Monthly Archives: October 2015
When Jacob strikes his bargain with God after seeing the ladder of angels (Genesis 28:16-17), we feel that he believes he’s gotten the better end of the deal. According to Jacob’s vow, God has to deliver both protection and prosperity in order to “earn” Jacob’s allegiance.
What Jacob doesn’t realize is that he’s just signed up for God’s…..
What do you think of bargaining with God?
People do it all the time, but when you think about it, it doesn’t make much sense. What can we possibly offer God that the Almighty doesn’t already have?
True, God wants a relationship with us, but is bartering really a relationship-building tool?
Abraham tried it out when God…..
While the saga of God’s “mentoring” of Abraham features something like a long-running mini-series, the portrait Genesis offers of Isaac’s relationship with God flashes by as a largely out-of-focus snapshot.
The son’s tale does replicate some of the episodes of his father’s life. During a famine, Isaac also tries to pass…..
After the Abraham and Abimilech story we looked at last week, Genesis 21 returns us to the unfolding of some major events in Abraham’s life.
There is good news: Sarah gives birth to Isaac – the son of God’s promise and proof that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Then there is bad news – Abraham…..
Learning to trust is a process. As we have followed Abraham’s story we can see how his faith in God surges forward for a moment only to reset to a position where Abraham acts as though he must rely on himself.
Abraham’s tale begins with a huge statement of trust:…..