Bible Chapter: Genesis 21
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
Finally. Finally after waiting twenty five years for God to fulfill His promise, Abraham and Sarah had a son. They named him Isaac. Sarah rejoiced and laughed that she, in her old age, would finally have a son. Abraham was one hundred years old. This wasn’t his great-great grandson, it was his son. They rejoiced at his birth. God had a great promise for his life.
At the same time of this rejoicing came a sad situation. It resulted from their poor decision many years earlier. Sarah became jealous of Hagar and Ishmael. She insisted that Abraham send them away. It hurt Abraham, for this was his son. But, he agreed and sent them away. Hagar thought that she would die in the wilderness, but God responded and provided for them. Ishmael grew and he also became a great nation.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
This chapter has both highs and lows. The high came because of God’s promise and provision of that promise. Isaac was born. They rejoiced. This teaches us to listen and wait for God to do what He has promised. This is a good lesson - we really can trust God.
The low point came when the impact of their really bad choice to have a son with Hagar came. They thought they had fixed the problem God couldn’t figure out. They had a human solution and didn’t wait for God. The lesson is that we must do things God’s ways and don’t try to “help” him when we think He has made a mistake.
3. How can I help someone?
I can help people see that God really will do what He promised. Yes, there is a battle, but God is bigger than the battle. We don’t understand God’s timing, but we can trust it.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 20
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
This is a unique story. We find that Abraham was a real person. He had his ups and downs. Even as a great man of God he was not perfect. He had times of great faith, such as when he left his homeland and traveled a long distance following God’s direction, even when he didn’t know where they would end up. Here, he had a great lack of faith in trusting God. He didn’t believe God would protect them. He lied about Sarah being his wife. He lied in the fact that he both stretched the truth and hid the truth. This could have brought major problems and blocked God’s plan for the redemption of the world.
Abilelech, King of Gerar had taken Sarah to be his wife. She must have been quite an amazing woman. God spoke to the king and prevented him from being with her. He sent her back to Abraham and chided him for his deception. One insight that we do see here is Abraham’s understanding that people who don’t fear God are likely to do anything they want. This is why he lied about Sarah. There is safety in being with people who are genuinely living a Godly life.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
The issue of trusting God must be a constant in life. If we say God is directing us, then we must actually trust Him. This is a challenge to trust God at all times with all things. When Abraham showed his complete trust in God, things worked out in God’s timing. They waited many years for their son to be born. But, in God’s timing, it all happened just as God said it would. This is a good illustration of the message of Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
3. How can I help someone?
Many people live in fear. How are they going to make it in life. Who can they trust? I want to help people understand that they can trust God.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 19
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
The Bible is honest, telling the whole story. If I had been writing the story, there would have been times when I would have been tempted to leave out some details. Sin can be embarrassing. But, we find an honest history that reveals the weaknesses and failures of people as well as their victories. Two angels came to Sodom to bring judgement for the horrible wickedness in the city. Yes, God really does judge sin. Because of Abraham’s intervention, Lot and his family were warned to flee. Lot knew how wicked the city was when he told the angels that they could not stay in the streets at night. The men of the city tried to break into Lot’s house to rape the men. It was a horrible setting and their safety came as the angels blinded the men trying to take them. Lot and his family escaped. Sadly, Lot’s wife was still pulled to the place and, as she turned around to look one more time, God judged her and she became a pillar of salt.
The area was destroyed because of their immorality. I find it amazing that the men were as sinful as they were and so open about it. They got angry with Lot for trying to protect the visitors. The sinful influence of Sodom also impacted his daughters.
After they were safe from the destruction, Lot’s daughters had a conversation. They schemed to get their father drunk so he would father children with them. They did it and each one gave birth to a son. Both sons had descendants that were idol worshipers. This is a good example of one sin leading to another.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I am reminded of a passage of scripture that talks about the appearance of evil. While we live in this evil world, we are not to partake in it. We must be very cautious about how close we get to evil. We can so easily be influenced by it. I am also reminded that God hates sin and He will judge it. People often think they can do anything they want and God won’t do anything about it. That is simply not true. This chapter shows that God has a point at which He says enough is enough and it is time to show His righteousness. The Bible clearly tells us what God expects. I must live in that guidance and in God’s presence. It is probable that Lot was vexed by the sin he saw all the time, but not enough to leave. The sinful influence negatively impacted his family.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see who Jesus is. Confusion reigns in our world. What is right? Is there really any standard of right and wrong? Isn’t it only whatever I think or makes me comfortable? That is the kind of thinking we have today. The answer is that God has given us His word and we must live by it. We will always be better off when we do. Lord, open their eyes to see you.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 18
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
God came to visit with Abraham. He came in a human form along with two angels to speak to Abraham. As I have read this chapter, I have always thought about the logistical challenges they had in preparing the meal mentioned. They had no modern equipment for cooking. It must have taken hours to bake break and cook the meat. I wonder what the conversations were about during this time. The Bible doesn’t give us any hint. It would be fascinating to see them.
God told Abraham that a year from that point Sarah would give birth to a son. This didn’t make sense to them as they were both old. When Sarah heard the news she laughed. This is a teaching point: Is anything too hard for God? We know the answer is “no”. I find it interesting that even though we know that truth, we so often doubt. Sarah doubted, and then denied the fact when she was challenged.
God told Abraham about His mission to Sodom and Gomorrah. He said the great outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so exceeding and their sin was so grievous. These cities were very sinful and proud of it. No one was going to say anything to them. It was sad that Lot and his family had moved in and were a part of that culture. Judgement was coming to the cities for their great wickedness.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Trust God. There is nothing too hard for Him. As difficult as that is to understand sometimes, it is true. God can take an old couple and make them parents as if they were young. This is a couple that had been unable to have children. Nothing is too hard, so trust God.
I can also see God’s attitude towards sin. He is totally against it. His nature is so holy that He can’t stand sin. He is against it also because of what it does to people. People are God’s highest creation made in His image. He can’t stand to see anything destroy them. We live in a world that is not only sinful, but sinful and proud of it. They promote their sin and entice people to participate. Now we are seeing an organized attack against anyone who disagrees with their sinful lifestyles. I must always remember God’s attitude towards sin and that He WILL judge it.
3. How can I help someone?
I can help people see that nothing makes God wonder what to do. He never is confused and concerned that He can’t handle a situation. He knows what is going on and what to do. I also want to help people see how God defines sin. There is pressure to back off on calling sin what it is - sin. God didn’t back off and we can’t, either.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 17
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
A new covenant and new names. That is what we find here. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He went from “exalted father” to “father of a multitude”. This old man still had a future. Sarai became Sarah. She went from “princess” to “a mother of nations”. She only thought she was too old to have a son. There is a real sense of significance and a step of faith to see a ninety nine year old man and a ninety year old woman who had no children begin to call themselves parents of a multitude. But, Abraham knew that he had heard from God and God made a promise. So, they went by faith and trusted that God would come through.
God promised them that they would have a massive line of descendants that would be like the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea. Even though they had to wait for a very long time, it happened. Abraham lived a life of trusting God and seeing God come through, in HIS timing. God’s timing is often not what we would like, but it is always right.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Learning to trust God. Abraham spent decades learning to trust in God. He had a few down times when he doubted. We see one of them here when he laughed at what God promised. But, he lived an amazingly faithful life. As I have rambled through life I see the importance of faithfulness to God, of faithfulness to do what God had commanded. When a person knows they are hearing from God, obedience is critical. There will always be doubters who try to cause you to stray. It is important to do what God had directed and let Him take care of the results. Let God give the dreams and bring them to fulfilment.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see the blessings of hearing from God and obeying. It’s not just a matter of deciding to do something, it’s a matter of actually doing it. Decisions are fine. Actions are better.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 16
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
When you think God is not coming through the way He should, make your own plan and “fix” things. That is the picture here. That is what so many people do and it never fixes things, but only makes life and circumstances worse. We see the horrible results of not trusting God. Sarai got impatient and came up with her own plan for providing the heir that God had promised. Sadly, if she had waited it would have changed history. But, she came up with a plan and Abram went along with it. So, at age eighty six, Abram fathered a child with Hagar, Sarai’s maid.
The decision immediately brought negative consequences and Sarai turned against Hagar. God rescued her and she returned to Abram and Sarai and raised her son, Ishmael.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Learn to trust God and not come up with my own plans. That is a very strong lesson in this short chapter. It is amazing how a seemingly insignificant decision can have such a widespread impact. Learning to do things God’s way is probably the most important lesson anyone can learn. God had made an amazing promise to this old couple and they didn’t see how it could be. God has made some amazing promises to all His people and often we can’t see how it can be. Learning to trust God till the end is a vital principle in the Christian life.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people learn to trust God. Even when it doesn’t make sense, God’s way is always best. It is the way of victory in the long haul. God’s way is best. Did I say it? God’s way is best. Always!!!
Bible Chapter: Genesis 15
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
God reassured Abram that HE was his shield and great reward. God can handle anything that we face in life. God was with him and he didn’t have to worry. Abram was concerned that he had no heir, no child had been born to him and he and his wife were getting old. Should he designate and adopt an heir? God had a plan and told Abram that his descendants would be a numerous as the stars in the heavens. God brought him that far and he would not abandon him. He would have a child born to him and his wife.
There is an important lesson here about believing God and righteousness. Abram had faith in God. This is a combination of trusting/relying on God and fidelity or faithfulness to God. Abram trusted God and he was faithful to Him. Abram’s heart was right before God, he was a righteous man. God made a covenant with Abram and promised great things to the future generations of Abram’s line. God obligated himself to Abram. We see that He is still fulfilling His promise.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
As I have faith in God, as I live in right relationship with Him, I can trust God. God made personal contact with Abram and made some amazing promises. God has made personal contact available to all through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Whoever responds will have that personal relationship with Jesus and can rely on God’s protection and provision. God always keeps his word and will be with me and anyone who follows God’s ways.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see God has provided the path for right living, for righteousness. He has laid out the road and we must follow it. Whoever does will receive the blessings that come from obedience. There is a truth in the Bible: to obey is better. I want to help people see what it is to obey God.
