The Well: January 6-10

January 6: Genesis 7, 8

The striking thing about these chapters is Moses’ continual reference to the obedience of Noah. In 7:5, 9 and 16 we see Noah doing “all that God had commanded.” Once again we see that God is in charge, and Noah recognizes it, and acts accordingly. He understands that the only refuge to be found is in obeying the Lord, and through obedience, finding rescue through God’s provision. Certainly what God was asking was astounding, seemingly unreasonable. Who builds a huge boat, a floating zoo, so far from any navigable water? Yet, Noah trusts in the Lord, and with good reason. God rescues Noah and his family from judgment (the flood waters) through the provision of the Ark.

After many months of flooding, God “remembers” Noah (8:1) and once again provides rescue, this time from the pervasive waters. We can imagine that there was anxiety in the Ark as the rain came, and the floodwaters lifted them up high above the land. Noah and his family certainly had questions. How long, Lord? Will the waters ever go away? Will our lives ever be back to normal? These are things we ask today. Each day in our hurried lives is filled with uncertainty. Yet, the example of Noah is here to remind us that God will not “forget” his people. God remembers you and me, and delights in rescuing those who trust in him, and obey his word.

Once the waters receded Noah acted to demonstrate both his gratefulness and he dependence upon God. For the first time we see an altar used in worship. We now understand why seven of the clean animals were brought into the Ark. This number provided for three mating pairs, with one animal left for offering thanks to God.

In the flood we see both the justice and mercy of God. We see his righteous wrath and his amazing grace together in one event. This sets the standard for our understanding of God as we travel through the biblical story. God is good, yet his goodness will never operate in opposition to his justice. Our very best option is to trust in him, obey him, and find our rest in him.

Prayer: Lord, as you provided a way to escape the judgment of the flood for Noah, so also I know that you have provided Jesus Christ as our “Ark” of refuge. In him we have forgiveness, and in him we have been brought into your family as beloved children. Father, thank you for Jesus, and for bringing me into the safety of his eternal love. Amen.

January 7: Genesis 9, 10

Before God took Noah into the Ark he promised that he would establish a covenant with him (6:18). Now on the other side of the flood God fulfills this promise.

A “covenant” is a commitment  to enter into a personal relationship. Unlike a “contract” that is merely an agreement, a covenant establishes a committed relationship. We saw the first elements of a covenant when God established a relationship with Adam. This relationship was grounded on God’s care for Adam, and his expectation that Adam would care for creation, worship in obedience, and populate God’s world with those who would worship God rightly. As we saw, Adam failed. Yet, God’s plan for mankind was not derailed.

In Noah we find a man through whom God has “re-created” the world. Our minds run back to 3:15: could Noah be the “he” through whom the problem of sin will be solved? Certainly God enters into a covenant relationship with him, and calls him to populate the earth, and rule over creation. God promises that he will never again destroy life with a flood. We have great hopes for Noah.

Yet, we find all too soon that the flood did not solve the problem of sin. It turns out sin was on the boat! As chapter 9 ends we learn that Noah was not the Savior. Instead, he needs a Savior. He has successfully passed on a sinful nature to his children, one of whom will disgrace his father and become the head of those eventually known as Canaanites. The search for the “he” will continue.

In chapter 10 Moses chronicles how the nations arose from the sons of Noah. And while genealogies often seem irrelevant, stuck in the middle (vs. 25) is an essential bit of information. Moses tells us that, in the days of Peleg, the “earth was divided.” If we look carefully we will see that the line of his brother Joktan takes precedence in the narration in chapter 10, and leads us to the events of Babel in chapter 11. Then, we will see in 11:16 Moses retraces his steps back to the line of Peleg, which then is traced all the way down to a man named Abram.

We see the world “divided” in two different ways. First, we will see that God divides up the nations and languages through the events at Babel. And then we will see, God is again constituting the “line of promise” through the line of Abram. The world will be “divided” between those who will follow God, and those who will oppose him.

Prayer: Father, the story of Noah reminds me that everyone, from the least to the greatest, lives with the temptation to sin all around them. O Lord, help me be vigilant today; to stay away from those things that draw me away from you. Lord, help me delight in those things that you love. May your Word be a lamp to my feet today, and a light to my path, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.

January 8: Genesis 11,12

These two chapters present a tremendous contrast, and it is essential that we see it. In chapter 11 we find the many choosing their own way, willfully opposing God’s command. In chapter 12 we see a solitary man choosing God’s way, faithfully leaving the safety of family and land to follow God’s command.

The Tower of Babel story speaks to mankind’s desire to make their own decisions, find their own security, and in so doing, oppose the commands of God. God had commanded mankind to populate the earth and fill it. This would mean a continual process of migration. Yet, in chapter 11 the people decided to stop moving and settle. In vs. 4 we see their desire is two-fold. They want to make a place for themselves, and establish a name for themselves. They no longer want to be ruled by the commands of God, no longer want to worship his name, but rather want independence. Here we have Eden all over again.

Both the building of the city and the tower represent a desire for security, independent of God. In the ancient world, a high tower was the place of safety when enemies came. The people meant to be unified, safe and no longer dependent on God. But God had other plans. He “came down”, created confusion by creating various languages, and ended the building project. From this came the dispersion of the nations, just as God had planned.

It is important to see a principle here that will run throughout human history: God is in charge, and his sovereign plan will not be derailed either by the opposition of his enemies or the disobedience of his friends.

Chapter 12 chronicles the call of Abram, and the promises God makes to him.  The covenant relationship rests upon three promises from God: 1) I will make you a great nation; 2) I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; 3) I will bless all the families of the earth through you.

Once again God has found a man through whom he desires to carry out his plans. Adam was the first, and he failed. Noah came along, but he also failed. Now we meet Abram and our hopes are high that he just might be “the he” of Genesis 3:15. Will he be the one through whom the sin problem is solved? But we soon find that Abram cannot be the savior because he needs a savior himself. His desire for self-preservation led him away from trust in God, and he lied about his wife. In what is an eerie preview of things to come, a famine drove him to Egypt where trouble awaited him. Yet, the covenant-keeping God of Abram was faithful to their relationship and rescued Abram, bringing him back into the land he had given him.

Prayer: Father, the stories of Babel and Abram remind me that I am prone to leave you, and walk my own path. O Lord, bind my heart to yours today. Open my eyes to the relationship we have through Jesus Christ, and live your life through me so that I will not stray from the path of obedience you have laid out for me. I love you, Lord, and will live this day to please you, through the power of Jesus, Amen.

January 9: Genesis 13, 14

The story of Abram and Lot gives us another rendition of some themes that run through Genesis. Once again we see Abram, now blessed by God, coming into the land of promise. This time he determines to stay. He gives Lot the choice, and Lot chooses to  dwell among those who we now understand to be the “seed of the serpent.” That is, they are opposed to God’s commands and quite content to live according to their own will. Once again we see the division between the line of promise, and the line of rebellion.

Now the whole land of Canaan was Abram’s. God has him look in every direction, and everywhere his eyes fall he sees the land God has given him. In addition, God re-iterates the promises of the covenant relationship. He will give the land to Abram’s descendents as part of his promise to make them a great nation. He will grow Abram’s clan into a nation that defies being counted. In all of this, God’s promises are based on God’s plan, and not Abram’s perfect obedience. We are already beginning to sense that the relationship between God and Abram will have much greater significance than did the previous models with Adam and Noah.

Chapter 14 is another rescue story. We have wondered just how Lot would fare in the region of wicked Sodom. The story of Lot’s capture and peril sets the scene for Abram to be seen as a man who will lead a great nation.

In the ancient world, warring clans often preyed on one another, forming alliances for the purpose of gaining access to water, fertile land, slaves, and the possessions of weaker clans. It was during a time of rebellion that Lot was taken along with others when Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated in battle. When Abram heard of it he marshaled his fighting men, defeated the victorious clans, and rescued Lot.

This story shows us two things. First, we now understand just how great God’s blessing on Abram has been. He leads a very large and powerful clan, has great resources, and is now feared by neighboring clans. God’s promise to make him a great nation is clearly being fulfilled.

But there is a second significant truth in this chapter. On his return from battle, Abram stops near Salem (later this will be Jeru-salem) where Melchizedek greets and pays tribute to him. Much later this king-priest serves as a type of the priesthood Jesus will occupy (see: Hebrews 5:10; 7:1-17). While there is some speculation as to whether this man was a pre-incarnate appearance of God the Son, it is best to understand him as Moses presents him: as the king-priest of Salem, a very human man.

Prayer: Father, today I am reminded again that, like Lot, I have often wanted to “live” where my selfishness led me. Lord, forgive me for delighting in things that you hate, and neglecting those things in which you delight. Help me today, O Lord, to seek your will with joy, that those around me may see my life and bring glory to you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

January 10: Genesis 15, 16

These two chapters also are meant to show us great contrast. In chapter 15 Abram is the passive recipient of God’s great covenant promises. These verses are among the most significant in all of Genesis in that they detail the great unilateral commitment God makes to Abram and to his posterity.

In great contrast chapter 16 shows us that Abram is no super godly man. Like Adam, he “listens” to the plan of Sarai, disregards the promises of God, and seeks to do things his way. Once again we see that human sinfulness is never the path to the blessing of God.

It had been many years since God initiated his covenant relationship with Abram. Yet, since all the promises depended upon Abram having a son, the childlessness of Abram and Sarai had them both feeling very anxious. God comes in chapter 15 and initiates a covenant ceremony that was customary in that day.

God told Abram to take animals, cut them in pieces, and lay them on the ground to form a bordered path. In the ancient world, when two clans would make a treaty, the leaders would form such a path, and then walk through the pieces together. Their declaration: “be it done to us as we have done to these pieces if we are unfaithful to this covenant.”

But the ceremony here is quite different. The animal pieces are set in order, but Abram is cast into a deep sleep. Only God walks through the pieces, symbolized by the smoking pot and flaming torch. The significance of this must not be lost. God alone has taken the responsibility for the promise of the covenant relationship. No longer will his human partner’s disobedience curtail the goals of the relationship. Abram’s place in the history of redemption is now secure, grounded in God’s faithfulness rather than his obedience.

And this turns out to be a good thing for Abram for chapter 16 chronicles his greatest activity of self-will. The continued barrenness of Sarai made it difficult to trust God for a son. In a scene eerily reminiscent of Eden, Saria talks her husband into the Hagar plan. Once again we see the all too human tendency to think we have a better idea than God.

Hagar has a child by Abram, but he does not turn out to be the son of promise. Rather, through Ishmael we are given yet another installment in the “enmity” prophecy of Genesis 3:15. From Ishmael will arise the Arab world, and the enmity between the offspring of Ishmael and Isaac remains unabated to this day.

Prayer: Father, the story of Abram reminds me so much of myself. Even though I have been the beneficiary of so many of your blessings, your forgiveness, and your promise of eternal life, I confess that I too often pursue my own plans. Forgive me Lord for foolishly trusting myself more that you, and work in me today, that all I say and do may bring glory to your Name, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.