Gen 26:12 HNV
(12) Yitzchak sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. The LORD blessed him.
Most of us who regularly attend church hear about reaping more than we sow. Scripture speaks of it a lot. For me, particularly, this is easy to overlook and I blame it on our modern era of wealth. When I think of reaping one hundred times what I sow, I think of going down to the hardware store, buying $200 worth of seed, planting it on a lot and reaping $20,000 in produce.
Except that doesn't just happen. If it were that easy, we would all be farmers.
Isaac (Yitzchak) planted 1 corn stalk. 100 came up. Explain that.
It isn't explainable. It's God. God blesses in this way. This is a profound blessing from following God!
So how much are we reaping? Is it more than we can carry? If not, let's examine what we have been sowing.
Showing posts with label Isaac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaac. Show all posts
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Fire and the Knife
Gen 22:6 HNV
(6) Avraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Yitzchak his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
In every sacrifice, there are two elements. A knife, and fire. The knife is for killing, while the fire is for transforming. This entire process is a picture of a redemption plan.
To enter the presence of a Holy God, we cannot bring our sinful flesh. The knife puts an end to the flesh, and the fire transforms it to smoke - or spirit. Remember, it's a picture. Ultimately, pictures were only a reminder to God of what He must do to restore us completely - and ultimately - He did it, through Jesus.
The problem with the angels that sinned is they have no blood to shed, nor do they have a transformation to make, for they are already God-like in that they are spirit.
Killing time is a real phenomenon. We can really waste it away. But when sacrificed to God, it is always transformed into something beautiful that we would not trade. Finances are no different. Talents are no different. Anything can be wasted. But when sacrificed to God, something beautiful always comes of it.
(6) Avraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Yitzchak his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
In every sacrifice, there are two elements. A knife, and fire. The knife is for killing, while the fire is for transforming. This entire process is a picture of a redemption plan.
To enter the presence of a Holy God, we cannot bring our sinful flesh. The knife puts an end to the flesh, and the fire transforms it to smoke - or spirit. Remember, it's a picture. Ultimately, pictures were only a reminder to God of what He must do to restore us completely - and ultimately - He did it, through Jesus.
The problem with the angels that sinned is they have no blood to shed, nor do they have a transformation to make, for they are already God-like in that they are spirit.
Killing time is a real phenomenon. We can really waste it away. But when sacrificed to God, it is always transformed into something beautiful that we would not trade. Finances are no different. Talents are no different. Anything can be wasted. But when sacrificed to God, something beautiful always comes of it.
Friday, February 06, 2009
What about... Isaac?
Remember in John when all the people were arguing with Jesus about their lineage?
Joh 8:39
(39) They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham.
Notice how the people were enamored with being the 'seed' of Abraham. If we go back to Genesis and read, Abraham had multiple children, including Ishmael. You would think that if the people really cared about being heir to the Promise, they would clarify. "We are children of Abraham and Isaac!"
Do you know why they didn't? Because although they thought they knew and understood the father, they forgot the son. Does this have a familiar ring?
Rom 9:6-8
(6) Not, however, that God's Word has failed. For not all those of Israel are Israel,
(7) nor because they are Abraham's seed are all children, but "In Isaac a Seed shall be called to you." Gen. 21:12
(8) That is: Not the children of flesh are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for a seed.
You know... Isaac was so important. He was the child of promise. Without promise, there is no need for faith. I can sit around all day and hope the house next door becomes a huge piece of chocolate, but believing that is moronic because it hasn't been promised by God. In what or whom do we have faith?
If Abraham was a picture of God the Father, and Isaac a picture of the Son (in that the Father was willing to sacrifice the Son), is it really any wonder they never mentioned the Son?
Joh 8:39
(39) They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham.
Notice how the people were enamored with being the 'seed' of Abraham. If we go back to Genesis and read, Abraham had multiple children, including Ishmael. You would think that if the people really cared about being heir to the Promise, they would clarify. "We are children of Abraham and Isaac!"
Do you know why they didn't? Because although they thought they knew and understood the father, they forgot the son. Does this have a familiar ring?
Rom 9:6-8
(6) Not, however, that God's Word has failed. For not all those of Israel are Israel,
(7) nor because they are Abraham's seed are all children, but "In Isaac a Seed shall be called to you." Gen. 21:12
(8) That is: Not the children of flesh are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for a seed.
You know... Isaac was so important. He was the child of promise. Without promise, there is no need for faith. I can sit around all day and hope the house next door becomes a huge piece of chocolate, but believing that is moronic because it hasn't been promised by God. In what or whom do we have faith?
If Abraham was a picture of God the Father, and Isaac a picture of the Son (in that the Father was willing to sacrifice the Son), is it really any wonder they never mentioned the Son?
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