Category: Daily Word

Let’s read the Bible!

Daily Word

Genesis 17

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Read Genesis 17 – Faith and time – Abram is 99 years old and Sarai is 90.  It has been roughly 23 years since the LORD promised Abram he would be the father of many, and 13 years since God reminded Abram of His promise after the birth of Ishmael. 

God is outside of time.  Just because you have to wait longer than you want, do not lose faith. 

The LORD gives Abram a new name.  Abram means ‘the father of many’; his new name will be Abraham, meaning ‘the father of many nations’. (:5)  The LORD makes a covenant with Abraham to give him and his offspring the land of Canaan and to be their God.

This covenant will be sealed through the act of circumcision… much like Salvation in Christ Jesus is offered, yet one must seal it by saying yes and asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. 

God required circumcision of every male, 8 days old and older.  Science would discover the 7th day of life is when an infant’s immune system begins to mature and their bodies develop blood clotting agents (vitamin k and prothrombin), making the 8th day the most optimal… as God knew all along. 

The LORD also has a promise for Sarai, and a new name, Sarah.  Both versions mean princess, the first Sarai, is to one family; the second Sarah is princess over a multitude. 

In verses 17-22 we see how very real Abraham’s relationship is with the LORD, pointing out the problem of their advanced years and suggesting that the LORD is referring to Ishmael, to which God says no.  “But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” (:22) 

We see Abraham’s great faith and leadership in :23 when he, and Ishmael and every male in his household is circumcised on that very day. 

Beloved, is there something you’ve been waiting for a long time?  I pray these Scriptures would refresh your faith that the LORD has not forgotten your prayers.  He is at work in His timing and purpose, and when it is time, you will say, “Yes, LORD, that was perfect.”

Daily Word

Genesis 16

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Genesis 16 – What could go wrong? 

God promised to give Abram a multitude of offspring, yet Sarai was barren, and she blamed God for her condition, saying, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children.” (:2) She decided to help God keep His promise by giving her maid, Hagar, to Abram as a surrogate. 

Once pregnant, Hagar looked on Sarai with contempt :4.  Sarai then gets mad at Abram!  He is the spiritual leader of the household, and he’s not leading.  He didn’t lead when Sarai decided to help God, and he is not leading now. 

Abram bows out and reminds her Hagar is her maid and tells her to do as she pleases.  Sarai treats Hagar harshly, and Hagar flees. 

An angel of the LORD finds pregnant, destitute Hagar by a spring in the wilderness and talks to her.  First, he asks her to open up.  He lets Hagar know she is heard and understood.  He tells her to return to her mistress, and he gives her some great inside information about the child she is carrying.  She calls the LORD, Beer Lahai Roi, the-God-Who-Sees-Me, and does as he says.  Ishmael is born when Abram is 86 years old. 

Now, jump back to Chapter 12 and recall when Abram took his family to Egypt.  This is most likely where Hagar was acquired, and we see this deeper fall-out from not trusting God as it continues to ripple through the lives of Abram and his people. 

Beloved, there are casualties to veering off course, yet still the LORD is with you, working all things out for your good and His glory. 💖👀🤰🙌👶👀💖

Daily Word

Genesis 15

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Read Genesis 15 – After these things… after saving Lot,  after meeting Melchizedek,  after turning down the spoils offered by the king of Sodom,  the Word of the LORD came to Abram.  Yes, Beloved, that is our God.   He knew Abrams heart needed encouragement, and He had beautiful, wonderful things to say.   So often, after great things happen, we humans let worries in. 

God assured Abram that He would be his shield.  He reminded Abram that he would have offspring as numerous as the stars. Abram and Sarai were already quite old, babies would be impossible, but not for God.

After verse :9. things get weird by our standards, but these acts seal God’s covenant with Abram.  The animals were split in two and both parties were to walk between them, restating the terms. Abram walked through, then God waited for evening, and passed through as a smoking oven and a burning torch…. This is brimming with so much symbolism; if you can,  peek a commentary on it. 

And for now,  Beloved,  KNOW that God’s promises are certain.  Jesus is our seal.  May your faith be resolute. ☁️🔥🔰👑🔰🔥☁️

Daily Word

Genesis 14

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Read Genesis 14 – Life with Lot – Oh Lot… He just had to pick life on the edge. 

Lot is now living in Sodom when war breaks out (this is the first mention of war in the bible).  He is captured, along with everything he owned, :12.  But one of his men escaped and reported the situation to Uncle Abram. 

Abram was a man of great faith.  He was blessed with great wealth.  And here we see he was also a prudent man, with 318 men born in his household and trained to fight.  Abram recovered all that was taken, including Lot, all the women and other captives, :16. 

After Abram returns, the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, the King of Salem, go out to meet him. 

Melchizedek is one of the most fascinating characters in the bible.  He is a bit of a mystery, not in any genealogies.  He is both King and priest of God Most High (a special designation), and he brings bread and wine to Abram, and blesses him (perhaps a foreshadowing of Jesus).  Then Abram gives him 1/10 of the recovered goods… our first example of tithing. 

The king of Salem asks for the return of his people, and tells Abram he can keep all the recovered goods.  Abram answers, “Ewww”  (slight paraphrase on my part).  He does not want a cent for himself, lest the king say he made Abram rich… Abram’s wealth is to God’s glory alone.  But Abram does request that his allies get their fair share.  In other words he did not make his standards the standards of his neighbors. 

Beloved, where are you in this?  Do you live one foot in faith and one in the world, like Lot?  Are you ready to take a stand against evil, like Abram?  Do you use money to make yourself look good, like the King of Sodom? Does your faith shine with the extraordinary love of God, like Melchizedek?❓🤷‍♂️🤺💰💖❓

Daily Word

Genesis 13

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Read Genesis 13 – Back to basics.  When one strays from the LORD and nothing is working simply go back to the last place you heard from Him and do what you did in the beginning. 

Remember, the LORD did not call Abram to Egypt.  At this point in the story, both Abram and Lot are wealthy ranchers.  Beloved, take note that wealth does not equal wholeness or contentment.  We are designed with those longings which only God can fill. 

Abram goes back to the last place he heard from God, between Bethel and Ai, :4.  The land could not sustain all the livestock between the two men, and fights were breaking out among the herdsmen :6-7.  Abram proposes that they separate and gives Lot first choice of land.  Lot chose the fertile land of the entire Jordan Valley, drawing close to Sodom, even though the people were known for their wickedness :10-13. 

Then, LOOK at what God’s Word says, “As soon as Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, ‘Look as far as you can see in every direction – north, south, east and west.  I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.’ “ :15  Plus, God adds more descendants than grains of sand… remember, Sarai has been barren thus far.  And God tells Abram to walk the land He is giving him.  And Abram settled near an oakgrove, trees known for deep roots, in Negev, and built an altar to the LORD. 

Beloved, God wants you to delight in all that He gives you – when is the last time you “walked the land” he has given you?  When is the last time you worshipped Him sacrificially as Abram built the altar… we may not do that today, but we can give, we can sing in worship, pray and give thanks.  Remember, gratitude to the LORD changes everything.  Your gratitude glorifies God and makes your heart right.🍁❤🙌🙏🙌❤🍁

Daily Word

Genesis 11

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Read Genesis 11 – We can be dangerous people when left to our own devices. 

Verse :1 sounds lovely, everyone understood each other with one language. But take a look at verse :4, THEN THEY SAID, “COME, LET’S BUILD OURSELVES A CITY WITH A TOWER THAT HAS ITS TOP REACHING UP INTO HEAVEN, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES AND NOT BE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE EARTH.”  What’s missing?  God is missing – any level of reverence for Him – obedience is missing – God said, “Be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.”  These people wanted to challenge God.  They wanted to reach the heavens.  They wanted to gather together when God said to spread out over the earth. 

I had the privilege of having a well versed Jewish passenger yesterday who was happy to answer my inquiry about Nimrod during our 5 hour flight.  He said Nimrod was believed to be the architect behind the tower of Babel, and that he was a hunter before Adonai (that’s the Hebrew word for God… I love it, it feels rich and reverent when I speak it.  Try it on.  It’s beautiful.)  In other words, Nimrod hunted men.  He wanted to rule the world, and, same old story as in the garden, be god. 

This does not escape the LORD’s attention.  He responds by saying, “Come,  let’s go down and confuse their language,”:7.  Isn’t that radical?  First, we get another subtle reference to the trinity with “Let’s”.  Second, the LORD doesn’t destroy the tower; He confuses the language…. thereby, confusing the people and returning them to His commission to spread out over the earth without taking away their free-will. 

Chapter 11 then goes into the lineage from Noah’s son, Shem, to Abram, who will become Abraham, who will become the first Hebrew patriarch. 

Beloved, can you think of a time you were headed down a path of sin, and the LORD intervened to get you back on course?  It was probably something from left field.  There is no such thing as a coincidence.  🏗🏙💬📖☝🙌🌏

Daily Word

Genesis 10

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Read Genesis 10 – They certainly got the “be fruitful and multiply” commands figured out!  

I understand that genealogy can be hard to read.  There is an easy way to read this, whereby you simply read the words,  check the box, and go on with your day.   And if that’s where you’re at, just hold on to the truth that God’s Word does not go out void.  The Holy Spirit will remind you as time comes of all you need to know.

And if you are more scholarly, I can only encourage you to seek the theologians (not me)  as you unwrap the Table of Nations, Nimrod, Peleg, and the others.   The scholars can tell you what these ancient names represent in modern day.  They can break down the significance of Nimrod.  He is the villain, a very, very bad guy, as we will discover in chapter 11.  And, OH! Nineveh – terrible and wonderful things happen there too. 

Beloved,  chapter 10 is positively incredible. I’m so thrilled for you for sticking with it!  📚 🤗📖☝📖🤗📚  

Daily Word

Genesis 9

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Read Genesis 9 – Noah, his family, and all of the creatures from the ark are again commissioned to be fruitful and multiply.

God put a natural fear of man into animals, :2.  This is for their protection because in verse :3 we are given God’s permission to eat them, with the admonishment to drain the blood.  

Blood is life, and God will require blood for blood should a human life be taken by another human or animal, :5-6.  God secured his promise to Noah with the rainbow, :15. (more on that in the bonus blog below)

In verse :20 we see that even Noah is prone to a fall. Beloved, that happens so often after a great spiritual victory.   His son, Ham, sees him and tells his brothers, as if his father is deserving of ridicule.   The brothers, Shem and Japheth, show such reverence as they walk in backwards, laying a robe over Noah without looking. When Noah learns what transpired, he curses Ham and his son Canaan, and we will see that play out throughout the bible, wherever the Canaanites are mentioned.

Noah dies at the age of 950, undoubtedly a great influence to all the generations through Terah (Abraham’s father). 

Beloved, who do you relate to the most in this chapter?   Are you the kind of person you want to be? May your walk with Jesus be one of increasing and vibrant integrity. 

Bonus blog – Behold the rainbow!  The LORD declared it a symbol of his everlasting covenant to Noah that He will never again cause the waters to destroy all life, :15.  I’m guessing this rainbow was the first rainbow EVER.  If you’re like me,  every rainbow sighting is amazing!  

The rainbow reminds God of his covenant, and it reminds me how much God loves me.   I am a sinner,  yet God loves me (and all people) so much He made a way,  through Jesus Christ, to redeem us – it’s simply too beautiful a gift, John 3:16, but God says all who call upon the Name of Jesus will be saved. 

Beloved,  let your heart resonate with these ancient people as one who is rescued by God in heaven who loves you!  And your assignment is to share this Good News.  (See Acts 1:8).

Daily Word

Genesis 8

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Read Genesis 8 – Time is passing. 

Noah, his family and all those animals are floating in God’s hands. The earth is saturated, and God remembers Noah. 

The LORD sends a wind across the earth to dry up the waters.  The boat settles on the mountains of Ararat (eastern Turkey).  Imagine, floating, drifting, endless days of caring for these animals, and the ark finally settles, yet still, two and a half months before other mountain peaks would appear.  After 40 more days, Noah opened a window. 

On over-water flights, most everyone keeps the shades drawn.  Peeking out the window to see nothing but water is eerie, and I am talking about a day of flight.  Noah is more than 9 months into his journey… and it is a journey without a specific destination or arrival time. 

He released a raven, then a dove, but they did not find dry ground.  A week later, he released the dove again, and it returned with an olive leaf in its beak.  Can you imagine what a joyful sign this must have been?  It would still be two more months before God would tell Noah to leave the boat, releasing all the animals, all with the duty to be fruitful and multiply. 

Beloved, notice that Noah lifted the covering and saw the land drying 10 ½ months into his journey (:13), yet they waited for God’s instruction to leave the boat.  Was it tempting to get off the boat ahead of time?  Are you ever tempted to move ahead before the LORD says it’s time? 

The first thing Noah does is build an altar for the LORD, and the LORD is pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice.  God says to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race,” :21a.  🌧🕊🌦🙌🌦🕊🌞

Daily Word

Genesis 7

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Read Genesis 7 – Noah, Noah, Noah.  My son is named Noah.  I didn’t know much about the bible back then, but I did know that Noah of the bible is known for doing what he was told. 

You may think you know Noah too, the ark, the flood, and the animals – two by two.  Read chapter 7 with fresh eyes for any details you may have missed in Sunday school. 

Verse :1, God tells Noah to get on the boat with his family, as the LORD knows that Noah is righteous.  The population had gotten so lost in their sin, and ONLY Noah was righteous. 

God says to take seven pairs, male and female, of animals He has approved for sacrifice, :2.  So, even though they were going on this extraordinary voyage, provisions were made to continue the sacrifice. 

In verse :4, God says the rain will start in 7 days, lasting 40 days and 40 nights.  As you continue, do the math on how long Noah and his family were on the Ark. 

Verse :11, tells us this flood was more than rain.  Remember, the earth was watered from the underground springs (Gen 2:5-6), well now those springs were erupting everywhere!  Rain from above, erupting springs from below, it was catastrophic. 

Verse :16 has a fascinating detail – it says:   THEN THE LORD CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND THEM.  That is how personal God is.  He closed the door, sealing them in the ark and everyone else out; Salvation for Noah and his family – condemnation for everyone else.  Beloved, Jesus offers Salvation.  Right now the door is open, but one day it will be closed.  Revelation 3:7b reminds us:  WHAT HE OPENS, NO ONE CAN CLOSE; AND WHAT HE CLOSES, NO ONE CAN OPEN. 

Chapter 7 closes with the fact that the flood waters covered the earth for 150 days… that’s a lot more than 40 days and 40 nights on the boat… and no one is off the boat yet, tune in tomorrow!  (or read ahead now – it’s fascinating, right???)🌧🌧🌧🙏🌧🌧🌧