Day 19 of the 3rd Bible Study Journey - 19 January 2023 reflections
Day 19, 19 Jan 2023
1)
Gen 22-24
GENESIS 22
GENESIS 22
The Sacrifice of Isaac
1 (Heb 11:17; Dt 8:2)After these things God tested Abraham and
said to him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
2 (2Ch 3:1; Jn 3:16) Then He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac,
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there
as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
3 So Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his donkey,
and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son;
and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose
and went to the place that God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes
and saw the place from a distance.
5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. T
he boy and I will go over there and worship and then return to you."
6 (Jn 19:17)_So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering
and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand and the knife.
So the two of them walked on together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"
And he said, "Here I am, my son."
Then he said, "Here is the fire and the wood,
but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 (Jn 1:36; 1:29) Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself
the lamb for a burnt offering."So the two of them went together.
9 (Jas 2:21)Then they came to the place that God had told him.
So Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood;
and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood.
10 Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 (Ge 16:7; 16:9-10) But the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven
and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
12 (1Sa 15:22; Jas 2:21-22) Then He said, "Do not lay your hands
on the boy or do anything to him, because now I know that you
fear God, seeing you have not withheld your only son from Me."
13 Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behind him
was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. So Abraham went
and took the ram and offered him up as a burnt offering in the place
of his son.
14 (Ge 22:8; Ex 17:15) Abraham called the name of that place
The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day,
"In the mount of the Lord it will be provided."
15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time,
16 (Lk 1:73; Ps 105:9) and said, "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord,
because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son,
your only son,
17 (Ge 15:5; 24:60) I will indeed bless you and I will indeed multiply
your descendants as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that
is on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies.
18 (Ge 12:3; Ac 3:25; Ge 18:18) Through your offspring all the nations
of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
19 (Ge 21:31) So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. Then Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Sons of Nahor
20 (Ge 11:29; 24:24) After these things Abraham was told,
"Milkah has also borne children to your brother Nahor:
21( Job 1:1) Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
23 (Ge 24:15) Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah gave birth to
these eight to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore
Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maakah.
(Abraham was tested most of his life!
How many times are you being tested in your life?)
Genesis 22
[1] And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and
said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
[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.
[3] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took
two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the
burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told
him.
[4] Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar
off.
[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,
[6] And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac
his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both
of them together.
[7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he
said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
[8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt
offering: so they went both of them together.
[9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built
an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and
laid him on the altar upon the wood.
[10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his
son.
[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said,
Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] 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.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and
offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
[14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said
to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
[15] And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second
time,
[16] 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:
[17] 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;
[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because
thou hast obeyed my voice.
[19] So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went
together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
[20] And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham,
saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
[21] Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
[22] And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
[23] And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor,
Abraham's brother.
[24] And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and
Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Genesis 23
The Death of Sarah
1 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years.
These were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 (Ge 23:19; 13:18) Then Sarah died in Kiriath Arba
(that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
3 (Ge 10:15) Then Abraham stood up from before his dead and spoke
to the Hittites, From the Septuagint, a cloak with long sleeves,
a full-length cloak, or an embroidered cloak, showing favoritism. saying,
4 (Ge 17:8; 1Ch 29:15) "I am a stranger and a foreigner among you.
Give me property for a burying place among you,
that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
5 So the Hittites answered Abraham, 6 (Ge 24:35; 14:14) "Hear us, my lord.
You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest
of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place
that you may bury your dead."
7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land,
the Hittites. 8 He spoke with them, saying, "If it be your wish that I bury
my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat Ephron the son of Zohar
for me, 9that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns,
at the end of his field. Let him give it to me in your presence
for the full price for a burial site."
10 (Ge 34:20; 34:24) Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites;
and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites,
all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 "No, my lord. Hear me:
I give you the field and the cave that is in it. I give it to you
in the presence of the sons of my people. Bury your dead."
12 Then Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
13 Then he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying,
"Indeed, if you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money
for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there."
14 Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
15 (Eze 45:12) "My lord, listen to me. The land is worth four hundred shekels
of silver. (About 10 pounds, or 4.6 kilograms._ What is that between
me and you? So bury your dead."
16 (Jer 32:9; Zec 11:12) Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out
for Ephron four hundred shekels of silver, the price that he had named
in the hearing of the Hittites, according to the standard commercial measure.
17 (Ge 25:9; 50:13) So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah,
which was before Mamre, the field and the cave that was in it,
and all the trees that were in the field that were within all the
surrounding borders were deeded
18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites,
before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham
buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah
before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
20 (Ru 4:7-10) So the field and the cave that was in
it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites
as property for a burial place.
Genesis 23
[1] And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the
years of the life of Sarah.
[2] And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of
Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
[3] And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of
Heth, saying,
[4] I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a
buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
[5] And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
[6] Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of
our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his
sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
[7] And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even
to the children of Heth.
[8] And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury
my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of
Zohar,
[9] That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in
the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me
for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
[10] And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that
went in at the gate of his city, saying,
[11] Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is
therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it
thee: bury thy dead.
[12] And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
[13] And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land,
saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee
money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
[14] And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
[15] My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of
silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
[16] And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the
silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred
shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
[17] And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before
Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that
were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
[18] Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth,
before all that went in at the gate of his city.
[19] And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field
of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
[20] And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto
Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
(Even the Hittites respected Abraham)
Genesis 24
GENESIS 24
Isaac and Rebekah
1(Ge 13:2; 12:2) Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord
had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 (Ge 47:29; 39:4-6)So Abraham said
to his servant, the oldest of his household, who was in charge over all
that he had, "Please, place your hand under my thigh,
3(Ge 26:34-35; 14:22) and I will make you swear by the Lord,
the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take
a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4(Ge 28:2)But you shall go to my country and to my family,
and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5 Then the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing
to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from
which you came?"
6 Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.
7 (Ge 13:15; 15:18) The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's
family and from the land of my relatives, and who spoke to me and swore
to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He shall send
His angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8 (Jos 2:17-20)If the woman is not willing to follow you,
then you will be free from my oath. Only do not take my son back there."
9 (Ge 24:2) So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham
his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 (Ge 11:31; Dt 23:4) Then the servant took ten of his master's camels
and departed, for all the goods of his master were in his hand. And he
arose and went to the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.
11(1Sa 9:11; Ex 2:16)He made his camels kneel down outside the city
by a well of water in the evening when the women came out to draw water.
12(Ge 24:27; 26:24)Then he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
please let me have success this day and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13(Ge 24:43)See, here I stand by the well of water,
and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14(Jdg 6:17; 6:37) Let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say,
'Please lower your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she shall say,
'Drink, and I will give your camels water also'"
let her be the one that You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.
Then I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."
15(Ge 11:29; 24:45)Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah,
who was born to Bethuel, son of Milkah,
the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a pitcher on her shoulder.
16(Ge 26:7)The young woman was very beautiful to look at, a virgin,
and no man had ever been with her. She went down to the well and filled
her pitcher and came up.
17 (Jn 4:7) Then the servant ran to meet her and said,
"Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."
18 So she said, "Drink, my lord."
Then she quickly let down her pitcher to her hand and gave him a drink.
19 (Ge 24:14) When she had finished giving him a drink, she said,
"I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough
and ran to the well to draw water and drew for all his camels.
21(Ge 24:12)The man, gazing at her, remained silent,
trying to discern whether the Lord had made his journey a success or not.
22(Ex 32:2-3)When the camels had finished drinking,
the man took a gold nose ring of half a shekel weight(About 1/5 ounce, or 5.7 grams.)
and two bracelets for her wrists of ten shekels weight(About 4 ounces, or 115 grams. )
in gold, 23 and said, "Whose daughter are you?
Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
24(Ge 24:15; 22:23)She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel
the son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 Again she said to him, "We have both straw and provision enough,
and room in which to lodge."
26 (Ge 24:48; 24:52) Then the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord.
27(Ge 24:48; 24:12; 32:10)And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master
Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master.
As for me, the Lord led me to the house of my master's relatives."
28 So the young woman ran and told her mother's household of these things.
29 (Ge 29:5) Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban,
and Laban ran out to the man at the well.
30 When he saw the nose ring and bracelets on his sister's hands
and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,
"This is what the man said to me,"
he went to the man who stood by the camels at the well.
31(Ge 26:29; Ru 3:10) And he said, "Come in, blessed of the Lord.
Why do you stand outside?
I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
32(Ge 43:24; Jdg 19:21) So the man came to the house.
Then he unloaded his camels and gave straw and
provision to the camels and water to wash his feet
and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 He then set food before him to eat, but he said,
"I will not eat until I have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."
34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 (Ge 13:2; 24:1) The Lord has
greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy.
He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold,
and male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 (Ge 25:5; 21:1-7)Sarah my master's wife bore a son
to my master when she was old, and he has given to him all that he has.
37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You must not take a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.
38 (Ge 24:4) But you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives,
and take a wife for my son.'
39 "So I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
40 (Ge 17:1; 24:7)"Then he said to me, 'The Lord, before whom I walk,
will send His angel with you and prosper your way, and you will take
a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house.
41 (Ge 24:8) You will be free from my oath, when you come to my family,
if they will not give her to you; then you will be released from my oath.'
42 (Ne 1:11) "So today I came to the well and said,
'O Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
if You will now give me success in my task;
43 (Ge 24:13-14) I am standing by the well of water, and let it be that
when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her,
"Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
44 (Ge 24:14) and she says to me,
"Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"
let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.'
45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart,
there was Rebekah coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder;
and she went down to the well and drew water. Then I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
46 "She then quickly let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said,
'Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.'
So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also.
47"Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?'
"And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milkah bore for him.'
"So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48(Ge 24:26-27; 24:52) And I bowed down my head and worshipped the Lord,
and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me
in the right way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.
49(Ge 47:29; Jos 2:14)And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my
master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand
or to the left."
50 (Ge 31:24; 31:29) Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said,
"This thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good.
51 (Ge 24:15) Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go,
and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken."
52 (Ge 24:26; 24:48)When Abraham's servant heard their words,
he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.
53 (Ex 3:22; 11:2) Then the servant brought out jewels of silver and gold,
and clothing and gave them to Rebekah.
He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
54(Ge 24:56; 24:59)Then they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him,
and stayed all night.
The next morning they arose, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
55 But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain
with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."
56 So he said to them,
"Do not delay me, seeing the Lord has given me success.
Let me go that I may go to my master."
57 They said, "We will call the girl and ask her."
58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her,
"Will you go with this man?"
And she said, "I will go."
59 (Ge 35:8) So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse,
and Abraham's servant and his men.
60(Ge 17:16; 22:17)They blessed Rebekah and said to her,
"May you, our sister, become the mother
of thousands of ten thousands;
and may your descendants possess
the gate of those who hate them."
61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose and they rode on the camels
and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
62 (Ge 16:14; 25:11)Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi,
for he lived in the Negev.
63(Ps 1:2; 119:15)Isaac went out in the evening to meditate in the field;
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and surely the camels were coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel
65 and said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?"
The servant said, "It is my master." Therefore she took a veil and covered herself.
66 Then the servant told Isaac all the things he had done.
67 (Ge 37:35; 38:12)So Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah;
and he took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her.
So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Genesis 24
[1] And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed
Abraham in all things.
[2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over
all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
[3] And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God
of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters
of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
[4] But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife
unto my son Isaac.
[5] And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be
willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto
the land from whence thou camest?
[6] And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son
thither again.
[7] The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from
the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me,
saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before
thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
[8] And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be
clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
[9] And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and
sware to him concerning that matter.
[10] And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and
departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose,
and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
[11] And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of
water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw
water.
[12] And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good
speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
[13] Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men
of the city come out to draw water:
[14] And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down
thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I
will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast
appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast
shewed kindness unto my master.
[15] And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah
came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor,
Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
[16] And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any
man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and
came up.
[17] And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a
little water of thy pitcher.
[18] And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher
upon her hand, and gave him drink.
[19] And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for
thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
[20] And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again
unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
[21] And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD
had made his journey prosperous or not.
[22] And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took
a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of
ten shekels weight of gold;
[23] And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room
in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
[24] And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah,
which she bare unto Nahor.
[25] She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough,
and room to lodge in.
[26] And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
[27] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not
left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the
LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
[28] And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
[29] And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out
unto the man, unto the well.
[30] And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his
sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,
Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood
by the camels at the well.
[31] And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou
without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
[32] And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave
straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the
men's feet that were with him.
[33] And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat,
until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
[34] And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
[35] And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great:
and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and
menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
[36] And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old:
and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
[37] And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my
son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
[38] But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a
wife unto my son.
[39] And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
[40] And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel
with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my
kindred, and of my father's house:
[41] Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my
kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
[42] And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master
Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go;
[43] Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that
when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I
pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
[44] And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy
camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my
master's son.
[45] And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came
forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and
drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
[46] And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and
said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made
the camels drink also.
[47] And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The
daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the
earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
[48] And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD
God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my
master's brother's daughter unto his son.
[49] And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and
if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
[50] Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the
LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
[51] Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy
master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
[52] And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he
worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
[53] And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and
raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her
mother precious things.
[54] And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and
tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me
away unto my master.
[55] And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few
days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
[56] And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my
way; send me away that I may go to my master.
[57] And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
[58] And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man?
And she said, I will go.
[59] And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's
servant, and his men.
[60] And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be
thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate
of those which hate them.
[61] And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and
followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
[62] And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the
south country.
[63] And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he
lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
[64] And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off
the camel.
[65] For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the
field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she
took a vail, and covered herself.
[66] And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
[67] And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah,
and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his
mother's death.
1 Chron 1
The Generations of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 January 2023 entitled
But I'm Telling You
Matthew 5:43-48
Love for Enemies
Lk 6:27-28, 32-36
43 (Lev 19:18; Dt 23:6) "You have heard that it was said,
'You shall love your neighbor [Lev 19:18.] and hate your enemy.'
44 (Lk 23:34; Ac 7:60) But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 (Mt 5:9; Lk 6:35) that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 (Mt 5:20) And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing
more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 (Lev 19:2; Col 1:28) Therefore be perfect, even as your Father
who is in heaven is perfect.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour,
and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even
the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do
not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
"I know what they're saying. But I'm telling you . . ." As a boy, I heard
my mother give that speech a thousand times. The context was always peer
pressure. She was trying to teach me not to follow the herd. I'm not a boy
any longer, but herd mentality's still alive and kicking. A current example
is this phrase: "Only surround yourself with positive people." Now while that
phrase may be commonly heard, the question we must ask is:
"Is that Christlike?"
"But I'm telling you . . ." Jesus uses that lead-in a number of times
in Matthew 5. He knows full well what the world is constantly telling us.
But His desire is that we live differently. In this case, He says,
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). Later in
the New Testament, the apostle Paul uses that very word to describe guess who?
That's right: us-"while we were God's enemies" (Romans 5:10). Far from some
"do as I say, not as I do," Jesus backed up His words with actions. He loved
us, and gave His life for us.
What if Christ had only made room in His life for "positive people"? Where
would that leave us? Thanks be to God that His love is no respecter of
persons. For God so loved the world, and in His strength we are called
to do likewise.
By: John Blase
Reflect & Pray
When's the last time someone extended love to you when you weren't "positive"?
What's a tangible way today that you can show love to an enemy?
Father, it's tempting to surround myself with
only those who love me. But that's not living, at least not the kind
of living You desire for me. Help me to love even my enemies.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 5 When you pray
Mark 11:25
25 And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
"My prayer don't seem to be very effective," a man told his pastor." I try
to make contact with God, but my prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce
back."
The pastor thought for a moment, then gently suggested,
"Is there someone in your life you haven't forgiven?"
"What do you mean?" The man's face flushed; the pastor has obviuosly struck
a nerve. "Well, I guess I've had some struggles with my mother ... and then,
my wife, and I ... ." The hidden truth came to light: the man was bound in
unforgiving relationships with five of the closest people to him.
Forgiveness is an essential element in prayer. For a very good reason,
worship services in liturgical churches place the confession of sin and the
absolution near the beginning of the service, before the reading of God's
Word, prayer, and the sermon. Forgiveness - both the Lord's forgiveness
of us and our forgiveness of others - clears the way for unhindered
communication between God and his people.
When we carry anger and bitterness, or even deeply buried, well-subliminated
unforgiveness, into the presence of God, our prayers will be affected. We can,
however, free the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and the lives of others
through forgiveness. We can choose to forgive in light of God's forgiveness
of us. And when we do, the channels are re-established;
we can pray in power and open ourselves to an awareness of his activity
in our lives.
Application
a) Have my prayers ever been affected by unforgiveness in my life?
b) Is there someone in my life whom I need to forgive,
whether or not I can work toward?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul:
And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
19th Day of the Month
a) Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
(
1 Tim 2:1-2
)
b) Pray for the province of Prince Edward Island
I) Pray for the leaders of Prince Edward Island,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and seek His Will during times of testing.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, it's tempting to surround myself with
only those who love me. But that's not living, at least not the kind
of living You desire for me. Help me to love even my enemies."
Pray to the Lord and pray ot be earnestly forgiving.
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord and thank Hm who forgives your iniquities.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
Pray for the success of outreach activities for children in southern Mexico.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1)
Gen 22-24
GENESIS 22
GENESIS 22
The Sacrifice of Isaac
1 (Heb 11:17; Dt 8:2)After these things God tested Abraham and
said to him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
2 (2Ch 3:1; Jn 3:16) Then He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac,
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there
as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
3 So Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his donkey,
and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son;
and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose
and went to the place that God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes
and saw the place from a distance.
5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. T
he boy and I will go over there and worship and then return to you."
6 (Jn 19:17)_So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering
and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand and the knife.
So the two of them walked on together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"
And he said, "Here I am, my son."
Then he said, "Here is the fire and the wood,
but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 (Jn 1:36; 1:29) Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself
the lamb for a burnt offering."So the two of them went together.
9 (Jas 2:21)Then they came to the place that God had told him.
So Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood;
and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood.
10 Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 (Ge 16:7; 16:9-10) But the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven
and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
12 (1Sa 15:22; Jas 2:21-22) Then He said, "Do not lay your hands
on the boy or do anything to him, because now I know that you
fear God, seeing you have not withheld your only son from Me."
13 Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behind him
was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. So Abraham went
and took the ram and offered him up as a burnt offering in the place
of his son.
14 (Ge 22:8; Ex 17:15) Abraham called the name of that place
The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day,
"In the mount of the Lord it will be provided."
15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time,
16 (Lk 1:73; Ps 105:9) and said, "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord,
because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son,
your only son,
17 (Ge 15:5; 24:60) I will indeed bless you and I will indeed multiply
your descendants as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that
is on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies.
18 (Ge 12:3; Ac 3:25; Ge 18:18) Through your offspring all the nations
of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
19 (Ge 21:31) So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. Then Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Sons of Nahor
20 (Ge 11:29; 24:24) After these things Abraham was told,
"Milkah has also borne children to your brother Nahor:
21( Job 1:1) Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
23 (Ge 24:15) Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah gave birth to
these eight to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore
Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maakah.
(Abraham was tested most of his life!
How many times are you being tested in your life?)
Genesis 22
[1] And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and
said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
[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.
[3] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took
two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the
burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told
him.
[4] Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar
off.
[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,
[6] And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac
his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both
of them together.
[7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he
said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
[8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt
offering: so they went both of them together.
[9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built
an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and
laid him on the altar upon the wood.
[10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his
son.
[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said,
Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] 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.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and
offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
[14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said
to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
[15] And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second
time,
[16] 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:
[17] 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;
[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because
thou hast obeyed my voice.
[19] So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went
together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
[20] And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham,
saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
[21] Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
[22] And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
[23] And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor,
Abraham's brother.
[24] And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and
Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Genesis 23
The Death of Sarah
1 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years.
These were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 (Ge 23:19; 13:18) Then Sarah died in Kiriath Arba
(that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
3 (Ge 10:15) Then Abraham stood up from before his dead and spoke
to the Hittites, From the Septuagint, a cloak with long sleeves,
a full-length cloak, or an embroidered cloak, showing favoritism. saying,
4 (Ge 17:8; 1Ch 29:15) "I am a stranger and a foreigner among you.
Give me property for a burying place among you,
that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
5 So the Hittites answered Abraham, 6 (Ge 24:35; 14:14) "Hear us, my lord.
You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest
of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place
that you may bury your dead."
7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land,
the Hittites. 8 He spoke with them, saying, "If it be your wish that I bury
my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat Ephron the son of Zohar
for me, 9that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns,
at the end of his field. Let him give it to me in your presence
for the full price for a burial site."
10 (Ge 34:20; 34:24) Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites;
and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites,
all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 "No, my lord. Hear me:
I give you the field and the cave that is in it. I give it to you
in the presence of the sons of my people. Bury your dead."
12 Then Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
13 Then he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying,
"Indeed, if you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money
for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there."
14 Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
15 (Eze 45:12) "My lord, listen to me. The land is worth four hundred shekels
of silver. (About 10 pounds, or 4.6 kilograms._ What is that between
me and you? So bury your dead."
16 (Jer 32:9; Zec 11:12) Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out
for Ephron four hundred shekels of silver, the price that he had named
in the hearing of the Hittites, according to the standard commercial measure.
17 (Ge 25:9; 50:13) So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah,
which was before Mamre, the field and the cave that was in it,
and all the trees that were in the field that were within all the
surrounding borders were deeded
18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites,
before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham
buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah
before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
20 (Ru 4:7-10) So the field and the cave that was in
it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites
as property for a burial place.
Genesis 23
[1] And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the
years of the life of Sarah.
[2] And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of
Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
[3] And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of
Heth, saying,
[4] I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a
buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
[5] And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
[6] Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of
our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his
sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
[7] And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even
to the children of Heth.
[8] And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury
my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of
Zohar,
[9] That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in
the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me
for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
[10] And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that
went in at the gate of his city, saying,
[11] Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is
therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it
thee: bury thy dead.
[12] And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
[13] And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land,
saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee
money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
[14] And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
[15] My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of
silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
[16] And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the
silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred
shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
[17] And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before
Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that
were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
[18] Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth,
before all that went in at the gate of his city.
[19] And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field
of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
[20] And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto
Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
(Even the Hittites respected Abraham)
Genesis 24
GENESIS 24
Isaac and Rebekah
1(Ge 13:2; 12:2) Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord
had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 (Ge 47:29; 39:4-6)So Abraham said
to his servant, the oldest of his household, who was in charge over all
that he had, "Please, place your hand under my thigh,
3(Ge 26:34-35; 14:22) and I will make you swear by the Lord,
the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take
a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4(Ge 28:2)But you shall go to my country and to my family,
and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5 Then the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing
to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from
which you came?"
6 Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.
7 (Ge 13:15; 15:18) The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's
family and from the land of my relatives, and who spoke to me and swore
to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He shall send
His angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8 (Jos 2:17-20)If the woman is not willing to follow you,
then you will be free from my oath. Only do not take my son back there."
9 (Ge 24:2) So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham
his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 (Ge 11:31; Dt 23:4) Then the servant took ten of his master's camels
and departed, for all the goods of his master were in his hand. And he
arose and went to the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.
11(1Sa 9:11; Ex 2:16)He made his camels kneel down outside the city
by a well of water in the evening when the women came out to draw water.
12(Ge 24:27; 26:24)Then he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
please let me have success this day and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13(Ge 24:43)See, here I stand by the well of water,
and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14(Jdg 6:17; 6:37) Let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say,
'Please lower your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she shall say,
'Drink, and I will give your camels water also'"
let her be the one that You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.
Then I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."
15(Ge 11:29; 24:45)Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah,
who was born to Bethuel, son of Milkah,
the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a pitcher on her shoulder.
16(Ge 26:7)The young woman was very beautiful to look at, a virgin,
and no man had ever been with her. She went down to the well and filled
her pitcher and came up.
17 (Jn 4:7) Then the servant ran to meet her and said,
"Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."
18 So she said, "Drink, my lord."
Then she quickly let down her pitcher to her hand and gave him a drink.
19 (Ge 24:14) When she had finished giving him a drink, she said,
"I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough
and ran to the well to draw water and drew for all his camels.
21(Ge 24:12)The man, gazing at her, remained silent,
trying to discern whether the Lord had made his journey a success or not.
22(Ex 32:2-3)When the camels had finished drinking,
the man took a gold nose ring of half a shekel weight(About 1/5 ounce, or 5.7 grams.)
and two bracelets for her wrists of ten shekels weight(About 4 ounces, or 115 grams. )
in gold, 23 and said, "Whose daughter are you?
Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
24(Ge 24:15; 22:23)She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel
the son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 Again she said to him, "We have both straw and provision enough,
and room in which to lodge."
26 (Ge 24:48; 24:52) Then the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord.
27(Ge 24:48; 24:12; 32:10)And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master
Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master.
As for me, the Lord led me to the house of my master's relatives."
28 So the young woman ran and told her mother's household of these things.
29 (Ge 29:5) Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban,
and Laban ran out to the man at the well.
30 When he saw the nose ring and bracelets on his sister's hands
and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,
"This is what the man said to me,"
he went to the man who stood by the camels at the well.
31(Ge 26:29; Ru 3:10) And he said, "Come in, blessed of the Lord.
Why do you stand outside?
I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
32(Ge 43:24; Jdg 19:21) So the man came to the house.
Then he unloaded his camels and gave straw and
provision to the camels and water to wash his feet
and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 He then set food before him to eat, but he said,
"I will not eat until I have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."
34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 (Ge 13:2; 24:1) The Lord has
greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy.
He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold,
and male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 (Ge 25:5; 21:1-7)Sarah my master's wife bore a son
to my master when she was old, and he has given to him all that he has.
37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You must not take a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.
38 (Ge 24:4) But you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives,
and take a wife for my son.'
39 "So I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
40 (Ge 17:1; 24:7)"Then he said to me, 'The Lord, before whom I walk,
will send His angel with you and prosper your way, and you will take
a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house.
41 (Ge 24:8) You will be free from my oath, when you come to my family,
if they will not give her to you; then you will be released from my oath.'
42 (Ne 1:11) "So today I came to the well and said,
'O Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
if You will now give me success in my task;
43 (Ge 24:13-14) I am standing by the well of water, and let it be that
when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her,
"Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
44 (Ge 24:14) and she says to me,
"Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"
let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.'
45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart,
there was Rebekah coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder;
and she went down to the well and drew water. Then I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
46 "She then quickly let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said,
'Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.'
So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also.
47"Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?'
"And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milkah bore for him.'
"So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48(Ge 24:26-27; 24:52) And I bowed down my head and worshipped the Lord,
and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me
in the right way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.
49(Ge 47:29; Jos 2:14)And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my
master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand
or to the left."
50 (Ge 31:24; 31:29) Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said,
"This thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good.
51 (Ge 24:15) Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go,
and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken."
52 (Ge 24:26; 24:48)When Abraham's servant heard their words,
he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.
53 (Ex 3:22; 11:2) Then the servant brought out jewels of silver and gold,
and clothing and gave them to Rebekah.
He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
54(Ge 24:56; 24:59)Then they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him,
and stayed all night.
The next morning they arose, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
55 But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain
with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."
56 So he said to them,
"Do not delay me, seeing the Lord has given me success.
Let me go that I may go to my master."
57 They said, "We will call the girl and ask her."
58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her,
"Will you go with this man?"
And she said, "I will go."
59 (Ge 35:8) So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse,
and Abraham's servant and his men.
60(Ge 17:16; 22:17)They blessed Rebekah and said to her,
"May you, our sister, become the mother
of thousands of ten thousands;
and may your descendants possess
the gate of those who hate them."
61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose and they rode on the camels
and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
62 (Ge 16:14; 25:11)Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi,
for he lived in the Negev.
63(Ps 1:2; 119:15)Isaac went out in the evening to meditate in the field;
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and surely the camels were coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel
65 and said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?"
The servant said, "It is my master." Therefore she took a veil and covered herself.
66 Then the servant told Isaac all the things he had done.
67 (Ge 37:35; 38:12)So Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah;
and he took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her.
So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Genesis 24
[1] And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed
Abraham in all things.
[2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over
all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
[3] And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God
of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters
of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
[4] But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife
unto my son Isaac.
[5] And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be
willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto
the land from whence thou camest?
[6] And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son
thither again.
[7] The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from
the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me,
saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before
thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
[8] And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be
clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
[9] And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and
sware to him concerning that matter.
[10] And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and
departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose,
and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
[11] And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of
water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw
water.
[12] And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good
speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
[13] Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men
of the city come out to draw water:
[14] And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down
thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I
will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast
appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast
shewed kindness unto my master.
[15] And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah
came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor,
Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
[16] And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any
man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and
came up.
[17] And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a
little water of thy pitcher.
[18] And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher
upon her hand, and gave him drink.
[19] And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for
thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
[20] And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again
unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
[21] And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD
had made his journey prosperous or not.
[22] And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took
a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of
ten shekels weight of gold;
[23] And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room
in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
[24] And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah,
which she bare unto Nahor.
[25] She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough,
and room to lodge in.
[26] And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
[27] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not
left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the
LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
[28] And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
[29] And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out
unto the man, unto the well.
[30] And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his
sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,
Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood
by the camels at the well.
[31] And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou
without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
[32] And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave
straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the
men's feet that were with him.
[33] And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat,
until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
[34] And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
[35] And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great:
and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and
menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
[36] And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old:
and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
[37] And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my
son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
[38] But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a
wife unto my son.
[39] And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
[40] And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel
with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my
kindred, and of my father's house:
[41] Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my
kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
[42] And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master
Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go;
[43] Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that
when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I
pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
[44] And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy
camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my
master's son.
[45] And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came
forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and
drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
[46] And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and
said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made
the camels drink also.
[47] And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The
daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the
earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
[48] And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD
God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my
master's brother's daughter unto his son.
[49] And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and
if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
[50] Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the
LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
[51] Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy
master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
[52] And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he
worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
[53] And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and
raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her
mother precious things.
[54] And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and
tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me
away unto my master.
[55] And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few
days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
[56] And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my
way; send me away that I may go to my master.
[57] And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
[58] And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man?
And she said, I will go.
[59] And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's
servant, and his men.
[60] And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be
thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate
of those which hate them.
[61] And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and
followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
[62] And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the
south country.
[63] And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he
lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
[64] And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off
the camel.
[65] For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the
field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she
took a vail, and covered herself.
[66] And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
[67] And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah,
and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his
mother's death.
1 Chron 1
The Generations of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 January 2023 entitled
But I'm Telling You
Matthew 5:43-48
Love for Enemies
Lk 6:27-28, 32-36
43 (Lev 19:18; Dt 23:6) "You have heard that it was said,
'You shall love your neighbor [Lev 19:18.] and hate your enemy.'
44 (Lk 23:34; Ac 7:60) But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 (Mt 5:9; Lk 6:35) that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 (Mt 5:20) And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing
more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 (Lev 19:2; Col 1:28) Therefore be perfect, even as your Father
who is in heaven is perfect.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour,
and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even
the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do
not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
"I know what they're saying. But I'm telling you . . ." As a boy, I heard
my mother give that speech a thousand times. The context was always peer
pressure. She was trying to teach me not to follow the herd. I'm not a boy
any longer, but herd mentality's still alive and kicking. A current example
is this phrase: "Only surround yourself with positive people." Now while that
phrase may be commonly heard, the question we must ask is:
"Is that Christlike?"
"But I'm telling you . . ." Jesus uses that lead-in a number of times
in Matthew 5. He knows full well what the world is constantly telling us.
But His desire is that we live differently. In this case, He says,
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). Later in
the New Testament, the apostle Paul uses that very word to describe guess who?
That's right: us-"while we were God's enemies" (Romans 5:10). Far from some
"do as I say, not as I do," Jesus backed up His words with actions. He loved
us, and gave His life for us.
What if Christ had only made room in His life for "positive people"? Where
would that leave us? Thanks be to God that His love is no respecter of
persons. For God so loved the world, and in His strength we are called
to do likewise.
By: John Blase
Reflect & Pray
When's the last time someone extended love to you when you weren't "positive"?
What's a tangible way today that you can show love to an enemy?
Father, it's tempting to surround myself with
only those who love me. But that's not living, at least not the kind
of living You desire for me. Help me to love even my enemies.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 5 When you pray
Mark 11:25
25 And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
"My prayer don't seem to be very effective," a man told his pastor." I try
to make contact with God, but my prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce
back."
The pastor thought for a moment, then gently suggested,
"Is there someone in your life you haven't forgiven?"
"What do you mean?" The man's face flushed; the pastor has obviuosly struck
a nerve. "Well, I guess I've had some struggles with my mother ... and then,
my wife, and I ... ." The hidden truth came to light: the man was bound in
unforgiving relationships with five of the closest people to him.
Forgiveness is an essential element in prayer. For a very good reason,
worship services in liturgical churches place the confession of sin and the
absolution near the beginning of the service, before the reading of God's
Word, prayer, and the sermon. Forgiveness - both the Lord's forgiveness
of us and our forgiveness of others - clears the way for unhindered
communication between God and his people.
When we carry anger and bitterness, or even deeply buried, well-subliminated
unforgiveness, into the presence of God, our prayers will be affected. We can,
however, free the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and the lives of others
through forgiveness. We can choose to forgive in light of God's forgiveness
of us. And when we do, the channels are re-established;
we can pray in power and open ourselves to an awareness of his activity
in our lives.
Application
a) Have my prayers ever been affected by unforgiveness in my life?
b) Is there someone in my life whom I need to forgive,
whether or not I can work toward?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul:
And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
19th Day of the Month
a) Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
(
1 Tim 2:1-2
)
b) Pray for the province of Prince Edward Island
I) Pray for the leaders of Prince Edward Island,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and seek His Will during times of testing.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, it's tempting to surround myself with
only those who love me. But that's not living, at least not the kind
of living You desire for me. Help me to love even my enemies."
Pray to the Lord and pray ot be earnestly forgiving.
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His covenant.
Pray to the Lord and thank Hm who forgives your iniquities.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
Pray for the success of outreach activities for children in southern Mexico.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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