Devotions

Isaac: a wife for the master’s son

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 24. Abraham gave his servant specific instructions that he should travel the long distance back to Paddan-Aram and find a wife for Isaac there. She should not come from the Canaanites. The servant found Rebekah, who demonstrated the qualities one looks for in a bride. An angel had gone before the servant and had put all the variables in place so that the servant found the perfect match.

This story is important historically, because it explains how Rebekah became Isaac’s wife. It is important spiritually because Rebekah’s attitude of eager hospitality, submission to the marriage and love for Isaac (whom she had not seen) teaches the church how we should respond to Jesus, our Bridegroom, and the Master’s Son.

LORD, may our love for Jesus motivate us to serve his servants, and submit to his will eagerly, as Rebekah did.

Posted in church, commitment, evangelism, Isaac, Jesus Christ, love, relationship with God, submission, will of God | Tagged Genesis 24 | 1 Comment

Abraham: Machpelah

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 23. Princess Sarah falls asleep in the LORD, and Abraham, whom the Hittites call a “prince of God” negotiates with them a burying place. He wanted the field of Ephron, son of Zohar. He purchased the field and the cave of Machpelah on it. This would serve later as a burial ground and resting place for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebekah and Leah as well.

Like Sarah here, their story does not end with their being transported somewhere else at death. The patriarchs did not see death as their salvation. At death, they sleep in the dust of the earth and – like us – await their Savior who will come down and rescue them from death by raising them to eternal life.

LORD, come quickly and rescue us from the enemy, death. Many of your saints await their reward – and their rewarder.

Posted in Abraham, Jesus Christ, resurrection, second coming, sleep of death | Tagged Genesis 23 | 1 Comment

Abraham: Moriah

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 22. Abraham had just “lost” his older son, Ishmael, because God had commanded him to send the boy and his mother away. Ishmael could not remain in the household because he represented Adam, God’s first creation, but not his only Son.

So now Abraham is left with “his only son, Isaac” (2). The LORD commands him to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and slaughter him, and burn him as an offering. Abraham obeyed, perhaps thinking that God was going to raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham had told his servants that God would provide a sacrifice. God did provide a ram, caught in the thicket by his horns. He provided a substitute. Generations later, God provided a substitute: his only Son for Abraham’s.

LORD, thank you for providing for our greatest need: a substitute to die for our sins – your only Son, Jesus.

Posted in Abraham, atonement, deliverance, future, gospel, grace, Jesus Christ | Tagged Genesis 22 | 1 Comment

Abraham: Beersheba

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 21:22-34. It would be 1000 years before the Philistines would be major players in the conflict over the Holy Land. But Abraham meets up with king Abimelech and his commanding general and established a covenant with them. Abraham attested to his ownership of the disputed well by giving seven ewe lambs to Abimelech. The number seven is significant because it sounds like the word for oath. Both parties made a covenant of mutual respect that day, and the place where the well sat was called Beersheba. Abraham’s descendant, David, would be in conflicts again over ownership of this land generations later. But during Moses’ time, the covenant stood.

LORD, teach us to reconcile with our enemies, whenever possible.

Posted in Abraham, enemies, integrity, reconciliation | Tagged Genesis 21 | 1 Comment

Abraham: casting out the slave and her son

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 21:1-21. Isaac had been born, and laughter filled Abraham’s house. But some of the laughter appears to have been mocking from Ishmael, who is about 16 years old by now. Sarah is indignant, and orders that he and his mother be sent away. She has no intention of having both sons raised in the same household. This breaks Abraham’s heart, because he loves Ishmael. Nevertheless, Abraham prays, and God tells him to listen to his wife.

It is not long before Hagar and Ishmael are in a desperate spot. She cries out to God, but does not expect Abraham’s God to hear her. He hears her. He loves her too – and Ishmael. He answers her, and they revive, and thrive.

Sometimes the things God calls us to do appear harsh and unloving. We have to trust God, and obey him. No sacrifice is too great to stay in the center of his will.

LORD, keep us faithful to you, even in times when our faithfulness is displeasing to us.

Posted in Abraham, compassion, conflict, dependence upon God, faithfulness, will of God | Tagged Genesis 21 | 1 Comment

Abraham: last minute rescue

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 20. The LORD had rescued Lot and his daughters from destruction at the last minute. Now, he rescues Abraham and Sarah from the consequences of their sin. If the LORD had not intervened by speaking to Abimelech in a dream, Sarah would have become another of his wives. Neither Abraham nor Sarah realized what was at stake here. When we give in to fear, we open the door to disaster. Only God in his grace can rescue us from our short-sightedness.

LORD, may we keep the faith, and trust you to recue us. May we be faithful to you, and live in such a way that we proclaim you as faithful to us.

Posted in Abraham, confidence, deliverance, dependence upon God, faithfulness, grace, trust | Tagged Genesis 20 | 1 Comment

Abraham: seeing smoke

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 19. Early in the morning, Abraham went to the place where he had pleaded with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, and he got his answer. Smoke from where Sodom and Gomorrah had been went up like the smoke of a furnace. Destruction. God had not found ten righteous.

Abraham would learn later that God had spared his nephew and two daughters. Lot’s wife could not leave without looking back. She did not leave (26). His sons-in-law did not take his warning seriously. They did not leave (14).

LORD, destruction in hell awaits all those who refuse your assistance in their escape. Help us to be means of their rescue before it is too late.

Posted in Abraham, deliverance, dependence upon God, destruction in hell, evangelism, gospel, missions, witness | Tagged Genesis 19 | 1 Comment

Abraham: intercessor

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 18:16-33. One of the three “men” who had visited Abraham at Mamre turns out to have been the LORD himself. He sends the other two off to evaluate the spiritual condition of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham stays back with him to talk.

Perhaps Abraham is compelled to intercede with the LORD on behalf of these cities because his nephew lives there. He gets the LORD to agree that if the angels find ten righteous among the cities’ inhabitants, he will not destroy them

The cities were destroyed, but Abraham’s intercession was not in vain. The LORD rescues Lot and his two daughters. From one of those daughters came the Moabites. From the Moabites came a descendant named Ruth. Ruth became a spiritual child of Abraham, and married into the tribe of Judah. One of her descendants is the answer to all our prayers.

LORD, may we follow the example of father Abraham, and pray for the salvation of those on their way to destruction.

Posted in Abraham, angels, compassion, deliverance, destruction in hell, Jesus Christ, prayer | Tagged Genesis 18 | 1 Comment

Abraham: do not pass by

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 18:1-15. Three “men” on a mission. Abraham sees them and pleads with them to stop and stay a while. He gives them rest, and a quick but substantial meal. What if he had not taken the time to show hospitality to these “men”?

He would have missed the honor of time with them in fellowship.
He would have missed the confirmation that they gave him and Sarah that their son, Isaac, would be born in about a year.
He would have missed the chance to intercede for his nephew Lot and his family. These “men” were on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah!

LORD, keep us alert so that we do not miss our opportunities to have fellowship with you, learn from you, and intercede for those in danger.

Posted in Abraham, angels, fellowship, prayer | Tagged Genesis 18 | 1 Comment

Abraham: new things

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Genesis 17. Abram was an old man of 99 years, but he was not too old for the LORD to do some new things in his life.

God gave him and Sarai new names. The names reflected the intensity of their relationship with God, as well as the magnitude of their inheritance (5,15).
God gave a new covenant. Instead of simply inheritance of the land (Gen. 15), God now promised a new relationship with himself (7).
God gave a new sign, so at 99, Abraham was circumcised, and all the men who were with him.
God gave a new promise. It would not be Ishmael, but a son from Sarah who would inherit the covenant (19).

LORD, may we never stop expecting you to do new things among us, and through us.

Posted in Abraham, dependence upon God, faith, future, sovereignty of God | Tagged Genesis 17 | 1 Comment