DailyHope: "Did you know God sets goals?" Jan 10
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BobCaldwell: "THIEF OF UNBELIEF" Jan 10
THIEF OF UNBELIEF (DEUTERONOMY 1:1-46) Deuteronomy is the recounting of the transition that occurred with the Israeli people at the end of their 40-year wilderness journey. This transition included the death of the generation of Jews who had been liberated from slavery in Egypt. Yet because of their unbelief they refused to obey God and enter the Promised Land. The privilege to do so was now passed on to their children. Moses explains here why the first generation failed to enter the Promised Land in the hope that this new generation would learn from the failure of their fathers. Moses reminds them how God had called them and begun to prepare them soon after He brought them out of their slavery in Egypt. It was at Mount. Horeb that God’s law was given to them. Moses reminded them how he had selected leaders to help with an orderly oversight of the people. Lastly, Moses retold the account of 12 men sent into the Promised Land to confirm that the land was all God said it would be. All 12 confirmed it was a land flowing with “milk and honey” yet all but two discouraged the people of Israel, saying they were unable to take the land. They thought it was impossible for them as former slaves of Egypt to overcome the strong people and their fortified cities. The end conclusion of this report was to declare, “God hates us” (v. 27). The thief of unbelief had slain the entire nation without even lifting a sword. Their unbelief turned into rebellion; they turned their backs on God’s promise. Their unbelief cast them back into the wilderness to wander aimlessly for 40 years. This history lesson echoes through the centuries to this moment. Unbelief continues to rob God’s people of His “exceedingly great and precious promises” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Unbelief, under the cloak of religion, continues to turn many of us into rebels against God. Great personal courage is required to remove our cloak of “user-friendly” religion to discover where unbelief has kept us in a spiritual wilderness. A place where the divine interventions and power of God can transform us into children of light, who can be a force for God’s kingdom, turning the world upside down for Christ. Just as unbelief is like a spreading cancer, so faith can also spread. It can bring its healing transforming power. Let God arise in our hearts and His enemies will be scattered. Let God be magnified within us and let us have the courage of faith to make God’s promises our own. Deuteronomy 1:1-46 1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. 3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them, 4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei. 5 On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, 6 “The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. 8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2011 (TOP)
NKJV BIBLE TEXT
| Moses Reminds The Children Of Israel To Cross The Jordan River And Take Possession Of The Land Of Canaan v. 1 Moses spoke – The book of Deuteronomy consists mainly of a series of addresses that God had made to Israel through Moses before they crossed over into the Promised Land. The name “Deuteronomy” literally means, “second giving of the Law,” and the book is so named because much of it is a reiteration of the laws that God had given them through Moses in the previous three books of the Old Testament. Moses needed to repeat the Law to them a second time because he is now addressing a new generation of Hebrews, the first having died in the wilderness. This new generation will be the one to enter and take the land of Canaan, and therefore they would need to know and obey God’s Law if they were to prosper, be blessed, and remain in the Land for many generations. In the plain – The Israelites had been encamped for a long time in a plain known today as the Arabah, a valley running north and south of the Dead Sea. v. 2 it is eleven days’ journey – Horeb is a name used throughout Deuteronomy to signify Mount Sinai. Kadesh Barnea (“land of wandering”) was the piece of land that stood at the border of the Promised Land. Therefore, this statement held much significance for the children of Israel because God reveals that their journey from Mount Sinai to the land of Canann, which took them 40 years to complete because of their lack of faith, could have been made in only 11 days. Because of their refusal to enter the Land (a period of their history described for us in Numbers 14), God caused them to wander again and again around the same small area of land until the entire generation died and was never able to taste the fruit of the Promised Land that God had waiting for them. | v. 3 in the eleventh month – the Jewish month Shebet, which takes place on our calendar in the last part of January and first part of February. v. 4 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan – Moses will bring up Israel’s historic battle with these two kings several times in Deuteronomy, as they were representative of the fiercest opposition Israel had seen up until that point. Sihon means “mighty and tempestuous,” and Og means “man of gigantic stature.” These were kings over a race of giants. In this verse, Moses reminds Israel that the giants that their fathers were so afraid of are the same giants that they had defeated merely by trusting in and obeying the Lord. Thus, the frequent references to Sihon and Og in Deuteronomy are meant to be an encouragement to Israel concerning the things that God is able to do for His people if they will step out in faithful obedience. v. 6 dwelt long enough – Again, the Lord emphasizes the futility of the Israelites’ wandering, again and again over the same piece of ground. God explains that it was enough, and that the time had finally come to enter into and take the Promised Land. v. 8 the land – God promised Abraham that He would give his descendants the land which now belonged to the Canaanites in Genesis 12:6-7, and He established the future borders of it in Genesis 15:18-21. God reiterated the promise again to Abraham’s son Isaac in Genesis 26:3, and then to his grandson Jacob in Genesis 28:13-14. Here Moses reminds the descendants of Abraham that God had long since promised their family that land. All that was left was to run in and possess it through God’s power. |
Tribal Leaders Appointed 9 “And I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you. 10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. 11 May the LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you! 12 How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints? 13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ 14 And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have told us to do is good.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
| v. 13 wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men – Moses here carries on the tradition of appointing elders to rule over the nation of Israel. At one time, he attempted to bear all of the burden of governing Israel by himself, but in Exodus 18 God revealed to him a better way, which was to appoint elders from the people to help carry the load and to make sure that all the needs of the people were met. This is still the basic structure of the church in the New Testament, as is evidenced in passages such as Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. | v. 15 leaders – This verse supports the idea that God may anoint and call different men to be leaders over differently sized groups. Not everyone who is called into leadership is gifted to lead a group of thousands. Some may be called to shepherd a group of ten or fifty people. But the calling to lead is still just as spiritual and important as an opportunity to shepherd over hundreds or thousands, as the calling and the ability comes from God. |
16 “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do. Israel’s Refusal to Enter the Land 19 “So we departed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as the LORD our God had commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh Barnea. 20 And I said to you, ‘You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21 Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ 22 “And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’ 23 “The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. 24 And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.’ 26 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; 27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’ 29 “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ 32 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, 33 who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.
| v. 17 in any man’s presence – This exhortation is to be sure and judge without partiality, and to do so without concern as to what men might think or say. He commands them to be sure and to listen to everyone’s complaints and give them, whether rich or poor, a fair hearing. He also exhorts them to judge a righteous judgment no matter the outcry, knowing that if they are truly called into leadership, the Lord will have anointed them with wisdom, and the judgment would have ultimately come from Him. v. 22 every one of you came near me – This verse reveals that the plan for sending 12 spies into Canaan did not originate with the Lord or even with Moses but with the people. God allowed it, but it was not His highest will for them. This is important because in Numbers 13 we are told that it was the “evil report” of the spies that caused Israel to lose faith and refuse to enter the Promised Land. | v. 24 the valley of Eschol – The name Eschol means a “cluster of grapes.” The valley received its name from the extraordinarily large cluster of grapes which the 12 spies cut down and brought back to the people of Israel on a pole in Numbers 13:24. v. 28 the sons of the Anakim – The Anakim were a race of giants who dwelt in the land of Canaan in the days before the Israelites occupied it. In Numbers 13:33, ten of the spies which Israel sent into Canaan returned terrified of the sons of Anak, saying that they felt like “grasshoppers” compared to the giants who dwelt there. Deuteronomy 9:2 tells us that they were “great and tall” people, and this verse reveals that their walls were “fortified up to Heaven” (Archeology tells us that the walls which surrounded the Canaanite cites were 30 to 50 feet tall). By God’s grace, they were able to dislodge the majority of these men, but 2 Samuel 21:16-22 describes Israel’s future continuing battles with the races of giants, whom they did not completely wipe out in their occupation of Canaan. |
The Penalty for Israel’s Rebellion 34 “And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 35 ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the LORD.’ 37 The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shall not go in there. 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 ‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’ 41 “Then you answered and said to me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD; we will go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.’ And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain. 42 “And the LORD said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.”’ 43 So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. 44 And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. 45 Then you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you. 46 “So you remained in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you spent there.
| v. 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh – Out of all the men who were over 20 years of age among the Israelites, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to live and enter into the Promised Land when they grew old. The reason for this is revealed in Numbers 13:30, when Caleb stood up against the other ten faithless spies and attempted to encourage Israel to enter and possess the land. In 14:6-10, we are told that Joshua joined Caleb in encouraging Israel to go in and take the land. But in response, the rest of the tribes of Israel threatened to stone them to death and choose a new leader who would lead them back into bondage in Egypt. v. 39 will be victims – In Numbers 14:3, the faithless Israelites lamented the fact that God had ordered them to go in and take the land of Canaan, believing that their children would die as victims of the Canaanites. Here, God tells them that the very children they were so sure would die as victims would instead be the overcomers and enter in and take the Land of God’s inheritance. | who have no knowledge of good and evil – God reveals that He will not hold the children responsible for the sins of their parents, as they were not yet old enough to choose intelligently for themselves. This is one of the verses in the Bible that implies an “age of accountability,” during which God does not hold a child responsible for sin because he is not old enough to understand. This concept is reiterated and strengthened in Isaiah 7:16 and again in Jonah 4:11. v. 41 we will go up and fight – Numbers 14:40 reveals that when the children of Israel understood that God was angry with them for their faithlessness, and that there would be severe consequences for it, they attempted to make up for their sin by strapping on weapons and running into the Promised Land ready to fight. However, God had already pronounced His judgment upon them and did not direct them to go into battle again. As a result, the Amorites soundly defeated them (v. 44). This is a reminder that we are not to have “faith in our faith” and presumptuously step out in self-will (v. 43), but rather have faith in and obey God’s will and word. |
TheBigPicture: "Abraham Offers Isaac" Monday Jan 10
January 10
Abraham Offers Isaac
References:-->Genesis 21:1-21; 22:1-19; Psalm 6:8-10; Proverbs 3:3-4
And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him-whom Sarah bore to him-Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me." She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."
So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"
And he said, "Here I am, my son."
Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"
So he said, "Here I am."
And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son- blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
Genesis 21:1-21; 22:1-19
WORSHIP
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
The LORD will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
Psalm 6:8-10
WISDOM
Let not mercy and truth forsake you;Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4
DailyLight: Jan 10 Monday
January 10
MORNING
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that be might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. -- Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The peace of God ... passeth all understanding. -- Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body.
Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. -- Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I THES. 5:23. Eph. 5:25,27. ‑Col. 1:28. Phi. 4:7. ‑Col. 3:15. II Thes. 2:16,17. ‑I Cor. 1:8.
EVENING
Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?
Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. -- I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. -- Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. -- Ye ... are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
II CHR. 6:18. Exo. 25:8. ‑Exo. 29:43,45. Psa. 68:18. II Cor. 6:16. ‑I Cor. 6:19. ‑Eph. 2:22. Ezek. 37:28.
GregLaurie: Jan 10 Monday
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sons of Thunder
These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder"). . . . —Mark 3:16-17
You don't get a nickname like Sons of Thunder for no reason. But that is how Jesus' disciples, James and John, were known. They were rough-hewn guys—amazing, colorful characters. They would not back away from a confrontation. In fact, they might even have looked forward to one. They could be very aggressive. And they also could be very insensitive.
On one occasion, when the people in a village of Samaria were not responsive to the message of Jesus, it was James and John who wanted to call down fire from heaven on them (see Luke 9:54). When Jesus spoke of His own impending death, about how he would be betrayed and then handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, spit upon, scourged, and ultimately killed, James and John blurted out, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask. . . . Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory" (Mark 10:35, 37 NKJV). Was that a good time to bring this up? It would be like saying, "Really? Could I have your car?" to someone who just found out they had one week to live. These guys just said what they thought. And they were just like us: hopelessly human and remarkably unremarkable.
But God transformed them. And at the end of their lives, these men, who were known as Sons of Thunder, became known for something else. James was the first apostle to be martyred. And John became known as the apostle of love. He was the author of the Gospel of John as well as the epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John. God made James and John into different people than they were before—and He can do the same for us.Posted via email from ..................The Last Call Digest
OneYear: January 10th
January 10th One Year Bible Readings
Posted: 09 Jan 2011 03:51 PM PST
Genesis 23:1-24:51 ~ Matthew 8:1-17 ~ Psalm 9:13-20 ~ Proverbs 3:1-6
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Old Testament - Today in Genesis chapter 23 we read about the burial of Sarah. I think an amazing thing to note in this chapter is that Abraham is determined to bury Sarah in Canaan, based on God's promise (Gen 15:9-21) to Abraham that Canaan would be his and his descendant's homeland. Verse 4 stands out in this chapter and I think can speak for us today as well: "Here I am, a stranger in a foreign land, with no place to bury my wife." We will see this type of phrase throughout the Old Testament - the idea of being an alien and a stranger. In Abraham's case, he was literally living in a tent - a very temporary structure. But yet, Abraham was confident in God's promise of the Promised Land. And for us today - we are called to be "in the world, but not of the world". In a sense, we are also aliens and strangers. The question we might need to ask ourselves - are we acting like we are aliens and strangers in this world? Are we awaiting our promised land with God in heaven? Or, are we maybe getting a bit too comfortable in this world? And maybe even loving the material things of this world - more than eternal things? And maybe are we forgetting sometimes about the amazing promised land God has in store for us? Below is a painting by American artist Tom Lovell from 1967 titled "The Burial of Sarah" that I think corresponds nicely with verse 19: "So Abraham buried Sarah there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, which is at Hebron."
Genesis chapter 24 is a just a wonderful narrative story about Abraham sending his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac! What I like a lot about this chapter was how God was honored by Abraham, and by the servant at the well, and by Laban and Bethuel at the end of today's readings. It was evident that everyone was making their plans and prayers based on God! And not based on their own ideas or will power. God was being consulted. The last half of verse 7 stood out to me: "He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a young woman there to be my son's wife." What I noticed about this verse, is that we didn't read about Abraham praying to God that an angel would go ahead of the servant - nor did we read about God telling Abraham this would be the case. Perhaps one of these two things happened outside of the text. But, what struck me was that maybe Abraham had been walking with God for so long now, that he may have been in such close relationship with God that he may have just somehow knew this angel would go ahead - and he wouldn't of said it otherwise. I just wonder if we are obedient to God and walk with God for a good portion of our lives, as Abraham did, if the will of God and God's works just become more and more evident in our lives? I'm kind of just thinking out loud here... :) Hopefully this makes sense. I do believe that as we go forward in our spiritual walk, God will continue to share more and new insights with us. Which is great news! Our walk with God will not be boring! Even in the midst of trials and hardships, I believe if we are faithful and obedient and continually seek God's will in our lives, we will come to know Him more and more - and, like Abraham, come to know more and more of the Peace that surpasses all understanding. I love this image below of Abraham in his later years...
Verse 15 stands out in this chapter: "As he was still praying, a young woman named Rebekah arrived with a water jug on her shoulder. Her father was Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah." As the servant was just finishing his prayer, God was answering it! Have you ever had this experience? I am not 100% sure that I have, but I think I have. I think maybe sometimes God encourages us to pray and sometimes he immediately delivers on that prayer - just so it becomes clear that what happened was the work of God, and not our own work. Now, don't get me wrong - sometimes we pray for something specific, and God does not answer immediately. Or... perhaps that's the answer in and of itself - no answer. It's a mystery - but an adventurous mystery to be sure! What a great thing to experience though, as this servant did, when a prayer is immediately answered. Below is 19th century American stained-glass artist John La Farge's "Rebekah at the Well":
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Genesis chapter 24 titled "Dealing with Death" is at this link and commentary on chapter 25 titled "How to Find a Godly Wife" is at this link.
New Testament - Today we read Matthew chapter 8, which is an amazing look at Jesus' healing ministry. While we do read about someone with leprosy, and a paralyzed man, and others with sicknesses and demons - don't we all need some sort of healing in our lives today? Maybe we can learn something from the man with leprosy in verse 2: "Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again." Do we have this kind of faith? Do we believe that Jesus can heal us of what is ailing us? Again, I don't mean just sicknesses - but addictions, and dependencies, and bad habits, and sins? Do you believe that Jesus can make you well again? Will you kneel before Jesus, worship Jesus, and ask for healing?
I will give a caveat here - I do know people that have prayed for healing from various sicknesses and diseases - and it has not always been healed. Please don't see this as any shortcoming in your faith - or in Jesus' power. Oftentimes God's ways are much more of a mystery than we can comprehend on this side of heaven. "For now, we see in part. But, then - in heaven - we will see in full." (my paraphrase of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12) Please don't give up on God or Jesus if the healing is not coming as you'd prayed for it to. Ultimately, all who have faith in the born, crucified, and risen Jesus will have perfected bodies in heaven. Please stay focused on this "hope of glory", as Paul also wrote about.
The passages on the faith of the centurion are powerful - especially his words in verse 8: "Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!" Verses 10 & 11 are significant to Matthew's primarily Jewish audience of this gospel: "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus is making it clear that heaven will not be just for Jews, but will be made available for all who come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and in his life, his death for the forgiveness of sins, and his resurrection. Can we learn something from the faith of the centurion in our lives today?
Bible.org's commentary on our readings today in Matthew chapter 8 titled "Speak the Word Only" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 9 verse 18 is so true and powerful: "For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed." This is a great reminder that God's heart is for the poor in this world! If God's heart is for the poor - should our heart be for the poor too? How is your heart for the poor these days? How do you remember the poor and their hopes?
Proverbs - Proverbs 3:1-6 today mentions the "heart" 3 times. I think this is significant! Our hearts - and the state of our hearts are of utmost importance. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a verse I have committed to memory and repeat to myself often. It is a beautiful verse to meditate upon. I'll share it with you in the NIV version that I have it memorized in: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Will you join me in memorizing these 2 verses? I do believe they will bless you immensely whenever you are feeling worried or anxious about anything in life.
Worship God: Psalm 9:18 today reminded me of this great video below set to the amazing Sara Groves song "Add to the Beauty." This video shows the urgent work of Blood:Water Mission, an organization drilling wells in Africa. (among other important work) The band Jars of Clay are very involved in this great organizaton. Please take a few minutes to watch this video and then explore www.bloodwatermission.com.
Do you know our God of Beauty> Click here and add to the Beauty!
Please join me in memorizing a verse of Scripture today: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you would indeed trust God will all of your heart. Pray that you won't lean on your own understanding. Pray that you will acknowledge God in all that you do. And pray and trust that God will lead you down straight paths as you follow Jesus.
Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Based on our Matthew readings today about Jesus' healings - do you believe that Jesus still heals people today? What does he heal people of today? Does he heal sickness? Addictions? Laziness? Pride? All manner of sins? Has Jesus healed you of anything? Do you believe He can? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,Mike
