SCRIPTURE: Genesis 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: It seems that when Lot chose the best land, he also put himself in a compromising place (13:8-13). Lot did not remain immune to their extreme wickedness. Sure, he welcomed and protected these strangers, but to offer his daughters to the men of the city??? That’s just horrible. We should not be…
Category: daily meditations
the God of second chances
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God steps into the world, like He did in Genesis 3:8-9, not for His own benefit (as if He needed to visit Abraham to make His promise, or to see the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah to know what was going on), but for our own benefit. God comes to Abraham and Sarah…
the ouch of sin
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Ouch!!! OK, so the part about God’s promise for an heir is great. The name change is cool, father of many nations! The reaffirmation of His promise to give the land of Canaan to his heirs, great! But the whole circumcision thing just gets to me. I started thinking about what this day…
the God who sees me
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: If I were a non-Christian reading this, I might wonder to myself how God could promote things like having slaves and having sexual relations with slaves. What would Christians say or do if someone in their congregation followed these practices? I might also be unimpressed with the type of people Abram and Sarai…
how far God goes for us!
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 15 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: God communicated visibly and audibly to Abram. Abram did not doubt that God had spoken, but the things that God said seemed contrary to his experience. How could he be the father of many, if he didn’t have a child? How could he acquire the land of Canaan, if the Canaanites (Amorites)…
blessed by helping others
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This story reveals how God blesses Abram, and how God uses him to bless (help) others. Even though Lot selfishly takes the better land from Abram, Abram does not hold a grudge but goes to his nephew’s rescue when he gets into trouble. We see Abram refusing the plunder from the spoils…
blessed are the unselfish
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: In this story we see that the Lord blesses those who bless others. Abram graciously lets Lot pick first. And Lot selfishly picks the best part for himself. In the long run, it is Abram who prospers, while Lot – thinking that he has the best – ends up in the worst…
blessed to be a blessing
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: In this story I hear the Lord’s desire for us, that we would bless others with the blessings we ourselves have received. Blessed to be a blessing! His intent is to spread His love to His people, that He may spread it through His people to all others. He is not just…
pride goes before the fall
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 10-11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Another list of names. The human population is being fruit, multiplying and filling the earth, just like God intended (Genesis 1:28). But sinful human nature spreads with them, including pride and greed and lust and violence. No matter where people go, they take themselves and their nature with them. There is no escaping…
mercy… and justice
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This passage starts out good. God makes a firm commitment (covenant) to never destroy people the same way again (i.e. completely). He renews the arrangement with Noah that was first made with Adam; in others words, God is going to work with humans to rebuild His kingdom. Though He will not punish…