We are familiar with the narrative.
God makes a covenant with Abram.
Genesis 15:5 (NET) - The LORD took him outside and said, ‘Gaze into the sky and count the stars - if you are able to count them!” Then He said to him, “So will your descendants be.”
Abram trusted God and was considered loyal according to verse 6.
Genesis 15:6 (NET) - Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.
When Abram was 99 years old, God reaffirms this promise even though Abram’s wife Sarai had not conceived (Genesis 17).
God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah.
Here is Abraham at almost 100 years of age and Sarah at 90 and still Sarah has not had a child.
Abraham suggests to God that He fulfill this covenant through Ishmael who was conceived through Hagar, Sarah’s servant.
God has his own plan.
Genesis 17:19 (NET) - God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.”
God then tells Abraham that this will happen in approximately one year.
It did.
Genesis 21:5 (NET) - (Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.)
Yet, in Genesis 22, God tells Abraham to offer his only son, whom he loves. as a burnt offering.
Abraham obeys.
He, Isaac and two young servants set out for the destination God stipulated.
On the third day, they are within site of the destination.
Abraham and Isaac proceed alone leaving the two servants behind.
Genesis 22:6 (NET) - Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together.”
They conversed along the way.
Based on the facts that Isaac carried the wood and that he had an intelligent conversation with his father Abraham it can be safely concluded that a number of years had passed since Isaac’s birth.
We know the rest of the narrative.
Abraham is ready to sacrifice his only son whom he loves but God stays his hand at the last moment.
God was indeed with Abraham through this trial.
What of Isaac?
Isaac was old enough to converse with his father, yet he neither tried to change his mind nor did he beg for his life.
Isaac was strong enough to carry the wood, yet he neither tried to overpower nor even simply run away from a man one hundred years older than he was.
Yes, God was with Abraham.
Let us keep in mind that God was with Isaac, too.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, December 3, 2010.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, December 10, 2010.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Meaning of Life
Why am I here? What is the meaning of life?
Philosophers have wrestled with these questions for centuries.
Their answers are varied and some even border on the ridiculous.
The Bible, on the other hand, gives us some very definite answers to these questions.
Genesis 1:27 (BBE) - And God made man in His image, in the image of God He made him: male and female He made them.
There are currently some six billion of us living in the world today.
There were billions who preceded us with an unknown number yet to come.
Of the billions upon billions who have lived, currently live or will live, no two of us will be exactly identical.
Even twins who share genetic make up have unique characteristics (personality for example).
We are each different and yet, we are made in the image of God. God's image must indeed be truly remarkable.
Even Moses, a man of God, wished to see God's face but could not.
Exodus 33:20 (BBE) - But it is not possible for you to see My face, for no man may see My face and still go on living.
So, God made us.
Genesis 2:7 (BBE) - And the Lord God made man from the dust of the earth, breathing into him the breath of life: and man became a living soul.
Several times in scripture, God is depicted as a potter and we, His creation, are depicted as clay.
Jeremiah 18:6 (BBE) - O Israel, am I not able to do with you as this potter does? Says the Lord. See, like the earth in the potter's hand are you in my hands, O Israel.
Surely God has created us to fulfill any purpose He has planned for us, yet the reminder of our humble origins remain.
So, that is how we came into being, but why?
The answer is twofold.
First, God created us for His glory.
Second, He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 145:10 (BBE) - All the works of Your hands give praise to You, O Lord, and Your saints give You blessing.
Isaiah 43:7 (BBE) - Every one who is named by My name and whom I have made for My glory, who has been formed and designed by Me.
Our beginnings of earth are humble. We are made of the ordinary. Yet, we are made in the image of the extraordinary. We were made to give Him the glory he requires. We were also made for fellowship with Him.
That is why we are here.
That is the meaning of life.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, November 19, 2010.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, November 26, 2010.
Philosophers have wrestled with these questions for centuries.
Their answers are varied and some even border on the ridiculous.
The Bible, on the other hand, gives us some very definite answers to these questions.
Genesis 1:27 (BBE) - And God made man in His image, in the image of God He made him: male and female He made them.
There are currently some six billion of us living in the world today.
There were billions who preceded us with an unknown number yet to come.
Of the billions upon billions who have lived, currently live or will live, no two of us will be exactly identical.
Even twins who share genetic make up have unique characteristics (personality for example).
We are each different and yet, we are made in the image of God. God's image must indeed be truly remarkable.
Even Moses, a man of God, wished to see God's face but could not.
Exodus 33:20 (BBE) - But it is not possible for you to see My face, for no man may see My face and still go on living.
So, God made us.
Genesis 2:7 (BBE) - And the Lord God made man from the dust of the earth, breathing into him the breath of life: and man became a living soul.
Several times in scripture, God is depicted as a potter and we, His creation, are depicted as clay.
Jeremiah 18:6 (BBE) - O Israel, am I not able to do with you as this potter does? Says the Lord. See, like the earth in the potter's hand are you in my hands, O Israel.
Surely God has created us to fulfill any purpose He has planned for us, yet the reminder of our humble origins remain.
So, that is how we came into being, but why?
The answer is twofold.
First, God created us for His glory.
Second, He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 145:10 (BBE) - All the works of Your hands give praise to You, O Lord, and Your saints give You blessing.
Isaiah 43:7 (BBE) - Every one who is named by My name and whom I have made for My glory, who has been formed and designed by Me.
Our beginnings of earth are humble. We are made of the ordinary. Yet, we are made in the image of the extraordinary. We were made to give Him the glory he requires. We were also made for fellowship with Him.
That is why we are here.
That is the meaning of life.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, November 19, 2010.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, November 26, 2010.
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