Good morning and welcome back....sorry for being vacant the last few days. Life seemed to get in teh way and I got sidetracked. Need to get back to the important thing like readiong the Bible!
Lot is Abram's nephew; they separated ways in the last chapter we read. Unfortunately, Lot was captured and taken as prisoner of war. Abram came to his rescue and returned Lot and all of Lot's belongings. Abram praises God for the help provided to defeat the armies and save Lot.
How often do we praise God for the positives in our life? How often do we thank God for being with us during the tough times and struggles in our life? Abram was a great person of faith and we see that he often praises God.
Abram does question God, though, when Abram wonders about having a child to inherit Abram's property when he dies. Currently, he and Sarai do not have any children-- they are old and she is barren. God responds with the statement, "You will have a son." Abram believed God. Can you imagine, Abram believed God. Do we even hear God, let alone believe what God has to say? we often times pray (complain) to God, but then don't listen for a response. We walk away, sometimes angry, that God doesn't answer our prayers!
At the end of chapter 15, we hear the Abrahamic covenant, God's promise to make a huge nation out of Abram's descendants, the inheritance of Abram's goods, and the promise of Abramn's family being a great nation. That covenant is tested many times in the Hebrew scriptures-- but also re-validated by God many times!
the author of Psalm 47 speaks to the help that Abram received from God, and the help that is available to us when we ask God for help. Pay careful attention to the number of times that author uses the word "praise" when referencing our conversations with God!
Matthew's Gospel was written to the Jewish people around 80-90AD. The purpose of Matthew's narrative was to tell the Jewish people that Jesus was the Messiah and the Hope of Israel. The genealogy of Jesus begins with Abram- the father of the Jewish nation and the Abrahamic covenant we just read about. The lineage continues through David- king of Judah and the Davidic covenant that we will read at a later date. Family is important to the Jewish people-- knowing where and who you came from.
How important is family to you? Where did you come from? We sometimes reference people by who their parents were. "Oh, Lauren and Morgan...aren't you Paul and Sherri's kids?" Family is important to all!
Next reading assignment is Genesis 16- 18 and Matthew 2...I will try to be better at posting thoughts!
