The Esau Syndrome.

Genesis 24-25

"Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” – Genesis 25:32 NLT

The spiritual versus the physical. These two areas of our lives are always in constant battle. The flesh against the Spirit. Over in Romans 8:5 we are told, "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit" (NASB). In Galatians 6:8 we read, "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit" (NLT). This is the Esau Syndrome. Whenever we allow our flesh, our natural desires or appetites to control our lives, we are suffering from the Esau syndrome. In the story of Esau and Jacob, you have two men who, in spite of the fact they are twins, are polar opposites in respect to their personalities and lifestyles. They may have been born at the same time and from the same womb, but that is where the similarities end.

Esau was a man's man, a hunter-gatherer, who loved the outdoors. Jacob was a "mama's boy" who "was a peaceful man, living in tents" (Genesis 25:27). The New Living Translation describes him as "the kind of person who liked to stay at home." But the real difference between these two men lie in their outlook or approach to life. It seems that Esau was a man who was controlled by his passions and his appetites. He was a man who lived in the moment, not particularly interested in future blessings or spiritual inheritances. He was driven by sight, what he could see and touch. This is made painfully clear in the story of chapter 25. He came in from the field and found his brother Jacob cooking up a pot of stew. Hungry and driven by his appetite, he asks his brother for a taste of the stew. He doesn't even know what it is, referring to it simply as "red stuff." Jacob takes advantage of this opportunity to make a deal with his brother. He would give him the stew in exchange for his inheritance. To any of us reading this story, we can't help be struck by the inequality of this "bargain." A bowl of lentil soup for an inheritance that was worth a fortune. It just doesn't make sense. Why would Esau even agree to such an offer? It seems he is so driven by his physical appetites that he can't help himself. He is willing to give up his rightful inheritance in exchange for a meal. But it also reveals his apparent disdain for his inheritance. It seems to have no value to him. It is not his at that moment. It is little more than a promise of future blessing. He can't enjoy it now. It won't even be his until his father is gone. So what good is it to him?

Driven by desire

What exactly is the Esau syndrome? We are given the answer in the book of Hebrews: "Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite" (Hebrews 12:16 MSG). The Esau Syndrome is to allow our physical appetites to overpower or control our spiritual appetites. It is any time we give in to the flesh instead of listening to the Spirit. I love the way Matthew Henry describes it in his commentary:

The gratifying of the sensual appetite is that which ruins thousands of precious souls: surely, if Esau was hungry and faint, he might have got a meal’s meat cheaper than at the expense of his birthright; but he was unaccountably fond of the colour of this pottage, and could not deny himself the satisfaction of a mess of it, whatever it cost him. Never better can come of it, when men’s hearts walk after their eyes (Job 31:7), and when they serve their own bellies: therefore look not thou upon the wine, or, as Esau, upon the pottage, when it is red, when it gives that colour in the cup, in the dish, which is most inviting, Proverbs 23:31. If we use ourselves to deny ourselves, we break the forces of most temptations.

Esau devalued the very thing that could bring value to his life: His inheritance. It meant little or nothing to him. "He is called profane Esau for it (Hebrews 12:16), because for one morsel of meat he sold his birthright, as dear a morsel as ever was eaten since the forbidden fruit; and he lived to regret it when it was too late. Never was there such a foolish bargain as this which Esau now made" (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible). Yet, we make similar bargain every day when we sell our "birthright" – our spiritual inheritance as saints – for the passing pleasures of this world. We give in to our appetites and sell ourselves short. We go for the immediate satisfaction of a sinful thought, a worldly pleasure, a physical enjoyment – rather than keeping our focus of the future. We tend to live for the immediate and are unwilling to wait for what God has in store for us. It is interesting to note that God had already told Rebekah that Jacob was going to get the inheritance. "The sons in your womb will become two rival nations. One nation will be stronger than the other; the descendants of your older son will serve the descendants of your younger son" (Genesis 25:23 NLT). But Esau would play a part in the forfeiture of the inheritance by selling it. It wouldn't have to be taken from him because he would willingly sell it in exchange for something more immediate and physically gratifying.

As believers we have been promised a rich and valuable inheritance. It is ours and awaits us in the future. But because we live in the NOW, we sometimes struggle with waiting for it. So we "sell" it in exchange for more immediate gratification. We trade future blessing for immediate satisfaction. And like Esau, we live to regret it. The stew may taste great going down, but it will not last. It will not satisfy for long. We will always regret giving in to our physical appetites and live only to satisfy our sinful desires.

Father, I don't want to live like Esau, driven by my physical appetites. I want to be a man who lives for You and who keeps my eyes on the prize. Forgive me though when I allow my flesh to dictate my decisions. Give me the strength to listen to the Spirit so that I might listen to His direction and enjoy the benefits of Your promises over the false promises of this world. Amen

A Promise, But No Land

Genesis 23

Here I am, a stranger in a foreign land, with no place to bury my wife. Please let me have a piece of land for a burial plot."– Genesis 23:4 NLT

Have you ever had someone make a promise to you and not keep it? Or have you ever made a promise to someone else and fail to follow through on that promise? It happens all the time. And when it does, it usually causes us to lose trust in the one who made the promise. We begin to doubt their word. We question the believability of any and all promises they have made us. It's only natural. So when we come to chapter 23 of Genesis, we find a story, that at first glance, doesn't seem to have a lot of meat to it. It records the death of Sarah and Abraham's bartering with the Hittites in order to buy a plot of land on which to bury her remains. It's easy to just blow through this passage and miss out on what could be a very important point that Moses, the author, is trying to make.

When Sarah dies, Abraham makes plans to bury her. But he has a problem. He owns no land. Now this is significant. He is living in the very land that God had promised to give to he and his descendants, but at this point not one acre of it belongs to him. Yet over and over again God had reiterated His promise to give this land to Abraham and his descendants. Back in chapter 13, God had reaffirmed His promise to Abraham regarding the land: "Look as far as you can see in every direction. I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession And I am going to give you so many descendants that, like dust, they cannot be counted! Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you" (Genesis 13:14-17 NLT).

Seems pretty clear. God was going to give Abraham all the land he could see as his possession. Yet on the day Sarah died, he didn't even own enough land to bury his wife. All he had was a future promise. According to God, this land would all be his someday. But at this moment, it belonged to Ephron the son of Zohar. According to the book of Hebrews, Abraham was a foreigner living in the very land that God had promised to give him. "And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith––for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent" (Hebrews 11:9 NLT).

Abraham was living by faith. He had been promised everything, but owned nothing. Yet, rather than complain to God about his lot in life, Abraham went about buying a plot of land – a plot of land that rightfully belonged to him. Why? The writer of Hebrews goes on to tell us: "Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God" (Hebrews 11:10 NLT). He had a future focus. He wasn't going to limit the promises of God by putting a time limit on Him. He had learned this lesson while waiting on God's promise of an heir. He had tried to put a time table on God's promise and that had caused nothing but pain and sorrow. It had even caused him to take matters into his own hands. Which proved disastrous and disappointing. Abraham was learning to trust God. He was learning to believe that God's timing was perfect and impeccable. Sarah had died never seeing the promise regarding the land fulfilled. But the same thing would happen to Abraham. He would live out his life never seeing the fulfillment of God's promise. Yet he believed. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says this about Abraham and the others listed in the "Hall of Faith." "All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth" (Hebrews 11:13 NLT). These people had a future focus. They welcomed or embraced the future fulfillment of God's promises as if they were already here. They didn't have to see the results to believe that they would happen.

A Heavenly Home

Was God going to give this land to Abraham and his descendants? You bet. Would Abraham ever see that happen? No. But he knew it would. And he also knew that God had something even better in store for him. "But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them" (Hebrews 11:16 NLT). Abraham wasn't obsessed with owning land and extending his little kingdom on earth. He was content to let God work all that out on His own timeline.

What about us? Are we willing to trust God with the future? Are we willing to believe the promises of God even when they look as if they will never happen in our lifetime? That requires faith. "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see" (Hebrews 11:1 NLT). Faith is what kept Abraham going. Faith is what kept him strong even when the promise was delayed. Chapter 11 of Hebrews, that great "Hall of Faith," tells us of the great exploits of those who lived their lives by faith and not by sight. As a result, "Their weakness was turned to strength" (Hebrews 11:34 NLT). Oh for a generation of individuals who will "faith up" to the fact that God can be trusted to keep His promises.

Father, You are faithful all the time! You never fail to keep Your promises. Yet I still doubt and question whether You will. Give me the faith of Abraham. Let my weakness be turned to strength as I learn to trust You, confident that what You have promised is going to happen, even when I can't see it. Amen

The Lord Will Provide.

Genesis 21-22

Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. – Genesis 22:8 NASB

This statement by Abraham was not just lip service. He believed it. In spite of the fact that he was on his way to sacrifice his own son at the Lord's command. He believed that God would see to it that everything turned out all right – even if he was forced to go through with the command to take his own son's life. Over in the book of Hebrews we learn that Abraham even believed that if he had to go through with the plan to kill his own son, which he was more than willing to do, God would raise Isaac from the dead. "It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, 'Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.' Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead" (Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT).

The Lord will provide. That is the theme of these two chapters. In fact, that is the name Abraham gave to the place where he was about to sacrifice his own son. In the Hebrew it is Yahweh Yireh and it literally means, "The Lord will see to it." God had this situation well in hand and knew exactly what to do. Abraham could trust God for the outcome because God sees and knows. His plan is best. Abraham had been learning to trust God. This was not the first time Abraham had been asked to sacrifice a son by God. Back in chapter 21 God had told Abraham to send his firstborn by Hagar away into the wilderness. Sarah demanded that Abraham get rid of Ishmael because of his mocking behavior towards Isaac. Her demand greatly distressed Abraham, but God confirmed that he was to listen to Sarah and send Ishmael away. "So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food for the journey, and strapped a container of water to Hagar’s shoulders. He sent her away with their son, and she walked out into the wilderness of Beersheba, wandering aimlessly" (Genesis 21:14 NLT). This had to have been hard for Abraham. But God had promised to take care of his son and to bless him. "But God told Abraham, 'Do not be upset over the boy and your servant wife. Do just as Sarah says, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he also is your son'" (Genesis 21:12-13 NLT). Just a few verses later, after wandering around in the wilderness in despair, God visits Hagar and confirms His promise to her and the text says, "God was with the lad" (Genesis 21:20).

The Fear of the Lord

Just about the time Abraham was going to plunge the knife into his son's body, God intervened. He stopped Abraham from going through with the sacrifice. And He immediately said to Abraham, "for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me" (Genesis 22:12 NLT). Abraham's devotion to God was exhibited in his willingness to sacrifice that which was most dear to him – his own son. The son he had been waiting for all his life. The son who was the fulfillment of the promise of God and the hope of his future. But God meant more to him than even Isaac. God meant more to him than even Ishmael. God meant more to him than anything else. And he proved it with his actions.

Devotion in action

It's easy to say we're devoted to God. It's another thing to live it out. But devotion is the key to godly character. If we are not truly devoted to God, we will not live for Him. We will not make Him first in our lives. Instead, we will allow all kinds of things to take precedence and priority over Him – even good things like our kids, marriage, career, or ministry. We will say we are devoted to God, but live with a host of other things that hold a higher place in our hearts and minds. God will ask us to sacrifice them, to let go of them, in order to prove our devotion to Him, but we will tend to hold on to them like a dog with a rag. Abraham could have attempted to hold on to Ishmael and Isaac, but instead, he was willing to let them go, because God meant more to him than anything or anyone else. Every day, God is asking you and me to let go of our pride, our self-sufficiency, our reputation, our plans, our finances, our careers, our stuff – all in order to prove that He means more to us than anything else. And when we do He proves Himself to us, by seeing to it that we find all that we ever needed or desired in Him. We discover that God really does provide.

Father, You are the great provider. But so often I place my hopes on other things or other people to provide what only You can. Abraham could have decided not to obey You because he had put all his hope for the future in Isaac. But he knew that You alone could fulfill Your promises to him. He was going to have to trust You. And I want to do the same. I want to grow in my devotion to You and my trust in You. You are the one who sees and provides. Amen

The Foul Fruit of Sin.

Genesis 19-20

Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?" – Genesis 20:9-10 NLT

In these two chapters we see the continued ramifications of sin in the lives of men. Lot, who had greedily chosen the land near Sodom (Genesis 13:10-11) when given the opportunity by Abraham, had ended up settling right in the city itself. He had become a regular fixture in the community, even sitting at the gate as one of the city leaders. But he had chosen to live and raise his two daughters in an environment that was anything but righteous. All indications are that Lot had retained his belief in Yahweh. He had not taken part in the unrighteous behavior of Sodom. Surprisingly, Peter refers to Lot as a good and righteous man. "But at the same time, God rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a good man who was sick of all the immorality and wickedness around him. Yes, he was a righteous man who was distressed by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day" (2 Peter 2:7-8 NLT). Lot had made a bad decision and found himself living in the midst of extreme sexual perversion. It was so bad, that it even got God's attention so that He sent angels to bring judgment on the city. But rather than move, Lot chose to stay. He had become comfortable living where he was, even though the lifestyles of his fellow Sodomites "distressed" him. He probably thought he could survive unharmed and untainted by all that went on around him. But he had already allowed his daughters to become engaged to two men from Sodom, who both laughed in his face when he tried to warn them to flee the judgment to come. Lot's own wife had fallen in love with Sodom and gazed longingly back at the city when given the chance to escape. The result was her own destruction.

All throughout these chapters you see the sad consequences of disobedience to God. Lot's seemingly innocent decision to live in Sodom was now having dramatic effects on his family. His wife was dead, his daughters' fiances had been destroyed, and he found himself living in a cave. It is there that we see the influence living in Sodom had had on his own daughters. They come up with a plan to keep their family's legacy alive by having sex with their own father. That these two girls should come up with such a plan is shocking, but not surprising when considering the environment in which they were raised. They had seen it all. They had been exposed to some of the most degrading sexual perversions known to man. And it had had an influence on them. The result of their perverted sexual encounter with their own father were two children. One was Moab and the other was Ammon. The descendants of these two boys would be the Moabites and the Ammonites, two nations that would become enemies of the nation of Israel.

Deja Vu All Over Again!

Lot's sins had ramifications. But so did the sin of Abraham. Once again, he resorts to protecting his own hide by putting his wife at risk. He exposes the mother of his future heir-to-be to the sexual advances of the king of Gerar by convincing her to lie and say she is his sister. The king takes her into his harem with the intent of treating her as one of his sex slaves. That Abraham would do this again, after being chastised by God the first time, is amazing. This man of faith still struggled with a lack of faith at times. And had it not been for the protective hand of God, this whole story could have turned out for the worse. But God intervened and warned the king in a dream not to touch Sarah. When the king finds out the truth he confronts Abraham. He is angry and confused. Why would Abraham do this to him? What had he done to Abraham to deserve this kind of treatment? He was innocent and blameless compared to Abraham. And yet, all Abraham could do was give three lame excuses for his actions. But those actions almost had disastrous effects. God was about to bring destruction on an entire nation because of the sin of Abraham.

Sin Is A Cancer

Sin is anything but harmless. How many time have we heard someone say when confronted about their sin, "I'm not hurting anybody else!" We somehow believe that our sin is isolated and has no impact on anyone but ourselves. But these two chapters and the whole of the Bible prove otherwise. Our sin spreads. Like a cancer, it grows and influences those around us. Our decisions have consequences. Our sin produces fruit. Sure, we can be forgiven if we confess. That is a promise of God. But that does not mean our sin will not have an impact on us and those around us. God rescued Lot, but his own daughters had already been soiled by the sinfulness of Sodom. God spared Abraham, but not before an entire nation found that all their women had become barren and unable to conceive because of the judgment of God (Genesis 20:18). Our sins produce fruit. Which should cause us to think long and hard before we commit them. The Scriptures give us a clear picture of what our sins can produce. Our subtle sins can produce serious ramifications.

Father, help me to see the seriousness of my own sin and the negative fruit it produces. I want to learn to stop rationalizing it and justifying it like Abraham did. I want to be able to claim integrity of heart and innocence of hands like Abimelech did. But I know that to do that I have to lean more and more on You and less on myself. I have to grow in my aware of and dependence on You. Amen

Is Anything Too Difficult For God?

Genesis 17-18

Is anything too hard for the LORD? About a year from now, just as I told you, I will return, and Sarah will have a son. – Genesis 18:14 NLT

Abram's battle with belief continues. He has been reckoned or counted righteous by God because of his faith, yet he continues to struggle with unbelief. In chapter 17 God reaffirms His covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham. God restates the fact that He is going to make Abraham exceedingly fruitful. He is going to bless Abraham with a multitude of descendants. He makes it very clear how He is going to do this. "And I will bless her [Sarah] and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings will be among her descendants!" (Genesis 17:16 NLT). Could God had made it any plainer? Yet Abraham's immediate response is one of doubt. "Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. 'How could I become a father at the age of one hundred?' he wondered. 'Besides, Sarah is ninety; how could she have a baby?'" (Genesis 17:17 NLT). Can you relate to this scene? Abraham is bowing before God as a sign of worship and submission, but inside he is laughing to himself in disbelief. He is questioning the very God he is worshiping. Then he has the audacity to express his disbelief. "And Abraham said to God, 'Yes, may Ishmael enjoy your special blessing!'" (Genesis 17:18 NLT). He had still not let go of his plan B. He couldn't see any other way for God to fulfill his covenant promise than through the son Abraham had had with his wife's servant girl. Isn't that how many of us pray? We come up with our own plan and then ask God to bless it. We determine what we think is the best course of action and ask God to put His Good Housekeeping seal of approval on it. But that's not the way God works. He responds emphatically, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him" (Genesis 17:19 NASB). God had a better plan.

Laughter is contagious, so is doubt

It seems that Abraham's lingering doubt was a family matter. He and Sarah probably had conversations overdinner regarding God's repeated promises of blessing. They most likely discussed their doubts and concerns over God's ability to pull off what He had promised. Because when the three angels of the Lord appear to Abraham confirming God's plan to give them both a son and to announce that Sarah will give birth to that son in just one year,  Sarah laughed to herself. She clearly heard what the Lord said, but then she took a look at her surroundings and concluded: "How could a worn–out woman like me have a baby?...And when my master––my husband––is also so old?" (Genesis 18:12 NLT). God had promised the impossible and improbable. He had overstepped His capacity to deliver. At least in Sarah's mind. Yet even though she expressed these doubts to herself, God knew exactly what she was thinking. He always does. We may be bowing before Him like Abraham did or hiding from Him like Sarah. But He still knows what we are thinking in our hearts. He sees through our mock submission and futile hiddenness. He knows. Remember, He is the God who sees (Genesis 16:13).

God responds to Sarah's doubt, not with anger, but with a question: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14 NLT). My mind says, "No!," but my heart wants to say, "Yes!" If I am honest, there are times in my life when I experientally express to God my doubt in His ability to pull certain things off. I fear, worry, experience anxiety, take matters into my own hands, start planning and scheming. In other words, my actions tell God that I do think some things are too hard for Him. But the prophet Jeremiah had a different perspective. "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You" (Jeremiah 32:17 NASB). In the book of Zechariah, God informs His people that He is going to one day reestablish Jerusalem and return His people there. The people had already returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon and had been given the task of rebuilding the walls, but they had failed to finish. Jerusalem still lay in ruins. The Temple had been destroyed. They were demoralized and defeated. So God responded to them, "This is what the LORD Almighty says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small and discouraged remnant of God’s people. But do you think this is impossible for me, the LORD Almighty?" (Zechariah 8:6 NLT). The Message puts God's question this way: "Do the problems of returning and rebuilding by just a few survivors seem too much? But is anything too much for me? Not if I have my say."

God will have His say!

Is anything too hard for God? No! God will have His say and His way. He will do what He said He will do. He will accomplish His plan and nothing can stand in His way. God would do exactly what He promised for Abraham. In spite of their disbelief. Thankfully, the promise didn't rest on their faith, but on God's faithfulness. God's promises never fail. He always comes through. He delivers the goods. Yet we still doubt. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again. But we still laugh to ourselves and say, "But can He really pull this off?" May we learn from the lives of Abraham and Sarah and begin to take God at His word. He can be trusted. He will come through. Nothing is too hard for Him!

Father, I want to believe that. Nothing is too hard for You. I want to live it. I want my life to reflect it. I want to respond to the impossible with immovable faith in You. In the face of insurmountable odds, I want to have unshakable faith. You have already proven in my life that nothing is too hard for You, but I still doubt. Thank You for Your patience and grace. Thank You that times of difficulty are your school room for showing Your power in my life and proving Your trustworthiness. Amen

The Best Laid Plans Of Mice and Men Oft Go Awry.

Genesis 16

So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai." – Genesis 16:2 NASB

In yesterday's reading we saw Abram attempt to give God an alternate plan by suggesting his servant, Eliezer become his heir. God rejected that plan and assured Abram that he would have a son the old-fashioned way – through his wife Sarai. We are told that Abram believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now we find ourselves in chapter 16 and the issue of God's delayed promise comes up again – this time with Sarai. It has now been 10 years since Abram first arrived in the land of Canaan. He has yet to settle down anywhere. He does not live in a city, but in tents. He has not officially become a landowner in the land that God has promised him. On top of that, he still has a barren wife who isn't getting any younger, and no heir.

Sarai takes notice of this predicament and comes up with her own version of plan B. Now this one has always boggled my mind because Sarai's "solution" sounds so out of character for any normal, red-blooded woman. She decides to let Abram take a second wife! Now what woman in her right mind would ever suggest something like that to her husband? I can see Abram coming up with a plan like that long before Sarai. But it probably reveals her state of mind. She so longs to provide her husband with an heir. In that culture, for a woman to be barren and unable to provide her husband with a male heir, to keep the family name going, was a curse. She was desperate. She probably saw herself as a failure. So she decides to do something about the situation. And Abram agrees to it! That is the crazy part. This man who believed is now more than willing to have sexual relations with his wife's servant girl. And so he does.

From bad to worse

So how did this all work out for Sarai? Well, Hagar gets pregnant immediately. Which was a painful reminder to Sarai of her own barrenness. I have to believe that there is part of Sarai that was even a little put out with her husband that he agreed to this plan to easily. We're told that Sarai despired Hagar. Sarai curses her own husband and blames him for the whole messed up affair (Genesis 16:5). Abram decides to stay out of it all and gives Sarai permission to mistreat Hagar. Which she does. So much so that Hagar takes her newborn son and runs away. Things are really turning out great, aren't they? Sarai and Abram are at odds with each other. Abram's second wife has run away. He has just lost the son who he had intended to be his heir. Hagar is left all alone in the wilderness with a newborn baby and no way of providing for herself. It really does go from bad to worse. But that seems to be the way things work when we come up with our own plan. When we fail to trust God and attempt to play god, we never see it work out well in the long run. Matthew Henry has this to say in his commentary:

When our hearts are too much set upon any creature-comfort, we are easily put upon the use of indirect methods for the obtaining of it. Inordinate desires commonly produce irregular endeavours. If our wishes be not kept in a submission to God’s providence, our pursuits will scarcely be kept under the restraints of his precepts. (2.) It is for want of a firm dependence upon God’s promise, and a patient waiting for God’s time, that we go out of the way of our duty to catch at expected mercy. He that believes does not make haste.

But God sees

It seems from the text that Hagar is headed home to Egypt. But on the way she is visited by the angel of the Lord. He tells her to return and submit to Sarai's authority. That is probably not exactly what Hagar wanted to hear. It didn't sound like good advice. But it was godly advice! The angel also assures Hagar that she is going to have more descendants than she could ever count. In other words, God is going to bless her. She is told to name her son Ishmael, which means "God hears." God had heard her cries for help. He had heard the abuse hurled at her by Sarai. He heard and He responded. Hagar's response was a simple, yet profound statement: "You are a God who sees." The New Living Translation puts it this way: "Thereafter, Hagar referred to the LORD, who had spoken to her, as 'the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have seen the One who sees me!'"

In the midst of all her sorrow and pain, God saw her. And she got to see Him. That's the way God works. He wants to reveal Himself in those dark moments of pain and sorrow. He wants to reveal Himself to us when our plans fail or when the plans others make for us prove faulty. God sees, but more importantly, He wants to be seen. He wants our eyes to focus on Him. He wants us to perceive Him and know that He is there – even when things look bleak. In spite of Sarai's less-than-perfect plan, God was watching. He was aware and He cared. He saw and He acted. He is the God who sees. Do you see Him at work in your life? Do you see Him in the middle of your circumstances? Is He asking you to stay right where you are, instead of trying to run away from your situation? Is He asking you to trust Him? He is the God who sees. And He wants you and I to see Him work His will according to His power in the midst of our worst situations.

Father, You always see me. But I sometimes fail to see You. I don't see You, even though You are right there beside me. I fail to see Your hand in my circumstances. I fail to hear Your voice speaking to me in my pain. Open my eyes so that like Hagar I can say, "I have seen the One who sees me!" Amen

Promise Without Compromise.

Genesis 14-15

Then the LORD said to him, "No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you." – Genesis 15:4 NLT

Have you ever felt like God could use your help? Sounds ridiculous, I know, but the truth is, we've all stepped in at one time or another to give God a hand. Just think about it, God has promised us abundant life through His Son, but we somehow feel like our life is not quite as abundant as we would like it. So we step in to help give the abundant quotient a boost. God has promised to give us joy, but we somehow feel like we could use a little more joy, which we tie to pleasure and happiness. So we surround ourselves with an endless array of entertainment options.

Time and time again, we step in to help God fulfill His promises to us. And that's exactly what Abram was tempted to do. God had promised to give Abram an abundance of descendants. But there was a slight problem: Abram was old and his wife was barren. Not a good combination when it comes to being fruitful and filling the earth. So Abram decided to approach God with an alternate plan. He wasn't doubting God's promise. He was just trying to help God get past the roadblock of Sarai'sinfertility and his advanced age. Abram's logic was flawless. "But Abram replied, 'O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since I don’t have a son, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no children, so one of my servants will have to be my heir'" (Genesis 15:2-3 NLT). Abram saw a solution to the problem. It wasn't ideal, but at least it was a move in the right direction. It would fulfill God's promise and accomplish the objective.

There is no plan B

But God had other plans. His own. "Then the LORD said to him, 'No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you.' Then the LORD brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, 'Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that––too many to count!'" (Genesis 15:4-5 NLT). God didn't need Abram's advice or help. He had a plan and He was going to work that plan. It really didn't matter how things looked to Abram. God was not limited by Abram's lack of vision. He was going to fulfill His plan His way. And only He would receive the glory. Our plan B is always a poor substitute for God's plan A.

Then He Believed!

At this point, Abram was forced to take God at His word. He had to step out in faith and give up his plan for God's. He had to trust what He could not understand or see. He had no way of knowing how God was going to give he and Sarai an offspring in their condition. But he believed anyway. He placed His faith in God to fulfill His promise. In response, "the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty" (Genesis 15:6 NLT). God counted Abram's faith as righteousness. Not his works, but his faith. Over in the book of Hebrews we are told that "without faith is it impossible to please" God (Hebrews 11:6 NASB). Abram's life was characterized by faith. Sure, there were times he doubted and took matters into his own hands, but the overwhelming characteristic of his life was faith. Hebrews 11 goes on to say, "It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith––for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent. And so did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise" (Hebrews 11:8-11 NLT).

Abraham believed that God would keep His promise. Do you? Or are you trying to come up with ways to help God out? When we doubt God, we usually double our efforts to help God out. We get short-sighted, focusing on the immediate, when God is asking us to be future-oriented, trusting Him to fulfill His promise in His time and according to His divine plan.

Father, forgive me for my arrogance for thinking that I could ever help You. But to be honest, sometimes I just panic and take matters into my own hands because I don't see you working. I want things to turn out a certain way, so I step in and muddy up the water. I want to learn to trust you. To live by faith, not by sight. Give me patience to wait on You, because Your plan is always perfect and perfectly timed.  Amen

The Promise Is Not Problem-Free.

Genesis 12-13

And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing. – Genesis 12:2 NASB

At the beginning of chapter 12 we have God making His covenant promise to Abram. He calls Abram to leave his homeland and move to a place he had never heard of – all based on a verbal promise. And amazingly, Abram obeyed. He took everything he owned and set out for the land of Canaan. This was an incredible step of faith. He had no idea what was in store for him, but was having to trust in the word of God. God had told him, "I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:2-3 NLT). The promise made to Abram included God's blessing and His protection.

But the promise was not without opposition. In verse six we read that "the Canaanite was in the land." No sooner had Abram gotten close to the land God had promised to give him, Abram discovered that it was already occupied. You would have thought that upon his arrival Abram would have found a welcoming committee sent by God. There would have been a clear indication from God that this was the place He had promised. But instead, Abram finds the land occupied by someone else – a formidable foe who would not give up the land easily. So Abram arrives at his destination and all he could do was "pass through the land." He not only journeyed to the land by faith, he would live in it by faith. The promise of God is not without opposition. But rather than complain, Abram erects and altar and worships God.

The promise of God is not without difficulty. Not only is the land occupied, it is going through a severe famine. This land of blessing that God had promised Abram is not exactly fruitful and abundant when he arrives there. Had I been Abram, I would have begun questioning the wisdom and direction of God. Why did You tell me to leave my home for this? Where is all the blessing You promised? How can this be part of Your plan? What did I do to deserve this? I would have had all those questions and more. Because I don't expect the promise of God to come with difficulty. But rather than complain, Abram moves his retinue to Egypt. I don't think this was an act of faithlessness on Abram's part. I think this was God's plan for him – another test of his faith. One he would fail to a certain degree. Because when Abram arrives in Egypt, he begins to fear.

Opposition and difficulty can cause us to improvise. The fact that the land was occupied and going through a severe famine caused Abram to have to move to Egypt temporarily. It was the only way he could feed his family and his flocks. But when he got to Egypt he began to fear and so he took matters into his own hands. He came up with his own scheme. He instructed his wife to lie in order to save his own skin. He improvised and compromised. That's what we do. We follow God and find the way is not easy, so we begin to come up with our own plan – in an effort to make the way a little bit easier. We doubt God and His ability to provide and protect, so we devise a plan of our own. And the outcome is usually less than ideal. Abram's plan led to his wife ending up in Pharaoh's court as one of his concubines. Abram's plan had saved his life, but cost him his wife. So God had to intervene and clean up Abram's mess. Because that is what God does. And the amazing thing is that Abram comes out of it blessed, not cursed. It seems that Pharaoh sent Abram away with even more flocks than when he arrived. At first blush this looks like Abram got rewarded for his efforts. But it would not be long until that blessing became a curse.

The promise is not without conflict. Upon arrival back in the land, Abram finds himself in conflict with his own nephew, Lot. They both had huge herds and we are told that "the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together" (Genesis 13:6 NASB). Abram and Lot were at odds. They were in conflict. So they had to separate. Abram ends up giving Lot his choice of the land and Lot picks the best, which happened to be in the vicinity of Sodom. This would prove to be a bad move on his part. But isn't it amazing that in the midst of the promise of God, Abram finds himself in conflict. Things were not going as smoothly as might be expected. And when we find ourselves in the same situation we begin to doubt God's promise. We begin to question whether we are really in His plan. We don't want or expect the promises of God to come with conflict. But Abram discovered that following God did not exempt him from opposition, difficulty, or conflict. It was all part of the plan.

The promise never stops being the promise. God was not impacted by the opposition, difficulty, or opposition. His promise still stood. He was still in control. Abram was learning to look to God and not his surroundings and circumstances. God was not done. At the end of chapter 13, God restates His promise to Abram again. In spite of the greed of Lot, God was going to give all the land to Abram. In spite of the presence of the Canaanites, the land would one day be occupied by Abram's descendants. In spite of the famine, God would make the land fruitful. Abram was learning to trust the God of the promise. He was learning not to judge based on the circumstances and situations. God's word was trustworthy. The promises of God can be trusted. No matter what we see happening around us. He is faithful and true to His word.

Father, You can be trusted. Your word is true. Your promises never fail. Help me to believe that in spite of all the opposition, difficulty, and conflict I encounter in this life.  Amen

The Pride Of Man.

Genesis 10-11

Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world. – Genesis 11:4 NLT

Chapter ten chronicles the multiplication of Noah's descendants after the flood. We are given a genealogical record of the offspring of Ham, Shem, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. From these three men "the nations were separated on the earth after the flood" (Genesis 10:32 NASB) – which was in keeping with God's command given to Noah and his sons immediately after the flood: "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1 NIV). From all indications, they were doing just that. They were multiplying and filling the earth. But chapter 11 presents an interesting parenthesis in the story. In the midst of all the multiplying it seems that mankind decided to take matters into its own hands – literally. Rather than honor God by obediently filling the earth, they decided to stay in one spot, build a great city, and bring glory and honor to themselves. There seems to be nothing inherently wrong with them building a city. But there WAS something wrong in the motive behind it. They wanted to make a name for themselves. That phrase in the Hebrew has to do with reputation, fame, and glory. In other words, they wanted to do something that would make them famous. Not only that, but they wanted to build "a tower whose top will reach into heaven." This wasn't going to be just any tower, but a tower that would form as a link into heaven – the very dwelling place of God. Their ambition was great, and so was their pride. Their intent was evil. Matthew Henry has this to say about these people in his commentary:

It seems designed for an affront to God himself; for they would build a tower whose top might reach to heaven, which bespeaks a defiance of God, or at least a rivalship with him. They would be like the Most High, or would come as near him as they could, not in holiness but in height. They forgot their place, and, scorning to creep on the earth, resolved to climb to heaven, not by the door or ladder, but some other way. They hoped hereby to make themselves a name; they would do something to be talked of now, and to give posterity to know that there had been such men as they in the world. Rather than die and leave no memorandum behind them, they would leave this monument of their pride, and ambition, and folly. – Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

To this day, mankind has a propensity to try and be like god. We want to be famous. We want to achieve. We want to accomplish great things. Not that there is anything necessarily wrong with ambition or achievement. But when we allow what we can do, either individually or collectively, to become a means by which we defy God or attempt to replace God in our lives, we are walking on very thin ice. God had told Noah and his sons to multiply and fill the earth, not build monuments to their own ingenuity and creativity. God had not put men on the earth to make themselves famous, but to make Him famous. This was never meant to be about us, but about Him. But we are always trying to make it about us. Each of us spends a great deal of time trying to build a "tower whose top will reach into heaven." We want to be noticed. We want to experience some degree of fame. Just look at all the reality TV shows that have become so popular. Everyone seems to want to be a celebrity of some sort. Achievement has become a fixation. Our own glory has become more important than God's. We worry more about what others think of us, than Him.

Spared by God from the destruction He brought on the entire earth, the descendants of Noah soon forgot about the grace they had received from God and became obsessed with their own plan for power, prominence, and position. But God will not be mocked. He will not be disobeyed. He will not share His glory with anyone. So He came down and threw a monkey-wrench into their plans. Now, instead of them enjoying the convenience of a common language, they would find themselves speaking a variety of confusing tongues. "In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city" (Genesis 11:8 NLT). Construction stopped. But sadly, the rebellion didn't. To this day we see that men have never really stopped trying to build their tower to heaven. Pride is a powerful thing. Power is an intoxicating thing. Man is always trying to build a monument to his own greatness. But in the end, God will be the only one to receive glory.

Father, You alone deserve glory and honor. You created us. You sustain us. You spare us from Your divine judgment every day. But we somehow think that we are greater than we really are. We read our own press clippings and buy into the idea that we are really something special. But without You we are nothing. Our power is pitiful. Our achievements are miniscule. But our pride is immeasurable. Forgive us for attempting to build towers to heaven. Forgive me for trying to make myself famous, when only You deserve fame and glory.  Amen

Remnant...Delivered.

Genesis 8-9

By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. – Genesis 8:13 NIV

Paradise was destroyed. Eden was no more. The earth as it had been made by God was now radically different. God, as a result of His justice and holiness, had been forced to destroy His own creation. Yet in His grace and mercy, God had spared a small remnant of His creation. Two of every kind of creature and the family of His servant Noah. For over a year Noah, his family, and a menagerie of assorted birds, animals, and creatures, lived in the confines of the ark he had made while the rest of the world perished in a world-wide flood of epic proportions. They had been spared from God's wrath by God's own plan. Noah didn't come up with the idea for the ark, God did. It was built according to God's design, not Noah's. Noah had never even seen a lake, let alone a boat! And it was God who sealed them in to the ark, closing the door behind them (Genesis 7:16).

God delivered them from His own wrath. He provided a way of escape that they could never have dreamed of or provided on their own. He spared them from destruction and allowed them to experience a new life. There are so many parallels to our own salvation story. We too were destined to die. But God reached down and chose to save us. He made us part of a remnant, a small group whom He would spare from His wrath. Then He provided a way of escape that we could never have come up with on our own. He gave His own Son to die in our place. All so that we might have new life. But there are also a lot of dissimilarities in this story. Unlike our salvation, Noah's would not result in eternal life. He stepped out of the ark to find a radically different world than the one he had left, but it was not idyllic and heavenly. In fact, he would find it to be hostile and still prone to the effects of sin, because the ark didn't transform his sons into saints – it only delivered them from death and destruction. So within just a days of disembarking from the ark, sin would raise its ugly head again. Noah would get drunk, fall asleep naked in his tend, and his own son, Ham, would walk in and find him that less-than-flattering state. Ham shames his father even further by telling his brothers about his father's condition – probably in a condescending and disrespectful manner. As a result of his actions, Ham's descendants would be cursed by God. The impact of this curse would be far-reaching because the Canaanites would go on to be a proverbial thorn in the flesh of the Israelites for generations.

Yet, God had spared Noah. And Noah's response was to build an altar to his God and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for the deliverance He had provide. And God responded by making a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature. "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11 NIV). God knew that mankind had not changed. He knew that the world had been destroyed, but not the reign of sin. He knew that men would continue to live in open rebellion to Him, and that further destruction would be both just and right. But He chose to show grace and mercy by making a covenant never to destroy mankind in that way ever again.

The particular intention of this covenant. It was designed to secure the world from another deluge: There shall not any more be a flood. God had drowned the world once, and still it was as filthy and provoking as ever, and God foresaw the wickedness of it, and yet promised he would never drown it any more; for he deals not with us according to our sins. It is owing to God’s goodness and faithfulness, not to any reformation of the world, that it has not often been deluged and that it is not deluged now. As the old world was ruined to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day, a monument of mercy, according to the oath of God, that the waters of Noah should no more return to cover the earth, Isa. 54:9. This promise of God keeps the sea and clouds in their decreed place, and sets them gates and bars; hitherto they shall come, Job 38:10, 11. If the sea should flow but for a few days, as it does twice every day for a few hours, what desolation would it make! And how destructive would the clouds be, if such showers as we have sometimes seen were continued long! But God, by flowing seas and sweeping rains, shows what he could do in wrath; and yet, by preserving the earth from being deluged between both, shows what he can do in mercy and will do in truth. Let us give him the glory of his mercy in promising and of his truth in performing. – Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

God spared Noah. He has also spared those who have place their faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Those of us who have stepped into the "ark" of faith in Christ have been assured of our eternal security. We will never face destruction at the hand of a holy and righteous God. Yet we still sin. We rebel against the rule of God in our lives daily. But God is faithful to keep His covenant with us. He will not go back on His commitment to keep us, protect us, and deliver us. Every day we live in the unbelievable shadow of His mercy and grace. We live because Jesus died, not because we deserve to live. We enjoy life in the presence of God because Jesus gave His own life on our behalf. We have been graciously spared. So let us honor the One who made it possible.

Father, like Noah, I live because You spared me, not because I deserved to live. I live because You provided a way of escape. You placed me in the ark of Your Son and rescued me from destruction. I didn't earn it or deserve it. It was a gift of Your matchless grace. And even though I still sin against You each day, Your covenant with me is unbreakable because You are totally faithful. Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  Amen

Fellowship...Maintained.

Genesis 6-7

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him. – Genesis 6:9 NLT

Yesterday we saw how quickly the world degenerated once sin entered the picture. Cain killed his brother, is banned from the garden, and loses his fellowship with God. Men began multiplying, having children after their own kind. In other words, the sin nature of Adam was spread from one generation to the next. And chapter six lets us know that things were getting worse, not better. Even the descendants of Seth, who at least called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), had determined to intermarry with the ungodly descendants of Cain and others who were in open rebellion to God in those days (Genesis 6:1-2). I don't think the opening verses of chapter six are referring to fallen angels coming to earth to have sex with human beings because angels do not procreate. Instead, I believe that we are being told that the influence of the ungodly is becoming so great that they are contaminating the human race to such a degree that few, if any, are left who truly know and serve God. In fact, it is so bad that we are told, "The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5 NASB). It had gotten so bad so quickly, that God determined to destroy mankind, retaining a godly remnant.

Only one man found favor in God's eyes – Noah. "But Noah found favor with the LORD ... Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him" (Genesis 6:8-9 NLT). In the midst of all the sin and rebellion, one man had maintained his walk with God. The New American Standard translates verse 9 as follows: "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God." He walked with God. That word "walked" carries with the idea of intimacy. It is a picture of Noah "rubbing shoulders" with God. Somehow he had managed to stay faithful to God in spite of being surrounded by a generation of individuals who walked in complete isolation and independence from God. We are told that Noah was blameless. That is the Hebrew word tamim (8549) and it means "complete, blameless."  This word pertains to something that is completely intact, free from blemishes or defects. Often the focus is on moral goodness, being guiltless and thus not liable for sin. It was often used to describe an animal that was suitable for sacrifice. So Noah was a man of moral goodness and uprightness. He had kept himself pure. This is not saying he was without sin or morally perfect, but that he was faithful to God. This is not about Noah's righteousness, but God's grace in the midst of sin. God chose Noah, not based on his merit, but as an expression of His own grace. One commentary puts it this way:

"The grace he found was not on account of his own merit, but on account of the mercy of God: and this shows that he was not without sin, or he would have stood in no need of the mercy and grace of God to save him; and as he found grace and favour in things spiritual, so in things temporal; he found favour with God, and therefore he and his family were spared, when the whole world of the ungodly were destroyed; he found favour with God, and therefore was directed by him to build an ark, for the saving of himself and his; he found favour with him, and therefore he had the honour of being the preserver of mankind, and the father of a new world." – The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible

The story of Noah is a story of God's grace and mercy in the midst of man's sin and rebellion. Noah found favor in God's eyes. God looked down and showed kindness and mercy to Noah and his family. In fact, the Hebrew expression “find favor [in the eyes of]” is an idiom meaning “to be an object of another’s favorable disposition or action,” “to be a recipient of another’s favor, kindness, mercy.” God showered His goodness and kindness of Noah. But we can't ignore the fact, that while Noah did not deserve the grace of God, he had maintained his walk with God. He had stayed faithful to God in very difficult surroundings. It is possible for us as believers in God and followers of Christ to walk with God – regardless of how bad things may appear around us. We can and should maintain our fellowship with the Father even though everyone around us walks away from Him. Noah lived in corrupt and violent times (Genesis 6:11-12). So do we. Noah was surrounded by men who had rejected God and lived according to their own wills and desires. We find ourselves in the same position. But Noah walked with God. And so should we.

Father, forgive me for NOT walking with You as much as I should. I find it so easily to become distracted by the things of this world and start walking away from You. But I want to walk with You. I want to experience daily intimacy with You. I want to grow in my knowledge of and love for You. And there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to, because Your Spirit lives within me. So please continue to show me how to walk in truth and righteousness, integrity and moral faithfulness – even in the midst of all the sin that surrounds me.  Amen

Fellowship...Destroyed.

Genesis 4-5

So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. – Genesis 4:16 NIV

Once sin entered the picture, it didn't take long for things to start going bad. Chapter four opens with the births of Cain and Abel. While painful experiences, like most childbirths, these would have been joyous occasions. But the joy didn't last long. Cain and Abel grew up and so did their sin natures. Over in chapter five we are told that Adam's sons were born "in his own likeness" (Revelation 5:3). Unlike their father Adam, who was made in the likeness of God, Cain and Abel were born in the likeness of their sinful father. They inherited his propensity to sin. So it is not surprising that eventually that nature raised its ugly head. And it came about in a surprising way. All in regards to a sacrifice made to the Lord. We are not told that this was a requirement that God had made. Nowhere in the passage does it indicate that God had commanded sacrifices to be made to Him. But both Cain and Abel bring a sacrifice to God. Cain, being a farmer or cultivator of the fields, brought an offering from the fruit of the ground. Abel, a shepherd, brought an animal sacrifice. Again, we are not told that God had required a sacrifice at all, let alone a particular type of sacrifice. The issue seems to be in regards to the manner in which the sacrifice was brought. In Hebrews we are given a little bit of insight into what was going on: "It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man" (Hebrews 11:4 NLT). So this seems to be less about the kind of offering than the faith of the one who brought it. Verse 4 of chapter four indicates that Abel brought as his offering the first-born among the flock. He gave to God the very first of his flock. But their is no indication that Cain did the same. Some believe that Cain gave God from the leftovers. To give God the first of your flock or produce is an act of faith. You are having to trust God to provide from what is left over. To satisfy yourself first, then give God from what is left is NOT an act of faith. It is a reflection of a lack of faith in God. You doubt that He can provide, so you horde and hide from Him what is best. That seems to be what happened here.

But the result of it all is that Cain's sacrifice is not regarded or looked upon with favor by God, and Cain is furious. So much so that he becomes jealous of his brother and murders him. In just a short period of time, the sin of man goes from simple disobedience to the commands of God to murder. The downward spiral had begun. And it all began in the heart of Cain. Long before he murdered Abel, Cain began to show signs of sin's effect. He was selfish toward God. He suffered from anger, depression, and jealousy. God even questioned him about it. "'Why are you so angry?' the LORD asked him. 'Why do you look so dejected?'" (Genesis 4:6 NLT). Then God gave him the remedy to his situation. God may have rejected Cain's sacrifice, but He had not rejected Cain. He tells him, "You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it" (Genesis 4:7 NLT). God was out to teach Cain a valuable lesson through this circumstance, but he had to respond in the right way. He had to learn from his mistake. This had less to do about the sacrifice than about Cain's attitude. God warned Cain that sin was out to get him. And it would get the best of him. He was going to lose the battle with sin if he did not respond to God in the right way. And that is true for all of us today. In every circumstance of life God has lessons He wants to teach us. But we must respond in the right way. We must come to Him in faith, humbly asking Him to show us what He has to teach us. If we refuse, sin will raise its ugly head, and we will end up responding in anger, bitterness, resentment, hate, and yes, even murder at times.

As a result of Cain's actions, he is banned from God's presence. Verse 16 is probably one of the saddest statements in the entire Bible: "So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence..." (Genesis 4:16 NIV). No longer would he enjoy the beauty of Eden and the fellowship of God. His sin had destroyed all that. He found himself wandering and wondering what would happen to him. And that is the lot of all men who live in rebellion against God. We may build cities. We may attempt to build stable lives. But in the end, we will wander and wonder what is going to happen to us. We live lives filled with fear about the future. We are constantly looking back over our shoulder, wondering and worrying about the future. All peace is gone because God's presence is missing. And that same thing can happen to us as believers. Sin can still separate us from God. He never leaves us, but we can still experience a sense of distance from Him when we allow sin to reign in our lives. We tend to run and hide from Him when we sin. We are embarrassed, so we distance ourselves from Him. But God is still calling out to us as He did to Cain. "You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it" (Genesis 4:7 NLT). So how will you respond? In the right way or the wrong way? In faith or fear?

Father, I know sin crouches at the door, ready to pounce on me at any moment. I also know that I tend to respond to my circumstances in the wrong way. I fail to see You in them. I fail to allow You to teach me through them. Instead, I get angry and take matters into my own hands. I try to solve my problem in my own way, and it always leads to greater degrees of sin, not a solution. Help me to trust You more. Help me to see You more clearly in every circumstance of life. Because You are faithful. Amen

Paradise…Lost.

Genesis 2-3

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. – Genesis 3:8 NET

These two chapters are filled with sadness. In the midst of all the beauty that God has created, all the good things He has spoken into being, a dark cloud forms. It is the shadow of the fall. Man, created in the likeness of God, rebels against the very one who created him. Formed by the very hand of God and given life by the very breath of God, man turns and chooses to listen to the lies of the enemy. The first man and woman found themselves living in a perfect environment enjoying unbroken fellowship with God Himself. Their surroundings were beautiful. Their joy was complete. They had no taxes to pay, no neighbors to argue with, no stress, no media, no time constraints, no schedules to keep, or kids to worry about. They had it all. Including a capacity to sin. Because even in the midst of all this perfection, they managed to find a way to become dissatisfied with their lot in life. They found something they DIDN'T have in spite of all they DID have. And it seems to be associated with the one law or command that God gave them. He told them, "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17 NLT). This was a command. It was non-negotiable. It was the one law they had to obey in order to live in the garden and to continue to enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. But there seems to be something about laws that cause all men to rebel. We are law-breakers by nature. We seem incapable of keeping any laws – even one.

The enemy knows our weakness when it comes to law keeping. And he knew Adam and Eve struggled with the same thing. I believe that as soon as God commanded them not to eat from that one tree, they both began to question in their heart what it would be like to eat from that tree. They began to think about it and consider it. The temptation began in their hearts long before Satan showed up on the scene. James makes this quite clear: "The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer" (James 1:14-15 MSG). Their problem was not the tree, the enemy, or the fruit. It was their hearts. All Satan did was fan the flame of desire that was smoldering there. He did it by questioning the trustworthiness of God. He sowed seeds of doubt into their hearts and minds regarding the word of God. And they bit – literally.

Eve saw that the tree was good for food. But this wasn't about food. She had every other tree in the garden to eat from. She saw something she knew she couldn't have, and she desired it. She began to lust after it. It was a delight to the eyes. It appealed to her senses. And on top of that, it could make her wise, like God. It appealed to her vanity and pride. But isn't that what all temptation does? It appeals to our basic instincts and senses. It promises to improve our life or enhance our well-being. It even whispers that we will be a little bit wiser if we give in. But the result is always the same: Disappointment. Because all temptation is a bait and switch. It promises something it can never deliver. But we consistently seem to give in – even thought we've bought the lie a thousand times before.

And when we give in to the temptation, the result is always shame and guilt. Innocence is lost. And that is what happened in the garden that fateful day. Their eyes were opened. But not in a good way. They saw their shame and guilt. Their eyes were open and, for the first time, they saw that they were naked. "t that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness" (Genesis 3:7 NLT). Instead of enjoying the presence of God, they hid from Him. Adam had new feelings he had never had before. He told God, "I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked" (Genesis 3:10 NLT). Shame, fear, and guilt always lead to an attempt to cover up and hide ourselves from God. We grow distant. We attempt to run from the very one who made us and can help us. We try to cover our sin by our own efforts – the way Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin with leaves. But it didn't work. It never works.

Sin entered the world that day. With it came shame and guilt. And they're alive and well today. The scenarios and the scenes are different, but the results are always the same. We see something we know we are not to have. We begin to lust after it. We begin to question God's wisdom in denying the pleasure of it. We rationalize that this one thing can give us what God never intended for it to provide. Then we give in to our internal desires and disobey the word of God. We buy the lie and suffer the consequences. And the consequences of sin are always the same: shame, guilt, a loss of innocence and broken fellowship with God. But thankfully for us, we can restore our relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. We can confess our sins and He will faithfully forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We can have our fellowship restored. We can have our shame and guilt removed. All because of what Jesus Christ, the second Adam, did on the cross.

Father, I don't know why we hate Your commands so much, but we do. We can't seem to obey You to save our lives – literally. But You came up with a better plan that trying to rely on us, and that was Your Son giving His life as a payment for our sins. He DID obey, perfectly. He didn't give in to temptation, but instead obeyed Your commands – all of them. He did what Adam, or any other human being, couldn't do. He obeyed, and as a result, we can enjoy restored fellowship with You. Our sins are forgiven. Our shame and guilt are done away with. Thank You! Amen

Then God Said…

Genesis 1

Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. – Psalms 33:8-9 NLT

Eight times in this opening chapter of the Old Testament we see the phrase, "Then God said…" With the power of His spoken word alone, God brought into existence all that we exists. He spoke and the sun, moon, and stars were immediately formed. He spoke and light miraculously broke through the darkness. He spoke and the heavens were formed. He spoke and the land and seas suddenly separated and took their proper places. He spoke and vegetation filled the earth. He spoke and fish filled the seas and birds filled the sky. He spoke and the land was filled with animals, reptiles, and insects of all kinds. He spoke and man…

It's interesting to note that this last time we are told that God spoke, rather than man immediately appearing, God simply states His intent to make man. This time it was going to be different. God did not speak man into existence. He formed Him. We will see that more clearly in chapter two. But when it comes to everything else, God simply spoke and His command resulted in the immediate formation of the universe. God's word is powerful and efficacious (capable of having the desired result or effect; effective as a means, measure, remedy, etc.). He speaks and things happen. He speaks and stars come into existence. He speaks and entire seas and land masses form. Yet, so often He speaks and I fail to listen. His word lacks power too often in my life. He speaks and I ignore. He speaks and I argue. He speaks and I refuse to obey.

Genesis sets up the power of God's word. It shows us that we worship a God whose very speech is packed with power and authority. He just needs to open His mouth and incredible things happen. Yet we fail to honor and respect His word. We fail to obey it or revere it. We don't stand in awe of it. The Net Bible has this to stay about the power of God's word. "By speaking, God brings the world into existence. The efficacious nature of the word of the Lord is a prominent theme in this chapter. It introduces the Law, the words and commandments from the Lord that must be obeyed. The ten decrees of God in this chapter anticipate the ten words in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:2-17)." When God speaks, we should listen. And He has spoken to us – through His prophets, His apostles, His Son, and His written word. He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit. He is not silent. He speaks loud and clear. But are we listening? Do you know what He is saying to you today? Do His words have power? Do they carry authority with you? The One who spoke the universe into existence wants to speak into your life today. Will you let Him?

Father, Your very word carries power with it. With just a word you could eliminate all You made. With a single word, You could destroy what men have spent decades building. Your word packs a punch. But I do not always listen to what You have to say. I don't always obey what I hear You say. And for that I ask Your forgiveness. I am hard of hearing too much of the time. I have selective hearing the rest of the time. I want to hear You and obey You more. May I learn to stand in awe of Your word this year. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. – Revelation 22:20 NIV

When I was growing up as a kid, I heard my father say this phrase repeatedly, "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" I never knew where he got it from until years later. But I did know it was a phrase I was not eager to make my own. In fact, every time I heard him say it, I would silently pray, "Not yet, Lord Jesus, not yet!" You see, I was young and I had a lot of living I wanted to do. The thought of Jesus coming before I had a chance to grow up and experience all life had to offer was not exactly attractive to me. Even as I got older I was not eager for the Lord to return. But as I have matured and experienced "all life has to offer," I have found myself praying the prayer my father has prayed all these years: "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" The Scriptures talk about creation groaning in anticipation of Christ's return and God's restoration of all things.

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. – Romans 8:22-23 NLT

I really do find myself groaning, wanting to be released from the pain and suffering around me. As I talk with young couples whose marriages are on the verge of disintegration, as I see loved ones and friends dying from cancer or struggling with disease, as I watch the rapid moral decline of an entire generation, I can't help but long for the Lord to return. This world is not my home. What we see happening all around us is a distortion of what God intended. This is abnormal and, as believers, we know that we are out of place in this environment. Sure, there are times I love this world and all the toys, treasures, and pleasure it offers, but they are little more than smoke and mirrors designed to take my mind off the future reality that God has in store for me. The entire book of Revelation is about the future. It is about what is to come. And what is to come is the restoration of all things to their proper, God-inspired, righteous state.

We have heard over and over again as we have read through Revelation that the day is coming when there will be no more sorrow or pain, no more tears or weeping, no more disease, sickness, sin or sadness. Verse 3 of this chapter tells us there will no longer be any curse (Revelation 22:3). It will be a time of abundance, blessing, joy, peace, and prosperity. We will live in the presence of God – uninterrupted by sin and its influence. All that we long for now will be fulfilled. Everything we were created to enjoy and experience will become a reality. We can't even begin to understand what that day will be like. But we do know this: None of it will take place until the Lord returns. Until that day we will continue to groan and long for the promise to be fulfilled. So the older I get the more I find myself saying, "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" I am ready.

Father, I become increasingly disenchanted with this world the longer I live in it. While there is much I enjoy about it, there is a lot that saddens me and disappoints me. It is broken. It is filled with the effects of sin and the influence of Satan. Any joy we experience here is an incomplete joy. Any peace we experience here is short-lived. Any prosperity we experience is fleeting and hollow. But the day is coming when we will live in the midst of perfect righteousness, surrounded by the Light of the Lamb and enjoying the constant outpouring of Your blessings. I long for that day. I long for Your Son's return. May I fall increasingly out of love with this world and more in love with the idea of His return. Yes, Lord Jesus, come! Amen

It Is Done!

Revelation 21

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." – Revelation 21:6 NIV

We are getting close to the end. One more chapter to go and we will have finished reading and journaling through the entire New Testament this year. And as we come to the end of the book of Revelation, we are reminded that we are one day closer to the end of all things as we know them. A day is going to come when God is able to say, "It is done!" He will complete the plan He has had in place from eternity past. And chapter 21 gives us a glimpse of what that day will look like. In it John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The old world will have passed away. God will evidently destroy the first creation in order to cleanse it from all the effects of sin. Then He will replace it with a new heaven and a new earth. Over in 2 Peter 3:12-13 we read, "…the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to the promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

There will be a newness to everything. "And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new'" (Revelation 21:5 NASB). There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state. This heavenly city, which will descend from heaven and be suspended over the earth during the Millennium, will be the place where all the saints live both during the 1,000 year reign of Christ and for eternity. God and His Son Jesus Christ will dwell there with the people of God. "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever" (Revelation 21:3-4 NLT).

No more sorrow, no more death, no more crying and pain. All things will be new. The old will have passed away, including all evil. In his commentary on Revelation, Matthew Henry says it this way: "All the effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have been often before in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but now all tears shall be wiped away; no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain, any further than to make their present felicity the greater. God himself, as their tender Father, with his own kind hand, shall wipe away the tears of his children; and they would not have been without those tears when God shall come and wipe them away. All the causes of future sorrow shall be for ever removed: There shall be neither death nor pain; and therefore no sorrow nor crying; these are things incident to that state in which they were before, but now all former things have passed away."

Surrounded by the pain and sorrow that so often makes up this world, it is hard to imagine what this will all be like, but I am looking forward to it! We must remind ourselves that a day is coming when all this will be done away with. We will live in the presence of God and in the light of His glory. There will be no more sin and sorrow. Instead we will have perfect fellowship with God and with His Son. What a day that will be!

Father, thanks for reminding me that Your plan is being worked out in perfection even as I write this sentence. You are in complete control and one day You are going to bring all this to a close. You will say, "It is done!" And we will enjoy eternal life in Your presence. Help me to keep this thought in my mind in the midst of all the suffering and sorrow that surrounds me in this life. It will all someday pass away. Amen

The Millennium!

Revelation 20

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. – Revelation 20:4 NLT

No, the Millennium is not the name of a space ship from a Star Wars movie. It is the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ that will take place here on the earth the end of the 7 years of tribulation. For 1,000 years Christ will reign in Jerusalem and it will be a time of great peace and prosperity. Satan will have been defeated and confined for the entire 1,000 time period. Righteousness will flourish unhindered. It will be a time of unprecedented peace (Isaiah 2:4). Everything on earth will flourish (Isaiah 35:1-2) because Christ will be on the throne.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD––his name alone will be worshiped. – Zechariah 14:9 NLT

He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal––it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:14 NLT

Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." For in those days the LORD’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem. – Isaiah 2:3

Can you imagine what this will be like? Can you even begin to consider what a world without Satan and his influence would be like to live in? Jesus Christ, ruling from a literal throne in the city of David. It's the scene the disciples had in mind when Jesus showed up the first time. It's the scenario they had hoped He would bring about, but instead He died a cruel death on a Roman cross. God had a different plan with different timing. His Son would reign, but first He had to suffer and die. He would one day rule, but first He had to redeem sinful man by shedding His own blood as a payment. The day is coming when He will rule from Jerusalem. For 1,000 years He will reign in righteousness and the world will enjoy peace and prosperity like never before. He will bring what every politician has promised, but failed to deliver. Men will finally enjoy the kind of world they have always wanted. But even this will come to an end. At the close of the 1,000 year time period, Satan will be released (Revelation 20:7) from his imprisonment. But even this is completely under God's control. It seems that in spite of the peace and prosperity that men will have enjoyed throughout the 1,000 years, many will turn to Satan and follow him when he is released. They will turn against God and join forces with Satan in an attempt to overthrow Christ and His kingdom.

There is no clearer picture of man's depravity than this. In spite of having experienced the perfectly righteous rule of Christ and the benefits it affords, these men will rebel once again. They will be easily captivated by the lies of the enemy and be convinced that life under the rule of Satan will be better than life under the rule of Christ. But they will fail. God will prevail. He will completely destroy them and cast Satan into hell for eternity. Satan will have his last moment in the spotlight, but he will not succeed.

The amazing thing about this passage is that it reminds me that there is one place where Christ should reign supreme right now. And that is in my life. He should be on the throne of my life, ruling and reigning completely. He has defeated the enemy in my life. He has freed me from slavery to sin in my life. My life should be a microcosm of what that 1,000 year reign will be like. Satan is no longer in control of my life. I have been set free. I have the Holy Spirit living within me. I am a new creature. I belong to Christ. Yet, I still find it so easy to fall prey to the lies of Satan and rebel against my Savior. In spite of the fact that His rule in my life brings me prosperity and peace, I can so quickly rebel against Him. I can forget His blessings and turn back to the one who has been out to destroy me all my life. Yet I have the opportunity to live a life that illustrates what it means to have Christ reign in power and authority. I can demonstrate what having Christ on the throne of my life looks like. He can and does bring peace and prosperity now. When He rules, I enjoy blessing and abundance. When He reigns, I have joy and a freedom from sin's influence. Paul put it best when he said, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NLT).

Father, Your Son is to rule and reign right now – in the lives of those He has redeemed. Yet we so often allow ourselves to be deceived by the enemy and listen to his lies once again. We turn away from Christ and reject His rule in our lives. There is a day coming when He will reign for 1,000 years, unhindered, uninterrupted and unchallenged by Satan. But I have the ability to experience that same kind of peace and prosperity right now. May I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God and allowing Him to rule on the throne of my life – unhindered by the influence of sin and Satan. Amen

His Bride Has Prepared Herself!

Revelation 19

Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.). – Revelation 19:7-8 NLT

As the book of Revelation begins to come to a close, it chronicles the coming to a close of the end times. And one significant event will be the marriage supper of the Lamb. As His bride, the Church has belonged to Christ all along, but He will consummate His marriage to the church with a great celebratory feast. And the Church, the body of believers, will come to that feast arrayed in fine linen, the righteous acts of the saints. "Righteous acts flow from a righteous character, which is entirely of the grace of God" (Charles Ryrie, Revelation). But the righteous acts don't do themselves. Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We are given the garments to wear, but we must still put them on. God has given each of us the capacity or ability, through His indwelling Holy Spirit and as a result of His grace, to perform righteous acts. He is creating in us a righteous character from which should flow righteous behavior. It is that behavior that clothes us and makes us ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are each preparing for that day. That should be our focus. That should be our highest priority. But notice that it is a corporate endeavor. It is the Church that is being presented, not individual believers. Together, we are the bride, not individually. So it is the righteous acts of the Church globally that clothe her and prepare her for her final presentation to Christ. It makes you wonder just how righteous our acts really are as a corporate body. If the "fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God," just how fine will that linen be? The thought of appearing at the wedding feast dressed in shabby clothes should petrify all of us. But do we even think about it?

All we will bring to the wedding feast will be what we have on. And that will consist entirely of any righteous acts we do while we are here on earth. Our entire lives should be spent in preparation for this one event. It should be our primary focus and motivation for our actions and activities here. The whole marriage metaphor has to do with purity, devotion, fidelity, and faithfulness. As the Church, we are betrothed to Christ. We belong to Him. We are apart from Him right now. But He is returning to claim His bride. We are to be preparing for that day. We are to remain pure and faithful to Him. We are to be getting ready for the marriage feast that will conclude the marriage ceremony. And it is our behavior while here on earth that will clothe us for that day. Yes, we have the righteousness of Christ. And yes, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to do righteous deeds, but we must STILL do them. We must remain faithful and true. We must live our lives for Him in anticipation of that day.

Father, I want to live in anticipation of that day. But honestly, I don't think about it enough. And I don't think about the importance of my actions. My deeds, done in the power of the Spirit, and made possible by the cross of Christ, are what will play a part in clothing the bride of Christ for that great event. Help me to stay focused on that reality. I want the Church to be clothed in purity, and it will be. Because Jesus Christ has made it possible. Amen

Rejoice!

Revelation 18

Be glad over her, heaven, and you saints, and Apostles, and prophets; because she has been judged by God on your account. – Revelation 18:20 BBE

It is Christmas day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a day of rejoicing. A day of joy and celebration. But there is another day coming when rejoicing will take place in heaven and on earth. It is the day recorded in Revelation 18 when Babylon falls. The city of Babylon represents all things evil and wrong with this world. It will be an actual city, the headquarters of the Antichrist himself, but it is also a symbol of mankind's efforts to build a society that functions apart from the reign of God. From the tower of Babel until this point in the story recorded in Revelation, men have been trying to establish themselves as gods and set up their cities as heaven on earth. In his book, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation, R.C.H. Lenski says this: Mystical Babylon is the representative of religious degeneracy, not civic wickedness." The great Babylon is more than just another great cosmopolitan city. It will be the home of the great religion of the day, where the Antichrist is worshiped. It will be a city of great power and wealth, where commerce is king and mankind's worship of money is readily apparent. You can see this by the mourning that takes place in this chapter (Revelation 18:15). But it will also be a city where immorality is worshiped. This city's destruction will bring a sense of loss to many, including the world's leaders (Revelation 18:9). Babylon represents mankind's attempt to do life without God. It is a picture of men who have determined to worship anything and everything but God Himself. "The wickedness of Babylon has been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols,, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest" (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible).

But we are told that her destruction will be great and complete. God will destroy her. And while the world will mourn over their loss, heaven will rejoice, along with all the saints, apostles, and prophets (Revelation 18:20). Like the fall of the Tower of Babel, Babylon will fall, because man cannot compete with God. While He may allow us to play at being gods, the day is coming when He will put an end to the charade. He will bring the madness to a close. God will show just how powerless men are without Him and how futile it is to try and stand against Him. "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer" (Revelation 18:21 NASB). There is only one kingdom that will stand in the end. There is only one city that will exist in the end. The city of God where Jesus Christ will reign in power and authority. The baby who was born in a manger will rule on a throne and He will be worshiped by more than a few lowly shepherds. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Father, You are all-powerful and nothing can stand against You. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Men at their best are no match for You. Our power, wealth, intelligence, and industry is nothing in comparison to You. We can worship what we have built, but You can destroy it all in an instance. And anything we worship in place of You will ultimately fail us. Because it can never replace You. Never let me forget that Father. Amen

But the Lamb Will Defeat Them!

Revelation 17

Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones. – Revelation 17:14 NLT

Have you ever felt like things just couldn't get any worse? Like God has some how lost control and your world is spinning out of control, with nobody in charge? Well, read the 17th chapter of Revelation and you will get an idea of what things must feel like to those who are in Christ during the final days of the tribulation. A false religious system will have sprung up during the first half of the tribulation period and it will have millions of adherents (Revelation 17:15). This will be a worldwide and ecumenical, and will have its headquarters in the newly established Rome, where the Antichrist will reign. This church will be apostate, yet powerful and influential. There will be a ten-nation federation that joins forces with the Antichrist with one common purpose: To wage war against Christ and His kingdom (Revelation 17:14).

But in the midst of all this news of impending doom is the reminder that God is in control. "Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones" (Revelation 17:14 NLT). God will be victorious over this ten-king federation because of Jesus Christ. He and His followers who are alive during those days will resist the attacks of Antichrist and his followers. Christ will defeat them and those who are in Christ will share in His victory because they have remained faithful in spite of all the difficulties surrounding them. Isn't that what we are called to do? To remain faithful in the midst of all the persecution, pain, and temptations to give in? If we do so, we will share in His final victory. We must remind ourselves constantly that God is in control and nothing happens that He is not intimately aware of and ultimately in control of. John is reminded of this in chapter 17. "For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will mutually agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17 NLT). What these ten kingdom leaders will do, they do because God has put the idea in their heads. They will be carrying out the very purpose of God when they attack the people of God. They will align themselves with the Antichrist because that is exactly what God wants them to do – all so that the will and the word of God might be fulfilled. God is in control. That seems to be the over-arching them of this book. What a timely reminder to those of us who live in uncertain times. God is in control. He is in control of kings, presidents, nations, organizations, economies, armies, and every individual who walks the face of the earth. Sure, they may reject Him and live under the false impression that they are independent agents, but at the end of the day, they are all under His sovereign control.

God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. – Psalm 47:8 NLT

He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. – Daniel 2:21 NLT

The purpose of this decree is that the whole world may understand that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses––even to the lowliest of humans. – Daniel 4:17 NLT

I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, "What do you mean by doing these things?" – Daniel 17:34-35 NLT

Our God reigns. Our God rules. Our God wins! In spite of all that we see going on around us, we have to constantly remind ourselves that He is in control. He has a plan. He is going to complete that plan to perfection and in His time. We can trust Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder that You are in control – of kings, presidents, and rulers. You are in control of nature. You are in control of my destiny and the destiny of this world. I can trust You – even when things look bleak. Forgive me for letting anxiety and doubt to rule in my heart so often. You have never given me a reason to doubt You. And You never will. Amen