Scripture:
Genesis 9:1,18-19; 10:1,32; 17:4-6
Mon, 23 January 2023

Maker of the Nations

Observation:

In what ways do these verses reveal the LORD as “Maker of the nations”?

Deeper Reflection
This week’s theme is “The Nations in God’s Hands”. The Lord God, who is Creator of heaven and earth, is also Maker of the nations — the nations were formed by God’s hand! Following God’s command to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth (v.1), Shem, Ham and Japheth “went forth from the ark”, and from them “the people of the whole earth were dispersed” (v.19). Genesis 10 (the “Table of Nations”) follows. It traces the origin of the nations (goy, meaning peoples; see Gen 10:5,20,31)16 back to the genealogies of Noah’s three sons.God preserved Noah’s family during the flood, and through him, repopulated the earth, person by person, forming the nations. “The nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood” (Gen 10:32), and “cover parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, from the Iranian plateau in the east to the Mediterranean coastlands in the west, from the Black Sea in the north to Somalia in Africa.”: 17The nations are also blessed by God’s hand. Nine generations after Shem, the Lord covenanted with Abraham, making him the father of a multitude of nations (Gen 17:4-6). Just as He had formed the nations through one man (Noah), the Maker of the nations also blessed the nations through one man (Abraham). Abraham was to “surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (Gen 18:18; cf. 12:2-3; 22:18; 26:4). This alludes to the coming of the Messiah thousands of years later! Right from the very beginning of His divine salvific plan, God had intended to bless the nations!
15 Adapted from Deuteronomy 32:8 and Psalm 67:3-4, New Living Translation 16 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997) 17 John E. Hartley, Genesis, ed. W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 116.
Application:

How does the LORD being “Maker of the nations” affect my personal
discipleship?

Prayer:
Praise be to You, O Most High God! When You assigned lands to the nations, when You divided up the human race, You established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in Your heavenly court. May the nations praise You, O God, yes, may all the nations praise You! Let the whole world sing for joy, because You govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Amen.15
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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