pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: descendants


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Covenant Faithfulness

Readings: Genesis 15, Genesis 16, Genesis 17

Genesis 17:7-8 – “I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you. I will give you… the whole land of Canaan.”

Today we begin with God’s promise to Abram of a biological heir. To illustrate the abundance of God’s promise, Abram is invited to look to the stars – “this is how many children you will have.” A sacrifice seals the covenant promise. As fire, God passes through the sacrifice, sealing God’s commitment to the covenant. Within this section God also reiterates and ties in the promise of this land for Abram’s descendants.

In chapter 16 we see Abram and Sarai taking matters into their own hands. It has been about 15 years since God first promised them descendants. Abram sleeps with Hagar, Sarai’s slave girl. Her pregnancy creates a rift in the family. Treated harshly by Sarai, Hagar runs away. God meets her there and promises Ishmael a large family, land… Hagar names God “El Roi” – the God who sees me. She returns to Sarai and Abram with God’s assurances of blessings.

Chapter 17 brings a reaffirmation of the covenant promises. “El Shaddai” – the God of power and might – invites Abram to walk with God. Abram becomes Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah. This name change signals a new era and status for them. God initiates circumcision on the 8th day of life as a symbol of the covenant, saying, “Your flesh will embody my covenant as an enduring covenant.” That very day Abraham will circumcise his entire household, including himself at 99 years old. God assures Abraham and Sarah that the covenant will be fulfilled through their son Isaac. God tells them that Ishmael will be blessed too, but the covenant will run through Isaac’s descendants.

Reflecting on Abraham’s actions in these chapters, I wonder which Abraham I am most often like. Am I more often like the one who takes things into his own hands? Or am I more often like the one that acts on God’s word right then and now?

Prayer: Lord God, most of the time Abram/Abraham was a great example of faith. Guide me to be so obedient and faithful. At times, though, he stumbled and failed. At times, I do too. As you did with Abraham, continue to walk with me. Amen.


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Center Stage

Readings: Genesis 9:18-39, Genesis 10, Genesis 11

Genesis 11:4 – “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves.”

Continuing in chapter 9 today we see that sin hasn’t left the world with the flood. Noah grows grapes and makes wine. He gets drunk then naked. Ham sees his father naked and instead of covering him up, he tells Shem and Japheth about it. They do the right thing and later receive Noah’s blessings. Ham, by contrast, is cursed because he did not honor his father.

Chapter 10 details the most of the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are listed a variety of ways – names, families, languages, lands, nations. This creates a kind of early ethnic map of the ancient world. Shem’s genealogy is found again in chapter 11. But it diverges in verse 18 as it follows Peleg’s branch of the family tree. This branch ends with Abram and family in the land of Haran. Sarai and her barrenness is also mentioned. This is a sharp contrast to the long list of children and descendants found in chapters 10-11.

In the middle of these genealogical lists we find the story of the Tower of Babel. In this story we see that the human tendency towards pride and arrogance survived the flood. At Shinar the people begin to scheme, saying to one another, “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves.” They want to build a tower that reaches to heaven. It could be to connect with God or it could be to be like God. It’s likely the second as they also desire to be famous, to be recognized for their skill. As a means to counter this pride and sin, God confuses or jumbles their languages and then dispersing this prideful bunch all over the earth.

When we try to take center stage for ourselves, how does this affect our relationship with God and with one another? How does God normally respond?

Prayer: Lord God, in my thoughts, my words, my actions, may I honor you and bring all the glory to you. When I’m tempted to bring the focus to me, remind my heart of you, my audience of one. Amen.