IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?

[8]
ABRAHAM AND SARAH

Read Genesis 17:1–18:15

     Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD?"  Genesis 18:13–14a NIV

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     At the age of ninety nine, God once again appeared to Abraham to confirm His covenant promise: He said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife … I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." (Genesis 17:15a–16) By this, Abraham knew that the promise was not for Hagar’s son, Ishmael, but for a son that God would give him through Sarah.

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     We are not told the reason why God waited so long to fulfill His promise to Abraham. It may be that He and Sarah had to come to the end of themselves and their own efforts. Unfortunately, their impatience caused great heartache for them and the generations that followed.

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     Lord, help me to be patient when Your answers are long in coming. I know that nothing is too hard for You, but sometimes my thoughts and actions don’t reflect that belief. Give me discernment to know when I should move ahead and act, and when I should just wait on You. Take away the anxiety I experience when things seem out of control and grant me the peace that comes only from You.

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     "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."   Philippians 4:6–7 NIV

THE GOD WHO SEES ME

[7]
HAGAR

Read Genesis 15:1–16:15; Genesis 21:8–21

     She (Hagar) gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her:" You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the one who sees me." Genesis 16:13 NIV

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     The story of Hagar is bitter-sweet. Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant forced to become a surrogate mother for Abraham and Sarah; she had few choices in life. So after she bore Abraham's son, she became disrespectful to Sarah.

     Hagar's teenage son reflected her attitude by mocking Sarah’s son, Isaac and causing distress in the family. Hagar was told by an angel that her son would become a “wild donkey of a man”– and yet, God cared about her – He never left her alone, even when Abraham and Sarah drove her away. God actually spoke to Hagar the Egyptian maidservant and promised her that He had long range plans for her son and his descendants, the Ishmaelites.

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     Lord, when life seems out of control and family conflicts arise, help me to remember that You see it all. Help us to seek your wisdom in raising our children so that they will be followers of Christ, not “wild donkeys.” Give us the wisdom to discipline and teach them Your ways. Bless our family Lord, even to our children’s children.

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     "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."    Psalm 139:13,16b NIV

BE FRUITFUL

[6]

THE TOWER OF BABEL

Read Genesis 11:1–9
     "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth."     Genesis 9:1 NIV

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     In the very beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28) Then after God judged the earth and wiped out all but Noah's family, He once again told them to be fruitful and fill the earth.

     Many generations later, in rebellion against God, the people of Babel built a massive tower and said, "Let us make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." However, they failed to take into consideration our sovereign triune God, whose plans will not be thwarted. He said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth."  (Genesis 11:4, 7–8)

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     Lord, it seems apparent that the only way to true success in life is to seek Your will when we make our plans. Give me a willing heart to listen and obey the principles in Your Word. Help us to seek after You as a family, asking You for the gift of wisdom in every decision

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     "That is why it was called Babel–because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world and scattered them over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:9 NIV