Tag: Abraham

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

It’s different when you’ve got some skin in the game

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 17.

Corporate offices often announce changes throughout the company that affect everyone from managers to minimum wage employees. A rebrand means new polo shirts for everyone. Changes in medical insurance mean a larger paycheck deduction. It’s one thing when new products fill the shelves. It’s another when staff reduction means you’re looking for a new job.

God announces some big changes in Genesis 17. He changes Abram’s name to Abraham, to remind him of the promise that he will father a great nation. Plus, the covenant will now require something of Abraham. You could say he now has some skin in the game. Go read Genesis 17 if you need more information.

It’s one thing to trust God when you’re on the receiving end of things. Trust him to provide food and clothing. Trust him to lead you to green pastures and still waters. Trust him when he says he’ll protect you.

It’s another thing when God puts a price tag on your trust. What are you going to do when it’s going to cost you something? Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). There are some things you have to let go of if you’re going to hold onto him. It could be pride. Self-sufficiency. Possessions. Bad habits. Bad attitudes.

I wonder how Abraham’s household reacted when he announced the provisions of the covenant. In the moment, I’ll bet they were unhappy. But you know what? They got over it. They healed. And they were thankful to be a part of the plans God had for Abraham and his family.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

A sure thing

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Abhishek Singh on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 15.

When I bought a house, I signed a mountain of documents assuring the mortgage lender that I was who I said I was, knew what I was buying, and understood how much I would be paying each month for the next thirty years. It was intimidating to say the least.

But that’s nothing compared to what Abram has to endure as God confirms the covenant.

So God says to Abram, “You will have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky” Abram believes. So far so good.

The God says, “I brought you here so you can possess this land, too.”

But this time Abram asks, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?” (Genesis 15:5-8)

If you only knew what you were asking, Abram! God instructs him to round up a cow, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a pigeon. Abram has to slice the big animals in two, and then he has to chase away circling vultures from the carcasses. When Abram falls asleep, he has a nightmare about God himself, appearing in the darkness as a smoking oven and a flaming torch, moves between the butchered animals to say in ancient covenant language, “I guarantee it.” Anyone else might have added, “I swear to God.” But I guess that doesn’t work when God is the one who is speaking.

Everything comes with a guarantee, right? At least for the first thirty days after a purchase. When I bought a cheap toaster, the Walmart cashier asked if I wanted the extended warrantee. It cost nearly as much as the toaster. No thanks.

So it’s only natural to ask God for some kind of assurance. That is, until you get to know him. When you look back in scripture and in your own life and see what God has done, you learn that faithfulness is one of his character traits. You can trust him. Plus, it’s not as messy.

Posted in Advent devotions, Devotions

Advent devotion: A drink and a snack

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 1, 2020. Read Genesis 18:1-22 and Psalm 19.

Photo by Melissa Walker Horn on Unsplash

So Abraham is just chilling in his tent by the oaks of Mamre when three men show up. The gracious host in him shifts into high gear and he invites them in for a drink and a snack. And what a snack that was! Freshly baked bread, a little cottage cheese and veal.

The conversation turns to Sarah, listening in the tent as “the Lord” says, “Congratulations! You’re gong to have a son next year!” Sarah must have overheard the conversation, and chuckled to herself, “I’m a little old for that!” (18:12) “The Lord”  heard her and wondered why she was laughing. Such a blessing isn’t too hard for someone like the Lord!

Anyway, two of the men head towards Sodom to see if it’s as evil as everyone says it is. In 19:1, we learn that they are angels. But one, the Lord, stays behind to let know Abraham know about the destruction to come (18:22). After Abraham tries to bargain for the survival of the righteous in Sodom, “the Lord went His way” (18:33). I am certain Abraham never forgot the day the Lord stopped by his tent!

If Jesus stopped by your house for coffee and cake, how do you imagine the conversation would go? Would you have the guts to ask Him all those questions you say that you want to ask Him? Would you make sure you told Him why you didn’t make it to church last week? Or apologize for some of the things that have come out of your mouth recently? Show him pictures of the family? While I would love to know about unexpected blessings on my way next year, I wouldn’t be as excited to hear forecasts about imminent devastation and destruction.

That “snack” we have in worship, the Lord’s Supper, is accompanied by words of blessing and judgment. The body and blood of Christ bore God’s judgment for our sins on the cross. But it is also ours to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation, the most unlikely and surprising blessings we could ever receive from the Lord.

I love the bible’s banquet imagery of heaven. At that occasion, the Lord is the host with a table full of blessings like no other. We won’t be talking about judgment. That will all be in the past. We won’t have to dig deep to believe the good news, either. It will – He will – be right there before our eyes, live and in person!

Thanks, Lord, for inviting me to the meal that speak both law and gospel. And thanks, too, for the invite to the ultimate banquet of heaven! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Posted in Advent devotions

The Cast of Advent: December 18 – Abraham

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Benjamin Manley on Unsplash

Once Zechariah got his voice back, filled with the Holy Spirit, he reminded everyone of “[God’s] holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:72-75). 

How could you leave Abraham out of the cast of Advent? It all started with him. He was the father of that great nation through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. The plot of the advent of Christ begins with Abraham. 

Every parent knows you have to be careful what you tell your children. They will remember. They will remember everything you said you would do for them and with them. You can’t reason with them. They will persist, “But you promised!” Yes, God made a promise. He made a promise to Abraham. No matter how stubborn, impossible and unfaithful his people were, the one thing that remained the same was God’s promise. 

How many of our prayers include the phrase, “But you promised?” That’s a good petition to include. It means you believe God is faithful. You believe God will do what he says. It means you trust him. 

We live in a world where we must doubt most of the emails, messenger and phone calls that promise us something. Most of them are a lie, a scheme, a scam to take advantage of us. God steps into our world with something different. He is someone we can trust. He is someone who does what he promises. The ultimate example is Jesus, who said he would be killed and then come back to life. He even specified the third day. The resurrection means we can trust his word!

It fills my heart with joy to know I can trust him. How about you?

Thank you, Lord, for being the one I can trust. Amen.