Daily Bible Devotionals

“Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, ‘Am I in God’s place, who has withheld children from you?’ Then she said, ‘Here is my slave Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.’”  Genesis 30:2-3 (HCSB)

There was an apparent difference between the customs of the ancient Middle East and God’s design for a healthy family. It has been said that apples don’t fall far from the tree, and Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel were (literally) all from the same family tree.  

Had Jacob not sinned, Isaac would probably have sent a slave to retrieve a wife for him…as Abraham had done for Isaac. I believe the Lord would have led the slave directly to Rachel, and he would have brought her back to Jacob. Then, Rachel would have learned from Rebekah about waiting on the Lord. But that’s the whole problem with sin: It separates you from the Lord Himself and then radiates to your immediate family, your church, your friends….and the list goes on. Sin separates us from a healthy community so the enemy can pick us off individually.

Take a moment to reflect on your life. When was the last time you took an inventory of the sin in your life? How has sin affected you? Doesn’t it always push you away from the Lord and other believers? Take it from someone who has been there:  Leave that sin and come back home!

It may take a while to repair those bridges burned. That’s okay because you’re going home, either your literal home or back to your family of believers, those who love you and will give you wise counsel.

We don’t have to follow those patterns of sin that we learned from the cultures we were called out from. We must simply turn from those Worldly ways and philosophies, trust in the Lord’s guidance, and begin following His leading. As He proves Himself faithful, you will grow in faith. Pretty soon, you will realize He is changing your whole value system. You desire to sin less & less, and you seek to please Him more & more.

Remember: It took one day to lead Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to drive Egypt out of Israel. Have faith and keep following the Lord. He will lead you to the places He has prepared for YOU, both in this life and the Kingdom to come.

“Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau…’” Genesis 27:5-6a (HCSB)

Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.’ His mother said to him, ‘Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.’” Genesis 27:11-13 (HCSB)

It is important to remember what God told Rebekah in Genesis 25:23. When she inquired about her unborn children, she was told, “Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people  will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”  Rebekah knew God’s message concerning her two sons, which most likely explains why she kept Jacob so close.

God’s prophecy appeared to be in jeopardy by Isaac’s plan to bless Esau. Knowing how attached Isaac was to Esau, Rebekah must have felt how useless it was to dissuade Isaac. In desperation, she decided to circumvent him. Notice the Bible does not condone or condemn her actions. It just reports the facts. We are left to develop opinions as to the morality of these events.

At least, let today’s passage act as a warning to us all: God does a fine job backing up His own promises. He definitely does not need for us to sin to make His Word come true. God could have easily spoken to Isaac as He spoke to Abraham, back when he would sacrifice Isaac. Who is to say God did not communicate the same prophecy to Isaac concerning his sons?   Either way, Isaac was too rebellious, irrational, or forgetful to heed God’s Word.

Of course, because of Rebekah’s impulsiveness, Isaac was robbed of God’s intervention, and Esau was robbed of his blessing. Because Jacob was a partner in the deceit, we will soon read of his misfortune with an uncle named “Laban.”

Finally, Rebekah robbed herself. She was correct to say, “Your curse be on me.”  Not only did she never see her beloved Jacob again, but she was left behind, serving the two men she had deceived.

We must resist the temptation to fulfill God’s promises by our own wit, strength, and timing. Wait on the Lord and let Him unfold His plan as promised.

“Isaac reopened the water wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them. Moreover, Isaac’s slaves dug in the valley and found a well of living (spring) water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, ‘The well is ours!’ So he named the well Quarrel because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Hostility. He moved on from there and dug another and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Open Spaces and said, ‘For now the Lord had made room for us and we will be fruitful in the land.’” Genesis 26:18-22 (HCSB)

The Middle East is not unlike Southern California. Landing in Tel Aviv is somewhat like landing in San Diego, except the “Jesus” who walks around Southern California is probably of the Mexican variety, whereas the “Jesus” who walked around Israel was actually Jesus! I digress… My point is that both Israel and SoCal understand deserts.

Anyone living in the desert knows that water is the most critical resource. Where there is water, there is life. No water, no life. Water in the Bible, therefore, becomes a metaphor for spiritual life. It symbolizes God’s presence, His Ruach (Spirit), His blessing. Today’s passage is about more than water feuds. It symbolizes the “spiritual” family strife between the sons of Isaac and those of Ishmael.

In the New Testament, water imagery is also used. In particular, note how Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman at “the well.” Samaritans were “half-breeds”: ½ Jewish and ½ Gentile. They were the “ugly reminders” of Israel’s past national sin, where the children of Israel intermarried with Canaanites and adopted pagan ways. Jesus came first for the Jew, then the Gentile. (Romans 1:16) And He used water imagery to communicate that He accepted the Samaritans as if they were fully Jewish. In doing this, Jesus evoked memories of age-old feuds, which went beyond simple water fights.    

“He had to travel through Samaria, so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. ‘Give me something to drink,’ Jesus said to her, for His disciples had gone into town to buy food. ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ she asked Him.  Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and Who is saying to you, “Give Me a drink” you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.’” John 4:4-10 (HCSB)

Jesus draws another parallel that we would be wise to note in today’s Church culture: Religion, apart from a personal relationship w/Jesus simply cannot hold water.

“For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water..” Jeremiah 2:13 (HCSB) (See also: Proverbs 11:25)

“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, exhausted. He said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.’  That is why he was also named Edom. (Hebrew: Reddish) Jacob replied, ‘First, sell me your birthright.’”  Genesis 25:29-30 (HCSB)

I believe Abraham to be a man of struggles and contradictions. He always seemed to live somewhere between faith and faithlessness. With the birth of his twin grandsons, Jacob and Esau, it is as if Abraham’s personal spiritual conflicts were divided between the two.   Esau inherited Abraham’s impulsive short-sightedness, but Jacob got Abraham’s deceit. Later, we’ll see Esau displaying forgiveness and Jacob leaning on faith.

At first glance, Jacob’s conduct seems to be way out of line: demanding a birthright from a starving man. But on closer examination, we learn that the privileges of birthright that Jacob sought (at that time) were purely spiritual.

In the days of the patriarchs, the head of the clan acted as the family “priest.” The firstborn’s “right by birth order” was to inherit that priestly role unless the firstborn failed to accept his duty. In that case, the birthright could be passed on to the next qualified family member. Esau’s general demeanor was hardly in accord with someone who served the Lord.

It is possible that Jacob suspected his brother did not value the dignity and privilege of being firstborn. Therefore, when the opportunity came along, Jacob determined to put his brother to the test. He fully knew that withholding some stew would not kill Esau. However, he found out what Esau really thought about his priestly role. Esau was willing to trade his rights and responsibilities unnecessarily. Esau was impulsive, putting his fleshly desires above the family’s spiritual needs. Put simply, Esau was not fit to minister.  

Have you ever heard of the “Priesthood of all believers”? “You are a royal priesthood and a priestly kingdom” (1 Peter 2:9).

It is our spiritual “birthright” to minister. (See also: 1 Corinthians 4:1, Revelation 5:10, the book of Hebrews) Upon receiving salvation, all believers are called to minister to the Lord, each other, and those who are yet to believe. Some “believers” reject that notion. Just like Esau, they choose to satisfy the desires of their flesh rather than accept their “birthright” (or rather, “born again” right) to put others first.

What can we learn from Esau? If we reject the call to minister to others, two things will happen: 1) We will miss the blessing of serving, and 2) Someone else will take it and assume the ministry we rejected. God doesn’t need us for His will to be done. But in rejecting our God-given roles, we forfeit the blessing that accompanies obedience in favor of the temporary pleasure of sin, which always leads to the Lord’s rebuke.

“The servant said to him, ‘Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land he came from?’  Abraham answered him, ‘Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. The Lord, the God of Heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’- He will send His angel before you and you can take a wife for my son from there.’” Genesis 24:5-7 (HCSB)

Some scholars suggest the story of finding Isaac’s wife is a multi-faceted metaphor. In one sense, it is an historical account. It also presents an image of God’s Spirit searching out the bride of Messiah. (the Church) From another angle, it is practical advice for anyone desperately seeking a marriage partner.

Abraham knew God’s promise fully rested in Isaac’s offspring. (Sarah was dead, and the promise was through her womb)  He sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for the unmarried Isaac. Eliezer had strict orders to 1) Trust in the Lord’s leading and 2) Never take Isaac back to the land of Abraham’s forefathers.  

In Hebrew, “Eliezer” means: “God was my help.” In this way, Eliezer is considered symbolic of God’s Spirit, whom Jesus promised as a helper and comforter for His bride, the Church.

Similarly, God’s Spirit searches the earth for those willing to accept God’s invitation of spiritual “marriage” to Jesus. The resurrected and glorified Messiah awaits the day when His bride (the Church) will be raptured and united with Him.  

I have heard people say that God does not care who you marry as long as you both love the Lord. I disagree. Not only is that just about the most unromantic thing I’ve ever heard, but it is bad theology. The Bible recounts several episodes where God prepared specific people to be wed to each other. God prepared Eve for Adam and brought her to him. And in today’s chapter, He is directing Eliezer specifically to Rebecca.  

Furthermore, Jesus (the bridegroom) personally died for your sin. That means specific combinations of husbands & wives are woven throughout time just to make YOU, for whom Jesus died personally. Whenever you marry, you will probably have children, whom Jesus also died for personally. Of course, it matters who you marry! God is very concerned with whom you choose for a mate.  

Whatever you do, don’t go back to Worldly relationships. Trust God! Wait on His Spirit to bring you the one God has chosen. But what happens if you feel you have chosen wrongly? Trust God! He can redeem any situation for His glory: Romans 8:28.

“Abraham bowed down to the people of the land and said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, ‘Please listen to me. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there.’  Ephron answered Abraham and said to him, ‘My lord, listen to me. Land worth 400 shekels of silver – what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.’  Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the hearing of the Hittites: 400 shekels of silver at the current commercial rate.” Genesis 23:12-16 (HCSB)

Once, I heard a rabbi say that this was the first recorded real estate deal in Jewish history! The land of Canaan was Abraham’s by promise, but the time to possess it had not yet come. Nevertheless, Abraham had the opportunity to buy a piece of it. This was not land for living on, which could be sold or taken away. It was land for burial…a FINAL resting place. Now, that is faith! Abraham said he believed God’s promises to the extent that he was willing to buy real estate and be buried in a land that would eventually become filled with a nation full of his offspring. Abraham wasn’t the only one to believe God’s promise on that same level.  

“So Jacob’s sons did for him what he had commanded them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.” Genesis 50:12-13 (HCSB)

“And Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our ancestors died there, were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt.” Acts 7:15-17 (HCSB)

“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: ‘When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.’”  Genesis 50:24-25 (HCSB)

“Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the plot of land which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons.”  Joshua 24:32 (NASB)

The writer of Hebrews melds the Patriarchal hope of Canaan with the believers in Jesus’ “hope for eternity” with the Lord in Heaven.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)

“Abraham replied, ‘I thought: “There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.”  Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother. So when God had me wander from my father’s house, I said to her: show your loyalty to me wherever we go, and say about me: ‘He is my brother.’”  Genesis 20:11-13 (HCSB)

I have always had difficulty with Abraham’s lying…or, shall we say, “half-truths.”  I can understand his fear. I have been afraid. I can understand his lack of faith; I have often lacked faith. But as a husband, it is painful to observe how Abraham placed his personal security above Sarah’s physical and emotional well-being. And he profited from it.

**Note: The Bible does not condone Abraham’s behavior. It simply relays the facts. Scripture does NOT counsel, “So what have we learned? Men, the next time you’re facing a potentially life-threatening situation, you should passively lie and put your wife in jeopardy.” It also does not come straight out and say, “Women, you should participate in your husband’s lies, even if they cause you emotional (and perhaps physical) distress…because in the end, you will profit from them.”  No, Scripture is simply silent about this particular matter…or is it?    

Imagine yourself as Sarah. You have been hearing your husband speak of God and faith. That side of him really attracts you to him. But at other times, he does completely faith-less things!! After a while of this moral and spiritual back & forth, it must have been hard for Sarah to discern the voice of God saying, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” from the voice of Abraham saying, “Thus sayeth the Lord!”

Perhaps I’ve seen too many soap operas, but this is the dynamic I pick up between the two. Let’s review the timeline: A) God’s call of Abram, “I will make you into a great nation” (12:2). B) Abram goes to Egypt and profits from his lie. (12:10-20) Part of Abram’s profit is an Egyptian slave named Hagar. (16:3) C) The Lord tells Abram his heir will come from his own body. (15:4) D) Sarah offers her slave to Abram, and intimacy with Hagar leads to baby Ishmael…family strife ensues. (16:1-6) E) God tells Abraham he will have a son with Sarah, and Abraham laughs, for he didn’t believe God. (17:15-19) F) When the Angels tell Abraham that Sarah will have a son within a year, she laughs and doesn’t believe. (18:10-15) G) Now, Sarah was distressed anew: Abraham would profit from another lie. Is it any wonder Sarah doubted Abraham’s ability to understand, communicate, and lead by God’s Word? Men take note.

Sarah may not have been able to trust Abraham’s discernment, but she was about to learn that she could depend on God’s promise, spoken directly to her.  (18:10-13) We may be forced to endure all sorts of unforeseeable circumstances. Life is often unbearable to take were it not for God’s great, gracious, and merciful promises spoken directly to us. Where do we learn of these promises?   Right there in the Bible! Keep pressing on!!

“The Lord came to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. Abraham named his son who was born to him – the one Sarah bore to him - Isaac. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ She also said, ‘Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’” Genesis 21:1-7 (HCSB)

God fulfills His covenant promises. That is the theme of today’s chapter. God is faithful to His Word, whether His promises are to His “Chosen” people (Hebrews like Abraham and Sarah) or the Goyim (Gentiles like Hagar and Ishmael). We learn faithfulness by experiencing His faithfulness…often through trials, which can only be endured by God’s intervention.

In my life, I have faced difficulty and cried out to God. In my desperation, I wanted to hear God say, “I’ll take care of it immediately!” Most often, though, I have heard the retort, “Trust Me.” Then, silence…for what seemed like an eternity. The heat would grow, and I’d be an emotional wreck. Still, the echo, “Trust Me.” I would struggle, groan, cry, and wail, but eventually, God would make good on His promise.

After all these years as a believer, I have only just begun to learn to wait on the Lord patiently. I have only begun to take Him at His Word because I don’t understand His timing. I am learning to trust Him, to distinguish His voice from that of the “Impersonator.”

As a child, I remember the great impersonator “Rich Little” on the TV variety shows. I recall closing my eyes and thinking, “He sounds exactly like… (insert celebrity)”. But there were subtleties in the voices of those people Mr. Little impersonated. Friends of the celebrity being impersonated could clearly distinguish those subtleties. Are you that close to God and His Word that you can discern His voice among the impersonators? Apparently, Sarah knew the Lord’s voice when she heard it because upon hearing it, she faithfully waited for the Lord to fulfill His promise.  

“By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. Therefore from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11-12 (HCSB)

Who knows how much faith Sarah had when she first heard the Lord? I am certain that her faith ballooned when the Lord delivered on His Word! Let’s take today’s chapter as a challenge to continue seeking God’s Word and to rely on it. That way, we can rest in His promises until we rejoice at their fulfillment.

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt..”  Genesis 19:27-29 (NKJV)

Speechless. That’s how I was the night a high school friend and I walked into his home at 2 am. His mom had been sitting in a chair by the front door for hours, just waiting for the moment he walked in so that she could slap his face! There, he lay on the floor. There she stood over him. I didn’t say a word. I just slowly turned around and walked back to my home across town.

That’s how I picture Abraham looking down on Sodom & Gomorrah, with rising smoke. Its simplicity reminds me of Hemingway’s writing. No dialogue, just a long stare…fade to black.

How can we accept the accounts of Noah’s flood or Sodom & Gomorrah, but when it comes to the Day of The Lord, almost nobody takes the coming judgment seriously? Just look at how similar the accounts are.

“They came up over the surface of the Earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from Heaven and consumed them. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:9-10 (HCSB)

What I appreciate about today’s passage is Abraham’s intercession on behalf of Lot. He pleaded with the Lord for Lot’s life and his entire family. When was the last time you pleaded with the Lord, even tried to negotiate with Him, on behalf of a non-believing friend? If we really considered the absolute inevitability of the coming judgment, perhaps we would have more of an evangelistic sense of urgency. Consider the angel’s words to the apostle John:

“He (the angel) also said to me, ‘Don’t seal up prophetic words of this book because the time is near. Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.’”  Revelation 22:10-11 (HCSB)

We need to preach the gospel in its entirety, as Abraham did, knowing some people will respond as the citizens of Sodom & Gomorrah, others as Lot’s wife, and still others as Lot. Nevertheless, we can stand before the Lord, knowing we seized every opportunity to lead the lost to salvation. May God’s Spirit make our testimonies effective!

“You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?’” Genesis 18:25 (HCSB)

In Abram’s day, the story of Noah must have still been fresh on the World’s psyche. It was a simple story of Justice: The wicked perish while the righteous escape.  Now, Abram poses a new question: Would God’s judgment on unrighteous Sodom bear collateral damage among the righteous?  More importantly, was Lot righteous?  Abram’s questioning supposes a couple of common misunderstandings about God: 1) God is fair, and 2) Righteousness can be attained by man, apart from being imputed by God.  

God is not fair. He is JUST, and His justice must be served. “Fairness” assumes everyone gets the same treatment. What’s FAIR is that we all get judged, apart from Grace and mercy. I am eternally grateful God isn’t fair in this regard!  God’s Justice, the penalty we deserve for our sin, was laid on Messiah, Jesus. When we believe in Jesus by faith, His atonement covers our sin, and His righteousness is imputed to our accounts.  At that moment, the Bible says we receive His Name.  

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings…” Ezekiel 20: 44a (NKJV)  

God’s satisfaction that Justice has been served on the sin of the World stands alone with Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is verified by His resurrection and certified by God’s testimony in heaven, “Sit at My right hand…” (Hebrews 1:13, Ps 2:7). If you look for fairness with God, you will be frustrated. Sometimes, the righteous suffer, and the wicked prosper. Concerning Israel, God said, “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked…” Ezekiel 21:3 (NKJV)

It is possible that while Abram was negotiating with God, there may have been NO righteous people in Sodom. Lot’s first recorded act of righteousness was when he, believing God’s messengers about Sodom’s judgment, repented and left town. “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18: 23 (NKJV)

Have you left the “Sodom” that this World has become and chosen to follow Jesus?

“So Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael were acceptable to You!’ But God said, ‘No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father 12 tribal leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.’ When He finished talking with him, God withdrew from Abraham.” Genesis 17:18-22 (HCSB)

In Jewish religious culture, lineage is traced through the mother. There are several reasons for this thinking. One is that the mother is the children’s chief nurturer. She does the primary function of instilling religious values until adolescence.  

When a Jewish boy (from a religious family) comes of age, the occasion is recognized with a ceremony called “Bar (son) Mitzvah (commandment).” Thus, he becomes a “son of the commandment.” This ceremony happens at age 13.  

**There is no Biblical command to perform the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah, but that is not to say that there is anything wrong with committing oneself to follow God’s Word!

For the Orthodox and Chassidic Jews, women are not allowed to participate in religious services. Thus, Bar Mitzvah also acts as a handoff from the maternal to the paternal guidance.

When God told Abraham that Ishmael would not live in His presence, it was less a curse and more a statement of the Lord’s knowledge of the future. Hagar’s Egyptian mindset and values were transferred to Ishmael. By the time Ishmael was circumcised, interestingly at age 13, his values were well established. It’s not that Ishmael could not live in God’s presence; he simply would not faithfully choose God, given his upbringing. It is also not that Ishmael could not have turned to the Lord, but God, in His wisdom, knew that he would not. And God ALWAYS chooses rightly.

Isaac and Ishmael shared the same father, but Isaac was nurtured by his mother, Sarah. Having experienced God’s fulfilled promises, Sarah raised a faithful son. Furthermore, faith was built upon faith throughout the generations, confirming God’s Word to Abraham.

Similarly, how “baby believers” are taught and brought up in the Lord is very important. Early discipleship experience is essential to the long-term maturity and faithfulness of the individual.

“Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her. Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her. The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. He said, Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”  Genesis 16:6-8a (HCSB)

Throughout my church experience, whenever Hagar has been mentioned, she has been vilified with the overtones of being the mother of radical Islam. That may be excessive criticism towards one whom the Lord blessed.  

Interestingly, God never pronounced Abram’s intimacy with Hagar a sin. What is clear is that Abram’s intimacy was a symbol of his intimacy with Egypt. Hagar was an Egyptian slave whom Sarai had obtained while in Egypt.  

It is important to remember that Abram profited from his sin in Egypt. All the while, Sarai suffered the personal burden of keeping Abram’s lie a secret as she fought to stave off the advances of Pharaoh. Similarly, Abram profited from his relations with Hagar at the emotional risk of Sarai. Old Abe had issues with passivity. Instead of taking God’s promises & direction at face value, Abram injected human reason to accomplish God’s purposes. Perhaps he was the “father of our faith” in more ways than one…

On both occasions, Sarai was left to fend for herself. Sarai’s reaction to Hagar’s pregnancy (which led to Hagar’s change of attitude) within the context of Sarai’s marriage relationship with Abram was an explosion of pent-up emotion against Abram’s neglect of her in Egypt. That’s not to say Sarai was justified in abusing Hagar. I simply want to paint an accurate emotional portrait of Abram and Sarai’s marriage.

So what of God’s response to Hagar and her unborn son? Today’s passage mentions the “Angel of the Lord” visited Hagar on the way back to Egypt. Shur was the boundary wall that protected Egypt from raiding nomads.  

The narrative beautifully illustrates the Lord’s regard for the saddened and abandoned soul. It is the first time “angel” is found in the Bible. The phrase “Angel of the Lord” denotes more than simply one of the Lord’s angels. Most theologians believe the Angel of the Lord to be the Messiah Himself. Remember, Messiah has existed from eternity past, and He will exist for eternity future. (Micah 5:2)  

It is important to note that even though God knows the outcome of our decisions, He still gives us the option to choose or reject Him. As for us, the results of our choices are generally a mystery right up to the point that we make them. So, do you know where you have come from and where you are going? Don’t go back to “Egypt,” as it were. Choose to trust the Lord and follow the Messiah, Jesus!

“The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. They also took Abraham’s nephew Lot and his possessions for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.”  Genesis 14:11-12 (HCSB)

“Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly against the Lord.”  Genesis 13:12-13 (HCSB)

Here is a familiar scenario. A well-intended believer unplugs from Godly community and sets out on his own. I confess there was a time in my life when I was “a lot like Lot.”  Some call it youthful pride or a strong-willed, independent nature. God calls it compromise and sin.

Soon after leaving Egypt, burdened by their collective abundance, it became apparent to Abram that he and Lot must separate. Lot chose the well-watered plain and camped in all the cities “near” Sodom. Eventually, Lot settled in Sodom. Sodom “absorbed” Lot, as it were. Let this be a warning to all who desire to affiliate with worldliness. You will eventually become so worldly-minded that you are no Heavenly good! Consider this pattern from Scripture:

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers!” Psalm 1:1 (HCSB)

That’s Lot’s inevitable story, but let’s look closely at his back story. An orphan seeking a father figure, he settles on Uncle Abram. Abram receives the call of God, and Lot tags along. So far, so good. Where did Lot go astray? I believe some of the blame rests on Abram.

Everything seemed fine until Abram led the whole troop into a lying compromise in Egypt. The moral injustice of Abram profiting from a lie (Sarah is my “sister”) must have profoundly impacted Lot. Furthermore, the “abundance” gained from Abram’s sin is the exact source of Lot’s and his conflict. Sin led to unjust gain, which led to unnecessary conflict and the eventual break-up of the extended family. It is also possible that Abram’s bailout of Lot was (at least partially) motivated by guilt over how things turned out as a result of Abram’s deception in Egypt. Lot was simply expanding on what he had observed Abram do: Operating out of fear, compromise, and half-truths.

Let this be a sober warning for all who seek to lead: When we turn away from the Lord’s path, those who follow us turn right along with us.

“After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, ‘Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk from one end of the land to the other, for I will give it to you.’” Genesis 13:14-17 (HCSB)

It is one thing for a person to choose the way he will go. It is another thing to let someone else choose first, allowing our “lot” to be what’s left over. Some would say followers of Jesus should be shrewd when dealing with the World, not letting anyone take advantage of them. While that may be wise counsel in some instances, Abraham chose differently, and so did Jesus. We should consider their success.

Once Abraham chose graciously and wisely, the Lord swiftly came to encourage him. God repeats His blessing to Abraham and his offspring in chapter 12. God also reinforces the reality that following Him into the unknown is always better than following the World into the supposed “obvious.”

The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

Lot used the World’s logic. He was in the desert, owned large flocks, and had many servants. It seems wise that he chose the well-watered plain. (Even if it did seem to leave Uncle Abe in the lurch!) The problem is that EVERYONE in the desert wants to possess the well-watered plain. Lot’s decision proved to be a near-fatal strategic mistake.

Lot was also tired of following Abram (who was following the Lord) around the desert. He was ready to forsake the tent of a nomad in favor of the “stability” of Sodom’s city life. I see this situation repeated, all too often, by the children of believers. They buy into the World’s promises of quick pleasure & success and begin to despise their parents’ faithful steadiness. Sadly, they are being led into trouble in their journey down the world’s “wide road,” which always dead ends in tragic consequences.

Of this logic, the Bible remarks:

“The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will stand.” Proverbs 14:11 (NKJV)

Life is not about hoarding all we can get. It is about trusting the Lord and looking out for our fellow man. We should rest in the knowledge that (for the righteous) whatever unfolds is part of the perfect plan and purpose the Lord has designed for our lives. (Romans 8:28)

“The Lord said to Abram: ‘Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation; I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 (HCSB)

When Abram was 75, God called him. This moment is known in Hebrew as “Lech L’Cha,” which means “Go!” or “Leave!” It is considered to be the official beginning of the Jewish people.

This moment is important to all mankind because Abram’s faithful response resulted in his fruitless (childless) seed taking root and bearing a child (Isaac), whose offspring grew into the nation of Israel. Through Israel, God designed for Messiah to be brought forth. Through Messiah, all who believe in Him by faith (as Abram) receive atonement for their sins. Turning from our sin and committing to follow Jesus is how we become eternally “saved”...the true people of God. The gift of God toward mankind is that our faith in Jesus’ righteous atonement would be counted as if WE were righteousness, although we each sin and are by no means righteous. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:10)

Abram was asked to leave three things: Land, Relatives, and his Father’s house. Interestingly, these are the main influences that mold a person’s thoughts & actions. In a spiritual (and sometimes physical) sense, we are all called by God to cut ourselves entirely adrift from all associations that could possibly hinder our completion of the mission God calls us to.

But God’s call to “Leave!” comes with blessings attached.

Jesus said, “I assure you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time and eternal life in the ages to come.” Luke 18:29-30 (HCSB)

Notice that God calls Abram to no certain place: The land I will show you. Of course, God knew where He was taking Abraham. Abram’s great faithful act was to simply trust the Lord’s voice, contrary to his own understanding or personal wisdom. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Are you struggling with whether to trust the Lord? I’ll tell you by experience it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do…but Jesus has prepared a specific place to lead the faithful to. I am not speaking exclusively about Heaven. He has also set aside work for each of us in this life; He has given us a Kingdom purpose. Let’s respond as Abram (and Jesus’ first disciples) did: Leave everything and follow Him. (Luke 5:11)

“These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.” Genesis 10:32 (HCSB)

I have friends who are really into genealogy. They spend countless hours online researching their family trees. Perhaps it can be attributed to the breakdown of the family in America, but a whole culture of these types has developed. I suppose we would all like to believe we are related to someone famous. Maybe it gives us hope that some of the old “magic” for success may still be in our DNA.

I once heard a preacher say he traced his family tree back to a lying nomad and a drunken sailor: Abraham & Noah!

The Bible says Noah was a RIGHTEOUS man, but let’s not forget that, at his core, he was a righteous MAN. That means he was by no means perfect, but like Abraham, Noah was considered righteous because he believed in God BY FAITH. Point to consider: The Bible says nothing of the righteousness of Noah’s wife or his sons and their wives. Only Noah is singled out as righteous.

At the end of chapter 9, we see Noah’s flaws, warts & all, because he is found to be drunk & naked…a sailor to the end: Go Navy! One redeeming note is that two of his sons seemed to have learned to honor the Lord (and their father) through the flood experience.

Chapter 10 sets up the story of worship after the ark. It is hauntingly reminiscent of Israel, one generation after entering the Promised Land, the generation after Joshua, who did not know God. How quickly we forget.

For me, the takeaway is the profound similarity of origins we share with all other people on earth. Perhaps, the most profound is the similarity between our sin and our collective need for salvation. Tomorrow, we will read what happens when men, apart from God, decide to unite, work, and worship together. Did I mention “Apart from God”?

These are pertinent chapters because the cry is still going out from the World for nations to unite. I have nothing against unity, but if the nucleus of that unity is anything other than Messiah Jesus, those unifying efforts are destined to fail. Sure, the nations have a strong unifying factor: Our sin. And their unity may appear to have positive consequences for a season. But the only One who can restore everlasting unity is Jesus.

“Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth and they stopped building the city.” Genesis 11:5-8 (HCSB)

When I was a child, there was no internet, and we had very limited access to cable TV. The information people received concerning the world around them was very limited. Our Worldview was filtered through 3 network TV channels, a couple of newspapers & radio stations, and some magazines.

It never dawned on me that I could write a letter to another kid in a foreign country or that we could develop a friendship. I would never have assumed we could communicate several times a day, forming a real-time face-to-face relationship at no expense. The world was vast back then, and nations & cultures operated almost entirely independently.

But today, through satellite communication and wireless broadband internet, our world has become relatively small. English is the primary language of commerce. eBay is the world’s flea market. Amazon is the world’s vendor. Electronic banking handles all currency exchanges.

So, how does the story of Babel apply to our lives, today? What is so wrong with people sharing the same language and working together? Is society in & of itself “evil”?

As we learned in Genesis 2, both God and Adam knew it was not good for man to be alone. Man was made to live in community. It is necessary for us. Furthermore, God blesses our community when it honors Him. This “community of necessity” is not limited to the male/female relationship. It extends to our children, friends, and beyond.

The problem arises when men attempt to unite to the exclusion of God. In the days of the tower of Babel, if their designs had not been frustrated, mankind would have eventually employed their united strength for outrageously sinful purposes. We see this scenario ultimately played out in the book of Revelation…and developing rapidly in the World culture we are presently in.

All human collaborative effort, divorced from the ultimate goal of acknowledging and worshipping God, is nothing more than collective self-exaltation. Humanism is, in essence, self-worship. It is idolatry, with self-achievement as the idol of worship.

“And God said: ‘This is the token of the covenant which I make with Me and you and every living creature with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant with me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh: water will never again become a deluge to destroy all flesh. The bow will be in the clouds and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh on earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh on earth.’” Genesis 9:12-17 (NKJV)

When I was a kid, I loved seeing rainbows…and it seems I saw more of them back then. Perhaps, I should look up more because I suppose they happen pretty frequently.

A while back, I was down in San Clemente for a day of surfing. As I was about to enter the water for a surf session, the cloudy sea layer began to dissipate, and I noticed a rainbow. The irony was not lost on me. As I was about to ride the waves, I was reminded of the day when those waves came up and covered the whole earth. Then, just as quickly, I remembered God’s covenant never to do it again.

God had promised that He would flood the earth, and He did it. Then, He promised never to do it again, and He hasn’t. (Nor will He ever.) It sounds like a simple Sunday school lesson, but with every rainbow, we are reminded that God’s promises can be trusted.

Back when we read through the book of Revelation, we learned that God has promised to judge sin again. It won’t come by way of water because God promised never to do that again. The next time will be by an all-consuming fire. The coming Judgment will be even greater than the ancient flood because it will completely eliminate sin in the world.

That “promise of God” is not one that people claim often. When was the last time you prayed, “Lord, judge my sin with fire! You promised!”

But with the promise of Judgment comes the assurance of Salvation. There is a way out, an “ark,” so to speak. And that “escape” comes when we fully surrender our lives to Jesus, turning from our sin and receiving the atonement offered through Him.

Whenever you see a fully devoted believer in Jesus, think of a rainbow. Every believer can be assured of the forever promise of God’s salvation.

“‘For in seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and nights; I will wipe out every living thing that I have made from the face of the earth.’ Noah did all that the Lord ordered him to do.” Genesis 7:4-5 (NKJV)

Have I shared the story of the “devil school”? Perhaps I have, but I feel it is important to share it again!

There was a demon school, and the Devil was quizzing 3 of his students. He asked them, “What will you tell people to ensure they go to Hell?”

Demon #1: I will tell them there is no evil.

Devil: No, it’s too obvious that some things are good, and others are evil. They’ll never believe that.

Demon #2: I will tell them there is no Hell.

Devil: No, if they believe in good & evil, they will naturally assume God dwells in Heaven, and evil resides in Hell.

Demon #3: I will acknowledge there are good & evil, Heaven & Hell…but I will tell them they have MORE TIME to decide between the two.

Devil: Now, THAT they will believe.

The whole time Noah was building His ark, collecting his food, and assembling the animals, people watched. No less than a few times, they must have asked him what and why he was undergoing such an enormous building project. I’m sure they all had a good laugh at poor Noah’s expense down at the local tavern. The Bible says that Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Perhaps, some even entertained the idea of helping him or joining in his belief system. But nobody did, except, perhaps, his sons. Surely God would have invited anyone who honestly repented, yet that was not the case. They all rejected God’s Word through Noah’s testimony and paid eternal consequences. (1 Peter 3:19-20)

Eventually, everyone would come to believe God’s Word and Noah’s testimony…but they were too late. Their “sun-setting” opportunity had become eclipsed by the dawn of God’s judgment. Even today, the World scoffs at us believers: Those of us who have rushed into the “ark” of Jesus’ grace & mercy, having believed God’s warning of coming judgment. Who knows what is going on in their minds, why they would reject so great a salvation? Perhaps, they have believed in the lie: You have MORE TIME to decide. Whether it is from natural or apocalyptic causes, we will all die someday. Make sure you jump into Jesus’ “lifeboat” while it is still offered.

“When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and every scheme that he thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth and He was grieved in His heart. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth: man, whom I created together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky – for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6: 5-8 (HCSB)

When mankind was created, God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness. (Genesis 1:26) The text describes God in the plural form instead of a singular “I will make man in MY image, according to MY likeness.”

This usage of God in the Plural is similar to the Bible’s opening statement, “In the Beginning, God…” (Elohim: Gods). Genesis 1:1

Because of the Bible’s statement that God is ONE (Echad) (Deuteronomy 6:4), the non-Messianic rabbis have traditionally rejected the notion that God exists as a Plurality. That is, they do not believe in the “Trinity” or tri-unity of God.

Two main arguments these Rabbis use to explain away the notion of God as a “singular plurality” are:

1) The traditional Hebrew use of plurality to a single person illustrates power, i.e., “one” possesses the strength of “many.” This is certainly true of omnipotent God.

2) Plurality denotes internal debate. That is, they believe that God debated as to whether to create man. That is, the terms “us” and “our” are simply representative of the different opinions God held (within Himself) while debating whether to create mankind at all.

If you agree with the rabbis’ argument over God’s internal debate, it is easy to understand His statement, “I regret that I made them.” God is represented as being “singular,” “One.” But that argument has a problem: It is impossible for God to be double-minded. (1 Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6) Remember God pronounced creation “Very Good” at the end of the 6th day. So, how can creation be “very good” and “regrettable”?

Perhaps, the answer lies in the primary roles of the individual members of the Trinity. God: Justice/Mercy Jesus: Redemption/Grace, Spirit: Revelation of Truth. In the creation of man, we are allowed a glimpse of the Trinity conversing with each other as a single unit: “God said, ‘Let Us…’”. In the pronouncement of judgment in the days of Noah, we see the persons of the Trinity represented individually with respect to their ministries: The Spirit: reveals widespread wickedness. The Father: weighs the Spirit’s testimony and pronounces regret over mankind’s sin. The Messiah: provides grace for Noah and the rest of his family. (Remember: only Noah was “pronounced” righteous, not the others in his ark) Therefore, we conclude that, while still in communion with the Spirit & Son, it is altogether possible for God’s pronouncement to be as an individual.

“These are the family records of the descendants of Adam. On the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God; He created them male and female. When they were created, He blessed them and called them man (Adam). Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a child in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.” Genesis 5:1-3 (HCSB)

Some believe nature is evolving and changing for the better. Attached to their belief is the notion that society is also evolving. Obviously, we have more technology than any generation before us. Medicine, education, and science are more prominent than ever. But are we “better” people than our ancestors? How does this generation’s morality compare to that of our grandparents? Or Great-grandparents?

Despite all of our technical innovations, society is actually morally worse than ever. I would put forth that morality has been on a downtrend, devolving since Adam. Here are a couple of examples:

First off, the Bible identifies every successive generation as “Descendants.” That downward verbiage doesn’t sound very optimistic. It states the obvious: the more generations we produce, the more we descend spiritually. On the contrary, God’s children could be characterized as “Ascendants.” We all share the hope of resurrection and are co-inheritors of Messiah’s blessing. All who faithfully believe in Jesus have been given the right to be sons & daughters of God. Now, that’s an up-trend!

Secondly, Adam was created in God’s image and likeness. But Adam’s descendants were created in Adam’s likeness. That’s a descending trend if I ever saw one! Adam was made perfect in God’s image and then sinned. Adam’s descendants were born into his cursed image & likeness, with the need for atonement. Only Messiah Jesus can break that curse.

“As in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ISV)

Again, amid society’s degradation, we have the reminder of Grace: While we were yet sinners, Jesus atoned for our sin. More than simply giving us a fresh start, Jesus’ salvation transforms His followers, forever altering their downward trajectory. Being transformed into the image of Jesus is literally the difference between eternal death and eternal life.

“Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, ‘God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.’ A son was born to Seth also and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:25-26 (HCSB)

Many, especially those in Eastern religions, believe the World must be held in a BALANCE of Good & Evil. The World is not designed for such balance. It runs most efficiently on Goodness alone. We see this scenario displayed in the latter chapters of the Revelation, where all evil is expelled, and sin is nowhere to be found. Yes, for a season, there are Evil and evil men, but God’s desire is for ALL to come to repentance.

“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ISV)

So, is there balance in the World today? Is “Good” held in check by an “Evil” counterweight? No. There is only the perception of balance because God’s Spirit restrains humanity from becoming completely evil. This restraint is only for a season and expressly to call men unto repentance & submission to God. (John 16:8-11)

Perhaps, Eve believed that Cain & Abel provided that balance of Good and Evil. The Bible doesn’t say. After Cain’s murder, she named her next son Seth. (Hebrew: Placed; appointed) Seth may have been a wonderful guy, but humans will never provide a moral balance because, at our core, we are ALL sinners. There will never be enough “Mother Theresa’s” to offset the “Hitlers.”

Furthermore, while we all wish to bestow names to our children that pronounce a blessing for their future, our fates are not determined beforehand. We each must choose to receive God’s grace. This means of salvation through faith was God’s design, not mankind’s.

“Yet to all who did RECEIVED Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13. (NIV)

Seth’s son, “Enosh” in Hebrew, can be translated as “mortal man” or “sick.” In one of the most misunderstood statements of the Bible, Enoch’s birth is considered by many theologians to have brought about revival as a balance to Cain’s sinful family traditions. The word interpreted as “BEGAN to call on the name of the Lord” in Hebrew is “huchal.” This word is also interpreted as the homonym “PROFANED.” Looking at the degradation of society leading up to Noah, it could be that Enosh may not have brought about such an expected revival. Instead, men began to PROFANE God’s name through idolatry. Perhaps, this was part of God’s reasoning for the first three Commandments.

Salvation comes not from a balance of good men but exclusively from the righteousness of the “God-man,” Messiah Jesus.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden at the time of the evening wind and they hid themselves from God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:7-8 (HCSB)

Before I was married, I had a friend who had several children. I remember him telling the story of how his youngest son, still a toddler, had overheard his older brothers talking about sex. The young boy approached his father and asked what sex was. Grasping his son’s lack of comprehension, the father asked the boy to bring him the large toolbox from the garage. The boy answered, “It’s too big for me to carry.” The father replied, “Yes, but someday you’ll be big enough to carry it, and when you can, I’ll answer your question. Now, tell your brothers to come see me!”

We will never know if God would have eventually allowed Adam & Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. Perhaps, He would have spoon-fed them bits as they grew in maturity and faithfulness. We only know that they ate when He forbade them…and as a result, we are all still paying for it because we are all born into sin. From sinful people come sinful offspring. When will we learn from Adam & Eve’s example and stop trying to deny and cover up our sin? When will we repent, confess our sin and receive not only God’s covering but His complete cleansing through Jesus’ blood and righteousness?

When we read through the Revelation, we were reminded of the image of Adam & Eve cowering, trying to cover themselves with fig leaves. There is a time forthcoming when the earth’s sin will again be exposed, and all who have denied God’s Salvation and Lordship will be revealed.

“Then I saw Him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred, the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind…” Revelation 6:12-13 (HCSB)

“…and they said to the mountains, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?’” Revelation 6:16-17 (HCSB)

Can’t you picture Adam and Eve cowering, dressed in fig leaves, looking like two young figs, dropped before their ripening…unduly heavy from the knowledge of their sin, and blown off the branch as the Lord moves through His garden as an evening wind?

So, what is our takeaway? We all sin, and all sin will be judged. It is impossible for mankind to cover his own sin, and only the atoning blood of Jesus fully satisfies the Lord’s requirements for “covering.” Best of all, salvation is a free gift offered to all who will believe in Jesus by faith, confess their sin, and turn from it to follow Him.

“And the man said, “This one, at last, is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken from man.” This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:23-25 (HCSB)

Several years ago, I was sitting in a movie theater in Memphis when I heard Tom Cruise utter those fateful words to Renee Zellweger, “You complete me….” It all seemed sweet at the moment, but in the months to follow, I heard football players, waiters, cab drivers, and even Austin Powers’ “Dr. Evil” repeating the phrase. Removed from their proper setting, these words lost their romantic inclinations.

As far back as the Garden of Eden, it was apparent to both God and Adam that 1) Mankind is not meant to be alone, and 2) Even a sinless man (as Adam was at the time) cannot, apart from Divine intervention, find enduring communion with God. In short, man needed woman for his life to be complete, and God knew that.

Even the word “mankind” tells us that Adam was a creature of a certain kind. So, after parading all the animals past Adam, God made him a creature of his own “kind,” one that actually came from his own flesh. Important to note is that God could have made Adam another dude, a guy who shared his passions for sports and shoot-em-up movies. But In His wisdom, the Lord made a woman for Adam. The Lord instituted marriage to be between man and woman, and nowhere in Scripture does He indicate otherwise. So, there we have it, man & woman: a perfect, God-made match. But where does that leave God in terms of personal relationship & communion with His human creation?

“Creature” could never elevate itself to the level of “Creator.” So, the only way for communion to happen between the two is for the Creator to 1) Condescend, “come down” to the level of the Creature, or 2) Elevate the Creature. In both instances, true communion with God is only found in the “God-man” Jesus.

Made greater than the animals and a little lower than the angels, mankind has always been the object of God’s affection. Redemption & adoption, through Messiah Jesus, is God’s solution to our inability to commune with Him.

In the flesh, man is incomplete without woman. She restores to him what is missing in his flesh. The gravity between man & woman is so strong that both will leave their families just to attach themselves to each other. In the flesh, man & woman complete each other; “Rib” is restored to “body,” bringing wholeness.

But what of the Soul & Spirit? Only Messiah’s atonement and imputed righteousness make us whole spiritually. Perhaps, that is why the Bible calls Jesus the “Groom” and us (followers of Jesus) the “Bride.” Only He can complete what mankind lacks spiritually. Even before the fall of man, being complete in the flesh was not enough for true spiritual wholeness. There was “grace in the garden” even before there was sin.