Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

GENESIS 18 GOD’S CONTEMPLATION WHAT TO DO WITH SODOM & GOMORRAH

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December 14

GENESIS 18

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosenhim, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

                                                                    – Genesis 18:16-21

GENESIS 18 GOD’S CONTEMPLATION WHAT TO DO WITH SODOM & GOMORRAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the visit of God and the two men at Abraham’s tent

They left proceeding to Sodom and Abraham went with them

While travelling, God contemplated whether to share his plan

He knew that Abraham was to become father of many nations.

The Lord was weighing whether sharing this with him was beneficial

He wants Abraham to know the fate of the surrounding cities

God considers Abraham as a friend who is wise to understand

He generously gave Abraham wisdom so he can rule righteously.

Isn’t it interesting how God was contemplating whether to share with Abraham his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah? Surely, God knows how to deal with these sin cities, but it is another glimpse of God’s character. He shares and communicates his plans with all those who continue to believe and trust in him. He considered Abrahm as a friend who he can be privy to. Besides, these cities were neighboring places of the promised land to Abraham and his descendants. Since Abraham will be father of many nations, he wanted to show him his dominion over these areas and what happens to those who defy the Lord.

REFLECTION

  • Who are God’s friends and why are they considered his friends?
  • How can you develop deep friendship with the Lord himself?

GENESIS 18 SARAH’S LAUGHTER AT HAVING A CHILD

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December 13

GENESIS 18

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” – Genesis 18:9-15

GENESIS 18 SARAH’S LAUGHTER AT HAVING A CHILD

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the Lord visited Abraham to announce his coming child

Secretly, Sarah was listening by the tent door and laughed

Abraham and Sarah were in their nineties so she was amused

She couldn’t believe how her old body could still conceive.

Then the Lord confronted why Sarah laughed

Out of fear, Sarah automatically denied she did

The Lord asked her “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”

The promise of the Lord to Abraham was to give him a son through Sarah.

Previously, when announced to have a child at their very old age, Abraham laughed too. His laughter was more of rejoicing because he believed that there was nothing impossible with God. In this account, Sarah’s laughter was not like Abraham’s. It was more of disbelief She couldn’t fathom how her ninety years old body could still get pregnant. It was more of a doubt than rejoicing. When confronted with that unbelief, she automatically denied it. Don’t we do that all? We are automated to defend our doubts when it is exposed and justify and reason out. That is just par of our sinful nature.

REFLECTION

  • Share an occasion of you or someone close who laughed at some impossibilities.

GENESIS 18 WHEN GOD VISITED ABRAHAM

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December 12

GENESIS 18

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaksof Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.  – Genesis 18:1-8

GENESIS 18 WHEN GOD VISITED ABRAHAM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

One hot summer day, God visited and showed himself to Abraham

The Lord was accompanied by two angels in human form

As Abraham sat by his tent’s door, he saw the three men

And as he recognized the Lord, he pleaded him to stay awhile.

Abraham didn’t waste any second and washed their feet at once

He asked them to rest under the tree while he brought them bread

Then he ran inside the tent to instruct Sarah to make cakes

He then went to his herd and took the best calf to feed them.

What would you have done if the Lord himself visited you? Would you recognize him like Abraham did? Would you do what Abraham did, to wash his feet and get the best of his calf to have it prepared? Once again, we witness Abraham’s hospitality and great respect for the Lord. He moved in haste to make sure that no time was wasted to give the Lord his best welcome. He treasured the honor to be visited by his own Lord.

REFLECTION

  • How do you think Abraham recognized his Lord among the three men?

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?