1 Peter 2

Yesterday was a rough day. I think we are offered somewhat of an explanation as to why we have these days in 1 Peter 2, as we see today. The simple thing is that we are not part of this world. Once we commit ourselves to Christ, we no longer belong to the ways of this world. From that point forward, everything feels out of place. We can often feel lost and confused in a world that runs very differently from how we run our own lives. It is no wonder that the blues, and even depression, can set in.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:9-12

Verse 11 sums things up best here. This is a war against our souls in which we can feel like we are winning or losing at any moment. The world does not agree with us. It doesn’t take a long look at the media to see that many Christians are painted as right-wing nutjobs afraid of change. Christianity almost carries a negative connotation in some circles because it offers beliefs that greatly differ from others. It is in how we live our lives, as an example unto Christ painted here, that makes a difference.

1 Peter 1

I am in need of encouragement today. The decision I spoke of last week was made, and it was not made in my favor. Though it was not the choice I would have made, I have to submit to God’s will in this instance. Today is merely the aftermath. It is a very down morning as I find myself staring at another dead end, at least from my perception. I turned 29 yesterday as well. Professionally and in some ways personally, there is little reason now to think this year will be any better than the last three or four.

I find myself questioning a lot of things this morning. I question why I am currently where I am in life, with a ton of bitterness still clouding my heart so much that it invades my sleep. I feel alone in a crowded room, but I want to be alone if that makes sense. I attended a football game yesterday with 67,000 people, but I felt alone the entire time. I question openly what purpose I am serving on this earth when I feel like I am being stuffed on a shelf for later. This avenue is one of the few areas where I feel useful.

17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:17-21

I didn’t come into the morning expecting to write about 1 Peter. I knew there was encouragement to be found in the apostle Paul, but I wasn’t sure what type I needed today. In doing what I do each for a job, I have a hard time seeing how this work can be judge as anything but useless. I sit here and feel like I am built for so much more, but instead when I pursue it I continuously get told no. Even in this direct decision given to God He made it clear that this is what I am supposed to do. Somehow, I pray He can find glory in it.

And there is glory in that. Verse 21 promises us this. If we believe in our salvation through Christ’s blood, then God finds glory in all we do. Those who know me understand that I am a person of wild, exaggerated examples. I take this promise to the extreme in that case. Imagine God finding glory in everything you do. This includes eating, sleeping, breathing, going to the bathroom, driving your car to work, everything! This is what gives us purpose on days like today. We may not see the glory, but it is there.

Genesis 25

I wanted to thank my readers this morning before I get started. To Michelle, the answer to your question is that Veritas is the Latin word for Truth. It is the one-word creed for Harvard University, so it really stood out to me, especially since Harvard has deep Christian roots in its founding. To Debra, Michelle, and the anonymous Friend in Florida, I thank you for reading. I hope you are all getting as much from reading along in this as I am as I go through these different chapters. Since this is the last day for the life of Abraham, feel free to suggest any other books you might like to discuss. Since I publish this on the fly at work, I don’t check things as much as I should, but I promise to do more of it in the evenings once I get home.

As mentioned above, today is the last day on the life of Abraham. Genesis 25 marks his passing at the age of 175. Throughout his life God blessed Abraham. He even had more than 70 years with his son Isaac. Though he accomplished much and was well-blessed throughout his life, his death is actually very quiet. We see greater detail in the death of his grandson, Jacob, much later in Genesis. Here, Abraham quietly passes on, handing off the responsibility of his blessing to Isaac.

7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. – Genesis 25:7-8

That is how Abraham leaves us. There is no grand pronouncement of knowledge on his deathbed. He died much like he lived, in quiet assurance that the Lord was in full control. Maybe that is why there is no grand speech at the end. He knew that his life was represented in how he lived. The Lord would remember him that way throughout the centuries. The example he set forth would then be remembered, not mere words. That is the biggest thing we can take from this.

Personally, this journey through Abraham’s life has spoken directly to my heart. As I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s lesson, I feel like the Lord has tried to tell me quite a bit about moving forward in my own faith. As I write this, I still do not have an answer as far as what direction God wants me to go with these jobs, but I feel so much better at leaving the decision entirely to him. If He wants me at the job I prefer, He’ll have them offer and I will take it. If He wants me where I am at, something will prevent the other offer from coming through. I have even prayed that hH will then bless those people with someone better than I since they are pretty high on me at the moment. Abraham teaches so much trust. How can I not follow this example?

Genesis 24

We begin the subtle shift from Abraham’s life to Isaac’s life in this chapter. Still, even at the end of his life, Abraham exuded a faith that is unmatched by most people. He still knew of God’s promise to make a nation out of him through Isaac. A younger, more brash Abraham might have tried to take matters into his own hands again, much like when he went to Hagar for a son. We see the maturity that comes from both age and a long, close walk with God throughout one’s life in this chapter. Instead of seeking a wife for his son, he simply sent a servant back to his people and trusted God to guide him.

On the surface this sounds ridiculous. The servant was supposed to go hundreds of miles away with nothing but some gifts and a story to find a wife for Isaac. How could he not go except by faith? God wasted little time too. As we see from this chapter, the servant had barely gotten to his destination before God provided what he was looking for. The Servant himself exhibited a large amount of faith. His prayer was heartfelt and received an immediate answer when Rebekah walked up to him.

12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. Genesis 24:12-16

How can we apply this today? It starts from knowing that God has a plan for all of us. Abraham laid this down because he knew all along God had promised a specific plan for him. We may not have the deep, intimate relationship that Abraham had with God, but He still loves us and has a specific plan in mind. Sometimes we get quick, specific guidance like Abraham and his servant here. Other times, it may take years before we see God’s plan realized. The important lesson is to realize that we do have a plan out there for us. We must wait for it to be realized no matter how long it takes.

As I read this today and applied it to my life I have never felt as if the word was speaking to me so personally. Right now I am facing a major career decision with a couple of options to go. Both are potential offers in drastically different directions. I also know what I would choose if it was my choice. The bottom line is that it is not my choice, just as it was not Isaac, Abraham’s or even the servant’s choice here. This is God’s choice in His plan for my life. There fore, I am giving it to Him. If he wants me in the job that I would choose, He will have them offer and I won’t look back. If he wants me to stay and grow where I am at now, but don’t want to be, something will get in the way and there will be no offer in the Other direction.

It is a chance for me to practice the faith of Abraham, so I hope I am ready for this test.

Genesis 23

I apologize for publishing so sporadically lately. Things have been moving and may continue to move in my life over the next week or so. It is an exciting time to see God’s blessing is about all I can say.

We are almost through our study of the life of Abraham. Today, we reach another crossroads with the death of Sarah. This is roughly about 25 years later from the time when Abraham was tested to sacrifice Isaac. She has constantly been in the background here because of the way Abraham’s society was. Women were treated as property as opposed to human beings. Still, Sarah played a very important role as the matriarch of faith. She still needed to have great faith in order to be blessed as she was. Even with her death, God did amazing things.

3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4 "I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead."

5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."

7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you."

10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11 "No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead." – Genesis 23:3-11

This is proof of both the power of God and how much He blessed Abraham. We know that Abraham is ethnically the father of the modern-day nation of Israel. They are shunned and hated throughout the entire Middle Eastern region. In Abraham’s time, however, he was greatly respected by the local people, as we see here. Even in his time of great grief, they honored him by essentially giving him a place to bury his dead. They could have seen him as a threat, but instead they gave him honor. This is especially profound since later on the Hittites would become Israel’s enemy.

We also see Abraham’s own humility by the way he still pays for something that he is being given for free. There would have been absolutely nothing wrong with accepting what the Hittites were giving him. Still, he honored them by paying the price they named even though they did not want it.

Genesis 22

These are something the things I love: my wife. My family. My friends. My state finals medal from when I was on my high school basketball team. The flag that was on my grandfather’s casket at his funeral. These are some of the things I treasure deeply. I wouldn’t give them up or betray them for any earthly thing. I do not have any children of my own yet, but I can only imagine the love and connection one would feel toward a child.

Now imagine being asked to give up this connection willingly. It’s not like you are sending this child away so that it may have a successful life you won’t see. No, you are asked to tie this child down, kill them with a knife, then burnt he remains as an offering to the lord. Who has the strength to do that? Who would think they were in their right mind if they were compelled to do that?

We see this ultimate example today when Abraham is asked to sacrifice Isaac. It is believed that the boy was 13 by now, so we know that we are almost 40 years into Abraham’s story of faith. We have seen him be ultimately faithful, yet we have seen him fail. This appears to be his ultimate test, as he is asked to personally sacrifice the thing that the Lord promised him. He carried that sacrifice right up to the moment of truth, trusting that God would provide another sacrifice in Isaac’s place.

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." – Genesis 22:6-13

This is a prelude to Christ’s sacrifice. It shows us the love that Abraham felt toward God that he was willing to give up anything to gain his favor. God showed us the same love by actually going through with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. I cannot imagine what had to be going through the minds of all the parties involved here. Abraham had to have great faith, yet he also probably had great fear that God wouldn’t come through. Because of his failings before, we know he was prone to fail again.

So what can we learn from this? First, God is in control, even when he seems to make a radical request we don’t necessarily agree with. Second, we must be prepared to give everything we have been given because God is the source of that blessing. Third, we see that a bad situation doesn’t necessarily have to end badly. Instead of losing a son, Abraham gained God’s favor further. His blessing continues even today.

Genesis 21

It feels somewhat ironic that I got to read this chapter today. Today’s chapter deals primarily with the fulfillment of a promise. God promised Abraham that he would have a son with his wife, Sarah. Abraham is now 100 years old at this and Sarah is 90. Both had obviously waited a very long time for this promise to be fulfilled. The irony comes from the fact that, as of this morning, I have two legitimate job offers on the table after nearly four years of not having a single one. Nothing is concrete yet, but both look pretty good. One is a slightly more secure position than the other, but the second is more in line with my goals.

Maybe God is trying to tell me something here with the life of Abraham, because here he had to choose between his sons. He had to decide which son to keep with him and which one to send away. Both were going to be prosperous. God promised to watch out for both, and Abraham obviously loved them both. Still, he had to chose. I know I am not choosing the fate of nations here as Abraham, but it is still a choice. It is a chance to trust in God and listen for the right answer while fearing I’ll make the wrong choice.

The important thing here is that we remember that God is faithful in all His promises. He promised Isaac to Abraham through Sarah, and He delivered. He promised Hagar and Abraham that Ishmael would be made into a great nation, and he was. God has promised that He will never fail us, even when we are fearful that we may fail ourselves. I must learn to accept that I can screw up this decision, but it does not ultimately screw up God’s overriding plan for me.

6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." 7 And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." – Genesis 21:6-7

Laughter is such an expression of joy. I think it is great when we can laugh at what God has done for us. I think the laughter here was out of simple amazement at what God can do. When he cares for us against the odds, how we can’t help but marvel at His creation. Sometimes you just want to smile, throw up your hands, and say, “whatever, God. You know what to do.” The same is true for the separation between Ishmael and Abraham. Though he would get along with Isaac, this is the root cause for conflict between Israelis an Muslims to this day. God has a much larger plan here, but we won’t know what it is until it is fulfilled.