Did you Know... That God made is covenant with Abraham (Abram) not Hagar and Sarah(Shari) That is why both of them were given a blessing by the angel of the Lord because they bore his descendants. God promised Abraham a son from his body he did not specify the woman. Gen 15:4
Wait Ashley!! Something I did not know. Abraham laughed at God first when he was told Sarai would bore him a son. And basically told God, he already had a child and that Ishmael could receive all that God was promising. I totally missed that! Gen 17:17-18
I didn't know that either Tracy! I thought only Sarah laughed...what's even funnier is he laughed AND said, it's cool God, just give it to Ishmael, lol..how many times do we do that in life? We know what we want, but we are willing to settle as if God can't do what he has promised us, or better yet, as if God can't do BETTER than what we thought!
I am reading the "Message Bible" on this journey, so my versus may never be exact, but in Gen 16, approx vs. 9-10, "The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting." I was completely shocked that she was told to "deal" with it...how many times have we been told to "deal" with what we got going on??
I knew this but I just want to mention it...Sarah and Noah were liars...God STILL blessed them...not encouraging anyone to lie, just reminding us that despite our faults, God can/will still take care of his people!
Well he told Sarah to lie when they went into the city, when Pharoah took her in...he told her tell them you are my sister.Sorry didn't document where exactly it was said...
I never realized that Sarah was like 90+ when he lied the second time. What was Sarah on that she was still so attractive to men at that age? I know people lived longer then, but I would first love to live to even be 90...and then to be so cold that my husband is scared someone is going to kill him to get to me.
This is random but I will file it under "Things that make you go hmmmmmm". Do you think that old saying "What's done in the darkness shall come to light" has anything to do with Gen.1:16? God created two lights but the light that governed the day was the stronger of the two. So what's done in hiding, in the darkness will always come to light because the light of day is stronger...why...because God made it so. HHMMMMMMM Random I know lol
Leave it to the lawyer to get deep-lol. And Ashley, you are always talking about my engineering mind...
Dawn-I have never looked at that way. But it could very well have stemmed from the very creation itself like you said cause God made it so.
What we have to be thankful for is God allows the light to be stronger. Can you imagine if we just hid in the darkness all our pain, anger, hurts, and struggles? We would be just as lost as those we are called to reach out to. I guess that is why people refer to those who are lost to be "in the dark" and we need to show the truth and the light!
Exactly Tracy way to take my thought and bring it on home. It is so true, when you are down and out or just plain feeling guilty about something you have done, the Devil places shame on you to keep you hidden in the dark and away from the light. That is why people who are depressed like the darkness, like being alone and stay away from family and friends. The Devil likes to separate us and keep us stewing in our own thoughts and guilt. But if you will only let the light in - let God in or a friend that knows God and be brave enough to open yourself to His word - the light will shatter the darkness and deliver you from any hurt, pain, doubt, fear, etc!
Amen. I am a firm believer of what happens in the dark comes to light. I just pray that God have mercy on me when mine come out. Every saint has a past...
Did Reuben have an agenda of trying to make things right with his father after he slept with Bilhah in his attempt to try and save Joseph, then later promise his children over to his dad if he did not bring Benjamin back in one piece? Gen 35:31, Gen 37:22, Gen 42:37
Did you know....? All Joseph had was a dream then it was differed by jealousy. But what Joseph didn’t know was his dream had to be fulfilled. Who would have guessed that he would have had to go through all that for his dream to be fulfilled? If he hadn’t been put in the well, sold, lied on, jailed, and forgot about, he would not have been able to be meet the people that would determine his location and vocation. This brought him to the position that would be the real interpretation of his dream by overseeing the food in the storehouse to be able to live the interpretation of the dream by being the Sheave that the other sheaves bowed down to. My my my how often do we focus on our location vs. our vocation when God is trying to get us to a point where he can do for us what he promised in his word that he would do. Keep your eyes on the dream that you have vs. the path you have to take to get to it.
What was the significance in how Jacob chose to place his hand on his grandchildren? Did he want history to repeat itself just like he took the blessing that was supposed to be for his older brother Esau? I am not sure why he blessed Manasseh and Ephraim the way he did. Genesis 48:14. Your thoughts are highly appreciated.
I caught this and wanted to share. Exodus 12:40 & Genesis 15:13-14; 16. God told Abraham the plan that his descendants would be strangers in a strange land for 400 years before returning back to the land promised by God.
Gensis 49:7 says"... I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" up until now I thought Jacob and Israel were one in the same, why are they being separated now? Any ideas?
Chelsea, I think this was because Moses married outside of his family. Remember he was a stranger in the land of his father in Jethro. So I don't believe his children were circumcised as the Lord commanded for the Israelites. So I think Zipporah did what she did so that God would not view them as strangers once the whole "let my people go" and the wilderness journey began. I could be wrong, but I think it had something to do with Moses family not being Israelites, they were Midianites.
The detail is amazing! What I am loving about it is the fact that I may not understand all of it, but God has a design and plan in mind and I can relax and be ok knowing I don't understand all of it, because I trust Him and He knows it all!!!
Alexis I am with you when it comes to these details. It is so funny how we skip over stuff like cubits, and linen of scarlet, purple and blue.. There is a reason God deemed all these details as divine Scripture. I have to slow down and pay attention. God is not breathing His word into me for reason.
I know I'm not the only one cutting up at Moses and the 'Can't Get Right Crew' aka the Israelites? I know it's not meant to be funny, but I can't help but laugh because I can see myself (we, us and them) in this story. 'Man God, why do I have to bear the burdens of these people, why do I have to go through all this, you might as well kill me now.' Num 11:10-15. I tend to paraphrase my readings in the bible, but so much of this Exodus and journey through the desert reads perfectly from the word. (See Exodus 32:22-24 where Aaron is trying to explain where the golden calf came from).
By no means do I want to make light of the word, but it's amazing that we do the exact same thing now that they Israelites did then. We grumble and complain and quickly forget all that God has done for us...and even in the midst of His provision, it's not enough for us (He gave them Manna...but they still wanted meat. We complain like little children and he treats us as such. Num 11:4-20). He tells us to go and that He will provide for us and we don't want to go...then He tells us to sit down somewhere, but now we want to move around on our own Num 13-14.
I could go on and on...but this stands out to me so much because there is no reason for them to be missing God's presence and what He's doing for them. You've clearly seen the plauges, the Red Sea, water from a Rock, Manna, Quail, the Clouds by day and night, people being consumed with fire and swallowed up by the earth, Moses face shining and more...and yet you still doubt and question what God is capable of doing...even when He already told you what is about to go down. It's no different today. Maybe we could say that the signs or the presence of God isn't as apparenty or blantant, but the fact remains that we fail to recognize what He does for us day in and day out...and we focus on what we don't have and what we want because we are not satisfied by His meeting our every need...
Well put and so true Clarrissa. I have refrained from saying anything, cause I remembered how put out I was the first time I read this. But with all you said, I ask you, what is it that makes us sound just like the Israelites back then? After all the signs we see, why is it that we still complain? What is it about God's word that we deem not good enough, that we still take the time, the energy, the God-given breath(that's ironic in itself), to let words and thoughts come out our mouth that are not of praise and thanksgiving and instead are filled with but this, but that, I want, why me, etc. etc. etc. So any takers?? that is my question today: what is it about God's word, that we do not seem to beleive, that we still need to complain? and lol, please don't reply and say "we believe, but.."
I really don't know and I think I've asked that question as well as far as why aren't we more grateful and why do we complain and continue to struggle and be disobedient. I don't know if it's an inherent selfishness that we have.
We know that God's word is good enough...we do. Why we still question God and complain, I don't know. Is it like Paul says that we're at war within ourselves and when we would do right, and know what we should do, and even want (or tell oursevles we want)to do right, and yet we don't. I'm hoping someone can tell me the answer.
Perhaps it is the knowledge and ability we have been granted in having free will. Because there is another option (struggle, disobedience, etc.), we feel like, to use your word inherently think the "other" option should be explored.
I know its 2 days after the fact but I continue to ask myself the same questions as I've been on this journey. I too love the visbile examples of what God can do that the Israelites ignore. However, wouldn't God say the same to us now? That He has giving us blatant examples of what He's capable of doing in our own lives that we too miss out on or forget when a new struggles appears? I believe that often compare ourselves to others individually, we are naturally selfish and impatient people. Maybe if we focused less on what others have and do, bless all people instead of cursing them and truthfully if we went back to a lot of the basics that are outlined in the 10 commandments, laws and decrees....maybe we would be able to open our eyes to see what God can do in our lives.I have to say reading the bible so far has opened my eyes to see all the good around me that I've missed daily.
Did you know that ...... The book of Isaiah is structured like a mini bible? The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters, the Bible has 66 books The book of Isaiah can be divided into 2 (Judgement and Salvation), So can the bible: The first 39 chapters of Isaiah speak on Judgement - The First 39 books of the bible (aka Old testament) talk about Judgement The remaining 27 chapters of Isaiah talk about Salvation - the remaining 27 books of the bible (aka New Testament) talk about Salvation.
How cool was the book of Isaiah???... super cool!!!!
Did you Know... That God made is covenant with Abraham (Abram) not Hagar and Sarah(Shari) That is why both of them were given a blessing by the angel of the Lord because they bore his descendants. God promised Abraham a son from his body he did not specify the woman. Gen 15:4
ReplyDeleteWait Ashley!! Something I did not know. Abraham laughed at God first when he was told Sarai would bore him a son. And basically told God, he already had a child and that Ishmael could receive all that God was promising. I totally missed that! Gen 17:17-18
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that either Tracy! I thought only Sarah laughed...what's even funnier is he laughed AND said, it's cool God, just give it to Ishmael, lol..how many times do we do that in life? We know what we want, but we are willing to settle as if God can't do what he has promised us, or better yet, as if God can't do BETTER than what we thought!
DeleteRight! We always do that crap! Ask and then attempt to settle. Lord, Lord please do a work in us!!
DeleteI am reading the "Message Bible" on this journey, so my versus may never be exact, but in Gen 16, approx vs. 9-10, "The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting." I was completely shocked that she was told to "deal" with it...how many times have we been told to "deal" with what we got going on??
ReplyDeleteI knew this but I just want to mention it...Sarah and Noah were liars...God STILL blessed them...not encouraging anyone to lie, just reminding us that despite our faults, God can/will still take care of his people!
ReplyDeleteWhere did Noah lie? I missed it.
ReplyDeleteWell he told Sarah to lie when they went into the city, when Pharoah took her in...he told her tell them you are my sister.Sorry didn't document where exactly it was said...
DeleteAnd he lied again in Gen 20 at the beginning of the chapter...same lie..she's my sister
DeleteI never realized that Sarah was like 90+ when he lied the second time. What was Sarah on that she was still so attractive to men at that age? I know people lived longer then, but I would first love to live to even be 90...and then to be so cold that my husband is scared someone is going to kill him to get to me.
DeleteThis is random but I will file it under "Things that make you go hmmmmmm". Do you think that old saying "What's done in the darkness shall come to light" has anything to do with Gen.1:16? God created two lights but the light that governed the day was the stronger of the two. So what's done in hiding, in the darkness will always come to light because the light of day is stronger...why...because God made it so. HHMMMMMMM Random I know lol
ReplyDeleteLeave it to the lawyer to get deep-lol. And Ashley, you are always talking about my engineering mind...
DeleteDawn-I have never looked at that way. But it could very well have stemmed from the very creation itself like you said cause God made it so.
What we have to be thankful for is God allows the light to be stronger. Can you imagine if we just hid in the darkness all our pain, anger, hurts, and struggles? We would be just as lost as those we are called to reach out to. I guess that is why people refer to those who are lost to be "in the dark" and we need to show the truth and the light!
Exactly Tracy way to take my thought and bring it on home. It is so true, when you are down and out or just plain feeling guilty about something you have done, the Devil places shame on you to keep you hidden in the dark and away from the light. That is why people who are depressed like the darkness, like being alone and stay away from family and friends. The Devil likes to separate us and keep us stewing in our own thoughts and guilt. But if you will only let the light in - let God in or a friend that knows God and be brave enough to open yourself to His word - the light will shatter the darkness and deliver you from any hurt, pain, doubt, fear, etc!
ReplyDeleteAmen. I am a firm believer of what happens in the dark comes to light. I just pray that God have mercy on me when mine come out. Every saint has a past...
ReplyDeleteQuestion, cause I Don't Know...
ReplyDeleteDid Reuben have an agenda of trying to make things right with his father after he slept with Bilhah in his attempt to try and save Joseph, then later promise his children over to his dad if he did not bring Benjamin back in one piece? Gen 35:31, Gen 37:22, Gen 42:37
Did you know....? All Joseph had was a dream then it was differed by jealousy. But what Joseph didn’t know was his dream had to be fulfilled. Who would have guessed that he would have had to go through all that for his dream to be fulfilled? If he hadn’t been put in the well, sold, lied on, jailed, and forgot about, he would not have been able to be meet the people that would determine his location and vocation. This brought him to the position that would be the real interpretation of his dream by overseeing the food in the storehouse to be able to live the interpretation of the dream by being the Sheave that the other sheaves bowed down to. My my my how often do we focus on our location vs. our vocation when God is trying to get us to a point where he can do for us what he promised in his word that he would do. Keep your eyes on the dream that you have vs. the path you have to take to get to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the significance in how Jacob chose to place his hand on his grandchildren? Did he want history to repeat itself just like he took the blessing that was supposed to be for his older brother Esau? I am not sure why he blessed Manasseh and Ephraim the way he did. Genesis 48:14.
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts are highly appreciated.
I caught this and wanted to share. Exodus 12:40 & Genesis 15:13-14; 16. God told Abraham the plan that his descendants would be strangers in a strange land for 400 years before returning back to the land promised by God.
ReplyDeleteGensis 49:7 says"... I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" up until now I thought Jacob and Israel were one in the same, why are they being separated now? Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteExodus 4:18-31
ReplyDeleteI am uncertain why the Lord tried to kill Moses and who Zipporah is circumsizing her son to save him?
Chelsea, I think this was because Moses married outside of his family. Remember he was a stranger in the land of his father in Jethro. So I don't believe his children were circumcised as the Lord commanded for the Israelites. So I think Zipporah did what she did so that God would not view them as strangers once the whole "let my people go" and the wilderness journey began. I could be wrong, but I think it had something to do with Moses family not being Israelites, they were Midianites.
DeleteThe specific details that God uses to depict to Moses how things should look & go amaze me....clearly He pays attention to details, so should we.
ReplyDeleteThe detail is amazing! What I am loving about it is the fact that I may not understand all of it, but God has a design and plan in mind and I can relax and be ok knowing I don't understand all of it, because I trust Him and He knows it all!!!
DeleteAlexis I am with you when it comes to these details. It is so funny how we skip over stuff like cubits, and linen of scarlet, purple and blue.. There is a reason God deemed all these details as divine Scripture. I have to slow down and pay attention. God is not breathing His word into me for reason.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm not the only one cutting up at Moses and the 'Can't Get Right Crew' aka the Israelites? I know it's not meant to be funny, but I can't help but laugh because I can see myself (we, us and them) in this story. 'Man God, why do I have to bear the burdens of these people, why do I have to go through all this, you might as well kill me now.' Num 11:10-15. I tend to paraphrase my readings in the bible, but so much of this Exodus and journey through the desert reads perfectly from the word. (See Exodus 32:22-24 where Aaron is trying to explain where the golden calf came from).
ReplyDeleteBy no means do I want to make light of the word, but it's amazing that we do the exact same thing now that they Israelites did then. We grumble and complain and quickly forget all that God has done for us...and even in the midst of His provision, it's not enough for us (He gave them Manna...but they still wanted meat. We complain like little children and he treats us as such. Num 11:4-20). He tells us to go and that He will provide for us and we don't want to go...then He tells us to sit down somewhere, but now we want to move around on our own Num 13-14.
I could go on and on...but this stands out to me so much because there is no reason for them to be missing God's presence and what He's doing for them. You've clearly seen the plauges, the Red Sea, water from a Rock, Manna, Quail, the Clouds by day and night, people being consumed with fire and swallowed up by the earth, Moses face shining and more...and yet you still doubt and question what God is capable of doing...even when He already told you what is about to go down. It's no different today. Maybe we could say that the signs or the presence of God isn't as apparenty or blantant, but the fact remains that we fail to recognize what He does for us day in and day out...and we focus on what we don't have and what we want because we are not satisfied by His meeting our every need...
Well put and so true Clarrissa. I have refrained from saying anything, cause I remembered how put out I was the first time I read this. But with all you said, I ask you, what is it that makes us sound just like the Israelites back then? After all the signs we see, why is it that we still complain? What is it about God's word that we deem not good enough, that we still take the time, the energy, the God-given breath(that's ironic in itself), to let words and thoughts come out our mouth that are not of praise and thanksgiving and instead are filled with but this, but that, I want, why me, etc. etc. etc. So any takers?? that is my question today: what is it about God's word, that we do not seem to beleive, that we still need to complain? and lol, please don't reply and say "we believe, but.."
DeleteI really don't know and I think I've asked that question as well as far as why aren't we more grateful and why do we complain and continue to struggle and be disobedient. I don't know if it's an inherent selfishness that we have.
DeleteWe know that God's word is good enough...we do. Why we still question God and complain, I don't know. Is it like Paul says that we're at war within ourselves and when we would do right, and know what we should do, and even want (or tell oursevles we want)to do right, and yet we don't. I'm hoping someone can tell me the answer.
Perhaps it is the knowledge and ability we have been granted in having free will. Because there is another option (struggle, disobedience, etc.), we feel like, to use your word inherently think the "other" option should be explored.
DeleteI know its 2 days after the fact but I continue to ask myself the same questions as I've been on this journey. I too love the visbile examples of what God can do that the Israelites ignore. However, wouldn't God say the same to us now? That He has giving us blatant examples of what He's capable of doing in our own lives that we too miss out on or forget when a new struggles appears? I believe that often compare ourselves to others individually, we are naturally selfish and impatient people. Maybe if we focused less on what others have and do, bless all people instead of cursing them and truthfully if we went back to a lot of the basics that are outlined in the 10 commandments, laws and decrees....maybe we would be able to open our eyes to see what God can do in our lives.I have to say reading the bible so far has opened my eyes to see all the good around me that I've missed daily.
DeleteDid you know that ......
ReplyDeleteThe book of Isaiah is structured like a mini bible?
The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters, the Bible has 66 books
The book of Isaiah can be divided into 2 (Judgement and Salvation), So can the bible:
The first 39 chapters of Isaiah speak on Judgement - The First 39 books of the bible (aka Old testament) talk about Judgement
The remaining 27 chapters of Isaiah talk about Salvation - the remaining 27 books of the bible (aka New Testament) talk about Salvation.
How cool was the book of Isaiah???... super cool!!!!