Tag Archives: the book of Genesis

February 17
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“Then he said to the man, ‘Hold out your hand.’ So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!” (Matthew 12:13, NLT)

Oswald Chambers reminds us: “God does not give us overcoming life — He gives us life as we overcome.”

The first task in our partnership with God is obedience. Too often, we say to God, “Show me, and I will go,” when God is saying to us, “Go, and I will show you.” To do the latter is to live by faith in God. To do the former is to live by common sight and human insight alone. 

Today’s scripture illustrates for us the way in which our heavenly Father works — which is the same as it was centuries before in the call of the “father of the faithful” — Abraham (who was previously named Abram): “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.'” (Genesis 12:1)

It each case — including our own in our day — the great work of God begins with our personal commitment through obedience. Stretch out your hand. The overcoming power of God has never been nearer!  – Luther

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January 11
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“‘Here comes that dreamer!’,  they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’” (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV)

The maltreatment of Joseph began with the evil plans of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers resented Joseph on many levels: He was their father’s favorite son (and Joseph made no secret that he knew that his father’s favor rested on him); and Joseph made much of his dreams, in which he seemed always to be the hero. The good news here is that God works on many levels, too.  Joseph’s circumstances were used by God to fit Joseph for God’s work; he used the brothers’ guilt to provoke confession and true repentance; and throughout, God was glorified for His love and His mercy.

Like Joseph, we do not know where life will take us; but we should never doubt that God is at work in our circumstances — however hopeless from our perspective — to transform us into the image of Christ; to bless others; and to glorify God. If we are convinced of this, though we may fall down, we shall not stay down!  – Luther

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January 7
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“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . .’  So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.” (Genesis 12: 1, 4a, NIV)

The Lord said, “Go. . . and I will show you. . .”  The problem with us often is that we counter God with, “Show me, and I will go.”

This is why Abram (his name was later changed to Abraham) is regarded to this day as the “father of the faithful.”  It is also why we miss-out on the adventure of walking with our heavenly Father.

When God calls, answer.  Where God directs, follow.  What God commands, obey.  All who aspire to be as Abram was must make a conscious decision to “walk by faith, not by sight.”  – Luther

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