Looking at Abraham and Isaac with a simple faith.

God promised Abraham that Isaac would have children.

Genesis 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, in effect, to kill Isaac.

Genesis 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Abraham tells his servants that he and Isaac will return.  He knew that, even though he planned on obeying God, that God would keep his promise (see 21:12 above).

Genesis 22:5  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Abraham fully planned on obeying God, trusting God, obeying god.

Genesis 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

God redeems his promise.

Genesis 22:11-12  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.   And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Genesis 22:16-18  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Abraham returns to his servants, with Isaac, just as he knew he would.

Genesis 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

God is more interested in our obedience than in our intentions and he rewards the faithful.

looking and finding answers

As "Christians", we sometimes stay in too small circles and allow our world view to be penetrated by thoughts, ideas and perceptions that fly in the face of our stated beliefs in God's Word and our disposition to follow Jesus.

Lately, in particular, I have been humbled and reminded of two important (Oh, so important) tenants of the Christian faith by my currently unbelieving daughter.

Gen 1:26  Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

1Co 13:4-7  Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,  does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,   does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We all would do well to remember and practice loving all the Image Bearers of God.

"the egg, final answer"

"As the geneticist J. B. S. Haldane remarked, "The most frequently asked question is: 'Which came first, the chicken or the egg?' The fact that it is still asked proves either that many people have never been taught the theory of evolution or that they don't believe it." With that in mind, the answer becomes obvious. Bird evolved from reptiles, so the first bird must have come out of an egg--laid by a reptile."

I don't make this stuff up, folks. There are people, "respectable" people, who actually believe this bunk and they teach it in the government indoctrination centers, aka public schools.

"John Lloyd and John Mitchinson have compiled "The Second Book of General Ignorance," a comprehensive collection of refuted general knowledge."

11 Common Myths You Thought Were True

"Many of us are familiar with the idea that the world's continents once fit snuggly together into one huge single supercontinent called Pangea.   What most of us don't know is that Pangea was only the seventh and last of a series of supercontinents that coagulated and split apart at regular intervals after the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago. Pangea existed between 550 and 200 million years ago--which is relatively recent in geological time. In fact, if the entire history of the world were expressed as a week starting on a Monday, Pangea would only have appeared early on Sunday morning.    The very first supercontinent was called Vaalbara and it started forming more than 3.6 billion years ago."

I want to talk to someone who was there to witness this event.  Oh, wait, I do!

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."  ~ Genesis 1:1-2

BibleGateway.com

The Huffington Post

"competent christian vs competent non-christian"

In an interview with CNN, mega church pastor Robert Jeffress said Republicans shouldn't vote for White House hopeful Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon and described the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a "cult".

Are Mormons a "cult"?  Based upon the Biblical standard of one true God, they are not a "Christian" denomination as defined by the protestant faith.  Their "Jesus" is not  Jesus, the Biblical Son of the One True God, but another man altogether.  Their religion is based upon the premise that man may become "god", by following the precepts of their faith.  They may well follow  " a Christ", but he is not The Christ as defined in the Holy Bible.

Mormonism Research Ministry

Stepping back to the central question of whether or not  a Bible believer should vote for a Mormon, or for any non-Christian, I think we need to separate our intentions.  Are we electing a civil leader or a religious leader?  The Constitution is quite clear that our government shall establish no religion" and "no religious test shall ever be required" for public office; I think we need to set the issue aside unless and until we can make a clear determination of "who follows what".  At least, in Romney, we know what we're getting, as opposed to so many "Christians on the surface" who vote and represent us in a manner clearly contradictory to the teachings of the Bible.

Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


Article Six (part three) - The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

That being said, I would not cast a ballot for an avowed atheist because this candidate clearly would be an immoral person and that would be reflected in every decision he or she made.  "Immoral" in this context is  defined by me as subscribing to no definable standard of conduct.

If the choices are a "hypothetical christian" (as in Obama) vs a "cult christian", (as in Romney), I think we have to let the issue of religion drop and look to their platform on the issues alone.  Clearly, from the perspective of a protestant Bible believer, neither candidate will reflect the God of Abraham and Isaac, God the Father, "I Am".

"And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants."  ~ Genesis 28:13

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."  Exodus 3:14

grace

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."   ~ Genesis 6:5-8

Noah found favor; grace.

The Lord gave grace to Noah; grace for God's children is an established characteristic of God.

God was graceful.

God is graceful.

God is grace.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace, for your mercy, for your kindness, for your love fo me.
 
Undeserved, grace poured out, and mankind is saved to begin anew.

to veil or not to veil

Recently a friend asked for an explanation of these verses. 

     "(3) Now I want you to know that Christ is the head over all men, and a man is the head over a woman. But God is the head over Christ.  (4) This means that any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head brings shame to his head.   (5) But any woman who prays or prophesies without something on her head brings shame to her head. In fact, she may as well shave her head.  (6)  A woman should wear something on her head. It is a disgrace for a woman to shave her head or cut her hair. But if she refuses to wear something on her head, let her cut off her hair.   (7) Men were created to be like God and to bring honor to God. This means that a man should not wear anything on his head. Women were created to bring honor to men.
     (8) It was the woman who was made from a man, and not the man who was made from a woman.   (9) He wasn't created for her. She was created for him.   (10) And so, because of this, and also because of the angels, a woman ought to wear something on her head, as a sign of her authority.
     (11) As far as the Lord is concerned, men and women need each other.  (12)  It is true that the first woman came from a man, but all other men have been given birth by women. Yet God is the one who created everything.
     (13) Ask yourselves if it is proper for a woman to pray without something on her head.  (14)  Isn't it unnatural and disgraceful for men to have long hair?  (15) But long hair is a beautiful way for a woman to cover her head.   (16) This is how things are done in all of God's churches, and that's why none of you should argue about what I have said." ~ 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

God created man in His order, for His purposes.  He created man first and then woman, to be a partner, a mate, a counterpart.

"(18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  (19)  And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.   (20)  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.   (21)  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  (22)  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  (23)  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.   (24)  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. "  ~ Genesis 2:18-24

In 1 Cornthins 11:4-7, Paul tells us that man was created to "be like God"; the head covering is a customary sign of authority.  God has no authority over Him and man, by this custom, should stand like God, uncovered.  Woman, under man's authority, wears the customary covering as a sign of man's authority over her.

Should a modern woman cling to verse five as a requirement that she should keep her head covered while praying?   In my opinion, no; I believe this is a reflection of the customs of the Jewish peoples and is not a mandate for today.  That being said, I could be wrong, and, as in all things, it must be decided between each person and God.

Our focus of these verses, in my opinion, should be on 11 & 12.  "(11) As far as the Lord is concerned, men and women need each other.  (12)  It is true that the first woman came from a man, but all other men have been given birth by women. Yet God is the one who created everything."

On another note, verse 14 seems to debunk all modern depictions of Jesus.

vs 1-2 actually are an ending to chapter 10.
vs 3 God's order
vs 4 & 7 man not to let anything come between him and God, stand uncovered
vs 5,6,10 head covering is a customary sign of man's authority over woman
vs 8-10 God's order
vs 11-12 key verses for all of us
vs 13-16 customs of the time
vs 14 debunks all modern paintings of Jesus with long hair
 
Summation: God created a natural order of man in authority over woman; the head covering of a woman is a customary sign of respect to man, in that time. Our focus of these verses, in my opinion, should be on 11 & 12.

Also read Ephesians 5
 

Enjoy the Word!

get up and go

"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."  So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.  Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.." ~ Genesis 12:1-5

God was asking a lot of Abram; asking him to give up all he knew and blindly, obediently, follow God's leading into the unknown.  Abram packed it up and left and the rest is history.  A nobody became a somebody and the world was blessed through Abrams obedience.

"The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.  Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.  Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.   Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.  Jesse was the father of David the king. ¶ David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.  Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.  Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.   Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.  Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.  Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.  Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.  Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah."  ~ Matthew 1:1-16

Bayless Conley, in his weekly devotion, The Place of Blessing, makes this case and this point, "Pursue your purpose. That is the place of God’s blessing.".

We won't find our purpose sitting on the sideline or moving in a direction of our own making.  We must listen, submit, obey and follow God.  That's not always easy, but it does always end up in God's blessing.

Be blessed.


Scripture references:
Genesis 12:1-3
Matthew 1:1-16

Standing In The Gap

Derek Prince provides a quick and decisive lesson on intercession.

Lesson link: The Teaching Legacy of Derek Prince: Standing in the Gap.

Excerpt:

"Ezekiel 22:23–31 records a different scene - similar to the last one in that it portrays the sins of God’s people, yet it is different in that no intercessor was found to stand between the sin of the people and God’s judgement.

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her [the land of Israel]: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst... Her priests have violated My law... Her princes in her midst are like wolves... The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy... So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them.”

All sections of the population had utterly failed— prophets, priests, princes, people. Each of these stands for a certain element in society. The “prophets” are those responsible to bring a message direct from God. The “priests” are the leaders of institutional religion. The “princes” are the secular rulers. The “people” are the rest of the population, the common people. The order in which these four
elements are listed is significant. The process of decay began with the spiritual leadership; then the secular government was corrupted; finally the whole nation was affected. (This has been the order in modern America and many other nations.) Even though every part of society was corrupted, the situation was not yet hopeless. God looked for one man, an intercessor, to stand in the gap and make up the hedge so that He could spare the whole nation. But because He could find none, He poured out
upon them His indignation and “consumed them with the fire of [His] wrath.” One man—one intercessor— could have saved an entire nation from judgement!"

Scripture References:
1 Timothy 2:1
Isaiah 53:12
Luke 23:34
Hebrews 7:25
Genesis 18:20-33
Exodus 32:7-14, 32-35
Psalms 106:19-23
Numbers 16:41-47
Ezekiel 22:23-31

the Word

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-5   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Revelation 1:8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

The Word is Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ, Messiah, Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  He has always been there for us, is with us now and shall remain with us to the end.  He waits for each of us to know Him, to accept Him and to enjoy His company.

Enjoy the Word.

www.standontherock.org

All bible verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), courtesy of The Lockman Foundation.

Was the serpent depicted in Genesis 3 just a snake, or was it Satan?

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.  And he said to the woman, ..."  Genesis 3:1 NASB

Eve did not appear to be surprised to hear the serpent speak and the serpent is described as "crafty", depicting purposeful intelligence and design.

How is this?  Did all animals originally speak, or just this one?

Strong's Concordance lists the word "crafty" as arum, described as "cunning (usually in a bad sense): - crafty, prudent, subtil."  In a fashion, the serpent is depicted as having the ability to distinguish right from wrong and to make informed choices.

Interesting.

I am aware that in traditional Christianity we ascribe the serpent's abilities as being due to possession by Satan, but I can't find biblical confirmation of that.

Most point to the depictions of the serpent in the book of Revelation, but I see that the word translated into English (according to Strong's) as "serpent" is "ophis",  "(through the idea of sharpnessof vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan: - serpent".

Not a reference to a snake at all, but rather to Satan's personality.  In other words, it appears that the characteristics of a snake are being given to Satan and not the reverse!

Why would God curse the serpent if it was acting solely under the influence of Satan?  Genesis 3:14-16

Thoughts?

The first instance I have found recorded in the Bible of one person praying for the healing of another is found in Genesis 20.

God tells Abimelech in a dream that he should return Abraham's wife to him and that Abraham will pray for him, God's curse against him will be removed and he and his family will live.

Gen 20:7 "Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.

Gen 20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, Gen 20:18 for the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife."

Our Father has long used the prayers of His children to affect the lives of others in this world.