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![Sunrise on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Back to Previous Devotion](../images/sunrise-previous.jpg)
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January 11 - Morning
"Some time later God tested Abraham.
He said to him, 'Abraham!'
'Here I am,' he replied.
Then God said,
'Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him
there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains
I will tell you about.' ”
- Genesis 22:1-2 |
![Sunset on the Sea of Galilee; Click to go to next devotion](../images/sunset-previous.jpg) |
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Passing the Test to Advance to the Next Level |
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This was a test, but Abraham did not know it. It seems like an evil deed, a cruel act and an unnecessary waste, but this episode had value. Abram did not know, but he was being tested. And, he was being taught. The successful performance during this test and the lessons learned would have results of both temporal and eternal value.
Isaac is identified with three terms. These three references focus this pivitol moment on what is a stake:
- “your son” - Abraham's long awaited son
- “only son” – there was another son and there would be others, but this was the only son of promise. The future of Abram’s nation rested on Isaac alone.
- “Isaac” - the fulfilled promise of "laughter"
Three imperatives are used to command Abram:
- take your son
- go to the region of Moriah
- sacrifice him there
The one described as “whom you love” is to become a “burnt offering” which is the Hebrew word ‘ola. Later in the book of Leviticus 'ola means a completely consumed sacrifice on the altar (minus the hide). This Hebrew word ‘ola is the Greek word holokautoma (English, “holocaust”).
The Lord stopped the sacrifice of Isaac, and a ram was used in his place, thus adding mercy to the founding of the nation of Israel. Abraham's nation of Israel will now be founded on two things:
- The promise of God
- The mercy of God
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![Christian Quote from Church History](../images/quote-box.jpg) |
“Truth says, “Examine me,” while mere tolerance says, “Leave me alone.”
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![Something to Ponder??](../images/ponder-box.jpg) |
When the black plague swept through Europe in the 1600’s twenty-five percent of the population died. Panic and fear terrorized the people who sought answers, but had very little understanding of diseases, germs, bacteria, etc. The clergy led their people to the Mosaic Law and began to practice: quarantine
(Lev. 13:45-4), removal of dead (Numbers 19:11-22), removal of human waste
(Deuteronomy 23:12-14) |
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![Hebrew and Greek Word Study](../images/word-study-box-long.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/fact-box.jpg) |
Qara' (Hb) - Read (Eng) - qara' is the Hebrew word that means “read,” (38x) “to call,” (450x) “summon,” (23x) “to proclaim” (50x).
The words of God were recorded with the intention of being qara’, or read, to the people, qara’ by
the king, leaders and the people. Qara’ was to be done for learning about God,
devotion to God and to live a life of obedience to God.
- Moses read, qara’, to the people in Exodus 24:7
- Israel's leaders were to qara' the word of God before the people every seven years in Deuteronomy 31:10-12
- The king is to qara’ or “is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.” - Deuteronomy 17:18-19
- Joshua qara’ the Law to his people in Joshua 8:34-35
- Ezra qara’ the Law to the people of his generation in Nehemiah 8:3-12
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A bulla (a seal impression in clay) made from the seal of Baruch, the scribe the wrote a large portion of the Book of Jeremiah for the prophet has been found. It reads:
“Belonging to Berekhyaku
son of Neriyahu
the scribe.”
It was found with a group of other clay bullae that had been baked hard, apparently, in the fires that destroyed Jerualem in 586 BC. The Hebrew script is from the time of Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch and the geneology and the occupation match the biblical figure from the book of Jeremiah 32:12; 43:1-7; ch. 36 and ch. 45. The bulla also has the imprint of the fingerprints, it would seem, of the person making the impression in the originally soft clay.
(More details here and here. Photo here and here) |
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![Confession to Action](../images/confession-box-long588.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/proverb-box.jpg) |
Do I get frustrated during times of testing?
Do I complain during a test that if passed would propel me to the next level of understanding?
I will focus on being obedient and act in righteousness.
I will trust God to open doors and provide options. |
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"The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."
- Proverbs 11:1 |
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![Personal Prayer](../images/personal-prayer-box.jpg) |
![Church Prayer Item](../images/church-prayer-box.jpg) |
![National Prayer Concerns](../images/nation-prayer-box.jpg) |
![World Prayer Concerns](../images/world-prayer-box.jpg) |
Organization of you house and home management |
Peace with opponents |
Local Economy |
The Least reached countries with less than 0.4% Christian population |
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![Photo of Jerusalem; Pictures of Israel](../images/picture-from-israel450.jpg) |
![Bible Map and Diagram](../images/bible-map.jpg) |
![Robinson's Arch, Jerusalem](../photos-diagrams/pics-images/jan-photos/11a-nea-church-lintel-reused-on-ophel-450.jpg) |
![Nehemiah's Wall in Jerusalem 445 BC](../photos-diagrams/diagrams/jan-digrams/11a-greek_letters_trace-300.jpg) |
A lintel from the Nea Church built by Emperor Justinian and dedicated in 534 AD in Jerusalem of the Byzantine Empire. Here it is in a reused position at the base of the southern wall of the Temple Mount. (click on image for larger size) |
Print and trace the Greek letters
(click on image for larger size) |
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Details and Explanation of Sets & Reps Devotional System Here |
![Make a donation to support Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministry](../images/donation.jpg) |
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Reps & Sets is a daily Bible devotional for Christians from Generation Word Bible Teaching used each morning and evening. |
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