Genesis 17:1-18:33…
Here’s the moment when the covenant is sealed. And two significant things happen to go along with it. First is the name changes (from Abram to Abraham, which means ‘father of a multitude,’ and from Sarai to Sarah, meaning ‘princess’). Second is the mark of circumcision. Circumcision! No word conjures up as much fear for a man as that. But this is to be the sign of the covenant that God has established with Abraham. God wants to make it very clear who belongs to him, those under the covenant. And so there is to be made this mark on a child when he is eight days old of cutting the foreskin off. We can swallow the thought of this happening when the child is eight days old but Abraham gets it done when he’s 99 and Ishmael at 13 – that makes your eyes water!
But, besides the pain of circumcision, notice that it is a very physical thing. The sign that someone belongs to God and among his people is not a super spiritual thing, like spending all day with your head in the clouds. Rather, it’s a concrete, physical, real mark, echoing the fact that God is concrete, physical and real, not just a strange, spiritual idea.
Spiritual or not, there are still signs or marks that show who or what we belong to. If you play in a football team you wear their shirt, a school uniform displays where you get educated and so on. That’s what circumcision was about. After Jesus established the new covenant circumcision was no longer necessary. But still, today, prayer, worship, telling others, and the changes that God brings about in our lives are the signs and marks that show that we belong to God and among his people – and it’s important that people know that’s who we are.
Chapter 18 simply reminds us that, when we welcome God into our lives (just as Abraham welcomed these three strangers into his tent) amazing things happen. At that tent is where the promise is solidified that Sarah – who is in her 90s and has never been able to have children, remember – will have a son: Isaac. And Isaac is the one through whom the covenant will come true. Amazing!
Do you welcome God into your life as Abraham did? Rest assured, amazing things will happen if you do.
And the second half of this chapter reminds us that bad things are going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. God knows it, Abraham (who remained standing before and talking with the Lord – wow) knew it and God’s three messengers knew it too. God is going to destroy that place but he’s also going to show mercy – cause God’s like that. And I don’t read what follows as Abraham persuading God to be merciful. I think he’s just concerned because his nephew, Lot – one of the good guys – lives there. Therefore, he wants the assurance from God that the righteous residents will be spared. Abraham doesn’t want to think that Lot will be destroyed with everyone else and so, in a round about way, he gets his assurance from God that if there’s righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah then God will remember mercy – even if there’s only ten of them. So I don’t reckon it’s Abraham persuading God but rather Abraham allowing God to persuade him that his nephew, Lot, and his household will be ok. Ultimately, the proof in the pudding comes tomorrow.
Matthew 6:25-7:23…
Jesus reminds us here, once again, about what’s important. It’s not things like food or clothing but the kingdom of God. In many ways I think you could sum up this passage (6:25-34) with the words ‘chill out.’ But not ‘chill out’ because we don’t care but ‘chill out’ from worrying about all the trivial things in life because God loves us, is in control and will give us all the things we need. So ‘chill out’ and seek first the kingdom of God, then all these things will fall into place.
Because God is like that. All we have to do is ask, seek and knock – really simple things. For goodness sake, we know how to be nice to each other and parents, more often than not, give their kids good things (bread instead of stones, fish instead of a snake). Surely then God will give us so much more and so much better things as God is a Father infinitely more generous than we will ever get our heads round.
At the same time, don’t judge others in case you be judged yourself and make sure you follow Jesus’ teaching so as to find that narrow gate, you know, the one that leads to life. And don’t be tricked by false teachers (and there’s lots around today, maybe even more than in Biblical times). If good things result from what they do then they’re ok, just as a tree that produces good fruit is a good tree. Listen to them. If bad things seem to come from their words and actions then steer well clear.
Here’s some advice: keep your eyes and ears on Jesus.
Proverbs 1:8-19…
Whilst the book of Proverbs often puts it in a funny way, the guidance is brilliant. You young people out there… listen to you parents because – believe it or not – they actually know what they’re talking about (most of the time).
And, just as Jesus warned against false prophets and teachers and just as we see all the evil things going on in Sodom and Gomorrah, Proverbs further reminds us to steer clear of those people who would encourage you to take the wrong path. Sin can seem fun at first and the promise of what you’ll get out of it seems exciting (a new high, the respect of new friends of whatever). But it’s not worth it… it all ends up pear shaped in the end. As Proverbs puts it: ‘These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves.’ As Jesus says in Matthew: ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers.’ And, as for Sodom and Gomorrah, we’ll we find out tomorrow.
Here’s the moment when the covenant is sealed. And two significant things happen to go along with it. First is the name changes (from Abram to Abraham, which means ‘father of a multitude,’ and from Sarai to Sarah, meaning ‘princess’). Second is the mark of circumcision. Circumcision! No word conjures up as much fear for a man as that. But this is to be the sign of the covenant that God has established with Abraham. God wants to make it very clear who belongs to him, those under the covenant. And so there is to be made this mark on a child when he is eight days old of cutting the foreskin off. We can swallow the thought of this happening when the child is eight days old but Abraham gets it done when he’s 99 and Ishmael at 13 – that makes your eyes water!
But, besides the pain of circumcision, notice that it is a very physical thing. The sign that someone belongs to God and among his people is not a super spiritual thing, like spending all day with your head in the clouds. Rather, it’s a concrete, physical, real mark, echoing the fact that God is concrete, physical and real, not just a strange, spiritual idea.
Spiritual or not, there are still signs or marks that show who or what we belong to. If you play in a football team you wear their shirt, a school uniform displays where you get educated and so on. That’s what circumcision was about. After Jesus established the new covenant circumcision was no longer necessary. But still, today, prayer, worship, telling others, and the changes that God brings about in our lives are the signs and marks that show that we belong to God and among his people – and it’s important that people know that’s who we are.
Chapter 18 simply reminds us that, when we welcome God into our lives (just as Abraham welcomed these three strangers into his tent) amazing things happen. At that tent is where the promise is solidified that Sarah – who is in her 90s and has never been able to have children, remember – will have a son: Isaac. And Isaac is the one through whom the covenant will come true. Amazing!
Do you welcome God into your life as Abraham did? Rest assured, amazing things will happen if you do.
And the second half of this chapter reminds us that bad things are going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. God knows it, Abraham (who remained standing before and talking with the Lord – wow) knew it and God’s three messengers knew it too. God is going to destroy that place but he’s also going to show mercy – cause God’s like that. And I don’t read what follows as Abraham persuading God to be merciful. I think he’s just concerned because his nephew, Lot – one of the good guys – lives there. Therefore, he wants the assurance from God that the righteous residents will be spared. Abraham doesn’t want to think that Lot will be destroyed with everyone else and so, in a round about way, he gets his assurance from God that if there’s righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah then God will remember mercy – even if there’s only ten of them. So I don’t reckon it’s Abraham persuading God but rather Abraham allowing God to persuade him that his nephew, Lot, and his household will be ok. Ultimately, the proof in the pudding comes tomorrow.
Matthew 6:25-7:23…
Jesus reminds us here, once again, about what’s important. It’s not things like food or clothing but the kingdom of God. In many ways I think you could sum up this passage (6:25-34) with the words ‘chill out.’ But not ‘chill out’ because we don’t care but ‘chill out’ from worrying about all the trivial things in life because God loves us, is in control and will give us all the things we need. So ‘chill out’ and seek first the kingdom of God, then all these things will fall into place.
Because God is like that. All we have to do is ask, seek and knock – really simple things. For goodness sake, we know how to be nice to each other and parents, more often than not, give their kids good things (bread instead of stones, fish instead of a snake). Surely then God will give us so much more and so much better things as God is a Father infinitely more generous than we will ever get our heads round.
At the same time, don’t judge others in case you be judged yourself and make sure you follow Jesus’ teaching so as to find that narrow gate, you know, the one that leads to life. And don’t be tricked by false teachers (and there’s lots around today, maybe even more than in Biblical times). If good things result from what they do then they’re ok, just as a tree that produces good fruit is a good tree. Listen to them. If bad things seem to come from their words and actions then steer well clear.
Here’s some advice: keep your eyes and ears on Jesus.
Proverbs 1:8-19…
Whilst the book of Proverbs often puts it in a funny way, the guidance is brilliant. You young people out there… listen to you parents because – believe it or not – they actually know what they’re talking about (most of the time).
And, just as Jesus warned against false prophets and teachers and just as we see all the evil things going on in Sodom and Gomorrah, Proverbs further reminds us to steer clear of those people who would encourage you to take the wrong path. Sin can seem fun at first and the promise of what you’ll get out of it seems exciting (a new high, the respect of new friends of whatever). But it’s not worth it… it all ends up pear shaped in the end. As Proverbs puts it: ‘These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves.’ As Jesus says in Matthew: ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers.’ And, as for Sodom and Gomorrah, we’ll we find out tomorrow.
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