He Hears

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HE HEARS

Gen 21:14-21

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

NIV

We do not know the timeframe of this moment in the life of Hagar and Ishmael, but the LORD heard the cry of Ishmael. We wonder how a boy around 14 or 15 years old would be crying because his mother ran out of water and they were thirsty. At some point in Israel's history, around the 6th century, the tradition of Bar-mitzvah began, when a boy of about 12 to 13 became responsible under the law. But at this time, Ishmael would still be just a boy, a child under his mother's care. He is crying, and the LORD heard him and responded, sending a messenger to call out to Hagar, encouraging her not to give up. As impressive as it was to hear from an angel of the LORD, the best part is that he opened her eyes so that she could see a well full of water that gave her and Ishmael life, or we could say, living water. That brings us to two truths, which may be a single truth. First, the LORD heard the cry of Ishmael. That means the LORD hears. Jesus often said, "Who has ears to hear, let him hear." God always has ears to hear, and he always hears our hearts' cry, but perhaps it is still better to voice our cry. We are told that when we thirst for righteousness, we will be filled. Jesus is our righteousness, so then we should be thirsting for Jesus, who is living water. He promised that whosoever drinks the water he gives will never be thirsty again; in fact, it will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Although the LORD opened her eyes to see a well of water, it gave them life, but not eternal life. That is the other truth we need to remember. The LORD opened her eyes so she could see the well of water. The Lord has opened our eyes, just as Jesus said, "Who has eyes to see, let him see." How can we see unless the Lord opens our eyes? How can we hear unless the Lord opens our hearts? Thank you, Lord, for opening our eyes, that we may see you. Thank you, Lord, for opening our ears and hearts, that we may hear you. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our cry. 

Listen

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

LISTEN

Gen 21:8-13

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring."

NIV

If Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born and 100 when Isaac was born, at this great feast Ishmael would have been 14 years old, just a boy, but old enough to mock the feast. Abraham was unaware, as he must have been so overjoyed in celebration about the son Sarah bore him, the one who would be blessed by God and through whom the world would be blessed. But Sarah noticed and told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Of course, that would have distressed any father if he had to send a son away. Yet, God confirmed it was the right thing to do, so Abraham followed God's word. We will focus on several truths. First, sometimes we men need our wives' awareness. We could get so involved in a moment of celebration, of whatever, that we do not notice what is going on around us concerning some situation, but our wives are there to help us see what is happening. God gave Adam a suitable helpmate; the original word means an aid, one who aids. Without Sarah by Abraham's side to help him see what was going on, history may have been different. However, God's plan is always accomplished, as he used Sarah, Abraham's suitable helpmate, to draw his attention to Ishmael mocking the feast for Isaac. Solomon clarified the value of the counsel of a wife when he said, " Can you find a wife of noble character? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." This may be why an overseer must be the husband of a certain wife. Single men do not qualify because they lack a wife of the right character. The Lord blessed Abraham with Sarah by his side. He has blessed us men with the exact right woman to walk beside us. That was the beauty of God showing us that truth by taking a rib from the side of Adam to form Eve. He meant for us to walk side by side through life. Abraham was blessed because he listened to Sarah as God instructed, which meant he listened to God and, in turn, to Sarah. We could do no less than listen. 

Just as He Promised

 DEVOTION

JUST AS HE PROMISED

Gen 21:1-7

21:1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." 7 And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

NIV

This is the basic singular truth within all Scripture. The truth that shapes our faith, the reason we are who we are. First, God was gracious to Sarah. We know God has been gracious to us by sending Jesus to take our place and die on that cross, so we do not have to. Second, and this is also extremely important in our relationship with the Lord. He did for Sarah what he had promised. She bore a son at the very time God had promised. God has promised those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, who have decided to follow Jesus, who are born again, or born from above, that Jesus would come back and take us to where he is. He promised us eternal life. He promised us a room, a dwelling place in his house. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to empower us with various gifts and to manifest his fruit in our lives. Everything in the life of Abraham and Sarah, having the son and naming him Isaac, went exactly as the Lord had promised them. We can know that God's plan for our lives will go exactly as he planned, and he will accomplish his purpose. One of the keys to God giving them a son in their old age is shown to us when Abraham circumcised Isaac, just as God commanded him. We should do no less. We are supposed to do everything the Lord God commands. That may apply to the church at large, but this truth applies to each individual believer. There are the general commands of God, such as to love others as we love ourselves. You must be born again to see the kingdom of God. We must change and become like a child; that is the faith of a child, believing with no doubts, or we will not see the kingdom of God. However, sometimes God speaks directly to us on a personal, intimate level, leading us to be who he purposed us to be, do what he planned for us to do, and live where he wants us to live. He did that in Abraham's life, and he does that in our lives. We do not belong to ourselves, making our own choices in life; we belong to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, God Almighty, the King of the Universe. We live under his mighty hand, as he sees fit. We live within the covenant he made with us through Jesus, just as he promised. 

Restoration

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

RESTORATION

Gen 20:8-18

8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done." 10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" 11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother." '"  14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." 16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, 18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

NIV

There is restoration through the truth spoken between these two men, Abimelech and Abraham. What could have brought about a great conflict ended well for both of them. Again, we cannot judge Abraham's exact motive for deceiving Abimelech by saying Sarah was his sister rather than his wife, but it seems he did so for self-protection. When we hide the truth or hide from it, we try to protect ourselves from some form of pain, either emotional or physical. Abraham feared he would be killed because the king of the land would want Sarah for his wife. That may have been acceptable of a husband in those days, although that proved wrong; husbands today are required to love their wives, to treat them with love and grace, to protect them, rather than self-protection. Abimelech wanted to make things right, but then we wonder if his motive was self-interest. God had visited Abimelech in a dream and given him the choice of death or life. Who, in their right mind, would choose death? Of course, he was motivated to make things right. When he summoned Abraham, who had wronged him, he gave Abraham sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves. We might have thought Abraham should have given Abimelech something for the trouble he caused. However, this was all about the work of the LORD. We do not know how long Sarah was in the household of Abimelech, but it must have been long enough so that he knew all the women in his household- his wife and all the slave women- could not have children. It would have been very obvious they were all now barren because of Abraham and Sarah. Restoration was the way to healing for Abimelech. The shift from deception to praying for Abimelech healed Abraham as well. It is always good to clear the air, speak the truth, and find a path to communion and fellowship with one another. Whenever there is any kind of conflict, which should not exist among believers, but unfortunately, being human, it does happen, we need to find a path of restoration. If we are in fellowship with the Lord, he will show us the way. Restoration will never happen when we refuse to listen to Him, want our own way, insist the other person was wrong, and expect them to repent and seek our forgiveness. Abimelech was wronged, and because he heard from the LORD, he initiated the restoration. Let us always be in alignment with the way of the Lord, and always be the one who desires and initiates restoration.   

Covenant Relationship

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

Gen 20:1-7

20:1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."

NIV

Do what is right and live, and do what is wrong and die. That is the truth of this narrative about Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech. We still wonder why Abraham and Sarah would be that deceptive, considering the LORD called Abraham a prophet. Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated as prophet first means a spokesman, a speaker. Who else would he speak for other than the LORD? Someone whom the LORD has declared as his spokesman was still a man, with the flaws of all men. He was concerned about his life because Sarah was a very beautiful woman. But she was still in her later years, and we had not yet seen Isaac born. This story will unfold according to God's will, but for now we need to consider Abraham's deception. All of us are flawed people, for there is none righteous, not one, including Abraham, a man of God. This brings us to the question of how God would call a flawed man into ministry. Of course, Paul's letter to Timothy gives us the qualifications for being an overseer, which translates to today's position as pastor.  Did Abraham meet those qualifications before they were given to the church? Then again, because God testified to Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet, we wonder if that was in the sense of one of the gifts given to the church at large, the office of prophet. We know there are men today fulfilling, or at least occupying, the position of pastor and teacher, but they are still flawed men, some of whom have fallen into immoral sin while in that position. But then we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; just as Abraham was without sin, so are we. How do we possibly stand in judgement of Abraham's flaws, his sins, when we face the same condition of being flawed, having sin in our lives? Nevertheless, God still had a covenant with Abraham and would use him in a mighty way. God also has a covenant with those who will accept and agree to his covenant through Jesus. That is the truth of the story of Abraham, and the truth of our story, living in a covenant relationship with the Lord. 

His Plan

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HIS PLAN

Gen 19:30-38

30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." 33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. 36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

NIV

This is a difficult story to comprehend; the reason for this strange happening. We can understand why Lot's two daughters would want to have a family, but lying with their father does not seem right. However, the outcome has lasted for many years, as their sons became the start of the Moabites and Ammonites. Both these nations had a complex relationship with Israel. The Moabites refused Israel passage through this land during the Exodus. They even attempted to curse Israel through their god Balaam, but it is also interesting that it was a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David. Still, we do not understand how Lot would have been so drunk that he did not know he was lying with his daughters, yet we are told he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. However, he had to be physically aware for his daughters to conceive sons. Then we wonder, what Lot must have thought when he became aware that both his daughters were pregnant, and he was the only man in the cave. Can life just happen without our awareness? Do situations happen in our lives that we are not aware of or understand? Because Lot was Abraham's nephew, and of his actions toward the two angels, we would believe that Lot understood who God was and had some kind of relationship with him. He was with Abrahamin Haran when God called Abraham to go to the land of Canaan. He was with Abraham when he built an altar and worshipped the LORD. Yet, now he had to realize he had sex with his daughters. It might have been acceptable in those days, but if his daughters had to deceive their father by getting him drunk, then it would not have been right. Hopefully, as we are in a relationship with the Lord God Almighty, we do not want to do that, which is unacceptable. Yet life happens, but God is sovereign, and what happens in our lives aligns with his design, plan, and purpose for us. Could we say that about the two sons being the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites? Was that God's plan all along so that Ruth, a Moabite woman, would marry Boaz, through that line would come King David, whose line would come the Messiah? Sometimes we just have to understand that God is in control, and his plan will always be accomplished; so if something seems strange or difficult to understand at the moment, we simply need to seek the Lord for understanding his plan. 

Brought Out

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

BROUGHT OUT

Gen 19:27-29

27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. 29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

NIV

Before we get to where Lot's two daughters conspire, doing something that will have long-lasting effects, we first should focus on what Abraham saw and on mercy. When God speaks, he always speaks the truth. He spoke the truth when he told Noah he was going to destroy everything that had the breath of life in it; all mankind would perish, and it happened just as God said it would. He told Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and he rained down hail and fire, burning up those cities and the places of the plains. Abraham stood where he had stood before the LORD and looked down on the plains, and the smoke was like that of a great furnace. The people perished in flames just as the LORD said. The Lord has also said that on the last day, all the wicked who finished wicked will stand before the LORD and be judged for their wickedness, and be sent to another flame, the lake of burning sulfur. It has always been strange in light of John 3:16; the LORD uses the word perish as the opposite of everlasting life. He correlates perishing, the Greek word that means to be put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, destroyed. In the Revelation God gave to John, he called the lake of burning sulfur the second death. Theologians have argued the two positions: eternal torment and annihilation. However, if researched with the Spirit, we will know that God can destroy both the body and the soul. However, he showed mercy to Lot because he was a Godly man; at least, he was family to Abraham, had witnessed the power of God, and hosted the two angels to keep them safe from the city's wickedness. A day is coming when another great day of catastrophe will happen. Still, those who put their trust in the LORD, those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, those who have been born again, will be remembered by the LORD and brought out of the catastrophe; the dead will rise first, and those still alive will be caught up in the air to meet our Lord. We call that the rapture of the church. We know for certain that a catastrophe will happen, and we will be brought out.