Genesis 20: Line in Danger

Genesis 20 is a great example of how little we learn from our mistakes. Sin likes to repeats itself. We usually follow this habit. We do this until God steps in and breaks the cycle and then it’s our choice to continue to resist sin.

Well, Abraham made the same mistake. He traveled to a kingdom and he told his wife to say that she is his sister (again!). She obeys and King Abimelech takes her in. The Line is now in danger. (May I also add that Sarah is nearing 100 and she is still that attractive.)

The King gets punished — his slaves and women can no longer have children.  God comes to him and tells him why. Abimelech goes to Abraham and confronts him. Abraham shows his true cowardly self and even tries to say that it was a half-lie because she is his half-sister.

God redeems the situation. Abraham receives livestock and servants, along with Sarah who received thousand pieces of silver to show that he did not have sexual relations with her, and were told they could live anywhere in the kingdom. This time Abraham accepts the money as opposed to the King of Sodom — probably because he doesn’t have the moral high ground.

• God uses sinful people to fulfill His plan
• Abraham is just like any other man but extraordinary because God chose him
• God is faithful and He ensuring that His promise will come to fruition

 

Genesis 19: Things Got Weird

I remember doing a Bible study of this chapter with my cousin who was exploring Christianity and I remember thinking, “How do I explain this one?” Well, thanks to the Holy Spirit he didn’t run away freaked out. In fact, he is now a strong Christian husband, father, leader, and yeah, cousin! (Hey Rusty!).

So, the angels left Abraham’s house and left to Sodom. Lot is at the gate (yeah, he is a leader) and he begs them to stay with him, as opposed to staying in the square, because he knows how bad Sodom has become. They agree and he, similarly to Abraham, treats them with respect and honors them.

Then it gets weird. Men of all ages come to his house because they learned visitors had come and they wanted to know them, as in sexually (do you see the origin of sodomy?). What does Lot do? He offers up his daughters (!). Well, it doesn’t work and the angels have to get involved and they cause all the men to be blind, stopping them from coming inside the house.

The angels then inform Lot and his family to flee Sodom because they are going to destroy it with sulfur and fire (hey, Dead Sea!).

Unfortunately, the daughter’s husbands do not believe so they stay, and then Lot’s wife ignores the angels’ commands to NOT LOOK BACK and turns into a pillar of salt. Lot and his two daughters are the only ones who make it.

And then it gets weird again. The two daughters get their father drunk and get impregnated by him so they can keep the family line. This is where the Moabites and the Ammonites’ lines begin.

• Despite our sin, God is faithful
• He made a promise to Abraham and saved Lot (even though on his own is not worthy of God’s mercy)
• God is just
• Sin is grotesque

Genesis 18: Abraham’s Visitors

 

Three angels visited Abraham while on their way to Sodom. Abraham understands that they are servants of the Lord and he shows his respect by feeding them, washing their feet, and offering them something to drink.

One of the angels tells Abraham that when they visit in the following year Sarah and him will have a son. Sarah is eavesdropping and she laughs because she believes she is too old. The angel repeats what she said and Sarah tries to deny it because she is afraid.

The angels leave to Sodom to investigate the corruption and sin going on. Abraham intercedes on the nation’s behalf. He humbly goes to God, understanding his role, but also understanding God’s justice and bargains with God to not destroy Sodom if there are 50 righteous men and he continues to bargain all the way down to 10 righteous men. God concedes and says he will not destroy Sodom if there are 10 righteous men.

• God is just
• Our doubts do not change God’s plan
• Intercessory prayer is important and can change lives

Genesis 13-17: Wars, Covenant, Babies, and a Priest

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot were blessed with a great fortune and with large amounts of livestock. It became impossible for them to live in the same land, so to keep the peace Abram made the decision to separate. He gave the choice to Lot of the land he wanted.  Lot took the Jordan Valley, while Abram settled in the land of Canaan.

God promises Abram to make his family as many as the dust of the earth. Abram moved his family to the place God indicated as the Promise Land and he built an altar to the Lord.

• Abram desires peace
• Abram is a good leader
• Abram is faithful
• Abram is not greedy
• God continues to keep His promises and blesses Abram

Genesis 14

Kings will be kings and they will fight. Unfortunately, when kings get greedy this involves capturing land and people. In one of the many battles that the Middle East has experienced, this one involved capturing Lot. Abram was told of this and he took his men and were able to fight the enemy, take all of the people and possessions, including Lot.

The King of Sodom in his defeat comes to meet Abram. The King of Sodom tries to bargain with Abram, asks that he have all of his men back and that Abram can keep the possessions. Abram will not take anything from King of Sodom so that nobody could say he got rich from the king. He does, however, allow his men to choose what they want.

Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram. Then Abram offers a tithe to the priest. Melchizedek is sometimes referred to as an archetype of Christ for the reasons just mentioned. Jesus does come from this priestly line.

• Abram is a warrior
• Abram is a clever captain
• Abram is well-known and influential
• Look! The King of Salem (Peace! Righteousness!) Look familiar?

Genesis 15

This is such an important chapter: God makes a covenant with Abram. This changes everything. In a very basic summary, God tells Abram that he will have an heir and his offspring will number the stars; God reminds Abram of who He is and what He has done; yet, Abram still doubts. So God tells him to sacrifice, yet Abram does not do it right. God tells Abram that his offspring will wander the desert for 400 years, but in the fourth generation they will return to the land of Canaan and defeat the Amorites (yeah, Joshua!).

• God is faithful
• God uses sinners
• While we know God’s character and have experienced Him, it still may be difficult for us to trust

Genesis 16

Abram being human makes a mistake. He listens to his wife Sarai who doesn’t trust that God will allow her to bear a son. So she tells Abram to conceive with her servant Hagar. Abram does (remind you of Adam and Eve?) and Hagar gets pregnant. Sarai obviously is jealous and is cruel to Hagar. She flees but God meets her at a well and tells her that he will protect her and that her son will have a multitude of sons. She returns to Abram and has her son Ishmael, thus beginning the genealogical line of Islam.

• Abram’s need for peace turns to passiveness and he allows his wife to usurp his role
• God cares and loves his children
• God redeems the mistakes we make
• God’s plan will not be thwarted

Genesis 17

God gives Abram a new name – Abraham – because he is a father of many nations. God also tells Abraham that all men must be circumcised , which will be a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham’s offspring.

Sarai also gets a new name, Sarah, name means Princess and speckled. He blesses her and promises that she will have a son and will be the mother of future kings.  Abraham laughs in response stating that they are both too old to bear children. God tells him that he will make a covenant with his son who will be named Isaac.

Abraham then takes the men of his household to get circumcised. He was 99 years old.

• God is faithful and has a plan
• We have a hard time trusting and seeing the possible in the seemingly impossible
• Abraham, while quick with his tongue, still obeys and is faithful

The Redeemed City

It’s very strange living in a city because I meet people who have such influence on our culture. Growing up in Southern California I would see from time to time old classmates on television for various national dance competitions or commercials. I think that’s just a product of growing up so close to Los Angeles.

Yet, I grew up in Suburbia. I rarely went to Los Angeles, except for gigs and museums – it was a place I avoided.  I didn’t like the city. I liked the somewhat opened land of the Inland Empire (yeah, using the most liberal use of the phrase opened land).

Then I moved to Chicago. I didn’t see that coming. I pictured myself in the rural lands of the Highlands of Scotland (random, I know; although, this is still a dream). This city, my city, is so different from Los Angeles in so many ways. There is great history, culture, and character.

For some their hearts belong to Los Angeles or New York, but I have eyes only for Chicago.

I have never felt so inspired to write, to create, and to explore. This Windy City inspires others too. I have met people who are creating the advertisements we see on television and the video games that the majority of men play. And I know I will meet more of the people who are influencing society; the writers, the artists, and the politicians.

An acquaintance of mine from California came to visit this week. He told me that I was different, changed, more alive, and more me — I was out of my shell.  It’s interesting, I always felt so confined in Suburbia that I wanted to escape to the Highlands, yet now I am more physically confined than ever and I feel freer. I would not have this freedom and understanding of self if I didn’t trust God and follow Him here.  He knows my heart, my desires, my limitations, and my potential.

I think back to a theology course I took in graduate school. We discussed the book of Revelation and how the City of God is the culmination of all things. I never quite understood what was so great about a city. When I read these words I wanted to picture the Highlands but now I understand. The City – it pulsates with a creative force like I have never known.  It captures the intensity of cultures and emotions of the human experience.

I am so thankful that I get to experience a shadow of the future Redeemed City.

Through Headphones: The David Mayfield Parade

I haven’t been blogging the shows I’ve been going to lately. Well, that’s going to change. I want these awesome adventures written down somewhere.

So, I will talk about The David Mayfield Parade.

I first heard of him years and years ago when he was in Cadillac Sky. Thanks to Mumford & Sons, I learned about this band while they were touring with Mumford. They broke up but then David Mayfield created his own band! So, then more good music was created.

I went to The Abbey Pub, an Irish pub in Chicago. First time I’ve been there and I will definitely go back! It’s a great space and reminds me a lot of some Los Angeles venues I’ve been too before.

While there were only about 30 people there, the band played as if they were playing for a packed house.

I’ve always enjoyed David Mayfield’s performances (I’ve seen him now four times!). His energy, talent, and comedic timing is priceless. His new band is equally as impressive. Each had their spotlight to demonstrate their talents during the course of the night, which I always appreciate.

Check out his latest music video.

If he ever comes to your town, I highly recommend shelling out the $12 to see him. It’s quite worth it.

Genesis 12: Abram’s Choices

Now begins the story of Abram, our patriarch. What I love most about this man is that he isn’t perfect. In fact, in this one chapter he makes two decisions: one is very good and the other is not so good. Yet, God still uses him. He’s a great example of God using sinners for His Glory.

The Good Decision

God comes to Abram and commands him to leave his country and family and to follow God. He promises to make him into a great nation. Also, God will honor who he blesses and who he curses.

Abram listened and did exactly what God told him to do! He was 75 years of age when he left Haran, with his wife, nephew Lot and his family, and his possessions to the land of Canaan.

When they arrived in Canaan God told Abram that He would give him this land. So Abram built an altar to the Lord.

The Bad Decision

Next Abram journeyed to the Negeb and there was a famine in the land. He decided to go through Egypt, and being scared for his life, he had his wife Sarai pose as his sister. Sarai was such a beautiful woman who men would kill Abram for her.

Pharaoh saw Sarai and took her into his house. God afflicted Pharaoh and his house with plagues because he took a married woman. Pharaoh confronts Abram and questions why he had lied to him. Pharaoh then orders his men to take Abram and Sarai away from his kingdom. Phew! Hopefully Abram learns his lesson ( ha!).

Real with Self

So, my church is going through a series about our vision. My church’s vision is to be real with self, others, and God. This past week’s sermon dealt with Real with Self. You can watch the sermon here, if you’d like.

Well, we had some homework/application to do and I wanted to share them with you because I think it’s very valuable knowledge to have.

(1) Figure out my signature sin(s) and then make a conscience effort to resist, then repent and ask God to produce in me the antidote.

The Signature Sins are as follows:

1. Anger – Serenity
2. Pride – Humility
3. Lies – Truthfulness
4. Envy – Balance
5. Greed – Detachment
6. Fear – Courage
7. Gluttony – Sobriety
8. Lust – Innocence
9. Laziness – Action

(2) I also had to figure out what lie(s) I was believing that brought me worth, value, significance, love? Because, really, only Jesus can bring those to me. Pastor Nathan told us to set the lies on the altar and kill them!

The Major Lies are:

Lie #1 – If I do enough, it will please God (Achievement)
Lie #2 – If I learn enough facts about God, I will be confident (Knowledge)
Lie #3 – If I live a nearly perfect life, God will love me more (Purity)
Lie #4 – If they like me, I like me (Approval)
Lie #5 – If I’m in control, I won’t get hurt (Power)
Lie #6 – If I just had more money, I’d be secure (Money)
Lie #7 – If I just follow the rules, I’ll make it (Religion)
Lie #8 – If I am beautiful, I’ll be wanted (Beauty)
Lie #9 – If I attain my dreams, I’ll be happy (Dreams)

 

I have been wrestling with these for a couple of days and God has been faithful and gracious and has revealed many of them to me.

So much of my life has been avoiding the truth because it may hurt. The lies you create can hold such power because you don’t realize they’re even there. This is why it’s important to constantly be real with self, allow God to teach you and discipline you because the more you know yourself, the more you know the depth of God’s love and mercy.

Gen. 11: Babel and Abram!

 

Babel

We have reached the infamous story of Babel! At this time there was only one language, so it was quite easy for people to communicate. As they migrated east, they began using bricks and bitumen to build things. They decided to build a city and a tower that would reach the heavens so that they could make a name for themselves.

God saw what they were doing and decided to disperse them through out the earth and confuse their language.  The issue is that they were not creating this tower for God’s glory but rather for their own. We humans can do great and wonderful things, but when we do it for our own gain then we have issues.

Shem’s Line

The narrator lists the generations of Shem. We learned in the last chapter the descendants, but now we get into specifics such as their age and the genders of the offspring. Why does the writer, Moses, single out the line of Shem?

Because one of the most important people in all of history comes from Shem – Abram. He is the son of Terah, married to Sarai who is barren. Abram, along with his nephew Lot, left from Ur of the Chaldeans into the land of Canaan, but then when they came to Haran they decided to settle there.

This is our story of redemption.  This is God’s revelation to us. Remember, the most important character, our hero, is God. While the stories of Babel and Abram are super exciting, they pale into comparison when you see the bigger story: God revealing Himself and reconciling us back to Him. He is taking us along this journey in which he set up in Genesis 3. We are following the line of redemption that will lead us to Jesus.

 

Genesis 10: Genealogy is Awesome!

Chapter 10 consists of the descendants of Noah. Noah had his three sons who all had sons after the flood.  I’m a nerd who enjoys genealogy chapters. They are there for a reason and are super fun to read! (Yeah, I know I may be a minority.)

Son 1: Japheth

His line moved from the coastland and spread into the lands. Scholars states that the Europeans come from him.

Son 2: Ham

His line of sons created a whole host of nations, some of which are: Egypt, Canaan, Babel, Nineveh, and the Philistines. Just to take note, Nimrod is mentioned and is even described. He was a mighty man and there was even a saying during Moses’ time, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” He is quite famous and comes up with the Tower of Babel and other historical stories.

Ham’s son Canaan also receives more description and we follow his line. Some of the names includes:  Jebusites, the Amorites and, the Hivites. The clans later dispersed and the territory expanded from Sidon, Gaza, and all the way to Sodom and Gomorrah, among other places. Mainly, Ham took over parts of Africa and Asia.

Son 3: Shem

Is known as the father of all Semitic nations.  These countries include Arabic, Hebrew, Edomote, Chaldean, Moabite, etc. Abraham actually comes from his line.