The Promised Land
Read: Genesis 25:7-10 The field that Abraham purchased . . . (v. 10) Abraham, says Hebrews 11:9 (NRSV), “stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents” with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. Curious translation; “for a time” makes it […]
God of Providence
Read: Genesis 22:1-14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (v. 14) These words translate a name of God that you may sometimes sing about: Jehovah Jireh, your Provider, whose grace is sufficient for […]
God of Constancy
Read: Genesis 21:22-34 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. (v. 33) Would the promised son ever be born? To the aging couple the wait must sometimes have seemed endless. But God’s promise did come true, as the first part of today’s chapter […]
God of Justice
Read: Genesis 18:17-33 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? (v. 25) The story of Abraham shows us […]
God of Might
Read: Genesis 17:1-8 I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly. (vv. 1-2) “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” says the book of Proverbs (13:12). Perhaps that was how Abraham felt when at the age of 99 he […]
God of Seeing
Read: Genesis 16:1-16 She called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” (v. 13) When I read this passage, I can almost see the words from the King James Version of verse 13, “Thou, […]
Drawn into the Master’s Plan
Read: Genesis 15:1-21 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (v. 1) Once again God speaks to Abraham the same promises. So what’s new? Quite a lot. The first of the two encounters is about […]
The Priest-King and His God
Read: Hebrews 7:1-3 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. (v. 1) “I give this land to you,” said God to Abraham in Genesis 13. Since he had the power to give it, the land obviously belonged to […]
Yahweh Speaks Again
Read: Genesis 13:1-18 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward.” (v. 14) Aren’t you exasperated by people who repeat themselves? Abraham’s God would be an exception, though. He says the same things […]