God’s Faithfulness in the Wilderness
Hagar and Ishmael faced death in the desert. Their water was gone. Hagar could not bear to watch her son die, so she set him under a bush and wept at a distance. At that moment, the angel of God called to Hagar. God heard Ishmael’s cries and assured Hagar that He would make Ishmael a great nation. God opened Hagar’s eyes to a well of…
The Justice of Divine Choice
God told Abraham to listen to Sarah and send Hagar and Ishmael away. This moment brings the theme of election back to the forefront, a thread that has run through Genesis since the days of Cain and Abel. Araham had his own ideas about who would carry on his mission. He thought Lot might be the one, but God did not choose Lot…
The Faith of Sarah
Sarah’s story warns us how quickly fear can replace faith, even after God’s greatest blessings. Her actions remind us that forgetting God’s faithfulness leads to injustice and broken relationships. But God’s justice and mercy remain, even when we fail. Sarah had waited a lifetime for Isaac. God had promised, and God delivered. Yet, almost…
God Keeps His Word
God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah. After twenty-five years of waiting, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The Lord acted exactly as He said He would. The timing was perfect. Isaac arrived at the appointed time, showing that God controls every detail. Human limitations did not stop Him. Sarah was far beyond childbearing years, but God’s…
Restoration and Blessing
Abimelech acted swiftly to set things right. He gave Abraham sheep, oxen, and servants, and he returned Sarah to Abraham. He also offered him land to settle wherever he wanted. Additionally, Abimelech gave Sarah a large amount of silver, which served as a public proof of her innocence. This silver protected her honor and cleared her name of…
When Truth Meets Fear
King Abimelech woke early and gathered his officials. He told them about the dream from God. Fear swept through the court. Abimelech summoned Abraham and demanded an explanation. The king’s questions were sharp. “What have you done to us? What was your reason?” Abimelech’s …
The High Cost of Half-Truths
Abraham left his long-held camp and traveled south. He entered Gerar and again told a foreign king, Abimelech, that Sarah was his sister. This was a half-truth. A half-truth is a lie. Lies harm other people, even if we believe our intentions are right. When we do not stand in truth, we open the door to harm. Abraham’s lie did not just…
When Compromise Bears Bitter Fruit
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah did not erase their influence on Lot and his family. Genesis 19:30-38 shows how deeply the corruption of those cities shaped their thinking and choices. Lot and his daughters, now isolated in a cave, believed they were alone in the world. Fear and desperation drove…
Preserving Through Righteousness
As the sun rose, Lot reached Zoar. Then God sent sulfur and fire down on Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities fell in a moment. Their wickedness had reached its limit. God’s judgment was complete and final. Lot escaped, but not because of his own faith or actions. The text says God remembered Abraham. God saved Lot for…
Hesitation and Mercy
Lot faced a moment of crisis as judgment approached Sodom. The angels urged him to flee to the hills for safety. Lot again hesitated. He feared the unknown and pleaded to escape instead to the small town of Zoar. Lot’s request revealed his attachment to comfort and the familiar, even as destruction loomed. His reluctance…
Divine Urgency and the Peril of Hesitation
As dawn broke over Sodom, the angels urged Lot to take his family and flee. The warning was clear. Destruction was coming. Yet Lot hesitated. He could not let go of his possessions or his life in Sodom despite the wickedness and harm to the innocent that were occurring in that city. The text shows a man paralyzed by fear…
When Warning Falls on Compromised Ears
The angels delivered a clear and urgent warning to Lot. They told him to gather his family and leave Sodom because destruction was certain. The message was not a suggestion. It was a command from God. The angels even showed concern for Lot’s extended family, including his sons-in-law. God’s mercy reached beyond Lot’s immediate…
The Perils of Compromise
I should first define what I mean by "compromise" (or "acceptance") in this context. I define compromise/acceptance as allowing our moral and ethical values, our sense of right and wrong, to be defined by culture as opposed to being defined by God. Lot’s story in Sodom stands as a warning about the dangers…
The Contrast of Righteousness and Wickedness
Genesis 19 begins with a stark contrast between Abraham, Lot, and the people of Sodom. Abraham’s hospitality is characterized by honor and generosity as he welcomes the strangers visiting Sodom with dignity. Further, Abraham intercedes for all the citizens of Sodom. In contrast, Lot greets the two angels at the city gate. Whereas his…
Divine Justice and the Power of Intercession
Abraham stood before God and pleaded for Sodom. He did not turn away from the city’s wickedness or ignore its fate. Instead, he stepped into the role of intercessor. Abraham asked if God would spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous people, then forty-five, then forty, all the way…
Divine Justice and Human Responsibility
The topic of judging is always a hot topic among Christians today. The narrative that leads us into the Sodom and Gomorrah situation helps us understand the place of judging in the life of a Christian. God calls His people to live out justice and righteousness, not just for themselves, but as a…
God’s Power in the Face of Doubt
God visited Abraham’s tent with two others and asked about Sarah by name. One of the visitors, speaking as the Lord, promised that Sarah would have a son at the appointed time. The promise was clear and specific. Sarah listened from inside the tent. She was old. She had passed the age…
A Theophany
What is a theophany? Simply put, it is a physical manifestation of the Lord Himself. What is interesting is that throughout scripture, we see the Lord manifest Himself in various ways. In the last chapter, we saw a manifestation as “the Angel of the Lord.” In Exodus, the Lord manifests Himself on Mount Sinai with fire, dark clouds, thunder, and…
Faith in Action
Abraham’s story shows that real faith always leads to action. When God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male in his household, Abraham responded immediately. He did not hesitate or delay. The text repeats the phrase “on that very day” to highlight the urgency and completeness of his obedience. Abraham included his son Ishmael, every…
God’s Faithfulness to Sarah and Abraham
God spoke directly to Abraham and declared that his wife’s name would no longer be Sarai but Sarah, meaning “princess.” This new name marked her as the mother of nations and kings. God included Sarah in the covenant, giving her a place of honor and promise. God said He would bless her and she would bear a son. This was not a vague…