Tag Archives: Belief

Isaac Survives a Famine (Gen 26)

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Bible Summary:

Another famine hits Canaan. The Lord tells Isaac not to go to Egypt but stay in the lands near Canaan that He promised Abraham, so Isaac moves to the land of Philistines.

Isaac tells everyone Rebecca is his sister for fear they will kill him for his beautiful wife. King Abimelech sees Isaac and Rebecca making love, so challenges Isaac about the lie. Isaac tells the king of his fear, so Abimelech warns his people not to mistreat them or be put to death.

Isaac becomes a farmer, reaps a hundred times as much as he sows, and becomes a very rich man. The Philistines become jealous and fill Isaac’s wells, plus King Abimelech asks Isaac to leave.

Isaac moves twice and digs new wells. Each time the shepherds of the area quarrel over the water, so Isaac moves on. With no dispute after the third move, Isaac stays and names the well “Freedom”.

Isaac then leaves for Beersheba. God appears and tells Isaac not to fear because He is with him. Abimelech shows up with an advisor and army commander to make a peace agreement since Isaac was close to God. They celebrate with a feast.

My Thoughts:

Wife as Sister Again: Isaac pulls the same stunt as Abraham did to Abimelech in Genesis 20 by telling everyone his wife is his sister. Maybe the fear of being killed for his wife is real since they are foreigners. Things were a lot different back then.

Isaac Rich Again: I guess Isaac must have lost his inheritance during the famine, likely spent on the only remaining food, since this story says he becomes rich in the new lands. Farming seems somewhat of a break from shepherding for Isaac, though he still has sheep per the quarreling over the wells. Farming is a natural response to famine though.

Do Not Fear: God says, “Do not be afraid; I am with you.”  God is always with us, each and every one of us.  I love the poem Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson.  It helps me remember that God is there, even when things are not going well.

God’s Ultimate Test for Abraham (Gen 22)

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Bible Summary:

God demands the ultimate test of Abraham, the sacrifice of his son Isaac.  Abraham takes Isaac on a three day journey to the mountains.  Isaac asks where the lamb is for the sacrifice.  Abraham says God will provide one and then a little later ties Isaac to an altar and goes after him with a knife.  An angel of the Lord stops Abraham and provides him a ram to sacrifice instead.   From heaven, God tells Abraham he will richly reward him for his obedience with “as many descendants as there are stars in the sky.”

My Thoughts:

Loyalty: I guess God needed to test Abraham’s loyalty since he didn’t believe Isaac could be born to him and Sarah at such an advanced age (Gen 17 & Gen 18).  Being a parent, I find it amazing that Abraham could even try to go through with killing his own son.  But, Abraham proved true to God.

Belief: The Jewish people “believe” they are the chosen ones of God because of stories like this, which helps them “act” like chosen ones.  In reality, we are all chosen ones, no matter who you are!  I challenge you to believe you are a chosen one of God and act like it. You will be surprise how your life will improve.

STOP: Do NOT try to kill your child based on this Bible story.  Please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 if you need help.

Isaac is Born (Gen 21)

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Bible Summary:

In her nineties, Sarah gives birth to a son for Abraham as God said would happen. Abraham circumcises his son Isaac as God commanded.  Sarah tells Abraham to send the slave Hagar and his son by her Ishmael away without any of his wealth.  God tells Abraham not to worry about Ishmael, since he will father a great nation too.  Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, but God watches out for them in the desert.  Ishmael grows into a skillful hunter and Hagar gets him an Egyptian wife.

My Thoughts:

Fulfilling Promises: God fulfills his promise to Abraham by giving him a son by his wife. Abraham reciprocates by circumcising Isaac.  I am sure this is the point where Abraham and Sarah finally believe in God and his promise that they will have many descendants. No more laughing disbelief from them.

God Cares for Ishmael: Even though Ishmael is out of favor with the chosen family of Abraham, God still cares for him.  The Old Testament is a story passed down over many centuries by one line of people, so they will naturally show themselves in a better light. However, God loves and cares for us all just the same.

God Promises Abraham a Son (Gen 18: 1-15)

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Text Summary:

The Lord appears to Abraham with two other men.  Abraham serves them humbly, even though he is like a king in that area.  One of the men said Sarah would have a son nine months from then.  She laughed since she is so old and her periods have stopped.  The Lord asks, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  Sarah denies laughing since she is afraid.

My Thoughts:

Repetition: This shows the repetitive nature of the storytelling of old, being the second time in a row that God has told Abraham he will have a son.

Two Other Men: This story seems more like three wise men show up and one foretells the coming of Sarah’s son.  Maybe Abraham sees God in many people like Mother Teresa of Calcutta did.

Doing Right: Okay, I was wrong, it looks like the storyteller is showing how to “do right” before the Ten Commandments.  This passage shows how people, even in high places, should serve others humbly.  It illustrates the Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated, thousands of years before Jesus.

Belief: God finally questions them about their belief in his power, in this case to give Sarah a son.  Sarah fears God enough to deny she had laughed.

It is so hard to believe without concrete proof.  That is what faith is about.  Don’t give up. Believe!

God’s Promise to Abraham (Gen 17)

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Text Summary:

Thirteen years later, God appears and basically repeats his promise to Abram, now 99, of many descendants and the land we know as Israel.  He tells Abram to obey and always do what is right.  God demands Abram agree to circumcision of all males, which he shows by having all males circumcised, including himself and Ishmael.  He also renames him Abraham and his wife Sarah.  God promises to bless Sarah with a son, Isaac.  Abraham bows, laughs that they can have kids at such an advanced age, and then asks God why Ishmael can’t be his heir.  God says Isaac will be the one, but blesses Ishmael with many descendants as well.

My Thoughts:

Obedience: Obedience is a persistent theme throughout the Bible, likely because God was talking to some very strong-willed individuals like Abraham.  It is also likely because these stories were also told to children by adults seeking their obedience.

Doing Right: Emphasizing doing right in the Bible was likely for the same child education reason.  These were the first stories ever told.  There were no Mother Goose rhymes, Dr. Seuss, Curious George, Eric Carle, or Harry Potter books back then. We will have to wait until Exodus for Moses and the Ten Commandments to find out what defines “right”.

Circumcision:  Okay, I have no clue about circumcision (find details at Wikipedia Circumcision).  Here again, I think the storyteller uses God’s command as the reason for continuing the practice.

Changing Names: So, what is the significance of changing their names?  I think it shows a break from Abraham and Sarah’s past lives into this new covenant of their lineage with God.

Belief: Abraham and Sarah do not truly believe in God’s promise or His power.  Abraham laughs that Sarah can become pregnant at ninety years old.  I mean, who wouldn’t?  And, Sarah gave him her slave girl to impregnate 13 years earlier.  Maybe this is why God waited 13 years to reestablish the promise with Abraham.  The proof will be when Isaac is born and then they will believe.

For Us: It can take us a long time to believe in God, but he will patiently wait for us to come around.  Sometimes, we have a hard time believing in God or what he has in store for us. The proof for us is always when something is actually accomplished.  During the struggle, we often think God has abandoned us, but He is always there.  Talk to Him!  Pray.  He will listen.