King James Daily Bible Study: Too Good To Be True
Date: Wednesday January 05, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 13-15
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-5
Details of Today's Reading: Strife between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen, Abram and Lot separate, God promises Abram and all his seed the land of Canaan, Abram dwells in Hebron, Lot dwells in Sodom, war in Sodom, Abram saves Lot, and God's covenant with Abram.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
Did you ever see something unbelievable happen and think, that is just too good to be true? Most of the time it is, in fact, too good to be true, but once in a while the unbelievable does truly happen and you can not help, but say, “Praise God!” because you know He is the only one who could have made that happen. There is also someone else capable of making some unbelievable things happen, but he does not do it to help you, he does it to deceive and hurt you. That someone is Satan and he is really good about making it look as though something unbelievable happened, and that is when it is too good to be true. How can we tell if it is God or Satan? The Bible says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” -James 2:18-20.

The truth is this, we need to work to see the unbelievable happen, while having faith is important we still need to do a little work on our part. Lot was Abram's nephew, both were prosperous and rich, there was so much substance between them that it caused some strife. Abram came up with a solution, “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” - Genesis 13:9-12.

When Lot saw that beautiful land and that it was already taken care of he did not stop to think where he was headed, he became so blinded by what he saw that he never stopped to think if there would be dangers ahead. We too can become blinded by things that we see, that is why it is so important that we play close attention to things that look to good to be true because usually Satan is behind it. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” - I Peter 5:8,9.

Sometimes God will keep us from seeing the unbelievable happen because we have done something that hindered Him. When God told Abram to leave his country and everyone there He meant that he was to leave everyone there, but he brought Lot with him. That decision hindered God from giving him the blessings he had for him, it was not until Abram separated from Lot that God showed him the blessings. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.” - Genesis 13:14-18.

Lot probably thought that God blessed him with that beautiful land, he soon found out that that beautiful land was no blessing from God, it was of Satan, full of corruption and wickedness. He ended up being captured during a war. “And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” - Genesis 14:11,12.

The amazing thing about God is that He will give us so many chances to see the unbelievable happen in hopes that we will see that it truly is Him. Sadly, not many acknowledge Him, but those who do come to realize that everything is a blessing from God. When Abram heard that Lot was captured he did not dote about it, he went to help and freed Lot. Later on God spoke to Abram, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward...In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” - Genesis 15:1,18.

God has much to give us, but we first need to trust in His timing, have faith in Him, and get to work. The land that God gave Abram was kind of desolate and had heathens living on it, but Abram did not complain, the first thing he did was build an altar to God.

While God may give us some things that we do not have to work for most of the time He is going to give us something that needs some work. God can make the unbelievable happen, not to destroy us, but to help us grow and prosper, there is nothing that God will not do for those who put their faith and trust in Him and do a little work for Him. Why? So, that we depend on Him, acknowledge Him, and become a testimony. Everything we go through in life is for God's glory, not ours, we just reap the benefits from it. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28. Praise God! What kind of work? Get in His Word, pray for others, tell people about Jesus, get involved in the ministry, give tithe, help others. There are so many things we can do to show God we love Him and He will show us His love by blessing us with something unbelievable. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the high priest, Melchizedek, who brought Abram bread and wine (14:18). Jesus is our high priest, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” - Hebrews 5:9,10.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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