In today's passage, we see the faithfulness of God to Abraham in fulfilling his promise to bless him with a child.  In the chapters between yesterday and today, we see Abraham struggling with obedience once again.  In his mind he couldn't see how God was going to bless him with a child while he and Sarah were in their old age.

In today's passage we see in verses 1-4 "Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³ Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. ⁴ When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him".  God is so amazing.

I find it fascinating that God said in verse 21:13 "I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring".  God was so faithful to his promise to bless Abraham's offspring that he was going to bless Ishmael in spite of Abraham's disobedience.   What a picture of God's grace.

Finally, in Chapter 22, we see Abraham's obedience to God's call to sacrifice his only son.  If you read Jason's blog yesterday, isn't it amazing how we see the thread continue?  A father willing to sacrifice his only son, a precious sacrifice indeed.  Just as Jesus was God's only Son, he became a precious sacrifice for all of us.

What is God saying to you today in His Word?

One of the most significant statements in all of Genesis is found in today’s reading. After the Lord’s promise to Abram that he would have a son and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, we see Abram’s response in verse 6, “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” This righteousness, or living in a state that is right and just with God, is a gift from the Lord who is not only the author of righteousness, but the sole embodiment of it. We do not naturally possess righteousness, so it must be imputed, or assigned, to us. God as author can credit that righteousness to us. But how? Through faith in Him. But there is more that emerges from just a cursory reading of Genesis 15:6.

Something fascinating that I read analyzes a bit deeper the timing of Moses’ narrative here regarding Abram’s faith and righteousness. This is the third chapter of Genesis that recounts Abram’s life, but it is the first time that mentions he had faith. So are we to presume that Abram did not have faith when he uprooted his entire life and left Haran (chapter 12)? Or at any time before and after that until this moment with God? I think Hebrews 11:8 answers that: “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.” The emphasis here clearly is that Abram had faith even before God made this particular promise. So what is Moses getting at in his structure of Abram’s biography?

I think it ties in with the reading from Chapter 12. God promised that He would bless “all the families of the earth” through Abram. But how can He do that when Abram has no descendents? That realization becomes clear with God’s promise of a son in Chapter 15. For us today, these two promises together are a reference to Christ Messiah – the ultimate blessing to “all the families of the earth.” Now, we need to be careful assigning a complete understanding to Abram the full knowledge of what these two promises represented, because God had not reveled His full plans at this point in history. However, Christ Himself reminds us in John 8:56 that, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad.” Abram had faith in the promise of a son that would lead to blessings for all humanity. Today, we must have faith in the reality that the Son has come and now speaks on our behalf before the Father. It is faith in that for which we are assigned righteousness. And so Moses’ timing regarding Abram and faith and righteousness makes perfect sense given this emphasis that saving faith comes from that in the person and work of Christ Jesus – the promise of or the reality.

Indeed, as I look back in the other three readings for the week, this promise is a central focal point. In Genesis 1:26, we see Christ in tandem with the Father creating man; “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” The original plan was for man to live in righteousness with God, the Son, and the Spirit. So we have an illustration of what the promise will achieve. But in Chapter 3, Adam and Eve spoiled that plan (as any of us would have) in disputing God. But the promise is still central to the reading when God proclaims to Satan that Eve’s seed, Christ, will crush his head and establish final victory (v. 15). And then again in Genesis 6 and 7, this promise explains why God had to do the unthinkable. Apart from Noah and his family, the entire world had become so evil that, if allowed to continue unchecked, would have corrupted the human race so vilely that no righteous line would have survived from which Christ Messiah to come. 

Today we find Abram after defeating the larger army, made up of a confederation of five kings. .  But, God showed His Power and Glory and brought victory to Abram.  God reassures Abram in verse 1 that "I am your shield and your great reward".   

The thing that jumps out at me today is God's covenant to Abram.  He enters into a covenant with Abram to bless him and his descendants.  The only problem was, Abram didn't have any descendants.  But, God showed Abram in verse 5 "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be".  God reaffirms an earlier covenant that Abram would take posession of the land (v 7). 

One one hand you can't blame Abram for asking in verse 8 "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”  After all, Abram had to be thinking he couldn't just march in and say "Here I am to take posession of the land".  But, God tells Abram to prepare the animals so that God could seal his covenant.  This is a traditional way to seal a contract between two parties.  God appears as a torch of fire and seals the covenant with Abram.

God is faithful.  What promises has God been revealing to you through His Word?

Today we read about Abram's call.

It's an interesting story of obedience and disobedience. On one hand we see Abram's obedience to "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you" (Gen. 12:1). Talk about moving out of your comfort zone. God asked Abram to leave all that he knew and move into a new land. But, in verses 2-3, God promises to bless Abram, and make him "into a great nation" and to make his "name great".

As we see Abram's obedience to God's call, however, Abram devises a plan to keep himself safe as they move into the land of Egypt. Motivated by fear that he would be killed because his wife, Sarai (Sarah) was beautiful, Abram knew he would be safe and would be treated much better if the Egyptians believed Sarai was his sister. But, Abram failed to trust God.

It's easy to Monday morning quarterback and say, "God led him to Egypt, why didn't Abram trust God for his protection in Egypt". The pharaoh’s rebuke was very just and certainly God's grace went before Abram. The pharaoh’s response is "Take her and go!” (V 19). And the pharaoh even "gave orders about Abram to his men" (20).

God's grace goes before us, especially when we are being obedient to his call to us. Many times it is hard for us to see His hand at work, especially in light of our own fears.

How is God speaking to you through the Word today?

Are you different?  Sometimes, we don't like to be called different.  I used to talk to a salesman who always called himself a "chameleon" that blended in with anyone and became whatever his customers wanted him to be.   It may have led to success in sales, but it always made me wonder if he was being genuine in our dealings or just being a "chameleon".

Today's passage is the account of Noah.  It's interesting to me to see the continued effect of sin entering the world through Adam and Eve.  In fact, 6:5 says that "every inclination of man's heart was evil all the time."  But, 6:8 tells us that "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord".  I like the way the Message puts it: "But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah". 

Two things jump out at me in this passage.  First, because Noah was "different", he was saved, but, so was his family.  How good God is to us.  Our faithfulness affects our families, too.  Noah was faithful in spite of the circumstances around him and his family took notice and was faithful, too. 

The second thing that strikes me is Noah's obedience.  Noah wasn't concerned about what his neighbors might think or how he would be received.  Gen. 7:5 tells us "Noah did all that the Lord commanded him".  I'm sure that on the surface, the task would seem overwhelming, but Noah followed every detail. 

What is God showing you in today's passage?

"The devil made me do it".  How many times have we heard that line, often in jest.  But, yet, we often hear it used as way to excuse our own failure.

Today, we read about the fall of man through Adam and Eve.  We see Eve dialoging with the serpent and moving to question the unreasonableness of the boundary not to eat of the fruit (vv. 2-3), then to contemplating a reason that nullifies the prohibition (vv. 4-5), and concludes with gazing longingly at the forbidden fruit and giving in (v.6).

Interestingly enough, as God walks through the Garden, he doesn't point out their disobedience, they were already aware.  Their nakedness became a symbol of the shame and guilt of disobedience (3:8). 

Then, God begins to explain the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience in verses 14-20.  But, if we look back at Chapter 2, verse 17, "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die", we see that, as heavy as the consequences are, God does not carry out the death penalty.  God responds to disobedience, not with the full weight of justice, but with mercy and grace!

Finally, God's provision for the covering of skins in verses 22-24 is a symbol of grace and forgiveness.

How has God's grace been applied to your life?  God has forgiven our sins and provided Mercy and Grace through the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ.  

What is God saying to you through His Word today?

In 1993, Israeli archaeologists excavating at the Tel Dan site in Northern Israel discovered an inscribed stone with the phrase “House of David,” generating immense excitement in the world of Biblical archaeology. Excitement on a scale not seen in the field of study for many years. Why would such a familiar Biblical reference create such a stir? Because believe it or not it was the first extra-Biblical source ever uncovered referring to King David. Until as little as 18 years ago, many scholars doubted that this central Judeo-Christian figure even really existed. What was the source of their doubt? Merely the fact that something else had not yet surfaced confirming the Bible.

This is a familiar story. It is not the first Biblical truth to be discounted by scholars from lack of extra-Biblical sources only to be confirmed later by archaeology and/or other historical record. And it won’t be the last. Historical evidence has confirmed the Bible time and time again, even revising secular thinking on many subjects from the Hittites to the Canaanites to the Sumerian King list to Egyptian chronology. Still people choose to ignore and scoff at the Bible’s sometimes inexplicable (from a human perspective) accounts. 

You see, “people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) This brings me to Genesis 1 and 2 – the beginning of history. It is hard to comprehend God speaking into existence this infinitely vast universe and then personally breathing into life man, a mere and fragile speck in creation, and giving him such a specific role in, even dominion over, that creation. Even evangelicals question the creation account, the literal six days and the order of events. Why? Because a scientific world can’t understand it and so they discount it. It is foolishness to them. Confounded with such mystery, many Christians decide to emphasize why God created us, instead of the details of how. In a sense, I can’t blame them. After all, it is important in understanding God’s love for us in order to convey it to others. It also gives us purpose in life. But I fear we compromise His Word in skimming past Genesis 1 and 2.

 I believe in the six days of creation. I affirm the Genesis 1 and 2 accounts of history. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I don’t pretend to understand everything. For a comprehensive and scientific source that addresses the Biblical creation account, I highly recommend the folks over at Answers in Genesis. But what I do know is that the historical record has proven the Bible time and time again. God’s Word guided and sustained an entire nation for centuries, transformed one of the most influential empires ever created, changed world history, and continues to impact and transform lives all over the globe even today. In the face of that evidence, who am I to challenge the very foundation upon which it all rests? And while I’m fairly certain it won’t happen in my lifetime, I’ve no doubt that one day humankind will discover the scientific Tel Dan. 

I don't know if you've ever watched a TV Show called "The Joy of Painting".  It featured a soothing artist named Bob Ross.  He shows you how to paint beautiful landscapes using a small variety of brushes and after watching you start to get the sense that "Hey, maybe I could do that".  He had a theory that you never made mistakes, just "happy accidents" that you could turn into something like a bush or a tree in your painting.

Today's reading points out that God beautifully created the earth and everything in it, including all of us.  Isn't it a joy to know that we were beautifully created by an artist who loved us enough to create us in his own image (1:27-28)?  Often, we are led to believe that we are just "happy accidents" in the scheme of an ever-changing world.  How have you seen God's hand at work in creation today? 

He didn't just create Adam, he blessed him (1:28) and told him to: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! (The Message).  Wow! 

How is God speaking to you through today's passage? 

I am so excited to see how God is going to work as we Engage the Word together.  We have been learning to pray together and we are seeing God doing amazing things as we "Seek His Heart" through prayer.  I can't wait to see how He moves as we continue to seek him through The Word.  I wll try to utilize the blog area every day to get us discussing the way that God is transforming our lives through The Word.  We have 60 individuals and couples committed to the Word, including 12 teens (great work, teens!).  I know of a few families who have taken the family reading guides, so I am happy to see that even the children are going to be experiencing the power of God's Word.