Tag: abraham
-
He Died Full. Ishmael Fell. – Genesis 25:18
Genesis 25:18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. There is a striking difference between the way Abraham’s death is described and the way Ishmael’s death is described. Abraham died full. Ishmael fell. That says a…
-
A Sweet Fragrance in His Later Years – Genesis 25:1
Genesis 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. There is something quietly beautiful about this verse. After the long years with Sarah, after the grief of losing her, after twenty years of living alone, Abraham marries again. Her name is Keturah, which means incense, or fragrance. That seems fitting because…
-
Everything Given to the Son – Genesis 24:32-36
Genesis 24:32-36 And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told…
-
The Call Goes Out, But It Is Never Forced – Genesis 24:7-9
Genesis 24:7-9 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my…
-
Called Away to the Son – Genesis 24:5-6
Genesis 24:5-6 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The servant asks what sounds like…
-
The Servant Sent on Heaven’s Business – Genesis 24:2-4
Genesis 24:2-4 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth,That thou shalt not take a wife unto my son…
-
A Life Interpreted by God – Genesis 24:1
Genesis 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. There are some truths the Lord chooses to teach not merely by command, but by portrayal. He gives us a life, a scene, a relationship, a moment, and says in effect, “Look carefully. This is…
-
Made Sure – Genesis 23:17-20
Genesis 23:17-20 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sureUnto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth,…
-
Pay the Full Price – Genesis 23:16
Genesis 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. Abraham pays the full price. That is significant to me because this is the same man who would not…
-
The Price Behind the Politeness – Genesis 23:12-15
Genesis 23:12-15 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my…
-
The Bargaining Begins – Genesis 23:10-11
Genesis 23:10-11 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give…
-
Just Passing Through – Genesis 23:7-9
Genesis 23:7-9 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,That he may…
-
A Mighty Prince in a Tent – Genesis 23:5-6
Genesis 23:5-6 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. I find this fascinating. Here is Abraham…
-
Still a Pilgrim – Genesis 23:3-4
Genesis 23:3-4 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. There is a lot of weight in those words,…
-
A Ram Instead of a Lamb – Genesis 22:13
Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Right when it looks like everything is about to happen, Abraham…
-
Stop, Abraham – Genesis 22:10-12
Genesis 22:10-12 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for…
-
We Will Come Again – Genesis 22:5
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. There is a quiet confidence in what Abraham says here that is easy to miss if you read it too quickly. He tells the young…
-
The Third Day Journey – Genesis 22:4
Genesis 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. There is something about that phrase that slows everything down. “On the third day…” That means this was not a quick moment of obedience. Abraham had three days to think about what God had asked of him.…
-
Early Obedience – Genesis 22:3
Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. What grabs me right away is…
-
Planting Something for the Lord – Genesis 21:33-34
Genesis 21:33-34 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days. I love this because Abraham does not just settle a dispute and move on. He plants something. He marks that place with worship. The word…
-
A Well Marked by Maturity – Genesis 21:28-32
Genesis 21:28-32 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have…
-
Charity and Wisdom – Genesis 21:26-27
Genesis 21:26, 27And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. I like the balance here. When Abimelech answers Abraham, Abraham does…
-
Humility Is Not Silence – Genesis 21:25
Genesis 21:25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. I like this because it shows balance. Abraham had just been humble. He did not argue or defend himself. But when it came to the well, he spoke up. He did not stay quiet just to keep…
-
Only What Is Real Can Wait – Genesis 21:24
Genesis 21:24And Abraham said, I will swear. I love how simple that is. Abraham does not argue. He does not defend himself. He does not try to clean up the past or explain why Abimelech should trust him now. He just says, “I will swear.” There is a quiet humility in that response that says…
-
God Is With You Even in Ordinary Things – Genesis 21:22-23
Genesis 21:22, 23And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with…
-
Sent into the Wilderness – Genesis 21:14
Genesis 21:14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. At first, this scene can be hard to understand. Abraham was…
-
God Still Had Mercy on Ishmael – Genesis 21:13
Genesis 21:13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. This verse shows the tenderness of God. Isaac was the son of promise, but Ishmael was still Abraham’s son. And because he mattered to Abraham, he mattered to the Lord in this situation. God was not…
-
When You Cannot Preach, You Can Still Pray – Genesis 20:17-18
Genesis 20:17, 18So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. This is such a gracious turn in the story. Abraham had not exactly put…
-
A Covering, Not a Coward – Genesis 20:16
Genesis 20:16And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. There is a sting in Abimelech’s words, and I think Abraham felt it. Notice…
-
Impressed by God – Genesis 20:14-15
Genesis 20:14, 15And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. Abimelech does not respond this way because Abraham had been so noble, steady, or admirable. Abraham had not…
-
A Planned Compromise – Genesis 20:13
Genesis 20:13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. This verse makes it even more sobering. Abraham was not…
-
Because I Thought – Genesis 20:7-12
Genesis 20:7-12… and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him,…
-
Still His Prophet – Genesis 20:7
Genesis 20:7Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live… This is one of the most surprising verses in the whole story. If there was ever a moment when you would think God might distance Himself from Abraham, it would be here.…
-
Same Old Sin – Genesis 20:2-3
Genesis 20:2-3And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.…
-
Still a Sojourner – Genesis 20:1
Genesis 20:1And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. Abraham is on the move once again. That is worth noticing because he has just come through a heavy season. He had interceded for Sodom. He had seen judgment fall. He had looked out and…
-
Too Late for the Mountain – Genesis 19:27-30
Genesis 19:27-30And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass,…
-
How Low Mercy Will Go – Genesis 18:26-33
Genesis 18:26-33 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of…
-
An Everlasting Covenant – Genesis 17:7-8
Genesis 17:7-8And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all…
-
I Will – Genesis 17:2-6
Genesis 17:2-6 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram,…
-
Standing Where God Said – Genesis 12:5-7
Genesis 12:5-7 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the land…
-
Blessed to Be a Blessing – Genesis 12:2-3
Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. What a contrast…
-
From Babel to Abraham – Genesis 11:9
Genesis 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Bab-El; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. What man called Bab El, the gateway to God, the Lord exposed as confusion. That is always…
-
Faith That Gets Up and Walks – James 2:14–26
James 2:14–26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not…
-
Faith Believes Past What It Has Ever Seen – Hebrews 11:18–19
Hebrews 11:18, 19 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Picture Abraham at the foot of the mountain. The wood is ready. Isaac is beside him. The…
-
God Counts the Child of Promise – Hebrews 11:17
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. This verse lands with real weight because it brings Abraham to the place where faith costs him something deep. He is not merely asked to leave Ur now. He is…
-
Still in a Tent, Still Heading Home – Hebrews 11:9–10
Hebrews 11:9, 10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Picture Abraham at dusk. Tent canvas pulling in…
-
When God Says Go, Start Walking – Hebrews 11:8
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. There is something almost unsettling about Abraham’s story here. God called him to leave, and Abraham obeyed without knowing exactly where he…
-
Headship and Hearing – Ephesians 5:23–24
Ephesians 5:23–24 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Headship in the kingdom of God never looks…
-
Your Ishmael Is Showing (Galatians 4:21–23)
That space in between is where most of us struggle. We can believe God when He speaks. We can rejoice when He fulfills. But in the waiting, something rises in us. Anxiety. Logic. Calculation. We start to think, Maybe God needs my assistance.
-
God Walked the Blood Path Alone (Galatians 3:18)
When God first told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5), Abraham had no child. No heir. No evidence. His body was aging. Sarah’s womb was barren. Everything visible argued against the promise. Yet Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed the Lord, and God counted it to him…