Jan 8 thoughts

I am not an expert on Islam but one thing that strikes me is that the LORD provided for Hagar and Ishmael. This does not sound like the description you hear of Ala. He is impersonal. I have heard there is a sense of fatalism associated with Ala- "Whatever Ala wills, he wills" This is a very personal God who saves them. One who was persauded to not destroy Sodom if he found 10 righteous people. This is a God who reveals Himself and wants relationship with humankind. This is NOT Ala!!

I absolutely loved hearing a former Muslim (now Christian professor) telling about the difference between God and Ala on a John Ankerberg show. I also remember him telling that this story of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away and then 'saved' is a picture of all gentiles. They were not originally part of God's family because of the need to have the Messiah's line in a people 'set apart' for God. But God found them, as He does us and saved them! (I mentioned this before on the site but put it here in case I ever want to find it using the search feature)

Jan 8 Thoughts

-SLOW learners we/they are!!
-Abraham lies again!
-We are told in this passage that it's not 'really' a lie. I've tried to teach my kids that definition of a lie is the INTENT to deceive
-And what about Lot and his daughters! Talk about being saved by the skin of your teeth and then falling right back in sin! And hasn't this getting drunk right after a big 'save' been done before (Noah)?! At least Noah remembered the Lord and built an altar and made a sacrifice first
-I still don't get why he bargained for the city of Zoar and then was too afraid to live there.
-The author points out that Abraham does not find out what happens to Lot. I find that hard to believe, as someone has to preserve the oral history until it is written down and WE do know what happened.

Jan 7 thoughts

Just random thoughts that impress me-

-Three visitors, 'the LORD' talk with Abram under the great tree(which I presume to be a picture of the Trinity
-THEY take off to Sodom and there is only 2 angels in Sodom
-The Lord destroyed the entire plain, which Lot had selfishly picked for himself.
-The Lord remembered, ABRAHAM, and brough Lot out of castastrophy!

Jan 6 thoughts

I'm always seeing something new! As God confirmed His covenant with Abram, and Abram asks when he will take possession of the land, God tells him that the 'sin of Amorites has not reached it's full measure". I had to really think about (and google) that for a while. Apparently, the Israelites taking possession of the Promised Land is not only a fullfillment of their promise, but a punishment of Amorites (those people living in the land). It was always a little difficult to understand that God would have them kill all the inhabitants of land as they possessed it (I'm jumping ahead of reading, but I think most of us know what's coming up). Just as God was patient with the people before the flood and held off his judgment, he was patient with the people living in the Promised Land also. But His paitence doesn't last forever.

More thoughts on Jan 5 reading- 7 Fold Blessing of Abram

God's promises to Abram

-I will make you into a great nation
-and I will bless you
-I will make you name great
-and you will be a blessing
-I will bless those who bless you
-and whoever curses you, I will curse
-and all the people on earth will be blessed through you

God's promises never fail. He has miraculously brought the nation of Israel back together in 1947. What he promises, He will do.

Tagging along or 'calling on the name of the Lord"

Just a few thoughts from today's reading. Alot of these thoughts come from the book I'm reading called Magnificent Obsession by Anne Graham Lotz.

Lot was a tag along. God didn't tell Abram to take him. We never find him 'calling on the name of the Lord' or seeking righteousness. He caused Abram nothing but headaches yet Abram cared for him and even gave him pick of the land and rescued him from captivity.

So, are you tagging along or following God and seeking Him? Build your own alter, so to speak, and call on the name of the Lord.

He promises that if you seek Him you will find Him.

Obedience

If you are like me, your life is filled with 'buts'. I want to obey God completely.....but.......

The last couple days readings had me reflecting on this. Noah built the ark just as instructed. Even though some experts say it has never rained yet, that the earth was waters by springs and vapor canopy. And as one of our members pointed out...he built it with just one door, like he was told. I'm sure he had no way of knowing that would be a word picture of salvation by Jesus alone for us for generations to come.

And I just had to wonder what those seven days were like BEFORE it started raining and they were shut up in the ark. Was Mrs. Noah saying.....it's NOT raining..I told you this was a stupid idea. Were the kids complaining about having left behind their friends? Were people outside mocking and laughing?

And Abram pulled up his tent stakes and followed God to a land that he would show him. No map, no GPS. No IM or Facebook or even pony express to keep in touch with the folks back home.

These great men also had great screw ups. Huge ones. But they are heros for their believing and following. So when you screw up, like I do, dust yourself off and start believing and following again (after asking forgiveness and turning around in the right direction of course).

I love how 'human' the Bible is. If man were to make it up he would have painted himself in a much better light. It makes it so much more believable.

It broke God's heart

The main thing that struck me about todays reading is that when God looked at the wickedness of man that His heart was filled with pain. Wow....

Posting to this Blog

I figured out that if you want to post other than a comment to this website that I have to add you as an author, which if you are part of my FB reading group, I'd be happy to do. It requires a gmail account. Let me know!

Death and rebellion

Death! Adam and Eve had never experienced it that we know of when God told them that in the day that they eat of the fruit they will surely die. After sin, they experienced it in two horrible ways. First, one (or more) of the animals they knew 'personally' in the garden and maybe even talked with had to die to cover their sins. And then they experienced and even more unthinkable thing, which would be worse than even their own death: the death of a son! By murder! And not just by any murderer- by one of their own! I think this also forshadows Christ death, the death of His Son at the hands of His children!! His blood is on OUR hands but thank God that same blood washes us clean. WOW!