Category: belief

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Genesis 25-26 Trust…or…Fear

Are you fearful and if so of what?

Two times in these chapters we read that God blessed Isaac because of the obedience of his father Abraham. This is a principle that God has revealed: children are blessed because of the obedience and faithfulness of their parents. 

Yet, Isaac had a failure just as Abraham in that he did not trust God to protect his wife, but instead lied about his relationship with her. But, just as Numbers tells us , if we sin, God will reveal it loud and clear which is exactly what happened to Isaac. [Num 32:23] Both Abraham and Isaac had one glaring failure which the book of Proverbs tells us: The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Prov29:25]

So why did God bless Abraham and Isaac? God clearly points out that He hates lying in Proverbs 6 and in other places we see the fruit of lies like in the account of Gehazi where God pronounced leprosy on him. These are those issues that we find frustrating but when that happens and we don’t have clear cut answers, we need to remember Isaiah 55:8-9. His ways are higher and more superior to ours. 

God has His plans and even though we may not understand, we can trust that His way is the right and true way. Where is God calling you to trust Him today and tomorrow and the next day? 

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Genesis 22 It takes Faith…

God tests our heart motives

Hebrews reminds us that by faith Abraham obeyed God in leaving his home and by waiting on God for a son to be born as one born out of due time. Yet, even though Abraham obeyed God, he was tested by God to prove his faithfulness. We too are tested by God to prove our faithfulness and our steadfastness. Abraham was found faithful and God recognized it and counted him as righteous. 

As we look at our lives, we can experience tests just as Abraham and like his son Isaac, we see the wood and the fire but where is the lamb? Abraham wisely answered that God Himself would provide the lamb and He did. When you face a test and wonder where the lamb is, will you stop and believe without a shadow of doubt that God will provide? 

Over and over through the OT and NT we see Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He provided the east wind to draw the Nile back so the Israelites could walk across on dry ground. He provided water for Rahab in the desert. He provided the walls to fill down in Jericho so the city could be conquered. In Acts, God provided two angelic visitors to release Peter from prison.

Where have you seen God’s provision in your life? What was the result? 

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Genesis 19 Compromise Fails

compromise

As we read this account of Lot after the account of Abraham’s dialog with God we come away with several lessons. First sin looks beautiful but is ugly in its demands. Second, when we compromise our beliefs, others pay the price as well. Thirdly, God hears and answers prayer for He is compassionate. 

So let’s take this story apart. Lot had looked at the well watered plain and he moved near to Sodom. Next he moved into Sodom. Psalm 1 reminds us that God blesses “the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” [Ps 1:1] Lot failed in all areas. First he walked, then he stood, then he sat. His compromising actions leaves us the visions of the destruction of Sodom, the loss of his intended sons-in-law and tragically, his wife and lastly his own daughters who thought incest would be blessed but instead, became the thorn in the lives of the Israelites for centuries and even today. Moses reminded the Israelites that sooner or later, one’s sin will be found out. Num 32:23 “you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will findyou out.”

Is there anything positive from this account? We can look at Abraham and see how he sought God’s righteous character above all else. God answered his prayer to remove Lot from this situation. We too can pray that God remove the sinners from our presence so that He can bless us and direct our paths in righteousness. Are we praying that today? Or are we like Lot who compromised and lost his family? 

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Genesis 16-18 God is Sovereign

Who is God?

As we read this book we are reminded that God is God and there is no one to match Him or His work. What He says, He shall do. Over and over God reveals Himself to Abram, who is now to be called Abraham, and reveals His plans to him. This is a clear reminder of what Paul told the Ephesians:”In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” [Eph 1:9] 

Where has God revealed His plans to you? If you are struggling with that, seek Him while He may be found and He will do as you need. 

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Genesis11-15 Calling/Blessing of Abram

Choose Life

The author of Genesis, Moses, gives the genealogical record of the man Abram along with his family. In it we find this phrase:  ‘Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great,so that you will exemplify divine blessing.’ The word “exemplify” means to make an example of and that is what God intended to do for Abram and for us. God chooses some and chooses not others and only He knows His reasons. We are, however, given a glimpse of why God called Abram. He was a man of faith and believed God which is revealed as one who is obedient without question. Just as Enoch walked with God and was not, so too Abram walked with God but he lived obediently all the years of his life. There are some pointed lessons for us in these chapters: God chooses man and blesses man because of his obedience to Him. God chooses to bless those who obey Him without question and curses those who choose to not obey. Abram is a model for us and we are to learn from his life about blessings and curses. 

Paul talks about this in one of his pastoral letters by saying, you were chosen from the foundation of the world and that principle applies to Abram as well as you and I.“ Eph 1:4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.” Stop and ponder that earthshaking news! You were chosen from eternity past, not for yourself but for God to live and work and play as holy examples. 

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Job 30-41 God’s Zoo

Today, just as in the time of Job many deny the Creator and His creation. Yet we read in Romans 1:20 that all of creation reveals His attributes therefore we are without excuse. Where were we when God opened His vast storehouse of animals that we might see His powerful creation? Today, in Texas there is a riverbed of dinosaur tracks perfectly preserved. Last year in the drought we visited it and walked the riverbed and put our feet in the tracks! Amazing to think that Job might have seen animals such as these and as God described. 

God continues to ask Job if he really understands God and His creation. Job responds that he has spoken carelessly and will no longer question God for He has been humbled. When God speaks to us in dreams, as He did for Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar or the Holy Spirit speaks to us in the Word do we still challenge He who is Creator of all or do we humbly fall and submit to Him? 

Think about it! 

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1.13.25.God is…

God is

Job 35-37 God is Sovereign & His Ways are unknowable to man.

Elihu continues on his way offering a myriad of reasons men find themselves humbled but still wondering what is really happening because although God is sovereign, he is still unknowable in human terms. Elihu asks a thousand questions about life and the destiny of men and animals. He isn’t satisfied and Job isn’t either, or so he presumes. So now we have four men who think they have the answers to suffering but in the end they are as confused as they were at the beginning! One thing stands out: God knows what He is doing and the purposes yet man is in the dark and so men make. assumptions as to the real reason. “Elihu claimed that God is under no obligation to react to people’s actions be they good or bad. He is free to respond or not respond as He chooses. God is above the human sphere of life and only reacts to people when He chooses to do so. This is a thought Eliphaz had expressed earlier.” 

And so here we are in this and although we believe God and His ways because we have the completed Word, but we want to stand up and shout: this is a trial that God has allowed to prove His servant Job is honorable to the core. But, as Elihu says, God doesn’t have to tell us at all what He is doing because He is God and that is all that men need to remember. 

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1.11.25. Now and Tomorrow…

You are chosen

Job 29-31 Recalling the Past

As I age, I find I am doing just as Job. I recall my earlier days when my body was strong and I could work all day with abundant energy but now I tire easily and my strength is lessening with each passing day. Oh how I can relate to Job! He recalls the prime of his life and the joy of being able to serve and work with great joy. These days I find myself just like Job and soon i will be saying just as he said: my words are ended. But, in the meantime, I find my memories are sweet and abundant. I recall the successes and the failures for each taught me lessons that God would use to add to His work. Aging tends to do that. With age comes both wisdom and failures of past times.Don’t linger there my friend. Job has suffered greatly but in that suffering he has found the true meaning of life which is to honor God and give Him praise. He raises up and puts down men according to His will and we must be grateful for each day. 

Another sweet sister has gone to heaven and so as I read Job I find myself wondering. Her absence leaves a hole that cannot be filled and my heart is heavy knowing her absence is felt by her sweet family. Yet, in all of that, my heart rejoices that she is seeing the Lord she loved and served. What about you dear friend? 

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Conversations with God…

Meeting God

Job’s Audience with God

Job was facing the pangs of disease and loss of all he had, yet in a prayerful moment he still honored his faith and his God. In the quiet and stillness he prayed: “I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know with what words he would answer me-and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me.” [Job 23: 4-6] Job had such a close walk with God that he could picture them sitting down to discuss his questions and God would be there to listen.

al Is this way you see yourself and your relationship with God? If not, stop and consider what your relationship with God is at the moment. If you need help seeking that, send me a note and let’s talk. 

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Faithfulness…

Job 17 Despair

If it were not for Job’s faithfulness then we as present day readers would be in the pit of despair.  Listen to Job: “17:1 My spirit is broken, my days have faded out; the grave awaits me.” You can read this and pass on because it doesn’t describe you, but you can’t read it and not feel his despondency. How does one remain faithful when you have read these words? How can you pass on from here when you read the scathing responses of his so-called friends? How can you read this and not have a compassionate spirit in your heart? I can’t and probably you cannot either. 

How does one respond to a statement like Job’s? You sit in Shiva and mourn the heart of your precious friend. I can well remember doing just that for my dearest friend Rosie. Try as I might, there were only tears as I left that house and returned to my home and a family that was strong and healthy. I have never forgotten that day and her name sits at Ps 116:15 in my Bible. Listen to David’s words at that verse: “Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints.” 

Precious friend, if you have someone that you care about and is in the pit of despair, stop and pray. Pray for their soul, pray for God to be nearer than your breath and praise God when He takes them home. But….this is not where Job is yet. So stop and pray for their healing, their peace, their understanding when they stand at the crossroads of life. 

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