Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Thursday, September 19, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us so much that You give us new assurances of Your presence in our lives each day. Thank You for the faithfulness of Your Son, Jesus, who lived perfectly, died sacrificially and rose triumphantly so that we may know the depth of Your love for us. As I go about this day, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live with the same love and faithfulness toward others, that You have offered me. I pray that others will see and experience Your presence in my life, and thus give You all the glory and honor. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 15:1-21
1 About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim 2 fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (now called Zoar). 3 The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela formed an alliance and mobilized their armies in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea). 4 For twelve years they had all been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but now in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 One year later, Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived. They conquered the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness. 7 Then they swung around to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and destroyed the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar. 8 But now the army of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (now called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea 9 against King Kedorlaomer of Elam and the kings of Goiim, Babylonia, and Ellasar – four kings against five. 10 As it happened, the valley was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some slipped into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains. 11 The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and began their long journey home, taking all the wealth and food with them. 12 They also captured Lot – Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom – and took everything he owned. 13 One of the men who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was camped at the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram's allies. 14 When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called together the men born into his household, 318 of them in all. He chased after Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them in Dan. 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night from several directions. Kedorlaomer's army fled, but Abram chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram and his allies recovered everything – the goods that had been taken, Abram's nephew Lot with his possessions, and all the women and other captives. 17 As Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What is the longest you have ever had to wait for a promise you have been given to be fulfilled?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What does God promise Abram in today’s Scripture and what is Abram’s response? (15:1-3)
How does God respond to Abram’s concern that God’s promises are NOT going to be fulfilled in his life? (15:4-7)
How does God respond to Abram the second time he expresses doubt that God can fulfill His promise to him? (15:8-21)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
What does God’s patience with Abram’s expressions of doubt tell You about God’s relationship with us?
What is the most important promise that God gives Abram in today’s Scripture?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
What do you learn about prayer and interacting with God from Abram’s interaction with God in today’s reading?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“Abram believed God!?”
If you read today’s Scripture carefully, you may have noticed as I did that the statement that Abram believed the Lord and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith is sandwiched in between two expressions of doubt by Abram. God was promising Abram a great deal: a land, a nation and a heritage of blessing. Abram asked God twice whether He was sure that He was going to come through on His promise to make him a great nation. Abram had reason to doubt. He was old—very old. His wife, Sarai was old—very old. They had no descendants. Abram had some reason for wondering whether he was really ever going to have ANY descendants, let alone so many descendants that they would be like the stars of the heavens---too many to count! Yet even in the midst of his expressions of doubt Abram DID believe God. Abram placed his faith in God, because Abram had come to trust God by this point. Abram had come to realize that God, and God alone is worthy of our ultimate faith and trust. Everyone will let us down sooner or later—everyone, that is, except God. Abram was finding that out, and even though his faith was a little shaky, his belief was enough for God to credit Abram as righteous. Abram’s small faith in a great big God was the formula for greatness in his life, and it still is for us as well!
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