Through the Bible in Poetry

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

The Abrahamic Covenant

The Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 17-18:15

Twelve years after Ishmael was born, to Abram the Lord appeared.

The Lord was ready to covenant with him because of his reverent fear.

Abram fell on his face before God, the Creator told him His plan.

“Because you’ll father many nations, your name is now Abraham.” ^*

My covenant with you is everlasting beginning with Sarah’s son.

It will continue to all your descendents in generations to come.

Abraham pondered in his heart, “Does he know I’m a hundred years?

It seems to me we’re both too old for a child to be born here.”

God told him about the covenant and the sign of circumcision,

For he would father a chosen people to live as God envisioned.

Abram quickly obeyed his God and circumcised all his men

Establishing this sign for every male as each generation began.

One day Abram sat in his tent avoiding the noonday heat,

The Son of God appeared again His promise to repeat.

Sarah hastened to make some bread and Abram prepared a calf.

When she heard she would conceive, she couldn’t suppress a laugh.

The Son of God, in angelic form, understood she felt ignored.

He spoke loudly for Sarah to hear, “Is this too hard for the Lord?

At the soon-appointed time your hearts will be filled with joy,

For Sarah will hold in her loving arms a healthy baby boy.

Even though the promise came from Jehovah face to face,

It still required Abraham to trust the Lord by faith.

The same is true of you and me as we walk this Christian road.

We trust the promises in His Word until they are bestowed.

* Note: Abram means “Exalted Father,” but Abraham means “Father of Multitudes.”

Sarai means “Which See,” but Sarah means “Princess.”

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Hagar and Ishmael

Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 16

God promised heirs to Abram on the night of that wonderful vision,

But as so often happens to man, he accepted a devilish revision.

Instead of resting in God’s word displaying patience and trust,

Sarai thought she would help the Lord, much to His disgust.

She suggested Hagar, her maid, should become Abram’s wife,

A wretched example of unbelief fraught with peril and strife.

In his desire to make her happy, Abram unwisely consented.

Because of his failure to trust in God, millions have been tormented.

Hagar conceived and Sarai thought a child she could name,

But the dynamics of their relationship would never be the same.

Hagar grew proud when she conceived, her mistress she despised.

Thus Sarai hated the arrogance she saw in Hagar’s eyes.

Because of Sarai’s treatment of her, Hagar ran away.

She took the Wilderness Road to Shur walking all the way.

God’s mighty angel found her there exhausted by the spring,

Instructed her to return to Sarai and submit in everything.

The Angel shared a Word from God that she would bear a son.

He would be a wild man, at war with everyone.

Hagar obeyed the angelic instruction, returned to Abram’s household.

Ishmael came into the world and with him sorrow untold.

Everyone has an Ishmael, the sins and misdeeds they’ve sown.

His presence brings strife and misery destroying many homes.

We find here a message we should learn, so heed it if you can:

Learn to follow the Word of the Lord instead of the wisdom of man.

Journey through the Bible in Poetry at http://www.throughthebibleinpoetry.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 24, 2016

Abram Meets Melchizedek—A Type of Christ

Abram Meets Melchizedek—A Type of Christ

Genesis 14-15

Though he didn’t start the war, Abram fought a key battle,

For Lot had been captured by invaders along with his wealth and cattle.

Abram geared up his fighting men, went hotly in pursuit,

Defeated the enemy late one night reclaiming the captured loot.

A surprising thing happened to him, one he hadn’t expected.

He was met and spiritually blessed by priestly king Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was the king of Salem, a priest of God most High.

Abram sensed the presence of God and paid the priest a tithe.

Abram gave to Melchizedek Salem’s people and possessions.

He treated the office with high respect avoiding indiscretion.

He took nothing for himself except the food they had eaten,

And some of the spoils for his men from the enemy they had beaten.

After these things God came to Abram, spoke in a heavenly vision.

He said to Abram, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve been with you in your decisions.”

Abram said, “I have no heir. I have been wondering why?”

Then God took Abram outside; told him to look to the sky.

“See all those stars shining above. Count them if you can.

That’s how many from you will come forth in their various clans.”

Abram chose to believe the Lord, His Deity he confessed.

God was pleased with Abram’s faith, counted it righteousness.

Abram came to know our Lord by a sincere expression of faith.

For that is the way we relate to God as we trust in His saving grace.

Have you trusted Christ today? With Him you can end your search.

For Jesus is both Savior and Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.

Abram’s Early Years

Abram’s Early Years

Genesis 12-13

We see in the land of Haran a man God chose to bless.

He called on Abram to up and leave to a place he could only guess.

Abram took Sarai and went to Bethel. There he pitched his tent,

But a famine caused him to wonder if Egypt was what God meant.

As he and Sarai drew near to Egypt, we see his failure of faith.

Abram feared that he would be killed for Sarai’s beauty and grace.

He decided to lie and call her his sister, a truly foolish sin,

For Pharaoh, thinking she was unmarried, desired to take her for him.

And so one day some men showed up with a great herd of sheep:

“Pharaoh sent these herds for you, and Sarai is his to keep.”

Sarai was taken to Pharaoh’s harem, but before there was time to marry

God sent plagues disturbing Pharaoh causing him to be wary.

“Why did you lie and call her your sister,” said Pharaoh so displeased.

Take your wife and all your possessions; I want you now to leave.”

So Abram left and went back to Bethel. His shame could not be ignored.

When he arrived he built an altar and called on the name of the Lord.

While there at Bethel Abram prospered as did his nephew Lot.

Their two herds took all the land. There wasn’t an empty spot.

Abram proposed that Lot choose the hills or plains toward Sodom.

Lot’s ultimate choice of the plains was unwise and it very nearly got him.

Lot’s family was a poor example in their spiritual contending.

The sins of Sodom reached the heavens God’s holiness offending.

Angels were sent to deliver them before judgment without pity

Relentlessly rained fire and brimstone upon the wicked city.

How often we are just like Abram with times of joy and tears.

Sometimes we obey and others we fail because of our sin and fears.

But God, who is gracious, calls us to Bethel and there we kneel to pray.

He reminds us then how much we are loved each and every day.

So if you have drifted down to Egypt or walked on Sodom’s false road;

If your mind is burdened with guilt and your heart is about to explode,

Turn to Bethel, fall on your knees; call on the Lord above.

Confess your sin, restore your heart, and live in your Savior’s love.

The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 10-11

The sons of Noah and their descendents are named in Genesis ten.

It chronicles how so many were born as man’s new start began.

The lifespan then was hundreds of years, so quickly their numbers grew.

God had commanded for them to be fruitful so society could renew.

Though God had told them to fill the earth, His Word was sadly rejected.

Deciding His plan had little worth they failed to obey as expected.

Instead of spreading across the land creating the various nations,

They decided proudly to build a large city to serve as their central station.

God came down, observed their city, and knowing their devious heart,

Disbanded this human “one-world” committee making them live apart.

Suddenly when they spoke to each other, the other could not understand.

Unable to communicate, they had to abandon their plan.

With their failure to converse, their vain ambition fell short.

They grouped together around their speech for fellowship and support.

In this way the people spread to form an important foundation

For division of power and boundaries inherent in separate nations.

There is a message in this account that those who are wise will heed:

When power is placed in a single hand, there is danger indeed.

Many today, like the Babel group, endorse a one-world plan.

But if you suppose you can out-think God, you’re really a silly man.

The Tower of Babel will always be a symbol of man’s pride.

Ignoring God’s Word human wisdom becomes his pathway guide.

I have learned that following my path often leads to destruction.

The greatest insight comes, dear friend, by seeking God’s instruction.