What is the significance of circumcision? (Gen 17:9-27)
Gen 17:9-27 A friend once had a medical appointment where the doctor made a pass at her. In response, she flashed her engagement ring at him indicating that she belonged to someone else. While engagement rings and wedding bands are…
Is the covenant with Abraham conditional? (Gen 17:1-8)
Gen 17:1-8 When her late majesty, Queen Elisabeth II died, many reminisced about former meetings with her in person. Some were initially nervous after they had been instructed in all the protocols around such an event, the dos and don’ts,…
The God who hears and sees (Gen 16:7-16)
Gen 16:7-16 During my student years, I became friends with an emotionally needy fellow student. When we decided to flat together, the details dovetailed so nicely, it seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity. A long-term friend warned me not to go…
How to respond when God is silent (Gen 16:1-6)
Gen 16:1-6 Guidance and the part we are to play in God’s will as a result is a difficult question of the Christian life. When we glimpse something of God’s plans, are we meant to wait for the Lord to…
Living with delay waiting in hope (Gen 15:7-20)
Gen 15:7-20 The proverb about deferred hope making the heart sick (Prov 13:12) often comes to mind when I am waiting for God’s promises. As we experience delay, we wonder, has God failed us? We may hope to overcome difficulties…
- Bible reading notes, Gen 12-25 (Abraham), Genesis, Reckoning Abraham righteousness (Gen 15:6), Topical
What does reckoning righteousness to Abraham mean (Gen 15:6)?
Gen 15:6 It is often said in the context of studying the Bible that we should ask first what a passage meant in its own context before applying it to our lives. For Christians, however, it is almost impossible to…
Trust in the God who overcomes (Gen 15:1-6)
Gen 15:1-6 Whenever I read Abraham’s story, it never fails to amaze me how he responded to God under circumstances that looked bleak. It reminds me of numerous occasions in my life when the chances of having something hoped for…
The significance of Melchizedek
Gen 14:18-20; Ps 110:1-7; Heb 5:5-10; 7:1-28 In my last post, I focused on the incident with Melchizedek within Abraham’s story (see my post Becoming people above reproach (Genesis 14)). This is important, I believe, because far too often we…
Becoming people above reproach (Genesis 14)
Gen 14:1-24 As an Old Testament lecturer, I spent some time on the doctoral board of a secular university representing the Bible college/seminary where I taught. The group was generally friendly on a personal level, so when a Christian proposal…
How to receive God’s promises (Genesis 13)
Gen 13:1-18 Over a year ago, just as Auckland went into a lockdown of over three months, my husband and I were bidding for a property in Christchurch. The house was attractive and seemed a good fit for our needs,…