Foundations: The Book of Ezra - Day 5

READ: Haggai 1 and Ezra 5

Chapter 5 takes us back to the chronological narrative of Ezra. No work has been done on the temple for 15 years, and three kings have passed briefly through the Persian monarchy. Darius I is now two years into his reign as king of Persia. Haggai and Zechariah were prophets during this time, and chapter 1 of the book of Haggai gives us some telling backstory. It seems that the people of Israel had easily given up the fight to their adversaries in Ezra 4:1-5. They had dropped their commitment to rebuild the temple and started to focus on their own houses instead. They put their own personal comfort before their commitment to the Lord. According to Haggai 1:2, the people had ignored God’s clear calling, through Cyrus, to rebuild the temple, and were saying that this just wasn’t the right time to be building. Haggai was sent as a warning voice to the people, who had ignored the warning God had already given by way of a drought. Even after 70 years of captivity and a miraculous return, we see, sadly, that the people are still lazy and disobedient.

In repentant response to the prophets, Zerubbabel and Jeshua decide to resume the temple project.  Their assignment had been given through official proclamation by King Cyrus. The temple work had only stopped because of oppression from the local people, but the Jews still had an official right to rebuild the temple of the Lord. With this in mind, the people boldly begin building again. The validity of the work is questioned and a letter is sent to King Darius, urging him to investigate what is happening – if indeed the testimony of the Jews is true (see Ezra 5:11-16).

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.  It is easy to put our personal comfort before our commitment to the Lord. When we receive a calling or a directional step from God, it is often exciting at first! But when we are in the middle of walking out what He has called us to, the excitement can die down quickly. Where we were once expectant we become bored, what excited us causes us dread, what sounded like a great adventure is no longer appealing. How many times we have jumped ship for these reasons! But remember, again, Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This promise requires a partnership. He won’t do in us what we won’t allow Him to do. In listening prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how you may have put your personal comfort before your commitment to the Lord. Take time to repent of any disobedience. Is there any comfort you must set aside to fulfil the commitment you made?

2.  Throughout the Bible, the people of Israel seem caught in habitual disobedience. Is there an area of habitual disobedience, or habitual sin in your life? Spend some time talking to God about this area. What steps do you need to take to conquer this area? How can you fully rely on God in this? Ask God for His grace to help you say “no” to sin and “YES” to righteousness.

3.  Zerubbabel and Jeshua remembered that they had a legal right to continue the building project. As Christians, we also have legal rights to God’s promises. Often these promises are conditional: they require a heart that desires to follow God and a heart that is quick to confess sin. We need to remember the promises of God and the authority we have as His children. When temptation comes, we can tell the enemy to leave because we have been given a seat with Christ in the heavenlies (see Eph 2:6-7). Thank God for specific promises in His Word. Thank God that He keeps His Word, and that He is always faithful. Ask Him to keep your heart soft and submissive to Him.

Foundations: The Book of Ezra - Day 4

Ezra 4 can be a confusing chapter if the reader doesn’t understand its structure. Verses 1-5 & 24 are part of the historical narrative of the book. Verses 6-23, however, give a glimpse into an event nearly a century later during the reign of King Artaxerxes I (464-423 B.C.). Ezra chapter 4 focuses on theme rather than on chronological order. This chapter illustrates the opposition towards the Jews and the hostility that existed among the people of the land. The author is showing the reader that the opposition in the earlier verses was not a single occurrence; it was a reoccurring problem for the Jewish community, a problem that has extended for centuries since.

READ:  Ezra 4:1-5 and 4:24

Here we see opposition brewing against the returned exiles. Some of the existing settlers ask to join in the building process. These people are the descendants of those who settled in Samaria (the capital of the north) after Israel was defeated by Assyria. Though they were taught the religion of Yahweh, they chose to worship their own idols instead (see 2 Ki 17:24-33). Their request to join the workers is one of malicious intent; really they are hoping to frustrate the building project. 

The leaders stand firm, insisting that only the Jews will participate in the building. This doesn’t sit well with the challengers. They start to play dirty, increasing harassment and intensifying opposition. Through letters, bribes and intimidation they fight the builders until finally, the temple work is stopped in 536 B.C. and remains dormant for 15 years. The picture has changed much since the end of the previous chapter.

READ: Ezra 4:6-23

Now the narrative is put on pause and the reader is brought into the reign of King Artaxerxes I. A number of Jews are apparently attempting to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. A large group of adversaries write a letter of flattery to the king, seeking to tarnish the reputation of the Jews and stop the work. Their tactics are successful and the Jews are forced to cease building.

Opposition is not new. We must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Since Satan fell from heaven he has been opposing God and the people of God. Opposition should not surprise us. When people attempt to tarnish our reputation and forcefully stop our work, we must remember that we are not alone, that God’s people throughout history have faced the same things. Even when we are stopped we must remember that our sovereign Lord is in control, that He does not sleep, that His plans can never be thwarted. We must continue to put our trust in God and not in man, because we know the end. We know the glory that awaits at the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is to this end that we labour, to this end that we endure all things for His sake.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.  Make a list of ways that you personally, and that the church, are experiencing opposition. Ask God to give you His eyes to see and His heart to feel. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8 which describes our role as believers in the face of the godlessness around us. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally through these verses. How does He want to encourage you? What does He want you to do today in light of this passage?

2.  The Jewish people have been opposed all throughout history. The Holocaust of WWII was not an isolated time of persecution. It was preceded by thousands of years of persecution towards the Jews, and persecution did not stop with Hitler’s demise. Much of the world looks to Israel with disdain. Let the opposition in your life stir you to pray for the Jewish people. Pray that their eyes would be opened to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. Pray for God’s favour and protection upon the state of Israel.

3.   2 Timothy 4:8 says there is a blessing for all who long for Christ’s appearing. Ask Jesus to give you a longing for His return. Ask Him for a glimpse of His glory and of life under His authority. Ask Him to work in your heart so that you will be completely submissive to Him and His direction for you. 

Foundations: The Book of Ezra - Day 3

READ: Ezra 3

In chapter 3 the actual rebuilding starts. Zerubbabel, the grandson of Jehoiachin, the last king of Judah, is clearly the leader along with the priest, Jeshua (or Joshua). It is the seventh month – the month of Tishri – during which there are many significant Jewish holidays including Yom Kippur and the Feast of Booths. Yom Kippur was the Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and repentance for the sins of the previous year, and was followed by the Feast of Booths, a festival which required all the Jews to gather together in Jerusalem in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. We see unity among the people of Israel in how they “gathered as one man to Jerusalem.” The rebuilding of the altar was of utmost importance upon their arrival, as it had been for their ancestors when they entered the Promised Land centuries before (see Deut 27:1-8). The altar sacrifices as acts of worship were Solomon’s purpose for building the temple in the first place. He sought to build a house dedicated to the Lord where sweet sacrifices could be made and Yahweh could be worshipped forever (see 2 Chr 2:4).

The focus on rebuilding the altar immediately showed that single-hearted devotion to Yahweh was the defining characteristic of the people of Israel. The offerings and sacrifices presented at the altar were sacred means of fellowship with the Lord, including praise, thanksgiving, repentance, the making of vows, and intimate communion meals between the worshipper and God. For 70 years the people had been surrounded by pagan shrines and temples without a place to properly worship Yahweh. So far, it seems the returnees are starting off on a good foot. Though they are fearful of the surrounding people living in the land (v 3) they forge on ahead, unlike their ancestors who, crippled by fear, refused to enter the Promised Land and were thus punishment with 40 years in the wilderness.

In the second year of their return, the people begin the reconstruction of Solomon’s temple, holding a dedication ceremony at the laying of the foundation. The scene described at the end of the chapter is one of both joy and sorrow. There is joy among the people as they rebuild what their enemies had torn down, as they rebuild a house for the Lord after years of separation due to their sin. But there is also sorrow, especially for the older generation who remembers Solomon’s temple. Solomon was the wealthiest person in history; he had unlimited resources and complete financial and political security when he constructed a house for the Lord. The new temple described in the book of Ezra obviously cannot compare to the grandeur of the original. Still, this is a momentous occasion as the people rejoice in God’s goodness and steadfast love which is clearly evident in the midst of this miracle.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.  This chapter shows the people’s longing to fellowship with the Lord. Do you share this longing? In our free society, it is so easy to take our church, our Bibles and our time for granted. We are so blessed with freedom to worship the Lord, and yet we often lack passion and don’t use our time effectively for the Kingdom. Do you enjoy your fellowship with the Lord? Do you spend time in worship, repentance and prayer? Do you listen for His voice? If there are areas of dryness in your relationship with Him, take some time to ask Him what is going on, and to show you any changes you need to make. If you feel you are in a great place, thank Him for the journey He has been taking you on!

2.  The people were getting things in the right order by establishing the altar immediately upon arrival. Check the order of your heart. Is there any area where God is not exalted in first place? Here are some questions you may want to ask to bring revelation:

a.  Is there anything in your life that you don’t like to ask God about because you are afraid of what He might say?

b.  Have you chosen to ignore a conviction of the Holy Spirit?

c.  Do you have days when you put God aside, or areas of your life that you leave Him out of?

3.  It’s easy to think about a time in our lives when we felt closer to God or more “spiritually secure” and wish for it back. In times like this, we struggle to see the Lord’s fingerprints in our lives because we are comparing the present to the past. But God’s goodness and steadfast love are eternal qualities. He is as good, as loving and as present today as He was then. Spend some time thanking God for the qualities of His character. Thank Him for specific goodness He is showing you right now, today. Be encouraged that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (see Phil 1:6) as you submit to Him.

Foundations: The Book of Ezra - Day 2

READ: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1- 2

The book of Ezra is an incredible historical document, highlighting the sovereignty of God. Spanning almost a century, it describes the return of two groups of Jews, with a third return described in the book of Nehemiah. The book of Ezra deals with the return of the exiles, the rebuilding of the temple, and the repentance of the people. Israel has been humbled, but God has not left her. He does not forget the covenants He made to Abraham and to David; Israel is still part of His plan to bring salvation to the earth.

The book of Ezra picks up 70 years after the Babylonian exile, describing a truly remarkable state of events in which the Persian king, Cyrus, makes a proclamation for the Jews to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the Temple. (If Cyrus’ proclamation is not proof enough of God’s sovereignty, it is fascinating to note that Isaiah prophesied this event, foretelling Cyrus by name – 200 years before Cyrus was even born! (See Isaiah 44:24 – 45:25))

God’s sovereignty is the focus of Ezra chapter 1. Unlike other rulers of the time, Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, was a tolerant monarch, allowing his subjects to practice whatever religion they liked. Cyrus was put into place by God and for God’s purposes. Not only was he allowing the Jews to practice their religion within his empire, he was sending them back to their homeland to rebuild their centre of worship – worship that defined them as a distinct nation! Moved by the Lord, Cyrus makes his decree, thus fulfilling the prophecies of God spoken through Isaiah and Jeremiah.

And just like when the Israelites left Egypt, their surrounding non-Jewish neighbours are moved to give them gold, silver and animals. The king also gives back what Nebuchadnezzar ransacked from the temple. And with all these things, a group of exiles set out at the beginning of chapter 2 to return to Jerusalem and Judah (renamed Judea upon Persian rule), led by Zerubbabel. The returnees are divided into a two groups: 1) ordinary Israelites (vv 2-35), and 2) temple servants (vv 36-58) including priests, Levites and other temple workers. Verses 59-63 list a number of people who could not prove their ancestry. The priests were set apart specifically by Yahweh for their role in the temple, thus credentials were important. This is more than a list of names; the focus on temple servants illustrates the heart of what is happening here: the reinstitution of Yahweh-worship in Jerusalem.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   God’s sovereignty is a theme throughout Scripture. It is because He is sovereign that we can trust Him. Spend some time reflecting upon God’s sovereign hand in your life. How have you experienced God’s sovereignty? Here are some questions to consider:

a.   Think about how you came to follow the Lord. How was God’s sovereignty evident in this decision?

b.  Think about what God has done in your life since you made a commitment to Him? How has He been sovereign in this?

c.   Where would you be if you had not chosen to follow the Lord?

Thank God for His sovereignty in your life.

2.   There is nothing that is out of God’s realm of power and control. If He could cause Cyrus, a pagan, to do His bidding, He can handle anything in your life. Ask God to show you a challenge in your life that you are struggling to control. Ask Him to show you any lies you have believed about His ability to help you. Spend some time giving this thing over to God. Ask Him to speak to you about how He wants to be King over this problem. 

Foundations: The Book of Ezra - Day 1

READ: Jeremiah 25:1-14 and 2 Chronicles 36:1-21

There is a back story important to understanding the state of Israel at the start of the book of Ezra.

Under the leadership of Moses, the people of Israel had entered into a covenant relationship with Yahweh. They agreed wholeheartedly to the terms and conditions, understanding the blessings that would come with obedience and the curses that would inevitably follow disobedience (see Ex 24). This covenant was renewed shortly before Moses’ death (see Dt 29) and yet again under the leadership of Moses’ successor, Joshua (see Jo 24). But over time, the people rebelled against the Lord, engaging in idolatry and wickedness, and thus they experienced the curses outlined in the covenant.

Yet, true to His nature, God showed wave after wave of mercy, compassion and unfailing love, offering salvation to His people whenever they cried out to Him. This cycle of sin, supplication and salvation is the blaring theme in the book of Judges. The time of the kings brought a shift to Jewish life.  In his book, “Unlocking the Bible”, David Pawson says, “The kings of Israel… had absolute power… The king ruled by decree and not by debate. His influence over his subjects was total, and therefore his character and conduct shaped society during his rule. He stood as a representative of the nation before God, but also as a representative of God before the nation.” The nation of Israel split early on (Israel to the North and Judah to the South). Israel was led astray by a string of wicked kings until the nation was conquered and dispersed by Assyria. Only Judah was left, and she, too, was led astray by many wicked and half-hearted rulers. Under the rule of Josiah, the book of the Law was found and the covenant renewed one last time (see 2 Kings 23), but even his reforms didn’t last and after his death, the nation was plunged back into sin and idolatry. The end of 2 Chronicles describes the pitiful downfall of Judah as the nation is ultimately defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and deported in three waves. The city of Jerusalem, with its impenetrable walls and glorious temple is ravaged and burned, the people carried off into captivity.

All this time, the Lord had sent prophets to warn the people, reminding them of the covenant their ancestors agreed to and the blessings and curses that accompanied it, but no one would listen. Jeremiah had prophesied the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon and the subsequent 70 years of captivity, but his prophesy fell on deaf ears. We are left with an acute sense of the marring effects of sin against a holy God as the people are carried off in chains.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.  Our nation has never entered into a national covenant with Yahweh, but Canada was founded upon Christian principles, upon the beliefs that God exists as sovereign Lord and that the Bible is true and good. How have you seen Canada stray from these early principles? We know from Scripture that God judges the wickedness of the nations (even those who have not entered into a covenant with Him). The moral state of our nation should not cause us to fear or to complain; it should cause us to pray. Take time today to uplift our country in prayer. If you are fearful or judgemental, bring these feelings before our God and ask Him to give you His heart for Canada. Thank God for the loving-kindness He showed to Israel and has shown to us.

2.  The prophets stood up for truth, often knowing in advance that no one would listen to them. Will you be spokesperson for truth? Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit said that as we mature, we will become firm in our faith. We will not be tossed around by the winds of false teaching; rather we will speak the truth in love (see Ephesians 4:11-16). Our conversation is to be gracious, loving and kind, but these things do not mean that we must sacrifice truth! Rather, truth is glorified in this context. But Scripture is clear: we must be people of truth and boldness, knowing that not everyone will agree, and in fact that we will be hated because of Christ, who is the Truth. Take some time to think about your call to truth as a Christian. Ask God to show you where and how He wants you to specifically stand for truth.

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 25

Read: Genesis 26

A famine in the land (v. 1) leads Isaac to leave Beersheba and go to Gerar.  God appears to Isaac and warns him not to go down to Egypt (v. 2). God then reaffirms the promises to him that were made to his father Abraham (v. 3-5).  When Isaac settled in Gerar he committed the same sin as his father by saying that Rebekah was his sister (v. 7) except this time it was a complete lie not a half-truth.  Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister, Rebekah was Isaac’s cousin.  Isaac feared that he would be killed and Rebekah would be taken by another man – sounds familiar!  But the truth comes out when Isaac is caught doing something with Rebekah that made it obvious they were married (v. 8).  The king confronts Isaac on this and he admits to lying (v. 9-10).  Abimelech scolds Isaac for potentially having brought wrath upon him and his people and tells his people not to touch Isaac or his wife (v. 10-11).  Abimelech was acting rightly in desiring for impurity to be avoided by himself and his people.  He understood that taking another man’s wife was adultery of which the penalty was death.  It is important to note that the Abimelech in this chapter was probably a descendant of the Abimelech that had similar discussions with Abraham back in chapter 20. 

Isaac become quite wealthy in this land (v. 12-24) as the land produced a hundredfold and he gained the possessions of flocks and herds and many servants.  In fact, he became so rich that the Philistines envied him (v. 14).  This leads Abimelech to ask Isaac to leave their region (v. 16).  Isaac listens and moves to the valley of Gerar (v. 17).  He reopens the wells that were dug by his father and had been filled by the Philistines (v. 18) and also digs new wells (v. 19-22).  In such times a good well was a great possession and often there were predatory wars in where it was usual for the enemy to fill the wells with earth or sand in order to cause distress.  The filling up of Abraham’s wells by the Philistines was corrupt as they had made a treaty in Gen. 21:25-31.  We can see in these verses how Isaac chose to move on instead of cause strife and contention over the well disputes.  God blesses him for this. 

Isaac then returns to Beersheba and the Lord appears to him to renew the promise (v. 24).  Isaac responds by building an altar and worshipping the Lord (v. 25).  Abimelek comes to him from Gerar, along with his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his military (v. 26).  Isaac questions why they came to him, subtly accusing them of unkindness for sending him away (v. 27).  They beg him to make a covenant with them (v. 28-29).  Isaac responds by preparing a feast for them and making the covenant (v. 30-31).  Isaacs servants then discover a new well (v. 32) which they call Beersheba, restoring the ancient name for that place.  The chapter concludes by mentioning that Esau (Isaac’s oldest son), at age 40, marries two wives of the Hittites, at which Isaac and Rebekah were grieved (v. 34-35).  This was probably because Esau married for secular power and influence without consideration of the idolatry and carnal ways of the Hittite people. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   God warned Isaac about not heading to Egypt but He doesn’t tell him why he shouldn’t go there (v. 2).  This shows God’s love and concern for His children and that He is to be obeyed, even when we don’t fully understand why.  It is often hardest to obey and trust when we can’t see what God is doing and when we don’t know why He is doing what He is doing.  It is hard to obey when His actions seem irrational but we must remember that God loves and is just and fair and that it is often our own interpretations that are incorrect.  Has there ever been a time in your life when you didn’t understand what God was doing and why?  Are you in that place now?  Ask the Lord to grow your trust in Him.  Ask Him to help you learn to trust Him, even when you don’t fully get it.  Pray for strength to follow and obey in these times. 

2.   In this chapter we see that Isaac commits the exact same sin as his father, Abraham.  As parents we need to break generational strongholds of sin in our lives so that they don’t get passed down to our children.  We do this by first acknowledging our sin and confessing it.  The following are lists of things that can be generationally inherited:

·     General Health Predispositions - high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, cancer, etc.

·     Temperament - shyness, aggressiveness, anxiety, fear, etc.

·     Spiritual Weaknesses – attitudes or behaviors

·     Demonic Influences and Curses

Often the big issues that we deal with in our lives are generational, meaning that they have been problems for our parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents.  These things often become problems for our children too.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any generational issues that are affecting you or your children (write them down in your journal, don’t discard anything – even if it seems to be irrational or insignificant).  Now go through each, one by one, confessing and breaking any generational tie that may exist.  For bigger issues, commit to doing this regularly or consider booking a personal prayer ministry appointment or attending after service prayer. 

3.   Esau was foolish in marrying two wives and even more foolish to choose to marry pagan women.  It seems here that Esau didn’t just despise his birthright but that he also didn’t care about the religion of his family.  Esau didn’t care about heavenly things.  If you have children, pray that they will grow in their walk with God and that they will care about following the Lord.  Pray that they will focus on heavenly things and not be overtaken by the cares of this world.  Pray specifically that they will choose to marry a person that is also following the Lord and walking in His ways.   

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 24

Read: Genesis 25

This chapter concludes the life of Abraham.  It begins by telling us that Abraham married Keturah and had six children with her (v. 1-2).  The point is that Abraham had more children than just Ishmael and Isaac but that he gave all that he had to Isaac (v. 5).  Isaac is the one who received his flocks and his right to the land of Canaan and the promises of God.  In order to keep things civil, while he was still alive, Abraham gave his other sons gifts and sent them away to the east country (v. 6).  The writer is making it very clear that only the descendants of Isaac can lay claim to the promised land!  Abraham was 175 years old when he died (v. 7) and he was buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael, in the same cave where Sarah was buried (v. 9).  After his death, God blessed Isaac and he settled at Beerlahairoi (v. 11). 

The text concludes the life of Abraham by giving the genealogies of his son Ishmael (v. 12-18) who had 12 sons each becoming chiefs of tribes in Arabia, fulfilling the promise of Genesis 17:20.  God had promised to multiply Ishmael so the writer shows that this promise was kept by God.  Ishmael died at the age of 137 years (v. 17).  This dialogue also shows that these descendants did not live in the Promised Land and that they lived in hostility (see Gen. 16:12). 

The focus of Genesis now shifts to Isaac, who was 40 years old when he took Rebekah (v. 20).  Isaac prayed to the Lord because she was barren (v. 21) and the Lord answered his prayer and she conceived twins, who struggled together within her (v. 22).  Not knowing what was happening inside her Rebekah inquired of the Lord who told her that she had two nations in her womb (v. 23).  What was prophesied about Esau and Jacob we see coming true in their descendants.  The Edomites were the offspring of Esau and the Israelites were the offspring of Jacob.  Jacob had twelve sons who would become the twelve tribes of Israel as one nation.  The Edomites and the Israelites are very different people in manners, customs and religion.  Esau was a hunter (v. 27), Jacob was a tent dweller (v. 27) who kept sheep and cattle.  Although history shows that the Edomites started out as more powerful than the Israelites, eventually David (an Israelite) made an entire conquest of the Edomites and they served the Israelites for 150 years.  After many years the Edomites were incorporated among the Jews.  We will see in future chapters that the relationship between these twin boys was largely hostile.  It is interesting to note that the twins were born when Isaac was 60 years old, 15 years before Abraham died.  The text also tells us about Esau’s hairy body and Rebekah’s love for Jacob – which will come into play in future chapters.  

The chapter concludes with Esau, the oldest twin, selling his birthright to his younger brother for a bowl of stew (v. 33).  It appears that Esau was so extremely fatigued that he thought he was going to die without immediate refreshment (v. 30).  The birthright was a matter of great importance in the ancient world and this transaction proves that it was transferable between children.  The birthright would have included being consecrated to God, receiving a special honor from your parents, receiving a double portion of goods from the father and succession of the family line.  In Hebrews 12:16, Esau is called a profane person for selling his birthright.  His mind was not on spiritual things as he did not see that the birthright was linked to God’s promise to Abraham.  But we can’t let Jacob off the hook too easily.  What kind of brother wouldn’t freely give his famished brother a bowl of stew?  This shows the deceptive and selfish nature of Jacob as he exploits his brother.  We see these qualities in Jacob until he has an encounter with God later in Genesis. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   Only the descendants of Isaac can lay claim to the Promised Land!  This was God’s way back then and it is still God’s way today.  Sometimes we may not understand God’s ways but that does not make God’s ways unjust or unfair.  As the Creator of the world and as the Creator of humanity, He gets to formulate the standards of morality and he gets to determine what is right and what is wrong.  It is our job to obey and not debate the truths of His Word.  Ask the Lord to show you if there are any Biblical laws which you struggle understanding or living by.  Then, commit to following the ways of the Creator God and commit to asking Him to help you to understand His ways and trust in them. 

2.   Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah and was 60 when the twin boys were born.  This means that they were married over 19 years before she conceived.  That is a lot of years to pray for a child!  But God kept His promise of making Abraham a nation by giving Isaac not just one son, but two sons.  Are there any things in your life that you feel you have been praying about for a long time?  Ask the Lord to grow in you a deep trust in His timing for answering your prayers.  Also pray that He will show you how to pray according to His will, through listening prayer.  Then ask Him if there is anything else that He wants to say to you about this prayer request today. 

3.   Rebekah inquired of the Lord and He answered her.  This is the first instance of a woman inquiring of the Lord in the Scriptures.  Women have full access to the Lord!  Thank God for the equality that He has established between men and women.  Thank Him for the opportunity to lead your family, to volunteer in the church and to be a minister in His Kingdom!  Ask Him to show you what a next step is for you in each of these areas. 

4.   Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob (v. 28).  This inexcusable parental attachment to one child in preference to another will have consequences as the family will become divided and in opposition with itself.  Many evils will result in the descendants of both families because of these foolish attachments.  If you have more than 1 child, ask the Lord to show you if you hold any preferences of one child verses another.  Often parents are blind to the subtle ways that they favor the compliant child over the child that requires more attention, or the subtle ways the favor one gender over another.  Ask the Lord to open your heart to His truth about this today.  Listen in prayer, asking Him to show you want He wants to show you about favoritism.  Ask Him to show you patterns of favoritism in your family history and in the family history of your children’s father.  Pray against any generational strongholds.  Commit to loving each child and in growing to appreciate their differences. 

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 23

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 23

Read: Genesis 24

In this chapter we see the change from focusing on Abraham to now focusing on Isaac. Abraham is growing old.  He has already buried his wife Sarah and now he now desires to find a suitable wife for Isaac before he dies.  Abraham calls his trustworthy servant Eliezer for this task, requesting that he not take for him a wife from among the Canaanites (v. 1-3).  Abraham desires for Isaac to have a wife from his own kin (v. 4).  The servants asks what he should do if the woman is not willing to come with him, should Isaac go there to get her (v. 5)?  Abraham gives him strong assurance of God’s direction (v. 6-7) and assures him that if the woman doesn’t follow he will be freed of the oath (v. 8), so the servant swore the oath (v. 9).  

The servant makes preparations for his journey and sets out for Mesopotamia, the residence of Abraham’s kin (v. 10).  He arrives at a well just outside the city (v. 11) and prays to God asking for a sign.  Eliezer is leaving the choosing of Isaac’s wife up to God (v. 12-14).  Before he could even finish praying, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, comes to the well to draw water (v. 15).  Eliezer and Rebekah engage in conversation in which everything took place according to Eliezer’s prayer (v. 17-21) as Rebekah offered to water his camels.  Watering ten camels would have been hard work.  Rebekah is showing both physical strength and benevolence.  Upon realizing that this was God’s chosen bride for Isaac, Eliezer offers gifts and asks for lodging at her father’s house (v. 22-23).  She replies favourably and invites him to her father’s house (v. 25).  The servant then worships the Lord and thanks Him for the prosperous journey, acknowledging how God directed his steps (v. 26-27).  Rebekah informs her family (v. 28) and her brother Laban comes out and invites Eliezer home (v. 29-31).   Laban offers food for the camels, water to wash his feet and food for him to eat (v. 32-33).  Before accepting the food, Eliezer describes the mission that he is on for his master (v. 33-41).  He continues to describe how he prayed for God to provide the right woman and asks her to be Isaac’s wife (v. 42-44).  Recognizing that this is of the Lord, Laban responds favourably and gives Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife (v. 50-51).  The servant responds by worshipping God (v. 52) and gives presents to Milcah, Laban and Rebekah (v. 53).  They then eat and they ask Rebekah to leave with him and she consents to go (v. 54-58).  She is accompanied by her nurse (v. 59) and after receiving a prophetic blessing from her parents and relatives (v. 60) they depart (v. 61).  They are met by Isaac, who was on an evening walk for the purpose of mediation (v. 62-65).  The servant relates to Isaac all that he had done (v. 66) and Isaac and Rebekah are married (v. 67) and he loved her. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   It is clear from this account that God guided the servant to Rebekah, showing His sovereignty in finding a wife for Isaac.  It is commonly known that the journey from Abraham to where Rebekah lived was over 520 miles and would have taken 21 days to travel.  Only God could have orchestrated their meeting and her positive response!  What does this show about the importance of following the Holy Spirit and letting Him lead in your life? 

2.   One of the biggest barriers to experiencing the supernatural in your everyday life is control.  When we try to control things and when we call the shots, God is virtually pushed out of our lives.  We must give complete control over to the Lord, we must let Him lead and guide our lives and we must let Him call the shots.  We do this through obeying the Word and through intentionally listening in prayer about all areas of our lives.  Ask the Lord to show you two areas of your life where He wants control today.  Let Him speak (write them down in your journal).  Then, ask Him what He wants to say about each of those areas of your life.  Commit to following through on what He showed you!

3.   Abraham desired that Isaac get a suitable wife. He knew the importance of not intermarrying with the pagan Canaanites.   He knew this was not acceptable because their sinful ways would more than likely permeate his son and future grandchildren.  As Christians, we too are called to be set apart yet there are many believers who have been permeated with the world.  We are to be in the world but not of the world, we are to be salt and light yet many of us are unsalty and our lights are dim.  Ask the Lord to speak to you about these things.  What does He want to tell you about this?  Give him permission to show you areas of your life that have been permeated by the world.  

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 22

Read: Genesis 23

This chapter begins with the death of Sarah and tells of how Abraham buys a cave in Hebron to be her burial place.  This is significant for the children of Israel as it marks the ownership and future rights to the land of Canaan.  Sarah is the only women in the Bible whose age, death and burial are distinctly noted.  Isaac’s age at the death of Sarah would have been 36 years old.  Abraham wept for Sarah (v. 2) and asked the Hittites to sell him land so that he could bury his dead (v. 4).  The Hittites recognize his special relationship with God by calling him “prince of God” (v. 6) and they generously offered him one of their best tombs for Sarah’s burial (v. 6).  Abraham did not want to bury her in any tombs owned by somebody else, he wanted to bury her in a place that he could claim as his own.  He had been wandering for 62 years in Canaan and still had no permanent location of his own.  Yet God had promised him many times that his descendants would possess all the land of Canaan.  Abraham rather asks to buy the cave of Machpelah, paying the full price (v. 8-9).  The owner of this cave, Ephron, offers it to Abraham free of charge (v. 11).  Abraham declines the free offer and once again offers to pay the full price (v. 13).  They agree on a fair price, Abraham pays and the field now rightfully belongs to Abraham (v. 15-16).  It was important for Abraham to buy the property because that would be the only way to ensure that the land legally belonged to him.  The transaction was completed in the presence of the Hittites (v. 18).  God is providing witnesses to this transaction.  Abraham then buried Sarah in the cave, in the land of Canaan (v. 19).  Verse 20 concludes by repeating that Abraham owned the field and cave.  We’ll see later in the book of Genesis that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebekah and Leah will all be buried in this cave. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   In this story we can see the sovereignty of God in Sarah’s death.  It was God’s plan to give Abraham’s descendants the land.  God used Sarah’s death to accomplish a purpose.  Abraham bought the land giving the Israelites full rights and claim to it.  Ask the Lord to show you a time in your life where He was accomplishing a purpose but you were feeling hardship and adversity, maybe even a loss of a loved one.  Ask God to speak truth into this situation and show you His sovereignty over all things.  Praise Him for His sovereignty.  Thank Him for being in control of your life. 

2.   In the time of Abraham people customarily buried their dead with their fathers.  By purchasing this burial place, Abraham indicates his commitment to the Lord’s purposes.  Ask the Lord to show you 1-2 purposes that He has for you right now, in whatever place He has put you.  Are you fulfilling those purposes well?  Ask Him for some steps that you can take in order to fulfill those purposes well! 

3.   God gave the Promised Land to Israel, they rightly own the land and have full rights to it.  Yet there exists in our world today much conflict over this land.  There is no two state solution!  The land rightfully belongs to Israel!  Pray for Israel to stand strong in the midst of pressure to give up the land. Pray that many Jews would accept Jesus as the Messiah and make Him the Lord of their lives.  Pray that the church across the world would stand with Israel and support them as a nation.  Ask the Lord to grow in you a heart of love and compassion for the nation of Israel and for the Jewish people. 

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 21

Read: Genesis 22

In this chapter we find God putting Abraham to the ultimate test (v. 1).  The conditional promise which was given in Genesis 12:1-3 would be guaranteed if Abraham passed the test.  The death of Isaac would contradict everything that God had promised Abraham.  Would Abraham obey?  Does he fully believe in the promise that God gave him?  He had failed before therefore Ishmael was born and now was lost to him.  Now God commands Abraham to take the son of the promise, his beloved son and offer him as a burnt offering (v. 2).  Abraham promptly obeys, gathers his supplies and begins on the journey to Moriah (v. 3).  It is commonly believed that the mountain upon which Abraham offered up Isaac is the exact same mountain on which God offered up His Son, Jesus, to be the substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world.  On the third day they arrived.  This number is significant because of Christ’s rising from the dead on the third day.  Abraham and Isaac then leave the servants behind as they go to worship the Lord.  Isaac carries the wood for the offering and Abraham carries the knife and fire (v. 6).  Did you notice how Abraham said, “and come again to you” to his servants?   Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us further insight into this incident: ¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.  Abraham went fully prepared to offer his son, and yet confidently expecting to have him restored to life again.  Isaac, questions, “where is the lamb” (v. 7)?  Abraham replies, “God will provide” (v. 8).  If Abraham had any doubt that God would not miraculously intervene in some way the binding and placing of his son on the altar would have been agonizing.  Abraham raises the knife.  But God intervenes!  Abraham’s action confirms his faith and obedience to God.  His faith is now active, it is complete.  God provides a ram to be sacrificed as a burnt offering instead of Isaac (v. 13) and Abraham offers it up as a burnt offering.  The place was called Jehovah-Jireh (v. 14), the Lord will provide! 

The angel of the Lord then calls to Abraham a second time (v. 15) and in the most solemn manner Abraham is assured of the promise that God made with him back in Genesis 12:1-3.  The Lord blesses Abraham by promising him many descendants (v. 17) and also by promising that one particular seed shall possess the gate of his enemies and through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (v. 18).  Here we see that once again Genesis is interested in tracking a single unique line of offspring that will eventually lead to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Abraham then returns and dwells at Beersheba (v. 19).  He is told that his brother Nahor has eight children by his wife Milcah (v. 20).  We are given their names in verses 21-23 as well as told of the children by his brother’s concubine Reumah (v. 24).  The reference to Rebekah shows the significance of this mini-section of genealogies.  God is further preparing the line of Abraham by a suitable spouse for Isaac. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   This test shows that Abraham now fully believes in the promise of the covenant.  He is no longer doing things his own way (think Hagar and Ishmael) and he is no longer full of fear (think lying to Abimelech).  Abraham is no longer thinking naturally.  He now sees that God can intervene supernaturally (see Heb. 11:17-19)!!!  Over the years Abraham has grown in trusting God.  He isn’t doubting anymore, He isn’t fixing the problem himself, he isn’t lying either.  Abraham is obeying!  He had experienced many failures but God continued to mold his character so that he would pass the final test, when it mattered most.  Thank God for the ordinary people in the Scriptures who help teach us about spiritual growth and maturity.  Thank Him for the patience and love that He has for His children and that He doesn’t give up on us but rather picks us up and encourages us to press on!  Pray that you would grow in sensing these aspects of God’s character. 

2.   Is there a promise that God has given you that requires a step of faith or obedience?  Ask the Lord to show you what that step is.  Or, ask Him for a promise and then for a step of faith or obedience that you can take. 

3.   Worship God!  He grew Abraham into maturity even though it took many years!  He’ll do that for you too – if you let Him.  If you choose to follow Him and if you choose to endure and press on.  Ask Him to show you the work of transformation that He has done in your life so far.  Thank Him for this transformation.  Pray that you would continue to seek Him and follow Him.  Pray for endurance. 

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 20

Read: Genesis 21

God fulfilled his promise to Sarah by giving her the ability to conceive and bring forth a son (v. 1-2), according to what He had told them.  Abraham named him Isaac (v. 3) and circumcised him on the eighth day (v. 4).  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (v. 5)!  Isaac grew and was weaned (v. 8), probably at the age of 2-3 years old.  Abraham threw a feast to celebrate but the celebrations were dampened by Ishmael’s mockery (v. 9).  This caused Sarah to desire to have Ishmael and his mother Hagar be expelled from the household (v. 10).  Although Ishmael is Abraham’s son, Sarah does not want him to receive any of the inheritance.  Sarah knew that God had planned for the promise to be fulfilled through Isaac so she wished to have this other son removed from all claim on the inheritance.  This greatly troubled Abraham (v. 11), but God intervened by reassuring Abraham that this was for the best (v. 12).  God then renews the promise that He gave to Ishmael (v. 13).  So Abraham did something that would have been very difficult.  He sent Hagar and his first born son away and they departed (v. 14).  Ishmael would have been around 16-17 years old at this time.  In the wilderness, Hagar and Ishmael ran out of water so she cried out to the Lord (v. 15-16).  God heard her cry and called to her.  He promised to make a great nation out of Ishmael and opened her eyes to see a well with water so they could drink and be refreshed (v. 18-19).  This section concludes with telling the reader that Ishmael grew up and became a great archer (v. 20) and his wife was from Egypt (v. 21). 

The chapter then goes back to Abraham and Sarah.  We are now reintroduced to Abimelech and his chief captain Phichol who make a covenant with Abraham and surrendered the well of Beersheba for seven ewe lambs (v. 22-32).  These men acknowledge Abraham’s success to God (v. 22) and ask Abraham to deal honestly with them (v. 23).  Do you think may have anything to do with Abraham’s past record of telling half-truths?  Abraham then tells Abimelech that his servants had seized one of his wells (v. 25).  Abimelech says that he knew nothing about this (v. 26), so the men made a covenant and used the exchange of seven ewe lambs to show that Abraham had dug the well (v. 30). The place was called Beersheba (v. 31) and Abraham planted a tamarisk tree there (v. 33).   Abraham then worshipped the Lord, the Everlasting God and sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines (v. 34). 

You maywonder what the significance is of this account being included in theScripture.  Why tell a little story abouta well?  As you read through the Bibleyou will find Beersheba mentioned many times. Isaac builtan altar in Beersheba (Genesis 26:23–33). Jacob had hisdream about a stairway to heaven after leaving Beersheba. (Genesis 28:10–15 and46:1–7). Beersheba was the territory of the tribe of Shimon and Judah (Joshua15:28 and 19:2). The prophet Elijah took refuge in Beersheba when Jezebel orderedhim killed (1 Kings 19:3). The sons of the prophet Samuel werejudges in Beersheba (1 Samuel 8:2). Saul, Israel's first king, built a fort forhis campaign against the Amalekites (1 Samuel 14:48 and 15:2–9). The prophet Amos mentionsthe city in regard to idolatry (Amos 5:5 and 8:14). Following theBabylonian conquest and subsequent enslavement of many Israelites, the townwas abandoned. After the Israelite slaves returned from Babylon, they resettledthe town.  This city is still there todayin Israel and it is the largest city in the Negev desert ofsouthern Israeland the seventh-largest city in Israel with apopulation of 196,355.  (Reference:Wikipedia)

Prayer and Journaling

1.   When Abraham did things his own way (think Hagar/Ishmael) the end result was pain and the breakdown of his family.  Abraham did not get away with the sin of polygamy; rather it caused heartache, rejection, fighting, hurt and pain – big consequences and suffering!  As a result of his sin, he lost his son Ishmael.  In what ways are you doing things your own way?  In what ways are you trying to get away with so called “little sins”?  Ask the Lord to speak to you about these things.  Ask Him to forgive the areas of sin that He reveals.  Pray that you would learn to give Him control of your life and follow His path of righteousness. 

2.   Abraham’s sin left Ishmael without a father and left Hagar without a husband.  His sin affected these innocent people.  Yet God intervened for Hagar and Ishmael, He protected them and kept them alive.  They could trust God’s goodness, love and mercy.  God heard Hagar’s cry back in Gen. 16 and He intervenes again, 14 years later in Gen. 21!  God hears! God answers prayers!  Thank God for this, tell Him that you love Him and trust Him.  Even though we go through tough circumstances, we have a God who hears! 

3.   Why include a story about a well in Beersheba?  It helps to remember that the book of Genesis was a historical book written for the Israelite people.  This well had great significance to them as it represented God’s faithfulness throughout history.  This well also shows us God’s faithfulness and love.  Ask Him to show you how He has been faithful to you throughout your life.  Praise and thank Him for this. 

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 19

Read: Genesis 20

This chapter sort of feels like a deja vu of Genesis 12:10-20.  It starts with Abraham journeying through several regions, ending up in Gerar (v. 1).  It is here where Abraham says that Sarah is his sister and she is taken by King Abimelech (v. 2) – you would have thought that he would have learned his lesson!  I guess old sins die hard.  This is a crisis of HUGE proportions!  The woman who is to bear the seed of the nation of Israel CAN NOT lie with another man!  So, God intervened!  God comes to Abimelech in a dream to ensure that Sarah did not have sexual relations with the king (v. 3). Abimelech asserts his innocence of the entire situation (v. 4-5), which God affirms is true (v. 6).  It is written in verse 6 that God did not let Abimelech touch Sarah, in other words, they did not have sex.  It is extremely important for the nation of Israel to know that they were birthed from Abraham’s seed and that Abimelech did not touch Sarah!   Abraham is called a prophet, by God, in verse 7.  This is based on his ability to intercede, pray and make supplication which we saw in chapter 18.  God warns Abimelech that the consequence for not returning Sarah to Abraham would be death to him and those in his kingdom (v. 7).  Abraham’s prayers would play a part in removing this consequence.  Abimelech then admonishes Abraham for bringing this great sin into his kingdom (v. 9).  He then asks Abraham why he did it (v. 10).  Abraham then admits that he was afraid that they would kill him because they wanted his wife (v. 11), and admits to telling a half-truth (v. 12) and that he told Sarah to tell people that they were siblings (v. 13).  Basically, Abraham was making excuses for his conduct.  The king then restores Sarah back to Abraham, including gifts of sheep, oxen and slaves (v. 14).  He offers Abraham residence in any part of his lands (v. 15) and gives money as a sign that he did not act inappropriately with Sarah (v. 16).  The king is making sure that everyone knows that he is not the father of any child that she may have!  The chapter ends with Abraham making intercession for Abimelech and his household.  As a result, God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants and so they could have children (v. 17).  This was because the Lord had closed up their wombs because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife (v. 18).  It seems necessary to imply that Abimelech and his household were afflicted with some sort of disease that would have made it impossible for them to have children.  This may have been another way of protecting Sarah from being defiled by Abimelech. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   By this time in his life, Abraham had experienced much in his relationship with God and was slowly maturing into a man of God.  He is even called a ‘prophet’ by God.  Yet Abraham was still susceptible to sin and in this case he lied because of fear.  Sin is not something that we deal with once and then move on, never to sin again.  We must carefully examine our hearts, attitudes and actions regularly and confess any areas of sin.  Ask the Lord to reveal to you any attitudes or actions in your life that are sinful.  Confess these things as sin and ask the Lord to forgive you.  Then ask Him if there are any steps you can take to make these wrongs right. 

2.   God intervened!  He prevented Abimelech from sinning (v. 7) by not letting him touch Sarah.  Part of God’s intervention was to cause a great distress on the king’s entire household (v. 18).  Sometimes God’s interventions don’t make sense to us, in fact, sometimes we may think that He is being mean or unfair or even attribute His interventions to the enemy.  Ask the Lord to show you a time in your life where He intervened in order to help you.  Maybe you misinterpreted this as a punishment?  Dialogue with God about this.  Ask Him to show you the truth of how He has intervened many times in your life. 

3.   Praise and thank God for His character.  He is active and He intervenes because He cares!  He loves!  He is good!  He is merciful!  He is slow to anger and abounding in love!  Ask Him to show you 5-10 things about His character that you can be thankful for today.  Worship and praise Him for these things.

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 18

Read: Genesis 19

The two angels who visited Abraham with the pre-incarnate Christ in chapter 18 now arrive in the city of Sodom in the evening (v. 1).  Lot is sitting at the gate to the city when he meets them and offers them refuge in his home (v. 2).  They initially declined his offer, but Lot pressed the matter and they finally accepted (v. 3).  Lot then made a feast for them.  Before long, the men of the city surrounded the house and called to Lot, asking about the visitors (v. 4-5).  These wicked men wanted to have sex with the visitors (v. 5).  This invitation shows us the wickedness of the Sodomites.  Later in the Scriptures we read that the sin of homosexuality is classified with bestiality and incest (Lev. 18:22, 29; 20:13), it is also condemned in the New Testament (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10).   God did not consider these to be alternative lifestyles but sinful lifestyles.  Lot confirms their intentions to have sex with the visiting men as sinful when he pleads for them not to act so wickedly (v. 7).  Not wanting to violate his responsibility to protect his guest, Lot offers his own virgin daughters instead (v. 8).  Such an offer is shocking and ungodly!  This got the mob of men angry and they accused Lot of judging them (v. 9), the men started to break down the door when the visitors reached out and saved Lot (v. 10).  The angelic visitors then struck the angry mob with blindness (v. 11) so they couldn’t barge in the door.  They then commanded Lot to gather his family and belongings and to get out of the city because they were going to destroy it, as instructed by God (v. 12-13).  Lot tried to gather his future sons-in-laws but they thought he was joking (v. 14).  As morning approached the angels urged Lot to flee the city, but Lot lingered so they seized him and brought him out of the city, commanding them to flee to the mountains and not look back (v. 15-17).  Lot asks instead if he can flee to a town nearby (v. 20) and they agreed (v. 21).  That city would be completely spared of the judgment coming to the other cities in the valley because of the presence of Lot.  This shows how the very presence of the righteous can ward off judgment!  The Lord destroyed the valley cities by raining down sulfur and fire from heaven (v. 24).  The destruction came from God the Son, as He has been given all judgment and is the destroyer of those that reject salvation.  He overthrew the cities and all the inhabitants, it was utter ruin.    Lot and his two daughters escaped, but Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt (v. 26).  She disobeyed and was struck dead in her place, her body becoming like a monument.  The judgment of this area was so severe that this once fruitful valley remains today as the Dead Sea.  Still to this day it has no living creature in it.

The story now shifts to Abraham (v. 27) who saw the smoke of the land like the smoke of a furnace (v. 28).  The smoke would have communicated to Abraham that there were not 10 righteous people in Sodom.  Four were lead out of the city by the angels but only three survived the judgment.  But God, in His goodness, kept Lot safe. Lot managed to escape Sodom but the events that happen next make it clear that the influence of that culture had a profound effect on his daughters.  Their desire for offspring was stronger than their desire to be holy so they got their father drunk so they could get pregnant by him (v. 32-35).  Notice how in both cases the Scriptures are clear that Lot had no knowledge of what was happening (v. 33, 25).  The offspring of this sinful behavior became the Moabites and the Ammonites (v. 37-38), who will both later be trouble for the people of Israel! 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   Sodom and Gomorrah was a wicked city full of sexual immorality, greed and injustice.  Regrettably, our country and most of the developed world is going the way of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Wickedness abounds.  Billy Graham’s wife Ruth was quoted as saying, "If God doesn't soon bring judgment upon America, He'll have to go back and apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!"  Yet where are the intercessors today?  Who is praying for God to save our great nation?  Who is praying for God’s hand of judgment to be restrained and for many to repent and turn from their wicked ways?  Our land desperately needs prayer!  Ask the Lord to show you what part He is calling you to play praying for our nation.  Ask Him to show you something about our nation that you can pray for today.

2.   Thank the Lord for His love and mercy, how He desires for people to repent and turn from their wicked ways.  God protected Lot!  This shows the power of intercession.  Praise Him for this! 

3.   Ask the Lord to show you strategies you can implement in order to protect your children from the negative impact of our sinful culture.  Ask Him to speak to you about their friends, the media, their school, etc.  How can you model a life submitted to God to your kids? 

Foundations: Genesis (Part One) - Day 17

Read: Genesis 18

The first fifteen verses of Genesis 18 give us a detailed description of the Lord appearing to Abraham.  Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent during the heat of the day when he saw three men standing in front of him (v. 1-2).  When he saw them he ran to them and bowed before them saying, “O Lord…do not pass by your servant”.  There is little reason to doubt that Abraham recognizes that one of his visitors is the pre-incarnate Christ.  Abraham spared no expense in providing these visitors with a lavish feast.  He does not eat with the visitors but rather like a servant, he waits on them (v. 8).  One of the visitors questions, “Where is Sarah, your wife” (v. 9)?  The fact that they knew Sarah’s name indicates that they were not ordinary visitors and that their visit had something to do with her, as the dialogue continues this will be confirmed.  Sarah was in the tent but within hearing range.  She heard all that the visitors said and when they gave a promise to return about the same time the next year and that she would have a son (v. 10), Sarah laughed to herself (v. 12).  Sarah was old and advanced in years, her monthly menstrual cycles had stopped so there would be no way that she could become pregnant.  The visitor’s response was, “is anything too hard for the Lord” (v. 14)?  Sarah then denies laughing (v. 15) but the visitor, who could not see her, had the ability to discern her inner laugh which proved that he was no mere man and says, “No, but you did laugh” (v. 15). 

The primary reason for the visitors’ visit was to make the announcement that Sarah would have a baby which would fulfill the covenant promise.  But the Lord gives Abraham another message from these visitors, in the next section of the chapter he learns of the potential destruction of Sodom.  God discloses to Abraham what He is about to do to Sodom so that He may teach Abraham’s descendants to keep the way of the Lord and do righteousness, so that the Lord can bring to them what He had promised them (v. 19). 

Sodom and Gomorrah were evil, wicked cities (v. 20). Abraham understood that God was going to destroy these cities and he knew that his nephew Lot and his family lived there.  Abraham’s response was to intercede for these cities. He appeals to the nature and character of God, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked (v. 23)…shall not the Judge of all the entire earth do what is just” (v. 25)? Abraham engages with God and presents various scenarios of hypothetical numbers gradually reducing the number of righteous from 50 down to 10 (v. 26-32).  Abraham was not merely haggling with God, he knew God’s character and that God takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). 

In this chapter we see that God was teaching Abraham many things before making him into a great nation.  God was teaching Abraham about the nature of sin and wickedness and about His holiness and the necessity of judging sin.  God was showing Abraham that His judgments are just and He was teaching Abraham to fear God. 

Prayer and Journaling

1.   “Is anything too hard for the Lord (v. 14)?”  What is one prayer request where you have not received an answer yet?  First, ask the Lord whether or not you are praying according to His will in this particular situation.  Then, ask the Lord to show you any changes that are needed to your prayer strategy – what are you missing in praying for this situation?  Then, pray what the Lord shows you and commit to continuing to seek His strategy on this issue. 

2.   God revealed the coming judgement of Sodom to Abraham.  The secrets of the Lord are with those who fear Him.  Abraham had chosen to live a life of communion with God, walking with God and therefore He was given foresight into what was to come.  As we get closer and closer to the end times the importance of hearing God becomes even more important, so does foresight.  Ask the Lord to grow you in hearing His voice.  Pray that you would hear with clarity and that the Lord would give you insight for you and your family in the times to come. 

3.   Intercessory prayer is most effective when we have a deep realization of God’s judgment.  It is hard to pray for the lost when we don’t have an understanding of their eternal punishment.  Pray that you would grow in an healthy fear of the Lord and that the Lord would place an urgency in your heart about the end times.  Pray that you would stand firm and that you would learn to love prayer and praying for the lost.