QT 10/17/2025 Gen 26:23–35, The bitterness of raising children

Genesis 26:23–35 (ESV) —

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

 

NOTE: Children have a way of making life difficult. It is not just the birth that brings pain, it is their raising up, and even their adult decisions (as evidenced by Esau's decisions when he was 40). His two wives would have lived at Isaac's parent's home in their own section or in a nearby tent if they did not have fixed homes. Those who think that upbringing is a guarantee of good behavior neither know the bible or have adult children yet. I used to be naïve thinking that a good parent will produce children who make good decisions and a poor parent will produce children who make poor life decisions. My children proved me wrong, although in the end, they both returned to the Lord with a fervor to do right. Additionally, I am the result of poor parenting, and God transformed me. So, all we can is what God calls us to do. I do believe that in the end, the proverb will turn out correct, but we can't blame ourselves nor can we be prideful when our children turn out wonderful. Those whom God called his children never made the right decision (making God a poor father under the previous logic). Children, will grow up to be adults, and they have free will. You can only pray for them, and realize it may be some time before your prayers are answered.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I blame myself for the life decisions of my children?
2. Do I do the best I can, I will not be perfect, and trust God that he will rescue them in time?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is hard to see children make the choices that they do, despite their upbringing. It can make life very bitter to see a child who completely turns away. Give us mercy and grace to do the right thing, and to trust you, that you love our children even more than we can or do.

QT 10/16/2025 Gen 26:12–22, Humility, how to do it

Genesis 26:12–22 (ESV) —

12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

 

NOTE: I had originally thought that Isaac had not met with much difficulty in his life (especially as compared to his father Abraham), and I now consider myself wrong. This is the third time that he faces a tough situation. His wife was barren for 20 years. He faced famine and tried to protect himself by claiming his wife was his sister. And now, his wealth, forces him to move to avoid conflict, leading to three new wells to appease inhabitants. The Philistines tell him, "… for you are much mightier than we." And yet, he did not use that position of power to force himself and his way upon others. When quarreling arose, he just dug another well. In that sense, he shows a lot of wisdom, especially for a man that seems "quiet" in the biblical story.

 

So what do we learn? Well, there is not much we can do when others "envy us," except the obvious, don't flaunt wealth, success, titles, or connections. You may not be able to stop envy, if God has blessed you, but I believe you are guilty of pride when you flaunt it. Flaunting does not have to be in your face. It can be an off-handed remark or something said in jest. Pride is one of my biggest tripping points. I'm grateful for what God has done in my life, but I need to live, at least toward others, as if those achievements didn't happen. In private I can thank God, but in public I might as well lived my life working but homeless. Well, I can't do that either. I just need to be more careful with my speech.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I regularly boast of wealth, success, titles, or people I know (knew)?
2. How can I be a servant, quiet and unassuming?

 

PRAYER: Father, I still fail many times in this area of pride. I do feel I am improving and much less likely to add some success or title to my introduction. I'm trying to focus on the now, doing grandparent day care with two adorable children. I want the focus to be on them and not what I used to be. Help me to learn this skill during these years of serving my grandchildren.

QT 10/15/2025 Gen 26:1-11, Dealing with fear and pain

Genesis 26:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

 

6 So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. 8 When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife. 9 So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her.’ ” 10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

 

NOTE: Isaac is an example of a man following his father's example, except in his father's case, there was a grain of truth in his lie. Abimelech is probably not the same person that dealt with Abraham. The name means "my father is king." I suppose the line of Terah should not marry their pretty cousins (just kidding). The real reason for Isaac's lie is not his father's example, but his own fear. Even his response to the famine is based on fear and he plans to depart the land, but God intervenes and stops him Gerar in the land the Philistines. God will send the people to Egypt, but now is not the time. Abraham, for some reason, was very adamant on not taking his son Isaac out of the land on the wife-hunting expedition. God wants them in the land for another 50 years or so. Abraham had learned that lesson, but Isaac is not so convinced.

 

How does this apply to us? I think normal people (and the patriarchs were normal people) all struggle with fear at various points in their lives. As Christians, we give lip service to "trusting God" but then look for alternative solutions to assuage our fear. I certainly am not recommending the pretend faith I see so many act out (stoicism). I think fear is good as long as we are honest with God about our fears. In general, emotions are good if honestly shared with God. It is when we forget God or put on an act, without even evaluating our emotions that we do a disservice to ourselves and to others. God himself is okay with our fears and complaints, when we bring them to him first.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my prayer life with God truly like? I am honest or do I just say all the "right" things?
2. Have I ever been truly honest with God when things did not or are not going well?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a hard lesson that does not come easy. It seems like great pain is required before we let go of the façade. I pray for those who are faking spirituality through a stoic response to suffering. Help them to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

QT 10/14/2025 Gen 25:24–34, We all need transformation

Genesis 25:24–34 (RSV) —

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand had taken hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was boiling pottage, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red pottage, for I am famished!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

 

NOTE: I really don't find anything commendable in this passage. Some commentators suggest that Jacob regarded the spiritual whereas Esau was only interested in the physical / material things of life. I don't find Jacob's actions honorable even if this is an acceptable practice: a birthright for a bowl a soup is stealing, even if the other person agrees. I think it shows two sinful men, and two poor examples of parents who played favorites. But God can take sinful men and by his grace transform them. While Esau does become an enemy of Jacob for a bit after Jacob flees, they reunite on his return 20 years later. And Jacob is a different person too, chastised by God, and finally will understand what a relationship with God is worth (20-plus years later). We learn in this passage that God can take sinful men and transform them. It is not our upbringing that defines us, but rather our response to God that will define us.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I willing to let God transform me?
2. Do I blame my circumstances on factors outside of me?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am not who I am because of my parents (thankfully) but because you got a hold of me after High School and transformed me. I would be a mess (like some of my brothers and sisters) if not for grace and power. Thank you for life, the new life you have given.

QT 10/13/2025 Gen 25:19–23, The danger of helping God

Genesis 25:19–23 (ESV) —

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

the older shall serve the younger.”

 

NOTE: We learn a lot of new information in this passage. First, Isaac was 40 years old when he married. We can assume he was established and he was knowledgeable about his occupation. In the previous chapter we did see him go out into the fields toward evening to meditate. The word, according to rabbinic tradition, can be translated to pray. It can also mean, to meditate, talk, complain, and reminds me of the story "Fiddler on the Roof" where Tevye, the father of daughters, has very conversational and questioning prayers to God. Here we see him pray for Rebekkah his wife over her barrenness.

 

We also see Rebekah seek God trying to understand what was happening in her body. God speaks to her (we don't know how) and tells her that she has twins. God tells her that one shall be stronger than the other (possibly Esau) and that the older (Esau) shall serve the younger (Isaac). I wonder if that is why she schemes to promote Isaac. The issue I have with her later scheming, as well as the favoritism, is that she should have just trusted God to fulfill his will, rather than trying to "help God."

 

We are all a little like Rebekkah, except we don't have a "specific prophesy" from God. But we still pray and the try to help God answer our own prayer, as if we know God's will and as if God needs some help. It is scheming and it can be very subtle. It is one of the lessons I have been learning over the last few years. When I find myself "thinking" or "dwelling" on some future interaction, it is a warning sign to me that I am not trusting God, but scheming. At that moment I pray:

 

1 Peter 5:7 (RSV) — 7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God when I pray?
2. Or do I try to answer my own prayers?
3. Prudence and scheming are not the same things and we need to distinguish them in our hearts

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days. Thank you for what I am learning. Thank you for answering prayers. Thank you for the peace that surpasses understanding when I let you take care of things.

QT 10/13/2025 Gen 25:19–23, The danger of helping God

Genesis 25:19–23 (ESV) —

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

the older shall serve the younger.”

 

NOTE: We learn a lot of new information in this passage. First, Isaac was 40 years old when he married. We can assume he was established and he was knowledgeable about his occupation. In the previous chapter we did see him go out into the fields toward evening to meditate. The word, according to rabbinic tradition, can be translated to pray. It can also mean, to meditate, talk, complain, and reminds me of the story "Fiddler on the Roof" where Tevye, the father of daughters, has very conversational and questioning prayers to God. Here we see him pray for Rebekkah his wife over her barrenness.

 

We also see Rebekah seek God trying to understand what was happening in her body. God speaks to her (we don't know how) and tells her that she has twins. God tells her that one shall be stronger than the other (possibly Esau) and that the older (Esau) shall serve the younger (Isaac). I wonder if that is why she schemes to promote Isaac. The issue I have with her later scheming, as well as the favoritism, is that she should have just trusted God to fulfill his will, rather than trying to "help God."

 

We are all a little like Rebekkah, except we don't have a "specific prophesy" from God. But we still pray and the try to help God answer our own prayer, as if we know God's will and as if God needs some help. It is scheming and it can be very subtle. It is one of the lessons I have been learning over the last few years. When I find myself "thinking" or "dwelling" on some future interaction, it is a warning sign to me that I am not trusting God, but scheming. At that moment I pray:

 

1 Peter 5:7 (RSV) — 7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God when I pray?
2. Or do I try to answer my own prayers?
3. Prudence and scheming are not the same things and we need to distinguish them in our hearts

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days. Thank you for what I am learning. Thank you for answering prayers. Thank you for the peace that surpasses understanding when I let you take care of things.

QT 10/10/2025 Gen 25:12–18, Estranged relationships

Genesis 25:12–18 (ESV) —

12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.

 

NOTE: The region east of Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea is not the easiest place to live. Other versions interpret the word "opposite" as "being in opposition to." Certainly the prophecy said that he would be against all those around him. It is amazing that despite having the same heir, the groups could be so entirely opposed to each other. But they are not alone. All of Europe has fought against one another for years and for the most part they are related through Japheth and others. Even within families, disputes arise that separate children from one another for years. It is not good, but it is a reality.

 

How does that apply to us? Many of us, including myself, have estranged siblings. It is one thing to just not communicate, but it is another thing when you don't even care to communicate. I am the oldest of seven and I have one brother like that. That particular brother is estranged from everyone in the family. He is the very middle of the middle, #4 of 7. I don't know all the reasons for his separation. I know he has some anger toward me because my mother set me on a pedestal for everyone else to follow. She was wrong to do that. I know my faith has also caused a separation. What is our responsibility? I think we do have a responsibility to reach out and try to reconcile. It is never good to live in separation from another, no matter who started it.

 

PONDER:

1. What relationships in my life are estranged?
2. What have I done and what can I still do to heal?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that as I reach out to an estranged sibling, that you would provide healing and restoration. Help me to be humble and to have no expectations. I pray for you to work and lead in this.

QT 10/9/2025 Gen 25:1-11, Funerals and questions of legacy

 

Genesis 25:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

 

NOTE: It is nice to see Ishmael and Isaac at his funeral. Possibly after Sarah's death, they reunited, we don't know. The two sons were not enemies. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac, although he gave gifts to other children born late in life to Keturah. Isaac was a rich man with a beautiful wife.

 

The scriptures say that Abraham died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, 175 to be exact. He experienced a lot of ups and downs in life. He experienced trials, fears, and great successes. He had spiritual failures and spiritual victories, the latter occurring much more often after the miracle birth of his son Isaac. He died rich materially and rich spiritually.

 

Attending a funeral is a good time for self-evaluation. Where is my life going? What is my legacy? What will I be remembered for? And maybe the question we don't ask but should, what do I want to be remembered as and for?

 

PONDER:

1. What is my legacy now?
2. What do I want it to be?

 

PRAYER: Father, I want my children to believe I was a good father who loved you foremost. I want to be someone they could always talk to about anything. I want to be someone whose advice they cherished. I want them to say, I know my Dad loved me as he loved you, God.

QT 10/8/2025 Gen 24:52–67, Starting out well does not mean a good finish

Genesis 24:52–67 (ESV) —

52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you become

thousands of ten thousands,

and may your offspring possess

the gate of those who hate him!”

61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

 

NOTE: The story of Rebekah and Isaac is lovely and romantic. In the midst of loss, God provides a special treasure to Isaac. And so, it is a bit disappointing to know the rest of the story. The start is wonderful, but the middle and finish is not very inspiring. As a couple, they play favorites. Rebekah is complicit in deception., which may be the result of observing her brother Laban (he was not the best example). Even though, it is not in this passage, I think there is a lesson. A good start is not necessarily a promise of a good finish. In some ways, Isaac and Rebekah lived off of Abraham's wealth. Neither experienced much hardship, at least from the passages that are recorded. We should be very thankful for peace when it occurs in life, but we must never take those blessings for granted, and forget God.

 

PONDER:

1. How is life going today? If it is good, am I still remembering God? If it is hard and I am being forced to God, remember what is what like before, how did I live?
2. A good foundation is great provided I build upon it. What am I building upon?

 

PRAYER: Father, give me grace to continue well. Life has been hard but it really is not hard now, especially in retrospect. I thank you for your blessings, and I pray I would continue to seek you in the good times as well.

QT 10/7/2025 Gen 24:42–51, The need for leadership (the right kind)

Genesis 24:42–51 (RSV) —

42 “I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou wilt prosper the way which I go, 43 behold, I am standing by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Pray give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

45 “Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Pray let me drink.’ 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.‘ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

 

NOTE: Rebekah will have the final say (verse 58), but the spiritual leadership of the house represented by both Bethuel and Laban agree to the proposed marriage. I'm not sure why Laban has a say but it could be that Bethuel is aged and that Laban (as probably the oldest son) has taken over leadership in the house (which would include major decisions and spiritual decisions). Rebekah is an adult, but leadership is designed to protect those under its umbrella. Unfortunately today, we see leadership as interfering with our freedom, rather than protecting us from bad decisions. And to be honest, much of today's leadership (civil, religious, and work) is selfish.

 

As a former leader in the military and then again in a think tank, and later a bank AI group, I believed very strongly in servant leadership. My goal was to take care of my people. Yes the mission was first, but people were my number one resource. If I took care of my people, they would take care of the mission. I still believe in that philosophy and I believe it made me successful. I don’t see it on display very much today. I see workers pitted against each other, and bullying as the tools of modern leaders.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I care for the people who work for me?
2. Do I pray for the people under my umbrella of leadership?

 

PRAYER: Father, my role has shifted a lot but I still have people who "work" for me. Help me to merge my volunteer role with my leadership experience to produce humble servant leadership that cares.

QT 10/6/2025 Gen 24:32-41, We have free will, but if God is calling, we would be a fool to ignore

Genesis 24:32–41 (RSV) —

32 So the man came into the house; and Laban ungirded the camels, and gave him straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my errand.” He said, “Speak on.”

34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and asses. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house; 41 then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’

 

NOTE: While Bethuel does appear in the narrative (verse 50), Laban seems to take the lead in the negotiations. Bethuel is certainly old, as is Abraham at this point. The servant retells the story, which seems unusual, considering the brevity of scripture, but this is important. Another person, a woman, is called to leave their family and travel to a far-away land, and live as a foreigner. The promise of the land is more than five centuries away, although they do not know it. The woman has free will. Repeated in the story is her choice and its impact on the oath that the servant made. She can choose to say no. Not repeated are Abraham's instructions to not allow Isaac to go back with him to the family's house. Additionally, given the fact that they have not seen Abraham in many years is the implication that their daughter will be gone, never to be seen again. These are not easy choices.

 

What does it mean for us? We know that choices, especially poor choices, have consequences, possibly irrevocable consequences. This is a good choice but also carries an irrevocable consequence of separation from her mother, father, brother, and any friends in the area. Having moved around quite a bit in the military, I can say that decisions like this lead to very lonely circumstances, at least for a while. They are not easy. It seems like the best choices often have, at least initially, tough consequences. But bad choices are much worse, causing great pain and missing out on the spiritual blessings of obedience.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God calling me to do?
2. What is hindering my obedience?

 

PRAYER: Father, at this point, I feel hedge in, that is, in a good way. I am doing what I need to do without having a lot of choice. Well, I could be selfish, and demand my own way, but that has never been a choice I've considered. I am content. These years are a little different than what I had planned, but I am part of a great blessing. I believe that. Give me strength to balance certain physical limitations with the job you have place before me.

QT 10/3/2025 Gen 24:22-31, Making God more than an afterthought

Genesis 24:22–31 (ESV) —

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, 23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.

29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

 

NOTE: There are two reactions to the servant of the very rich Abraham. Rebekah is very excited and runs to tell the family first. Laban, upon seeing some gold, runs to the man and implies that he has prepared a place for the servant. The latter seems to be an untruth, since everyone has been running and their doesn't seem to be any time yet made for preparing. In contrast to everyone else, the servant bows his head and worships God when he hears of the girl's parentage. Clearly, God is orchestrating the events. The servant recognizes God's hand and praises God.

 

What do we learn? I think the servant's example is the most practical. It is seeing life from God's perspective and giving him praise for the things that are happening.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV) — 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Sometimes, we just live life, forgetting to pray before major decisions and forgetting to give thanks as God works in our life. We are to give thanks in all circumstances, the good and the things we perceive as bad. God is still at work.

 

PONDER:

1. As I live life, what am I perceiving? Opportunities to get rich or the work of God?
2. Do I live life with God as an afterthought or the reason for life?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive me when I leave you our or forget to thank you in all circumstances. I need to continually give things over to you and trust you in all you do.

QT 10/2/2025 Gen 24:10-21, Being specific in prayer

Genesis 24:10–21 (ESV) —

10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.

 

NOTE: Is this a fleece, a testing of God? I would say no, because God has not commanded the servant to do anything, and the request is not an attempt to prove God's power. No, this is a very specific prayer that the servant makes. It is of course possible that because of the emphasis on hospitality, most women would have done the task, although I'm not sure. A camel can drink 25 gallons and there were ten. More likely, most would avoid the extra work. But the servant's prayer may be specifically aimed at finding a bride who is well-instructed in hospitality. Without getting too technical or obtuse, the lesson is that the servant prayed a very specific prayer and God answered it. I would add that God answered it miraculously because the young women turns out to be related to Abraham's family, most likely sharing beliefs in a single God of the universe.

 

PONDER:

1. How specific are my prayers?
2. Do I pray generally or in such a way that it would be hard to know if God had answered?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do need to pray more specifically. There are general things, but a stronger faith would pray specifically. Also, a "no" is clear in a specific prayer than in a general prayer.

QT 10/1/2025 Gen 24:1-9, Free will and God's Sovereignty

Genesis 24:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

 

NOTE: Abraham is taking prudent steps to protect his son and the inheritance (although God has already unconditionally promised it). His servant is to go back to the land of his relatives, most likely believers in the one God, to secure a wife. Abraham believes that God will send his angel before him to make the trip a success. But, the story also includes "free will." While we will see a miraculous setup, there are obstacles. One is a greedy Laban, and secondly is a desire by the family to keep the girl in Haran and not allow her to go to Canaan. People must choose. Abraham says as much when he tells the servant that if the woman is not willing to follow, he is free from the oath. Fortunately as we will see, Rebekah is as commentator Kenneth Matthews suggests, "independently minded."

 

So what is the conclusion? God is sovereign over the affairs of man. And men have completely free wills. And somehow it all works together. Is it foreknowledge or is it just way beyond our understanding? If Rebekah has said no, what would have happened? God would have provided another way, but God knew the answer "ahead of time" (?or outside of time?) despite giving us perfect free will.

 

PONDER:

1. We do have free wills and with that free will comes the opportunity to be a part of God's grand will. Do we take opportunity to be a part?
2. In Esther, she is told, that if she does not choose to risk her life, God will provide salvation to the people through someone else. If we say no, we are losing out. How do we respond to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to be a part of your plan. I don't want to say no to an opportunity from you. Lead me, guide me, and give me clarity of thought as I see you work in my life.

QT 9/30/2025 Gen 23:12-20, Giving brings (and is a sign of) spiritual growth

Genesis 23:12–20 (ESV) —

12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

 

NOTE: This passage completes the legal purchase of the first parcel of land in Canaan. Commentators debate whether Abraham was taken to the cleaners or not in the purchase price, but technically what does it matter. When your benefactor is the God of the universe, what does price really mean? I've thought of that in other contexts. Yes, Jesus tells us to be as wise as serpents, but in the end, money is of little value to God (he can create it out of dust or even nothing). Money shows our commitment to God, but God does not need any money to accomplish his work on earth. I think how we treat money goes a long way in our spiritual growth. I reject the idea of a tithe, I believe we can do much better than ten percent. My saying is: "a tithe is a rich man's excuse not to give." It is a nice starting point, but the degree to which we give will determine a lot of our spiritual growth and direction. For some, it is 30 percent or more, but others it may be considerably less -- what matters is your heart. We don't give to grow rich, but we do give to grow spiritually (at least in my opinion).

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a giving plan? Mine includes my church, missionaries here, missionaries in the world, orphans, poor, and certain Christian organizations.
2. Do I have a plan to increase my giving year by year?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to lead me and guide me in this area of finances. I want to do the right thing; I want to do the wise thing; I want to do your thing.

QT 9/29/2025 Genesis 23:1–11, We have an inheritance

Genesis 23:1–11 (ESV) —

1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

 

NOTE: The first parcel of land that Israel received is a piece of land bought and paid for (see next few verses after 11). The remaining was given by God (in a covenant) and then possession was through conquering and removing the inhabitants. This idea of indigenous people is really a stupid argument. No one knows who the original people are of any land. It really is more of an argument toward the last people group. All of Germany is a conquered land from many different people groups. Today, our culture upholds "survival of the fittest" unless it is conflict with their opinion of a indigenous group.

 

When the Israelites return from slavery in Egypt (400 and 40 years later), this piece of land was a deposit down on the whole land promised. They carried Joseph's bones back with them to lay in this cave. I'm sure they were reminded many times in their history of this deposit to the promise of God. But, I am very sure, as the years passed by, they began to doubt God's promise.

 

We are in the same situation today. There is a promised coming return of the Messiah and an inheritance promised to believers in Jesus. But as we stand almost 2000 years later, we wonder if God will every fulfill his promise. We also have a deposit guaranteeing our deposit, it is the Holy Spirit.

 

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we flagging in our zeal?
2. Do we still cherish the hope we have in a future kingdom with Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, whatever happens in this next decade, I know and believe that you are returning in your time. Protect my faith. Don't let me fall back into the mire of timidity.

QT 9/26/2025 Genesis 22:9-19, Seeing Abraham's faith

Genesis 22:9–19 (ESV) —

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

 

NOTE: There is a wonderful song which captures the emotion of this event in words much better than I could choose. It is written and sung by Michael Card.

 

Three day's journey to the sacred place

A boy and a man with a sorrowful face

Tortured, yet faithful to God's command

To take the life of his son in his own hands

 

CHORUS: God will provide a lamb

To be offered up in your place

A sacrifice so spotless and clean

To take all your sin away

 

There's wood and fire, where's the sacrifice

The questioning voice and the innocent eyes

Is the son of laughter who you've waited for

To die like a lamb to please the Lord

 

CHORUS

 

A gleaming knife, an accepted choice

A rush of wind and an angel's voice

A ram in the thicket caught by his horns

And a new age of trusting the Lord was born

 

'Cause God has provided a lamb

He was offered up in your place

What Abraham was asked to do, He's done

He's offered His only son

 

What Abraham was asked to do, He's done

He's offered His only son

 

From <https://genius.com/Michael-card-god-will-provide-a-lamb-lyrics>

Michael Card - God Will Provide a Lamb (Lyric Video)

 

 

Why did God need to test Abraham? God already knows our choices. He knows our heart, and yet he goes through with this test. I suppose the answer is that we don't know our own hearts, nor do we know Abraham's. You can read "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness," but you are left wondering how much did he believe God. The story, while very painful, puts Abraham's faith in a visual mode.

 

PONDER:

1. What does my faith really look like?
2. Do I really believe the words I so often express?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am like one of Jesus' followers, "increase my faith." Too often, I let the world and the supposedly realities of modern life to cause me to doubt. The world and its system is constantly attacking Christian believers because the enemy is absolutely convinced that it is his greatest danger. Help us to stand strong against the attacks.