Our Old Testamet Challenge reading today is Genesis chapters 31 and 32. In two chapters God tells Jacob to return to Canaan. Jacob with his wives, children, livestock, and all his belongings leaves Padan-Aram without Laban knowing it. Laban finds out that Jacob left and pursues him. Laban catches up with Jacob seven days later and asks Jacob why he left without letting him know. Jacob’s answer was ” I rushed away because I was afraid.” Afraid! In verse 3 God to Jacob “I’ll be with you” How can you be afraid when God is with you, especially afraid of a man. I guess satan was whispering in ear, “O Jacob, Laban and his sons are coming after you. Satan’s two main tactics to get us to not believe what God says is doubt and fear. Look at our world right now, it is full of fear and doubt and we all do know who is behind that. Folks, when we to remember that Satan is not all powerful, he can only do what our Almighty God allows him to do. When God calls you to do something, He will protect you. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Well, that is my thoughts on today’s reading. I’ll leave you with the the words of God through the prophet Isaiah…. “For I hold you by your right hand- I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
Tag: encouragement
Thoughts From Genesis 15 and 16
7 Jan 2021
Yesterdays Old Testament Challenge was Genesis chapters 15 and 16. Chapter 15 begins with a vision from God to Abraham. God tells Abraham, “Do not be afraid, for I will protect you and your reward will be great.” Abrahams reply is in verse 2, “Lord, what good is all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?” I’m thinking that Abraham had on his mind the promises that God made 8him when he left for Canaan. You can refresh your memory by reading Genesis chapter 12 verses 2 and 3. Abraham then asks God ” How can I be sure that I will possess ths land. God answers with the 400 year prophecy. I will not elaborate on that, I will make another post about it. I think one thing we can learn here is that, it is ok to ask God questions when you don’t fully understand what He is doing in your life. Chapter 16 can relate to many of us. God made a promise that Abraham would have a son, But Sarah, Abraham’s wife could not wait. She gave Abraham her servant, Hagar, to have a child and gives Abraham a son, that he named Ishmael. How can that relate to us? Sometimes we just don’t understand God’s timing. We want it now, but says it’s not the time yet and we try it on our own. Folks, that is not having faith in God! I think the best lesson from today’s reading is “Let God be God.”
Well, that’s my thoughts on yesterday’s reading. If you have any comments, questions, or insights please feel free to reply. I’ll leave you with the words of Luke “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Thoughts From Genesis 12-14
7 Jan 2021
Yesterday, our Old Testament Challenge – Day 6 reading was Genesis chapters 12 through 14. In our reading we come to Abraham, who is considered the father of faith. As we read and look at his life you can see why. At the age of 75, God calls him to leave his native country, his father’s family, his relatives, to go to a land that God will show him. In other words, God tells Abraham, “Hey, Abraham, this God, I want you to leave your family and everything you know and go to a place that I’ll show you. And I’ll make you a great nation, I’ll bless you, I’ll make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. So, how about it?” We all know Abraham’s response, “Not a problem, I’ll start packing.” What we see here is a man being obedient to God when called to steep and do what God asked. Folks, that is faith! Knowing that God will do what He says He will do. As we read through the life of Abraham we see how God tested Abraham’s faith and how Abraham reacted.
Abraham left Haran, which was in modern day Turkey, to go to Canaan. There are are a couple ways to get there from Haran. You could travel cross the desert, the shorter way, or you could travel along the Euphrates River than south into Canaan. That route would keep you in what they call The Fertile Crescent and with livestock that would be the way to go. If I remember right, that route was about 1500 miles and they were walking. The Bible does tell us that is the route he took.
In verse 10 of chapter 12, we see Abraham’s faith tested. There was famine in Canaan and Abraham and Sarah go to Egypt. Along the way, He starts thinking, my wife is beautiful and Pharoah my kill me and take her for his wife. So, Abraham asks Sarah to deceive Pharoah by telling him that she was his sister, which is true, actually half-sister, but to keep quiet about her being his wife. I wonder how that thought got in Abraham’s mind and the idea of deceiving? I bet you know that answer……satan! A little lack of faith on Abraham’s part. Abraham should have remembered what God had done for him and the promises that God made to him, He would have known that God would keep him alive till He accomplished what He called Abraham to do. You know folks, we are a lot like Abraham, God does wonderful things in our life and we praise and thank Him for them, then Satan tempts us with something and we begin to worry and fall to pieces. Why, because at that moment we forget how great and powerful our God is. Folks, that is weak faith. When you are being tempted or worrying about anything, remember what James, the brother of Jesus said……” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Well, that’s my thoughts on yesterday’s reading. Tomorrow I’ll give you my thoughts on today’s reading. Until tomorrow, may God bless you with peace, joy, comfort, and strength.
Why Do People Forget God’s Faithfulness So Quickly?
Have you ever asked yourself “Why do people forget God’s faithfulness so quickly?” Especially, after He has done so much in their lives. Are you ready for this……God tells us some of the reasons why people forget about His faithfulness to us.
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Government Cannot Solve Problems of Faith
1 Samuel 8:6-7 NLT
“Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance. [7] “Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.”
The Israelites clamored for a king, thinking that a new system of government would bring about a change in the nation. Just like the Israelites we think the same way. We believe that a new administration will bring change to our nation.
But, just like Israel, our basic problem is disobedience to God, and with disobedience to God our problems will continue under any new administration. Government cannot solve problems of faith.
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The Scriptural Truth 