Genesis 17.18 - Hope for Ishmael

Genesis 17.18 - Hope for Ishmael

Lunch with a former PLO sniper in Jericho! We drove past the walls that Joshua saw fall, the tree that Zacchaeus climbed, and feasted with Tass Saada. He told us how he was challenged at a low point in life, “If you want to get your life straight you need to love a Jew.” But Yasser Arafat had trained him well to kill Jews! (His book is excellent: “Once an Arafat Man: The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life”) Now Tass loves the Jew named Yeshua and lives as a peacemaker in that hostile land. Today’s text reveals God’s love for Ishmael and his sons. The plan of salvation comes through Isaac, but the promise of salvation is for all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only hope for Muslims, Jews, and for all peoples!

Genesis 18.32 - Ten Righteous People

Genesis 18.32 - Ten Righteous People

When it comes to church, maybe bigger is not always better. At what point do worshippers turn into watchers?; servants into spectators? I guess the issue is whether we are looking to grow in holy character or to hide in the crowd. Bigger churches help pay the rent. And buy pastors Happy Meals! As we have searched for a new ZGC venue, we have found a number of potential sites that could serve a church of 100. Would this be a better strategy? BICF is launching “The Oasis” in 798 area in a venue with 150 seats.  More churches need more leaders, preachers, children’s workers, musicians, and singers. Most of you reading this will be leaving soon. Pray that ZGC will grow ‘righteous people.’ Pray that more churches will be opened to reach the foreigner community in Beijing. Ask what part you play in this answer?

Genesis 19.1-29 - Pride and Dignity

Genesis 19.1-29 - Pride and Dignity?

Somebody’s got it wrong! The historic announcements from Western media are the total opposite of today’s text. Thousands came out for “Gay Pride Parades” in global cities in recent days. The Bible says thousands perished for such behavior in ancient Sodom. Talk shows proclaim dignity now attained through legal same-sex marriage. God uses words like ‘wicked’ and ‘perverse’ for such choices. Gay newly-weds boast of finding great joy in their beloved. Scripture says those who practice such things will find weeping and gnashing of teeth. My heart aches at this timely contrast in our Genesis expositional series. My countrymen celebrate their blatant rejection of God’s timeless principles; scorning preachers, politicians, and the public who question their ‘rights.’ “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5.20).

Genesis 20.11 - The Virtuous Pagan

Genesis 20.11 - The Virtuous Pagan

There are many fine, respectable, law-abiding, people – who make no claim of Christian faith - that behave far better than me. If we were asked, “Who is the good man in Genesis 20?” The answer would not be Abraham. Our “Father of Faith” lost faith here. The noble one in today’s text is Abimelech – the virtuous pagan. Abraham rudely says, “…I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place” (v. 11). Sometimes we have such proud opinions too. We’re the “Christian good guys!” But occasionally those of other faiths – especially those who think they must try to save themselves by their good works – even people of no faith, behave better than believers. The sinner’s default setting is that they must ‘do something.’ But the first step to believe the Gospel is knowing that if our salvation depended on our goodness we’d be toast!

Genesis 22.2 - Really, God!!? Human Sacrifice?

Genesis 22.2 - Really, God!!? Human Sacrifice??!

Bob Dylan wrote what many wonder, “Oh God said to Abraham, ‘Kill me a son.’ Abe says, ‘Man, you must be puttin' me on.’ God say, ‘No.’ Abe say, ‘What?’ God say, ‘You can do what you want Abe, but the next time you see me comin' you better run.’ Well Abe says, ‘Where do you want this killin' done ?’ God says. ‘Out on Highway 61.’” Such interpretations lead some to call the “Old Testament God” barbaric.  But the text makes clear this was a ‘test.’ We know what Abraham did not. God knew Isaac would live - He is sovereign. Tests are for the student’s benefit. Abraham will prove to God, and to himself, that there is no one like God - no rivals, no idols, not even his beloved son. Is your highest loyalty to The Beloved Son? Would you pass this test?

Genesis 32.22 - Assaulted by God

Genesis 32.22 - Assaulted by God

Just when Jacob thought he had his life all neatly compartmentalized and organized to have his way with his older brother – again – he got slammed by God. Really? Did Jesus before His incarnation show up as a Night Ninja? It appears so. And this was not Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild! He took Jacob through an agonizing ordeal that only ended with the dawn. Jacob was exhausted and clinging to life, but truly was never more fully alive. Jacob could now say with Paul, “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2.20).  The claim of God’s Covenant was on this man, and no matter what it took, God would bring Him into that blessing. Do we need that kind of tough love from our Heavenly Father too?

Genesis 36 - A Boring Bit of the Bible

Genesis 36 - A Boring Bit of the Bible?

Well, this list of strange names in Genesis 36 is not riveting! I usually skip these when reading through Scripture. But even this text is “God breathed and useful” (2 Timothy 3.16). These were great names of their day, yet today we can’t even pronounce them.  How short and unnoticed a life can be. History is vital to the people of God; it is His story of His world. We see that Esau’s personal decision to turn from God launches a whole nation that does not know Him! But God knows even their names. They are outside of His Covenant, but not his compassion. They are made in His image, and potentially reachable with the Gospel – if we cared to reach out to them. “Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD's” (Obadiah 21).