We see Jacob respond very admirably to the unexpected, but Leah and Rachel respond with pride and Jealousy. How do you respond when things don't go the way you want them to?

Continuing in Genesis, we reach chapter 17 and 18 which deal with Abraham and Sarah getting new names, and God being the God of the Impossible. When we are born again, our lives should look completely different, to the point we could have new names. Living with the God of the Impossible dwelling inside us, we should view the world differently.

We look at Genesis 16, where Abram and Sarai don't wait for God's timing and it causes a huge mess. We frequently struggle to wait on God's timing, but His timing is perfect. "God doesn't wait until the last minute, He waits for the perfect moment." Then as a result of their impatience and compulsive actions, Hagar feels alone and forgotten. God sees her and comforts her, just as He does for us in our brokenness. 

At the end of Genesis 14, we see the only appearance of Melchizedek, who was a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. Then in Genesis 15, we have God make his oath to Abram. Through these verses we see the goodness of God in providing a great high priest (Jesus) who can reign forever pleading our case to the father, and see the unchangeable nature of God through His promise made to Abram. That He would see it through regardless of Abram's ability to hold up any end of the agreement. 

Abram showed great selflessness when offering Lot first choice of land. As believers, our lives should be marked by selflessness. We should be known as people who love others like we love ourselves, and part of living that way means spreading the gospel.

As people who aren't perfect, it can be encouraging to see those who are known for their faith not have perfect faith. We are introduced this week to Abram, and see his incredible obedience to God, and then immediate lack of trust. God doesn't need us to be perfect in order to be useful, He just needs us to be obedient!

People had already forgotten the result of disobedience that was the flood, and God's salvation from it. They wanted control, because they thought they knew what was best. Pastor Blake looked at the problem we have with control, and how to trust God for what is best in our lives. 

God started humanity over after saving Noah from the flood. With that came a new set of instructions. Similarly, when we are saved, the instructions for how we live change. 

The flood story in Genesis is more about a rescue than destruction. God's hatred for sin and love for mankind found common ground in Noah. Knowing God is faithful, Noah was obedient. We look at the value of obedience in our own lives, and the faithfulness of God in our obedience.