Fulfilled

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FULFILLED

Gen 25:12-18

12 This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. 17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

NIV

The twelve tribes of Ishmael inherited their hostility directly from the hostility Ishmael felt toward Isaac during the feast Abraham held in Isaac's honor.  He and his mother, Hagar, were sent away, and they have been away from the grandson of Abraham, Jacob, to this day. The twelve sons of Ismael settled in the northwest part of the Arabian Peninsula, just a little northeast of Egypt. This makes them the ancestors of the Arab nations, which means Mohammed is a descendant of Ishmael, fulfilling the prophetic word that they lived in hostility toward all their brothers. The Islamic people hate the Israeli people and are determined to destroy them. This hatred has driven the Islamic people to want to destroy all people who do not serve Allah, their name for God. Although the Arabic word for God has its roots in words that make up the name Allah and believe he is the creator of the universe, their theology is not compatible with the character of God Almighty. The Lord God is not a Divine God who drives hatred for others, but He is the God of love; in fact, God is love. It is God's very word that the descendants of Ishmael would live in hostility toward all their brothers. How then could people who serve God Almighty live in hostility to others who serve God Almighty? We wonder: if those who live with Islamic beliefs are united in hatred toward non-Islamic people, why are those of us who serve the triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not united in love toward our brothers? Although their hatred or hostility is the prophetic word of God, written and recorded by 40 different authors over a span of 1500 years, Islam is from the mind of one man, one author who wrote the Koran over a period of 23 years. How can a book of hatred compare with a book of love? However, the point remains: we are seeing God's word fulfilled. That should also give us faith, believing that God Almighty's word is always fulfilled concerning us. 

A Good Old Age

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A GOOD OLD AGE

Gen 25:1-11

25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. 7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

NIV

Interestingly, Abraham took another wife who bore him six sons, who gave him seven grandsons, and three great-grandsons, all of whom became different people groups; the story is still about Abraham. Abraham had eight sons, including Ishmael and Isaac, but he left everything he had to his promised son Isaac, the one son whom Sarah bore according to the word of the LORD. Abraham also gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, who were different from the sons of his wives, Sarah and Keturah. However, our story is about Abraham, who lived to a good old age of one hundred and seventy-five years, an old man full of years. This is a blessing from the LORD, who blessed Abraham, for his believing the LORD and being obedient, to live to be a man full of years. The Hebrew word sabea’ means satisfied, or full, as in satisfied years. In some sense, that could mean Abraham lived out his life satisfied, blessed by the LORD. In another sense, it could mean the years of his life were full, or finished as determined by the LORD, as in all our days are numbered, or determined by the Lord. Living to a good old age is simply a blessing from the LORD. But the point is that all our days should be good if we are in relationship with the LORD. Even if we experience some troubles, whatever kind they might be, our days are good because we belong to the Lord, the master of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. We live in the palm of his hand, as Jesus promised that no one can snatch us from the palm of the Father's hand. Then can we say that all the days of our lives are good and that, whatever the number, we will have lived to a good old age? 

Two Become One

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

TWO BECOME ONE

Gen 24:62-67

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

NIV

This last portion of Abraham's servant bringing a wife for Isaac includes two main events. First, we are told that Isaac went into a field to meditate. The word ponder may better capture the Hebrew word used. We wonder if Issac recalled that moment when his father took him up to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him in obedience to the LORD, and how the LORD provided the substitute, the ram in the thicket. It makes us ponder the fact of our guilt and how we should have been put to death, but how the LORD provided Jesus as our substitute, who took our punishment on the cross. Although that is the one or primary truth for our lives, there is this event when Isaac takes Rebekah into his mother's tent, and she becomes his wife. Although we are not told anything about any ceremony, or that Isaac presented his bride before his father, Abraham, in the original Hebrew text there is no word for "married,” as this translation uses. It just says that he took her into his mother's tent and she became his wife. We know that in Jesus' time, Jewish people had large wedding feasts that could last several days, such as the wedding at Cana. However, we do not know whether there was any type of feast or celebration. Isaac simply took Rebekah into the tent, and she became his wife. This takes us back to creation when God formed Adam and Eve, and they were one flesh: a man and his wife, the suitable helpmate. God chose Eve for Adam, and in this story we are told the LORD chose Rebekah for Isaac. It is not by chance that all the events happened, but by the hand of God. This is the divine will of God: that a man should leave his parents and be united with his wife, and that they should become one flesh, a union decided by the will of God. There have been times when parents arranged the marriage of their sons and daughters; however, in our current culture, we make our own choices, although that may be a misnomer, as our unions- the one whom we marry could still be by the will of God. He could have led us to the right one, and that is still the truest sense of rightness: a man takes his bride to become his wife; one man, one woman, and the two will become one. That is not to say we cannot make mistakes when we operate outside the will of God, which leads to such a high rate of divorce, even in the church. The world and all its alternative ways of union are certainly outside the will of God. Let us praise the Lord, as he has worked his plan for the two of us to become one. That is also, in some sense, a mystery: that the two of us, Jesus and us, have become one, as He and the Father are one. 

I will Go

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

I WILL GO

Gen 24:54-61

When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master." 55 But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." 56 But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." 57 Then they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her about it." 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said. 59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

NIV

We know the LORD's hand was in all that was done for Abraham's servant, for he was serving his master and went to the exact place at the exact time so that he would find Rebekah. We are not sure why Laban and her mother wanted her to stay at home for 10 days. However, the servant asked them not to detain him. The question was then asked of Rebekah, and her answer gives us our clue for life: "I will go." But we should also consider another truth. Laban and her mother's blessing was for her to prosper as a wife, a mother of descendants of thousands upon thousands, and that her offspring would possess the gates of their enemies. This prophecy foretold what would happen: through Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. But it is this, "I will go," that strikes a chord in our hearts. Although God has a plan and purpose for our lives, and he may bring certain circumstances into our lives to motivate us toward his plan, or he may even bring us a direct message either through his word, a messenger, a vision, or by his very own spoken word into our ears or heart, we still need to say, "I will go." Jesus wants us to follow him, just as he said to James and John. We do not know whether, because we do not know the inflection of Jesus's voice, he told them to follow him in a commanding tone, or if it was more like a gentle nudge on their hearts. When the Holy Spirit came into our lives to convict us of our need to repent, he did not command us, but gave a gentle nudge on our hearts. Could that be how God moves us in accordance with his plan and purpose for us? Could He just gently nudge our hearts toward where and what we are to do? However, when the Lord speaks to us, we still need to respond, "I will go." 

A Precious Gift

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A PRECIOUS GIFT

Gen 24:39-54

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' 40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you — you will be released from my oath.' 42 "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," 44 and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.' 45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' 46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. 47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." 50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed." 52 When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

NIV

Abraham's servant recounts the events at the well, telling Laban it was the LORD's work. He finally asked for a yes-or-no answer so he would know what to do next. Laban agrees that his sister should be Isaac's wife, and Abraham's servant responds by bowing down to the ground before the LORD. How gracious the LORD was to Abraham's servant. Was it because he was the servant of his master? Was the LORD gracious to the servant because he served Abraham, whom the LORD had promised that he would have a son, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars?  Was the LORD simply gracious to the servant for being faithful to his master? What we know is that the LORD has been gracious before, was gracious at this time, and has been gracious to us. The LORD's faithfulness has never been in question, for he has been and will always be faithful to his word. He has shown his kindness and faithfulness to Abraham's servant, and he has always bowed down before the LORD, being thankful for the hand of the LORD working for the good of his master. We do not serve an earthly master, although if we are employed, we are responsible for serving our employer faithfully and working diligently for his benefit. However, we do serve our heavenly Father, although he is also our master, as he is the Master of the Universe, the Great I AM, who created all that is created, and formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and breathed life into his lungs. Yet, he also formed us within our mother's womb, knowing us before we were ever formed. How could we not respond by bowing down to the ground in complete reverence, with a heart of thankfulness for his wonderful grace, mercy, compassion, love, and faithfulness to us? Because the LORD was gracious to Laban and approved Rebekah as Isaac's wife, the servant gave precious gifts to Rebekah, her brother, and her mother.  However, what precious gift can we give to the one who gave us life? How can we give the LORD any gift that is worthy of the LORD? The only gift we can give is ourselves, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to our Lord for his grace toward us. We are the only precious gift we can give him. 

Blessed by the Lord

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BLESSED BY THE LORD

Gen 24:28-38

28 The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." 32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," [Laban] said. 34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'

NIV

First, we find it interesting that Rebekah runs to her mother's household. It is possible that Bethuel, the girl's father, was dead because her brothers conducted the business. Laban formally invites Abraham's servant to their home. Laban calls him blessed by the LORD as he extends hospitality to the servant and his men. This is the first time we learn that other menservants who traveled with Abraham's servant. Once he was in the family home, he explained his purpose: to fulfill his duty to his master, Abraham. Although Laban called him blessed by the LORD, the servant only spoke of how much the LORD had blessed his master with so much wealth, and that it had been passed on to his son; everything had been given to Isaac. He said this deliberately to let Laban know his sister would be the wife of a very wealthy man. However, our lesson is not about Isaac's inheritance or his father giving him everything he owned. This is also foreshadowing the Father giving his Son everything he owns. Before leaving them, Jesus told his disciples that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Although the Son was obedient to the Father and always wanted to do the Father's will, the Father gave the Son all authority. Jesus told the seventy-two he had sent out that he gave them the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy. However, they were not to rejoice in that authority but to rejoice because their names were written down in heaven. This is also our greatest joy, to know our names are written down in heaven. However, we also have the authority in the name of Jesus over the power of the enemy, the one Jesus saw fall like lightning from heaven. Satan is a fallen power, but he has power over anyone who rejects Jesus. Like Bob Dylan's song, "You gotta serve somebody, either you're gonna serve the Lord, or you're gonna serve the devil, but you gotta serve somebody." Because we have decided to serve the Lord, we are assured of two truths. First, our names are written down in heaven, and second, we have authority over the enemy of our souls. Simply by resisting him, he must flee from us. We are blessed by the Lord.

 

Bowed Down

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BOWED DOWN

Gen 24:22-27

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.   23 Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" 24 She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor." 25 And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night." 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

NIV

The LORD had directed the path of Abraham's servant to the exact place, at the exact time, and to the exact circumstances so that his will for Isaac would be accomplished. When the servant realized what the LORD had done, leading him to where he was supposed to be, and finding the perfect lady from the same family as his master, he bowed down and worshiped the LORD. His thoughts and prayers focused on how the LORD had not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to his master, Abraham. He praised the LORD for the kindness and faithfulness for someone other than himself. Of course, he was thankful that the LORD led him on the journey to his master's relatives' house, but his prayer focused on his master, Abraham. This should teach us a truth about our prayers: not to focus constantly on ourselves, our needs, our wants, or on being thankful for how much God has done for us, in us, and through us. Although all that is true, he has blessed us beyond measure by human calculations. How could we possibly thank him enough? In fact, our lives should reflect his blessings so that others would see God in us. Unfortunately, our humanity gets in the way, and our reflection is sometimes tarnished, or at least dulled. However, let us also remember that we ought to pray thankfully for the kindness and faithfulness he has shown those whom we serve, those who are in the family of God, our relatives in the Lord. We should be glad and praise God for how he treats others with such kindness and faithfulness. We wonder how much we bow down when we praise him. Have we become too casual with our prayers, too familiar with God, that we do not bow before him, recognizing him as the King of the universe, the Great I AM, the Creator of all that is created,  the One who saved us by His grace? We think of the Pharisee and the tax collector and how different their attitudes about God were. Of those two, who are we most like? Do we stand and make a show of our religiosity, or do we bow low, not worthy enough to even look up to the heavens, because we are but sinners saved by grace? Do we bow down either physically or in our hearts to worship?