#fathersoffaith

On July 6, 2014, I began a journey through the book of Genesis.  This journey started while we were vacationing at what has been family’s favorite vacation spot for the past 15 years in Lac Du Flambeau, WI.  It would be our last time there for who knows how long.  Just five days prior, I had said goodbye to my workplace of five years. And just two days prior to that, we accepted an offer on our home of 17 years, where were still in the middle of raising our four children.  I didn’t think about it then, but now as I write this, how apropos to start a study on Genesis, whose very meaning is “origin, beginning, commencement, start, outset”.  I was about to commence on a new journey with God as our family would be moving to Africa in a matter of weeks.  And, it was not-so-ironically in Genesis where God first told us to go to Africa. It was March, 2013 when the Lord gave me Genesis 12:1 and the Holy Spirit stirred in my heart as my body fell almost paralyzed when the words were spoken to me for the 2nd time “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.”  Our fore-father, Abraham is an example of faith lived out that many find mind-boggling and ancient.  But it must have been the Holy Spirit that told me to dig deeper and learn more about this father of our faith.

So, there I sat – on the screened-in porch of Candlewood Cabin #8 at Timber Bay Resort.  The very place my daughter Sydney had learned to crawl nearly 13 years ago (the weekend prior to 9/11).   So much history at this place.  It’s almost been my children’s second home, even though we only would go a time or two each year.  It was their home away from home.  I opened up my Inductive Study Bible, tore open the plastic from the Precept upon Precept Study: Genesis Part 1 (Chapters1-2): The Creation.  I pulled out my colored pencils and began to dig into the Word of God.  The very first bits of the love letter written to us from our Heavenly Father.  

And now, 10 ½ months later, I have completed the study on Genesis – 50 chapters.  I have studied this book of beginnings in America, in South Africa and in Zambia, and carried it with me into the several homes that our family was welcomed into along the way.  It has been such a treasure to me and since I don’t want to let it go, I want to savor this treasure for a bit longer.  I want to be intentional about remembering the life lessons I’ve learned along the way.  So, if nothing else, this blog will serve as a reminder to me and hopefully to my children of the amazing precepts the Lord has given us.

Since there are so many things to learn in Genesis, this will definitely not be an exhaustive list, but rather some lessons for life (LFL as I like to mark them in my bible) that stood out to me during this season as the Holy Spirit revealed them to me. Here we go….

● Sometimes it “is the lot of good men to be unsettled, and often to remove into various states.” And despite the ‘Canaanites’ we may meet there, our pleasure should come from being in communion with God.  (Matthew Henry’s commentary on Gen 12:6-9)

● Those who leave their sins and turn to God will be unspeakable gainers in      the change. (Gen 12)

● God reveals himself and His favors to His people by degrees – He promised to show Abram land (Gen 12:1), then He gave it to him (13:14); as grace is growing, so is comfort.

● It is noble to be willing to yield for peace sake.  God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace what we lose for preserving neighborly peace.  (Matthew Henry commentary Gen 13:14-18)

● Righteousness is achieved by faith, not works.  Nothing I do can give me salvation, rather my works are in response to and evidence of my faith. (Gen 15:6)

● Do not lie to be protected from evil doers or from people you think do not fear God – God will protect His people.  Abram relied on worldly policies more than trusting on a promise.  (Gen 12:11-20; 20:2-5)

● God fulfills His promises in HIS time. (Gen 21:1)

● Radical obedience – Obey even when it doesn’t make sense.  Abraham needed Isaac because God told him that through Isaac, He would make many nations.  Yet Abraham didn’t question – he would kill Isaac in obedience, even if it didn’t make sense. (see rebrofamily.com blog entitled “Obedience: A Lesson from Abraham”) (Gen 22)

● The Lord will provide (pro-video: to see in advance, before the need is known). (Gen 22:14)

● Seek the Lord’s guidance for all endeavors.  (Gen 24:12-14)

● Pay close attention to see God at work. (Gen 24:21)

● Always thank God for answered prayers! (Gen 24:48)

● God answers those who pray to Him. (Gen 25:21-23)

● Do not despise the birthright given to you as a child of God: every spiritual blessing, blessing of being chosen by Jesus, adoption into God’s family, total acceptance by Jesus, redemption from our slavery to sin, true and total forgiveness, riches of God’s grace, indwelling of the Holy Spirit, revelation and knowledge of the mystery of God’s will, eternal inheritance.  (Gen 25:34, Eph 1:3-14)

● God proportions His people’s trials to their strengths. (Gen 26:1-6)

● Those who must live by faith, need often to review and repeat to themselves the promises they are to live by. (Matthew Henry commentary on Gen 26:3-4)

● Teach our children our mistakes so they learn from them and don’t make the same ones we did. (Gen 26:7)

● The Lord confirms His promises. (Gen 26:24)

● Do not bring the Lord into your deceit. (27:20)

● Acknowledge God’s promises and set up reminders to them. Remind your children of God’s blessings and fulfilled promises.  (Gen 29:18-19; 32:12; 48:3-4)

● Despite what people try to do to hurt you, God still protects His people. (Gen 31:7)

● We are unworthy of God’s faithfulness, but He is still faithful to His promises. (Gen 32:10)

● When facing trials, remember God’s promises, recount them.  (Gen 32:12)

● Religion is never more profaned than when used for a cloak of maliciousness. (Gen 34:13-29)

● God can cause us to prosper despite our circumstances.  He can elevate people to positions He wants despite where they are in society.  (Gen 39:21; Chapter 47, 48:17-19)

● Give God credit for the gifts He gives us.  (Gen 41:16)

● When something is determined by God, it will happen.  (Gen 41:32)

● God is sovereign – He will use for good what others intend for evil. (Gen 45:5; 50:20)

● Give credit to God for your position or success. (Gen 45:9)

● God can do exceedingly and abundantly above what we can imagine. (Gen 48:11)

● Don’t be angry with those who did you wrong, when you can see God used it for good – forgive them.  (Gen 50:19-21)