God Has the Power to Do All He Promises (FirstLook on Sept. 18)

This will be the second week we talk about Abraham.  Last week, your FirstLook student learned that God promised Abraham as many descendants as the number of grains of sand on a beach. Wow, that is a HUGE family, and your child also learned that we are part of that family! So this week, we will continue telling The Big God Story and introduce another character, the son Abraham has as a 100 year old man, Isaac.  For more direct info into specifics about what your child will be learning and an activity to help you introduce Isaac in your home check out this week's HomeFront Weekly that was emailed to you or you can download it here.

To help you out before you set off to tell your children about this great part of God's big story, let us give you a little more background.

Genesis, the book of generations, documents not only the start of human history, but also the plan for the redemption of all mankind. Some scholars believe that each genealogy within this book contrasts the messianic lineage with a nonmessianic lineage, revealing God’s very specific focus to one particular family through whom the Messiah would be revealed.

Throughout the Bible, God refers to Himself in a number of ways. For instance: God Eternal, I AM, and Yahweh. Each time, He reveals a significant attribute about His character. In the first verse of Genesis 17, just before He renews His covenant with Abraham, God reveals Himself as El Shaddai. In English, this translates to God Almighty. Surely, Abraham was shocked that God would promise him a child at the age of 100. Using this name, God was informing Abraham of His ultimate power; He alone is God. He alone is able to accomplish everything He has planned to accomplish.

This moment holds great weight in our lives. God made an amazing promise to Abraham. His covenant with Abraham led to one of the most significant moments in history: the starting point for the family line of Jesus, paving the way to our own salvation. It is because of this family line that we can have a restored relationship with God the Father. We are ushered into God’s family, grafting us into a faith community that stretches around the globe. We have brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation. This family, our family, has the unique opportunity to walk alongside one another in true worship of God Almighty. We can live in such a way that the world will desire to be in relationship with our God—El Shaddai.

In Genesis chapter 17, God met with Abraham to remind him of various aspects of their covenant. Upon hearing this, Abraham was so moved that he fell facedown in awe. This reaction is elicited in other places in Scripture when God reveals His glory to His people. Abraham’s posture of worship demonstrates reverence and submission before a holy God.

Keri Fox, a worship leader, explains, “Sometimes, positioning ourselves in a physical posture of worship—using our bodies to worship Him—can help to move our hearts to worship God as well.”

This week, before you participate our worship service, ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to free you from distraction so you may hear His voice. As we join with our faith community in a time of corporate worship, be aware of how God is directing you to respond to Him. What is the posture of your heart? What is your physical posture before Him? How does worshipping together with fellow believers impact your time of worship and experience with the Lord?