Exodus 6 - Nathanael

I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord .' "  Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

Exodus 6:7‭-‬9 NIV

Sometimes the difficulty of our circumstance can take away our faith and our ability/ willingness to listen even to good news from God. 

I think that the people had written off God and his messengers. 

Father help us to keep our eyes on you and to keep seeking, listening and trusting you even when things are difficult.

Exodus 5 - Nathanael

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

Exodus 5:23 NIV

This pattern of things getting worse before better is one that we should take note of. Often when good begins a great deliverance and a great work, the enemy gets stirred up and the opposition gets stronger. We get discouraged like Moses and the Israelites did. Satan tries to keep us from God's good plans.

So we need to hold on to our hope in Jesus! Cling to him and run to him for rescue.

Thank you Jesus for your great works and your deliverance! Help us to endure and face the storm while we wait for your great deliverance! 

Genesis 48 - Nathanael

Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."  But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."

Genesis 48:18‭-‬19 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.48.18-19.NIV

God knows the future and the plans that he has for us. Many times his plans are different from what we'd expect. But for sure his plans for his children are always good! 

Thank you Father God for your love and goodness to us!

Genesis 41 - Nathanael

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:14 NIV

The story of Joseph is always a favorite of mine. In one day Joseph went from prisoner to second in command of Egypt! 

But the road to get there was hard! 

He was hated by his brothers, sold by them as a slave, worked as a slave for quite a few years and then falsely accused and thrown into prison for several years. 

The real lesson here is to keep following and trusting God even when things seem impossible. God is working out his plan and today may be the day that you come out of prison and God reveals his good plan for your life! 

Genesis 35 - Nathanael

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them. 

Genesis 35:4‭-‬5

As Jacob went to worship God he told his family to get rid of all their foreign gods. That seems that he was aware of them but didn't do anything until now. Also the ring in the ear portion is interesting. There are other references in the Bible to ear rings being not a problem so it would seem that these ones were related to the worship of foreign gods - perhaps in design or in use. 

It is a powerful picture though of these acts of consecration causing the terror of God to fall on those around them. 

Lord Jesus, I choose to consecrate my life to you!

 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 

Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 35:‭28-29 NIV

What caught my attention was the fact that both Esau and Jacob buried Isaac. It seemed that he was on his deathbed when he blessed Jacob and Esau but he was probably a long way from death at that point. Isaac was about 100 when Esau married his foreign wives which seems to be close to the time of Jacob's departure. Jacob was gone 20 years so there were still lots of years left to get to 180 years. 

Genesis 24 - Nathanael

There are a number of chapters in the old testament where some bad situation occurs but there isn't a statement of wrong and right in the situation but only a description of the event. At times there is later commentary about the event. Genesis 24 is such a chapter. Israel's daughter is raped by a local ruler's son. (First bad event) and then the son's of Israel trick that town and take revenge and kill all the men (second bad event).

In the first situation there is a clear description that it is wrong: 

Meanwhile, Jacob's sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob's daughter—a thing that should not be done.

Genesis 34:7 NIV

For the second it is less clear.  On the one hand it does describe their initial actions as deceitful  (verse 13) but Jacob's objections are more at the level of safety vs moral judgement. 

At a later time though we do see that this action brings a curse on them for their anger and violence when Israel prounounces his blessings on his children in Genesis 49:5-7.

Father, thank you for your kindness and mercy! Help me to walk before you in obedience and in a way that honors you! 

Genesis 33 - Nathanael

Israel was a man who knew how to honor both God and men.

In this chapter we see how he responds to his estranged brother Esau and gives him gifts. It is interesting how he says that seeing Esau is like seeing the face of God now that he has received him favorably. He knew that it was only by God's mercy that Esau responded that way and his experience with God was one who receives with favor!

"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 

Genesis 33:10

Israel/Jacob also knew how to honor God and he often set up altars of remembrance for the good things that God had done for him. He was grateful, thankful and he made sure to remember what God had done. 

There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Genesis 33:‬20 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.33.10-20.NIV

Genesis 32 - Nathanael

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 

Genesis 32:1

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.

Genesis 32:30

It is quite striking how often Jacob encounters God in this chapter. 

Another striking feature is his humility before God and his earnest perseverance toward God as well. 

In verse 10 he prays quite humbly: I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

Then in verse 26 we see his amazing tenacity as he wrestles with God: Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

He had wrestled all night and still refused to stop until he was blessed. 10 minutes is where I might give up and on a good day maybe an hour. 

Lord help me to seek you and press in with this same kind of refusal to give up as Israel had!

Genesis 26 - Nathanael

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful."  

Genesis 26:7‭

An example of sins of the father being passed on to the children. Isaac not only learned the faith of his father but also his fears. I wonder if Abraham told Isaac about his situations in a positive light or if he just repeated without knowing.

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 26:34‭-‬35 NIV

Isaac had faced opposition and difficulties before but they were external and he could move away.  Now he has grief from within his family because of marriages choices of his son. 

Marriage is a very important choice in life. I wonder if he had given instruction to Esau about this. Based on what happens with Jacob later, I'm guessing not. 

http://bible.com/111/gen.26.7-35.NIV

Genesis 22 - Hanjun

When I read this chapter that Abraham obeyed God to sacrifice his only son, Issac, as a burnt offering, I am wondering did Issac at that young age really understand his father's faith in God? If he did not, he probably would feel hurt for his dad's intention and behavior; if he did, he would forgive his dad. It turned out that Issac later also trusted in God, so I believe at least with the age grows, Issac completely understood his dad's faith in God . And Abraham is an great example of having faith in God to his son, and this influenced deeply on Issac. It's hard for Abraham to make the choice to obey God at that moment, and he probably didn't understand fully why God wanted him to sacrifice his son. 

Dear heavenly Father, even though I cannot fully understand about everything you arrange in my life, and I cannot change them by myself. But I choose to trust in you and I believe your plan is the best for me and the people in my life. I thank you!

 

Genesis 22 - Nathanael

God's goodness in the face of our foolishness

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."

Genesis 20:3 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.20.3.NIV

The way that Abraham dealt with his wife seems to be quite foolish and selfish- putting her in harms way to protect himself. But what is really striking here is how God still protects Abraham and Sarah. He really is a loving father who helps and protects his children even when they are acting foolishly. 

Thank you Father God for your love!  Help me to be a father like you!

Genesis 15 - Nathanael

But Abram said, "Sovereign Lord , what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  Abram believed the Lord , and he credited it to him as righteousness.  

Genesis 15:2‭, ‬5‭-‬6

God had promised Abram children but he had none at this time so Abram asked about this. God again promised him and Abram believed him. God then didn't simply recognize his great faith/ trust, but he credited it to him as righteousness! 

This is quite a gift! 

This directly parallels how we can have a relationship with God: our sin separates us from God but if we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and entrust our life to him, God credits to us the righteousness of Jesus as a gift! This enables us to have a relationship with God! 

Thank you Father God for this amazing gift! 

He also said to him, "I am the Lord , who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."  But Abram said, "Sovereign Lord , how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"  In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

Genesis 15:7-8‭, ‬16 NIV

God had promised him the land as well but he also didn't yet have it so Abram asked. God revealed that the land would be given at a later time- in his fourth generation.

What strikes me here is that it is OK to ask God about his promises when we don't yet have them. Sometimes God's promises will be accomplished at a  later time and he may tell us the time line when we ask.

Than you God  for your great love! 

Thank you for giving us promises that we don't deserve and I thank you that you are completely faithful and always keep your promises! 

http://bible.com/111/gen.15.2-16.NIV

Genesis 13 - Nathanael

God's second set of promises to Abram 

All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.

Genesis 13:15‭-‬16 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.13.15-16.NIV

There are two main parts to this promise:  the land and his offspring.

God promised Abraham all the lamb's that he could see in every direction. Good also promised that his offspring would be like the first of the earth: so many that they can't be counted. 

Both of these promises probably seemed impossible for Abraham at multiple times: the land was ruled by many different and powerful kings and he didn't have any children. 

Genesis 12 - Nathanael

The call of Abram

The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.  "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.   I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Genesis 12:1‭-‬3 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.12.1-3.NIV

God called Abram with an instruction and a promise. The instruction had two parts: leave and go.

The destination wasn't specified and the call to leave would be scary - leave his family, his security, the known, the comfortable for the unknown. It was a call to trust but with a promise. 

How hard it is for us to give up present comfort for trusting God in the unknown. 

Father God, give us the courage to trust you and follow you like Abraham! 

Genesis 11 - Nathanael

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 

Genesis 11:4‭

God had instructed both Adam and Noah to spread out and fill the earth. Here we see the people rebelling against that command.

 That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11:9 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.11.4-9.NIV

Good intervened and accomplished his purpose and goal. It is interesting to see how God works with us. At times like this he overrides the choices and will of people and other times he lets it stand. 

Thank you father that you know what we need and what is best for us. Please have your will and way in my life so that my life is completely honoring to you. 

Genesis 8 - Nathanael

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. 

Genesis 8:1

Even when it seems like a flood around us , God still sees us and remembers us and is working on our behalf. It took time for completion and sometimes that makes us think God isn't working. 

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Genesis 8:21 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.8.1-21.NIV

God had promised never again to destroy all living creatures as he did. Judgement is coming when Jesus returns but he is saving his people out of that just as before

Genesis 7 - Nathanael

The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.

Genesis 7:16 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.7.16.NIV

Even in judgement God is merciful and protects the righteous. 

Genesis 6 - Nathanael

Another interesting and foundational chapter: 

1) we see God put a natural limit on the lifespan of humans (120 years);

2) We see a strange situation where angels (fallen) are having children with humans and producing giants

3) we see how wicked humans can become - so that every thought was evil all the time

Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal ; their days will be a hundred and twenty years."  

There is a lot that can be said here but briefly I think that there is a correlation between this and what God does in the flood. 

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. 

This is a tricky theological passage but the sons of God usually refers to angels (ps 29:1). This topic is referred  to again in jude 1:6.

 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on thecomes  earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Genesis 6:3‭-‬5 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.6.3-5.NIV

God is a God of love and mercy and justice. His justice requires that judgement comes on wickedness. Here we see that but we also see that God saves and has mercy on the middle of judgement. 

Thank you Jesus for your love! 

Genesis 5 - Nathanael

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Genesis 5:24 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.5.24.NIV

Enoch walked faithfully with God. That is the ultimate description of a life lived well. It is similar to Jesus's description of what God will say to those who faithfully follow him: well done good and faithful servant.

These are what I desire for my life. Jesus, I pray that you will hold onto my life as you promise and help me to always put you first in everything! Thank you for your love! 

Genesis 4 - Nathanael

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 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gen.4.6-7.NIV

It is amazing how quickly murder comes onto the scene once sin has entered the human race. 

Here we see just how powerful an emotion jealousy can be. In the end it demands the life of the one who is the object of the jealousy. We don't like to think that but it is true. 

God gives to Cain the antidote to jealousy: if you do what is right you will be accepted. In other words, we should focus on our own relationship with God: seeking him, loving him, obeying him and experiencing his love. When we do this, then God will accept us and there will be no need to focus on what the other person has that we don't. We'll have all we need and want and more! 

Thank you Jesus that you are our complete solution, the answer to all we need, the power to change us and the love that makes everything possible. 

Help us to focus completely on you and find all we need in you!