Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham,"Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman." What ever Sarah has said to you listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
Listening to Sarah ( Sarai's ) voice had originally been folly for
Abraham as we saw before in Genesis 16:2.
The same was true for Adam when he listened to Eve.
Now, however, God says in effect "Listen to her for she is speaking My truth".
Sarah had grown and matured since that earlier fateful day.
Her name( or nature) had been changed. This was a symbolic foreshadowing of the New Birth in Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). God has made clear that His original plan was still in place.
He would fulfill His covenant promise through Abraham and Sarah together.
God's plan for man and woman working together to increase His Kingdom was never in jeopardy. (Genesis 1: 26 - 28).
A woman's effectiveness multiplies when she is confident that she has a
powerful place in the on-going purpose God has for His people. This is seen in raising
God-fearing children and in the respect and care given to her husband.
May we always, even when it is most difficult, to seek to speak as God leads.
There is no magical steps, just wisdom and obedience.
May God alway be the strength we seek as we seek to edify.
Are we seeking His kingdom daily in pray for our family and country?
May our nature change as Sarah's as we mature according to His grace.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
05: The Submission that Bears Fruit (Sarah)
Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai, Abram wife, had borne him no children.
And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
Sarah was originally called "Sarai", which means "Princess".
When God changed "Sarai's" name to "Sarah" He named her
The "Princess" or "Queen", linking her in co-rulership with her husband,
Abraham (formerly Abram).
The Father of many nations, and included her in His covenant promise.
(Genesis 17:15,16)
v. 15 Then God said to Abraham, as for Sarai your wife, you shall not
call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
v. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her;
then I will bless her and she shall be a "mother of nations;
kings of people shall be from her.
Sarah, the beautiful wife of Abraham was barren( Genesis 16:1 ),
a condition considered a curse in the ancient world.
Old testament women saw large families as a sign of blessing.
Sarah - a positive lesson in many ways:
1)having faith that rises above personal limitations. ( Heb 11:11 )
2) a submitted spirit that responds biblically to her husband
without becoming depersonalized. ( 1Peter3:5,6 )
Sarah - an illustration of the dangers of taking God's promises into our own hands:
her suggestion that Abraham take her handmaid as a wife
resulted in the birth of Ishmael a child who occasioned jealousy and
conflict between the two women, eventually between their two sons and
to this day among their offspring.
The results of working outside God's boundaries has a rippling effect in
and on our lives. The working of this can show itself upon many generations.
Faith, even that of a mustard seed, will still allow you to be victorious.
Faith is not defined as perfect character or behavior, but simply believing
what God says. Matthew 4:4
May this knowledge help us as continue faithfully in our Christian walk.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
Now Sarai, Abram wife, had borne him no children.
And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
Sarah was originally called "Sarai", which means "Princess".
When God changed "Sarai's" name to "Sarah" He named her
The "Princess" or "Queen", linking her in co-rulership with her husband,
Abraham (formerly Abram).
The Father of many nations, and included her in His covenant promise.
(Genesis 17:15,16)
v. 15 Then God said to Abraham, as for Sarai your wife, you shall not
call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
v. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her;
then I will bless her and she shall be a "mother of nations;
kings of people shall be from her.
Sarah, the beautiful wife of Abraham was barren( Genesis 16:1 ),
a condition considered a curse in the ancient world.
Old testament women saw large families as a sign of blessing.
Sarah - a positive lesson in many ways:
1)having faith that rises above personal limitations. ( Heb 11:11 )
2) a submitted spirit that responds biblically to her husband
without becoming depersonalized. ( 1Peter3:5,6 )
Sarah - an illustration of the dangers of taking God's promises into our own hands:
her suggestion that Abraham take her handmaid as a wife
resulted in the birth of Ishmael a child who occasioned jealousy and
conflict between the two women, eventually between their two sons and
to this day among their offspring.
The results of working outside God's boundaries has a rippling effect in
and on our lives. The working of this can show itself upon many generations.
Faith, even that of a mustard seed, will still allow you to be victorious.
Faith is not defined as perfect character or behavior, but simply believing
what God says. Matthew 4:4
May this knowledge help us as continue faithfully in our Christian walk.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
04 : Eve-The First Woman-A Redemptive Instrument
Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again, and
she bore a son and named him Seth,
"For God has appointed another seed
for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."
It is a remarkable token of divine grace that God, in His mercy
gave man the first promise of a Deliverer/ Messiah ( Genesis 3:15 ).
He chose to bring this about by the seed of the woman.
While Eve was first to violate the divine regulations governing their life (Gen.2:16, 17 and 3:6 ),
the word of God holds Adam as the disobedient one.
Adam knowingly broke trust with God. ( Rom. 5:12, 17; and Tim 2:14 ).
The one first scarred by sin is selected to be the one first promised to
become an instrument of God's redemptive work.
Seth, the seed given to replace Abel, was the first in the bloodline that would trace to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The garden , the place where man fell to sin, becomes the place in which God's mercy plants the seed of promise.
Eve's testimony declares that God's grace is sufficient for all things. ( 2 Corinthians 12:9).
God is able to" make all grace abound" toward us. ( 2 Corinthians 9:8 )
Has current situations caused you to be downtrodden?
Do you feel your "call" to work in His kingdom has blurred?
Ladies, may we not be discouraged in what God has called us to do.
He is able to use us mightily in His plan.
Be encourage to seek Him daily.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1
Behold , how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
And Adam knew his wife again, and
she bore a son and named him Seth,
"For God has appointed another seed
for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."
It is a remarkable token of divine grace that God, in His mercy
gave man the first promise of a Deliverer/ Messiah ( Genesis 3:15 ).
He chose to bring this about by the seed of the woman.
While Eve was first to violate the divine regulations governing their life (Gen.2:16, 17 and 3:6 ),
the word of God holds Adam as the disobedient one.
Adam knowingly broke trust with God. ( Rom. 5:12, 17; and Tim 2:14 ).
The one first scarred by sin is selected to be the one first promised to
become an instrument of God's redemptive work.
Seth, the seed given to replace Abel, was the first in the bloodline that would trace to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The garden , the place where man fell to sin, becomes the place in which God's mercy plants the seed of promise.
Eve's testimony declares that God's grace is sufficient for all things. ( 2 Corinthians 12:9).
God is able to" make all grace abound" toward us. ( 2 Corinthians 9:8 )
Has current situations caused you to be downtrodden?
Do you feel your "call" to work in His kingdom has blurred?
Ladies, may we not be discouraged in what God has called us to do.
He is able to use us mightily in His plan.
Be encourage to seek Him daily.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1
Behold , how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Monday, February 4, 2008
03:The Desire of the Woman
Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said:
" I will greatly multiply your sorrow
and your conception;
" In pain you shall bring forth children
and your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."
This expression . . . your desire shall be for your husband, causes us to remember, first
their joint-rule in the garden and secondly, she would, because of sin, desire to dominate her
husband.
If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; and if the woman
had not sinned, she would have obeyed with humility and meekness; and then their dominion would have been without grievance.
Mercy is mixed with wrath in this sentence, which was not a curse, to bring her to ruin, but a chastisement to bring her to repentance.
"He shall rule over you, is a divine assignment of the husbands servant-leader role.
This is in no way diminishing to the woman, but rather a redemptive role assigned to the husband as a means toward reinstating their original state.
" Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall
find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
It is our our sin and folly which makes our "yoke" heavy.
Be encouraged this day to take upon yourself the rest offered us through Christ our Savior.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
To the woman He said:
" I will greatly multiply your sorrow
and your conception;
" In pain you shall bring forth children
and your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."
This expression . . . your desire shall be for your husband, causes us to remember, first
their joint-rule in the garden and secondly, she would, because of sin, desire to dominate her
husband.
If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; and if the woman
had not sinned, she would have obeyed with humility and meekness; and then their dominion would have been without grievance.
Mercy is mixed with wrath in this sentence, which was not a curse, to bring her to ruin, but a chastisement to bring her to repentance.
"He shall rule over you, is a divine assignment of the husbands servant-leader role.
This is in no way diminishing to the woman, but rather a redemptive role assigned to the husband as a means toward reinstating their original state.
" Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall
find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
It is our our sin and folly which makes our "yoke" heavy.
Be encouraged this day to take upon yourself the rest offered us through Christ our Savior.
God's blessing be upon our unity!
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
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