Genesis

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Wait for the Best!

Gen 15:3-4 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

Abram was willing to settle for Eliezar of Damascus to be his heir; he was willing to forgo the stress of waiting and wondering for it just to be over and life move forward.

There are times you can be so desperate to move forward you will compromise for something less than God wants for you.

God has a plan. His plan is perfect. Your plan is flawed, unless that plan is to wait on God.

There are people right now settling for less than God wants for them. They are living in their sin when God wants them to live in Christ.

Some are praying to trees or dead religious leaders when God wants to answer their prayers.

You may be struggling to make ends meet or you may make lots of money but aren’t truly fulfilled or happy. God wants you to be dependent on Him for all you need, including happiness and joy.

Don’t settle for less. Wait on the Lord.

Ps 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Ps 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Abba, I want the most that You desire to give to me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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What will You give me?

Gen 15:2 Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me…

What did Abram already have?

The Bible reports he was rich in gold, silver, and cattle. He had a beautiful wife that was desired by other men even though she was in her 70’s.

He had trained servants that could take on the armies of four different kingdoms. He had the promise of possessing all the land.

And most importantly, he had God!

It’s not what you have from God that you are concerned about – it’s what you don’t have.

Though Abram was a rich man with a lot to be happy about, he had no children.

Gen 15:2
Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram had one other thing – God’s promise of an heir from his own body, but it was one promise he struggled to patiently wait on.

Look around your home at all the things you possess. It’s proof that people are never satisfied. Garage sales are further proof of too much around the house.

Can your possessions compare to the gift of eternal life from God?

Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

How much of your life can you give God credit for having?
Are you coming to Him and asking for more?
Can you wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled?

Abba, I am rich because of You! My greatest possession is my salvation. Every day I only ask that I can encourage someone else, in Jesus name, with the Good News.YES&AMEN

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Guard your heart and mind

I am the protector of my household. If a wild animal comes into our yard, I am the one that will protect my family, pets, and property.

The same goes for people. Given the nature of today’s society, I am suspicious of people I don’t know that drive up to my house.
Are they merely lost and want to know where someone lives?
Are they casing my home to see what cannot be seen from the road?

I believe in God. I believe in his protection over me.
But God has also given me some common sense and I cannot let my guard down!

God told Abram,

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Gen 15:1

That’s some great assurance from God in that one sentence and the events that follow.

But Abram let’s his guard down some time after this declaration and fathered a child by a handmaid.

The Bible encourages you not to let your guard down.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
1 Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
1 Thess 5:6 let us watch and be sober.

Abba, I trust Your promises to me. I believe You. Help me to always keep a guard on my heart and mind. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Here is your reward!

You walk into a business and see a notice taped to the window. There’s a picture of the cure little dog and the words “lost” and “reward”.

As you leave the store and drive home you are surprised to see a dog running loose that amazingly favors the one you saw on the window.

You stop and gently speak to the little dog. It wags his tail and slowly comes to you. You pick up the dog and place him in your lap. He licks you and happily settles down while you drive home.

You call the number you saw on the poster in the window. The owner meets you, thanks you over and over and wants to give you $50 for finding the dog.

You hesitate to take it but the owner insists! It is your reward.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Abram was definitely a man of faith. But even people of faith can have those moments of doubt. God assurance to Abram –

Gen 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God, Himself, is your reward.

He rewards with forgiveness. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

He rewards with salvation. Rom 10:9-1o if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He rewards with eternal life. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.

Abba, I found You and I am rewarded. YES&AMEN

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Proven, Pure, & Powerful Protection

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God did not stop with fear; He also gave reassurance.

“I am your shield!”

A shield is used for protection and in this case it’s very appropriate since it may be an armed adversary is Abram’s concern.

You can take God at His word – it is proven protection. Ps 18:30-As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

His word is pure protection. Prov 30:5-Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

And His word is powerful protection. Eph 6:16-above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

God is your protection also. I’m sure Abram isn’t going to run over to the other kings and taunt them with a “Na-na-na, you can’t get me!”
God’s protection comes with your responsibility to be where God wants you and doing what He has asked of you.

Abba Father, I feel Your shield of protection everyday as it guards my mind and heart. YES&AMEN

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Do not be afraid!

Abram’s concern over 4 different military forces seeking revenge is soothed by God Himself.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God first told Abram, “Do not be afraid!”

There are several things that can bring on fear.

Sin can bring fear. After sinning in the Garden of Eden Adam hid in the bushes because he was afraid! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31
Meeting God with sin on your hands is a fearful thing.

The unknown can cause fear. Not knowing what tomorrow holds. Not knowing what is in the closet or not knowing what animal is growling in the dark. David said,

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4

Though he did not know what was lying ahead or what was unseen in the shadow.

Fear can also be caused by doubt. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain then I think a mustard seed of doubt can keep it there.
The night Jesus came walking on the water only one man had the faith to get out of the boat – Peter!

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink. Matt 14:30

He did the impossible but then doubted and became afraid that he could not do it.

Any fear you have doesn’t come from God.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7

Maybe your response is you are afraid of snakes, spiders, or swimming at the beach.
That’s not fear, it’s just common sense. It is best to have respect for those things.

A Christian should never be afraid of spiritual matters.

Abba, with You I have no fear. You give peace. You give life. You give comfort. In Jesus’ name, I receive that! YES&AMEN

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Already Victorious

With only 318 trained servants, Abram had a great victory over four kings. That victory may have been short-lived as the reality of revenge from those kingdoms set in.

How embarrassing to be sent home running by a seemingly inferior force. There was a good chance that the kings or their families would look to return and teach Abram a lesson.

But Abram is a man of faith and God came and reassured him in a great way.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

You, also, have an enemy and your relationship with Jesus has put him on the run. He would like nothing more than to seek revenge on you – to destroy your testimony or worse, make your turn your back on God.

What God said to Abram is the same words He would say to you – do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward!

Have faith in His assurance that He is already victorious over the adversary. Satan is absolutely powerless against the blood of Jesus.

Abba Father, I do have times I feel victorious. And then the enemy tries to knock my feet out from under me. My deepest desire is to keep my eyes on You and not worry about the enemy. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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A Bribe from the Devil

Gen 14:21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

There are some people, companies, and organizations that you should not take anything from. Don’t take a bribe from the devil!

Abram gives us this example when he was willing to give the recaptured hostages back to the king of Sodom but then he refused to keep anything else.

Abram would pay tithes to Melchizedek and, at least in principle, it look as if Bera wanted to do the same to Abram.

He refused it.

I think we need to be careful with where our money comes from.

For years the Italian mafia has been a part of the Catholic church. Now I’m not here to disrespect the Catholic church but if a mobster comes to church and puts something in the offering plate, what is the history behind that money – how was it earned? It would be a hard temptation to turn away from a large amount of money in an offering plate, even if you know it may be from illegitimate or sinful means.

Gen 14:22-23 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours!”

Abram refused Bera’s offer. And so there are times you should too!

Let your blessing be from God Most High and not the devil!

Abba, give me discernment over the gifts given to me and the strength to refuse those that would curse and not bless me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Heart of Giving

Gen 14:20 And he gave him a tithe of all.

Tithing is a hot, debatable topic in the church. Some say it was Law and therefore Christians are not bound to it; this despite the fact that Abram giving tithe to Melchizedek was before the Law.

Giving is not mandated by a law – giving comes from the heart and a need to help someone.

In my research on the subject one commentator said that Abram did not tithe to Melchizedek of his own resources but with the spoils he took in the rescue of Lot.
The Bible does affirm this but can you make it a legitimate excuse not to tithe because of it?

Years later, Abraham’s grandson, Jacob said, “…of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Gen 28:22
His decision also predated any law to do so.
His decision was also based on the resources God would bless him with.

There is no easy answer to whether you believe in tithing or not. You either do or you don’t.

Despite the fact that it’s in the Law, do you think God would demand less of His people today – the people He fills with His own Holy Spirit?
If God demanded 10% from His people under the Law – do you think He would now be happy with you giving 1% under Christ?
Does God move backward or forward?
Does He lower His standards or raise them?

There is more to be said and so I shall.

Abba, I ask for guidance in giving. You have abundantly blessed and I should never be stingy or greedy with what wasn’t mine to begin with. I am just a steward. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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The Order

Heb 5:10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

A TV commercial for jelly comes on and the announcer says that the recipe hasn’t changed since “mom” invented it in 1850. She set a standard of wholesome goodness and instilled the same ethics into her children to keep the ingredients and taste the same for generations to come.
The result is an old-fashion taste you can’t find in any other product.

There are many products and businesses that still continue on the principles in which they were founded decades or centuries ago.

Hebrews and the Psalms both declare that the priesthood of Jesus would be based on something founded millennia ago.

So what is the “order of Melchizedek”?

During the time of Moses the directive from God was for all priests to be of the lineage of Aaron, a Levite. This order was maintained through the years, with the exception of a few corrupt individuals who sought their own gain and not God’s will.

So the priestly lineage is through Aaron and the Levites. But Melchizedek is not a Levite. He couldn’t be. If he is Shem, he would have been the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Levi. He lived and died before Levi was born, much less Aaron.

Jesus on the other hand was born thousands of years after Levi. But Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and not a Levite.

So, to me, the order of Melchizedek predates the order of Aaron. It is not a Levite priesthood that one is born into – but a calling of God to serve.

I have met many people that when asked why they are a Christian the answer is an order – “my parents were Christians” or “my family has always gone to this church. In fact, my great, great, great grandfather helped found this church!”

Though my parents and grandparents may have had an effect on my religious upbringing – I am a Christian because of a calling of God in my life. That call convicted me of sin and I prayed for His forgiveness for my life. My Christian life is a calling of God to serve!