JANUARY 7
Genesis
16:1-18:19
Waiting for God is never easy, but it is something God
requires of everyone who follows Him. Abraham's faith is amazing, and although
he and Sarah will make a "mistake," if you can call it that, we shouldn't
be quick to judge. They had been in Canaan now for about 10 years and she
couldn't get pregnant. God kept confirming the promise, but there was no baby.
Still, they held on to the promise.
Genesis 16
Vs. 1-3 Since Hagar was Egyptian, it would be a good guess
that they obtained her when they went to Egypt and Abraham lied about Sarah.
Regardless of the mistake being made here, this shows a lot of faith on Sarah's
part. She and Abraham were both partners in pursuing the promise and following
God. I understand from what
happens here that God is extremely gracious, forgiving, kind and faithful.
The Spirit has
given us the benefit of knowing that Abraham and Sarah never needed to do this.
We understand they were driven by sadness and frustration. Those of us who are
married know the emotional pressure of trying to get pregnant and what it can bring
into a relationship. It is hard to withstand the disappointment.
There is no
evidence to suggest they prayed about this decision, but it does say, Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Not that a husband shouldn't listen to his wife, obviously, but in this matter
it involved a very clear promise of God and Abraham's personal experience with
God. This promise was as good as gold, set in stone, unmovable. Look at Genesis
3:17, And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife…” Sometimes it is
easier to be "strong" in faith by ourselves, but the test of faith is
that we hold to it in the presence of others.
As disciples,
we have been told certain things that we know are true. What God says about
this world, the heart of man, and the coming judgment of mankind are things
that we need to keep in mind. We know we need to be in the Word and that we are
to love and follow Christ. These at least are constants, good as gold, set in
stone, and unmovable. The Word provides guidance in all the important
relationships of life. So, we shouldn't let anything or anyone remove our
resolve to follow and obey each day.
Interestingly,
in Romans 4:20 it says of Abraham, No
unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God. His distrust was not
in the promise. The problem was confusion and despair in waiting, not knowing
the means of how God would fulfill
that promise. In the end, what they always understood would be correct. Sarah
would have a child.
Vs. 4-6 Imagine
how life suddenly got complicated for Abe and Sarah. This kind of marriage was
a legal thing to do in that culture. But in doing this, what they had
understood as their "dream" (Abe and Sarah and baby) died. She gave
her husband to another, younger woman, that pretty little thing they picked up
in Egypt. And behold, Hagar became pregnant, meaning Sarah was the problem.
Now, this young woman was flaunting it and Abe has grown emotionally connected
(in love?) with her. O Weh!
What lessons do
you find here about how we can complicate our lives by not waiting on God but
seeking other solutions instead? Abe takes no leadership (guilty conscience?)
and wimps out. Sarah gets mean. Hagar flees.
Vs. 7-14 God
had a sub-plan here for a man named Ishmael, a descendant of Abraham. Also,
once God gave His promise to Abraham, He made good on it. Every child born of
Abraham became a people. Even in Abe's weakness in seeking the promise, God was
still faithful and true to His promise. Note that Abe's motivation in doing
this wasn't lust, like David, or power and lust, like Solomon.
Notice the angel of the Lord in v. 7, and notice in
v. 10, He says what only God can say. There are many places in the OT where the
angel of the Lord is God the Son in human form.
God is tender,
though corrective to Hagar, in fulfillment of His promise to Abraham. Ishmael
is to be a wild donkey of a man,
meaning virile, strong, athletic, commanding. He was a guy who could put the
soccer ball in the upper left corner of the net, by the post and crossbar, from
mid-field; and if he got in the penalty box with the ball, you were finished.
You have to
believe that Hagar related this all to Abraham (therefore we have the account)
and that this calmed Sarah, who welcomed the returned and humbled Hagar.
Vs. 15-16 Note
that Abe was 86 when Ishmael was born. In the next verse he is 99. It is good
to pay attention to the dates or ages God gives. We know from Gen 12:4 that Abe
was 75 when he left Haran and arrived in Canaan. You can figure out how long it
was until the conception of Ishmael. This gives us an idea of time and the
incredible struggle the waiting must have been for Abe and Sarah. Can you
imagine not getting an answer to your prayer for ten years? And even this
answer wasn't the answer.
So what is
happening here? God apparently used Ishmael as a small glimmer of hope as they
waited, until the true fulfillment, 14 years later. God used this situation to
create something in Abe and Sarah that would give them incredible joy when
Sarah finally conceived and had her boy. And of course, there is something
about God's glory and deep wisdom that is to be taken to heart.
Genesis 17
Vs. 1-14 In
preparation for the fulfillment of His promise, God restates the covenant,
changes Abe's name, and gives him the sign of the covenant - circumcision.
Remember that the fulfillment of this covenant was unconditional since only God
took part in the cutting of the covenant. Circumcision was a required act of
obedience for the nation of Israel, but it still was an act of faith to those
who believed in God's promise to Abraham whether they belong to Israel or the
church.
In Romans Paul
will show that circumcision didn't save anyone or make them a child of Abraham.
Since Abe was saved by faith before he was circumcised, it was only a sign of
faith. The true children of Abraham are those who believe in the promise.
Vs. 15-21 Abe
was good with what God was saying up until now, but then God renamed Sarai to
Sarah; and the dream, which they had always known was true, flamed to life
again. Notice that Abe laughed. I think this was a laugh of joy and of revived,
unbelievable hope. Abraham goes into this "testing of the waters"
thing with God because he can't believe his ears. He had always known that the
promise would be with Sarah. I'll bet he was a happy man.
Vs. 22-27 Notice
that Abraham took immediate action regarding circumcision. This would become
the national sign of the covenant in Israel, meaning they were under the promise
of God. That was a redemptive promise showing that all nations would be blessed
through Abraham. This was a sign of faith. The fact that Abraham acted so
quickly and resolutely showed both his faith in God and his pursuit of the
promise. It was a sign of the promise, cut into every man that would remind
them daily of the promise. It is very interesting that God did something like
this.
I have to
laugh, because the real act of faith wasn't from Abraham; it was from the
300-500+? men in the camp who came out and listened to Abraham tell them of
hearing God in the wilderness. Then he pulls out a knife and says, "line
up and lift your robes.” Whoa! And they obeyed. That's faith. I can't imagine
(and don't want to) what that day looked like. No discipleship course that I
know of asks for a commitment like that.
Genesis 18:1-19
This section of
reading probably should have stopped at v. 16. God never doubted that Abraham
would obey regarding the circumcision. Now it was time to visit Sarah.
Vs. 1-2 This
could have been days or weeks later. Notice that Abe and Sarah are at the oaks of Mamre. Notice that the
visitors sort of just appeared standing some distance away. It also looks like
Abe was looking for them.
Vs. 3-8 On the
one hand, this is ancient Middle Eastern hospitality. On the other hand, I
think Abraham recognized the angel of the Lord, referred to here as
"Lord.” Abe had met Him before.
I always smile
when I read this. It seems like Abe says, "Hey, let me whip together a
little something for you to eat," and then he goes out and kills, guts,
skins, prepares and cooks an animal. Whoa!
V. 8 Like a
good host, he waited on his very honored guests. Can you imagine Jesus showing
up with a couple of angels for supper? What would you do? Order a pizza? Pick
up some Chinese take-out?
Understand too
as a side note, they were not illusions. They all possessed real physical
bodies with fingerprints. When they ate, the food went through teeth, into a
mouth and down an esophagus, not into a vacuum in their bodies. It didn't take
God millions of years to make those bodies. They, as spiritual beings, had no
problem making a body in a second, with moving parts and all the latest
upgrades. God did that at creation too.
Vs. 9-15 Sarah
hears the promise firsthand. The traditional way of understanding the visitors
is Christ, pre-incarnate, often described, but not always, as "the angel
of the Lord," and two angels. Notice in vs. 10, 13, and 17, the LORD said.
Sarah listened
at the key-hole as they talked and she laughed in wonder and joy, the same as
Abraham. Interestingly, the name of the baby, Isaac, means laughter. We know
that this laughter was in joy and wonder. Can you imagine hearing that the
thing you have been praying for and waiting for, for 25 years, was going to
happen? Apparently Sarah, who was now 89, was having a hard time thinking her
body would respond both sexually and maternally. For God, this miracle would be
a piece of cake. The Lord showed her kindness and understanding because her lie
was told in embarrassment and wonder, not in deceit. For something similar to
this, look at Luke 24:36-41.
Just as an
interesting note here, think about this. When Jesus was in conflict with the
Pharisees in John 8:37-59, He told them that they were responding differently
than Abraham, whom they said was their father. Jesus said, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham
did, but
now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from
God. This is not what Abraham did.” When Jesus told the Pharisees the truth, they didn't respond
with faith the way Abraham did when Jesus, as the angel of the Lord, had talked
to him here.
Vs. 16-19 This
introduces the Lord's discussion with Abraham regarding the destruction of
Sodom that will take place in chapter 19. Sodom was a city, but also a region.
Abraham would now, tomorrow actually, see how just and gracious God is. And
once again, Abe would be trying to save Lot.
As a disciple,
what do you take away today, to help you follow Christ in the harvest with joy,
faith, and focus? What an amazing and compassionate Lord we follow. He is
patient and understanding. His plans have a depth of wisdom that is totally
beyond our understanding. He is faithful to His promises and He is unwilling
that any should perish. For us, His plan is that He has saved us and sent us
into His harvest to reach the lost and make disciples, who make disciples.
Matthew
6:1-24
V. 1 Jesus is
showing His disciples that the true power of our walk with Him is in secret. It
is Christ in us when no one is looking. This is what shows who we really are in
Christ. So much of our faith often revolves around Sunday morning and how the
church meets our needs. The church is to be the group in the harvest reaching
the world. Following begins with the individual disciple, living authentically
with Christ. Jesus is not only dismantling the ideas of the religious routine
they had been taught, but He is also encouraging them to seek the Father who
will reward them for seeking Him sincerely in secret.
Vs. 2-4 This is
giving to others. No one else needs to know that we give.
Vs. 5-6 Jesus
first corrects what they have learned from the Pharisees. Prayer is personal,
to our Father in secret.
Vs. 7-8 Apparently
they knew something about how Gentiles prayed and so Jesus addressed this too.
Vs. 9-13 The
Lord's Prayer is a way for a disciple to tune his heart to God as he prays.
There is no magic in reciting this prayer in a church service. Since Jesus said
the Father already knows what we need, in talking to God, this prayer helps us
to keep reality in mind and to understand what is important to Him. The fact
that this prayer tunes our attitudes is its brilliance. Jesus could not have
given us anything shorter or more comprehensive to guide our thoughts as we
pray to our Father. Take some time to think through every phrase.
Vs. 14-15 Jesus
is still teaching His disciples about prayer. Just months before His death,
Jesus reviewed "the Lord's Prayer," for His disciples in Luke 11:4.
There, Jesus wove this message of forgiveness into the prayer. I understand
this as a warning against an unforgiving attitude that hinders our prayers and
keeps God from listening to us. As disciples working in the harvest in a lost
and dying world, to withhold forgiveness, knowing that sin harms all of us,
signals a lack of understanding and compassion. God will withhold the
"daily cleansing" of our guilt and its consequences if we withhold
forgiveness, understanding and compassion from other ruined sinners.
I have
experienced and seen that when I harbor bad attitudes toward people who offend
me, and do not show them the same forgiveness, understanding, mercy and grace,
that my Father shows me, He holds me accountable for my guilt. Life seems
dreary and my heart is heavy until I'm willing to forgive. God doesn't play
games like this, even with His own children and those serving Him in the
harvest. "As a man sows, so shall he reap" is still in force, regardless of who
we are.
Vs. 16-18 If we
fast, no one should see it or know about it, except our Father who sees in
secret.
Vs. 19-21 Remember
that mixed into what Jesus has been telling His disciples is the idea of
reward. What is a person really seeking on earth? Where is their real treasure?
Our value and reward is often in how we look to others. So, after the warnings
of religion for the approval of the public, Jesus shows His disciples where
this problem really comes from, seeking reward on earth, either from people or
pleasure or money.
Vs. 22-23 To
place our value here on earth is totally blind. The "eye" is our
understanding or spiritual perception of the truth Jesus is giving us. I think
the "body" is our life on earth. Not to be working with the love of
Christ to free others, as we have been freed in Christ, is blind. To live now
for treasure, pleasure or recognition (even in the church) on earth is
darkness. If therefore our understanding and our perception of Christ doesn't
allow us to value what God values, this "darkness" is deeper than we
know.
V. 24 And Jesus
is telling His disciples that this is the real problem. Not to be serving
Christ as disciples following Him in the harvest means there is another master
being served. Not all Christians are disciples, for this reason.
Discipleship is
a choice to follow now, to be hungry now, to live now before our Father who
sees in secret. God is patient with us, teaching us that true treasure is not
to be found on earth and that we are blessed on earth as we follow our Lord in
the harvest, bearing much fruit and so glorifying our Father.
Psalm 7
Very few of us
have been in situations where we've needed to pray like this. Few of us have
found this much opposition in our walk with Christ. Psalms like these made CS
Lewis doubt their inspiration. Yet the Spirit inspired these words of David to
show that God understands the crying of our hearts when we face injustice, hate
and oppression. God is all for forgiveness and understanding, but even Jesus
said there would be judgment and eternal punishment. What is written here shows
something of how God feels toward those who harm others, and yet God shows His
mercy until the end. As disciples who know the grace of God, we should be like
our Father, showing kindness and mercy even to our enemies. And we should cry
out to Him, as this psalm encourages.
Vs. 1-2 This
threat seems to have gone to David's heart and the danger must have appeared to
be very close to him.
Vs. 3-5 To me,
this sounds like the application of what Jesus said in the Lord's Prayer,
regarding forgiveness. David is saying that if he was guilty of the unkindness
or unforgiveness, then it would be just for the penalty to fall on him.
Vs. 6-9 David
knows that he is innocent and is asking mankind to be gathered to see God's
justice. There is a sense here that David is talking about God's judgment over
all people, all of mankind.
Vs. 10-11 David
is not only expressing his hope in God, but he, through the Spirit, is
expressing the hurt or offense God feels every day from every sin that mankind
commits.
Vs. 12-16 Notice
how this begins. If a man does not repent,
God is more than willing to offer forgiveness and He provides a ton of
patience. But, there is a day when there is judgment; and often that judgment
is according to a person's own sin and behavior.
V. 17 Amen.
Proverbs
2:1-5
Didn't Jesus just tell His disciples about treasure? Notice the "if-then"
proposition here. If this treasure is important to you and if you receive this
word and call out, and seek, and search, then you will understand and find.
Jesus said this to His disciples on more than one occasion.
In following Christ, this is what separates the "men
from the boys and the women from the girls.” Jesus is about to say just this in
His sermon to His disciples.
Where is our treasure as disciples? Will our love for Jesus
drive us to dig deeper?
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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