I thoroughly enjoyed reading this passage about Hagar crying out to God after her and her son are sent away, I can't imagine how she must've felt. In the wilderness no less?! God HEARD HER CRY and made her a promise! He didn't leave her or Ishmael!
"So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."
â€â€Genesis‬ â€21‬:â€14‬-â€18‬ â€
Genesis 20-21 What stands out to me about these chapters is how Abimalech and his people were not God fearing- they didn't believe in God, but God spoke to him in a dream and told him if he didn't let Sarah go, that he would die. God also told Abimalech that Abraham would pray for him and that he would live as long as she was let go. It said that Abimalech rose rarly in the morning and told his servants about God speaking in a dream and about what He had spoken and the servants were afraid. So later on, when Sarah was released, it came to pass that Abraham prayed for Abimalech and his wife, and his maid servants would be healed so that they could bear children. They went from having no fear of God to know that He's real and being afraid to come against Abraham (I don't know if they surrendered their lives to Christ yet). Also, I thought it was kinda neat how Abraham and Sarah ended up being blessed with silver and cattle and was told that they could dwell anywhere on the land Abimalech had. Two things that resonates with me is 1: the sovereignty of God and 2: God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We see God was in the details showing non believers to beleive, and making provision for Sarah and Abraham.
Acts 10 is a tremendous transition in the ministry of Peter and in the ministry of the Gospel. Peter is shown in a dream by God that the Gospel is also for the Gentile. Peter receives an invitation right after this dream to go to the house of Cornelius. Jewish men did not keep company with Gentiles. But Peter was obeys the Lord, travels 30 miles between Joppa and Caesarea, a trip that would take at least two days. Peter takes with him six Jewish believers to go as witnesses, three times the official number needed. Peter is seeking to be above reproach. I love it! When Peter arrives, he finds that Cornelius has gathered friends and family to hear the message of Peter. Even before salvation, Cornelius is seeking to witness. Peter preaches a very good, gospel sermon about the death and resurrection of Christ! All of the household of Cornelius come to Christ. Not because of the quality of sermon, but in verse 44, the Holy Spirit comes down upon all who heard the Word. The Holy Spirit is the key! Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives, our homes, our churches! Amen! The Holy Spirit is Who brings about eternal fruit, not the words of man! Praise the Lord for giving us the Holy Spirit and His power resides in us! Sounds like God wants to do something great in us, that He might do something great through us!
3 Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this passage about Hagar crying out to God after her and her son are sent away, I can't imagine how she must've felt. In the wilderness no less?! God HEARD HER CRY and made her a promise! He didn't leave her or Ishmael!
"So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."
â€â€Genesis‬ â€21‬:â€14‬-â€18‬ â€
Genesis 20-21 What stands out to me about these chapters is how Abimalech and his people were not God fearing- they didn't believe in God, but God spoke to him in a dream and told him if he didn't let Sarah go, that he would die. God also told Abimalech that Abraham would pray for him and that he would live as long as she was let go. It said that Abimalech rose rarly in the morning and told his servants about God speaking in a dream and about what He had spoken and the servants were afraid. So later on, when Sarah was released, it came to pass that Abraham prayed for Abimalech and his wife, and his maid servants would be healed so that they could bear children. They went from having no fear of God to know that He's real and being afraid to come against Abraham (I don't know if they surrendered their lives to Christ yet). Also, I thought it was kinda neat how Abraham and Sarah ended up being blessed with silver and cattle and was told that they could dwell anywhere on the land Abimalech had. Two things that resonates with me is 1: the sovereignty of God and 2: God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We see God was in the details showing non believers to beleive, and making provision for Sarah and Abraham.
Acts 10 is a tremendous transition in the ministry of Peter and in the ministry of the Gospel. Peter is shown in a dream by God that the Gospel is also for the Gentile. Peter receives an invitation right after this dream to go to the house of Cornelius. Jewish men did not keep company with Gentiles. But Peter was obeys the Lord, travels 30 miles between Joppa and Caesarea, a trip that would take at least two days. Peter takes with him six Jewish believers to go as witnesses, three times the official number needed. Peter is seeking to be above reproach. I love it! When Peter arrives, he finds that Cornelius has gathered friends and family to hear the message of Peter. Even before salvation, Cornelius is seeking to witness. Peter preaches a very good, gospel sermon about the death and resurrection of Christ! All of the household of Cornelius come to Christ. Not because of the quality of sermon, but in verse 44, the Holy Spirit comes down upon all who heard the Word. The Holy Spirit is the key! Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives, our homes, our churches! Amen! The Holy Spirit is Who brings about eternal fruit, not the words of man! Praise the Lord for giving us the Holy Spirit and His power resides in us! Sounds like God wants to do something great in us, that He might do something great through us!