TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:26-2:25
The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. - Genesis 2:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
During this past year, we have examined biblical books and topics through the lens of “Every Good and Perfect Gift: God Supplies Our Needs.” This month we focus on God's Gift of Practical Truth. Sometimes it may be all too easy for us to have our beliefs and opinions about important matters shaped by something other than what God's Word teaches. We're going to explore Scripture to find out what God says about the nature of our bodies, the gospel, heaven, God's blessings, the church, and whether Christians can really have fun!

We'll begin this first week by answering the question, “How are we created?” As we see in our reading today, we are created as whole beings in the image of God.

The creation account in Genesis 1 chronicles God's work of creating each element of the universe. Light, sky, water, ground, stars, birds, fish, and animals are brought into existence by the spoken word of the almighty, eternal, sovereign Lord. In verse 26 a new phrase is introduced that isn't applied to any other created thing: “Then God said, ”˜Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.' ” The male and female are then given a charge that isn't given to any other—to rule over the birds, fish, and animals (vv. 26, 28).

Unlike any other part of God's work, the creation of Adam and Eve is elaborated upon further, with an entire additional chapter devoted to detailing how God crafted this man and woman. The details of this story are familiar: Adam was formed from the dust of the ground, and God breathed life into him. Eve was formed from a rib taken from Adam and then brought to him as a wife perfectly fashioned to help him.

Of particular note is that God created man and woman to have a body and a spirit (some scholars further distinguish between soul and spirit; others use soul and spirit interchangeably), and that both body and spirit were declared to be “very good” (v. 31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our culture overemphasizes the body, focusing only on the pleasures or gratifications of the physical part of men and women. Christians have sometimes reacted to this by rejecting any notion that our bodies could be good and focusing only on our souls in relationship to God. As we begin this study this month, pray that God will help you to view your own body—His good creation—properly, without obsessing about or ignoring it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 11:33-12:2
Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. - Romans 12:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this year, the BBC News reported that a large “knife amnesty” was underway in Great Britain. Red bins appeared beside police stations so that people could drop off knives without fear of arrest. Knives are the most common weapon used in violent attacks in the United Kingdom.

In the hands of a skillful surgeon, however, a knife is used for an entirely different purpose. Rather than a tool for destruction, the surgeon's knife is used to bring healing. The difference in the user's motivation and the purpose of the tool makes the difference.

This helps to give us a biblical perspective on our bodies. We can use our physical bodies to do harm to others, commit sin against God, or wound with our speech (1 Cor. 6:18; James 3:2). As a result of the Fall, we are capable of using our bodies in profoundly destructive ways.

But this doesn't mean that our bodies are evil, worthless, or just an impediment to mature spiritual life. On the contrary, our bodies are tools, and we can learn how to use them to bring God glory. In fact, we cannot be truly “spiritual” apart from the ways that we use our bodies, because as we saw yesterday, God has created us as whole persons.

Our text today begins with an outpouring of praise to God. Paul quotes from Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11 in this hymn acknowledging that God cannot be reduced to the limits of human comprehension (11:33-36). It's important that we don't let the chapter break distract us from the connection between this hymn and the following command; the word therefore in 12:1 is a clue to pay attention to what has just been said.

Our motivation for serving God with our bodies comes from who God is and who we are in relation to Him. We have received His incomparable mercy. He has given us faith and the ability to see ourselves in a truthful way. His will for us is “good, pleasing and perfect” (12:2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Scripture says that the way we use our bodies is a “spiritual act of worship” (12:2). Consider today how you can use your body to worship the Lord. You might sing aloud some hymns or praise songs, use your mouth to encourage others, use your hands to prepare a meal or do yard work for someone who could use the help, or use your feet to visit someone who is lonely or in need. Whatever you do, commit it to God as an act of worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
You were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Robert's doctor had been urging him for years to watch his diet, exercise more, and lose some weight. Robert declined to follow his doctor's advice, however. He reasoned, “I'm not sinning by drinking soda or eating french fries, and I'm going to die sometime anyway. It will be my time to die whenever God is ready to take me.”

Robert reflects common thinking among Christians and non-Christians alike. It's not a sin to eat doughnuts and tater tots—so what's the big deal? Who cares if I don't take care of my body as long as I'm taking care of my soul?

Scripture doesn't support this way of thinking. God is concerned about the way that we use our bodies—we are often ready to acknowledge this regarding obviously sinful behavior, but we're less likely to consider the same concerning actions that are not in themselves sinful. The context of our passage is Paul's exhortation to the Corinthian believers to live so as to bring glory to God. By professing to be Christians but acting like the unsaved world brought shame on the entire church and dishonor to the name of Christ.

We see several principles in our text. The first relates to whether something is beneficial. A particular action (like eating) may not be a sin, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to eat whatever we want (v. 13). God cares about how we care for our bodies.

Second, we must be alert to the price we pay for using our bodies for sin. Sexual sin in particular is in view here, but the principle applies to other sin as well. We damage our bodies, spirits, and the name of the Lord. Third, we must understand the depth of this exhortation. The entire Trinity has a relationship to our physical being: God will raise our bodies in the resurrection (v. 14); our bodies are part (or members) of the body of Christ (v. 15); and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (v. 19).

Our bodies belong to God, and how we use them matters for our health, His glory, and the testimony of the church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you been content to “take care of your soul” while disregarding your body? Church attendance, prayer, and Bible study are surely important, but God also cares about such everyday matters as how we eat or how much television we watch. In a world that seems caught between the extremes of either worshiping or ignoring the human body, Christians can be a witness to the way that the triune God impact the way we view our physical beings.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1995, radio listeners could hear the song, “Flood,” just about anytime they tuned in to a popular station. There's nothing unusual about hearing a song repeatedly, but what was unusual about this song was that it was recorded by the band Jars of Clay—an explicitly Christian group whose name was taken from our key verse for today. The popularity of the song (and the self-titled album, which is now ranked triple platinum in sales) allowed Jars of Clay to express in interviews the significance of their band name.

Our study leads today to the significance of “jars of clay” as well. First, notice the content of the “treasure” referred to in verse 7. God has given us the light of the knowledge of His glory, made possible through our relationship with Christ (v. 6). Second, this remarkable blessing—this treasure—is given to us who are “jars of clay” (v. 7). This explicitly refers to our physical bodies, which were created out of the dust of the ground (see Nov. 1; Gen. 3:19). Thus the knowledge of God isn't just some spiritual affair disconnected with our earthly, physical existence.

Third, we see why God has given this treasure to people who are the equivalent of clay pots: to show His glory and power. Our bodies are frail and prone to fail us, but God still works through us to demonstrate His own great purposes (v. 16).

This work of God through our bodies has eternal significance. God uses us to reveal Jesus to others and as a testament to our own bodily resurrection for which we wait (vv. 11, 14). The Lord also uses our jars of clay to cause others to give thanks and glory to God (v. 15).

Finally, even the troubles that we experience in our bodies help to give us an eternal perspective focused on the power of God (v. 17). In the light of eternity, our pain today—no matter how difficult—is a mere moment compared to the eternal rejoicing in the presence of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you or someone you love is experiencing the “clay” part of our bodies quite keenly. Your body aches, doesn't cooperate with your expectations, and gives you nothing but problems. The apostle Paul could certainly relate (see 2 Cor. 12:9)! The good news is that God is still working through your struggling body to show His power. You may be limited, but God isn't! Pray today that God will use your mortal body to reveal Christ in a renewed way to you and others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:36-45
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! - Luke 24:39
TODAY IN THE WORD
What happened after Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried? Some people, including those who claim to be Christians, have doubts. Consider this quote from the Reverend Steve Huber of St. Columba's Episcopal Church: “The truth of the Resurrection shouldn't be the real battleground. I think what we want to do is try and rise above that and ask, ”˜What is the metaphoric truth of Easter?' The real power of Easter is the transformation that, as Christians, we believe continues to happen in people's lives. If Easter is about proving the veracity of an historical event that happened 2,000 years ago, that misses the point.”

Sadly, the Reverend Huber has missed the point. The Resurrection is essential to the Christian faith. This truth isn't “metaphorical,” it is the physical reality of Jesus walking on the earth in a body with flesh and bones—after He had already been killed. God raised Jesus from the dead in His own physical body.

In order to have a biblical view of our bodies, we must understand the significance of the resurrection of Jesus' body. We'll explore this over the next few days. Today we want to focus on the facts presented in the Gospels regarding the Resurrection.

There was no doubt that Jesus had actually died on the cross. Those who were present saw that He breathed a final breath (Matt. 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46-48). To make sure, the Romans pierced His side (John 19:31-35). Joseph of Arimathea was given His body for burial, and the women who followed Jesus saw His body in the tomb (Luke 23:50-55). Jesus didn't swoon, or fake His death.

Then, after His followers had witnessed beyond a doubt that their Lord had been killed, He appeared to them in recognizable form! Jesus' resurrected body is different than ours; for instance, He was able to appear and disappear (see Luke 24:30-36). But He still bore the nail scars, and He ate and drank with His disciples (v. 43). Tomorrow we'll consider more fully why the resurrection of His body is vitally important for the message of the gospel and the forgiveness of sins (v. 47).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may encounter people who question the reality of the Resurrection, or you may hear so-called experts attempt to debunk the historical facts of the Resurrection. If you'd like to learn more about the evidence for the truth that Jesus was physically raised from the dead, one helpful book to read is The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas, available from your local Christian bookstore or from an online retailer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 11:27-12:9
So Abram left, as the Lord had told him. - Genesis 12:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
In September 2005, 5,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops attempted to evacuate civilians from Tall Afar, Iraq, to protect them from a raid against insurgents. Many people refused to leave through the designated checkpoints out of fear and distrust. One man said, “I would rather die . . . in my home with my family than walk south.”

Leaving home for an unknown destination would be difficult for anyone, regardless of the potential reward or the imminent danger. About 4,000 years ago—and only a few hundred miles away from Tall Afar—a man named Abram faced the choice of whether to go or stay. God called him out of his home in Ur and away from the idolatry of his homeland (Josh. 24:2). God was very clear about what He would do for Abram. But still He was asking Abram to make a major sacrifice and providing very few details.

We know what happened to Abram, the first of the Patriarchs and the subject of our study over the next several days. God's call to Abram (12:1-3) came before his 600-mile move to Haran (cf. Acts 7:2), and it's unclear if God repeated it in Haran. Chapter 11 records Abram's genealogy and the account of his father, Terah, so the call in Ur could have been placed here in the text simply to shift the focus of the narrative to Abram.

Abram and Sarai had no children (11:30) though they were in a genealogical line rich with large, well-established families in the region. Abram left with no idea where God might lead him or how he would become a great nation. If we trace Abram's journey from Ur to Shechem, where God finally gave Abram confirmation that he had arrived in God's desired location, we see that he traveled about 1,000 miles, roughly the distance from Chicago to Boston. Abram's obedience to God endured throughout the journey as he paid tribute to God multiple times (vv. 7, 8 ). One phrase typifies the new life of faith that Abram adopted: “pitched his tent” (v. 8 ). Abram left a life of wealth in a prosperous region for life in a tent in a faraway land.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Abram's decision to obey God cost him his very way of life—which might be the possession we hold onto most dearly. The best of us may give God our time, our effort, and our money, but rarely are we willing to relinquish our comfort.

To show the faith of our fathers, we should be ready to surrender our lives. Ask God to weaken your attachment to your lifestyle and free you to enjoy the blessing of His will.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 12:10-20
Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? - Genesis 12:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Skydiving is a surprisingly accessible pastime in America. There are more than 400 drop zones open to the public, and interested divers can prepare for a freefall jump with just one day of training. Falling at speeds in excess of 100 mph is relatively easy; finding the nerve to jump is another matter.

Abram had already done the hard part by obeying God's call to leave his homeland—the courage required to do so should never be underestimated. But at this point, going was the only thing God demanded (12:1-3). God placed no other conditions on him. He didn't have to prove himself righteous, wise, or skillful . . . he just had to go. Abram must have been thankful for that mercy, especially after the events of today's passage.

When famine drove Abram toward Egypt, he couldn't have known if he was leaving God's appointed land—he wasn't given boundaries until chapter 15. Going to Egypt didn't show a lack of faith, but lying about Sarai did. Abram feared that he would be killed (v. 12), so he covered up his marriage. He would later say that Sarai was his half-sister (20:12), although his genealogy in Chapter 11 makes no reference to such a relationship. Regardless of those details, God's promise should have assured Abram that his life was not in danger. Interestingly, God didn't penalize him for his lie or his fear. Abram had obeyed what God required of him, and God stayed true to His word.

Abram was blessed with livestock and servants. Pharaoh was cursed with plagues. This blessing was not the result of Abram's good works but because of his faith. Abram still had plenty of room for spiritual growth. Faith alone was God's expectation, and Abram was without peer in that department.

As Romans 4:13 states, “It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” Abram's sin could not stop God's plan of redemption—his sin, like ours, was the reason redemption was needed in the first place.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A brief glance cannot sufficiently cover the topic of justification by faith, and it's an important concept to meditate on as we move forward in this study. Every day we'll see examples of imperfect faith from imperfect people—in the Bible and in ourselves. Read through Romans 4 and reflect on what Abraham's faith means to us, especially in light of his imperfection. Remember that your faith produces righteousness and not the other way around.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 13:1-18
All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. - Genesis 13:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Flea markets play host to bargain hunters searching through a treasure trove of goods. Some people overpay, and other deals are fair, but in some cases, like the customer who paid $4 for a painting that hid an original printing of the Declaration of Independence, the trade is a one-sided victory. In today's reading, Lot sought the best deal, but Abram was the clear winner.

Abram and Lot's problem was one that most people would like to have—they had too many possessions. Abram shows a proper attitude toward his possessions in two ways. First, he praises God. The phrase “called on the name of the Lord” in verse 4 is usually used in connection with building an altar and making sacrifices of worship (cf. 12:8 ). It's very likely that he sacrificed a portion of his livestock to acknowledge the true source of his wealth.

The other gesture Abram made was to surrender the one thing he didn't have in abundance: land. Cohabiting with Lot and his entourage was causing conflict, and instead of aggravating the situation, Abram yielded to Lot. He treated Lot like an equal, and gave him the choice of any land he desired. Pay special attention to Abram's attitude of surrender, because it is rare in the history of the Patriarchs.

Lot took a good, long look at the available land, and he chose what he thought would be the best. As we'll soon read, Lot made a poor choice, selecting a land rich in fertile soil but contaminated by sin (v. 13).

Now it was Abram's turn to survey the land. After Lot left, God told Abram to look at all that he could see in every direction just as Lot did. God told him he could have it all. Verse 7 made it clear that the land had other inhabitants, but God disclosed with greater detail the nature of Abram's inheritance. His descendants were to receive all of the land, and they would be too numerous to count. Considering Abram's descendants at the time added up to a grand total of zero, this was an amazing prediction. But Abram obeyed, and he continued to worship God (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God provides. Abram left his home; God increased his wealth. He relinquished the choice of land; God gave him all the land he could see. He had no children; God made from him multiple nations that thrive even today. So why do we grab all we can reach, seize control of every choice, and long for what we don't have?

Give freely to God. Let others take what they want. God will provide.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 14
Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. - Genesis 14:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In cinema, a zoom lens can change the audience's understanding of a situation. By zooming in very closely on a person's face, a viewer can see every twitch or eye movement, creating a personal aspect to the picture. Zooming out creates distance, but with it comes the added perspective of knowing what's going on around the subject.

We've been following Abram closely to this point. Today, we zoom out to see the bigger picture of the world he was in. We might have the impression that Abram was living in seclusion in the land of Canaan, but Chapter 14 reminds us that in key ways Abram was not alone.

First, wars were going on around him; a war between nine kings (v. 9) could not have gone unnoticed by Abram, and it didn't. Before long, he, too, was involved.

His involvement stemmed from another aspect in which Abram wasn't alone. Even though he was separated from Lot, Abram had not at all forgotten him. When he learned of Lot's capture by foreign kings, Abram came to the rescue. Amazingly, Abram had already amassed a battalion of 318 men—truly God had blessed him!

After the battle had ended, we learn yet again that Abram wasn't alone—the existence of Melchizedek proves that Abram wasn't alone in his faith. Scripture highly esteems Melchizedek, using his dual priesthood and kingship to foreshadow the reign of Jesus Christ (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:1-10). That's important to understand if we are to have a proper perspective of the Patriarchs. While we can trace our faith back to him, faith didn't originate with Abram. It also shows that God didn't select Abram out of necessity—unlike Noah, he wasn't the only person at the time who believed in God.

Abram's refusal to accept the spoils of war from the king of Sodom shows his proper understanding of the promise of God. He knew that his inheritance would come from Him, and he didn't want to be in debt to such a wicked king.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Abram wasn't alone, and neither are we. Like he was, we're surrounded by strangers who don't share our faith. Each of us has friends and family members who need our help. And we have fellow believers who can help us. Are you prepared to put your faith in action as Abram did—to lend help to those in need, to show thanks to those who help, and to resist temptation from the wicked? Call on God for help.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 15
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. - Genesis 15:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Comedian Steven Wright once said, “A clear conscience is usually the sign of bad memory.” As we study the life and faith of Abram and the Patriarchs, we'll be reminded regularly that they were far from sinless. But thanks to justification by faith, their sins, and ours, could be forgotten and forgiven.

Actually, God promises so much to Abram in this passage—offspring as innumerable as the stars (v. 5), extensive land (v. 18), and victory over the inhabitants (vv. 19-21)—that it's easy to forget the remainder of the prophecy—four centuries of enslavement and oppression were guaranteed to Abram's descendants (v. 13).

But the most notable thing given to Abram was the one thing that could not be taken away or enslaved: the credit of righteousness from God (v. 6). This is the first time that the word righteousness appears in the Bible, and it's interesting that it precedes any laws or commandments given to Abram. Abram believed, and in God's economy, that was a worthy exchange for righteousness. Notice that righteousness wasn't something Abram did—it was given to him.

God also reaffirms to Abram that his promised descendants would be from his body, not just his house. The affirmation comes after Abram expressed some doubt as to how the promise would be fulfilled. God's word alone was enough to convince him. But when it came to possessing the land, Abram wanted some additional sign that he would be able to acquire it (v. 8 ). So God confirmed it with a covenant that detailed the boundaries of the Promised Land and the people God promised to give over to Abram.

Some interpret “river of Egypt” to mean the Nile, but it more likely refers to a wadi or riverbed called the River of Egypt, nearly a hundred miles east of the Nile River delta. Eventually, Israel's southern border did reach the River of Egypt, but it has yet to approach the Euphrates River.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The land that God promised to give Abram has yet to be fully claimed by his descendants and is still at the heart of much contention both between the peoples of that land and among the scholars who study it. But the righteousness that God credited for Abram's faith is indisputable and freely available to all. Christ's suffering on the cross paid our debt of sin in full, and His righteousness is ours to claim. You can believe in Him and accept His gift of righteousness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 16:1-6
Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her. - Genesis 16:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Boxer James “Quick” Tillis had big plans when he arrived in Chicago looking for his career to take off. After stepping off of a bus downtown, he placed his suitcases down on the sidewalk and looked up at the Sears Tower. Surveying the majesty of the skyline, Tillis proudly proclaimed to himself, “I am going to conquer Chicago!” When he looked down, his suitcases were gone.

Self-serving plans can wind up hurting us. The main theme that we have examined so far has been Abram's surrender of all he had, so that God could provide him with something better. Today, that focus shifts. Sarai calls Abram's attention to what God had withheld from them—a child—and she works out a plan of her own to meet her desire for a family. The results didn't go as planned.

To understand this story, we can look at the situation from a number of angles. God promised to give Abram descendants through his body, but he had not yet specified Sarai as the intended mother. And from a cultural point of view, the practice of using a servant as a surrogate mother was probably commonly accepted. Was this Abram and Sarai's heartfelt attempt at faithfully following God's will? Not at all.

Neither Abram nor Sarai mention God's promise for descendants in this passage. The only motivation cited in these verses is that Sarai wanted to “build a family” (v. 2). Abram's silent agreement with the plan conspicuously raises our attention. His actions bear an eerie similarity to Adam's participation with Eve in eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). The text does not suggest that Abram and Sarai were attempting to “help God out” in fulfilling His promise. Sarai's plan was an act of self-service, an attempt to provide for herself what God had not given. Sarai's actions after Hagar conceived prove her spirit of selfishness. She wasn't even satisfied when her goal was accomplished. Instead, she drove Hagar away and didn't, as she had originally said that she intended to do, consider Ishmael to be her own son (21:9-10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This passage is often used to argue that we should not use our ways to try to accomplish God's will. But from what we see in the text, Sarai was hardly trying to accomplish God's will at all—her own ego and status were what she cared about. The real lesson here is this warning: never use God's will as an excuse to defend our own selfish desires. Instead, let us make Psalm 119:35 our prayer, “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 17:1-27
He laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?” - Genesis 17:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
One night after a performance, a woman greeted Victor Borge to tell him how much she appreciated his humor, but her words didn't come out exactly as she intended: “I haven't laughed that much since my husband died!” A response of laughter also seems inappropriate when receiving God's promise.

When Sarai told Abram her plan for starting a family through another woman, Abram went along with it. When God told him the divine plan for providing descendants, he laughed. If you're wondering how often God's statements prompted laughter, it was pretty rare. The only other Old Testament figure to laugh at God was Sarah, as we'll study tomorrow.

If anyone but God had predicted that Abraham and Sarah (their newly given names) would bear a child, it would obviously be a joke. When God appeared this time, He intensified the specifics of His promise to Abraham, especially the action that He wanted Abraham to take. He begins by declaring the expectation of blamelessness and allegiance to God (v. 1) and then reveals that the covenant would be everlasting (v. 7). He then spells out the method for signifying the covenant. With the institution of circumcision, God was establishing a physical mark for His chosen people. It was mandatory not just for Abraham and his sons, but for everyone who would be part of his entire household, whether as physical descendants or servants.

But the most dramatic revelation in this passage was how Abraham would receive an heir. A son, whose very name God chose, would be born to Abraham (age 99) through Sarah (age 90). Abraham laughed out loud but internalized his doubt (v. 17), asking only that God's blessing might go to Ishmael instead (v. 18). But God's plan was distinctly for Isaac, who had yet to be conceived. The text gives us no indication of Abraham's level of belief, although tomorrow's passage seems to indicate that, as a couple, Abraham and Sarah weren't completely sold on the idea. They were unaware of how far God would go to keep His word.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God had chosen a name and created a plan for Isaac before his parents ever thought he could exist. And that plan included the means for our salvation. Here are two points to remember. First, God cares for you so much that He's been planning your salvation since before the Patriarchs of our faith were even born. Secondly, God has plans for you that extend far beyond the here and now. You are significant, and your life can have eternal, global implications.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 18:1-15
Is anything too hard for the Lord? - Genesis 18:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
After winning the 1912 election, Woodrow Wilson visited an aunt to tell her the news that he would be the next president. “Oh yes? President of what?” she asked. When he told her, “The United States,” his aunt replied, “Oh, don't be silly.”

Sometimes the truth is unbelievable, especially for someone who has lived long enough to think they've seen everything.

When the three visitors arrived at Abraham's tent, it was the first record of Sarah ever witnessing the Lord's appearance. What looked like three men was actually a gathering of two angels (19:1) and the Lord (v. 13). Many scholars doubt that Abraham actually recognized the Lord, which is why verse 3 is translated “my lord” instead of “O Lord.” But Abraham gave his guests the royal treatment as soon as he saw them (v. 2), and his demeanor never changed throughout the chapter. The text provides us no indication of a moment of delayed realization on Abraham's part, which seems to indicate he knew all along it was the Lord.

Sarah, on the other hand, was likely unaccustomed to face-to-face divine meetings. She may not have even received the message from Abraham that God would give her a son. So, for the second time in as many chapters, God's message made someone laugh. Sarah clearly didn't realize that her private moment of doubtful laughter would be overheard or that the person to whom she was listening could even read her thoughts. Her fear at this development caused her to lie (v. 15).

If any of us had been in Sarah's position, we probably couldn't expect to act any more admirably. She had been uprooted from her home, moved over a thousand miles while living in tents, and taken into Pharaoh's harem. She went childless until age 90 and then was told that in one year she would be giving birth—how would you have reacted?

The important thing is how God responded. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v. 19). Of course the answer is “no,” even when it's hard for us to believe.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What a wonderful reassurance to know that God's power far exceeds our faith. Abraham and Sarah both laughed when God told them what He planned to do through them—that's how outlandish His prediction seemed. The other side of that coin could be a bit challenging, though—God could desire to use you in similarly unthinkable ways. Ask Him today to reconstruct your definition of the word impossible. Then be aware of His leading in ways that you may not have been expecting.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 21:1-8
God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. - Genesis 21:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2001, Americans spent $2.7 billion in attempts to overcome infertility, a struggle that millions of families face. There is, perhaps, no more powerless feeling for a couple than being unable to bear children. Even with all the scientific innovations in the field of infertility, some would-be parents have no realistic hope of conceiving a child.

But occasionally, against all logic and scientific explanation, a miracle is born. For such a baby that brings so much overwhelming joy to his parents and all who know them, Isaac, “he laughs,” makes for a perfect name.

This time laughter came not as the result of doubtful surprise, but rather as the overflow of delight. In sharp contrast to Sarah's selfish plan to obtain children for herself through Hagar, God's miraculous provision of a son was an act of unsolicited, unmerited kindness. God gave Sarah the honor she had been seeking by giving her not only a son but also the ability to nurse him (v. 7). Even with Abraham and Sarah's imperfect faith, God poured out His grace in unimaginable ways.

Isaac grew, in the arms of parents with a combined age of 191 years, to be a healthy young boy. The weaning ceremony was a celebration of Isaac's growth beyond infancy, a baby graduation of sorts. God had fulfilled His spectacular promise, and Sarah clearly appreciated the wonder of the situation.

Abraham followed through on his covenant with God, circumcising Isaac as God had commanded (v. 4). It might seem like a small part of this story, but God's gift of a son would have meant very little if Abraham hadn't stayed true to the bigger picture. The innumerable descendants that God promised would come later, but Abraham's responsibility was with his one promised son. He even gave him the name God had chosen for him. He was indeed faithful with the small tasks. Tomorrow, we'll learn just how faithful Abraham would be with a monumental challenge of faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Much of what God promised Abraham was anchored in the future—a multitude of descendants, ownership of Canaan. Do you ever feel like your hope is all in the future? We can get anxious for heaven or even an unanswered prayer. Why not take some time to identify the Isaac in your life? Dwell on the joys that God has given you—the tangible displays of His grace. If you begin to grow impatient from waiting on God, thank Him for all that He's already done for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-18
But my covenant I will establish with Isaac. - Genesis 17:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, Four Trials, John Edwards tells of losing his sixteen-year-old son in a car accident. He writes, “Nothing in my life has ever hit me and stripped everything away like my son's death . . . it was and is the most important fact of my life.”

If Abraham could have a choice to preserve one thing from all his possessions and his entire household, and to sacrifice all else to God, he likely would have chosen Isaac. He was the son God had named before he was even born with whom God would establish His covenant (Gen. 17:21). After sending Hagar and Ishmael away (see 21:8-21), Isaac represented Abraham's only son and his only hope for descendants.

But God asked Abraham to sacrifice the one thing he held most dear, and His precise instructions eliminated even the slightest loophole (22:2). All of Abraham's obedience up to this point was minor in comparison to this test. Would he—could he—slaughter his own son?

If today's newspaper carried the headline, “Man ties son to altar, prepares for slaughter. Says God told him to,” we would be outraged by the insanity of the idea. Abraham's unflinching faith is unnerving. Isaac's cooperation is frightening. But Abraham had a grip on the reality of the promise of God. Instead of being consumed by fear of the unknown, he held to what he did know. God said He would give him descendants through Isaac (21:12). That meant, no matter what, Isaac was in no danger. Abraham believed. He even thought God could raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:19). What's truly remarkable here is that Scripture does not indicate the slightest hesitation or even a whisper of doubt on Abraham's part. He was prepared to kill his son in obedience to God.

The angel of the Lord stopped Abraham and provided a substitute sacrifice. Then, God swore the oath to beat all oaths: He swore on His own name to fulfill His promise (cf. Heb. 6:13-18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Abraham's act of supreme sacrifice may seem unthinkable, but it's actually an encouraging example of what faith can enable you to do in God's name. Set aside some time to read Hebrews 11:1-12:2. It includes an astounding list of flawed but faithful men and women who, like Abraham, have risen victorious above impossible circumstances. Whatever challenge life might bring, God is always faithful. Don't lose heart!