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.

QT 9/25/2025 Gen 22:1-8, The most difficult test ever

Genesis 22:1–8 (ESV) —

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

 

NOTE: I can't even imagine being in Abraham's shoes. Even the request of God seems out of place, because later in the law, human sacrifice was strongly disallowed. But the passage tells us it was a test; there was never any outcome where God was going to allow Abraham to sacrifice his son. From Abraham's viewpoint, he did not know that. Many people groups sacrificed children, but Abraham's faith, at this point, was that God would do what he had promised for decades, he would provide a son. Here he (Isaac) was, and God would do what it takes to restore him. Still, walking up that mountain, how did Abraham not pour out tears the whole way up the mountain? I would have bawled. The sacrifice is a picture to us of what God felt when he sent his son to die for our sins. Jesus carried the cross up the mountain, just as Isaac carried the wood for the fire. God the Father did what Abraham probably expected for Isaac, God raised him from the dead. Jesus is the first fruits of what is promised to every believer, a new body (free of sin), a new life, and a new future.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God completely?
2. Do I appreciate what God the Father did for me through the death of his son on the cross?

 

PRAYER: Father, all I can say is thank you for your son's death for my sins, and for your resurrection of your son as a Firstfruits of all who have placed their faith in Jesus. Thank you.

QT 9/24/2025 Gen 21:22-34, Tests of faith

Genesis 21:22–34 (ESV) —

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

 

NOTE: Abraham shows a certain bravery "I dug this well" and willingness to confront Abimelech, that was not there before Isaac's birth and the last encounter with Abimelech when he passes his wife off as his sister. I believe the birth of Isaac is a pivotal point in Abraham's faith. It is as if Abraham's new reasoning -- if God can do the impossible and provide a baby to a very old couple, he really can do whatever he chooses to do. In a sense, the confrontation with Abimelech is the first test of this new "walking faith." Next chapter is a much greater test where Abraham must believe that God can make the dead live again.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have Abraham's "walking faith" that God can do whatever he chooses?
2. Or do I still believe I must solve my own problems?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know what I ought to believe, although I still struggle over-analyzing problems. I will continue to work to give those things to you and yet also act prudently.

QT 9/23/2025 Gen 21:14–21, Seeking the true God

Genesis 21:14–21 (ESV) —

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

 

NOTE: It is hard to "explain" the actions here. Abraham is commanded by God to give up his son. But God has other plans for Ishmael, and while there is a lot of pain and rejection, ultimately God takes care of Ishmael. Sometimes it is hard to believe, given the animosity between Israel and the Arabs, but God loves Ishmael too. God did not speak to Mohammed in a cave, and Ishmael was not the son taken up on Mount Moriah, Isaac was. But, Jesus offers salvation to the Arab as to any other Gentile. Some of the Arab nations will wake up to that truth in the end days and turn to the real God and the real savior of the world.

 

Israel is as blind as the Arabs today to their true salvation. They fight each other (Jew and Arab) but do not have to fight, they need to repent and turn to Jesus for true life.

 

One last thought, when life seems at the worst point it can be, one is never forgotten by God. He is not unaware to our cries. The problem is not that God is not there, the problem is that we have removed ourselves from God. There is hope if we would turn back to him, repent, and seek Jesus. God provides redemption for the worst of sinners.

 

In the Muslim world, God is transcendent and not affected by individual cries of pain. That is not how God reveals himself in the bible. He is knowable by men and women.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I know Jesus, really know Jesus, or am I playing religious games?
2. Am I moving closer to God each day or further away from God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your word and your truth. I pray for you to make it clear to many others who are fighting the wrong enemy. The evil one has deceived many young people today. They don't know what their real hope is. Redeem your people, open our eyes, allows us one last great awakening.

QT 9/22/2025 Gen 21:8–13, Consequences of living outside Gods' will is pain

Genesis 21:8–13 (ESV) —

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”

 

NOTE: I believe this is the second time God has told Abraham to listen to his wife in a situation where Abraham disagreed (proving that submission does not mean the husband should act as a tyrant). The fact that Sarah's request violates some of the cultural norms of the time is even more telling. In Sarah's defense, she was also giving Hagar and her son freedom, and she was protecting her own son's inheritance. Ishmael would become an enemy to Israel in time. Today, many Muslims believe it was Ishmael, and not Isaac who traveled up to Moriah for the sacrifice. They base that on the phrase "first-born son," but the text clearly also says Isaac. So, they are also enemies in faith as well as enemies to the world. I say world because of the prophecy, in Gen 16:12.

 

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.”

 

I know many have mentioned this point, but Abraham's deception added Hagar to his company, and the couple's (Abraham and Sarah) failure to wait upon God led to Ishmael. The consequences of acting outside the will of God were very painful.

 

I think the same is true for us when we act outside of God's will. We are forgiven when we repent as Abraham and Sarah were, but we still have the consequences. We can only pray, and for believers trust in God's promise:

 

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I seek God in my decisions in life?
2. Do I act without praying?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the insights from your word. I do pray to remain in your will. I pray for protection from the evil one and from temptation to sin. I pray that I would be a godly man and a godly example to those around me.

 

QT 9/19/2025 Gen 21:1-7, Remembering momentous events

Genesis 21:1–7 (ESV) —

1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

 

NOTE: This event transforms Abraham. From my previous studies, he truly begins to walk by faith at this point in his life. I say this to Abraham's credit, because I have found that miraculous healings or interventions by God in our life are often forgotten in time, at least to the extent that we start to struggle with fear again. God, later in the bible story, will tell people to set up reminders of miraculous events. One such reminder, a pile of large rocks is called an "ebenezer" and is featured in a song of faith. I won't say it prevents fear, but these reminders do help. My journal functions similarly for me. I rewrote a number of very difficult quiet times from 1987-1988 in July 2012 of my quiet time blog (https://qt-notes.blogspot.com/). I can't read them without tearing up. They are such a good reminder of pain, and how ultimately God carried us through that time. But unlike Abraham, my transformation seems more gradual in regards to trust and faith. Only now am I realizing what it means to let go of things and give them to God.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I remember the tough times of life and how God was working?
2. Do I keep any record of God's work in my own life?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the things you have taken us through. They have been good but hard. I wouldn't go through them again. I would wish for a different path, but I do thank you. My life is different because you are changing it from degree of glory to another, and hopefully someday (in heaven) to be like my savior.

QT 9/18/2025 Gen 20:8-18, Don't give up

Genesis 20:8–18 (ESV) —

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

 

NOTE: It is really sad when the men of the world show more morality than the people of God. That is usually not the case, but it does still happen. Abraham had some reason to fear Abimelech, or at least some of the city leaders. Once again, Abraham does seem to prosper financially from the event. Abraham uses a human justification, i.e., "I didn't really lie," in his defense. It is deceitful. It is the way the world acts, not the way a man of God should act. If not for God's intervention, His plan to bless the world through Abraham would be ended.

 

It is important to remember that after the birth of Abraham's miracle son, Abraham never falters. He really does live by faith, but at this point, he does not seem to be much of an example, except for an example of fallen man.

 

What is the takeaway? We never fall so much or so often as to be a failure in God's eyes. He sees us. He sees our failures. He forgives us. We can start over every time. One of my favorite verses reminds me of this every time.

 

Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV) —

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I going through a period of discouragement because I feel like a failure? Each morning is new. Each morning there is mercy.
2. Abraham was honored for his faith, but it didn't mean he always exercised faith. I am a son of God too. Do I appreciate his never ending love for me?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for growth. I am not perfect, but each day I will seek you. I will fail at times, but I know I am never rejected by you. Thank you for grace and mercy.

QT 9/17/2025 Gen 20:1–7, Giving our worries to God when our minds start dwelling on something

Genesis 20:1–7 (ESV) —

1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

 

NOTE: I don't know why Abraham continues this deception at each place where he travels. In this case, God intervenes. The narrative is quite clear that Sarah was never touched. Abimelech, a Philistine, shows better behavior than Abraham at this point. Although after the birth of Isaac, there is a change in Abraham's life. He shows courage and does not cower in fear any more.

 

What will it take to in our own lives to stop cowering in fear and to believe that God's hand will protect us? Sometimes, God will take us through many difficult things to get us to the point that we have to stop worrying and start trusting God. I feel I've gone through this cycle a few times. And recently have had more success than in the past. I can't blame Abraham for his actions. Mine are no better, just more subtle. I am learning that he will take care of me as I give to him my worries and fears. Whenever I find myself dwelling on a subject, that is my reminder to hand it to God.

 

PONDER:

1. Where is my trust in God?
2. Do I say the words or do I live the life? (and I am not referring to stoicism, which is not trust, but rather fake trust)

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the answered prayers. Thank you for the things you are doing. Thank you for what you are teaching me. Have mercy on me, a sinner. Forgive me when I fail, or sin, or forget you. Give me my bread and strength for the day.

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.