When things are not going as we like, or the fallout from our actions produces results we would rather not take credit for, the natural inclination is to blame someone else instead of owning up to our failure. Genesis 16 shows us how Sarai blames both God and her husband for her life circumstances, yet both redirect her to the truth of her situation resulted from her own failures.

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We live in a world where more decisions are made from reactions to feelings, opinions, situations, and societal pressures than out of proactive choices formed from a desire to love and extend compassion. Genesis 16 shows us that this trend is nothing new, but that there is a way to live counter-culturally by trusting in God over our natural reactions.

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In a perfect world we would have no skeletons in our closets and nothing we were ashamed to admit about ourselves, but we do not live in a perfect world and we all have things about our past, and even present, we would rather not share with others. Genesis 16 reminds us that even if we are good enough at keeping secrets hidden from others, we can't hide them from the God who sees all and who actually transforms our shames into victory and then asks us to declassify them as part of our testimony of His grace and love.

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What do you do  when your life, or the life of someone you love, is in a holding pattern? Do you try to find a place to land and get to your destination by other means, or do you hold tight to God's purpose in the waiting? Genesis 16 reminds us that the human tendency is to divert when waiting is required, but God asks we fight against that temptation and stay holding onto His promises that are never late in coming.

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The benefits that come along with being a child of God are endless, but there is one benefit in this package that outshines them all. Genesis 15 highlights this benefit, as well as showcases our human tendency is to forget it is there for us to take advantage of.

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When we doubt and fear that things will not happen in our lives, the lives of those we love, or even in our business dealings, we can fear. In these times, God reminds us He is our shield, that in the end will help us persevere through our doubts and fears and towards His promises. Genesis 15 reminds us of this, and in looking more closely at the purpose of a shield in battle, we can learn some practical truths on how to live in faith with God as our shield.

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It is hard to trust and have faith when we don't have evidence. The bible provides us various examples of men who asked God, "How will I know?" In looking at theses examples in Genesis 15, Judges 6, and Luke 1 we can learn a lot about how to step forward in faith truly knowing God will follow through, even when the evidence of what is yet to come is unknown.

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When we dream, pray and anticipate our children's futures, we don't yearn for trials in their lives because we think they would be stopping blocks in God's plan for them. In Genesis 15 we are reminded that trials are actually the way God brings about His purposes and that we need to be okay with the adversity our children will face in their lives and pray into and through it as parent.

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It is easy to give into doubt when we don't see things unfolding in our lives like we expected...especially when it comes to promises from God we are waiting to be fulfilled. Genesis 15 provides us with an example of how our doubts in God's promises can be turned into trust and not only that, but a righteous standing with God.

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With our world being completely upended a year ago, we can find it even more difficult to navigate the downward spiraling issues that are part and parcel of living. Genesis 14 talks about "...in the days of..." conflict in a particular region and in the same way we are going to look back and talk about "…in the days of ...Covid..." What we have to say about this time rests on how we handle an uncertain future in the here and how while still holding onto hope for life eternal.

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