tSoGS - Genesis 17:1-14 Reflection

Genesis 17:1-14

This passage is loaded.

God reveals more about himself. He is to be recognized as El Shaddai - God Almighty. Supreme God. God All-sufficient. Think about the paradigm shift for a second in a world of gods manipulated by magic, God says to Abram, "I am Self-complete, Self-contained, Self-powerful . . . I am not choosing you because I need you but because you need me. Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life."

God is God and we are not.

Now the almighty self-sufficient God desires to enter into covenant relation with Abram and all he can do is eat dirt (fall on his face). At age 99 - the promise of many nations, thirteen years after Abraham took things into his own hands by having a child with Sarai's handmaid, Hagar (mistake Judaism is still hurting over).

A name change from Abram to Abraham (father of multitudes) who at this point has one "illegitimate" son - not by law but by God's plan. That's faith isn't it? 99 years old and practically childless now called father of multitudes.

An everlasting covenant - "I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you."

Then the cause of so much grief - even today. "I am giving you this land . . . It will be your descendants possession forever." When other peoples and nations do not recognize the authority of El Shaddai, then by what authority does this land belong to Israel?

And finally - the seal of the covenant is circumcision. A people set-apart by God, morally and physically. Any male not circumcised is cut off from the community. (So this whole San Francisco vote on making circumcision illegal is HUGE.)

This then is one more thread in the story of God's story. Creation. Sin. Flood. and now Abraham and a covenant people - set apart for God's plan to redeem humanity. El Shaddai will save the world by choosing one, insignificant family to become a nation. what does this say about God?

tSoGS - Genesis 12:1-9 Reflection

Genesis 12:1-9

After all the mess coming out of the Fall - murder, sexual debauchery, a flood, envy, idolatry, a tower of babel, drunkenness, etc. . . the story shifts to one man - Abram and his wife Sarai. (It actually begins with Terah, his father, who started the migration from Ur to Canaan but never got there.)

Abram was 75 (never too old) when God called - "Leave everybody behind and head where I tell you." And then the line - the promise that sets everything in motion - "All families on earth will be blessed through you." Another thread pointing to Jesus.

Abram heads toward Canaan and God says "this is the spot." And what Abram does should not be overlooked. He doesn't build a house. He doesn't try to obtain the land. He builds an altar. Why an altar? What are altars used for? The spot became a sacred spot - a set-apart spot - dedicated to God.

What areas of your life still need an altar? God wants to bless you, but He can't bless what is not offered to him. Start building some altars - today.

Wonder why God chose Abram? Could it be because he recognized that it all belongs to God?

tSoGS - Romans 5:12-19 Reflection

O Lord may my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.

Romans 5:12-19

I've introduced New Testament writings into our Old Testament story so you can see how Jesus Christ's story is the central piece to all the story streams we have discussed.

The understanding of Jesus as "second Adam" should not be taken lightly.

The weakness of the first Adam to resist temptation is overcome with the power of the second Adam.

The sin of the first Adam is erased by the grace of the second Adam.

The death curse of the first Adam is overwritten by the resurrection of the second Adam.

And WE HAVE INHERITED that POWER, GRACE, and RESURRECTION.

We are part of a new humanity.

So maybe we should live like it?

⁸ Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ¹⁹ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.