Short Reflection from Genesis 16-33

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟡

"Then the angel of the LORD said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.’"

God had a plan for Hagar even when she was mistreated by Sarai. It's a great lesson and a reminder that God will take care of us in all situations.

Hagar ran away to escape, but God told her to come back and submit herself to Sarai. She tried to solve her problem. Well, God was not with her plan, for God had a better plan. Years later, God would let her go away in peace.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"And Abraham said to God, 'Oh that Ishmael might live before You!'"

Abraham decided to do what he thought was right and begot Ishmael. He thought and wanted God would be pleased with his project Ishmael. Well, nobody can influence God, not even Abraham. God continued with His project Isaac. However, God, in His abundant mercy and grace promised to not abandon project Ishmael.

Don't try to influence God. Submit to Him. Make sure the Lord's project is your project!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟛𝟚

"Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.’"

Bad people may mock a good man. Non-Christians may ridicule us. Secular Government may persecute us. But the truth is they are alive because of us. At the same time, we are alive for their sake, to rescue them!

When all the Christians are raptured up on the last day, God's judgment will be seen upon the earth again!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟚-𝟛

"And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate."

Oh! What an example of hospitality! @Damei B-R-U kaine hospitality tho gaihak kum ding e!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟛

"But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, 'Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.'"

God would do anything to protect Sarah even if Abraham failed to do so.

It's a lesson to learn that God is better than anyone and anything!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟞-𝟟

"Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.'"

God has a way of surprising those who have waited upon Him. I know He shall surprise me with many things! 😇

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚

"He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.'"

Is there still anything in you that you cannot give up for God? Abraham gave up everything!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟛

"He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, 'If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.'"

We love free stuff, huh? Abraham wouldn't take anything for free! Be careful with free stuff!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"He said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.'"

A good prayer we can imitate praying recalling this episode! 👍

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟛𝟚

"Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?'"

Esau never tried to learn what Jesus would be saying centuries later that man does not live by bread alone.

Don't think for temporary gain, live for things that last... God's kingdom lasts forever btw!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"The LORD appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; 𝕕𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕣, 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.'"

God wants us to fear nobody but God. Also, God is watching over us, nothing can harm us without His permission. Trust Him.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"Isaac said to his son, ‘How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?’ And he said, ‘Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me.’"

He dared to use the name of God to sin against his brother, father, and God. Such a sinful man like anyone of us!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

What a promise of God for Jacob, even when he fled away from his brother!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟛𝟙

"Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."

How good the Lord is to notice the discriminated ones! If we are mistreated, let's cry out to God more than we would call anyone!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟜𝟛

"So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys."

A ridiculous story of Jacob's family but God still blessed Jacob and prospered him.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟛𝟜-𝟛𝟝

"Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. She said to her father, ‘Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.’ So he searched but did not find the household idols."

Even his wife had become a deceiver. Your gf/bf will influence you. You better hang out/marry someone who is better or as good as you, not worse than you!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies."

Indeed, fear and great trouble often help us to see who we really are in the universe of God! We don't need to humble ourselves just in tough times, we must humble ourselves before Him each time we come to His throne of grace!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟜

"Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept."

Sometimes it happened that what we were dreadful of was met with extraordinary kindness! Fortunate Jacob! Very lucky, huh!?