SOAP Journal Based on
Genesis 12 & 15
S = Excerpts of
three sections for this devotional
- Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Promise)
- Genesis 15:4-6 “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”…And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Clarification)
- Genesis 15:17-18 “When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land…” (Covenant)
O = It really is
too large of an assignment to pick one facet from God’s activity in the life of
Abraham to journal about, hence my picking three. The Promise of God is the
basis of our relationship with God. The law cannot make us perfect, but by
faith we can enter into the gracious promise that God extended to Abram/Abraham
(Romans 4:13). Sometimes we need God to clarify things for us and Abram was no
exception. God spoke to him the clarification “your very own son” and Abram
believed God. Later, God would further clarify that the promise was to come
through Sarah’s son Isaac (Ch. 17) as the great plan was progressively revealed.
It was Abraham’s simple belief or trust in what God had said that was credited
to him as righteousness. The Apostle Paul argues that it is the same for us
today (Romans 4). We trust that Jesus’ death and resurrection that it was
enough to cover our sins and raise us up to everlasting life (Rom. 10:9-10).
God even uses the graphic imagery of covenant to seal the deal in Abraham’s
life. Since there is no one greater to swear the covenant by, the imagery
suggests that God is swearing by himself as the pot and torch pass between the
pieces (15:17; Hebrews 6:13-14). Will we respond today, as Abraham did long
ago, to God’s love for us?
A = I know that I
need to approach God by simply trusting in his faithful love for me, not by
trusting in the excellence of my own works or character. It is a good thing,
for like Abraham, I have been chosen by God’s grace, not because I am worthy,
yet it is in trusting him that he makes
me worthy. This week I need to intentionally pause to remember what God has
said about me (in the Bible), and live in light of that revelation. I realize
that Abram didn’t know all the details at first, but only over many years did
the specific details of the plan of God for his life become known (including a
new name) …yet he walked in faith to what he knew. This week I will seek to
walk in humble trust before the Lord, and quiet my heart to the unfolding of
his plan for me personally.
P = O Lord, I am
in awe to read of your commitment to bring salvation to your people, from
Abraham and Sarah, to Moses and the Israelites, to David and the prophets, to
Peter, Matthew and the other apostles, and down through history to me! Let me
remember your faithfulness that is on display for me to see and live today with
a heart filled with gratitude and praise for you. Amen
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