Abraham had it all—land, cattle, crops, gold, 300 employees—but no children. His peers might have had 60 descendants at his age, but Abe had none. SIX times God repeated his promise of a son—and of heirs that would outnumber the stars. Then at 86, Abe had a son, by Hagar. Finally at 100, God gaveContinue reading “Test Your Heart.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Sacrifice.
What could you give up for God? God promised Abraham descendants that would outnumber the stars, and land in all directions. He called Abe his friend, and told him about Sodom and Gomorrah in advance. But in exchange, God asked a lot of the ultimate “founding father.” “Take thy son, thy only son Isaac, whomContinue reading “Sacrifice.”
Remember Lot’s Wife.
Jesus warns in Luke 17:33, “Remember Lot’s wife!” He makes it sound like life and death. But what does that mean? In Genesis 19, God sends angels to rescue Lot’s family. The people are warned to run from the city. The sons-in-law ignore it. The family hesitates. The angels (who look like men) grab theirContinue reading “Remember Lot’s Wife.”
A Story is a Map for Life.
When I was a little boy I was fascinated by the mailman. Every day Mr. Richard walked our neighborhood dropping letters into mailboxes at the front doors. I loved to see him coming because you never knew what he might bring. And his daily walk blazed a trail. In spite of the incredible rain andContinue reading “A Story is a Map for Life.”
God’s Secret Sign.
There have always been secret signs, codes that allow you to trust a stranger. George Washington used a small band of trusted spies to fight the British, and he was known among them by a number “711.” Spies today often employ a series of passwords to vet each other. You’ve seen the scenes in movies—twoContinue reading “God’s Secret Sign.”
Is it Possible to Laugh Too Much?
“Laughter doeth good like a medicine” Proverbs 17:22. God created laughter. One favorite quote says, “You were created out of the LAUGHTER of the Trinity.” God laughs. And He gave us the gift of laughter—and its healing properties have now been verified by science. Turns out, laughter actually CAN do good like a medicine. ButContinue reading “Is it Possible to Laugh Too Much?”
El Roi: The God Who Sees. Genesis 16:13-14.
Do you ever feel abandoned, like no one knows what you are going through? Like God is not really paying attention? Do you ever just want to cry out to God, “Hey, are you listening to me? Do you see what I’m going through here?” GOD SEES. Jacob worked seven years to marry Rebecca andContinue reading “El Roi: The God Who Sees. Genesis 16:13-14.”
Abstinence is Weight Lifting for the Soul. Genesis 16:9.
Such abstinence actually characterizes the lives of mature believers: you constantly see opportunities or “open doors,” but you pray and God is silent and you realize you must persevere where you are: Keep that job. Stay at that church. Mend that relationship. Work out that marriage. You must ABSTAIN from the temptation to quit.
WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ABRAM? Genesis 12:1-3
We don’t know. But look at what He says in Genesis 12— “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you, and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and makeContinue reading “WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ABRAM? Genesis 12:1-3”
DO YOU BELIEVE GOD? Genesis 15:6
First, God told Abram “Go … to a land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation” Genesis 12:1-2. Later God spoke a second time: “To your offspring I will give this land” 12:7. Then He spoke a third time: “I will make your offspring like the dust of theContinue reading “DO YOU BELIEVE GOD? Genesis 15:6”
Household Words: 