Faithfulness

Sketched X Day 15 Coming Home

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 46:1-7
Genesis 46:28-47:12
Genesis 50
Romans 8:28
Revelation 21:3-4

Sketched X, Day 15

It was a day I thought I’d never see . . .

As I lay at the bottom of the well expecting to die;
as I came to grips with my new life of servitude in Egypt;
as I sat in jail, imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit;
even as I knew success as governor of Egypt:
I never thought I would see my father again.

But, to my delight, after I finally revealed my identity to my brothers, Pharaoh told me to send them to get my father and the rest of the family. He offered them the best of the land of Egypt as their home. I could hardly wait to be reunited with my father at last.

I’ll never forget the moment I saw him. It was overwhelming. Both of us wept as we embraced one another, neither of us wanting to let go. So many years had passed, but the love between us had endured. He had believed me to be dead, and I had been unsure whether he was still alive. The pain brought by the years apart was eclipsed in an instant at the joy of being together again.

My father told me how God had spoken to him on the road to Egypt:

“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.” (Genesis 46:3-4)

It reassured me that in the mess of our family’s complicated story, God was sovereign. He had gone before us, He was with us, and He had a good plan for us. We had seen God’s faithfulness.

There were many happy times together in Egypt in the years that followed. My brothers worked as shepherds, and I successfully led Egypt through the remaining years of famine. Our family grew and flourished.

It sounds like this should be the end of the story, the part where “they all lived happily ever after,” but of course real life doesn’t work out like that. My father was growing old, and all too soon, the time came for him to join his ancestors in death.

We had seventeen years together in Egypt; a blessing I never dared dream possible. My father saw his grandsons and blessed them; his final years were filled with joy and gratitude at having the whole family together once more.

Before he died, my father asked to be buried with his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. He had never forgotten God’s promise all these years, “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back.” (Genesis 46:4)

Although he had prospered during his years in Egypt, Canaan was his home, the land God had promised, and he knew God would be faithful to His word. So, after seeking permission from Pharaoh, my brothers and I set out to lay our father to rest at home.

On our return to Egypt, I was surprised to receive a message from my brothers asking my forgiveness for how they had mistreated me. Didn’t they realise I had forgiven them long ago? Although I had assured them of this even before our father came to Egypt, it seems there was some lingering doubt causing them to speculate that now our father had died, I might decide to take my revenge!

I was overcome with sorrow at how worried they were, at how they must have tormented themselves over the years. Their actions were wrong and caused me great suffering, but, looking back, I see how, even in hardship, God was working for good. He led me to Egypt and put me in a position where I could save the lives of many people.

Through all that happened, God had been with me. How could I hold a grudge? I had known God’s kindness, the kindness  intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), and I was more than happy to offer that same kindness to my brothers.

I comforted them and promised to care for them and their children, and I think this time they saw my sincerity.

As I look back over my life, I marvel at how God has worked and I’m grateful for how He has brought my brothers and me to this place of peace and flourishing. I trust God will keep His promise to bring my family back to Canaan one day, but I also look beyond Canaan to the day I will be reunited with my father again, forever this time, when we will dwell together with God at the great heavenly homecoming, the true happy ending.

“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched X Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched X

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched X Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Giving us a bit of Joseph’s story from Genesis, Sarah pointed out how his story shares similarities with Moses’ life. Neither of these men felt ready to speak on the behalf of others, but God equipped them fulfill His plans in His way. I completely relate to feeling unequipped. As I write, I’m preparing for a conference where my words will be critiqued as part of a focus group. Impostor syndrome and fear rises up strong inside and I need truth to anchor me and the Spirit to equip me. I am comforted in knowing that long before I began penning these very words, God knew I would need the reminder of His constant presence through the narratives of Moses and Pharaoh. How wonderful to be so fully known by the God of the Universe! While Joseph may have felt he had no voice and was incapable and forgotten, He was given protection and favor from the Lord. Where have you seen the Lord give you favor and protection even if it didn’t come in the same way you expected? Even in the midst of struggle, Joseph grew in his awareness of being given Divine gifts to be used for God’s glory. What a great reminder! Even when we don’t see God working in our lives, we can choose to trust His work! What specific struggle are you facing that you need to lean into the truths God is specifically providing for you? How do you feel knowing He is providing for you with loving intentionality?

2) Pharaoh didn’t know the Lord God, but still, Yahweh gave him a dream in order to lead Pharaoh to know Him. Through someone outside the people God had chosen for Himself, God continued to build His plan of redemption. God’s invitation for wholeness and forgiveness is for all people. Everyone who is currently a believer in Jesus was, at one point, rebelling against the Lord. Every believer in Jesus who currently walks in deep faith with the Lord was, at one point, wading in the shallow waters of unbelief and wrestling with doubt. We each have a faith journey and the Lord is intent on pursuing every heart that we might turn to Him and experience the blessing of redemption and the abundance of life He offers. We only see a small portion of Pharaoh’s faith journey and we don’t know if he ever surrendered himself to Yahweh, but we do know the Lord used him and invited him to know Him more deeply. Where have you seen the Lord do the same in your life? Who has He used to get your attention? What has been your response? What would it look like for you to grow in trusting Him and His design for your life?

3) Rebekah provided us with another snapshot of Joseph’s life in yesterday’s Journey Study. Because of the Lord’s goodness, years of slavery and imprisonment eventually gave way to Joseph holding the position of Pharaoh’s right-hand man. Pharaoh trusted Joseph implicitly with nearly everything in his kingdom. Even when it came to interpreting Pharaoh’s own dreams, he trusted Joseph and his faith in the One True God. While Pharaoh may not have ultimately worshipped Jehovah, Pharaoh knew Joseph’s faith to be genuine and he trusted his relationship with God and he proved it by believing Joseph’s interpretations. Through all the betrayal and harsh realities in his life Joseph kept his eyes on God, even if he wrestled with doubt along the way. How often do we question God’s plans for our lives or even His active presence? When have you felt forgotten by God?  Whether we are in a pit or a prison, whether our suffering is the result of another’s actions or our own, we still have the option to choose God’s steadfast character or reject Him. Joseph’s long wait as slave and prisoner grew his faith and prepared him to save an entire nation through his reliance on the Lord. If we choose to surrender to the Lord, He will use our suffering to prepare, refine, and redeem us for His future work. Only God knows those plans and we must trust even when we can’t see Him.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Psalm 105:10-12 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

When they were few in number,
very few indeed,
and resident aliens in Canaan
wandering from nation to nation
and from one kingdom to another,
he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their behalf:
“Do not touch my anointed ones,
or harm my prophets.”

Prayer Journal
Lord, Your word shows us that throughout history, it didn’t matter whether Your people were large or small in number, Your love and protection held fast. We know too, that we don’t need to be one of Your prophets, have an extra special anointing, or a particular platform to earn Your attention; You lovingly pursue each of us.

We are surrounded by armies we can’t see and are protected from our enemies by Your hand of love. You still hold us despite our erring ways. You still walk beside and before us even in hard times, desiring to show us more of Your heart and love for us in our everyday lives. We know that without You in our lives our situations would be impossible. Because You are present with us and call us Your own children, You have equipped us by Your Spirit to extend your love and faithfulness to others. Make us effective in this work of reflecting Your love to others! We praise You for being kind and good at all times!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
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Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend! ~ Whole Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) A beautiful thing about God is His inclination toward mercy and forgiveness. He’s the purest embodiment of love, and we are made in His image! (Genesis 1:26) God shows us the ultimate act of love when Jesus died on the cross for our sin then resurrected, reconciling us to God so we may live with Him eternally. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Eternal life with Him starts now and He has called us to spread the news of this ministry of reconciliation to lost souls in this life. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21) If we view our daily interactions and conflicts through this lens, forgiveness and mercy will come naturally. We have all been hurt and we have all hurt others, but with God as our example, we can reconcile our relationships. Challenge yourself to understand why someone may have wronged you; ask questions and communicate your pain to them. If you wronged someone else, listen to them and allow them to feel heard. This creates a space to restore what was broken and move forward with love and hope rather than hate and fear. Remember, we are each more similar to one another than different, and often, we share the same fears.

2) Faith cultivates hope and hope presses us into action. The Bible overflows with beautiful promises of God and, as we place our faith upon His trustworthy word, He calls us into action. By studying the visions of Living Water and the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1-7), we allow ourselves to be filled with the Lord’s joy and urgency of our mission. We must trust God’s timing and recognize our duty today to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. He commands us to spread the news of the Gospel and the Ministry of Reconciliation to the ends of the earth while we still have time! (Matthew 28:18-20) How do we begin this enormous task with our God’s Spirit living inside us and our brothers and sisters in Jesus linking arms together around the globe? Don’t overcomplicate it; invest in those around you. Perhaps it means volunteering at local soup kitchens and shelters, donating items and time, mentoring troubled children, or tithing at church. Or it may look like reaching out to someone at work or in your Bible study and spending intentional time with them. It can look like prayer groups and coffee dates and serving at church. Jesus made an impact by investing in people; let’s follow His example!

3) “Sonder” is an informal word (not in the dictionary) meaning the realization that each person, even strangers passing by, have a life as complex as one’s own. Every human being has a story; each has a past and a future; each has made mistakes, found success, and will do so again. Jesus came to forgive it all. In each of their stories these brave women shared, we see how difficult expressing pain and sorrow can be, but God is present. (Psalm 147:3; 34:17-18). In their stories, we realize we aren’t alone in our doubt and stress, but God is present (Philippians 4:7). We all struggle with worry and anxiety, especially when plans don’t go as we expect, but God is present (Matthew 6:34). Through others’ stories, we remember we are not alone, but we’re also reminded how God is moving in our lives. I challenge you to share how God has made you whole with someone in the next week and experience the joy of God’s stories in us used for His glory. Who knows what doors and fruitful conversation will open when we share about Jesus!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7-9; 16-18 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed…Therefore do not give up…For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Prayer Journal
Yahweh, life has been heavy lately for all of us. There is brokenness in this world we each feel. In this, remind us how desperately incomplete we are without You!

As loved ones and strangers alike inflict pain on me, Lord, please give me a heart that reflects Your love. You delight in mercy (Micah 7:18), and it was Your Son who taught us to forgive tenfold, not for the purpose of counting tallies against our brothers and sisters who hurt us, but with the knowledge that You forgive us everyday for our own sins. (Matthew 18:22, 35) You are the only One who can make our spirits feel whole, God, and I want so badly to show others what wholeness in You looks like!

When my mind and body grow weary in suffering, simplify my thoughts, God, and focus them on Your sweet, unending, incomprehensible love, Lord. Be my strength in these times of trouble and straighten my path so my steps do not falter. (Psalm 37:31, 39-40) I pray for my brothers and sisters in this same way, that we may be blameless in Your eyes, Yahweh. May it be as You’ve said that on the day of judgement, we will know You and will be made whole, praising You in all Your glory. It is in Your Son’s name I pray this, Amen.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Champion Day 11 Just An Ordinary Girl

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Micah 5:1-6
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2
John 2:1-11

Champion, Day 11

“Mary, did you know,
When you kiss your little baby,
You kiss the face of God?
Mary, did you know,
Your baby boy is Heaven’s Perfect Lamb
The sleeping Child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am!”
(Mary, Did You Know? Mark Lowry)

Just a girl. Young. Uncertain. Fearful.
An ordinary girl. Chosen. Faithful. Qualified.
As we continue to study God as our champion, we’ll see Him at work in Mary, an ordinary Hebrew girl.

Common.
Just a common girl from the “fork in the road” city of Nazareth, Mary was not well-known among her people, but was seen by her God. She was like us, sometimes fearful, very uncertain, but chosen by the One Who created her in His image. (Genesis 1:27)

When she was visited by Gabriel and informed she would bear the long-awaited Messiah, Mary was “deeply troubled.” (Luke 1:29) How could this be? Me, chosen by God, to carry the Messiah? 

While she was most likely familiar with God’s promise of a Rescuer, could Mary truly understand how God would work through her, an ordinary girl, to save the whole world?

Birthed in Bethlehem and nurtured in Nazareth, Jesus was also raised in a very ordinary way. He was common among His people, but soon would be rejected by His own. But Jesus already knew what those around Him could not; His death was the plan of the Heavenly Father! Jesus was chosen to fulfill God’s plans to save the world.

Like Mary, we may not be well-known, but sisters, each one of us is seen by our God!
The One who has promised us “a future and hope” in Him! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Commissioned.
The custom in Mary’s time was for mothers to teach their children at home. Mary was taught not only household tasks, but also about Scriptures and the long-awaited coming of the Messiah. She knew of and believed in God’s promises, including His promises to her through Gabriel. God had appointed her to be the virgin who would carry His Son. (Isaiah 7:14)

Mary’s acceptance showed her love for Messiah and her true surrender to His plan. Mary’s embrace of her commission led to Jesus’ Greater Commission of discipling and teaching the Eleven to share salvation’s story to all who would listen. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Competent.
Only through God was Mary capable of fulfilling God’s promise. She was to be the vessel to birth the Promised One, Immanuel (Luke 1:31-32). The Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the child born would be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). When Mary surrendered to God, He made her competent.

Even with Mary’s uncertainty, she did not waver in saying, “May it happen to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) In just nine verses (Luke 1:30-38), she surrendered her life and her fears to God’s plan, replying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Her willingness to be obedient to God was EXTRA-ordinary!

Even knowing what awaited Him at the cross, Jesus also chose surrender to the Father.
“Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”(Matthew 26:39)

With His life, He surrenders unto His Father, so we could have eternal life. His willingness to go to the cross was extravagant!

Committed.
From birth to death, Mary was devoted to her Son. She treasured and meditated on her experiences around His birth in her heart (Luke 2:19), and she watched Him grow in stature and wisdom throughout His childhood. (Luke 2:52)

During His earthly ministry, Mary naturally walked beside her Son. She was at the wedding of Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. (John 2:1-5) The obedience of His own mother was evident as she instructed the disciples to do whatever He asked. Finally, she looked on as her Son suffered on the cross. She remained committed to the end. Or was it the beginning?

Mary was obedient to God’s call. She was willing to do all God said, despite uncertainty.
She fully surrendered her fears, and her life, to the One Who created her.

Mary’s life drastically changed with Gabriel’s declaration over her life, but even so she praised her God for His faithfulness. (Luke 1:46-55) Her life was interwoven with one distinct and very important variable, God! The Same God Who chose Mary is the same God Who chose her Son, Jesus, to go to the cross.

In like manner, God chooses us. Even in our ordinary lives, God is the One Who makes all things possible! (Matthew 19:26) He can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary when we surrender our everything to Him!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Champion Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Champion!

Champion Day 2 The Barren And Broken: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Barren And Broken!

The Questions

1) In verse 27, what is Paul referencing by beginning with “instead”?

2) What does God view as important and how is it described by Paul in verses 27-30?

3) According to verses 28-31 what is the purpose of God’s different perspective?

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world- what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption 31 —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Original Intent

1) In verse 27, what is Paul referencing by beginning with “instead”?
Practicing reading backwards to understand a verse or set of verses is extremely important in studying Scripture, but especially when we encounter a word like “therefore” or “instead” signaling how the previous writing ties directly to the next passage. Every time we open His Word, we should practice this study habit so it becomes our natural response to rightly understanding God’s Word. Prior to this passage, in verse 18-26, Paul compares the world’s wisdom with God’s wisdom. With tongue-in-cheek, he speaks of God’s “foolishness”, which of course doesn’t exist, for nothing about God is foolish, but he uses this linguistic tool to make an emphatic point. Even if God did have a hint of foolishness about Him, it would still be infinitely wiser than humanity’s best wisdom. (verse 25) When Paul reaches verse 27, he intended the reader to recognize that God doesn’t follow the course of earthly wisdom. He turns worldly wisdom on its head, proving that only by divine wisdom and perspective, could it be conceivable for a holy God to rescue sinful humanity.

2) What does God view as important and how is it described by Paul in verses 27-30?
Paul explains that God has chosen what seems foolish in this world to shame the wise and He’s chosen what is weak to shame the strong for the purpose of humanity to realize they cannot save themselves. (Romans 3:10) No amount of worldly wisdom, strength, generosity, or human ability can save us from our sins. Yet, in our own pride we assume we can save ourselves. (Psalm 10:3-4) But, God’s definition of wisdom and strength points all glory and boasting to Himself because Only He can save; our rescue comes from Christ alone. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

3) According to verses 28-31 what is the purpose of God’s different perspective?
God desired to bring what the world deemed as nothing into a place of honor and glory. Paul describes the heart and mind of humanity in this passage by highlighting our tendency to boast about our knowledge and our strengths. Paul pits this against Christ’s entrance into the world and the incredible humility He displayed. Christ, being both fully God and fully man, having all wisdom and knowledge and power, defied all human logic by laying it down, putting on flesh, and dwelling with humanity. Jesus embodied the pure wisdom that comes from above (James 3:13-18) which stands in stark opposition to human wisdom; this humble manner of living by God’s wisdom is to be imitated by all who are in Christ. (Philippians 2:5-11) He became our standard from which to boast. If we boast, we boast about Him and how He saved us. (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Everyday Application

1) In verse 27, what is Paul referencing by beginning with “instead”?
God’s ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) The beauty of the Gospel is that it simply does not make sense to us. God calls the barren and broken of the world to serve as His champions of grace. Instead of calling the best and strongest, He invites the heavy laden and the weak to come to Him. (Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10) During His earthly ministry, Jesus actively chose to speak and live in unconventional and counter cultural ways. He ate with tax collectors and hung out with prostitutes to transform not only their earthly lives but also their heavenly position before God. (Luke 19:1-10, Mark 2:13-17) He touched the forbidden and unclean lepers and, although a very real physical healing took place, spiritually healing was at the heart of His encounters. (Matthew 8:1-4) He intentionally sought out the outcast, the lonely, and the ostracized of society in order to minister to them, saying, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick…”. (Mark 2:17) In God’s wisdom, He sacrificed His own Son to make a way of salvation for sinners who neither deserved mercy nor could earn righteousness. He designed for Holiness to take the punishment for the wretched in order that light could enter the darkness of this world, and that none could boast, insisting they had somehow contributed to their salvation. (John 3:14-21) The lost in the world, those without the Light of Christ living inside them, stumble over God’s righteousness and wisdom out of rebellion, rejecting it as ludicrous. But when we submit to His wisdom, we recognize God and the rightness of His ways (Hosea 14:9), which brings about our humility and repentance.

2) What does God view as important and how is it described by Paul in verses 27-30?
God intentionally chooses what the world views as weak to share His truths. In one encounter found in the Gospel of Luke, the rich leaders of the city were dropping money into the offering by the bag full. Then a poor widow gave what little she had, and Jesus noticed. Human convention would watch that scene and applaud the leaders for their generosity because the amount they gave was seemingly so significant. Yet, Jesus commended the widow for her small amount, because her sacrifice was more significant than the surplus of the wealthy. He called on the people of the city to emulate her, a poor widow. (Luke 2:1-4) Jesus did not look at the amount given but the heart behind the gift. (Psalm 51:16-17) Throughout history, God chooses the smallest, the weakest, and what the world sees as incapable to champion His purposes. (Matthew 18:1-5)

3) According to verses 28-31 what is the purpose of God’s different perspective?
Ultimately. God wants His people to be set apart and accomplish His purposes in His power, wisdom, and strength. God’s grace is sufficient for this work, and as Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Only in our brokenness, and our recognition of it, are we positioned to fully rely on God. In our self-sufficient world full of self-promotion, self-ambition, and self-centeredness the idea of humility and sacrifice is foolishness, but in that foolishness God’s purposes are championed. Our spiritual barrenness requires reconciliation with the one true God and Jesus provided a way for this as He gave Himself up for us. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

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Catch up with The Barren And Broken!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Champion Week One!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

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Worship X Day 12 From Eternity To Eternity: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)

Psalm 103

1 My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.

3 He forgives all your iniquity;
he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit;
he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things;
your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The Lord executes acts of righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes,
and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity
the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,
and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant,
who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord,
all his angels of great strength,
who do his word,
obedient to his command.
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies,
his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works
in all the places where he rules.
My soul, bless the Lord!

Original Intent

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)
David’s psalm expounds on the blessing of receiving God’s benefits and he praises Him for these. (verses 1-2) David knew when he focused on blessing the Lord, he was aligning his heart with worship and inviting others to do the same. (verses 20-22) The first two blessings of David’s psalm are God’s forgiveness and healing. (verse 3) David had experienced the Lord’s forgiveness in a very personal way on many occasions, but most notably in the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. He not only committed adultery with her, but abandoned his job, manipulated others to cover his tracks, and committed murder. While David suffered the consequence of losing his firstborn son (2 Samuel 12:13-14), he understood God’s mercy on him. (Psalm 51) For many cases of sin, the Old Testament law allowed blood sacrifices to be made at the temple to pay for sin. God initiated this system to create a visual for the cost of death required for sin. However, it could be easy for sinners to reduce forgiveness to a simple exchange without true repentance and heart change. Simply bring a sacrificial offering to expunge your sin, and escape God’s wrath and righteous judgment for your sin. With an attitude like this, the offender missed how God was also healing their relationship with Him by offering forgiveness. Every sin separates us from the Holy God; His forgiveness offered because of a required blood sacrifice brought healing to the relationship. However, God did not limit His healing to relationships, but also brought physical healing as a demonstration of His good character and love. Much like He would later do in the New Testament, and even today, God extended healing to display His glory and bless His people. (Exodus 15:26, Psalm 147:2-3, Jeremiah 30:17)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)
Verse 4 sings of God’s benefits, “He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.” In Old Testament time, Israelites didn’t have the benefit of reading the New Testament’s details on afterlife, but there was an understanding that God was ruler of life and death. (Daniel 12:2-3) Sheol, or the Pit, were common names for a “holding place” after death, much like we would say “grave”. Both wicked (Psalm 9:17, Psalm 31:17) and righteous (Genesis 37:5, Psalm 16:10) were held here. (Got Questions) To be declared righteous in the Old Testament required strict adherence to Old Testament Law, which included the Ten Commandments. When someone failed to follow the law, a blood sacrifice was required to pay for their transgression. Ultimately, Israelites understood it was God’s sacrificial system, and it was He who showed mercy when they sinned. It was only God who could redeem them. While David was certainly singing about God’s eternal redemption of souls from the dead in verse 4, he was also likely recalling God’s deliverance from Israel’s slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 13-14) David ties together the benefits of redemption from death with God’s faithful love and compassion, for God’s redemption is made possible because of God’s unchanging character. God is, and always has been, a God of faithful love. (1 John 4:16, Psalm 136) From creation, His love for humanity is displayed as He provided for every need with magnificent wisdom with His greatest show of love at Adam and Eve’s sinful rebellion. He could have justifiably killed Adam and Eve and started over; instead, He performed the first blood sacrifice by killing His own creation to provide a covering for them. (Genesis 3:21) Yes, He banished them from the Garden and they suffered consequences but He still protected them and provided for them.

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)
David had learned the lesson of delighting in the goodness of the Lord and he often wove the beauty of this benefit into his psalms. (Psalm 34:8-10, Psalm 107:5-9) He knew nothing else would satisfy him but Jehovah Himself, the Giver of all good things. (Psalm 103:5, James 1:17) In his life, David had looked in many places for satisfaction, often falling into sin in his efforts. Still, he always returned to the God who had never ceased His faithful love and benefit toward him; God became the steadfast source of satisfaction, leaving all other desires as meaningless in comparison. (Psalm 42) In verse 5, David chose language the prophet Isaiah would later echo to describe the strength of the Lord’s goodness. He likens an eagle to the strong renewal and restoration found in the good satisfaction of the Lord. (Isaiah 40:31) Like most birds, eagles molt, but for the eagle, it is like a second wind and a new beginning. David knew to Whom he could run to begin again and find vitality and strength.

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)
David’s words on blessing for the obedient in verse 18 are a common theme in the Old Testament. “The Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him.” (Deuteronomy 7:9) “Of those who keep His covenant and observe His precepts.” (Psalm 25:10) Blessings came to those who obeyed the Lord, which was often evidenced by physical blessings like wealth, land, or descendants. (Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 13:14-17) These blessings were a precursor to the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the New Testament, where the greatest of all blessing would be given, God Himself living within His people. In the New Testament, the focus of blessing shifts from tangible to spiritual. Jesus promised His followers they would have trouble and persecution for following Him. (John 16:33) Understanding this Old Testament mindset helps us understand David’s words more fully. Even still, David and many others in his time, understood the greatest blessing came not from temporary benefits but from an eternal relationship with Yahweh. Many in the Old Testament evidenced this deeper relationship as they walked with God like Elisha, Elijah, and Moses. Others communicated with God, but were mostly hearers of the word, not involved in a personal relationship with The Eternal Word. Largely, the average Israelite’s lifestyle revolved around obeying the Torah, which are the first five books of the Old Testament containing God’s Laws. Keep in mind, the Holy Spirit did not live inside them to actively engage, teach, and equip them to follow Him and, more importantly, know Him deeply. God displayed His faithful love toward those who faithfully obeyed Him. Knowing this helps us tremendously in understanding their perspective on blessing and obedience. Because of the example of those who went beyond obeying the Lord to knowing Him, we glimpse the greater blessing is the Lord Himself! It’s not just about obedience, but about a relationship with Him!

Everyday Application

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)
Benefiting from God’s forgiveness in the 21st century looks nothing like sacrificing animals under the Old Testament system. We have forgiveness in Christ Jesus, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) when He spilled His blood on a tree and took our curse of sin and its consequence of death. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13) If we repent of sin and surrender our hearts and lives to Him, accepting His offer of complete payment for our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us. (1 John 1:9). God’s eternal healing of our relationship that was torn because of our sin is offered to us because of Jesus! God also physically heals today, but there are many times He doesn’t. Either way, we can be confident His ways are for our ultimate good and His glory; He is neither cruel nor haphazard. (Romans 8:28) When God doesn’t physically heal us, His good character isn’t negated. He has a plan and sometimes earthly healing isn’t part of that plan; His wisdom is boundless and wrapped in goodness and love. (Proverbs 2:1-10) Even the disciples couldn’t always heal people. (Mark 9:28) Paul himself was plagued by a ‘thorn in the flesh’.  The Lord used Paul to preach the gospel around the world and used his letters to speak to believers for generations to come. Even so, God didn’t heal him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) As long as we live in a broken world, we will suffer from disease and illness. Whether He heals us or not, God is merciful through every aspect, never abandoning us. (Isaiah 41:9-10)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)
Sometimes we think of redemption as taking revenge for a wrong done against us or someone we love. This, however, isn’t a biblical definition of redemption from God’s perspective. The original word for redemption literally means “to buy back”. Sin earns us a place of eternal death, and we become slaves to Sin and Death. The author of Hebrews writes, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. (Hebrews 9:22) Christ shed His blood to redeem us by paying the blood debt we owe for our sin. He buys us back from the grip of sin and sets us free to obey and enjoy Him forever! Sister, even now, He has redeemed your life from the Pit! He has redeemed you from eternal death and instead offers you eternal life. His compassionate, faithful love has compelled Him to offer Himself for you, and to hold Himself out to you in spite of your sinful rebellion. If we come to Him, accept His gift, and surrender ourselves to Him by calling Him our Lord and Savior, He “crowns you with faithful love and compassion”. We become His; we become the redeemed. Only a merciful, compassionate God would humble Himself to give up His life for us, the rebellious ones. (John 15:13) He loves us like a Father, adopting us as His own if we will throw ourselves upon Him in faith. (Romans 8:14-17) Christ loves the Church (all believers) like a bridegroom; we are His bride! (Revelation 19:7) While we wait for the marriage supper in Heaven (Revelation 19:9), we can rest and bask in His love on Earth.

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)
Like David, and the rest of humanity, we are never fully satisfied in life. We are always striving, always seeking, perpetually chasing new, better, different, and more wonderful.  We may sense a fleeting satisfaction in our lives at any given moment of pleasure, temporary peace, a “job well done” accomplishment, or simply a “good day”.  We can all attest, however, none of these wonderful sensations last very long. The relationship hits a snag, the finances bottom out, the dynamics change at work, or we feel unsatisfied in the monotony of life. This emptiness, and the nagging longing for more reveals a hole in our spirit only the Lord Jesus Christ has the ability and fullness to satisfy completely. Blaise Pascal, a 17th century mathematician, called it a “God shaped hole”.  No job, however successful, no relationship, however fulfilling, no ______fill-in-the-blank-anything, no matter how good, will ever fill the void that only a relationship with Christ Himself can satisfy. If you are struggling with the raw edges of this emptiness but cast it off thinking you are “fine” and don’t need anyone or anything else, I urge you, look deeper. This hole in your spirit is meant to be filled to overflowing. God, who is rich in mercy and faithful love, will answer your need to fill it up if you call out to Him. (Psalm 23:6, Jeremiah 33:3)

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)
Christ came to fulfill the law, perfectly obeying it for us because it’s impossible for us to be perfect in obedience. (Romans 8:3-4) While Jesus provided many examples of what living for Him looked like, He was actively flipping the mindset tables for Israel. A relationship with God no longer needed to be attained through obedience to the Law, the Law’s requirements had been fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17) When pressed by experts of the Law on which law was the most important, Jesus spoke of loving God and loving others. (Matthew 22:35-40) The relationship that was missed by so many in the Old Testament, but was accessible through the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is available to you and I because of Jesus. This is why Christ gave Himself on the cross for our redemption. His payment for our sin was not only to rescue us from sin’s consequence of eternal death and give us eternal life (John 3:16-17), but to give us direct access to a deeply satisfying relationship with Him. He did this by sending His Spirit to actively live inside all who put their trust in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. The Spirit is our constant Comforter and wise Teacher for He is God Himself! He is available to us! Today, in this moment, all who follow Christ have the power to walk with God because He walks with us! We can talk with Him now because His presence never leaves and His ear is ever compassionately bent to hear. And if we listen closely enough, learning His rhythms and His voice through His word, He will speak to us. No greater benefit exists, certainly nothing like land or inheritance can surpass the blessing of knowing and intimately speaking with the Lord God!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Worship X Day 11 From Eternity To Eternity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103
Deuteronomy 6:10-12
Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Psalm 25:8-11
Isaiah 40:28-31

Worship X, Day 11

Day 1
As I sit to write today’s Journey Study, physical and emotional tiredness are my companions. Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day and His mercies are new every morning.

“[Your mercies] are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:23)
His promise allows me to let the events of the day drain away while focusing on the truth found in His Word.

The truth in Psalm 103 is a solid reminder while my body is ready for rest and a new day, His mercies for today are still active.

“My soul, bless the LORD,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
My soul, bless the LORD,
and do not forget all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1-2)
Tiredness begins to melt away as my focus shifts from myself to the truth of the Lord. The tension in my shoulders eases as I ponder His benefits.

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” (Psalm 103:8)
Thank You, Lord, for Your compassion, grace, and slowness to anger. I am so undeserving of those, especially today when I failed to extend the same to my husband. Please forgive me.

“He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)
Thank You for Your forgiveness, for not repaying me according to what I deserve.

“He satisfies you with good things;
Your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:5)
Thank You for renewing my youth and my strength, so I can “run and not become weary [. . .] walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31) when I wait on You. This, too, is one of Your mercies for today. Help me wait on You and experience Your energizing presence.

Lord, You have poured out so many benefits, yet how often do we fail to thank You for all the ways You demonstrate Your love towards us?

I’m not sure I actually want to answer that question.
But I can choose to make tomorrow and each subsequent day different.

Day 2
I set alarms today on my phone. Four of them.
When they sounded throughout my day, I intended to pause and focus on the Lord and the truth of Psalm 103.

When the first alarm rang, I remembered my conviction, paused to say a quick thank You for my current blessings, and continued on with my day.

A short while later I snapped at my husband in conversation and the words of Psalm 103:2 wafted through my mind, “do not forget all His benefits.”

Ugh. My fleshly heart rebelled at the gentle conviction of the Lord through His Word.

My study of this verse revealed connections to Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 6:12 reminded the Israelites, in the midst of their materiel bounty,
“[B]e careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”

Two chapters later, Deuteronomy 8:11 reiterates,
“Be careful that you don’t forget the LORD your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today.”

Understanding began to dawn. I’d said thank you to the Lord for His benefits to me with the first alarm, but quickly forgot Him by failing to follow His commands to show His mercies to others.

With the next alarm, my heart posture stretched a bit deeper.

Thank You, God, for forgiving me. Please help me to demonstrate my love for my husband and respect him with my words and tone.

This encounter with the Lord didn’t fade into the background of my day. Much like the eased tension of the previous night, my emotional and physical reactions softened. I sensed the Holy Spirit within me, helping me as I surrendered more fully to Him.

The third alarm was set for late afternoon. Reflecting on the impactful second alarm, I felt anticipation growing. What would You speak to me during this moment of encounter, Lord?

As I waited for late afternoon to arrive, the words of Psalm 103:17 lovingly wrapped themselves around my heart.
“But from eternity to eternity
The LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him[.]”

Psalm 25:10 echoes,
“All the LORD’s ways show faithful love and truth
To those who keep his covenant and decrees.”
He is faithful to us now, and promises His faithfulness will extend to eternity.

This brought such hope to my heart; no matter the circumstances awaiting us in this lifetime,
if we seek the Lord, He will faithfully walk with us.

We can thank Him for the hard times with confidence.
We can rejoice in today.
We can praise Him for all of His benefits.

In the Lord’s divine multiplication, when we praise Him
from the depths of who we are
for who He is, He is honored and we are helped.
He is worthy of worship now and for eternity!

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Sacrifice Day 15 Demo Day

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Galatians 2:15-21
Romans 6:6-11
Ephesians 4:20-24
Colossians 3:1-11
Isaiah 43:18-19

Sacrifice, Day 15

“God, break my heart for what breaks yours.”

I knew I needed to pray those words but was hesitant to say them out loud to God. I had been thinking about it for some time, but always hesitated. I didn’t want to say the words without fully meaning them, and to me, they were scary words, ones I associated with doing something hard for Jesus like moving to a different country or becoming heavily involved in some ministry that would drastically change my life.

What caught me off guard was how much surrendering would be involved, how much tearing down would be needed.

“If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” (Galatians 2:18-21)

In order for something to be rebuilt, the old must first be torn down.
For me, this meant in order for God to answer my prayer, many of my old thoughts, habits, and patterns for living had to be torn down and surrendered to Jesus. I had to be willing to give up control and allow Him to work in ways that didn’t make sense to me.

Think for a minute about what it is to tear something down. My mind goes to the typical “Demo Day” we see on home refurb shows. Swinging sledgehammers, ripping cabinets off walls, cutting through wires and pipes. In a word, destruction. But the home builders know the old must go to make way for the new and improved.

The same is true for us.
God must tear down the old to make way for the new. Often, the tearing down can be painful and seem like nothing but destruction. But our Savior is not content with “good enough.” He wants all of us, all the time. Imagine our Father God rolling up His sleeves and getting to work in our spirits, pulling out sin-twisted desires, behaviors, and idols to make way for the light and space and freshness of His holiness.

Romans 6:6-7 reiterates, “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin.”

When I did ask God to break my heart for what breaks His, He began to strip away much that filled me with pride and status. Jobs were lost, relationships were broken, and health issues requiring rest seemed to come in wave after wave.

In the midst of the hardest times, I could not understand what was happening or why, but God, in His faithful goodness, slowly but surely allowed me to understand He was clearing the way to rebuild something I would never have imagined.

Stop living the old way, chasing sin and its desires. Instead, let God do His work and show you a new, better way. Allow God to build within you a life in which you are like Him.
(Ephesians 4:22-24, my paraphrase)

I’m not gonna lie, complete surrender is hard.
Waiting is hard.
At times, I said, “God, what is happening? I already learned this lesson!” God would graciously show me how I was still holding onto my ways where He wanted complete surrender.

I can also honestly say I cannot imagine what my life would be like today if I had not uttered that prayer.

My life with God in charge is oh-so-much better than the one I was building for myself. The broken friendships have been replaced with much deeper and richer friendships. There are new jobs, new ministries, new routines, and much more; God’s ways are indeed the better way!

So go ahead, friends! Whisper that big, scary prayer.
Ask Jesus to pry your fingers loose from their death-grip on control and the parts of your heart made dull, dusty, and lifeless by sin. In full surrender, turn to embrace the new life He is building in you, believing that even when the work is hard and the journey is long, “He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

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Sacrifice Day 6 The Blood Path

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 15:1-21
Mark 14:22-24
Romans 4:13-25
Hebrews 6:13-20

Sacrifice, Day 6

As Abram gathered the animals for the sacrifice, he must have done so with trepidation.

This would be no ordinary sacrifice. He was preparing to enter into a covenant, a binding agreement, with the Almighty God. This was a serious matter.

Abram knew he was unworthy. He had always been unworthy. His life had been spent worshipping idols until his encounter with the true, living God changed everything, prompting him to step out in faith and obedience leave his homeland, Ur, to travel to Canaan. (Genesis 12:1-4)

Since then, Abram had seen God’s faithfulness. God had led him to Canaan, blessed him, and promised him an abundance of descendants. His words to Abram had always been full of grace and encouragement, and Abram believed God, despite the seeming impossibility of the promise.

Even so, Abram felt uneasy. He knew he was far from perfect. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked God for reassurance about His promise. (Genesis 15:2-3, 8) As he gathered the cow, the female goat, the ram, the turtledove, and the pigeon God required, he was all too aware of their fate, and he began to ponder his own fate for failing the covenant.
Who was he to make a covenant with God?

Then came the part he was dreading the most, cutting the animals in half. As the blood of the animals was splattered and spilled and he arranged half of each animal to line either side of a small ditch, allowing the blood to pool, Abram reflected on the covenant into which God was directing him to enter. To seal a covenant, both parties would walk the path of blood, symbolising how, if they broke the terms of the covenant, they too could be slaughtered like the animals.

Here was the cause of his fear: Abram doubted his ability to keep the covenant. What would happen to him if his choices failed to honour God? Deep down, he knew that it wasn’t so much a matter of “if” he would fail, but “when.” At some point, it was inevitable.

God, however, was fully aware of Abram’s unworthiness, still He also knew his faith, and it pleased Him. (Hebrews 11:6) He had seen Abram’s faith in action as Abram responded to the call to leave his home and step into the unknown. God knew that despite his imperfection, Abram trusted His promises, and God had a plan. Faith would save where works could not. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

God knew that Abram would never be able to keep the terms of the covenant. If it depended on Abram’s goodness and his ability to keep the moral law, it would certainly fail. God knew that the only way to preserve Abram’s family line and this covenant promise was for Him to walk the blood path for both of them.

So, as darkness fell, God put Abram into a deep rest while allowing him to see the vision of what He was about to do on Abram’s behalf. The silence of night surrounded Abram and the ground where blood gathered became sacred as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch passed between the pieces of the animals; God secured His promise by His own faithfulness. Smoke and fire are common symbols of God’s presence in the Bible, e.g. the smoke on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:17-19) and the burning bush where God met with Moses (Exodus 3:1-2). Here, they represent God walking the path of blood. God alone.

How relieved Abram must have been to find that he was not required to walk the path, to discover that the covenant did not depend on his own faithfulness but on God’s, and therefore, it could not fail. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Abram would have a child, and, despite enduring 400 years of slavery, his descendants would return to possess the land. (Joshua 1:1-9)

All of this pointed ahead to a day when an even greater sacrifice would be made; when, in Jesus, God sacrificed Himself. (John 19) As blood dripped from His thorn-crowned head and poured from the nail-wounds piercing His hands and feet, He sealed His promise forever

And He secured the hope for all who trust in Him that we, like Abram’s descendants, would one day be brought home, not simply to Canaan, but to the Promised Land of eternity where God and man would dwell together, free from sin’s entanglement. (Revelation 21:1-4)

For us, as for Abram, the good news is that this does not depend on our goodness, our ability, or our faithfulness. As He walked the blood path of incredible sacrifice, Jesus did all that was necessary.

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sacrifice Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sacrifice!