A New Hope
Posted by Karah
Pause
Think about a situation that seemed hopeless (and maybe still does). Praise God that all hope rests in Him. Rest in that hope as you begin today’s devotion.
Remember when it seemed like Frodo wouldn’t get the ring to Mordor? Remember when the White Witch killed Aslan and it seemed all hope was lost for Narnia?
Today, we come to a point in God’s story where it feels like all hope is lost. God’s perfect creation was shattered. Adam and Eve had been banished from the garden. Abel was dead, and Cain and his lineage of sin had spiraled out of control, wanderers with no respect for God. God had promised redemption would come from the woman’s offspring, and that seemed impossible. Or was it?
Read Genesis 4:25-26 in your Bible. Ponder these questions:
How did Seth’s birth bring renewed hope to Eve? Explain.
Now, read Luke 3:23-38. Pay close attention to verse 38.
In light of this lineage, how did Seth’s birth bring renewed hope to the entire world? Explain.
When have you or someone you know experienced something that you thought not even God could redeem? How has God shown you otherwise?
Why is it good news that God’s plan of redemption cannot be thwarted?
The Point
God’s redemptive plan isn’t limited by the sinful failures of humanity.
Respond
Think about those situations in your life that feel hopeless or impossible. Place your hope in God and His plan to make all things new. Journal your prayer.
Spend some time in prayer, asking God for the faith to trust His plan, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Behind the Story
The name Seth sounds like the Hebrew word for “granted” and the two are probably related. In Genesis 4:25, Eve attributed Seth’s birth to God’s mercy. God had granted her another son in place of the righteous Abel. Through Seth, God would fulfill His promise that Eve would be “the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20).
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions