December 26 - Genesis 17-21
This passage is filled with important spiritual principles for us to ponder. I pray that on this day after Christmas you will take time to meditate on God's Word. I know you will find it more relaxing than watching TV or anything else you might do today.
God is faithful, but are we patient enough to wait on His timing? That is one question we might ask after reading Genesis 17. Did you notice that 24 years had elapsed since God first established His covenant with Abraham? (17:1) Now God repeats the covenant and promises a son in Abram's old age. He does this with emphasis by changing his name to Abraham. Could it be that 24 years of patient faithfulness was being blessed by God? I think God was blessing his obedience, because even though both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the thought of having a baby, they both believed God could do it. This is an example of real faith. It is not perfect, but it is real.
How much does God hate sin and especially sexual sin? Read closely in Genesis 18 and 19. God hates it so much that He would send two angels and the Lord Jesus down to earth. For Christ it was a preincarnation appearance. He came to see if things were as bad as He thought they were. (18:21) There were less than 10 righteous people in Sodom, so God destroyed it. In the process Lot and his family were corrupted by that sin, so much that his wife was turned to salt and his daughters conceived a wicked plan. Sin is terrible. God can't stand it.
However, not even Abraham took sin as seriously as he should have. In Genesis 20 we find him lying about Sarah again. The results are the same. Why? God is trying to teach him this lesson, but Abraham is not getting it. Are there things that are hard for you? Abraham must have been ruled by fear of what others would do. (20:11) What is your weakness? Don't get on to Abraham for his weakness too quickly. Deal with yours first. Let God show you how to trust Him in all things.
Finally, in chapter 21 Isaac is born. It took 25 years for God to His fulfill this part of His covenant with Abraham, but the waiting was worth it. The rest of the chapter shows how God could bless Abraham and others at the same time. Don't be selfish or jealous of what God is doing for others. Rejoice that God is blessing you and them at the same time. God is good. He can do that with no problem. Don't think God only does things like humans do them. He is so much more powerful than that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 22-26.
God is faithful, but are we patient enough to wait on His timing? That is one question we might ask after reading Genesis 17. Did you notice that 24 years had elapsed since God first established His covenant with Abraham? (17:1) Now God repeats the covenant and promises a son in Abram's old age. He does this with emphasis by changing his name to Abraham. Could it be that 24 years of patient faithfulness was being blessed by God? I think God was blessing his obedience, because even though both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the thought of having a baby, they both believed God could do it. This is an example of real faith. It is not perfect, but it is real.
How much does God hate sin and especially sexual sin? Read closely in Genesis 18 and 19. God hates it so much that He would send two angels and the Lord Jesus down to earth. For Christ it was a preincarnation appearance. He came to see if things were as bad as He thought they were. (18:21) There were less than 10 righteous people in Sodom, so God destroyed it. In the process Lot and his family were corrupted by that sin, so much that his wife was turned to salt and his daughters conceived a wicked plan. Sin is terrible. God can't stand it.
However, not even Abraham took sin as seriously as he should have. In Genesis 20 we find him lying about Sarah again. The results are the same. Why? God is trying to teach him this lesson, but Abraham is not getting it. Are there things that are hard for you? Abraham must have been ruled by fear of what others would do. (20:11) What is your weakness? Don't get on to Abraham for his weakness too quickly. Deal with yours first. Let God show you how to trust Him in all things.
Finally, in chapter 21 Isaac is born. It took 25 years for God to His fulfill this part of His covenant with Abraham, but the waiting was worth it. The rest of the chapter shows how God could bless Abraham and others at the same time. Don't be selfish or jealous of what God is doing for others. Rejoice that God is blessing you and them at the same time. God is good. He can do that with no problem. Don't think God only does things like humans do them. He is so much more powerful than that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 22-26.