Daily Devotion: 11/10
Today's Scripture:
Genesis 16:1-16
Wow. It's been awhile since I've read Genesis straight through instead of just a story here or there. I'm struck by how up and down Abram's life was. He and Sarai really struggled, you know? And not just with the things that happened to them. They struggled often against themselves to do what was right in God's eyes. In the previous chapter, we saw a high point- God making a covenant with Abram. In this chapter, we see Abram and Sarai trying to take matters into their own hands, thoroughly making a mess of things in the process. Actually, their life doesn't sound much different than mine in that respect.
But I also noticed something else as I was reading this. God didn't condemn them. Nor did He press the "redo" button to make situation go away. And He didn't turn His back on them. Not on any of them. He listened to the one that had been hurt and sent her back, so that Abram and Sarai could properly deal with the consequences of their actions. Sounds like a bit of tough love to me.
Self-reflection:
How do you deal with the consequences of your actions? Do you blame it on others or do you try to make it right?
Genesis 16:1-16
Wow. It's been awhile since I've read Genesis straight through instead of just a story here or there. I'm struck by how up and down Abram's life was. He and Sarai really struggled, you know? And not just with the things that happened to them. They struggled often against themselves to do what was right in God's eyes. In the previous chapter, we saw a high point- God making a covenant with Abram. In this chapter, we see Abram and Sarai trying to take matters into their own hands, thoroughly making a mess of things in the process. Actually, their life doesn't sound much different than mine in that respect.
But I also noticed something else as I was reading this. God didn't condemn them. Nor did He press the "redo" button to make situation go away. And He didn't turn His back on them. Not on any of them. He listened to the one that had been hurt and sent her back, so that Abram and Sarai could properly deal with the consequences of their actions. Sounds like a bit of tough love to me.
Self-reflection:
How do you deal with the consequences of your actions? Do you blame it on others or do you try to make it right?