Being Still

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BEING STILL

Gen 15:7-21

7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." 8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?" 9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." 17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates —  19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."

NIV

This is the moment the LORD made a covenant with Abram. The three animals, each three years old, have significance because three is perfect; it represents the triune God. Cutting them in half was a cultural way of the time for making a peace covenant between two parties. Abram must have known that when he was given those instructions by the LORD, there was going to be a covenant. However, there is something very important for us to notice. When the sun set, Abram fell into a deep sleep; a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. In other words, Abram was in some kind of trance,  completely void of any thoughts of his daily concerns with life. This is when he was visited by the LORD, who spoke to him and made the covenant. Some people wonder why they have never heard the voice of the Lord. That is not to say that we always hear his voice, but we wonder if the reason we do not hear from the Lord is that we have become too preoccupied with the concerns of life. Psalm 46:10 puts it in the right order. First, we must be still; then we can know he is God. What does "be still" look like? God caused Abram to be still, to be in a deep sleep. But we may not experience that kind of sleep, but we still must quiet our hearts and our minds if we are going to hear from the Lord. He is not going to break in while we are so busy with ourselves, our own cares, concerns, worries, or pleasures. When we are so wrapped up in selfness, we will never be still enough to know he is God. Although we understand the new covenant through Jesus, we cannot survive as believers with just knowledge. If we are going to not just survive, but live abundantly, we need to quiet ourselves, listen, meditate on the Lord, and we will know he is God. He will confirm himself to us, show himself in a way that we will know who he is, and we might just hear his voice. 

What A Reward!

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

WHAT A REWARD!

Gen 15:1-6

15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

NIV

We should focus just on the fact that God told Abram that he was his shield and very great reward. Is that not a promise for us as well? We know that God is our shield; he is our protection, our protector against the forces of evil. We know that he clothes us in his armor, which includes the shield of faith.  If we think that our faith is the shield, we are sadly mistaken, for whom do we have faith in? We also know that faith is a gift from God, as he gives every man a measure of faith. So we would have to believe the shield of faith is God himself. He is our shield, but we must stand behind that shield; we must believe in God. First, we should believe that he is our very great reward. We wonder how much we struggle in this life to receive some kind of reward. These earthly rewards could be financially based or emotional, such as recognition, prestige, or being looked up to (pride-based), or success in varied areas of life (self-based). However, the only reward that is worth everything is knowing God, for he is our very great reward. Everything we struggle to obtain in this world will all fade away, vanish, disappear, and literally perish. However, God, our very great reward, is eternal. Secondly, we should note that Abram believed the LORD. The Hebrew does not include the word "in"; it simply states, "Abram believed the LORD." That is the basis of our lives. It may be good to say that we believe in God, or we believe in Jesus, but then many people who do not know God, or who are not living for God, may say they believe in him, but who believes God is the question. If we believe God, then our lives should reflect that fact. We do need to be careful about being distracted and starting to believe other things that we think are important.  Because Abram believed the LORD, he was credited as being righteous. We know that Jesus is our righteousness; therefore, as we are in Christ, we are credited as righteous. What a reward! 

Look to the Lord

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

LOOK TO THE LORD

Gen 14:18-24

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me — to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."

NIV

Although we looked at the blessing of Abram by Melchizedek, we did not consider this tenth of everything that Abram gave him. This is one of those beginning verses where we take the rule of tithing to the Lord, or rather to the church. However, we generally take our cue, or rule, from the verses in Malachi about how a man robs God by not bringing a tenth into the storehouse that they might be food in his house. In ancient times, this was meant for provisions in the temple for the Levite priests who served in the temple courts and to maintain the temple provisions. In our modern times, it is still fitting that the tenth of our income should support the material needs of the church. Today's church has financial expenses the temple did not, such as heat, air conditioning, lights, salaries for staff, support of missionaries, etc. Sometimes the cost of staff can get blurred with pastors living so large that it is obnoxious. But there is another story here that deserves our attention. Abram would not keep any of the spoils for himself, as he did not want the king of Sodom to think he made Abram rich, for Abram believed that God would provide for him. We should take our lesson from that principle. Sure, we must work, or labor all the days of our lives, which was the command of God to Adam. He must labor for his own sustenance. Again, we might have taken that in another context: we do work, but not all the days of our lives; instead, we work to store up for our retirement. Then stop working to do whatever we please. However, the point is that we should not be looking to our own efforts, but always look to the LORD for everything in our lives. We should not need others to give into our hands, but raise our hands to the LORD; He will bless us. He will direct our paths, how we should work, and how we should earn our sustainability. Then, because all comes from the hand of God, we give him back a tenth of it, keeping the rest. On the other hand, Abram did believe others deserved their share because of their part in the victory. Nevertheless, let us always look to the LORD, praising and thanking him for his provisions for our lives. Let us not look to others to make us rich; but look to the Lord; he will see we have enough. 

Setting the Captives Free

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE

Gen 14:1-20

14:1 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar. 8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar — four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. 13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

That is a lot of kings and a lot of rebellion, fighting, killing, violence, which is normal for mankind. There will always be war between those who have, but want more. Each of those men was a king of their own city or area of land, living the good life. But greed is at the center of their plans to take from another so they could have more. None of this involved Abram until those kings overcame the city of Sodom and took the people captive and their possessions, including Lot. So, because they messed with his relative, Abram went into action and routed those kings and their armies, taking back Lot, his possessions, together with the women and the other people. Abram took care of his own family and did what was needed to secure Lot and return him to his home. All this culminated in Melchizedek, the king of Jerusalem, serving bread and wine to Abram. Of course, this foreshadows the bread and wine Jesus served his disciples in Salem, or Jerusalem. Jesus has also been referred to as a priest in the order of Melchizedek according to the writer of Hebrews, with a quote from the Psalms. Melchizedek has no lineage, as there is no record of a father or mother. Again, foreshadowing the high priesthood of Jesus. Although Jesus uses the term Father, Jesus is God, having no beginning and no end. We could spend days with Melchizedek and Jesus, but the truth we want to focus on is this blessing he gave Abram and Abram's response with the tenth of everything. First, Melchizedek made sure Abram knew that the God Most High was the Creator of heaven and earth. Everything was created by God Most High, and in his great power and might, his mighty hand was responsible for Abram's victory over his enemies. Sure, Abram, with his 318 fighting men, had to fight a battle and put forth an effort to win, but the victory was won because God Most High was with Abram and caused the victory. We can take that lesson for our lives. We cannot sit in our easy chair and wait for God Most High to give us everything; we must go forth to fight the battle and put forth effort; however, that effort must be under the direction of the Lord. Abram did not fight just to fight, but to free Lot from captivity. Abram had to be inspired by the LORD to free Lot. We believe it matters what we do in life, because we live among people whom we can have some influence on in their lives, so that they may know the power of God Most High.  Abram fought for the release of Lot. Jesus set the captive, us, free. Are we meant to simply live for ourselves, or to live for each other, fighting for their release from captivity by the prince of darkness? 

A Sweet Amora

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A SWEET AROMA

Gen 13:10-18

10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. 14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." 18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

NIV

Well, we know what is going to happen in Sodom because the men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against the LORD. Was it by chance that Lot chose the plain of the Jordon and set out toward the east, or was it planned by the LORD? IF Lot had chosen the other direction, it would have been Abram who would have been near Sodom. However, Abram had another visit from the LORD in some manner, as we are told the LORD spoke to Abram and told him to lift up his eyes, and that as far as he could see in all directions, the LORD would give it to his offspring forever. From a worldview perspective, Israel has had and will continue to have the land God promised to Abram. We have another promise from the LORD. However, this promise is for whosoever believes in Jesus Christ, will not perish, but have everlasting life. That eternal life will be spent in the place Jesus has prepared for those who accept him as their Lord and Savior. That is the new paradise, the new city of Jerusalem that will come down from heaven. It will be on the mountain of God, just as the existing Jerusalem sits on Mt. Moriah, although the new mountain will be much larger, wider, and higher. In a sense, because Abram will become Abraham, the man of faith, we are also his descendants, and we will inherit this new land forever. As Abram built another altar to the LORD, we are supposed to be an altar, or, as it is put, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. That is, we offer ourselves to God, to do with as he pleases. Abram may have sent up a sacrifice that would have been a sweet aroma to the LORD; we are supposed to be that sweet aroma before the Lord. How is that possible when we get so distracted by self? Let us remember who we are supposed to be: a sweet aroma before the LORD. 

No Quarreling

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

NO QUARRELING

Gen 13:5-9

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."

NIV

Both Abram and Lot had become wealthy men with large herds of cattle, flocks of sheep, goats, donkeys, male and female, and camels. They both had herdsmen, employees who watched over the livestock. We can imagine, as we are told, that the land could not support both of their herds. Arguing, maybe even fighting, broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and those of Lot. Abram demonstrated a life truth in this narrative of his and Lot's story. In essence, Abram said, "Let's not have any quarreling between us, brothers. " There should not be any quarreling among believers, for we all are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Abram, who was the senior member of the clan, instead of insisting things happen according to his plan or way, humbly allowed Lot to pick which direction he would take his herds, and Abram would go the other way. We wonder how many churches function in that manner. How many church boards, worship teams, and leadership teams function without someone wanting their way while another insists their way is better to the point where nothing gets done, except hard feelings. Look, if you want to go left, we will go right; in other words, someone has to be big enough, like Abram, to allow the other to make the choice. This could go past a point of no return if no one steps up with a suggestion or if everyone acts like Abram, just going along with whatever. Abram took the lead and gave Lot the choice. Lot did not make any suggestion for a solution; it was all Abram. This also shows that there needs to be a leader, but to lead with humility, not with an iron fist or as the decision-maker. However, we should all be on guard against quarreling,  as we look for solutions together, and honor one another in love. 

Call Then Listen

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

CALL THEN LISTEN

Gen 13:1-4

13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. 3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.

NIV

We wonder why we are told of how much wealth Abram had accumulated, although we are not told how. Was all that just given to him by the Egyptians, or did he trade goods or something to buy all he had? If so, where did he get everything to start with? Was part of his wealth an inheritance from his father? We will never know for certain how he became so wealthy. However, the greater question is about Abram calling on the name of the LORD. Did Abram not call on the name of the LORD when he was in Egypt? Shouldn't he have been walking with the LORD from the time he was called to leave his home and his father's household in Haran? We know the last time he had pitched his tent in the place between Bethel and Ai, he had built an altar and called on the name of the LORD. But now he is back at the same place, and we are told he called on the name of the LORD. Didn't Abram ever talk to the LORD other than at this place? Didn't He give thanks for all he had accumulated? Was Abram just a successful businessman, doing his thing, getting wealthy, and then every once in a while he goes to church, the altar he built, and prays or calls on the name of the LORD? That just does not seem right, since he already had a promise from the LORD about his descendants having the land of Canaan. He had to live in constant awareness of the LORD. Yet, he was not a perfect man, as he lied when he went into Egypt. But we use Abram as an example of a man of faith. We do not wait until we are at the altar we built, the church, to call on the name of the Lord. We live each day in his presence, aware of his moving in our lives. We know the Spirit dwells within us, and we walk and talk with the Lord every day. Is there a difference in how we normally pray, always asking for some need in our lives and in the lives of those we care about, and just calling on the name of the Lord? We don't know the words Abram used, but we know we don't have to use any special words either, words that sound religious or spiritual just because we are talking with the Lord. He knows our hearts, our pains and joys, our needs and concerns. Maybe all that is needed is for us to call on the name of the Lord. Oh Lord, I am here; I call on your name; I seek more of you in my life. Maybe that is all we need to do: just call on his name. If we call, he will answer; then we are supposed to listen.