Daily Devotional Podcasts

12_Add to your faith perseverance Gen 16:1-3 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. Heb 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. The Bible’s honesty about the lives of its characters, with their triumphs and failures, is unmatched. It does not sugarcoat failure, rather laying bare the struggles, mistakes, and lessons of those who came before us. This authenticity is paired with God’s high standards for life and godliness. Thus, the scriptures reflect the very character of God, whose foundation is truth. Truth is not just a moral ideal but the essence of God Himself and the bedrock of love. In Genesis 16:1–5, we witness faith, perseverance, and the dangers of taking matters into our own hands. Abram and Sarai were given an extraordinary promise: their offspring would become a great nation. Abram received this promise at the age of 75, a testament to its miraculous nature. Ten years passed with no sign of a child. The delay tested their faith, and they faltered. Sarai suggested that Abraham go in to Hagar, her maidservant, thus giving Sarai a surrogate child through her. This was culturally acceptable in those times, and seemed a practical thing to do in view of her advanced age. Yet, failure to seek God’s perspective resulted in a bad decision that led to tension, jealousy, and lasting consequences. The truth is that God does not need our help to fulfill His promises. His plans are perfect, and His timing is impeccable. The promises of God are not limited by human capacity or lifespan. They are established in eternity, and their fulfillment is certain, though often beyond our understanding. We must resist the urge to interpret or twist God’s words to fit our limited perspective. Abram and Sarai’s choice reflected a momentary lapse in faith. Yet it was God’s ultimate plan that prevailed. The child of promise was to come through Sarai. In so doing, God affirmed the sanctity of monogamous marriage. Just as importantly, he emphasized the importance of faith in his ability to do exactly what he had promised. We often experience perplexing and painful delays. However, they are never arbitrary. Joseph went from being a favored son to a slave and prisoner through what seemed like a series of misfortunes. Yet each step was divinely planned for his preparation as one who would be in the right place and well equipped to save life. As a slave in the household of Potiphar, captain of the king’s guard, Joseph learned stewardship and leadership while being part of the

 11_Abraham our Father in faith Gen 15:5, 6 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Heb 11: 8-12 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. Faith is one of the most profound concepts in the Bible. Faith is the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built. Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Hall of Faith," highlights numerous Old Testament heroes who demonstrated this crucial quality. From Abel to the prophets, each name is a testament to the essence and essentiality of faith. Interestingly, among these, Abraham and Sarah are given an extended mention spanning 11 verses, illustrating the depth of their faith and the lessons it holds for us. Genesis 15 records a crucial moment in Abraham’s life, shortly after his victory over an alliance of four kings. Abraham had risked his life to rescue his nephew Lot who had been taken captive with the people of four kingdoms. Though he succeeded in recovering all the people and the possessions from the enemy, Abraham refused to take anything by way of reward from the godless king of Sodom. By doing so, he showed his unwillingness to be indebted to anyone but the God who had called him. This left him with no tangible gains and, perhaps, powerful enemies among the kings he had defeated, and the king of Sodom whose friendship he had just turned down. In this moment of vulnerability, God appeared to Abraham with a profound promise: "Fear not, Abram: I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward." These words underline the greatest truth on earth. Our security does not come from earthly possessions, alliances, or strength, but from the presence of God Himself. To have God as our shield is to have a defense greater than any army. God is a reward beyond the greatest treasure on earth. However, even as Abraham gladly received this assurance, his heart remained burdened. He had no heir to inherit the promises God had given him. In response, God called him out to view the night sky blazing with innumerable stars. There he reiterated His promise.

10_Who is our reward? Gen 14:18-24 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.” Samuel Morrison served God in Africa at the turn of the 19th century. He was returning to the United States after 25 years of service on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, returning after a brief hunting trip in Africa. When the ship docked in New York, Roosevelt was thronged with admirers bearing banners, with cheers, and much fanfare. He was given top security and a smooth passage through the docks, with a fleet of vehicles ready to whisk him away. In stark contrast, Morrison disembarked unnoticed, to head home alone, carrying his own luggage. Frustrated, he told God, “Lord, the President comes home from a few weeks on safari and is received with such honor. What about me? I’ve dedicated my entire life to your work, but nobody recognizes me!” These words came to his mind, “My son, you haven’t come home yet.” Morrison was both relieved and ashamed. Indeed, he had forgotten that his true home was still ahead, where he would receive an abundant welcome and an eternal reward. His thoughts became clear when he held an eternal perspective. Genesis 14:18-24 records a similar difference in viewpoint. The chapter records the first war in Scripture. In the lush Jordan Valley, four kings allied against a coalition of five. The latter, including the king of Sodom, had rebelled against their overlord, who marched against them with his allies and defeated them. He carried off all their people as captives and slaves, including Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who lived in Sodom. Hearing the news, Abraham sprang into action, marching with his 318 trained household servants on a rescue mission. Abraham could have sat still and done nothing. He could have reasoned that Lot had chosen his own path when he moved into the wicked city of Sodom. He could have convinced himself that it would be too dangerous and indeed futile to fight against this powerful alliance. He could have pleaded helplessness. Instead of resentment, self-righteousness, or fear, Abraham burned with zeal to rescue his brother. He held no grudges but trusted God to look after his welfare. “God has not given us the