Stuff of Life
Opening Prayer
Lord, “Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way! Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!” (Benjamin Mansell Ramsey, 1849–1923).
Read Genesis 21:22–34
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[22] At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. [23] Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” [24] Abraham said, “I swear it.” [25] Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. [26] But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.” [27] So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. [28] Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, [29] and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?” [30] He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.” [31] So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. [32] After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. [33] Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. [34] And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Pray that as you study today, that the Lord will show you more of his way. This is a glimpse of the kind of life Abraham leads. He negotiates land borders as his wealth,family, flocks and herds expand. He seeks out good water (and makes sure he keeps hold of it).He does deals in exchange for animals. He provides the best hospitality and gifts. His life istough, dangerous, exhausting, dirty and precarious. It’s all about him, his family, the land, theweather and the neighbors. And then there’s the perspective of the long-term and eternity, prayerand what the Lord is doing—the long walk of faith.I wonder how we would describe the stuff of our own lives—the daily, weekly, monthlychallenges, interactions and tasks, and our relationship with God. Let’s pause to give it a try. Forus too it’s the daily details and the eternal God with his plan to bless the world, in which we areplaying a part. “God is with you in everything you do.” What would make those closest to us saythis about us?This is a glimpse of the kind of life Abraham leads. He negotiates land borders as his wealth, family, flocks and herds expand. He seeks out good water (and makes sure he keeps hold of it). He does deals in exchange for animals. He provides the best hospitality and gifts. His life is tough, dangerous, exhausting, dirty and precarious. It’s all about him, his family, the land, the
weather and the neighbors. And then there’s the perspective of the long-term and eternity, prayer and what the Lord is doing—the long walk of faith.
I wonder how we would describe the stuff of our own lives—the daily, weekly, monthly challenges, interactions and tasks, and our relationship with God. Let’s pause to give it a try. For us too it’s the daily details and the eternal God with his plan to bless the world, in which we are playing a part. “God is with you in everything you do.” What would make those closest to us say
this about us?
Apply
Find a way, perhaps posting a verse where you can see it, to direct your thoughts to the Lord throughout the day.
Closing prayer
Lord, “Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!”
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