Tues.’s Devo - The Seed

Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22
As bad as women were treated in the Bible, I love how God comes to their defense. He certainly came to Sarah’s while she was in Egypt. God completely vindicated her and gave her a thousand shekels of silver which is the metal of redemption. Then, God opened her womb and gave her her promise. Isaac was born and circumcised. Abraham was 100 and Sarah laughed with joy. Isaac means laughter and don’t you know he brought them much laughter! Ishmael was thrown out because there was no room for a substitute when the promise had arrived. God provided for Hagar once again and she was able to raise her son in the desert. She got him a wife in Egypt. Ishmael would grow to have 12 sons just as Jacob would and he would become a great nation but they would always be at enmity with one another over the birthright.
Abraham had to contend with Abimelech for a well he had dug. Wells have to do with deep revelation, salvation and life. This well was in Beersheba. Jacob would come back to this very place and live.
God tested Abraham’s faith to the breaking point and Abraham passed with flying colors. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the fulfillment of Abraham’s promise on the altar. Abraham obeyed and God saved Isaac right in time. Isaac was a type of Jesus who willingly went to the cross just as Isaac willingly allowed his elderly father to tie him to the altar. Isaac trusted in Abraham’s love just as Jesus trusted in his Fathers’s love. God allowed a substitute for Abraham but Jesus had to complete the process for us to have eternal life.
Abraham received news that his brother Nahor has had 8 sons. The last one would be the father of Isaac’s future wife, Rebekah.
In Matthew, Jesus taught us about the seed. A tree is determined by its seed as to what it will become. We see what it is by its fruit. If the seed is bad, then the fruit will be bad, but if the seed is good, then the fruit will be good. Anyone can pretend to have good fruit but God knows the truth because the seed is planted in the heart.
Lord, we praise you because you are a stronghold in times of trouble. You will never forsake those who seek you.