Genesis 20 - 21

We are living in times that make us unsure of our future.  With all the unrest throughout our world and with the pandemic everywhere, it’s no wonder people are living in fear.  Fear can paralyze us and keep us in our misery.   The Bible is very clear.  The world will become more dangerous and frightening as the end times approach.  The Bible is also clear that we are to “fear not” because God is always with us and will never leave.  To enjoy a peaceful life we need to be free from fear, worry, and anxiety.  We need to have faith and trust God.

Genesis 20:1-21 – Living in Fear

Abraham moved south to live just outside Canaan.  We don’t know why.  Maybe the ash from the burning of Sodom and Gomarrah affected the land where his animals grazed.  Maybe he finally sensed it was time to go releasing Lot to the Lord.  Abraham stayed in Gerar and again he lied and told the Abimelech king that Sarah was his sister.  Sound familiar?  She was a beauty at 90 years old and she was married to one of the richest and most influential men of the region.  Also being in Abimelech’s harem was probably a political statement.  Abraham was afraid and had weak faith in God.  He thought if Abimelech knew she was his wife, he would be killed.  So Abraham lied again as he did when he was in Egypt.  What was he thinking?  Fear can make us irrational.  This shows us that we as well as Abraham can slip back into old sinful habits. 

The king took her to be his wife, but God spoke to the king in a dream and told him she was a married woman and if he touched her he would be as good as dead.  He was to return Sarah to Abraham.  God told Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet and that Abraham would pray for him and his people.  Abimelech didn’t argue with God.  He gave Sarah back to Abraham.  Abimelech asked Abraham why he had done this to him.  Abraham said Sarah was actually his half-sister as well as his wife. (Gen. 20:11-12)  He tried to justify his lie by telling a half-truth, which is always a whole lie.  He indirectly blamed God for the problem by saying, “When God called me to wander from my father’s house…” – Gen. 20:13.  It is sad to see a pagan king in the right and a man of God in the wrong.  Abraham was still a man of powerful prayer and God’s mercy didn’t leave him even though he didn’t trust God the way he should have.

Abimelech was kind to Abraham even though he was deceived.  He gave Abraham sheep, cattle and money to show he was sorry for his actions.  Abraham took the gifts to show he didn’t blame Abimelech.  Abraham did suffer though.  He suffered shame and the loss of respect among the people and lost the opportunity to be a witness for God. 

God will protect anyone and anything that gets in the way of His plans.  No mistake of ours will stop God.  It’s clear in Gen 20:17-18 that the women in Gerar could not have children.  God sometimes causes women not to have children and at other times he gives children to women.  Why does He do this?  Maybe it’s in His plan even though we cannot always know His plan, but we can know it’s the plan that is best for us.  Maybe when at last a child is born, God is given the credit.  It shows how wonderful God is.  He wants to show His power.  God answered Abraham’s prayers and Abimelech’s people could have children again. 

What half-truths have you told?

Do you struggle with your sinful nature?

How has God been merciful to you?

Why does Abraham continue to be better off?  That's God's lavish grace.

Jesus took our place and died for our sins even when we don’t deserve it.  When he returns, we take our place in heaven with a rich inheritance.  That is lavish grace.

What are your insecurities - fear, jealousy, bitterness, anger, control?

How is fear stealing your faith?

Principle:  God's grace allows repeat offenders to confess and be restored.

Genesis 21:1-21 – Living by Faith

At last Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac just as God had promised and at the time He had promised.  It had been 25 years and God was faithful all along the way.  They were very happy, but Abraham’s other son, Ishmael was not.  Remember, Ishmael was the son of a slave mother, Hagar.  Ishmael knew he would never be as important as Isaac.  He became cruel to Isaac and mocked him.  Sarah knew there was jealousy and that there were would be many problems between them to come.  She also didn’t want Ishmael to oppose Isaac’s right to lead the family. 

So she took matters into her own hands again.  She told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.  Abraham was distressed and concerned for his son so this time he consulted God for guidance.  This time she was right and God told Abraham to listen to her.  Even though he loved Ishmael, Abraham obeyed God and sent them away with food and water.  He sent them away without any protection, probably because he must have believed God would protect and provide for them because that is what God had promised.

Abraham lived near Beersheba near the desert.  Hagar and Ishmael wandered into the desert, which was very hot and dry.  When the water was gone, the child became weak.  He was sure to die.  She felt hopeless and put him under a bush.  He began to cry, but God heard his cry.  An angel from heaven repeated God’s promise to her that He would bless Ishmael and for the second time God provided for them by showing them a well.  Why did God promise to bless Ishmael?  It was because as a descendant of Abraham, he was included in God’s covenant.  They continued to live in the desert.  Ishmael married and had 12 sons that became great nations just as God promised.  These are the nations of the Arab world.  

Will influences hinder your walk with God?

Has God asked you to do something as you study His word?

Do you want to give up?

Do you feel like Ishmael, crying because you need God’s help?

Are you hiding in your room with your tissues and chocolate?

Will you let God lead you?

Principle:  A life of faith in God yields ultimate joy, but can involve great pain.

Genesis 21:22-34 – Living a Testimony

Abraham was living his life was a witness and all the people knew that God was blessing him.  He had become very wealthy and had many servants.  There was a dispute between Abraham and Abimelech over a well that Abraham had dug and Abimelech’s servants had seized.  Abimelech didn’t want to battle Abraham so he asked for a peace agreement.  He knew how big Abraham’s God was and to fight with Abraham would be to attack his God.  Abraham also wanted peace so he gave gifts of sheep and cattle to Abimelech and there they made a treaty. Because they had sworn an oath there, they called it Beersheba.  Then Abraham planted a tree and called upon the name of the Lord.  He lived in the land for a long time.  This was the first time that Abraham claimed the land.  The planting of the tree showed that he would stay in the region. (Gen 21:22-34)

What physical reminders do you have to worship God?

Will others say you can be trusted?

Principle:  God faithfully provides so we can fulfill His purposes.

We all live a testimony to something.  Abraham was a man who didn’t do everything right, but God loved him and was faithful to him.  God is still faithful to us and still loves us, too even though we make mistakes. 

What is your life a testimony to?

How does your life show the presence of God? 

The world is watching how believers live their lives.  We don’t have to be perfect for the world to see God in our lives.  We may think we have to be perfect for God to use us as a witness.  When we try to be perfect, people can see that isn’t true.  They just call us hypocrites.

Join me here next week for the next chapter in Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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The Christmas Story

We all know the story of the first Christmas, the birth of Jesus.  We know about the shepherds, the angels, Jesus’ mother Mary, the wise men, and King Herod.  But what do we know about Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father?  He seems to be an almost forgotten man at Christmas time.  We can be certain that God carefully examined the character of the man who was chosen to become Jesus’ earthly father.

In Matthew’s long genealogy of Jesus we see that he followed Jesus’ line from Abraham through King David all of the way to Jacob, the father of Joseph.  Joseph is to be the husband of Mary which gave him a legal relationship and parental status of Jesus and giving Jesus legal rights as Joseph’s heir.

Joseph plays an important role in Jesus’ early life, but is rarely mentioned in the Bible.  Why?  The son of God still needed a human father because He was also truly human.  Normally Mary and Joseph would have a formal engagement and even a ceremony, but would not have lived together or consummated their marriage.  They would be on a long hiatus before the honeymoon. 

In the meantime Mary became pregnant with the Son of God through the Holy Spirit.  She could have been stoned or publicly shamed, but Joseph didn’t let that happen.  He decided to stay married to her because an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream in (Matt. 1:20-23).  He was willing to take Mary in and ignore the gossip from others.  This shows his selflessness and willingness to listen the Lord.  We find that he always obeyed the Lord without question.  When the birth happens, he also obeys in naming the baby Jesus.

Joseph isn’t mentioned as being around when Jesus began His public ministry.  Almost everyone agrees that he had died before the time Jesus was revealed Himself to the world.  However, we know nothing about his death.

Mary was present all through Jesus’ life and even through His death, resurrection and ascension.  After Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room, we hear nothing again about Mary and know nothing about her death.

The character of Joseph:

Joseph was an upright man (Matt. 1:18-19).

Joseph was a considerate husband (Matt. 1:20-23).

Joseph was an obedient servant of God (Matt. 1:24-25).

Joseph was a good citizen of his country (Luke 2:1-5).

Joseph was a protector of his family (Matt. 2:13-23).

Joseph was a concerned father (Luke 2:41-50).

These are the goals which all of us should seek to remember.

What kind of parent will others say you are?

Have a wonderful Christmas and join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS

                   

Another Christmas Season upon us and many of our heroes are still in harm’s way.   

Our solders need all the support we can give them.  Please do your part.  If nothing else, please take a very quick moment out of your busy day to send a card to one of our heroes serving overseas.  Show a soldier who will not be home with family this Christmas that you care and that they are not forgotten.

If you don’t personally know a soldier, there are several organizations that collect and send cards for you.  Check out these websites. 

https://www.usasoa.org/christmas-cards-for-our-deployed-troopswebsite

https://military-missions.org/

Also, I found this poem I thought I would share. 

T’was the night before Christmas they lived all alone
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about and a strange sight I did see
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking on the mantle just boots filled with sand
and on the wall hung pictures of home ... a far away land.

The soldier lay sleeping silent and alone
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in disorder
not how I pictured A United States Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read

  curled up on a poncho the floor for a bed? 

I thought of the families that I saw that night

owed their lives to these soldiers so willing to fight.

                                          Soon around the world children would play                                

                               and grownups would celebrate this bright Christmas day.

                                    They ALL enjoyed freedom each month of the year

because of soldiers like the one lying here.

I couldn't help but wonder how many are alone

                                   on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

                                        This very thought brought a tear to my eye

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard his rough voice
Santa don't cry this life is MY choice.
I fight for freedom and I don't ask for more
my life is my God my country, my corps.

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep
I couldn't control it I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours so silent and still
as we both shivered from the cold nights chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
The soldier rolled over with a voice soft and pure
and whispered "Carry on Santa.  It's Christmas
AND ALL IS SECURE”.

I hope the images you just saw as you read this will linger in your mind.  Take a moment to say a prayer for our warriors for what they have done and are doing so we can enjoy freedoms and our comfy beds without worry.  May God bless each of those who served and are now serving so far away from home.  May they all make it home safely and soon!!!

Join me here next time. -- I encourage you to have trust and faith in Jesus.

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Genesis 18:16-33 – 19:1-38

Genesis 18:16-33 – Abraham Pleads for Sodom                                        

We saw in our last lesson that two men and the Lord visited Abraham.  When the men were ready to leave, the Lord revealed another purpose for the visit.  Abraham was God’s covenant friend so He announced His plan of judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.  Sin was so grievous there and had been for a long time that God would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 18:20)  He gave Abraham the opportunity to plead for the righteous people who lived there.

Lot and his family lived in Sodom.  Abraham had risked himself and rescued Lot in the past and even though Lot had returned to Sodom, Abraham still wanted to spare him.   So Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the righteous people of Sodom.  He asked, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?  What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?...... The Lord said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’”.  – Gen. 18:25-26.  Then Abraham spoke up again boldly asking if there are 45 righteous men, then 40, then 30, then 20.  Each time God said He would not destroy Sodom if righteous men were found until Abraham was down to 10. (Gen. 18:27-33) 

Abraham was humble, but persistent and bold.  He was open to God as he talked with Him.  He knew God was just and righteous and had all authority.  God listened patiently to Abraham as He does when we pray.  The passage doesn’t say that Abraham stopped pleading with God, but that God left.  “When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.” – Gen. 18:33.

Does this mean we can change God’s mind?  If not, why pray?  God does not change His mind.  He might improve upon His plans, but God does not change.  His plans are already perfect.  Prayer does change our circumstances in response to our prayers.  I think it is a lesson to Abraham and to us that prayer is important and we should never give up.  God allows us to intercede in order to reveal His mercy.  It shows that God takes no pleasure in destroying the wicked.  It also shows the power of righteous people can have and it teaches us the value of intercession.  Prayer gives God the opportunity to mess with your heart and to align it with His.

Abraham’s prayer was effective because it was specific.  We often pray in broad, general terms instead of praying for what we really want.  God wants us to care for people and intercede on their behalf.  There are many people that you probably know that has no one praying for them and their concerns.

Principle:  Walking intimately with God by trusting His Word will align our heart’s desire with His.

How will you describe your relationship with God, as friend or acquaintance?  The enemy doesn’t want you to take the time to pray, because it changes your heart.  

Are you available for God to change your heart?

Does your prayer life involve only those around you?

How might you pray concerning the lost?

Gen. 19:1-29 – The Destruction of Sodom

The two angels arrived in Sodom in the evening and Lot met them.  The Lord did not come with them.  He would not be welcomed there.  Lot seemed to know they were divine guests and offered for them to wash their feet and spend the night at his house instead of them staying in the square.  After they ate and before they had gone to bed, all of the men (young and old) from all over the city surrounded the house.  They wanted the two men visitors to come out and have sex with them.  This sounds like rampant homosexuality.  They came to gang rape the visitors.  Lot pleaded with them not to do this wicked thing and offered his two daughters instead.  They didn’t want his daughters and tried to break down the door.  Lot was not a man of character and was focused on himself.  Hospitality was more sacred than sexual morality to him. 

God condemns homosexuality.  “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have don what is detestable…” – Lev. 20:13.  “Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Cor. 6:9b-10.  .  Our attitude toward homosexuals should be that they are sinners in need of a savior, just like any sinful person.

“God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even the women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion…..God have them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done……… they not only continued to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” – Rom. 1:24-32.  This was the story of Sodom.

The men outside wanted to break down Lot’s door.  The two angels pulled Lot back and struck the men blind so they could not find the door.  The two angels told Lot of the coming punishment of the city and told him and his family to leave the city.  Lot spoke to his sons-in-law to convince them to flee with him, but they thought he was joking.  Lot had no credibility with them and was not a good witness for God.  Lot hesitated and was literally dragged from the city by the angels, because his heart was in Sodom.  The angels told them to flee for their lives and not to look back.  

Do you have credibility with those around you?

What kind of witness are you in times of crisis?

God destroyed Sodom as an example of that happens to the ungodly.  “if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) – if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” – 2 Peter 2:6-9.  God saved Lot, but he lost his friends, his property, his character and his life’s work.  Lot was saved because of Abraham interceded for him.  We are saved because of the One Who intercedes for us, Jesus Christ.  Lot did not deserve to be saved.  Neither do we.

Sodom was a city of great sin.  Homosexuality was their way of life.  God showed great mercy to Lot and his family and let them live because of Abraham’s prayer.  This shows that God can save others when we pray.  Lot was told to go to the mountains, but he wanted to go the city of Zoar.  Lot was selfish when he asked God to save Zoar thinking it would be a better place to live.  He wanted things his own way.  Lot’s wife didn’t obey the Lord.  She liked Sodom and didn’t want to leave so she looked back and was turned to salt. (Gen 19:18-26)

We learn from these events that God doesn’t need our help and we should not try to manipulate people and events of the world.  There are similarities between Sodom and the world today.  Immorality, perversion and homosexuality are rampant.  Homosexuality is always considered sin the Bible – not an alternative lifestyle as people like to refer to it today.

God will judge all the earth.  Faith is the only way to escape eternal death.  Abraham interceded for Lot and his prayers made a difference.

Who needs you to pray for them?

Are you willing to pray for them knowing your prayers matter?

Do you have an affair with the world?

Of what sin will God convict you? 

Do you negotiate with Him?  

There was a steady progression of comprise in Lot’s life.  He went from looking toward Sodom, to pitching his tent toward Sodom, to living in Sodom and losing everything. Despite the pull of Sodom, Lot was a righteous man who was grieved by the sin around him, but gave in to compromise.  2 Peter 2:7 tells us that Lot was a righteous man, but he is an example of one who looks like he has accepted Jesus as Savior, but never makes Him Lord.  There was evil all around him and he made a fatal mistake by living in worldly standards. 

Many Christians today live in conformity to our corrupt world.  We need to recognize the signs of corruption and need to keep our minds on the things of God.  We should not approve of the evil things going on in the world.  If we do, we are just as guilty as the sinner.  “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” – Rom. 1:32

Are you respected by others for your beliefs?

Are you more concerned for your status than for your family?

Are you continually living a moral life?

Are you living for the same goals as the world?

Are you keeping a little bit of sin in your life?

It’s not time to negotiate, but to recognize how much God loves you enough to warn you.  Lot missed out on fellowship with God and with others.  He had no influence on others.  He had many chances, but chose the world.  He wasted his life.  Comprise destroyed Lot’s testimony. 

What will you do so you don’t waist the life you have been given?

Do you read this story and think you can’t be in it?  You can go to church weekly, but choose not to be in fellowship with God.  You can call yourself a believer, but do you condone sinful behaviors?  Redemption does not cure our sinful nature.  We need to stay close to God.  He reveals Himself in His Word.

Principles: 

When believers live in conformity to this corrupt world, tragic consequences result.

We need to heed God’s warnings because judgment is coming.

Genesis 19:30-38 – Lot and Daughters

God let Lot live in Zoar, but Lot soon left Zoar even though God had promised to keep him safe there.  He did not trust God so he went to live in a cave with his daughters.  He lived the rest of his life scared to death. 

Lot’s daughters were not familiar with praying.  They probably thought because Sodom was destroyed the whole world was destroyed and they were responsible to repopulate the earth.  They may have just wanted to preserve the family line.  Whatever their reasoning they got him drunk and lay with him.  Both became pregnant by their father.  They knew their actions were wrong.  They lacked trust and respect for their father.  Sex between close members in a family is wrong.  Their descendants became enemies and obstacles for Israel.  God did not punish Lot’s descendants because of this.  They became important nations, the Moabites and the Ammonites of today.  Jesus was a descendant of Ruth who was a Moabite. God’s grace triumphs over sin.

Here we see again how alcohol can play a part in sexual immorality.  Lot was not a good father.  He was passive father and let his family spiritual life go by the way side.  He had lost all his possession in the destruction of Sodom and now he was wallowing in self-pity and fear.  He could have returned to Abraham, but that would mean he would have to confess his sin, humble his pride and face up to his choices.  He would have to ask for Abraham’s help; instead we would rather live in a cave.

We see that today concerning salvation.  People are so full of pride that they cannot humble themselves and confess their sin and ask God for help.  Instead they seem to be comfortable in their sin. 

Lot’s daughters could have prayed and waited on God to provide them with the husband they desired.  They had never seen their father seek the Lord so this didn’t occur to them.  They saw their father’s fear and it spread to them.

Principle:  God’s grace triumphs over sin.

Join me here next week for the next chapter in Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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