Abram was fearful in Egypt, but now is courageous and recovers everything stolen by the raiding kings. And he’s growing in God’s character, concerned for the welfare of other people (something he didn’t show for Sarai in Egypt).
Most importantly, he recognizes God’s hand at work.
Read More pride, characterIn Isaac’s life we see some repeat behaviors and events like those in his father Abraham’s life. Perhaps it is a bit “like father, like son”, but mostly we see that the author is clearly recording that God is keeping his promises to the patriarch and his family.
Like Abraham in Genesis 12, Isaac has a direct encounter with the Lordwhile in a time of famine.
Read More blessing, character, presence of GodJacob was no doubt especially joyful that his journey of discovery included a potential bride as beautiful as Rachel. However, he is about to see that the family issues of deception and envy are not entirely in the past.
Negative family traits, embedded in character, are difficult to overcome.
Read More character, deception @en, family conflictEach one of us can probably remember a time when we felt overlooked or forgotten. It’s a crushing blow when we realize we have been passed over. It is especially hard when people turn their backs on us after we have gone out of our way to help them.
Sadly this is what happened to Joseph.
Read More character, God’s faithfulness, ingratitude, dreams
Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn allow us to create an astonishing, faultless character that can deceitfully impress the reader. But it’s hard to hide our true colours when someone pushes our hot buttons.
Would it be wonderful when life squeezes us that the character which shows up would be prudent, wise and righteous?
Read More character, prudence, reverence, temper, strength
Jesus, always the consummate storyteller, once told a tale about two builders, one wise and one foolish. The first chose to construct his home on a solid base; when a violent storm came, the house was not shaken. The second built on shifting sand. The foundation crumbled and the storm decimated his home.
Integrity is key when it comes to construction, even more so when it comes to one’s life.
Read More strength, character, integrityAnd now what? David was in a difficult position. He knew that Samuel had anointed him to be king, and that Samuel was acting from God. Saul may be dead, but he had many supporters who were still living. How was this supposed to work out?
David was careful.
Read More character, leadership, discipleshipIn an age of information we are in great need of wisdom. The book of Proverbs provides us with something like sound bites” which can be a resource for righteous living. It is not a self-help manual. At its heart this book probes well beyond simple advice and instruction in calling us to “the fear of the Lord” and engagement in patterns of living honouring to Yahweh.
Practical wisdom is certainly about what we do, how we behave, our practices in relations to others.
Read More integrity, behaviour, character
I stared at my bank balance in horror. It was around Christmas and thieves had skimmed the entire balance from my bank account. I was furious and also pretty worried. My bank assured me that the money would be returned. I just had to wait. So I waited. And I waited. After a week passed I went back to my branch – they told me to wait a few more weeks. I was tired of waiting.
With the help of a wise, media-savvy friend we took to Twitter.
Read More character, passion, persistence, relentlessSome things never change. I have just been reading a book (The Road to Character, by David Brooks) in which he laments a radical change, over the last fifty years or so, in what are considered the important things in life. People used to put much more store on character (the kind of things that will be said at your funeral) than they do now. Today there is much more emphasis on success (the kind of things that go on your CV).
Read More success, character, integrity, short-cuts