Each day Preacher RichD shares some of the insights from his Daily Bible Reading. You will notice his insights line up with Scripture, not within the box of a certain denomination.
Abram’s Solution to Land Conflict
There is disunity between the shepherds of Abram and Lot because the land could not support all the herds. So Abram suggests they choose different territories. But goes even further and lets Lot choose what land he wants to possess. Lot chooses what looks like the most fertile land. (Sodom) We find out later it was not the best choice. Makes you wonder if Lot had any idea of the type of people that were living in the more fertile land.
Genesis 13:9-13
9 Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 Lot raised his eyes and saw all the [f]vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt [g]going toward Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the vicinity of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. So they separated from each other.
Abram is Blessed by God
Abram is the older one and the richer one between him and Lot, yet he lets Lot choose the more fertile land. How did it benefit him? God tells Abram that he ultimately possess ALL THE LAND.
Genesis 13:14
The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now raise your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward, and eastward and westward;
War Breaks Out-Abram Intervenes
Several kings unite to go to war against Sodom, the land that Lot chose. Lot and all his possessions are captured. Abram takes all his trained men, 318, and rescues Lot and all his possessions. Truly the favor of God on Abram.
Genesis 14:12,16
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.
16 He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.
Blessing of God Upon Abram
Once again God reminds Abram that he is on Abram’s side and that he will be rewarded for his faithfulness to God.
Genesis15:1
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
[ao]Your reward shall be very great.”
The Promise of a Son
Abram’s reply to God is that how can he be blessed without a son. Look at God’s response-not the promise of a son, but as many descendants as the stars. Abram had faith and it was credited to him as righteousness. Can you out ask what God has for you if you ask in sincerity? God honors faith.
Genesis 15:2,5
4 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He credited it to him as righteousness.
Prophetic Word Given to Abram
God gives Abram a prophecy regarding the Israelites going into captivity in Egypt and that they will ultimately example with the possessions of the Egyptians.
Genesis 15:12-14
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, [be]terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your [bf]descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, [bg]where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
Adultery
Once again Jesus takes the law further-even lusting after a woman is committing adultery
Matthew 5:27-28
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Divorce
Divorce was rampant in Jesus’ time. He puts limitations on grounds for divorce.
Matthew 5:31-32
31 “Now it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who [f]divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [g]divorced woman commits adultery.
Faithful to Our Word
If we are people that do what we say we will do we do not have to make oaths, we just do what we say.
Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.
Do Not Take Vengeance
We are to return evil with good. Jesus is not saying we should let people take advantage of us or that there are no consequences for evil. Notice what is important is our response to evil done to us can reveal the mercy of God upon man. This passage must be read with all of Scripture which makes it clear that we are to stand for justice not just mercy.
Matthew 5″38-45
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Cry Out to God
When you are going through a time of trouble cry out to God for mercy.
See Psalm 6:1-10
The Dead Do Not Praise God
This passage says there is no mention of God by the dead and that the dead do not praise God. When it speaks of Sheol-it is the abode of the dead, both those who loved God and hated God. This passage would mean that death is like sleep, thus no one goes to heaven or hell when they die. It needs to be understood that this was before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Did things change once He was resurrected? Possibly. However, at the same time we know that the rewards for the saved and the White Throne Judgment of the wicked does not occur until after the Second Coming of Christ. So, until the Second Coming of Christ where is the abode of the dead? We will explore other passages regarding death as we come to them.
Pslam 6:5
5 For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol, who will praise You?
Consequence of Rejecting Wisdom
This is a very powerful passage. It is saying if a person rejects counsel that wisdom will mock them. In other words there will be terrible consequences if wisdom is rejected. It then states that once consequences come the person will cry out for wisdom it will not come. Why? Because they hatred knowledge and chose to not fear God so in reality they become blinded to wisdom.
Read Proverbs 1:24-33
These Insights are based upon the Daily Reading Plan from the TyndaleAudio’s The One Year Bible NLT. The bible verses are from the NASB.
#DailyBibleReading #BibleReading #PreacherRichD #BibleInsights #insights
