January 7

Genesis 16:1-18:15

Sarai suggests Abram sleep with her servant Hagar so that she can have a child through her.... WHAT?  When did dysfunctional families start?  In the beginning!! (Seriously, Cain and Able...)This is not a suggestion that I would have made!  And Abram agreed to this suggestion (Why doesn't that surprise me?)  It all kind of goes south from here. Hagar gets a superior attitude and starts treating Sarai badly, Sarai blames Abram, Abram says deal with it, Hagar gets the boot, the angel sends her back....

God makes a covenant with Abram and changes his name.  Circumcision is commanded as a sign of the covenant.. (A hand shake wasn't considered????  Of course I'm joking, but seriously?  What must Abraham been thinking when God said You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you?  OUCH)  And it's an all inclusive arrangement, all the boys, from now on including servants.

Sarai gets a name change too to Sarah and is promised that SHE will become the mother of many nations... at 90!  Why do I not remember that God's way of doing things is WAY different than one would expect?  That his timing is different?  I often start to doubt rather than to remember....  His ways are different, but far superior to our own, and He sees the whole plan, and we see such a tiny piece.

v 14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"  (answer NOPE!)

God's ways and timing are not ours, but we should wait on Him.  Abraham, Hagar and Sarah make a mess of things trying to fulfill God's promise of a descendant for Him.

Matthew 6:1-24 
Don't do good deeds to be admired by others....
Don't pray to sound religious or pious, just talk to God.
Forgive people, it's commanded, not an option.
Don't store up treasures on earth, you can't take it with you when you go!
Careful what you look at.
Don't let money be your God.

Psalm 7:1-17 & Proverbs 2:1-5