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.

Continuing our look at Jesus’ ancestry, we’re on verse 36 : “the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,” (Luke 3:36)

Out of the 8 people in the ark, the remnant comes through Noah’s son Shem (which means Name, Fame, Conscious Knowledge of The Whole of Creation).  Interestingly, we begin to see a pattern.  Seth (third born replacing Abel who was Adam and Eve’s deceased second child and became the second son) and now Shem was the chosen line though he also was the second born.  (Genesis 10:21)

This probably isn’t like the old parenting joke about how the firstborn is the “practice child” on whom every parent makes their mistakes and knows better by the time #2 shows up. 

This is setting down a pattern that God doesn’t go by birth order but by His will.  It affirms His choice and His ways being different than ours.  If we could predict God’s every move, we’d be smarter than God and we’re not.

The Apostle Paul talks about this, what is in Christian circles called “election.”

“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad– in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls– she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (Romans 9:10-12)

Paul’s point is that “election” is not because of what any person has done to earn it.  God simply chooses–He elects them for reasons He alone knows, even if a leapfrog (at times) over birth order.

Questions for further thought:

Modern people often have a tough time with the idea that God would elect anyone to salvation because it implies that He doesn’t elect others.  Like He’s picking favorites for a basketball team.

How would it be different if He was electing us to salvation in the Messiah?  In other words, He identified the pathway…in Christ…before a single human was created?

Does it matter that we don’t understand fully why God does things?

In what way is that a function of being made in the Image of God, but never intended to be gods?

Prayer:

Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be with You in heaven, despite our sin.  We praise You for the greatness of Your wisdom in making us righteous through Your forgiveness in Christ.  Thank You that salvation isn’t something we earn which falls short time and again, but that it is based on Your grace which is always dependable and wise.  We love 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.

As we continue looking at the ancestry of Jesus, here’s another familiar name: Noah.

“the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,” (Luke 3:36)

Even people who don’t love Jesus or have a Jewish background know the name of Noah.  He’s just as famous as Jonah and their stories are folklore even among non-believers. 

Who can resist an ark full of animals? 

Of course, the whole event is sanitized for the baby’s nursery.  It’s like people forget the animals weren’t taking a pleasure cruise together as best friends with a traveling buddy.  It was to escape a flood.  A really big flood.  Destroying the earth and everyone and everything except what was in the ark.

The story has more in common with a horror movie than Cocomelon…
except, perhaps, for those in the ark.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think people conveniently overlook the destruction of all life on the earth except for those in the ark?

Spiritually speaking, why might people prefer to look at this story as a cute child’s fable instead of sobering historical record?

Imagine for a moment being a zebra or giraffe on the ark.  You look out at your family members who did nothing wrong, but because of mankind, you and one other are saved, but the rest of your animal friends and family die.  How could God allow such a thing?

Noah and his wife had family with them totaling 8 persons altogether.  What do you think this remnant of the world’s population talked about during those 40 days and 40 nights of the flood?

Prayer:

Almighty Father, we thank You for being the Creator of all life on earth, including being my Creator.  We do not understand Your ways but understand Your right to do as You choose and exactly what Your will requires for You to be both holy and just.  We are sorry that we sin as if it’s of no consequence, that we ignore the warnings of Your Word and of our past.  We are sorry that we fail to learn from our mistakes and sins.  Help us to honor You as holy, high and exalted.  We give You praise.  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.

There is one notable exception in yesterday’s list: Enoch.  His name appears 13 times in Scripture, including the New Testament. 

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)

Questions for pondering:

Why do you think God took Enoch without his dying first? It doesn’t make sense if we see Hebrews 9:27-28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” 

Many theologians expect that Enoch and Elijah, both taken to heaven without dying will return as the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3.  Why might that have credence?

Prayer:

Father God, may the actions we have today and the words that we speak display our faith in You.  May we be found to be faithful in our day-to-day actions, hard at work for You, when Jesus returns.  We ask, Lord, that You would help our focus so our resulting actions would be pleasing to You and would bless You.  Give us spiritual sight so we might see and know You better. For we love 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.

Do you ever feel like a nobody in God’s plan for this earth?  Like nothing you do really matters or is seen by God?  When Jesus was born to an uncelebrated Jewish virgin and a Jewish carpenter who adopted Jesus as his own, it was a bunch of nobodies in the world’s view.  Three people with nothing remarkable or important about them. 

But not to God’s view in which they were of paramount significance.

So too, with the list of names for today in verse 37 “the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,” (Luke 3:37)

Today’s remnant from the genealogy of Jesus brings up names that mean very little to modern folk.  Only two of the names are highlighted in any way, but here’s what Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things– and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God– that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Regarding most of these people, we never hear their names (meanings in italics) mentioned again: the son of Methuselah (man of the dart, longest living human at 969 years), the son of Enoch (dedicated, initiated), the son of Jared (descent), the son of Mahalalel (praise of God), the son of Kenan (acquire, weaving).

Yet, each of them was instrumental in bringing forth the next generation,
carrying the torch of the remnant through to today. 
Had they not done what they did, obviously not for any ongoing fame
since most of them fade into the pages of history,
Jesus wouldn’t have this genealogy.

Questions for further thought:

How might you be encouraged to pick up your torch and light your world with the Gospel?

Those with notable names like Dwight Moody or Billy Graham often have silent heroes to thank and whose recognition is primarily in heaven.  Are you willing to be a silent hero instead of a notable name?

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for the silent heroes in the pages of Scripture who teach us that carrying the light forward in hidden ways can yet be seen by You. And because of You, we can have a ministry of profound importance. We can be part of a result in the Kingdom of God that far outshines any fame we would have here on earth. Thank You, Lord, for choosing each of us in ways large and small to participate in Your Kingdom here on earth with the fruit being in the Kingdom of heaven. May we be found faithful when we see You face to face. 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.

Continuing our look at the remnant visible in Jesus’ lineage, we can see that remnant not only as Adam’s true image in Seth, but Seth’s remnant of faith heralded with the birth of Enosh.

Genesis 4:26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.

Enosh’s name in the Hebrew means man, frail and weak, and mortal. 

Man’s weakness and mortality explain why people would begin to call on the name of the LORD.  Unlike the Babylon Bee’s humorous depiction of Christians ( Disappointed Christian Republicans Briefly Consider Placing Trust In God Again | Babylon Bee ) those of us who worship God, not politics, understand that there is a remnant who call on God no matter what the politics of the day might do.

Questions for further thought:

How does acknowledgment of one’s own inability create a desire for calling out to God?

In the Scripture for today, does the word “people” mean all people or just that praying to God became an acknowledged thing for people to do?

What types of events and circumstances remind us of the truth of what Jesus said?   “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Prayer:

Lord, when I am frail and weak, please help me to remember that by faith in You, I am strong.  Help me to acknowledge You in my everyday life, not just when life is difficult and my flesh at its weakest.  May I always remember that with You, all things are possible. I praise You, Lord Jesus, who has made the impossible for me, a possibility and reality in my life by faith in You.  You are a good Lord and I praise You. 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.