Devotional

Gen 25:21, NOW ISAAC PLEADED WITH THE LORD FOR HIS WIFE, because she was barren; AND THE LORD GRANTED HIS PLEA, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 

How many times have we pleaded with the LORD? I know I have especially when I was out of work! THE PRAYERS & FASTING OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE ALWAYS HEARD BY THE LORD!

Isa 66:2, For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “BUT ON THIS ONE WILL I LOOK: ON HIM WHO IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD. 

Ezr 8:23, So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. 

Gen 25:22, But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “IF ALL IS WELL, WHY AM I LIKE THIS?” SO SHE WENT TO INQUIRE OF THE LORD. 

It is always a good thing whether your pleading or inquiring of the LORD! Your building a relationship with HIM! Heb 13:5, …For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” HE HASN’T & NEVER WILL!

Ecc 4:12, Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. AND A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN. 

Abraham’s unnamed servant goes out to find a wife for Isaac! A type of HOLY SPIRIT!

Gen 24:27, And he said, “BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF MY MASTER ABRAHAM, WHO HAS NOT FORSAKEN HIS MERCY AND HIS TRUTH TOWARD MY MASTER. AS FOR ME, BEING ON THE WAY, THE LORD LED ME TO THE HOUSE OF MY MASTER’S BRETHREN.” 

The LORD led him by faith! We typically say “show me and I’ll go, BUT THE LORD SAYS ‘GO AND I’LL SHOW YOU’”.  For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2Cor 5:7

Heb 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

I love the fact, that this unnamed Servant (a type of HOLY SPIRIT), brings a gentile bride (a type of church) to Isaac (a type of CHRIST). 

Gen 24:67, Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and SHE BECAME HIS WIFE, and HE LOVED HER…

Isa 54:5, FOR YOUR MAKER IS YOUR HUSBAND, THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME; AND YOUR REDEEMER IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; HE IS CALLED THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH. 

HE is coming for HIS Bride!

Gen 23:1, Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 

Interesting note here is that Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age is recorded upon her death! Sarah is also used in Scripture as an example to women!

1Peter 3:5-6, For in this manner, in former times, THE HOLY WOMEN WHO TRUSTED IN GOD also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, AS SARAH OBEYED ABRAHAM, CALLING HIM LORD, WHOSE DAUGHTERS YOU ARE…

Pro 18:22, HE WHO FINDS A WIFE FINDS A GOOD THING, AND OBTAINS FAVOR FROM THE LORD. 

Gen 23:2, … ABRAHAM CAME TO MOURN FOR SARAH AND TO WEEP FOR HER. 

1Thes 4:13-14, But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, LEST YOU SORROW AS OTHERS WHO HAVE NO HOPE. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO SLEEP IN JESUS.

Pro 14:32, The wicked is banished in his wickedness, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS HAS A REFUGE IN HIS DEATH. 

Gen 22:1-2, Now it came to pass after these things that GOD TESTED ABRAHAM, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “TAKE NOW YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON ISAAC, WHOM YOU LOVE, and go to the land of Moriah, and OFFER HIM THERE AS A BURNT OFFERING on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Other, so called gods, required human sacrifice to please them YET, our LORD provided HIMSELF!

Gen 22:8, And Abraham said, “MY SON, GOD WILL PROVIDE for HIMSELF THE LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING.” So the two of them went together. 

In the KJV the word “For” is not used! So what we are seeing here is the FATHER TALKING about HIS Son. “MY SON, GOD, WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF THE LAMB FOR A BURNT OFFERING!

The Father called HIS Son God! Just like

Heb 1:8, But to the Son He says: “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM. 

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD! FULL OF MERCY & GRACE! WHO GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD FOR HIS BRIDE! HE WILL RETURN FOR HER, FOR ALL THOSE WHO PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM! BE READY FOR HIS RETURN IS NEAR! BE READY!

Gen 21:1-2, And the LORD visited Sarah AS HE HAD SAID, AND THE LORD DID for Sarah AS HE HAD SPOKEN. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.

Num 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO? OR HAS HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD? 

HE is faithful and if HE says anything HE will do it! That’s the God we serve! HE IS FAITHFUL!

Gen 21:6, And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 

Gen 18:12, Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, SHALL I HAVE PLEASURE, MY LORD BEING OLD ALSO?” 

This is the second time Sarah laughed, but in astonishment! First time she laughed in doubt, but now she knows that HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD!

Psa 138:2, I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; FOR YOU HAVE MAGNIFIED YOUR WORD ABOVE ALL YOUR NAME. 

HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE, HE CAN’T LIE!

Gen 20:2, Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “SHE IS MY SISTER.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 

Once again Abraham stumbled again with the same lie as before! It’s easy to slip back into sinful habits! Even Abraham is not immune!

Ecc 7:20, FOR THERE IS NOT A JUST MAN ON EARTH WHO DOES GOOD AND DOES NOT SIN. 

Gen 20:5-6, …IN THE INTEGRITY OF MY HEART AND INNOCENCE OF MY HANDS I HAVE DONE THIS.” And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. FOR I ALSO WITHHELD YOU FROM SINNING AGAINST ME; THEREFORE I DID NOT LET YOU TOUCH HER. 

Abimelech may have become sick, had a migraine or got busy with work but, God provided a way for him not to sin against the LORD!

1Co 10:13, …but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT. 

we are sinful people to the heart, yet the LORD is always looking out for his own! HE knows, MAN LEFT ALONE WILL ONLY LEAD TO RUIN! HE IS THE SHEPARD TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM!

Gen 19:4-5, …THE MEN OF SODOM, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, ALL THE PEOPLE FROM EVERY QUARTER, SURROUNDED THE HOUSE. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? BRING THEM OUT TO US THAT WE MAY KNOW THEM CARNALLY.”

Jud 1:7, as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, HAVING GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER TO SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND GONE AFTER STRANGE FLESH, ARE SET FORTH AS AN EXAMPLE, SUFFERING THE VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.

The depravity of man has no limits, even in their blindness they were driven by depravity & lust! They are examples of what will happen if we follow this path!

Gen 19:22, Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 

THIS WORLD IS QUICKLY BECOMING LIKE SODOM AGAIN, YET HE REMAINS FAITHFUL!

Luke 21:36, Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass,

THE LORD SHALL TAKE OUT HIS PEOPLE, THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM AND KNOW HIM! HE COMES QUICKLY AND SHALL JUDGE THE EARTH!

Gen 18:12-14, Therefore Sarah laughed WITHIN HERSELF, saying, “AFTER I HAVE GROWN OLD, SHALL I HAVE PLEASURE, MY LORD BEING OLD ALSO?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Interesting here is that the LORD was hearing her thoughts that she had laughed within herself! NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD, If we are faithless, He remains faithful; 2Ti 2:13,

Php 4:13, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. 

Gen 18:21, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the OUTCRY AGAINST IT THAT HAS COME TO ME; and if not, I will know.” 

It reminds me of Genesis 4:10, “THE VOICE OF YOUR BROTHER’S BLOOD CRIES OUT TO ME FROM THE GROUND”.  The wicked desires of these people surpassed their human compassion! They didn’t care if they hurt/killed children, but only wanted to satisfy their lust!

Psa 98:9, FOR HE IS COMING TO JUDGE THE EARTH. WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD, AND THE PEOPLES WITH EQUITY. 

Gen 17:7, And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an EVERLASTING COVENANT, TO BE GOD TO YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU.

Jer 33:20-21, “Thus says the LORD: ‘IF YOU CAN BREAK MY COVENANT WITH THE DAY and MY COVENANT WITH THE NIGHT, so that there will not be day and night in their season, THEN MY COVENANT MAY ALSO BE BROKEN WITH DAVID MY SERVANT…

As long as we see the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky HIS Covenant remains with the Jewish nation! NO REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY!

Gen 17:16-17, And I will bless her AND ALSO GIVE YOU A SON BY HER; …Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Rom 4:19, AND NOT BEING WEAK IN FAITH, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 

Looks like Abram laughed in unbelief yet, this is not the case! He knew it was impossible for them to have children But WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN HIM!

Gen 16:2, So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” AND ABRAM HEEDED THE VOICE OF SARAI. 

Sarai knew that Abram would be the father of many nations, BUT SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE CAN HELP OUT GOD by giving Hagar to her husband! She trusted her own wisdom rather seeking, believing & calling on the LORD for help!

Gen 16:5, Then Sarai said to Abram, “MY WRONG BE UPON YOU! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. THE LORD JUDGE BETWEEN YOU AND ME.” 

Sarai blamed Abram for her mistake, but it’s true! Abram should have believed in the promise of GOD also! THIS IS THE WORK OF THE FLESH!

Rom 8:5, For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

Pro 3:5-6, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.