Lessons from Abraham's Life

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:1-10  

Key Verse: Your forefathers...worshiped other gods (Joshua24:26)

Mediation: 1) Abraham had no special endearing qualities that caused God to choose him, Joshua 24 tells us, "Long ago your forefathers, including Tarah the father of Abraham and Nahor...worshiped other gods." So, in spite of his demerits, God chose an idol worshiper to start a brand new voice. God sometimes has to start with what is available, but the final statement about Abraham is that the former idol worshiper became a "friend of God". We should be encouraged not to give up on ourselves and those whom God calls.

2)Abraham also reminds us that even the best of people can listen to bad advice coming from family members. Abraham had waited for God's promised son for ten long years, but her hen succumbed to Sarah's suggestion to use her maid as a surrogate mother, Even though Sarah's suggestion were a common cultural practice at that time. God was displeased with this human attempt to carry out His plan. Inhuman efforts slow down God's timetable. The son Ishmael and his mother Hagar had to be sent away and the results stay with us today. God wanted Abraham and Sarah to wait for His plan which would have brought Isaac in His perfect timing.  

Thought for the Day : God works through our failures in a Biblical sequence. We have to give up the Ishmael's  of our human planning before we can get back on God's timetable.