There are so many subjects, situations, and lessons that we can gather from the book of Genesis. In the closing chapters of the book, here are some things that stood out to me. The family situations from Abraham on down to Joseph were complicated at best. Sometimes in our aerial view of these people in the book of Genesis, we …
Genesis 7/9: God still blesses through dysfunctional families
You thought your family was dysfunctional? What a hot mess in the family of Isaac and Jacob! Let’s recap some highlights of this family mess. Esau gave up his birthright to Isaac over some food! The flesh is weak! How many of us have appetites as gods? Jacob, with the help of his mother, deceived his father Isaac by impersonating …
Genesis 6/9: The faithful are not always as faithful as we think
Through Abraham, God promised that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and through them, all nations would be blessed. When I think of Abraham, I am typically thinking of a man in perfect reverence towards God who completely obeyed Him in everything and therefore God kept His promise to him. But as we read …
Genesis 5/9: The Boss of Abraham
Today is for those who are in charge over other people. What kind of boss are you? What do your employees think about you? If you are a follower of God, do they see the wonderful, merciful, kind God that you serve? Abraham was getting old in age and he was worried about his son, Isaac, marrying a woman among …
Genesis 4/9: The Priorities of Abraham
Only the paganistic cultures would sacrifice their children to their god, yet here is the God of heaven asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to Him on a mountain. God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son finally came through. Although there were some times of doubt and even though they sinned against God in …
Genesis 3/9: A Lesson from Sodom and Gomorrah
After leaving Abraham, the angels of the Lord went to Sodom to see first hand, the outcry of their sin against the Lord. At first thought you would ask yourself, “Can’t they see without going there? Why do they have to show up to see?” This is our humanistic point of view. Most of the time, we don’t see all …
Genesis 2/9: The Faith of Sarah
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” -Hebrews 11:11 Say what? This same Sarah that decided upon herself that since she was barren, her husband should sleep with her servant and have a child with her? That this child would be the …
Genesis 1/9: The Faith of Abraham
Where was that great faith of Abraham (Abram) when he feared that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, would kill him for his wife, Sarai, so he lied to him and told Pharaoh that she was his sister? He even gained flocks, herds, and servants as a result. Wasn’t he following God’s leading? Why doesn’t the book of Hebrews name his failings, …