“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…
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” Genesis 18:20-21 NIV See– God knows everything, right? God sees everything without error, right? Then why does God…
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;” Genesis 12:1 NASB From your father’s house – “ . . . the mandatory separation of Abraham from his kindred is unprecedented.”[1] But we don’t give it a second thought,…
He said, “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.” Genesis 22:12 NASB Fear God – It’s an ancient but very important story. Christianity sees it as a type of the…
“And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” Genesis 21:13 NASB Descendant – In his book, Not In God’s Name, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks notes the fine distinction between the verbs used to describe Abraham’s relationship with Isaac and his relationship with Ismael. Genesis 21:3 says…
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.” Genesis 22:2 NASB Take – This verse is universally acknowledged as the pivotal example of Abraham’s…
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:5 KJV Kept – Why does God watch over you? Why are you so lucky in life? Why does He keep protecting and providing for you? Do you suppose that you are the recipient of a generational…
Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I…
By faith Sarah herself received the power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 ESV Power to conceive – The inclusion of Sarah in the heroes of the faith hall of fame has always seemed a bit strange. When we read the story…
“May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel under whose wings you have come to seek refuge. Ruth 2:12 NASB Under whose wings – Do you realize that Boaz is the one who actually fulfills the blessing of the Lord that he himself pronounces over…
