In Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin recorded in Acts 7, all twelve sons are called patriarchs.  He reminds the Sanhedrin that Abraham was called out of Mesopotamia (outside the Promised Land), and they all ended up in Egypt (also outside the Promised Land) where generations later—four hundred years to be exact—they would come out after having been enslaved and mistreated.  But they would come out.

“But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’  Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.” (Acts 7:7-8)

Of the twelve, only Judah ends up in the line of Christ and only as a function of Tamar, the widowed daughter-in-law who would display greater righteousness than he.  Matthew’s genealogy record states it simply: Matthew 1:2 “Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram.”

Questions for further thought:

Tamar pretended to be a prostitute and became pregnant by Judah, her father-in-law, after he neglected his third son in the Scriptural “levirate marriage” to carry on the family line.  God killed off both of Judah’s first two sons because they were wicked.  The sordid story is in Genesis 38.  How was God preserving the line of the patriarchs in spite of Judah?

All 3 older sons of Judah were from a Canaanite woman.  But so, likely, were the twins born to Tamar whose faith places her name in Matthew’s genealogy.  What is the balance between preserving the remnant pure by faith and being a light to the nations?

In Genesis 49, Jacob blesses his sons and regarding Judah, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:10).  The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.

Prayer:

Father God, Your ways no one can fathom. We stand amazed at the way that You take even the sinful actions of people including Your chosen people and yet You weave them together. You work all things towards the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We stand amazed, Lord, at Your wisdom, at Your plan, and ask Lord that You would open our eyes to see Your actions in our midst. We praise You and thank You for being an all-wise and all-knowing God to whom we give all glory. Amen. 

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

The patriarch Jacob had twelve sons.

Exodus 1:1 “These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.”

But let’s not forget Joseph who had been sold into slavery before redemption and elevation to the highest office in Egypt apart from Pharaoh.

“5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. (Exodus 1:5)

Out of the twelve, two stand out.  Joseph and Judah. 
But only one makes it into Jesus’ lineage:
the one who sold his brother to slave-traders.

“Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed” (Genesis 37:26-27).

How is that fair?

Questions for further thought:

Only one could be in the lineage of Christ as a direct line carrying the torch of faith and the patriarchy’s descendants.  Yeah, but why Judah, the first wife Leah’s fourth son (out of six), not Joseph (the firstborn of Jacob’s favorite wife Rachel)?

The selling into slavery was bad, but it had a precedent. In what way did Adam sell all his descendants into slavery…to sin and mortality?

In what way does Joseph become the pattern of salvation from slavery by God’s intervention?  How does being outside the lineage of Christ, but inside the way of faith, display something about the ways of God?  “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

In Stephen’s speech from Acts 7 we see Joseph’s role in getting God’s people to Egypt,

“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died.” (Acts 7:9-15) 

How does Joseph’s role make it plain that one doesn’t need to be in Christ’s lineage to be included by faith?

Think also about this: Jesus had no biological offspring. Why is that a really good thing for cementing inclusion by faith, not biology?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the author of all wisdom, and we praise You for the ways that we could never predict about how You work.  Thank You that we don’t need to be of a special line or a special people to find favor with You. We can be recipients of faith simply because You so graciously give. Help us to appreciate all that You have done for us as we magnify Your Name. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

This brings us to the final of the three patriarchs of the Jewish faith that was practiced by our Lord Jesus.  This is important and ought to give us every reason to be thankful for the faithful Jews who carried this faith and its traditions all the way to Christ.  Of course, God had a hand in all that.

This final patriarch has a few names.  Jacob (meaning heel-catcher referring to his birth, supplanter referring to his receiving the birthright blessing instead of Esau though Jacob was the second born) and Israel (after God changed his name following a hip injury during wrestling match with the angel of the Lord).

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, (Luke 3:34)

So here is Jacob.  Chosen by God to remind us that He alone chooses how the remnant moves forward. 

Questions for further thought:

Both Rebekah and Jacob (whom Scripture describes as “a peaceful man, living in tents”) deceived Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing instead of Esau (who had sold his birthright blessing for a bowl of lentils).  How do you reconcile Esau selling his birthright and Jacob’s deception of Isaac and yet God bringing it to pass?  Why would God allow human deceptions to accomplish His will?

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Why can’t God demand perfection from people before they do His will?

Prayer:

Thank You, Jesus, that You do not demand that we clean up our lives before You come to redeem us. We thank You that even though we are sinners that You loved us enough to rescue us.  We have been saved by Your grace through faith You have given to us.  We praise You that even our mistakes can be worked together for Your glory. We ask now that You would continue the good work of redeeming our lives from the land of sin, shame, and guilt.  Thank You for bringing us into Your family as children of God by faith.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  For it’s in Your Name we pray. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Scripture says that Abraham went down the mountain to his servants (but oddly no mention of Isaac) and went to stay in Beersheba (Genesis 22:19). About his wife Sarah, “She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her” (Genesis 23:2).  

He went. That means he wasn’t there when she died.  Hold that thought.

About Isaac (skipping ahead), “Isaac brought [Rebekah] into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (Genesis 24:67)

Okay, so Isaac was at the tent of his mother, but Abraham was back in Beersheba.
One can only imagine what that horrible test did in Abraham’s marriage.  
Sarah was not part of the test
because the covenant transfer was from father to son.

Now, about Rebekah, Genesis 24:1 Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”

Sarah was already dead, so Abraham alone (another act of faith) insists on where to find this wife for his son Isaac.

5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”  6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’– he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:1-8)

Don’t take my son back, but don’t let him get a wife from here.  God is orchestrating the preservation of the covenant purity by finding a wife for Isaac. She is Rebekah.

Questions for further thought:

God sent His angel ahead to find the wife.  “The servant prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.” (Genesis 24:12).  The whole story is a good one, reminding us how God gathers and separates a remnant people of faith.  Why did God keep weaving back into the family clan and bringing them out?

I sometimes view Isaac as the weakest of the patriarchs.  Maybe unfair especially in light of what he went through, but we don’t read a lot about his faith life.  He did pray for Rebekah to become pregnant (Genesis 25:21) and he did receive the covenant reiteration on the basis of Abraham’s faith. (Genesis 26:1-6, 24-25).  Why, in Genesis 28:1-5, do we see the torch being passed to the next generation, even as he speaks of the God of Abraham?

Prayer:

Thank You Father for giving us 3 patriarchs who all point their way back to You. And that You are not just the God of Abraham; You are not just the God of Isaac; and You are not just the God of Jacob, but You are the God in whom all three rooted their faith and out of which You would bring forth a remnant of Israel for Yourself.  We praise You Lord for Your wisdom; we praise You for Your goodness; we praise You for Your will and Your plan; and we ask that You bring it to fruition in our lives all for the glory of Christ.  Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Of all the stories in the Bible,
this is probably one that makes Christians cringe the most. 
Asking WHAT?  I cannot believe God would test Abraham this way! 
I cannot believe Abraham would go there to do that.  I can’t believe that!

Well, believe it.

Put yourself in the sandals of Isaac for a moment.  Maybe Dad has told you that you’re the child of promise and about the covenant being fulfilled through you.  You’ve heard it over and over since you were old enough to hear it.  Time goes by.  A lot of time.  Dad hasn’t heard from God lately.  In years.  Life goes on and time enough has passed to forget about God, to grow complacent, to become a little arrogant.  You’re now old enough to have firewood stacked on your back and haul it up a mountain.  And your dad is still calling you “son” and “the boy” (Genesis 22:5).

You head to the top of the mountain and Genesis 22: 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Jewish scholars are quick to point out that this episode
is the last time in the Bible
that we’d read about Abraham and Isaac being together…alive. 
(Go ahead, be the Berean.  Check it out.  I did.)

Even though child sacrifice is utterly repugnant to modern minds, it was less out of the possibility in the Canaanite world in which the same God who gave fertility to an old man and old woman was entitled to any sacrifice He wanted.  Yet, it was unheard of that He’d demand such a thing of such a child.

The Book of Hebrews states, “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19).

What does this have to do with a remnant? 

Everything, if you follow this logic. 

I’d argue it this way: Abraham hasn’t heard from God in ages.  He receives a radical command and obediently follows, an excruciating act of faith in the covenant promises of a trustworthy and supreme God, and in doing so, Abraham transfers the covenant weight of importance to Isaac.  Isaac’s faith—as his own—would need to be every bit as sold out for God.  At an age where Isaac could understand, God tests Abraham and transfers the covenant of faith to Isaac in all its weight and responsibility with the experiential knowledge that faith requires sacrifice, sometimes of even what we hold most dear, and when it makes no sense.

Apart from this test and Isaac being witness to it, seeing God’s provision as Abraham believed, Isaac could have grown up as a complacent, arrogant, and petulant child growing into entitled manhood, lacking the faith that is required of a true patriarch and inheritor of the covenant promises.

Questions for further thought:

Why might God have waited to test Abraham until Isaac was no small child?

“So in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”  In what way does the author of Hebrews point to the living aspect of faith, and redemption from spiritual death of trying to live life apart from God?

What valuable lessons regarding hearing from God and faith did Isaac learn, to make his faith his own? 

In what way did Isaac go up the mountain with firewood on his back and go down the mountain with the heavy weight of covenant promises to carry by faith to manhood, to fatherhood, and for the rest of his life?

Prayer:

Lord God, when we look at the life of Abraham and see the model of faith that he presents for us, it causes me to wonder if I would obey when the sacrifice seems so great. I ask Lord that You would give me the kind of faith that perseveres through the most difficult of times; through the most uncertain of outcomes; and through the most incomprehensible requirements of faith. Thank You, Jesus, for promising us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and that everything which has been made known to You will be made known to us by Your grace and in Your timing. Thank You that in James, Your Word promises that if we lack wisdom that we can ask God. We don’t need to fear Your judgment for merely asking, and we thank You that You give generously to all without finding fault. We praise You and exalt Your mighty Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Noah and the Flood are widely known and remade for the children’s nursery instead of a horror story, but Sodom and Gomorrah don’t get the sanitized or woke treatment.  They remain widely known for their obliteration.  In both cases, the Bible stories involve destruction because sin had gotten beyond the point of God’s willingness to withhold His wrath.  His patience ran out.  Wrath followed.

Sodom and Gomorrah are well known for another reason,
but we don’t need to talk about that right now. 
There is a point about a remnant.

Genesis 18:22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing– to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 

You know it’s bad when out of a whole city, apart from Lot’s family (Lot, his wife whose righteousness one can reasonably question, and two daughters questionable also—see Genesis 19:31-38), are so steeped in sin that God obliterates the whole thing. Even Lot’s two sons-in-law thought it was a joke—a big laughing matter until they were toast.

And then there’s Lot’s wife.  Some women just don’t listen.  She looked back—why? Even God told them not to—and she became a pillar of salt.  She’s the stuff of legend as salt formations near the end of the Dead Sea testify to her foolishness and she adds to the bad rap women have gotten since Eve.

Questions for further thought:

How do people treat sin as a laughing matter?

I remember a day when comedians were funny.  What do many laugh about today?

How do people dismiss God’s impending wrath and hell as laughing matters?

How does God feel about disobedience in Lot’s wife and in us?

Were any righteous swept away along with the wicked? 

Lot is not in the lineage of Christ for good reason.  The sons of Lot’s daughters (fathered by him in a drunken stupor) went on to be the Moabites and the Ammonites, two nations that would persist as archenemies of Abraham’s descendants. 

Do you see the formation of an array of enemies of God’s chosen people?

Prayer: 

Forgive us, Lord, for not taking sin seriously; for treating it as a laughing matter; and for treating Your holiness as something to be trampled. We thank You, Father, that You are a merciful God and for the forgiveness that is available through Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the Cross. Please, Lord, turn our eyes towards You and away from the ways of this world so that we might bring glory to You through our actions and our faith. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

We’re looking at verse 34 today in our study of Jesus’ genealogy recorded in Luke and how it applies to a remnant.  Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac (laughter), the son of Abraham (father of a multitude, formerly Abram meaning high father), the son of Terah (to patiently breathe),

God doesn’t make a habit of naming people’s children, but when He does, it’s for a purpose.

Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”   19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

God’s covenant, His remnant people of faith, do not descend from Ishmael,
but Isaac, the only son of Abraham and Sarah.

Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.  21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”

Questions for further thought:

Can you think of other times God named someone’s child?  See Luke 1:13, 1:31.

Read Hosea 1. How many times does God name children?  How does God affirm the remnant despite the negativity of the names (see verses 10-11)?

A point of contention remains, even today, because Ishmael was also a son of Abraham and indeed his firstborn, but importantly not of Sarah.  The remnant comes through Isaac.  Remember the pattern continuing of the second born Shem (and not Japheth) and Seth (not Cain)?  When the older serves the younger, what did it prove about man’s ways vs God’s ways and the role of faith?

Which nations descend from Ishmael and what do their religions claim?  Genesis 25:12-18.

Genesis 25:17 Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.”

How did the selection of a Chosen People as a faith remnant result in hostility?  In what way does it continue to this day?  How is it traceable back to the Bible and a spiritual battle?  Is it any wonder that peace in the Middle East is so difficult?

What is the only true cure?  See Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Prayer:

We thank You, Father that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  We thank You that through the Holy Spirit we can have the bond of peace with You and others, and reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God to Your glory.  May we become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Thank You, Lord, that we have been taught how to live together in perfect unity. Help us to preach the gospel so that unity of peace will be taught to completion here on earth. We praise You Lord for Your miraculous gift of salvation and for the way You have made for us to have peace with You through the forgiveness that is available by the blood of Christ. For it’s in His Name we pray. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Today in our look at Jesus’ genealogy from Luke and exploring the idea of a remnant, we arrive at the name of Abraham, formerly known as Abram (Genesis 12-17) in most pages of Scripture.  Interesting to note, however, in 1 Chronicles 1:27 and Nehemiah 9:7 he was still called Abram.

Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham (father of a multitude, formerly Abram meaning high father), the son of Terah (to patiently breathe),

God created a remnant for Himself. 
It’s easy to see the separation involved with creating a remnant and giving a covenant.

Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him.”

Questions for further thought:

Why might Abram have been told to “go from” country, people, and his father’s household? 

Think back to his father’s background.  He grew up in Mesopotamia, surrounded by idolatry and idolators.  How would one’s environment be a constant source of temptation?

What was Abram’s immediate response?

Prayer:

Thank You, Father that You call us out from our lives of sin, and by Your grace, You call us into the family of God. We praise You and thank You that by the blood of Christ we can be welcomed by faith into the Kingdom as children of God. We praise You for Your faithfulness in giving the covenant and in seeing it through to fulfillment in the lives of the patriarchs and Your followers today.  We stand in awe of Your wisdom, in awe of Your faithfulness, and in awe of the mercy that You have shown to us while we were still sinners. We thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Terah is among the most famous Scripture-identified infidels.  I try to imagine what that would be like.  How embarrassing!  God Himself records for the entire world’s population in perpetuity that Terah was an idolater (Joshua 24:2).  Terah worshiped foreign gods and now anyone and everyone knows his guilt.

But then, what kind of grace it shows in his son being chosen out of the whole world’s population to be given the covenant promises of God and that Terah’s name, too, would appear in the line of Christ.

34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah (to patiently breathe), the son of Nahor (snore or snorting, charred or scorched, or noble or freeman), 35 the son of Serug (branch), the son of Reu (pasture, neighbor), the son of Peleg (channel, divide), Luke 3:34-35

As this genealogy is working its forward in the text (Christ to Adam), we’re tracing it written backward from Adam to Christ.  Now we are beginning to see the grace of God in the remnant of His choosing, nowhere more powerfully than with the great patriarchs of the Jewish faith.  Out of Terah’s family of idolatry, a son (Abraham) carries the covenant promise and remnant of grace into the future.  The patriarchs would be those whom Jesus would have known as integral to His Judaism and faith traditions. 

It’s imperative that we understand Jesus was raised with the Torah (the 5 Books of the Law of Moses, also called the “Pentateuch”), the Ketuvim (the Writings), and the Nevi’im (the Prophets), all-together called by modern Jews “The Tanakh”.  It was Jesus’ Bible, passed along as scrolls of pure Scripture.  And it was given to the Jews, including Jesus.

Questions for further thought:

In what way can the religious practice of the father (in this case Terah) influence those of his children?

What responsibilities do parents have in helping cultivate their children’s understanding of doctrine and biblical instruction?  Are parents held to account for the outcome of their children or does each person’s faith stand alone?

Why might it be significant that out of a community that practices idolatry, God would reach in and create a covenant remnant for Himself and His glory? How will He reach in a second time to gather the elect?

Prayer:

Thank You that we were created for Your glory, and You can bring us home no matter how far the ends of the earth we’ve wandered.  Turn our eyes toward You.  Help us to repent of any ways You find offensive.  We thank You for Your reassurance when You said, 5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth–7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:5-7). Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Looking at the list of names in Luke 3:35-36, there are two names that point to the Jewish (Hebrew, Semite) identity of the remnant.

First, the son of Eber (Eber is the root of the word Hebrew—meaning the Region Beyond, One from Beyond, He Who Passed Over), the son of Shelah (missionary, emissary), the son of Cainan (possession), the son of Arphaxad (Stronghold of Chaldees), the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, Luke 3:35-36

Then, there’s the line of Shem—the Shemites recognizable today as the word Semites—are the beginnings of the Jewish people.  From the stronghold of the Chaldees, possession, and emissary, we see the next generation as the son of Eber God intends as a light to the nations.

What nations?  I’m glad you asked.  Not all sons of Eber go on to be the Hebrews. 

Scripture says in Genesis 10:25 “Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.”

We are told in Genesis 10 the line of Shem produced 70 people groups, an interesting perfect number.  From this multitude of nations, arises one remnant people: the Hebrews.  The remnant people who will carry forth the Messianic promise…well before it was even given to Abraham.

Questions for further thought:

We are told one son of Eber was named Peleg “because in his time the earth was divided”.  In Genesis 11, we read about the Tower of Babel…when God scattered the peoples over the earth.  Why was it necessary to scatter those whose intellect and ability could lead people to believe that they created their own salvation?

Joktan’s name in Hebrew means small or insignificant.    Yet it is the Hebrews who would be the fewest of all peoples, but by no means insignificant.

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

In Whose eyes are the numerous insignificant and the smallest remnant is the one to bring forth His victory? 

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.   4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:2-4)

Joktan’s descendants became south Arabian kingdoms including Sheba (whose queen visited Solomon). 

Do you see how the remnant is designed to be a light to the nations?  A demonstration of the power and mercy of God?  How might small and chosen ones display the power of God more effectively than the mighty nations?

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for choosing the Hebrew people to be a light to the nations. We praise You and thank You that even though the Hebrews have always been insignificant in number, they are significant in You. Thank You for making a way throughout the years for a remnant to hold fast to the faith– as our Lord Jesus was from the Jews. We ask, Father, that we would be faithful with His gospel message until He returns. For we know the “eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth looking to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). Let it be me, Lord. Grow my faith where it is weak; give me eyes to see Your actions in my midst; give me the grace for when I fail; and the courage when I feel outnumbered. We praise You Lord that efforts that we make in faith, humble though they may be, are by no means insignificant in Your eyes. We praise You and it’s in Your Name we pray. Amen.

===

Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.