What is covered

Genesis 12:

• God tells Abram to leave his father’s house

• God promises to make him a great nation

• Abram leaves Haran at 75, takes Lot

• Abram pitched his tent at Bethel

• Abram continued south, on to Egypt

• Pharaoh took in Sarai and was cursed

• Pharaoh rebukes Abram and sends them away

Genesis 13:

• Abram went back to Bethel

• Abram and Lot have to separate because they have so much

• Abram let Lot choose - he chose the plain of Jordan

• God told Abram to walk the land, all he could see would be his

• Abram moved to Hebron by the terebinth trees of Mamre

Genesis 14:

• War - 4 kings vs. 5 kings

• The victors took spoils, including Lot

• Abram armed 318 of his servants and went after Lot

• He pursued as far as Dan (the tribe?) and north of Damascus

• He brought the spoils and Lot back

• Melchizedek blesses Abram

Luke 5

• Jesus preaches from Simon’s boat

• Jesus asks Simon to launch out and let down his nets

• Simon wasn’t feeling it, but he did it anyway and caught a great number of fish

• James and John were partners with Simon

• Jesus said they would catch men

• Jesus heals a leper, he was told to tell no one

• multitudes came to hear and beheald

• Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed

• a paralytic’s friends let him down through the roof to see Jesus

• Jesus proclaimed the paralityc’s sins were forgiven

• The scribes and Pharisees called that blasphemy

• Jesus said which is easier, forgiving sins or rasing the lame

• Jesus healed him and made a point about His ability to forgive

• They were all amazed, glorified God and were filled with fear

• Jesus meets Levi Matthew and calls him to be a disciple

• Matthew gave Him a feast and Jesus was accused of eating with sinners

• Jesus declared He came to heal the sick, not the healthy (who don’t need healing)

• Jesus was questioned about why His disciples didn’t fast

• Jesus answered that now wasn’t the time for that

2023

Scripture

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

Luke 5:23

Observation

Jesus asks this because “logic” would say that it’s easier to just say “you’re forgiven” than to heal a paralized man. Words are cheap and maybe you do and maybe you don’t actually forgive.

He showed that his forgiveness is legitimate by doing the harder option. If he can do the harder one, then how effective must his forgiveness be?

Application

Jesus is trying to break through to us regarding just how encompassing His forgiveness is, how effective it is, for us.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for putting in the thought and effort to try to penetrate our understanding so that we can rejoice in the forgiveness that you give. It is not easy. It is not cheap. It cost You all. Help me to internalize what Your forgiveness means. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6