Jun 14

What did Abraham accomplish by trying to fulfill God's plan for his life by his own method? God had promised him a child, yet that promise had not come true, and at his advanced age, in the natural human view of looking at things, there was no possibility for this promise of God to come true. Well, maybe God needs some help? Maybe Abraham should take matters into his own hands and do what human logic and the world's view of reality says needs to be done.

We all know the dismal result of Abraham's decision to quit trusting God to work things out in his own way and to try to help God accomplish his plan in the power of human wisdom and strength. Abraham's actions resulted in the birth of Ishmael, whose offspring became a great nation and who down through history have warred with the people of God and were led into idolatry, culminating in what we see in the world today, in the clash between nations under the sway of radical Islam and those following the beliefs of the later offspring of Abraham, Isaac. Conflict and war result when God's ways are abandoned for human ways.

Scripture for today: Genesis 16:1-5; Ephesians 2:14
Thought for today: There is no peace outside of Jesus Christ.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, thank you for not giving in to the temptation to come down from the cross until you had completed your sacrifice for me.

JUN 14