Obedience Is A Choice

*Before this idea became a reality, I thought I was okay; I was born again after all, but no, ‘fire insurance’ isn’t enough; He wants obedience.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” 

(1 John 3: 3, 4, 5, 6).

*S. L. Estes.Squished!  WestBowPress.

God wants my obedience

He enjoys my obedience

My obedience brings Him glory

In my Ebook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit, in Chapter 6 From Dregs To Pure, I explain God’s merciful and gracious deliverance of me from drugs, alcohol and suicide. Looking back, I am amazed from what God rescued me, leaving me with a new perspective on Jesus saying “the one who has been forgiven much, loves much.”(cf Luke 7:47)

 My closet has been cleaned, so to speak, of the things my old life would enjoy. That done, in my new position in Christ, I am more conscious of what my witness for Jesus looks like to unbelievers and those who knew me ‘when.”

Even as I come to understand the purification of my life, I am learning, even today, that my purification is something in which I need to be involved. While I may not have an urge to do the things I once did, I need to subdue the old nature that sometimes brings the memory and habits back with an all too familiar instinct.

As Paul said, my new knowledge toward the consciousness of others helps me control my choices and appetites. (cf 1 Corinthians 10: 29)

Peter says it well in his first letter, (paraphrase 1 Peter 4:4), as those with whom I partied now think I’m foolish or even brainwashed by religion and the church. On the other hand, I feel privileged to show my new freedom in Christ not to do those things even as I am saddened by their blindness and reviling. (cf 1 Peter 4:14)

Jesus has made me different. I cannot make this knowledge of His supernatural change in me disappear. I cannot tell my detractors that I’m a Christian because I decided one day to become a follower of Jesus and clean up my life so I could join a church. It didn’t happen that way.

God found a lost person, and when He called me, I answered Him. A sinner in need of salvation, I came to Him to have my sins washed away forever and ever.

In the verses of 1 John above, I am no longer able to habitually sin in the former way. I didn’t changed me. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changed me. I am striving to obedience and today that can be a day-to-day experience. But obedience is easier when I reflect on what God has done for me.

Glory to God. Amen.

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Two Kisses

In the popular Christmas song, *Mary Did You Know one line asks, “(did you know), when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God?”

The Bible never recorded Mary kissing Jesus but we can safely assume she performed this act of devotion. She held Him, kissed Him, loved Him, and did all the things a mother does with children. Mary’s kisses were on her beloved Child and maybe sometimes her kisses were worship of her Savior. 

So, we can assume Mary's kiss was for real.

However, the Bible does record a very real kiss with a deeper and definitely more sinister planning. 

Judas kissed the face of God

A chilling scene, as the mob comes in the dark of night, with eerie light from torches flickering through tree branches, making shadows long and creepy. Judas walked up to Jesus and planted a tremendous devotional kiss to His Rabboni’s face so there could be no mistake in the dark the One whom they were to arrest. In an act straight from a horror flick, the betrayer leading the ambush and prominently identifying the betrayed.

That kiss has importance beyond the mere printed words. The fact of its application is so evil in and of itself. The implication is the kiss Judas gave was of love and friendship, of fellowship, comradeship, and companionship. A huge, loud kiss in greeting of a friend and one accepted in trust.

The trust, acceptance and warmth of the relationship he had with Jesus, Judas used for such an evil purpose.

Judas' intention may have been to place Jesus in the position to either defend Himself or die. Judas had no idea what he had done until later, and though he never repented, he did regret his action. But no amount of regret could ever erase that kiss.

“Faithful are the wounds 

of a friend, 

But the kisses of an enemy 

are deceitful”

Proverbs 27:6.

Mary kissed the face of God out of a heart of a loving mother. Judas kissed the face of God as a selfish man with a hateful heart.

The first kiss welcomed the Savior, Son of God; the last kiss had a major part in killing Him. 

Two Kisses--one assumed, one known. Both interesting contemplation.

*"Mary did you know, when you kissed your little Baby, you kissed the face of God?"

"Judas, did you know, when you kissed the face of your Rabbi, you kissed the face of God?"

Someday, all those who’ve trusted in Jesus’ salvation, will look into that glorious face and see the love that kept Him on the cross. 

We will see the love that Judas refused to see
the night he kissed the face of God.

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*Mary Did You Know"original lyrics by Mark Lowry; melody by Buddy Greene

A Miracle Marriage

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; 

and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her 

conception, and she bore a son" Ruth 4:13.

God had a personal purpose in this marriage. When Adam sinned,God knew how He would bring forgiveness into the world. To do this, God formed a family line beginning with Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. Matthew records the entire family line from Abraham to Jesus in the opening of his gospel. (Which, by the way, is a fascinating historical account of some of God's miracles).

The record of Obed's birth is God’s ability to work seemingly bad circumstances for the purpose of good. This impossible marriage of Boaz and Ruth took place as a God-blessed miracle union.

Here are a few incidents that happened for this marriage to take place.

• God chose Abraham out of idolatry and made him the father of the Jewish nation. (Gen. 12:1)
• Abraham begets Isaac and Isaac begets Jacob, who begets Judah. (Gen. 21:1-7, Gen. 24:66, Gen. 29:35)
• Judah is the father of Perez (Gen 38)
• God set up the law of the Gleaning as the system of welfare to support the poorest people. (Lev. 19: 9,10)
• God sets up the Kinsman/Redeemer law. (Deut. 25: 5-10)
• God saved Rahab at the destruction of Jericho. (Joshua 6: 22-23)
• Because of drought and famine in the land, Elimelech takes his family down to Moab where his son Mahlon marries Ruth. (Ruth 1:2)
• Mahlon dies. (Ruth 1:5)
• Following her mother-in-law, Naomi, Ruth comes to Israel, turning her back on her own land and its idolatry to follow Naomi's God. (Ruth 1:16-18)
• They return in the time of harvest. (Ruth 1:22)
• God helps Ruth to the right field. (Ruth 2:3)
• Boaz meets Ruth. (Ruth 2)
• Boaz is an honorable, God-fearing man who exercises the Kinsman Redeemer law to marry Ruth. (Ruth 3:10-4:12)
• Obed is born
• In this lineage, Jesus is born just as God had planned from the beginning. (Ruth 4:13)

Ruth was a poor, foreign widow, from a nation of idolatry, with no way of salvation. Boaz was a strong follower of the Jewish law. These two people would never be together in ordinary circumstances, yet, in His sovereignty, God moved the impossible to accomplish the extraordinary marriage of Ruth and Boaz.

This miracle marriage was an integral part of the Ancestry of Jesus. "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth" Matthew 1:5.

Nothing is impossible with God. All that He does is only miraculous from our viewpoint.

Miracles are standard procedure for Almighty God!

Salvation Verses

God Gets 'Er Done

Genesis 24: Seeking God's Help In The Workplace

You may be the boss or you may be the least recognized person in your workplace, yet by your faith in God, you can be the most effective in getting things done. Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

"I will make you swear by the LORD, 

and the God of heaven and earth...

Genesis 24:3

An Impossible Task:

    Genesis 24 tells us, with the exception of Isaac, all the people in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.  From this group of people he commands, Abraham sends a servant on a specific mission---find a wife for my son. (you shall go...and take a wife for my son..." Genesis 24:4) Even as he starts on his way, this man starts praying for success. There was no way he was going to trust his own judgment to get this job done. There is nothing impossible for God, even in your workplace.

"But you shall go to my country 

and to my family, and take a wife 

for my son Isaac" Genesis 24:4

Sincere Prayer:

    Trust God to help you get your work done. This slave prays a very sincere, simple, direct, specific prayer in faith, wanting to successfully complete his mission, and God answered with a miracle. Take the lesson from him that in anything we do, we need the power of God to complete it. God wants us to have faith in Him no matter what.
God's Glory in Our Work:
    After he sees the answer, he is humbled and gives God all the glory for a job well done. We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he prostrates himself in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52). Maybe you shouldn't prostrate yourself in your office, but at your work station, or office space, you can certainly prostrate your heart, unseen to anyone but God.
Spiritual Insight:
    This slave shows God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family in wanting to get away quickly. (vs 54) One aspect of his work had to interact with these ungodly people, yet he did what he had to do and he does it graciously, politely, but with his integrity intact. Now he wants to get the rest of the job done, which means moving on to the next phase. He had to return to his boss with the complete report and the woman. 

    The lesson here is to recognize and take charge where the job is yours alone and complete it to the very best of your ability to the glory of God. This Spiritual insight will help you stay out of trouble. You will have more knowledge of inter-office dealings, good and bad. And your humble recognition of God's power in your position may help you get a head start on jobs before you are asked.

"For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come 

knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2:6.

Co-worker's Recognize Your Faith:

    And Rebekah seemed willing to get out her family's house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in this servant that interested her about her future husband. But the main thing is she saw something different in the manner of this man and she got on board with his plan. Seeing his trustworthiness, took her on to success as well.

Get 'Er Done!
    While you may not see the same successes as this man, still you're connection to Almighty God gives you Spiritual insight into God doing something in your workplace. When you do see answered prayer or the awesome power of God where you work make sure you acknowledge that God Got 'Er Done!

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 

not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, 

doing the will of God from the heart" 

Ephesians 6:5,6.

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What He Saw-A Fiction Story

This is a fictional story I wrote some years ago, about a man who had a significant meeting with Jesus (John 9)

What He Saw

Huge tears streaked the dust on his face. He'd skinned his knuckles raw  from tightly wringing his hands. An anguished moaned crept from his throat. "No, no, no." The scene was unbearable yet he couldn't turn away. The horror filled his vision, sickening him. When he could look away for relief, his eyes would betray him, drawn to look again.

There, on that hill, the one across from the city wall, the bloody body hung, naked, strings of flesh hanging, the blood dripping from the shredded veins. The fist-pulped face bloated where they beat him and yanked out his beard. And that mockery of a crown; such blaspheme to the royal head!

He buried his face in his hands and his bony shoulders shook with sobs. "Why, my Lord? Today was a day of gladness. We are to celebrate the Passover, remember our heritage, and our day of deliverance. Why did this happen?"

Although larger than normally witness to a crucifixion, it was a typical group. Many came there for the spectacle, to get a thrill from the cruel barbarianism, while others shuddered at it and feared the cruelty of Rome. Then there was the added oddity of the religious leaders yelling insults at the dying man. What were they thinking? They who should know, yet were so angry and filled with hate.

As the anguished watcher looked on, the sky grew dark. People grew uneasy and stared around. Some muttering went through the crowd and some headed back for the town gates. As the throng thinned, he moved up closer to the execution hill, close enough to see the bloody body struggling to lift up, shuddering to inhale. In the torn face, the white, strained eyes swung heavenward as the darkness almost blackened out the sun. For the watcher the dimmed vision gave no respite.

What was happening? What more were they doing to him?

He stumbled forward, wanting to know, though fearful of what he might see. The road was rocky and crowded with the spectators leaving for the safety of Jerusalem. He moved against the jumble people, going in the opposite direction. At one rough area, he tripped and fell into somebody who cursed, shoving him away. Feeling the clothing of the man, he was amazed it was a priest. The religious man grabbed his robe around him, lifting the hem indecently to break into a trot, hurrying to get away. The man turned, also hurrying, but he wanted to get closer to the dying man.

When he was within fifty feet, a Roman soldier stood in front of him, his spear at ready. Not knowing what was going on, the guards nervously formed a circle around the top of the hill, halting anyone from approaching the three condemned men. He found a place beside a grieving woman and a young man, resigned, knowing this was as near as he could get to the man he loved. His weeping joined their wailing.

Somehow, as if sensing him, the eyes in the bloody face sought him through the darkness. Did the disfigured face attempt a smile, or was it his own imagination because he needed that recognition?

There was a horrible rasping sound as the condemned man agonized to pull himself up once more to inhale. The tongue poked through the crushed and bloodied lips. The dying man spoke. "I thirst." One of the soldiers took a stick with a soaked sponge and held it up for the man to suck the sour drink. After getting some of the liquid, he looked heavenward, working the moistness into his mouth before saying, "It is finished."

The body abruptly slumped, the head flopping to the chest, mouth open, eyes blank. The woman beside him gave a great wail and the young man futilely tried to comfort her. His own heart broke. It was over, the great Rabbi was dead.

The watcher stared at the dead, his eyes flooded with tears. The eyes Jesus of Nazareth restored sight to, only a few days before.

The End

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5 Life-Applications from Exodus

5 life-applications we can learn from the beginning of the book of Exodus

1.
"But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive" Exodus 1: 17

     The faith of the Hebrew midwives. By disobeying the orders to 'post-abort' all male babies, they openly rebelled against the supreme ruler (Pharaoh) of the country that held them as slaves. That took courage but the key to their faith is in the opening of the verse, "But the midwives feared God." Their faith in God and taking action on that faith is beautiful.

• Sometimes Christians have to take a stand against something the government commands as laws for individuals that completely contradict God's laws for all mankind. Because of this distinction, all Christians need to know their Bibles and know their God.

2.
"And they said, 'An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also watered the flock'" Exodus 2:17

    Thus begins Moses' 40 year alias. On the lam for murder, in a pagan country, he's mistaken for an Egyptian. It doesn't appear he corrects the mis-identification. And he even marries into the family. Oops, his bad start just got worse.

• If our Christian character is in question in regards to the company we keep, we need to make a change, either by speaking up and identifying ourselves, or get out of there as soon as we can.

3.
"And they said to them, 'Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight if his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us'" Exodus 4:21

     Moses' request of Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go from Egypt to worship God didn't go over very well. God had already told Moses Pharaoh wouldn't let them even before Moses left the sheep in Midian. Also, he told God's plan to the people, to which they agreed he talk to Pharaoh. Unfortunately, neither they nor Moses considered such an adverse reaction. Instead of things improving, or even staying the same, it all went sour. And with Pharaoh making daily work harder on the children of Israel, they blamed Moses for upsetting the man.
     Unfortunately this is a familiar reaction with many groups. You tell them a new plan of action and they accept it. But the minute the new plan interrupts or changes their comfort zone then resentment and anger comes against you.

• If you have a clear vision and have the means and/or compulsion to complete it, you may have to go through a lot of trouble on your own. But with God's help, keep on until you get to the conclusion. Hindsight is 20/20 and you opposition will accept it in the end.

Take care what you pray for if 

you're not prepared to be the 

very answer to your own prayer.

4.
"...These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites according to their families" Exodus 6: 25

     Right in the middle of of Moses' telling God He's picked the wrong guy for the job, God gives the Family Tree of the Priests He has chosen. Proof of God's humor.Picture Moses as a small child, his lip thrust out, arms folded, scowling as he says, "Why do I have to?" and picture God as His Dad tolerantly smiling and saying "Because I say so."

• Like Moses, God may pick us for the job, even if we feel disqualified and are absolutely reluctant. In that case we are to go one step at a time, walking carefully in the light, power, and might of God. Never make a move, or decision without prayer and seeking God. It is the only way to accomplish the work. It is then we can say "It was all God's work. Praise Him!"

5.
"And the Egyptians shall know I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them" Exodus 7:5

     Take a lesson from the miracles of the plagues. They not only were for Pharaoh and the Egyptians to witness what Almighty God can do but also for the children of Israel to see their God's power.

• Look to God to move the mountains. Grumbling and complaining about oppression and the degradation of social situations isn't going to do anything. Seeking God will.

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Get Over It & Get Useful!

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you

 have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, 

why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 

1 Corinthians 4:7

Is God honored by an over exuberant expression or emotion when He does something through or to us?

Where do we get the right to pat ourselves on the back for the supernatural experience of the filling of the Holy Spirit? If a confessed Christian makes a scene about God's powerful manifestation, do they actually understand the Spirit is Almighty, Holy God, who is due all reverence,  honor, and praise? 

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you" John 14:18

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me" John 15:26 

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, as God the Father and Jesus are one and the same. God is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One part of the Trinity does not manifest Himself differently than the others. Nor should we expect God to do anything contrary to what He has shown of Himself in the Bible. His power is His own and He does not share it. When we are surrendered to be used in a supernatural way by God, God will honor Himself as Almighty God, not as an emotional experience, or exuberant display.

"Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever" Hebrews 13:8

Our examples in the Bible, in their relationships with God, didn't talk about having a spiritual experience when God used them some way.

When Ezekiel was taken up by his hair in a vision, he was astonished by the vision, not because of the Spiritual encounter. (Ezekiel 8:3)

Daniel wasn't emotionally giddy when God showed him the interpretations of King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. He gave God glory for His work, not taking glory that God spoke to Daniel himself. (Daniel 2:19)

On the rooftop, when God showed him the sheet filled with things to eat, Peter didn't jump up and down and run around exclaiming of his awesome Spiritual experience. It was the work of God he declared when he understood the true meaning of the gospel going to the Gentiles. (Acts 10)

Let God be God and be useful when God wants to use you. After all, we are commissioned to simply to obey in giving the gospel (Matthew 28: 18-20). It IS exciting to know we have the supernatural power of God to help us do His work, but that doesn't makes us anything except a born again Christian, created for every good work (Ephesians 2:8,9,10). We all have the same God and access to His power to work through us whichever way God prefers to glorify Himself. 

"But to each one of us grace 

was given according to the measure

 of Christ's gift" Ephesians 4:7.

Get over it and get useful!

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Don't Forget The Blood

Hebrews is a fascinating letter unequivocally proving Jesus' as God, as High Priest, as a man, and the Atoning Sacrifice

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the LORD. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"

Hebrews 10:26-31 NJK

All three persons of God are revealed in this passage. 

• God the Father gave the Son for the new covenant. 
• Jesus, the Son, shed his own blood as the sacrifice of the new covenant. 
• The Holy Spirit in the grace of God that we were given the new covenant at all.

The teaching in the book of Hebrews reveals many important aspects of our salvation through Christ Jesus

• Remember where we came from unto salvation
• Take care how we witness to the blood of Christ
• Consider the lost souls of all not yet among the body of Christ
• The blood of Jesus is vital to everyone's salvation
• The wrath of God awaits all whom Jesus' blood never covers

And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, 

and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. 

Hebrews 9: 22

Jesus' blood shed for all

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A Few Observations on Abraham

Though the Bible pulls no punches 

in telling where Abraham failed, 

the record of his faith is beautiful 

Genesis Chapters 12, 13
     Through Genesis chapters 1 through 11, God primarily stays to one genealogy line, 1st born to 1st born son, which ultimately counts down to Jesus, Messiah, in he fulfillment seen in the NT. Then Genesis switches to one man's life in ch 12. Here, the Biblical history branches out to include other familial lines and other sons. God now records how the pagan world interacts and intervenes with, and attempts to interrupt, His plan of Salvation for the world. With this new information of the pagan religions man creates, we see the sin from which we need salvation. From Genesis 12 to Revelation, the Bible includes all the problems, evils, and anger that come against the people of God.
     Genesis Chapter 13 records a shameful occurrence where Abram, (before God changed his name), totally forgets God's in control. In fear, he tells a lie and puts his wife, Sarai, in a dangerous position. By telling the Egyptians Sarah is his sister, her beauty is seen by the king who takes her into his harem. God intervenes and rescues them both from the situation. We could easily hear Jesus speaking to Abram, "Why were you afraid, O you of little faith?"

Genesis Chapter 14, 15
     Chapter 14-Abram with his little 300+ ill-equipped army goes up against a larger force of battle trained veterans. But Abram has the Commander of the Greater Army fighting his battles. Of course--Abram wins!
     Chapter 14:18 we meet a greater God-fearing man than Abram, Melchizedek. I don't have any trouble with his lack of explanation. In this place in the Bible, he is the only other Godly man described other than Abram. That is a very important point about God's omniscience.
     After the battle, that rescued Abraham's captive nephew Lot, the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abraham. He isn't concerned with anything but the return of his stuff that was taken. But after watching Abram give of his stuff to Melchizedek, he says to Abram, "Okay, you want the spoils of war? Fine, just give me the people who will build up my prosperity again." (I assumed & paraphrased)
     (more paraphrase) Abram replies, "God gave me the victory and I know it. My gift to God has nothing to do with the stuff but I am acknowledging from where the victory comes. I do not share your greed. Take your stuff."
     Melchizedek, because he knows what God did for Abram, praises God and blesses Abram for his faith. That is what Abram needed after the battle. He needed a brother in Christ to wash the world off of him. He needed the cleansing of an understanding brother.
     After a serious battle, we need someone like-minded to come along side to cleanse us and comfort us.
In this way, we see Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews, where he is mentioned as the picture of Christ, our Comforter, our Cleanser, and the One who comes along side for Strength, Power and most of all Leadership in worship to God the Father when/because we are weak.
     Chapter 15 begins Abram's next leg of his walk with God. We see a new Abram after the battle and his new exciting knowledge of God. We each need this growth and it is so awesome when we advance in our walk with Jesus.

Genesis Chapters 16, 17

     Abram fails and in lust takes Sarah's slave as a wife, though she is only the wife of his flesh. I think Hagar was likely pleased to become his token wife. As a slave, she had no rights and if Sarah never allowed her to marry, then she had no chance of become a mother or having a husband. It was probably very pleasant for her to become Abram's wife too as he was THE leader of a huge entourage of people. I am not sure but that Abram wasn't unhappy with taking a second wife. It was a common practice and Hagar was likely very pretty. Since she was around all the time, it would seem the natural thing to do, though the wrong thing to do in God's sight.

     In Chapter 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham and gives him the great promise that resounds throughout the world today. God makes the awesome covenant sealing the future of Abraham's descendants as God's people and Him as their God forever. God is keeping that covenant with Abraham's people today. All the promises in the Bible for Israel and their Messiah will come true. God cannot lie.

Genesis 18, 19--Abraham's faith & Lot's failed witness
     Genesis 18 records another Christophany, or OT appearance of Christ, when He comes to test Abraham's faith in God's sovereignty. This is my opinion, but I think Abraham was in prayer for his nephew when Jesus showed up. In conversation, Jesus explains the judgement He's bringing on Sodom & Gomorrah and Abraham immediately jumps in with intercessory pleas for Lot.
     Jesus seems well pleased with Abraham's request, yet, in the end, it appears Abraham quits asking, knowing God must do something and will do something, even if Lot is taken also. Abraham understands Lot's salvation depends on the man's own relationship with God.
     It seems Lot was saved through faith, (2 Peter 2:7) and is in heaven today, but entered the gates with his robe smoking! (Cor 3:11-16, Jude 23). Lot's short biography in Genesis is a sad commentary on what happens when we suppress our witness, or hide our Christianity.
     As a side note with no reason except an interesting observation---Lot seemed more comfortable living in cities. He was definitely not the outdoor type.

Genesis Chapters 20,21,22,23

     Chapter 20: If you don't think ALL of you're actions won't effect unbelievers, think again. Abraham let down his trust in his God and a pagan king had to tell him his witness was rotten. (Gen 20:9)

     Chapter 21: If you need proof God knows the future, here is a beautiful example of prophecy looking FAR down through history. The banishment of Hagar is reiterated in Galatians 4, as God, through Paul, explains the difference between saved and unsaved Israel. God had a plan. The difference between saved and unsaved anyone.
     Chapter 22: A lot has been said about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. What I will say is, I love the name YHWH Yireh--The LORD Will Provide.
     Chapter 23: Abraham loved Sarah. The only land he ever owned, he bought to bury Sarah. Through all those years of traveling with over 300, possibly 500 to 1000, (Gen 14:14), people in his nomadic group, many must have died and been buried wherever the group happened to be. Now, Abraham is concerned with his wife's grave site. She is important to him. Love

Genesis Chapter 24. A great chapter of faith (Here I take a lot of personal speculation without proof)

     Apologies to Bible Commentators, (who definitely know more than I do) I don't think this servant is Eliezer of Damascus, named in Ch 15, but here nameless. Since about 40-50 years have past, he's quite likely one of Eliezer's offspring. (Just saying)
     That said, this is fact, the only 'Hebrew patriarchs' in record in Genesis, are Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. God is building the Jewish nation on one man, Abraham, With the exception of Isaac, all others in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.
     BUT--it is reasonable this servant is a God-fearing believer. He prayed a very sincere, direct, specific prayer of faith, (vs 12-14), which God answered with a great miracle. (Vs 19),(Unbidden, this woman watered ten camels of a stranger! His exact prayer!)
     We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he humbly prostrated himself before God in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52).
     I think he had God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family and wanted to get away quickly. (vs 54) And Rebekah seemed willing to get out that house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in his servant that interested her about her future husband. Maybe the servant was able to tell her about her husband's God on the way back.

     Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

     Abraham is a great man to study with much to learn in his faith and his failures. 

God called him His friend. That says volumes.

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