QT 8/27/2025 Gen 14:21-24, Waiting on God and being content

Genesis 14:21–24 (ESV) —

21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

 

NOTE: God's amazing victory of Abram's small force against the four kings offers Abram an opportunity to be rich. Spoils of war is the way many have gained riches in history. This was Abram's opportunity to jump the ladder of fame and riches, but he chooses to forego it. Instead, Abram and others are a witness to a remarkable miracle, with no other story attached. It is all about what God did, not what happened to Abram. God would make Abram rich but it would not be through shortcuts. One could argue that Abram was already rich. He had 318 men working for him to care for his flocks.

 

We focus too much on getting rich and richer. There is an investment company that keeps calling me about taking over my savings from my current financial advisor. The last time they called, I told them that I have enough money to last me the rest of my life. I don't need anymore. I don't think they were expecting that answer because they had no response.

 

We can all learn a lesson from Abram about being content and trusting God to provide when it is needed.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I fall for get rich quick schemes?
2. Am I content with what I have or am I always seeking for more money?

 

PRAYER: Father, you have provided all that I need. Thank you. If I have not said it enough, thank you. I don't deserve your kindness. I pray I would use these days smartly. Most of the time is used up in taking care of our grandchildren and leading the discipleship ministry in the church, but it is good. It is what you have me doing.

QT 8/26/2025 Gen 14:13-20, A sensitive subject: giving

Genesis 14:13–20 (ESV) —

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

 

NOTE: I know that verse 20 is often used as an argument for New Testament (NT)tithing because it predates the Mosaic law. I have even used it myself in the past. The problem is that this is a one-time only gift and certainly doesn't fit with any of the NT teaching on giving. There is one other pre-law verse. It comes out of a (extremely) poor prayer by Jacob as he was fleeing his home. He prays (Gen 28:20-22) that if God protects him (and performs a number of other steps), then God will be his God and he will give a tenth of all that he has. It sounds more like a prosperity gospel prayer than that of a true believer, and it is much different than Jacob's prayer 20 years later when he wrestled with a man (probably a pre-incarnate Jesus) and said that he would not let go without God in his life.

 

The only argument for a tithe in this case from Jacob's poor prayer is that he must have seen his Father Abraham giving a tithe in order to suggest it himself.

 

The actual tithe was an asset-based giving (number of animals or bushels of seed at the time), and it occurred twice a year. Assuming for a second, no refill, that would amount to 19 percent. Additionally, there was a third tithe every three years, bring that year's giving 27 percent, or averaging 23 percent over 3 years. No one ever talks about biblical Mosaic tithing.

 

Fortunately, the New Covenant is different. I love the NT verses on the subject.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Galatians 6:7–9 (ESV) — 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

 

I have a saying, "the tithe is a rich man's excuse not to give." Most of my life, ten percent was my starting point. Every year I gave more of my increase than proportionately I received. And then somehow, I also ended up in a job that paid me very well. By the time I retired, it was easy start again at 10 percent, because my giving was taking up the entirety of one of my paychecks. I've continued to apply the same philosophy in retirement, giving each year more than I was the previous year proportionately. And that is why I developed my saying, because I realized at a certain point in my life, giving 10 percent was like stealing from all the Lord's blessings to me.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I give to the Lord or do I hold back from the Lord?
2. Is God asking me to do more?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a contention topic in the church, money. But it shouldn't be and it is a sign of spiritual growth when people give joyfully. Help us to change your attitudes and seek to enjoy giving.

QT 8/25/2025 Gen 14:1–12, God's will must be the goal, not just responding to circumstances

Genesis 14:1–12 (ESV) —

1 In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. 11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

 

NOTE: The passage give some idea of timelines between these kings but does not help us to understand when Lot arrived. Things happen because of sin that can never be expected. Kings will war against each other for material gain. This does not mean Lot's choice to live in the east was a poor choice, although it was a poor choice. One has to wonder if God allowed this in order to wake up Lot, but it does not appear to have made any difference, since once he is rescued, he goes back to Sodom. I think as a minimum, when things fail or go bad, it is worth it to review the circumstances. And it is good to go to God in prayer, and make sure you are in his will. God may want you in the place you are, even though things seem to be falling apart. The situation can be a great opportunity to be a witness for God. But we cannot assume that, we need to take our plans to God in prayer. I can't emphasize that enough. Circumstances open our eyes, but they do not determine our direction.

 

Proverbs 3:5–8 (ESV) —

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

 

There is great truth in the above verses. Oswald Chambers once said:

 

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

 

Life will be difficult, but we must fear God, not the world. And if we truly fear God, we will seek him in all that we do.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I stop and re-calibrate when things are not going well, asking God for guidance, so that I stay in his will?
2. Do I fear things in life more than I fear not following God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for leading and guiding in my life. I have not always been thankful of my situation, but I do believe you are in it, and you want me where I am. Continue to lead, guide, give mercy, and give grace. I need you above all else.

QT 8/22/2025 Gen 13:9-13, What to consider when making choices

Genesis 13:9–13 (ESV) —

9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

 

NOTE: Lot chooses "east," which I don't think was one of the choices. The funny thing is that Abram's left versus right was probably north and south where you remain in the promised land. But Lot leaves the land and heads east based on what he saw. As noted previously, the author has a tendency to use the word "east" to represent something bad. It is not the direction that is bad, it is just a clue word to tell the reader that this was not a good decision. Another word that so far has not been good has been "cities." The line of Cain established cities. Nimrod wanted everyone to remain together. What is wrong with cities? Probably nothing, but Lot goes from a rancher, moving his herd across a large area, to a city dweller. How is that bad? I don't know (without badly speculating), but it is part of the story.

 

But the land was beautiful like a garden, what could go wrong? A couple things could. One, Lot leaves the promised land. The land was promised to Abram's descendants, but he might have done better by sticking closer to Abram. In a sense, Lot is an example of a person who seeks to improve (using his senses) upon God's command, and ends up making things worse. Two, he did not seek God in the move. He was a little like Eve -- the fruit looked good. On the surface, things can appear good but to believe that you can live a peaceful life in an area of bad influence is not wise.

 

What is the application for us? It is like leaving a good church to live in area where you know there is no church, and not expecting bad things to overcome your family. We need support. Caanan had bad influence too. Lot probably knew that. And he probably knew Sodom was no better. But he chose without thinking of which place was best for his spiritual growth.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I consider the spiritual side of major decisions (even minor ones)?
2. The decision might look good, but if it doesn't help me to grow stronger in the Lord, then it is almost surely a poor choice. Am I in one of those situations today?

 

PRAYER: Father, there are a lot of things that call to our hearts, but much calls us away from you. Help us to discern the things that are not for our good but just appeal to our senses. Help us to make the spiritual part of a decision, just as important, if not more, as the financial and pleasure aspects of a decision.

QT 8/21/2025 Gen 13:1-8, Going to God first

Genesis 13:1–8 (ESV) —

1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.

 

NOTE: Even when you are in the will of God, that does not mean everything is going to go right. Strife is part of living in a fallen world whether you are walking with God or not. The enemy tries to consume us over things that are not really that important. Sin itself causes us to be jealous or for others to be jealous of us. The world's culture tells us how we should be living and we find ourselves falling short and desiring to be like all the other "supposedly happy" people -- all of which is a lie. Life is hard. The advantage of a relationship with God is threefold. One, we have a constant source of peace and stability in the midst of a painful world. Two, we have an inheritance with God; we don't have to follow the world's advice and try to get rich. Three, we have the word of God, the truth, which all men seek and most men deny.

 

Let us not despair but rather give our fears and worries and hard things to God. 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. We need to bring God into our everyday life. We need to trust him when things don't seem to be going right.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I try to work everything out in my own power?
2. Or do I first go to God and ask for his help before I take any step?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know this is a weakness for me, doing things in my own strength. Thank you for testing me. I know I need to pray more, and I know I need to pray first.

QT 8/20/2025 Gen 12:10-20, Trusting in all decisions

Genesis 12:10–20 (ESV) —

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

 

NOTE: Abram's stories are an example of little faith alternating with great faith. In that sense, he is a lot like us, where fear alternates with our trust in God and what his word tells us.

 

Passage	Event	Live by Sight	Live by Faith
12:1-9	God calls Abram and promises him the land		Abram travels to the Land, traverses it, and build an altar
12:10-20	Abram moves to Egypt during a famine	Infers Sarai is his sister only
14:1-16	Lot is captured by 5 Kings		Attacks 5 Kings; rescues Lot
14:17-15:1	God reminds Abram to fear not	Abram had a lot of new enemies (implied fear)
15:2-6	God promises Abram his offspring will number like stars in heavens		Abram believed God
16:1-16 Abram is 86	Sarai convinces Abram to have child w/ Hagar	Abram & Hagar have Ishmael
17:1-8,15-21 Abraham is 99	God tells Abraham he will have a son in a year	Abraham laughs. Abraham suggests Ishmael be his son of promise
17:9-14,22-27	God commands Abraham to circumcise the males		Abraham immediately circumcises all males
18:9-15	God again tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son	Sarah laughs (reflects on Abraham -- did he not tell her?)
18:16-33	God tells Abraham about Sodom		Abraham prays for Lot & Sodom
19:27-20:18	Abraham moves to Gerar (The crisis of the seed)	Infers Sarah is only his sister
21:1-7	Isaac is born		Abraham & Sarah name him "Laughter"
21:8-21	Sarah wants Ishmael cast out		Abraham sought God's wisdom (implied in context)
21:22-34	Abimelech's servants seize a well (The crisis of the land)		Abraham reproves Abimelech and Abimelech's Army Commander
22:1-19	God calls Abraham to sacrifice his only son		Abraham takes his son to Mt Moriah to sacrifice
23	Sarah dies in the land		Abraham buries her in the land by legally purchasing a field and a cave
24	Isaac needs a wife		Abraham sends his servant to get a wife for Isaac (not from Canaan), and never to let his son leave the land

 

The interesting thing about this first story in Abram's life is that he assumes the Egyptians are immoral and willing to kill a man to get his wife. The Egyptians are quite disturbed that Abram put them in an immoral position by creating a situation that could have caused adultery.

 

I can remember traveling once to Europe and assuming that sin was rampant since God had been rejected by so many Europeans. And while there certainly was an acceptance of sin, people were nicer and more helpful than what I had imagined.

 

The message is not to assume, and to learn to trust. Not only did Abram "assume a situation," he developed a solution in his own mind, rather than doing the right thing.

 

PONDER:

1. It is good to use the mind God gave us, but it is not good to rely upon our thinking. How often do we bring God into our worries, concerns, and decisions?
2. Do we alternate between faith and sight?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to bring you into all my decisions. I want to be prudent and smart and wise as a serpent, but I also want to trust you in all things.

QT 8/19/2025 Gen 12:1–9, Waiting upon God

Genesis 12:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

 

NOTE: I have to include this for posterity sake at least. There is a progressive revelation of God to Abram. William Newell condensed it as follows:

 

1. As the LORD (Jehovah, His name as in covenant with His people), 12:1; 12:8; 13:4; 13:18.
2. God Most High (El Elyon, Creator—God Over and Owning All), 14:18–22.
3. Shield and Exceeding Great Reward, 15:1.
4. The Almighty God (El Shaddai), 17:1.
5. The Righteous Judge, 18:25.
6. The Everlasting God, 21:33.
7. The God of Providence (Jehovah Jireh), 22:14.

 

Stephen (in Acts 7), speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that God called Abram while he was still in Mesopotamia, and before he lived in Haran. Apparently, God renews the covenant after his Father died. Here we have the first record of God speaking to Abram and explaining the blessing that he would bestow upon the whole world through his seed. And as he does he uses his covenant name, Yahweh (yhwh).

 

Abram does not yet have a child, and the promise is to his descendants more than 400 years later. Our problem is that our focus is so near-term (here, now, next week) that we miss out on seeing what God is doing, which might take years to accomplish. Our job is to be faithful and to do the right thing. In time we will see God do amazing things through our lives. Just as God revealed himself (his names) to Abram over many years, so God will reveal himself to us -- it doesn't happen overnight.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I content where I am?
2. Am I waiting patiently and expectantly for the next step in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days. I don't know what will emerge out of them. But I need to trust you and wait upon you.

QT 8/18/2025 Gen 11:27–32, Don't get ahead of God, do the right thing

 

Genesis 11:27–32 (ESV) —

27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.

31 Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.

 

NOTE: The passage is an illustration of God's sovereignty. We are told in Acts (by Stephen) that God called Abram out of Ur to go to the promised land. Here we see Terah taking Abram and others up to Haran. God uses Terah to move Abram half the distance, although Haran was a little farther north than necessary, it is where Terah chose to live. It could be that Abram persisted with his father because of his health. Once his father died, he continues to the promise land. As we will see in the next verse, God renews his call to Abram after the death of Terah.

 

Abram was faithful to the responsibility as the oldest son to his family. He stayed with his father, and buried him. Later, the land of Haran would provide multiple wives (Rebeccah, Leah, and Rachel) to his sons and grandsons.

 

Sometimes we wonder if we are moving in the right direction. But one principle that helps, is to do the right thing. Don't try to speed God up. Rather ask God, what is the right thing now? Abram's story is a story of obstacles, the biggest one being Sarai's barrenness. But there are actually twelve (Constable, 2003):

 

1. Sarai was barren and incapable of producing an heir (11:30).
2. Abram had to leave the Promised Land, which God had told him he would inherit (12:10).
3. Abram’s life was in danger in Egypt (12:11–20).
4. Abram’s nephew (heir?) Lot separated from Abram over a land  dispute (ch. 13).
5. Abram entered a war and could have died (14:1–16).
6. Abram’s life was in danger from retaliation in the Promised Land (15:1).
7. God ruled Eliezer out as Abram’s heir (15:2–3).
8. Hagar, pregnant with Abram’s son (heir?), departed (16:6).
9. Abimelech threatened Sarai’s reputation and child (heir?) in Gerar (ch. 20).
10. Abram had two heirs (21:8–11).
11. God commanded Abram to slay his heir (ch. 22).
12. Abram could not find a proper wife for his heir (24:5).

 

What are we to do when faced with obstacles? We need to do the right thing and we need to trust God for the rest. Don't get ahead of God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is the right thing, right now, in my life?
2. Where do I need to trust God and stop worrying?
3. What do I need to stop doing?

 

PRAYER: Father, I retired from work early to do ministry. But, instead I am doing daycare for two grandchildren. My initial thoughts have been that I am wasting good years where I still have a lot of energy and health. But, you have a different plan. I need to trust in what you are doing. In my very old age, I would probably regret missing these years with the babies, as I hear many people say. And who knows what will happen in 3-4 years when I am no longer doing day care. I just need to trust you. Thank you for where I am and what you have me doing.

QT 8/15/2025 Gen 11:10-26, Overwhelmed by grace

Genesis 11:10–26 (ESV) —

10 These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11 And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. 13 And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15 And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17 And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19 And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21 And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23 And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

26 When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

 

NOTE: The story is a collection of historical facts pointing ultimately to Abram. It makes no sense to make up a genealogy, it could be disputed too easily. No, this is a factual history that culminates in the birth of a man whose faith would bless all the nations of the earth. He is not a perfect man, quite the opposite, he has many faults and many failings, but he picks himself up and seeks to do better each time.

 

Abram, like many other biblical characters, are examples of God's grace. They are not perfect, but God is building his story around them. He includes them, not because they deserve it, but because he chooses to bless them so. It is a little like the verse, "Jacob I loved, and Esau I hated." God did not hate Esau, but in comparison to the blessing he showed Jacob (making him part of the line of Jesus), his love for Esau was incredibly less. Jacob certainly didn't deserve his part. But God in his grace uses Abram, Jacob, David, and many others.

 

God uses us too, maybe not on such a grand scale, but for those who have responded to the good news, we are part of God's plan. We don't deserve it. But we do need to be faithful to our new role as children of God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God calling me to do that I have not responded to yet?
2. Have I ever thanked for the incredible love he showed to me by someone sharing the gospel to me?

 

PRAYER: Father, help us to be serious about our work for you. Jesus' death saved us, it was nothing about us. We only responded to the invitation. But now, as believers, we have a responsibility to work hard for the kingdom (if we truly understand the grace bestowed upon us).

QT 8/14/2025 Gen 11:1–9, God's way versus Man's way

Genesis 11:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

 

NOTE: There are little hints throughout this passage of something wrong. God commanded man to fill the earth, but they settle in one place. The line of Cain seems to emphasize the construction of cities (after Cain's wanderings), and they are following that example. The use of the term "east" is usually associated with something bad happening, as in east of Eden, or Lot journey east to Sodom, or Jacob fleeing home and traveling east. It seems whether the direction is east or west, the word "east" is used in relationship to the event. They wanted to make a tower that reached into the heavens. They wanted access to the heavens. They wanted to make a name for themselves (pride). Some commentators suggest that Nimrod wanted to conquer heaven.

 

Obviously, God was not worried that man would succeed in conquering heaven. The concern has to be for man. Certainly, technology has offered many good improvements, but also has led man deeper into sin. Television, the internet, and various sorts of entertainment, have increased the sin upon the earth. Anger dominates because technology allows a person to feed their biases. And once again, increased leisure leads to sin, as it did before the flood. The confusion of the languages was for man's good, to slow things down.

 

Man tried to regain the security of the garden through human effort and technology. God's disgust with those efforts is a reminder that security is only gained through submission to God's rule. That is still true today, as hard as man tries to create a world through human effort.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I live my life -- dependence on God or on my own effort?
2. Do I recognize the traps that the enemy has laid out there to take me away from God?

 

PRAYER: xxxxx

QT 8/13/2025 Gen 10:21–32, We really need God to live life

Genesis 10:21–32 (ESV) —

21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

32 These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.

 

NOTE: From the descendants of Shem, we get Eber, which apparently is another name for Hebrews. Although it appears only Peleg's descendants seem to carry on the name. Most of Shem's descendants were in the Arabian peninsula, Mesopotamia, area in Iran, and possibly as far west as India. There is no one accepted view on what is meant be the earth being divided. I am going with the assumption that it was the scattering of the tribes after the tower of Babel incident. Certainly, a miraculous changing of languages would probably cause a separation of the tribes.

 

The importance of this section is that it explains the creation of nations. And the phrase in verse 32, "after the flood," highlights the fact that the flood changed everything. It was not like this prior to the flood. There were no nations, nor were there events that changed everything. Survival ultimately required moving into new places. Even centuries later, in the early years of the US, many people groups immigrated to the US because of overcrowding in the cities in Europe.

 

So what is the point? In one sense, these verses are the setup for the next story, the tower of Babel, a story which occurs in the midst of these generations, all descended from one man, and then are separated. Again, my guess is that this occurred around the time of Peleg's birth. The story is setting itself up for another fall of man, first in Eden, then in the time after Eden, and then in the time after the flood (tower of Babel). A fourth try will be when God chooses a nation from the line of Eber. That will also fail. Ultimately, every attempt of God is thwarted by Man's sin. The lesson should be clear, man cannot exist apart from God.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do I rely upon to live my life -- is it God or is it really just me?
2. What can I do to rely upon God more in everyday life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I need your help. My natural tendency is to live in my own strength. I know I need you. And I know I fail when I try to do things in my own strength. Give me grace and mercy to grow closer to you.

QT 8/12/2025 Gen 10:1–20, Leaving a godly legacy

Genesis 10:1–20 (ESV) —

1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.

6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.

15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, 16 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. 19 And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

 

NOTE: This genealogy is horizontal and basically describes what happened to the three sons. Ultimately, 70 nations would precede from these three families. The number 70 is also the number of Abraham's descendants who went to Egypt. They represent a new beginning, and a microcosm of society where God rules. Except, God was seldom followed by the Israelites. They failed in their mission for God. Jesus had 70 disciples, and they too represent a microcosm of society based upon Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. There has been some success in this new entity, which we call the church. There are less than 200 dialects that do not have a bible in their own language. The gospel is rapidly reaching the point of having gone out to the ends of the earth.

 

Not much is made of Japeth's sons. They probably formed the nations on the northern coast of Europe, possible reaching east into Asia.

 

The sons of Ham move into Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Africa. Canaan's descendants mostly settled in Palestine. The list is long because most of Israelites history involves the nations descended from Ham.

 

What do we learn? Well, Ham continues to play a negative role. It is, as if, Cain's line jumped over to Ham. There are reasons (sexual immorality, idolatry, child sacrifice) God destroys the nations of Caanan (one of Ham's son) and gives the land to one of Shem's descendants. Nimrod, one of Ham's descendants, is referred to as a mighty hunter, but the Hebrew for mighty could easily be translated as tyrant. One commentator argues that he hunted man. It is not a pretty picture. In the bible, it references the sin of one generation passing onto others. It is always possible to change that path, it is not pre-directed, but parents do make a difference. What legacy am I leading for my own children?

 

PONDER:

1. What is the legacy I am leading for my own children, a man of God, or a man who is indifferent to God?
2. How do I go about changing my legacy if I am heading in the wrong direction?

 

PRAYER: Father, this time in the word every morning is changing me. As your Holy Spirit uses the word to illuminate needs in my life. I may only have a few decades left, but that is a lot of time to establish my legacy for good.