January 6, 2006 - Genesis 16-17 and Matthew 5:27-48
How long are you willing to wait for God to fulfill His promises to you? How much commitment do you exhibit when it comes to obeying His commands? These two passages of Scripture speak directly to us in these areas. Read closely and listen to what God is saying to you today.
In order to fully understand the truths from Genesis 16 and 17 we have to read closely and do some math. Genesis 16:3 tells us that Abram had lived in Canaan ten years at this point. It had been ten years since God had promised to make him the father of a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) As far as I can tell, he basically had been living a life of faith in God during these ten years. However, now he makes a mistake by taking Hagar and having a son, Ishmael. Why did he sin in this way? Sarai blamed it on the Lord in Genesis 16:2. She said the Lord had kept her from having a son. It was His fault, or at least, it was in His sovereignty. She proposed the plan to help Him out. That was a lack of faith in God's promise or a misunderstanding or a lack of patience. Her reaction was wrong, and Abram was wrong to listen to her as Adam had listened to Eve in the garden. It could have been caused by the fact that ten years is a long time to wait. They lost patience. We must see this sin and change our way of thinking. If God gives a promise, we must let Him work it out in His time and in His way. We don't need to help unless, He tells us to help Him.
Then, 13 more years passed before Isaac was born. That is amazing. Was God testing to see if they had learned about patience? Maybe so. In any event God came again and renewed the covenant, changing their names as a sign of His promise. Abraham laughed, but it does not say he doubted God. He was 99 at that point. Sarah was 89. It would be a miraculous birth to people past the child bearing years. How could they have known this? They couldn't unless God had told them, and He did not choose to tell them. They had to trust God and wait. How long did they wait for God's promise to be fulfilled? They waited 25 years in all. Are we willing to wait 25 years for God to work in an area of our lives or fulfill a promise? We should be willing to wait as long as God takes.
Then, in Matthew 5 we see several drastic examples of Jesus calling us to commitment. Don't commit adultery, even in your heart. Be willing to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye to keep from sin. Don't divorce, except for sexual immorality. Don't take oaths and don't take revenge or retaliation. Love your enemies. How much commitment does it take to follow these commands? It takes a drastic commitment. It takes letting God change your heart and the willingness to be different from those around you. Those are two difficult commitments, which most people are not willing to make. What about you?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 18-19 and Matthew 6:1-18.
In order to fully understand the truths from Genesis 16 and 17 we have to read closely and do some math. Genesis 16:3 tells us that Abram had lived in Canaan ten years at this point. It had been ten years since God had promised to make him the father of a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) As far as I can tell, he basically had been living a life of faith in God during these ten years. However, now he makes a mistake by taking Hagar and having a son, Ishmael. Why did he sin in this way? Sarai blamed it on the Lord in Genesis 16:2. She said the Lord had kept her from having a son. It was His fault, or at least, it was in His sovereignty. She proposed the plan to help Him out. That was a lack of faith in God's promise or a misunderstanding or a lack of patience. Her reaction was wrong, and Abram was wrong to listen to her as Adam had listened to Eve in the garden. It could have been caused by the fact that ten years is a long time to wait. They lost patience. We must see this sin and change our way of thinking. If God gives a promise, we must let Him work it out in His time and in His way. We don't need to help unless, He tells us to help Him.
Then, 13 more years passed before Isaac was born. That is amazing. Was God testing to see if they had learned about patience? Maybe so. In any event God came again and renewed the covenant, changing their names as a sign of His promise. Abraham laughed, but it does not say he doubted God. He was 99 at that point. Sarah was 89. It would be a miraculous birth to people past the child bearing years. How could they have known this? They couldn't unless God had told them, and He did not choose to tell them. They had to trust God and wait. How long did they wait for God's promise to be fulfilled? They waited 25 years in all. Are we willing to wait 25 years for God to work in an area of our lives or fulfill a promise? We should be willing to wait as long as God takes.
Then, in Matthew 5 we see several drastic examples of Jesus calling us to commitment. Don't commit adultery, even in your heart. Be willing to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye to keep from sin. Don't divorce, except for sexual immorality. Don't take oaths and don't take revenge or retaliation. Love your enemies. How much commitment does it take to follow these commands? It takes a drastic commitment. It takes letting God change your heart and the willingness to be different from those around you. Those are two difficult commitments, which most people are not willing to make. What about you?
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 18-19 and Matthew 6:1-18.