January 08, 2004
Daily Bible - Trust and Obey
Today's reading is found in Genesis 15:1 to Genesis 17:27.
It's kinda funny in a way. Abram is speaking with the maker of the heavens and earth and he whines that he has no heir to carry out the covenant with God? What's wrong with this guy? And then to add insult to injury, he takes a servant to produce the heir rather than his own wife? Granted, she hadn't produced any offspring for him, but when God himself tells you to do something, he's not going to ask an impossible task of you. If it's something that you can't do yourself, that's His time to shine! Needless to say, I'm not impressed with Abram in this. What does this lack of faith cost Abram and his descendents, the Jewish population? What do we call the offspring of Ishmael? Ever heard of Palestinians? Trust and Obey.
Editor's note: I don't mean to declare that all Palestinians are a trouble to Israel or that they are inherently bad people. They, as a group, have been very outspoken against the Jews for thousands of years, and none of this would have been a problem had Abram relied on a promised miracle and bore all of his children with Sarai. Of course, then I would be short at least one friend as well...
What's the big deal about renaming Abram and Sarai you ask? When you name something, you claim ownership of it. I named my son and he is mine. My wife took my last name and she is mine to care for. Adam named the animals and was placed over them. This ownership is more of a caretaker role than master. God was saying to Abraham and Sarah that he would look over them for the end of their days. If that isn't awesome, I don't know what is!
by Doug McHone at 12:00 AM
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We were discussing in BSF the danger of letting circumstances, or 'it feels right' dictate our actions.
Jonah had it in his mind to run the opposite direction from Ninevah. He went to a seaport (no thunderclouds), found a ship to Tarshish (still no lightening), bought a ticket (no smiting yet), boarded and found a comfy spot to sleep in the bottom of the boat... (cue thunderclouds)
Abram fell into the same insiduous trap (we all do really)... Sarah says she can't do it she is too old... Local custom says it is cool to have progeny from houseservants (pre-sexual harrassment laws)... Hagar is a sexy little Egyptian... Mmm... Okay...
By all recounts, Abram should have had some smiting going on... (as should have Jonah)
But instead we find grace... mercy... not only for Abram and Jonah, but also for his progeny. Ishmael is blessed with a great nation as well... not the promised line of the messiah, but not eternally damned either.
God lets us have a pretty long leash... He'll let us pull at it, but when it comes to doing his will, he oftens will give a big ol' yank on the chain to get us back on the sidewalk.
Peace.
Posted by: Gator at January 8, 2004 09:20 AM