Sun.’s Devo - The God Who Hears

Read: Genesis 16:1-18:15; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5 It had been 10 years since Abram and Sarai settled in Canaan and she had still not had a baby. She decided that the problem was with her so she encouraged Abram to have a baby through her servant Hagar. Abram agreed and slept with Hagar. *** When Hagar became pregnant, she treated Sarai with contempt and return Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. *** An Angel met Hagar on the road and told her to return to her mistress and submit to her authority. God would give her more descendants than she could count. She was pregnant with a son and was to name him Ishmael which means “God hears”. God had heard her cries of distress. Ishmael would be a wild man and everyone would be against him and vice versa. He would live in close proximity to his kin. Hagar then called on the name of the Lord. *** She went home and bore a son and they named him Ishmael. Abram was 86 years old. *** Thirteen years later the Lord appeared to Abram and renewed his covenant with him. He changed his name to Abraham because he would become a father of many nations. He would be exceedingly fruitful and kings would come from his family. He would confirm his covenant to the future generations and give them the land he was only a stranger in. All the Land of Canaan would be their possession forever. He would be their God. *** To confirm the covenant, all the male in his household including himself and his servants must be circumcised. He gave Sarai a new name of Sarah and told him that she would also have a baby from her womb at a set time that next year. They were to name him Isaac. God would establish his covenant with him forever. Ishmael would also be blessed and fruitful he would beget 12 princes and become a great nation. *** Some time later, three angels came through where Abraham was staying and they fed them and sat with them. One of the angels told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. She heard what he said and laughed within herself. The angel heard the silent laugh and told her that nothing was too hard for the Lord. She denied laughing but was rebuked for lying. *** Circumcision is a picture of the cross and salvation. They were circumcised and received new names showing that they were born again and then they became fruitful. The curse over Sarah’s body was taken away and she became fruitful. *** Jesus continued his sermon and told them how to live to please God which was the opposites of how their spiritual leaders were doing it. Then he gave them a model prayer which emphasized honoring God above all and forgiving others. Our spiritual lives is not to be displayed to show our righteousness but our lives are to reflect it quietly by the works of our heart. Lord, may we live our lives to reveal the goodness of God and his righteousness. Thank you for the covenant of salvation we have with you.