Monthly Archives: December 2023

GENESIS 17 ABRAHAM’S CIRCUMCISION AT NINETY-NINE

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December 11

GENESIS 17

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

                                                                    – Genesis 17:22-26

GENESIS 17 ABRAHAM’S CIRCUMCISION AT NINETY-NINE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After God reaffirmed the details of his covenant with Abraham

He didn’t waste any time at all, but immediately followed God

His son Ishmael was thirteen at that time he circumcised him

And Abraham was ninety-nine when he did it to himself

That same day, all the men in his household were also circumcised

This manifests his character and pure submission to God’s promise

Could you imagine yourself doing something that you have never done before in your very old age of ninety-nine? As we grow old, Solomon talks about this in Ecclesiastes 12:3-7 when our bodies no longer serve us well and we can no longer do what we used to be able to do in our youth. Circumcision was never known to Abraham and yet he followed without a doubt or a question. That same day, he wasted no time to obey what God required of him in order for him to be the fulfillment of God’s plan for his offspring to receive their blessings in that covenant.

What a man of integrity Abraham was. Not only he was obedient and faithful, he was also very brave to do something that could have him bled to death. This shows how much faith was given to him by God himself. He completely surrendered to the Lord even though he didn’t know what was going to happen to him. He believed.

REFLECTION

  • Where do you think Abraham’s faith and courage came from since he was a pagan before?

GENESIS 17 SARAI’S NAME CHANGE & PROMISE OF ISAAC

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December 10

GENESIS 17

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarahshall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will giveyou a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

                                                                         – Genesis 17:15-21

GENESIS 17 SARAI’S NAME CHANGE & PROMISE OF ISAAC

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Sarai was included as part of God’s covenant with Abraham,

So, her name was also changed by God from Sarai to Sarah

Because Abraham was to be the father of many nations

She will also have the title “mother of many nations.”

To fulfill God’s promise to Abraham, Sarah will be blessed with a son

Despite her old age of ninety, she was still going to bear a child

Abraham rejoiced knowing that there’s nothing impossible with God

He fell on his face to praise the Lord whom he knew will proceed with his plan.

In this account, Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah as part of God’s covenant with Abraham. Since he was to be father of many nations, his wife Sarah was to be his partner to bear his offspring. Even though Hagar bore Abraham’s son Ishmael, it was through Sarah’s own child Isaac that God was going to establish his covenant. What is so amazing in this covenant is how God made it possible for her to bear a child at the age of ninety. Abraham rejoiced and laughed knowing that his God can do even the impossible.

REFLECTION

  • How is Abraham’s faith evident in this account?

GENESIS 17 THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT

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December 9

GENESIS 17

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”- Genesis 17:9-14

GENESIS 17 THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the Lord reaffirmed to Abraham his covenant with him

He asked Abraham to do something in order to solidify that promise

The Lord required every male among his people to be circumcised

Every male infant must do this when they turn eight days old.

The act of the males cutting off the flesh of their foreskin

Signifies that they will also cut off their sinfulness to stay cleansed

If any of Abraham’s people do not perform this sign of the covenant

They will be cut off because they have breached their vow and broke it.

According to Mcmillen in one of the commentaries, newborn babies are susceptible to bleed more between the second and fifth day of life. He says that it seems an important blood-clotting agent, Vitamin K, is not formed in the normal amount unti the fifth to seventh day of life, making the eight day the safest. God still ensures that the babies are safe to do this.

Some denominations still apply this circumcision but more as a law not as a covenant promise. The sign of the covenant is not really a physical thing but a symbol of the vow that the children of God do not put their trust in their flesh but in the Lord.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think it is important for us to understand what this sign signify?

GENESIS 17 THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS

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December 8

GENESIS 17

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

                                                                                          – Genesis 17:1-8

GENESIS 17 THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Before Abram was a hundred years old, God showed himself to him

In this covenant meeting, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham

God altered his name to Abraham which means father of multitudes

Abram was humbled and fell on his face and listened intently.

As part of the covenant, Abraham was required to walk with God

He had to be righteous and blameless so he can multiply much

Abraham’s lineage will bear kings in it and he will possess Canaan

The Lord also promised Abraham it will be an everlasting possession.

Can you imagine how Abraham would have felt at his age when he finally begins to get a clearer glimpse of what God’s plan was for his life? He was seventy-five when he was first asked to leave Ur without really knowing what’s ahead of him. Seventy-four years of waiting on details from God. It shows Abraham’s great faith in God. His faith is now paying off. God promised him that he will be the father of a multitude of nations. What an honor and a privilege! But that promise came with a requirement for a blameless life.

REFLECTION

  • What can we learn about God’s character in this account?

GENESIS 16 HAGAR CALLS ON “EL ROI”

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December 7

GENESIS 16

7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction.12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. – Genesis 16:7-16

GENESIS 16 HAGAR CALLS ON “EL ROI”

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Abram slept with the servant Hagar, she decided to leave her mistress Sarai

While she was fleeing from Sarai, an angel found her by a spring of water

It was in the wilderness that she sought refuge and she called on the Lord

Then the angel announced to her that she is pregnant and shall bear a son.

She was truly grateful that the El Roi, the God who sees have come to her rescue

The angel instructed her to go back to her mistress Sarai and submit to her

She was also told that through her son Ishmael will come a lot of offspring

She thanked God at the well called Beer-lahai-roi and praised “El Roi.”

Can you imagine the predicament that Hagar went through. It must have been a struggle to be used by your mistress to bear a son for herself, but she was also instructed to go back and submit to her after she ran away from her. God proved to her that he is a God who sees what she was going through. Despite her rebellion against her mistress, God heard her affliction and still blessed her.

REFLECTION

  • Share a time when you were so distressed and God showed up.

GENESIS 16 WHEN SARAI TOOK MATTERS INTO HER HANDS

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December 6

GENESIS 16

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. – Genesis 16:1-6

GENESIS 16 WHEN SARAI TOOK MATTERS INTO HER HANDS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Sarai was going up in her old age and still childless

It was inconceivable for her how to trust what the Lord’s promise was

She couldn’t wait anymore and took matters into her hands

She had an Egyptian servant by the name of Hagar and she had a plan.

She convinced Abram to take Hagar as a wife so a child can be born to Abram

But as soon as Hagar conceived, Hagar changed and scorned her mistress Sarai

So, Sarai told Abram how she was treating her; he told her to do as she pleases

Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar which drove Hagar to flee from her.

It is interesting what happens when we can’t understand Gods promise to us. Our little minds cannot fathom what God’s plan is. He wants us to trust him completely with what he promises, but as humans, we become impatient and take control of things we don’t have control over. This is what Sarai did. It was a bad idea because it wasn’t God’s plan. Sarai had to bear the consequences of that decision to take matters into her hands.

REFLECTION

  • What could have happened if Sarai didn’t ask Abram to sleep with Hagar?

GENESIS 15 PROMISED OFFSPRING AND LAND TO ABRAM

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December 5

GENESIS 15

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I givethis land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”  – Genesis 15:12-21

GENESIS 15 PROMISED OFFSPRING AND LAND TO ABRAM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Since Abram wanted a sign so he can comprehend God’s promise

At sundown, he fell on a deep sleep and there was great darkness

Then the Lord God gave him details of what his covenant entails

His descendants will be travellers and be moving place to place

His offspring will be serving those nations that they will be going to

But the Lord will punish those nations; his offspring will be afflicted too.

They’ll suffer four hundred years and then they’ll have great possessions after

As for Abram, he will live long and go to his fathers and be peaceful

Then the Lord specified the Promised Land from the river of Egypt

Up to the great river and the Euphrates River and land of Kenites

It also includes the lands of Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hitties, Perrizites

Also add the Rephaim, the Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.

We serve a God of details. In this account, we witness how God specified in details what was included in his covenant promise to Abram. It couldn’t be any clearer.

REFLECTION

  • What struck you most in these details that God specified in his covenant promise?

GENESIS 15 ABRAM’S DESIRE FOR A SIGN FROM GOD

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December 4

GENESIS 15

7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. – Genesis 15:7-11

GENESIS 15 ABRAM’S DESIRE FOR A SIGN FROM GOD

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Though the Lord promised Abram the land of Canaan and many offsprings

His mind still goes back and forth from faith to some doubting

So, the Lord God reminded him how he called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans

Yet Abram wanted a sign of the covenant promise for the promised descendants.

God instructed Abram to prepare a heifer, a female goat, a ram,

A turtledove, and a young pigeon, all of them three years old

Abram cut the animals in half except for the turtledove and pigeon

When the birds of prey came down on the remains, he drove them away.

This is an interesting account when Abram just got assurance of God’s promise of a land of his own and many offspring. He believed, but not long after that, he still had some doubts as to how these promises were going to be fulfilled by God. So, he wanted a sign from God. Instead of a visible sign, God instructed him to prepare a sacrifice to solidify his covenant promise to him. We still witness Abram’s obedience to follow the demand of God for such offerings. The ESV study notes says that that the ritual described here is possibly a type of oath. God is saying that he will become like the dead animals if he does not keep his word referred to in Jer. 34:18-20. Another interpretation is that the sacrificial animals symbolize Abram’s descendants and the “birds of prey” (Gen 15:11) signify their enemies (unclean nation). Human’s limited minds cannot fathom how the promises of God will come to pass, but he wants us to trust him completely with no doubting.

REFLECTION

  • What does James 1 tell us about wisdom and faith that Abram struggled here?

GENESIS 15 THE LORD’S PROMISE & ASSURANCE TO ABRAM

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December 3

GENESIS 15

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continueto be childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:1-6

GENESIS 15 THE LORD’S PROMISE & ASSURANCE TO ABRAM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the meeting with the Kings and winning the battle

Abram was concerned that those defeated enemy will hit back

After all these worries, God’s word came to Abram in a vision

The Lord appeased him and told him He was his shield and protection.

The Lord reminded him of his promise of countless offspring to him

But he wondered how that would happen since he has no child

The Lord God gave him his word and led him outside to look up

He showed him his descendants will be as countless as the stars.

It was probably valid for Abram to be worried after winning the battle over the four kings. He’ll never know if they plot a revenge after he overcame them. Since he was very rich, he was also concerned that his riches would end up with his servant Eliezer of Damascus since he had no child. But the Lord showed him how much offspring he would have and Abram believed and the Lord counted it as righteousness to him. What a great faith he had! To trust the Lord when he can’t understand its possibility is remarkable.

REFLECTION

  • How can we have such faith as Abram had?
  • Is it possible to grow our faith? How do we do this?

GENESIS 14 ABRAM MEETS MELCHIZEDEK

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December 2

GENESIS 14

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessorof heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! ”And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.” – Genesis 14:17-24

GENESIS 14 ABRAM MEETS MELCHIZEDEK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Abram won the battle in Chedorlaomer and he met the kings at Shaveh

It was in the Valley of Shaveh wherehe met the king of Salem, Melchizedek

This King, who was also a priest, welcomed and blessed Abram

He declared the hand of God in Abram’s triumph in the battle.

As a priest of God, he blessed Abram by honoring him and sharing his resources

Abram was blessed and so he blessed back Melchizedek in return

Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all his wealth and possessions

He also declined the plunder that the king of Sodom offered him.

Once again, Abram continues to manifest his righteousness in this incident. When he won the battle against those kings and regained back his nephew Lot. There was a meeting of those who were allies to him. There he met Melchizedek, king of Salem. In some commentaries, Salem was the old name of Jerusalem. Very little is known about this king but he seemed to be a significant priest as Hebrews 7:13-17 refers to Jesus as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron. Abram also didn’t accept the plunder from the king of Sodom, which shows his integrity.

REFLECTION

  • What was most interesting in this meeting between Abram and Melchizedek?