1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Let us pray after these things. The word of the 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: Lord came unto Abraham in a vision, saying, fear not, Abraham, 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Genesis 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: fifteen one. Dear Heavenly Father, when the season comes, help 5 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: me to make the choice to separate and move on, 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: when a relationship must transition and come to an end. 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: When I must choose a new location to move to, 8 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,599 Speaker 1: I will not only look at the outward appearance, but 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: will look intently at the new land and opportunity to 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: make sure your spirit and presence are there. As I 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: continue to move in sync with your commands. I thank 12 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: you that you will continue to bless me and send 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: words of encouragement through various people Like Abraham. I declare 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: that multiplication is in my future. I declare that you 15 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: will not depart from me nor leave my side until 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: you've accomplished your covenant and promises through me. Thank you, Lord, 17 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: that you are for me like you were for Abraham 18 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: in the book of Genesis. In Jesus name, Amen, thanks 19 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: for making prayer a priority in your life. To hear 20 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: the Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the Bible. 21 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: In a year brought to you by Bible in a 22 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: Year dot com. 23 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: Abram and Lot separate. Before this story, we learned about 24 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: how Abram was called by God to leave his country, 25 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: and God would bless him, make his name great, and 26 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: make him into a great nation. Yet in Abram's heart 27 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: was imperfections, fears, and faithlessness. Now we will learn about 28 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: how Abram and Lot separate and go their own ways, 29 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: and how God's faithfulness to Abram saves Lot from danger. 30 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 2: Then we see a promise made by God that would 31 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: change the course of history. Inspired by the Book of Genesis. 32 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack grayeb with today's episode of the 33 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. Yesterday we looked at the 34 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 3: story of Abram leaving his home and journeying to a 35 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 3: new land to Canaan. When he left, he brought with 36 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: him his wife Sarah and also his nephew Lot. Today, 37 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 3: we're going to cover a lot of ground, starting with 38 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 3: Lot in Abram and how their stories differ. You're about 39 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: to see lot story. Though he was with Abram, he 40 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 3: took a decidedly different direction. It's a sad story about 41 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: decisions being seduced by the apparent beauty of a place 42 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 3: while neglecting to see the wickedness, the toxic wickedness that 43 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 3: was brewing beneath the surface. We contrast that with the 44 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 3: choices made while seeking God and depending upon him. You'll 45 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: also hear how Abram is coming into his own as 46 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 3: a wise man who worships God and who cares more 47 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: about honoring the Lord than receiving honor to himself. Finally, 48 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 3: we'll see how Abram has learned, at least for now, 49 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 3: to wait on God's timing and to plead with him, 50 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 3: to plead with God for answers when the promise of 51 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 3: descendants is still not fulfilled. It's a lesson for how 52 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 3: you could approach God. How you can approach God honestly, 53 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: asking for the desires of your heart, even as you 54 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: wait faithfully on His timing. Now Here is today's reading. 55 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: Abram and Lot both increased in riches and influence, so 56 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: much so that their livestock, servants, and warriors could no 57 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: longer inhabit the same land. To keep their people from 58 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: warring against one another, Abram proposed, they separate, separate from me. 59 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: If you take the left, then I will go to 60 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: the right. Or if you take the right, then I 61 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: will go to the left. Lot took Abram up on 62 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: his generous offer and looked out at the Jordan Valley 63 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: and saw that it was full of fertile plains in 64 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: the direction of Zor. The plains were watered everywhere and 65 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: reminded him of the old stories of the Garden of Eden. 66 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley and everything east of them. 67 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: He then took his flocks and servants there, then parted 68 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 2: with Abram and settled in the land of Sodom. Though 69 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: the land was beautiful, Lot had wandered into a city 70 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: filled with all kinds of evils, men and women, plagued 71 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: with a wicked and debased culture. Lingered there, and Lot 72 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: later on would find himself in great danger. Abram looked 73 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: to the west towards Canaan, God who had promised fruitful 74 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: land to Abram, met him there and spoke, lift up 75 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: your eyes and see where you are, north, south, east, 76 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 2: and west. Every piece of land you see, I will 77 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: give to you and your descendants forever from you. I 78 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 2: will fill the earth with my righteousness. So Abram moved 79 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: his tent and settled by the oaks of Mamory beside Hebron, 80 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 2: and there he worshiped the Lord with a full heart. 81 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 2: Towards the east, a great war spread like a plague 82 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: across the region. The four kings of the cities in 83 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: Sodom and Gomorrah rebelled against the confederation of five kings 84 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: ruling over them. War, bloodshed, theft, and rape burned through 85 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 2: Lot's land like a wildfire. A fierce and brutal battle 86 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,559 Speaker 2: traveled towards the valley of the Dead Sea. The four 87 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 2: rebel kings clashed against their overlords, with thousands of men 88 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 2: behind them. Running into battle, the armies of Sodom and 89 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: Gomorrah were gripped by the tar pits below the valley, 90 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: trapped and slaughtered slowly by their enemies. While some were 91 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: mercilessly torn apart, others fled to the hills to die 92 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 2: slowly in shame. In the aftermath stood Lot helplessly, robbed, beaten, 93 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 2: then kidnapped by the confederate kings. They had taken everything 94 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: he owned, including all of the women and children under 95 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 2: his care. Lot was now totally consumed by the wicked 96 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 2: land he had chosen as a home and a slave 97 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 2: to the people he chose to dwell with one of 98 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 2: Lot's spies, escaped the confederate kings and ran towards the west, 99 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: where Abram lived in peace with his allies Mamory, Escorl 100 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: and an Air. The word of Lot's captivity came to Abram, 101 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: and there was no time wasted. Abram assembled three hundred 102 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 2: and eighteen of his trained men and prepared them for battle. Together, 103 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,559 Speaker 2: they traveled a great distance to retrieve Lot. Abram's land 104 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: was at peace. This was not his war, yet God 105 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: was grooming him to be a hero. Abram did not 106 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: storm the valley on horseback, nor did his army charge 107 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 2: into battle with the horns of war behind them. They 108 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 2: waited for the dark quiet of the night. Abram divided 109 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 2: his army and had them swiftly take over the enemy. 110 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: With quiet tact and swiftness. Abram took back Lot, his possessions, 111 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: his people, and drove the rest of the enemy out 112 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: to the. 113 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: North to be killed. 114 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: Afterwards, Abram was met by a mysterious king and priest 115 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: named Melchizedek. He brought Abram bread and wine, then blessed him, saying, 116 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: blessed be Abram from the most High God, the creator 117 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: of heaven and Earth. Blessed be the most High God, 118 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: who delivered your enemies to you. Melchizedek spoke of Abram's 119 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: God and a land that did not know him, and 120 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: was a priest of God before priests existed. Melchizedek's blessing 121 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: mirored that of God's, and Abram was astounded. Of all 122 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 2: the possessions Abram had, he gave Melchizedek a tenth. This 123 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: interaction between Abram and Melchizedek would be important for years 124 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: and years to come. Shortly after, Abram was approached by 125 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: the King of Sodom. The king desired to reward Abram 126 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: for his victory and offered Abram the spoils of war. 127 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: Yet Abram knew the wickedness lying beneath. He saw the 128 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: king lying through his teeth. He knew that the king 129 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 2: wanted Abram to be indebted to him. Abram, in a 130 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: moment of honor, said, I have fought for the Lord, 131 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: owner of heaven and earth. I will not take even 132 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 2: a sandal strap from you, lest you think it is 133 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 2: you who has made me rich. So Abram allowed his 134 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: allies to take their share, but he took nothing and 135 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 2: returned home after rejecting the reward from the King of Sodom. 136 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: The Lord then visited Abram in a vision. 137 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: Again. 138 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: He made a promise to Abram, saying, I am your shield, 139 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 2: and I will provide you with a great reward. Abram, 140 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: filled with sadness, looked to God, saying, O, Lord, you 141 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: say you want to bless me and my descendants, Yet 142 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 2: I remain childless. Shall I be forced to give all 143 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: that I have to a servant of my household? Shall 144 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: he inherit my land? God, with tender love and compassion, 145 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: spoke gently to Abram. Look to the skies. See how 146 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: the stars are countlessly scattered throughout the universe. Your descendants 147 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: will be just as these stars, great in number and 148 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 2: abounding in beauty. Abram, despite the doubt and anguish in 149 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 2: his heart, believed God. It was this faith that God 150 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 2: counted as righteousness. It was this faith that God would 151 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: bless him with. Again, God spoke, saying, I am the 152 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 2: one who brought you out of er and the land 153 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: of the Chaldeans. I brought you out to give you 154 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: this land to take possession of because I am the Lord. Abram, 155 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 2: still in faith, asked how he would take possession of 156 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 2: the land already inhabited by so many people. God responded 157 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: with a task, bring me a female calf who has 158 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 2: not given birth, a goat, and a ram, all three 159 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon. 160 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 2: So Abram brought all of what the Lord asked for, 161 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: cut them in half, and arranged the halves opposite of 162 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 2: each other. The birds he did not cut in half, 163 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: though blood scattered all around Abram, and his hands stained 164 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 2: in red. Abram fell into a very deep sleep, and 165 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: a dreadful darkness came over him. God met him in 166 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: his sleep, saying, know for certain that your offspring will 167 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: be sojourners and strangers in a land that is not theirs. 168 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 2: There they will be servants, and they will be afflicted 169 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: for four hundred years. But I am faithful, and I 170 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and 171 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: afterward they shall come out with great possessions. This he 172 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 2: spoke of regarding the captivity of Egypt. As for you, 173 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 2: you shall go to your fathers in peace. You shall 174 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: be buried in a good old age. The night had continued, 175 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 2: and Abram awoke to a burning flame between the pieces 176 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 2: of flesh, and just as God had provided a covering 177 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: for Adam and Eve in the garden with the furs 178 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 2: of an animal, and protected Noah from the flood using 179 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 2: the ark. So God provided a promise to Abram. There 180 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 2: that day, the Lord made a cover with Abram, saying, 181 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 2: I give this land to your descendants. And God would 182 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: not depart from Abram's side for the rest of his days, 183 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 2: nor would he forsake his children. 184 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 3: Today's reading opens with two men who are greatly prospering 185 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: in the land God has brought them into. Abram is 186 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 3: older and wiser, and he sees the potential for conflict 187 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 3: even within a family, over land and prosperity and property. 188 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,959 Speaker 3: And as he and Lot both grow in riches and 189 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 3: in influence, so he gives Lot the first pick of 190 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 3: which land to settle, and he agrees that he will 191 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 3: take what Lot does not choose. Lot sees the beauty 192 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 3: and the glory and the riches of the land near 193 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 3: the Jordan River, where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah 194 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 3: were located. This is the land he chose. Perhaps he 195 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 3: was blinded by the abundance and lush of the area, 196 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 3: but for whatever reason, he did not take into account 197 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 3: the wickedness the vile wickedness of the people in that area. Abram, 198 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 3: on the other hand, went to God, and God showed 199 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 3: him where he would settle. So we see the contrast 200 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 3: of acting based on our own wisdom as Lot did, 201 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 3: versus seeking God's counsel and guidance in every aspect of life. 202 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 3: The difference could not be more pronounced. Abram was blessed 203 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 3: and continued to grow in riches and influence, but Lot. 204 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 3: It wasn't long before Lot was in deep, deep trouble. 205 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 3: Wars and rebellion threatened Lot's very life, and he was beaten, robbed, 206 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: and kidnapped. Abram steps in as the hero and comes 207 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 3: to the rescue of his nephew. We see Abram not 208 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 3: as a nomadic traveler, but a warrior who comes in 209 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 3: and conquers the enemy, driving them out of the land 210 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 3: and restoring his nephew Lot. This wasn't Abram's war, but 211 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: he intervened. As a result, Abram has an encounter with 212 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 3: a high priest named Melchizedek who worship Abram's God. This 213 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 3: priest blesses Abram and astounds him as his blessing reminds 214 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: Abram of the blessing God has given him. There is 215 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: another lesson we learn in this story, and that is 216 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 3: with Abram's interaction with the King of Sodom, who tries 217 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 3: to align himself with Abram. But Abram, rather than accepting 218 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 3: the glory and the honor, trust in the Lord, he 219 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 3: turns back to the Lord. We can be tempted to 220 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: accept praise from other men for our victories, but Abram 221 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 3: reminds us that God is the source of our strength. 222 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 3: He is our victory and the one for whom we 223 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 3: live and strive. Finally, we see Abram pleading with God 224 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 3: for his promises to be fulfilled. He is yet without descendants, 225 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 3: and rather than taking matters into his own hands, he 226 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 3: goes before God. I love the honesty of his interaction 227 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 3: with God and the Lord. Lord's gentle and loving response 228 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 3: here is what Genesis fifteen, verses two through six says. 229 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 3: But Abram said, Lord God, what will you give me? 230 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 3: Since I am childless and the heir of my house 231 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 3: is Eliezar of Damascus. Abram also says, since you have 232 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 3: given me no son, one who's been born into my 233 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 3: house and is my heir, Then behold, the word of 234 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: the Lord came to him saying, this man will not 235 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: be your error, but one who will come from your 236 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 3: own body shall be your heir. And he took him 237 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 3: outside and said, now look toward the heavens and count 238 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: the stars. If you are able to count them, And 239 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 3: he said to him, so shall your descendants be. Then 240 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 3: he believed in the Lord, and it was credited unto 241 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 3: him as righteousness. God comforts Abram and adds to the 242 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 3: promise he will give him more than he could ever 243 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 3: even fathom. How gracious of God to not only reaffirm 244 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 3: the promises he made to Abram, but to point to 245 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: the night sky as a reminder of that promise. You 246 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 3: can just imagine how every time Abram grew discouraged or 247 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 3: tired and felt that his faith was giving way, he 248 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 3: looked up into a brilliant night sky lit up with 249 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 3: the stars, and remembered God's promise. In response, Abram offers 250 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 3: a sacrifice, and the Lord makes a covenant with him. 251 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: Then and there, this is where we leave Abram for today. 252 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 3: Once again, his story offers you a wonderful example of 253 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: faith and submission to God. And the timing the Lord brings, Oh, 254 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 3: that we would trust in our Lord so fully as Abram, 255 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 3: dear Father in heaven, Thank you that we can trust 256 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 3: you and seek you for wisdom in every aspect of 257 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 3: our lives. We are so grateful for Abram's story and 258 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: how it teaches us to always live by faith and 259 00:16:54,400 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 3: not sight, and to trust in his promises always in Jesus' name, Amen, 260 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 261 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot 262 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 3: com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 263 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 3: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 264 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 3: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 265 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 3: someone's life. And if you want more resources on how 266 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 3: to tap into God's power for successful Christian living, be 267 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 3: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless. This 268 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 3: episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare solution 269 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 3: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 270 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 1: Welcome to the previous podcast, where Hope is Our Only bias. 271 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 2: Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 272 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 2: the news and offer a Christian perspective. 273 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: We won't shy away from the hard topics, and we 274 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: won't dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more 275 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: than a daily brief on the news. 276 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. Listen to 277 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: Pray News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 278 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts.