God has been intentional about leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. I’m so glad His intentionality did not stop in Egypt. God continued to lead them with a pillar of fire and a cloud. God wanted to make sure His people knew where to go. All they needed to do what look up. 

Fast forward a thousand years and we still see God leading His people to safety or in this case, the savior:


The star “guided” the wise men and “stopped” over where Jesus was born. God did not keep it a mystery. He wasn’t trying to be cruel and play an impossible game. He led the wisemen to the exact place where their savior was. And thus, fulfilled the prophecy of the star.

The Lord hasn’t abandoned us without a pillar of fire, cloud, or star. He is still guiding us. First we have the Bible, God’s words. We also have the Holy Spirit as a always present guide, showing us which way to go:




Wherever God wants to take us, we are not alone. He wants us to reach the destination. We just have to keep looking up towards Him in prayer and time with Him in His Word.

God was with the Israelites the entire time, ready to fight their battles for the sake of His own glory to show the world that He is the one true God. Yet, he rerouted them away from the Philistines because ‘“If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”’ ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It was their minds that would hold them back from seeing God work miracles in their lives. Let’s not let our minds hinder what God wants to do in our lives. 

1. Has God ever told you to do something that you were scared or nervous to do? Did you do it? Is God still waiting for you to be obedient?
2. In what ways might you be moving ahead of or behind God’s guidance? 
3. How well are you doing with keeping your eyes on God’s Word and your ears listening for the direction of the Holy Spirit? Can you hear Him? Are you distracted by other noises? Do you think He’s silent?

Pray that God would open your eyes and ears to see and hear where He is leading you.

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‭‭‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Alas, the Israelites are leaving Egypt. We have just witnessed God fulfilling another series of promises. In chapter 4 verse 23, God told Moses that He would kill Pharaoh's firstborn son and God has done so. In chapter 3 verse 22, God says they will plunder the Egyptians on the way out, and they have done so. God told Abraham that his descendants will be oppressed for 400 years in Genesis 15:13, and they were! (Jewish scholars believe the calculation of this began with Isaac, but you can read more of this in the resource below) This isn’t the last time we will see God do this. God will continue to tell His people what He will and it will happen. Prophecies were told to various people and they are often fulfilled and recorded by completely different people, sometimes hundreds of years later. 

A major prophecy that transcends throughout scripture is the coming of a savior, Jesus. The moment sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, God made it clear there would be a savior who would defeat satan. (Genesis 3:15) Yesterday we discussed how the lamb slain during the Passover was symbolic of Jesus coming to die and save us like God saved the firstborn sons from being killed by the angel of death. Hundreds of years later, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of these authors can be traced back to with certainty.

In Exodus 13:5;11, God repeats the promise of bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey, a promise given to Abraham in the book of Genesis and will be fulfilled in the book of Joshua. Let’s keep in mind as we read, that God is using these imperfect people to carry out this plan. We will see them mess up many times, yet God is faithful to HIS promises. 

Faithfulness is a characteristic of God. The Apostle Paul classifies faithfulness as a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) Paul also writes, “…if we are faithless, he [God] remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)

These plans were not fulfilled because mankind played its role perfectly. They came to fruition because God made sure they did, so that His Words would not fail, in spite of His rebellious children. We are faithless. He is faithful. 

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‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬

If you’re anything like my kids, you’re at the edge of your seat watching this battle of plagues, but you have a lot of questions! My kids ask questions throughout an entire episode. In this case, I wouldn’t blame them. Where is the Red Sea? Many of us have heard this story many times before, but have never heard the details of chapter 12. In the midst of all the terror, God pauses to give some important instructions. God wants the Israelites to remember this day for generations and generations. He does not want them to forget that it was He, I AM, who delivered them. It was He, who was the champion, the one true God. 

The big idea today is: God doesn’t want us to forget who He has been to us and where He has brought us from. God has revealed himself to these people in a mighty way, and He doesn’t want anyone to forget. Soon other nations will hear what God has done in Egypt in hopes that they too will fear Him and serve Him.


In our focus chapter for today, Exodus 12, we see the instructions on how to leave Egypt, how to observe the Passover in the years to come, and God names it the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  God will give Moses these instructions again alongside a few other festivals to celebrate. There is an emphasis on passing down this story of how God delivered them from Egypt to their children.

This showed me that it’s not only important to see how God is working in our own lives but also how God has worked in the lives of others. This is why reading our Bible is so important. We can’t witness all of these stories ourselves, but we can read about how God revealed himself and demonstrated His power in the past. This is a reason why community is important, so we can witness God working in the lives of people around us. And that’s why it’s important for us to remember what God has done for us. He hasn’t revealed Himself to us just so we can forget. 

Before we reflect on this, we must acknowledge that the killing of the spotless lamb and placing the blood on the doorpost is a foreshadow of Jesus coming to be our savior. Just as the blood of the lamb saved the firstborn Israelites from the angel of death, the blood of Jesus will save us from eternal death in hell. Jesus is the spotless lamb who never sinned. He is blameless. That is why He is the only person who was worthy enough to die for our sins and shed his blood for us. That is why there is an emphasis on the power of Jesus’ blood. His death has the power to save, which is exactly what the lambs during the Passover symbolized. 

With all of this in mind, let’s take a moment to think about what God has done. 

Lord,

You are ever present. Help me to see where you are at work in my life and the lives of others. I pray that I do not forget the great things you have done to demonstrate that you are the One True Living God. Show me ways that I can remind myself of who you are and tell others.

Thank you Lord, 

Amen

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Exodus 9:16

A few years ago, I told a story about one of the most important nights in my life. The short version of the story one night on Spring Break in college, I took on multiple police officers in a physical altercation. And though that moment set in motion a series of decisions that led to a life devoted to God, I didn't immediately change. In fact, I walked out of a jail cell 11 hours later and was right back on the streets of Daytona Beach drinking and partying again.

Have you ever wondered why it seems like some of the most ungodly people are seemingly living their best lives? Here you are, trying to pursue the will of God but it feels like there is struggle on every side. Meanwhile, your friend is all over Instagram showing off their baecation in Aruba with someone who is not their spouse.  

I imagine that's how the Israelites felt. They were supposed to be God's chosen people. Yet here they were enslaved while a pagan land like Egypt, which worshipped its king as a god, was thriving.

Why hadn't God just come down and smite them all? Why didn't he wipe out the entire people group and give the Israelites the land they were in?

Well it appears that in this case, God was allowing Pharaoh to be built up just so God could prove himself as God.


What if God allows the ungodly to flourish just so that he can ultimately show his power to the whole earth?

In this case, God's power will be shown by conquering the most powerful nation on the earth at the time. Later in history, he would allow the Romans to flourish to show his power through the resurrection of his son Jesus.

And for me personally, he allowed me to live on March 9, 2010 to show his power through the life change that I would experience over the next 15 years.

Looking back, I was very lucky to live that night as so many young Black men in my situation could have had their lives taken from them. And I often reflect on how the life I live today is only because God let me live that night for a purpose...to make his name known on the whole earth.

Today, take time to consider the reason God has let you live to this point. I don't know about you, but I'm so glad he let me live long enough to fulfill his purpose for my life.

1. Reflect on your life journey. Write down 2-3 instances where God may have used challenging circumstances to shape you or reveal His power.
2. Choose one area of your life where you're struggling to see God's purpose. Commit to praying daily this week for insight and trust in His plan.
3. Identify someone in your life who may be questioning why ungodliness seems to flourish. Share the perspective from this devotional with them and offer encouragement.
4. Create a personal mission statement that reflects how you believe God wants to use your life "to make his name known on the whole earth."

Closing Prayer: Close this time of reflection by thanking God for His sovereign plan, even when we don't understand it. Ask for wisdom to see His purpose in our lives and the courage to fulfill that purpose, making His name known through our words and actions.

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Exodus 7:11

Something interesting happens here for the first time in scripture.

In Exodus 7, we see that Moses goes before Pharaoh and, empowered by God, performs a miracle. Yet instead of being in awe of Moses' God, Pharaoh calls in his wise men and sorcerers.


This brings up a biblical truth that is necessary to understand:


I'm sure we'll explore this conversation more over the course of the year but today I want to focus on one truth that Exodus 7 shows us. Let's read the very next verse after Pharaoh's wise men perform the same miracle.


Do you see what happened there? We'll see this happen throughout the Old Testament of scripture but God makes something very clear to all of us in this verse. By having Aaron's staff swallow the staff of the wise men, He essentially says, "Your power is no match for mine." 

And that's what I want us to reflect on today. Our God is mighty and there isn't a force in the universe who is a match for Him. Not Satan or his demons. Not any other idol or god. Not you or me. No one is as powerful as I AM that I AM.

1. Reflection Exercise: Spend a few minutes silently reflecting on areas in your life where you may be relying on powers or influences other than God. Write these down and pray over them.
2. Scripture Memory: Memorize a verse that affirms God's supreme power, such as Jeremiah 32:27 or Psalm 147:5.
3. Spiritual Inventory: Throughout the week, pay attention to cultural messages or practices that may compete with your faith in God. Journal about these observations.
4. Prayer Challenge: Commit to praying daily this week, specifically acknowledging God's unmatched power in various aspects of your life.
5. Share Your Story: In our chat share an experience where you witnessed God's power prevailing over other influences or challenges.

Closing Prayer: End your reflection by thanking God for His supreme power and asking for strength to trust in Him above all else.

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Exodus 6:1

Have you ever tried to help someone only to make things worse?

Maybe you tried to cut or style their hair and you butchered it.

Maybe you tried to repair their brakes, only to break some other parts along the way.

Maybe you tried to say something nice only to offend the person instead.

Well think about how you would feel if GOD was the one who told you what to say or do and it still made things worse. That's what Moses experienced.


I can truly understand how Moses felt. After all of his back and forth with God in chapters 3 and 4, I imagine he is thinking, "You brought me out here for this? Just to get rejected by both Pharaoh and the Israelites? I could have stayed home."

And maybe you've been there before. Where you feel God has clearly given you an instruction and things got worse rather than better.

Perhaps you delivered a message you believed came straight from God only for it to be used against you.

Perhaps you heard God tell you to ask someone on a date only to get rejected and insulted.

Or perhaps you gave a generous donation by faith just to struggle to pay your bills.

Here's the thing. Everything God does is for a reason, and that includes the times where it seems like everything has gone wrong. In Moses' case, God reveals the reason in Chapter 6.


God allowed Moses to be rejected to ultimately show that it is only GOD who delivered the people from Pharaoh. God knew that if Moses simply petitioned Pharaoh and he let them go, then Pharaoh would have been seen as benevolent or Moses would have been seen as courageous. Instead, because Pharaoh will be forced into submission by the King of Kings, it will be undeniable that God is the one who delivered the people.

Maybe the situations in your life that seem to only get worse when you obey God is simply an opportunity for the power of God to be made known. It's a chance for Him to show himself mighty, to a point where you can say there was no one but God that worked it out for you. Or as the preacher would say, perhaps "your set back is a set up for your comeback."

Trust that God is up to something.  

1. Journal about a current challenging situation in your life. Reflect on how God might be working behind the scenes.
2. Practice patience this week when faced with setbacks. Instead of immediately reacting, pause and pray for God's perspective.
3. Share your faith journey with someone, including times when obedience was difficult but ultimately led to growth or blessing.
4. Memorize Exodus 6:1 as a reminder of God's power and ultimate control over your circumstances.

Closing Prayer: Lord, help us trust Your plan even when we don't understand it. Give us the strength to obey You, especially when it's difficult. Help us see our setbacks as opportunities for You to reveal Your power in our lives. Amen.

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Exodus 4:24

What does it feel like to be confronted by the Lord? It is interesting that God orchestrated Moses’s life to be the perfect candidate for the job, yet, God was repeatedly frustrated by Moses. Earlier in verse 13, Moses kept protesting, asking God to find someone else and God got angry. Here in verse 24 we see God confront Moses and is about to kill him.

I think it’s safe to say their relationship was off to a rough start. It’s hard to believe that one day, the Lord will hold Moses in such high esteem. The Lord stands up for Moses when his siblings Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses:


Wow! God chose Moses out of all the millions of Israelites. Yet, Moses at one point angered God. So, what was it about Moses that frustrated God so much? Disobedience and delayed obedience, which is also known as disobedience. God was frustrated that Moses did not obey immediately. Moses argued with God about his inadequacies, pleaded to not go and do as God told him to, and he had not circumcised his son. It was fear and lack of faith that was holding Moses back from complete obedience. But over time, as God continued to reveal himself, Moses submitted to God’s authority. The outcome of such submission was a beautiful, intimate relationship between God and Moses.

This intimate relationship with God is available to all of us because of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins, we are now able to have a close relationship to the Lord, not just Moses. However, what was required of Moses is also required of us, obedience. Jesus said “If you love me, obey my commandment.” If you want to be in a loving relationship with God, we must obey.

Think about the state of your obedience.

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Exodus 4:11-12

From this week’s readings we have witnessed God see the affliction of the Israelites and share his action plan with Moses. In chapter 4, God equips Moses. God gives “power” to Moses to do miracles that demonstrate God’s power and authority (Exodus 4:21). God is pleased to use Moses because of his humility. Moses does not view these miracles as an opportunity to boast about himself. The focus of the encounters between God and Pharaoh was for God to exalt himself as the one and only true God. In ancient Egyptian culture, a Pharaoh would equate himself with being deity. Pharaoh believed he was a god himself and only recognized the gods that they believed in, such as the gods of fertility or the sun god. (We will dive deeper into the battle against the Egyptian gods when we read about each plague)

God commands Moses to say to Pharaoh


This language is one of authority, like a king speaking to an inferior. God not only is commanding Pharaoh to do something, thereby establishing His authority, He is also elevating the Israelites. God, the king, is giving the Israelites power and position as His “firstborn son”. The firstborn son was to be treated with the utmost respect. God then tells Pharaoh the consequences of not submitting and obeying. Just as we saw in chapter 3, God is not keeping His plan secret. He is making known what He will do and He does it.

God chose the Israelites to be his children. Just like Adam and Eve were his beloved children in the garden. Just like we are adopted and made children of God through Jesus. Even in between the fall of creation and the promised salvation through Jesus, the rhetoric hasn’t changed. The heart of God hasn’t changed. God is a loving parent longing to be back in relationship with His children. Let’s not miss this. God claimed the Israelites as children even before Jesus came. He elevated them above Pharaoh even though they were worshipping the same gods as the Egyptians. (Exodus 32) God could’ve just established himself. However, God also shows that everyone who devotes themselves to Him will be saved and exalted. God does the saving. God does the exalting. It’s a prideful, fruitless attempt when we try to do it ourselves. 

Let’s reflect on this desire that God has to be your Father and in relationship with you. 

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Exodus 3:14

Yesterday we looked at how our God sees everything. He’s omnipresent, everywhere, all the time. Today I want to focus on how providential God is as he acts. God says he is going to make something happen, and he does. 

God’s first action item is to show up in a burning bush and summon Moses. As He does this, God foretells what He will do. He tells Moses what to expect and these very things happen. I have listed the ones from today’s reading along with the reference to when it actually happens: 

Exodus 3:8- God gives the overarching plan stating that He will rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians and bring them to a land of milk and honey. (Exodus-Joshua)

Exodus 3:16,18 - God tells Moses to summon the elders and assures him that they’ll listen to him. (Exodus 4;29-31)

Exodus 3:19 - God warns Moses that Pharaoh won’t let the Israelites go unless God strikes him with miracles. (Exodus 7-11)

Exodus 3:22 - God says the Israelites will plunder the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:35-36) 

We can look at every promise in the Bible and see how God faithfully fulfills his promises, whether we God’s people cooperate or not. God acts. He continues to act over and over again. 

Whenever we begin to think that God is idle, we should think back to these stories to remind us that God always sees and will act. 

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Exodus 2:25

There’s something about this verse that God saw and God knew that brings to mind God’s omnipresence. He is everywhere all the time. He’s there during the good and hard times. When God was in the wilderness, Hagar called God, El Roi, the God Who Sees. 

In chapter two of Exodus, we see God with Moses as a baby in a basket. God’s with Moses as an adult when he murders someone. God’s with Moses as he arrives in Midian and gives him a wife and family. Simultaneously, God was with the Israelites, watching over them during all of their affliction. 

Some may wrestle with the truth that God allowed brutal things to happen to the Israelites. We will mention this time and time again throughout this year: it was God who created a perfect world free from hurt, shame, and danger. It was humanity who messed it up and gave Satan access to our tranquil relationship with God, the world, and everything in it. For reasons beyond our comprehension, these are the things God has allowed to happen for His plan of redemption through Noah, Abraham, and ultimately Jesus to be fulfilled. Don’t forget that each character we’ve encountered in our readings thus far has had their fair share of sinning in the midst of this redemption plan. Yet, God has remained faithful and uses imperfect people to accomplish His will. However, God does not treat us like puppets, forcing us to do the right thing and manipulating us into a relationship with him. Because forced love isn't love at all. God wants a real, authentic, loving relationship with us. 

Yet, throughout centuries of sin and violence, God sees. God had seen all of the ways the Insrealites were being mistreated. God sees and God knows all that is happening. In tomorrow’s reading, God will act again. He will set in place the next steps necessary for His plan to continue to unfold. Egypt, Africa, will be reintroduced to God, Yahweh. Before there was a Bible or written scrolls of laws from Moses, Egypt received an opportunity to know who God is and to choose Him for themselves. 

Fast-forward a thousand years, Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark traveled to Alexandria, Egypt in 43 AD and shared the gospel of Jesus. Yet, this would only be possible if the Isrealites didn’t get comfortable in Egypt. It’s only possible if God continued his plan to save not only the Isrealites of that time but all humanity. 

Don’t think for one second that God isn’t planning anymore. He has a redemption plan for you, your neighbor, friend, and coworker. Just like Moses answered the call to be a part of God’s plan, will you? Are you partnering with God as He sees and acts? Or are you adding sins and hurdles, making it harder for people to experience God and hear the gospel of Jesus? 

As Christians, our job is to partner with God and make known the saving relationship of Jesus to everyone on this earth. This time, we get to be a part of God’s saving plan. 

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Exodus 1:8

We have journeyed from the end of the story of Joseph to the beginning of the story of Moses. Scholars and Jewish descendants believe there is 64 years between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses. It took 64 years for Joseph to be forgotten. Sixty-four years for God to grow the Israelites to a number that posed a threat to an elite nation. Fear drove the new Pharaoh to draw untrue conclusions about the Israelites, but this was God’s plan. Recall Genesis 15. God told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in a foreign land for 400 years. Don’t worry too much about the calculation of that 400 years until we get to Exodus 12. 

Although Pharoh feared the Israelites, the Israelite midwives feared their God. Pharoh ordered the midwives to kill each baby boy they delivered, yet the midwives didn’t obey those orders. Instead they delivered every child the Lord continued to bless the Israelites with. They stood in front of Pharoh and claimed that the women gave birth too fast. They protected God’s people. They protected God’s plan. They revered God. As a result, God blessed them with children of their own. 

How beautiful it is when we submit to God’s plan. How wonderful it is when we stand in alignment with God’s purposes. What would it look like for us to be in agreement with God rather than policies or culture? What would it look like if we chose to love people when culture justifies us to “cancel” people? How could God get the glory if we devoted ourselves to reading and practicing God’s Word? How different would our children be if we raised them to focus their minds on things that are pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4)? 

Take a moment of silence and ask the Lord how He wants YOU to live differently for Him.

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Genesis 33:4

Forgiveness tends to fall into two categories. One is forgiveness that is independent of remorse. The other is forgiveness that is dependent on remorse.

In today's reading we get an example of forgiveness that was independent of remorse which is often the forgiveness that is most closely related to the forgiveness offered to us from God.

Across chapters 32 and 33 we get the story of Jacob being reunited with his brother Esau. But before we talk about the significance of Esau's forgiveness, let's remind ourselves what has happened up to this point.

If you recall, Jacob and Esau are twins, but Esau was born just a few minutes earlier than Jacob so Esau was considered the firstborn of his father, Isaac. But Jacob was determined to actually get the blessing of the firstborn that had belonged to Esau. In order to do so, he and his mother came up with a plan to trick Esau out of his birthright, which he was able to do successfully.

To have the birthright and the right to the inheritance and the right to all of what comes with being the firstborn son was a huge deal at that time. So for Jacob to have deceived his brother to acquire that is as if your sibling, if you would have one, or even maybe your best friend, would just rob you out of your life's inheritance.

If you had a wealthy parent and you knew you had a trust fund or inheritance waiting on you, but it was taken from you and swindled due to deception, I think it would be really hard to let that go.

Well, when we get to chapters 32 and 33, a lot of time has passed. Jacob and Esau have actually gone their separate ways at this point. Just from this week's reading we know Jacob has worked 14 years for Leah and Rachel to be his wives, he's had 11 sons and he's built great wealth working for his father in law.

A lot of things have happened to this point but one thing we can almost certainly say has not happened is that Jacob has not apologized. I mean, look at the way Jacob responds when he hears Esau is coming to see him.


Jacob then comes up with a plan to send multiple gifts, things for Esau to receive, hoping to bribe him and to soften his anger towards him. But this is where the most surprising thing happens. What we come to find out in chapter 33 is that Esau has already forgiven Jacob.


There are three things I think are so significant about forgiveness that I think this story teaches. And this applies to both God's forgiveness towards us, and our forgiveness towards others.

The first thing that we notice is that we cannot buy our forgiveness. We cannot purchase it. We cannot earn it. Forgiveness is something that is granted or gifted.

Jacob tried buy the forgiveness of Esau with all these different servants and animals and things that we find in this passage yet Esau had already granted the gift of forgiveness.


And can I say this is very much in our relationship with God. God has already paid the price of our forgiveness, whether we have chosen to be remorseful or not. And if we can be honest, Jacob's motivation wasn't remorse. He didn't go seek Esau to request forgiveness.

The only reason he felt the pressure to do this is because he was afraid because Esau was coming to him. And so this wasn't even an instance of remorse. This was an instance of fear. And the reality is we have nothing to fear. God has already forgiven us of all of our deeds.

But the second thing that we find in this story is that forgiveness repairs relationship.

When Esau does meet Jacob, Jacob is surprised to find that Esau has already forgiven him.

He embraces him. He says, I don't need these things that you've offered me. I see my brother. I see his family. I am happy for you and proud of all that you have acquired.

All I want is relationship.

Forgiveness opens the door to reconciliation. It brings family and friends back together. And it brings us back into relationship with God

This is why God has forgiven us. He has forgiven us to restore a relationship with him. It was the entire reason and purpose for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was to restore a Father with his children. And so we ought to accept that gift and the relationship that comes with it.

Last thing as this is already longer than usual. I think this story points out an unfortunate truth that forgiveness doesn't equal restoration.

If you notice after all of this, after Esau offers this forgiveness to Jacob, he is still stuck in his deceptive ways. He sends Esau off telling him that he will follow him and meet him there with the intent to never do it.


He actually goes a whole different direction. He doesn't even accept the forgiveness that Esau offers him. He does not accept the invitation to be restored and to be back in his family but instead chooses to continue in his ways.

And this is why I say this is an example of forgiveness without remorse. Jacob never intended to actually be one with Esau again. He never intended to be restored. All that he did was simply an act of fear to avoid having he or his family harmed. And so even after all of that, he goes and he goes his separate way.

Which brings to us two points of reflection.

Number one, are we still willing to forgive even when the person that we are forgiving does not change? This is what Esau chose to do. And it's also what God chose to do as he has forgiven so many who choose not to accept it.

Which is the second reflection. Let us not be the person who chooses not to accept the forgiveness that God has extended us. Walk in your forgiveness. Be restored to God. He has already freed you of all that you have left and left behind. All that you've done, you are free and you are forgiven.

Be forgiven. And then extend that forgiveness to someone else.

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Genesis 30:39

What if I told you that Charles Darwin was not the first to come up with the Evolutionary Theory?

As we take a moment today and return our focus to the defense of the Bible as Trustworthy, consider this story from Genesis 30.


In case you haven't finished today's reading, (you should do that by the way), let me summarize what is happening here. Jacob and his family is currently living with his uncle/father in law, Laban. He wants to take his family and leave but he's made Laban very wealthy so Laban has no desire to see Jacob go. However, he reluctantly agrees to Jacob's plan to let him go while also agreeing to give him the streaked, speckled and spotted sheep.

This is significant because in this time, these sheep were considered less valuable than an unblemished white sheep. They were also thought to be weaker and less likely to breed young sheep. Yet, this is where it gets interesting.

Jacob has a theory, an evolutionary theory you might say, that he can influence the appearance of the sheep by changing their surroundings. By placing these branches in front of the sheep, he anticipates that they will breed young that reflect the branches that they see.

And he was right!

This process of seeing small changes in a species over time is known as micro evolution today. It's the same process that Charles Darwin observed from which he published the Theory of Evolution. Yet, while he wasn't the first to come up with this theory, he was the first to assume its influence over long periods of time would explain the presence of life on earth. And that is where I believe he and most who believe in the evolutionary theory are mistaken.

Check out this 10 minute clip from Is Genesis History beginning at the hour and 12 minute mark.

I truly can't say it any better than that clip so I won't try. All I will say is that I find it interesting that the first mention of evolution did not come from science, but rather the Bible. Yet, the same man who recorded the story of Jacob's evolution of sheep also recorded the words, "God created the heavens and the earth" in chapter 1.

My encouragement today is that you take this moment to reflect on what you believe about evolution and why you believe it. Review some of the resources provided and ask God to reveal to you His truth and equip you with the evidence to support it for both yourself, and for others you know.

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Genesis 26:8

While there are so many different directions we could approach today's reading, I'm most struck by the influence of the past on the present. There are a couple places I think this plays out in our reading today but let me focus on just one. Look at Genesis 26:7 and tell me if this doesn't sound familiar.


Where have I heard this before?


And haven't I heard the name Abimelech before?


In chapter 26, Isaac repeats the sins of his father Abraham and attempts to deceive the king of the land by saying that their wife is their sister, all in the name of self preservation.

I imagine if Abraham were living, he would be watching his son's actions and think, "No, don't do what I did!" Yet, this is exactly how life plays out so often. The behaviors and actions of the generations that came before us will likely be repeated in our own lives if we aren't intentional about avoiding them.

My guess is that as you read this you too can think of behaviors and habits in your life that are reflective of your family history.

Perhaps you watched your parents struggle with addictive behaviors like alcoholism, drug abuse or promiscuity and you find yourself particularly tempted by those same things.

Perhaps you notice that all of the marriages in your family history end in divorce and you find yourself doubting whether you can be in covenant with someone forever.

Perhaps none of the men in your family were ever present in their children's lives so you expect little from fathers.

Whatever it may be, without acknowledging our past we are likely to repeat it.

But here's the good news. That same truth means we have the opportunity to forge an entirely new future with our behavior and actions today. While he didn't go about it in an honorable way, Isaac's son Jacob took his future into his own hands when he stole the blessing that was intended for Esau. The words that Isaac spoke over him set the course for his future and the future of his descendants.

So I think today, there are two questions we must consider. First, how has our family history influenced our behavior, actions and habits. And secondly, what are we going to do today to change the course of our future?

Today, take time to reflect on these questions. Ask God to reveal to you His truth and equip you with the evidence to support it for both yourself, and for others you know.

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Genesis 24:18-19

What would it look like to be in a world where people readily shared their homes, land, and possessions? What would you think if you were walking the streets in a new town and each home you passed had their doors wide open? How would you feel if everyone you met invited you over for a feast? Not just coffee and a bagel, but a full buffet of food made just because you came to spend time with total strangers. 

Although we have stories of some perverse and evil actions, there are plenty of stories of pristine hospitality.  Abraham welcomed the Lord and two angels into his home and prepared a fresh meal for them.  Lot invited the angels to stay in his home so they wouldn’t have to stay in the city square overnight. Fast-forwarding to the New Testament, Jesus didn’t have a home during his ministry and often lodged with strangers. So too did Paul.  

We see the same type of humble, hospitable culture in Genesis chapters 23-24. First, Abraham humbly asks to purchase a cave to bury Sarah. The people of the town are shocked that he would even ask. They offer anything in their possession to him. The owner of the field insists that Abraham takes the land for free. Abraham insists on paying for it. I picture it as a good ol game of “You go first, no you go first, no you go first, no you…” Each person is trying to out serve each other. When Paul instructs us to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ, this is the heart posture he is referring to. (Ephesians 5:21) Pastor Andy Stanley in a series entitled, “What Happy Couples Know” refers to happy married couples racing to the back of the line. They are fighting to outserve one another. One of the secrets to having a happy marriage is humble servitude out of reference to the Lord, not because your spouse deserves it. What a wonderful world it would be if we all were eager to serve each other. 

Speaking of serving, Rebekkah is another example of a humble servant. As tired as she may have been, she not only offers to give the servant water but the camels too. Not only does she give the camels water, but in chapter 24 verse 19 she says, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink.” That sounds somewhat kind until you realize that one camel can drink 32 gallons of water in one sitting. To really appreciate her kindness, we must remember that in verse 10 it states the servant took ten camels with them. That’s potentially 320 gallons of water! That’s not kindness, that’s insanity. But Rebekkah’s elaborate display of kindness landed her to be the bride of the century. She was clothed in riches. Yet, she didn’t do it for the money. She didn’t even know the servant had brought an abundance of jewels in preparation of finding a bride. It was her selfless character that led to a blessing. 

Per usual, let’s use these two accounts of selflessness to help us to reflect on our own lives. 

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Genesis 22:1

We don’t know why Abraham continues to move away from Canaan, the land the Lord promises to him, but he moves back to the Negev again. The end of chapter 21 tells us that this is the land of the Philistines. Once the disputes with King Abimelech are resolved, Abraham settles down and plants a Tamarisk tree. Of all the things that happened, why would the Bible include this small detail. Personally, I don’t know but I’m glad it did. 

Did you know that this site of the well and tamarisk is still a historical, tourist attraction? Archeologists aren’t certain if this is the exact same structure of the well that Abraham originally constructed, but for centuries, this specific site has been attributed to him. In memory of this story, a Tamarisk tree was recently planted. Yes, tamarisk trees actually exist in this region. This is significant because if it was improbable for a Tamarisk tree to grow here the Bible would be erroneous. Once again, the Bible is proving itself to be a history book, making accurate historical references. 

This same region of Beersheba, is referred to many times in the old testament. In passing it is mentioned in Joshua and Samuel’s time and during King David’s era. There are even archeological findings of civilizations such as housing and pits for grain storage dating all the way back to Samuel’s time in the 11th century B.C. Beersheba is indeed a place that was inhabited. (armstronginstitute.org)

Now let’s focus on the story of Abraham and Isaac. Finally, the son chosen by God has been born to Abraham. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, but the Lord cares for them in the wilderness. Once Isaac grows up, God sets out to test Abraham. (Genesis 22:1) This is very important that we don’t skip over this verse that identifies these next set of requests from the Lord to be a test. The request to sacrifice Isaac is not a desire of the Lord, it’s a test that gets abruptly interrupted before any harm is done. God wanted to test Abraham to see if Abraham loved his gift (Isaac) more than the giver (God). 

Once again, Abraham does not hesitate. He gets up early the next morning with the provisions necessary for the sacrifice. He also takes the long three-day journey to Moriah. As mentioned in our podcast, the sacrificing of children was not a foreign concept to Abraham. Living in these pagan lands of the Canaanites and Philistines, Abraham was probably aware of the practices of sacrificing children to the pagan gods. God expresses his detest for the sacrifice for children at least eight times in scripture. Most of these are found in the book of law, Leviticus, but here are two other references:

In this, we see that child sacrifice is not the desire of God, but wholehearted devotion is. This entire Bible is a story of God trying to bring his rebellious children back into an undefiled relationship with Him. 

Abraham trusted in God more than his own perception of what the outcome might be. He got up early to give up the one thing he prayed about the most for the past 30+ years. As a result, Abraham was seen as righteous in God’s eyes because of his faithfulness. Not to mention thousands of years as being the example of faithful and righteous. Would you get up early to give up the one thing or person you’ve prayed for the most?

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Ezekiel 18:23

A point of contention of atheists, is the prevalence of suffering in the world and genocide recorded in the Bible. Why would God encourage, assist, orchestrate, or allow whole populations of people to be annihilated? Does God enjoy killing people?  These are tough questions to wrestle with.

Let’s answer the second question first. No. God does not enjoy the death of anyone. We see the words of the Lord explicitly say this in Ezekial 18. Actually, God has a lot to say about this topic. God is responding to the Isrealites after decades of worshipping idols and evil behavior. He is speaking through his prophet Ezekiel, who is one of many prophets he has sent to warn the people to turn back to the Lord and be righteous. 


And there is so much more God has to say about this. The books of the major and minor prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Amos are all about the Lord pleading with His people to turn away from sin and follow Him wholeheartedly. 

So what about Sodom and Gomorrah? Did they have a chance to repent? Although we don’t have record of a prophet coming to tell them to turn from the Lord, we have seen it to be the pattern throughout scripture of the Lord to send a warning and to save the righteous. Previously in Genesis 18, we see Abram asking God if He would save the entire city if there were fifty or even ten righteous people in the city. It was if Abram was trying to figure out if Lot and his family were acting righteously while living in Sodom. I could see Abram thinking, “Is Lot and his family at least being righteous?”. And yet, although Lot was not righteous, because the city still was burned down, God still saved Lot and his family.  

As all the men from the city came to Lot’s door to insist on sleeping with the angels, Lot warned them to not do such a thing. Did they turn from their wicked actions and listen to Lot as he tried to correct them? NO! They turned against Lot and tried to harm him. When Lot tried to warn his future sons-in-law to get out of the city, did they listen? No! And they got burned up in the city with all the other wicked people. Lot himself hesitated to leave the city, but “...because of the Lord’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. They brought him out and left him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:16) Lot then refuses to go where the angels instruct him to go. When he and his daughters arrive at the cave, his daughters act unrighteously and get impregnated by him. These actions gave birth to the nations of the Moabites and the Ammonites, two nations full of people who stray from the Lord and fight with the Isrealites for hundreds of years. While knowing that all this would happen, God still saved Lot and allowed these nations to be birthed. Is this sounding like a wrathful or merciful God to you? 

Sodom and Gomorrah did not obey the warnings to turn from their sinful ways and as a result they suffered great consequences of death, but King Abimelech’s story was different. Abram lies again and tells a king that Sarah was his sister and not his wife. Sidenote: Sarah is 90 years old, barren, and is still catching the eye of these kings! I digress. While Sarah is in the custody of the King, but before he has slept with her, God appears to King Abimelech in a dream. God warns him not to sleep with her. The King is terrified, humbled, and obedient. He heeds the instruction of the Lord and gives Sarah back with gifts of vindication. As a result, God removes the plagues from the Kingdom that was inhibiting the women from bearing children. God blesses King Abimelech rather than punishing him. What a difference from Sodom and Gomorrah. 

These two stories of Sodom and Gomorrah and King Abimelech both give us insight to the heart of God. God wants everyone to be righteous and do the right thing. God gives us a chance to do the right thing. If we don’t heed his warnings, we will suffer consequences. If we obey, we reap the rewards and are spared. Just like any good parenting or judicial system, there are consequences for wrong actions and freedom in good conduct. 

As we journey through the Bible this year, we will encounter many more stories that follow this theme of grace and consequences. We will even encounter righteous people who go through seasons of disaster for a purpose; however, God never leaves his righteous people without blessing and restoring them.

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Genesis 17:1

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old…” Ninety-nine! Abram was old. Even by cultural standards of that time, he was old. Twenty-four years have passed since Abram received the call to move to this previously unknown land. Thirteen years has passed since the birth of Ishmael, Abram’s son, born by Hagar, Sarai’s slave. Why so long, Lord? Couldn’t God have fulfilled this promise earlier? Did Abram delay his own blessing because of his actions up unto this point? Was this timeline always God’s plan? We don’t know the specific answers to these questions. Yet, we do know from scripture that God sometimes takes awhile to fulfill his promises while expecting us to remain righteous in the meantime. 

Speaking of timing, Ishmael would’ve been thirteen years old. Abram was possibly preparing to find him a wife so that his lineage would continue through Ishmael. Up until this point, God has not corrected Abram about this decision to birth a son through Hagar. Yet, it is only now, when Abram is so close to fulfilling his desire for legacy, that God shows up. God essentially tells Abram that he is going to have to wait almost 14 years before he could have a son to marry off and continue his lineage. 

God cancels Abrams original plan. It is not until this plan dies, that God gives more details. Sometimes, our plans have to die, so that we can receive God’s plan with no distractions. God shows up to Abram, not once, but twice within a short span of time. Not only does God show up, He comes with a covenant. God is still willing to be in a covenant relationship with Abram even after he has sinned. What a gracious God we serve.

It is Abram’s responses to God’s presence that I want to focus on today. When God shows up in Genesis 17 and tells Abram that He will multiply him greatly, Abram’s first response was reverence. “Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him.” (Genesis 17:3)  When God visits in Genesis 18 it says, “When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground…” From them on Abram doesn’t stop running until the meal is prepared for the Lord and the accompanying angels. Abram, ninety-nine years old, wealthy, with plenty of clout, is running around in servitude to the Lord. Would you have done the same? 

There is so much humility in Abram’s actions. He recognizes himself as a servant to the Lord. Paul and Timothy refer to themselves as “servants of Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 1:1) Jude the biological brother of Jesus calls himself a servant of Christ. (Jude verse 1) If Abram, Paul, Timothy, and the brother of Jesus consider themselves servants before the Lord, do you? Do you run and do as soon as the Lord gives you an instruction? Or is it optional? When God shows up, is there heartfelt reverence? 

God may have taken 25 years to fulfill the promise of Abram having a son, but when God shows up, Abram doesn’t have an attitude. Abram bows down in reverence. Abram is in awe of God’s presence. Abram obeys immediately. Let’s wait patiently and righteously before the Lord until He shows up with more instruction. Prepare your heart and mind to humbly obey. 

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Genesis 16:6

Genesis chapter 16 is messy. As Pastor Eric would say, “This is the first case of baby-momma drama in the Bible.” And trust us, there is more to come. Really, who needs TV when you have the Bible? Now, let’s look at the drama:

Abram and his wife Sarai had been awaiting the promise of a baby boy for ten years since being in Canaan (Genesis 16:3). They were only getting older. Fertility for Sarai was a laughing matter. Her womb seemed dead. So after ten years, they questioned the original message of the Lord and made some assumptions during the silence. It’s hard to continue to obey God when He goes silent. Let’s put a pin there. It was Sarai’s idea to include her slave Hagar in a plan to bear a son. By the way, Sarai probably obtained Hagar in chapter 12 when they ventured off to Egypt. Hagar has no control over this situation. She does what she is told. 

As custom in her homeland, Sarai gives her slave to her husband to conceive a child on her behalf. 

This makes things go from bad to worse. Completing God’s plan for Him almost always makes things worse. We know she was desperate. We know she was tired. We know she was embarrassed. However, now she invited dissension into her home and marriage. This is what happens when we invite sinful behavior into our lives. This is what can happen if we follow the culture of the world around us. 

Sin is translated, “to miss the mark.” Abram and Sarai missed the mark on what God told them. He did not give them any instructions to do anything on their own. He showed them a promise and encouraged them to wait. Their first sin was impatience. Yes, ten years is a long time to wait, but according to God’s speed, it was too soon. 

Look at how similar this story is to the Fall of Eden once sin is introduced. There was a desire to have a child, then a thought, “I can make this happen through my slave”. Similarly, Eve had a desire to become wise, then a thought, “This fruit can make me wiser, like God.” Our first takeaway is to watch out for what we desire. Secondly, thoughts can come from Satan. Be aware of what thoughts you obey. If it doesn’t align with God’s last instructions or the Bible, it’s a trap! Run!

The person who can persuade you the most is yourself. We can convince ourselves that almost anything is a good idea. This is why we need the Bible and Godly friends. We need things that will tell our flesh, “that sounds like Satan” or “that’s a bad idea that’s trying to satisfy the desires of your flesh.” Desires of themselves may not be a bad thing, but it turns sinful when it causes us to disobey God to get it. 

Let’s conclude today with taking time to meditate on this scripture written by James the biological brother of Jesus:

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Genesis 15:1

At first glance, we might wonder why God tells Abram not to be afraid. Abram had just emerged victorious from a battle, and he had received a blessing from a priest of God. These events would typically stir feelings of triumph, not fear. But God knows the deepest parts of our hearts—He understands our fears, even when we don’t express them aloud. Though Abram had experienced external victories, God saw the unspoken fear lingering in his heart. In His loving kindness, God reassures him with these comforting words: “I am your shield, your very great reward.”

God’s promise is profound. He tells Abram that He is not just his defender, but also his reward. This reward is not temporary or material—it is eternal, something that cannot be taken away. It’s a promise of security, peace, and provision, far greater than anything Abram could gain from earthly victories or possessions.

Even with all he had achieved, Abram’s heart was still troubled. He was concerned about his legacy—about having a child to inherit his wealth and name. Despite his triumphs in battle, the fear of an uncertain future lingered. He couldn’t see how God’s promises could be fulfilled, especially since he and his wife were well beyond childbearing age. But God, in His faithfulness, made a bold promise: Abram would indeed have a child, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Though the promise seemed impossible, Abram chose to believe. Scripture tells us that “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). This act of faith was not based on Abram’s circumstances or understanding, but on trusting God’s word. This is a profound truth: even when things seem impossible, faith in God’s promises is what makes us righteous in His eyes.

Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage beautifully underscores the significance of Abram’s faith:


This declaration is powerful—it teaches us that our justification, our acceptance by God, is not based on works or human effort, but on our faith in His promises. Just as Abram was counted righteous through faith, we, too, are justified by faith in the work of Christ, apart from the works of the law (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6).

In the midst of his questioning, God then prompts Abram to offer a sacrifice—the best of his livestock. This act of worship and surrender served as a reminder of who God is: sovereign, holy, and worthy of our trust. While God welcomes our questions, there comes a point where our doubts can hinder our full surrender to His will. Yet, in His grace, God gently provides Abram with insight into the future, making a covenant with him that solidifies His promises.

Like Abram, we may find ourselves facing fears and uncertainties, despite having experienced God's faithfulness in the past. But God’s words to Abram ring true for us as well: “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward.” When we put our trust in Him, no fear can stand against the assurance of His presence and His promises.

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Genesis 14:14

In Genesis 14 we learn about the first ever war in the world! Apparently, this war has been named amongst bible scholars as the “War of Nine Kings”. After 12 years of being under the rule of king Kedorlaomer of Elam several kings, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, rebelled against him for their freedom. Abram was not considered a king, yet he found himself in the midst of this war because Lot was taken captive along with all he owned. Lot was found living in Sodom, the city of sin. Let that sink in for a second. Lot initially settled outside of the city of Sodom, but now we see that he made home within the city of Sodom which was known for its wickedness. Now he’s captured and caught in the crossfires of a war he had nothing to do with. Many of us are like Lot, comfortable in environments where sin lives while steadily getting caught in crossfires and spiritual warfare that wasn’t meant for us to experience or deal with in the first place. Proverbs 4:14 tells us this “Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.”

Abram rescued Lot and recovered everything that was taken. Not because of his might or the might of the men he took with him to battle, but because of God’s favor. No other trained army of men could defeat king Kedorlaomer, but Abram had God on his side. He receives further confirmation from the Lord through the blessing from Melchizedek who was a priest of God and king of Salem. I loved watching this video about the significance of Melchizedek’s blessing over Abram.

To further show his trust in God, Abram rejects the king of Sodom’s proposal to keep all of the goods he recovered from his victory in the war against king Kedorlaomer. He knew that keeping something that was not given to him by God would taint his testimony of God’s goodness and leave opportunities for others to take God’s glory for themselves. This was a deep act of trust and humility. Abram had just given away a tenth of everything he owned to Melchizedek and was now being tempted to acquire back a portion of that which he just gave away. But he stood in oath to God declaring that he will only receive the riches that come from the fruit of God’s blessing and not by the fruit of someone else’s tree.

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Genesis 13:6

When God makes a promise, He keeps it. We see that in the first verses of Genesis 13. Abram has been blessed with riches of livestock, silver and gold. He has become so wealthy, along with his nephew Lot that the land could no longer hold them both together. God’s promise of blessing over Abram’s life goes far beyond material blessings, but Abram’s material blessings are a reminder to us all that riches of the righteous are the fruits of God’s blessing. Abram’s fruit required space to grow. Have you ever had to separate yourself from someone because you felt like they were limiting what God could do in your life? Abram tells Lot that they must separate because all that they acquired individually could not be sustained if they stayed together. This is a battle we all probably faced once before. It isn’t easy separating from family or friends or a job for that matter, but sometimes it’s necessary because staying limits us and causes unnecessary suffering.

Now Lot chose the land that looked good to the eyes, but was full of sin. Just as Eve was deceived in Genesis 3 and ate the forbidden fruit because “she saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious” so was Lot deceived by his eyes and own desires. What he thought to be a flourishing land similar to the Garden of Eden turned out to be one that would soon be ashes because of the wickedness found within it. Lot never consulted the Lord when making his decision. He went with what he saw as good instead of praying to God to ask what was good for him. God wants us to include him in every decision we make. His word tells us in Proverbs 3:6 to “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  God doesn’t want us to fail or fall, but His protection and provision in our lives requires on our part consideration of Him and commitment to obey.

Did you also notice that it wasn’t until after Lot went his separate way that the Lord gave Abram a new insight and instruction? He told him to walk the land he was giving to him and his offspring. This is significant. God needed Abram to believe in the promise and strengthen his faith in the promise. Abram walking the land represents an act of faith in claiming God’s promise for himself. He was able to finally see the land up close, smell it, feel it and connect to it. His first response after walking the land was building another altar to God. Abram never stopped worshipping and honoring the Lord from the moment God gave him instruction to leave his home to go to a foreign land to now witnessing that foreign land up close and personal. Why do you think that is? Is it because he knew his obedience would have a greater impact?

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Genesis 12:2

Genesis 12: The Call Of Abram

Abram is introduced to us in this chapter without much detail into his life outside of a brief genealogy we get from Genesis 11 and insight into his age and his wife's barren womb. Other than that we don’t know who he is or why God chose him, but his call is a remarkable one. The Call of Abram at first reading seems like one we all would love to live through, but do you notice the sacrifice it requires? Do you notice the weightiness of it? God calls Abram (who he will soon rename as Abraham) to leave everything and everyone he’s known for most of his life. God tells Abram to leave his country, his people and his father’s house to go to a foreign land that he knows nothing about. God doesn’t even tell him where the land is or what it is called, he just tells him that he will show it to him. I imagine Abram may have had questions or possibly some hesitation, but unfortunately we don’t get insight into his thought process. What we do see, however, is that he responds in obedience to the Lord. He packs up everything he owns along with his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot and heads out with nowhere in mind, just trust and faith that God will lead him..

Abram teaches us here what walking by faith and not by sight truly means. His immediate response to obey shows us that he truly trusted in God and more than that, he loved the Lord. This reminds me of John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commands.”  How deep is our love for God? If we consider how often we have kept his commandments and obeyed his instructions would our answers be the same? 

Don’t beat yourself up if the answer is less than pleasing because Abram wasn’t perfect by far and he failed many times in his walk with God. When Abram reached Egypt he told his wife Sarai to lie to Pharaoh and tell him that she was his sister. This wasn’t a full lie, but a lie nonetheless. So you see even Abram, who is the father of our faith, had flaws but that didn’t stop God’s grace from resting on him. Even in our imperfections God chooses us to share in His eternal promise, His love and His glory.

“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12: 2-3

Prayer:

Lord just like Abraham make me quick to respond to your instruction and eager to praise and worship your name through every unknown path you send me to. Let my obedience not only be a blessing to me, but let it also be a blessing to many generations to come. 

Amen.

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My wife knows I have this thing I do when the kids are supposed to be sleep at night time but are instead playing. I walk into their bedroom but make sure to open the door very suddenly as to startle them and let them know I mean what I'm about to say.

That's how it felt when God entered the chat.

When God finally decides to speak, 38 chapters later, he enters with an authority that only God possesses. He commands the attention of all who were listening and those of us who would read his words generations later. Read again how he begins.


Now that he has our attention, what is it that God has to say?

In short, stay in your lane.

God reminds us over and over again in chapter 38 who is God and who is man. He reminds us that our understanding is limited to our finite experience.


He reminds us that our level of control is extremely limited.


He reminds us that the depth of our perspective is extremely shallow.


He even reminds us that anything we do know came from him anyway.


In other words, God enters the conversation and simply reminds us to stop trying to figure him out. We couldn't understand him or his ways if we tried. We simply don't have the capacity to store all of the knowledge and experience God has to piece it all together.

So what does that mean for us?

Maybe God would rather us focus less on why and focus more on how. Rather than spending time wondering why God is doing what He is doing, we should instead focus on how he wants us to respond.

This was God's focus. And we'll see tomorrow how Job responds to God's words. But today, take time to reflect on how God would want you to respond to the trials of life. Ask God to reveal to you His truth and respond accordingly.

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Right out of college I had the privilege of teaching in a Christian academy that ranged from Pre-K2 to 5th grade. It was there that I learned early on that some of the wisest people in the world have mandatory naps every day. I would constantly find myself blown away by some of the simple things these children would say that would have such a profound effect on me.

Now that I have five children of my own, I'm blessed to be encouraged by the faith and wisdom of young children on a frequent basis. A recent example of this is when I was making my case as the best dad in the world and my four year old reminded me, "No, God is the best dad in the world."

Well...I can't argue with that.

I imagine that's how Job and his friends felt when Elihu first speaks up in chapter 32. This young boy listened patiently to the back and forth conversation between these friends, showing honor and deference to his elders. But starting in chapter 32 he begins to share wisdom well beyond his years because it's not age that gives wisdom but the Spirit of God.


This is a critical biblical truth in scripture. There are numerous examples of young people being godly examples for those who are older. From Joseph and Jeremiah in the Old Testament, to Mary, mother of Jesus and Timothy in the New Testament, there are countless examples of people making an impact on the world before they would be considered a legal adult here in America.

Unfortunately, we often discount the words and wisdom of the young. But when we do that, we put the Word of God in a box and potentially miss an opportunity to hear from him. And as we find in today's reading, those words shared through young people are sometimes wiser than even the most righteous man on earth.

What have you been told of late by some younger or less experienced than you? Did you listen? Take time to reflect on your willingness to receive the wisdom of young people. Ask God to reveal to you His truth and equip you with the evidence to support it for both yourself, and for others you know.

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