Day 6: Who Am I But Dust and Ashes

Day 6

Who Am I But Dust and Ashes

Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord

Genesis 18:27

Bible Versions:

Genesis 18:27 (The Message) Abraham came back, “Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open my mouth again to my Master?

Genesis 18:27 (NIV) Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,

Genesis 18:27 (NLT) Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.

Thoughts of Devotion:

As we draw near to the throne of God this morning, let’s think for a moment on our true condition before the presence of an Almighty God. A God that is not only the creator, but the sustainer of the entire universe! I ask myself, have I taken the time to reflect in the state of my lowliness like a human being as I come before God and present my needs? In one occasion the Psalmist made a very similar question, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalms 4:8) In another occasion John Wesley said this very clear and defined statement, “When we draw near to God there has to be a reverence in recognizing the vast distance there is between us and Him. He is the God of all glory, and we are the worms of the earth.”

As we meditate in this we find that the scripture clearly defines who we are. At the end of the whole conversation of this topic, what is man? The answer is summed up in one word: DUST! Even after everything we get to accomplish in life, we continue being clay. “I pray, and that you have made me like clay. And will you turn me into dust again? (Job 10:9) Let’s remember that the only thing keeping us alive is the breath of God. What would be of us without that breath? For this reason when God sees us, He remembers what we are, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalms 103:14) We must understand that in what corresponds to God, He is very well updated in our true condition as His creation. Will it be said the same about us? This morning, it is necessary to be humble enough to recognize our true condition before God without pretending to be like something that we’re not.

Let us pray at this time that He would reveal to us our true condition before his presence. Then we will be able to understand the profound humility Abraham possessed when he declared his status before God, “I who am but dust and ashes” hear my prayer. This morning if we desire for the Lord to hear us and help us in our time of need, then we must possess a genuine humility before his presence.

Foundational Scriptures:

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.

Job 34:15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 3:20  All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Reading Plan for Psalms & Proverbs in 60 days

Psalms 22-24