Author: Beth Duncan

Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

I usually modify verse 2 to read “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.” I don’t think that changes the essential meaning, and I like the sentiment. Naturally, the idea of “Blessed to be a blessing” flows from it, a saying I also like. However, of late, I’ve had trouble with any form of the expression “We are so blessed.” It makes me cringe.

Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I think my issue is that that expression often feels exclusionary. WE are so blessed, implying that maybe YOU aren’t, especially if you don’t have the same good fortune in whatever area we are sharing on social media that caused my exclamation in the first place. I have started trying to say, instead of “blessed,” the words thankful or grateful because at its heart, that’s what we are–just so incredibly glad that God showed His love in that particular way at that moment.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Precious Savior, We are all so very blessed–because we have You as our Savior, because we have air in our lungs, because we have the ability to be kind to each other and to try again another day if today doesn’t go so well. Help us work on being thankful and grateful for these things. Help us not to use the term “blessed” as some exclusionary badge of honor but as a reminder to be thankful and grateful for Your provisions. Always. Amen.

Genesis 12:4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.  

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 11:28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 

Commentary says Abram is known for his great faith, yet in today’s verses, we see that instead of being obedient to God and going to Canaan, Abram and Terah settle in Harran. So a man of the Bible, known for his great faith, wasn’t perfect? Let’s sit with that for a minute.

Genesis 11:29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 

It’s easy to brush it off with a, “Yeah, but…” However, God shows us again and again (and again and again) that He doesn’t need us to be perfect in order to use us to help fulfill His perfect plan. I for one find that to be very good news. It is easy for me to see the ways that I fall short of God’s calling, but when I take the time to study the Bible, there are soooo many deeply flawed people–just like me–that God uses in powerful ways.

Genesis 11:30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.

Precious Savior, Thank You that perfection is not a requirement for me to be useful in Your Kingdom work. Forgive me when I beat myself up for the many, many flaws, imperfections, and shortcomings I see in myself. Help me to give myself grace. Thank You that You can use me in spite of myself. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 11:31-32 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran. 

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 11:22-23 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

I have always been partial to the Ram Dass quote “We are all just walking each other home.” That idea that our goal on earth is to help each other through–with companionship and kindness, by just being present for each other–I absolutely get the wisdom there.

Genesis 11:24-25 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

I also think that the vast majority of folks are doing the best they can at any given moment. It’s something I tell myself when I am dealing with frustration over the ways others react or show up, but it’s also something I tell myself when, like now, I am just exhausted and feel I have so little left to give–I’m not at 100%, but I’m doing the best I can in the moment.

Genesis 11:26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

Precious Savior, It’s easy to make snap judgements about others. Help me, instead of judging, to support and encourage, to remember that we are all doing the best we can. Help me to remember that “We are all just walking each other home.” Help me to do my best to help others along the path today. Amen.

Genesis 11:27 This is the account of Terah’s family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 11:9 That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

I find it interesting (ironic, sad, poignant) that God scattered the Babylonians because they were communicating so well, so efficiently, speaking the same language. Today, even we speak the same language, we often misunderstand each other with every other word.

Genesis 11:10 This is the account of Shem’s family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 

Humans are pretty fickle creatures. If I am in a bad mood, I’m much more prone to willfully misinterpret someone. (You might call that “spoiling for a fight.”) When I’m concerned about someone, I might hesitate to put words in their mouth, causing me to take longer than I ought to understand what they are feeling. And lets not forget that all too human tendency of snapping at someone you aren’t mad at just because you are mad at the world.

Genesis 11:11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

Precious Savior, Help us to listen when others speak, to hear what they are saying, what they are feeling. Help us try diligently to understand each other, to listen and to hear each other, to uplift each other. Help us. Amen.

Genesis 11:12-13 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 11:5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.  

Today’s scripture is one of those instances where I must remember the character of God or I will misinterpret what’s happening. When I don’t keep in mind God’s character–the fact that He is sovereign, gracious, loving, compassionate–it looks like He is jealous and simply scatters humans just so that they can’t achieve all this without Him.

Genesis 11:6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

But that’s not who God is. He’s not cruel. He’s not jealous. So what’s going on here? Commentary says that God’s actions separating the Babylonians is “more God’s mercy than His judgment.” He knows that if they achieve all these amazing things WITHOUT Him, that humans will forget that they NEED Him to live a full and balanced life, a life NOT centered just on just themselves, a life that glorifies Him.

Genesis 11:7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for saving us from ourselves. I have seen what happens when I have a little success on my own. I begin to forget how much I need You in my life. And I need You so very desperately. Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Help me to live for You alone. Always. Amen.

Genesis 11:8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 

Have a blessed day.