Israel (Jacob) and his family found themselves in Egypt because the Pharaoh had put Joseph in charge of the plan that would get Egypt through the 7 year drought. The Hebrews (Israelites) settle there, and over several hundred years, they increase in population and strength; so that eventually a Pharaoh comes along who fears them and makes them slaves. As well, he orders the midwives to kill all Hebrew babies during the birthing process.
Moses is born and the Pharaoh's daughter finds him floating down the Nile in a basket and decides to raise him as her own. While his mother is able to be his nursemaid, I'm sure she's whispering history lessons in his ear about his heritage and the Abrahamic covenant. So then, as a grown man, after witnessing the hard labor of his people, in anger, he kills an Egyptian guard who was beating a Hebrew man. This does not score him points with either the Pharaoh or his own people. He escapes into the wilderness and finds a life in Midian.
Meanwhile, God hears the Iraelite's cries for help, and has not forgotten His covenant with Abraham. God has a plan to deliver them from Egypt which will make the world take notice that there is a mighty God. And this plan begins with THE angel of the LORD (Jesus of the Old Testament) appearing to Moses in the burning bush... (Interesting note - He appears as a fire - like the Light of the world that He is - a light which should draw our attention to Him - a light to expose our weaknesses - a light to follow!)
(Exodus 3:1-2) Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
Moses tries to give many excuses why he cannot do what God wants him to do, even after God shows Moses several miracles to demonstrate how His power would be with him. How typical is that??? We see God getting angry with Moses... and I'm thinking... "Moses!!! Come on. Get with it!!!" But how often do we not trust God to help us accomplish what we should be doing? How often do we limit God's power in our own minds... meanwhile, God's powers are beyond anything we could ever imagine.
(Hebrews 13:20-21) Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
JESUS and Israel's Prophecies (Gen.49)
After a lot of family drama, after Jacob has been named Israel, the entire family find themselves in Egypt - reunited. Before his death, Israel/Jacob gathers all of his sons to let them know what will befall them. Focusing only on my chosen subject... I'm only going to mention anything specifically having to do with Jesus.
To his son Dan, who will one day judge his people, Israel ends with this hope...
(Genesis 49:18) "For Your salvation I wait, O Lord."
And to Joseph, Israel's words to him include...
(Genesis 49:24-25) "And shot at him and harassed him;
24 But his bow remained firm,
And his arms were agile,
From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb..."
26
These terms are specific to Jesus. Jesus is our salvation - our Savior...
.
Jesus is our Shepherd - our guide...
(Hebrews 13: 20-21) 20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep [g]through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
And Jesus is the Corner Stone - our solid foundation...
To his son Dan, who will one day judge his people, Israel ends with this hope...
(Genesis 49:18) "For Your salvation I wait, O Lord."
And to Joseph, Israel's words to him include...
(Genesis 49:24-25) "And shot at him and harassed him;
24 But his bow remained firm,
And his arms were agile,
From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb..."
26
These terms are specific to Jesus. Jesus is our salvation - our Savior...
(2 Timothy 2:10) "For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory."
.
Jesus is our Shepherd - our guide...
(Hebrews 13: 20-21) 20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep [g]through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
And Jesus is the Corner Stone - our solid foundation...
(Matthew 21:42) Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Friday, March 10, 2017
JESUS and Jacob's Wrestling Match (Gen.29-32)
The drama of Jacob continues. Escaping the wrath of his brother Esau, Jacob goes to live with his Uncle Laban. On Jacob's journey there, the LORD speaks to him in a dream to remind him of the Abrahamic covenant. Interestingly, the entire time he's living in Laban's home, Jacob doesn't mention (his) God to anyone, except when it's convenient in arguments with Laban. Although we see later in this scripture portion that Laban prefers to worship idols, Maybe Jacob thought since Laban was "religious", he could put the fear of God into Laban... comparing his God to Laban's gods... "my God is bigger than your gods..." lol, just speculating here on this. Anyway...
Throughout the years, Laban had deceived and taken advantage of Jacob several times. Jacob worked 7 years in order to marry Rachel, only to discover that he actually married Leah, the oldest sister. Jacob then agreed to work 7 more years for Rachel. Then 7 more years for some sort of payoff. (Let's not even get into the female drama that he had to endure.) But don't feel too bad for Jacob! Remember that Jacob deceived and took advantage of his brother, Esau. In fact, Jacob's name means "one who supplants".
While working the last 7 years for Laban - with an established deal for payments due - Jacob manages to pull a "slow fast-one" on Laban; then escapes with all that is now his. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel has stolen Laban's household idols; so now Laban is in hot pursuit and catches up to them. Not finding the idols, Laban and Jacob begrudgingly make a covenant to respect a boundary line that they set up.
Once Laban has left the camp, Jacob now considers the next hurdle he must face... his brother Esau, so Jacob FINALLY turns to God in order to plead for protection (Gen.32:9-12). Although, it was still God who got Jacob's attention by sending angels to the camp. And - Jacob still thinks he has to bargain with God - reminding God of His promises - in order to get what he wants. After this prayer, when he is alone, Jacob meets "a man"...
(Genesis 32:24-30) Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”
With what we just read, we can assume that this "man" could be God manifested - the Jesus of the Old Testament. Probably assuming that he is facing life or death, Jacob puts up a really good fight, but does not come out of it unscathed. The "man" then renames Jacob to Israel, meaning "striving with God" or "may God prevail".
I find it interesting that we sometimes think we can outsmart or fight God. Oh, let me be on God's side!!! Please, Lord, help me be on Your side!!! Then even though I fail Him, I will not fail.,, HIS grace is sufficient for me!
(2 Corinthians 12:9) "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
Throughout the years, Laban had deceived and taken advantage of Jacob several times. Jacob worked 7 years in order to marry Rachel, only to discover that he actually married Leah, the oldest sister. Jacob then agreed to work 7 more years for Rachel. Then 7 more years for some sort of payoff. (Let's not even get into the female drama that he had to endure.) But don't feel too bad for Jacob! Remember that Jacob deceived and took advantage of his brother, Esau. In fact, Jacob's name means "one who supplants".
While working the last 7 years for Laban - with an established deal for payments due - Jacob manages to pull a "slow fast-one" on Laban; then escapes with all that is now his. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel has stolen Laban's household idols; so now Laban is in hot pursuit and catches up to them. Not finding the idols, Laban and Jacob begrudgingly make a covenant to respect a boundary line that they set up.
Once Laban has left the camp, Jacob now considers the next hurdle he must face... his brother Esau, so Jacob FINALLY turns to God in order to plead for protection (Gen.32:9-12). Although, it was still God who got Jacob's attention by sending angels to the camp. And - Jacob still thinks he has to bargain with God - reminding God of His promises - in order to get what he wants. After this prayer, when he is alone, Jacob meets "a man"...
(Genesis 32:24-30) Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”
With what we just read, we can assume that this "man" could be God manifested - the Jesus of the Old Testament. Probably assuming that he is facing life or death, Jacob puts up a really good fight, but does not come out of it unscathed. The "man" then renames Jacob to Israel, meaning "striving with God" or "may God prevail".
I find it interesting that we sometimes think we can outsmart or fight God. Oh, let me be on God's side!!! Please, Lord, help me be on Your side!!! Then even though I fail Him, I will not fail.,, HIS grace is sufficient for me!
(2 Corinthians 12:9) "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
Thursday, March 9, 2017
JESUS and Jacob's Dream (Gen.27-28)
Wow! Can you say - "dysfunctional family"??? Yet these are the ancestors that are in Jesus' genealogy. Humans! And just why are they the "chosen ones"? Basically, God chooses them to be the "missionaries" to the world. To bring forth His Light. Whenever they obey God's word and allow God to do mighty and miraculous things - the world takes notice. And when His chosen ones are not behaving, God will somehow get their attention.
At this point in the story, Isaac's (twin) sons are not getting along. First, the youngest (Jacob) takes advantage of the oldest (Esau) while he was famished and vulnerable... thus getting Esau's birthright. Then Jacob and his mother (Rebekah) deceive Isaac in order to steal Esau's blessing. By now, because Esau wants to murder his brother, Isaac and Rebekah send Jacob away in efforts to protect him.
While traveling to the land of Rebekah's family, Jacob stops for the night, and "has a dream"... I think these are the kind of dreams where you are in a dreamlike-mode, but somehow you are aware of what is going on around you. Anyway...
(Genesis 28:12-14) 12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed..."
So the LORD appears - somehow - reminding Jacob of the promise that through Jacob's descendants - Jesus will have a physical birth - and will make salvation possible for ALL people. This dream gets Jacob's attention! And Jacob wants God to be the LORD in his life... ha ha ha, but notice how Jacob is still trying to manipulate things... He tells God that IF God will do this and that, etc... THEN...
How typical is that!? How often have we tried to strike up deals with the God of the universe? How often do people tell God, "IF You do this and that for me... THEN I will believe..." Meanwhile, God does what He promises. God has already paid the price for sin in order to save us from eternal death! And if that's "not enough"... God WANTS to bless us. God WILL bless us - when - WE - love HIM.
(Romans 8:28) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
At this point in the story, Isaac's (twin) sons are not getting along. First, the youngest (Jacob) takes advantage of the oldest (Esau) while he was famished and vulnerable... thus getting Esau's birthright. Then Jacob and his mother (Rebekah) deceive Isaac in order to steal Esau's blessing. By now, because Esau wants to murder his brother, Isaac and Rebekah send Jacob away in efforts to protect him.
While traveling to the land of Rebekah's family, Jacob stops for the night, and "has a dream"... I think these are the kind of dreams where you are in a dreamlike-mode, but somehow you are aware of what is going on around you. Anyway...
(Genesis 28:12-14) 12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed..."
So the LORD appears - somehow - reminding Jacob of the promise that through Jacob's descendants - Jesus will have a physical birth - and will make salvation possible for ALL people. This dream gets Jacob's attention! And Jacob wants God to be the LORD in his life... ha ha ha, but notice how Jacob is still trying to manipulate things... He tells God that IF God will do this and that, etc... THEN...
How typical is that!? How often have we tried to strike up deals with the God of the universe? How often do people tell God, "IF You do this and that for me... THEN I will believe..." Meanwhile, God does what He promises. God has already paid the price for sin in order to save us from eternal death! And if that's "not enough"... God WANTS to bless us. God WILL bless us - when - WE - love HIM.
(Romans 8:28) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
JESUS and the Reminder to Isaac (Gen.23-26)
Isaac was married when he was 40, and was 60 when his wife Rebekah had twin boys. Now, I'm not going to mention every time the Bible says "the LORD appeared" because this happens a lot, and we are not sure how... or if this would be God physically manifesting Himself. But in the following verses, we have the LORD reminding Isaac of the Abrahamic Covenant. Included in this is the prophecy regarding Jesus' coming to earth as a Savior for all people...
(Genesis 26:1-5) Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”
Ironically, after hearing from God, Himself, Isaac goes to the land of Gerar and falls into the same sin - tells the same lie about his wife being his sister - as his father had done two times in the past. It is not too surprising, since we are influenced by our parents so much. We tend to "inherit" both the good and the bad traits of our earthly parents.
But seeing how faithful God is and how He protects the wife and works the entire situation out... my question is - why would we not want God as our perfect heavenly Father? And once we are children of God, why would we not desire to be more and more like Him?... Naturally, this requires getting to know Him better... relying on Him for strength, guidance, love, purpose... having a personal relationship with the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe! Well - why would we not want to rely on Him for EVERYTHING???!!! Clearly, things go better when we do things God's way! I can speak from my own personal experiences.
And Jesus is our example. God's only Son - in complete obedience and unity with God - performs miracles... demonstrates perfect love... has victory over death.
(Genesis 26:1-5) Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”
Ironically, after hearing from God, Himself, Isaac goes to the land of Gerar and falls into the same sin - tells the same lie about his wife being his sister - as his father had done two times in the past. It is not too surprising, since we are influenced by our parents so much. We tend to "inherit" both the good and the bad traits of our earthly parents.
But seeing how faithful God is and how He protects the wife and works the entire situation out... my question is - why would we not want God as our perfect heavenly Father? And once we are children of God, why would we not desire to be more and more like Him?... Naturally, this requires getting to know Him better... relying on Him for strength, guidance, love, purpose... having a personal relationship with the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe! Well - why would we not want to rely on Him for EVERYTHING???!!! Clearly, things go better when we do things God's way! I can speak from my own personal experiences.
And Jesus is our example. God's only Son - in complete obedience and unity with God - performs miracles... demonstrates perfect love... has victory over death.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
JESUS and Abraham's Sacrifice (Gen.20-22)
In Genesis 20, we see Abraham making the same mistake as before. He lies about his wife being his sister. She's a half-sister, so it's a half-truth - but this is still a lie. And the king of this country still takes her away to make her his wife. But - even though Abraham does not fully trust God in everything, and sins - God still keeps His promises. God protects Sarah and she is returned to Abraham. Soon after this, Abraham and Sarah have the son that was promised to them and they name him Isaac.
FINALLY they have a child! And then what does God do? God goes to Abraham TO TEST HIM in a very big way...
(Genesis 22:2) Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
Abraham trusts God with this. Oddly enough, Abraham would not have been too shocked at this request because human sacrifices were a common pagan practice back then. But this was a test on Abraham's faith, and would demonstrate who Abraham loved more - God or Abraham's only son.
As they walked up the mountain to prepare the offering, Isaac asks his dad, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Here Abraham answers prophetically, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Maybe Abraham was thinking more about how God had provided Isaac to them, rather than another provision. Either way, his statement was very prophetic - in two ways. As soon as Abraham takes the knife to slay his son, THE angel of the LORD calls to him from heaven...
(Genesis 22:12) “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
.Immediately, Abraham notices a ram nearby, caught in the thicket by his horns. God provides the sacrifice needed right at that moment... just as God provides the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb for everlasting salvation - His only Son, Jesus. When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he says...
(John 1:29) “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Continuing with Genesis 22, the angel if the Lord ends His message and reminder of His covenant to Abraham with...
(Genesis 22:18) "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Jesus would come through Abraham's descendants. And at that time Jesus would be 100% man as well as 100% God, in order to live in our place and die in our place as the everlasting payment for sin. Where there is sin, there is death - blood must be shed. Jesus would shed His blood for us. GOD PROVIDES!!! And when we trust Him for our eternal salvation, why would we not trust God for the tiniest things and all the things in the middle???
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
FINALLY they have a child! And then what does God do? God goes to Abraham TO TEST HIM in a very big way...
(Genesis 22:2) Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
Abraham trusts God with this. Oddly enough, Abraham would not have been too shocked at this request because human sacrifices were a common pagan practice back then. But this was a test on Abraham's faith, and would demonstrate who Abraham loved more - God or Abraham's only son.
As they walked up the mountain to prepare the offering, Isaac asks his dad, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Here Abraham answers prophetically, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Maybe Abraham was thinking more about how God had provided Isaac to them, rather than another provision. Either way, his statement was very prophetic - in two ways. As soon as Abraham takes the knife to slay his son, THE angel of the LORD calls to him from heaven...
(Genesis 22:12) “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
.Immediately, Abraham notices a ram nearby, caught in the thicket by his horns. God provides the sacrifice needed right at that moment... just as God provides the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb for everlasting salvation - His only Son, Jesus. When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he says...
(John 1:29) “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Continuing with Genesis 22, the angel if the Lord ends His message and reminder of His covenant to Abraham with...
(Genesis 22:18) "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Jesus would come through Abraham's descendants. And at that time Jesus would be 100% man as well as 100% God, in order to live in our place and die in our place as the everlasting payment for sin. Where there is sin, there is death - blood must be shed. Jesus would shed His blood for us. GOD PROVIDES!!! And when we trust Him for our eternal salvation, why would we not trust God for the tiniest things and all the things in the middle???
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Monday, March 6, 2017
JESUS and the Visit with Abraham (Gen.17-19)
In Gen.17:1, the LORD appears to Abram... and again, we're not sure exactly how. Maybe just in voice, but what's important in this chapter is the message. The LORD reminds Abram of God's covenant with him, and that his name will now be Abraham, because God will make him the father of a multitude of nations, exceedingly fruitful... nations will be made of him... and kings will come from him. And the sign of this covenant would be circumcision.
Then God tells Abraham that Sarai's name will now be Sarah, because God was going to bless her... she would have a son... and become a mother of nations... kings of peoples would come from her.
Abraham falls on his face laughing! He was 100 and Sarah was 99. What follows is this... Because of Abraham's persistence, God finally tells Abraham that Ishmael would be blessed... he would be fruitful... God would multiply him exceedingly... and become a great nation. Then - God spends quite a bit of time convincing Abraham that they would indeed have their own son named Isaac.
And right after this message from God that Abraham and Sarah would have an impossible birth... God appears to Abraham in flesh-like-form (still 100% God)...
(Genesis 18:1-3) Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he (Abraham) was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by..."
HERE IS a manifestation of God... in man-like-form, along with two angels also in man-like-form... Abraham obviously recognized the LORD. After he had prepared a wonderful meal for the "men", Abraham was told once again that he was going to have a son with Sarah - within the year. And this time it was Sarah's turn to laugh, for she had been inside the tent eavesdropping. Being all-knowing, the LORD mentions this to Abraham, as well as makes this statement... "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" Interestingly, after the virgin Mary had been told that she would conceive a child of the Holy Spirit, the angel who delivered the news also stated... "For nothing will be impossible with God."
At the end of their meal, the LORD sends the two angels out to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (because of their great sinfulness), but He stays behind to let Abraham in on what was going to happen and why... giving Abraham a chance to petition for his nephew Lot and his family who now lived in Sodom. Abraham negotiates with the LORD, who agrees that if there are ten righteous people found in the city, the city would not be destroyed. Obviously God knew that there were not even that many. The city is destroyed! But God, having Abraham's concern in mind, had compassion and arranged for Lot to safely escape, along with whichever family members wanted to be saved. Only Lot and the two younger daughters were spared. And even THEY had to be dragged out! How much did they love that sinful environment???
Anyway, my personal takeaway from all this is that Jesus wants us to have discussions with Him... He cares!... we CAN ask Him for favors... and He CAN make things happen... After seeing the consequences of what can happen when we persist with selfish prayers... now when I ask God for something - I try to follow that up with - "I only want that to happen if it is in Your will... If something is going to cause misery to me or someone else... I do not want it. Give me peace and contentment no matter what happens." GOD KNOWS BEST best ! ! !
Then God tells Abraham that Sarai's name will now be Sarah, because God was going to bless her... she would have a son... and become a mother of nations... kings of peoples would come from her.
Abraham falls on his face laughing! He was 100 and Sarah was 99. What follows is this... Because of Abraham's persistence, God finally tells Abraham that Ishmael would be blessed... he would be fruitful... God would multiply him exceedingly... and become a great nation. Then - God spends quite a bit of time convincing Abraham that they would indeed have their own son named Isaac.
And right after this message from God that Abraham and Sarah would have an impossible birth... God appears to Abraham in flesh-like-form (still 100% God)...
(Genesis 18:1-3) Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he (Abraham) was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by..."
HERE IS a manifestation of God... in man-like-form, along with two angels also in man-like-form... Abraham obviously recognized the LORD. After he had prepared a wonderful meal for the "men", Abraham was told once again that he was going to have a son with Sarah - within the year. And this time it was Sarah's turn to laugh, for she had been inside the tent eavesdropping. Being all-knowing, the LORD mentions this to Abraham, as well as makes this statement... "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" Interestingly, after the virgin Mary had been told that she would conceive a child of the Holy Spirit, the angel who delivered the news also stated... "For nothing will be impossible with God."
At the end of their meal, the LORD sends the two angels out to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (because of their great sinfulness), but He stays behind to let Abraham in on what was going to happen and why... giving Abraham a chance to petition for his nephew Lot and his family who now lived in Sodom. Abraham negotiates with the LORD, who agrees that if there are ten righteous people found in the city, the city would not be destroyed. Obviously God knew that there were not even that many. The city is destroyed! But God, having Abraham's concern in mind, had compassion and arranged for Lot to safely escape, along with whichever family members wanted to be saved. Only Lot and the two younger daughters were spared. And even THEY had to be dragged out! How much did they love that sinful environment???
Anyway, my personal takeaway from all this is that Jesus wants us to have discussions with Him... He cares!... we CAN ask Him for favors... and He CAN make things happen... After seeing the consequences of what can happen when we persist with selfish prayers... now when I ask God for something - I try to follow that up with - "I only want that to happen if it is in Your will... If something is going to cause misery to me or someone else... I do not want it. Give me peace and contentment no matter what happens." GOD KNOWS BEST best ! ! !
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