There he set up an altar and worshiped the Lord.

Abram's faith is certainly on display here, but God's greatness and worthiness to be trusted are even more so. He made a covenant with Abram, a breathtaking series of promises about what He would do for him. He would make his name great—as opposed to what people attempted at Babel (this is fine if God does it). He would turn one clan into a nation. He would bless and curse those who blessed and cursed His chosen people. And He would make this nation into a blessing for all nations (vv.2-3). All because Abram obeyed. 

The Truth: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Genesis 11 "Let Us Build"

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (vv.1-4)

God said to Noah back in Genesis 9:1, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth" – move about, spread out, scatter across the entire earth. But here we see the earth’s population staying in one place, building a city with brick, stone and slime, with a tower reaching into the heavens to make a name/monument to themselves. 

This tower was not only disobedient to God’s command to fill the earth, but it also shows man did not believe God’s promise to never again flood the earth. A waterproof tower was made to protect man against a future deluge and was a strong statement of self against God. When they said let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens, they meant it. This was all done under the leadership of Nimrod (who we were introduced to back in chapter 9), in defiance to God. 

Therefore, the LORD scattered the people abroad, confounding the language of the people so they would scatter form the city (Babel) and move out to populate the face of the earth thereby accomplishing His sovereign will. 

Better to listen and follow God’s divine direction than be confounded by your own decision and left babbling. 

The Truth: “And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 51:29)

Genesis 10 "The Table of Nations"

“Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.” (v.1)

This chapter deals with “The Table of Nations,” which lists the genealogy of Noah’s descendants and tells us where the various people groups and nations throughout history originated. Not only is this a remarkable chapter, it is also a remarkably accurate and is even acclaimed by those not of the faith. 

Henry Morris writes, “Dr. William F. Albright, universally acknowledged as the world’s leading authority on the archaeology of the Near East, though himself not a believer in the infallibility of Scripture, said concerning this table of nations, “It stands absolutely alone in ancient literature, without a remote parallel, even among the Greeks, where we find the closest approach to a distribution of peoples in genealogical framework…The Table of Nations remains as astonishingly accurate document.”

One of the mistakes made by many today (including the church), is to believe that the these three sons of Noah end up producing what people refer to as the three main races of people, with the Hamites representing the black skinned people, the Japhethites the white skinned Caucasion people, and the Shemites the Oriental people. 

The concept of race is not found in the Bible, it's a distinction of modern day thinking. All people on the face of the earth are descended from Noah and the characteristics that typically define races are merely genetic characteristics that can be calculated through the existence of recessive and dominant genes.

This chapter deals with the table of nations, not races and is a interval that occurs before the next chapter (11) that tells us how all of the various languages came about in the first place, at the Tower of Babel. But for now, chapter 10 summarizes that, “the nations” were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.” We will get the “how” in chapter 11. 

The Truth: “These were the sons of Noah, from these the whole earth was populated.” (Genesis 9:19)

Genesis 9 "God's Covenant With Noah And All Flesh"

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” (vv.8-13)

The worldwide flood had ended, the waters had receded, and life was about to start anew. God had preserved not only human beings, but also two of every kind of animal in the Ark (Gen. 6:19-21) with which to repopulate the earth. The basis for this fresh start is a new covenant, symbolized in the new phenomenon of the rainbow. The parties to this covenant include every creature that had been on the Ark, in addition to Noah and his family. This is the only time in Scripture that animals are explicitly mentioned as participating in a covenant.

The Flood being universal, affected the whole of the created world. So the promise that there would never be such a flood again (Genesis 9:11, 15) is likewise a promise to all of creation, “an everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (Genesis 9:16; note Revelation 5:13). God made the promise because He did things in the post-flood world to guarantee that the exact evil conditions of the pre-flood world would never be precisely duplicated. These things included the imprisonment of the angels who sinned with human women (Jude 6) and shortening the lifespan of man.

For the Christian, the rainbow should act as a reminder of the faithfulness of God in every one of His promises. For God does not only look at the rainbow on earth and remember the covenant; He also looks at the rainbow that surrounds His throne (Revelation 4:3), which also speaks to His Glory (Ezekiel 1:28) It’s comforting that God set so close to Himself a reminder of His promise to man – not that He needed it, but it's there.

The Truth: God’s perpetual covenant of peace. “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:9-10).

Genesis 8 "Go Out Of The Ark"

And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. (vv.13-19)

Here, the command to leave the ark is given and obeyed. Just as Noah did not enter, neither does he leave the ark, without divine direction. Genesis 7:11-13 says that Noah entered the ark on the seventeenth day of the second month of the six hundredth year of his life. This is now almost a full year later, "and in the second month of his six hundred and first year Noah left the ark." And, just as the ark was loaded with animals before the flood, it was now unloaded almost a year later. Living things from the ark would once again repopulate the earth.

The application here is that we should learn from Noah's example, to watch for and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to direct us in our life’s journey. While our life experience may not be as dramatic as Noah's, nevertheless we too should patiently seek God's direction through prayer and the reading of His word. Then, as Noah, never waver. 

The Truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Genesis 7 "God Invites Noah Into The Ark"

 “The LORD then said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” (v.1)

This invitation indicates that God was in the ark and would be with Noah in the ark, so He called Noah to come into the ark with Him. Spurgeon writes, “Notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, ‘Go into the ark,’ but ‘Come,’ plainly implying that God was himself in the ark, waiting to receive Noah and his family into the big ship that was to be their place of refuge while all the other people on the face of the earth were drowned.” 

Noah spent the years before the flood in active obedience. He not only believed God would send the flood; he obeyed what God told him to do in preparation for it. During the time that the ark was being built (120 years), was a period of grace given by God to allow men to see the error of their ways and repent, but now we see that time had passed (Genesis 6:3), for Noah received instructions from GOD to enter the ark with his family, and with the animals. He was also informed that within seven days God would cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:4).

Noah, the animals, and his family had to wait in the ark seven days for the rain to come. They had never seen rain up to this time. This was a real test of faith – to wait a week after more than 100 years of preparation. Can you imagine?

Some wonder how the animals came to Noah or how Noah got them. In Genesis 6:20 God said the animals would come to Noah. God probably put a migratory instinct into them for the ark. God never has a problem getting the animals to do what He wants. Only man is more stupid than the animals. As God showed Isaiah, "The ox knows its master and the donkey its owner's manger; but Israel did not know, My people do not understand. Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great" (Isaiah 1:3-4).

Certainly everyone must make their own decision regarding salvation, but seeing the reality of faith lived out in your house every day would be a dynamic hard to ignore. Leadership begins at home and it starts at the head of each household. May God give all of us the strength of Noah to lead through example every day despite the decaying culture around us.

The Truth: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” (Acts 16:31) 

Genesis 6 "The Great Wickedness Of Noah's Day "

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, every creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (vv. 5-8)

This says a lot concerning man's character. It means there was no aspect of man’s nature not corrupted by sin. A more emphatic statement of the wickedness of the human heart is hardly conceivable. Jesus said of His second coming, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37). In other words, the conditions of the world before the coming of Jesus will be like the conditions of the world before the flood; Exploding population (Genesis 6:1), sexual perversion (Genesis 6:2), demonic activity (Genesis 6:2), constant evil in the heart of man (Genesis 6:5), and widespread corruption and violence (Genesis 6:11).

God’s sorrow at man, and the grief in His heart are striking. This does not mean that creation was out of control, nor does it mean that God hoped for something better but was unable to achieve it. God knew all along that this was how things would turn out, but our text clearly tells us that as God sees His plan for the ages unfold, it affects Him. God is not unfeeling in the face of human sin and rebellion.

While God commanded all the earth to be cleansed of this pollution, He found one man with whom to begin again, Noah. Noah did not find favor in the eyes of men; they hated and persecuted him because both by his life and preaching, he condemned the world: but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and this made him truly more honorable than the men of renown.

We also see in verses 9-10 that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time and that he walked with God. Noah believed in God’s character, that He is good, even when faced with the reality that his Lord was about to destroy the world as he knew it. He “walked with God” through believing in His justice, His good purposes, and His right actions. Noah had "FAITH" in the Lord.

When the rest of the world was wicked, Noah kept his integrity. What a great example for us to follow. 

The Truth: “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

Luke 24 “Hope Restored, He Is Risen”

^"He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" (Luke 24:6-7)

Luke 24 contains two themes throughout the chapter; 1) the fulfillment of Christ's teachings on His death, burial and resurrection and 2) the continued struggles His disciple had in seeing this truth as it was; predicted, unfolded, and completed before their every eyes.

After Jesus's death, His disciples were blinded by their grief, discouraged, lost, afraid, and did not see this event for what it was, the fulfillment of all that the prophets have spoken! They saw His death as the end of their Messiah and His kingdom here on earth, not reconciling it with what He had taught them. (Matthew 20:17-19)

It took the Lord Himself appearing to; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, to Peter, then the twelve collectively showing them His hands and His feet, eating with them and finally opening their understanding to the scriptures, before their blindness turned to joy and their hope restored. (v.45)  

Just as it took the infallible truth of the scriptures to open the eyes of those who walked with Jesus then, so it may be with our loved ones today as well. With so much evil in our world, we need to keep praying that our Lord will bring His truth into their lives and open their understanding to His love and grace.  

The Truth: Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19)

"The Crucifixion of Jesus and Good Friday"

 “So he (Pilate) delivered Him (Jesus) to them (the chief priests) to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.” (John 19:16)

After being betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, delivered to Pilate (who found no fault in Him at all but had Him scourged anyway). After being mocked by the roman soldiers, crowned with a crown of thorns and beaten while being blindfolded, Pilate had Jesus brought out from the Praetorium (where these actions had taken place) and said to the chief priests and officers, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him" (v.6). 

Death by Roman crucifixion was a result of the whole body weight being supported by the stretched arms of the victim. When nailed to the cross, there was a massive strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders often resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints. The rib cage was constrained in a fixed position, which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath. The victim would continually try to draw himself up by his feet to allow for inflation of the lungs enduring terrible pain in his feet and legs. The pain in the feet and legs would become so unbearable, that the victim was forced to trade breathing for pain and eventually die of suffocation. The length of time required to die from crucifixion could range from hours to a number of days.

The punishment of Roman crucifixion was chiefly inflicted on slaves and the worst kind of criminals. Crucifixion was considered a most shameful and disgraceful way to die and condemned Roman citizens were usually exempt from crucifixion. The manner and process of crucifixion was that after the criminal had been scourged and sentence had been pronounced, he carried his cross to the place of execution, which was just outside the city. (John 19:17) The criminal was next stripped of his clothes and nailed or bound to the cross. Before the nailing to the cross took place, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh (the sopor) was given, for the purpose of deadening the pangs of the sufferer. (Mark 15:23)

Roman Crucifixion was typically carried out by specialized teams, consisting of a commanding centurion and four soldiers. It was common to leave the body on the cross after death. However, it sometimes became necessary to break the legs of the criminal (as mentioned of the thieves in the Gospels) because Jewish law expressly forbid bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath day. Jesus died this death for you and for me, that we might have forgiveness of sin - through His atonement. 

So why is today called "Good Friday" instead of "Bad Friday" or something similar? Because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God's plan to save His people from their sin. The Law required a blood sacrifice for sin, so God poured out His wrath against sin on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order that forgiveness and salvation would be possible for all nations. Jesus endure the cross on "Good Friday" knowing it would lead to our salvation, His resurrection, and the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption. Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross, but the best is yet to come, as Jesus would rise from the dead and conquer death for us all. 

The Truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Genesis 5 “Enoch Walked With God”

“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

Enoch, the son of Jared (v.18), was carried away to be with God in a miraculous way. One moment he was walking with God, and the next moment he was not. Enoch’s “walk” speaks of a true, deep relationship with God, walking in faith and agreement. And, after walking like this with God for 300 years, God took him. 

Hebrews 11:5 tells us about the foundation of Enoch’s walk with God: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him. For before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Concerning our walk with God Spurgeon writes, “If men walk contrary to God, He will not walk with them, but contrary to them. Walking together implies amity, friendship, intimacy, love, and these cannot exist between God and the soul unless the man is acceptable unto the Lord.” 

It seems Enoch began to walk with God in a special way after the birth of Methuselah (having children will do that to you, but raising children will bring a realization of one’s need for God). The name Methuselah means, when he is dead, it shall come. At the birth of Methuselah, Enoch obviously had a special awareness from God that judgment was coming (the flood). Interestingly enough, when Methuselah died, the flood came the next day. God kept him alive longer than anybody (969 yrs) to give people as long as possible to repent.

Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam, spoke a prophesy that is recorded in Jude 14-15 that states, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Now here he prophesied was the second coming of Jesus Christ. Ten thousands of his saints will come with Jesus Christ to execute Judgment upon all of the ungodly on the earth to convince them of all of their ungodliness and wicked deeds. Obviously, after walking with God for 300 years they spoke of many things, including "the day of the Lord."

Because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance He still waits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven until the fullness of the gentiles comes in. Still giving mankind time to repent. While some may see this as slackness due to extend time He has given, remember in His realm "a day is as a thousand years, and and a thousand years as a single day" (2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4) So in His timing, its only been a few days. 

As we get ready to celebrate Easter (Christ's resurrection from the dead) this Sunday, now would be an excellent time to start your walk with God. Simply say the prayer to the right on this page "Connect with God," and begin your journey with Him today.   

The Truth: “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:5)