Assigned Reading: Psalms 41-42; Genesis 16-18
Psalms –
Chapter 41 – God deeply cares for the weak. The Father has an overflow of compassion for us – who are weak. This is such a tender passage of Scripture, that shows us the heart of God. It is a Psalm to be cherished. It shows us how God acts toward the needy, as He protects, preserves, sustains, and restores. Thank You Lord for Your mercy and the way You care for me!
But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them. I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen (vv. 10-13).
Chapter 42 – Our souls are crying out in longing for our great God. Even when we run away from Him, our souls crave God. Thankfully, He doesn’t give up on us, and continues to pursue us. Our hearts seek after the fulfillment that only He can give. He is the One who offers us the hope that changes everything. Our hope is in God, and we have to reach a place of meeting with Him.
How are we setting aside a time and place to daily meet with Jesus to remember who He is, what He has done, and how He wants to meet us and work in our daily lives?
Genesis –
Just some bullet points today, about the reading in Genesis.
→ Sarah clearly did not trust God or His promise. She didn’t even acknowledge the promise in her conversation with her husband regarding using Hagar to have a child (Gen 16).
→ God called Hagar to return to Sarah and submit to her. In God meeting with Hagar, He showed her that He: saw her and would provide for her – even though she was a foreigner (Gen. 16).
→ God continues to remind Abraham of the covenant He has with him. Abraham fell on his face and worshipped God. He truly believed God and what He said (Gen. 17).
→ God states that Sarah will bear a son. Abraham laughed out of disbelief, due to his age (Ishmael was much older at this time), so he asked (or insisted) that Ishmael receives the fruit of the covenant. God was intentional and had his heart set on Isaac. Isaac would receive all the blessings of the first born, even though he was the second. God didn’t want any substitute for His plans. He made sure of it. Abraham and Sarah went their own way, but it was no replacement for God’s plans! (Gen. 17)
→ I can understand why Sarah laughed at the thought of having a son at such an advanced age. If I heard God say something deeply woven into my heart’s desire after such a long wait, I would too. I would be caught in unbelief (Gen. 18).
Gracefully Overcoming 