Gen 12-25 (Abraham)
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,…
Learning about God’s grace that overrules (Gen 12:10-20)
Gen 12:10-20 Have you ever faced momentous decisions and wondered, what if I make a mistake? What if I get it wrong in my choice and I mess up God’s plan for my life? What if I marry the ‘wrong’…
The challenge of God’s call (Gen 11:27-12:9)
Gen 11:27-32; 12:1-9 A Chinese friend’s son decided at eighteen not to continue with study but go into business and earn money instead. His parents wished him a university degree and a career with better long-term prospects than his entrepreneurship.…
Introduction to the patriarchal narratives (Gen 12-50)
The narrative of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs from whom the people of Israel descended, as well as the events around Joseph, are the better-known stories of the Old Testament, perhaps remembered from Sunday School. The story line follows…