Simply the Bible Blog

Genesis 24:1-28 “A Bride for Isaac”

“The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.”…
Genesis 22:20-23:20 “Sarah’s Death and Burial”

“And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.” Genesis 23:2 (ESV) We don’t like to think about it; we avoid talking about it; but death is a painful reality of life. Losing a spouse is like losing…
Genesis 22:1-19 “Abraham’s Final Exam”

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” Genesis 22:2 (NLT) You’ve heard it said that God works in mysterious ways. While this is a cliche, it…
Genesis 21:22-34 “How to Make Peace”

“Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty.” Genesis 21:27 (NLT) We live in a divided world. I have heard it said that our nation has not been this divided since the Civil War. But the fault lines of division are not only political; they run…
Genesis 21:1-21 “Isaac Arrives, Ishmael Departs”

“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.” Genesis 21:1 (NKJV) It is a beautiful thing when a promise is fulfilled. Perhaps this is because few things in life are absolutely certain. But when God says something, He will surely bring it to pass.…
Genesis 20 “Abraham and Abimelech”

“Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” Genesis 20:10 (NLT) Bad habits are hard to break. Our brains form patterns of behavior, and it requires great effort to break out of the rut. I used to have a nightly routine of eating my favorite breakfast cereal before going to bed. But then I started…
Genesis 19:17-38 “Sodom’s Aftermath”

“When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, ‘Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’” Genesis 19:17 (NLT) In March of 1994, our family moved from Sacramento, California to Boise, Idaho. Our intention…
Genesis 19:1-16 “Delivering Lot from Sodom”

“But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!’” Genesis 19:4–5…
Genesis 18:16-33 “Abraham Intercedes for the Lost”

“Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?…Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:23-25 (NKJV) God…
Genesis 18:1-15 “The LORD and Sarah”

“The LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.” Genesis 18:10 (ESV) Sometimes we need reassurance. Often my wife will ask me how she looks before she goes out. I tell her…