January 9th: Genesis 20-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

Today's text is from Genesis 20-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

Genesis 20
Abraham and Abimelek
1-6 Abraham moves on from where he was. You would think this could be a fresh start after the whole Lot fiasco- a moving forward with the promise renewed and all. However, it reminds me of that expression: "Wherever you go- there you are."
A fresh start doesn't change who you are.
Abraham is in a new location yet he is repeating his past mistakes and telling the new king where he moves that Sarah is his sister.

What a complex this would give me if I was Sarah. Maybe she needs to install a filter in her mind that translates "She is my sister" into "My wife is so hot that I am afraid everywhere I go that guys will take her!"
I guess it wouldn't be that helpful since his behavior of pretending they are not married is about sparing himself and not really Sarah. It only puts other guys in the situation of thinking she is available and having her forced to marry them.
grr.... This makes mistakes my husband has made look small.

But it's hard to feel bad for Sarah or view her as a victim of her husbands actions, when it says she goes along with it pretending Abraham is also her brother. In verse 13 we learn that Abraham has told Sarah that this is a way that she could express her love to him wherever they go... and she does a good job at taking his bad advice, so I don't want to point the blame in one direction as they both make the decision to handle this the wrong way - yet again!
God comes to their rescue yet again too! He warns Abimelek in a dream that He is as good as dead, but Abimelek pleads his case that they had both lied to him and he did this with a clean conscience. God responds that it is for that very reason he spared him from sinning against Him by sleeping with her! He tells Bimmy to return Sarah to her husband.
7-8 A very akward situation happens next. God tells Abimelek that Abraham is a prophet and will have to pray for him so that he will live. Imagine how this would make Abraham feel to know he messed up yet he's praying for God to save the life of Abimelek when he is the one who had put his life in danger to begin with. Praying God would give grace to the one you wronged rather then the other way around. I think it would be really difficult for a lot of people to do and make them feel very guilty and humbled.
9-10
Abimelek wants an answer. He knows what Abraham did wasn't right.
11-18
Abraham blames it on being afraid he will be killed because he thinks it is a corrupt place. He also explains it was really a "white lie" or a half truth since technically Sarah was his half sister (his dads daughter from a different mom). Abimelek returns Sarah to Abraham with many gifts and tells him that he can live anywhere he likes in the land. God is good to Abraham through this King even though Abraham is unworthy of it through his actions. God's goodness doesn't depend on us. We don't really deserve anything He gives us. Abimelek tells Sarah he has made restitution for his offense to Abraham. Then Abraham prays to God for Abimelek so that the punishment they had already received (no women in Abimeleks household could conceive) would be removed. Another thing that this passage shows is God is the one who is in control of conception.

Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
1-9 God does what he said he would do. Isaac is born. Abraham does what he said he would do and circumcises his son. Sarah is filled with laughter- but this time it is not mocking laughter but joyful laughter. However Ishmael does mock with his laughter when they throw a party over Isaac on the day he is weaned. Sarah had made a comment about how breastfeeding at her age was a little unbelievable. Obviously this 14 or 15 year old half brother didn't like the feast in honor of the other son who would get the inheritance and he knew where to strike a nerve to mock Sarah & the baby.
10-14
Sarah wants Ishmael gone! Abraham is distressed about it because he cares about his son, but God tells him to go with Sarah on this one since Isaac is the son he needs to focus on right now- the child of the promise. "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." A reminder of Jesus who would come through Isaac's line. He also reminds Abraham that he will do good to Ishmael and make him into a great nation because he is his son, so not to worry. So Abraham sends them off with some water and food, and off into the desert they go.

Verses 15-21 Talk about how God looks out for both Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar gets to a point where she feels really discouraged. She crys. She feels like all hope is gone. Her food runs out and water too. They need it for survival in the desert. She even separates herself from her son because she doesn't want to watch him die. He also is crying and it says that "God heard the boy crying". An angel comes to Hagar to tell her not to be afraid, and to let her know God will make her son into a great nation. God also opens her eyes so that she sees a well of water. I wonder if the well was always there but if her discouragement blinded her to it or if God did something miraculous by making a well of water in the desert. Both options would teach us something neat. God is powerful, and He does need to pull us out of our own funks sometimes that get us down and blind us and discourage us to the point where we close our eyes to see what God is doing. We shut off our own hope sometimes when we shouldn't. God cares for Hagar and Ishmael even though he is not the child of the promise. She is a slave woman yet what a better thing could she ask for then knowing:
"God was with the boy as he grew up." (as verse 20 says)! I couldn't ask for anything better for my son as well! He even made the most of living in a desert an became an archer. His mother hand picked a wife for him too.

22-34
A treaty is made and issue is put to rest in this next section. Abimelek sees how God has blessed Abraham in everything he does, and perhaps had thought of the lies Abraham told him last time. He wants truth to be between them, and their offspring. He doesn't want any war between them, but kindness returned for kindness.
Abraham agrees but then goes into an issue where there conflict because he feels he is being mistreated by Abimeleks servants who have taken one of his wells. Abimelek tells Abraham he didn't know about it because Abraham just brang it to his attention now. Abraham makes the treaty and agreement, and emphasis with 7 lambs he sets apart as witnesses that he is being honest about the well situation.

I'm not sure what the significance of the 7 lambs is all about but it peeks Abimeleks curiosity and I suppose they resolve the well situation. After they leave Abraham plants a tree after the treaty, and calls on the name of the Lord the "eternal God". It also tells us that he stayed in their land "of the Philistines for a long time."

Genesis 22
1-10
Abraham is tested. He is told to take his "only son, whom you love" and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. (This test is also a sign of what God did do with His son Jesus.)
Abraham tells the servants who go with him that Isaac & him will "worship and then we will come back to you.” I've heard suggestions that one reason Abraham was willing to do this is because he believed God would bring Isaac back from the dead since he was the child of the promise. His comment about them coming back would support that theory. In either case Abraham had faith in God and was obedient.

When his son asks where the calf is for the burnt offering he answers that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering”
And God did through Jesus provide the lamb. Revelation 5:12
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Abraham put his son on the altar, on top of the wood and took the knife in his hand getting ready to kill his son. You just know father and son camping trips will never look the same after this one!

11-12 God stops him in time telling him not to do it, and letting him know it was a test. His wording speaks of Abraham but also of Himself with regard to Jesus "you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” God acknowledges Abraham's fear of God.

13-18 Then we see a ram caught by it's horns in a bush is provided as the offering instead. A substitution to save a life (again signs of Jesus). Gods provision is emphasized.
God then talks to Abraham stressing his obedience to Him and also the fact that he does not withhold anything from God.
The question to us is what do we withhold from God?

19-24 When Abraham returns we learn he has some new nephews through his brother Nahor. The first two are named Uz and Buz. :) He has a total of 8 boys. The youngest becomes the father of Rebekah which will become the wife of Isaac which is why this whole line is probably mentioned. However even the four sons he has with a concubine is mentioned. The bible does not include things for no reason! I find it interesting because they don't play a role later on that we hear about. However a concubine is a woman who is usually of lower social status then the man she is with so she is not given the title of "wife", and is often a slave and sometimes used just for producing offspring. I think it is a good reminder that God remembers forever those who society forgets or thinks low of.

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Matthew 7
15-20 We start off being warned about false prophets. We are told to "watch out" for them, and told that they disguise themselves innocently even though on the inside they are dangerous. "By their fruit you will recognize them." This is emphasized twice with the point made that you produce what you are- good or bad.
Does someone produce division? Do they draw a crowd to themselves or to Jesus? What are you producing?

21-23 A lot of people who call on Gods name wont be in heaven because they are not doing Gods will. They may have used Gods name as they did some pretty spectacular looking things... more of the charismatic type - prophesying, miracle working and driving out demons. Stuff that looks spiritual and impressive. But God says they are actually evil doers! He casts them away.
It's interesting that their fruit wasn't merely the spectacular they are seen doing, but it is actually how they really are all the time.
The words "I never knew you" - this phrase is a contrast to how when we are Gods children and not merely using his name- we are "known" by God. In the bible when two people had sex the phrase "And they knew each other" was sometimes used to demonstrate that deep connection. The oneness they shared. God knows everyone, but this reflects the idea of belonging to God. To personally hear Gods heart through the Holy Spirit, is something special. God also listens attentively to those who belong to Him. So God knows us in a different and more intimate fashion which is neat.

The Wise and Foolish Builders
24-27
Putting Gods words into practice or not is the difference between building a life that is secure or one that may look nicer on a shallow level but actually will come to ruin if a storm hits.

28-29
Crowds were amazed by Jesus because he was different then their regular teachers of the law. He actually spoke with authority.

Psalm 9:1-12
Some psalms David wrote went to the tune of another known song of the day. This one goes to the tune of a song called “The Death of the Son.” (I wonder if that should make us think of Jesus?)

1-2 & 11 David Thanks God whole heartily and tells people what God has done. Being glad, rejoicing, singing praise to, are all responses that fit the "Most High".
3-8 Enemies wont stand or be remembered. David is upheld by God who is fair and good. God is just and reigns forever. God rules!
9-10 & 12 God will take care of those who are mistreated or in hardship and will not ignore them!
Knowing and trusting God are key. My favorite part talks about how God has "never forsaken those who seek you."
Do you & I seek God?

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Proverbs 2:16-22
Verses 16-19 Talk about an adulterous woman. Seductive words she has, but she leads to a very bad path- death rather then life is her path. She has left her spouse that she married when she was young and has ignored the covenant she made before God.

20-22 Good actions and living lead to blessing, and bad to destruction and being cut off from God.