UNFOLDING THE WORD
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple
(Psalm 119: 130)
Lot had chosen all the green Jordan Valley, not knowing the danger that awaited him. What Lot could not see was that war and destruction was soon coming in those regions! So from our passage, we see:- a) The idolatrous hunger for power. b) The desires that hold us in captivity. c) The king who rescues us from captivity.
What do we do when God’s promises and our circumstances don’t seem to match? God had promised to give the promised land to Abram’s offspring. But when Abram arrived in Canaan, the land was full of Canaanites. Abram’s faith is now going to be tested by a severe trial. In our passage, we see: - a) The faith that is tested by famine. b) The consequences of our unbelief. c) The Lord who comes to our rescue.
As we come to ch. 12, God is going to call Abram and bless the nations. Later, Israel would learn that their nation was founded through Abram who heard God’s call and left for Canaan. So from our passage, we see:- a) The call of God to be a blessing. b) The faith that walks in obedience. c) The offspring who fulfills God’s promise.
After the Lord rescued Sarai from Pharaoh, Abram, Lot and Sarai left Egypt with great riches. But as they came up from Egypt, their possessions began to create conflict in their family. From our passage, we’re going to see:- a) The struggle for power in the family. b) The pursuit of peace in the family. c) The seed of redemption in the family.
Last week, we saw how Noah and his family survived the waters of judgement because God kept His promise. In the garden, God had commanded Adam and Eve to multiply over the whole earth. And He had commanded Noah to do the same. By this time in our passage, the fresh start given to the human race by Noah had already been compromised. Instead of spreading, people began to settle down. So from our passage, we’re going to see:- a) The city that is set against God. b) The Lord who came to the city. c) The city God is building for us.
By now, God’s world had turned into a place of conflict and rage. Even as the human race began to make progress, the world had begun to see increasing corruption and violence. In our passage, we see:- a) The hearts that grieve God’s heart. b) The blameless one who walks with God. c) The door that saves from judgement.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed pleasure in God’s presence. But now, even childbearing would become painful. Work, which was without sweat, now had thorns and thistles. So what happened as they were cast out of God’s garden? In our passage, God’s world would become:-- a) A place of conflict and rage. c) A place of counsel and warning. c) A place of violence and grace.
The garden God planted was a perfect place of life and beauty, abundance and human flourishing, freedom and fruitfulness. It was a place where man enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. But what happened when man was put to the test? In our passage, we see that the garden was also:- a) A place of tragedy and shame. c) A place of hiding and blame. c) A place of curse and redemption.
New Year’s day in Japan (last week) is called Ganjitsu or Gantan. Each year, many Japanese travel to shrines and temples to pray for blessings for the year ahead. But the God of the Bible does not live in temples made by human hands. In fact, Genesis is the book of origin. Moses' purpose in writing (1440 b.c or 1260 b.c) was to show Israel their origins. So from our text, we see that:- a) God comes first before everything. b) God’s goodness is seen in all His creation. c) God made us in His image for His glory.
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