RUSSELL SANDERS

10-2-2025

WHO IS YOUR ELIAB?

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In chapter 17 of 1 Samuel, Israel’s army is halted in fear of the Philistine army and its champion, Goliath, the giant warrior. A young shepherd boy named David had brought provisions for his six older soldier brothers who were frozen with fear of the giant soldier. When David questioned their fear, his oldest brother Eliab rebuked him, claiming that David only wished to see the thrill of a great battle. He incited the crowd to chide David for his foolish arrogance. They all sided with Eliab.

David was nonplussed by the crowd. He trusted the Lord and had no fear. God delivered Goliath’s head to David. Eliab’s ridicule was answered by God in defeat of Goliath and the Philistine army. David was hailed as Israel’s deliverer from tens of thousands of their enemy. 

We, like David, can trust God to deliver us from the Goliaths in our lives in such a manner that God alone will get the praise and glory for the deliverance. It is not about “us”, but only about “Him.”

The “Eliabs” of our life cause us to reassess our dependance on God alone for the severe challenges of life. When you encounter your “Eliab,” know that God allows the challenge so as to strengthen your faith and your character. Keep your focus and trust on the Lord and not on the problem and you will grow from the experience.

Remember, God allows “Eliabs” to strengthen our faith and our trust upon Him.

HELEN SANDERS

10-2-2025

THE SEED PART 4

THE SON OF THE FLESH

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In Genesis 15 we see Abram having a conversation with the LORD. He had been told that he would have children [seed] as the dust of the earth [Genesis 13:16]. But it had not happened. He asked God if his servant would be his heir.

In Genesis 15:4 God spoke, “And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” Then God told him that his seed would be innumerable like the stars in the heaven.

Romans 4:19-20 tells us of Abram’s faith, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.”

Both Abram and Sarai were past the time of childbearing. Sarai stayed in that condition, but Abram became virile because he believed God. When nothing happened to Sarai which would enable her to conceive, she came up with a carnal plan for Abram to have a child. Sarai told Abram that God had caused her to not become pregnant, so he should have a child with Hagar, her young handmaid.  She gave Hagar to Abram to have as a wife, and she did conceive. She gave birth to Ishmael. The problem with this is that it was not God’s plan. Hagar despised Sarai, probably taunting her that she could have a child by Abram, but Sarai was barren. We don’t know that whole part of the story, but Sarai told Abram she was wrong to let him take Hagar as a wife and treated Hagar harshly and sent her away. 

God speaks to Abram in chapter 17 and tells him that the seed that was promised would come through Sarah and not Hagar. When Ishmael was about fourteen Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The promised son of the promise had now arrived. The problem was there was a son born of the flesh; Ishmael, and a son born of the promise; Isaac. They were half-brothers, but rivals, and their offspring were always at war with each other. 

Satan had tried to corrupt the seed again, but God intervened. How often do we want to do our plan and not wait on God to bring his plan forth? Have we created an Ishmael in our lives when God wanted us to wait for an Isaac?

Tomorrow we will see more of how Satan tried to destroy the promised seed.