S - Matthew 15
O - The Pharisees keep trying to pick out where Jesus and his disciples don't have their toes in the line of the Law.
2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"3Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?4For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'5But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,'6he is not to 'honor his father ' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
but Jesus replies them saying that they honour their traditions before God's commandments.
7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:8" 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.9They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
Paying lip service - could be in prayer, teaching, worshipping are all in vain if our hearts are not set on God. If we live our lives not by the word of God, but however we want to, going through the motions is in vain. Big wake up call for everybody!
12Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"13He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.14Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Again analogous to the parable of the weeds. The Pharisees teach astray from the word of God and are like "blind guides" who will all eventually "fall into a pit".10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.11What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "
15Peter said, "Explain the parable to us."16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.17"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
haha whenever Jesus says things like "why are you so dull" its as though he's saying to us, wake up spiritually you people.
@ Tyre and Sidon (v21)24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Jesus' point was that the gospel was to be given first to Jews. The woman understood Jesus' implication and was willing to settle for "crumbs" Jesus rewarded her faith.
34"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."35He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.37They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.38The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children.39After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
the feeding of the 5000 is recorded in all four gospels, but the feeding of the 4000 only in Matthew and Mark. The 12 baskets mentioned in the accounts of the feeding of the 5000 were possibly the lunch baskets of the 12 apostles. The seven baskets here were possibly larger.
Magadan - aka Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene. - Mark 8:10 - Dalmanutha
A - v7-9 wake up spiritually. don't just pay lip service and be all talk and no action. Lots of people can talk heaps about the bible but don't practice and live out God's life. Also, God has to be in your heart. If not, going through the motions is exactly what it is...all in vain.
P - I pray that God will keep me on track with following his word and applying it in my life. I pray that the Spirit in me will always be on fire for God and that I will love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Amen.* Deut 6:5, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Genesis 20
S - Gen 20
O -
Where? region of the Negev, between Kadesh and Shur. Chapter 20 is in Gerar (v1).
2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
This is familiar. Same thing happened in Egypt (Gen 12).
(side note: i flipped past Gen 1 and the thought that popped up in my mind was: ....how things have changed!)
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as deadbecause of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
About the nature of the sin. Also, God's promise to Abraham was of offspring for him and Sarah, not by anyone else. God's intervention.
6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.7Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."Abraham was the first man to bear the title of "prophet".If Abimelech disobeyed God's command he and his family would die.
v11 - fear of God - reverential trust in God that includes commitment to his revealed will.v12 - Abraham's half-truth was a sinful deception, not a legitimate explanation
14Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.15And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."16To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Abimelech's generosity was a strong contrast to Abraham's fearfulness and deception.
17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,18for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
God is definitely still protecting and intervening for Abraham, but I'm not sure what to make of Abraham/Sarah's lying that they are siblings. What was that for? Did they still not trust that God was going to deliver them through thick and thin?
A - As it has been the theme of Genesis so far - have strong faith (unlike Abraham and Sarah in these times) and be promptly obedient (as demonstrated by Abimelech).
P - That I will look for joy and peace in God. Him alone is reason for me to rejoice!
O -
Where? region of the Negev, between Kadesh and Shur. Chapter 20 is in Gerar (v1).
2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
This is familiar. Same thing happened in Egypt (Gen 12).
(side note: i flipped past Gen 1 and the thought that popped up in my mind was: ....how things have changed!)
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as deadbecause of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
About the nature of the sin. Also, God's promise to Abraham was of offspring for him and Sarah, not by anyone else. God's intervention.
6Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.7Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."Abraham was the first man to bear the title of "prophet".If Abimelech disobeyed God's command he and his family would die.
v11 - fear of God - reverential trust in God that includes commitment to his revealed will.v12 - Abraham's half-truth was a sinful deception, not a legitimate explanation
14Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.15And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."16To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Abimelech's generosity was a strong contrast to Abraham's fearfulness and deception.
17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,18for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
God is definitely still protecting and intervening for Abraham, but I'm not sure what to make of Abraham/Sarah's lying that they are siblings. What was that for? Did they still not trust that God was going to deliver them through thick and thin?
A - As it has been the theme of Genesis so far - have strong faith (unlike Abraham and Sarah in these times) and be promptly obedient (as demonstrated by Abimelech).
P - That I will look for joy and peace in God. Him alone is reason for me to rejoice!
Monday, 5 September 2011
Matthew 14
S - Matthew 14
O - Herod the tetrarch - ruler of a fourth part of a region. Herod Antipas was one of the several sons of Herod the Great. When H the G died, his kingdom was divided among four of his sons. H A ruled over Galilee and Perea. Matthew correctly refers to him as tetrarch here, as Luke regularly does. But in v9 Matthew calls him "king" - as Mark also does - because that was his popular title among the Galileans, as well as in Rome. (SB)
H the t. refers to Jesus as "John the Baptist" risen from the dead, with miraculous powers. SB - Herod was responsible for John's death (v3-11) and had an uneasy conscience.
I actually think the Herodias part is pretty scary. Maybe because I just watched all these murder mystery shows.
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them10 and healed their sick.11 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
Contrasts Jesus from his disciples. compassion...versus lack of compassion
and the thing is we do this to people in our lives all the time. We think about all these other little reasons that stop us acting out of love to others and living for ourselves.
16 Jesus replied,"They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 "We have here only five loaves12 of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.13 Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
v20 - God had promised that when the true Shepherd came the desert would become rich pasture where the sheep would be gathered and fed (Eze 34:23-31), and here the Messiah feats with followers in the desert. Jesus is the Shepherd who provides for all our needs so that we lack nothing.
v21 - Matthew notes "besides women and children". He was writing to the Jews, who did not permit women and children to eat with men in public. So they were in a place by themselves.
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost,"15 they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage!16 It is I. Don't be afraid."
SB: walking on the lake - a special display of the majestic presence and power of the transcendent Lord who rules over the sea
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith,"18 he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
v31 - something we should ask ourselves when we question God's abilities.
A/P - verse 31 for me, is the take home message from this chapter. Pray that from going to church, youth, fellowship with christian brothers and sisters, reading God's word, prayer and worship my faith will be strong in the rock that is Jesus Christ. Because of him we have nothing to be afraid of.
O - Herod the tetrarch - ruler of a fourth part of a region. Herod Antipas was one of the several sons of Herod the Great. When H the G died, his kingdom was divided among four of his sons. H A ruled over Galilee and Perea. Matthew correctly refers to him as tetrarch here, as Luke regularly does. But in v9 Matthew calls him "king" - as Mark also does - because that was his popular title among the Galileans, as well as in Rome. (SB)
H the t. refers to Jesus as "John the Baptist" risen from the dead, with miraculous powers. SB - Herod was responsible for John's death (v3-11) and had an uneasy conscience.
I actually think the Herodias part is pretty scary. Maybe because I just watched all these murder mystery shows.
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them10 and healed their sick.11 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
Contrasts Jesus from his disciples. compassion...versus lack of compassion
and the thing is we do this to people in our lives all the time. We think about all these other little reasons that stop us acting out of love to others and living for ourselves.
16 Jesus replied,"They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 "We have here only five loaves12 of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.13 Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
v20 - God had promised that when the true Shepherd came the desert would become rich pasture where the sheep would be gathered and fed (Eze 34:23-31), and here the Messiah feats with followers in the desert. Jesus is the Shepherd who provides for all our needs so that we lack nothing.
v21 - Matthew notes "besides women and children". He was writing to the Jews, who did not permit women and children to eat with men in public. So they were in a place by themselves.
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost,"15 they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage!16 It is I. Don't be afraid."
SB: walking on the lake - a special display of the majestic presence and power of the transcendent Lord who rules over the sea
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith,"18 he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
v31 - something we should ask ourselves when we question God's abilities.
A/P - verse 31 for me, is the take home message from this chapter. Pray that from going to church, youth, fellowship with christian brothers and sisters, reading God's word, prayer and worship my faith will be strong in the rock that is Jesus Christ. Because of him we have nothing to be afraid of.
Genesis 19
S - Gen 19
O - OMG so much sin! :( A lot of it in this passage concerns sexual immorality
1The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city.When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.2"My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."3But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.
Seems to be like Chapter 18 with Abraham, minus the Lord himself.
And then here's the scary part4Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.5They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
WHAT. WHATTTTT.All I can tell from this is that they must be so hopelessly and completely immersed in sin for it to rule their mind and bodies, thus leading them to act and speak in this way. Not just one man, but all the men of Sodom. So if I were to put this into the Parable of the Weeds from Matthew 13, the field would be overtaken by weeds.SB: Homosexuality was so characteristic of the men of Sodom that it is still often called sodomy.
v8 SB: Ancient hospitality obliged a host to protect his guests in every situation.
v9 Centuries later, Moses was also considered an outsider and accused of setting himself up as a judge
The angels allow Lot to take the people who belong to him and flee Sodom before they destroy it. Shows God's mercy.
v14 - "sons in law thought he was joking" Lot lost his power of moral persuasion even among his family members. Seems like the sin in them was really great, just like the other men.
16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back,and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"v16 - SB says Lot hesitated - perhaps because of his reluctance to leave his material possessions (fair point). I thought that was a little silly...when God says he's going to destroy the city and allows you to flee for you life, perhaps in our human nature we all have a tendency to consider our wealth and what our future would be without it, even when you know it's a life and death situation.SB: the 10 righteous people required to save Sodom (18:32) had now been reduced to four.
"the Lord was merciful to them" - Deliverance is due to divine mercy, not to human righteousness.v17 - clear instructions were given and they were to be followed
18But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please!19Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die.20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it--it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."21He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of.22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar.)This appears to be parallel to chapter 18 where Moses pleaded with the Lord. and the Lord granted his request.
23By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.24Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens.25Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land.26But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Only after Lot reached Zoar, THEN the Lord rained down burning sulfur. (v29 "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived".Lot's wife's disobedient hesitation became proverbial in later generations (Luke 17:32)
And then another shocker.v33 "they (Lot's daughters) got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him" because 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth.32Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."Not having faith in the Lord to bring them through those times, but tried to take matters into their own hands, just like Sarah and Abraham in Gen 16.SB: Though Lot's role was somewhat passive, he core the basic responsibility of the drunkenness and incest that eventually resulted in his two daughters' becoming pregnant by him. (v36)v36-38 The sons were the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites - 2 nations that were to become bitter enemies of Abraham's descendants.
A - God brings judgment upon the sinful. Because of his divine mercy, he saves the righteous.God keeps his promises - he listened to the prayer of Abraham and kept that promise.Trust in God because he reigns supreme. No need to take matters into your own hands. God is the way, the truth and the light.P - To deliver us from the evil one. To be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ in the good times (when it seems we don't need him) and the bad (instead of trying to use our own abilities).
O - OMG so much sin! :( A lot of it in this passage concerns sexual immorality
1The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city.When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.2"My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."3But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.
Seems to be like Chapter 18 with Abraham, minus the Lord himself.
And then here's the scary part4Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.5They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
WHAT. WHATTTTT.All I can tell from this is that they must be so hopelessly and completely immersed in sin for it to rule their mind and bodies, thus leading them to act and speak in this way. Not just one man, but all the men of Sodom. So if I were to put this into the Parable of the Weeds from Matthew 13, the field would be overtaken by weeds.SB: Homosexuality was so characteristic of the men of Sodom that it is still often called sodomy.
v8 SB: Ancient hospitality obliged a host to protect his guests in every situation.
v9 Centuries later, Moses was also considered an outsider and accused of setting himself up as a judge
The angels allow Lot to take the people who belong to him and flee Sodom before they destroy it. Shows God's mercy.
v14 - "sons in law thought he was joking" Lot lost his power of moral persuasion even among his family members. Seems like the sin in them was really great, just like the other men.
16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back,and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"v16 - SB says Lot hesitated - perhaps because of his reluctance to leave his material possessions (fair point). I thought that was a little silly...when God says he's going to destroy the city and allows you to flee for you life, perhaps in our human nature we all have a tendency to consider our wealth and what our future would be without it, even when you know it's a life and death situation.SB: the 10 righteous people required to save Sodom (18:32) had now been reduced to four.
"the Lord was merciful to them" - Deliverance is due to divine mercy, not to human righteousness.v17 - clear instructions were given and they were to be followed
18But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please!19Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die.20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it--it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."21He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of.22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar.)This appears to be parallel to chapter 18 where Moses pleaded with the Lord. and the Lord granted his request.
23By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.24Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens.25Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land.26But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Only after Lot reached Zoar, THEN the Lord rained down burning sulfur. (v29 "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived".Lot's wife's disobedient hesitation became proverbial in later generations (Luke 17:32)
And then another shocker.v33 "they (Lot's daughters) got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him" because 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth.32Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."Not having faith in the Lord to bring them through those times, but tried to take matters into their own hands, just like Sarah and Abraham in Gen 16.SB: Though Lot's role was somewhat passive, he core the basic responsibility of the drunkenness and incest that eventually resulted in his two daughters' becoming pregnant by him. (v36)v36-38 The sons were the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites - 2 nations that were to become bitter enemies of Abraham's descendants.
A - God brings judgment upon the sinful. Because of his divine mercy, he saves the righteous.God keeps his promises - he listened to the prayer of Abraham and kept that promise.Trust in God because he reigns supreme. No need to take matters into your own hands. God is the way, the truth and the light.P - To deliver us from the evil one. To be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ in the good times (when it seems we don't need him) and the bad (instead of trying to use our own abilities).
Genesis 18
S - Gen 18
O -
1 The LORD appeared to Abraham1 near the great trees of Mamre2 while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent3 in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up4 and saw three men5 standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.6 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes,7 my lord,a do not pass your servant8 by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet9 and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat,10 so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant."
At least two of the "men" were angels, the third may have been the Lord himself (v22)
v2-8 illustrates Near Eastern hospitality - servant to superior.
10Then the LORDc said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,18 and Sarah your wife will have a son."
17 Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham29 what I am about to do?
Because Abraham was now God's covenant fried, God convened his heavenly council at Abraham's tent. There he announced his purpose for Abraham and for the wicked of the plain - redemption and judgment. He even gave Abraham opportunity to speak in his court and to intervene for the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was later called a prophet (20:7). This exemplifies the great privilege of God's covenant people throughout the ages - God has revealed his purposes to them and allows their voice to be heard (in intercession) in the court of heaven.
v21 - "I will go down" - result will be judgment, but God also comes down to redeem.
"see" - not a denial of God's infinite knowledge but a figurative way of stating that he does not act out of ignorance or on the basis of mere complaints.
v23 - second time Abraham intervened for his relatives and for Sodom
v25 - Abraham based his plea on the justice and authority of God, confident that God would do what was right.
A/P - Have confidence in God - v14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" No.
God allows us to appeal to him in prayer too, but in the end, as a righteous judge of all, his will be done.
Not to be like Sarah - v15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."
Something that made me laugh....
the study bible as a character illustration at the bottom of the page for Sarah
Under "Best Known For:"
it has "laughing at God's promise of a child". LOL
and then underneath
"Miraculously bearing a child at the age of 90
Her status as the mother of the nation from which Jesus came"
O -
1 The LORD appeared to Abraham1 near the great trees of Mamre2 while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent3 in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up4 and saw three men5 standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.6 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes,7 my lord,a do not pass your servant8 by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet9 and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat,10 so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant."
At least two of the "men" were angels, the third may have been the Lord himself (v22)
v2-8 illustrates Near Eastern hospitality - servant to superior.
10Then the LORDc said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,18 and Sarah your wife will have a son."
17 Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham29 what I am about to do?
Because Abraham was now God's covenant fried, God convened his heavenly council at Abraham's tent. There he announced his purpose for Abraham and for the wicked of the plain - redemption and judgment. He even gave Abraham opportunity to speak in his court and to intervene for the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was later called a prophet (20:7). This exemplifies the great privilege of God's covenant people throughout the ages - God has revealed his purposes to them and allows their voice to be heard (in intercession) in the court of heaven.
v21 - "I will go down" - result will be judgment, but God also comes down to redeem.
"see" - not a denial of God's infinite knowledge but a figurative way of stating that he does not act out of ignorance or on the basis of mere complaints.
v23 - second time Abraham intervened for his relatives and for Sodom
v25 - Abraham based his plea on the justice and authority of God, confident that God would do what was right.
A/P - Have confidence in God - v14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" No.
God allows us to appeal to him in prayer too, but in the end, as a righteous judge of all, his will be done.
Not to be like Sarah - v15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."
Something that made me laugh....
the study bible as a character illustration at the bottom of the page for Sarah
Under "Best Known For:"
it has "laughing at God's promise of a child". LOL
and then underneath
"Miraculously bearing a child at the age of 90
Her status as the mother of the nation from which Jesus came"
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