Category Archives: Can God Use Me?

Adultery / Sex Outside Marriage, Can God Use Me?, Consequences of Sin, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Grace / Forgiveness, Lying / Deceiving, Suffering / Adversity, Wickedness / Evil

God Can Bring Forth Blessing From Brokenness

Genesis 38 records terrible behavior and choices by Judah and his family. They are far from God in how they live their lives. It is an absolute wonder that God would choose this tribe from which to come into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. What a powerful reminder of God’s grace. God does not look upon us on the basis of merit, but rather through a lens of grace (giving what we do not deserve) and forgiveness when we repent from our wrong behaviors(turn away from wrong ways and do things God’s way).

      1And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her and went in to her. 3So she conceived and bore a son and he named him Er. 4Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. 5She bore still another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore him.

      6Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life. 8Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. 10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

      12Now after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13It was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14So she removed her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17He said, therefore, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments.

      20When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23Then Judah said, “Let her keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

      24Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 25It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

      27It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. 28Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. 30Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.

This scripture shows us a family living by the flesh and in selfishness rather than living according to God’s ways. God was not pleased. They all suffer brokenness and some death due to their rejection of God and their embrace of living in the flesh and love of self. There are real consequences for the choices we make.

Though we do not see these individuals repent and turn toward God and away from sin, God reaffirms to us His grace and forgiveness in that  we know that God chose to come into the world in the person of Jesus Christ through the tribe of Judah, despite this wicked history in the tribe. God does not choose us by merit… praise God! If He did so, we would all surely fail. God chooses us through grace and mercy (not giving us the punishment we deserve).

For any of us who have brokenness in our past or in our lives today we can be encouraged. God can still use us and our families! Turn toward Him today and away from doing things for the flesh or for self. Change your behaviors and attitudes to do things God’s way. Ask His forgiveness and make Jesus the Lord of your life.

God can use you no matter what situation you are in or have experienced in the past!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Adultery / Sex Outside Marriage, Blessed, Can God Use Me?, Consequences of Sin, Family, Hearing from God, Obeying God, Prophecy

God Can Use Us Even Though We Make Many Mistakes

Are you living your life without making mistakes?  Do you have it all figured out? If you answered yes, than… quite frankly… you are wrong. None except Jesus Himself live the perfect life.  Even among those of us who wholeheartedly seek after and submit to God, we can only do our best and ask God for His help to live according to His commands. For those of you who answered “no”… the good news is that God can use us even though we make mistakes.

Let us explore two sides of Jacob’s life in Genesis 35:9-22. Jacob has such a personal relationship with God, that God continually appears to him and communicates important things and Jacob receives this instruction and follows it. God tells Jacob once again that he will now be called Israel and again reinforces the promise and prophecy that many nations shall come from him.

However we see also, that even this great moment for Jacob in the presence of God is experienced in the midst of his continuing family struggles for which he seems to be at a loss to be able to solve in order to more effectively lead his family.  We learned in Genesis 34 and earlier in Genesis 35 that Jacob settled and remained in an ungodly land. His daughter was raped, his sons used treachery and deceit to kill many as punishment to the one who mistreated their sister, and as his household packs up to leave, Jacob finds idols and foreign gods among them. They were not pure, not holy (set apart for God’s use), but rather had blended with the pagans around them to some extent.

Jacob Is Named Israel

      9Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.

10God said to him,
“Your name is Jacob;
You shall no longer be called Jacob,
But Israel shall be your name.”
Thus He called him Israel.

11God also said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
And kings shall come forth from you.

      12“The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,
I will give it to you,
And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”

13Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.

      16Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. 17When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.” 18It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

      22It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.

We see Jacob again hit hard by family trouble in verse 22, when his eldest son has sex with Jacob’s concubine. This was a huge disgrace for all involved. I am sure Reuben thought “no one will know”… but that is rarely the case among people when we sin… and God always knows. Of course, we could also have quite a discussion on why Jacob even had concubines… this is not consistent with God’s plan for marriage. From the beginning, with Adam and Eve, God intended it to be one man and one woman in marriage… no extra wives, no concubines.

Studying earlier points in Jacob’s life, we see that leading his family to honor God in their daily lives and relationships is not a new struggle for Jacob. In fact his wives struggled badly when they married him, competing with one another rather than showing love within his household. Ultimately this jealousy resulted in his failure by sleeping with their maid servants all in pursuit of sons. Go back further and we see where he had to run away from home to get away from an angry brother who wanted to kill him, after Jacob deceived his aging father to receive a blessing which Isaac intended for Esau. It goes even further back… Isaac and Rebekah chose favorites in their family, each openly loving one son more than the other.

Suffice it to say, that Jacob did not have every aspect of his life together and going well. So what is my point? Why do I point this failure of Jacob’s out?

First, we can all take heart and be encouraged that God can use us, can have intimate relationship with us, even when our lives are not entirely in order. We must, however, be submitted to God, as Jacob was. We can not be in open rebellion to God, intentionally disregarding His commands in how we are to live.

Secondly, even when we are walking with God in our lives and hearing from Him, we should take heed to purify ourselves, our family, our household. Consciously choose to submit to God and to follow His ways. Study the Bible and apply what it teaches to your lives. Change your ways to be set apart for God rather than to blend with the ungodly around you. There are consequences to leaving sin in our lives. Consider the mess that Jacob’s family experienced. It was not “God punishing them”, but rather it was natural consequences for not living God’s way. God tells us how to live, but we must choose to do so or live with the consequences.

Do not be complacent just because you have a relationship with God but rather use that relationship as a strong foundation to transform your life and that of your family to reflect God’s values and God’s will in every aspect of your life. Seeking to change our lives to live according to God’s instructions is not a one time adjustment, but rather a difficult and intentional journey that will last the rest of our lives.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Can God Use Me?, Courage / Fear, Hope

Peter Refuses To Excuse His Denial Of Jesus

Jesus has been betrayed, arrested, brought before the high priest and beaten for speaking the truth that He is the Son of God, that is to say, the Messiah… God Himself. This dramatic series of events unfolds quickly and Jesus’ disciples struggle with how to react, even though Jesus warned them ahead of time on multiple occasions that He would be betrayed, suffer, die, and rise from the dead. In Matthew 26: 69-75 we see Peter struggling to remain loyal to Jesus while dealing with fear and in the end we see Him fail by denying Jesus three times, as Jesus predicted.

Peter’s Denials

      69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Let us remember to give Peter the respect he is due. Peter recognized that Jesus was the Son of God… the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20). Peter raised the sword to protect Jesus in Gethsemane (John 18:10). Peter followed Jesus to the high priest when other disciples fled. Peter had a passion for Jesus and a strong loyalty toward Him.

However, despite the multiple warnings or prophecy about what was to happen, Peter and the other disciples were overwhelmed with the quick pace of events laid out in Matthew 26. In the end, Peter denies Jesus three times despite his confidence expressed earlier in Matthew 26:35.

35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

When Peter realized that he had failed Jesus as Jesus predicted, he did not make excuses! He wept bitterly… he realized and accepted that he had failed. Then he had an important decision to make… what to do next. I can personally identify with Peter as there are times in my life that despite my passion for Christ, I still fall short of living for Him as fully as I should. I have moments in which I fail under pressure. I have tremendous respect that Peter never made excuses for this failure… instead he overcame it and changed his behavior to better serve Jesus and as we see reading through the remainder of the New Testament, Peter was used by God to great service and purpose!

God’s strength works best in our weakness. Be encouraged and follow in Peter’s example to recognize, admit, and turn away from mistakes you make in seeking to serve Jesus. Ask forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit into your life fully to strengthen and help you serve Jesus more effectively. Dedicate yourself to study of scriptures, application of scripture to your life and consistent and meaningful prayer life with God.

God can and does use those of us who fail at times or make mistakes! Praise God we do not have to be perfect.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Can God Use Me?, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Obeying God, Prophecy, Righteousness / Serving God, Share the Good News

Truly I Say To You That One Of You Will Betray Me

We continue with Jesus in the final days of His earthly ministry before crucifixion in Matthew 26:26-35. Earlier in Matthew 26, chief priests are plotting against Jesus, a woman honored Him with expensive perfume, Judas plans to betray Him… the pace of activity is very quick. Jesus knows all of it, including what awaits Him in suffering and dying and being resurrected over the next few days. Still, Jesus focuses on celebrating the Passover, as God has commanded.

The Last Passover

      20Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24“The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

The Lord’s Supper Instituted

      26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

      30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

      31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 32“But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

First, let us note that Jesus indicates only one will betray Him. Clearly He is indicating Judas as the betrayer. Thus, Peter’s denial is recognized by Jesus as a failure on Peter’s part, but not a betrayal. Judas had intentional plans to betray Jesus for profit. Peter’s heart was true, but his flesh was weak. Give Peter his due… he followed along with Jesus further than the others. It was in doing so that he ultimately denies Jesus. Likewise, the failure of the other disciples to stand with Jesus due to their fear was not counted as betrayal… though it appears they fell short of a perfect standard in their response to Jesus’ being taken into custody by the Romans.

We will also, through our continued reading of Matthew, confirm that Jesus knows what is going to happen before it does. Several examples… Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. All these examples continue to point to Jesus as God.

Jesus gives us a symbolic example through which we can remember His death for our sins. The wine and bread, properly considered and presented, can be a powerful reminder of the suffering and sacrifice… of the love of our savior, Jesus Christ. Do not let it become empty repetition with no meaning, but rather prayerfully consider each time you partake, reminding yourself what it represents.

I find it worth noting that Jesus and His disciples sung a hymn before they went to the Mount of Olives. We, too, can honor God in praising Him through song. Music and song can help us connect with God emotionally, in a way that perhaps studying the word of God does not. Both are good and complement one another.

Peter and the other disciples meant well, insisting they would stand with Jesus even unto death, but in the end they were not prepared. This can be very motivating and encouraging for those of us who know that we, too, have failed to stand with Christ at times in our lives. We, like the disciples, can seek forgiveness for our mistakes, and re-dedicate ourselves to God, asking the Holy Spirit for help. Look at what the disciples accomplished despite this early failure… after the Holy Spirit was in them (after the death and resurrection of Christ), they all were willing to boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord despite persecution to the point of death. They spread the good news of the gospel very effectively.

We can do that also if we prepare through Bible study and prayer and submission to Jesus… turning away from our past lives of selfishness and sin. Give your life to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Start (or continue) a bold life of service to Jesus Christ.

For those who have not yet submitted your life to Jesus Christ, learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

For those who have submitted to Christ, but do not know where to begin to practically change your life to one of submission to Him, please review the following teachings:

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Can God Use Me?, Envy / Jealousy / Coveting, Family, Greed, Hearing from God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Marriage, Obeying God, Righteousness / Serving God, Stealing / Theft

Jacob Leaves Laban Secretly For Canaan

Genesis 31:1-21 reveals to us that Laban has grown jealous of Jacob and repeatedly tries to cheat him. Family problems are certainly not new in today’s culture. Our sin nature is the same today as thousands of years ago. Jacob continues to grow in his relationship with God, though Rachel is clearly struggling. Jacob recognizes his situation is no longer good, due to Laban’s jealousy, and when Jacob hears from God… he obeys and leaves for Canaan.

1Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.” 2Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly. 3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” 4So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, 5and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me. 6“You know that I have served your father with all my strength. 7“Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me. 8“If he spoke thus, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth speckled; and if he spoke thus, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock brought forth striped. 9“Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. 10“And it came about at the time when the flock were mating that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which were mating were striped, speckled, and mottled. 11“Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12“He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’” 14Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 15“Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 16“Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.”

17Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; 18and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 20And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 21So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

Jacob worked hard for Laban and with integrity for many years, helping Laban to increase in his wealth. However, Laban allowed greed to overcome him in his dealings with Jacob, changing his agreed wages repeatedly out of envy for the greater success that God granted to Jacob. Laban’s sons also become jealous and resent Jacob.

When God tells Jacob to leave, he obeys… first sharing God’s word and the deception of Laban with his wives and they all agree to leave.  I believe Jacob would have led his family to leave even if Rachel or Leah did not agree, because he had heard directly from God. However, what a good way to share God’s word and the family plan with his wives to allow them to be part of the discussion before they implemented the plan.

While God gave Jacob direction to leave, He did not command Jacob to sneak away or deceive Laban. While I can understand why Jacob thought this was as good idea, we can consider if it would have been a better approach to just confront Laban directly. As we continue to read later in Genesis 31, the answer becomes more clear and will be the subject of a future teaching.

We get clear insight into Laban through the mention of his household idols, and later in Genesis 31 when he shows how important they are to him. However, we also see that Rachel does not have a mature relationship with God, even after 20 years knowing Jacob and 13 as his wife. She knows he would not approve of the idols (she hides them) but she takes them anyway. She steals from her father and deceives her husband, rebelling against his authority and leadership.

It is disappointing for sure to see this behavior with Rachel so long after being with Jacob, but we can consider that she was raised in Laban’s care, which is not as great foundation to live for God. Further, even Jacob is still maturing in his relationship with God in these twenty years. He has a history of deception as well (deceiving his own father to take a blessing intended for Esau), and was not a strong family leader as we read earlier in how he failed to love Leah and failed to address the family problems that resulted.

Perhaps the most wonderful news in all of this is as powerful reminder that God can use all of us, even in our weakness and failure… as he used Jacob. We must repent from our sins, ask forgiveness, and submit to Jesus as Lord of our lives… but He can, and definitely wants to, use each of us!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Can God Use Me?, Consequences of Sin, Faith / Trusting God, Hearing from God, Obeying God, Parenting

Repeating Mistakes of Our Parents

Sometimes we seem vulnerable to repeat the same mistakes our family has made before. Twice Abraham deceived people in a foreign land by claiming Sarah was his sister and not his wife. Once while in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and a second time deceiving Abimelech (Genesis 20). In both cases, Sarah was taken from Abraham and God intervened directly to salvage the situation. Despite having faith for which God declared Abraham righteous, he could not seem to rely on God in this one area.

We learn in Genesis 26:1-11 that Isaac was prone to the same mistake. Fortunately God in His grace is able to use those who are faithful, despite our mistakes and weaknesses! 

26 A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.

2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants,[a] just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 8 But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.

9 Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

“Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.

10 “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”

11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”

It is not clear what leads up to Abimelech witnessing Isaac caressing Rebekah. Was it just probability and enough time that it was bound to be observed? Was it God providing for Isaac and Rebekah through Abimelech? Was it the fact that Abimelech was wary of these things having been fooled by Abraham in the past?

Abimelech genuinely seems to be concerned about a code of honor and accountability regarding this specific issue of another man’s wife. Once he is aware of the situation, he clearly handles it in a way that will help protect Isaac and Rebekah, despite the deception. I genuinely appreciate Abimelech’s response.

At first, I find it hard to understand how Isaac can, in such a short span of time, both receive God’s promise directly from God and then not rely on God to protect him and his wife. Then as I reflect on my own life I can see the same pattern. I know I have heard from the Lord through the Holy Spirit and through His word in scripture. Yet, I still prepare to protect my family through my own actions.

I understand the mind set that Isaac wants to protect himself and his family.  Perhaps he could have sought to do it a better way. He made his wife vulnerable to being taken, as his mother had been twice before.  He repeated a situation that twice required God to directly intervene.

I can only speculate… had Abraham or Sarah shared these past experiences with Isaac? Had they shared with Isaac how they led to bad results and God had to intervene to redeem her? Perhaps if they had shared their mistakes with Isaac then he would have chosen not to repeat them?

For parents it is a good reminder that we should not try to hide our personal mistakes indefinitely, but rather look for the appropriate time and place to reveal them to our children so that they can learn from those experiences and not repeat them.

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Can God Use Me?, Consequences of Sin, Faith / Trusting God, Family, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness

Abraham’s Legacy

Abraham’s greatest legacy was not in his wealth or earthly possessions. His greatest legacy was through his children and through God’s blessing as it continued to the next generation. Genesis 25:1-18 shows us the good and the bad of Abraham’s legacy. God blessed Abraham richly because of his faith. However, there were also real consequences for the mistakes Abraham made. Specifically we see that Ishmael’s descendants lived in open hostility to their relatives.

25 Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.

5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac. 6 But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.

7 Abraham lived for 175 years, 8 and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.

12 This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant. 13 Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped. 17 Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 18 Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.

We are to strive, as Abraham did, to make good and righteous choices that honor God. We should never consider God’s offer of grace and forgiveness as an “opportunity” to intentionally ignore or reject God and sin… thinking that later He will forgive us. This attitude would be an abuse of God’s offer for forgiveness and neglects both the recognition that there are consequences for our mistakes and that forgiveness and grace require genuine repentance rather than just empty words of repentance. Those who are genuinely seeking Christ do not intentionally plot and scheme to take advantage of God’s grace and forgiveness.

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Can God Use Me?, Character of God, False Prophets / Teachers, Hearing from God, Humility, Miracles, Prayer, Pride, Suffering / Adversity

Relying on God’s Power In Our Weakness

In 2 Corinthians, Paul is telling the people of Corinth about a vision God gave him. He is trying to make a point that although he had much he could brag about, he will not. Indeed Paul had much to brag about given his passionate and selfless submission and service to Jesus Christ and the divine revelation he received.

Paul then shares in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 about a specific issue from which he suffers that God has chosen not to heal, despite several requests by Paul. We know that Paul is not a “complainer”. His ministry documents much suffering and he endured it all with minimal or no complaints, to the glory of Jesus Christ. The issue must have been significant for Paul to mention it, though we are not told about the details.

… So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul is revealing a great way to view our own weaknesses. Accepting our weakness and looking to Christ for strength is powerful. In our weakness, His power works best. This does not mean we should not strive to change our behaviors and grow to be more like Jesus… of course we should! But God knows we are weak and can use that to His glory if we are fully submitted to Him. Then we know all was accomplished because of Him and not because of ourselves.

This scripture is also a powerful reminder that those who preach that it is a matter of our personal faith alone that can deliver us from all illness or challenges are teaching false doctrine. Even Paul, who had tremendous faith, still experienced a “thorn” which he could not get rid of. “Name it and claim it” teaching is false. We are to come humbly before God with our needs and submit to His will, even if His answer is “no”.

All of us have to work to overcome our sin nature. All of us are subject to injury and illness. All of us have limitations in our abilities. It is fine to seek healing and help from God to overcome these challenges, but if the answer is “no”… then give glory to God and let His power work through your weakness.

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Can God Use Me?, Faith / Trusting God

Even Abraham Failed To Rely on God at Times

Abram (later Abraham) is appropriately held in high regard as a man of great faith. He obeyed and trusted God throughout his life, growing closer and more faithful to God the longer he knew Him.  However, he also had times along the journey where he failed to rely on God and made significant mistakes, as in Genesis 12:10-20.

10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. 15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. 16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” 20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.

How wonderful that God protected Abram and Sarai and their marriage even when Abram failed to do so because of his fear. Instead of trusting God or asking God for help, Abram came up with a scheme based on lies to try to protect himself. When it was obviously falling apart, he stayed with the lies. He took payment to give his wife to Pharaoh without declaring her as his wife. Thankfully God intervened to help Abram and Sarai.

Even for those who faithfully serve God, it can be difficult at times to avoid creating messes for ourselves as Abram did in this scripture. We try to solve problems our way instead of God’s way. If we look closer we see Abram’s plan was based on lies instead of truth and he ultimately was willing to sacrifice the holy bond of marriage instead of asking God for help. Both the lies and the willingness to sacrifice his marriage to protect himself are inconsistent with God’s instruction and character.

We can learn both from Abram’s (later Abraham) failures and his successes in his walk of faith with God. We have the benefit of having this scripture and many more available to show us the way God wants us to live. Still it can be difficult to apply consistently in our own real life situations. We must decide ahead of time, before the conflict arises that we will serve God even at risk of our own lives.

I urge each of you to pray with me that God would strengthen our faith and trust in Him and give us wisdom in applying it to specific situations in our lives.  And for those of you who, like me, have failed in this area in your life… be encouraged how Abram was able to continue his walk with God and be used mightily by God despite his shortcomings. God will be with us also if we seek Him wholeheartedly.

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