Tag: Abraham

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

An unusual classroom

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)

No matter how many times I read this passage of scripture, I come away with questions. How could God ask Abraham to do something like this? How could Abraham even consider going through with it? What did Isaac think about this moment?

From our point of view, little about this makes sense. But I could look at it from a different perspective. What does God reveal about himself in Genesis 22? What do I learn about God?

God does not want human sacrifice. Other Canaanite religions sacrificed their children as a way of appeasing their gods. God is not like those gods. His love does not come in response to anything we do or not do. His love is who he is.

God does provide the substitute sacrifice, just as Abraham knew he would (22:8). A ram is the substitute for Isaac. Ultimately, God provided his own son as a substitute, atoning sacrifice for us. How could he do that? We are that important, that valuable to him.

God had promised Abraham that Isaac would be his heir, the beginnings of a great nation. God keeps his promises. He is faithful. I can trust him.

It takes a long time to learn obedience. It took Abraham twenty-five years to get to this point, where he knows, trusts, and obeys God. It’s a process. It takes time.

We’ll never understand everything about God. He is far beyond our comprehension. But he has revealed a lot about himself in creation and in the bible. That I can understand.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What a ridiculous prayer

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

How bold are my prayers? Do I pray for what I think God would be willing to give? Or do I go out on a limb with a ridiculous prayer for grace and mercy? Will I go to bat for someone undeserving of anything but his wrath? Am I willing to ask for something I don’t — and never could — deserve?

Abraham prays with boldness and humility in Genesis 18.

Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” (Genesis 18:27,28)

From a place of extreme humility, Abraham isn’t shy about challenging God’s plan to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. His bold prayer originates from the dust and ashes of someone just as sinful, just as deserving of God’s wrath. He is not afraid to confront God, negotiate with God, and call God out on matters of justice.

“Maybe there are a few good people there.” Sure, keep dreaming Abraham. I know you care about your nephew Lot. He chose to live in Sin City, remember? His wife will look back and be turned into a pillar of salt. His daughters will use him to bear children who will torment God’s people for generations to come.

50? 45? 30? 20? 10 righteous people? If you can find that many, God will step back. He doesn’t. There wasn’t. God’s judgment is perfect, just, righteous, and appropriate. He knows what’s going on. He knows what he’s doing.

Abraham’s humble yet bold prayers remind me of something Paul wrote in Romans 8:34. There we read that Christ “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” The one who humbled himself and became a servant boldly goes to bat for us, as deserving of God’s wrath as any sinner in scripture. Forget about fifty righteous or even ten. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). We’re only spared because he took the full wrath of God on our behalf, “wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).

Both Abraham and Christ remind me that humility and boldness in prayer go hand in hand.

Posted in Advent devotions

Instead of

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Sixth, seventh, or eighth on the bench? You’re not a starter. You can wait to sub in to show what you can do on the court.

A substitute teacher? That’s got to be one of the toughest jobs ever. It takes a special person to take on students you don’t know for little pay.

“Playing the part of…” The audience is disappointed that an understudy will be performing. The understudy is thrilled.

When the menu states, “No substitutions,” will you still ask for fruit instead of fries?

“Alexa, what can I substitute for buttermilk?” Answer: milk with vinegar; or sour cream.) Since we’re in the kitchen, you can also substitute granulated sugar and some molasses if you don’t have brown sugar for a recipe.

When God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Abraham is confident that “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). When “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” (Genesis 22:13). Just as promised, God provided a substitute for his son.

That is faith. Abraham has confidence. His obedience demonstrates absolute trust. In this story, God paints a picture of who his son Jesus will be. He’ll be a substitute for us, suffering and dying in our place on the cross, suffering the punishment for sin.

Advent is about the coming of a substitute. You could shoot spitballs at him in an unruly classroom. You can cheer him on when he step onto the court. You can applaud when he finally has a chance to take the stage. You can thank God that there are substitutions in his kingdom. You can worship him as the one who stood in for you and took the wrath of God for your sin.

Two words to sum up the gospel? “Instead of.” Forgiveness instead of punishment. Life instead of death. Joy instead of sadness. Hope instead of despair. Light instead of darkness.

And a ram instead of Isaac. Another image of Jesus. Here’s one for the Jesse Tree:

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

“So how did you two meet?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 24.

When I’m getting to know new neighbors or folks I meet at church, I’ll often ask, “So how did you two meet?” More and more the answer is, “Actually, we met online.” Not surprising, since we live a lot of our lives in a virtual, digital world.

Imagine asking Isaac, “How did you meet your wife?” He would answer, “Well, my dad’s servant brought Rebekah home from my Uncle Laban’s home.” It was a very different world. No dating. No courtship. No engagement. Isaac and Rebekah met on their wedding day. (Genesis 24:62-67)

God is the primary matchmaker in Genesis 24. Abraham assigns his servant the task of finding the right wife for his son. Talk about pressure! The servant prays for help in finding the right woman to bring home for Isaac, and God answers in a big way.

I like the idea that God has a hand in bringing couples together. He does so in some very creative ways, too. That’s why it’s always fun to ask, “How did you two meet?”

I met my wife when I was studying for pastoral ministry at the seminary. Her older brother was a classmate of mine, and we met when she came to visit him. It was pretty much the last place I expected to meet my spouse. Forty years, three children, and nine grandchildren later, I’m grateful God brought us together.

Posted in Devotions, Grace, mercy, Through the Bible Devotions

You want me to do what?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Angel Balashev on Unsplash

A “through the bible devotion from Genesis 22.

God says to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you”(Genesis 22:2).

That is a big ask. It seems so unlike God. Why would he ask Abraham to do such a thing? And why would Abraham even consider doing it?

There is only one answer, and it’s the one Abraham vocalizes. “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering” (v8).

It’s too much to ask. The cost is too high. The sacrifice is unthinkable. God is the only one with the resources to redeem a life. He’s the only one who can redeem my life.

We have the advantage of seeing how the whole story plays out. God will provide the ultimate sacrifice, his son, Jesus. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

Of course there is a lesson in all of this. Unless we walk the path of obedience, like Abraham did, we won’t get to experience what God provides.

  • Moses, you’re going to have to throw down that staff if you want to see it turn into a serpent.
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego can’t bow down to an idol if they want to encounter the Son of God in a fiery furnace.
  • The priests had to take that first step into the Jordan river to see God stop it’s flow so the nation could cross into the promised land.
  • A widow didn’t experience God’s provision until she baked that last loaf of bread for Elijah.

Letting my light shine makes the world a brighter place. Asking opens my eyes to the ways God provides. Confessing my sins opens a door for grace. So does forgiving someone. Praying for someone I don’t like changes my attitude towards them. Imitating the Good Samaritan and helping someone unleashes mercy in a cruel and heartless world.

What do you think God will provide today?

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Suddenly you’re second fiddle

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Joel Wyncott on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 21.

A friend of mine played violin with a number of symphony orchestras. At family gatherings, they would ask her to play for them. The problem is, she played second violin. None of the music she knew was a recognizable melody, just harmony.

But you’ve got to have those parts. An orchestra is filled with strings, brass, and reeds who are playing second, third, and fourth parts. It’s all those harmonies that really bring the melody to life.

As soon as Isaac is born, Sarah wants Hagar and her son Ishmael out of the house. Now that he’s second fiddle, he’s no longer welcome. But God is faithful, and promises that Ishmael will also be the father of a great nation, too. (Genesis 21:18) After all, he is Abraham’s son.

Every high school and college graduates someone who is ranked last in their class. It might not be something to be proud of, but you still get a diploma. I’ll bet a number of them go on to be successful.

Paul considered himself as the least of the apostles, the foremost of sinners, and the least of all the saints. And yet grace was given to him, the chance to preach Christ!

So what if you’re not the GOAT. You’re still important to God.

Posted in Devotions, Grace, Through the Bible Devotions

Haven’t you learned anything?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion on Genesis 20.

Wait a minute. Didn’t we just read a story like this just a few chapters before (Genesis 12)? Abraham is lying again, telling Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, to save his skin (Genesis 20:2). Hasn’t he learned to trust God? Hasn’t he learned anything? Apparently not.

I should look at myself in the mirror and ask, “Haven’t you learned anything?” Apparently not. You and I make the same mistakes over and over again, don’t we? We don’t sin in new and creative ways. We’ve got our favorite failures. We fall into the same temptation over and over again.

Well meaning folks have told me, “You can’t keep doing the same wrong things over and over again.” My response is, “Then why do you?” Why don’t you keep our mouths shut? Why don’t you control your tempers? Why are are you accumulating so many material possessions? Why haven’t you witnessed to your neighbor? Why are you so worried about the future? (Feel free to add more to this list.)

When the pressure’s on, when you’re afraid, when you’re jealous of someone else, or envious of their life, a lot of conviction goes right out the window. So many things that promise to make us feel safe and loved and happy overshadow the truths we learned last Sunday morning.

“How many times should I forgive?” (Matthew 18:21,22). Jesus said the number is a lot higher than you think. Good thing. My sins are a lot more than I like to admit.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

What if there are a few good people there?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Matthew Ball on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 18.

Luke Skywalker insists that there is still some good in his father, Darth Vader. Luke is determined to rescue him from the dark side. The joyful people of Whoville change the heart of the Grinch with their Christmas day song. Gru turns out to be a pretty good dad in Despicable Me. Ebenezer Scrooge can change his ways with the help of a few Christmas spirits in A Christmas Carol.

Knowing that judgment is coming, Abraham asks the Lord, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (Genesis 18:23) He puts in a plug for what is arguably the wickedest city that ever existed. What if there are some good people there? Why should they have to suffer? Maybe it’s not as bad there as everyone says.

A former corrections officer told me that most prisoners he talked to thought of themselves as good people. They were in prison because of a bad choice, they hung out with the wrong people, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other than the crime they were convicted of, they believed themselves to be decent people.

I think it’s interesting how reluctant we are to accept God’s diagnosis of our condition. Paul collects a few Old Testament references when he write to Christians in Rome and reminds them that no one is righteous, no one seeks God, and no one is good. (Romans 3:10-12). I’ve never heard a eulogy expounding on how bad someone was. Rather, the deceased is characterized as nice, generous, unselfish, kind, and loving. I’ve sometimes wondered if I was at the right funeral, since the description didn’t sound at all like the person I knew!

I’ve got to hand it to Abraham. He’s always open and honest with God. He’s not afraid to challenge the Almighty’s motives and actions.

God humors Abraham. “If you can find some righteous people there, I’ll spare the city.” Fifty? Sure. How about 40? Okay. By the time Abraham works his way down to ten, he gets it. This isn’t a movie. There’s not going to be a happy ending.

Posted in Devotions, laughter, Through the Bible Devotions

There is a time to laugh

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jenna Anderson on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 18 and 19.

I’m grateful for the gift of laughter. I love “peek-a-boo” toddler giggles. I can’t help but laugh at awful dad jokes. When my dog looks like she’s laughing at me, I can’t help but join in. Bathroom humor never fails to amuse. You’ll hear me laugh out loud as my Instagram feed brings me daily doses of Basil Fawlty, the Three Stooges, Tim Hawkins, and Jim Gaffigan, John Pinette, and a host of others.

The bible tells us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). As I read through the bible, it’s pretty serious until Abraham laughs at God’s promise that he and Sarah will have a son (Genesis 17:17). Who knew God had a sense of humor? Abraham chuckles, “You’ve got to be joking, God. We’re going to be parents? That’s a good one! I’m closing in on one hundred and Sarah is ninety!”

Sarah thinks it’s funny, too. When the Lord and two angels show up at Abraham’s tent on their way to Sodom, Sarah overhears the promise, “Next year, you and Sarah will have a son” and laughs (Genesis 18:12). She tries to deny it, but everyone knows she laughed.

What should you do when God makes you laugh? I say just go with it. Don’t be afraid to laugh at a ridiculous promise or an absurd command or an awkward moment in scripture. Communicators know that humor relaxes the crowd and lowers defenses, preparing an audience to listen, learn, and take their message to heart.

God knows that too. That’s why I don’t think he minds if you laugh at something he says, like “love your enemy” or “always forgive” or “don’t be anxious.” You’ll snicker and say, “Right, like I’m going to do that.” But then it will be in your mind. You’ll think about it. You might even try it.