QT 9/16/2025 Gen 19:30-38, Growing or declining

Genesis 19:30–38 (ESV) —

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

 

NOTE: The problem with Lot's original decision to go to Sodom, and the subsequent decision to stay in Sodom, is that the influence of the culture permeated into his family. Rather than his witness and his faith influencing his family, the culture he exposed his family to was greater. Of course, we can't hide in a mountain, as Lot is doing at this point in the story. We have to live in the culture. The difference is we cannot compromise God's word with culture. There are a lot of hot button issues that many Christians no longer hold to because they have compromised with the culture. Homosexuality is a sin. Marriage is between a man and woman. Marriage is a covenant until death parts the couple (although there are grounds for divorce). There are only two sexes. Work is for our good. We don't live for material things but we live for God. And the key is a focus on God in our everyday life. As the Pastor said this Sunday, if we are not growing, we are  going backwards. I've said as much every few months in my Sunday School class and QTs for many years (Most recently 1/29/2025); . You don't plateau, you either grow or you decline spiritually.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I growing or declining spiritually?
2. You can answer the above question by asking instead, am I in the word of God regularly (daily), or not? The answer will be the same. If it is not, you are deceiving yourself.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that I would never stop the habit of regularly allowing my mind to be washed by the word of God. Cleanse me, clean me, purify me for your service.

QT 9/15/2025 Gen 19:23–29, Looking to God for his will

Genesis 19:23–30 (ESV) —

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.

 

 

NOTE: God saves Lot and his two daughters and the city of Zoar. In the very next verse (30), Lot moves to the hills as the angels had initially told him too. No reason is given, but how very true it is, that God's wisdom is always better than ours. Lot's wife could have been saved (physically) too, but she, in contradiction to the angels' command, looks back, and dies with those in the cities.

 

The phrase, God remembered Lot, uses an anthropomorphic term, "remember," not because God forgets or even could forget, but rather to emphasize Abraham's prayer for Lot. Lot did not pray, Abraham prayed for him. Peter writes that Lot was a righteous man, greatly distressed by the conduct of the people. But Lot chose his 'lot' in life. Why? Sin is so deceitful and it can become like a thorn bush that grabs onto you as you go by. It does not want to let go. How did this happen? Lot made a decision based on what he saw, not on the will of God. He never sought God. He was a rich man when he lived near Abraham, and now he had nothing.

 

PONDER:

1. How often do I seek God in the major decisions of life?
2. Going further, do I seek God in the lesser decisions of life? It does not have to be much, a simple prayer for guidance or closed doors will suffice

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a sad story of a man who started out well, but was pulled off the path by the appeal of riches. Father, I want to serve you first and foremost, in major decisions and minor decisions. Lead me and guide me. Help me to know what is the right thing to do.

QT 9/12/2025 Gen 19:14-22, We are all stubborn

Genesis 19:14–22 (ESV) —

14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

NOTE: Wow, why do we argue with God so much? I realize that Lot was arguing with the angels, but I'm sure they had direction from the Lord. Lot lingers in the city. He did try to get the son-in-laws, but they would not listen. He doesn't want to go to the hills, but later we will find out that he does go to the hills. Why does he want to stay in the city? His apparent business is probably based on cities: maybe finances or trades -- it is not clear. But the key thing, he does not want to let go, almost to the point of his own death.

 

We are stubborn like Lot. We have our own idea of what is best for our lives. We don't want to listen to God. We want to be god deciding on the course and direction of our life. We want to change God's will to fit our idea of what God's will should be. We are so foolish. How do we fix this tendency? I think the greatest tool we have is the word of God. We need to be soaked in God's word. We need to read it every day. Only as the word seeps deeper in our life do we have any hope of listening to God instead of being stubborn to God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my main source of instruction about God, other's opinions or the Word of God?
2. Where am I being stubborn? And where do I need to be listening to God more than to the world?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I am stubborn. I know the sinful nature affects me. I know too that you Holy Spirit is changing me. I am not the person I was, not am I the person I will be. Thank you for the sanctifying impact of the HS on my life.

QT 9/11/2025 Gen 19:1-13, Evil can be constrained by righteous men

Genesis 19:1–13 (ESV) —

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

 

NOTE: It is hard to understand customs of hospitality or the willingness of Lot to offer his two virgin daughters to protect the men. So my focus is on the angels. They were quite insistent about sleeping in the town square, and it is clear that they had the power to protect themselves from these evil men. The passage might be interpreted as a common use of hyperbolas, not at all meaning "all the men," except for the fact that the author goes to great extent to say it was every man of the city. What an incredibly evil city! The men of the city were blinded. If they did received their sight back, they then saw the whole countryside and city go up in flames. And then they sat in Hades where the fire is forever burning.

 

The angels mission was to destroy the city. I'm sure they were already briefed on the situation and the few righteous, although, were they told there was one, three, or four righteous? My guess is that they were told one. But Lot's righteousness had an extenuating effect to his family, to include his sons-in-law. It doesn't mean that they were righteous, only that they were sanctified by him temporarily. We too have a sanctifying effect upon our community. We are part of the restraining force that is holding back evil. If, and when we disappear (are raptured), the evil in the world will be unconstrained. Lot's effect was pretty minimal in Sodom since the entire population of men were evil. As righteous men decline, sin will increase.

 

PONDER:

1. What is the effect of my own life on my community?
2. Does my life encourage sinful behavior and unrighteousness, or does it, by example, restrain evil?

 

PRAYER: Father, I desire to be a man of righteousness that, by example of life, restrains the evil in the world. Yesterday, a very evil act occurred. My country has few righteous men. And evil is increasing. Demons are once again possessing souls in large numbers.

QT 9/10/2025 Gen 18:26-33, God's patience with our prayers

Genesis 18:26–33 (ESV) —

26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

 

NOTE: In my mind, God shows tremendous patience with Abraham. The reality is that there were less than five righteous in the city at the time of Abraham's discussion with God. When it was destroyed, there were zero righteous in the city. I believe there were actually four cities destroyed. Sodom was the most notorious, but the other cities include Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. God shows similar patience when Moses continually recites reasons he can't do what God commanded. At least until Moses said "no, I'm not doing it" or something to that effect. Then it said that the "Anger of the Lord burned against Moses." The lesson in both cases is that we can be completely honest with God in our fears and struggles. He will be patient. The one thing we cannot do is to tell God that we refuse to obey him.

 

God knew that he would be saving Lot from the city. That may be the reason he sends two angels. The angels have a lot of power, but they also have limitations. They have to be physically present. But they are God's messengers and servants to accomplish his will.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I honest with God in prayer? Do I fear being honest with God?
2. Am I refusing to do something that God has commanded?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is a lot going on these days. Help me to follow through on what you have set before me. Help me to trust you. Help me to continue to lean on you. Help me to listen to your voice.

QT 9/9/2025 Gen 18:16–25, What is my purpose and my joy?

Genesis 18:16–25 (ESV) —

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

 

NOTE: A few things seem hard to understand on the surface. First, I don't think God was asking a question to his two other companions (angels) about whether to reveal his plan for Sodom. God intended to reveal the plan to Abraham and his question only reveals to Abraham his importance. God gives two reasons why he is revealing his plan. Abraham will be a mighty nation and all the earth will be blessed because of him. And he is to be an example of righteousness and justice to the world. But nearby, is exactly the opposite of what God desired for the earth. Men were destroying themselves spiritually and physically through their sin.

 

Secondly, God says the outcry has reached him in heaven, which meant that Abraham had surely heard of what was happening in that wicked city. God knows the sin, and yet on multiple occasions he makes inquiry through physical visits (Cain, then Babel). In this case, God's inquiry is through two angels (maybe the others were too). Maybe there is a lesson for angels to learn since they are not omniscient. I believe purpose in life is essential to existence, and possibly this is one of the purposes of angels. I wonder if God always uses an angel for these last minute visits.

 

Lastly, God stops walking and the angels continue on their way. In essence, God is standing before Abraham giving him a chance to plead (pray) for Sodom. Abraham approaches God and asks some very obvious and ultimately leading questions. And God is patient. I would answer Abraham and say that the righteous do suffer like the wicked many times. Our hope is not in this world, nor is our reward. I'm not sure Lot's life improved by being saved from Sodom. Our real reward is not here, but in heaven, in eternity, where like the angels we will have purpose and joy, and not be affected by a sin nature any more.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I seek my reward here on earth?
2. Are earthly joys and material rewards more important to me than what God offers?

 

PRAYER: Father, I enjoy your creation and life. Sometimes -- well, maybe oftentimes -- it has pain and suffering. And I believe I have a greater reward thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for me. Thank you for answering prayers. Thank you for letting me cast my burdens upon you. Thank you for teaching me.

QT 9/8/2025 Gen 18:9-15, Learning to trust God

Genesis 18:9–15 (ESV) —

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

 

NOTE: Sarah, like Abraham earlier, laughs at the suggestion that she might have a son. And like Abraham, it was incredulity. We know that Abraham even suggested a plan B (Ishmael) because he did not believe God. I think both of them come around to the idea of God doing the impossible, but at the moment they first hear the news of the very late in age birth, they are not so sure.

 

I don't think we can be too critical toward either of them. How often do we struggle in worry or concern when God has told us:

 

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) — 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

I know I am guilty of falling into a pattern of worrying or arguing in my head about how to fix something. How seldom do I just pray, "God, I give this into your hands. I will do the prudent thing, but I have to trust you to work out the details. I will stop replaying in mind future actions (worrying)." Well actually, this has been my prayer lately. I have had to trust God to fix things that I have little control.

 

Yes, we all fail at times in our faith. Go to God and give him your worries. Acknowledge his control.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe God is watching over me, or do I believe in a watchmaker God who doesn't interfere in the affairs of man? Our God cares.
2. Do I worry? Do I go to sleep worrying about how I am going to handle an issue at work or home? Give it to God every time you start to fall into that trap.

 

PRAYER: Father, I believe in you, but I let worry control me. Later I am learning that every time I start to worry or think about what I need to do, I just give it back to you quoting 1 Pet 5:7. I am seeing you do the things that I cannot do. Thank you.

 

QT 9/5/2025 Gen 18:1-8, Living life for others and not self

Genesis 18:1–8 (ESV) —

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

 

NOTE: Abraham is resting in the heat of the day. It was very typical to rest in the heat of the day because it was so hot. And yet, Abraham jumps up, and literally runs to each of the persons to get a meal going. He then stands by alertly while the men eat the meal.

 

What is instructional is what Abraham did not do. He did not complain that he was resting. He did not say "wait until after my nap." As a more pertinent example, He did not say "I am retired, I worked hard in my life and now it is my time to relax." He did not say "I deserve this time to take vacations and just enjoy life." Obviously, I am taking a little license with the passage, but I hear these things a lot. Technically, retirement is a modern day phenomena. God did create rest and work, but God did not create retirement. Our retirement home is a mansion in heaven being prepared for us. We were created to work and minister. We were created to rest as well, but not full-time.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I use my stage in life as an excuse not to work or minister?
2. Sometimes rest is very important, but do I always use my rest (or my hobby) as an excuse not to serve others?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to find the right balance. Thank you for the vacation with the kids. I enjoyed it. I've enjoyed the time with my wife traveling. In a few days, we will be back home, running day care for our grandchildren. Help me to be thankful and appreciative of these blessings.

QT 9/4/2025 Gen 17:15-27, When God makes it very clear, it usually means you are not listening

Genesis 17:15–27 (ESV) —

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

 

NOTE: It seems as if God has to repeat multiple times to Abraham that Sarah will be the mother of his son. Some argue that Abraham's laughter was not unbelief because he was not rebuked by God like Sarah, but the insistence of God through repetition alone is a sort of rebuke. Not to mention God's dismissal of Abraham's alternative plan of Ishmael, and repetition of Sarah giving birth to Isaac. God leaves off the "wife" description of Sarah if only to make the point stronger, Sarah will give birth to Isaac. Abraham comes across thick-headed. Whereas Sarah understands exactly what God says (in chapter 18) and laughs incredulously (as Abraham did as well). In some ways, Sarah's faith seems stronger than Abraham. She knew what God was saying, and Abraham is still offering other solutions. God even gives a date, "about this time next year."

 

PONDER:

1. How many times does God need to tell me something before I listen?
2. What will it take for God to get your attention?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't want to be thick-headed. I want to hear and listen to you when you speak to me. Help me to keep my ears open and listen to you.

QT 9/3/2025 Gen 17:1-14, The land of Israel is an everlasting possession

Genesis 17:1–14 (ESV) —

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

 

NOTE: In light of today's debate between Palestinians and Jews, the promise of verse 8 stands out, "for an everlasting possession." Later in the law, we will see in Deuteronomy "curses" if the people fail to abide by the law, to include being taken out of the land, but that does not revoke the promise of an everlasting possession. The land of Abraham's sojournings is Israel's for all of time. And that technically includes Gaza, the previous land that the Philistines took residence in. The Philistines have always been a thorn in the literal side of Israel. In another passage, God says that he allowed them to test Israel's faith, but it is not Philistine's land. It is all Israel's. And someday, in the millennial kingdom, Israel will take complete possession of the land.

 

What does this mean to us in this day? First, the land is Israel's. Second, Israel has a right to defend themselves and live in peace. Israel was not attacking Hamas, it has always been the terrorists attacking Israel. The world hates Israel for no reason other than they are "God's chosen people."

We do need to do something. We need to pray for both peoples. We can't stop from terrorists hiding among civilians, but we can pray that the people turn against terrorism.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I pray for Israel and their enemies to turn from violence?
2. Have I fallen for the arguments of the culture against Israel without researching the facts?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do pray for Israel and those who are living in Gaza. I pray they would turn to Jesus, our only hope for peace. I pray for their eyes to open to truth. I pray they would repent of their violence. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

QT 9/2/2025 Gen 16:7-16, Submitting to God versus being a god

Genesis 16:7–16 (ESV) —

7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant

and shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,

his hand against everyone

and everyone’s hand against him,

and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

 

NOTE: There is much to say about this passage. The consequence of Abram's action cause deep pain and enduring conflict. But even though Abram sought to fulfill God's promise on his own human effort, God does not abandon this baby born outside of his will. God sees and hears Hagar's distress, and promises a blessing upon her child. We can argue if it was a blessing or not, but I believe it was. The message that I see is that God cares for each of us. He sees us in our distress and desires to rescue us, but few are willing to humble themselves, cry out for his help, and submit to his rescue plan. Pain does not prove God's non-existence, it proves we abandoned God to be our own gods. He uses pain to show us that our rebellion does not make life better or easier, only emptier. He calls us to repent and return to him.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I pretend to worship, and in reality I worship myself as god?
2. Do I demand to live life my way or am I willing to submit to God and live life as he commands?

 

PRAYER: Father, your way is much better than my way. I know it to be true, but so few believe it. They may pretend it, but they don't believe it. Protect me from that subtle deception.

QT 9/1/2025 Gen 16:1-6, Trusting God versus doing God's work

Genesis 16:1–6 (ESV) —

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

 

NOTE: I think the thing I struggle with the most concerning God's will is the balance between prudent action and getting my sticky fingers involved (an American idiom for influencing a decision in the way that you want). How much effort should be prudent steps of actions (things I ought to do) and how much needs to be based on faith? In this case, impregnating a surrogate mother, even if the custom of the time allowed it and your wife's idea, it seems to be going too far. But Abram's failure is not so much the listening to his wife (although this time she was wrong), but not communicating truth to her. Abram is not recorded as having said anything, at least until the situation was over. Abram needed to be the spiritual leader, but he did not stand up to his responsibility. Why? Did he give in to the lust of the flesh? Maybe, he had said something earlier but was tired about the issue of barrenness. Sari has lived with this burden her entire married life. I'm sure it wore her out. I can't imagine her anguish and pain. But God's word is not cancelled because the pain is too great or the emotional need too high.

 

PONDER:

1. What decision am I waiting upon God to answer?
2. What are the prudent actions? And what are the actions that go too far? It is good to decide these early.

 

PRAYER: Father, it is easy to criticize Abram and Sarai, although we are not any better. We all fail in many ways, and sometimes are too blind to notice the things we do. Father, help us to trust. Protect us from actions that only will create more pain in the long run.

QT 8/29/2025 Gen 15:12-21, A glimpse into Israel's future

Genesis 15:12–21 (ESV) —

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

 

NOTE: A number of pieces of information are given in this passage. One, Abram's descendants will be slaves in a land that is not theirs (that will be Egypt). They will stay there 400 years, the time allotted by God to give the current inhabitants of their future land to repent. They will leave the land that they lived as slaves with many possessions and riches. God promises the land from the Nile to the Euphrates as theirs. They never did take possession of the land, but it is still theirs by divine right. People may chant "from the river to the sea" but God "SAID" overrides their feeble chants. The ancient covenant ritual means, so be it to me (split down the middle) if I do not fulfill my side of the bargain. Both parties would walk between the halves of animals in the agreement. But Abram sleeps and God passes between the halves. In other words, this is an unconditional covenant. It does not depend on Abram any longer. Because of his faith, God creates an unconditional covenant with Abram regarding the promise of the land.

 

The point is that Israel did not deserve the land. They were nobody special, but God in his grace gives them the land. That is his promise. He can take it away at times, as specified later in the Mosaic covenant, but as long as the land exists, it will be theirs again. Most conservative commentators believe the promise will be completely fulfilled in the millennial kingdom, when the Messiah rules on earth. I believe those days are nearing, of course, so has everyone else who ever believed. And as days pass, it must naturally get closer. Something in my mind, maybe it is just hope, seems to suggest that the 2000 years of church age is coming to a close. I can't prove it, and my scientific arguments are weak (2000 years for pre-Abram, 2000 years of Abram and Mosaic covenant, and 2000 years of the new covenant, with a remaining 1000 years for the millennial kingdom -- seven millennial periods). Whatever the truth, we need to be about the kingdom work!

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing to further the work of the kingdom?
2. What could I be doing to further the work of the kingdom?

 

PRAYER: Father, give me grace to use my days wisely. Help me to see where you can use me and how I can further your work. Thank you that I can see what most people will unfortunately never see. I see life and peace and hope. Thank you!

QT 8/28/2025 Gen 15:1-11, Do not fear

Genesis 15:1–11 (ESV) —

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

 

NOTE: Abram is struggling with fear. The fear is probably two-fold. One, in an area known for vengeance and retaliation, he has just made at least 4 or 5 new enemies. Two, he is getting older and he is still childless. Lot went back to Sodom. Life was not heading in the right direction from his perspective, despite the amazing victory to rescue Lot. God meets with him and gives him a great promise of future blessings. He promises him to be his shield and protect him, and promises to reward him. We struggle with Gods' definition of reward. God's reward is always going to be better than what we want, but we don't see it. We have to trust and sometimes we have to wait. We want it all now. And we want things that are not really that important. But God knows what we really need, and he wants to use our lives for a greater glory.

 

PONDER:

1. What do I fear?
2. What do I truly fear if I am honest? And why?

 

PRAYER: Father, I fear a lot of stupid things. I fear taking care of things before they fall apart and get worst because I don't have time. I fear my children making poor choices. I fear pain. I fear the unknown. Give me grace to trust in you and believe you. You are my shield too, I have seen it. And I have found you to be my very great reward. Thank you.

 

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.