Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 28 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” [Genesis 28:16-17]…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” [Genesis 27:41] As a morality lesson, this story seems to make a hero out…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” [Genesis 26:16] Abimelek does not know what to do with Isaac; he is obviously blessed by God, and yet he is a threat to Abimelek’s own sense of security. He fears Isaac, but…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. [Genesis 25:33-34] Recently someone told…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. [Genesis 24:26-27] Abraham’s servant prays for God’s help, and then praises God AFTER he receives help. He…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” [Genesis 23:3-4] A stranger in the land, Abraham had no property…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. [Genesis 22:8] This is a hard story, how can God test Abraham like this; and how can Abraham be willing to do this – today we wouldn’t…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. [Genesis 21:33] This passage ends with Abraham ‘calling on the name of the Lord” by a tree he planted. It means that he set up a memorial to worship…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah. [Genesis 20:17-18] As I read this story, I find myself…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so…