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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :The Story of Abraham [23] - Sodom Bible Verse:Genesis 18:22-33 (ESV) "So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place." Message:
In today’s passage, the remarkable familiarity between God and Abraham becomes even more so. God has humbled Himself to treat Abraham as a familiar; He has taken the form of a man, conversed with Abraham, and told him about his plans in advance. He has traveled with him as if He were human. And now, God negotiates with him!
Abraham is fully aware of the extraordinary situation. “Behold,” he says, “I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.” “Behold” is one of those Bible words that nobody uses in actual speech, but we still get the drift; Charlie Brown would say, “Good grief!” And yet Abraham continues, for if God has allowed his familiarity — and indeed, God has created the situation — how could Abraham refuse God’s offer of friendly discourse?
Abraham actually preaches righteousness to God! He tells Him that, as judge of mankind, it would be unjust for Him to kill the innocent with the wicked; and God accedes to Abraham’s argument.
Events are not actually altered by the conversation, for as we all know, Sodom will be destroyed; there are not ten righteous men within its walls. It is included, then, not to show how Abraham convinced God to spare Sodom for the sake of the innocent, but to show that God listened to Abraham. Their relationship changed when Abraham, by faith, showed faith deep enough to alter his flesh and that of the men in his entire household.
And even more broadly, it teaches us that our relationship with God includes an aspect of friendship. God will listen to us; while blasphemy is sacrilegious, we may be bold enough question God directly, in our prayers. Our faith alters our relationship with God and allows His love to fully enter our lives.
Meditation : Prayer : Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I return. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord......Amen |
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