Today’s Reading: Genesis 16:1 – 17:8, Psalm 139

The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born out of God’s own fulfillment of his promise. – Galatians 4:22-23

At times our faith is handicapped by our fear. We believe in God’s promises but we panic and attempt to force God’s plan into action — God’s will, my way, in my time. Sarai tried to force God’s will in her own way in her own time by having Abram lay with her servant girl, Hagar.

WHEN WE ALLOW FEAR TO TAKE ROOT, THE NEXT EMOTION IS OFTEN ANGER.

My heart goes out to Hagar, a young Egyptian girl who for some reason had become a slave to foreigners instead of living out her own dreams of a husband and family. Now she was being forced to have sexual relations with her master. Hagar’s fear grew into anger when she realized she was pregnant with his child, while Sarai’s fear turned into jealousy when she realized Abram’s first child would not come from her womb. In reaction to these emotions, Sarai began to treat her servant harshly.

It would be easy at this point in God’s story to point a finger of blame on Sarai. How unfair it was for her to treat Hagar with cruelty when this was the consequence of her own messed up plan. But this is the point in the story when I need to stop and ask God to reveal the sin in my own heart. It’s time for me to humbly allow the Spirit to reveal the need for change in my life.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:23-24

Hagar ran away, leaving the safety of the camp. She found herself sitting by a spring of water in the wilderness but she was not alone. “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (16:8). God SAW Hagar’s pain and met with her, but He sent her back to Sarai. It was not time for her to leave. God made it clear – my will, my way, my time.

AM I ALLOWING FEAR TO INFLUENCE MY DECISIONS AND MY EMOTIONS?

There have been too many times in my life when I, like Sarai, have made a human attempt to force God’s hand, and I made a mess of things. I panicked when God did not answer my prayers as I thought He needed to, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. This intervention was more than just a lack of patience, it was disobedience. I had to learn then, and I am reminded again this morning, that God always has a plan, God has a way, and God has His own timing. I can rest and relax in His Sovereignty!

“I am El-Shaddai – ‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” – Genesis 17:1-2

God again confirmed His promise to Abram. He changed his name to Abraham, which means “father of many’’, and God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah, stating He would bless her richly and make her the mother of many nations. At age 99, what God was promising to Abraham seemed humanly impossible, but God is Sovereign, and for Him nothing is impossible.

YOU ARE THE GOD WHO SEES ME.

Just as Hagar sat by Beer-lahai-roi and spoke to the God who saw her, we bow before you this morning, Lord, recognizing that you are an active God who sees us. You recognize what we are going through and you make your presence known. Lord, we ask you for clarity in some situations and faith in all circumstances. Show us areas in our life where we are trying to force your hand. May the fruit of your Spirit living within us be patience to wait for your perfect will in your perfect way at your perfect time. May we recognize you today as El-Shaddai, God Almighty. Amen.

Oh Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I am far away…
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand. – Psalm 139:1-6

Today’s Reading: Genesis 15, Psalm 65

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith – for he was a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. – Hebrews 11:8-10

Abram’s life is a great example to us of what it means to daily obey and submit to God’s plan, following Him wherever He leads. Sometimes this means leaving home like Abram and sometimes it means a career change, going back to school, a new ministry position, or a leap into the unknown. Responding in obedience to God’s call requires a great amount of faith, which is exactly what Abram had.

But Abram also had to deal with some fear. He had to learn how to trust God to protect him and to fulfill His promises in His perfect time. Time passed between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise, and Abram had to make a choice to believe in God while patiently waiting on Him.

ABRAM HAD TO OVERCOME HIS FEAR IN ORDER TO GROW IN HIS FAITH.

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?” – Genesis 15:1-2a

God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth (13:16), but time had passed and Abram was confused by the fact that he was still without a son of his own. He called God “Sovereign Lord” showing that he recognized God was in charge. God reminded him – my will, my way, in my time. God confirmed his promise again to Abram, telling him his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (15:5).

ABRAM HAD TO SUBMIT TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN ORDER TO TRUST GOD FOR THE PROMISE.

And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. – Gen. 15:6

God reminded Abram that the promise for his descendants included the promise for a territory or inheritance. Again, Abram had questions, but he recognized that God was in charge. And again, God confirmed his promise to Abram.

Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” — Genesis 15:7-8

There have been several moments in the last three years when I have had to recognize that God was in charge. In moments when fear is pressing in and demanding my attention, I have to acknowledge God as Sovereign Lord and trust Him with the things that scare me the most. I have to find courage when my first tendency is to ask — how can I be sure? I have to trust Him with the care of my family, and I have to place the future in His capable hands.

LIKE ABRAM, I HAVE TO OVERCOME MY FEAR IN ORDER TO GROW IN MY FAITH, AND I HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN ORDER TO TRUST GOD FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROMISES.

Having faith in God does not mean that we will be without questions, and it does not mean that we will never have moments of fear and uncertainty. But having faith in God does mean that we will take our questions to God and then trust Him for the answers, just like Abram did. We will hold on tight to what we do know and believe in God for the rest.

Let’s pray Psalm 65 together:

What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.
You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our Savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy. — Psalm 65:1-8

Today’s Reading: Genesis 12:10 – 14:24, Psalm 27

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection. – Psalm 18:30

We start today where we ended yesterday — with the reminder that we can trust God. His way is perfect and His promises are true. Unfortunately, Abram had a big lesson to learn on what it means to truly trust God for protection — to wait patiently for the Lord.

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.

There was a severe famine, forcing Abram to go to Egypt to find food. Now Sarai was very beautiful and Abram feared the Egyptians would kill him in order to keep her. Instead of relying on God to fulfill His promise, Abram took matters into his own hands and deceived the Egyptians by telling them Sarai was his sister. Of course, this was true (20:12), but he failed to mention she was also his wife. God had promised to protect Abram, but Abram felt the need to protect himself through deception.

Sarai’s beauty was undeniable and she was taken to Pharoah to be his wife. Terrible plagues came upon Pharoah and his household because of Sarai’s presence. Pharoah gave her back to Abram and commanded him to leave Egypt — the place they had fled to in order to survive the famine. God could have used Egypt to provide for their needs, but Abram failed to trust in Him for protection so they were back on the road.

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.

The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? – Psalm 27:1-2

Abram left Egypt and traveled to the region between Bethel and Ai. They traveled in stages, pitching their tents to rest between trips. Eventually they found themselves right where they had been before, and they took time to worship God at the altar Abram had previously built. What a great reminder to Abram and his family of where God had brought them from and where He promised to lead them.

Their group was quite large and tempers were flaring among their herdsmen, so Abram offered to split the land with Lot. Now all the land to the east of them in the Jordan Valley was fertile and well watered, obviously the best choice of land. Yet Abram gave Lot the first choice of which land he wanted. Perhaps Abram had learned something from his journey through Egypt. He knew that it was not the land itself that would provide, but that God would bless him regardless of which piece of land he received. After Lot chose the better half, the Lord confirmed his promise to Abram a third time:

“Look as far as you can see in EVERY direction – north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” – Genesis 13:14-17

No more wandering; they were home. God was giving them this land as a permanent possession. And once again, God renewed His covenant with Abram. God was generously giving him both land and descendants. Now the land was still filled with Canaanites and Perizzites, and Sarai was still barren, so it took faith for Abram to accept God’s promise with confidence — to wait patiently on the Lord.

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.

There was a year-long battle between the kings in the surrounding nations, with four kings joining together to fight against five other kings. In the midst of the chaos, Lot and his family were captured in the battle, and their possessions were confiscated. Knowing that his God would protect him, Abram gathered together 318 of his trained men and left the safety of his land in pursuit of the foreign armies who were headed back home with their captives.

When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most — is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. — Psalm 27:2-6

WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.

Not only did Abram rescue Lot, he rescued many others in the conflict. The king of Sodom was so grateful that he wanted to give all the goods captured to Abram as a gift. Just as Abram now knew that God was the source of his protection, he also knew God was the source of his blessings. He politely refused the gifts and kept his eyes on God – his Protector and his Provider.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8

Father God, we are spending time in your presence this morning to thank you for being our source of provision and protection. We ask that you show us if there are areas of our lives in which we are taking things into our own hands, trusting in our own abilities instead of relying on you. May we learn how to wait patiently for you, allowing you to provide for us in your way and in your perfect timing. Amen.

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. – Hebrews 6:15

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1

Today’s Reading: Genesis 11:27-12:9, Romans 4, Psalm 18

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 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 12:1-3

LEAVE AND GO WHERE I SHOW YOU TO GO.

This first element of God’s promise required more than just initial obedience, it required continual obedience and submission — daily following wherever God led. Abram did not just travel to one place and stay. Genesis 12:9 says that he traveled south in stages. Every time God told Abram to pack up camp and move to the next place, Abram obeyed. And in each place, Abram set up an altar, dedicated that place to the Lord, and worshiped God.

This same submission is required of me today. It is not enough that I followed obediently yesterday; I must continue to follow in obedience today. When God moves me or puts me in a new situation, I can follow Abram’s example and dedicate today’s destination to God. I can worship Him where I am today, with the willingness to worship Him in different circumstances tomorrow. Abram did this and received confirmation of the promise God had given him.

I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION AND BLESS YOU.

This promise had great significance to Abram because his wife, Sarai, had been unable to become pregnant and they had no children. Sometimes God’s promise does not make sense to us at the moment. But we can learn the same lesson that Abram and Sarai learned — when God makes a PROMISE, we can trust Him for PROVISION.

So if God was promising descendants, Abram simply needed to trust that God would provide a way. So as I read through this scripture, I am reminded that accepting God’s promise requires daily obedience and a willingness to follow God wherever He leads. And it also requires a great deal of faith.

YOU WILL BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. ALL THE FAMILIES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU.

This promise was not just about Abram and for the benefit of Abram; it was much larger than that. There were so many other people who would be blessed through this promise, so many others relying on Abram’s faith in God and his decision to obey.

Who is relying on our faithful obedience today? Are we living with the realization that our decisions today could affect someone else tomorrow? Is our faith growing stronger each day, unwavering in our confidence that God’s promises prove true every time?

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. – Romans 4:20-25

I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU AND CURSE THOSE WHO TREAT YOU WITH CONTEMPT.

God promised PROTECTION to Abram, as well as guardianship of His promise. Abram did not have to make sure that God would keep His promise. He did not have to remind God of the word He had spoken; it was unnecessary for Abram to fear that God would forget the covenant He had made. God was faithful — faithful to provide and faithful to protect.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. – Psalm 18:1-2

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield to all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping. – Psalm 18:30-36

Oh Lord, we thank you for your promises. May we respond in obedience to your call on our lives, just as Abram did. May we trust you for our protection and for every blessing in life. Remind us today, oh Lord, of your many promises. Remind us that everything good in our life is not a result of our own effort, but evidence of your PROMISE, your PROTECTION and your PROVISION. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 9-11:26, Psalm 75

We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.
God says, “At the time I have planned,
I will bring justice against the wicked.
When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil,
I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.” – Psalm 75:1-3

God looked at His creation and said it was good, but sin entered the world and began to destroy the hearts of those who were created to bring glory to the Lord. God grieved over His new creation and their lack of love for their Creator. As we read about yesterday, He sent a flood to cover the earth.

After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers. – Genesis 9:20-22

This mistake changed the course of Ham’s life. It was an issue of disloyalty and selfishness, the heart of gossip. Instead of taking action out of respect for his father, Ham went outside and told his brothers, who took care of covering their father. Ham shirked his responsibility and brought shame to his father. Noah cursed Ham’s descendants to a life of servanthood (9:26-27) – if you don’t want to take care of your family, you will spend the rest of your life with no choice but to take care of others.

The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished. — Proverbs 16:5

PRIDE LEADS TO ARROGANCE AND SELF-PROMOTION.

Ham was not the only one of Noah’s descendants to think too much of himself. Ham had four sons, but it was his son Canaan on whom the curse landed. The curse of servanthood did not come with a humble spirit. The desire to be famous and rise above the curse remained; the tendency to think too much of oneself did not fade away.

This is evidenced in the life of Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior. His descendants thought too much of themselves. They settled in Babylon, which became the epicenter of both arrogance and idolatry. Their desire was to build a name for themselves for their own glory, instead of for the glory and purposes of God.

There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise. – Proverbs 26:12

With a shortage of stone in that area, the people used innovation and created bricks. Rather than recognizing this engineering skill as a gift from God, they found excitement in the idea that they might become famous. If they could build a great tower made of bricks, the world would both hear and see how wonderful they were. People would come from all around to see this tower that represented their greatness. They would become famous and there would be no need to ever leave their earthly kingdom.

“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’
I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!
Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens
or speak with such arrogance.’” – Psalm 75:4-5

SELF-AMBITION IS HOW SIN FIRST IMPACTED CREATION.

Consider the sin of Adam and Eve. The serpent tempted them with the possibility of becoming like God. Eve was easily convinced by the serpent and her desire for a wisdom like God’s caused her to sin. Adam witnessed the whole thing and joined in this self-ambition. They were banished from the garden, and made to leave the area they had come to love.

Compare the sin of Adam & Eve to the sin of those building the tower of Babel. The people of Babylon desired to be as powerful and famous as God. Their longing for fame and fortune was stronger than their love for God. Their desire to stay there and not be scattered all over the world resulted in just that – banishment and the scattering of people across the region.

It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall…
For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked,
but I will increase the power of the godly.” – Psalm 75:7,10

Our salvation depends on having a humble and repentant heart. If we think too much of ourselves or of what we have accomplished, we begin to depend less on God and more on what we think we can do on our own. When confronted with temptation and sin, we arrogantly choose to build our own tower of Babel.

THE MORE WE FOCUS ON OUR OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ABILITIES, THE LESS WE HAVE OUR EYES ON JESUS.

Today may we see every good and wonderful thing in our lives as a gift from you, God. May every blessing be evidence of your generosity; may every talent and skill bring you glory. Forgive us for our moments of pride. We long to be servants of your Kingdom rather than building our own fame and fortune. Help us to see the needs of others and respond with a heart of love. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 6-8, Psalm 12

Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!
The faithful have vanished from the earth!
Neighbors lie to each other,
speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
and silence their boastful tongues.
They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
Our lips are our own—who can stop us?” — Psalm 12:1-4

Have you noticed that sin has a way of quickly multiplying, both in an individual’s life and in our society? What starts as allowing a little sin to creep in eventually becomes a habit of sin. These habits of sin make their way into our culture and into our politics, in time making sin an acceptable way of life. This is what happened by the sixth chapter of Genesis, and this is what we see evidenced in the world today.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on earth. It broke his heart. — Genesis 6:5-6

Not only does God direct us not to sin and warn us of the temptation of sin, it breaks his heart when we reject Him and choose to sin. The God of the universe cares enough to grieve when we push Him away in our attempts to live our own life and chase after all the world has to offer. He has a wonderful plan of salvation He was willing to sacrifice His Son in order to offer, and it saddens Him when we push His plan aside to make room for our own.

GOD SEES EACH DECISION MADE AND EVERY SIN COMMITTED.

In Genesis, God grieved over His new creation and their lack of love for their Creator. He saw the selfish desires of their heart and how quickly the people gravitated toward evil. But He also saw the heart of one who kept his eyes focused on God, who chose to walk in close fellowship with his Maker. God saw Noah, and He sees you too, my friend.

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time. God chose to wipe all living creatures from the earth because of the violence that was everywhere. But, because of the faithfulness of one man, God created a plan to spare Noah and his family, as well as a portion of His creation.

God told Noah that he was going to cover the earth with a flood. Noah had never experienced a flood but he trusted God. God told Noah to build a boat. Noah had never seen a boat but he trusted God. Everything God told him to do, Noah did — exactly as God commanded him (6:22; 7:5).

AND EVERYTHING GOD SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO, HE DID — IN HIS PERFECT TIME.

It rained for 40 days and the floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days. After 5 months, Noah released a bird to see if the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. But the bird came back because there was no place for it to land. It was not God’s time. Noah sent out a dove, but again the bird came back. It was not God’s time. Seven days later, Noah released another dove and it came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. It was still not God’s time, but it was a sign from God that the time was drawing near. Seven days later, Noah released a third dove and it did not come back. Still Noah waited patiently for God’s instructions, which came in God’s time. Noah and his family left the boat when God said to leave the boat.

THE LIFE WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IS NEVER OUTSIDE OF GOD’S SIGHT.

He sees the choice we have made to serve Him, even when the rest of the world is redefining truth and rebelling against God. Our faith grows as a result of our choice to live our life for HIS PURPOSES and trust IN HIS TIME, believing that He is a God who keeps His promises. From that faith comes the gift of His righteousness and the promise of His protection.

The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
as they have longed for me to do.”
The Lord’s promises are pure,
like silver refined in a furnace,
purified seven times over.
Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,
preserving them forever from this lying generation,
even though the wicked strut about,
and evil is praised throughout the land. — Psalm 12:5-8

GOD FILLED THE SKY WITH BEAUTIFUL COLORS AS A REMINDER THAT HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

God placed a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of the covenant He was making with Noah and his descendants, as well as with every living creature. That rainbow reminds us today that we serve a God who keeps His promises. As the psalmist said, his promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

Father God, thank you for having a plan and a purpose that goes beyond my own understanding. Help me to daily trust you enough to wait for your perfect plan in your perfect time. Thank you for today’s reminder of how quickly sin can destroy all the good things I am experiencing in life, and that you are a God who keeps His promises, a God whose heart I can trust. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 4 – 5, Psalm 37

“With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man.” – Genesis 4:1b

Eve gave birth to a son and her response was to recognize the wonderful gift God had given her — the blessing to have another life growing within her. She was the first woman to experience the pains of childbirth, yet her response was to recognize the Lord’s help rather than to focus on the struggle.

When given the opportunity to give a gift to the Lord, Eve’s firstborn son did not respond with the same heart of gratitude as his mother. Cain chose to give some of his harvest to the Lord, but he saved the best for himself. In contrast, his younger brother intentionally took the time to separate his flock so that he could give the best portions of the firstborn lambs. God accepted Abel’s gift, but He accepted neither Cain nor his gift. In response, Cain sulked in anger at God’s less enthusiastic response to his half-hearted effort.

INTRODUCING ANGER

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” – Genesis 4:6-7

Often we make the choice of giving God less than He deserves from us. When things do not go as we want them to go, we get angry with God and wonder why He is not meeting our need to be recognized or fulfilled. We live as though God exists to reward our small contribution or to rain down His blessings on us instead of living life for the purpose of glorifying God every day.

God warned Cain that his anger was inviting sin to come and control him. He commanded Cain to subdue the sinful anger and stay in control, but Cain chose to wrap himself in self-pity instead. In response to his jealousy of Abel, Cain did what was wrong — he killed his brother.

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” – Genesis 4:9

INTRODUCING INDIFFERENCE

Cain had the choice to willingly do what is right or to refuse to do the right thing. He chose the latter and God punished him for his sins. When confronted with his sin, Cain could have humbly chosen confession and repentance; instead, he chose indifference. His brother was dead and he showed no remorse. Sin began to control Cain, and God punished him for his selfish behavior. Not only did Cain have to leave his home and his family, he had to leave God’s presence.

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper — it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. – Psalm 37:8-9

It is so easy to let anger rise up inside of us, sometimes out of jealousy and sometimes due to an injustice in our life. At times we have every right to be angry, but there are also times when our anger is unjustified. In both instances, God is warning us to beware of the influence of anger on our lives. Taking our focus off of God allows the enemy to come in and distract us with thoughts of self-pity and vengeance. God is saying to keep your eyes on Him, to commit everything in your life into His capable hands, and to trust Him for what comes next.

As I read through the 37th Psalm, I find so much great advice on how to respond when things have not gone our way, or when we are hurt by the actions of others. If there is a situation or person in your life that is causing anger to take hold of your life, I invite you to soak in the promises of Psalm 37.

Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. – Psalm 37:1-7a

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. – Psalm 37:24

Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.
The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them, and they find shelter in him. – Psalm 37:34-40

Father God, thank you for the grace that allows me to spend time in your presence this morning. With a humble heart, I confess to you the moments when I have allowed jealousy and self-pity to creep into my thoughts, like old friends willing to help me justify my poor attitude. Thank you for the reminder to live a life that focuses on pleasing you instead of pleasing myself. Give me a heart of generosity towards you and towards those you would like to minister to through my life. Heal the places of my heart that have been wounded by the words and actions of others. I place it all in your hands and choose to trust you. My hope is in you, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3:14 – 4:1, Psalms 33 & 51

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13

When the serpent approached Eve in the garden of Eden, he started by asking her, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) He was doing what he still does to us today; he was planting seeds of doubt. In the next few moments, he convinced the woman that she would not die if she ate from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. He planted in her heart the desire to be like God — to make her own decisions, to be enlightened, to do whatever she wants.

This same arrogance is prevalent in our society today. American culture is screaming to do what you want to do. They say hell is a lie — that there is no such place where God punishes sin. Some even go as far as to make us believe that when we end this life we simply start over again. It didn’t take long for the serpent to convince Eve, and sadly it does not take long for us to believe these lies either. The world is giving us permission to walk away from all the truth found in the bible, but it is a lie that this departure from God’s way will bring joy. What happened in the garden is a perfect example.

When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were indeed opened just like the serpent said they would be. But instead of it making them stronger, wiser and greater, it immediately brought shame. New emotions poured in and they were shook by the unfamiliarity of their feelings.

INTRODUCING SHAME

When Eve chose to see the things that were off limits as beautiful, her heart was drawn towards sin instead of focused on God. With this disobedience came shame. Adam and Eve immediately looked at their nakedness and felt exposed. When they heard God walking in the garden, they hid from Him because they were afraid.

INTRODUCING FEAR

Adam and Eve went from peacefully enjoying the fellowship of their Creator in the most beautiful place ever created to fearfully hiding from the consequences of their decisions. Their relationship was now broken and the regret of their action was weighing heavy on them. These new emotions caused them to look for escape. The woman blamed the serpent and the man blamed the woman, and now their relationship was broken as well.

INTRODUCING BLAME

The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do. — Psalm 33:13-15

When I consider these verses in Psalm 33, my heart overflows with gratitude that our God understands why we do what we do, even when we are struggling to wrap our own mind around it. I think all of us know what it feels like to regret our actions or to grieve the words we have spoken in a heated moment. Our heart aches at the thought of disappointing God. What must he think when I self-promote, rebel or disobey? But when I consider his response to Adam and Eve in this next verse, I get a glimpse of the heart of our Creator.

And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. – Genesis 3:21

And here we see the beautiful grace of our God — that He would lovingly provide for us even after we have messed up. Adam and Eve had to leave the garden, but God gave them a new place to live. They had to work the ground in order to grow their food, but He gave them the strength and knowledge to do so. Eve experienced pain in childbirth, but He also blessed her with endorphins that brought her joy as she held her newborn baby. God gave her body the amazing ability to grow and nourish a new life, and Eve recognized God’s mercy and His provision.

“With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man.” – Genesis 4:1b

Eve gave birth to a son and her response was to recognize the wonderful gift God had given her — the blessing to have another life growing inside of her. In the same way, let’s take some time this morning to thank God for the many ways He has blessed us, even though we don’t deserve it. Let’s take all of our lingering guilt, regret, shame and sorrow and place it at his feet, allowing Him to take the broken pieces of our life and make something beautiful out of it. When the enemy causes us to doubt, we will ask God for the gift of more faith. May 2024 be a year of standing strong against temptation as we make ourselves available to experience all that God has for us.

Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin…
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. – Psalm 51:1-2,7-11

Today’s Reading: Genesis 2:21 – 3:13, Psalm 16 & 23

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. — Genesis 2:2-3

I love Sundays! It is a wonderful day to rest from work and allow God to restore me for His purposes. I find it helpful to pull away from the stress and get re-centered. It is a great opportunity to look back on where God has brought me from and rest in the knowledge that He has been extremely good to me. Reading through the story of creation is a great reminder of the importance of sabbatical moments. What a gift God gives us when He calls us to be intentional with how we begin and end each week.

GOD RESTED

God created us to both need and crave rest. And with the need to rest, comes the need to sleep. Consider the gift of sleep and how God provides for us while we are laying still. In fact, it was while he was sleeping that Joseph was told how to respond to Mary’s pregnancy, and it was while they were dreaming that the Magi were warned not to return to Herod. Peter was awakened from his sleep in order for an angel to lead him out of prison, and an angel of the Lord woke Elijah up in order to comfort and encourage him.

It is in our moments of stillness and rest that God often communicates with us— giving us clarity of thought and restoring us for what lies ahead. There have been many nights when the Spirit enlightened me of my need to apologize to someone or to right a wrong. And it is often in the quiet moments before I fall asleep that the Lord answers a question I have been pondering, giving me the clarity I had been praying for. Rest not only restores me physically, it renews me spiritually.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.” — Psalm 23:1-3a

GOD PROVIDED

It was while Adam was sleeping that God provided a companion for him. God gave Adam and Eve each other, along with a beautiful place to live — a place where God Himself would walk. There were all sorts of trees in the garden of Eden, each beautiful and full of delicious fruit. And the best part of all — God joined them in the garden.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. — Psalm 23:3b-4

Adam was assigned to reign over all God had created and to watch over it, but He told him not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. At the same time, Satan desired to spoil the blessings God had provided, so he convinced Eve that it was not enough. The serpent convinced Eve that she needed what God had placed out of reach — that she deserved more. Eve had the opportunity to rest in God’s provision and follow His instructions, yet she chose to find beauty in what she could not have rather than contentment in what she did have. Adam and Eve quickly learned that there is no lasting joy in stepping away from God’s plan, and they suffered the consequences of their sin.

GOD CONFRONTED

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:9

God was not asking for their physical location; He knew the exact place Adam and Eve were hiding. Perhaps God was asking them where they were spiritually. Now that they had failed to obey, now that they had sinned, Adam and Eve needed to figure out where they were with God. They needed to confess their sin, ask for forgiveness and seek restoration — something that had never been done before.

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” – Genesis 3:13a

GOD PUNISHED

Sin — to know what you ought to do but choose not to do it; the sin of omission
Sin — to choose to do what God has made clear you are not allowed to do; sin of commission

One of the first lessons we can learn from the Bible is that God is a holy God who punishes us when we disobey. He has a beautiful life planned for us, but we miss out on that plan when we willfully choose to follow our own sinful desires. Thankfully we serve a God of grace, who has provided a sacrifice to cover the sins of those who choose to repent and to make Him Lord of their life. He does not want any of His children to be destroyed by sin, but He desires for everyone to come to Him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. — Psalm 16:7-11

Psalms 16 and 23 were both written by King David — a man who knew what it was to succumb to temptation by following the desires of his sinful nature. He also knew what it was to be forgiven of his sins and to be restored into a right relationship with God. David’s life was not perfect after this time of reconciliation with God, and he still had his struggles. There were consequences to his sin, plus he lived in a world that was suffering due to the consequences of the sins of Adam and Eve, just like we do. Yet David saw the many blessings God had bestowed on him, and he praised God for His goodness and unfailing love.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. — Psalm 23:5-6

Father God, we thank you for calling us to walk with you, to daily follow the instructions you have clearly laid out for us in your word. We thank you for your provision and for your daily restoration as we make it a priority to spend time in your presence. As we start a new year, we thank you for the reminder to be intentional to create moments of rest throughout our week. May our focus remain on you as we find beauty in what you have given us today, and in what you have ahead for us tomorrow. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3, Romans 8, Psalm 19

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. – Genesis 1:1-2

In December of 2018, our family climbed aboard a boat before sunrise and ventured out into the Pacific Ocean in hopes of seeing humpback whales. The sky was dark and the ocean was peaceful. In that moment, I was reminded of the beauty of creation and the power of our Creator. As the sun began to peek over the mountain and cast its glow across the water, I thanked God for His presence in this world and the evidence of His hand at work in all I could see and hear.

I am reminded of that early morning boat ride as I read the first chapter of Genesis. I try to imagine what it was like when darkness covered the deep waters. I consider the relationship of the Trinity as the Spirit hovered over the surface of the earth, while God spoke the world into existence, and the Word gave life to everything that was created (John 1).

THE HARMONY OF THE TRINITY AS SEEN IN CREATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO CONSIDER.

Two days ago, we studied the beautiful way God created the world through separation, but the creation story also tells us of a more painful separation that created a new reality. When Adam and Even chose to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge and evil, sin was introduced into the creation story. Their disobedience separated mankind from the beauty of the Garden of Eden, causing a separation between creation and its Creator. In the same way, when we choose sin over God’s righteousness in our lives, there is a separation that takes place between us and our holy God. Once again, the harmony of the Trinity plays a role in bringing us back into a relationship with our Creator.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. — Romans 8:1-4

GOD THE FATHER GAVE HIS SON FOR OUR REDEMPTION. GOD THE SON WILLINGLY BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS. GOD THE SPIRIT FREES US FROM THE POWER OF SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH.

The Spirit of God frees us from the hold that sin has on us, and this is possible because the Son of God was willing to become one of us in order that He could become the sacrifice for all of our sins. The sinful nature with which we were born is naturally hostile towards God; that’s why we need the Holy Spirit to come in and take control over our sinful nature, giving us life and making us right with God. When we invite the Spirit to come in and lead us, putting to death the deeds of our sinful nature, we become children of God.

Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. – Romans 8:15b-17

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us a foretaste of the glory we will experience one day, when sin no longer separates us from our Heavenly Father. One day, we will be released from the sin and suffering our bodies are currently experiencing, and we will be given new bodies as God gives us our full rights as His adopted children. Our current experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives gives us hope for what we will one day experience in God’s presence.

I find peace in imagining God’s Spirit hovering over creation just as I find peace in the knowledge that He is present in my life, hovering over and around and in me each day. I am thankful that He helps me in my weaknesses, praying to God on my behalf in harmony with the will of the Father (8:27). This gives me context to one of my favorite verses:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. — Romans 8:28

GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN THEY CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON OUR BEHALF.

What an amazing reality! What a perfect truth to rest on as we begin the third day of a new year! Even though we daily experience the separation that sin in this world has caused between creation and its Creator, we can still feel God’s presence when His Spirit lives within us. Each day is a mixture of feeling the separation that exists until Jesus comes again, while also feeling the closeness of His involvement in our life. Separate, yet together. Distant, yet close.

Father God, I am so grateful this morning for the Spirit’s role in my life — hovering over me and daily creating me to be who you want me to be. The Spirit’s presence creates a longing in my heart for the day when I will worship before Your throne. Jesus, thank you for becoming the perfect sacrifice for my sins. Spirit, empty me of all that is selfish and sinful, and make me to be a child of God who daily brings glory to the Father in my actions and attitudes. Lord, we join David in this prayer as we begin another year:

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:12-14