Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 26:18-22.

“Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

Then he went up from there to Beersheba. The Lord appeared to him the same night and said,

“I am the God of your father Abraham;

Do not fear, for I am with you.

I will bless you, and multiply your descendants,

For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.” Genesis 26:18-22.

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Our LORD provides us with wells to give us abundant water to satisfy our thirst and to grow our food.

“9 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;

You greatly enrich it;

The stream of God is full of water;

You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

10 You water its furrows abundantly,

You settle its ridges,

You soften it with showers,

You bless its growth.

11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty,

And Your paths drip with fatness.

12 The pastures of the wilderness drip,

And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.

13 The meadows are clothed with flocks

And the valleys are covered with grain;

They shout for joy, yes, they sing.” Psalm 65:9-13.

Our LORD causes our land to be fruitful. “… He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17.

But, our LORD also provides us with His Spirit, living water, “a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14.

Our LORD does not only cause our land to be fruitful; our LORD causes His people to be fruitful by giving them His Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,

And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:8-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 26:1-16.

“Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”

So Isaac lived in Gerar. When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.” It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, certainly she is your wife! How then did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘I might die on account of her.’” Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelech charged all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there.” Genesis 26:1-16.

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Today’s Scripture is divided in three paragraphs. In summary, in the first paragraph, we read of God’s promise: “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you”. In the second paragraph, we see Isaac fearful and anxious and deceptive as he looks toward possible evildoers. In the third paragraph, we see Isaac trust God and dwell in the land and become very wealthy.

Does this Scripture remind you of a Psalm?

“1 Do not fret because of evildoers,

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

2 For they will wither quickly like the grass

And fade like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

9 For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

11 But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:1-11.

Now, there are certainly times when we need to move. We see Isaac move (at least a little) at the end of today’s Scripture. And, we see the righteous sometimes move throughout Scripture and throughout history (for one good reason or another). But, today’s Scripture does teach us the lesson that we should not fret because of evildoers, but rather we should trust God and rest in Him. We should do good and dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 25:19-34.

“19 Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham became the father of Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb;

And two peoples will be separated from your body;

And one people shall be stronger than the other;

And the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 2 5 Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:19-34.

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“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” Hebrews 12:15-16.

“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”  Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there?  May it never be!  For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:10-16.

This grace of God is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This birthright is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

This birthright is that we were born of God: “… not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” John 1:12.

This grace is that God chose us before the foundation of the world and predestined us to adoption as His sons.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. …” Ephesians 1:3.

And yet, how many of us like Esau despise our birthright and are willing to sell it, so to speak, for something for which we think we can get partial credit for our salvation!

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 25:1-18 which covers the descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah (after the death of Sarah), the descendants of Ishmael, and the death of Abraham.

Here is the link to the Genesis Chapter 25 – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25&version=NASB

We will focus on verse 11.

“It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived by Beer-lahai-roi.” Genesis 25:11.

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Isaac could have been troubled and jealous by the descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah. But, “… Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.” Verse 5.

Isaac could have been troubled and fearful of Ishmael and his descendants. But, they moved away. “They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives.” Verse 18.

Isaac could have been troubled and crushed by sorrow by the death of Abraham. But Isaac realized that his father Abraham “… died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life …” Verse 8.

There are blessings that I will categorize as joyful blessings (such as the joyful blessings that Abraham and Isaac experienced in Genesis Chapter 24). 

“The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he (Abraham) has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.” Genesis 24:35.

“Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Genesis 24:67.

But, there are also blessings that I will categorize as peaceful blessings which help us cope with troubling events (such as the peaceful blessings of what Isaac experienced in today’s Scripture). 

“The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11.

Today’s devotion covers Genesis 24:28-67 in which the servant recounts to Laban (Rebekah’s brother) on his mission and how they (the servant and Rebekah) met. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+24&version=NASB

We will pick up at verse 50.

“50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The matter comes from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord. 53 The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.” 56 He said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 And they said, “We will call the girl and consult her wishes.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” 59 Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“May you, our sister,

Become thousands of ten thousands,

And may your descendants possess

The gate of those who hate them.”

61 Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

62 Now Isaac had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the Negev. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” Then she took her veil and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Genesis 24:50-67.

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When Isaac lifted up his eyes, he saw the camels were coming. No doubt, he was eagerly awaiting the return of the servant’s group. When Rebekah lifted up her eyes, she saw Isaac.

“1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2.

We can focus on our self and our feelings, our anxiety and worries. Or, we can lift up our eyes and focus on God and trust that He indeed will cause all things to work together for our good.  Romans 8:28. 

Rebekah could let her natural feelings (of uncertainty and fear) govern her. She could have jumped on the suggestion of her brother and her mother that she stay a few days. Maybe, if she did, she would have changed her mind, and she would have not gone with the servant and not left her home.

But Rebekah here figuratively lifted her eyes and said: “I will go.”

Good things happen when we lift up our eyes. We take our eyes off of ourselves and our feelings. We look at God and trust Him. We have faith. We believe that God will reward us. Hebrews 11:6. We see what God has done for us. And, we get up and go and fulfill our mission.

“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.” Genesis 13:14-15.

“To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!”  Psalm 123:1.

“Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.”  Isaiah 40:26.

“Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live,” declares the Lord, “You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride.”  Isaiah 49:18.

“Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane.”  Isaiah 51:6.

“Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms.”  Isaiah 60:4.

“And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”  Matthew 17:8.

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”  John 4:35.

“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,”  John 17:1.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 24:10-27.

“10 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master’s in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. 21 Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold, 23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father’s house?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 Again she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in.” 26 Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.” Genesis 24:10-27.

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It would have been good enough for the LORD to grant success to the servant to find wife for Isaac from Abraham’s country as Abraham generally requested.

But, the LORD guided the servant to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s specific relatives.

It would have been good enough for the LORD to grant the prayer request of the servant after a reasonable search.

But, the LORD brought Rebekah to the servant before the servant was even done praying.

It would have been good enough for the LORD to bring a plain country girl to the servant.

But, the LORD brought Rebekah who was very beautiful and a virgin.

It would have been good enough for the LORD to cause Rebekah to exactly say what the servant requested: “Drink, and I will water your camels also”.

But, the LORD caused Rebekah to say more and to show respect to the servant and to offer to draw water for the camels until they finished drinking. “She said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking.” (Emphasis added.)

It would have been good enough for the LORD to cause Rebekah to simply fulfill her duty to do what she said she would do.

But, the LORD caused Rebekah to do so “quickly” which showed the servant that Rebekah was enthusiastic and favored the servant.

It would have been good enough for the LORD to cause Rebekah to say: “Yes.” to the servant’s question: “Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father’s house?”

But, the LORD caused Rebekah to again be enthusiastic and welcoming: “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in.”

And such is the lovingkindness of God to us. It is abundant.

Numbers 14:18

‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’

Psalm 5:7

But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

Psalm 37:11

But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 65:10

You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges, You soften it with showers, You bless its growth.

Psalm 78:15

He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.

Psalm 86:5

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

Psalm 106:7

Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalm 130:7

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.

Psalm 132:15

“I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.

Psalm 145:7

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Lamentations 3:32

For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.

Jonah 4:2

He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Acts 4:33

And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

2 Corinthians 1:5

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

1 Timothy 1:14

and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:11

for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 24:1-9.

“1 Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4 but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” 6 Then Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there! 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.” Genesis 24:1-9.

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“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he 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 11:8-10.

And, by faith, Abraham did more. By faith, “Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” Verses 2-4.

Today’s Scripture should make us consider that our faith should not only cause us to take the first round of faithful actions. Our faith should also cause us to take further rounds of faithful action.

We can easily imagine many of the children of Israel were joyful, praising God, as they were led out of Egypt with plunder. But later, almost all murmured against Moses and Aaron. See, for example, Exodus Chapter 16.

“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,

“Today if you hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”

For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-19.

It is easy to be joyful and praise God when God delivers us and leads us out of trouble with plunder (as Israel). It is difficult to stay faithful when we are figuratively in the wilderness suffering from thirst.

It is easy for Abraham to be joyful and praise God when Isaac was born and weaned. Genesis 21:8. It is difficult for Abraham to consider what to do when he did not have Isaac as early as hoped. “So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.” See Genesis 2:16. But, we see Abraham’s faith strengthened in today’s Scripture when he made strict arrangements to get a wife for Isaac.

Who can be faithful by their own strength until death?! 

“Article 3. By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength. …” Canons of Dordt.

But, there is hope! 

“Article 3. … God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.” Canons of Dordt.

This is “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:56-58.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 23 which covers the death of Abraham’s wife Sarah and his obtaining a burial site for her from the sons of Heth.

“1 Now Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.” 7 So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish for me to bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns, which is at the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site.” 10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth; even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” 12 And Abraham bowed before the people of the land. 13 He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.

17 So Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over 18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.” Genesis 23:1-20.

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In today’s Scripture, we see the favor that Abraham had with the sons of Heth. Verses 6, 11, and 15.

We see that Joseph had favor with Potiphar. “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.” Genesis 39:2-4.

Later, we see that Joseph had favor with the chief jailer. “But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” Genesis 39:21.

“… and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” Exodus 12:36.

Ruth had favor with her future husband Boaz who said to her. “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” Then she (Ruth) said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” Ruth 2:12-13.

“Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men.” 1 Samuel 2:26.

“Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 1 Samuel 16:22.

Esther found favor with the king. “Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace and transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem.” Esther 2:9.

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12.

“Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:27.

“3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will find favor and good repute

In the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4.

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1.

“Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials,” Daniel 1:9.

“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52.

The early church had favor with all the people. “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47.

The church was later persecuted. We can expect to be persecuted for our faith at times. But, there will also be times when God gives us favor with others, and let us use that favor for good. That is the focus of today’s Scripture.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:14-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 22:20-24. 

“Now it came about after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram and Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel.” Bethuel became the father of Rebekah; these eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.” Genesis 22:20-24. 

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We may wonder about the purpose of this Scripture. More generally, we may wonder about the importance of things that we encounter in our life. 

But, there is hope! 

God is sovereign and controls every detail of the affairs of man. For His elect, God causes all things to work together for good. Romans 8:28. 

And now, we get back to Rebekah. 

“Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:1-4. 

This trusted servant arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 

“He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.” 

“Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder. The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.” Genesis 24:13-16. 

God appointed Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac and arranged every detail of her life toward that goal.

And for the rest of us, His elect, Rebekah reminds us, and we also know that “… God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. 

This devotion is dedicated to Max and Sarah who are getting married tomorrow. God bless them!