Genesis Sixteen - Faith, Trust and Hope

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:1-2

There is a lot to be spoken of Sarai. She was a lovely lady who God loved and chose for His purpose in bringing forward redemption to mankind. However, prior to that occurring, it seems as if she was lacking patience, for she had heard from Abram that she was to receive a son-albeit not exactly a specific timeline but at some point in her future. Sure that may be the exact reason yet that however I believe is simply not the only case. She had patience, years of it in fact. Yet, her own carnal thoughts crept in and made her think of other ways to maneuver around God's design- "Perhaps it's by my servant Hagar that I am to receive a child?" Her trust in God's word was wavering. Thinking that perhaps she was too confident in His promise for a child and humbling herself in a self-degrading way- shouting to her own faith that it's not by her but through another. Her trust in God's word, her faith in His promise and the patience to endure the wait was all being questioned.

Even Abram though hearing directly from God Himself still chose to hear out Sarai for she spoke of reasonable ideas. As if it was a justified reaction in their patience, taking a hold of God's promises on their own. They stopped focusing on God's timing and allowed their thoughts to go towards a semi-rebellious route that has caused and even is now causing such a devastating impact on the middle eastern society.. Not focusing on His goodness and acknowledging too much of my weakness.. Isn't how we all are at times... How foolish we may seem to the heavenly hosts to think that our actions would bring life abundantly.. may the Lord have mercy upon sinners such as Sarai, Abram, and myself...

Genesis Fifteen - Sola Fide

"Then he believed in the Lord;
and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Genesis 15:6

Recently I heard the phrase by R.C. Sproul "It is one thing to believe in God; it is quite another to believe God." How true that is! There is no doubt the God is alive and well, to believe in His existence is a grace that God gives to all His creation. But to believe God in His authority and word and power- that is something else entirely. Only by the Holy Spirit is it quite possible and it's counted to the believer as righteousness. Sola Fide - Faith Alone. It is by faith alone which is pleasing to the Lord. Abram not knowing where to go or what to expect obediently left his homeland and believed that the Lord was to bless him in baring children with his wife Sarai. He did nothing to earn that love from God but simply by having faith that the Lord will grant what He promised. And what a grand and amazing promise that was..

Contrasting to Abram's faith, my own has been so poor as of late.. So many things are falling on me and I know not what to do other than to go to scriptures for that is where all the answers lay. May the Lord grant me rest in His bosom. May the Lord grant me discernment in the situations that He grants. May the Lord humble His people and lift His name up for He is good..

Genesis Fourteen - Allies of Abram

"Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits,
and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram."

Genesis 14:10-13

Chaos and brutality was all around when the War of Nine Kings was occurring. Bitumen pits (tar pits) were the foundations and it seems as if the Earth was recoiling with the people that were living on it. Lot, being caught in the middle of this mess, was taken and ones who had escaped told Abram. The men did not need to go to Abram, they could have just went on his way to live their life that was interrupted by these battles. Yet still, he went to Abram, knowing that there will be justice brought by the righteous for those who suffered. Being an ally of the one who is with the Lord will time and time again be proven not only in scriptures but in this current life as well.

Abram sought Lot after he was held captive and he didn't rely on anything but solely on the Lord's provision of his men- fought and won. Mind you he was around 80 years old at the time so it's intense to think of how much strength he had and the faith that went with that desire to free his nephew and the people that were with him. He knew that without the Lord there would have been no victory and so he gave a tenth of his wealth to the most high priest to give thanks to God, even when there was no law in place to make him do so, but he did it simply out of the abundance of his heart. God pursues Abram during difficult times and painful times.. How gracious is He to bestow his priceless love... may we always be in full gratitude and awe of the wonder and loftiness of the holiest One. No matter the circumstances..

Genesis Thirteen - Lift Up Your Eyes

"... Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are..."

Genesis 13:14

Before there were any of Abram's own children there was Lot his nephew. As God blessed Abram's family both Abram and Lot were accumulating a lot of wealth. Abram told Lot to go away so that there may be no strife between either party, and so Lot seeing in his own eyes how lush it was towards the wicked land that was sinning against God he left. Abram no doubt was saddened by the departing of his beloved nephew and that's where God comes into the picture. He desires Abram to lift his head from where he is and to look beyond the current pain. The current departing of his beloved family member and to trust in the promise of God's blessing of creating the descendants of Abram to be as dust in population.

How loving was the Lord to comfort Abram to remind him of the promise, to remind him that this is not the end. How precious the godly man must be to the Creator's eyes. Not that Abram deserved any of it but that it was freely a gracious choice God had in that particular man's life. I don't desire offspring (at the moment), though children are indeed a blessing and it would be an absolute honor to be a mother. I don't desire things, though I do understand that through using all things to glorify the Lord is a blessing. There are so many of my failures in front of me that I dare not tread on certain things lightly as Lot had. I do however know that I desire to be loved as Abram was loved by the Lord. A righteous man who was focused on glorifying and thanking the Lord with all that he did..

A friend of mine has parted from this physical world. It was a tragedy that I did not foresee. How I desire now to have spoken with her to see if all was well. A woman who was gentle and joyful in all that she did and desired to do God's desires. My mind cannot yet grasp the reality of her departure. How short this life is. I fully recognize it yet my mind refuses to dwell there. My mind terrified of certain aspects of my life and death has dared not go beyond a certain point of self-reflection. How wicked am I.. How sinful I must be to be so blind to it.. May the Lord be gracious to me and forgive me of my selfishness.. May my friend be dwelling in the house of the Lord from her death into all of eternity. May you rest in the bosom of the Lord sweet Leah Silvain, and I hope to see you then face to face with all the joy and mercy God grants to His children..