For forty years, Rev George Philip (11th November 1925 - 16th February 2019) taught God's Word, faithfully and fruitfully, at Sandyford - Henderson Memorial Church, Glasgow. On 1st March 2019, I attended a thanksgiving service for his life and ministry. As we were reminded of the great things God had done in the lives of so many people, we said, in our hearts, "Thanks be to God! To God be the glory!" Here's a link to George's Bible reading notes, which cover most of the Scriptures.
From Genesis to Revelation in a year
Thursday 15 February 2024
Tuesday 6 February 2024
Genesis 1-3
Genesis
1:1-3
1:1-3
‘Genesis’
means ‘beginning.’ These opening verses challenge us to get our
priorities right - (a) The priority of God (1). God comes first. Before
anyone else is mentioned, He is there. (b) The priority of God’s Word
(3). God is the first to speak. Before any human word is spoken, there
is the Word of the Lord. (c) The priority of God’s Spirit (2). All was
‘empty’, all was ‘darkness’, yet the ‘Spirit of God’ was at work, and
transformation was set in motion. Here, we have God’s priorities, set
out in the Bible’s first three verses - Putting God first and listening
to His Word, we are to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit, ‘hovering
over’ our lives to transform them. For those who make God’s priorities
their own, there is a promise of great blessing (Psalm 1:1-2). It is the
great blessing of knowing Jesus Christ, our Saviour, as ‘God with us’
(Matthew 1:23).
1:4-13
God
speaks, and it is done (3,6-7,11). God is pleased with what He has done
(4,10,12). This is the pattern of God’s original creation. It is to be
the pattern of our life as a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God
speaks to us and we say, ‘Your will be done’ (Matthew 6:10). We say,
‘let it be to me according to Your Word’ (Luke 1:38). God looks on such
obedience, this ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16,22-23), and He
sees that it is ‘good’ (Micah 6:8). In these verses we read of the
separation of the light and the darkness, the separation of the waters
and the dry land, and the fruitfulness of God's creation. There are
lessons for us here. We are to ‘walk in the light’ (1 John 1:7). We are
to let the Spirit's ‘living water’ flow in us (John 7:39-39). Walking in
the light, letting the living water flow - this is the way of
fruitfulness.
1:14-25
The
Bible’s opening chapter is a great hymn of praise, emphasizing that all
things have been created for the glory of God (Revelation 4:11).
Nothing can be permitted to distract our attention from the Lord. He
alone is worthy of worship. The creation of the ‘lights’ makes no
reference to the sun and the moon. These were worshipped by neighbouring
peoples. They are not gods. They are simply ‘lights’. Our worship is to
be given to God alone. The waters teemed with living creatures. The
land produced living creatures. Here, we have a picture of life. There
is life where the living water of the Spirit is flowing freely among
God’s people (Ezekiel 47:5-9). This water brings life to the land
(Ezekiel 47:12). Moving with the flow of God’s Spirit, we are to pray
that ‘the water of life’ will flow freely ‘for the healing of the
nations’ (Revelation 22:2).
1:26-2:3
We
now come to the creation of humanity, male and female. Our creation is
described in a distinctive way - created in the image of God (26-27). We
are different from the rest of creation. We have been given dominion
over ‘all the earth’ and ‘every living creature’ (26,28). We are
different from God. He is the Creator. We are His creation. Created in
God’s image, we have been created by Him and for Him. Though we have
sinned (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23), now - in Jesus Christ - we have begun
to live as a new creation (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10). The
Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1) and that ‘all
things were created by Him and for Him’ (Colossians 1:16). This is the
Saviour who is at work in us, enabling us to live as a new creation!
Creation has been ‘completed’ (2:1). Salvation will be completed
(Philippians 1:6)!
2:4-14
We
read of ‘the breath of life’, producing ‘a living being’ (7). Separated
from God through our sin, we have become spiritually dead (Ephesians
4:18; 2:1). Through the Spirit, we have been ‘born again’. This new
birth is brought about by the breath of life, the wind of the Spirit
(John 3:5-8). As the river watered the garden (10), so our lives are to
be watered by ‘the river’ which flows ‘from the throne of God and of the
Lamb’ (Revelation 22:1). As we read of the ‘tree’ which features in our
fall into sin (9; 3:2-6), our thoughts turn also to the ‘tree’ which
forms the foundation of our salvation - Christ ‘Himself bore our sins in
His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for
righteousness’ (1 Peter 2:24). In our hearts, we say, ‘God forbid that I
should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians
6:14).
2:15-17
We
noted, in 1:1-3, the importance of getting our priorities right - God,
God’s Word, God’s Spirit. Here, we emphasize the importance of these
priorities. We are under God. We must remember that He is God (15). We
are to obey God’s Word (16-17). Here, we learn that the act of obedience
is an act of freedom. In Christ, we are set free to obey God. God says,
‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden’. He does not then
say, ‘You are free to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil’. He says, ‘You must not’. The act of disobedience is not an act of
freedom. By choosing the way of sin, we show that we are in bondage. We
are not free. We are the captives of sin, and we need to be set free -
by Christ (John 8:32,36). We come to know God, choosing good rather than
evil, as we follow the way of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:16; Hebrews
5:14).
2:18-25
We
come here to the creation of woman. Her creation is bound up with the
creation of man. She is created from man’s ‘rib’ (21-22). The ‘rib’ is
taken from his side, emphasizing that man and woman are to be together,
side-by-side, not one in front of the other. The ‘rib’, rather than the
head or the feet, emphasizes this togetherness rather than any
superiority-inferiority relationship. The ‘rib’ is close to the heart.
Woman is close to the heart of man. Both are close to the heart of God.
The contrast between humanity and the animals is again clear. Among the
animals, there was ‘no suitable helper’ for the man (20). The animals
had been ‘formed out of the ground’ (19). Humanity has come from ‘the
breath of life’ (7). Like the animals, we come from ‘the dust of the
ground’, but there is more: the Breath of God, created in His image to
glorify Him!
3:1-5
We
have read about the beginning of creation (1:1). Now we come to the
beginning of sin. In these verses, we have temptation. Note that
temptation is not sin. It only becomes sin when we do what the tempter
suggests (6). Temptation comes from ‘that ancient serpent called the
devil or Satan’ (Revelation 12:9). Satan reverses the priorities of God,
God’s Word and God’s Spirit. God is ‘our Father’ (Matthew 6:9). Satan
is the father of lies (John 8:44). Satan quotes and questions God’s Word
(1). He not only questions God’s Word . He contradicts it (4). Satan is
spiritual, an evil spirit. We must be aware of his schemes, and , in
Christ, we must take our stand against his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11;
Ephesians 6:11). When Satan says, ‘Did God really say?’ (1), we must
wage war for God, filled with His Word and Spirit (2 Corinthians
10:3-5).
3:6-9
Once
we were innocent. Now we are guilty. The story of Adam and Eve is
repeated over and over again. This is our story as well as Adam and
Eve’s story. Even in the face of sin, we see something else. We see the
God of love, seeking to restore the fallen to Himself. In His words,
‘Where are you?’, we catch an early glimpse of the Gospel of salvation:
‘the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost’ (Luke 19:10).
Adam and Eve had lost their way. Now, God was looking for them to bring
them back to Himself. In the question, ‘Where are you?’, there is the
searching question, ‘What have you done?’, but there is also the
passionate appeal, ‘Will you not return to me?’. This is the call of
mercy: ‘Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, “O sinner, come
home”’ (Sacred Songs & Solos, 414). Our loving Father is waiting
patiently to welcome the returning prodigal (Luke 15:20).
3:10-15
Having
chosen the way of sin, we are ‘naked’ and ashamed (10). The Gospel
teaches us that ‘there’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin’.
We can be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. We can bring the
‘filthy rags’ of ‘our righteous acts’ (Isaiah 64:6) to God, and we can
exchange them for the perfect righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians
5:21). Putting our trust in Christ, we need not be ashamed in God’s
presence (Romans 10:11). There must be no ‘passing the buck’ - the man
blaming the woman, the woman blaming the serpent (12-13). We are to
confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). This
forgiveness comes to us through the Cross where the suffering Saviour
becomes the victorious Victor and the subtle serpent became the defeated
devil. This is the message of verse 15: through the Cross, God has
provided for us a full salvation!
3:16-24
Sin
has consequences. Human life could never be the same once sin had
entered it. The effects of sin can be seen in the whole of life. The
most profound effect of sin is summed up in verse 22. We cannot reach
out our hands and take hold of eternal life. There is no way to heaven
which begins with the word ‘I’. We must begin with God - ‘God so loved
the world...’ (John 3:16). No sinner can open the door of heaven:
‘Christ only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in’. Sin leads
not to heaven but to ‘death.’ If we insist on trying to get to heaven by
our own good works, we will earn our ‘wages’ - ‘the wages of sin is
death’. Come as a sinner to Jesus. Come to Him, saying, ‘Nothing in my
hand I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling’ ( Church Hymnary, 83). Look
to Him alone for salvation, and know the truth of God's Word: ‘the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23).
Wednesday 22 July 2020
Genesis 4-6
Genesis
4:1-5
4:1-5
The
name of Abel appears among ‘the heroes of the faith’ (Hebrews 11:14).
The story of Abel is a story of grace, faith and obedience. Abel's
sacrifice was a blood sacrifice while Cain’s was a fruit sacrifice
(3-4). The blood sacrifice points forward - via the Old Testament
sacrificial system - to the greatest sacrifice of all - ‘the blood of
Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12). The
blood sacrifice points to salvation by grace - ‘without the shedding of
blood there is no forgiveness’ (Hebrews 9:22). Abel’s sacrifice was an
act of faith: ‘By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did’
(Hebrews 11:4). The blood reminds us that true faith is always faith in
Christ and never ‘faith’ in anything we can ever offer to God. Abel was
obedient, bringing ‘the firstborn’ to God. ‘In the course of time Cain
brought some...’.
4:6-16
In
the story of Cain, we see the development of sin. Jealousy leads to
anger, and anger leads to murder. In this story, we see ourselves in the
‘mirror’ of God’s Word. Here, God emphasizes our exceeding sinfulness -
‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt’
(Jeremiah 17:9). Our sinfulness leads us away from ‘the presence of the
Lord’ to ‘the land of wandering (Nod)’ (16). This is the work of Satan
in our lives - Genesis 4 is an extension of Genesis 3. Even in the land
of wandering, the hand of God is upon us. This is the meaning of ‘the
mark of Cain’ - ‘so that no one who found him would kill him’ (15). Even
in our wanderings, God is waiting in mercy for us to make our way back
to Him by coming in faith to Jesus Christ our Saviour. Even when ‘sin’
is a good bit more than ‘crouching at the door’, it can be ‘mastered’
through Christ (6; Hebrews 7:25).
4:17-26
The
story of Cain and Abel is a continuing story. Abel died, yet ‘by faith
still speaks, even though he is dead’ (Hebrews 11:4). Cain ‘went out
from the presence of the Lord’. He became ‘a restless wanderer’ (14,16).
What a contrast there is between these two brothers! For Abel, there
was glory in the presence of the Lord - ‘By faith he was commended as a
righteous man’ (Hebrews 11:4), he was ‘justified by faith’ (Romans 5:1).
Cain was quite different. Far from God, he had no peace. He was haunted
by his sins. What does God’s Word say to us about Cain? - ‘Do not be
like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother...
because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous’ (1
John 3:12). Cain’s sinful influence continues. We must be on our guard.
The chapter ends with hope: ‘At that time men began to call on the name
of the Lord’ (26).
5:1-17
From
the story of Cain - taking God for granted (the opposite of grace),
approaching God proudly (the opposite of faith), rebelling against God
(the opposite of obedience) - , we come to a list of names and numbers.
In this first part of the chapter, there is nothing of any note.
Perhaps, this is the significant feature of this long list of names.
There is nothing considered to be worthy of special note, except the
length of their lives. What a sad reflection on the value of a life when
all that can be said is this: He lived, and he died! What we must
remember is this: the quantity of our years is less important than the
quality of our living. How long we live is less important than how well
we live. We have been ‘created...in the likeness of God’ (1), yet so
often we miss out on this spiritual dimension. We have been ‘blessed’ by
God (2) - ‘Count your blessings’.
5:18-32
In
this second part of the list, two names get a special mention - Enoch
and Noah (22,24,29). The reference to Enoch is the more memorable of the
two. Enoch's life was characterized by grace, faith and obedience. The
life-story of so many others could be told without reference to God.
Enoch's story was the story of God at work in his life. So many
life-stories end with the words, ‘he died’. Enoch's life on earth points
beyond itself (24). Enoch had ‘walked with God’ (22, 24 ). Building his
life upon the God of grace, Enoch had, by faith, stepped out of this
present world and into ‘what we hope for’, ‘what we do not see’ (Hebrews
11:5,1). What a testimony Enoch left behind him! Not much is said about
him, but what power of the Spirit of God there is in these few words!
The reference to ‘the Lord’ in Noah's life (29) prepares us for what is
to come (chs. 6-9).
6:1-8
The
story of Noah is the story of God’s grace - ‘Noah found grace’ (8).
Noah lived in very difficult times (5-7), yet ‘Grace found Noah’. His
testimony could be summed up: ‘Amazing grace...I once was lost but now
am found’ (Mission Praise, 31). Expanding on the thought of 5:29 - ‘this
one (Noah) shall bring relief from our work and from the toil of our
hands’ - we may allow our thoughts to turn to Christ and say to Him:
‘Not the labour of my hands can fulfil Thy law's demands...All for sin
could not atone, Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I
bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling' (Church Hymnary, 83). In these two
statements - ‘Noah found grace’ and ‘this one will bring...’, we see
both salvation and service. We are saved to serve. Once we ourselves
have been found by grace, we are to seek to bring others to Christ that
they also may be saved by Him and become His servants.
6:9-22
To
view the flood exclusively in terms of judgment is to see only one side
of what God was doing. As well as judging, He was also saving - ‘In
this ship a few people - eight in all - were saved by water’ (1 Peter
3:20). The ark points forward to Christ ‘who came back from death to
life’, Christ who ‘saves’ us (1 Peter 3:21). God was working out His
purpose of salvation. In Noah’s day, the remnant of faith was very
small, yet the promise of God's love was given to them - ‘I will
establish My covenant with you’ (18). Even when wickedness threatens to
overwhelm us, we still have God’s promise of love, ‘the new covenant in
Christ’s blood’ (1 Corinthians 11:25). ‘The blood of Jesus, God’s Son,
cleanses us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7). Knowing that Christ loved us and
died for us, we are to be like Noah (22). We are to walk with the Lord and serve Him.
Genesis 7-9
Genesis
7:1-24
Here,
we pick up on the words of verse 16 - ‘the Lord closed the door behind
them’. What was going on outside of the ark is contrasted with the haven
of salvation inside the ark. What was it that made the ark a place of
salvation? - The Lord. What is it that makes Jesus Christ the Source of
our salvation? - God has given Him the Name that is above every name,
the Name of our salvation (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12). From the ark,
we learn of (a) the one way of salvation - The ark had only one door.
Jesus is ‘the Door’ which leads to salvation (John 10:9); (b) the
eternal security of salvation - All were safe inside the ark. In Christ
there is eternal security (John 10:28); (c) the absolute necessity of
salvation - Outside of the ark, there was certain death. Refusal to come
to Christ for salvation leads to judgment: ‘How shall we escape...?’
(Hebrews 2:3).
8:1-22
Following
the flood, we have this simple yet striking declaration: ‘the ground
was dry’ (13). Safe from judgment! This is the message which comes to us
from the Cross: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world’ (John 1:29). The judgment has fallen upon Christ. We are no
longer swept away in the judgment. We can stand on solid ground: ‘On
Christ the solid Rock I stand’ (Church Hymnary, 411). He is our Support
in ‘the whelming flood’. God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ship’ (15).
We are in Christ. He is the Source of our salvation. God has brought us
into Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). He does not bring us into Christ
solely for our own benefit. We are sent out to be fruitful (17; John
15:16). We are to ‘abide in Christ’. This is the way of fruitfulness
(John 15:4-5). We are not sent out alone. Strengthened in ‘the ship’ (in
Christ), we step out with Christ and for Him.
9:1-19
‘When
you see a rainbow, remember God is love’. The rainbow reminds us of the
gracious promise of God (13-15). If the love of God is revealed in the
rainbow, it is more fully revealed in the Cross: ‘We sing the praise of
Him who died, of Him who died upon the Cross... upon the Cross we see in
shining letters. ‘God is love’, He bears our sins upon the tree. He
brings us mercy from above’. When we read the Old Testament stories, we
must learn to see their place within the fuller Story, the Story of
God’s salvation: ‘I will sing the wondrous Story of the Christ who died
for me’. This is the greatest Story of all - ‘the Story of Jesus and His
glory, of Jesus and His love,... the Story of wonderful redemption,
God’s remedy for sin’. ‘This is our Story. This is our Song, praising
our Saviour all the day long’. This is ‘the Story to tell to the
nations’ (Church Hymnary, 258,381,132; Mission Praise, 59,744).
9:20-29
What
a sad episode this is! It teaches us that yesterday's victories can
become today's defeats, if we do not keep close to God. We read, in
Hebrews 11:7 of Noah the man of faith, but here we have a very different
picture. The lesson is clear - ‘The arm of flesh will fail you; Ye dare
not trust your own’. We must not look to our own strength to keep us in
the way of faith and obedience. It cannot be done. We fail. ‘God can do
anything but fail’. We must affirm our faith in God - ‘All my hope on
God is founded’. In man, there is no sure foundation - only ‘change and
chance’. There is nothing that will last - ‘only pride of man and
earthly glory’ (Church Hymnary, 481,405). Can we be guided through
change and chance? Yes, but we must learn from Noah’s fall - Past grace
is no guarantee of present growth - , and we must keep our eyes on
Jesus, ‘the Author and Finisher of our faith' (Hebrews 12: 2).
Genesis 10-12
Genesis
12:1-20
This is a divine Story, carried forward by God’s grace and power. God’s very great promises (1-3) find their ultimate fulfilment in the coming of God’s eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21:10). We have not reached our heavenly destination. We are still caught in the tension between obedience (4) and disobedience (11-13). We are conscious of our human failure, yet we rejoice in the divine faithfulness. We read of Abraham’s sin (10-20), yet we look beyond this to God's salvation. This is not simply the story of Abraham. It is the Story of Abraham's God. This becomes clear in the change of name. Abram (‘exalted father’) draws attention to the man. Abraham (‘Father of Many’) points to God’s purpose (17:5). Like Abraham, we are to worship God (7-8). We are to say, ‘He is exalted’. We are to say, ‘Christ must increase, and I must decrease’ (John 3:30).
10:1-32
What
a lot of names! Why is all this included in God’s Word? It may describe
the historical context of God’s unfolding purpose of providing
salvation for sinners, but what does it say to us? The inclusion of so
many obscure names emphasizes that everyone - however obscure - is
important. ‘God so loved the world’ (John 3:16) - not only the
‘important’ people but all people. Names are important to God. Jesus,
the Good Shepherd, calls His sheep ‘by name’ (John 10:3). Among the many
names there is an interesting reference to ‘Nimrod, the first mighty
warrior on the earth...a mighty hunter whom the Lord blessed’ (8-9).
First among ‘the cities of his kingdom’ was ‘Babylon’ (10). Alarm bells
ring! - Babylon's rebellion! The privilege of God’s blessing brings the
responsibility of maintaining His blessing. We must be ‘mighty warriors’
for God (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-20).
11:1-9
Human
pride sets itself up against the authority of God. This is the
oft-repeated story of the ‘Tower of Babel’. The end of godless men is
sure - ‘Tower and temple, fall to dust’ (Church Hymnary, 405). Sin can
be analyzed psychologically in terms of the human
attitude of proud independence - ‘let us make a name for ourselves’ (5),
sociologically in terms of sin’s pervasive influence on a whole society
(this was the sin of a whole society), and theologically in terms of
the divine judgment which human sin brings upon itself (5-9). What a
contrast there is between the Tower of Babel and the great declaration
of Proverbs 18:10 - ‘The Name of the Lord is a strong tower’. In Babel
there is scattering (9). In the Lord, there is safety - ‘A righteous man
runs to it and is safe’. Do not imagine yourself to be strong (Proverbs
18:11). True strength is in Christ alone (1 Corinthians 1:27).
11:10-32
Another
list of names! Again, there is something here for us - God is moving
on. These many names summarize the times between Noah and Abraham. We
must look beyond this list of names. We must see them in connection with
His Story. History can be tedious, until we see it as His Story. From
the human standpoint, things seem to have come to a dead end: ‘Now Sarai
was barren; she had no child’ (30). There are, however, no dead ends
when God is at work. From verse 30, we move on to 12:1-3. We read on
though the story of Abraham. We learn of the faith of Sarah and the
faithfulness of God (Hebrews 11:11-12). We follow the Story on to
Christ, who is the fulfilment of the promise given to Abraham (Genesis
12:1-3; Galatians 3:16). This is the Story of ‘the God of Abraham’, the
‘God of love’. Through Christ our Saviour, we will ‘sing the wonders of
His grace for ever more’ (Church Hymnary, 358).12:1-20
This is a divine Story, carried forward by God’s grace and power. God’s very great promises (1-3) find their ultimate fulfilment in the coming of God’s eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21:10). We have not reached our heavenly destination. We are still caught in the tension between obedience (4) and disobedience (11-13). We are conscious of our human failure, yet we rejoice in the divine faithfulness. We read of Abraham’s sin (10-20), yet we look beyond this to God's salvation. This is not simply the story of Abraham. It is the Story of Abraham's God. This becomes clear in the change of name. Abram (‘exalted father’) draws attention to the man. Abraham (‘Father of Many’) points to God’s purpose (17:5). Like Abraham, we are to worship God (7-8). We are to say, ‘He is exalted’. We are to say, ‘Christ must increase, and I must decrease’ (John 3:30).
Genesis 13-15
Genesis
13:1-18
13:1-18
Life
is full of choices. Lot made a selfish choice (10-12). He allied
himself with ‘the men of Sodom (who) were wicked and were sinning
greatly against the Lord’ (13). Abraham made a godly choice, and he was
blessed by the Lord (14-17). The lesson of Abraham’s choice is the
lesson of Matthew 6:33 - Seek God’s glory and find His blessing. We read
later of Lot’s restoration (19:29). This is ‘amazing grace’! How much
better it would have been if Lot had chosen the Lord’s way in the first
place! The choices we make reveal the people that we are. The worldly
man, Lot, thought only of himself. The spiritual man, Abraham, concerned
himself with doing the Lord’s will. The worldly man takes for himself
(11). The spiritual man receives from the Lord (15). Our sin comes from
ourselves. Our salvation comes from the Lord. Confess your sin. Receive
God’s forgiveness.
14:1-24
14:1-24
Following
an account of military conflict, we come to a passage that is full of
Christ (18-20). In Melchisedek, we see Jesus. In Hebrews 7:3, we learn
that Melchisedek resembles the Son of God. We read on, in verse 4, ‘See
how great he is’, and, in our hearts we say, ‘How great is our Lord
Jesus Christ’. Melchisedek is ‘the King of Salem (peace)’ (18), pointing
to Christ through whom we have ‘peace with God’ (Romans 5:1).
Melchisedek brings ‘bread and wine’ (18), pointing to Christ whose body
was broken for us and whose blood was shed for us (1 Corinthians
11:23-26). Melchisedek spoke of the divine deliverance from enemies
(20), pointing to Christ's victory over Satan (Colossians 2:15). In this
episode we see the origins of tithing. It is not a legalistic practice.
God had been good to Abraham. In grateful worship, Abraham responded,
giving the tenth to Him (20).
15:1-21
God
is greater than our circumstances. God had given great promises to
Abraham, yet there appeared no sign that His promises were being
fulfilled. The circumstances seemed bleak, and Abraham felt despondent.
Abraham was full of questions. In verse 2, he asks, ‘What can you give
me...?’. This is the question of salvation. What does God give? He gives
salvation. In verse 8, he asks, ‘How can I know...?’. This is the
question of assurance. We ask for assurance. God gives it - the
assurance of salvation, the assurance that salvation has been given and
received. Where are we to look for answers to these questions? Are we to
look to our circumstances? Are we to look to our feelings? No. We look
to the ‘Almighty God’ (2,8). Trusting in Christ, the ‘Passover
Lamb...sacrificed for us’, we receive a sure salvation (6:1; 1
Corinthians 5:7; John 20:31; 1 John 5:13).
15:1-21
Genesis 16-18
Genesis
16:1-16
16:1-16
From
salvation and the assurance of salvation, we turn to Satan and the
activity of Satan. Sarai came with temptation (1). Abraham yielded to
temptation (2). Temptation becomes sin when we yield to it. In Abraham,
we see the conflict between ‘the old man’ that he was and ‘the new man’
God was calling him to become (17:5; Galatians 5:17). He chose the way
of unbelief. Listening to the voice of Satan, speaking through Sarai, he
walked straight into immorality. Unbelief and immorality belong
together (Romans 1:18). We must guard our hearts with respect to both
what we believe and how we behave. We must not imagine that Satan will
win the victory over the Lord and His purpose of salvation. Satan will
try to overcome God's gracious purpose, but he will not succeed
(Revelation 20:10). ‘Hallelujah!... the Lord our God the Almighty
reigns’ (Revelation 19:6).
17:1-27
17:1-27
Amazing
grace - this is the marvellous theme of this chapter. Abram became
Abraham (5). Sarai became Sarah (15-16). What they were belonged to
their sinful past. What they became was the work of God's grace. What a
contrast there is between human sin and divine grace. We look at
ourselves. We see sin, and we lose hope. We look at the God of grace,
and we say, ‘Sin shall not have dominion. Grace is victorious’ (Romans
6:14). Abram and Sarai appeared to be hopeless cases. They had failed
the Lord, but He did not fail them. He made them new people. They became
the father and mother of nations. To those who do not deserve His love,
God still renews His ‘covenant’, His promise of love (2). He still
says, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Jeremiah 31:3). In
the Cross of Christ, we have the greatest ‘sign of the covenant’ (11;
Romans 5:8).
18:1-15
18:1-15
Is
anything too hard for the Lord? (14). We need to hear these words as
God’s call to greater faith. Sarah, like Abraham, had heard God’s
promises, yet ‘she laughed to herself’ (12). We can hear God’s Word, and
still remain, in our hearts, men and women of unbelief. The Word of God
does not benefit us when we do not receive it with faith (Hebrews 4:2).
God knows what is in our hearts, just as He knew what was in Sarah’s
heart (13-15). He knows the human heart, ‘deceitful above all things’
(Jeremiah 17:9), yet He continues to love us. He does not give up on us.
He perseveres with us. He could have given up on Sarah as a hopeless
waste of His time, but He did not. ‘The evil heart of unbelief’ is
always with us, but God is constantly at work to create in us ‘a clean
heart’ ( Hebrews 3:12: Psalm 51:10). 'Soften my heart, Lord’ (Mission
Praise, 606).
18:16-33
In
the face of the threatened judgment of God upon Sodom and Gomorrah, we
find Abraham engaging in mighty intercessory prayer. He is not concerned
only about himself and his own salvation. He is prayerfully committed
to seeking the salvation of others. This is a mark of spiritual maturity
- a deep concern for the salvation of sinners, leading to earnest
intercessory prayer for them. Abraham drew near to God (23; James 4:8).
He pleaded with the God of grace to have mercy on the city (23-25; 2
Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 1:15; John 3:17). With a deep love for the
people, Abraham prays with boldness and persistence (27,32; Hebrews
4:16). A great many people refused to honour God, yet His purpose was
not hindered. The remnant seemed impossibly small. It was the beginning
of blessing for all nations. ‘To God be the glory, Great things He has
done’ (Church Hymnary, 374).
18:16-33
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Bible Notes by G. Philip
For forty years, Rev George Philip (11th November 1925 - 16th February 2019) taught God's Word, faithfully and fruitfully, at Sandyfor...
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For forty years, Rev George Philip (11th November 1925 - 16th February 2019) taught God's Word, faithfully and fruitfully, at Sandyfor...
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Genesis 4:1-5 The name of Abel appears among ‘the heroes of the faith’ (Hebrews 11:14). The story of Abel is a story of grace, faith ...
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AMOS 7:1-9:15 - ‘That’s enough, prophet! Go back to Judah and do your preaching there... Don’t prophesy here at Bethel any more’ (7:12...