Witness (Gen. 21:27-32)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09/20/2006

 

My Worship Time                                                                                    Focus:  Witness

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                             Reference:  Genesis 21:27-32

 

            Message of the verse:  “27  Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.  28  Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.  29  Abimelech said to Abraham, ‘What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?’  30  He said, ‘You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.’

31  Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

32  So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines.”

           

            In his commentary on this section Dr. Wiersbe writes that Abraham and Abimelech did something similar to what God did in with Abraham in Genesis 15:9-10, and that is making a covenant by slaying animals and walking between them.  Abraham went a step further by giving the seven ewe lambs to Abimelech as a sort of receipt to wittiness that the well was dug by Abraham and that it was his.

           

            Dr. Wiersbe goes on to compare this section with a section in Hebrews 10:1-18 that speaks of s similar thing that God has done through the Lord Jesus Christ for those who have believed on Him for their salvation.  This entire transaction involved three elements;  sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, (Hebrews 10:1-14); then, the witness of the Spirit within the believer (v-15); and finally, the promise of God’s Word (vv-16-18).

           

            “14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

15  And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 ‘THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,’ He then says, 17  ‘AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.’18  Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”  (Hebrews 10:14-18)

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look at these verses I think of the promises of God and how these promises will never be broken, and some of the promises that I have made to others have been broken, so I need to be careful when making promises that I keep them.

 

The Word of God has been both a challenge and conviction to my heart as I read and studied God’s Word this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To keep my promises that I have made, especially the ones in the covenant of marriage with my wife.