24 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 14:17-24

Genesis 14:17-24
"Melchizedek's Blessing"

Here we see an interesting result to Abram's actions in the previous passage. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and the king of Sodom both come to reward Abram.

Melchizedek, it is noted, was also a priest of "God Most High" (aka, our God). He proceeded to bless Abram and praise God, after which Abram gave him a tenth of everything he had (the first tithe). Let it also be noted that Melchizedek was a priest outside of the lineage of Levi, the tribe of the Jewish priests, or Aaron, the first Jewish high priest.

The king of Sodom, however, offered to Abram a reward of any of the captured possessions he desired. Abram then declined on the basis of an oath he had previously made with God to only take from the kings that which was offered to the servants to eat. The basis of this was to prevent any talk from the kings that they had made Abram wealthy, making him beholden to them.

In both of these instances, we can see Abram offering praise to God. In the first encounter, we see him honoring God through worshiping and tithing. In the second, we see him honoring God through his dependence  on God's provision despite the offer of wealth.

So, how are we honoring God this Christmas Eve?
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23 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 14:1-16

Genesis 14:1-16
"Abram Rescues Lot"

This passage is chiefly an historical account of specific events, resulting in the capture of Lot and the people and possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, Consequently, Abram rallied a small band and cane to the rescue of Lot, his goods and the other townspeople.

What can we learn from this? Well, we see here Abram's love for Lot and his compassion for the other captives. We also see Abram stepping out and acting on his love and compassion, coming to the aid of Lot and the townspeople. We see, then an example of what Godly love is - a verb.

Love is more than just a feeling or a notion we talk about. Love is more than words or emotion. Love requires action. Many times in the Bible, we can see the correlation between love and action (John 21:15-17, 1 John 3:16-20, Rev 2:4-5, 19, to give a few). Let it not be said, then, that you love someone if you are not willing to serve them, too. Abram could have sat back and done nothing, would he then have demonstrated his love? No. For love to be real, to show itself as true, it must be backed and supported by action.

Consider God's love. He said many times throughout the Bible that He loved us. If He had left it at that, it would have been ultimately meaningless, mere platitude. But, because He sent His Son as a sacrifice for restitution, God proved His love for each one of us.

Actions are the evidence of love, so let your love for your brother (and even your enemy) shine!

22 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 13:1-18

Genesis 13:1-18
"Abram and Lot Separate"

Abram and Lot were forced, by necessity, to separate. Their possessions and livestock had grown to immense numbers and their families and family servants had begun quarreling with each other.

When they had reached the site where Abram had previously built an altar to God (see Genesis Ch 12:8 verse, comments), Abram prayed and, shortly thereafter, he and Lot began to discuss separating and the direction in which each should go. Lot looked out and chose first, choosing the lusher, richer lands of the Jordan River valley and heading East to settle there. Incidentally, Lot was also headed towards Sodom, an extremely sinful city.

After Lot had left, though, we see God speaking to Abram, telling him to look towards each of the cardinal points and promising to him that He would give to Abram's descendants all the land that he [Abram] could see in every direction. Abram is then told to travel the land, for God will give it to him.

Again, we see God making a promise to Abram/Abraham, this time promising land for the multitudes of descendants that will issue from Abram. Not only this, but the promise was given for his descendants for all time, being physical descendants prior to Christ and spiritual ones afterwards (Romans 4:13-16). We can also look back at this prophecy and see how God has kept it (and, before you point to the Exile, might I remind you, that there were some remaining Jews who were not taken captive by the Babylonians).

In addition to God's promise, we see a very good, Biblical model for conflict resolution. Abram met with Lot, discussed genteelly the matter at hand, and devised an appropriate solution. This model is one worth following.

21 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 12:10-20

Genesis 12:10-20
"Abram in Egypt"

Abram makes two large mistakes in this passage.

1. He chooses not to rely on God for his safety and that of his wife, Sarai. He was afraid of the possible intentions of the Egyptians towards him upon seeing his wife.
2. He chooses deception as a means to protect himself. Not only is he denying God and disobeying Him, but Abram is making matters more complicated and convoluted than they  need be.

To briefly fill in some background, the reason Abram was in Egypt was that there was a massive famine in Canaan, but Egypt was unharmed. In light of this, Abram decided to travel there to avoid the famine. Upon arriving there, He decides to play Sarai as his sister in the hopes that the Egyptians will not kill him to steal her.

Abram's decision had a number of outcomes:

• His wife, Sarai, was "taken to Pharaoh's household". That is, Pharaoh chose her as a concubine/wife. (Although, Pharaoh did treat Abram well because of Sarai)
• God punished Pharaoh and those in his household.
• Pharaoh demanded Abram and Sarai to leave.

Interestingly enough, the words of Pharaoh, in confronting Abram, sound as if Pharaoh would not have touched Sarai had he known she was Abram's wife.

What can we learn from this? Trust God, not any scheme you might devise yourself. God is perfect, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He can and will provide for those who serve Him. Man, however, is imperfect, fallible, and weak. There is no plan of man only that will succeed perfectly. After all, can that which is not perfect create perfection?

So, rely on God, not your own ideas and schemes; He will pull you through.

20 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 12:1-9

Genesis 12:1-9
"The Call of Abram"

In this passage, we have two occurrences of God speaking to Abram and Abram reacting.

In the first instance, God tells Abram to leave the land he's living in, his home, and follow God's direction to an unspecified land to be revealed at a later time. God also couples this proclamation with a blessing for the future and a blessing on his interactions. Here, Abram followed God's direction. He packed up his family, extended family, livestock, and belongings and they all moved in the direction that God prompted.

The second instance is a promise from God declaring what was Canaan to be, in the future, the land of Abram's descendants. This time, Abram reacts by building a monument, an altar, to be precise, and begins to worship God.

What can we learn from this passage? Shown here are three ways in which we can positively react to God:

1. Obey His directives.
2. Remember/commemorate the works and promises of God.
3. Worship God.

Today's challenge: to display all three reactions in my life tomorrow/today and throughout the rest of my life.

18 Dec. 2011 - Genesis 11:1-9

First off, a heads up: there will most likely be no post tomorrow due to me flying home (I'll be in the air through most of the day).

Genesis 11:1-9
"The Tower of Babylon"

To start off, this passage reads like an old storyteller telling a story at the fire to the young ones gathered all around him. That being said, the majority of such stories told from time immemorial served a purpose other than an entertaining tale.

So, what is the storyteller, God, trying to tell us?

Firstly, let's look at the intents of the building efforts (v. 3-4):

• To reach the heavens (thereby reaching God/becoming a god).
• To make a name for themselves.
• To avoid becoming scattered.

The builders were engaging in a plethora of activities which God describes multiple times as displeasing or disgusting to Him. In these reasons, I can see two main sins - pride and idolatry (the idolatry being the worship of the tower/concept/builders as mentioned by John Gill).

Secondly, in verses 5--7, God looks at the people He'd made and comments on how the workers continued working in such a concerted fashion over long periods of time. The simplified gist I get from these verses is, "If they can do all of this already, Imagine what they'd end up doing if this  continued."

Lastly, As a punishment, God, ironically, scattered the people by muddling their languages so they couldn't follow each other. (v. 7-9)

So, contrary to popular opinion, this passage is about more than some plastic Jesus standing in front of a church or God being a vibekiller. It's about God protecting us from further and worse sin and punishing it in a manner other than the flood he promised never to send again.