The Chapter-A-Day thread.

[graciesings]

Jimmy, I am not sure of the particular about Ishmael's descendents, but he is seen as the ancestor of Islam. I believe many middle easterners including Muhammad are descended from Ishmael

 

[Jimmy P]

Hagar's boy was Ishmael?

 

[graciesings]

Yes, I think so.

 

[bcmom]

Haha I'm reminded of a small island I lived on for a bit off the southern coast of Chile. We had no motorized land vehicles, or running water: everything was ox-sled, or boats. Anyways, for water, we used wells which were often filled with frogs, bird poop, dead things. We added a small amount of bleach to the water to drink it. We would also carry old coke bottles to the beach (2 mile walk one way) and fill them with water as it ran off the side of the beach cliffs out of the water table. It was filtered naturally that way, and the rocks and ferns it drizzled down often filtered it a bit more. Now, the well water was disgusting of course ... but that fresh water that ran out the sides of the cliffs was the best tasting water you've ever put in your mouth lol.

Modern plumbing, access to fresh and drinkable water ... man it's such a luxury lol.

Well that's the last time I complain about the taste of my tap water! And I'll try not to take fir granted having tap water.
What struck me in today's chapter was Abraham's faith in God with both his sons.
Abraham trusted God had a plan for his son, Ishmael. He obeyed God and sent the boy and his mother away.
Abraham's faith in God is apparent as he circumcised baby Isaac. The very first circumcision. God would have given direction. However as, Jimmy points out, how many of us could actually do it?
Perhaps it's where I'm at in life right now, with a son moving out, but Abraham's trusting his children to God was what I noticed in today's chapter. Both things that God asked of Abraham would likely have been foreign and frightening to him however his faith in God was far greater!

 

[Jimmy P]

That's a good point bcmom...trusting and sending them away...think how hard that would be....to just send them off...I can understand his trust in God but still, how he probably missed his boy...

As a Dad myself, that would be pretty upsetting...I wouldn't be mad or anything at God, just lonesome for one of my kids...

 

[graciesings]

Yeah, I'm getting ready to leave home and I can tell it's hard on my parents. And they're sending me off well prepared, I can take care of myself, I will be living with a relative so they know I'll have food and all. I can't imagine how hard it would be for a parent to send a helpless child into the middle of the desert if it's hard for mine to send me to college!

 

[Jimmy P]

I dread the day that Eric leaves home...

 

[graciesings]

fortunately my parents have 5 other kids to keep them distracted when I'm gone, but yeah, that will be a big change.

 

[graciesings]

And while we're on the topic of loving children, it's time for Genesis 22 - which fits this discussion. The link is here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22&version=NIV
This is where God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

 

[Jimmy P]

It won't distract them....it'll just keep 'em busy...

Onto the next...

 

[Jimmy P]

This chapter is a mix of emotions...

We have Abraham obeying God...and willing to sacrifice his boy...thing I noticed....Abraham told Isaac that God would provide the lamb...

Ok, so did Abraham really mean a literal lamb or could he have been referencing Isaac without freaking Isaac out?

I'm wondering if Abraham knew he was being tested and trusted God with the test? Or maybe Abraham figured "Well, if I sacrifice Isaac, he'll go to Heaven and if another is in his place, that's cool too, so win-win"

 

[daughter of man]

Wow, what God asked Abraham to do to Isaac was a lot like happened to Jesus. Wasn't Isaac going to be offered as a sin (or similar type) of offering? God must have wanted someone He could trust to act like Himself to be the father of His people. (That's a lot of capitalized 'H's). It really shows God's compassion that He wouldn't let Abraham kill His son but would let His own be killed.

 

[brinny]

Wow, what God asked Abraham to do to Isaac was a lot like happened to Jesus. Wasn't Isaac going to be offered as a sin (or similar type) of offering? God must have wanted someone He could trust to act like Himself to be the father of His people. (That's a lot of capitalized 'H's). It really shows God's compassion that He wouldn't let Abraham kill His son but would let His own be killed.

Wow, yes, that seems to line up exactly with the entire purpose in why God asked Abraham what He did.

 

[bcmom]

I seen today's chapter to be a foretelling of Christ's death - the Lamb that was slain -
Abraham's said to Isaac "God will provide the lamb" - Notice that the animal that saved Isaac from being physically slain wasn't a lamb but a ram, if it had meant to be a literal translation of what would save Isaac, it would have been a lamb that appeared from the bushes.
Thoughts?

 

[Jimmy P]

Hmmm, hadn't thought of that..but that's true...was a Ram rather than Lamb...and Jesus is referenced as the Lamb...and God did provide Him....good catch bc

 

[bcmom]

Thanks Jimmy.

 

[Jimmy P]

That's what's nice about reading God's word together...others might find something technical that others didn't think about...usually I'm good at eyeing the details like that, but you caught it and that's cool ....nice...

 

[brinny]

what is the significance of the ram vs a lamb i wonder.....

 

[Jimmy P]

MAYBE Ram represents being Male, which Jesus was...

And Lamb being the usual sacrifice?

 

[brinny]

interesting.....gonna ponder on this a bit...thanks Jimmy and bcmom