Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You that Your timing is always perfect, even though I don’t always see it that way. I thank You that You are the one whose mercies are fresh every morning and that wherever I go and whatever I do Your love for me never fails. I praise You for being the God of all mercy and for being faithful when all others and all else fails or is false. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today that I may live in the fullness of Your truth, and that I may demonstrate to others the grace and mercy that You have first given me. Empower me to be a faithful witness always pointing to Your glory and honor which are eternal. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 21:1-21
1 Then the LORD did exactly what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age. It all happened at the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named his son Isaac. 4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was one hundred years old at the time. 6 And Sarah declared, "God has brought me laughter! All who hear about this will laugh with me. 7 For who would have dreamed that I would ever have a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!" 8 As time went by and Isaac grew and was weaned, Abraham gave a big party to celebrate the happy occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael – the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar – making fun of Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, "Get rid of that servant and her son. He is not going to share the family inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won't have it!" 11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, "Do not be upset over the boy and your servant wife. Do just as Sarah says, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will make a nation of the descendants of Hagar's son because he also is your son." 14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food for the journey, and strapped a container of water to Hagar's shoulders. He sent her away with their son, and she walked out into the wilderness of Beersheba, wandering aimlessly. 15 When the water was gone, she left the boy in the shade of a bush. 16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. "I don't want to watch the boy die," she said, as she burst into tears. 17 Then God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy's cries from the place where you laid him. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants." 19 Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well. She immediately filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness of Paran. He became an expert archer, 21 and his mother arranged a marriage for him with a young woman from Egypt.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What is the greatest joy you have ever experienced in your life?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What is the situation at the opening of today’s Scripture? Who are the main characters? (21:1-8)
What is Ishmael’s response to Isaac’s great celebration? How does Sarah respond to this? (21:9-11)
How did God intervene in this situation on Ishmael’s behalf? (21:12-21)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
What do we learn about God’s timing from reading today’s Scripture?
What do we learn about God’s concern for ALL of Abraham’s descendants from this Scripture?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
What have you been waiting for God to do in your life that hasn’t happened yet? What does today’s Scripture tell you about that waiting process?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“Exactly What He Promised!”
Today’s Scripture begins with these words, “Then the LORD did exactly what He had promised.” What had He promised? He’d promised Abraham (who was 100!) and Sarah (who was 90) that they would have a son, who they were to name Isaac. He promised that they would receive a land, and countless descendants and a name that was great. He promised that Abraham would be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Today’s Scripture is the first “installment” on that promise. Isaac was born and celebrated in Abraham’s family. He was the one through whom the vast number of descendants would come. The nation of Israel was the direct result of God doing “exactly what he promised” to Abraham many years before the promise was fulfilled. In our lives we want things to happen now (actually yesterday would have been better!), but God’s timing is always right, even when we think that we know better. As we’ve been studying Abraham’s life, it’s so obvious that God’s hand was upon him. Through Jesus, God promises to live IN us! And remember God always does exactly what He promises. We don’t have to wonder whether He will come through in our lives. All we have to know is that He promises He will, because God’s promises are sure, and we are in the amazing position of being the recipients of His promises through Jesus!
To view other studies from our Journey Through the Bible, click here.