Read Genesis 21, Nehemiah10, Psalm 20. This devotional is about Genesis 21. When the President of the United States leaves office, he becomes a member of FPC—Former President’s Club. While former Presidents retain Secret Service protection and other benefits, they no longer live in the White House, work in the Oval Office, or give orders […]
Genesis 20, Nehemiah 9, Psalm 19
Read Genesis 20, Nehemiah 9, and Psalm 19. This devotional is about Genesis 20. Abraham and Sarah did this, “We’re brother and sister” thing before back in Genesis 12:10-20. On that occasion, they were in Egypt; here they are in Gerar. In Genesis 12, God protected Sarah just as he did here. But this was […]
Genesis 19, Nehemiah 8, and Psalm 18
Read Genesis 19, Nehemiah 8, and Psalm 18. This devotional is about Genesis 19. A few years ago, just after 8 p.m., I was driving to pick up one of my kids from an event. All of a sudden, the sky lit up with blue light. It was so bright that it startled me, and […]
Genesis 18, Nehemiah 7, Psalm 17
Read Genesis 18, Nehemiah 7, and Psalm 17. This devotional is about Psalm 17. We don’t know the circumstances that led David to sing this prayerful song to God. Was it because Saul was pursuing him? We don’t know. What we do know is that David was distressed (vv. 1-2) and that whatever he was […]
Genesis 17, Nehemiah 6, Psalm 16
Read Genesis 17, Nehemiah 6, and Psalm 16. This devotional is about Genesis 17. Two major events in Israel’s history were recorded in this chapter. First, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (v. 5). Second, God commanded Abraham and his descendants to obey the covenant of circumcision (vv. 9-14). Of all the commands God gave […]
Genesis 16, Nehemiah 5, Psalm 15
Read Genesis 16, Nehemiah 5, Psalm 15. This devotional is about Genesis 16. Genesis 15 was such a beautiful chapter about Abram’s relationship to God. After Abram saved Lot and his cohorts but refused to take any gains for himself in Genesis 14, God appeared to him in Genesis 15 and said, “Do not be […]
Genesis 15, Nehemiah 4, Psalm 14
Read Genesis 15, Nehemiah 4, and Psalm 14. This devotional is about Nehemiah 4. Nehemiah lived and led Jerusalem as a civic leader at the same time that Ezra was leading the people spiritually. As we read the book of Ezra, we saw how the temple was rebuilt, worship was reinstated, and God’s word was […]
Genesis 14, Nehemiah 3, and Psalm 13
Read Genesis 14, Nehemiah 3, and Psalm 13. This devotional is about Genesis 14. I mentioned yesterday that Abram and Lot had a close relationship. Although the wealth of each man, and the conflicts that wealth created, led to them to live separately (Gen 13), Abram still cared about Lot and his safety. It was […]
Genesis 13, Nehemiah 2, Psalm 12
Read Genesis 13, Nehemiah 2, and Proverbs 1:20-33. This devotional is about Genesis 13. Abram and Lot must have had some kind of close personal relationship. Genesis 11:31 told us that Lot was Abram’s nephew. The fact that Lot went with Abram (12:4) when Abram left Ur suggests a close, personal friendship between Abram and Lot, […]
Genesis 12, Nehemiah 1, and Psalm 11
Read Genesis 12, Nehemiah 1, and Psalm 11, This devotional is about Genesis 12. Every large nation, every big, extended family, every large church or institution or corporation once started out as something small. Even if it scaled up quickly, it began with the idea and ambition of one person or a small group of […]