Through the Bible in one year - Day 22

 

I have never liked this portion of the story of Abraham. It is always so, with our rash actions. When we do things in our own strength and for our own purposes, instead of under the Lord’s direction there are consequences; consequences that affect not just us but those we love. Yes, I can see that Abraham wanted a son and even though Sarah ‘gave’ Hagar to him for this purpose it was a bad idea from beginning to end. Hagar and Ishmael suffer because Abraham didn’t think to ask the Lord if his plan was the right course of action. I’m pretty sure if Abraham had asked the Lord, he wouldn’t have done it, and Hagar, and Abraham and Sarah would have been spared much pain. God does not punish Hagar or Ishmael because of Abraham; God looks out for the child and his mother. This helps me to see the heart of God; he cares for the outcast.

I find it interesting in this passage in 1 Chronicles that the duties of those who worship the Lord and make a joyful noise in the service of the Lord were all listed here. Those who were to prophesy and give thanks, and that both the sons and daughters were all set to these tasks. So often we forget this service of singing and giving praise, or we think it is a New Testament behavior, but here we see that praise-giving and thanks-giving were important enough to be under the direction of the king and recorded for posterity. We too, could do more singing and thanks-giving to God. This can be our plan for today.

In the passage from Luke today we see another indication of how much the Lord cares for us. When he sees the woman who had been crippled and bent over for 18 years he heals her – and her response is to immediately begin praising God. At first it says that the Pharisees are angry over his actions, but then after listening to Jesus’ words it says “all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.” (Luke 13:17) Jesus gives them word-pictures of what the kingdom of God is like and Jesus’ words are difficult here when he condemns the casual hangers on. A bit further we read that some of the Pharisees came to tell him Herod wanted to kill him. Have these men been moved by his teaching, or did they just want him to leave? Our text doesn’t actually tell us.

For us today, it is wise that we “strive to enter through the narrow door.” (Luke 13:24) Notice we aren’t told that we can do it either on our own or at all for that matter, what we are told is to head in that direction; to direct ourselves toward the kingdom of God.

Today’s readings: Psalm 21, Genesis 21:1-21, 1 Chronicles 25, Luke 13:10-35