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And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Genesis 26:4-5

When times are tough we feel pressure to make decisions that conflict with our obedience to God in good times. It’s like this for all of God’s people. Isaac is facing a famine in the land that has been promised to Abraham and all of his descendants, and he is considering a move to Egypt.

When considering that move, God speaks to him and instructs him to stay and restates the covenant. What a moment! How hard it must’ve been to walk by faith, and not by sight, when there is no Walmart or Lowe’s to restock the shelves!

What strikes me the most in this passage are the words “because that Abraham obeyed my voice.” Abraham has passed away at this point, and Isaac is having to live by faith on his own. However, what a blessing that Abrahams faith continued to be a blessing to his descendants. Because Abraham obeyed God’s voice, Isaac was a recipient of blessing.

Who will we bless by our obedience to God? Whose life will be made better, who’s faith will be encouraged by our faith? In this passage, we see that Abraham’s family receives immediate blessing. And, if the only people that are helped is our children and our grandchildren, then it will be worth it all!

Stay faithful, and pass on the blessing.

-C.R.

I don’t have anything in particular to write to you about this morning, my devotions have me in Matthew 19, in particular I saw how sad Jesus was because of sin in the world (Matthew 18:7

I read a good article this morning about “disagreeing well.” Here it is:

https://gcdiscipleship.com/article-feed/how-to-disagree-well

I pray that it will be a help to you as it will be to me today as I think on it.

C.R.

Remember Lot’s wife.

Luke 17:32

I read this morning in Genesis 19 the account of Lot’s escape from Sodom and Gomorrah. There are some sad details: his two married daughters and their families did not believe his message of salvation and judgment, his two unmarried daughters were wicked in their own right.

Sad as well is the account of Lot’s wife who looked back on God’s act of righteous judgment, even as they were commanded clearly not to do so. Her life comes up as an example in Luke 17 in teaching on the second coming of Christ. Listeners and readers are warned to escape judgment while the world ignores it. Jesus teaches that those who are attached to this life (so much so they cannot believe the gospel) will miss out on eternal life. The glance of Lot’s wife was more than a simple interest, they showed that she sorrowed over the loss of her lifestyle in a God-forsaking city. She loved Sodom.

The reminder to us is to “love not the world,” (1 John 2:15) but to love God and people as he does. This world will pass away, the things of it will not last. We have to seek those things that are eternal, and as we plod forward toward heaven, don’t look back.

Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

C.R.