Every Woman's Bible Genesis sampler - Flipbook - Page 30
GeneSIS 11
20
When Shelah was 30 years old, he became the
father of eber. 15After the birth of eber, Shelah
lived another 403 years and had other sons and
daughters.
16 When eber was 34 years old, he became the
father of Peleg. 17After the birth of Peleg, eber
lived another 430 years and had other sons and
daughters.
18 When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father
of Reu. 19After the birth of Reu, Peleg lived another
209 years and had other sons and daughters.
14
Shalom
I M AG E
MY STORY OF M Y
U N IQUE INF LUEN CE
When Reu was 32 years old, he became the father of
Serug. 21After the birth of Serug, Reu lived another
207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22 When Serug was 30 years old, he became the
father of Nahor. 23After the birth of Nahor, Serug
lived another 200 years and had other sons and
daughters.
24 When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the
father of Terah. 25After the birth of Terah, Nahor
lived another 119 years and had other sons and
daughters.
20
God’s Call and Mine
SCRIPTURE CONNECTION: GENESIS 12:2-3
“What is my purpose?” I pleaded, scrambling down New Mexico’s tallest mountain. A
lightning storm above me, with no trees to protect me, I hurtled down the boulder field. For
months, I’d asked God for my calling. Now, intensified by visions of a life cut short, I yelled it.
Maybe you cry out for purpose too. As with Abram, God’s calling comes:
• before we bless—Abram didn’t earn God’s blessing;
• to bless others—God empowered Abram to do good;
• to bless near and far—Abram gave life to family, nation,
and ultimately, God’s redemption plan.
Knowing my calling
comes from God, not
me, gives me confidence to press on.
Abram’s calling fit within God’s mission to reconcile
his creation to himself, a mission God actively pursues
throughout the Bible. God’s purpose begins with God
himself, not us; is empowered by him, not us; and comes
through those he chooses, not by our choice alone.
As with Abram, God made his call clear for me, too. As I scuttled down, avoiding the
lightning strikes, I sensed it. It came as though a whisper from God, “I am your purpose.”
“Ow,” I yelped, as I caught a tree and hugged it, glad even for its rough bark that stopped
my descent. Like the tree, this answer protected me from exposure to any lesser calling.
My calling begins with, is empowered by, and is guided by God; no other source will do.
IMAGINE
How might seeing God as
your chief purpose guide
you?
“In seminary, I learned
to see the entire Bible
reflecting God’s mission to
restore. Knowing my calling comes from God, not
me, gives me confidence
to live on purpose for a
lifetime.”
NAOMI CRAMER OVERTON,
MBA, DIS, lives to realize
beauty-filled visions that
lift us to flourishing, with
our families and beyond.
Naomi has been CEO for
Stonecroft and MOPS,
director with Compassion
International and World
Vision, and General Editor
for this Bible.
