Last month, while jeeping on an alpine trail at 12,500 feet altitude, I was astounded at the bounty of glorious flowers. There were natural-formed bouquets of golden sunflowers, delicate lavender blooms scattered among them, and an array of pink and white blossoms peeking around the rocks.
My professional background is in healthcare, and ever since my very first anatomy and physiology class I have been fascinated with the beauty, complex simplicities, and precision of God’s creation-----us!
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (mek-KAH-dish-KIM) is a long, tongue-twisty name for an incredibly important truth.
It is God who set us apart for His purposes and accomplishes sanctification in our life. Our job is to follow Him in trust and obedience.
So far, it has been a week of a big God. Today, we will look at a small moment and the God who was in it.
First, a brief recap: Ten years had passed since God had promised Abram, a wealthy shepherd and future father of Israel, that he would have an heir. Nothing had happened and the biological clocks were ticking. Sarai, Abram’s wife, came up with a logical conclusion to the problem; Have Abram father the next generation through Hagar, her young Egyptian maid. Abram agreed. Hagar likely didn’t get a vote. However, after Hagar became pregnant by Abram, it began to dawn on her how her fortunes had improved. In an unwise move, she acted contemptuously toward her barren mistress. Sarai complained to Abram who said. “Do whatever you want.” The resulting mistreatment by Sarai caused Hagar to flee to the desert.
Throughout history, people believed that a Supreme Being brought the physical universe into existence and continued to act upon it. In the mid-1800’s, with the introduction of evolutionary theory, a new worldview emerged. It centered around a universe that not only thought itself up, but continued to keep itself running. Today the creation vs. evolution debate is still alive and well.
What is that old saying? “You never have a second chance to make a first impression.”
Like English, Hebrew has small letter gods and capital letter gods. The Elohim of Genesis 1:1, is as big as they get. He is the “all-powerful creator of the universe who knows all, creates all and is everywhere at all times.” Creators are, by definition, bigger than and outside of what they have made. Because of this, they decide what they will create and the rules by which it will operate. (True, though not always popular.)
You are at a large party where most of the faces are unfamiliar. However, everyone is wearing a stick-on name tag—always helpful among strangers. A nice lady comes over and introduces herself and, as you catch a quick glance at her name tag, you notice: “Hi! My Name is Mary and I am generous.” What? You look around and notice, “Hi! My Name is Jim and I am kind and understanding.” And “Hi! My Name is Alice and I am Intelligent and Wise.” And so on…
My girls and I were visiting with my parents, who live out in the country surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. There is great joy when sitting on their front porch gazing out over the green luscious pasture and beautiful blue pond. It is such a peaceful environment.
Paul and Silas were in bondage; they seemed to be in a hopeless situation. However stone-cold walls were not going to keep them from worshipping the Lord. They knew that there was power in the name of Jesus. God not only shook the very ground they were standing on but also broke the chains that held them in defeat.
In this verse we learn about a household who stood up against peer pressure over taking sides of who to follow. The early church in Corinth was becoming divided over whose teachings they should follow. They no longer looked at Christ as the Almighty leader, but one among many.
God had a plan and a message for Nineveh. He wanted Jonah to be the one who delivered the message to the wicked nation. Jonah, however, did not want to be involved in God’s plan, so he ran away. He thought he could escape from his calling by going in the opposite direction from Nineveh. God desired Nineveh to repent from their evil ways and nothing Jonah did could waver His plan.
Have you had one of those days when the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning it is go...go...go?
One particular morning I was awakened to the cries of my children and husband, “Mom, I am hungry!”, “Mom, can I take a shower”, and “Honey, what is your agenda for today?”
“Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” asked Isaac.
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb..., my son” (Genesis 22:14).
My husband and I lead a newlywed class at church. The couples progress through stages. They usually begin the class dating or engaged. Next comes the commitment of marriage. Eventually the class size increases as babies are born. Five babies have been born this year in our class. They are obeying God’s command to be fruitful and multiply! “I am [El Shaddai]. Be fruitful and increase in number ”(Genesis 35:11).
She ran. She wouldn’t stop until she was far away. Maybe the wilderness would offer some relief from the harsh treatment she had endured at the hands of her mistress, Sarai. Hagar could go no longer. She stopped by a rare spring in this parched land.
Yesterday, we looked at God as Elohim, or Creator. Our Creator is involved in every aspect of his creation. The painting, The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, depicts God reaching down from heaven touching Adam, fingertip to fingertip--the perfect, divine Creator initiating a personal relationship with his creation.
“What’s in a name?” young Juliet asks in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Juliet argues that a name is an arbitrary label with little meaning. However, in the Bible names carry much significance. As God’s relationship with His people unfolds, He reveals His nature through various names.
I sat in Bible study one evening, during a time in my life I was struggling with obedience to the Lord in a particular area. Experiencing the cycle of sin, regret, asking forgiveness, and then continuing to regret over and over made me weary.
The tight crowd made it impossible to get even to the doorway of where Jesus was teaching. The men had to think of another way to get their friend before Jesus. According to the stories heard all over the region, He would be able to heal him. The roof! They made an opening in it and lowered their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Picture this: Take a dry sponge and pour water over it. All its holes fill up, and it doubles in size. When it gets to the point it can hold no more, the water flows over the edges. It is “satiated;” the Hebrew meaning of satisfies, in our verse today. It is the filling and even overfilling of appetites or desires.
