Genesis 22:1-10 God Himself will provide the (L)lamb!

The Offering of Isaac

(John 3:16-21; Romans 5:6-11; Hebrews 11:17-19)

1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will show you.”

3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.

4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”

6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

7Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”

“Here I am, my son,” he replied.

“The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.

9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

I cannot imagine a greater test than that which the Lord applied to Abraham. The Jews usually say that Abraham was tried ten times. Surely on this occasion he was tried ten times in one.” (Spurgeon)

God builds us up in faith slowly because we don’t handle change well. He slowly built up Abraham through the years. 

When Cecilia and I became “born again” God slowly worked on our hearts and brought us to what we thought was foster care for His orphans. But He then worked our hearts in His Potters hands towards adoption. Our family and friends said we were crazy but we steadfastly followed the Lords will with faith.

The verses we read in today’s study are no different, Abraham was a man of faith and followed the Lords will. He knew God had made him a promise that through a son born to him and Sarah He would create a nation. With this faith, Abraham followed Gods will and was going to sacrifice his only son. Abraham had faith God would keep His Promise.

When preparing this study I thought, how is this different than God offering up His only Son as a sacrifice for mankind?

Some think Isaac was older than a young child at this time.

“The younger man, perhaps five-and-twenty — so Josephus thinks — possibly thirty-three years of age, and, if so, very manifestly the type of Christ, who was about that age when he came to die” (Spurgeon).

“God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

God Himself provided the Lamb for mankind.

When God asks you to do something, do you have the faith to follow Him?

Blessings, David 

Genesis 21:25-34 Abraham’s well!

25But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”

27So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

30He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.” 31So that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.

33And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. 34And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

There were no rivers in the area and a well was of significant importance. Abraham made a strong rebuke of Abimelech because his servants seized the well. Most likely when the covenant was made Abraham made a sacrifice to seal the truth that he dug the well.  

Beersheba means, watering place, well of underground water. Some understand the biblical name of Beersheba to mean well of seven or the well of the oath. 

The tamarisk tree emits salt and is sometimes referred to a salt cedar. An ancient well still exists in the area which is still called Abraham’s well as do tamarisk trees.  

“and there he called upon the name of the LORD,”... In this time of conflict Abraham still calls on the name of the Lord, the eternal God. 

May we follow Abraham’s example in times of conflict and call on the name of the Lord, the eternal God!

Blessings, David 

A Saved Sinner. Proverb 3:5-6 NLT

I have a confession to make. Sometimes I have a hard time surrendering everything to God.

I trust Him completely. I know He is much wiser then me. I know He loves me. I know He wants the best for me. I know He has forgiven me. I know I still sin.

I don't understand how He can continue to bless me with all my faults, flaws and failures.

It's that time of the year here in Northern Michigan where all the rifle deer hunters are in the woods looking for that big buck. The season runs November 15-30. Opening day is like a state holiday. Businesses close, people take off school or work and the excitement builds that week before. David has hunted as long as I've known him, 37 years. In 2015 when he got a deer opening day and I for the first time, helped him gut it, I decided I had done it all now. I may as well hunt too. I've help skin and process deer before but never field dressed.

David took me up on that and bought me a rifle for Christmas that year. The following fall, I took my hunter safety course and got my licence. That November I spent two weeks in the woods, learning the hard way what not to do. The same the following year.

It is nice sitting quietly in the woods with the critters carrying on around you. I've had chickadees perch all around me within arms length. I've come face to face with chipmonks, been visited by 50 wild turkey and seen red fox. The first year I saw a button buck dance in a meadow 50 feet from me and never realize I was there. One rainy day I watched a doe shake off the rain from her coat and remember it in slow motion. It was beautiful.

This year I vowed would be different. I was determined to get my first buck. I sat in my cozy blind that first day and saw movement before dawn. Around 9am I had a doe come by. I got ready, hoping a buck would be along soon. 30 minutes later a four point came into view. I started shaking so bad I couldn't get the scope to stay still on him. Another lost opportunity. 

The second time he came back I wasn't ready and he was too quick for me. That ended the first day.

Friday, I have to work an 8 hour shift in the afternoon. We left for our blinds a little after 6am. I had set an alarm for 10am so I would know when to come in to get ready for work. I'm sitting there wondering how I'm going to feel if I do shoot a deer. Will I be happy or sad? I've never intentionally killed anything other than a bug. I started wondering why God should bless me with a deer, surely I don't deserve it. Even though I'm saved, I still have that surrender issue and sometimes I still sin. I think "God, if you going to bless me with a deer, he's going to have to stand still, I'm not quick enough to shoot a moving object."

5 minutes later, a buck walks into view. I was ready and had the scope on him in seconds. He walked across the road, turns around and starts walking toward me. I freeze. He puts his head down and just stands there! It's still a little dark, it’s snowing and about 7:10 am, but I make sure I see antlers and pull the trigger. He dropped right in the driveway, 5 feet from where I shot him. It was awesome. No regret, no remorse and a freezer full of meat.

Why would God bless me like that? Me, a saved sinner? Me who isn't perfect at surrendering? 

Because even with all my faults, with my sometimes doubts, with my occasional sin, with my selfish desires that still rear their ugly head from time to time, He still loves me.

Proverb 3:5-6 NLT

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take.

Blessings, Cecilia 

Genesis 21:22-24 God is with you!

The Covenant at Beersheba

22At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

24And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”

“I think that the greatest blessing God ever gives to a man is his own presence. If I had my choice of all the blessings of this life, I certainly should not ask for wealth, for that can bring no ease; and I certainly should not ask for popularity, for there is no rest to the man upon whose words men constantly wait, and it is a hard task one has to perform in such a case as that; but I should choose, as my highest honor, to have God always with me.” (Spurgeon)

“God is with you in all that you do.” Can people tell you are set apart by and with God in all you do? As Spurgeon says, it would be my highest honor, to have God always with me.

Abimelech saw this in Abraham and he had showed Abraham kindness so he wanted the same in return. Abraham replies, I swear it. Kindness begets kindness!

May God always be with you.

Blessings, David 

Genesis 21:9-21 Then God opened her eyes

Sarah Turns Against Hagar

9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son, 10and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”

11Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. 12But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. 13But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”

14Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.b

17Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. 18Arise, lift up the boy and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer. 21And while he was dwelling in the wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Ishmael was mocking Isaac, a person of the flesh cannot coexist with a person of the Spirit. Conflict was inevitable and something had to be done. But Ishmael was a child from Abraham so God showed him favor. Abraham had to rely on God to protect and provide for Ishmael. “But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.” 

“Behold the compassion of a mother for her child expiring with thirst, and remember that such a compassion ought all Christians to feel towards souls that are perishing for lack of Christ, perishing eternally, perishing without hope of salvation.” (Spurgeon)

“And God was with the boy”. God can be with you too. When we accept Jesus we become adopted into the family of Christ. 

Just as Hagar loved and cried for Ishmael, Jesus loves and cries for the unsaved!

“Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.”

Do you know someone who is wandering in the wilderness with no water to drink? 

Jesus supplies a well of living water!

John 4:13Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

It’s our job as Christians to point lost souls towards the well of living water, God will open their eyes.

Blessings, David 

Genesis 21:1-8 He will laugh!

The Birth of Isaac

(Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 4:1-7)

1Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. 2So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

3And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. 4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” 7She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

God waited 25 years to fulfill the Promise. And Abraham named his son Isaac just as God commanded. His name means “he will laugh”, Sarah laughed at the thought of giving birth in her old age and God turned it into a gentle rebuke. “Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” 

God does have a sense of humor!

Scholars believe Isaac was weaned the the age of three. 

What can we learn from these verses? Gods timing is not our timing and He has a sense of humor. Cecilia likes to follow the “clean joke of the day”. Our local Christian radio station plays them and the ones I enjoy the most are the ones that the children tell with their laughter at the punchline.

He will laugh and you should too!

Blessings, David 

Genesis 20:14-18 God rewards us also when we are sinners.

14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— 18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Abimelech in a sense was heaping coals on Abraham’s head. Romans 12:20 (ESV)

20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

I think it should have been the other way around. Earlier in Genesis we saw Abraham refused to accept gifts from a pagan king but this time he accepted them. 

How do you think Sarah felt when Abimelech said; “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”?

“Then Abraham prayed to God”

I wonder if Abraham asked for forgiveness for his lie?

This seems backward to me, being rewarded for lying. But God rewards us also when we are sinners.

How has God rewarded you?

Blessings, David 

Genesis 20:8-13 A half truth is a whole lie!

8Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Abimelech was right and Abraham was wrong as Abraham told a half truth which was a whole lie and didn’t trust the Lord for protection.

“Abraham should have said: ‘Forgive me, Abimelech, for dishonoring both you and my God. My selfish cowardice overwhelmed me, and I denied my God by fearing that He who called me could not take care of me. He is not as your gods of wood and stone. He is the God of glory. He is the living God, the Creator, the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. He told me He would be my shield and my exceeding great reward, and supplier of all my needs… In sinning against Him, I sinned against you. Forgive me, Abimelech.’” (Barnhouse)

Remember, a half truth is always a whole lie!

AND...

God is your shield, a supplier of all your needs! Trust in the Lord for protection.

Blessings, David 

Genesis 20:1-7 The warning and the prayer!

Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech

1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have also kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

Abraham moved, possibly because he didn’t want to overlook the ruined plain of Sodom and Gomorrah and be reminded of the people that died there?

Just like us, Abraham falls again into a familiar sin and we see that God still considered him to be a prophet. He intervened because through Abraham’s seed the Messiah would be born and HE didn’t want anyone to question if it was Abimelech.

Sarah was 90 years old and was considered beautiful. Was it because God was rejuvenating her for the Promise?

The warning! “But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

And the prayer! ..”for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live.”

A twofer!

Blessings, David 

Genesis 19:30-38 Sins, past, present and future!

Lot and His Daughters

30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.

31One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth. 32Come, let us get our father drunk with wine, so that we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”

33So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn came and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

34The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Look, I slept with my father last night. Let us get him drunk with wine again tonight, so you can go sleep with him, and we can preserve our father’s line.”

35So again that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the younger daughter went and slept with him; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

36Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab.b He is the father of the Moabites of today. 38The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi.c He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

Why was Lot afraid to stay in Zoar? We just don’t know, but we are told he settled in the mountains and settled in a cave. Living in Sodom took a toll on Lot’s family....

Why didn’t he just seek out Abraham’s help?

“Ironically, in his own drunkenness Lot carried out the shameful act that he himself had suggested to the men of Sodom: he lay with his own daughters.” (Sailhamer)

The Bible teaches us the facts of life, that God hates sin and punishes it. I cannot help to think of examples in the Bible on how God has turned sin back around on the sinner. Is this an example with Lot’s daughters one of those?

The Moabites and Ammonites became obstacles for Israel and Lot’s life ended in ruin in past, present and future. Sin does that to us, which is the reason Jesus Christ came among us and died on the cross.

Don’t be like Lot, lay all your sins, past, present and future at the foot of the cross and be forgiven. He will change your world.

Blessings, David 

Genesis 19:27-29 God rememberers Abraham

27Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

Abraham wanted to remember his meeting with God, so he returned to their meeting place. Has God so moved you that you returned to the place to take it all in?

Back in Abraham’s time what type of furnace would they have? One that comes to mind would be for smelting iron, minerals. I suspect the smoke from the land was on a greater scale that nothing manmade would compare until modern warfare.

God remembered Abraham, it was Abraham that reasoned with God for Lot’s life. But Lot lost everything except his daughters. His compromise with sin led to the loss of his wife and all his wealth. 

Why do we allow sin to compromise our lives, to affect our relationship with God?

Paul in Romans 7:24 says it best, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”

There is only one thing that can bring you out of the catastrophe that is destroying your life, Jesus!

Blessings, David 

True Faith. Proverbs 3:1-4 NLT

“The heart is the first thing that wanders away from God, and it is also the first thing that returns to God.” (Bridges) 

A bit of a read but well worth your time.

http://nmichchristianvoice.com/2018/11/godstrong-the-house-familys-test-of-faith/?fbclid=IwAR0npU2QY7pO_ESrFnO1CAq6SwJ7YqYujbKpvGyU7WkmrL2WCyKpkEBO-1U

Proverbs 3:1-4 NLT

1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.

Store My commands in your heart.

2 If you do this, you will live many years,

and your life will be satisfying.

3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!

Tie them around your neck as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.

4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,

and you will earn a good reputation. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Genesis 19:24-26 Don’t be like Lot’s wife!

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

24Then the LORD rained down brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.

26But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Gods judgement is true, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah rejected Him after He saved them through Abraham and Melchizedek. They were evil and didn’t care for the widows and orphans.

Lot’s wife looked back, her heart was lingering there and she apparently didn’t want to leave. Gods judgement on her was a warning, repent and don’t look back. Leave your evil desires behind you and serve Him.

Is there something in your life that you keep looking back on? 

Don’t be like Lot’s wife!

Blessings, David 

Genesis 19:17-23 Run for your lives!

17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

18But Lot replied, “No, my lords, please! 19Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. 20Look, this town is near enough for me flee to it, and it is a small place. Please let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved.”

21“Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate. 22Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.

23When the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar.

Zoar, little town or small city.

Is it just me or does Lot seem to complain about everything? The men (Angels) couldn’t destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot and his family were safe. But Lot says, “But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.” If he did die then God would have broken His promise to Abraham.

Do you remember what Abraham and Melchizedek did for the peopled Sodom? And they still didn’t repent after being saved from the conquering king.

But that is human nature. 

How many of us continue to sin after coming to Christ?

Run for your lives! This is what we should be screaming to all those around us! We should be evangelizing to the lost and dying world. Run to Jesus Christ before it’s too late. He alone can save you.

Blessings, David 

Micah 7:18 God of second chances!

God of second chances.

God is not only the God of second chances; He is the God of another chance.

Micah 7:18 (ESV)

18  Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

and passing over transgression

for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

because he delights in steadfast love.

November 15th is an undeclared state holiday. It’s the start of firearm deer season. Schools close, businesses close....

A couple years ago Cecilia decided to give it a try. So I gave her a rifle with a scope, built her a deer blind and raised it off the ground, it over looks our driveway in the woods, 350 yards long.

Last year was a learning process. She had a four point buck walk out in front of her but the noise it made when walking she actually thought it was me. So unprepared it got away. Then there was a spike that stopped and ate at her bait pile, she didn’t shoot it either. 

This year she was prepared and on opening day she saw a doe and got ready, a six point walked out after it but she got buck fever and her heart raced and her body shook, unable to shoot two chances went by and he was gone. 

I prayed she would get one this morning and so did she. God brought back that six point and stopped him in our driveway, Cecilia shot and it was hers.

The interesting part was yesterday I was in my tree stand and my left foot was getting frostbite and I couldn’t take it anymore and went back to the house to warm up. That same buck walked within 30 yards of my stand and would have been mine.

But God gave Cecilia a second chance and she got her first deer. A clean and humane kill.

God give us all second chances when we deserve none. It’s unconditional love from our Father.

He loves you and wants you to love Him too. He will give you a second chance even if it’s only your first deer.

Blessings, David