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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, young
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 and a visual reminder. 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. And it all begins and is refreshed everyday sitting at Jesus’ feet, in
His Word, learning directly from Him.
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?
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow
Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
The daily installments of the Reading Notes can be found at http://fencerail.blogspot.com/
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the
Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full presentation of discipleship read Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with insomnia and would like a long
boring dissertation on disciple making, these can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis 2011
The One Year Bible © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton
Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright ©
2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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