Redemptive Suffering

Readings for today: Job 33-36

Suffering can be redemptive. I know it’s hard to believe. Especially in the West where pain and suffering are always to be avoided. Always perceived as evil and wrong. But God clearly uses suffering to reveal Himself to His people. He allows suffering so that His people will turn once more to Him. He engages us in our suffering when we cry out to Him. In fact, the Bible says God “draws near the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit.” As someone who engages often in conversation with people of different faiths, I believe this is part of what sets the Christian God apart from the other gods of the major and minor religions of the world. Our God is not distant. Our God does not hold back. Our God does not stand far off. He actually gets His hands dirty. He presses into our lives, often at the point of greatest pain and grief and heartbreak. Certainly, we will see this in our reading tomorrow when God does show up to give Job an answer. Just the fact that God doesn’t remain silent is miraculous.

“He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering.” (Job‬ ‭36‬:‭15‬ ‭NET‬‬) This line hit me hard today. Perhaps because I just spent time having breakfast with several other pastors in our community. The load they are carrying as they care for God’s people is immense. Cancer. Terminal illness in children. Sudden death of those they love. Adult kids getting divorced or struggling with addiction. Grandchildren who are deconstructing. The list is endless and these pastors are called to walk not only the journey themselves but also to journey with so many others through similar pain and suffering. The common theme as we shared our prayer requests remained hopeful. God is revealing Himself to us in the midst of our afflictions. He is making Himself known to us in our suffering. Each pastor testified to the power of God’s presence in their pain and I found myself so encouraged.

It reminded me of an important truth. When things are at their darkest, we need others in our lives to show us the light. When things are at their worst, we need others in our lives to remind us there are better days ahead. One of the primary ways God has revealed Himself in my life over the years is through other believers. Men and women who have come alongside me in a difficult season and remained faithful to pray for me and encourage me and walk with me. Their faith sustained me when my faith failed. Their strength filled me when my strength was gone. Their hope helped me endure when I thought I had lost all hope. I am so thankful I have cultivated deep, intimate, spiritual friendships with so many over the years. I am truly blessed by an abundance of brothers and sisters who love me and encourage me along the way. If you don’t have such people in your life, I want to encourage you to start building such friendships today. Join a small group. Find a spiritual mentor. Do all you can to surround yourself with godly people who will truly do life with you and watch God make Himself known in and through them.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 37-40:1-5, Psalms 19

Rock Bottom

Readings for today: Job 29-32

Have you ever hit rock bottom? Ever come to a place where you had nothing left? I think about the many people I’ve counseled over the years who have struggled with substance abuse. They often lose their jobs. Their homes. Their families. Eventually all the lies they tell themselves and others get exposed. All the manipulative games they’ve played as they’ve tried to hold things together come to an end. They find themselves with nothing left. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. That’s what it sounds like to me when I read the final words from Job.

He has clearly come to the end of himself. He looks back with longing for the days when things were good. When he walked closely with God. When he was respected in the community. When he was able to be generous to others. When he had the energy and the resources to help others. He was sure this was how his days would end. He was sure his future was secure. But then calamity struck. His fortunes took a turn for the worse. His reputation in the community suffered a mortal blow. Now the very same people who used to love and respect him, mock him. The very same people he helped and served along the way now rise up against him. His life has been poured out. His energy and resources utterly depleted. His expectations of a long and fruitful life dashed. He’s tried crying out to God but to no avail. There seems to be no answer. Heaven is closed. He is alone. The walls have closed in all around him. There is no one to give him any comfort or any relief.

As I’ve shared numerous times over the years, I know how Job feels. In the summer of 2009, I found myself in a similar place. The ministry I was leading imploded, costing me several relationships. It was the most painful experience of my life. Members of the board I served under threatened me. Those I considered friends abandoned me. My relationships at home with my wife and children were strained at best. I was not handling it well. I made so many mistakes during that time. I tried as hard as I could to redeem the situation in my own strength. But the harder I tried, the worse things got. I too cried out to God but to no avail. There seemingly was no answer. Heaven felt closed to me. My prayers bounced off the ceiling. Finally, after months of spending hours in prayer, I broke down. I wept. I told God I had nothing left. My words were ended.

“The words of Job are ended.” (Job 31:40 NET) This is a good thing. It’s always good to exhaust our words so we can begin listening for God’s Word. It’s always good to shut our mouths so we can open our ears. It’s always good to come to the end of ourselves so we can find a new beginning with God. Over the course of my life, I have found God does His best work in the empty spaces of my life when I have nothing left to give. So make your final appeal. Cry out to God with all you’ve got. Exhaust yourself and your energy and your resources assailing the heavens. Know that God is with you even as you do and when you are finished, He will speak. He will comfort. He will guide.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 33-36

Wisdom

Readings for today: Job 25-28

Our world is filled with knowledge. We have so much knowledge we literally do not know what to do with it. So much information coming at us from every angle. The average person is inundated with well over a hundred emails every day. Not to mention texts. Phone calls. Social media interactions. A single issue of the New York Times contains more information than a person a hundred or so years ago might have learned in an entire year. The news is relentless. The fake news endless. Technology ubiquitous. We cannot escape. We cannot rest. And what has all this knowledge gained us? Rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Rising rates of fear, violence, and hate. All this in a world that is demonstrably improving with each passing year. Why? What are we missing? What is the source of our persistent discontent?

Wisdom. Wisdom is the key. We simply do not know the path to wisdom or we refuse to take it. Today’s reading from the Book of Job is on point. "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the ground, and rock is poured out as copper…On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases. He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing. He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light. But wisdom – where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding? Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.” (Job‬ ‭28‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬) Human beings are capable of great things. We literally move mountains. We climb the highest mountains. We delve in the deep places of the earth. We’ve learned to fly. We’ve explored the depths of the oceans. We know how to do so very much. But for all our strength and power and knowledge and ability, we have yet to find the path to wisdom. We didn’t find it on the mountaintops. We searched for it in vain in the trenches of the seas. Despite our vast wealth we could not find a vender who sold it.

Only God knows the path to wisdom. Only God knows how to take all of our knowledge and order it in such a way that it leads to blessing and human flourishing. “But wisdom – where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding? For it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed. Destruction and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place…And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” (Job‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬-‭23‬, ‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬) Fear the Lord. Submit to His ways. Surrender to His will. Let Him guide and direct your steps. This is the path to wisdom. God’s promise to those who follow Him is that He will lead us to green pastures and beside still waters. To places of peace where our souls will be restored. Job understands we cannot find these places on our own. We cannot get to these places on our own. Our knowledge is simply not enough. We must let God take us by the hand. We must trust God with our lives and our future. We must have faith that He knows best.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 29-32

When God Feels Absent

Readings for today: Job 22-24

There is nothing more terrifying than the feeling of existential loneliness. The belief that I am all alone in the universe. A cosmic accident. A product of random, impersonal forces. A collection of atoms. No divine purpose. No human dignity. No moral center. Recently a friend of mine challenged me with this question, “When was the last time you knew Jesus was real and this wasn’t all just a bunch of b**sh**t?” Such a great question. One that deserves a thoughtful answer. I told him about a time three years ago when I was in a rural area in the Horn of Africa. Suffering from jet lag. Lying awake on a hard bed praying for someone I loved dearly who was fighting an incredible battle. After exhausting all my words, I finally gave up and cried out to God, “Jesus, I just don’t have any more words to pray.” In that moment, I experienced the Holy Spirit coming over me in a powerful way. He began to pray for me according to His promise in Romans 8:26. I was overwhelmed. Unable to move for about an hour. At the end of that time, I found myself weeping in relief at the palpable presence of God in my life.

At the same time, I have also had moments where I experienced God’s absence. Much like Job, I didn’t know where to find Him. I couldn’t perceive Him. My prayers felt like they were bouncing off the ceiling. Perhaps that’s why I resonate so deeply with the words we read today, “O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments…If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him. But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.” (Job‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭8‬-‭10‬‬‬ NET) Historically, these moments are called the “dark night of the soul.” Moments in a person’s life where they find themselves wandering in deep darkness. Hopeless. Helpless. Despairing. They can last for days, months, or even years. And, as I said above, there is nothing more terrifying than feeling like you’ve been abandoned by God. It’s why Jesus’ cry from the cross is so horrible. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The experience of God-forsakenness is a taste of hell on earth. It’s not something I would wish on anybody, not even my worst enemy. But it is the experience of Job. And what makes Job such a profound example of faith is that He is somehow able to hold onto God even when he cannot find Him. He is able to follow God even when he cannot see Him. He is able to trust God even when he cannot feel Him. It’s why he says at the end of his own cry of dereliction, “But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.” What a testimony of faith!

Every Christian I have ever known has suffered a dark night of the soul. Every Christian I have ever known has walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Every Christian I have ever known has experienced the absence of God in certain seasons of life. The key in those moments is to trust God even when we cannot see Him or sense Him or feel Him or perceive Him. Our faith must transcend beyond our five senses. We must believe in the midst of our doubts and questions and fears. We must remain convinced that God will fulfill His promises though it may not be according to our time or according to our plan. This is the essence of saving faith.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Meeting God in the Darkness

Readings for today: Job 18-21

There is nothing worse than feeling like God Himself is against you. I remember experiencing the darkness of such despair in the summer/fall of 2009. I was living in Wisconsin. The church I was planting had completely collapsed. The board I was working for had turned against me. One of the members even threatened me physically. I had no friends locally. My marriage was on shaky ground. My children were wondering what was wrong. The future looked bleak at best. Everything I once held dear was taken away from me. I spent most nights pacing in my living room, wearing a path in the carpet, crying out to God. Some nights I wept. Some nights I shook my fist at Him in anger. Some nights I just sat staring into the flames of our fireplace. I was at a complete loss as to what to do or where to turn. I felt a lot like Job…

“If I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice. He has blocked my way so I cannot pass, and has set darkness over my paths. He has stripped me of my honor and has taken the crown off my head. He tears me down on every side until I perish; he uproots my hope like one uproots a tree. Thus his anger burns against me, and he considers me among his enemies. His troops advance together; they throw up a siege ramp against me, and they camp around my tent.” (Job‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬)

After several weeks of averaging around 3-4 hours of sleep a night, I finally broke down. I had nothing left. My strength was gone. I had run out of options. I was paralyzed by fear and anxiety over how I would provide for my family. All I could see was darkness. I remember sitting on the couch. No more tears left to cry. No more energy left to yell at God. No more words left to say. I just sat there in the darkness. In the silence. Terrified and all alone. And that’s when I heard God say, “Are you finally ready to surrender?” My only answer was “yes.” God had stripped my life down to the studs. He had crucified my ego and pride. He surrounded me and hemmed me in and increased the pressure on me until I finally broke. It was painful on so many levels and yet it was exactly what I needed. I discovered what Job discovered in the ashes and dust of his own life. God is all I need. God is more than enough. God is faithful. He will never leave me or forsake me.

I think that’s why, in the midst of his tremendous suffering, Job still clings to faith. “O that my words were written down, O that they were written on a scroll, that with an iron chisel and with lead they were engraved in a rock forever! As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” (Job‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭NET‬‬) Job lost everything, including his physical health, and still he believes. Still he trusts that he will see God. Still he knows his Redeemer lives. Do you?

Readings for tomorrow: Job 22-24

Small Comfort

Readings for today: Job 14-17

We live in a world of hot takes. Harsh critique. Where everyone seems to be in a rush to judgment. We do not listen well. We do not seek to understand. In some circles, I’m even starting to see a rejection of empathy. It’s crazy to me and it reminds me of Job’s friends. They start so well. When they hear of all the tragic events of Job’s life, they rush to be with him. For seven days they sit with him in the ashes and dust of his life. They are quiet. Silent. Letting Job grieve. Letting Job weep. But when Job starts to process his grief, they can’t help themselves. They feel compelled to respond. To defend God. To correct Job. And their words are such small comfort.

“I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all! Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you. But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.” (Job‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Job’s not looking for theological answers. Job’s not looking for an intellectual discussion about the nature of sin and suffering. Job already knows these things. He is well-versed in his understanding of humanity’s relationship with God. He’s under no illusion as to his place in God’s universe. In his grief and pain and heartbreak, he simply is crying out to God. He’s asking for an audience with His Lord, the God he has served faithfully his entire life. Rather than arguing with him, what Job needs from his friends is encouragement. Comfort. Empathy. He needs his friends to come alongside him and listen to him and love him rather than correct him.

I don’t know about you but the last thing I need when I am hurting is unwanted and unasked for advice. The last thing I need when I am suffering is someone to try to tell me how to feel or how to think. The last thing I need when I am in pain is someone trying to rob of my right to my feelings. I just need someone to listen. I just need someone to sit with me in dust and ashes. I just need someone to let me know they love me. Interestingly enough, when God finally shows up at the end of the Book of Job, He doesn’t offer many answers. His presence is all the comfort Job needs.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 18-21

Hopeless

Readings for today: Job 10-13

Ever felt hopeless in your life? Ever get to a place where no matter what you did, things turned out worse? Ever find yourself in a position where the walls were closing in and you had no escape? No safety net? No one to catch you when you fall? This is what Job felt like in the face of all he suffered. Hopelessness is a terrible thing. The loss of hope is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being. If we don’t have hope, we lose any motivation to keep on living. We lose any desire to keep on striving. The results are often tragic. Either we give up or we find a way to end it all or we shuffle through the rest of life like a zombie with no sense of purpose or direction.

I think of the many people I have counseled over the years who found themselves on the verge of hopelessness. Some of them were fighting terrible, wasting diseases like ALS or Alzheimer’s and they wondered what value their life could possibly hold as their physical bodies failed. Some were fighting terrible addictions and they wondered how life could be worth living under such oppressive, compulsive, and seemingly irresistible self-destructive desires. Some were fighting mental health conditions like schizophrenia or anorexia or clinical depression and they wondered what the point of life might be when so much of what they experienced was darkness. Still others suffered from deep emotional and relational pain. Still others had seen everything they had built professionally come crashing down around them. There is so much pain and heartbreak in our world that leads to hopelessness and despair and we wonder where God is in the midst of it all.

Listen to how Job describes his own feelings of hopelessness, “If I am guilty, woe to me, and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; I am full of shame, and satiated with my affliction. If I lift myself up, you hunt me as a fierce lion, and again you display your power against me.” (Job‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬) There is nothing worse than feeling like life has no point. Nothing worse than feeling like no matter what we do, we are still doomed to suffer. Nothing worse than thinking it doesn’t matter if one is good or evil because we all end up in the same place. This is where Job finds himself in our reading today and yet he refuses to give up hope. He stubbornly clings to faith. He continues to cry out to God. Demanding an audience. Demanding an answer. Somewhere deep down, he knows what he’s experiencing is not right so he throws himself on God’s mercy. “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you! But I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.” (Job‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭3 ‭NET‬‬)

Some believe the Book of Job is about the loss of faith. Some believe it is about deconstructing faith. I beg to differ. Job is a book that plumbs the depth of faith. It presents faith in it’s most real, most raw form. It shows us what faith looks like under immense pressure. It shows us how faith endures under the most difficult of circumstances. Job is a faithful man precisely because he continues to cry out to God. He refuses to let go. He is like Jacob wrestling with God down by the river. He is broken. He is beaten. He is wounded terribly, perhaps even mortally, and still he will not let go until God answers him. His friends all want him to compromise. His counselors all want him to exchange his deep and profound faith for superficial, theologically correct answers. His own wife wants him to renounce his faith, curse God, and die. But Job perseveres. He endures. He only tightens his grip on his faith. He refuses to give into hopelessness. Refuses to let despair have the final word.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 14-17

Death

Readings for today: Job 6-9

My father died suddenly in March of 2024. I remember the day vividly. I was driving with my son down to Colorado Springs where he had applied for college. We were supposed to do a tour of the university. My brother called me to tell me mom had come home from running errands to find my dad lying on the floor unresponsive. She called the paramedics. They tried to revive him to no avail. So we rushed home to be with mom while we waited for the coroner to come. Sitting at the dining room table with my father’s body lying on the floor in the room next to us was surreal to say the least. We couldn’t move him until the police came to do their investigation to make sure there was no foul play involved. So we sat together in silence while we waited.

I remember thinking back to some of these verses from Job. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is but a breath, that my eyes will never again see happiness….My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness. They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.” (Job‬ ‭7:6-7, 9‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NET‬‬) Thankfully, my father’s life didn’t without hope. He had given his life to Christ the summer before while we were in Israel and I got the privilege of baptizing him in the Jordan River. But the point Job makes here still stands. Our days are numbered before we are born. Even if we are granted long life, our time on this earth is short. The point isn’t so much to count our days as to make our days count.

Job also speaks powerfully about despair. He is in a dark place. He is hurting. He is grieving. He is lonely. And he cries out to God. This too is an expression of his deep faith. He trusts God enough to be real and honest with Him. He knows God can handle his raw emotions. He doesn’t have to hold back. He doesn’t have to watch his words. He doesn’t have to tread carefully or walk on egg shells. He can speak to God from the depths of his depression with the confidence that God will hear his prayers. This is part of why I love reading Job each year. It reminds me of the times in my own life when I have struggled with depression and despair. Job gave me hope in those dark days that I too could cry out to God and be real and honest with Him. And, like Job, God met me at my lowest point and raised me up to new life again.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 10-13

The Problem of Suffering

Readings for today: Job 1-5

Suffering poses one the greatest challenges to faith. Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why is there so much suffering throughout history? Why do good people suffer? Why do innocent people suffer? Why does suffering seem so arbitrary? Why do some suffer greatly and others suffer not as much? It’s a puzzle. A riddle wrapped in a mystery. An enigma that has haunted humanity from the beginning. You may or may not know this but Job is the oldest book in the Bible. The first one written chronologically. And it’s fascinating to me that the problem it seeks to solve is the problem of suffering. Suffering is a universal condition. One we all experience. And the problem of suffering is one we all think about and wrestle over. I’ve traveled the world and no matter where I go, people want to know why suffering exists. They want to know how a good God could allow suffering. Is He good but powerless to act or is He all-powerful but perhaps doesn’t care? These are questions that cut to the heart. Furthermore, many of my atheist friends point to the fact that suffering is not something that just impacts the human race. The history of the world is full of incredible suffering. The mass extinction of most species - some 99% according to scientific estimates - seems astronomically high if there is a good God sovereignly reigning over all He has made.

The temptation is to try and talk about suffering on a philosophical level. Over-spiritualize what is a deeply personal, deeply painful experience. This is the mistake Job’s friends make. But Job refuses to allow his suffering to become abstract. His words are raw and honest and heartbreaking. Though he does not sin, he still faces reality. Though he does not blame God, he does demand an audience. Job seems more than willing to accept evil from God, not just good. He seems more than willing to accept that the Lord gives and takes away. He still praises God in the middle of his grief and pain but he also refuses to let go. He wants answers and in this way, Job represents all of us. I believe it’s why this book holds such wide influence across human cultures and even other religious traditions. No matter what perspective a person holds, there is something about Job that is deeply compelling.

As you read this book, challenge yourself to sit in the ashes with Job. Allow your own experience of suffering, whatever that may be, to shape how you read and respond to the words of Job and his friends. Don’t rush past the pain. Don’t try to avoid the tensions raised by Job. Don’t offer easy answers to the questions he poses. Just sit with him. Listen to him. Let your heart break with him. And let the Lord speak to your own experience of suffering as you let Job be your guide.

Readings for tomorrow: Job 6-9

Redemptive Arc

Readings for today: Genesis 47-50

In today’s reading, the redemptive arc of Judah’s life comes to completion. What began in shame and dishonor as he sold his brother into slavery ends in pre-eminence and glory as he is raised to leadership among the tribes of Israel. Judah will now take his place at the head of the clan. He displaces his eldest brother Reuben whose lust cost him his position. He displaces his older brothers Levi and Simeon whose anger and violence spun out of control when they massacred an entire city. He now will lead the family. His descendants will become kings and establish the greatest dynasty in Israel’s history. In fact, the southern kingdom of Judah will bear his name and even the post-exilic people of Israel will become known as “Jews”, bearing his namesake throughout the centuries and into the modern day. Judah and his descendants will be known for their strength and courage. God will give them victory after victory in war. In fact, the “Lion of Judah” becomes part of their particular tribal heritage. And, of course, Judah’s line will eventually yield the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise contained in verse ten which says, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.” (Genesis‬ ‭49‬:‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬)

The thing I love most about Judah’s life is the hope it gives a person like me. In many ways, my early years were also filled with shame and dishonor as I struggled with an alcohol problem that thankfully didn’t turn into an addiction. Failed out of college because of a complete lack of self-discipline. Battled my own demons of pride and lust and greed and selfishness. Thankfully, Jesus met me in the midst of all that darkness and brought me into the light. The Holy Spirit came to dwell inside me and began to sanctify me from the inside out. As I surrendered more and more to Him, He, in turn, made more and more like Jesus. And as I became more and more like Jesus, I began to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life. My wife noticed. My children noticed. My parents noticed. My friends noticed. The people I serve in the churches where I’ve been noticed. And the result was blessing upon blessing. Blessings in my life. Blessings through my life. The redemptive arc of my life has yet to come to completion. I know I still have so far to go but by the grace of God, I can look back over my life and see how He has shaped and formed in profound ways into the man and husband and father and pastor I am today.

What about you? Where do you find yourself on the redemptive arc? Are you at the beginning? Still battling all kinds of guilt and shame? Let the grace of Christ minister to you and deliver you from the burdens you carry. Have you received Christ? Wonderful! Now the task is to surrender more and more of you life into His hands. Let the Holy Spirit do His sanctifying work within you, making you more like Christ with each passing day. Are you nearing the end of your journey? Do you sense the redemptive arc of your life coming to a close as you near the end? Finish strong. Let Christ bring to completion the good work He’s begun in you so that your life, from beginning to end, will be a testimony to His grace, love and power.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Forgiveness

Readings for today: Genesis 44-46

What is forgiveness? It’s a question I get a lot along with “how do I forgive?” Some believe forgiving means forgetting. Some believe forgiveness means giving people a pass. Some believe forgiveness is weak and foolish and naive and only enables people to walk all over you. Some believe forgiveness is impossible. Some believe forgiveness means the resolution of all feelings. Some believe forgiveness is the same as reconciliation. None of these are true. Forgiveness, biblically defined, is the decision to let go of all anger and resentment against a person or persons who have hurt you and no longer hold their actions against them. We see this modeled so well in the life of Joseph.

“Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, Lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Note that Joseph is clear and honest about what happened. “I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt.” There is no hiding from the truth. There is no attempt to skip over the truth. There is no pretending the truth of what happened had been forgotten. At the same time, Joseph has clearly made the decision to not hold the truth of what happened all those years ago against his brothers. “Do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here.” Joseph releases them from their guilt. He refuses to hold what happened against them. He had let go of any anger or bitterness years before. And how did Joseph do that? He looked to God. He trusted God’s sovereign plan for his life. He knew God was able to work all things for his good and the good of His people. “God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Joseph’s life. The lives of the Egyptians. The lives of Jacob and Joseph’s brothers and the rest of his family. Joseph believed God had a plan. In fact, he saw what happened as the fulfillment of the prophetic dreams he had had years before. He knew God was at work the very first time his brothers showed up. And because of that, he could forgive. He could release his rightful claim to justice and instead offer them grace.

Now let’s get practical. How can you practice forgiveness in your own life? Start with honesty. Start with honestly acknowledging the truth of what happened. Don’t shy away from it. Don’t back down from it. Just don’t hold onto it and allow it to morph into bitterness. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Ask Him to show you how what happened is part of His overall plan for your life. Think about how God revealed Himself to you in the midst of your pain and suffering and heartbreak. Let His Spirit release you from your need for vengeance. Extend grace. Let the other person or persons know you trust God’s plan. You trust what they may have meant for evil, God turned to good. Not just your good but their good as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 47-50

Burden of Guilt

Readings for today: Genesis 41-43

Guilt is a burden. All human beings feel it. All human beings experience it. In fact, the only humans who do not are sociopaths or psychopaths. Their inability to experience guilt or shame makes them incredibly dangerous in society. I remember when I worked as a chaplain at New Jersey State Prison. A significant percentage of the inmates there were in for some form of murder or another. I actually met professionally diagnosed sociopaths. It was frightening to see their utter lack of guilt or shame over the crime they committed. It’s not that they were proud of it, they simply didn’t care and I found that even more troublesome.

It is clear from our reading today that Israel’s family is experiencing a profound sense of guilt and shame. Collectively, they are all struggling with the alleged death of Joseph. Jacob, now Israel, translates his guilt into overprotection when it comes to his youngest son - now a full grown man - and has grown resentful towards his other sons. Reuben translates his guilt into resentment towards his brothers for not listening to him when he sought to spare Joseph’s life. All of them wonder if they are being punished for how they treated Joseph all those years earlier. The dysfunction is so great that Reuben offers the lives of his two sons to his father to guarantee Benjamin’s safety and Judah eventually does the same with his own life, as if these lives are somehow less valuable than Benjamin’s in the eyes of their father. It causes one to wonder what daily life in this family must have been like with all these unhealthy, sinful dynamics in play. It’s definitely tragic on so many levels.

Sadly, I know many families who experience similar levels of dysfunction. They carry around incredibly heavy burdens of guilt over past mistakes and past failures. The guilt cripples them and their ability to connect deeply and intimately with one another. The result is resentment and bitterness and anger that builds over the years. Eventually, it spills out in divorce, estrangement, broken relationships, and shattered family systems. So where do we go to find hope? We go to the One who bore our guilt and shame on the cross. Christ has the power and the will and the desire to heal hurting families. To mend broken families. To reconcile estranged families. I know because I come from such a family myself. My dad’s alcoholism threatened the very fabric of our family system. We could easily have succumbed to bitterness and resentment. We could easily have blown apart relationally. But God was faithful. He saved me and He worked through me to help my own family heal. The more God healed me, the healthier I became. The healthier I became, the healthier my family became. The results were miraculous as God healed our relationships in so many ways and it even eventually led my father to give his life to Christ about 18 months before he passed away. My brothers are my best friends. My mom is my spiritual hero. If God can do this for us, He can do it for anyone. Trust Christ. Let Him carry your burden of guilt and shame to the cross!

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 44-46

Redemption

Readings for today: Genesis 38-40

Judah has always been a fascinating person to me, probably because of the redemptive arc of his life. He doesn’t begin well. He’s in on the original plot to kill his brother Joseph but when Reuben convinces them not to kill him, he’s the one who comes up with the idea to sell Joseph into slavery and make a profit. But something must not have sat well with him because he quickly leaves the family to go live among the Canaanites. He marries a Canaanite woman. He has three sons. Two of them die under strange and tragic circumstances and the only conclusion Judah and/or the author of Genesis makes is that the Lord has killed them. Judah refuses to marry Tamar to his remaining son, perhaps fearing for his life, and that sets up the scenario where Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute, sleeps with Judah, becomes pregnant, and bears him two more sons. One of which becomes the ancestor of King David and Jesus. These experiences must have had a profound effect on Judah because the next time we hear anything about him, he is offering his own life in place of Benjamin’s before Joseph which ends up facilitating a beautiful reconciliation among the brothers and their family.

I’ve often wondered about the burden of guilt Judah must have carried. Selling your brother into slavery is no small thing. For all he knew, he was condemning his brother to a short life full of all kinds of pain and suffering and hard labor. I wonder if this is what prompted Judah to leave his family? How could he look his father and mother in the eye, knowing what he had done? Every time they passed the cistern where they had thrown Joseph, he must have had flashbacks. Every time a Midianite caravan passed down that same trade route, he must have thought about his brother. So he leaves his family, perhaps trying to escape his shame. He marries. He has children. He starts a business with his friend. Life seems to be moving on. But then his oldest dies under strange circumstances. Then his second son dies under similarly strange circumstances. I imagine Judah thought he was being punished by God, his sins catching up with him. So he refuses to give his third son to his daughter-in-law. Then, when she turns up pregnant, he responds in righteous indignation only to find out he is the father! It had to be incredibly humbling. We don’t know what happens next except the next time we hear from Judah, he is back with his family and he has changed. He is humble and more than willing to sacrifice himself rather than see another one of his family members be sold into slavery or die. And when Joseph sees his willingness to take his brother’s place, he cannot hold back any longer. He reveals himself and the family is reconciled.

I think the reason Judah fascinates me is because I too have carried burdens of guilt. I too carry a load of shame. I look back over the course of my life and I can point to so many instances where I sinned against the Lord and those I love. I was prideful, arrogant, and made a fool of myself. I hurt people with what I said or did or did not do. I didn’t stand up for those who needed me. And I’ve wondered at times if all the bad things that happened in my life were simply the consequences of my sinful choices catching up to me. Thankfully, God is quick to remind me of the gospel. The fact that He took my place. He paid the price. He gave Himself for me. He reminds me there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because He has washed away all my guilt and shame through His saving death on the cross. Through Christ, I am reconciled to God, to those I love, and to the world around me. I no longer need to walk in fear or shame or guilt but in complete freedom.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 41-43

Brother’s Keeper

Readings for today: Genesis 34-37

Am I my brother’s keeper? It’s one of the most powerful questions posed by the Bible. Originally asked by Cain when confronted over his brother’s murder, it ripples out through the pages of Scripture and into human history. Jacob and Esau. Joseph and his brothers. The fights between Moses and God’s people during the Exodus. The brutal period of the Judges where “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” The civil strife between Saul and David and the kings of Israel and Judah. The betrayal of Judas. The conflict in the early church. All of it a result of humanity’s seeming inability to answer this fundamental question. Am I my brother or sister’s keeper? Am I responsible for the well-being of those around me? Am I focused on selflessly serving others or selfishly using others for my own benefit?

Joseph was clearly an entitled and spoiled young man. Jacob repeated the generational pattern of favoritism in his family by loving Joseph more than his brothers. Joseph was given special privileges. Joseph enjoyed special treatment. Joseph was given special gifts like his special robe that set him apart. This bred a level of pride and arrogance in Joseph so when he was given a vision of the future by God, he naturally shared it with his brothers in an effort to demonstrate how truly special he was not only in the eyes of their father but in the eyes of God himself. In so doing, Joseph failed to be his brother’s keeper. His brothers responded like most would in that situation. They grew resentful and bitter and angry. Joseph’s dreams held real world implications for them, impacting their future as a family and clan. So they begin plotting to get rid of their brother, first deciding to kill him and then settling for selling him into slavery. In so doing, they failed to be their brother’s keeper.

Now fast forward to our own day and age. So many of the problems in our world can be traced back to this fundamental question. Am I my brother or sister’s keeper? Of course, this forces us to ask who is my brother? Who is my sister? Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. day in our country. A day set aside to honor a man who truly understood that every human being was his brother or his sister. He sought not to defeat or destroy those who opposed his message but instead to win them over with unarmed truth and unconditional love. He refused to allow the truth of the gospel to be co-opted for partisan political and social agendas and he refused to given into hate. Even in the face of water hoses and dogs and all kinds of other violence, Dr. King remained committed to love as the only way forward. Think about how different things would be if we truly saw one another as a brother or sister? Regardless of ethnicity or economic status? Regardless of cultural or social standing? Regardless of political affiliation? How would it change our debates over important topics like immigration, national security, global diplomacy, and economic policy? Maybe even more importantly and practically, how would it change our relationship with our family, friends, and neighbors who may disagree with us?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 38-40

Reconciliation

Readings for today: Genesis 30-33

My dad died almost two years ago. We had a complex relationship. He was tough on me as his oldest son. He was a strict disciplinarian. A man you never said “no” to. He found it hard to express his feelings and emotions. Though he told me he loved me, he wasn’t overly demonstrative about it. Hugging was hard for him. He preferred critique over encouragement as a way to parent. He was also an alcoholic for almost forty years. Even though he was never physically abusive, he wasn’t easy to live with. When I moved back to Colorado over sixteen years ago, he was working at a golf course as a ranger. He and I were able to play regularly on the course. We had hours of conversation during those rounds. And God began to reconcile what I thought was irreconcilable. My father became more affectionate. He laughed easier. He told me how proud he was of me and the man I’d become. I was able to even confide in him at times and he offered me sound advice. About 18 months or so before he passed away, we took a trip to Israel together. My mom and my wife also were with us. I challenged him to make his peace with God. Once again, God worked a miracle. My father publicly proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ and I had the privilege of baptizing him in the Jordan River. It was an experience I will never forget.

I imagine Jacob must have felt the same way when he met Esau. He had been gone for well over a decade. Plenty of time for Esau’s anger and hostility to ferment into something toxic and deadly. Indeed, if God wasn’t at work that’s exactly what would have happened. But as much as we read about God working in Jacob’s life, often despite his sin, He must have been working in Esau’s life as well. How else can one explain the greeting Jacob received upon returning home? “But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept.” (Genesis‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬) There’s no way to explain this miraculous reception other than God working in Esau’s heart to move him to forgiveness and reconciliation. And there’s nothing more powerful, more intimate, more life-changing than being on the receiving end of forgiveness and reconciliation whether it’s from God or those we love.

Think about your own life. Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask forgiveness from? With whom do you need to reconcile? It may feel impossible. It may feel like the gulf is too wide. The hurt too deep. The disappointment too fresh. Everything in you may resist God’s call to lean in. But there’s nothing more powerful in the Christian life. Be strong and bold and courageous. Have faith. Trust the Holy Spirit. Reach out with open hands and an open heart. Pray fervently and regularly. Do all you can to make peace with God, peace with others, and peace with the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 34-37

Family

Readings for today: Genesis 27-29

I am in my seventeenth year as the pastor of a local church. One of the great blessings of serving a single church for that long is the opportunity I get to walk with families through many different seasons of life. Births and baptisms. Weddings and funerals. The challenge of raising kids and maintaining a strong, godly marriage. Launching careers. Struggling with teenagers. Experiencing unexpected tragedy. Healing from trauma. Recovering from addiction. Reconciling broken relationships. I’ve heard it all and seen it all. Perhaps that’s why when I read the stories of the Patriarchs and all the dysfunction within their families, I am not surprised. There’s nothing new under the sun. This is the way human families have always worked and the only thing strong enough to hold us together is the faithfulness of God.

God made an eternal, unbreakable covenant with Abraham and Sarah and their descendants. As we read in chapter fifteen, God literally put His life on the line to guarantee the fulfillment of this covenant. No matter how many times Abraham lies about his relationship with Sarah or Jacob deceives his brother and father, God refuses to let go. He refuses to let their sin derail His plan for their family. I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of Jacob or Esau. Esau seems entitled. Jacob seems spoiled. Neither want to take responsibility for their actions. Both would prefer to blame the other for all their problems. Still, God remains faithful. He blesses Jacob in spite of his deceit. He blesses Esau in spite of his homicidal rage. And this gives me hope because, if I am honest, I am not all that different than either of these two men. I have my own issues. I can look back over the course of my life and see plenty of times when my choices put God’s promises in jeopardy. And yet, God remains faithful to me as well. His covenant is just as unbreakable. Just as unshakeable. Just as eternal as the one He made with Abraham.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Providence

Readings for today: Genesis 24-26

I had a professor in seminary who once delivered a lecture at a prestigious academic conference. During his talk, he shared a story about flying into a new city where he had never been. He hailed a taxi at the curb and asked the driver to take him to his hotel. Along the way, he needed to stop for something but was in a hurry so prayed a quick prayer that the cab driver would be able to find a parking spot close to the store. When they pulled into the lot, another car was pulling out right next to the door. He was able to run in and get what he needed. He praised God for getting him a parking spot. After his lecture had finished, there was a time for question and answers. One of his colleagues stood up and challenged him on his fundamental understanding of what had happened in his story. He grew animated as he challenged my professor, saying, “How dare you suggest God cares about parking spaces when so many people are suffering around the world today. How can you claim God answered your prayers for something so trivial when He refuses to answer the prayers of others who are living in life-threatening circumstances?”

It’s a challenging thought. Especially when cast against the backdrop of the monumental evil and suffering around the world. Who are we to claim God’s personal and direct intervention in our lives when so many cry out to Him and their prayers seemingly go unheard or unanswered? I admit I wrestle with this tension myself, mainly because of the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen. But then I read a passage like today where it is clear God intervened in the life of Abraham and his servant. He orchestrated a divine appointment at a well between the servant and a seemingly random woman who turned out to be a kinsman of Abraham and a perfect match for Isaac. Every step of the way seemed preordained as God led the servant to a particular region of the Middle East and a particular city. He arrived at a particular time at a particular place where the women were gathering to get water. He asked for a particular response from the woman he approached and as he finished prayer, Rebekah happened to be the next woman up in line. It’s an astounding string of events that leads the servant to the exact family he was looking for at the exact right time to meet Rebekah who was at the exact right age to be married. One could ascribe it to chance, I suppose, or fate. But as Christians, we don’t believe in such things. We believe in God who upholds the universe by His power and holds all of human life in His hands. Who are we to challenge Him? Who are we to say what God can or cannot do? Who are we to suggest God is somehow being unjust or unfair or arbitrary or capricious?

The providence of God is, by definition, mysterious. We cannot answer for why God chooses to intervene in some places and not others or in some lives and not others. We cannot answer for why God prioritizes the seemingly trivial at times rather than the serious and life-threatening. We cannot answer for why God says “yes” to some prayers and “no” to others. What we can do is trust the following about God’s nature and character. God is omniscient. He knows all and sees all and His understanding is way beyond anything we might begin to comprehend. It’s entirely possible God is acting in ways we cannot see to bring about His perfect will. God is eternal. He doesn’t just take temporal factors into play when He makes His decisions. He keeps eternity in view. God is good. He knows what is best for us and always acts in our best interest even when we aren’t sure what that might be. God is omnipotent. He is more than able to more than we can ever ask or imagine. This is why we can trust in His providence even when we don’t understand.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 27-29

Fear

Readings for today: Genesis 20-23

Fear is a powerful motivator. Often driving us to do things we wouldn’t otherwise do and make choices out of desperation rather than faith. Lot’s daughters, for example, from yesterday’s reading were afraid they would never find a husband, which during that time period would have meant a death sentence, so they got their father drunk and slept with him. Abraham is afraid Abimelech might kill him and try to steal his wife so he tells Sarah to lie about their relationship. After Isaac is born, Abraham is afraid of the budding conflict between Sarah and Hagar and the potential of a divided household so he lets Sarah throw Hagar and Ishmael out. I imagine if we sat and reflected for a moment, we can all think back to choices we’ve made that we regret that were driven by similar fears. 

The most common command in the Bible by far is “Do not be afraid.” God doesn’t want us to walk in fear. He tells us 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love casts out fear.” He tells us 2 Timothy 1:7 that He has “not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and discipline.” At the same time, there is one fear we are called to embrace. The fear of the Lord. Now I know we don’t like to think of God in this way. We are deeply unsettled at the idea that we would “fear God.” At the same time, what I’ve learned in my own life is when I fear God, I fear nothing else. And this is what Abraham learned as well.  

One of the most famous stories in all of Scripture is the sacrifice of Isaac. It has been the subject of some of the most incredible artwork throughout the centuries. It has influenced the plot lines of famous works of literature. There is just something deeply compelling about this story for believers and non-believers alike. An old man taking his son, his only son, the son whom he loves, and offering him as a sacrifice. In our minds eye, we can see them climbing the mountain together. Abraham with the fire and knife. Isaac carrying the wood. As we picture the scene, we can almost hear the poignant conversation between father and son. “My father?” “What is it, my son?” “Here is the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NET)‬‬ You can almost imagine Abraham answering Isaac with tears in his eyes. They get to the top of the mountain. Abraham builds an altar. Binds his own son. Lays him down. Raises the knife. And that’s when God steps in. "Do not harm the boy! Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬)

I’ve often wondered what kind of impact this experience had on Abraham and Isaac and their relationship? And yet, even the father/son relationship is not as important as Abraham’s relationship with God. He must fear God above all else. He must trust God above all else. He must honor God above all else. He must have faith in God above all else. The writer of Hebrews, as he looked back on this story and reflected on Abraham’s faith, says Abraham “reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬ ‭NET‬‬) No matter what, Abraham knew God had promised him a son. He knew Isaac was that son. He knew the future rested on this son. And he trusted God even when it seemed like His commands put His promise at risk.  

Some might argue this whole scene makes God into a monster. What kind of God demands human sacrifice? Christians know it’s simply foreshadowing. Fast forward a few thousand years and we have another Father and Son having this same conversation in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Son asking the Father if this is truly what the Father commands. If there can’t be another way. One can almost see the Father answer His Son, His only Son, the Son whom He loves with tears in His eyes. So Jesus takes up the cross. Climbs the SAME exact mountain Abraham and Isaac did so many centuries before. He is bound and nailed to the wood. The Father raises His Hand - there is no ram to take Jesus’ place - and takes His Son’s life. All to save humanity from our sin and to bring an end to all our fear.

What are you afraid of today? What’s driving the choices you make? Is it fear of what others might say? Fear of facing the consequences of your actions? Fear of losing something you love? Fear God, friends. Trust God, friends. Look to the cross and consider the great love He has for you. As you fix your eyes on Jesus, you will feel the fear that so often drives us loosening it’s grip.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 24-26

Hospitality

Readings for today: Genesis 17-19

One of the things I’ve learned from my cross-cultural friendships is the value of hospitality. When I visited South Korea, the family had a space dedicated just for me with everything I could possibly need. They even had fresh cut flowers in a vase next to the bed. In Ethiopia, families prepare special coffee ceremonies where they dress up in traditional dress, roast coffee, prepare special dishes, and offer gifts to their guests. In Uganda, our hosts take our measurements and have traditional clothing handmade for us. In South Sudan, though the people have so little, they take time to honor us publicly for all we have done. The same value of hospitality translates to the immigrant communities I interact with near my own home in the United States. I have been invited into countless Indian homes for special dinners and times of blessing by the hosts. I have been asked to preach and showered with gifts by my friends in the Latino community. My African diaspora friends often ask me out for meals or give me special gifts as a way of honoring our friendship. I am humbled by these relationships and all I have learned from them over the years.

Perhaps that’s why I love reading the story of Abraham hosting the three men who show up out of nowhere in his camp one day. Without missing a beat, he runs to them and bows before them. He makes sure to get them water to wash their feet and seat them in the shade so they can rest. He prepares a meal for them, one that sounds very similar to meals I’ve actually eaten many times overseas when I’ve gone on a visit to a village church. The Bible doesn’t tell us when but at some point in time during the meal, Abraham comes to understand these are no ordinary men. He is actually hosting the Lord and two of His angels. It reminds me of that great verse out of Hebrews 13:2 where the author writes, “Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2 NET)

As an American, I find myself deeply convicted by the sacrificial hospitality of people from other cultures. As often as I entertain - and as a pastor I imagine I entertain more than most - the reality is I don’t often open my home. I don’t always take the time to get to know my neighbors. I don’t always go out of my way to bless others with special gifts or seek to treat others with the honor they deserve as human beings made in the image of God. Imagine the difference it would make if Christians would dedicate just one or two nights a month to invite someone over and get to know them. Prepare a special meal for them and bless them. Honor them as people beloved by God. Honestly, it might be the easiest and best way to ratchet down the tensions we’re experiencing as a country right now and who knows…we may even find God showing up!

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 20-23

Family

Readings for today: Genesis 14-16

Among the many privileges of my life is the opportunity each year to travel to the Horn of Africa. We go to places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. We often find ourselves in places where conflict or violence or even wars have been fought. We love going to the places where the need is greatest because it’s where we believe we can make the greatest impact. For example, several years ago, we went to a region that had just experienced several days of unrest. Conflict. Protests that often grew violent. Our indigenous partners were visibly uncomfortable taking us to the city where we were to conduct our church planter training and medical clinic. They wanted to make sure we stayed safe. We eventually loaded up the Land Rovers and headed out on our four hour plus trip. As we traveled, we passed right through areas where the riots had been just a day or two before. Large rocks littered the road. Burned out vehicles had yet to be cleared. A large semi-truck had been set on fire and flipped over. And while we were never in any real danger, we were reminded of the political realities on the ground in this particular country we love so much.  

The conflict in the Horn of Africa is tribal just like the conflict in Abram’s day was tribal. All these different kings led different tribes and they often fought as they sought to expand their power and influence. If one lived in those days, one might have been tempted to believe this is where the real action was taking place. The kings of Shinar, Ellasar, Elam, and Goiim making war with the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. One might be tempted to think something significant rested on the outcome of their battle. But the Bible almost treats their conflict as an afterthought. Reading the passage for today, one gets the sense that the only reason this story is included at all is because Lot got caught up in it, forcing Abram into action. You see, the real action in these chapters has nothing to do with kings (even Melchizedek) and tribes and nations and their power struggles. No, the real action. The real drama. The real conflict involves an old man and his barren wife and their struggle to have children. It has to do with God and His promise to Abram and Sarai that they would have a son to carry on their family name.

And what is Abram’s response? Faith. He believes. Even crazier than taking 318 men and defeating four kings as they returned victorious from battle is old, childless Abram looking up into the night sky and believing God’s promise that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky. That’s why God declares him righteous. Because of his faith. And how does the Bible define Abram’s faith? The Apostle Paul will later say Abram was “was fully convinced that what God promised He was also able to do.” (Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬) That’s the definition of true faith.

But God’s not done. He not only gives Abram this promise, He seals it by making a covenant with him. In the ancient near east, these ceremonies were common. Vassals would approach their kings and promise on their life to fulfill the terms of the covenant they were making. The crazy thing about Genesis 15 is it flips the whole ceremony on its head! Instead of Abram approaching God, it is God who puts Abram to sleep and approaches him. God is the one who makes His way through the halves of the animals, essentially declaring to Abram that He will fulfill the conditions of this covenant or cease to exist. It never ceases to shock me every time I read it.

Furthermore, as we have already seen, God’s faithfulness is unconditional. Even when Abram and Sarai take matters into their own hands - as in the case of Hagar and Ishmael - God is there to turn it for His good purpose. Because God has committed Himself to Abram and his family, He will never let go. No matter what they say. No matter what they do. God will remain faithful to the end. He must because He has pledged His own life to this covenant. Now fast forward a few thousand years to the Cross. God sacrificing His own life for the sake of Abram and his descendants. God sealing a new covenant by giving His body and shedding His blood. Can you see the fulfillment of Genesis 15? It’s amazing to consider the lengths to which God is willing to go for the sake of those He loves.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 17-19