# 14 2023 Dev. Gen.23:4. Sarah’s Tomb! Read all of chapter twenty three, first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this is also part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from The NIV.

Gen.23:2  Abraham said; “I am a foreigner and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”

Gen.23. Abraham grieves over Sarah, she lived for 127 years and she is the only woman in the Bible that speaks of her age at death. This chapter is a long negotiation to buy a burial site for Abraham and family. People wanted a cave for burial so they could lay their loved ones on a shelf carved in the cave. Caves normally were a place to bury many family members. In this case: “The cave of Machpelah, in the West Bank city of Hebron, is the burial place of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. According to Jewish mystical tradition, it’s also the entrance to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve are buried.” (Wikipedia) The Bible confirms those buried there but the mystical Jewish tradition is a tantalizing thought.

Vs.1-16 It is a long drawn out negotiation, Abraham starts out with the reality of his situation, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you.” Abraham wants to buy the cave of Machpelah, the owner Ephron, wants to give it away to Abraham, but Abraham knows better, it is all a pretense. But Abraham trusts that God will give his offspring the land so his purchase is an act of faith. The price is exorbitant, 400 shekels of silver, typically  at the time a years wage is about 10 shekels. Abraham does not quibble over the price he is buying for future generations.

Vs.17-20 So the deed is made out to Abraham, the cave, the field, and the trees in the field. Very third world, the trees don’t normally come with the field. In Nigeria the trees belong to the planter of the trees, unless they are sold as well. It was done in the presence of the community, at the city gate, making this a legal and binding transaction. 

“By faith he (Abraham) made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” Heb. 11:9-10. 

We all are wanderers and strangers on this earth, our home is in a better land not of this world, yet like Abraham we live here by faith.

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# 13 2023 Dev. Prov.12:14. Walk Your Talk! Read all of chapter  twelve first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 12:14 “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.”

Proverbs 12 consists of 28 couplets of opposing ways of living, right verses wrong, by God’s standard. All verses are in opposition to each other except verse 14 in the middle of the Psalm and verse 28 at the end of the psalm. 

Vs.1-9 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge…” The psalmist begins with what is most despised today, people are wise in their own eyes, no correction is tolerated. “A person is praised according to their prudence…”

Vs.10-13 “The righteous care for the needs of their animals…They work their land… the wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers…evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.”

V. 14 stands alone in the middle of the Psalm. It covers the way we talk, the things we say to each other and to others. From the lips of the righteous “people are filled with good things,” The psalmist goes on to “the work of their hands brings them reward” what we do with the blessings God has given us for ourselves and to help others. God calls us to be a blessing!

Vs.15-20 Here the psalmist seems to start again from the beginning. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” These verses speak of prudence, honesty, reckless words, truthful lips, deceit, “but those who promote peace have joy.”

Vs.21-27 “No harm overtakes the righteous… the Lord detests lying lips… the prudent keep their knowledge to themselves… diligent hands will rule… anxiety weighs down the heart… the righteous choose their friends carefully… The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” Righteousness and prudence are our friends!

V.28 stands alone, “in the way of righteousness there is life…” Righteousness in this life has it’s reward, Peace, good relationships, the joy of life, the blessings of family, the blessings of work, and the approval of God. But it does not end in this life, it leads us in the “path that is immortality.” Eternal life! Praise be to God! 

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# 12 2023 Dev. Gen.22:2 God’s Test! Read all of chapter twenty two, first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this is also part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from The NIV.

Gen.21:2 “Then God said, ‘Take your son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.’”

Gen.22 is a pivotal chapter, first of all the chapter foreshadows God’s plan for salvation, moving past “believing the promises of God” by faith in what is not yet seen to seeing and believing in the promise Himself.  Further, there is testing in this life, God is forming us as He did with Abraham and Sarah. This event and former promises formed Abraham and Sarah into who God wanted  them to be. In the same way God forms us into who He wants us to be today. Thirdly, it lays out for us what it means to sacrifice your own son, the Son of the incarnation, human like us, as God did in Christ for all the people of the world.

Vs.1-3 God tells Abraham what he must do. There appears to be no negative reaction, no pleading, no anger, no rebellion. What would any one of us say or do?

Vs.3-5 “Early the next morning,”Abraham prepares to leave. Do we think he told Sarah about God’s request, very unlikely. They travel for three days, with this request hanging over him, he had not told Isaac, nor his servants. Three days of anguish, of hoping, of looking for something that would indicate that God would relent. Nothing, nothing, as far as Abraham understood.

Vs.6-8 Abraham put the wood on Issac, Abraham had the fire and the knife. Going up the mountain together Isaac asks the obvious question. Father, we have no lamb! “Abraham answers, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’” Imagine the scene, Abraham proves true to his name; a man of faith, against all odds he believed that God would provide. An example for us, o ye of little faith!

Vs.9-14 Abraham built an alter, put on wood and bound Issac for the sacrifice. As he was about to sacrifice his son, at the last minute the angel stoped him. ‘Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’” Immediately, Abraham saw a ram stuck in the bushes that he sacrificed instead of his son Issac.  That sacrifice foreshadows Jesus Christ who took our place on the cross, a place we deserved. “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” When we come to Jesus it will be provided, whatever it is you need according to God’s will, Amen.

Vs.15-19 “The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time.” He said; ‘I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand of the seashore…and through your offspring all the nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’” Obedience to God has ramifications for the whole earth, and disobedience, as we see in our time will have negative ramifications, as we are starting to experience.

Vs.20-24 This information about Abraham’s brother is an editorial note (Rebecca) on Isaac’s future, as well as indicating God’s blessings on this family. Ishmael established twelve tribes,  Nahor established twelve tribes, and Jacob established twelve tribes. God keeps His promises, praise be to God!

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# 11 2023 Dev. Prov.11.7. Put Your Hope in God! Read all of chapter eleven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 11:7 “Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.”

Proverbs 11 continues the theme of “wisdom” and “knowledge” but it is no longer a dialogue. It is a chapter of 31 verses that  hi-light  righteousness and unrighteousness in comparative parallelism.  Ways of thinking, ways of acting, ways of speaking and ways of living are included, as well the results of a person’s way of being. The proverbs covers all of life.

Vs.1-6 For the most part these verses appear to speak about Integrity, “The Lord detests dishonest scales…” or “ The righteousness of the blameless make their paths straight…”

V.7 stands alone and is inferring, trust in God alone.

Vs.8-15 These verses appear to speak to relationships, and a loose tongue; “with their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors…” and “A gossip betrays a confidence…” 

Vs.16-20 These verses appear to speak to ways of living. “Those who are kind benefit themselves…” and others I may add. “The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse…” 

Vs.21-23 These verses appear to speak to ways of thinking and the results of thoughtful and thoughtless way of thinking. “Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished…” and “The desire of the righteous ends only in good…”

Vs.24-31 These verses appear to speak to possessions and include ways of thinking and acting. “A generous person will prosper…” and  “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and the one who is wise saves lives.” A word the the wise, thanks be to God!

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The family of God.

We were reflecting on our time at New Community Church this summer, what a blessed time, it felt like coming home to the children of God. It was like what Paul teaches us in Scripture.

“All of us, regardless of our circumstances in life, are “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” as Paul says in Ephesians 2:19. You and I have been adopted into God’s family and have become God’s children (Romans 8:16). God’s family becomes visible on earth through his church.”

Of course we know that the church is a family, we all know that. We love each other, we respect each other, we are patient with each other, we forgive each other, we encourage each other and we never give up one anyone, like children in all real families. But what we learned this summer is that: this does not only go on at Sunday morning, families take care of each other every day of the week, 24/7. On Sunday we come together to thank God and celebrate for what God has done for us during the week. Thank you for setting that example. We thank God. Blessings!

Pastor Case and Gremar

# 09 2023 Dev. Prov. 9:10. Knowledge and Understanding! Read all of chapter nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9 continues the theme of “wisdom” and “knowledge” The chapter compares two imaginary houses, two opposing ways of life and two opposite world views.  Here also, the author personalizes wisdom and folly as  a righteous woman and an unruly woman. This can be said of men as well.

Vs.1-6 is a house of wisdom, a lot of work has gone into the house, she (has hewn out. see note) and set up seven pillars, the number of completeness of the house and completeness of her or his life. “Let all who are simple come to my house!” Come, eat and drink, come and learn to “walk in the way of insight.”

Vs.7-9. Here as well, we have the contrast, the comparison of two world and life views. We have all learned that those wise in their own eyes do not take advice well, but those seeking wisdom, listen.

Vs.10-12. The fear of the Lord, the respect for God’s ways and for God’s precepts, we only need to be afraid if we ignore God’s ways.  But  through wisdom “your days will be many…add years to your life.” Years of peace and harmony.

Vs.13-18. The author has given us the way of wisdom and the results of prudence. In these five verses he gives us the opposite, the opposing view. “Folly is an unruly woman” or man. She does not send out servants to call those seeking wisdom, no, she sits in her door way, she is the temptation. She is in a place, visible.  Her message is the same “Let all who are simple come to my house!” Meat, water, wine, or sex when “stolen is sweet”,  it is all delicious, more exciting but it leads to death. The end result of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the lust for goods is “that her (or his) guests are deep in the realm of the dead.”  A word to the wise.

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# 08 2023 Dev. Gen.20:7. Prophets, Priests and Kings! Read all of chapter twenty, first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from The NIV.

Gen.20:7 “Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.”

Gen.20 is the second time Abraham and Sarah colluded to deceive a leader they had to deal with. Was there a legitimate concern that a king would kill to steal a wife or a man’s possessions? That could be a real concern but if a king could cement a relationship with someone as prominent as Abraham, it was marriage. That could be what is going on here, in any case, it conflicts with God plan, and God intervened. 

Vs.1-2 Abraham and Sarah did not learn from the consequences of deception in Egypt,  Sarah was taken both times and God intervened both times. 

Vs.3-7 God intervened and the text is very clear that Sarah was not touched. Further, God makes clear to Abimelek that Abraham is a prophet and Abimelek’s survival is in Abraham’s hands.

Vs.8-15 Abimelek makes restitution to Abraham but he calls Abraham to account.  Abimelek to Abraham, why?  “There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife,” was Abraham’s answer. That may be true, but God had promised Abraham His care, and protection. We can identify: “O, ye of little faith,” God is faithful, even if we are not.

V.16 Abimelek also makes restitution to Sarah, “you are vindicated in the eyes of your family”.

Vs.17-18 Abraham prays for Abimelek, God heard his prayer and healed his household. Since God’s Covenant through Jesus, the Covenant of God’s Grace and Love, followers of Jesus,  now  are prophets, priests and kings. We have the Holy Spirit, prophetic knowledge, we have direct access to God as priests, He hears our prayers and we reign with Christ  as kings. Thanks be to God, Amen! 

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# 07 2023 Dev. Prov.8:4. God’s Wisdom! Read all of chapter eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 8:4 ‘“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.”’ 

Proverbs 8 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.” Here in chapter eight wisdom is personified, It is one long quote from vs 12-36 giving instruction that should be familiar to all of us.

Vs.1-11 The chapter starts with a rhetorical question, “Does not wisdom call out?” Yes, wisdom stands at every path, every crossroad, every gate at the city, at every portal of our lives. This is about how we plan, or do not plan to live our lives. Wisdom is trustworthy, speaks what is right,  what is true, and what is just. Choose wisdom over gold or silver, “nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Vs.12-21 Prudence and discretion are the hallmarks. Evil is rejected, pride and arrogance an affront to God, perverse speech, evil.  All who rule on the earth and practice wisdom are a blessing, they love me and seek to find me. All who follow me “walk in the way of righteousness, along the path of justice.

Vs.22-29 Wisdom came to expression at creation, God’s wisdom is all around us every day. God’s wisdom is also expressed in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. “God, three in one,” from eternity to eternity. 

Vs.30-31 Here we are tempted to place Jesus in the text, but there is no proof that Solomon wants to call Jesus, God’s wisdom, in this context. However, John 1:3 tells us that through him, Jesus, all things were made.

Vs.32-36 Solomon ends with good advice, “blessed are those who keep my (wisdom) ways, Blessed are those who listen to me.” “For those who find me find life” But those who do not seek or find me, love death and not life. Choose life while it may be found. Amen!

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# 06 2023 Dev. Gen.19:2. Punishment and Grace! Read all of chapter nineteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from The NIV.

Gen.19:2 “My lords,’ he said, ‘please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”’

Gen.19 is the chapter describing the visit of two of God’s angels to Sodom and Gomorrah, the destruction of the cities and what happens to Lot and family.

Vs.1-3 Lot practices the hospitality that Abraham practiced. One thing becomes clear, it is unlikely many strangers came into this city. Perhaps Lot wanted to spare these two strangers, knowing the people he lived with. By the time they had finished the meal  I suspect Lot saw these man as very special visitors. 

Vs.4-5 Before long all the city’s men, both young and old, gathered at Lot’s door and demanded he produce these two strangers. Lot lived here in this city as well, but Lot was not involved in homosexual  behavior, he was burdened by the evil of the place and 2 Pet. 2:7 calls Lot, “a righteous man.”  However, Lot did nothing to separate himself from this place.

Vs.6-8 Lot confronted them, “do not do this wicked thing, he offers them his two virgin daughters instead. In our time, this confrontation is disputed, calling it a possible spy situation and they simply wanted to interview the men. And the Idea of offering his two daughter was simply assurance that these men are legitimate guests, not spies. However, this is not what the text says.

Vs.9-11 There is nothing more unsettling to people who justify a commonly practiced activity, by calling it; “this wicked thing.” Today, the wrath of the government and of many people is upon you to suggest such as this. The crowd threatened Lot  to the point that the angels pull him inside and strike the crowd blind. 

Vs.12-26 From this point on, the angels want Lot and family out of the city, Lot finds his two future son’s-in-law but they do not believe him. Finally, the angels take the four of them by the hand and literarily pull them out of the city. “Flee to the the mountains and do not look back.” But Lot pleads to go to a small village instead, Zoar and in His mercy God grants this as well. But as God’s punishment is rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife looked back, was she only looking or was her heart  back to her comfortable life? She disobeyed, the angels had warned them not to look back. Some commentators today suggest that she actually went back, we don’t see that here, she longed for the comfortable life she had and it cost her. Is she lost? Based on God’s grace, we don’t think so.

Vs.27-29 Abraham, went to see if the cities were destroyed, and indeed they were. The author, Moses put in an editorial note: “God remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. The point is made that even in punishment there is grace. 

Vs.30-38  Lot, to his peril left the village of Zoar and fled to the mountains to live in a cave. Was Zoar as evil as Sodom?  Were they traumatized? Perhaps both. The daughters colluded together to get pregnant by their father, completely reprehensible, but God allowed it and they both became pregnant. They both had sons, they named them Moab, and Ben-Ammi. See footnotes for the meaning of their names. They became nations that for the most part opposed the Israelites. The one redeeming factor is the story of Naomi and Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite, is in the line of Jesus Christ. God’s grace abounds. Amen!  

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