"I Have Sworn..."

November 30, 2016

“I Have Sworn…”

Blessings folk!

Now, look at the response of the Lord to Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

Gen 22:15-18

Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,

indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”


The Angel of the Lord is calling a second time from heaven.
He is reiterating the covenant promise that He spoke to Abraham earlier, Gen. 12, 15, etc.

God would greatly bless Abraham.
God would greatly multiply Abraham’s seed as the stars of the heavens and sand of the seashore.
Abraham’s seed would possess the gate of their enemies.
Through/in Abraham’s seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Why?
Because Abraham obeyed God’s voice.

A couple interesting things.
“Posses the gate of their enemies” ?
The Lord’s people will be victorious when all is said and done.
The Lord is their Victory.

Then, “by Myself I have sworn…”
When one swears/confirms it is done based upon a higher authority.
There is no higher authority than the Most High.
Therefore, He swore by Himself.
He Promised.
He declared that is would happen.
Blessings.
Multiplication.
Possession.

Rejoice!

"The Lord Will Provide"

November 29, 2016

“The Lord Will Provide”

Blessings folk!

The Lord told Abraham to cease from the sacrifice.
Isaac was spared.
Can you imagine the emotion, the relief, the confusion?

Yet, there was still an act of worship, a sacrifice, to be done.

Gen 22:13-14

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”


The Lord did as Abraham had proclaimed to Isaac.
The Lord provided for Himself a sacrifice.

Therefore, Abraham called the place Jehovah Raah.
It means…
The Lord Sees.
The Lord Considers.
The Lord Perceives.
The Lord Provides.
(Remember, words derive their meaning from context.)

The Lord is our Provider.
It is “in the mount of the Lord” that all provisions lies.

In what do you depend?
In who do you trust?

Anything other than the Lord will fail.

Hear from the life of Abraham.

Abide in the Lord.
Walk in obedience.
Trust Him and His timing.
He will provide.

"Do Not..."

November 28, 2016

“Do Not…”

Blessings folk!

Abraham had the knife in his hand.
He was about to offer Isaac, his only son, as sacrifice to the Most High.
God had instructed it to be done.
Abraham obeyed.

“But…”

Gen 22:10-12

Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”


The angel of the Lord spoke, calling from heaven.
Who is the “angel”?
Likely the Lord Jesus…though it could an “angel” speaking the Word of the Lord.

He called Abraham by name.
Abraham’s answer, “here I am”, is seen several times in the Word.
God knows where we are.
It speaks of listening, obedience.

Abraham is instructed not to harm the lad, to do nothing to him.
Why?
“For now I know that you fear God…”
Did God not know?
Certainly the Lord knew.
Certainly the Lord knew what he would do, think, say.
The Lord knows all.

The obedience of Abraham was confirmation of what God knew.
It also revealed things to Abraham.
His faith and trust in God were not misplaced.
The Lord would provide.
The Lord would honor is Word.

Also, Abraham now knows that he is walking in the true fear of God.
He had not withheld his son from God.
He could trust the Lord with all things.

Yes!
There are vivid pictures of what Father would do in the Son for mankind.
Father did not withhold Him.

We are thereby saved by faith.

"Streched Out His Hand"

November 27, 2016

“Stretched Out His Hand”

Blessings folk!

The trip was complete.
The sacrifice was bound.
The sacrificial wood was ready to be put to fire.
There was only one more act of obedience.

Gen 22:9-10

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.


Abraham took the knife in his hand to complete the act, to sacrifice his son.
If is often described that Abraham had the knife raised in the air over his son, about to thrust it.
The Word does not say that.
It simply states that he took the knife in his hand.
The sacrifice would soon begin.
Soon, it would be done.
It was all in the hands of the Lord.

Then, one of the most powerful words in the Word…”but”.

We will look at it tomorrow.

For today, fear not that the Lord might wait “until the last moment”.
Fret not when we do no see as the Lord does.

Rest in Him.
Trust in Him.
He is life.
He will fulfill His Word.

"Arrive, Build, Arrange, Bound"

November 26, 2016

“Arrive, Build, Arrange, Bound”

Blessings folk!

Father had the flame.
Father had the fire.
Father had the destination.
Father had the purpose.

Son trusted.
Son carried the wood for the sacrifice.
Son believed the word of Father.
The Lord would provide for Himself a sacrifice.

A vivid picture for us.
A vivid picture of us.
God the Father.
We the son.

So, they walked together.
So should we.

They arrive…to the place God had told him.

Then…

Gen 22:9
Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.


Abraham built an altar.
Abraham arranged the wood.
Abraham bound his son Isaac.
Abraham laid Isaac on the altar, on top of the wood.

We can only glimpse the emotions of the moment.
We can only imagine the thoughts.

Underlying all is trust in the Word of the Lord.
God would provide for Himself a sacrifice.
If Isaac be the sacrifice, then God would raise him from the dead.
Remember, the fulfillment of the promise of decedents of Abraham would be through Isaac alone.
The Lord had said so.

Therefore, obedience in faith.

I believe Isaac could have fled.
If he was old enough to carry the wood, he was old enough of flee.

Yet, he…I believe by faith…submitted Himself to his father.
Another vivid typological foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Himself.

By definition, the life of faith requires not knowing some things.
Faith is not taking the first step.
Faith is lifting the foot not knowing where it will land.

May we live by faith…as did Abraham.

"Where Is the Lamb?"

November 25, 2016

“Where Is the Lamb?”

Blessings folk!

Abraham continues the process of obedience.
He is on the journey to sacrifice his son…at the command of the Lord.

Watch the details.

Gen 22:6-8

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.


Some hints.

Isaac was old enough to carry the wood for the burnt offering.
Isaac was old enough to know what they were doing.
Isaac was old enough to inquire as to what was being offered?

Their conversation was reflective of that between God and Abraham.
“Here I am.”

Abraham was wise of age.
“The Lord will provide for Himself the lamb…” The Lord had told Abraham.
Abraham knew it was the Lord’s choice/decision/command.
The Lord would provide.
He would provide the sacrifice.
He would provide the solution to a sacrificially dead Isaac.
The Lord would fulfill His Word.
Though things make no sense in his/our eyes, the Lord will provide.

They walked on…together.

May we trust and walk in like manner.

"Give Thanks"

November 24, 2016

“Give Thanks”

Blessings folk!

Today is Thanksgiving, a national holiday in the united States of America.
A one-of-a-kind celebration that is exclusive to the uSA.
No other nation, as far as I know, celebrates in like manner.

Yet, for the most part, we miss the point.

I am always amazed at the “giving of thanks”.
Heard it said yesterday by a news host/commentator that I highly respect…a new uSA citizen…that Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday because there is no politics, religion, etc.

Therein lies the problem.

Today you will hear/read a barrage of “thanks” being given.

Given to whom?

Ask that question in your mind every time you hear “thanks” and you will glean much.

Most “give thanks” “for” something, all the while ignoring that the giving thanks requires a giver and a recipient.

We are to be thankful in all things, never forgetting that all thanks go to the Most High God.

1Th 5:16-18
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Give thanks to the Lord for…

1Ch 16:8
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

1Ch 16:34
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psa 7:17
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.


Psa 107:8
Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
(repeated 4 times in this Psalm!)

His deeds.
His everlasting lovingkindness.
His righteousness.
His wonders.

For this we give thanks.
Anything else is “missing the mark”…sin.

Blessings!

"We...Will Return to You"

November 23, 2016

“We…Will Return to You”

Blessings folk!

Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, unto the Lord.

It was a process requiring preparation, explanation, travel and above all…obedience by faith.

Abraham began.
He prepared the wood for the sacrificial fire.
He loaded the donkeys for the journey.
He gathered the entourage.
Then he went to the place the Lord had revealed to him.

Can you imagine the emotions he was experiencing?
Can you imagine the thoughts racing through his mind…step by step?

The account continues…

Gen 22:4-5
On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

We see a point of timing that is significant throughout the Word of God - the third day.
On the third day he saw the place from a distance.

Did you see what Abraham did?
Did you see what he said?
Read again.

The young men were to stay and watch the donkeys and supplies.
Abraham and son would go “over there”. Specific place.
They would worship.
They would return to the young men.

Abraham knew he was to sacrifice his son.
He knew that death was the outcome.
Yet, he stated that “we…will return to you”.

This is a strong hint that Abraham expected the Lord to raise the dead Isaac to life.

Remember, Hebrews confirms this…

Heb 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

This was more than resurrection after life to life eternal.

Abraham believed that God would resurrect Isaac unto fulfillment of the promise - descendants.
There were babies to be had!

Oh that we would walk in such obedience, trust and faith.
Believe!

"Take Now..."

November 22, 2016

“Take Now…”

Blessings folk!

God called. “Abraham”
Abraham answered. “Here I Am”

The Lord then instructed.

Gen 22:2
He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”


God said much here.
Take your son…your only son.
Again, Isaac was the son of the Promise.
Ishmael, the son of the flesh, was gone.
Isaac was to be considered the only son.

God acknowledged the love Abraham had for Isaac.
God knew what was being asked.
God knew the greater purpose.
God let Abraham know that He knew.

God gave specific instructions.
Go to the land Moriah
Offer Isaac as a burnt offering on a mountain.
A mountain which will be revealed when you arrive.

What did Abraham do?
We will see more detail tomorrow.
For today, he obeyed.
“So…”.
That simple word carries so much.
“Because it was spoken…” “Because the Lord said…”

Gen 22:3
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Abraham arose early the next day.
He prepared…saddled a donkey, took two young men with he and Isaac.
Split the wood.
Arose.
Went.

By faith!

"Test"

November 21, 2016

“Test”

Blessings folk!

We saw yesterday where Abraham was tested…

Heb 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;


Let’s begin to look at the account…Genesis 22.

Gen 22:1
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him,
“Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”


After these things…the Hagar/Ishmael removal and an incident with Abimelech (which we have not examined…maybe later).

God tested Abraham.
“Tested” means “to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test”.

God will test.
God will prove.

God will not “tempt” as in “tempting to sin”…

Jas 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”;
for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.


Abraham was being tempted by God “to prove”.
P2rove hat?

We will see.

There is process in what God was doing.

He called.
Abraham answered.

Abraham “passed” the “test”.
He answered the call of God.

Have you?
Do you?

"A Type"

November 20 2016

“A Type”

Blessings folk!

By faith!

It is by faith that we live.

We continue through Hebrews.

Read the next passage.

Note what happened to whom?
Note what he rest in.

Heb 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead,
from which he also received him back as a type.


Abraham had received the promised son from God - Isaac.
But now, a test.
A test beyond any we can comprehend.
We will examine the account later…for now…a test…related to offering up Isaac.

Isaac would be the one through whom the promise of descendants would come.
But now?

God was requiring Isaac as a sacrifice.

Abraham’s response?
If God required it, it will be done.
If God took Isaac, then He could raise him from the dead to fulfill the promise.

A type.
A picture of the Lord Jesus.

Rejoice in the life that we have been given.

"God With Us..."

November 19, 2016

“God With Us…”

Blessings folk!

Let’s look at the end of the Hagar/Ishmael account.

They had been sent out from Abraham’s family.
God has promise to provide.

What happened to Ishmael?

Gen 21:20-21

God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.

He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.


Ishmael grew.
He lived in the wilderness of Paran.
He became an archer.
His mother took a wife for him…common then and in that society. Strange to us. I suspect we are the strange.
His wife came from Egypt.

But, give heed to the most important point…

God was with him.

We know that Isaac was the child of the Promise and that the Lord was with him.
But, we forget that the Lord was with Ishmael also.

God had promised to make a great nation of him.
The Lord would do so.

Fear not.
The Lord is with you.
Fret not.
Trust in the Lord.

"Cries to the Lord'

November 18, 2016

“Cries to the Lord”

Blessings folk!

Hagar had been sent out from the house of Abraham.
The conflict between Hagar and Sarah had grown…for years.
Ishmael had mocked Isaac at the later’s weaning feast.

Enough was enough.

The Lord told Abraham to obey the voice of his wife.

Therefore, Hagar and Ishmael were sent into the wilderness with bread and water.

Read what happens next…

Gen 21:14-20

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away.
And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes.

Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.

God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar?
Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.”

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water;
and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.


Hagar and Ishmael thought they were to die…even though she had already been told by God that many descendants would come.

Hagar cried to the Lord.
The lad cried, I believe unto the Lord.
He was not an infant/toddler/child. He was 15 years old or so.

The Lord heard the cry of Ishmael.

The Angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar…from heaven.
Love the dialogue!
“What is the matter…?”
“Do not fear!”
“God has heard the voice of the lad…”
“Arise”
“Lift up the lad”
“Hold him by the hand”
“I will make a great nation of him”

In the worse of times the Lord does the same for us.
We are never abandoned.
He will honor His Word.
He will open our eyes…as He did Hagar’s.
She saw a well of water and received sustenance.

We have the Well of Water dwelling within us as true believers.
Drink deeply.
Grow in His grace and mercy.
Be a mighty Warrior for the Lord.

"His Promise Is Enough"

November 17, 2016

“His Promise Is Enough”

Blessings folk!

Sarah told Abraham to dismiss Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid who had borne Abraham Ishmael.

The Lord confirmed this action to Abraham by telling him to listen to his wife.

It grieved Abraham, but he did as the Lord commanded.

The account continues…

Gen 21:14

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.


Abraham sent them out with a portion of bread and water.
They also had the Promise of God.

God had promised Hagar that a mighty nation would arise from her son…

Gen 16:9-10

Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”

Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”

God had promised Abraham the same…

Gen 21:12-13

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.

“And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”


Know this.
The Promise of the Lord is enough.
He will provide all else.
Even with meager supplies and wandering awaiting direction…His Promise is enough.

"Do As Sarah Tells You..."

November 16, 2016

“Do As Sarah Tells You…”

Blessings folk!

Isaac, the son of the Promise, grew.
He was now of weaning age.
Abraham gave a great feast to celebrate.
Watch what happens.

Gen 21:8-14

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.

“And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.


Family squabble.

Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian and Abraham, was mocking Isaac.

Exact ages are not provided, but Isaac would have 2-3 years of age, Ishmael, 15-16.

We do not know what form the mocking took.
Likely the type of thing that young, immature men do.

Regardless, Sarah noted and was greatly upset.

Sarah demanded that “this maid” and son be driven out…dismissed.
She knew that he was not the son of the Promise.
She wanted to make certain that there would be no inheritance…some vindictiveness here.

Abraham was greatly distressed.
He loved Ishmael…as he should.
He desired for Ishmael to love and pursue God.

God comforted Abraham by given him a directed Word:
Do not be distressed.
Listen to Sarah, whatever she says.
Through Isaac his descendants would come.
God would make the son of the maid a great nation, because he was Abraham’s descendant.

Abraham walked in obedience.
He did as the Lord instructed…as difficult as it might be.

May we do likewise.

"Laughter"

November 15, 2016

“Laughter”

Blessings folk!

Abraham and Sarah had the son of the Promise, Isaac.
Isaac means “laughter.”

Watch the reaction of Sarah and Abraham…

Gen 21:5-8

Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.


Sarah was laughing…with joy.
All who heard would laugh with her.
God made laughter for her. Happy

Who could have imagined?
No one.
Remember, they were as “good as dead” reproductively.

Isaac grew.
He was weaned.

Abraham made a great feast day on the day of weaning.

All is well.

The Promised One is here.

What could go wrong?

We will see…

"The Lord Took Note"

November 14, 2016

“The Lord Took Note”

Blessings folk!

We resume Hebrews 11.

Heb 11:20

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.


Isaac was the child of the Promise.
The child born to Abraham and Sarah when they “were as good as dead”…well past child-bearing age.

The Lord will fulfill His Word…in His time…

Gen 21:1-5

Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised.

So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.

Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.


The Lord took note.
The Lord did for Sarah as He promised.
At the appointed time.

Abraham walked in obedience in circumcising his son.

This Promised One was the beginning of the great hosts of descendants promised by the Lord.

Despise not the days of small beginnings. What is the Lord doing today in you?

Zec 4:10

“For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”

"All These Died in Faith..."

November 13, 2016

“All These Died in Faith…”

Blessings folk!

We have been looking at the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11.

We have seen Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah.

Read the synopsis in Hebrews 11…

Heb 11:8-13

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.

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.


By faith they obeyed when called.
By faith they lived as an alien in the land of promise.
By faith they were looking for the city…
By faith they conceived.

By faith they died in faith without receiving the promises.
But, they saw them.
They believed and welcomed them from a distance.
They confessed, by faith, that they were strangers.

Think on this.
Do we live likewise?

“Suppose…?”

November 12, 2016

“Suppose…?”

Blessings folk!

Abraham asked the Lord if He would sweep away the righteous with the evil.

A good question.

Abraham did not question the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Their sin required judgment.

Abraham was concerned over the righteous in the midst, specifically Lot and his family.

Read the account of the discussion between Abraham and the Lord. Let not familiarity rob you of the Word of the Lord…

Gen 18:23-33

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

“Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”

So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

“Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”

Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”

Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”

As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.


We see Abraham’s concern.
We see that Abraham was aware of the evil…only 50 righteous?
We see that Abraham began to think…to reflect…what if?

It seems that he realized that Lot and his family were likely the only righteous.

We see some principles.
The Lord will dialogue.
The Lord will relent for a righteous remnant.
The Lord will bring judgment and protect the righteous…a picture of the ultimate judgment to come.

Judgment is coming.
All will be judged…either before the Great White Throne (unbelievers) or the Bema Seat (believers).
Are you ready?

“Will You…”

November 11, 2106

“Will You…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord told Abraham that the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great.

We are about to see that Abraham understood what the Lord was to do…even though it is not directly stated.

Read…

Gen 18:20-23

And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

“I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD.

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?


The two men with the Lord turned toward Sodom.
They went there.

The Lord remained with Abraham.

Abraham had a question.
“Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

Abraham knew that judgement was coming.
He was concerned about the righteous there.
Were there righteous there?

Lot lived there.

Abraham was concerned about his family.

Are we?

“I Will Know…”

November 10, 2016

“I Will Know…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord is speaking to Abraham.
The Lord had two others with Him.
He now begins to tell Abraham what He is about to do

Gen 18:20-21

And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

“I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”


The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was grave - exceedingly grave.
Sin creates an outcry before the Lord.
In this case, a great outcry.

The Lord decided to go and see if the outcry was in accordance to the sin.
He was to check it out.
A very interesting thought.

Of course, the Lord God knew all that was occurring.
He was coming in the flesh - I believe a christophany, a preincarnate visit of the Lord Jesus - to view in the flesh with eyes.

Of course, the Lord knew.
Now, He will see in the flesh.

We will see tomorrow how this went down.

For today, we see a picture of the grace and mercy of the Lord.
He will do nothing that is not totally righteous and correct.

We rest in this.
We trust in Him and His righteousness.

Especially with His judgment.
We know that He is Right.

“I Have Chosen Him…”

November 9, 2016
“I Have Chosen Him…”

Blessings folk!!

The Lord is revealing to Abraham what He is about to do.

But first, the Lord revealed more about purpose to Abraham.

Gen 18:17-19

The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”


Abraham was chosen.
It is that simple.
God chose him.
Not because of anything Abram had done.
God chose.

God chose for this purpose:
Command his children and subsequent generations and his household to keep the way of the Lord.
How were they to keep the way of the Lord?
Doing righteousness - right things.
Doing justice - things that are just.

These were to be done so that the Lord could bring forth that which had been promised to Abraham.

We all have purpose.
We all have a plan from the Most High.

Walk in it.

“Should I…?”

November 8, 2016

“Should I…?”

Blessings folk!

The Lord was about to do something.

He debated (within/among Himself…an interesting thought) as to whether to tell Abraham or not (another interesting thought).

We know this…

Amo 3:7

Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing His counsel
to His servants the prophets.


The Lord reveals things.
The Lord speaks to man.

Now, the Lord was speaking something to Abraham.
He tells Abraham what He is about to do.

Gen 18:17-19

Then the LORD said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?

Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.


The Lord again acknowledges and reiterates the promise that Abraham would become a great and powerful nation. All the nations of the earth would be blessed through him.

This has some connection with telling Abraham what was to come.

It seems that Abraham was drawn into “the inner circle” of the knowledge of God.

As we will see, the Lord tells him.

Will be interesting to watch Abraham’s reaction…

What of us?

Can the Lord trust us with His plan?

“Deny…”

November 7, 2016

“Deny…”

Blessings folk!

One more quick Word related to Sarah.

She had overheard that the Lord was granting a son to them.

She laughed in response.
Likely a combination of lack of faith, doubt, scorn?, humor, impossibility…

The Lord told Abraham about Sarah’s response.

Apparently Abraham confronted Sarah…

Genesis 15:18
Then Sarah denied,  saying,  I laughed  not;  for  she was afraid. 
And he said,  Nay;  but  thou didst laugh. 


Sarah denied the laughter.
Why?
Why do we do likewise?
Why is the “default position” of so many to deny and to lie?
To save face?

We are told “why” here with Sarah.
She was afraid.

Afraid of what?
The Lord?
Her husband?

Likely both.

She knew she had laughed.
She knew they knew.

“He” states, “Nay, but thou didst laugh”.
“He” is likely Abraham.

We see no “punishment’, just a confrontation with truth.

We have seen earlier that Sarah did believe - by faith.
We see this believe came about through a process.
A process common among all men.

“Too Hard?”

November 6, 2016

“Too Hard?”

Blessings folk!

Several time in the Word the Lord tells us that there is nothing that is impossible for him.
There is nothing “too hard” for the Lord.

We find this truth in the Abraham story.

Sarah had heard the news.
They would have a son next year.
She laughed…to herself…while at the door of the tent…hidden behind the door?

Gen 18:13-14

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.


The Lord told Abraham that Sarah had laughed at the Word.

The Lord tells Abraham via question - is any thing too hard for the Lord?
The unstated answer is “no”.

The Lord then tells him He will return at the appointed time.
According to the time of life, gestation - nine months later.
Sarah would have a son.

The Lord had repeatedly spoken and confirmed His Word.
The Son of the Promise was coming.
The Promise had been given more than 25 years before.

Hang on.
Trust in the Lord.
He is faithful and what He has promised, He will do.

“Sarah Laughed…”

November 5, 2016

“Sarah Laughed…”

Blessings folk!

Abraham was receiving a visit by three persons.
One was the Lord.

He told Abraham that the same time next year Sarah would bear his son.

Sarah was listening from the tent door.

What was her response?

Gen 18:11-12

Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age;
and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying,
After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?


Sarah laughed.
The Hebrew word translated “laugh” means to “make sport of, laugh, mock, play”.
The definition would be a matter of the heart.

She did not laugh out loud…as is often thought.
She laughed within herself.

Why?

Because she was well past child-bearing age…”it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.”
No longer did Sarah have the monthly reminder that there was no child.

She questioned.
Could this happen after she had “waxed” (grown) old?
Could this happen after her lord, Abraham, had grown old? (This was long before the “little-blue-pill&rdquoWinking

Her doubt, confusion, laughter, questioning can be understood.

The Lord gives us greater understanding.

Remember the verses we saw a few days ago…

Heb 11:11-12

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.


There bodies were “as good as dead” as far as reproduction.
Yet, it was at that point that God moved.

A principle for us.
Do not be distracted by what you see.
What do you believe?
Do you believe the Word of the Lord.

One last thing.
Did you see something in Hebrews that gives us insight into Sarah and her response?
Through faith!

…to be continued…

“Where Is Your Wife…”

November 4, 2016

“Where Is Your Wife…”

Blessings folk!

Abraham had guests.
Three men had arrived.
One was the Lord.

Abraham offered hospitality.
They accepted.
Read and note Abraham’s reaction.
He ran about in a manner foreshadowing Martha…
Then note what the three men did.

Gen 18:6-10

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.”

Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.

He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.

Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.


Abraham hurried.
He got Sarah to work on the bread.

Abraham ran.
He selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant for preparation.

Abraham served.
He served the bread, curds and meat.
He stood by them as they ate, awaiting to meet the need they might have.

As they ate, a question came.
“Where is Sarah?”

The purpose of the visit was revealed.
At this time next year they would have a son through Sarah.

Abraham had previously been told this.

Gen 17:16

“I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”


Why the visit and repetition?

Could this be the cause…Sarah was listening at the tent door…

We will see Sarah’s reaction tomorrow, but it appears that she did not know about this.

Had Abraham told her?

…to be continued…

“The Lord Appeared…”

November 3, 2016

“The Lord Appeared…”

Blessings folk!

We continue examining Abraham.
Remember, we are taking a little side trip from Hebrews 11…the great gallery of those who lived by faith. We do well to see what the Word says about them.

Gen 18:1-5

Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre,
while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth,

and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

“Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;

and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.”


The Lord appeared to Abraham.

How do we know?

Well, the Word states it forthrightly.
The Lord appeared.
Abraham saw Him.
Abraham bowed before Him.
Abraham calls Him “Lord”.
Abraham declares that he is the Lord’s servant.
Abraham acknowledges that he has found favor with the Lord.

We see Abraham humbling himself before the Lord.
We see Abraham exhibiting hospitality, pleading with the party to stay awhile.

The Lord and entourage agreed to stay.

We should live in like manner.
He is Lord.
True Believers are His servants.
We are to manifest hospitality.

“In the Very Same Day…”

November 2, 2016

“In the Very Same Day…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord finished talking with Abraham.
The Lord then “went up from him.”

What was Abraham’s response?

Obedience.
He did what the Lord told him to do.
Read the account.

Gen 17:23-27

Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him.

Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.


Abraham and all his were circumcised.
On the same day.
Precisely as the Lord had directed.

Abraham was 99 years old.
Ishmael was 13 years old.

All submitted themselves to Abraham and the Lord.

We should do likewise.
Walk in immediate obedience to the command of the Lord.
Regardless of pain.
Regardless of our ability to understand the purpose.
Simple obedience.

Knowing that the Lord will protect.
Knowing that the Lord will heal.
Knowing that the Lord will honor His Word.

“Next Year”

November 1, 2016

“Next Year”

Blessings folk!

The Lord had told Abraham “no”.
A Word we usually do not want to hear from Him.

The Lord then told Abraham what would happen to Ishmael.
Blessed.
Multiplied.
Father of twelve princes.
A great nation.

Parallels to what would happen through the child of the Promise.

The Lord continues…with that powerful Word we find in Scripture, “but”…

Gen 17:21-22

“But My covenant I will establish with Isaac,
whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.”

When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.


Abram and Sarai had tried to expedite the promise of God.
They did so in the flesh.
The Hagar plan that brought forth Ishmael.

Now the Lord is repeatedly telling Abraham that the child of the Promise/Covenant would be from Sarah.
Remember, both “were as good as dead” related to reproduction.

The Covenant Promise was about to come to fruition.
At that season next year a child would be born.

Can you imagine?
Think about it.
Some three months later there was a moment of marital intimacy.
A child was conceived.
But, I get ahead…

When God had finished with Abraham, He went up from Him.
That is interesting!
Apparently he was speaking to him audibly? Face-to-face? Genesis 17:1 says the Lord “appeared” to him…

What was Abraham’s response?
We will see tomorrow.
Obedience.
May we do likewise.

“Ishmael: Blessed, Fruitful”

October 31, 2016

“Ishmael: Blessed, Fruitful”

Blessings folk!

The Lord had said “no” to Abraham’s request that Ishmael would “live before You.”
Ishmael would not be the child of inheritance.
He was, and would always be, a child of Abraham.
Yes, Ishmael and his descendants are “children of Abraham.”
But, they are not of the line of the Promise.

“No” can sound harsh.
“No” can sound like defeat.

Look at what comes after the “no”…

Gen 17:19-20

But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.


After the “no”?
“But…”
Great hope!
Great joy!
Impossible things!

Sarah…your wife!…not another…will bear you a son.
The Lord named the child - “Isaac” (means “laughter&rdquoWinking
The Lord would establish His covenant through this son.
An everlasting covenant.

There is more.

The Lord had heard the cry of Abraham.
He knew the heart of Abraham.
Ishmael would be blessed!!
God would bless Ishmael.
God would make Ishmael multiply…exceedingly.
Ishmael would be the father of twelve princes.
Ishmael would be a great nation.

We see them in the middle east today.
Children of Abraham.
Blessed by God.
Yet, not of the Promise.

Much insight to the dynamics of the middle east can be gleaned from this truth.

“No”

October 30, 2016

“No”

Blessings folk!

Abraham desired for Ishmael to live before the Lord.

Gen 17:18

And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”


There is more to this than on the surface.

The next verse reveals why.

Gen 17:19

But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.


Why was there more to it?

Because God said “no”.

Apparently Ishmael wanted what he could see in the natural to be the bearer of the Covenant.

A child yet seen…
A child yet conceived…
This was to be the child of the Promise, the child of the Covenant.

God’s response was simple.
No.

Do not be surprised by such.

“Oh…”

October 29, 2016

“Oh…”

Blessings folk!

Abraham was just told by the Lord that he would have a child through Sarah.
He righteously laughed.

Read the next verse.
Watch Abraham’s next reaction/thought/desire…

Gen 17:18
And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”


We see the heart of Abraham for his son through Hagar, Ishmael.

Abraham loved him.

We often forget this.

Our attention is usually drawn exclusively to the child of the Promise…the one yet to come.

Ishmael was around 12 years of age.

Consider how Abraham must have felt about Ishmael.
He loved him.
He desired that he would live before the Lord.
He desired that he would share in the promise of God.

Abraham would likely have known of the promise that the Lord had made to Hagar…that Ishmael would be the father of many.

Yet, Abraham knew that he needed to “live before You”.

Abraham was not questioning the Lord as to the child to come.
Abraham was interceding for the child that was.

Never give up.
Bring the children before the Lord.

May they live before Him.

“Laugh”

October 28, 2016

“Laugh”

Blessings folk!

Have you ever doubted the Word of God?
Do actions and deeds reflect doubt, lack of faith…dependency on self?

How about this!
Have you ever laughed at God…at His Word?

Remember, the Lord had just told Abraham that he would have a child through Sarah.
This child would bring forth kings and nations.

Abraham’s reaction?
Read carefully.

Gen 17:17
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”


Did Abraham “laugh in the face of God”?
Did Abraham doubt?

I do not think so.

Here is why.

He fell on his face.
Upon hearing the Word from the Lord of a son through Sarah, he fell on his face.
He worshipped.
He humbled himself before the Lord.

I think his questioning is much like what we see with Mary/Jesus.
These are questions of “how”, not questions of doubt.

Why would Abraham wonder?
Because Abraham and Sarah were both “as good as dead” as to reproduction.

Rom 4:19
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

I believe God allowed this so that there would be no doubt that the “child of the Promise” was of God, not of man.

We will see more in Romans 4.

Doubt not!
Live by faith!
Yes, God will do that which we think is impossible.

“Sarah”

October 27, 2016

“Sarah”

Blessings folk!

The Lord continues to speak to Abraham.

He had spoke of the sign of the Covenant - circumcision.

Now, a Word for Abraham’s wife, Sarai.

Gen 17:15-16

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.

“I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”


Sarai was to receive a new name.
Remember, the Lord had changed Abraham’s name.
The Lord placed His name, Yah, in the midst of both of their names.
A sign that the Lord was with them.
A sign that He would not leave them.
They were His.

Sarai is now Sarah - means “princess”.

Look at what the Lord promised:
He would bless her.
He would give Abraham a son by her.
He would bless her through this son.
He would make her a mother of nations.
He would bring forth kings of peoples from her.

Amazing promises, especially in light of the continued barrenness of Sarah.

Wonder how she reacted?
How did Abraham react?

We will see.

How would you respond?

“Circumcision…”

October 26, 2016

“Circumcision…”

Blessings folk!

Why the sign of circumcision?

Gen 17:9-14

God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

“And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.

“And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.

“A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

“But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Circumcision is the sign of Covenant between God and Abraham/Descendants.

What is circumcision?

Circumcision is the cutting away of the flesh on a male at the closest point of paternity.

It is a vivid picture of “doing away with the flesh”.
It set the people of the Lord apart from the nations.
It was/is an act of obedience unto the Lord.

The Lord was precise.
They were to circumcise every male…descendants, servants, slaves…with newborns being circumcised when eight days old. (The human body actually has an increase of “vitamin K” on the eighth day, thereby providing increased coagulation…minimal bleeding.)

The very Covenant of God would be in their flesh.
His everlasting Covenant.

What if someone chose not to be obedient?
They would be cut off from the people.
They would break the Covenant of the Lord.

Circumcision also foreshadowed greater truths…to be seen…

“Keep My Covenant”

October 25, 2016

“Keep My Covenant”

Blessings folk!

The Lord continues to speak to Abram.
The Lord has told what “I will” do.
He now gives more insights and responsibilities related to Covenant.

Read.
We will discuss more later.

Gen 17:9-14

God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

“And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.

“And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.

“A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

“But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

The Lord commands Abraham to keep His Covenant.
Abraham and all his descendants throughout their generations.

The Covenant had a sign.
A sign that was to be kept throughout the generations.
Circumcision.

What is this?
Why?
Why this sign?
What was the purpose?

We will see…

“I Will…”

October 24, 2016

“I Will…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord continues to speak to Abram…uh…now Abraham. Happy

Watch for a repeated phrase.

Gen 17:6-8

“I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

“I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”


The Lord speaks forth powerful proclamations into Abraham.

Did you see the repeated phrase?
“I will…”

I will…make you exceedingly fruitful
I will…make nations of you. Kings will come forth from you.
I will…establish My covenant between Me and you…and your descendants after you…generations…everlasting covenant.
I will…be God to you and descendants.
I will…give you/descendants the land of your sojournings…all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.
I will be their God.

God initiates it all.
God does/will do it all.

Abraham believed.

Do you?

“Father of A Multitude of Nations”

October 23, 2016

“Father of A Multitude of Nations”

Blessings folk!

The Lord spoke to Abram.
Abram fell on his face.
God continued to speak to Abram…

Gen 17:3-5

Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,

“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.

“No longer shall your name be called Abram,
But your name shall be Abraham;
For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.


God’s covenant was with Abram.
The Lord had not forgot!
The Lord’s timing is perfect.

Now, the Lord is revealing more.

Abram would not just be the father of descendants.
He would be the father of a multitude of nations.
The Lord would make it so.

No longer will Abram be called “Abram”…meaning “exalted father”.
Now he would be named Abraham…meaning “father of a multitude”.

Note the difference in name “Abram” and “Abraham”.
What is it?

“ah”

More precisely “Yah”.

“Yah” is the name of God.

Psa 68:4
Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Extol Him who rides on the clouds,
By His name YAH,
And rejoice before Him.


Is 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.' ”

Is 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.


The Lord placed His name in the middle of Abram’s (and Sarai’s) name.
Abr(ah)am
Sar(ah)

God was in their midst.
God was with them.
The name reflected so.

Cool.

We will someday have a new name.
We will have the new name of the Lord written upon us.

Rev 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” '

Rev 3:12
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.


In the meanwhile, we rejoice that the Lord is in each true believer.

May we faithfully await the new name…

“Abram Fell On His Face”

October 22, 2016

“Abram Fell On His Face”

Blessings folk!

The Lord reminded Abram…
  • that He was God Almighty
  • to walk before Him
  • to be blameless

Gen 17:1
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless.


The Lord continues…

Gen 17:2
“I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly.”


The Lord had made covenant with Abram…we saw it beginning in Genesis 12 and Genesis 15.
The Lord had promised descendants.

Now, the Lord was telling/reminding Abram that this Covenant will be established.
He will multiply Abram exceedingly.

Think on that.
Abram was 99 years of age with one child by the handmaiden of his wife.

What was God saying?
What was Abram’s response?

Gen 17:3
Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,


Upon hearing from the Lord…
Upon being reminded…
Abram fell on his face…in humility…in worship…in trust and faith.

May we do likewise in all things.

“Walk Before Me, Be Blameless”

October 21, 2016

“Walk Before Me, Be Blameless”

Blessings folk!

Too often we think “it is too late”.
“I’m too old”.

Consider Abram.

He was 75 years old when God called him forth from Ur.

Gen 12:4
So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.


He was 86 when Ishmael was born of Hagar.

Gen 16:16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.


Now, look at what happens when he is 99…we begin the account…

Gen 17:1
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless.


The Lord appears to Abram.
The Lord reveals profound truths…as we will see.
The Lord begins with the fact that he is the great “I AM”…God Almighty.
The Lord exhorts Abram to walk before Him.
The Lord exhorts Abram to be blameless.

So should we.
Walk before the Lord.
Be blameless.

True Believers are empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.
Live in the Spirit.
Quench not the Spirit.

“El Roi”

October 20, 2016

“El Roi”

Blessings folk!

The Lord God had told Hagar about the child she was carrying, Ishmael.
(See yesterday).

What was Hagar’s response?

Remember, she was Sarai’s handmaiden.
She was in the presence of Abram.
She would have heard of Abram’s faith/story.

Watch what she does…

Gen 16:13-16
Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”
Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.


She calls/declares God as “a God Who sees” - El Roi.
She was amaze that she was still alive after seeing Him.
Interesting.
Did she see Him?
Or, did she consider hearing His voice and hearing from Him as “seeing Him”?

The well where the encounter occurred was named because of this event.
It was called “the well of the Living One Who sees me”.

Hagar knew that Abram’s God was the Living God.
She knew that He saw.

Hagar did as God said.
She bore Abram a son.
She named him Ismael - “God hears”.

Abram was 86 when Ismael was born.
Abram was 75 when the Lord called him from Ur and promised descendants.

Know this.
God hears.
Fear not.

“Return. Submit.”

October 18, 2016

“Return. Submit.”

Blessings folk!

Read the Hagar account again…

Gen 16:7-14

Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”

Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”

The angel of the LORD said to her further,
“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.

“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”


Note what the angel of the Lord told Hagar to do…

  • return to your mistress
  • submit yourself to her authority

Sometimes the Lord desires for us to remain in a situation, though it be difficult.
Most of us could testify of such, whether in a job, marriage, organizational church, etc.

The Lord has purpose.
It is for His glory.
Who knows what the Lord will do through one who believes and walks in submission to Him.

The Angel of the Lord then spoke hope to her.
He declared that He would greatly multiply her descendants, too many to count.
(This gives us some insight as to Who the Angel of the Lord was…likely a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. He would multiply&hellipWinking

Can you imagine the emotions she experienced?
Fear, doubt, dread from returning to her mistress.
Joy, excitement, anticipation over the one she carried.

Then, the Angel of the Lord tells her about the little one…

“Where…”

October 17, 2016

“Where…”

Blessings Folk!

Abram gave Sarai permission to do with Hagar, Sarai’s handmaiden, as she pleased.
Sarai did.
She made Hagar’s life miserable.
She treated Hagar harshly.

Hagar finally fled the situation.

Where did Hagar go?
We pick up the account…

Gen 16:7-14

Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”

Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”

The angel of the LORD said to her further,
“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.

“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”

Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”

Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.


Let us take some time to look and consider.

Hagar had been given to a man.
Apparently she had no say in the matter.
She conceives.
She was then mistreated.
She fled.

Who appears to her?
The Angel of the Lord!
He finds her by a spring in the wilderness.
A spring on the way to Shur.

Shur is on the way to Egypt.
“Shur” means “wall”.
Interesting.
Hagar had hit a wall.

The Angel of the Lord addressed it.
He called her by name - that might have awakened her attention.
He stated her position - Sarai’s maid.
He then asked two questions.
Two questions that we do well to consider for ourselves.
“Where have you come from”?
“Where are you going”?

Selah!

“Do To Her As You Please”

October 16, 2016

“Do To Her As You Please”

Blessings folk!

A quick Sunday word.

Remember, Sarai had suggested to Abram that he take her handmaiden, Hagar, and had children by her.
He did.
Sarai thought that Hagar looked upon her with contempt.
She was likely correct.

So, what was Abram to do?
The wife is not happy.
The concubine is raising your only child.

Gen 16:6

But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.


Abram “punted”.
He told Sarai that Hagar was her servant, do with her as she wants.
A true statement.
But, I believe he was avoiding the issue.
He knew what Sarai might do.

What did she do?
Treated Hagar harshly.
Finally Hagar fled the house…with the boy.

This should settle the matter, no?
No.

…to be continued…

“Woman Despised and Wronged…”

October 15, 2016

“Woman Despised and Wronged…”

Blessings folk!

Abram listened to his wife when she suggested that he raise up children for them through Hagar.

Gen 16:3-4

After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.


Surprise, surprise.

Can you imagine that such a decision would result in family turmoil?

Sarai would think that “she was the problem”.
The enemy would be lying to her.

Therefore, Hagar was despised in the sight of Sarai.

“But”, one would say, “it was Sarai’s idea”.

Yes.

The plans of man bring forth the fruit of the flesh rather than the fruit of righteousness.

But the “despising” went both ways.
Look at what Sarai says to Abram.

Gen 16:5

And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!”


Sarai considers the deed a “wrong”.
It was more than a physical deed for sake of procreation.
“I gave my servant to your embrace” connotes a fondness of relationship. Ongoing.
Now, Sarai believes that Hagar looks upon her with contempt. Judging.
Hagar did “look down” upon Sarai.
Hagar was fruitful where Sarai was not.

Sarai wanted the same type of wrong be done to Abram.
She was mad.

When the wife is not happy…

“Abram Listened to the Voice of Sarai”

October 14, 2016

“Abram Listened to the Voice of Sarai”

Blessings folk!

Remember, we are looking at the “great cloud of witnesses” of the faith found in Hebrews 11.

They are mentioned in Hebrews 11 because of their faith, not their perfection.
They did not always do what was correct.

We are looking at Abram…an extended journey. Happy

We continue…

Gen 16:1-2

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.

So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.


Abram was 75 years old when he was told by God to go to a land to be shown him.
Sarai was 10 years younger.

They were promised children. Yet, none came.

Can you imagine the frustration, the pressure, the doubt?

Every month was confirmation that they were childless.

We have seen that Abram wondered if his lineage would be through his servant.
The Lord said no.
The Lord told Abram that he would have progeny from his own body.

Now, Sarai offers a solution.
A solution based upon frustration, anger?, impatience, etc.
Hagar suggested that Abram raise up children for them through her handmaiden, Hagar.
Abram’s response?
“Yeah, baby, baby…I’ll sacrifice for the cause…”
No, he did not say that, but did he seek the counsel of the Lord?
Yes, the Lord said that children would come through him, but the Lord mentioned nothing about another woman. We will see more about this later.

Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Where was the voice of the Lord?
What did he do?
…to be continued…

“The Lord Made Covenant…”

October 13, 2016

“The Lord Made Covenant…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord was speaking to Abram.
Abram was in a deep sleep.
Abram had prepared a sacrifice at the instruction of the Lord.
Now, the Lord responds…

Gen 15:17-21

It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying,
“To your descendants I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite

and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim

and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”


The Lord made covenant with Abram.
The Lord initiates covenant.
The Lord makes covenant.
The Lord honors His covenant.

The smoking oven and flaming torch are the Presence of the Lord sealing covenant.
Both represent the Presence of God.

We see the “pillar of cloud” (Exodus 13) as well as smoke on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and the cloud of the Shekinah glory of the Lord (1 Kings 8).

We see the “pillar of fire” (Exodus 13), the burning bush (Exodus 3) and the fire of heaven when the Lord consumes/receives sacrifices (1 Kings 18, etc)

The very Presence of the Lord was with Abram

The Lord promised descendants.
The Lord promised specific land.
The Lord defined the land by its current inhabitants and by geographical boundary.

This was/is real, tangible covenant that carries through today.

It gives understanding of much…if we believe and receive.

“As for You…”

October 12, 2016

“As for You…”

Blessings folk!

Abram was in a deep sleep.
The Lord was speaking to him.
The Lord was revealing the future to him.
The Lord was answering his question.

Abram would have descendants.
He would have many, though at the moment he had none.
The descendants would be in slavery for 400 years in a strange land.
They would go out with abundance.
God would judge the oppressing nation.

Then, this…

Gen 15:15-16

“As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace;
you will be buried at a good old age.

“Then in the fourth generation they will return here,
or the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”


The Lord reveals what would occur to Abram.

“You shall go to your fathers in peace…”
He would die, yet in peace.

“You will be buried at a good old age.”
He would live a long life.
He would have a good life.

“Then in the fourth generation they will return here…”
His descendants will return to the land.
Remember, they would be in a strange/foreign land.
God had told Abram that they would be there 400 years.
400 divided 4=100
In this context, a generation is 100 years.

“For iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete”
The iniquity/sin of those upon the land that the Lord had given Abram was not complete.
The Lord would command Abram’s descendants to deal with the Amorites (and others).

Abram received all this from the Lord.
During a time of deep sleep.
During a time of worship.
But wait, there is more… Happy Happy

“Know For Certain…”

October 11, 2016

“Know For Certain…”

Blessings folk!

Abram trusted the Lord.
He believed the Word/Promises of the Lord.
Yet, he wondered.
Who would be his descendants?
Would his offspring be from a servant?

The Lord tells Abram that his offspring would be from his body.

The Lord then calls Abram to sacrifice…to worship.

Abram then fell into a deep sleep.

The Lord then spoke to Abram…

Gen 15:13-14

God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.

“But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.


God told Abram that there are things that he was to know for certain…

  • he would have descendants
  • his descendants would be strangers in a land not theirs
  • his descendants would be enslaved and oppressed in this strange land for 400 years
  • God will judge the nation that enslaved them
  • afterwards, they would come out of the nation with many possessions

Too many believers do not know these truths.

The Lord revealed to Abram what would happen to his descendants many years beforehand.

He revealed of the Egyptian enslavement.

The children of Israel would have know this.
They knew the length of time.

Amazing.

We can know for certain the truths of the Lord.
Do we?

“How May I Know?”

October 10, 2016

“How May I Know?”

Blessings folk!

Abram believed what the Lord had said.
God reckoned it to him as righteousness.

The conversation continues.
Watch what is said by whom.
Then, watch the instructions and actions.

Gen 15:7-12

And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”

He said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?”

So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.

The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.


The Lord reminds Abram…

  • I AM the Lord
  • I brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans
  • I gave you this land to posses it

Abram questioned…
  • How may I know that I will possess it?

How could he possess land without children (remember the context)?
How could he know?
He believed.
But, he wanted help with his “unbelief”.

God called for a sacrifice, a time of worship.
Several animals, cut in two, each half laid opposite the other, save for the birds.

This was a process.
Hard labor.
Sacrifice of livestock.
Abram had to drive away the birds of prey.
Defending from those that sought to take the offering.

What is the point?

We will see.

Note what happened next.

When the sun went down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram.

The result?
Terror and great darkness fell upon him.

…to be continued…

“Abram Believed, God Reckoned”

October 9, 2016

“Abram Believed, God Reckoned”

Blessings folk!

Abram wondered who his offspring would be.
He knew what God had promised.
He knew what God has said.
Still, it had yet to happen.
He had brought his concerns before the Lord…after the Lord had told him to fear not.

We continue…reread the verse 1-3 which we have already covered, then the others…

Gen 15:1-6

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”

Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”

Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Eliezar would not be his heir.
He was not heir of the Promise.

Abram’s heir would come from his own body (an important point for later on&hellipWinking.

God then confirmed His Covenant Word with Abram.
God took him outside.
Had the Lord appeared to Abram? Had they been inside?
Or did the Lord lead Abram by the Spirit to go outside?

Regardless of manner, the Lord had Abram look to the heavens and count the stars, if he could count them.
This speaks to the large number that is visible in a dark night in the country.
So would be Abram’s descendants.
They would be many.

Abram’s response?
He had two choices…

  • believe
  • not believe

He believed.
He believed in the Word of the Lord.

God’s response?
He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Abram believed the Word of the Lord.
The Lord counted him as righteous…right…forgiven.

Are you?

“No Heir”

October 8, 2016

“No Heir”

Blessings folk!

Wonder why the Lord said the following to Abram…

Gen 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”


Was it simply a Word of encouragement..exhortation?

Or, was something bothering Abram?

I suspect something was on his mind that caused fear, wonder, doubt of the Word of the Lord.

The Lord has made a promise to Abram…

Gen 12:1-3

Now the LORD said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;

And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”


Abram had gone forth.
Yet, he still had no children by which to become a “great nation”…to be “blessed”.

God knew this.
Timing is all God’s.

The following verses give understanding.

Genesis 15:2-3

Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”


Childlessness was weighing on his mind.
Who would be his heir? A servant?
How would a nation come?

Then, this.
Did Abram accuse God?
Was he reminding God?
“You have given no offspring to me”.

Aggressively waiting upon the time of the Lord can be difficult.
But, know this.
God’s timing is perfect.
God’s ways are beyond reproach.
Trust in Him.

“The Word in A Vision”

October 7, 2016

“The Word in A Vision”

Blessings folk!

We have been experiencing a bit of how to study the Word of God.

In looking at the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 11, we have spent time examining some, not all, that the Word has to say about each one.

This is what one does with the Word.
Observe what the Word says…closely..throughout.
Interpret the Word based on the total context of the Word…
Apply the Truth of the Word to our lives.

We continue with Abram…a foundational passage related to the faith.

Gen 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”


“After these things…”

What things?

The things we have seen about Abram to this point…

  • called from his homeland
  • in the land promised
  • sojourn to Egypt
  • separation from Lot
  • rescue of Lot
  • encounter with Melchizedek
  • etc.

The Word of the Lord came to Abram.
The Word came in a vision.
(Sadly, most believers would not receive such today. They do not believe that God could/would speak in a vision. He did. He does.)

What was the Word.
Do not fear, Abram.
I am a shield to you.
Your reward shall be very great.

What did Abram fear?
What was weighing upon his mind?

We will see…later…

For today, know that the same is said to us.

Fear not.
The Lord is our shield.
Reward will be great.

Rejoice!

“I Will…Put…Write…”

October 6, 2016

“I Will…Put…Write…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord had promised that a day of a new covenant were coming.

He told His people repeated.

Jeremiah, the prophet, especially pronounced this.

The writer of Hebrews quotes extensively from Jeremiah related to the new covenant.

We continue…

Heb 8:10-13

“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

“AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.


New Covenant:

  • with the house of Israel (Gentiles are grafted in)
  • it will be “after those days” (Days of the Great Tribulation that Israel and the church will undergo-days of Jacob’s distress…the wrath of satan.)
  • God will
    • put His laws into their minds
    • write His laws on their hearts
    • be their God
    • be merciful to their iniquities
    • remember their sins no more

  • They…
    • shall be His people
    • not teach fellow citizen to ‘know the Lord” because they will all know Him

Jesus fulfilled the old covenant.
The old covenant is now obsolete…growing old…ready to disappear.

The new covenant is now in effect due to what the Lord Jesus did.
Some of Israel believe, but not many.

The day is coming when all Israel will believe.
All Israel will be saved.

Rom 11:25-27

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”


Sadly, only a small percentage of Israel will survive the great tribulation (wrath of satan) and the Day of the Lord (the wrath of God).

For Israel…
For the nations…
Today is the day of salvation.
Do not delay.

“Days Are Coming: New Covenant”

October 5, 2016

“Days Are Coming: New Covenant”

Blessings folk!

Can you believe the amount of information the Lord has given us related to Melchizedek-Abram-priests?

There is more.

We pick up Hebrews 8…

Heb 8:6-9

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

For finding fault with them, He says,
“BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,
WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS
ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND
TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;
FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,
AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.


Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry.
How?
He is the mediator of a better covenant.
This better covenant has been enacted on better promises.

What promises?

We will look at them…starting today.

Note how some of the above passage is “all-caps”.
This tells us that it is a quote from the Old Testament - the Old Covenant.
This passage is from Jeremiah 31.

The Lord had told His people that a day is coming where there will be a new covenant.

What do we learn of the new covenant?

  • with the house of Israel and House Judah
  • not like the covenant which God made with their father
    • fathers that He led from the land of Egypt
    • they did not continue in the covenant
    • therefore God did not care for them.

The previous covenant is the old covenant.

The writer of Hebrews is giving a hint, at this point, of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31 by quoting it here…to be continued…

Live the life of the New Covenant!

“Mediator of a Better Covenant”

October 4, 2016

“Mediator of a Better Covenant”

Blessing folk!

So, what is the point of all this discussion of Abram, Melchizedek and the priesthood?

The Word tells us forthrightly.

Read the answer…

Heb 8:1-6

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.


The main point?
We have such a High Priest.
He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
He is a minister in the sanctuary.
He is a minister in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched.
He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

If He, Jesus, were on earth He would not be a priest at all.
There are those who offer the gifts according to the Law.
Jesus was not of that genealogy.

These priests on earth are a copy, a shadow of the heavenly things.
They were instituted according to the precise pattern received by Moses from God.
Still, they were but copy…shadow…typological…foreshadowing of the Perfect yet to come.

Jesus is the great High Priest.
Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry (than the Law).
Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant.
This new covenant has been enacted on better promises.

Did the Jewish people know of these better promises and the new covenant?
We will see tomorrow… Happy

“Made Perfect Forever”

October 3, 2016

“Made Perfect Forever”

Blessings folk!

We continue to see Who Jesus is…what He did for us…the meaning of His sacrifice.

Remember, all this comes from examining Abraham as one of the great cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11.
Abram had an encounter with Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was a ‘type of’ and ‘foreshadowing’ of the Lord Jesus.

Heb 7:25-28

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.


Jesus is…

  • our High Priest
  • Holy
  • Innocent
  • Undefiled
  • Separated from sinners
  • Exalted above the heavens

Jesus offered Himself up, once and for all

The priests of the Law were weak.
They had to offer up sacrifices for their own sins, then the sins of the people.
This was according to the Law given by the Most High.
They sacrificed repeatedly.
Jesus offered Himself as sacrifice once.

Jesus did so by the Word of the Oath of Father.
This Word was after the Law.
This Word appoints a Son.
This Word was made perfect forever.
This is Who has saved us.
This is Who has called us.
This is Who we worship.
Do so in Spirit and Truth.

“He Always Lives…”

October 2, 2016

“He Always Lives…”

Blessings folk!

Keeping in mind all we have seen to this point about Jesus…about Melchizedek…read one verse today.

Heb 7:25

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.


“Therefore”…in light of all we have seen.

Look at what the Lord Jesus does.

He is able to save.
He is able to save forever.
He is able to save those who draw near to God through Him.

Only through Him.
Through the Lord Jesus.
There is no other way.

He lives.
Death could not hold Him.

He live to make intercession for them/us.

We are not alone.
We have not been abandoned.

Draw near.
Abide in Him.
Rest in Him.

“He Continues Forever…”

October 1, 2016

“He Continues Forever…”

Blessings folk!

Ah!
October.
My favorite time of the year…but, i digress. Happy

Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

These are foundational truths to the faith.

Let’s look at one more point from the Word.
Read again.

Heb 7:20-24

And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’&rdquoWinking;

so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.


Jesus continues forever.
He was, is and always will be.
Yes, He “stepped into time” by taking on His creation…

Phl 2:5-8

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.


Jesus, the permanent Great High Priest.
Jesus, humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross…obedience.
Jesus, continues forever.
Jesus, in Him we receive the New Covenant.

Rejoice!

“A Better Covenant”

September 30, 2016

“A Better Covenant”

Blessings folk!

Our Hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our High Priest.
Our Mediator.
A Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Now, more…

Heb 7:20-24

And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’&rdquoWinking;

so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.


Priests inherited their position due to lineage…their genealogy.

Jesus did not.

He became a priest because Father swore and oath - “You are a Priest forever.”

Psa 110:1-4

A Psalm of David.
The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”

Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”


Father has declared.
Jesus is a Priest forever.
Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant.
Jesus continues forever.

A better covenant.
This is what we have.
Rejoice!

“A Better Hope”

September 29, 2016

“A Better Hope”

Blessings folk!

Much truth comes from an understanding of what the Word relates about Melchizedek, no?

Let us continue…slowly…to look at these truths.

Heb 7:17-19

For it is attested
of Him,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.


Notice the words “of Him” are provided in English to help understand the phrase. (We know this because it is in italics.)

Of Whom is the attestation?
The Lord Jesus

Jesus is a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
Without genealogy.
Outside of the Aaronic line as per the Law.

Then, the Lord give some serious insight into the Law and “the better hope”.

On the one hand: The Law.
“There is a setting aside of a former commandment…”
Jesus did not abolish the Law.
Rather, He fulfilled the Law.

Mat 5:17

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.


The Law was weak and useless in relationship to forgiveness.
The Law made nothing perfect.
The Law provided for a covering of unintentional sin, yet the Law did not provide for forgiveness of intentional sin. An interesting fact that brings a corollary thought.

If the Law did not provide forgiveness…
If the Lord declares that those who sinned should suffer the consequences…
Then why did the Lord allow Israel to continue to exist?

Simply His grace.
A vivid Old Covenant picture of the grace of God.

But now, we have a better hope through which we can draw near to God.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Hope.
Our Mediator.

Draw near to Him.
Abide in Him.
Stay there…

“The Power of an Indestructible Life”

September 28, 2016

“The Power of an Indestructible Life”

Blessings Folk!

Hangeth thou in there.

These truths related to Abram, Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus are profound.

They are rarely taught.
I have actually experienced fear from folk in speaking of such.
Fear that truths are “too deep”…a lie of the enemy.
The Spirit gives us understand.
Seek.
Ask.
Receive from the Lord.

Now, read.
Give heed to what the Lord speaks related to the priesthood.

Heb 7:11-16

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.


Here is the bottom line.
Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews tell us that.)
Jesus is the King of Kings.

Yet, Jesus did not come from the Aaronic priestly line as per the Law.

He was from another tribe, Judah.

He was as Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was from no appropriate genealogy, yet he was King of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Long before the Law.

Melchizedek was a “type”, a “foreshadowing” of the Lord Jesus.

Both did not “become” on the basis of physical requirement.

Jesus did so “according to the power of an indestructible life.”

The power of the resurrection!

Rejoice!
Reflect!
Give thanks!

“Why Another Priest?”

September 27, 2016

“Why Another Priest?”

Blessings folk!

We now get to the crux of the truth related to Melchizedek and Abram.

Remember, we are examining Abram(ham) beginning with the Hebrews 11 passage declaration of his being one of the great cloud of witnesses.

Abram honored Melchizedek with tithes of the spoils of war.
Melchizedek blessed Abram.

Now, the next verse in Hebrews 7 asks a profound question.
Read it.
Consider each detail.
Meditate upon it.

Heb 7:11

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?


The people received the Law (Mosaic) from the Lord.
Part of the Law was the Levitical priesthood.
It is described here as “perfection”…the idea being completion, fulfillment.

If the Law was complete…
If the Levitical priesthood was complete…
If they fulfilled the desire and Word of the Lord…
Then “what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek”?
Why the need for another priest not designated according to the order of Aaron?

What was the “order of Melchizedek?
A priest of the Most High God…long before the Lord gave the Law.
Without genealogy.
Without “credentials” for the priesthood under the Law.
A King - the King of Salem/Righteousness.
A Priest.

Why another priest?
We will see.

Who was/is the other priest?
We will see…I suspect you know. Happy

Remember, we live by faith.
The Lord’s ways are not our ways.

“Levi: Paid Tithes While In Loins…”

September 26, 2016

“Levi: Paid Tithes While In Loins…”

Blessings folk!

Now, let’s begin to pull these truths about Melchizedek and Abram together.

Again, read the passage giving special attention to the last verses…

Heb 7:4-10

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.


The sons of Levi, mortal men, received tithes from the people by the Word of the Lord (the Law).

Abram gave a tithe to Melchizedek.

“So to speak”, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek because he was in the loins of his father Abram.

Some serious considerations here.

Considerations of lineage and generations.
Considerations of impact upon the generations to come.
Considerations of the “bigger picture” of the mind of the Lord.

The Lord is laying the foundation to explain a cultural-shattering truth…especially for the Jewish people…especially to all who believe.

…to be continued…

"The Lesser Is Blessed by the Greater”

September 25, 2016

The Lesser Is Blessed by the Greater”

Blessings folk!

A short “Melchizedek thought” for this Sunday.

Heb 7:6-7

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.


Melchizedek is the “one whose genealogy is not traced…”
Melchizedek received a tenth from Abram.
Melchizedek blessed Abram.
Abram is the one who had the promises.

There is no dispute…it is a fact…that the lesser is blessed by the greater.

Therefore, Melchizedek is the greater.

Curious.

Selah.

“Melchizedek: Blessed Abram, Received from Abram”

September 24, 2016

“Melchizedek: Blessed Abram, Received from Abram”

Blessings folk!

We continue with Melchizedek.
Slowly.
Line upon line.
Precept upon precept.

We have seen…

Heb 7:1-3

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.


Now, verses 4-6.

Heb 7:4-5

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.


Hebrews declares that Melchizedek was a great man.
So great that Abraham, the Patriarch, gave a tenth of his choice spoils of victory.

There is more.
The sons of Levi were commanded in the Law to collect/receive a tenth from the people, even though they were descended from Abraham.

Melchizedek had no genealogy that was traced.
He was not from the line of Levi, yet he received a tenth.
He received from Abraham. He blessed Abraham.

Melchizedek was therefore viewed as superior to the Patriarch Abraham, though Melchizedek did not have “the lineage”.

Why all this detail?
What is the point?
We will see.

“Melchizedek: Without Genealogy…”

September 23, 2016

“Melchizedek: Without Genealogy…”

Blessings folk!

Melchizedek, an interesting enigmatic “one-off” character in the Scripture.
We have seen a brief vignette of him in Genesis.
Now we get more detail in the Hebrews.
Often the New Testament gives interpretation to the Old.
Such is the case here.

Heb 7:1-2

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.


Hebrews clarifies that it was Abram (Abraham) who gave the tenth to Melchizedek.
The Genesis passage could be open to interpretation.
Hebrews makes clear what occurred.

We also learn that Melchizedek was not only the King of Salem and a priest of the Most High God.
He was as his name is translated - “king of righteousness”.
Also, King of Salem means King of Peace.

We know nothing else of Melchizedek from Genesis.

Here is how Hebrews describes it…and the purpose of mentioning him…

Heb 7:3
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Apparently Melchizedek was a real, physical person.
We do not know who his father, mother were.
His genealogy is not revealed.
We know not when he was born nor when he died. (Obviously, he was born and died.)

What is being said through Melchizedek?

We will see more.

For now, he was made like the Son of God.
He was a priest of the Most High God perpetually.
Long before the priesthood was established.

Long before the fulfillment of what Melchizedek foreshadowed…

“Melchizedek: King and Priest”

September 22, 2016

“Melchizedek: King and Priest”

Blessings Folk!

Abram was victorious in battle.

Upon return, he was approached by Melchizedek, the King of Salem, a priest of the Most High God.

Melchizedek was a king.
Melchizedek was a priest.

Both are foreshadowings of the Lord Jesus.

Melchizedek blessed Abram.
Melchizedek blessed God.

Gen 14:18-20

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;

And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
He gave him a tenth of all.


Melchizedek declared to Abram that is was God the Most High who had delivered the enemy into Abram’s hand.

Abram’s response.

He worshipped.
How?
By giving a portion of the spoils of war.
He gave a tenth…a “tithe”.

As mentioned yesterday, many believe this is supportive of “the tithe” the way we see it in the western church today.
Such is not true.

Abram did not give under compulsion.
He did not give under “the Law”…the Mosaic law was yet to be given/codified.
He did give as an act of worship.
Voluntary.
He did give as an act of understanding that it was the Lord who gave the victory and Melchizedek was the “representative” of the Lord.

Interestingly, we see Melchizedek later in the Word…we will continue…

Heb 7:1-2

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

“Melchizedek…”

September 21, 2016

“Melchizedek…”

Blessings folk!

Hang on!

These next verses are a curious passage about an enigmatic character.

Too often, we just read quickly through such passages…to our loss.

These are foundational to understanding other portions of the Word.

Read carefully.

Gen 14:17-20

Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;

And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
He gave him a tenth of all.


Abram is returning from victory over Chedorlaomer.
The King of Sodom comes and greets him.

Melchizedek, king of Salem also greets Abram…with bread and wine.
We learn that Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High.
A most interesting thing.
Long before the Mosaic/Levitical law Melchizedek is called a priest of God Most High.
He was king of Salem (JeruSalem!).
He knew God.

But how?
Abram was called by God to inhabit the land.
Abram was to be the father of the people of the Lord.
Yet, here is Melchizedek.

But, there is more.
Melchizedek blesses Abram.

  • blessed of God Most High…Possessor of heaven and earth

Melchizedek blessed God Most High
  • Who delivered Abram enemies into Abram’s hand

Then this…he gave him a tenth of all.

Abram gave a tenth of all he captured to Melchizedek.
Why?

Many will point to this passage to begin a discussion about “the tithe”…tithe/tenth are synonymous.

But, there was no command.
There was no instruction of God.
There was no Law.

Abram simply gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
Likely in honor of him.
In honor of his God - the Most High God.

But wait…there is more… Happy

“Lot Taken…”

September 20, 2016

“Lot Taken…”

Blessings folk!

Sodom and Gomorrah had been attacked and ransacked.
They had been taken captive.

Now, watch what happens…

Gen 14:11-16

Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.

They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.

Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram.

When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.


Lot, Abram’s nephew, had been captured…with his possessions.

A fugitive from the attack reported what occurred to Abram.
(This is the first time he is called “the Hebrew”…”Hebrew” means “one from beyond”…remember from where Abram came&hellipWinking
Abram rallied the trained men…318 of them…part of the blessing of God.
These were “born in his house”.

They pursued.
They divided forces.
They came against the enemy by night.
They defeated the enemy.

Abram brought back all the goods.
Abram brought back Lot and all possessions…all the women…all the people.
All were rescued.

Sojourning upon the land requires diligence…sometimes battle.

Stand strong in the Lord.
Watch where you live.
Avoid Sodom.

“In the Days of Kings”

September 19, 2016

“In the Days of Kings”

Blessings folk!

God gave land to Abram.
He told Abram to lift up his eyes, to look at the land, to walk the land.
Abram’s response?

Gen 13:17-18

“Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”

Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.


He moved to the oaks of Mamre.
He built an altar to the Lord.
He worshipped.

This should be the response of all of us to the Lord and His commandments and instructions - to worship.

Now…a little context for the continuation of Abram’s story…

Gen 14:1-11

And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim,

against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.

Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed.


Though somewhat mind-numbing in the detailed account of names and places, this type of Biblical passage is important.

We are introduced to places.
We are introduced to people.
We are introduced to the political state of affairs.

We see that nothing has changed.
Kings rule.
Regions and communities fight.
Man seeks his own way.
Evil reigns.

What does this have to do with Abram?
You have likely already noted…Sodom…Gomorrah.

“Lift Up Your Eyes”

September 18, 2016

“Lift Up Your Eyes”

Blessings folk!

Lot chose the land that included Sodom.
Abram settled the land of Canaan.

Gen 13:12-13

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.

Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.


After Lot left, the Lord spoke to Abram…

Gen 13:14-17
The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;

for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.

“I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered.

“Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”


Remember Lot lifting up his eyes and taking the land that looked good?

Here, we see Abram lifting up his eyes…at the commandment of the Lord.

Look at what the Lord to him and promised him.

  • lift up your eyes
  • he was to look in all the cardinal directions…north, south, east, west.
  • all the land that he could see…the Lord was giving to Abram and his descendants…Forever. Again, given forever. This speaks volume to situations today. The land was given by the Lord to Abram and his descendants, forever.
  • Abram’s descendants would multiply and be as numerous as the dust of the earth.
  • arise, walk throughout all the land
  • the Lord gave it to Abram

Again, an extremely important passage to understand the balance of the Word and the world today.

Lift your eyes to the things of the Lord, not to the things of the world.
Arise, walk and claim the land the Lord has given you.

“Strife Between the Herdsmen”

September 17, 2016

“Strife Between the Herdsmen”

Blessings folk!

Remember, we are looking at the “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 11.
Much is revealed about Abram/Abraham.

Abram has been expelled by Pharaoh from Egypt.

The story continues…let not a spirit of familiarity rob you of what the Lord desires to reveal. Read carefully.

Gen 13:1-12

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.

He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,

to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.

And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land.

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.

“Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.”

Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.

So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.


The Lord blessed Abram in the land as he sojourned.
Yet, conflict arose.
Conflict in the family.

The land could not sustain both the families/flock/etc. of Lot and Abram.

Abram gave Lot the choice of what land he desired.

Lot chose with his eyes…well-watered valley like the garden of the Lord.

Lot journeyed eastward.
Abram settled in the land of Canaan.

Lot moved his tents as far as Sodom.

That which looks good, fertile and attractive is not always the best.
Upon what are our eyes lift unto?

“Sarai in Pharaoh’s House”

September 16, 2016

“Sarai in Pharaoh’s House”

Blessings folk!

Abram had asked his wife to emphasis a truth.
The truth that she was his sister, if but half-sister.
A truth spoken to deceive.

The story continues…

Gen 12:13-20

“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.

But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?

“Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.”

Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.


The situation unfolded as Abram suspected.
Sarai’s beauty was noted.
Pharaoh’s officials saw her.
They praised her before Pharaoh.
So, Pharaoh brought her into his house…added her to the “harem”.

Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake.
Pharaoh thought she was Abram’s sister.

But, the Lord was displeased.
Displeased with Abram.
Displeased with Pharaoh.
A great plague struck due to Sarai’s presence in the house.

Pharaoh did “take her for my wife”.
Had he “gotten around to her” yet?
We know not.
I suspect that the Lord protected her virtue before her husband.

Somehow Pharaoh understood that the plague was from God and was due to Sarai.
He immediately returned her to her husband.
Pharaoh had words for Abram.
Pharaoh had Abram escorted away…from Pharaoh’s presence, from the land?

Abram thought his planned had worked.
He was protected.
He was actually prospering due to the deal.
Too bad about the wife…

Walking in trust and faith can be uncomfortable, but is absolutely required.
Partial trust…
Partial faith…
Will fail.

“Fear or Faith”

September 15, 2016

“Fear or Faith”

Blessings folk!

Abram was a man of faith.
He did as the Lord instructed…usually…
Was he perfect?
Oh no.

Read…

Gen 12:10-13

Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman;

and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.

“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”


What was happening here?
What is revealed?

They were going into a dangerous land.
Why?
Famine was driving them to seek food.
Some interesting questions to consider.
Why did God allow the famine?
He does guide the cloud, rain, etc.
Could God not have provided?
Sure He could.
Did the Lord bring the famine?
Etc.

What was “driving” Abram?
What was his “motivation” to request this of his wife?

Fear.

So much of what we do is motivated by fear rather than faith.

Abram feared the beauty of his wife.
He thought that they Egyptians would kill him to get his wife.
So, he asked that she say that she was his sister.

Did he lie?
Not exactly.

Abram does the same thing later…another time/another place…

Gen 20:12
“Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife;


Abram’s wife was his half-sister.

He did not lie.
He told a half-truth.
Something far-too-common in the Body today.

The problem was the he was not trusting the Lord.
He was trusting fear and circumstance.
He drew others…his wife…into the deception.

We will see how this goes…

Walk not in fear.
Walk in faith.

“Proceeding and Pitching…”

September 14, 2016

“Proceeding and Pitching…”

Blessings folk!

Abram had arrive upon the land that the Lord had promised as an inheritance.
Yet…
Abram never “settled” in the traditional sense.
He moved about.
He explored the land.
He never built a city.
He never built a house…as far as we know.

Gen 12:8
Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.

Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.

Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.


Too often we think that “real life” requires a “settling”.
Abram models something different.
He pitched his tent.
He was ready to stay.
He was ready to move.
He was obedient.
He went as the Lord led.
Even it is requires “going to Egypt”.
So should we…be ready.

“Give This Land”

September 13, 2016

“Give This Land”

Blessings folk!

Noah obeyed God.
He left for a land he knew not.

Gen 12:5-7

Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.

Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.


Abram took his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot.
Remember, the Lord told him to leave his family and go to a land he knew not.
He probably should have left Lot.
He should have taken his wife. Happy

Abram travels to Shechem, to the oak of Moreh.
Must have been a prominent oak.
We learn that Canaanite were in the land.

It was here that the Lord appeared to Abram and gave him this simple promise - “to your descendants I will give this land.”

Abram’s response?
To worship.
He built an altar to the Lord.

Abram knew who was guiding him.
He listened.
He obeyed.

Do we?

“Abram…Obeyed?”

September 12, 2016

“Abram…Obeyed?”

Blessings folk!

Abraham was called of God.
Called to a land that he knew not.
Called to an inheritance somewhere…
Abraham obeyed.
So we learn from Hebrews 11.

Let us go back to the beginning…Genesis…

Gen 12:1-4

Now the LORD said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;

And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.


God gave Abram (he would have a name change to “Abraham” later) specific instructions:
Go forth from your country.
Go forth from your relatives.
Go forth from your father’s house.
Go forth to the land I will show you.

God gave Abram specific promises:
I will make you a great nation.
I will bless you.
I will make your name great.
You shall be a blessing.

God gave Abram promises related to others:
I will bless those who bless you.
I will curse those who curse you.
In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

There is much here…as we will see.

For now, Abram obeyed…nearly.
A great example of “partial obedience”.
Yes, he departed as God instructed, but did you see something?

We will see later that Lot is a relative of Abram.
God had told Abram to leave his father’s house, relatives, etc.

He did leave, but he took one with him. Lot.

Hummm…

“Called, Obeyed”

September 11, 2016

“Called, Obeyed”

Blessings folk!!

By faith!
Is it not amazing the amount of information that the Lord reveals and references in Hebrew 11?

We press on.
Now, the father…

Heb 11:8
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.


From the beginning, we see that what happened with Abraham was “by faith’.
Abram was “called”.
Called of God.
Abram obeyed.
No small thing.

God called him out of a place, a place of comfort.
Home.

God called Abram to a place where he would receive an inheritance.

Abram obeyed, not knowing where he was going.

So often we want to predicate our “faith” upon knowing all about something.
Such is not true faith.

True faith is going forth by the Word of God, not by the understanding of my mind.

By faith, Abraham, when called - obeyed.

Have we?

“Heir”

September 10, 2016

“Heir”

Blessings folk!

Remember, we are examining what the Lord reveals about faith from Hebrews 11.

We have seen that…

Heb 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

By faith…

  • men of old gained approval
  • we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God
  • Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than cain
  • Enoch was take up so that he would not see death
  • Noah became an heir of righteousness

A final world on Noah.

Heb 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.


Noah was warned of God about things not yet seen.
He was warned about a Flood yet to come.
I believe that there had never been any rain, much less a flood.
Yet, Noah believed.
Yet, Noah acted.

Noah prepared an ark “in reverence”.
In circumspect awe.
He spent years…decades…preparing the vessel that would provide salvation for his household.

In this preparation, he condemned the world.
He spoke to the world about their sin.
They believed not.

In his belief…
In his reverence…
In his preparation…
He became an heir of righteousness…a righteousness according to faith.

A picture of the salvation we have.

“The Bow”

September 9, 2016

“The Bow”

Blessings folk!

The Lord made covenant with Noah and his sons.
Never again would the Lord destroy the entire earth with a Flood.
Regional? Yes.
Entirety? No.

The Lord gave them a sign of this covenant promise…

Gen 9:11-17

“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;

I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

“It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,

and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.

“When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”


The Bow was/is a sign of the covenant between God and man/living creatures for all generations.

God set His bow in the cloud.
Note, it was His bow.
This is what we call the rainbow.

Some interesting things.
It is because of this sign at this time that I think that the hydrological cycle of earth was changed with the Flood.
Apparently, there had never been a rainbow.
Something unlikely if it had rained before the Flood!
The Lord brings the cloud over the earth
(Job tells us that the Lord directs the cloud, the rain, the lighting, etc.)
The bow would be/can be seen in the cloud.
It is a reminder of God’s Promise.

Did you see “who” it reminded?
The Lord will look upon it to remember the everlasting covenant that He had made.
Not that God would forget, rather a solemn reminder with Himself!

We are also reminded, though we see/understand partially.
We remember His covenant.

We are familiar with the shape of the rainbow, from the earth perspective.
An arch.
A half-circle.

Have you ever seen one from above?
I have.
While flying.

The rainbow is a circle when seen from above.
A complete, perfect circle encompassing all the spectrum of visible light.

A reminder of the everlasting covenant promise of God.

No wonder the enemy seeks to pervert the symbol of the Bow…

“I, Myself, Do Establish…”

September 8, 2016

“I, Myself, Do Establish…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord makes covenant.
The Lord keeps covenant.
We can not understand God if we do not know and accept this truth.
(We see several covenants in the Word - Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Mosaic, Abrahamic, Davidic, Land, New, Eternal)

Let us look at the close of the Flood account…

Gen 9:8-11

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

“Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;

and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.

“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”


God established this covenant with Noah, his sons and their descendants.
He, Himself.
God initiates
God executes. Man does nothing.
We are all descendants, therefore, the covenant is with us.
The covenant is also with the living creatures of earth.

The covenant is simple.
God will never destroy the entire earth again by flood.
There will be/are regional floods.
But, entire destruction by water will never occur again.

God makes this covenant promise.

The Lord then provides a sign…as we will see tomorrow…

Rest in the Covenant God Whose Word is faithful.

“Be Fruitful and Multiply"

September 7, 2016

“Be Fruitful and Multiply"

Blessings Folk!

The Lord gives Noah and family another commandment.

Gen 9:7
“As for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”


The Lord told them to multiply, to be fruitful.

They did.

As mentioned earlier, we do not have an account of Noah and his wife having more children.
But, Noah’s sons had many more.

The Lord told them to populate the earth.
Abundantly.
Their progeny was to cover the entire earth.
They were to multiply in it.

Later on, in the “Tower of Babel” incident, we see that man refused to “cover the earth”.
They wanted to stay in one place.
God confused their language so that they would move on.

I wonder if we do not fail in a similar way.

What might the Lord have done if the Body of Christ had been fruitful and multiplied abundantly raising up warriors for the Kingdom?

I suspect that we have missed many blessings within this area.

“I Will Require Your Lifeblood”

September 6, 2016

“I Will Require Your Lifeblood”

Blessings folk!

Let us look at some more detail the Lord gave Noah and us about the blood.

We saw that we are not to eat flesh with the blood.

Now…

Gen 9:3-6

“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.

“Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

“Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

“Whoever sheds man’s blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man.


The Lord would give more detail about the blood required from beast in the Law, yet many years down the road.

The picture here is that life will be required for life.
If someone kills someone, then their life life would be required.

Why?

Because man is made in the image of God.

Murder kills one made in the image of God.

The Lord takes this seriously.

So should we.

I know.
Questions abound.
What about “war”?
What about “accidental” killing?

The Lord explains more through the Word.
For today, know this truth.

Man is not to shed man’s blood…murder.

“Eat Not the Flesh With Its Life”

September 5, 2016

“Eat Not the Flesh With Its Life”

Blessings folk!

Prior to the Flood, man ate of the green plant and fruit of the tree.
After the Flood, God gave man to eat of “every moving thing that is alive.”

Why did God do this?
We are not told.
Likely, man would have additional dietary needs due to the change of climate…the original “climate change”.

But, there was a caveat.

Gen 9:3-4
“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.
“Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.


They could not eat the flesh with its life, it blood.

An important principle.
Blood is the life.

God places importance upon the blood.

They could eat of the flesh, just not raw.

How “rare is rare”?

There is no guideline for “rare, medium-rare” etc.

The idea is that the flesh was to be cooked.

Why?
Again, we are not told, but, it likely has to do with…

  • dietary safety concerns
  • covenant concerns related to the sin of Cain

The Lord was providing what man needed.
He was doing so in a way “not seen before.”

By faith, Noah believed and built an Ark.
By faith, Noah believed and heeded the command of the Lord.
By faith, someone took the first bite… Happy

Live, by faith.

“Blessed…With Offspring and Steak”

September 4, 2016

“Blessed…With Offspring and Steak”

Blessings folk!

Noah, his family and the animals had survived.
Just as God had said.
Just as God had planned.

They were now to continue in life.
They were to procreate.

Things were different, especially the weather.
There is now winter, spring, summer and fall.

Let’s continue to look at a couple of other things that are different…

Gen 9:1-3

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

“The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.


The Lord had told them to be fruitful and multiply…

Gen 8:15-17

Then God spoke to Noah, saying,

“Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.

“Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”

But, now we see some details.
God blessed them.
Exactly what is this blessing?
It obviously deals with being fruitful and multiplying and filling the earth.
They were blessed/empowered by the Lord to do so.
We have no account of Noah and his wife having more children, but we are all from Noah’s children.
Noah’s blessing came through the generations that came from him!

Then this.
The beasts of the earth, the birds of the air, the creeping things on the ground and the fish of the sea would now have fear and terror of man.
Apparently such was not the case before the Flood.

Lastly, every moving thing would now be food for man.
God said that He gave all, even as He had given the green plant.

So, these things changed…

  • the weather
  • the topography of earth
  • animals would fear man
  • animals were now food for man

Interesting, no?

“Noah’s Response, God’s Response”

September 3, 2016

“Noah’s Response, God’s Response”

Blessings folk!

The Lord told Noah to depart from the Ark.
He did so.
He, his family and the animals.

What did Noah do next?

Gen 8:18-22

So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

“While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”


Noah built an altar to the Lord.
He offered sacrifices.
Sacrifice required the death of something.
Ah, that now gives us insight into why the Lord had told Noah to bring seven of the clean animals, rather than two…

Gen 7:2

“You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female;


The Lord was pleased.
The Lord smelled the soothing aroma of sacrifice.
The Lord declared to Himself that He never again curse the ground on account of man.
He would never destroy every living thing.

Then, we learn about the change of weather.
We now have “seasons” - summer, winter.
We now have cold, heat.
We now have seedtime and harvest.

Apparently the seasons did not exist prior to the flood.

The Lord changed creation drastically when Adam and Eve rebelled.
He changed more with the Flood.
The creation that we enjoy now is substantially different from the one the Lord created at the beginning.
The Lord has more to come…

“Go Out of the Ark”

September 2, 2016

“Go Out of the Ark”

Blessings folk!

The Earth was dry.
Noah and group had been in the Ark for more than a year.

Then, the Lord said…

Gen 8:15-18

Then God spoke to Noah, saying,

“Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.

“Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”

So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.

Noah had waited.
Now the Lord spoke.
They were to leave the Ark.
Noah, his family and animals were to come go out, be fruitful and multiply on the earth.

They did as the Lord commanded.

Think on it.
The only humans remaining..
The only land animals remaining.
The change of topography.
The change of weather (we will see that shortly).

The wonder…
The glory…
The awe…
…of all that God had said that He would do, and what He did.

We live in the “world judged by water”.
Do we share the wonder, the glory, the awe?

“The Water Abated…”

September 1, 2016

“The Water Abated…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord judged the earth with water.
Noah, by faith, was obedient to the Word of the Lord.
He built an Ark as instructed by the the Lord.

Now, by faith Noah waits.
He waits and works.
Carry for the animals would have been a daily tasks.

The Lord gives us a surprising amount of information related to the abating of the flood water, precise and exact days, water levels, etc.

Gen 8:4-14

In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.

The water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible.

Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made;

and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.

Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land;

but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself.

So he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark.

The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth.

Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again.

Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up.

In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.


The Ark rested on the mountains of Ararat - modern day Turkey.
The water continued to decrease.

Tops of mountains became visible.
The water continued to decrease.

Noah tested the water levels by sending out a series of birds, a raven and a dove.

It was only then, in the 601 year, first month, first day of his life, that Noah removed the covering of the ark so that he could look and see.

The ground was dry

In the second month, the twenty-seventh day, the earth was dry.

By faith, Noah and his family had survived.
By faith, they had propagated mankind and the animals.
By faith, they awaited the Word of the Lord to disembark.

Walk by/in faith in everything.
Nothing should be done outside of faith.

“God Remembered...”

August 31, 2016
“God Remembered...”
Blessings folk!
Yesterday, we saw that the “water prevailed over the earth”. It covered all the earth. It prevailed for 150 days.
But, the Lord did not forget Noah and the life in the Ark...
Gen 8:1-3
But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.
Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained;
and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased.
The Lord began the process of restoration. He sent a wind to pass over the earth. He closed the fountains of the deep. He closed the floodgates of the sky.
(Both are interesting. Are they still there...the fountains, the floodgates?) The rain from the sky was restrained.
The water steadily receded. We might be inclined to say that is “slowly” receded, but considering the depth of water, it occurs quickly.
The water had decreased by the end of another 150 days.
God provided protection for righteous Noah. God provided provision for continuity of life. God provided the process for judgment and “washing” away of evil. God did not forget them.
Neither will He forget those who are His when his wrath is poured forth on the Day of the Lord. True Believers are in Him and will be remembered, even as Noah.
Fear not!

“The Water Prevailed”

August 30, 2016
“The Water Prevailed”
Blessings folk! Hear the Word of the Lord related to the Flood...
Gen 7:18-24
The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.
The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.
The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.
All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind;
of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died.
Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.
The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.
Note some things. The water prevailed upon the earth. The Ark floated. The water covered the entire earth, not just a portion (as is often taught). The Flood was a “universal” flood - covered the entire earth. The Word says so...
- upon the earth - high mountains everywhere were covered - all flesh that was on the dry land and that moved on the earth died, all that had the breath of the spirit of life - the Lord blotted out every living thing upon the face of the land...from the earth
It is clear that the Flood covered the entire planet. That explains much.
For example, some folk look at the Grand Canyon and seek to extrapolate the length of time it would take the Colorado river to “cut” the canyon out. They are making the mistake of which Peter warned - uniformitarianism.
2Pe 3:3-6
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (uniformitarianism)
For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
Mockers, Scholars, the Religious...but, I repeat myself...will deny the universal nature of the Flood. They will deny any Flood.
The Word is clear. I look at the Grand Canyon and think “looks like the wash from a big flood”...
Which will you believe? Man and his Wisdom? The Lord and His Word?

“Shut De Doo’...”

August 29, 2016
“Shut De Doo’...”
Blessings folk! We continue...
Genesis 7:13-17
On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark,
they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds.
So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life.
Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.
Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.
They entered the Ark... Noah and family. Animals. All that had the breath of life. They went in by twos...male and female.
Then, the Lord closed it behind him. The Lord shut the door. The Lord sealed the door.
Again, they were sealed in the Ark by the Lord. The Lord provided the plans/strategy of the Ark. The Lord sealed.
Then the flood came. This is a vivid picture of the salvation we have in the Lord Jesus.
He is the Ark of our Salvation...(some interesting things to consider with the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark of Noah) We are sealed by Him.
2Co 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Eph 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eph 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
If we are True Believers, not just False “Profess”ers, then we are sealed by the Lord through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given as a pledge of an inheritance yet to come. We are sealed for the day of redemption.
Even as Noah was protected from the judgment of God, so will we be protected from the wrath of God in the Day of the Lord.
We are in Him...even as Noah and group were in the Ark. We are sealed in Him...even as the Lord sealed Noah.
Rejoice!

“Fountains of the Deep/Floodgates of the Sky”

August 28, 2016

“Fountains of the Deep/Floodgates of the Sky”

Blessings folk!

Noah, his family, and the animals entered the Ark.
Apparently it took some time, seven days?

Read the following.
Note what happened…timing, etc.

Gen 7:10-12

It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.

The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

The “water of the flood” came upon the earth after seven days.
Seven days of what?
Perhaps seven days since Noah had moved in.
Likely getting animals and supplies in.
We will learn more later.

The Lord is very precise.
600th year of Noah.
2nd month, of Noah’s life or some calendar?
17th day

What happened on that day?

People often think that it rained 40 days/nights in the pattern of our current hydrological cycle.
Nope.

On that same day…

  • all the fountains of the great deep burst open. So, seems to have been (or are?) subterranean fountains of great deep. They burst open…exploded.
  • the flood gates of the sky were opened. Somewhere I read that if all the water in the atmosphere were precipitated out at the same time, it would only be 1/4 inch of rain. There was likely a great abundance of water in the sky. The hydrological cycle of Noah’s time was different than ours. It had never rained.

The fountains burst forth.
The rain fell upon the earth for forty days/nights.

The Lord was washing away evil.
He washed the first time.
He will purify with fire the next.

Are you ready?
Noah was.

"600 Years"

August 27, 2016
“600 Years”
Blessings folk!
We have been told twice already, Noah did everything the Lord commanded. Such a simple thing, yet so neglected by the Body of Christ. Doing what the Lord commands/instructs.
We would do well to examine everything we do, especially as “the church”, to see if it aligns with the commandments of the Lord.
We might be surprised. Perhaps much with which we struggle is due to our lack of obedience to the Lord? I think so.
The story continues...
Gen 7:6-9 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth.
Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood.
Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground,
there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
We have a hard time imagining - 600 years old.
As a side-note. Had someone ask me this week about “primitive, cave” men. Who they were? What they were?
The skeletal remains we have look different in some ways. Looks to me like someone that might have lived hundreds of years...thicker bones, etc.
Noah... His family... The animals...clean and otherwise... All went into the ark as the Lord commanded Noah.
They entered the safety of the provision of the Lord. They were prepared for the judgment of God.
Are you? Have you entered the “Ark” that is the Lord Jesus? Are you protected from His wrath to come?
Today is the day of salvation. Confess. Repent. Call upon His name.
Believe.

“He Did According to All That the Lord Had Commanded Him”

August 26, 2016
“He Did According to All That the Lord Had Commanded Him”
Blessings folk! Noah is one of the “great cloud of witnesses” found in Hebrews 11.
Remember, we are examining each. What made them a “witness”? What did they do?
So far, we have seen that Noah... - found favor/grace in the eyes of the Lord - did everything that the Lord commanded
Now, let us quickly examine the account of the flood...
Genesis 7:1-7
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, ``Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. 2 ``You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; 3 also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 ``For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made." 5 Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.
The Lord was leading. The Lord was instructing. The Lord was giving the timing, etc.
Noah and his family were alone in righteousness before the Lord. No one else. All others were evil.
We have seen before that the Lord had brought animals two-by-two. Now Noah is instructed to bring seven of every clean animal. Apparently the Lord had told Noah which animals were clean.
The point of two, male/female, was to keep offspring alive. The point of the seven, male/female, was to keep offspring alive and to provide sacrifice.
The Lord then explained to Noah. After seven days He would send rain. It would rain forty days and forty night. All living things upon the face of the land would be blotted out.
Noah’s response? He did according to all that the Lord had commanded him.
Do we?

"Thus Noah Did..."

August 25, 2016
“Thus Noah Did...”
Blessings folk!
The Lord told Noah what He was about to do. The Lord told Noah why - the wickedness of the world.
Why did the Lord tell Noah? Because Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
The Lord told Noah... - to build an Ark - to gather the animals that the Lord would send/provide - to provide food for himself and the animals
Gen 6:21 “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.”
All of this is based upon the Covenant that the Lord made with Noah. What was Noah’s response?
Gen 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
He did all that God commanded him. So he did. All.
Even though it had never rained before, he began to build a giant boat for a flood. Even though he had to know that the wicked would berate and attack him. Even though he knew that as he spoke the truth, no one would believe.
Yet, he did all that God commanded. May we do likewise.

"Of Every Living Thing of All Flesh"

August 24, 2016

“Of Every Living Thing of All Flesh”

Blessings folk!

God told Noah that He would establish His covenant with him.
We learn more of the Covenant as we go.

We see this.
God initiated the Covenant.
God established the Covenant.
Apparently, the Covenant had something to do with sparing Noah the wrath of the judgment of the Lord yet to come.
Noah’s immediately family was included.

Were they they only righteous people on earth?
No.
Methuselah was alive.
He died the year of the flood.
When the flood came, Noah and his family were the sole righteous remaining.

The Lord would spare more than Noah and family…

Gen 6:18-20

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

“And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.

“Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

Noah was to bring two of every “kind” “of every living thing of all flesh”.
They were to be kept alive.
They were to be male and female.
Birds.
Animals.
Creeping things.

Two of every kind were to be kept alive.
They would replenish after the judgment.

The Lord told Noah what the plan was.
Noah was obedient to the Word of the Lord.

May we be likewise.