January 7, 2024
Abraham as the Patriarch means that he was the
Abraham has served as the point of reference, but not as a point of
Genealogies are important in the Bible because heritage is linked to
A spiritual, territorial, and/or authoritative heritage was decided exclusively by the divine will of
Genesis 16:11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction.
Abram’s
In Islam, Abraham is the beginning of a chain of Muslim prophets culminating in the prophet
Genesis 17:19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
In Judaism, Abraham is the first
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
In Christianity, Abraham is the first Jew, both biologically and spiritually, with whom God’s covenant began, fulfilled in
A person’s faithfulness or lack thereof has the power to impact
The nations will never fully unify as long as they are divisive on who is the
The Christian must remember that Jesus, Abraham’s descendent, is for the salvation and blessing of the
THE PAUSE: 10 MINUTES WITH GOD
MONDAY | GO
PASSAGE: Genesis 12:1
PAUSE: Abram left everything to follow God. He left behind his country, family, heritage, roots, and comfort to follow God’s voice. Pause and ask yourself where the Lord might be asking you to “go”? He might not be asking us to leave family or country, but He might want us to pursue His voice.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me the faith of Abram and Sarai, who left everything to follow you. Calm all my fears and anxieties and give me faith.
TUESDAY | THE BLESSING
PASSAGE: Genesis 12:2
PAUSE: God always blesses for a specific purpose. Abram’s blessing was to be a blessing to others, yes, to his family and neighbors. But more than that, he was also called to be a blessing to other nations. We all want God’s blessing, but perhaps we should first ask the question of why. Is it for us or others?
PRAYER: Father, bless my life like you did Abram’s! Help me not to be selfish with my blessing but help me to be a blessing to others who need you today.
WEDNESDAY | THE ETERNAL PRINCIPLE
PASSAGE: Genesis 12:3
PAUSE: The promise came with a principle for Israel and other nations. In God’s covenant with Abram, He promised that He would bless other nations who blessed Him and curse other nations who cursed Israel. This is an eternal covenant and one of the major covenants that God established with the Patriarch.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am confused about what is going on in Israel as it relates to Your covenant. Give me wisdom and discernment as we study more.
THURSDAY | GOD HEARS
PASSAGE: Genesis 16:3
PAUSE: “Ishmael” means God hears. Even when God seems silent as He was for Sarai and her infertility, it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t listen to our pain. God is always listening, but Ishmael reminds us that we must trust Him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for listening to my brokenness, but help me to wait on You and not take matters into my own hands, but to wait on You.
FRIDAY | GOD IS WITH US
PASSAGE: Genesis 21:20
PAUSE: Even though Sarah wanted Ishmael to move on, God is always faithful. If God was with them, how much more would He be with us? As we embark on a new year, may we always remember that the Lord is with us wherever we go!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your presence. Remind me over and over again that You are always with me, even in the midst of conflict with others.