Genesis 16 (résumé): Hagar and Ishmael

Abram's wife Sarai suggested to Abram that he take her maid Hagar as a concubine, so as to solve the problem of his lack of an heir, and he agreed. Such practice was in keeping with the legal code and marriage practices of that era. However once Hagar became pregnant to Abram tensions grew between her and Sarai and she ended up going away. But an angel found Hagar and told her to return to Sarai. He told her to call her son about to be born Ishmael which means God hears. He said that Ishmael would be against everyone like a wild donkey! Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Genesis 15 (résumé): God's Covenant with Abram

Abram had a vision in which God told him not to fear because his reward would be very great. Abram questioned this because he didn't even have an heir. God replied that Abram would yet have a legitimate heir and his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, living in the land of Canaan. To confirm and guarantee this God carried out a covenant ritual with Abram involving the sacrifice of animals and birds. Amidst sleepiness and darkness God told Abram that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land (Egypt) for 400 years after which they would be released with great wealth. Then a theophany passed between the pieces of the sacrificed animals confirming God's covenant promise to Abram that his descendants would inhabit the land between the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.

Men's Fellowship

On Tuesday night I spoke to the men's fellowship about 'walking with Jesus' through hearing his word, looking to Jesus in faith and following the Lord carrying one's cross. The meeting was led by the Chief of Police Esau and was very good.

QPR have lost again - this time at home to Hull City 3 x 1. 😖

We have been distributing more hair sheep with poor farm dwellers in the municipality of Imaculada. 3 went to the Sitio Gloria community, 1 went to the Sao Agostinho community and the other went to the Sao Goncalo community. All those that received them were very happy and blessed.

My sister Jean has been taken into hospital for surgery for an obstructive strangulated hernia which was causing her agony and lots of vomiting. She was originally seen by an ambulance paramedic who diagnosed a virus! The NHS is not what it used to be!

I have just been to Green Pastures where I saw 2 Burrowing Owls, a Crested Caracara and a Black Vulture.

Yesterday afternoon Liz and I went to visit our 89-year-old deaconess Beatriz who is recovering from double cataract surgery and doing very well. What a wonderful woman of God she is!

Our social worker Marah Danielle is back from her marathon trip to Sao Paulo (2,668 km) and Aracaju (600 km). First of all she spoke at the 4th 60+ Conference with 180 participants. She spoke about our churches in the north-east and about our projects and much interest is reported. Then she travelled to Aracaju to the RENAS conference which unites churches and NGOs who share our interest in integral mission uniting church planting and evangelism with social action projects. She also spoke at this event. It is so good for us isolated up here in the north-eastern semi-arid sertao to have contact and fellowship with our brethren down south.

Genesis 14 (résumé): Abram rescues Lot

This chapter relates the occurrences of wars between different kingly coalitions in the Middle East region and as part of this warring all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot was living, were seized and Lot was taken captive. When word reached Abram about this he mobilized 318 special forces, attacked Lot's captors, recovered Lot's possessions and released Lot together with his people. Having defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him Abram met with the priest and king Melquizedek who blessed Abram for his victory. Abram gave Melquizedek a tithe of all his possessions. Then the king of Sodom tried to get Abram to keep the spoils of his battle, but Abram turned the offer down. 

Genesis 13 (résumé): Abram and Lot separate

Abram, Sarai and Lot returned from Egypt to the Negev. Abram had become very wealthy in silver, gold and livestock and Lot had flocks and herds too, so that quarrelling developed between Abram and Lot's herdsmen over pasture. Abram therefore magnanimously offered for Lot to choose which land he wanted so that they could go their separate ways and live in peace. Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan and pitched his tents near Sodom, and so Abram settled in the land of Canaan. Then God told Abram that he would give that land to him and his offspring. And so Abram built an altar to the Lord at Hebron.

Genesis 12 (résumé): The Call of Abram

God called Abram to leave Haran and go to a land which he would show him. God said he would make Abram into a great nation and that all people on earth would be blessed through him. So at my age (75!) Abram left for the land of Canaan which God said he would give to Abram's descendants, taking with him his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and all his possessions. However a famine led Abram to temporarily move to Egypt and Abram invented a lie saying his beautiful wife Sarai was his sister, for fear of being killed by the Egyptians after his wife! Sure enough Pharaoh fell for Sarai and took her into his harem, showering her "brother" Abram with gifts of sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels and servants! The truth only came to light when God inflicted disease on Pharoah as a consequence of his inadvertent sin, and Abram and Sarai returned to Canaan with all their entourage. 

Imaculada

On Sunday Liz and I travelled 71 km south west of Patos to preach at our Imaculada church's 40th anniversary service. The trip up the Teixeira mountain went well and we had a little picnic on the way. The service was lovely despite a power cut which reduced everything to being done by the light of mobile phone lighting! A men's group sang, a women's group sang, a group from the Sitio Gloria branch church sang, adolescents did choreographies and then I preached on 'The mission carries on' based on Mark 16:15-20. After the service the church served a lovely cake to all the about 180 people present.

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Last night Liz went to the prayer meeting which was good, was led by Mada and there were 12 present.