Malcolm Cox

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 469 | New Thing Series — Part 24 | “Rahab’s Reward” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore what Rahab’s reward.

“Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.” (Joshua 2:17-21 NIV11)

Rahab’s reward is a new thing
- She acts in faith
- Her actions have no precedent
- Her actions were courageous.

“Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’S house. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.” (Joshua 6:22-25 NIV11)

For Reflection
Rahab’s stands as an inspiration to us in our faith because she did not ‘deserve’ her reward. She was not an Israelite, had not history of YHWH worship and a limited understanding, if any, of the covenant and commands of the LORD. Yet, she recognised God doing a new thing, paid attention, accepted it, and, courageously, fitted her future into what God was doing.

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Introduction
Why are we looking at Rahab as part of this 'a new thing' series?
She is the first non-Isrealite in the genealogy of Jesus:

“and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,” (Matthew 1:5 NRSV)

It doesn't get much better than that!
There are several 'unlikely' people in that list.
There are several reasons she should not be in that list, but they are the same reason she is in the list.
First, a review of what happens in Joshua 2 & 6
Joshua 2.1-24
Joshua 6.17
Joshua 6.22-25

1. She is a Gentile

God's desire has always been for everyone to know him

“I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:3 NRSV)
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:6-7 NRSV)

Jesus saw this as pertaining to his own day

“and he said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”” (Luke 19:46 NRSV)

Paul recognised the significance of the arrival of the Messiah

“Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”” (Romans 15:12 NRSV)

Rahab prefigures the hope that all modern-day Gentiles have that, by faith, we are included in the people of God.

2. She is a woman
Rahab as protector
- In the Old Testament men are protectors; so are women. [[Abigail]] protects her husband and the men in her household from a violent death (1 Sam. 25). [[Rahab]] protects the male spies (Josh. 2). [[Esther]] protects her people, the Jews, from being massacred (Esth. 2:19 – 9:19).
- She is one of two heroines in a window heading off danger: Rahab and Michal, societal opposites.

“Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.” (Joshua 2:15 NRSV)
“So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped.” (1 Samuel 19:12 NRSV)

Rahab as a woman of dignity
'We think of the courageous life of [[Sarah]] (Gen. 12–23), the faith of [[Rahab]] (Josh. 2), the commitment of [[Hannah]] (1 Sam. 1–2), the devotion of [[Ruth]] (Ruth 1–4), [[Abigail]]’s gentle but firm rebuke of David (1 Sam. 25), the humble faith of both the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs. 17) and the Shunammite woman (2 Kgs. 4), and the risk-taking faith of [[Esther]] (Esth. 1–10).' Blomberg, Craig . Two Views on Women in Ministry (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology) (p. 272). Zondervan Academic.

Jesus treats women with dignity
- “She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.” (Luke 10:39 NRSV)
- Rahab prefigures the promise of the Spirit that all are equal before God
(Acts 2:17-18 NRSV)

3. She has a questionable profession
Rahab as host
- Hosts the undesirable?
- Hosts spies, people of God, beachhead of kingdom, 'temple'
- Place of faith and salvation
- Like Jesus in reverse - hosting those who make her life more complicated
(Mark 2:15-17 NRSV)

Conclusion
What does Rahab learn?
God cares about the Gentiles (those far from God)
God keeps his promises (salvation)
God is powerful (more so than any earthly power)
God is full of grace (no matter what others think of her, or she thinks of herself)

What do we learn?
The importance of honouring the marginalised - if God does it, and Jesus, so should we. He wants them in his family.
Not to look down on 'sinners', but to seek to show them the love of God.
No human barrier can stop anyone from becoming a God-follower.
To have vision for those (apparently) furthest from God

New Thing point
Her decision to have faith in God took her and her family on a new counter-cultural journey into uncharted territory.

'It must have been an interesting period for Rahab’s extended family, all squashed into her house, like a mini-ark, on the edge of a terrorised city, waiting for the unknown.' Amanda Kaner

Is God taking you and/or your congregation into the unknown, so as to do a new thing?
Questions for reflection and discussion

Who do you personally know that is as far from God as it is possible to be?

What would it take for you to pray for their salvation and believe it to be possible?

What will help you to remain faithful and confident on God despite the uncertainties of the new thing God is doing?

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm

Teaching Tip 346 | “Plain Speaking - Anyone can learn to speak effectively” | Malcolm Cox


Introduction

Here is your 2-minute tip based on chapter 2 of the book, “Plain speaking: How to preach and teach effectively" by David Bercot. 

Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying, “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” What’s happening between our ears is more important 


As a youngster I learned to sing. I joined a local parish church choir and was surprised how easy it was. I had a wonderful choir master who understood the psychology of singing as well as the practicalities. He convinced me I could sing, and as a result, I sang. If you have doubts about your ability to speak effectively, will you pray for the confidence to try? And, will you seek out a competent teacher to help you take steps to improve?


Conclusion

Is there anything preventing you from praying to be an effective speaker?

Who could you ask to help you become an effective speaker?


Has today’s tip been worth two minutes of your time? I hope so.


Next week: Preaching is organised conversation



Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Spiritual Life.


Contact us here with enquiries: [email protected]  


The website can be found here: https://aimukandireland.com  


Please add your comments on this week's topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 


Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 


If you'd like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, "How God grows His people", sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 


Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review. 


Remember to keep calm, and carry on teaching.


God bless, Malcolm

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 468 | New Thing Series — Part 23 | “Rahab’s Request” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore Rahab’s request.

““Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.”
So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”” (Joshua 2:12-16 NIV11)

Rahab requests a new thing
- No Gentiles have been ‘saved’ so far
- She has no precedent for her request
- She has no guarantee her request will be accepted or honoured
- Her request is based on a ‘new’ God she has heard about but does not yet know

For Reflection
Rahab is bold in her request. She is shooting for the moon. The request is not only for her. It is for “my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them”. There is something inspiring about her faith. It is limited — shaky even — but bold. She cannot see the whole picture, and she has limited evidence that the outcome will be as she desires. Yet that does not stop her asking. We do not need full faith the make requests in prayer that God will hear, honour and answer. We need to ask with the faith we have. 

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Elijah, 1 Kings 19

Introduction
““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Elijah - insight from God doing new things

Background
Elijah the miracle-worker (rare)
God’s people in a bad way - Ahab/Jezebel
On the run

1. Elijah’s Past

A. Courage
To confront: Scary situation
“While Jezebel was killing off the LORD’S prophets,” (1 Kings 18:4 NIV11)
“Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’S commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”” (1 Kings 18:16-19 NIV11-)
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18:38 NIV1)
Confrontation on Carmel
To obey — when looked humanly impossible
No rain
When alone - no church
What gives us the courage to act when ‘alone’?
We are never ‘alone’ - Jesus is with us
“remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:20 NRSV)

B. Confirmation
God with him
People repent - revival -
“The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!””(1 Kings 18:39 NIV11-GK)

2. Elijah’s Present

A. Fearful (Anxious)
Jezebel’s threat
““May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.” (1 Kings 19:2-3 NIV11-GK)

B. Forgetful
Wilderness and Cave - reference
“I have had enough, LORD….Take my life…” (1 Ki 19:4)
“I have been…the Israelites…I am the only one…” 1 King 19.10, 14

What can we do when paralysed by fear, regret, blame, shame, recrimination?
Go back to God and his promises

C. Perfect place
For God to do his work

3. Elijah’s Future
God’s tenderness, patience, kindness - vv5-8
God asking questions, listening, creating experiences of his power for Elijah, speaking to Elijah, directing him - vv9-15
“Work with my people”

A. Focus
When our eyes are on anything other than Jesus we damage our focus
What shifts your focus from Jesus?
We become more like whatever has our attention
Focus is how we engage with God

B. Openness
Openness is the way we open the door to God transforming us
Faith is staying open to God
Taking time to listen
Create margin
What is God up to?
In life, family, etc.
Keep asking the question
Openness is how God engages with us
Focus on Jesus and all your fears melt away

Discipleship
‘A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in her life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do. . . . Disciples simply are people who are constantly revising their affairs to carry through on their decision to follow Jesus.’  DALLAS WILLARD

Conclusion
“Embrace the stillness of January; find peace in the calm before the storm of the year unfolds.”
Stay focussed on Jesus - no matter what happens this year
Say open to God doing something new in your life and in this church

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 467 | New Thing Series — Part 22 | “Rahab Knows” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore what Rahab knows.

“Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:8-11 NIV11)

Rahab knows that God is at work
- Many have heard of what God is doing (parting the Red Sea)
- Many have experienced what God is doing (destruction of Sihon & Og)
- Many are worried about what is going to happen (hearts melted in fear)
- But only Rahab ‘knows’ what God is doing (“I know that…”)
- Rahab ‘knows’ God is doing a new thing (“…the LORD has given you this land…”)

For Reflection
It is one thing to hear about God, but an entirely different thing to recognising the relevance for our own lives. Have you heard about God moving in someone else’s life, or in a different church? Could this be a faith-inspiration for you? What is the relevance of other people’s good news for you?

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 466 | New Thing Series — Part 21 | “Rahab - an overview ” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we conduct an overview of Rahab’s situation.

“Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.” (Joshua 2:1-7 NIV11)

Rahab is a fascinating character
- She does almost all the talking.  
- She is shown as, in some ways, out-smarting the spies and the King.  
- She is outside society yet has inside knowledge of God’s plans
- She is on the edge of town (inside the city wall) and closer to the purposes of God.
- She has an immoral trade going on under her roof, but is open to the moving of God in her life.  
- She has control over the spies’ lives and yet recognises that they have power over her destiny. 
- She saves the spies, but is saved by them.  
- She is in Jesus’s genealogy (Matthew 1:5)
- She is an inspiration of faith (Hebrews 11:31)
- She is considered righteous (James 2:25

For Reflection
What do you hope to learn from Rahab? What ‘new thing’ is God doing in her life? What parallels can you see between her and your own situation?

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 465 | New Thing Series — Part 20 | “Abraham’s sacrifice - Part 2” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Abraham. Today we continue to explore Abraham’s sacrifice. 

“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” 
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”” (Genesis 22:9-18 NIV11)

Abraham learns a lesson
- God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice his son. “God was never going to allow Abraham to kill his son. The command and following episode were not intended to culminate in a murder, but in a repudiation of human sacrifice. In dramatic fashion, God deafeningly proclaims "No!—I do not want this, I will not accept this, this is wrong!" To put it another way, "Abraham, I want you to sacrifice your son—not!" Douglas Jacoby
- Abraham learns that human sacrifice is not permitted.
- Abraham learns that holding nothing back from God leads to blessings
- Abraham learns what it means to love God more than anything else in this world

For Reflection
Abraham is a great man of faith. “Abraham’s agonizing walk into the mountains was therefore the final stage of a long journey in which God was turning him from an average man into one of the greatest figures in history.” Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller. God works the same way today. Our spiritual ‘greatness’ is developed through God continuing to call us into new things. We will never know our potential to be a blessing to others — “all nations on earth will be blessed” — if we resist God’s call on us to do new, painful things!

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 464 | New Thing Series — Part 19 | “Abraham’s sacrifice - Part 1” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Abraham. Today and tomorrow we explore Abraham’s sacrifice. 

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”  “Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.” (Genesis 22:1-8 NIV11)

Abraham trusts God to provide
- Abraham is called to make the ultimate, and unreasonable, sacrifice. 
- God acknowledges how hard it is for Abraham, “your son, your only son, whom you love”
- Abraham is swift to obey, and trusting regarding the outcome — “God himself will provide…”
- Abraham understands the purpose of the command, “We will worship…”

For Reflection
Worship is sacrifice and sacrifice is worship. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1 NIV11). To do a new thing is to offer a new sacrifice. Is there a sacrifice necessary in order for God to do a new thing in your life or your group? 

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [email protected].

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 463 | New Thing Series — Part 18 | “Abraham’s circumcision” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Abraham. Today we explore Abraham’s circumcision. 

God promises nations, kings and the land of Canaan to Abraham. But, most significantly, he offers him an everlasting covenant. The price? Circumcision. 

“When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.” (Genesis 17:22-27 NIV11)

Abraham takes God at his word
- Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Healing takes longer at that age.
- He persuaded all the other people in his ‘household’ to be circumcised. That’s a lot of men. In Genesis 14:14 he had 318 trained men born in his household. How many did he have by the times we get to Genesis 17? Then add on all the non-trained men and boys. Whoever did the circumcising was busy that day!
- God’s command to do the ‘new thing’ of circumcision was unpleasant, embarrassing, painful, time-consuming.

For Reflection
Circumcision was not necessarily a new concept to Abraham. “…circumcision was a widespread custom in the ancient world, [but] the richness of its theological meaning in the Pentateuch (and beyond) invested the Israelite practice with a significance that distinguished it entirely from contemporary rites in the ancient world.” IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. However, even though it was so costly, Abraham took God at his word. Why? Because he understood the significance of what was being promised and who was promising it. Are you in a place where God is calling you to a new thing that has a significant cost? Can you pray to find the confidence that God has your best interests at heart even if the cost is higher than you think you can stand?

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless. 

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"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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