Genesis 22:1-19

"Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. 'Abraham!' God called.
'Yes,' he replied. 'Here I am.'
'Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.'" v1-2
What in the world is God doing? Have you ever asked that question? Why is God letting this happen is often our response when we are dealing with a tough situation. But it is in this time that God is testing our faith and trust in Him. God tested Abraham, not to trip him and watch him fall, but to deepen his capacity to obey, and thus to develop his character. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested we can complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.

Obeying God is often a struggle because it may mean giving up something we truly want. We should not expect our obedience to God to be easy or to come naturally.

"Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son." v13
Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Issac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us. Whereas God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, God did not spare his own Son, Jesus, from dying on the cross. If Jesus had lived, the rest of humankind would have died. God sent his only Son to die for us so that we could be spared from the eternal death we deserve and instead receive eternal life.

Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Genesis 21:8-21

"But God told Abraham, 'Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.'" v12-13
As a dad, it must have been hard to send away your son. Abraham had to do just this and trust that the Lord would provide for their needs.

Ever wounder what happened to Ishmael and who his descendants were? Ismael became ruler of a large tribe or nation. The Ishmaelites were nomads living in the wilderness of Sinai and Paran, south of Israel. One of Ishmael's daughters married Esau, Ismael's nephew. The Bible pictures the Ishmaelites as hostile to Israel and the God.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Genesis 19:12-29

Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. 'Do you have any other relatives here in the city?' they asked. 'Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the LORD, and he has sent us to destroy it.'" v.12-13
God promised to spare Sodom if only 10 innocent people lived there. Obviously not 10 could be found, because the angels arrived to destroy the city. Archaeological evidence points to an advanced civilization in this area during Abraham's day. Most researchers also confirm some kind of sudden or devastating destruction. It is now widely thought that the buried city lies beneath the waters of the southern end of the sea of the Dead Sea. The story of Sodom reveals that the people of Lot's day had to deal with the same kinds of repulsive sins the world world faces today.

"When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful." v16
Have you ever hesitated to do something? Especially something that required Faith? It is easy to get settled in a comfort zone or a situation even if it is not the best for us. Lot hesitated, so the angle seized his hand and rushed him to safety. Lot did not want to leave the wealth, position, and comfort he enjoyed in Sodom. How many times does a curtain situation seem to hypnotize us from the things God what us to do or experience?

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Genesis 18:1-15

Is anything too hard for the LORD? v.14
The obvious answer is, "Of course not!" This question reveals much about God. Make it a habit to insert your specific needs into the question. "Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord?" "Is this habit I'm trying to break too hard for Him?" "Is the communication problem I'm having too hard for Him?" Asking the question this way reminds you and I that God is personally involved in our lives and nudges us to ask for His power to help us!

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Genesis 12:1-9; 17:1-8

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.'" 12:1-3
When God called him, Abram moved in faith from Ur to Haran and finally to Canaan. God then established a covenant with Abram, telling him that he would found a great nation. Not only would this nation be blessed, God said, but other nations on earth would be blessed through Abrams descendants. Isreal, the nation that would come from Abram, was to follow God and influence those whom it came in contact with. Through Abram's family tree, Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. Through Christ, people can have a relationship with God and be blessed beyond measure.

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.'" 17:1
God has the same measure for us today. We are to obey the Lord in every respect because he is God - that is reason enough. If you don't think the benefits of obedience are worth it, consider who God is! He is the only one with the power and ability to meet your every need.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

Genesis 11:1-9

"Then they said, 'Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.'" v4
The tower of Babel was a great human achievement a wonder of the world. But it was a monument to the people themselves rather than to God. We build monuments to ourselves (expensive clothes, big house, fancy car, important job) to call attention to our achievements. These may not be wrong in themselves, but when we use them to give us identity and self worth, they take God's place in out lives. We are free to develop in many areas, but we are not free to think we have replaced God. What "towers" have I built in my life?

Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible.

Mizzou Football

Last night I watched Missouri beat Nebraska in a big way 41-6. It seems that this has become a new hobby of mine. I am glad they are winning, it would be much harder to watch if they weren't. This week will be a big test as they take on Oklahoma.