Genesis 17-20

Today in Genesis 17-20 we read more about how God shows up in Abraham and Sarah's life. They are proof that God's timing is everything.  Abraham is 99 years young and Sarah 90, and God promises them a son by the next year!  It's crazy good, hard-to-believe news.  Their son Isaac is all part of God's bigger plan to make the couple the mother and father of a great nation of God's faithful people.  God's just working out the details like He promises us He will.  Also in these chapters, God completely destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, the area where Lot (Abraham's nephew) lives.  Those cities are too full of wickedness and evil for God's liking.  God remembers Abraham,though, and saves Lot and his daughters.  Lot's wife is not so lucky, as her split second decision to look back (despite God's instruction) leads to her death.  King Abimelek even witnesses God's sovereignty for himself through his relationship with Sarah.  We learn just how much faith serves as the life line for Abraham and his family.

I love reading all the ways God is with His people in Genesis.  The almighty, powerful God who can destroy entire cities in seconds also chooses to show up and hear, assure, guide, and encourage His believers in real ways.  

So far in Genesis, God has been there for Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Lot.  God is interested in establishing and nurturing a family of believers.   

God has a great love for His people.  He really wants to be in relationship with us, doesn't he?  Our God is a conversational God.  Notice all the ways He reaches out to people.  Our God can do anything and everything.  I don't know about you, but I want Him on my side.

14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Genesis 18:14

Yet, as humans, we hesitate at times.  We do not always listen to our all-knowing God and His perfect plan.  We make mistakes and get off track.  The world is a busy, noisy, distracting place.  We need God to grab us by the hand and show us His direction and mercy, like He did for Lot and his family.

16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.

Genesis 19:16

What is too hard for you?  Give it to God.

Are you hesitating in any area of your life?  Ask God to grab you by the hand.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

I am so thankful for my relationship with You.  I know nothing is too hard for You.  There are things in my life that are really hard for me ____________________.  Forgive my hesitation.  I pray for Your mercy.  Help me listen to You.  Grab me by the hand, and show me where to go and what to do for You, Lord.  I also pray you will hold ___________'s (those on your heart) hands.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,

Amen

Grace and peace,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

  

Genesis 13-16

Abram is traveling for God in Genesis 13-16.  God is really changing Abram (meaning noble father) and Sarai's (meaning princess) life through this journey, so it's no surprise that He changes their names too.  They become known as Abraham (father of many) and Sarah (mother of nations).  God keeps reminding Abraham of His promise, but there's lots of in-between time with hard work involved and some very scary moments.  Abraham rescues his nephew, Lot, from some allied kings, and he ends up being blessed in the process.  He and Sarah also make some mistakes along the way, but God doesn't give up on them.

I love seeing the relationship evolve between Abraham and God as time goes on.  God senses Abraham's need for reassurance.

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

    I am your shield,[a]

    your very great reward.[b]”

Genesis 15:1

Abraham has questions for God.  There are things he doesn't understand.  He talks to God about it, and God answers very directly.

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[a] be.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:4-6

I am sure this huge promise still didn't make total sense, but Abraham trusted God.  And did you catch what the scripture says about belief?  God credited belief as righteousness.  

I think sometimes we just have to believe without understanding everything.

Even though Abraham's faith is clearly very strong, he is still prone to mistakes.  

I have to be honest, it makes me feel better to know Abraham and his wife made mistakes too.  It gives me hope and shows me how great God's love is for His believers.

Genesis 9-12

The big flood is over and Noah and his family are safe in Genesis 9-12.  God blesses them and promises He will never flood the earth again.  The rainbow is a sign of that promise.  Noah's son's- Shem, Ham, and Japheth are the beginnings of the twelve tribes of Israel and God's chosen people.  Everyone speaks one language and seems to get a little too big for his/her britches so God solves the problem with the tower of Babel.  Then, we read through Noah's whole family tree and fast forward a few hundred years to meet Abram (a descendant of Shem and later called Abraham) who does another crazy big thing for God in his faithfulness. 

Abram's faith is where I want to zoom in today.  Abram and his wife, Sarai are pretty old.  They've never had children.  They're settled in their hometown of Harran, but God asks them to follow Him and do something bigger and very different than what they know.

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 

“I will make you into a great nation,

    and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

    and you will be a blessing.[a]

3 

I will bless those who bless you,

    and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

    will be blessed through you.”[b]

Genesis 12:1-3

When God spoke, Abram listened.  His wife supported him.  Together, they followed God, and God blessed them beyond their wildest dreams.  That's faith.  And their story is the beginning of how God's power can work in our lives if we will follow His call for us.

So today, Abram and Sarai's faith reminds me of a few thing's about God...