God if You....Then I'll

January 26, 2010
Genesis 27-28


Jacob comes from a long line of deceivers.  It started in a small way with Abraham.  Abraham lied about Sarah twice in order to save his own life, saying that she was his sister.  Isaac, his son, does the same thing with Rebekah.  Jacob tricked Esau from his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup.  Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac into giving him Esau's blessing.

Now Jacob tries to finagle a deal with God.  He says God if you'll bless me on my journey then I'll serve you as God.  God does bless him in many ways, but I think He was not satisfied with this arrangement as a final relationship with Jacob.

Have you tried to make a deal with God?  Is your attitude, God if you do this, I'll do that?  If so, repent and change your heart today.  God was dissatisfied with this arrangement with Jacob, and certainly He is with you as well.

Growing in FaithW

January 12, 2010

Genesis 11-12; Psalm 4:1-3; Proverbs 1:28-30

We accidentally read too much in Matthew yesterday.

Abraham was a real live human being just like you and me. He had to grow in faith just like the rest of us. Sometimes you see him move in great faith, and other times you see his frailty.

God told Abraham to move away from his family and all that he knew. This took great faith, but he obeyed. Then on his journey, God shows him land that he wants to give to his descendants. Abraham builds an altar to remind himself of God's promise.

Just a few verses later, Abraham moves to Egypt. Scripture doesn't mention whether or not it was under the direction of God. Abraham, then Abram, was so afraid that the Pharoah would kill him for Sarai, he asks her to lie! Perhaps he moved outside of the will of God when he went to Egypt and this is why he didn't have the confidence to trust God. Or, perhaps he was just growing in faith, like the rest of us.

Abraham is called the Father of Faith, yet it is easy to see that even he through the years had to grow and walk the walk of faith just like the rest of us. However, he kept on, and he finished the course. Let's continue our walk of faith, so that we can truly be called the sons and daughters of Abraham!

From the kids

We all wondered what it was about the building a tower that would keep them from scattering across the earth.

Also the very thing they were afraid of (being scattered) is the very thing that happened.

We also wondered if this was how God ensured that people were on every continent before Pangea broke apart.