Through the Bible

Since returning from furlough I have restarted the Bible studies.  This time we are doing things a bit different in that we are going through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  We, obviously, can't go quite as deep as we would if we were just taking one book at a time but the idea is that we will see the big picture of what the Bible is all about.

The International group always seems to change each time due to the ever transient ex-pat community.  However, as good friends leave new friends come and we have been blessed with new people this term.

This week and next we will be looking at the story of Abraham.  It is a fascinating story and much can be learned from his life for us today.  As I was studying today one of the main things that seemed to pop out was the fact that we can't rush God.  God has a plan for our lives and we so often want to hurry God and help Him along.  When that happens it seems to go quite pear shaped.  We see this when Abram travelled to Egypt with Sarai and passed her off only as his sister in fear that the Pharaoh would kill him.  (Gen 12:10-20) We see Sarai influencing her husband for the worst in asking him to take Hagar so that they can have a child (Gen 16) and there are also other instances of people taking matters into their own hands throughout the Bible.

As we have studied these first few chapters of Genesis one of the things that was highlighted was the fact that women have a great influence over men.  We see that with Adam and Eve where Eve gave the forbidden fruit to her husband.  We see it with Sarai giving Hagar to Abram so that they might have an offspring even although God promised this to Abram personally in 15:4 without the need of a maidservant.  The choices we make today can have long lasting consequences for the future long after we are gone. 

Abram, in 15:6, believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness.  In 13:4b Abram called on the name of the Lord.  May we learn from Abram's example in this.

Pray with us that as we study God's word together that it won't be just for knowledge sake but will impact the way we live our lives with one another and those we come in contact with.