Who is this God to whom we are introduced in Genesis? Personal God creates for relationship; he calls (unique to Christianity–God seeking his creation); he promises blessings that will restore relationship and recreate and reconstruct a fallen world; he constantly provides for his creation, especially those he chooses and blesses toward fulfilling his purpose.
How can we wrap our minds around this God who seeks to reveal himself in narrative history? Relational, defining good and evil; totally separated from evil/sin, so committed to blessing that he commits himself in promise and confirms the promise with an oath; constantly reclaiming and recreating.
This week: #3—God provides. The place where he provides a sacrifice is called Jehovah-Jireh (God will provide, Gen. 22). This is our God. What do you need? He provides. He does not need your help. He provides in Sarah’s barrenness; he provides a sacrifice, he provides wells and water, he provides a wife for Isaac, he provides children in Rebekah’s barrenness, he blesses Abraham richly, likewise Isaac, likewise Jacob. Read Genesis 26-36 (or the larger context of 12-36) through the lens of provision. Make notes, think, pray.
What do you see? What kind of God is this? Is anything beyond him? Is anything too hard for him? With willing participants, can he not accomplish his purpose? (If those he calls do not work with him toward his purpose, he will use others–even pagans and unbelievers, but that is a lesson for another part of this story of God revealing himself.)