Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 14, 2022

“The LORD Will Provide”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 22:1-14.

“Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”  And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”  So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son;  and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.  Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there;  and we will worship and return to you.”  Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.  So the two of them walked on together.  Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”  And he said, “Here I am, my son.”  And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  So the two of them walked on together.

Then they came to the place of which God had told him;  and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”  And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him;  for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”  Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns;  and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.  Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”  Genesis 22:1-14.

————–

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16. 

“The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  John 1:29. 

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

Comments Off on “The LORD Will Provide”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 13, 2022

“He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” – “what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, …?”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 21:22-34.

“Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do;  now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned.”  Abraham said, “I swear it.”  But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized.  And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing;  you did not tell me, nor did I hear of it until today.”

Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.  Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.  Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?”  He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.”  Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.  So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines.  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.  And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.”   Genesis 21:22-34.

—————-

Abraham was willing to swear to show kindness to Abimelech, but Abraham was not willing to forego justice.  “But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized.”  Verse 25.  Abraham also took action to obtain a witness to help establish justice.  “He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.”  Verse 30.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that God does not only love lovingkindness, God also loves justice and righteousness.  

“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

So, we should expect that because God works in us, God will not only work in us to show lovingkindness to others, God will also work in us to show justice and righteousness to others.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“… “God is with you in all that you do;”  Verse 22.  

Comments Off on “He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” – “what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, …?”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags:

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 11, 2022

“My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 21:15-21.

“When the water in the skin was used up, she (Hagar) left the boy (Ishmael who was both the son of Hagar and Abraham)) under one of the bushes.  Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.”  And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.  God heard the lad crying;  and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar?  Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.  Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.”  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water;  and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.  He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.”  Genesis 21:15-21.

—————

Even though Ishmael was distinguished sharply from Isaac as we saw in the last devotion, with only Isaac being a child of promise and a spiritual descendant of Abraham, we remember the promises that God made about Ishmael.

“…  I will make a great nation of him.”  Verse 18.

“And of the son (Ishmael) of the maid (Hagar) I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”  Genesis 21:13.

“Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her (Hagar), “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”  The angel of the LORD said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.
“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” Genesis 16:10-12.

In today’s devotion, we see that God saved Hagar and Ishmael from dying of thirst.

Even though we may not immediately or fully understand God’s purpose, God fulfills His promises and accomplishes His purpose.

As one example, even though Pharaoh was a direct enemy of Israel, God raised Pharaoh up to show His power.  “FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS TO PHARAOH, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  Romans 9:17.

As another example, we do see later that God used the Ishmaelites to bring Joseph to Egypt which eventually resulted in Joseph being raised by God to power in Egypt to save the nation of Israel from starvation.  “Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.”  Genesis 37:28.

In conclusion, we can trust God to accomplish His purpose for all that He does.”

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

Comments Off on “My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 10, 2022

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?” – “two covenants” – “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 21:9-14.

“Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.  Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”  The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.  But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid;  whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.  And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”  So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away.  And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.”  Genesis 21:9-14.

—————-

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants:  one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves;  she is Hagar.  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free;  she is our mother.  For it is written,

“REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.  But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.  But what does the Scripture say?

“CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”

So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”  Galatians 4:21-31.

Comments Off on “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?” – “two covenants” – “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 9, 2022

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 21:1-8.

“Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised.  So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.  Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.  Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.  Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.  Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me;  everyone who hears will laugh with me.”  And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?  Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.”  Genesis 21:1-8.

—————

It is interesting to read how certain Scriptures describe the faith of Sarah and the faith of Abraham.  

There is a description of the faith of Sarah in Hebrews 11:11-12.  So to speak, Hebrews chapter 11 is the very important Hall of Fame chapter defining faith and identifying certain individuals who had faith and “by faith” did amazing things.  

There is a description of the faith of Abraham in Romans 4:17-21.  Romans chapter 4 is also a very important chapter teaching us how we can be credited with righteousness.  “… ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Romans 4:3 and “Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,”.  Romans 4:23-24.  

So, let us turn to the descriptions of the faith of Sarah and the faith of Abraham.  

“(as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.  In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”  Romans 4:17-21.  This is a focus and a faith in what God can do.  

“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.”  Hebrews 11:11-12.  This is a focus and a faith on Who God is, namely a “faithful” God. 

The Heidelberg Catechism shows these two elements in the following question and answer by concluding that God “is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.” 

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

Let us have faith that God can and will do what He has promised.  First, “He is able to do it, being Almighty God”.  Second, God is “willing, being a faithful Father”.

As I meditated on today’s devotion, I noticed that the last two devotions focused on what God is able to do, namely, in the first devotion we meditated on God’s protection and in the second devotion we meditated on God’s restoration.

Therefore, in conclusion, it is very appropriate that in today’s devotion that we focus on Who God is, namely a “faithful” God.  Consider the following Scriptures.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, …”  Deuteronomy 7:9.

“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9.

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:24.

Comments Off on “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 8, 2022

“O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” – “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 20:8-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture –   https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+20&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following Scriptures.  

“14 Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him.  15 Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you;  settle wherever you please.”  16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver;  behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.”  17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.  18 For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”  Genesis 20:14-18.

————–

In the last devotion, we meditated on God’s protection.  In today’s devotion, we will meditate of God’s restoration.

God provided restoration to Abraham and Sarah in verses 14-16, and God even provided restoration to Abimelech and his wife and his maids in verses 17-18.

Let us also meditate on God’s restoration in the following verses.

“He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3.

“The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You restore him to health.” Psalm 41:3.

“O God, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” Psalm 80:3. This verse is repeated three times through this chapter and is the theme of this chapter.

“For behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The LORD says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’” Jeremiah 30:3.

“7 How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When the Lord restores Zion.” Isaiah 52:7-8.

“The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. … The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. … In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. And Job died, an old man and full of days.” Job 42:10, 12-13, and 15-17.

“We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” James 5:11.

“He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:6.

“So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” Matthew 15:31.

“15 With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

16 ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I WILL RETURN,
AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN,
AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,
AND I WILL RESTORE IT,
17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’
18 SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.” Acts 15:15-18.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Romans 8:18.

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen;  for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

“By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  Hebrews 11:9-10.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;  for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”  Revelation 21:1-5.

Comments Off on “O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” – “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 7, 2022

“The LORD is the defense of my life”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 20:1-7.

“Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.  Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.”  So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.  But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”  Now Abimelech had not come near her;  and he said, “Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless?  Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’?  And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’  In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”  Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me;  therefore I did not let you touch her.  Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.  But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”  Genesis 20:1-7.

—————-

“7 Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.” Psalm 17:7-9.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
…

5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” Psalm 27:1-2 and 5-6.

“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
2 I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish before You.
4 For You have maintained my just cause;
You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.

7 But the LORD abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
8 And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:1-10.

Comments Off on “The LORD is the defense of my life”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 6, 2022

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 19:30-38.

“Lot went up from Zoar, and stayed in the mountains, and his two daughters with him;  for he was afraid to stay in Zoar;  and he stayed in a cave, he and his two daughters.  Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth.  Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father.”  So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father;  and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.  On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father;  let us make him drink wine tonight also;  then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.”  So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him;  and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.  Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.  The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab;  he is the father of the Moabites to this day.  As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi;  he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.”  Genesis 19:30-38.

—————–

The lives of the daughters of Lot and their father were preserved by the two angels who seized their hands and brought them out of Sodom, saving them from the destruction.  See Genesis 19:15 and what follows.

But, the daughters did not trust God to preserve them further.  They were “wise in their own eyes”.  They sinned against God and their father.    

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3.

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”  1 Timothy 6:6.

Comments Off on “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 4, 2022

“He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction …, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 19:23-29.

“The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar.  Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD;  and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.”  Genesis 19:23-29. 

———–

“… He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”  2 Peter 2:6.

“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5. 

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”  2 Peter 3:7.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,”  2 Peter 3:10-14.

But, there is hope!

“Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.”  Verse 29.

“then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”  2 Peter 2:9.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

Comments Off on “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction …, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags:

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 3, 2022

“Escape for your life!” – “Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 19:17-22.

“When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life!  Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley;  escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”  But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords!  Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life;  but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die;  now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small.  Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”  He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken.  Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”  Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar.”  Genesis 19:17-22.

—————–

We see the word “escape” five times in today’s Scripture, and we will meditate on some Scriptures on this subject.  

God provides the way of escape to His people.  

“6 Blessed be the LORD,
Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:7-8.

“3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.” Psalm 91:3-10.

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14.

“3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:3-6.

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,” 2 Peter 2:7-9.

But, in sharp contrast, upon the wicked the LORD will rain snares.

“16 The LORD has made Himself known;
He has executed judgment.
In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.

17 The wicked will return to Sheol,
Even all the nations who forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before You.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD;
Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.” Psalm 9:16-20.

“4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:4-7.

Comments Off on “Escape for your life!” – “Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories