One Year Bible, January 9

GENESIS 20:1-22:24
It is tempting to just skip over to chapter 22 because it is to rich with revelation.  But, we are reading the whole Bible, ao we will pick up some gold nuggets in chapters 20-21.  Here we find Abraham interceeding with God for someone again in 20:7, where he prays for Abimelech that God wouldn't kill him for grabbing Sarah.  She must have really been something that two different kings wanted her.  Obviously she has already been restored in preparation for having Isaac by this time.  So, when God made her able to conceive, He must have given her a total makeover!

It seems that Ishmael learned to mock from his mother, Hagar.  For at the party for Isaac's weaning (Ishmael is at least 16 y-o now), he went at it.  To carry it into our lives we would say that the "son of the flesh" (Ishmael) persecuted the "son of the Spirit (Isaac) and must be cast out.  The commentary on this is in Galatians 4:21-31.  The two sons represented two covenants, Hagar and Ishmael being from Mt. Sinai (the Law) which Paul now compares to natural Jerusalem!  He says that the spiritual or heavenly Jerusalem is our mother.  The contrast is between our flesh and our spirit where the battle lies.

Genesis 22 is about worship (vs 5).  This is the first useage of the term and so we get a full illustration of what God means by "worship".  True worship is an act of submission and love, first of all.  Abraham was asked to sacrifice the son he "loved". 

When we are actually expressing our worship, it helps to overcome our obsession with ourselves.  John 4:4 says we are to worship Him "in spirit and in truth".  The "spirit" part is our inward submission, and the "truth" is outward submission of obedience.  You see, Abraham agreed that he must sacrifice Isaac, but he still had to walk it out - climb that hill (Mt. Zion?)  with the firewood strapped on his son's back. 

True worship originates from "the fear of God" and anything else is just teasing God, or flattering Him.  Verse 12 says that Abraham passed the test because he feared God.  Worship is one way I acknowledge my dependence on God.  It's how I honor Him, and show respect, love and commitment.  And so, the place in my heart that worships, is known as "Jehovah-jireh": "the Lord sees and provides what I need".  And what I need is to worship in a self-sacrificial way.  Don't worry about what the people around you think.

Genesis 22:18 has the first useage of the word "obey".  I think it's interesting that it is tied up with worship.  Because every time we obey, we ARE worshipping.  Our obedience is an act of worship.  Our disobedience is an act of independence. 

RESPONSE:  I am so grateful that God is our "rearguard",  often protecting us when we make foolish decisions.  I noticed that Abimelech could hardly wait to get Sarah out of his harem - and gave bribes to Abraham too!  I think that God had Abraham pray for Abimelech so that Abraham wouldn't get bitter about Sarah being taken (even tho she was brought back).  Aren't we supposed to pray for our enemies?  Is praying for my enemies an act of worship too?  Then we could do it as an act of love toward God.

MATTHEW 7:15-29
What does it really mean to believe?  Every gardener knows that roots and fruits are related.  You can't get corn from a tomato plant.  So, real believing takes place in the heart, not just on the outside.  However, when we say we believe, there should be an outward manifestation of that. 

I like to say that God doesn't muzzle the dog and teach it to "meow" so that the dog is "Christian" or a cat; He turns the dog into a cat.  If the behavior is "dog-like", chances are it's a dog.  Muzzling the dog and teaching it to "meow" does NOT make it a cat!  Just like those so-called Christian deeds don't make you a Christian, unless you are doing them in obedience to God.  Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  (Luk 6:46)

True believing puts a firm foundation under us so that when the storms come, we see what we've built our lives on:  me or Jesus.  A real believer is submitted to God and teachable.

Years ago when my daughter was in 8th grade, I had jury duty for a week.  One day I asked her to wash the dishes while I was gone.  When I got home, the house was cleaned and the laundry was done, but the dirty dishes were still in the sink!  She would RATHER do something else!  Was that obedience or submission?  NOT!

RESPONSE:  Why am I still tempted to substitute sacrifices for obedience?  I know that disobedience ALWAYS leads to self-deception, because now I have to lie to myself about what I did or didn't do.  God help me.  Thank You that the Holy Spirit is quick to let me know when I'm in trouble with You.  Thank You for the grace to repent quickly and climb back up on Your lap.  I am miserable when I am "away" from You.

PSALM 9:1-12
The Hebrew title for this Psalm is "The Death of the Champion" and may have referred to Goliath (1 Sam 17:4).  Four times David sang, "I will..." praise, tell, rejoice, sing.   He was giving God all the credit and it sounds like he enjoyed doing it. 

Verses 7-8 show why we should "fear the Lord" - "He will judge the world in righteousness".  Then David again credits God for every deliverance, every protection, and end-result.

PROVERBS 2:16-22
Here we have two paths:  the paths of uprightness/Life and the ways of darkness.  The wicked are called crooked, perverse, devious, flatterers, and seductive.  The paths of Life is also called "way of goodness", "the paths of righteousness".  The wicked will be torn from the earth, and the righteous will inherit the earth. 

RESPONSE:  Every victory I have is because of Jesus.  I take full credit for my failures.  I am grateful that the paths of Life are knowable.  That I can have "the good life" NOW, before I die.  That I can be in constant fellowship with God NOW.  What a great life I have!  Oh, right now I have the flu and am running back-and-forth to the bathroom, and I was up all night so I'm tired, but Jesus was there the whole time, and "I will" praise Him.  "I will" tell how wonderful He is.  "I will" be glad and rejoice.  "I will" sing praise.