Daily Devotions
Genesis
"For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds." Psalm 57:10
Text: Genesis 22:1-24
FAITH IN GOD VINDICATED
With great confidence, Abraham gave instructions to his servants to await his return.
“Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder
and worship, and we will come back to you.”GENESIS 22:5
Abraham’s faith in God was not in vain. Through direct Divine intervention, Isaac’s life was spared! A ram was provided and a burnt sacrifice was offered to the Lord. Abraham and Isaac came down from Mount Moriah, even more renewed in faith and trust in the Lord!
“So Abraham returned to his young men,
and they rose and went together to Beersheba;
and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”GENESIS 22:19
DWELLING IN THE PROMISED LAND
Twice, Abraham stepped out of the Promised Land. Firstly, he went to Egypt (Cf. Genesis 12). The Pharaoh took Sarah away while he lived there. His “mistake” is understandable. He had just begun walking with God. On the second occasion, Abraham dwelt in the land of the Philistines, in Gerar, more specifically. And once again, he had Sarah abducted. By the mercies of the Lord, no harm came to Sarah or to Abraham.
These episodes must have taught Abraham many important lessons too. It was important to ascertain where the boundaries of the Promised Land were. It was also just as important for him to dwell in the Land that God had given him! Abraham quickly decided that he would no longer dwell in Gerar but in Beersheba, the southernmost city of the Promised Land!
IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY
As much as Abraham was concerned about his nephew Lot, he must have been as concerned about his brother Nahor who did not come with him to the Promised Land. A brief mention of Nahor’s family was recorded in the Scriptures to show that Abraham kept in touch with his brother’s family.
“Now it came to pass after these things that it was
told Abraham, saying, ‘Indeed Milcah also has borne
children to your brother Nahor…
These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore
Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.”GENESIS 22:20-24
His brother Nahor, had altogether twelve children from his two wives! Abraham may only have had Isaac, but he was happy, for God had promised that He would bless his descendants! What could have brought greater joy to the heart than the promise of God’s blessings?