Reading: Genesis 21 Vs 1 says “the LORD visited Sarah”. We believe the birth of children is natural, so we seldom stop to consider that the LORD is the giver of life. The words ‘the LORD visited Sarah” remind us that He intervened in Sarah’s life and caused Isaac’s birth. But the LORD’s power and… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 21
Reading: Genesis 20 Abraham moves south to Gerar. But this brings the family, and the future of the church, in danger. Abraham and Sarah have an agreement to pretend she is his sister if a man, stronger the Abraham, takes her. On that understanding Abimelech, king of Gerar, takes Sarah into his house. But… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 20
Reading: Genesis 19 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and surrounding places is mentioned in the Bible at least 15 times as a very serious warning against sin. God wants to ensure we understand the seriousness of the people’s corruption in Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore God gives us more details in Genesis 19. Through the… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 19
Synod Bunbury 2018 had to deal with a number of appeals. Usually, appeals are being dealt with in closed session because the character of an appeal is, that it is about personal matters. Article 31 of the Church Order states: ‘If anyone complains that he has been wronged by the decision of a minor assembly… Continue reading Synod Reflections (2): Appeals
Synod Bunbury 2018 is history. Synod closed on Tuesday at around 8 PM. The delegates met for six days over the course of one week and one day, in the Southern River church building. Some say that this is a record. I don’t know about that. It for sure is since 2003, but I don’t… Continue reading Synod Bunbury 2018: Reflections
Reading: Genesis 18 In chapter 17:19 God promises to Abraham that “Sarah your wife shall bear you a son”. But how is this possible? Abraham was almost 100 years old; Sarah was 90 and past the age of child bearing. The Lord sees their struggle and straightaway returns to encourage them with the news that… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 18
Reading: Genesis 17 God here reveals some important elements of the covenant. The covenant is initiated by one party (God); but it functions between two parties (God and His people). Sinful man rejects God, therefore God takes the initiative. What grace: holy God reaches out to sinners! When we consider God’s covenant promises, grace becomes… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 17
Reading: Genesis 16 Sarai is impatient about the long delay in the fulfilment of God’s promise for a son. So she takes unjustified action. Instead of honouring God’s ways and waiting for the Lord’s time, she persuades Abram to take Hagar and have the promised son by her. Abram, who did not take Hager because… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 16
Ever feel like you are on an island? Our children can be really good at making us feel that way. There is that one dreaded sentence which they toss out at us too often: I am the only one!, or, you are the only ones that…! I am the only one in my class who doesn’t… Continue reading Islands?
Reading: Genesis 15 Abram is struggling. He has fears and doubts (vs 1); he lives among ungodly, hostile people. He still does not have children as God promised, and he is getting older. Other nations occupy the land that was promised to Abram. Therefore God reassures Abram: you will have a son; your descendants will… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 15
Reading: Genesis 14 From this chapter we see how dangerous Abram’s new land is. There is war, 12 years of oppression and another war. Abram’s nephew Lot and people from Sodom and Gomorrah and all their goods are taken captive by a strong enemy. When people leave the way of the Lord there is violence… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 14
Reading: Genesis 13 Earlier Abram had moved to Egypt due to a famine. He remembers God had originally commanded him to live in Canaan, so returns there. O the way God protects him from dangers. He arrives safely in Canaan and thankfully worships the LORD Yahweh. Abram settles in Canaan and God blesses him… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 13
Reading: Genesis 12 The flood did not result in a permanent return to God. People forget God and worship their idols instead. They fall back into the spiritual darkness of heathendom. God must intervene to ensure the church continues and the line to Jesus Christ is preserved. God calls Abram out of this darkness into… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 12
Reading: Genesis 11 Chapter 10 describes the spreading of the nations over the world. Chapter 11 goes back in time, when there was still one language. In Genesis 1:22 God commanded that people should fill the earth; therefore people must spread. Instead of obeying, they begin to build a powerful civilisation by constructing the city… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 11
Reading: Genesis 10 In this chapter we learn that Noah and his wife are the common ancestors of all the people of the earth. These ancestors originally served the one and only God, because there is only one God who made us all. Isaiah 46:9 says “Remember the former things of old, for I am… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 10
Reading: Genesis 9 God removed the wicked people by the flood; but people remain sinful. This is shown by Noah’s drunkenness and his curse over Ham’s sinful response. Will ungodliness again become widespread and will God again destroy the world? God had already promised to Noah that while the earth remains the days and seasons… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 9
Reading: Genesis 8 In Genesis 6:5 “the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” In righteous wrath God destroys all the ungodly people. But God is also gracious. He “remembered” Noah and the animals in… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 8
Reading: Genesis 7 In this chapter God does exactly as He said in chapter 6. He destroys all living things; all people and cattle, every creeping thing and bird of the air die in the flood. Only Noah and his family remain alive, preserved in the ark (Gen 7:23). We see here God’s righteous judgment… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 7
Reading: Genesis 6 Chapters 6-9 are about the great flood. Genesis 4:16 says “Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD”. Cain cuts his relationship with God, disobeys God’s commandments and lives according to his own ideas. Genesis 6 records that, as people multiplied, almost everyone is like Cain. The believers of Seth’s… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 6
Reading: Genesis 5:1-5, 25-32 This chapter records the genealogy of Adam following the family line of Seth to Noah’s three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth. This genealogy covers a period of +-2,000 years. In Genesis 2 God says to Adam and Eve: if you sin you die. They did sin and in chapter 5… Continue reading Meditation: Genesis 5:1-5
