Tag: Abram

Posted in church, Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Think twice before you mess with Abram or his family

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Joel Moysuh on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 14.

A number of years ago, two men from my church took me out to their gun club to do some shooting. They gave me lots of instruction since I had never shot before. Each had several guns with them they let me try, including some 9mm, a .22 target pistol, and a .357 revolver. I did well, hitting targets and a few bull’s eyes at 15 yards.

As they described the guns and how to use them, I asked, “How many guns do you own?”

“Right now, I have eleven.”

Eleven? Why does someone living in a relatively safe suburban neighborhood need nearly a dozen guns at home? In addition to handguns, their collection included a shotgun and several rifles. Apparently they are like potato chips. You can’t have just one. You need one to carry. You need one in the bedside table. You have a favorite for target practice. You have one you used to use for hunting. And so on.

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” (Genesis 14:14)

I never would have guessed Abram had an army. Servants? Yes. Workers who watched the flocks? Of course. But trained men, men ready to fight, men able to rough up four formidable kings that had captured Lot, his food, and his family? Think twice before you mess with Abram or his family!

It’s good to remember that we don’t do this alone. Training ourselves for godliness, we fight the good fight of faith together as a church. And God still gives us the victory.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Chris Hardy on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 13.

The cookie was huge, six inches across. Mom told her son, “Break it in half and share it with your brother.” He very carefully bent the cookie in two, to share exactly 50%. Then he held out the two pieces to let his brother choose one, but he held the slightly larger half closer to himself, in hopes that one would be his.

When there’s conflict between their herdsmen, Abram tells his nephew Lot, “This town ain’t big enough for the two of us!”

In an unexpected act of generosity, Abram lets Lot choose which part of the land he wants. Lot chooses the well-watered area of the Jordan which looks like “the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). Sounds like paradise. Abram gets the plain vanilla-sounding “land of Canaan.”

But appearance isn’t everything. Lot gets to live in the lovely city of Sodom, where the residents are exceedingly wicked. It’s kind of like having a beautiful home in a wonderful community where you hate all your neighbors. Abram on the other hand gets an expanse of land that will be his and his innumerable descendants forever.

Who do you think got the better deal?

It takes some maturity to realize there’s not just one pie. We’re not relegated to a smaller piece of life just because someone else got more. The “pie” or God’s blessing is much bigger than anything we can ask or imagine. Our slice may not look like someone else’s, but it’s custom made for us by the one who truly knows the desires of our hearts.

Thank you for reading this “through the bible” devotion.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Remember the promise

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sean D on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 12.

I have put together a lot of furniture that comes in a box filled with wood (at least it looks like wood) and metal parts. I’m an instructions kind of guy, so for a long time, I always followed the step-by-step pictures and assembled desks, shelves, and cabinets.

After a while, though, they all start to look the same. The pictures and the pieces look familiar, so I think, “I know how this goes together.” I unpack everything and get to work.

I should know better. It’s a trap. Those two pieces aren’t the same. One is for the left side, the other goes on the right. I don’t want to attach A to B until I’ve screwed in part of C. Some of the screws are one inch long. Others are 7/8 or 1-1/8 inches long. Sigh. I’ve got to look at and follow the instructions.

There’s a subtle yet profound difference between the two trips Abram takes in Genesis 12.

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go.'” (Genesis 12:1)

“So Abram went.” (Genesis 12:4)

“Now there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt” (Genesis 12:10).

The first journey is in response to God’s instructions and promises. The second is in response to the dire circumstances Abram finds himself in. The first journey is in response to good news. The second is a reaction to a bad situation.

Sometimes it seems so obvious what needs to be done. You don’t have enough food? Go where the food is. It’s not rocket science. Until Abram and Sarai get to Egypt. Sarai’s attractive, so she’ll have to lie to save Abram’s life. Abram profits nicely when Pharaoh takes Sarai into his harem. But now it’s a sticky situation. Abram and Sarai act independently of God and almost ruin everything.

I say almost because God graciously steps into help. God gets Sarai and Abram out of there alive and wealthier than ever.

A similar thing happened in Eden. Acting independently of God, the man and his wife did what looked right to them. With promises of salvation and a new outfit, God gets them out of there alive.

I’m glad God is like that. Let’s face it, you and I are more likely to respond to the circumstances around us than the promises of God. We launch into action in response to unexpected bills, approaching storms, and medical test results. We know exactly what to do, don’t we? How often do we leave God out of the equation?

Before I take action based on fear-based calculations, there are two important questions I need to can ask. First, “What does God promise me?” Second, “What does God want from me?”

Had Abram remembered God’s instructions and promises from Genesis 12:1-4, he may have responded differently to the famine described in verse 10.

It is so important to keep God’s promises in front of me!

Thank you to Larry Kirk, whose sermon reminded me to ask these two important questions. And thank you for reading this through the bible devotion.