Good day dear friends. Our two chapters today are full of history and full of today's news. For as you read or have read in the chapters assigned for next week's sermon, you discover some historical occurrences. Here is the study guide with links to those Biblical chapters online: Tuesday: Genesis 16, 17 are to be read. We find that both Abraham and Sarah waver in their faith. How is your faith shaken by doubting? How do you “shoo” off doubt?
These are links to chapters 16 and 17:http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=gen+16§ion=0&version=nrs&language=en
http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Genesis+17§ion=0&version=nrs&new=1&oq=&NavBook=ge&NavGo=16&NavCurrentChapter=16
God had promised Abraham many children. Yet, the promise came one day and the fulfillment was long in coming. The first of these two chapters opens with a declaration that Sarai (Sarah later) had borne no children for Abraham. She was in her late eighties and while many at that age and now younger are planning a move to Florida, she was still very much involved in being a part of God's plan where she was. She knew God's promise but her faith wavered as did Abraham. "How in the world is God going to act in such old people such as ourselves?" was her question, and the answer Sarai thought was in letting her husband have their Egyptian slave-girl as his wife, thinking that through any conception that might occur, "they" would have an heir. We don't read any hesitation to consent on the old man's part. He marries his slave and through her they conceive a child. The attitude on the slave-girl's part changes almost immediately towards Sarai. The Bible says she looked on her with contempt. And any change in attitude towards someone, especially someone who used to work for you, is not welcome, and this was the case with Sarai and Hagar. It became so unbearable that Sarai ran off Hagar. While on her escape, an angel of the Lord appears to her and shares some interesting things about her son to be: "Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin." Now read this carefully, Ishmael is the father of the people known today as Arabs. Abraham is the common father of the Arabs and the, can you guess? Yes, Jews. Read that verse again and tell me the angel was wrong.
Chapter 17 is a fulfillment of the promise and more, as in this chapter we find God wanting to be Abraham's God and ordering them to have on their body, the sign of the covenant, circumcision.
What have you been worried about lately? Have you asked God in prayer for this particular situation? Has your faith wavered as you wait? Did you try taking things into your own hands to come up with a solution on your own?
The lesson for today is to trust God and wait for God. Yes, we do have to do our part, but sometimes our part is just to wait.
PRAYER: God of all things, give me patience today. Along with that the wisdom to know what I should do. If it be Your will just to wait, so be it. I love and trust You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
These are links to chapters 16 and 17:http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=gen+16§ion=0&version=nrs&language=en
http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Genesis+17§ion=0&version=nrs&new=1&oq=&NavBook=ge&NavGo=16&NavCurrentChapter=16
God had promised Abraham many children. Yet, the promise came one day and the fulfillment was long in coming. The first of these two chapters opens with a declaration that Sarai (Sarah later) had borne no children for Abraham. She was in her late eighties and while many at that age and now younger are planning a move to Florida, she was still very much involved in being a part of God's plan where she was. She knew God's promise but her faith wavered as did Abraham. "How in the world is God going to act in such old people such as ourselves?" was her question, and the answer Sarai thought was in letting her husband have their Egyptian slave-girl as his wife, thinking that through any conception that might occur, "they" would have an heir. We don't read any hesitation to consent on the old man's part. He marries his slave and through her they conceive a child. The attitude on the slave-girl's part changes almost immediately towards Sarai. The Bible says she looked on her with contempt. And any change in attitude towards someone, especially someone who used to work for you, is not welcome, and this was the case with Sarai and Hagar. It became so unbearable that Sarai ran off Hagar. While on her escape, an angel of the Lord appears to her and shares some interesting things about her son to be: "Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin." Now read this carefully, Ishmael is the father of the people known today as Arabs. Abraham is the common father of the Arabs and the, can you guess? Yes, Jews. Read that verse again and tell me the angel was wrong.
Chapter 17 is a fulfillment of the promise and more, as in this chapter we find God wanting to be Abraham's God and ordering them to have on their body, the sign of the covenant, circumcision.
What have you been worried about lately? Have you asked God in prayer for this particular situation? Has your faith wavered as you wait? Did you try taking things into your own hands to come up with a solution on your own?
The lesson for today is to trust God and wait for God. Yes, we do have to do our part, but sometimes our part is just to wait.
PRAYER: God of all things, give me patience today. Along with that the wisdom to know what I should do. If it be Your will just to wait, so be it. I love and trust You. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
