Today’s reading: Gen 16:1–17:27, Matt 12:1–50, Eccles 3:16–22

Today’s theme: God’s faithfulness

One of the things we see in today’s reading is God’s faithfulness to Abraham. He blesses Ishmael’s offspring in the Arab people and we see this right up to the present day It is no coincidence that they live in the oil rich areas of the earth and are so numerous. We also see God’s faithfulness in his promises to Abraham concerning his own offspring in the people of Israel where we can clearly see God’s blessing on them today.

Ultimately we see the faithfulness of God in Christ, the Messiah, the one who is greater than the temple and the worker of amazing miracles.

Genesis 16:1–17:27

Men, we have responsibilities

And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” Genesis 16:5 (ESV)

Men we are responsible for what happens in our households before God. Even if we have listened to our wives or children on a matter the responsibility still lies with us as the head of our homes before God.

God’s faithfulness

The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” Genesis 16:10 (ESV)

The offspring became the Arab people. They stand today as evidence of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his word.

Abraham’s offspring

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7–8 (ESV)

This covenant God made with Abraham was twofold, in a literal sense this is the direct source of the people of Israel (Offspring) and their relationship to the land of Israel (Canaan). Believers in Jesus are also called Abraham’s offspring in the book of Romans.

Matthew 12:1–50

Jesus the true and greater temple

I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. Matthew 12:6 (ESV)

The temple was only an Old Testament foreshadow of Jesus.

Amazing miracles performed by Jesus

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. Matthew 12:22 (ESV)

It is so easy to take accounts like this for granted. We should pause as we read this and stand in awe and worship of the amazing miracles performed by Jesus.

Watch your words

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36–37 (ESV)

We should be careful about what we say.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014

Additional resources

Look at the excellent and free Faithlife Study Bible