# 02 2023 Dev. Gen.17:1.Walk Faithfully! Read all of chapter seventeen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from The NIV.

Gen.17:1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘I am God almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”

Gen.17 God makes a covenant with Abram like God made a covenant with Noah. God made a promise to Noah and all the animals about not flooding the earth ever again, and the sign of the covenant was the rainbow. God’s covenant with Abram was more comprehensive. That is what this whole chapter is about.

Vs.1-8 You will the father of many nations, I am changing your name to “Abraham”, “it will be an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” That includes us as followers of Jesus. Further, God gives Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan forever. The Word forever tells us that what God is promising is the New Heaven and the New Earth. Canaan, fore-shadows the promise of Heaven.

Vs.9-14 “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision and it will be the sign of the covenant between you and me.” All those in Abrahams household were to be circumcised in the flesh. Again, this fore-shadows the circumcised heart and is replaced with baptism in the New Testament.

Vs.15-16 “God also said to Abraham, as for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah, I will give you a son by her, she will be the mother of nations…” She was equally blessed along with Abraham. She starts to fulfill the Mother Promise, Ge. 3:15.

Vs.17-18 Abraham fell down and laughed, Abraham asked God to accept Ishmael, he doubted given their age, understandable, but our God is a God of miracles. God heard Abraham, Yes, I will bless Ismael, but my covenant will be with Isaac.

Vs. 19-22 “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac”, by the way that name means laughter. God made His covenant with Isaac, not yet born, and God makes His covenant with us, not yet born, all who call upon the name of the Lord. Praise be to God!

Vs.23-24 On that day Abraham did all God commanded him, thanks be to God! Today, are we still walking faithfully with God?

# 01 2023 Dev. Prov.5:7. Sound Instruction! Read all of chapter five first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 5:7 “Now my sons (and daughters), listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say”

Proverbs 5 is a warning against adultery, it comes at it from the perspective of sons but today we include the daughters, it is a problem with both genders today. We must also think about other vices, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and porn. The same warnings apply.

Vs.1-6 Pay attention to wisdom, words of insight, perceive knowledge, stolen bread is sweet, lips drip honey, speech is smooth. But it is a double edge sword, bitter as gall, it leads to death straight to the grave and leads to a purposeless life.

Vs.7-14 Listen, or you lose your honor, your dignity. Your labor is in vain, your wealth is wasted, your strength is wasted. You hate discipline and reject instruction and soon you are in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.

Vs.15-19 Here the Psalmist uses the metaphor of one’s own well, “should your springs overflow into the streets?” You should know who your offspring is, may they be yours alone, so your offspring is blessed. “Rejoice in the wife of your youth, may her breasts satisfy you, may you be intoxicated with her love.” This works both ways in marriage and blessed is the couple who practice daily love.

V. 20 Why go to someone who belongs to someone else? Really!

Vs.21-23 This says it all: “For your ways are in full view of the Lord and He examines all your paths.” The wicked ensnare themselves, their sins hold them fast. Do not follow their folly! We thank God for His instructions, Amen.

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# 52 2022 Dev. Ge.16:1. Impatience, or lack of faith? Read all of Ch.16 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.16:1 “Now Sarai, Abrams wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar.”

Chapter 16 is a chapter that gives us some insight into the culture of that day. To be barren was considered by many as a curse from God, also, it was unacceptable for a man not to have an heir. Hammurapi’s’ code allowed for a surrogate as a legal means to acquire an heir.  None of this is an excuse for Abram to whom God had promised an heir from his own flesh. More than likely Sarai was past the age of child baring, both Abram and Sarai faced the reality of their situation, humanly speaking. Certainly this situation is impatience with God’s promise, and a lack of faith that had serious implications for them and for us.

Vs.1- 6 Abram’s and Sarai’s decision soon turned their domestic life upside down. Bad decisions tend to do that.  What was Abram thinking? Sarai, “May the Lord judge between you and me” an accusatory statement. This conflict did not cease until Abram listened to Sarai again, “put this woman and her son away from us.” God told Abram to listen to her.

Vs.7-10 Sarai retaliated, with Abram’s permission, to Hagar’s indolence to the point that she ran away. “The angel of the Lord”, traditionally, that statement is often considered to be the pre-incarnate Christ, he finds her near a spring in the desert. He tells her to return to Sarai, and to submit to her. Further, he tells her that her offspring will be uncountable. This is what God promised to Abram, that is surprising! Did God promise that because Ishmael was Abram’s son? Or, are Ishmael’s offspring to be a counterfoil to Abram’s offspring to test them and form them? I believe it to be the latter.

Vs.11-13 What the Angel said to her was a little like what the Angel told Mary. “You are pregnant, will have a son, name him Ishmael, (Who he is, what he will do) he will be a wild donkey of a man, and will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” This is being played out in the Middle East today.

Vs.15 “So Hagar bore Abram a son, it does not appear that he was ever Sarai’s son as she had hoped. God is in control in spite of our short comings, but God’s ways are not our ways. He is faithful even if we are not. Praise Him!

# 51 2022 Dev. Prov.4:18 The light of life! Read all of chapter four first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 4:18 “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
 shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

Proverbs 4 is a wisdom proverb, starting out as the experience of the teacher, an only child perhaps “highly cherished by my mother.”

Vs.1-4 “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live” his father tells him and now tells his sons “listen, my sons,” “take hold of my word with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.” The author addresses us as well. Are we listening?

Vs.5-9 “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, she will watch over you”, give you wisdom and understanding, “she will exalt you”, “honor you” and “give you a garland, and a glorious crown”. It comes down to a new life in Christ, even eternal life.

Vs.10-17 The Fathers admonitions are repeated here for emphasis. But starting at vs 14 he warns us about the ways of the wicked. They are not able to resist the way of wickedness, making people stumble, they consume wickedness and drink violence. A word to the wise

Vs.18-17 is a comparison of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous live in glorious light and the wicked live in deep darkness. What is the light of your life?

Vs.20-27 is a seven verse summary of Chapter 3, urging us to put into practice the precepts of this Proverb. Vs. 23 stands out: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Amen and Amen!

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# 50 2022 Dev. Ge.15:6 Righteousness! Read all of Ch.15 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Chapter 15 is a pivotal chapter for Abram, for the rest of the world and for followers of Jesus today. Here we start to see God’s plan for His people, for the world and for all of Abram descendants, all those who call upon the name of the Lord.

Vs.1-6 After the event of Melchizedek, “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)” (see notes) Is God speaking to us as well? Yes, Abram was the messenger. All the families of the earth will be blessed through him, we are messengers as well, those we contact are blessed. Abram believed God, his faith, we all are saved by faith, not by works but by the Grace and work of Jesus.

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I remain childless…” Abram’s faith did not ignore the fact that Sarai was barren.  He asked God about it, God said no, not Eliezer but your own flesh and blood will be your heir. Abram believed God, even though Abram believed he still questioned God. Faith does want to see. God told him to look up, can you count the stars? No. “So shall your offspring be”

Vs,7-11 He also said I brought you here to this land for “you will take possession of it.”  But, Abram again needed to see. The Lord said, “bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” These animals are what was the prescribed sacrifices to God after being released from Egypt. What do we sacrifice? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Ro.12:1) Abram, following God’s instructions, cut the animals in half but not the birds.

Vs.12-16 At sunset, Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then God told Abram what was to happen for four more generations to Abram’s offspring. Slavery and oppression but in the end God sets them free and points them to the land promised to Abram. That promise is the foreshadowing of our own salvation in Jesus Christ, including the promised land, the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Vs.17-21 after dark, God himself, represented by a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch passed through the slain animals, making a covenant with Abram, “to your descendants I give this land.  We are the descendants of Abram, we are set free from sin and are saved by the grace of God, through Christ Jesus, Abraham’s descendants not yet born then but living in our hearts now. Thanks be to God!

# 49 2022 Dev. Prov. 3: 5,6: The Straight Path! Read all of chapter three first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

Proverbs 3. A long life, health to the body, prosperity and well being, what more may a person hope for? This is a true statement, generally speaking, yet we have all experienced setbacks. Our comfort is that God is in control of our lives but sometimes God allows discord into our lives; health issues, conflict or accidents. God’s love never fails, He is shaping us, changing us into what is pleasing to Him and useful in His Kingdom.

Vs.1-4 “keep my commands in your heart.” That is the secret to success in this life.

Vs.5.6 Trust the Lord, not yourself, submit to Him, “He directs your path.” This has been my World and Life view, my path has been and continues to be straight. Thanks be to God!

Vs.7,8. Acknowledging your dependence on God brings health and strength.

Vs.9,10. Praise God for your success, you will lack nothing.

Vs,11,12. God does not punish, He teaches, forms us who He wants us to be.

Vs.13-18. Wisdom and understanding, more important than all the jewels in a peaceful and pleasant life, “she is the tree of life,” life evermore.

Vs.9,20. Creation shouts God’s wisdom!

Vs.21-26 repeats the admonitions of Solomon, repeated for emphasis on God’s care for us.

Vs.27-30. Practical advice to practice wisdom, love your neighbor, as yourself.

V.31 is a transitional verse, “do not envy the violent.” Life for the rich is not always what it seems.

Vs.32-35 The warning of verse 31 is followed by a comparison of the outcome of the lives of the wicked and the righteous. For the righteous: God directs them, blesses them, the wise inherit honor.  Thanks be to God!

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# 48 2022 Dev. Ge.14: The Prince of Peace! Read all of Ch.14 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 14:18 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Ge.14 gives us an insight into the the culture of the day. It did not take long for the world to be full of violence as it was before the flood. But things are different in that people did not live as long and the population did not increase at the rate before the flood. Also, there were more people calling upon the name of the Lord, Abraham, Lot, Malchizedek and how many more we are not told about.

Vs.1-4 Is a summary of the Kings about to wage war. The war was about re-subjecting most of Canaan and some surrounding areas because kings and peoples had rebelled seeking to be free. Things have not changed much today, counties are scheming, and plotting to dominate their neighbors. Some are planning to dominate the world.

Vs.5-7 The dominate kings execute their plan and are successful in defeating their enemies and also some innocent areas. The aggressors stood ready to conquer the rest of the land. Abram also was at risk. That is the issue here, Satan wants to disrupt, put an end to God’s plan for Abram.

Vs.8-12 The people not yet conquered, five kings, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah gathered to defend themselves. But the four kings fighting against them had the advantage, perhaps numerically, but certainly in experience. It was a route, and they confiscated all the food and goods, the women, and Lot, family and all he had. Think of the scope of this war, Lot and Abram could not stay together because the land could not support them.  It was a big operation to carry off all those belongings and heards.

Vs.13-16 “A man who had escaped and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.” The name Hebrew, that came to be the description of the Jewish people was a derogatory designation: meaning, a rootless, landless wanderer. Abram understood the place he lived in and was prepared, he had trained soldiers. He also was aligned with three brothers who were Amorites, who had a vested interest since this group had attacked their people as well. I think they were up against a large force in that could carry off a huge amount of booty and many people as well. Abraham followed them for 150 miles, divided his forces and attacked at night. They routed them and chased them to the north of Damascus about 100 more miles. Abram drove them out of the country. Even in overwhelming odds God is in control, God’s call to Abram and His plan for Canaan was not to be derailed. We hope and pray this will be case for Ukraine over Russia. From our perspective the Ukraine war is a major struggle between the evil of unjust aggression and the good of freedom.

Vs.17-24 On Abram’s return, Melchizedek, king of Salam (Jerusalem), a priest of the God Most High, met him and blessed him and praised God for delivering Abram. Heb. 4:14 calls Melchizedek a type of Christ, “Christ our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Abram tithed to him a tenth. Abram also gave those who went with him their fair share but he refused to take anything from the king of Sodom. Abram waged peace in his time, foreshadowing the Prince of Peace!

# 47 2022 Dev. Prov. 2:6 The Lord gives wisdom! Read all of chapter two first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 2:6 “for the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2 “Moral Benefits of Wisdom.” Wisdom is a choice, it is available to all, we only have to listen and apply it to our lives.

Vs.1-8 “Store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom” That is the secret, allow the knowledge of God into your heart, God gives wisdom, seek the Lord, look into His Word. “For the Lords gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” That is the bottom line, wisdom comes to those who seek it earnestly. It comes down to choices. Be upright, walk upright, be just, be faithful.

Vs.9-11 “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path.” Wisdom, knowledge, discretion and understanding” will guard your life.

Vs.12-15 “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men…” All of us are exposed to exploitation, exposed to dark ways, to those of perverse evil. It all looks so innocent, but Satan has a plan to trap us.

Vs.16-19 Wisdom will save you from the adulterous woman…” That is an issue today, insidious, all around us, it is a path to death that could lead to physical death and definitely to spiritual death. Stay on the path of life.

Vs.20-22 Is our goal and the result of wisdom: “Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep the the path of the righteous. “But the wicked will be cut off…”

Thanks be to God; He will keep us on the path of wisdom. Amen.

# 46 2022 Dev. Ge.13:3-4 Abram called on the name of the Lord! Read all of Ch.13 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 13:3 “From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier ⁴ and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

Ge.13 Abram leaves Egypt and goes back to Canaan. He had grown rich as well as those with him, Lot and company. The Land was not able to support their livestock.

Vs.1-4 Abram lived in a place where false religion was practiced, God told him to get away from his home and led him to Canaan, where, as a stranger, he could practice worship as he inherited from Noah, who also built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed to God some of the clean animals the day he came out of the ark. In Abram’s plan to go to Egypt to find food in the famine they were experiencing, Abram became rich, foreshadowing the events at the Exodus.

Vs.5-7 Abram and Lot had too many herds causing conflict of grazing and water issues. There were other people living there as well.

Vs.8-9 Here Abram shows his true convictions, that God would take care of him. He tells Lot to choose, if right I’ll go left, if left I’ll go right. Abraham seeks peace.

Vs.10-13 Lot made a selfish choice, he moved east to the well watered plain of the Jorden. What looks good is often not good, good for his flock but not good for him, as it turned out, the wickedness of the place put him at risk and he lost it all.   

Vs.14-17 God was pleased with Abram’s choice, “all this land that you see I will give to your descendants.” Although Sari was barren, God said: “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. Walk thought the length and breath of the land.” All Christians are Abram’s spiritual children.

Vs.18 So Abram lived at Hebron near the great trees of Mamre. Mamre was a chieftain who along with his two brothers were allied with Abram, they were with Abram when he rescued Lot. What is important here is that Abram built an altar to the Lord. Abram continued to worship God in the way passed down from Noah. Are we doing that today? Are we worshiping like our forefathers? Think about that!