She Went to Inquire of the Lord (Gen. 25)
21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife… Read More »She Went to Inquire of the Lord (Gen. 25)
Growth
The Kindness Criteria (Genesis 24)
Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and… Read More »The Kindness Criteria (Genesis 24)
When Suffering is the First Step Forward (Gen. 23)
The death of his wife unexpectedly triggered a way forward from the impasse he’d been living in for more than sixty years. 1 Sarah… Read More »When Suffering is the First Step Forward (Gen. 23)
When You Can’t See How You’ll Make It (Gen. 22)
7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (Gen. 22:7-8 ESV)
Abraham finds himself in a hopeless and inexplicable situation–having been asked to sacrifice his only son. The loss of his son will not only mean unspeakable pain to Abraham and Sarah. It will mean an end to the promise of the great nation that is to be born through them.
Still, Abraham believes that somehow God will provide exactly what is needed in this dire situation. God will provide in a way that will secure both this family and this promise.
In the end, Abraham’s faith is proven. God sends a ram to take the place of the son. In response, Abraham calls God with a new name: Jehovah Jireh. It means “The Lord who will provide” or “The Lord who will see to it” (22:14). This is a God who sees what we need and who will provide what is needed.Read More »When You Can’t See How You’ll Make It (Gen. 22)