Daily Encouragement

September 20, 2009 - God's Goodness Is Marvelous

When Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was ninety, she gave birth to a son, Isaac. Indeed, it was a time of great rejoicing for them and their household. God had performed a great miracle in their lives to fulfill His promise to Abraham. Through this son of laughter, a nation would be raised up, a Savior would be born, and the Scriptures would be produced and preserved. (v. 1-7)

During the celebration of the weaning party of Isaac, there was one person who laughed in a scornful manner. That was Ishmael the son of the handmaid, Hagar. Sarah saw the potential problem in the family for the future between the two brothers. She demanded Abraham to get rid of the slave woman and her son. God guided Abraham in this matter and told him that the slave girl and Ishmael could be let go and therefore set free. God even took care of Hagar when she got lost and provided the needs for her and her son in the desert. God took care of everybody. (v. 8-21)

In the third incidence in this chapter, it showed that God continue to protect Abraham and his sojourn in a foreign land. Even the king. Abimelech saw that God was with Abraham in all he did. (v. 22) He proposed to make a military covenant with Abraham. Thus Abraham was fully protected in Philistine and he even got back the well that was seized by the servants of Abimelech.

Abraham never forgot to worship and thank God for His marvelous blessings, he called upon the name of the LORD. (v. 33)

We can be sure that God always fulfill His promise. And He is always good to those who trusted in Him. (Psalm 37:3-4)

September 21, 2009 - The Ultimate Test Of Faith

Meditation on Genesis 22

The offering of Isaac was the greatest drama one would ever read. The carefully documented use of the language for God's instruction, the long journey, the inquiry by the young son, the preparation of the altar, the binding of Isaac, the raising up of knife by Abraham, the voice of Angel, and the sighting of the ram are all packed with intense emotion. One can feel the heart of Abraham and His son.

Indeed this was the ultimate test of faith upon Abraham and the manifestation of supreme obedience of Isaac. The book of Hebrews explained to us that Abraham's faith was also rational. He believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill His promise to him. (Hebrews 11:19) This historical and powerful event foreshadowed the sacrifice of God's only begotten son on the cross and the resurrection three days later. Abraham's action of faith revealed the heart of God who was willing to sacrifice His own son to create a new generation of people of faith.

Abraham had passed this final test. He deserved to be called the father of faith. Surely through him we all are blessed today. Yes, he was the father of us all. (Romans 4:16-18)

September 22, 2009 - Prepared For The Future

Meditation on Genesis 23

As Abraham mourned for Sarah's death and prepared for her funeral, he took the first step to posses the Promised Land. The field he purchased from the sons of Heth for the burial ground would become the burial place for himself, Isaac, Jacob and their wives. By faith, he prepared for the future.

It is interesting to read the way he bargained with the land owner and the leaders of the city there. It was a typical way the oriental would bargain with courtesy. For Abraham, such a rich and successful cattle owner, he was expected to pay for the land with fair price. Besides, Abraham would have never accepted free offer from the heathen as it was demonstrated in the incidence of the king of Sodom in chapter 14. So four hundred shekels of silver was the price for the great field with trees at Machpelah which Abraham had paid for. Some may think that the price was too expansive. But to Abraham it was worth it. That was his first legal possession of a small piece of the Promised Land.

May all Abraham's children conduct themselves courteously and legally in all business with faith in God.

September 23, 2009 - How To Lead Someone To Christ

Meditation on Genesis 24

The story of the servant of Abraham finding a bride for Abraham's son, Isaac has a lesson for us on how to lead a person to Christ. Certainly the whole process was the work of the Holy Spirit. Let us see the steps of the Holy Spirit working in the servant's life.

First, the servant accepted the solemn commission from Abraham. (v. 1-9) We must accept the great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 to witness for Christ.

Second, it was a costly job. The servant brought ten camels and other riches with him to seek the bride. (v. 10) It would cost us something to lead others to the Lord.

Third, the servant arrived to the town and went to where people gathered. (v. 11) We need to go out to places where we can find people in order to share the gospel with them.

Fourth, the servant prayed for good opportunity. (v. 12) We too need to pray for that.

Fifth, the servant asked for help. (v. 17) Like Jesus asked for a drink from the Samaritan woman, we too can ask for help as we establish conversation.

Sixth, the servant waited for the work of the Lord. (v. 22) We too need to wait for God's leading in us and in the person whom you are witnessing to.

Seventh, the servant testified to the family of Rebekah in a conversational manner. (v. 32-49) We can witness for Christ in our conversation.

Eighth, the servant asked for immediate decision from Rebekah. (v. 49, 56) As the Holy Spirit leads, we need to ask for the person whom we witness to make decision for Christ without delay.

May we bring people to the church as the bride of Christ.

September 24, 2009 – Birthright

Meditation on Genesis 25

In the Patriarchal period, birthright was very important. The eldest of the son would carry on as the leader of the family and he may obtain majority share of the inheritance. Spiritually speaking, God's blessing would pass on through the first born.

But Esau was the kind of person that did not care for birthright at all. For a bowl of stew of lentil, he sold his birthright to Jacob, his younger brother. Yes he was tired and thirsty after his hunting trip. But he cared more for his stomach and temporal need of the body more than the inheritance and spiritual blessings from God. So the writer of Hebrews called him a profane person. (Hebrews 12:16) The writer of Genesis simply said that Esau despised his birthright. (v. 34)

We thank God for our birthright in the family of God when we accepted Christ into our hearts so we can be qualified to inherit the kingdom of God though we are not firstborn. Let us not be a carnal person like Esau who valued not his birthright. In other words he was not concerned for spiritual things which have lasting value.

September 25, 2009 - Like Father Like Son?

Meditation on Genesis 26

The experience of Isaac in this chapter are so similar to that of his father, it showed us that God continued to be faithful to Abraham through his son. As Isaac was obedient to God like his father was, he enjoyed God's direction, assurances and protection in his life- journey.

Isaac had become so rich and powerful that the Philistines, the people of the land where Isaac settled were jealous. So Isaac had to leave and went back to the land of the Canaanites where God had promised to give to Abraham, his father.

Not only Isaac was blessed by God like his father was, he also lied about his wife like his father was. But once again, God protected them before even anyone would take her to their home. But he suffered the rebuke of the king of Philistines.

The last paragraph of this chapter gave the picture of Esau's carnality. For his own flesh and without the guidance of his own parents, he went ahead and married two wives from the Hittites. This paved the way why he lost the blessings of the first born. Isaac liked him. But Esau surely did not follow his father's spiritual footstep like his twin brother did.

May we follow the footstep of our spiritual parents. Even the blessings that come upon them would come upon us.

September 26, 2009 - The Problem Of Appetite

Meditation on Genesis 27

I have discovered that many people love eating more and more as they grow older. Isaac certainly was one of those who indulged himself in fresh meat from animals hunted by his older son, Esau. Even when he decided to bless his son and conferred him the ownership of majority of his property, he had to eat his favorite food first. (v. 3-4)

His love of game food caused him to forget what God has told his wife when the twins were born. Certainly Rebekah would have shared with him God's plan for the two children. Chapter 25 verse 23 said, "And the LORD said to her: 'Two nations are in your womb, two people shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.'" (NKJV) Beside this, we can be sure that Isaac would have known how Esau had sworn to sell his birthright to Jacob. (Genesis 25:33-34)

Isaac's insistence to stick to the tradition of putting the older son over the younger as well as his love of food resulted in Rebekah and Jacob to cheat him. If Isaac would have followed God's prophecy and will, there would probably be no cheating necessary. And it would not result in the fight and separation in the family. And Rebekah would have enjoyed the presence of his two sons in her old age rather than missing Jacob far away from home for a long, long time.

However God overruled man's failure and His will still was accomplished to choose Jacob who was named Israel later in his life.

Shall we not watch our appetite and manage discipline over our stomach's desire?