God is Our Provider

Genesis 27

202) Rebekah told his son Jacob what she had overheard between Isaac and Esau: “Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.”

203) Jacob told his father Isaac, “The Lord your God gave me success.” (Jacob recognized where good things come from — the Lord.)

204) Isaac said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.” (Good crops definitely come from the Lord!)

205) Isaac said, “May God give you of heaven’s dew and of the earth’s richness — an abundance of grain and new wine.” (God gives good things.)

Genesis 28

206) Isaac said to Jacob, “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers …”

207) Isaac said, “May God give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham … the land God gave to Abraham.”

208) In a dream, the Lord spoke to Jacob.  He said he will give to Jacob and his descendants the land on which Jacob is laying. (Jacob was on his way to see Laban, his uncle, to find a wife.)

209) The Lord told Jacob that his descendants will be like the dust of the earth.  All people will be blessed through Jacob and his offspring. (Does this have to do with Jesus??)

210) The Lord told Jacob, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.” (I believe we are given this same promise when we accept Christ as our personal Savior.)

211) The Lord said, “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (But the Lord’s Spirit will never depart from he who accepts Christ.)

212) When Jacob awoke, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

213) Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God.” (He looked to the Lord for protection and for his needs. So should we!)

God is With Us

Genesis 25

192) The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer regarding his barren wife, Rebekah. She became pregnant! (God does answer our prayers.)

193) The two babies jostled inside Rebekah’s womb, sending her to inquire of the Lord.  He spoke to her!

Genesis 26

194) The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.” (God blesses us when we do what He requests.)

195) The Lord told Isaac that He would give all these lands to Isaac and his descendants, thus confirming the oath He swore to Abraham.

196) The Lord told Isaac that He would make Isaac’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

197) The Lord told Isaac that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed because Abraham obeyed Him and kept His requirements, His commands, His decrees, and His laws. (We would do well to do the same!)

198)  Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.

199) Isaac said, “Now the Lord has given us room, and we will flourish in the land.” (This occurred after Isaac moved to a place where no one quarreled with him over the well he had dug.)

200) The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

201) Abimelech told Isaac, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you.” Also, “And now you are blessed by the Lord.”

God is a Great Leader

Genesis 24 continues in this way:

183) The Lord had led Abraham’s servant on the journey to the house of Abraham’s relatives.  (God leads our steps!)

184) Laban called the servant “you who are blessed by the Lord.”

185) The Lord blessed Abraham abundantly.

186) The Lord had given Abraham sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.  (Our good fortune doesn’t come from luck.  It comes from God.)

187) The Lord had given Abraham everything he owned.  (God has also given US everything we own! We should thank Him for that!)

188) Before the journey for Isaac’s bride, Abraham told his servant, “The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success…” (What a remarkable statement!  Angels accompany us!)

189) God led the servant on the right road to get the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother for his son Isaac. (God also leads us on the right road!)

190) Laban and Bethuel, Rebekah’s parents, told Abraham’s servant, “This is from the Lord” (choosing Rebekah for Isaac).

191) They gave Rebekah to the servant, “as the Lord has directed.” (They were wise not to stand in God’s way. We need to be just as wise!)

God is a Blessing-Bestower

We’re still in Genesis 22.  Isaac’s life has just been saved by the Lord.  And Abraham has been saved years of grief over losing his beloved son.

176) The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time on that day.  Because Abraham didn’t withhold his son, God would surely bless him and make his descendants numerous.  They would take possession of the cities of their enemies.  Through his offspring, all nations would be blessed, because Abraham obeyed Him.  (We are blessed when we obey.)

Genesis 23, 24

177) The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. (bless = to bestow good of any kind upon) (Our God gives good gifts!)

178) Abraham told his chief servant that the Lord would send His angel before the servant so that he could get a wife for Isaac.

179) The servant prayed to the Lord, asking Him to give the servant success, and to show kindness to Abraham. (The servant knew who to ask for help!)

180) God chose Rebekah for Isaac. (Perhaps He chooses all our mates!)

181) The Lord made the servant’s journey successful. (Would it have been a success if the servant hadn’t prayed for God’s help?)

182) God did not abandon His kindness and faithfulness to Abraham. (He keeps his promises!)

183) The Lord had led the servant on the journey to the house of Abraham’s relatives.  (It’s comforting to think of God leading US through the journey of life!)

The Lord Will Provide

Genesis 21 continues …

168)  Abimelech told Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.”

(We can take great comfort in this verse.  God is with us!)

169)  At Beersheba, Abraham called upon the name of the Lord.

170)  Abraham called the Lord “the Eternal God.”  (He will never leave

us.  He will always be around to help us.)

Genesis 22

171)  God tested Abraham.  (He tests our faith in Him.  Do we trust Him?)

172)  God spoke to Abraham.  (He speaks to us as well!  Are you listening?)

173)  God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering.

(Nothing we own belongs to us.  Everything we own was given to us by God.

We should hold nothing back from Him.)

174)  The angel of the Lord called out to Abraham from heaven (when he

was about to slay his son).  “Do not lay a hand on the boy.  Now I know that

you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.”

175)  Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.  He called the

place The Lord Will Provide.  (He sacrificed the ram instead of Isaac.)

(God provides what we need, when  we need it.)

God is Caring

Continuing in Genesis 21, we see just how caring our God is:

163) God heard Ishmael crying (when he was in the desert with his mother, Hagar.)(God hears our cries of anguish and despair.)

164) The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven! (She was just a simple woman.)

165) The angel told Hagar that God had heard the boy crying.  God would make Ishmael into a great nation.  (And He did!  God keeps his promises.)

166) God opened Hagar’s eyes so she would see a well of water.  (God takes care of our needs.  We never have to worry.)

167) God was with Ishmael as he grew up.  (We aren’t on our own on this earth.  We have a great Protector.)

God is Honest

God keeps his promises.  Genesis 21 is proof.

157) The Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and He did for Sarah what He had promised. (God keeps his promises!)

158) Sarah gave birth at the very time God had promised Abraham.  (Things happen in God’s timing.)

159) God commanded Abraham to circumcise Issac.

160) Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter.” (Our joy comes from the Lord.)

161) When Sarah requests that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, God said to Abraham, “Do not be so distressed about the boy (Ishmael) and your maid servant (Hagar).  It is through Issac that your offspring will be reckoned.”

162) God told Abraham that He would also make Ishmael into a nation because he is Abraham’s offspring.

God is Mighty

The Book of Genesis is full of examples of God’s might.  Chapter 19 is no exception.  We can only marvel as we read this amazing chapter.  It certainly stands out for most Christians.

143) God sent two angels to Sodom in the evening.  (They spoke to Lot.)

144) God gave the angels power to strike the evil men in Sodom with blindness so they could not find the door to Lot’s house.

145) The angels told Lot to gather his family, because they were going to destroy Sodom.  The outcry to the Lord against its people was so great that God had sent the angels to destroy it. (I love the way God protected Lot and his family.  He really does care about His children!)

146) Lot told his family to get out, because the Lord was about to destroy the city. (Talk about panic!  I would be the first one out the door!)

147) Lot and his family were led away by the angels, for the Lord was merciful to them.  (He is merciful to us, too.  He hasn’t changed since that night.)

148) The Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah.  (Now that is power!)

149) Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain. (God won’t tolerate evil.)

150) Lot’s wife looked back, even though the angels specifically told her not to.  She became a pillar of salt.  (We need to obey God, or face the consequences.  He knows what is best for us.  And He must have had a good reason for not wanting Lot and his family to see what was happening to Sodom.)

151) When God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

Yep, we serve a mighty God!

God is Powerful

The book of Genesis is full of God’s power.  God knew that in order for us to listen to Him, we needed to respect His awesome power. 

Genesis 18

133) The Lord appeared to Abraham again.  Abraham actually saw three men standing nearby.  They eat the food that Abraham prepares.  (Are the other two men actually angels?)

134) The Lord said that He would return to Abraham about this time next year, and Sarah would have a son.

135)  The Lord knew what Sarah was thinking!

136) God asked Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  (A question we should always keep in mind!)

137) The Lord asked the two men with Him, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (I find this verse particularly interesting.)

138) The Lord said, “For I have chosen him (Abraham), so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”  (Two important lessons here:  we are to direct our children, and we keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.)

139) The Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.  If not, I will know.”  (Was is the outcry of the angels that God heard, or was it men like Abraham?  Also, God came down to earth to see for Himself what was going on!)

140) Abraham calls God “the Judge” of all the earth.

141) The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” (God cares about mankind.  He doesn’t want us to be destroyed by sin.)

142) The Lord agreed to spare Sodom if only ten righteous people could be found.

Who says Christians can’t make a difference!!

God Is Awesome

God revealed Himself in Genesis again and again.  And He didn’t just do that for Abraham.  The beauty of the Bible is it was written for ALL people.  We can all benefit from what is found between its pages.  Just approach it with a heart for learning.  We have a wonderful Teacher! 

Genesis 17

122)  The Lord appeared to Abram again when he was 99 years old.  (I wonder if Abram ever got used to that.  How could he?)

123)  The Lord said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.  I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

124)  God said, “You will be the father of many nations.”  (He had already decided this.)

125)  God gave Abram a new name — Abraham.

126)  God said He would establish His covenant as an everlasting covenant between Him and Abraham’s descendants for generations to come.  (God’s promises last!)

127)  The Lord would be Abraham’s God and the God of his descendants.  (We’re supposed to share our God with our children!)

128)  God gave the whole land of Canaan to Abraham as an everlasting possession for him and his descendants.  (God gives good gifts!)

129)  God also gave Sarai a new name — Sarah.

130)  God said He would bless Sarah and give Abraham a son by her.  He was to call his son Isaac.  (Children are a blessing from God.)

131)  God said He would also bless Ishmael.  Ishmael would be the father of twelve rulers, and God would make him into a great nation.  But His covenant would be established with Isaac.

132)  When God had finished speaking with Abraham, He went up from him (to heaven?).