Today’s Reading: Review Genesis 1-24; Psalm 82
As we near the half-way point of our journey through Genesis, we notice a common thread — that God blesses us in order to make us a blessing to other people. He has created us to give life to those around us, allowing Him to bless others through our lives.
GOD COMMANDS US TO BE LIFE-GIVING.
From the first chapter of Genesis, God’s command to mankind is to be fruitful and increase in number. He created plants, trees, animals, and people to be seed-bearing, giving each of them the ability to reproduce and multiply. He created us to be life-giving, not death seeking. But by the fourth chapter of Genesis, the first parents were grieving the murder of their second son.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” — Genesis 4:6-7
With sin comes negative emotions, and when we choose to embrace sin, we give the enemy the opportunity to influence us towards the next sinful decision. Then sin begins to multiply in our lives and in the lives of those around us, until what God created to be life-giving is a world full of wickedness.
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” — Genesis 6:5-7
With God’s big do-over, the world had a fresh start to be fruitful and multiply, and to fill the earth (9:1). God’s command was clear to Noah and his family — they were not to end the life of another human being.
GOD COMMANDS US NOT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN.
“And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.” — Genesis 9:5-7
When God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham, He promised that he would make Abraham into a great nation. He made a commitment to bless Abraham, but he also declared that Abraham would be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).
GOD CREATED US TO MULTIPLY AND GROW LIFE IN OTHER PEOPLE.
God’s plan since the beginning of time has been for us to give life to others, not to take it. He calls us to live a life that multiplies and grows life in other people. In Genesis 14, we see an example of Abraham living out his calling from God.
When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. — Genesis 14:14-16
GOD CALLS US TO RESCUE OTHERS.
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked. — Psalm 82:3-4
This is what our compassionate God does. He showed grace towards Cain and allowed him to live, even though he had killed his brother. God provided an escape for Noah and his family during the flood. God healed Sarah’s womb and allowed her to give birth to Isaac. God answered the prayer of Abraham’s servant by providing a wife for Isaac. God showed mercy towards Hagar, who had been forced to have sexual relations with her master. God comforted Abraham as he mourned the death of Sarah, providing him with a place to bury his wife. This is the same God who calls us to multiply and grow life in other people.
Today marks 51 years of our nation devaluing the life of the unborn. But just because a courtroom decision says we have the right to do something does not mean we should. In a political battle between pro-life and pro-choice arguments, millions of men and women have been left wounded and grieving an abortion decision. Political agendas have left a trail of pain and mourning, and women have become pawns in a game where political power is the prize.
Surrounded by a society that no longer trusts in the sovereignty of God, we have a choice to make. Today is a good day for us to renew our covenant with God — to stand strong and commit that we will be image-bearers who multiply life in others and rescue the weak and needy. What is God asking of you? What is He calling you to do in response to the pain and woundedness of those around you?
TODAY I WILL BE AN IMAGE-BEARER WHO MULTIPLIES LIFE IN OTHERS. I WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO RESCUE THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice. — Proverbs 31:8-9