“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12 NASB Burn up– Very few people in modern society have any sense of history. Yes, we know what happened yesterday, last week, last month. But…
Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6 NASB Laughter – Why does Peter list Sarah as a heroine of the faith (1 Peter 3:6)? With all that we have learned about her, it seems that Zornberg’s assessment, a life of “grim realism,” is more accurate than Peter’s praise. …
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Genesis 23:2 NASB Weep– We have reached the end of our stories about Sarah. The only remaining mention of her is a short account of her death (she is the only woman in…
Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Genesis 21:3 NASB Abraham called– Perhaps the naming of Isaac is innocent. Perhaps it is simply a joyful reminder of that glorious day when God promised a child. But we should note that it is Abraham, not Sarah, who names…
Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6 NASB Laugh– Abraham’s household journeys to Gerar. Once again he faces a king who might consider Sarah a prize. Abraham does not wait to measure the morality of the king. He retreats to a strategy that worked in the past. He pawns Sarah…
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.Genesis 16:6 NASB In your power – Abram is a man caught in the middle. Not standing up for God’s promise in the first place has…
“May God decide which of us is right” Genesis 16:5 Eugene Peterson The Message Is right– Sarai’s attempt to usurp God’s plan has the same consequences as Havvah’s enticement. Her life becomes much worse. Instead of fulfilling her desires for happiness, Hagar’s pregnancy brings humiliation, envy, and anger. Now she must live with a servant whose body shows everyone…
“May God decide which of us is right” Genesis 16:5 Eugene Peterson The Message Is right – Two intervening stories occur before we return to the saga of Sarai. In the first interlude, Abram takes a very different posture with his nephew Lot. He permits Lot’s choice over a dispute about grazing rights, in spite of the…
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:6 NASB Calling him lord – Peter places Sarah in the hall of saints. But of course he would. She is the matriarch of all matriarchs, the first, the original. …
Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Joshua 9:15 NASB A covenant– We know the story, a tragic one. God instructs Joshua to spare no one as the Israelites march into the Promised Land. God wants the slate to be…
