WELL GOD TOLD REBEKAH SHE WOULD HAVE TWIN BOYS & THAT JACOB THE SECOND SON WAS HIS CHOICE.  GOD HAS A PLAN AND HIS PLANS ARE NEVER STOPPED!

This scripture is so important to me in my life. It's just such an amazing story with so many levels of relevance and applicability in so many levels of and within society today. I still get new messages from God everytime i read it. Love this, as sad as it is.

GENESIS 27 - Jacob Deceptively Gains the Blessing of Isaac
GENESIS 28 - Jacob Flees Esau



GENESIS 27: Rebekah and Jacob plot to deceive Isaac.

Verses 1-4 tells us Isaac’s deathbed request to Esau.

“Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old: Isaac BELIEVES his time has come to die, and this is his way of “settling his affairs,” sort of a last will and testament. Although, we KNOW Isaac’s age to be 137 at this point, & he lived to be 180, so Isaac still had 43 more years.

That my soul may bless you before I die: Strangely, Isaac INSISTED on giving the blessing TO Esau, the one God did NOT choose, who despised his birthright, and who has married pagan wives. It seems Isaac plainly operated in the flesh here, thinking only of the good food he received from Esau’s hunting.

Verses 5-10 tells us Rebekah advises Jacob to deceive his father Isaac.

“Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

Instead of trusting God to fulfill what He had promised in Genesis 25:23, Rebekah copies Sarah, in that she goes about to “do what is right” in the flesh. Good intentions don’t justify acting in the flesh.

I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves: But again, Isaac is NO LESS scheming than Rebekah. In the willfulness of his old age, he is determined to pass on the blessing to Esau, DESPITE what the Lord has said and what the boys have shown with their lives.

DID YOU CATCH THAT?
The fact Isaac is trying to dispense the blessing SECRETLY shows he KNEW that he WAS wrong. Sadly, in this house, no one trusted anyone else, DID THEY? NOT EVEN GOD AT THIS MOMENT.

Verses 11-17 tells us preparations are made for Jacob’s deceptive attempt to steal the blessing.

“And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.” But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.”

Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him: Jacob, true to his name (“trickster” or “scoundrel”), is all too willing to go along with this plan. His only concern is whether or not it will succeed.

When we are willing to abandon the question of right and wrong, and when our only concern is “what works,” we have bought into the modern idea of pragmatism, as much of the church has today, AMEN?

His father . . . Rebekah . . . Esau . . . Jacob: Significantly, at this point, each of these actors in this drama ARE IN THE FLESH and NOT IN THE SPIRIT, ARE THEY? Even Esau, in agreeing to Isaac’s plan to give him the birthright, disregarded his previous promise to allow Jacob to have the birthright.

DO YOU NOTICE, like I did, that the WORST aspect of this all is they seem to regard the blessing as “MAGICAL,” as something detached from God’s wisdom and will. But the most Isaac can do is recognize God’s call and blessing on Jacob. Only God can truly BESTOW the blessing. Esau could receive the blessing from Isaac a hundred times, but it only matters if God in heaven HONORS IT, AMEN?

Jacob receives the blessing Isaac intended for Esau.

Verses 18-27a tells us Jacob lies to his father, pretending to be Esau.

“So he went to his father and said, “My father.’ And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.” He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing,”

I am Esau your firstborn: Sometimes it is difficult to discern a lie, and whether it is sin or not comes back to the question of intent. But other times it is not difficult at all, and Jacob clearly LIES here, DOES HE NOT?

Because the Lord your God brought it to me: Jacob, the scoundrel, did NOT hesitate to bring in God as a party to his deception.

How can he do this? DOES HE NOT REMEMBER THAT THE GOD WHO SEES ALL KNOWSSSSSSS JACOB IS LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH?

Simply because his only concern is “what works.” Since he knows God WANTS him to have the birthright, he will justify any lie or sin he commits in the pursuit of the birthright and say he is making a stand for righteousness!

Jacob probably used the promise and calling of God as an excuse for sin; he justified it to himself by saying his sinful conduct was fulfilling the promise of God.

Are you really my son Esau? Even under repeated questioning Jacob stayed confirmed in his lie. Partially, Jacob took advantage of his father’s good nature. Isaac probably would not believe his Jacob would lie to him so repeatedly.

Verses 27b-29 tell us the blessing is given to Jacob.

“And blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!”

Isaac blesses Jacob as the spiritual head of the family. Isaac had the right to pass on this blessing related to the covenant of Abraham, not Ishmael. The son (Jacob or Esau) who received this blessing was able to pass it on to his descendants.

May God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth: The words of the blessing are filled with pictures of the Lord’s rich bounty, and they echo some of the words of the covenant God made with Abraham.

Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you: Again, it is important to see it wasn’t the bestowal of these words upon Jacob that made him blessed. Instead, Jacob was blessed because God chose him long before in Genesis 26:23. What mattered is that God said the older shall serve the younger (back in Genesis 25:23), not that Isaac said be master over your brethren.
Esau discovers the deception of Jacob.

Verses 30-38 tells us Esau’s grief at discovering Jacob’s deception.

“Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.” And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him; and indeed he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me; me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.” And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?” And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me; me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

Isaac trembled exceedingly: AND HE SHOULD HAVE TREMBLED.
WHY?
Isaac was troubled because he knew he had tried to box God in, to defeat God’s plan, and God had beaten him. He realized he would always be defeated when he tried to resist God’s will, even when he didn’t like it. And he came to learn that despite his arrogance against God’s will, God’s will WAS glorious.
GOD’S WILL AND PLANS WILL GO FORWARD, REGARDLESS WHAT MAN, THE WORLD, OR SATAN SEEK TO DO, AMEN?

Later, in Hebrews 11:20, it says By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

SO, WHERE WAS ISAAC’S FAITH?

Here it is, after Isaac’s attempt to thwart the will of God has been destroyed and he said of Jacob, “and INDEED he shall be blessed.”

He took away my birthright: Both Isaac and Esau are grieved when they figure out what Jacob did, and now Esau is concerned about the birthright! Previously (in Genesis 25:22-34), he was willing to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew, and he despised his birthright. BUT NOW…WHEN HE THINKS HE WILL OUTLIVE HIS FATHER….NOW HE WANTED the material and political advantages of the birthright.

When he saw it as a SPIRITUAL birthright, Esau did NOT value the birthright, but now that he sees it in material and political terms, he wanted it.

He took away my birthright: Esau is also more than willing to rewrite history…AND CONVENIENTLY FORGET OR ERASE THE FACT THAT HE SOLD IT FOR A BOWL OF STEW & DISMISS THE FACT AS UNIMPORTANT THAT GOD CHOSEEEEEEEEE JACOB IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Though Esau is right in accusing Jacob of acting true to his nature when he took the birthright from Esau the first time, he neglects to mention he SOLD the birthright for a bowl of stew, and he DESPISED his birthright.
Esau cannot truly say that Jacob took away my birthright. Esau gave it away, and God is Lord over the birthright anyway.

Bless me, even me also, O my father! This is MORE spiritual concern than we have EVER seen in Esau, though even this is colored with material and political concern.

Esau lifted up his voice and wept: Esau’s tears were the tears of frustrated selfishness, not of regret for his own sin and despising of his birthright.

AND HEBREWS 12:15-17 REMINDS US OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE….“Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”

Verses 39-40 tells us Isaac gives a limited blessing to Esau.

“Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth: So what did the blessing to ESAU MEAN?

IT MEANT the “blessing” Isaac bestowed on Esau actually says, “your dwelling shall be from the fatness of the earth.” That is, Esau and his descendants would be desert-dwellers.
You shall serve your brother: Esau would be under Jacob, but not forever. The promise also was that Esau would break his yoke from your neck.

Verses 41-46 tells us Esau’s anger; Rebekah makes plans for Jacob to flee.

“So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?” And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Then I will kill my brother Jacob: Esau’s somewhat spiritual concern for the blessing of his father quickly vanishes in a bitter hatred of Jacob, a bitter hatred having murderous intent, does it not? Esau planned to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died, and this is a comfort to Esau.

Revenge is a comforting thought to those who feel they have been wronged like Esau. If only Esau knew Isaac would live another 43 years!

Perhaps Esau was going to test just how blessed Jacob was. His intention may have been to kill him in an attempt to defeat God’s revealed will regarding the birthright.

Stay with him a few days: The FEW days Jacob was to stay with Laban and Rebekah’s family in Haran will turn out to be more than 20 years. Yet, God WILL fulfill His purpose in all of it.

If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me? Rebekah successfully maneuvered Isaac into telling Jacob to leave.

SADLY, Rebekah’s diplomatic victory was complete; but she would NEVER LIVE TO see her son again.




Genesis 28 - Jacob Flees From Esau

Isaac’s farewell to Jacob.

Verses 1-2 tells us ISAAC‘S instructions to not take a Canaanite wife.

“Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.”

Isaac called Jacob and blessed him: Perhaps now Isaac resigns himself to what his wife Rebekah told him was the Lord’s will all along - that the older would serve the younger and that Jacob, not Esau, would receive the birthright. So he sent Jacob on with blessing and instructions.

You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan: It is essential Jacob not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, as his brother Esau did.

WHY?

Because Jacob is the one who inherits the birthright and carries on the seed of the Messiah.

Verses 3-5 tells us the all-important transferal of Abraham’s blessing.

“May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples; and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.” So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

And give you the blessing of Abraham: Essentially, this is the aspect of the birthright that Esau despised, but Jacob (who seems equally unworthy) will gain. Jacob is the one to carry on God’s promise to Abraham.

Essentially, Jacob is promised a land, a nation, and a blessing, even as Abraham was in Genesis 12:1-3.

To you and your descendants with you: Jacob is by no means worthy of this blessing. Each of the four parties in this whole birthright mess were in the flesh somewhere along the line. The amazing thing is that God could bring any good out of all this, and this is an example of a triumph of God’s sovereignty.

So Isaac sent Jacob away: Tragically, this is the LAST TIME Jacob will see his father or mother.

Verses 6-9 tells us Esau adds wives.

“Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.”

Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob: Now the blessing and the birthright seem important to Esau. They were important enough to him that he determined to impress his father by marrying non-Canaanite women when he saw that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother.

Jacob meets God at Bethel.

Verses 10-12 tells us Jacob’s dream of a ladder.

“Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”

Then he dreamed: In this desolate wilderness, Jacob had a significant dream as he used a stone for a pillow (which would seem to cause strange dreams).

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…ALL THE flood of feelings in Jacob at this moment: the fear, the loneliness, the isolation, the excitement, and the anticipation. This was an absolutely strategic time in Jacob’s life.

A ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it: In Jacob’s dream, there is NOW ACCESS TO HEAVEN. Jacob now knew God was closer than ever and there was real access and interaction between heaven and earth.

Jesus made it clear in John 1:51 that He IS the access to heaven. He is the means by which heaven comes down to us and by which we can go to heaven. He is the “ladder.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Jesus IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN. JESUS DOES NOT SHOW US A WAY, HE IS THE ONLY WAY!

JOHN 14:6 reminds us, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Verses 13-15 tell us God speaks to Jacob.

“And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants: These words are for comfort and hope in the life of Jacob, at this critical crossroads in his life. Essentially, God repeats to Jacob the terms of the covenant He gave to both Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 and to Isaac in Genesis 26:2-5.

Before, Isaac told Jacob the covenant was his (Genesis 28:3-4), but now MORE IMPORTANTLY the voice of God Himself confirms it.

I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac: Jacob had no doubt heard about the great God who appeared to Abraham and to Isaac, but now this same God has a personal encounter with Jacob himself. This was a LIFE-CHANGING experience for Jacob.

I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you:

God gives to Jacob the same kind of promise found in Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

THEN AND NOW, God won’t let us go until His work is complete in us, AMEN?

Verses 16-19 tells us Jacob worships God, naming the place Bethel (house of God).

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.”

Jacob was right in sensing the presence of the Lord there, but he was wrong in perhaps thinking God was in some places and not in others.

KING DAVID KNEW THE TRUTH… IN PSALMS 139:7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

From his fleshly perspective, Jacob puts too much emphasis on a particular place. He doesn’t realize that if the presence of the Lord is not with him in every place, then God can never fulfill His promise to him.

He called the name of that place Bethel: The city of Bethel plays an important (though not glorious) role in Israel’s history. It is second only to Jerusalem in the number of times mentioned in the Old Testament.

Later, when speaking to Jacob, God refers to Himself as the God of Bethel in Genesis 31:13 too.

Bethel would eventually become a high place, notorious for idolatrous sacrifice told to us in 1 Kings 13:32; Hosea 10:15; Amos 4:4.

Verses 20-22 tells us Jacob’s vow unto God.

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

This can be also translated “since God will be with me”; but knowing Jacob, he undoubtedly means it in the sense of “if God will be with me.” God has given him a promise, yet he is still making “deals” with God, even promising God money if He makes good on His promise.

The way Jacob prayed, it was evident God’s mere word was not enough for him. He had to see God do it before he would believe.
Are we the same way?
God says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” in Philippians 4:19.

He says, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” in Nahum 1:7.

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS FOR US, AS WITH JACOB, Do we believe these things BEFORE we see them?

Keep me in the way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on: Here, Jacob sets the terms of his covenant with God. He is laying down the deal for God, instead of humbly receiving what God said would be the deal.

Jacob isn’t very submitted to God, is he?

BUT God will teach him submission in a very tough situation, through his Uncle Laban.

Jacob made a vow: Unfortunately, there is a great contrast between God’s promise and Jacob’s vow. One is totally God-centered; the other is terribly man-centered.

God’s promise (Genesis 28:13-15):

I am the Lord God.
I will give to you.
I am with you.
I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken.

Jacob’s vow:

If God will be with me.
And keep me.
In this way that I am going.
Give me bread and clothing.
So that I come back to my father’s house.

How much better if Jacob had prayed like this: “Because You promised to be with me and to keep me and to provide for all my needs, and to bring me back to the land which you swore to give to my fathers and to me, I will be completely Yours, God.”

BUT OUR TRIUNE GOD IS PATIENT.
God is gracious enough to not call off the whole deal when He saw such a carnal response from Jacob. Instead, He is willing to be called, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob told to us in Exodus 3:6.


TRUST JESUS CHRIST AND HIS PROMISES.
JESUS WILL BRING THEM ALL TO PASS.
NOTHING...NOT MAN, SATAN, THE WORLD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, BOSSES....NOTHING CAN AND WILL STOP OR DEFEAT JESUS PLANS FOR HIS CHILDREN....


TRUST JESUS!

AMEN CINDY LOU AMEN!!!!

A big amen Faithy to all thee above 
You can't walk with God, or please God, APART from faith.

WELCOME CINDY LOU!!!  JESUS WORD IS ALWAYS WELL PUT!!!!

Amen Faithy well put !

AMEN CINDY LOU....GOD DID NOT NEED TO REST...BUT HE KNOWS HIS CREATION AND HE KNEW WE NEEDED ONE DAY A WEEK TO REFRESH, RENEW, AND RESTORE OUR HEART MIND AND BODY!!

  Amen Faithy God did NOT NEED REST on the seventh day because He was tired. He rested to show His creating work was done, to give a pattern to man regarding the structure of time (in seven-day weeks), and to give an example of the blessing/necessity of rest to man on the seventh day.

AMEN CINDY LOU...ME TOO!

Amen Faithy great word from the Lord amen i pray everyday to be more like Jesus and less like the world we can to easly fall into sin and become corupt like Cain !

GENESIS 4: CAIN & ABEL: EVIL & MURDER ENTER THE WORLD.

IN GENESIS 1-2 ALMIGHTY GOD, THE TRIUNE GOD, INTRODUCES HIMSELF. TELLS MANKIND WHO HE IS. AND TEACHES US ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, THE SOLAR SYSTEM, & MANKIND’S CREATION.

IN GENESIS 3 ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US OF THE FALL OF MANKIND, ADAM AND EVE, BY THE SLY, CRAFTINESS, AND DISTORTIONS OF THE EVIL ONE…SATAN HIMSELF….AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT DESTROYED PARADISE.

NOW IN GENESIS 4 ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US THAT PURE EVIL ENTERS THE WORLD. THAT THIS CHOSEN EVIL AT ITS HEART IS SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED, & WILLING TO DO THE UNSPEAKABLE BECAUSE OF PRIDE, AND ONE UPMANSHIP. GENESIS 4 TELLS US THE UTTER DESTRUCTIVENESS THAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE DESIRE OF MANKIND TO BE NUMBER 1...TO BE APPLAUDED AND LAUDED…AND PRAISED…AND HONORED AT ANY COST…EVEN IF IT SEEMS THE PREMEDITATED MURDER OF A BLOOD BROTHER.

SO TURN WITH ME NOW TO GENESIS 4...

AND LET’S SEE WHAT JESUS SHOWS US & SEEKS TO TEACH US THROUGH Cain’s murder of Abel.

Verse 1 tells us of the birth of Cain.

“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

Now Adam KNEW EVE HIS WIFE…This is the FIRST SPECIFIC mention of sex in the Bible. The term “knew” or “to know” is a polite way of saying they had sexual relations and the term is used often in the Bible in this sense (Genesis 4:17; 4:25; 38:26; Judges 11:39; 1 Samuel 1:19).

There is POWER, INTIMACY, SPECIALNESS, & UNITY & how our TRIUNE GOD VIEWS the sexual relationship BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE.

TODAY, more than ever, the lost world, society’s “terminology” DEGRADES & HAS MADE COARSE & CRUDE & CLINICAL of what THE TRIUNE GOD sees sex as a means of knowing one another in a committed relationship. “Knew” indicates an act that contributes to the bond of unity and the building up of a one-flesh relationship.

The name Cain basically means, “I’ve got him” or “here he is.” It is likely Eve thought that Cain was the seed that God promised, the deliverer who would come from Eve (Genesis 3:15). There is a sense in which Eve said, “GOD promised us…and here he is!”

Adam, and especially Eve, had GREAT EXPECTATIONS for Cain, far beyond what we as parents hope for in our children. Adam and Eve EXPECTED Cain to be the Messiah God promised to REDEEM THEM, what they got was a MURDERER.

Verses 2-5 tells of the birth of Abel and the offerings of Cain and Abel.

“Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

DID YOU CATCH THIS?
ANOTHER TRUTH GIVEN US?

ABEL WAS A KEEPER OF SHEEP, & CAIN WAS A TILLER OF THE GROUND. Agriculture and the domestication of animals were practiced FROM THE FIRST. Adam and his descendants did NOT spend tens of thousands of years living as hunter-gatherer cave dwellers, as knuckle-dragging beasts.

SINCE THE TREE OF LIFE…was the “holy of holies” for Adam and Eve, & their children…their meeting place with THE TRIUNE GOD as told us in GENESIS 3:24, we know Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground there.

The Lord respected Abel’s offering, but NOT Cain’s.
Why?

Abel brought an offering of blood (the firstborn of his flock) and Cain brought an offering of vegetation (the fruit of the ground).

Many erroneously assume that the difference between their professions, a rancher versus a farmer was the cause for God’s rejection of Cain’s grains/fruit, but LEVITICUS 2 clears up that mistake, by telling us that grain offerings WERE acceptable before God, though NOT for an atonement for sin.

ALSO HEBREWS 11:4 confirms WHY CAIN’S OFFERING WAS REJECTED. “By faith Abel offered up a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.”

ANOTHER BIBLE QUESTION ANSWERED. JUST AS THE LORD TOLD SAMUEL THE PROPHET, “YOU SEE AND JUDGE THE MAN‘S OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT I SEE AND KNOW AND JUDGE THE HEART.”

JUST AS JESUS REJECTED & WAS NOT IMPRESSED BY THE PHARISEE AND HIS LOUDLY BRAGGING BOASTS ABOUT WHAT HE HAD AND HAD DONE FOR HIS TEMPLE & COMMUNITY…JESUS NOTICED AND WAS TOUCHED & PLEASED BY THE HUMBLE WIDOW WHO QUIETLY GAVE TWO PENNIES, ALL SHE HAD TO HONOR/OBEY HER LORD JESUS.

THEN AND NOW…SOME PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW JESUS HAVE RELEGATED JESUS TO A “HERE IS MY DAILY CHRISTIAN WALK WITH JESUS CHECK LIST”. Pray today…check check!. Read my Bible today…check, check!…Attend church service and sit on the front row…check check! and after COMPLETING their MENTAL CHRISTIAN DUTY…NOT LOVE…BUT DUTY & LEGALISM TO JESUS….there are those who then RETURN TO THE REAL WORLD…AND THEIR LIVES. They may have a CLEAR MIND, BUT FOR THEM, THEY HAVE A DYING OR DEAD HEART.

CAIN HAD A HEART PROBLEM, NOT A CHEAP GIFT OR LABOR PROBLEM, AND NOT A LAZINESS PROBLEM, BUT WHAT HE DID WAS DUTY…NOT LOVE, NOT RESPECT, NOT NEED TO FELLOWSHIP…IT WAS ANOTHER CHORE TO BE DONE AND CHECKED OFF OF HIS DAILY TO-DO LIST.

THAT IS WHY ALMIGHTY GOD REJECTED CAIN’S OFFERING.


AND ABEL ALSO BROUGHT THE FIRSTBORN…AND THE FAT OF HIS FLOCK. ABEL GAVE JESUS HIS PRIZE SHEEP.

WHY WAS IT SO SPECIAL?

The fat of the animal was prized as its “luxury,” and was to be given to God when the animal was sacrificed (Leviticus 3:16-17; 7:23-25). The burning of fat in sacrifice before God is called a sweet aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 17:6).

ABEL WANTED TO HONOR AND PLEASE JESUS.
CAIN JUST WANTED TO GET HIS DUTY DONE.

ALSO THIS IS THE BEGINNING….ONE LAMB FOR A MAN. WHEN PASSOVER BEGINS WITH MOSES, IT WILL BE ONE LAMB PER FAMILY. ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, IT WILL BE ONE LAMB FOR THE NATION. UNTIL FINALLY, WITH OUR PRECIOUS JESUS CHRIST, HE WILL BE, …. “THE ONE LAMB WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WHOLE WORLD,” promised in JOHN 1:29.

I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ASK, “HOW DID CAIN AND ABEL KNOW WHETHER THEIR OFFERINGS WERE ACCEPTED OR REJECTED BY JESUS?

THE BEST ANSWERS ARE FOUND IN THE BIBLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL BIBLICAL EXAMPLES THAT TELL US
an acceptable sacrifice consumed by fire from God (Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1).

Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell…SO WE SEE ANGER, & POUTING & PRIDE & ENVY have afflicted mankind since Cain. And pride and sin is QUICKLY becoming worse.
Cain now commits the rather sophisticated sins of spiritual pride and hypocrisy.

Verses 6-7 tells us of God’s warning to Cain.

“So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

And we see here ALMIGHTY GOD IS STILL THE PATIENT FATHER…CONFRONTING CAIN IN LOVING PATIENT CONFRONTATION. GOD made it clear that he would be accepted if he did well & when his HEART matched his gift.

And God KNEW what was going on in Cain’s heart and mind, but HE patiently pointed it out, because ALMIGHTY GOD IS STILL ALL ABOUT CHOICE…FREEWILL. AND HE WANTED Cain to know and STOP what was happening inside himself.

AND GOD PATIENTLY WARNED CAIN about the destructive power of sin.

GOD SAID CAIN YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES.
YOU MUST CHOOSE.
YOU CAN RESIST SIN & FIND BLESSING….OR GIVE IN TO SIN & BE DEVOURED.

“And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it:” TOLD CAIN, AND HE IS TELLING US THAT WE HAVE THE CHOICE AND THE ABILITY TO PREVENT SIN FROM RULING OVER US…BY ALLOWING JESUS CHRIST to rule and reign within our hearts and lives. BUT WITHOUT JESUS AS OUR MASTER, WE WILL BE SLAVES TO SIN.

OF COURSE…CAIN CHOOSES SELF…PRIDE…JEALOUSY.

Verse 8 tells us Cain murders Abel.

“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”

Cain PLOTTED & PLANNED to catch Abel by surprise, lulling him with pleasant conversation. This shows that Cain NOT ONLY KILLED, BUT HE COMMITTED PREMEDIDATED MURDER, INSTEAD OF CHOOSING GOD’S WAY OF ESCAPE.

NO human had ever died or been killed before, but Cain HAD WATCHED HIS PARENTS KILL LAMBS FOR SACRIFICE. HE KNEW HOW TO KILL…AND HE KILLED ABEL THE SAME WAY.

IMAGINE EVE AND ADAM’S HORROR AND SADNESS…their hope that CAIN would be GOD’S PROMISED REDEEMER FOR THEIR SIN…BECOMES A murderer, and their SECOND SON BECOMES A VICTIM OF MURDER. ADAM & EVE’S HOPE THAT SIN/SATAN WOULD BE ENDED THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN IS DESTROYED.

Verse 9 God confronts & questions Cain.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

God KNEW the answer to this question. He asked Cain because He wanted to give CAIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFESS AND REPENT HIS SIN/HIS RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEATH OF ABEL….AND TO START DOING THE RIGHT THING.

JUST LIKE HIS FATHER ADAM, IT WAS INSANELY STUPID TO THINK HE COULD SUCCESSFULLY LIE, MUCH LESS HIDE ANYTHING FROM GOD, BECAUSE GOD KNEW WHERE ABEL WAS…HE WAS ALREADY IN WHAT WOULD BE LATER CALLED “ABRAHAM’S BOSOM.”

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” This reply of Cain is famous. The POUTING DISMISSAL AND DEAD-HEARTED COMEBACK TELLS US WHERE CAIN’S HEAD AND HEART WAS AT.

CAIN WAS THE OLDEST…AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO CARE FOR AND WATCH OVER HIS YOUNGER SIBLINGS…but was instead his brother’s murderer, and he murdered him for the lowest of reasons. Abel had not injured Cain in any way. Cain’s murderous rage was inspired purely by a spiritual jealousy & as with ADAM to blame God and/or pay God back for, to his own mind at least, showing “favoritism” for Abel over him…the OLDEST SON.

And Jude 1:11 warns & reminds us of the way of Cain, which is unbelief, empty religion leading to jealousy, persecution of those truly godly, and murderous anger.

2 TIMOTHY 3:5, tells us that there is NO GREATER CURSE ON THE EARTH than empty, vain religion, those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God.

Many are deathly afraid of “secular humanism” or atheism, but DEAD VAIN SELF-SERVING RELIGIONS send MORE people to hell than anything else.


Verses 10-12 tells us God’s curse upon Cain.

“And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

The idea of blood crying out to God from the ground is repeated in the Bible. Numbers 35:29-34 describes how the blood of unpunished murderers defiles the land.

HEBREWS 12:24 reminds us that the blood of Jesus speaks too, not of judgment as with ABEL…“but of better things, of grace and of sin having been judged.”

The curse upon Cain was that Adam’s curse would be amplified in regard to him. If bringing forth food from the earth would be HARD for Adam (Genesis 3:17-18), it would be IMPOSSIBLE for Cain (who was a farmer). If Adam were driven from Eden (Genesis 3:24), Cain would find NO resting-place on all the earth (a fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth).

Verses 13-15 tells us Cain has the ARROGANT GALL AND NERVE TO COMPLAIN OVER the severity of God’s judgment.

“And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.”

DID YOU NOTICE…EVEN IN THE BEGINNING…Cain didn’t feel bad about his sin, but only about his punishment. JUST A REMINDER THAT REGARDLESS HOW TIMES CHANGE….HUMAN NATURE AND ITS SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED MINDSET HAVE NOT CHANGED ONE BIT.

THEN AND NOW….PEOPLE HAVE OR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIELD ARE QUICK TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR WHY PEOPLE COMMIT THE UNTHINKABLE…THE CRUEL…THE EVIL…THE DESTRUCTIVE.

As significant as God’s judgment against Cain was, God did not want TO ENCOURAGE NOR GIVE THE NOD FOR ANYONE ELSE TO PLAY VIGILANTE.


Verses 16-17 tells us Cain moves away and marries.

“Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son; Enoch.”

Genesis 5:4 says Adam had several sons and daughters. Cain obviously married one of his sisters. Though marrying a sister was against the law of God according to Leviticus 18:9; 18:11; 20:17, and Deuteronomy 27:22 (which even prohibits the marrying of a half-sister), this was long before God spoke that law to Moses and the world.

And at this point, the “gene pool” of humanity was PURE enough to allow close marriage without harm of inbreeding. But as a stream can get more polluted the further it gets from the source, there came a time when God decreed there no longer be marriage between close relatives because of the danger of inbreeding.

Even Abraham married his half-sister Sarah (Genesis 20:12). God did not prohibit such marriages until the time of Moses (Leviticus 18:9). Marrying a brother or sister was NOT forbidden until God forbade it.

“And Cain BUILT a city” Here we see the beginning of industry and of urbanization - and that it is strongly man-centered INSTEAD OF God-centered.

Verses 18-22 tells us the generations following Cain.

“To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.”

THESE verses show RAPID INDUSTRIAL/SOCIAL/TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. Succeeding generations quickly made progress in areas such as the founding of a city, home building, music and the arts, and metalworking.

AND HERE THE BIBLE SIMPLY & CONCISELY DISPROVES “idea people” & “theorists” over the ages, who say we were cave dwellers, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals, and scroungers for tens of thousands of years. ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US THE TRUTH…MANKIND ADVANCED VERY QUICKLY.

Lamech, was the seventh from Adam on Cain’s side. Lamech’s arrogance (Genesis 4:23-24) is a contrast to Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam on Seth’s line as confirmed in JUDE 1:14.

Lamech took TWO WIVES, which makes him the FIRST BIGAMIST in history, going against God’s original plan for one man and one woman to become one flesh (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-8).

EVEN the names of his wives and daughter show the emphasis in his heart: Adah means, “pleasure, ornament, or beauty.” Zillah means, “shade” probably referring to a luxurious covering of hair. His daughter’s name was Naamah, which means, “loveliness.” Lamech’s culture was committed to physical and outward beauty….they were the FIRST HOLLYWOOD mindset…where looks, pleasures, and ME ME ME…. are all that matters

Verses 23-24 tells us Lamech’s chest-thumping boast shows him to BE IN THE IMAGE OF HIS FATHER…CAIN.

“Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

The way Lamech boasts about his murder of another, and the way he believes he can promise a greater retribution than God, shows a progressive degeneracy among humanity. Things are going downhill fast, a true devolution.

AND YES…HERE IS ANOTHER ANSWER…HUMANISM began in Genesis 4…not just in the 1960’s, but right here with CAIN…who DID NOT LEARN FROM HIS PAST, BUT PASSED HIS MEISTIC HUMANISM ON TO HIS CHILDREN.

This is all a picture of humanism. The city IS Cain’s city; the focus of Lamech IS his beautiful wives and his own perceived strength. But for all of Lamech’s boasting, neither he nor his descendants are ever heard of again in the Bible. He came to nothing.

Verses 25-26 tells us Seth is born to Adam and Eve.

“And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enoch. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.”

Adam and Eve had many children who are not specifically named, but Seth IS WORTHY of mention because he “replaced” Abel and IS THE ONE WHOM THE PROMISE OF A DELIVERER from the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) would be passed.

Even in those wicked days, the worship of God was not unknown. Some have called Genesis 4:26 “THE FIRST REVIVAL,” because it is the first indication of a spiritual resurgence after a clear decline.

THERE ARE MANY FIRSTS IN GENESIS 4.

IT IS THE FIRST FARM.
IT IS THE FIRST RANCH,
IT IS THE FIRST CHOSEN EVIL ATTACK.
IT IS THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF EGO IN MANKIND.
IT IS THE FIRST HUMAN BLOOD SHED BY MANKIND.
IT IS THE FIRST PREMEDITATED MURDER BY MANKIND.
IT IS THE FIRST CITY BUILT.
IT IS THE FIRST SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS THE FIRST MUSIC & FINE ARTS CREATION.
IT IS THE FIRST BIGAMY BY MANKIND.
IT IS THE FIRST MURDER FOR FUN/ARROGANCE.
IT IS THE FIRST “ISM” IN HUMANISM.
IT IS ALSO THE FIRST REVIVAL.
AND IT IS THE FIRST PROCLAIMED BLOODLINE OF PROMISED AND HOPED FOR SALVATION AND REDEMPTION OF JESUS NAMED, THAT TOLD US 1000S OF YEARS IN ADVANCE….THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD COME THROUGH EVE’S SON…SETH.

LONG BEFORE JESUS, OR THE PROPHETS, MUCH LESS THE GOSPELS….ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US AND SHOWS US THAT HE KNOWS AND READS THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MANKIND.

THAT HE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE AND JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY AND FAIRLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS A DAILY CHRISTIAN “DUTY” CHECK LIST AND FOLLOWS IT…INSTEAD OF THE HEART THAT SEEKS ALWAYS TO PLEASE, HONOR, PRAISE, AND BE THANKFUL.

GENESIS 4 SHOWS US THAT SELFISHNESS, EGO, PRIDE, SELF-IMPORTANCE, AND SPOILED HEARTEDNESS…CAN AND DOES LEAD TO THE UNSPEAKABLE…THE CONSUMMATE EVIL OF CHOICES AND DECISIONS.

BUT AS ALWAYS…ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS UNDERSTANDING, GRACE, MERCY, PATIENCE, AND PROVIDES/OFFERS HOPE…EVEN IN THE WORST OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE REPENTANT HEART….AND PUTS IN PLACE…LONG BEFORE IT IS NEEDED A WAY OF REDEMPTION…ESCAPE…SALVATION.

OUR JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ONLY HOPE THEN…AND NOW.
REACH OUT FOR JESUS AND HE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU.

TRUST OUR JESUS!

STAY BLESSED…

Amen Annabelle, all things are revealed in the Word of God.  Amen

Amen AnnaBell i love the Creation story to and have read it many times i just love hearing it over and over again how God created the world and every thining in it every were you look you can see the great love he has for us all we have a mighty and awesome God the savior of our soul thank you for sharing your testimony with us !

AMEN ANNABELLE AMEN...GENESIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK IN THE BIBLE...ALL THAT HAPPENS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, ALMIGHTY GOD IN HIS TRIUNENESS, SPOKE OF AND PROPHESIED IN GENESIS. OUR TRIUNE GOD, ALMIGHTY GOD THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD BEGAN...OUR JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD....OUR JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT...AND WE ARE STUDYING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN RIGHT NOW...I ENCOURAGE ALL AND ESPECIALLY NEW BABY CHRISTIANS IN JESUS TO READ THE GOSPEL OF JOHN...JOHN THE BELOVED OF JESUS SHOWS US OUR JESUS IN THE MOST AMAZING DEAL....IT SHOWS US HIS HEART AND THE MIGHTY AND FEARLESS WARRIOR HE WAS.  THE PATIENT TEACHER...THE COMPASSIONTE HEALER...SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS OF WHO OUR JESUS IS!!!

Amen I love that part of John and it makes so much clear and strait forward

I want to share my testimony and sharing on this chapter of Genesis. For so long (even since I was a sunday school kid), I always hear about the creation story. I even read it myself many times and even teach kids after I have grown up. Creation? yes I mastered the story. Then the topic on Trinity comes. All pastors will always quote the famous John chapter 1 to explain Trinity explaining Jesus was there during the creation then linking it with the very famous verse saying "Let US make man according to OUR image". I agree, yes definitely agree and I always share this too with friends during times of discussing about our Triune God.

I don't know but there's something in Chapter 1 of John I keep on reading it that seems like there's more I need to know and I don't know what. I just keep on reading it. I prayed and meditate on it. I read it again. John 1: 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.…

After reading it, I went to Genesis chapter 1.. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. until I reach that part were the creation started... v.3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Suddenly all the realisation comes to me. If Jesus was in the very beginning, then He is the Word that God spoke. If God said let there be light, He used a Word to speak. I actually don't need to reach that part that God said "Let US make man..." to prove that Jesus is there in the beginning because Jesus Christ was the Word of God and nothing was created if not through Him! Without that word that comes out from God's mouth nothing is created! I cried!!! I was amazed and perplexed. I just can't stop praising God!

On teaching the kids: I'll ask them, what is it that God used to create light? then they will simply answer me "His Words" then I'll ask them to read John 1:1 and ask them back again "who is the WOrd that John is talking about?" they'll say to me "Jesus" and I can easily explain to them how Jesus was in the beginning and that Jesus is God. 

Amen Faithy amen 

I LOVE THE STUDY OF GENESIS TOO CINDY LOU!

Amen Faithy amen !

GENESIS 15: - God Confirms the Covenant with Abram

ABRAM QUESTIONS ALMIGHTY GOD....

Ever questioned Jesus?
Ever wanted signs from Jesus?

Okay LORD DID YOU MEAN YOU WANTED ME TO GO LEFT OR RIGHT?
DO I TAKE THIS JOB OR NOT?
DO I MARRY THIS PERSON OR NOT?
DO YOUR PROMISES IN THE BIBLE GIVEN TO MOSES, ABRAM, DANIEL, ESTHER, JOSEPH,….DO THEY STILL APPLY TO ME?

WILL YOU DO FOR ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OTHERS IN THE BIBLE? OR IS THIS, AS THE WORLD SWEARS, A BRAVE NEW WORLD, WHERE WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO WING IT? ON OUR OWN?

AND IT HAS BEEN A LONGGGGGGGGGG TIME SINCE ABRAM’S DAYS ARE YOU SURE YOU REMEMBER ALL THOSE PROMISES?

HEY LORD JESUS….YOU SAY YOU CHANGE NOT… YOU SAY YOU CAN NOT LIE….BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED….WHAT ABOUT? WHAT ABOUT? ARE YOU SURE? CAN YOU STILL DO THIS?

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU…BUT EVEN IF I HAVE NOT VOICED THESE THINGS ALOUD….MOST OF THEM…I HAVE ASKED…WONDERED…AND ALSO STARTED TO LOOK SKYWARD…WAITING FOR A BOLT FROM THE BLUE FOR EVEN THINKING TO QUESTION JESUS CHRIST….

BUT ABRAM FACED ALL THESE THINGS…WONDERED ALL ALL THESE THINGS TOO….


IN GENESIS 15...WE READ & ARE SHOWN FIRST HAND THAT ALMIGHTY GOD ACTUALLY DOES KNOW AND READS OUR HEARTS…OUR MINDS. HE KNOWS OUR FEARS, OUR DOUBTS AND OUR WORRIES.

HE SEES THEM IN ABRAM…AND ALMIGHTY GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS AND SPEAKS TO Abram’s fears and doubts with a PRECIOUS PROMISE.

AN UNSHAKEABLE AND UNBREAKABLE PROMISE TO ABRAM. A PROMISE THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. A PROMISE MADE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO….THAT HE HAS NOT TO THIS DAY BROKEN.


Verse 1 tells us The word from The Lord comes to Abram in a vision.

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

How does the word of the Lord come to us?

THE BIBLE SHOWS US IT HAPPENS IN SEVEN DIFFERENT WAYS. REMEMBER 7 IS THE NUMBER OF COMPLETION….PERFECTION.


1. By a personal appearance of ALMIGHTY GOD/JESUS CHRIST
2. By an audible voice
3. By visions or dreams
4. By the ministry of angels
5. By the working of the Holy Spirit upon the mind
6. By the making alive of a passage of Scripture to our hearts
7. By the ministry of a prophet or preacher.

“Do not be afraid . . . I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward”…There was a good reason why God said this.

WHY?
Because Abram had just defeated an ENORMOUS army, from a confederation of FIVE KINGS told to us in GENESIS 14.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ENORMITY OF THAT, we realize ABRAM HAD GOOD reason to be AFRAID FOR HIS SECURITY.

WHY?

ABRAM KNEW an attack of retribution was to be expected.

“Your shield . . . your reward”… Abram KNEW HE NEEDED a shield because he was expecting to be attacked. He KNEW HE NEEDED reward because he had just FORFEITED A LION’S SHARE reward offered from the king of Sodom.

SO WHAT IS ALMIGHTY GOD TELLING ABRAM?
SO WHAT IS JESUS CHRIST TELLING US THEN AND NOW?

God is telling Abram/ SHOWING US that though he/WE HAVE sacrificed for His sake, ABRAM NOR US WILL BE the loser for it.

God WILL more than make up what Abram has given up for the Lord.

JESUS CHRIST KNOWS PRECISELY HOW, WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE HE WILL BECOME the answer to our need. When we NEED a shield or a reward, JESUS CHRIST BECOMES those things for us.

“Do not be afraid”….So God told Abram this because HE KNEW ABRAM was afraid, and AFRAID FOR GOOD REASON. But God will give ABRAM AND US a REASON AND A PROOF to put away OUR fears. God NEVER TELLS US DO NOT BE AFRAID without giving us a reason to put away our fears.

BUT ABRAM IS LIKE US IN MANY CASES.
WHY?
FIRST ANSWER ME THIS:

HAS ANY ONE HERE EVER DOUBTED WHAT ALMIGHTY GOD AND JESUS CHRIST HAVE PROMISED US IN THEIR WORD?

DOUBTED THAT JESUS LOVES AND PROTECTS AND PROVIDES EQUALLY TO THOSE WHO TRUST HIM?

ANYONE SAID….WELL YEAH SURE I BELIEVE IT WHEN THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD PARTED THE RED SEA, SHUT THE STARVING LIONS MOUTH SHUT, TURNED AN ORPHAN JEW GIRL INTO THE QUEEN OF PERSIA, INSURED ABRAM DEFEATED AN ENORMOUS ARMY, THAT WAS OUTNUMBERED 100 TO 1.

BUT I AM NOT MOSES, NOT DANIEL, NOT ESTHER, AND NOT AN ABRAM.

THESE WERE SPECIAL MEN AND WOMEN.

I AM JUST…ME.
I AM A…NOBODY.
I AM NOT….SPECIAL, RIGHT?

BUT WHAT WE FORGET IS TO THE EYES OF THE WORLD AND TO THE EYES OF SATAN AND HIS DEMONS…SO WERE MOSES, DANIEL, ESTHER, AND ABRAM….UNTIL….AND NEVERTHELESS….JESUS CHRIST ENTERED THEIR LIVES.

SO ABRAM DID WHAT WE DO TO THIS DAY….HE DOUBTED.


Verses 2-3 tells us Abram HONESTLY expresses his doubts.

“But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”

Though certainly Abram appreciated the promise from God, at the same time, there was a sense in which it seemed to ring hollow in Abram’s ears.

WHY?

BECAUSE ABRAM WAS TELLING ALMIGHTY GOD….THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REWARDS AND THE PROTECTIONS BUTTTTTTTTT…..UMMMMMM…What good is it that YOU ARE my shield and reward?

The only thing I’ve ever wanted with any passion in my life is a son! Here I am trying to do what you WANT me to do…go where YOU WANT me to go, but UMMMM LORD…did you FORGET ABOUT THE DESCENDANTS YOU PROMISED ME PART?

I AM NOW A HUNDRED YEARS OLD....AND SARAH...IS NOT FAR BEHIND ME.
YOU DO UNDERSTAND...UMMMMM AT THIS STAGE PROCREATING A SON...IS IMPOSSIBLE, RIGHT?

It is almost as if Abram meant, “Lord, You’ve given me lots of stuff, and you NOW promise to give me more, and to protect me. But what good is it if I don’t have a descendant to give it to? I want the son You promised me!”

AND ALSO, YOU ARE PROBABLY ASKING YOURSELF WHO IS Eliezer of Damascus?

ELIEZER was Abram’s chief assistant, his right-hand man. He was a good man, but NOT a son to Abram.

“Look, You have given me no offspring!”

Talk about cheeky….ABRAM IS SPEAKING TO THE GREAT I AM…I MEAN THE FIRST TIME I READ THIS YEARS AGO, I WAS THINKING…ABRAM IS TOAST…ABRAM IS A GONER.

BUT WHAT WE SEE RIGHT HERE IN TRUTH IS THAT Abram’s BOLD HONESTY before the Lord DOES NOT EARN HIM A LIGHTNING BOLT FROM ABOVE…THAT TURNS ABRAM INTO DUST.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PATIENT FATHER. ALMIGHTY GOD WANTS US TO EMULATE ABRAM…WHEN WE APPROACH ALMIGHTY GOD…WHEN WE TALK TO JESUS CHRIST.

WHY?

BECAUSE instead of bottling up his feelings, his confusion, his fears, worries, anger, and doubt….ABRAM RESPECTFULLY, YET BOLDLY lays them out before the Lord.

“No offspring”…

THAT IS PRETTY BLUNT.

Did Abram’s question mean he doubted God? YES IT DID.

But UNDERSTAND SOMETHING RIGHT HERE.

There IS A MAJOR difference between A DOUBT THAT DENIES JESUS’ PROMISES TO US AND a doubt which DESIRES AND EXPECTS God’s promises.

Abram WANTS TO BELIEVE and IS LOOKING FOR AND ASKING God to GIVE HIM A REASON TO STRENGTHEN HIS FAITH.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ALMIGHTY GOD DID?

ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT SAY….LOOK LOWLY, PEA-BRAINED HUMAN BEING….WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING TO? DARE YOU TO QUESTION ME?!?!! DON’T YOU KNOW I AM THE GREAT I AM?!?!? ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT SAY….ZIP YOUR LIPS…AND BE CONTENT.

NO ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT….

Verses 4-5 tells us God speaks to Abram’s doubts with A PROMISE.

“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God, patient father that He is, REMINDS Abram of the promise originally recorded in Genesis 12:2 and 13:15-16.

AND JUST IN CASE ABRAM HAS DOUBTS, NEEDS A VISUAL CONFIRMATION TO JUST HOW GREAT THE PROMISE WILL BE….HE SAYS…LOOK UP AT THE STARS…YOU CAN NOT COUNT THEM BUT THAT IS HOW MANY DESCENDANTS I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU. AND DON’T YOU THINK, FROM THAT TIME FORWARD, EVERY TIME ABRAHAM LOOKED INTO THE STAR LADEN NIGHT DARK SKY…HE WAS REMINDED OF ALMIGHTY GOD’S PROMISE TO HIM.

DID YOU CATCH THAT….THAT IS THREE TIMES God REMINDS ABRAM. THE TRIUNE GOD IS IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT AND COVENANT PROMISE HERE. ALMIGHTY GOD SAID IT, JESUS CHRIST SAID IT, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID IT…. IT WAS UNANIMOUS CONFIRMATION.

WHY DID ALMIGHTY GOD DO IT?

Because OUR TRIUNE GOD KNOWS how much we need to be reminded & reassured in a world that is war filled, trial filled, trouble filled.

“One who will come from your own body shall be your heir”… God often states a SOLID, ROCK SOLID PROMISE TO US IN HIS WORD ALSO…our mistake, as with ABRAM, is that we BELIEVE AND EXPECT it will be fulfilled right away, but the fulfillment of THIS PROMISE OF AN HEIR, AT THIS POINT, IS STILL 15 years away.

BUT REMEMBER TO….EACH PASSING NIGHT OF THOSE 15 YEARS TO COME….ABRAM LOOKED UP INTO THE STAR FILLED NIGHT….AND REMEMBERED GOD’S PROMISE AND WAS COMFORTED, AMEN?

No wonder WE ARE REMINDED IN HEBREWS 6:11-12, which says, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

AND BY THE “FROM YOUR OWN BODY”…ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED NO CONFUSION, SO HE EXPLAINED EXACTLY what He meant in His promise to Abram.

ALMIGHTY GOD WAS telling ABRAM…that it WAS NOT a spiritual descendant who would inherit the promise (such as Eliezer), but an actual flesh-and-blood descendant. This was necessary, because we sometimes misunderstand God’s promises.

OR SATAN IS QUICK TO TWIST AND CONFUSE AND BRING DOUBT INTO OUR HEARTS AND MINDS….JUST AS HE DID IN THE BEGINNING WITH EVE…WE SEE HERE THAT SATAN DOES NOT CHANGE…

“Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them”…God not only tells Abram the promise again, but He confirms it with an illustration: the stars in the sky show how vast the number of Abram’s descendants would be.

We KNOW by education teaching experts…that a human LEARNS BY at least ONE OF THREE WAYS. THEY HEAR IT, THEY SEE IT, AND OR THEY TOUCH IT…WHICH MEANS THEY ARE GIVEN TANGIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS.

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS ABRAM & HE SHOWS ABRAM.

AND BETTER YET…USING THE STARS TO SHOW ABRAM HAS ANOTHER PURPOSE…ANOTHER WINK FROM ALMIGHTY GOD, ANOTHER PROMISE, ANOTHER SNEAK PEEK, THAT IS CONFIRMED IN REVELATION 22:16, which tells us ONE OF THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAM WOULD BE…….The Bright and Morning Star, who is JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

Verse 6 tells us…Abram’s response of faith to God’s promise.

“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

When Abram put his trust in God, specifically in God’s promise to him (descendants who would also produce the Messiah), God credited this belief to Abram’s account as righteousness.

WHY?

There are essentially TWO TYPES of righteousness:

Righteousness we accomplish by OUR OWN efforts, and righteousness ACCOUNTED TO US by the work of God when we believe.

Since NONE, NO NOT ONE of us can be good enough to accomplish PERFECT righteousness, we must have God’s righteousness accounted to us by doing just what Abram did: he believed in the Lord.

God’s accounting is NOT pretending.
God does NOT account to us a pretended righteousness, but a real PERFECT, PRECIOUS, AND PRICELESS RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH AND IN Jesus Christ.

“And He accounted it to him for righteousness”….This is one of the CLEAREST EXPRESSIONS in the Bible of the truth of salvation by grace, through faith.

This is the FIRST TIME “BELIEVE” is used in the Bible; this is the FIRST TIME “RIGHTEOUSNESS” is used in the Bible.

HERE IS “THE GOSPEL” TAUGHT BY GOD AND SPOKEN BY ALMIGHTY GOD in the Old Testament, which is QUOTED 4 times in the New Testament.

ROMANS 4:1-3 CONFIRMS THIS. “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

ROMANS 4:9-10 SAYS ALSO, “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.”

ROMANS 4:19-24 SAYS, “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”

GALATIANS 3:5-7 CONFIRMS IT AGAIN, “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?; just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”

He accounted it to him for righteousness: Romans 4:9-10 makes much of the fact this righteousness was ACCOUNTED TO Abram BEFORE he was circumcised in Genesis 17.

No one could say Abram was MADE RIGHTEOUS because of his obedience or fulfillment of religious law or ritual.

It WAS FAITH AND FAITH ALONE that caused God to account Abram AS righteous in His eyes.

The faith making Abram righteous wasn’t so much believing in God (as we usually speak of believing IN God), as it was believing God.

Those ONLY believing IN GOD (in the sense of believing He DOES REALLY EXIST are merely qualified to be demons by what we are told in James 2:19.

What do I it mean by that?

There are people who say…Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah…Of COURSE, I believe there is a god…a supreme being out there….somewhere.

That is not a sign of anything.

Satan and his demons KNOW GOD EXISTS TOO. MORE BIZARRELY THEY HAVE SEEN THE TRIUNE GOD TOO. BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE, TRUST, LOVE, HONOR THE TRIUNE GOD.

THAT IS WHAT JAMES MEANS.

AND Satan must have REALLY BEEN OPPRESSING ABRAM, BECAUSE VERSES 7-8, TELLS US ABRAM DOUBTS AGAIN, SO GOD SPEAKS TO ABRAM’S DOUBT AGAIN WITH A COVENANT.

“Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

Some have said…After God makes such a dramatic and solemn statement like I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it, how could Abram answer God by essentially saying, “prove it”?

But ABRAM DID.

Some have said…How could Abram ask “How shall I know that I will inherit it,” when God had just accounted him righteous?

But ABRAM DID.

WHY?

Abram is experiencing what many of those who are accounted righteous experience. It is as if he says, “I believe when I hear God say it, but five minutes later, I’m not sure!”

BUT REMEMBER TOO, Abram had no title deed to the land, nothing to make anyone else believe he actually owned the land. All he had was the promise of God. So you can BET Satan was RIGHT THERE TO REMIND ABRAM OF ALL THIS.

WHY?

TO CREATE DOUBT…FEAR…AND WORRY IN ABRAM’S HEART.

BUT NEVERTHELESS…. IN VERSES 9-11 Abram STILL PRESSES IN, IN SPITE OF HIS DOUBTS, FEARS, AND WORRIES…AND prepares to make a covenant with God.

“So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.”

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THE FIRST TIME I READ verse 9... It sounded MORE like some pagan ritual list for a witch doctor ceremony than something the Lord would ask for.

So WHAT IS ALMIGHTY GOD DOING HERE…concocting some strange potion that will remove all doubt from Abram?

NO…what Abram THEN KNEW, AND DID WAS cut them in two . . . and placed each piece opposite the other.

WHY?

Abram understood God was telling him to get a contract ready for signing.

WAITAMINNIT HERE FAITH…WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT DID ABRAM INSTANTLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WITH THAT LIST OF ANIMALS?

HERE IS THE WHY!

In those days, contracts were made by the sacrificial cutting of animals, with the split carcasses of the animals lying on the ground. Then both parties to the covenant would walk through the animal parts together, repeating the terms of the covenant. The Lord made a covenant in Genesis 15:18 is literally, “the Lord cut a covenant.”

AND THERE IS ANOTHER REFERENCE TO THIS IN Jeremiah 34:18-20 makes reference to this same practice of a covenant made by cutting animals and repeating the oath of the covenant as one walks through the animal parts.

HA! I MEAN THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS…I WONDER HOW MANY BANKS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WOULD THINK LONGGGGG AND HARD BEFORE MAKING A COMMITMENT….SIGNING A PROMISSORY CONTRACT…IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO WALK THROUGH ANIMAL GUTS WHILE THEY REPEATED THE PROMISE…THE OATH?

BET THEY WOULD BE MORE DETERMINED TO KEEP IT…OR NOT MAKE PROMISES THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF KEEPING….AMEN?

BUT THE BIBLICAL SYMBOLISM IS VERY CLEAR….

FIRST…this is a covenant so serious it is sealed WITH blood; SECOND…if I break this covenant, let this same bloodshed be poured out on my animals and me!

There is no mistake about it: when Abram has his doubts, and wants assurance from the Lord, God says to him plainly, “let’s sign a contract and settle this once for all.”

As Abram waits for the Lord to appear and walk through the carcasses with him (to sign the covenant), God doesn’t come right away, but the vultures do.

Abram FULLY expects God to come down and walk through the animal parts with him IMMEDIATELY, because God had previously appeared to him IMMEDIATELY IN Genesis 12:7.

God did not but the VULTURES DID. ISN’T THAT JUST LIKE SATAN AND THE WORLD TODAY…WE HAVE A PROMISE FROM JESUS…WE ARE EXPECTING AN INSTANT RESPONSE…BUT WHAT HAPPENS? SATAN AND THE WORLD SEEK TO INTRUDE, SEEK TO DESTROY THE PROMISE, SEEK TO STOP THE HOPED FOR PROMISES ANSWERS, AMEN?

BUT YOU NOTICE ABRAM CHASED THE VULTURES AWAY. HE DID NOT LET THEM DESTROY HIS COVENANT CONTRACT.

Verses 12-16 tells us prologue to the covenant.

“Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

At the end of the day, God has still NOT appeared to walk through the animal parts with Abram. Instead, God causes a deep sleep to fall upon Abram. Apparently, at least part of what follows came to Abram in a dream while he was under this deep sleep.

Know certainly….Abram wanted concrete proof from God, and God will sign the covenant; but Abram should also know he will have land and descendants, but all will not go well with them at all times. Now he knows some dreadful news for certain.

I READ THIS…AND SHUDDERED…ABRAM WANTED TO KNOW…SO ALMIGHTY GOD TOLD HIM. IT BRINGS TO MIND MOMENTS IN MY LIFE WHEN I HAVE SAID JESUS YOU HAVE PROMISED ME THIS OR THAT IN YOUR WORD…NOW PROVE IT. TELL ME NOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN…GIVE ME A VISION…GIVE ME FORESIGHT SO I CAN PREPARE AND GUARD AGAINST IT.

AND LOOKING BACK OVER MY LIFE…IF JESUS HAD TOLD ME WHAT I WOULD FACE IN ADVANCE…WHAT HURTS, TRIALS, AND TRIBULATIONS, AND DEEP SORROWS, AND LOSSES I WOULD FACE…ALONG WITH THE BLESSINGS AND GIFTS…I FEAR I WOULD HAVE RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AS FAST AS I COULD. DURING THOSE TIMES OF INTROSPECTION WITH JESUS, I AM GLAD THAT HE DID NOT TELL ME.

THINK ABOUT THE DISCIPLES, AS THEY WATCHED JESUS ASCEND IN THE CLOUDS BACK TO HEAVEN…THEY THOUGHT HE WOULD BE BACK IN A FEW WEEKS, A FEW YEARS AT MOST…SO THEY GOT BUSY SEEKING THE LOST, SHINING AND SHARING AND SHOWING JESUS TO ALL THEY MET…WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE DONE, IF THEY KNEW THAT THEIR JESUS WOULD NOT BE RETURNING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER?

BUT HERE….ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO KNOWS ALL, KNEW THAT IN SPITE OF THE HORRIFICS HE GAVE ABRAM…HE KNEW ABRAM WOULD STAND…

BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT….After God told him some of the hardship that would befall his descendants, Abram might have said, “WELL LORD…If that is what is going to happen TO THEM IN THE FUTURE, JUST FORGET ABOUT KIDS OKAY! I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND…I don’t want any children!”

And we who have studied THE BIBLE, KNOW God IS TELLING ABRAM IN ADVANCE of the slavery and hardship Israel will endure in Egypt in Exodus 1:1-14, yet they would, after four generations, come back into the Promised Land.

And we KNOW THAT IS PRECISELY AND EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT LIE.
AND WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO AND WHAT HE SAYS WILL HAPPEN………ALWAYSSSSSSSS DOES, AMEN?

Verses 17-21 tells us the covenant is made.

“And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates; the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

As Abram is either asleep or perhaps still groggy from the deep sleep he had been under, he sees God do an amazing thing: pass through the animal parts all by Himself, while Abram watches on the sidelines.

God represents Himself by two emblems: a smoking oven and a burning torch.

WHY?

The smoking oven reminds us of the pillar of cloud representing the presence of God in Exodus 13:21-22, & the smoke on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:18, and the cloud of God’s Shekinah glory in 1 Kings 8:10-12.

JUST AS the burning torch reminds us of the pillar of fire representing the presence of God in Exodus 13:21-22, of the burning bush displaying the presence of God before Moses in Exodus 3:4, and of the fire from heaven which sometimes consumed sacrifices God was well pleased with in 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1.

AND DID YOU CATCH THAT…God, represented by the smoking oven and the burning torch, passed through the animal parts by Himself; as Abram watched, God showed this was a unilateral covenant. Abram NEVER “signed” the covenant, because God “signed” it for BOTH of them.

Therefore, the certainty of the covenant God makes with Abram is based on WHO God IS,……NOT on who Abram is or what Abram does.

This covenant CANNOT fail, because God CANNOT fail.
In a sense, the Father walked through the broken and bloody body of Jesus to establish His covenant with us, and God signed it for both of us. We merely enter into the covenant by faith; we don’t make the covenant with God.

AND by entering into this contract, there is a sense in which God was saying, “If I don’t keep My word, let Me be put asunder.” God was putting His Deity on the line as a confirmation of His oath to Abram.

This covenant God signed alone; Abram did not haggle with God over the terms. God established and Abram accepted. Abram cannot break a contract he has never signed!

By quoting the specific lands Abram’s descendants will inherit, God makes it plain this is not a “pie in the sky” spiritual promise. It is real, and through it, Israel WILL inherit THROUGH HIM REAL land.

AND WHAT IS AN INTERESTING BIBLE HISTORY FOOTNOTE….For a very brief time, under Solomon in 1 Kings 8:65 and possibly again under Jeroboam II in 2 Kings 14:25, the children of Israel RULED ALL THIS TERRITORY, as a token of the final and permanent possession they will have in the future after JESUS RETURNS TO SAVE ISRAEL FROM THE WORLD AND THE ANTI-CHRIST AND BEGINS HIS 1000 YEAR RULE AND REIGN OF THE EARTH FROM WITHIN JERUSALEM.


SOOOOO WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM GENESIS 15?

IN GENESIS 15, ALMIGHTY GOD HAS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE REDEEMING GRACE COVENANT THAT HIS SON JESUS CHRIST WILL COMPLETE AND FULFILL. HIS RIGHTEOUS BY OUR FAITH…AND OUR FAITH IN HIM ALONE.

GENESIS 15 TEACHES US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PATIENT FATHER…WHO LOVES.

A PATIENT FATHER THAT IS READY FOR, AND ACCEPTING OF THE WHY WHY WHY WHYS OF HIS CHILDREN.

A LOVING TEACHING FATHER THAT IS NOT BOTHERED BY EARNEST, HONEST, RESPECTFUL ARE YOU SURE? ARE YOU SURE?

AND A FATHER WHO KNOWS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AND GIVES US COVENANT VISUALS THAT WE CAN SEE, UNDERSTAND, AND REMEMBER…

HE GIVES ABRAM THE STAR FILLED NIGHT TO REMIND HIM OF HIS PROMISE…HIS COVENANT.

HE WILL GIVE NOAH THE RAINBOW TO REMIND HIM THAT HE IS A PROMISE KEEPER.

GENESIS 15 TELLS US, SHOWS US, AND GIVES US VISUAL PROOFS THAT OUR JESUS CHRIST IS A PROMISE KEEPER.

WHAT HE HAS PROMISED US IN HIS WORD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT…HE HAS PROMISED AND KEPT FOR US THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT AS WELL.

TRUST OUR JESUS CHRIST…HE WILL NEVER FAIL US.

BE BLESSED…STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS!

GENESIS 16: ABRAM & ISHMAEL…THE BIRTH OF THE ARAB NATIONS

EVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION…IT IS AS FUTILE AS TRYING TO FIT A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE?

EVER SEEN A CHILD TAKE A WOODEN TOY HAMMER AND GET THAT STUBBORN, DETERMINED LOOK ON HIS OR HER FACE AND POUND AWAY….IN AN EFFORT TO PROVE THAT THEY WILL BE THE FIRST TO GET THAT SQUARE PEG TO FIT INTO THE ROUND HOLE…?

NOW THIS IS REGARDLESS THE FACT THAT THE PARENT, TEACHER, CAREGIVER…HAS PATIENTLY SHOWN THE CHILD WHICH PIECE ON THE BOARD FITS WHERE. AND IF THEY WAIT AND DO IT ONE BY ONE PROPERLY ALL THE PIECES WILL FIT INTO THE BOARD PERFECTLY…WITHOUT STRESS, STRAIN, HAMMERING AWAY, OR PITCHING A TEMPER TANTRUM…OR WITHOUT DIRE CONSEQUENCES…EITHER.

ALL THEY NEED IS PATIENCE…

IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME MY PARENTS, TEACHERS TOLD ME….FAITH…BE PATIENT…OR THE KAZILLION TIMES I TOLD MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN…CALM DOWN…BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF…WITH YOUR SITUATION…. I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT MY BANK ACCOUNT WOULD PROBABLY RIVAL BILL GATES!

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAMMER AWAY…REGARDLESS THAT THE RULES OF MAN, AND PHYSICS SAY IT CAN NOT BE DONE, MUCH LESS THAT JESUS SAYS…ASK ME…LIFT THE PROBLEM, WANT, NEED, WORRY INTO MY HANDS…THEN BE PATIENT…JUST GO SIT DOWN, REST IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE GOT IT ALL UNDER CONTROL…I AM YOUR SUDDENLY. BE PATIENT….WAIT ON THE LORD….WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD.

WELL GENESIS 16 IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A PROMISE FROM JESUS. WHEN WE HAVE PRAYED IT UP, TALKED IT OUT, AND RECEIVED A NOD FROM HEAVEN, AND FOR A TIME, WE WALK IN THAT PROMISE…JESUS SAID IT…JESUS PROMISED IT…I BELIEVE IT…THAT SETTLES IT FOR ME…

UNTILLLLLLLLLLL….TIME PASSES…AND IN THE NATURAL THE ANSWER DOES NOT ARRIVE….WE KEEP LOOKING, WE KEEP EXPECTING, WE KEEP REMINDING OURSELVES WHAT JESUS PROMISES…BUTTTTTTTTTTT….STILL NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ANSWER DOES NOT COME…

WE LIVE IN A PUSH BUTTON WORLD NOW…POP A PILL..HEADACHE IS TOAST, GET HUNGRY? ZIP THROUGH A DRIVE THRU IN 3 MINUTES AND VOILA….NO LONGER HUNGRY. OOPS, NEED SOME CASH, IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND THE BANKS ARE CLOSED….NOOOOOOOO PROBLEM….FIND YOURSELF AN ATM….AND SWOOSH….IT SPITS OUT A 20 DOLLAR BILL. WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A FRIEND…NOOOOOOO PROBLEM….DO NOT HAVE THE TIME FOR A NICE CHAT OR A HAND WRITTEN LETTER OR A DRIVE…..JUST JUMP ONLINE…..POUND OUT AN EPISTLE IN 15 MINUTES…IT SEND AND DONEEEEEEEE.

PUSH BUTTON….SO WHEN THE ‘SPIRITUAL AND HEAVENLY PUSH BUTTON’ DOES NOT WORK AND ALL THOSE AROUND US START IN WITH….

WELLLLLLLLLLL, FAITH YOU TOLD US YOU HAD PRAYED IT UP, JESUS HAD ANSWERED WITH A PROMISE…BUT HERE YOU ARE…A WEEK, A MONTH, A YEAR LATER….AND YOU ARE STILL WAITING AND WHERE IS YOUR ANSWER.

YOU HAVE NO ANSWER…NO DIRECTION…NO PROVISION.

I REALLY HATE TO TELL YOU THIS…BUT UMMMMMMM FAITH I THINK YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.
YOU MISSED A STEP.
YOU DID NOT PRAY ENOUGH.
YOU MUST HAVE SOME FAULT, SIN, OR JESUS IS NOT AS HAPPY WITH YOU AS YOU BELIEVED…TRUSTED!

THAT HAS TO BE IT….SINCE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, YOU SHOULD NOT BE STANDING…SPEAKING OUT THE PROMISE…WAITING…YOU SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING!

OR THEY START IN WITH…GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES…EVEN THOUGH NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY THIS…THEY SPOUT IT…

AND AFTER A TIME, YOU GET WORN DOWN, WITH THE HAMMERING, THE COMPLAINING, THE NO TANGIBLE, NO VISIBLE ANSWERS…EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PROMISE…AND EVENTUALLY THE ROSY GLOW AND FAITH BEEN TO FADEEEEEEEEEE……AND SATAN AND THE WORLD’S BEST WEAPON DOUBT & FEAR & IMPATIENCE CREEPS IN…AND YOU DECIDE OKAY….I WILL FIX THIS MYSELF.

MAYBE EVERYONE IS RIGHT….JESUS IS WRONG, OR I JUST MISUNDERSTOOD HIM….MAYBE I AM SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS MYSELF…REGARDLESS JESUS TELLING ME TO WAIT…BE PATIENT…MAYBEEEEEEEE….EVERY ONE IS RIGHT!

I NEED TO DOOOOOOOOOO SOMETHING!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ABRAM…IN GENESIS 15 ALMIGHTY GOD PATIENTLY AGAIN ANSWERED ABRAMS….UMMMMM JESUS ARE YOU SUREEEEEEE? UMMMMM JESUS YOU DID NOT FORGET ABOUT ME OR YOUR PROMISES TO ME RIGHT?

ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT SCREAM, DID NOT SHOOT A LIGHTNING BOLT FROM ABOVE INTO ABRAM’S REAR END…..NOOOOOOO HE NOT ONLY GAVE ABRAM A PROMISE, HE MADE A BLOOD COVENANT WITH ABRAM.
I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WALKING THROUGH BLOODY ANIMAL GUTS WHICH IS A SACRED UNBREAKABLE OATH IN GOD’S EYES….WOULD HAVE BEEN EVER PRESENT IN MY MIND…RIGHT..?

BUT ALMIGHTY GOD SAID ABRAM….FORGET HOW OLD YOU ARE, FORGET HOW OLD SARAI IS….I AM GOING TO REVIVE YOU BOTH SEXUALLY. I AM GOING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU AND SARAI AN HEIR OUT OF YOUR BODY. YOU WILL HAVE A SON……BUT ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT TELL ABRAM…OOOOO BY THE WAY….YOU AND SARAI HAVE TO WAIT 10+ YEARS BEFORE SARAI WILL BECOME PREGNANT.

GOD WANTED ABRAM AND SARAI TO TRUST HIM…NOT WHAT THEY SAW, NOT WHAT THEY FELT, NOT WHAT OTHERS SAID…TO IGNORE THE DOUBTING LOOKS, THE SHAKING HEADS….THE WHISPERS, THE GOSSIP, THE LAUGHING BEHIND THEIR HANDS….JUST STAND AND TRUST HIM.

AND WHAT DOES ABRAM & SARAI’S IMPATIENCE EARN THEM… Hagar and the Birth of Ishmael & THE BIRTH OF THE ARAB NATIONS

TURN WITH ME NOW TO GENESIS 16...

Verses 1-2 tells us Sarai gives her servant girl Hagar to Abram & proposes a child for ABRAM THROUGH HAGAR.

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant was undoubtedly part of what Abram received during his time in Egypt (Genesis 12:16).

Here is more hammering….Sarai encouraged Abram to take part in what was essentially a “surrogate mother” arrangement in that day.

According to custom, the child would be considered to be the child of Abram and Sarai, not Abram and Hagar.

Sarai did something that goes against the nature of wives - to give another woman to her husband. She probably did this because she knew the promise of God (that Abram would be the father of many nations), yet she thought SHE WAS THE PROBLEM with God’s promise being fulfilled. So in an effort to “help God out,” she allowed her husband make her servant pregnant.

Jewish tradition says that childlessness WAS/IS a punishment from God. It has been 2 years, since ALMIGHTY GOD made the blood covenant with Abram, and STILL they still had no children. Since SARAI suggests it, no doubt Satan and all those women around her told Sarai it was SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER, IT WAS HER BODY THAT WAS NOT ONLY OLD BUT DEFECTIVE…NOT ABRAM…SO SHE WANTED TO GIVE HER HUSBAND WHAT HE WANTED ABOVE ALL ELSE.

AND EVEN THOUGH this early form of “surrogate motherhood” was common and accepted in that day, it doesn’t mean it was right. God is clearly NOT leading Abram and Sarai.

Verses 3-4 tells us Abram agrees with Sarai’s suggestion.

“Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.”

The long waiting for the promise discouraged them and made them vulnerable to acting in the flesh. Yet, even after this, it would still be more than 13 years until the child of promise came.

When we impatiently try to “help God out” in the flesh, it accomplishes nothing and may even prolong the time until the promise is fulfilled.

Want EXAMPLES OF TRYING TO HELP ALMIGHTY GOD OUT?

Jacob had to live as an exile for 25 years because he thought he had to “help God out” to get his father’s blessing.
Moses had to tend sheep for 40 years in the desert after he tried to “help God out” by murdering an Egyptian.

Abram was certainly in the flesh when he agreed to inseminate Hagar and not trusting in God’s ability to provide an heir through Sarai.

But this WAS NOT A ROMANTIC TRYST. AND IT WAS FAR FAR AWAY FROM ANY SENSATIONALIZED sensual romance.

According to the custom of the day, Hagar would actually sit on the lap of Sarai as Abram inseminated her, to show that the child would legally belong to Sarai, as Hagar was merely a substitute for Sarai.

THERE ARE OTHER OCASSIONS OF A SURROGATE MOTHER IN THE BIBLE. Remember Rachel’s giving of Bilhah her servant to Jacob when Rachel was barren. In that context, Genesis 30:3 reads: So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”

The phrase “bear a child on my knees” refers to the ancient practice of surrogate-adoption. Some believe that the phrase refers only to a symbolic placement of the child on the knees of one who adopts it. Others believe that it refers to the surrogate sitting on the lap of the adoptive mother during both insemination and birth.

Then the worst thing from Sarai’s perspective happened - Abram succeeded in inseminating Hagar. This proved beyond all doubt TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING SARAI, that the problem was in Sarai, not in Abram, and it also could make people think Hagar was “more of a woman” and more blessed than Sarai.

Verses 5-6 tells us of Sarai’s anger towards Hagar.
“Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.” So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.”

“I became despised in her eyes”…tells us Hagar’s contempt for Sarai started the problem. She couldn’t resist displaying an inappropriate haughtiness, thinking her pregnancy somehow showed her to be better to be ABOVE her mistress Sarai now.

My wrong be upon you! Sarai blamed the whole situation on Abram, and for good cause. He should have acted as the spiritual leader and told his wife God was able to perform what He promised, and they didn’t need to try to “help God out” in the works of the flesh.

Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please: Abram seemed to make a bad situation worse by turning the situation over to Sarai and not taking care of the child he is father to. Yet, in this, he also puts his relationship with Sarai first, and that is good.

These terribly complicated and difficult situations often arise out of OUR IMPATIENCE…GIVING IN TO THE FLESH…TRYING TO HELP ALMIGHTY GOD. All in all, it is much easier to live life trusting in the Lord. God wants to spare us from these difficulties.

Verses 6-9 tells us Hagar flees from Abram and Sarai & The Angel of the Lord appears to Hagar and instructs her.

“And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”

As Hagar escaped this difficult situation that she had made for herself with her behavior and arrogance….it is stopped in its tracks when THE ANGEL OF THE LORD (here, the pre-incarnate presence of Jesus) met her by a spring of water in the wilderness.

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD….CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST making another CAMEO appearance in THE OLD TESTAMENT. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY I STICK WITH THE KJV HOLY BIBLE…THE VERY IMPORTANT A, AN, THE are NOT CHANGED OR OMITTED IN THE KJV…AND IT HELPS US TO KNOW…EVERY TIME…IF IT IS AN ANGEL OF GOD…WHICH COULD BE ANY OF THE LEGIONS OF ANGELS OF HEAVEN….OR THE ANGEL OF THE LORD…WHO CAN ONLY BE OUR PRECIOUS JESUS CHRIST.

We believe this because of God the Father it says, No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18), and no man has ever seen God in the Person of the Father (1 Timothy 6:16).

Therefore, WE KNOW if God appeared to someone in human appearance in the Old Testament it CAN ONLY BE the appearance is of the eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, before His incarnation in Bethlehem.

HOW COOL IS THAT?

“Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand”… JESUS CHRIST tells Hagar to do something very difficult: go back to her terrible situation and to submit herself to Sarai. We can suppose that Hagar might get very different counseling from many counselors today, BUT the difference is JESUS CHRIST KNOWS ALL, NOTHING IS HIDDEN…SO HE KNOWS HAGAR CREATED THE STRIFE...AND SO SHE MUST FACE UP TO IT!
BUT NOT TO WORRY…JESUS IS WITH HER…


Verses 10-12 tells us The promise of THE ANGEL OF THE LORD to Hagar.

“Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

God has great plans for Hagar’s child. He will become a great nation. Indeed, Ishmael will become the father of all the Arabic peoples.

Today’s battle between Jew and Arab is nothing new. Both Jews and Arabs are descended from Abram by two half-brothers: Ishmael and the son to come later from Abram and Sarai, to be named Isaac.

ABRAM did what we CAN BE GUILTY OF…WE REMEMBER PIECEMEAL…INSTEAD OF THE FULL WORDS AND PROMISE. ABRAM FORGOT THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAD ALREADY TOLD HIM THAT AN HEIR….A SON WOULD COME FROM SARAI’S WOMB…HIS BODY.

IT CAN NOT BE ANY PLAINER THAN THAT.
BUT ABRAM FORGOT THAT…AND SO DID SARAI.

The entire conflict can be traced back to Abram’s decision to “help God out” in the flesh, both when he agreed to inseminate Hagar, and when he went to Egypt to begin with. The effects of our sin may reach far beyond what we ever imagined. ALMIGHTY GOD SAID IT AND IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS HE SAID. THE ARAB NATIONS HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONFLICT AND WAR WITH NOT ONLY THEIR HALF-BROTHERS THE NATION OF ISRAEL, BUT WITH ALL THOSE AROUND THEM SINCE THE OLD TESTAMENT DAYS.

JESUS CHRIST EVEN WARNS AND TELLS HAGAR WHAT HER SON WILL BE LIKE…AND HE WAS!

“He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him: Her child’s life will not be easy, but God will still bless and sustain him.
God’s dealing with Hagar gives us hope. God sees our suffering and desires to touch our life when we suffer…EVEN THOUGH WE MAY DESERVE TO SUFFER AND/OR BRING THE SUFFERING UPON OURSELVES.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PATIENT, LOVING, AND FORGIVING FATHER…THEN AND NOW, AMEN?

Verses 13-16 tells us God’s blessing and protection of Hagar and Ishmael.

“Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.”

“You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees”…tells us Hagar KNEW this was no mere angel who appeared to her. The Angel of the Lord was also the-God-Who-Sees, the same One watching over Hagar and Ishmael.

And it is interesting to note…that Ishmael is the FIRST MAN in the Bible to receive his name BEFORE he was born.

Apparently, Hagar did return with a submitted heart. She told the whole story to Abram and Sarai, and Abram named the child Ishmael, just as instructed in the meeting with the Angel of the Lord Hagar described.

After meeting with El Roi, (You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees), Hagar knew that if God could be with her in the wilderness, He would be with her in having to submit to Sarai also.

GENESIS 16 GIVES US MANY VISUALS…GIVES US MANY TANGIBLE EXAMPLES SO THAT WE CAN SEE….WE CAN UNDERSTAND….AND WE CAN FOLLOW.

TIME WAS CREATED FOR MANKIND, THE EARTH, AND NATURE.
TIME, IN AND OF ITSELF, HAS LITTLE BEARING ON JESUS CHRIST’S PLANS. JESUS CHRIST SAYS A 1000 YEARS IS AS A DAY….AND A DAY IS AS A 1OOO YEARS IN THE ETERNAL.

SO WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM GENESIS 16?

DO NOT BE IMPATIENT….WAIT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
IF WE WAIT…IF WE STAND…WE SPARE OURSELF PRESENT AND FUTURE STRIFE.

WE LEARN WHAT JESUS HAS PROMISED US THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE…HE DID THEN, HE CAN DO TODAY, AND WILL DO IN OUR TOMORROWS.
HIS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT.
HIS ANSWERS ARE ALWAYS PERFECT.
HIS PATIENCE IS UNENDING.

JESUS CHRIST WANTS US TO PRAY IT UP, BELIEVE HIS PROMISES, TRUST HIM, AND REMEMBER THAT HE KNOWS ALL THINGS, NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM HIM.
SATAN CAN NOT SNEAK ATTACK JESUS.
SATAN CAN NOT PLOT SECRETLY.
MANKIND CAN NOT SNEAK UP ON OUR JESUS.
MANKIND CAN NOT PLOT SECRETLY.
JESUS KNOWS THE THOUGHTS AND THE PLANS AND HE HAS PROMISED US THAT HE HAS ALREADY GONE INTO OUR TOMORROWS…OUR FUTURE…TO MAKE A PROVISION, A PROTECTION, A BLESSING, FAVOR, A DIRECTION, AND/OR A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR US…LONG BEFORE WE EVER EVEN KNEW WE might HAVE A PROBLEM OR A NEED.

SO STRIVE NOT TO HELP JESUS OUT.
STRIVE NOT TO SECOND GUESS JESUS.
STAND ON HIS WORD…HIS PROMISES.
STAND…WAIT PATIENTLY…WHETHER YOU HAVE TO STAND A MINUTE, A DAY, A WEEK, OR 15 YEARS….THE ANSWERS, THE PROVISIONS, THE HEALINGS, THE BLESSINGS WHATEVER WE HAVE LIFTED INTO OUR JESUS HANDS AND ARE BELIEVING OUR JESUS CHRIST FOR….WILL HAPPEN…SUDDENLY…PERFECTLY….POWERFULLY…AND WHEN IT DOES….SATAN, THE LOST WORLD, AND MANKIND WILL KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT THAT IT WAS OUR JESUS….ALL JESUS…AND HE WILL RECEIVE THE GLORY AND THE HONOR FOR IT!

JESUS SAYS STAND…WAIT…I AM FAITHFUL…EVER FAITHFUL…TRUST ME…NOT YOUR OWN MIND, NOT YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, NOT WHAT THE WORLD THREATENS, NOT THE GLOOM AND DOOM SAYERS, NOT THE WORDS OR YAMMERING AND OPINIONS OF OTHERS…TRUST JESUS CHRIST…..TRUST HIM ALONE.

BE BLESSED AND STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS CHRIST!

GENESIS 17: God Reaffirms the Covenant…

THIS CHAPTER TELLS US GOD GRINS AND SAYS I HEARD THAT!!!!
AND THEN ALMIGHTY GOD SAYS GOTCHA....

An appearance from God, a change of name for Abram.

Verses 1-2 tells us God appears to Abram when he is 99 years old.

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

The Lord appeared to Abram: Undoubtedly, this is another appearance of God in the person of Jesus, who took on a temporary human appearance before His incarnation on earth.

I am Almighty God: First, God told Abram who He is. By this name El Shaddai, He revealed His Person and character to Abram. My favorite translation is “Almighty,” the “One who CARES & has His hand on everything.”

Walk before Me and be blameless: Then God told Abram what was expected of him. We can only do what God expects of us when we know who He is and know it in a full, personal, real way.

The word blameless does NOT mean SINLESS & PURE. Abram was a flawed human, there has ONLY BEEN ONE PERSON TO EVER WALK THE FACE OF THE EARTH BLAMELESS AND SINLESS AND PURE….AND THAT IS JESUS CHRIST, AMEN!

The word BLAMELESS HERE literally means “WHOLE.” God wanted ALL of Abram, wanting a TOTAL commitment.

I will make My covenant between Me and you: God also reminded Abram He has NOT forgotten the covenant. Though it had been some 25 years since the promise was FIRST made, and though it maybe seemed to Abram God forgot, God is telling ABRAM…I DID NOT FORGET.

The last time we are told the Lord communicated with Abram directly was more than 13 years before. Seemingly, Abram had 13 years of “normal” fellowship with God, waiting for the promise all the time. Surely, at times during those years, Abram felt God forgot.

Abram was becoming a great man of faith, but you don’t make a great man of faith overnight. It takes years of God’s work in them, years of almost mundane trusting in God, interspersed with a few spectacular encounters with the Lord.

AND FOR ABRAM…IT HAS TAKEN HIM ALMOST 30 YEARS. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THAT IS PATIENCE SUPREME. ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT HAVE AN EGG TIMER IN HEAVEN…AND IF WE DO NOT LEARN EVERYTHING PERFECTLY AND PRECISELY BEFORE THAT EGG TIMER DINGS…HE TOSSES US AWAY. GIVES UP. WALKS AWAY. ALMIGHTY GOD IS SO KIND & PATIENT, WITH ABRAM THE MAN OF WHY WHY WHY?? ARE YOU SURE? ARE YOU SURE? DID YOU FORGET ABOUT ME? YOU DO REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE TO ME RIGHT?

OUR TRIUNE GOD IS NOT ANGRY, NOR SURPRISED AT OUR FLAWS, OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR STRUGGLES…HE IS A PATIENT KIND AND COMPASSIONATE FATHER WHO KNOWS HIS CHILD…AND HE KNOWS & SEES THE END OF THE STORY…HE KNOWS WE WILL RISE BACK UP, REPENT, AND THEN TRY AGAIN. WE DRIVE OURSELVES NUTS WATCHING THE CLOCK…COUNTING THE DAYS…BUT NOT OUR TRIUNE GOD…HE IS SOOOOOOOOOO PATIENT!

Verses 3-8 tells us God refers to SPECIFIC terms of the covenant He has NOT forgotten one word of it.

“Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

To ENCOURAGE Abram’s faith in the promise of descendants, God changed Abram’s name from Abram (father of many) to Abraham (father of many nations).

There was, no doubt, a sense in which Abram - “father of many” - was a HARD NAME to bear for a man who was the father of none, especially in a culture where inquiry about one’s personal life was a courteous practice. AND SATAN AND MANKIND (WHICH HAS NOT REALLY CHANGED AT ALL OVER TIME) HAS BEEN A NOISOME PESTILENCE IN ABRAHAM’S EAR….

SOOOOO GOD SAYS YOU ARE GOING TO BE A FATHER TO MANY? AND NOW A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS??? UMMMMM, I DOUBT IT.

SO God KNOWING ALL THESE THINGS…went a step further and made his name “father of many nations.” It is almost preposterous for a childless man to have such a name.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…IN 30 YEARS, ONE MAN & HIS WIFE COULD CONCEIVABLY PRODUCE 30 CHILDREN.

SO IMAGINE, HOW EVERYONE FELT, WHAT THEY THOUGHT when Abraham comes back from the FACE TO RACE presence TALK WITH JESUS CHRIST AND ANNOUNCES ALMIGHTY GOD HAS CHANGED HIS NAME FROM FATHER OF MANY, TO FATHER OF MANY NATIONS!

I IMAGINE THE LOOKS, THOUGHTS AND RESPONSES TO THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, CAN’T YOU?

THEY LOOKED AT HIM, AT SARAI, AND SAW NOT EVEN ONE CHILD OF THEIR BODY…AND NOW ABRAM….OOPS NOW ABRAHAM TELLS THEM HE IS GOING TO BE THE FATHER OF NATIONS. I BET MORE THAN A FEW THOUGHT…WE NEED TO GET OLD MAN ABRAHAM OUT OF THE SUN AND GET HIM TO HAVE A NICE LIE DOWN IN HIS COOL TENT…BECAUSE THE OLD MAN IS LOSSSSSSSSSSSING IT.

OTHERS MUST HAVE THOUGHT ABRAHAM wanted to escape the burden of his name. Instead by telling them what ALMIGHTY GOD HAD SAID AND DONE….ABRAHAM increased the burden.

BASICALLY ABRAHAM TELLING EVERYONE…SAID GOD SAID THIS…NOW HE HAS TO PROVE IT TO ME AND TO MY PEOPLE.
AND IN THE NATURAL…PEOPLE LOOKED AT 99 YEAR OLD, WHITE-HAIRED, WRINKLED, SLOW MOVING ABRAHAM & HIS EQUALLY WHITE-HAIRED, WRINKLED, SLOW MOVING SARAI…AND SAID TO THEMSELVES…IT WOULD BE NICE IF GOD GAVE THEM ONE…I WONDER IF ALMIGHTY GOD KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS HOW OLD AND FEEBLE THEY ARE, RIGHT?

I PUT MYSELF IN SARAI’S PLACE…AND TO HEAR MY HUSBAND ANNOUNCE THIS NEW REVELATION AFTER HAVING HEARD IT FOR 30 YEARS, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, STRONGER, MORE YOUTHFUL…NOW IT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY I WOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING TO MYSELF….ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOW? NOWWWWWWW HE WANTS TO GIVE ME A CHILD?????

I, WHO HAVE WATCHED FRIENDS AND FAMILY GO THROUGH PREGNANCY, GO THROUGH LABOR, GIVING BIRTH, THEN CARING FOR AND CHASING AFTER THOSE BABIES??? NOW, WHEN I COULD NOT RUN IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT, AND AM READY TO GO TO BED AT SUNDOWN, NOW YOU TELL ME I AM GOING TO BIRTH NATIONS????

AND AS A CHILD NAMED FAITH, IN A TIME WHEN NO ONE…AND I MEAN NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF NAMING A FEMALE CHILD FAITH…I WAS 22 YEARS OLD, BEFORE I EVER MET, OR HEARD OF ANOTHER FEMALE BEING NAMED FAITH.

I WAS BURDENED WITH THE NAME…OH SO YOUR NAME IS FAYE, FATE…NO MY NAME IS FAITH? YOU MEAN AS THE BIBLE FAITH HOPE AND CHARITY…THAT FAITH?

IT WAS TOUGH AS A KID, GROWING UP WITH THE NAME FAITH. TEACHERS INSTANTLY CALLED ME FAY, OR FAYE, AND MANY TOLD ME OVER MY GROWING UP YEARS…BOY THEY GAVE YOU A HARD NAME TO LIVE UP TOO. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOUR PARENTS NAME YOU FAITH? AND BOY, YOU THOUGHT MY NAME GAVE THEM PAUSE, WHEN I INNOCENTLY TOLD THEM THE TRUTH, JESUS TOLD MY PARENTS TO NAME ME FAITH. THEY REALLY TOOK A MENTAL STEP BACK…IF NOT A PHYSICAL ONE.

MANY TOLD ME YOU ARE DOOMED BEFORE YOU EVER STARTED WITH THAT NAME. AND HA! I DID NOT HAVE ANYYYYY IDEA HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE…TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT…

BUT WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN, IS WHAT? POSSIBLE FOR OUR TRIUNE GOD. HE HAS GROWN ME UP…AND LET ME TELL YOU IT TOOK LOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTS OF PATIENCE. I WAS THE NIGHTMARE CHILD…I DID NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING AT FACE VALUE….IT WAS A KAZILLION QUESTIONS AND ALWAYS…WHY? WHY DO I HAVE TO? WHY SHOULD I? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY! SO NOW 57 YEARS LATER, I AM FINALLY REALLY LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT….

SO I EMPATHIZE AND SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR BROTHER ABRAHAM…AND I HAD JESUS LOVING, BIBLE BELIEVING FAMILY ALL MY LIFE AS A BUFFER….ABRAM…NOW ABRAHAM HAD NO ONE IN HIS FAMILY TO TEACH HIM ABOUT JESUS…SHOW HIM HOW TO WALK IN FAITH…TO BE A MAN OF GOD…HE HAD NONE OF THAT….HE HAD IDOL WORSHIPPERS FOR HIS FAMILY.

YOU HAVE AN IDOL WORSHIPER WHO LOVES AND BELIEVES IN A TRIUNE GOD AND ONE WHO IS BELIEVING IN HIS OLD AGE FOR A CHILD STILL….AND FOR HIM TO BE NOW NOT THE FATHER OF MANY, BUT THE FATHER OF NATIONS…

SO WHAT WOULD WE CALL THAT?
WHAT DID THEY CONSIDER THAT?
HERE IT IS…HERE IS THE WORD.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

BUT THAT IS JUST HOW ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED IT. HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT IT WAS BY HIM, THROUGH HIM, AND FROM HIM ALONE THAT ABRAHAM AND SARAI CONCEIVED.

THIRTY YEARS EARLIER, THEY ((PEOPLE & FUTURE HISTORIANS)) COULD HAVE SAID OR LATER WRITTEN…WELL ABRAHAM AND SARAI SAID IT WAS ALMIGHTY GOD…BUT ((SNORT)), GET REAL, IT WAS NOT REALLY A GOD THING, IT WAS NATURAL, IT WAS NATURE…IT WAS JUST PROCREATION…AND ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT…

ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED NO DOUBTS…THAT IT WAS HE AND HE ALONE WHO CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, AMEN?

AND there are many wonderful name changes in the Bible, such as when God changed Jacob’s name to Israel in Genesis 32:28, and when Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter in Mark 3:16. And better yet…did you all know, that when we get to Heaven God promises a wonderful new name to every overcomer in Him in Revelation 2:17. How cool is that?

RIGHT NOW…ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE JESUS CHRIST GIVES US MANY NAMES IN FAITH…SUCH AS saint, righteous, chosen, royal priesthood, sons of God, My Beloved, My Bride…and so forth…
WHY?

BECAUSE OUR JESUS KNOWS He will accomplish the meaning of the name in us - even it if seems preposterous….and impossible!

AND YOU NOTICE TO ENCOURAGE Abraham’s faith in the promise of the land, God repeated the promise again, reminding Abraham it is an EVERYLASTING PROMISE given by an EVERLASTING covenant.

Verses 9-14 tells us God institutes a sign of the covenant for Abraham and his descendants.

“And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Every male child among you shall be circumcised: For the first time, God gave Abraham something to do in regard to the covenant. He told them to take upon themselves a SIGN of the covenant, showing they WILLINGLY RECEIVED the covenant by faith.

You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins: The sign was circumcision, the cutting away of the male foreskin. God chose this sign for many important reasons.

WHY?

Circumcision was not unknown in the world at that time. It was a ritual practice among various peoples.

There were/are undoubtedly hygienic reasons, especially making sense in the ancient world & more so with the proliferation of STDS & AIDS.

Morris, a Bible scholar & historian says, “There is some medical evidence that this practice has indeed contributed to the long-lasting vigor of the Jewish race.”

McMillen, another historian says, “None of these Diseases, from noted studies in 1949 and 1954 showing an incredibly low rate of cervical cancer for Jewish women, because they mostly have husbands who are circumcised.”

But more importantly, circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh and an appropriate sign of the covenant for those who should put NO TRUST in the flesh.

Also, because circumcision deals with the organ of procreation, it was a reminder of the special seed of Abraham, which would ultimately bring the Messiah.

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised: God probably commanded the circumcision of children to take place on the eighth day because this is the day when an infant’s immune system is at the optimum level for such a procedure.

McMillen also notes ANOTHER WHY ON THE 8TH DAY, thanks to the advances in MEDICAL/SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGY, that newborn children have a peculiar susceptibility to bleeding between the second and fifth days of life. It seems an important blood-clotting agent, vitamin K, is NOT formed in the normal amount until the fifth to seventh day of life, unless that newborn child is breast fed within hours of its birth. Another blood clotting agent, prothrombin, is at its highest levels in infants on precisely the eighth day of life, making the eighth day the safest, earliest day to circumcise an infant.

AND IT ONLY TOOK MANKIND…ALMOST 7 THOUSAND YEARS TO COME TO LEARN, GET SMART ENOUGH, AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND…SOMETHING ALMIGHTY GOD HAS ALWAYS KNOWN.

ALMIGHTY GOD ALWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSS HAS A PERFECT AND GOOD REASON FOR THE THINGS HE ASKS OF US…COMMANDS US TO DO, EVEN IF WE OURSELVES DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WHY OF IT.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT….IF ABRAHAM HAD ASKED WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS? AND ALMIGHTY GOD SAID THE BLOD-CLOTTING FACTOR, VITAMIN K, & THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS STRONGEST THEN IN CHILDREN….YOUR WIVES AND YOU YOURSELVES WILL BE SPARED CERVICAL CANCER, HAVE BETTER HYGIENE….ABRAHAM WOULD HAVE HAD NOOOOOOOOOOO CLUE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

AND ALMIGHTY GOD GIVES A WARNING HERE AS WELL…the uncircumcised male child . . . he has broken My covenant:

Those who rejected circumcision rejected the sign of the covenant. They were no friends of the covenant God made with Abraham. It wasn’t that circumcision made them a part of the covenant (faith did), but rejection of circumcision was a rejection of the covenant.
AND IT WAS A PHYSICAL SIGN OF REJECTION OF GOD’S COMMAND…AND REJECTION OF THE FAITH COVENANT.

Unfortunately, through the centuries, history has shown us that the Jews began to trust more in the SIGN of the covenant (circumcision) than in the God of the covenant, their RABBIS began believing & teaching that circumcision by itself was sufficient and necessary to save them.

THIS FALSE TEACHING WAS SO BAD that Paul refutes this idea extensively, especially in light of the finished work of Jesus in Galatians 5:1-15.

The Jewish & yes Gentile rituals, rules, and laws do NOT insure anyone of an eternity in Heaven…ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE…AND JESUS OFFERS SALVATION TO JEWS AND GENTILES ALIKE.

FURTHERMORE, Paul assures us, Christians are free to either circumcise or not. One may do so for social or hygienic reasons but it doesn’t get us any closer to God: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love does in Galatians 5:6.

The closest Christian parallel we have to circumcision is baptism. WHY DO YOU SAY THAT FAITH?
WHERE DO YOU COME BY THIS?

FROM PAUL HIMSELF….Paul relates the two ideas together in Colossians 2:11-12.

However, baptism is also a “sign” of the covenant; it does NOT save us, but is a sign of the covenant that does. Being baptized does not save us, but no Christian should refuse baptism. BAPTISM, JUST LIKE COMMUNION, IS A SIGN THAT WE LOVE JESUS…. JESUS HIMSELF COMMANDS US…DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME…IT IS A PRIVATE SPIRIT TO SPIRIT HUG FOR JESUS…AS WELL A PUBLIC SHOUT OUT THAT SAYS I CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST…I LOVE JESUS CHRIST…I HONOR JESUS CHRIST. HERE I AM, UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN!


Verses 15-16 tells us about God’s promise of a son to both Abraham and Sarah.

The promise is CLEARLY STATED: a son will come through Sarah, whose name ALMIGHTY GOD changed from Sarai. Some teach that Almighty God cares and is only concerned with MAN…and woman is nothing more than chattel…a possession…who has NO PLACE, CARE, LOVE, RIGHTS, AND CONCERN DIRECTLY IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

RIGHT HERE…ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT FORGET HIS SARAI…HE GAVE HER A NEW NAME TOO. HE MADE SURE TO INCLUDE HER….HOW PRECIOUS IS THAT…

SO NOW YOU KNOW SOMETHING PRECIOUS AND IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN…BEFORE JESUS CHRIST CAME, BEFORE HE TOUCHED, SPOKE TO, INCLUDED WOMEN, AND GAVE THEM HONOR AND IMPORTANCE, AND RIGHTS IN A MAN’S WORLD THAT STUNNED MANKIND…ALMIGHTY GOD IN GENESIS SHOWS THAT HE SEES, KNOWS, LOVES, AND CARES FOR WOMEN…AND THEY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HIS PLAN, HIS HEART…AS MEN ARE!

AND LISTEN TO THIS…JUST IN CASE ABRAHAM DID NOT UNDERSTAND…AND THE PEOPLE DID NOT UNDERSTAND…AND YES HAGAR AND ISHMAEL DID NOT WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE….ALMIGHTY GOD SPEAKS BLUNTLY AND LOUDLY ABOUT HIS SARAI...AND HE WAS AND IS SPEAKING LOUD AND CLEAR TO MANKIND TODAY…

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”

There is only a subtle difference between Sarai and Sarah, but it is an important & precious difference.

POOLE tells us why….“Sarai signifies my lady, or my princess, which confines her dominion to ONE family; but Sarah signifies either a lady or princess, simply and absolutely without restriction, or the princess of a MULTITUDE.”

God who also hears and reads the thoughts….wanted to MAKE SURE ABRAHAM AND SARAH UNDERSTOOD…ONCE AND FOR ALL…HE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR that this son will not come about by another surrogate-mother situation (as with Hagar and Ishmael). Sarah herself will give birth, even though it is past her time in life to do so (Sarah was about 90 years old at this time).
SIMPLY PUT ALMIGHTY GOD SAID….

ABRAHAM DO NOT TRY TO HELP ME OUT…I DO NOT NEED HELP. WHAT I PROMISE WILL HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN.

AND HE SAID TO SARAH…I KNOW ABRAHAM TALKS NON-STOP ABOUT A SON A SON A SON A SON…WHERE IS MY SON THAT GOD PROMISED ME. I KNOW HE HAS DRIVEN YOU NUTS…I KNOW THE PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED ON YOU WITH SMIRKS, AND PITY….I KNOW YOUR ARMS ARE EMPTY…BUT DO NOT TRY TO HELP ME OUT…I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A SON OF YOUR BODY….FROM YOUR BODY SARAH…NO ONE ELSES….SO DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT HELPING ME OUT. I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING HERE!!!

Verses 17-18 tells us Abraham’s response to the promise.

“Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”

THE FIRST TIME I READ THIS I THOUGHT…GOOOOOOOOD GRIEF ABRAHAM….DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE LAUGHING AT? UMMMMM…ABRAHAM…IT IS NOTTTTTT A VERY SMART THING TO LAUGH IN ALMIGHTY GOD’S FACE…UNLESS YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND…OR WANT A LIGHTNING BOLT IN THE REAR END…OR MAYBE WELL YOU DO NOT KNOW MIRIAM…BUT SHE GOT LEPROSY FOR HER CHALLENGING AND SNICKERING…UMMMM STOP LAUGHING ABRAHAM…RIGHT?

BUT THE MORE I HAVE GROWN IN OUR JESUS, THE MORE HE HAS SHOWN ME, THE MORE IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE HE HAS DONE IN MY LIFE….I NOW START GRINNING MYSELF…WHEN ANYONE TELLS ME…FAITH, SWEETIE PIE….YOU ARE BELIEVING FOR THE….WAIT FOR IT…THERE IS THAT WORD…THE IMPOSSIBLE. AND WHEN JESUS DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE..I TOO HAVE BURST OUT LAUGHING…IN STUNNED, SLACK JAWED PURE JOY TOO.

SO ABRAHAM, I THINK, HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE MORE IMPOSSIBLE THE SITUATION HE WAS IN THE MOREEEEEEEE POWERFUL AND ABSOLUTE THE PROMISED ANSWER WOULD COME.

SO NOW WE KNOW when Abraham fell on his face and laughed: Abraham’s laugh didn’t seem to be one of cynical doubt, but of rejoicing in something he knew was impossible by all outward appearance, but that God could perform.

Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? He knew both he and Sarah were well past the time people normally have children.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…ABRAHAM WAS ALREADY OLD WHEN ISHMAEL WAS CONCEIVED, RIGHT? AND WITHOUT GIVING TMI…SEXUAL INTIMACY BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS WIFE…IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT…THOUGH THIS WORLD WITH ITS MOVIES LOADED WITH UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL SEX SCENES MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A PERVERT…A PEEPING TOM…AND I INSTANTLY CHANGE CHANNELS IF A PROGRAM OR A MOVIE GETS INTIMATE, RIGHT?

BUT THINK ABOUT ABRAHAM’S DAY…HE WAS EXPECTED TO NOT ONLY PERFORM, BUT PRODUCE A CHILD FROM A SEXUAL UNION WITH HAGAR, A MAID SERVANT, AS SHE SAT ON SARAH’S KNEES. ABRAM WOULD HAVE BEEN FACE TO FACE WITH SARAI…WITH HAGAR BETWEEN THEM. IN MY MINDS EYE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH, RIGHT?

YET HAGAR, A YOUNG HEALTHY, VIBRANT WOMAN DID CONCEIVE WITH AN OLDDDDDDDDDD MAN, EVEN OUTSIDE GOD’S INTENTION AND WITHOUT HIS COMMAND AND BLESSING.

SO in the presence of Him whom he believed, ROMANS 4:17-21 SUMS IT UP BEST FOR US. “God, who GIVES life to the dead and calls those things which do NOT exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

BUT ABRAHAM IS A LOVING FATHER AND GET NOT FORGET ABOUT ISHMAEL EITHER.

“Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” When Abraham added this…we see that Abraham didn’t really understand God’s promise completely. He WANTED ISHMAEL TO BE A GOOD MAN IN GOD’S EYES…ALTHOUGH WE KNOW ISHMAEL WAS NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE CHILD, YOUNG MAN, AND AN ADULT. SO ABRAHAM perhaps thought God simply meant Ishmael would be Sarah’s “spiritual son.” Abraham - like all of us - found it hard to trust God for more than what he can conceive of.

AND YOU CAN BET SATAN WAS RIGHT THERE TELLING ABRAHAM AND SARAH…MAYBE YOU MISUNDERSTOOD GOD…MAYBE HE MEANS THAT ISHMAEL IS TO BE YOUR CHOSEN….MAYBE ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL LITERALLY CREATE A SON WITH SARAH…BUT THAT MAYYYYYYYYYYYYBEEEEEEEE ISHMAEL WILL BE YOUR ADOPTED SON…AND YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON HIM. BLESS HIM…GIVE HIM BY YOUR SPOKEN WORD & RITUAL COVENANT EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS PROMISED AND GIVEN YOU?

BUT IN THE NEXT VERSE….WE SEE THAT ALMIGHTY GOD KNEW AND HEARD THE TWISTING, TWEAKING LIES AND POSSIBILITIES THAT SATAN WAS WHISPERING IN ABRAHAM AND SARAH’S HEART AND MIND…SO HE PATIENTLY REPEATS HIMSELF……..AGAINNNNNNNN AND TO INSURE THAT ABRAHAM AND SARAH ARE NOT DECEIVED NOR CONFUSED…ALMIGHTY GOD NAMES THE CHILD…THE SON THEY WILL HAVE BEFORE HE IS EVEN CONCEIVED!

THIS NEXT VERSE IS ALMIGHTY GOD TELLING SATAN…HEY IDIOT…I HEARD THAT…YOU ARE EVER A LIAR AND JUST TO PROVE IT….HERE IS WHAT I AM GOING TO ADDITIONALLY TELL THEM…AND PROMISE THEM!

Verses 19-22 tells us God repeats the promise and names the child who will come forth from Abraham and Sarah and NOW HE TELLS THEM WHEN!

Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.”

HERE IS ANOTHER NUGGET…AFTER GOD, IN HUMAN FORM, OUR PRECIOUS JESUS CHRIST, FINISHED TALKING FACE TO FACE WITH ABRAHAM….ABRAHAM WATCHED HIM ASCEND AND RETURN TO HEAVEN.

SO NOW YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE COOL AND UNIQUE…THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT THE FIRST TO WATCH JESUS ASCEND BACK INTO HEAVEN…..ABRAHAM WAS!

Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. WANT TO GUESS WHAT ISAAC MEANS? DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW WHAT ISAAC MEANS?

ISAAC MEANS LAUGHTER…

NOW TELL ME ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR….AND PATIENT GOODWILL FOR HIS CREATION.

HE HAS LISTENED TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH WHISPER TOGETHER…MUTTER TOGETHER…AND AS THE YEARS PASS…AND THEIR BODIES CEASED TO BE FRUITFUL…THEY BEGAN TO LAUGH A LOT….A LOT!

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…I HAVE CARED FOR VERY ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS…WHO BECAME FRAIL, DEVELOP PART-TIMERS…AND WATCH THEM CALL OUT…WALK INTO THE ROOM…AND THEN STAND THERE…HAVING TOTALLY FORGOTTEN WHY THEY CAN INTO THE ROOM OR WHAT THEY WANTED TO ASK ME.

AND ALMIGHTY GOD HAD TO HAVE WATCHED AND LISTENED AND HEARD…SARAH GIGGLING FROM UNDER THE BLANKETS AS SHE CALLED OUT…

ABRAHAM…..I AM OVER HERE…THE BED IS OVER HERE…STEP RIGHT…NOW KEEP COMING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND YOUR KNEES WILL HIT THE BED….AND THEN AFTER ABRAHAM GETS INTO THE BED, SETTLED NEXT TO HIS SARAH…THEY BOTH START GIGGLING…AND ALMIGHTY GOD SAYS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHILD…YOU ARE GOING TO BE A FATHER TO MANY….HEEE HEE HEE HEE…RIGHT?

SO I IMAGINE, ALMIGHTY GOD IN HEAVEN, GRINNING HIMSELF AT THEIR SWEET ANTICS AND TONGUE IN CHEEK COMMENTS ABOUT BEING A FATHER TO MANY WHEN THAT FATHER CAN NOT EVEN SEE OR FIND HIS OWN BED.

SO I TRULY BELIEVE WHEN ALMIGHTY GOD TOLD THEM THE SON’S NAME….HE WAS NOT ONLY PROMISING THEM JOY…BUT HE WAS ALSO SAYING….OOOOOOOO YEAHHHHHHH….I HEARD YOUR LAUGHTER, YOUR JOKES, AND YOUR SNICKERING ALL THAT WAY UP HERE IN HEAVEN.

SO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED ME IN EMAIL? DOES THE TRIUNE GOD LAUGH? DOES HE GRIN? DOES HE HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?

YESSSSSSSSSSS HE DOES!!!

The son will be named Isaac (“laughter”) because he will be such a joy to his parents, but also to always remind Abraham he laughed at God’s promise to give him a son through Sarah at this late age.

AND YOU NOTICE…ALMIGHTY GOD STILL LOVES ISHMAEL, THOUGH HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WILD CHILD. A TRIAL TO HIS MOTHER AND ABRAHAM. AND SADLY ALWAYS WILL BE. BUT OUR ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES WHEN WE LOVE…EVEN WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO SO.

SO HE TELLS ABRAHAM…I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him: Ishmael will be blessed (because Abraham prayed he would), but ALMIGHTY GOD WANTS NO SLIPS OR MISTAKES HERE…HE TELLS ABRAHAM BLUNTLY…the covenant and its promises will pass ONLY through the son to come, ISSAC, the son of promise.

Verses 23-27 tells us Abraham carries out God’s command of circumcision.

“So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.”

Abraham’s belief in the covenant was proved by his obedience to the command. What we really believe will show in our actions.

Abraham’s “THAT VERY SAME DAY” obedience was complete (every male among the men of Abraham’s house), prompt (that very same day), and IT WAS, TO THE WORLD’S PERCEPTIONS daring & RISKY….TEMPTING THE FATES.

WHY?

BECAUSE TO CIRCUMSIZE ALL THE MALES 8 DAYS OLD TO 100 YEARS OLD ALL AT ONCE, WAS TO virtually incapacitate all his fighting men at the same time. TO LEAVE THEM DEFENSELESS…WITHOUT GUARDS…TO DARE THE WORLD TO ATTACK THEM WHEN THEY COULD NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES. CIRCUMSION FOR YOUNG MEN, MUCH LESS GROWN MEN…WAS MORE DEBILITATING FOR A TIME…THAN IT WAS FOR BABIES.

YOU KNOW SATAN, HAD TO HAVE WHISPERED THAT VERY REAL POSSIBILITY INTO ABRAHAM’S EAR AND INTO THE EAR OF ALL THE FIGHTING MEN AND FAMILIES UNDER HIM….BUT ABRAHAM KNEW THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WOULD NOT HAVE ASKED IT OF HIM…IF ALMIGHTY GOD WAS NOT ABLE TO PROTECT THEM FOR ALL HARM AT THE SAME TIME.

SO…Abraham didn’t need to pray about this.
He DIDN’T NEED to THINK IT THROUGH.
He DIDN’T SLEEP ON IT.
OR SLOWLY OBEY…HAVING IT DONE IN STAGES.
God said it, and he did it.
This is a wonderful example of obedience from a great man of faith.

SO WHAT DOES GENESIS 17 SHOW US. WHAT DOES IT TELL US. WHAT DOES ALMIGHTY GOD WANT US TO SEE AND LEARN FROM GENESIS 17.

MORE THAN LEARNING ABOUT ABRAHAM AND SARAH AND THEIR LIVES…ALMIGHTY GOD SAYS…YOU WANT TO KNOW ME…HERE IS INTERVIEW FOR MANKIND.

YES…I AM REAL.
YES…I AM EVER PRESENT.
YES…I AM PATIENT.
YES…I DO LOVE YOU.
YES…I DO UNDERSTAND YOU.
YES…I SEE AND HEAR AND KNOW ALL THINGS.
YES…I DO HAVE A TONGUE IN CHEEK SENSE OF HUMOR.
YES…MY CREATION IS A SOURCE OF JOY AND AMUSEMENT TO ME.


JUST AS WE PARENTS HAVE BAT HEARING, AND EYES IN THE BACK OF OUR HEADS WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE CONCERNED…AND WE INSTANTLY PERK UP…PAY ATTENTION….TIPPY TOE DOWN THE HALL TO SNEAK A PEEK AND WATCH OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY START WHISPERING AND GIGGLING….WHY? BECAUSE WE KNOW THEM. WE KNOW THEY ARE UP TO FUN MISCHIEF…AND MORE TIMES THAN NOT….THEY ARE GIGGLING ABOUT & OVER US…SOMETHING WE SAID OR DID…SOME CRAZY IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE WE MADE TO THEM…

AND ALMIGHTY GOD IS SAYING…JUST AS YOU HAVE MY HUMOR…YES I DID GIVE YOU HUMOR…AND IT CAME STRAIGHT FROM ME…AND MY HEART THAT LAUGHS, AND SMILES AND ENJOYS YOUR FUN, INNNOCENT AND PRECOCIOUS MISCHIEF…YOU DO AS WELL…

AND JUST LIKE ME….YOU PARENTS, FRIENDS, HUSBANDS AND WIVES…BIDE YOUR TIME…YOU HAVE SNEAKED UP ON THEM…YOU HAVE HEARD WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT YOU…LISTENED TO THEIR GIGGLING OVER YOU…AND THEIR DISBELIEF…AND THEIR SHE HAS LOST HER MIND, HIS MIND…THEY ARE SO GOOFY. THEY CAN NOT POSSIBLY DO WHAT THEY SAY…I MEAN LOOK AT THEM, THEY ARE OLD…THEY HAVE NO CLUE….THEY HAVE BEEN PROMISING US THIS FOR WHAT….THREE MONTHS, YEARS????

AND YOU WAIT, JUST AS I DO FOR INNOCENT PAYBACK…FOR THAT MOMENT… WHEN YOU COME OUT OF NO WHERE AND SAY…SO YOU THINK I AM INSANE? YOU THINK I AM OLD? I AM FORGETFUL? YOU THINK I DID NOT HEAR YOU LAUGHING AT ME…GIGGLING UNDER THE COVERS AND WHISPERING ABOUT ME, YOUR FATHER…WELL GUESS WHAT…..GOTCHHHHHHHHHHHHA!

AND AMID THE FUN AND THE GOTCHAS…WE LEARN TO THAT ALMIGHTY GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PATIENT AND LONG SUFFERING. HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO THROW LIGHTNING BOLTS FROM HEAVEN 24/7 OVER ABRAHAM’S CONSTANT WHY WHY WHY???? ARE YOU SURE??? ARE YOU SURE??? DID YOU FORGET??? WELL DID YOU???
WHEN WHEN WHEN???? HOW HOW HOW?? BUT ALMIGHTY GOD LOVESSSSSSSSSSS….HE IS A WONDERFUL FATHER…

AND WHEN HE SEES US STEP OUT…INTERCEDE IN PRAYER AND IN ACTION…AND ASK FOR BLESSINGS FOR OTHERS…EVEN WHEN THEY DO NOT DESERVE THE BLESSING….EVEN WHEN THEY ARE WILD, MEAN-SPIRITED, SELFISH, BULLIES….LIKE ISHMAEL IS….EVEN THEN…THOUGH ALMIGHTY GOD WILL PUT HIS CHOSEN FIRST, YOU AND I, THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND CALL HIM FATHER, AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST…LORD SAVIOR MASTER AND FRIEND AND HIS CHOSEN WILL REMAIN FIRST…HE STILL BLESSES THE BULLIES, THE DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES…NOT FOR THEIR SAKES… BUT FOR OURS.

THIS CHAPTER IS JOY FILLED…AMUSING…AND TELLS AND SHOWS US OUR TRIUNE GOD’S HEART…SO TAKE THE TIME, AS I DID WHILE PUTTING THIS BIBLE STUDY TOGETHER, TO THINK OF THE GIGGLING UNDER THE COVER WHISPERS YOU HAVE MADE ABOUT JESUS. AND KNOW THAT JESUS IS GRINNING TOO….AND HE HAS A GOTCHA…COMING FOR YOU AND I!

ALL THE IMPOSSIBLES IN OUR LIFE…THE IMPOSSIBLE PROMISES JESUS GIVES US IN HIS WORD…THE IMPOSSIBLE HOPES AND DREAMS AND HEARTS DESIRES WE HAVE…AND ALL THE PROMISES WE READ AND STUDY AND PRAY OVER…BUT IF TIME PASSES, OR IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ASK OR EXPECT…AND WE ROLL OUR EYES, WE GRIN OVER THEM, MUTTER OVER THEM, SNORT OVER THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF THEM…

KNOW THAT OUR JESUS IS SAYING…I HEARD THAT!!!!! BUT NO MATTER…REAL SOON….I AM GOING TO ANSWER YOU….AND THEN I WILL GET MY LAUGHTER GOING…WHEN I SAY TO YOU GOTCHAAAAAAAAAAA!

BE BLESSED AND STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS!

GENESIS 18: The Promise of Isaac Confirmed to ABRAHAM AND SARAH & SODOM AND GOMORRAH JUDGED

Abraham meets some very important visitors.

Verses 1-5 tells us Abraham invites the Lord and two others to a meal.

“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”

Apparently, this happened a short time later. In Genesis 17:21, God said Sarah would give birth one year later, and at this time, she is not yet pregnant. So this could NOT be more than three months after the events in Genesis 17 when Jesus met Abraham face to face and told him, at the age of 99 & 90, he and Sarah would have a son and they would name him Isaac, which we know means “laughter”.

Here again, the Lord came to Abraham in HUMAN appearance & this time he had TWO angels with him. This is another presentation of Jesus in human form longgggggg before Bethlehem. Just another cameo appearance that tells us JESUS CHRIST WAS BUSY, HANDS ON, APPEARING TO MANKIND ALL THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT.


We KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, WE KNOW THIS CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST because of God the Father it says, No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18), and no man has ever seen God in the Person of the Father (1 Timothy 6:16). Therefore, if God appeared to someone in human appearance in the Old Testament (and no one has seen God the Father) it CAN ONLY BE ANOTHER CAMEO APPEARANCE of the eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, before His incarnation in Bethlehem.

Behold, three men were standing by him: We don’t know if Abraham immediately recognized that the other two WERE angels of JESUS CHRIST, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST HAD ALREADY APPEARED TO ABRAHAM TWICE BEFORE, IN Genesis 12:7; 17:1.

He ran from the tent door to meet them, TELLS US that according to his godliness and the customs of that culture, Abraham offered the hospitality of his house to these travelers.

Verses 6-8 tells us Sarah and Abraham prepare a meal for their visitors.

“So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.”

Abraham HURRIED into the tent....Again, some have said ABRAHAM WAS overdoing it, some have said this is where "brown-nosing" originated, but that is a LIE. Ancient biblical culture had an extremely STRONG sense of hospitality to visitors. And ADDED TO THAT, THE GOD MOST HIGH, IN HUMAN FORM, HAD COME TO VISIT ABRAHAM AGAIN…

FACE TO FACE…I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF JESUS CAME TO SEE ME, I WOULD BE OVERDOING IT AS WELL. I WOULD MAKE SURE TO GIVE JESUS THE VERY BEST OF ALL THAT I HAD TO OFFER HIM, AMEN.

AND HERE IS ANOTHER REVELATION FOR ALL OF US. AS UNBELIEVABLE AS IT SOUNDS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY, ALMIGHTY GOD IN HUMAN FORM, WHICH CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST, NEVER REALLY APPEARED IN HUMAN FORM BEFORE BETHLEHEM. AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO TEACH THAT BEFORE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM, THAT ALMIGHTY GOD CAN NOT EAT, DRINK, HAVE TOUCHABLE HUMAN FORM….NOR THAT THEY WERE TOUCHED.

RIGHT HERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE BIBLE, ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS US, THAT THEY CAN AND DO EAT AND DRINK. THEY CAN WALK THE EARTH, AND THEIR HUMAN FEET AND HANDS WILL GET DUSTY.

HERE ALSO PUTS TO REST THE ABSURD TEACHING THAT IF ALMIGHTY GOD DID EAT, HE ONLY ATE MANNA AND WATER. RIGHT HERE ALMIGHTY GOD IS TELLING US THAT HE LIKED, ENJOYED AND DID EAT MEAT.

HOW COOL IS THAT?

AND YOU NOTICE BEFORE ABRAHAM SERVED THEM A FINE FEAST OF HIS VERY BEST, HE HAD WARM WATER, AND CLOTHS BROUGHT SO THAT THEY ALL COULD WASH THEIR FACES AND FEET.

RIGHT HERE WE ALSO SEE AND LEARN FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR ALMIGHTY GOD IS TANGIBLE…TOUCHABLE. SO THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT ALMIGHTY GOD IN HUMAN FORM IS NOT VIEWABLE, TOUCHABLE…REAL…YOU HAVE GENESIS 18 TO POINT OUT THAT LONGGGGGGG BEFORE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM OUR TRIUNE WAS VISIBLE, TOUCHABLE, REAL, HE COULD AND DID EAT AND DRINK AND SOCIALIZE.

HOW COOL IS THAT?

Verses 9-10 tells us God reconfirms His promise of a son.

“Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)”

We may wonder why God repeated the promise again, so close to the time when He said it previously. After all, it seems God was silent about the promise for more than 13 years. Now He came personally to repeat it twice in three months.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE GOD WHO SEES, HE SAW, KNEW AND READ ABRAHAM AND SARAH’S HEARTS…HE KNEW THIS MAN OF WHY WHY WHY….WHEN LORD WHEN LORD…ARE YOU SURE…ARE YOU SURE LORD…NEEDED TO BE REMINDED…SO INSTEAD OF ANOTHER VISION, A STILL SMALL VOICE, ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES ENOUGH THAT HE MADE ANOTHER PERSONAL FACE TO FACE APPEARANCE.

AND JUST LIKE ABRAHAM, SOMETIMES WE NEED TO hear God’s promises over and over again. It is a way God uses to encourage and develop our faith as we are REMINDED IN ROMANS 10:17, WHICH SAYS, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

AND IN PRACTICAL TERMS, AT THEIR AGE, WHEN SEXUAL RELATIONS WERE A THING OF THE PAST, AND PROCREATION, HERE IS THAT WORD, ……IMPOSSIBLE …ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED THEM TO KNOW NOWWWWWWWW IS THE TIME, I WILL GIVE YOU A SON…BUT UMMMMMM ABRAHAM, YOU DO REALIZE THAT YOU AND SARAH HAVE TO COOPERATE, RIGHT? IN LESS THAN A YEAR, YOU WILL HAVE A SON, BUT YOU TWO NEED TO STEP OUT IN FAITH, AND YOU TWO NEED TO GET BUSY, YOU TWO NEED TO BEGIN TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS AGAIN IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE IT TOO.

ONE PART OF ME THOUGHT, WELL UMMMMM DUHHHHHHH ABRAHAM, JESUS CHRIST HAD TO COME BACK AND TELL YOU TWO TO START GETTING BUSY? HOW ELSE DID YOU THINK A CHILD WAS GOING TO BE CONCEIVED? ABRAHAM DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MARY, THE VIRGIN BIRTH, THE SHEKINAH GLORY COVERING MARY TO PRODUCE JESUS CHRIST.

BUT THEN IT HIT ME…ABRAHAM WAS GROWING AND HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT ALMIGHTY GOD COULD BRING ABOUT A SON FOR HE AND SARAH WITHOUT ANY HELP. THAT IS WHAT ELSE THIS PASSAGE TELLS US…ABRAHAM WAS LEARNING TO WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. HE DID NOT WANT TO BE OUTSIDE THE WILL & BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD. AND THAT PLEASED ALMIGHTY GOD SO MUCH THAT HE CAME TO TELL HIM PERSONALLY, FACE TO FACE…BASICALLY….ABRAHAM…GET BUSY, I AM WAITING ON YOU, AMEN?

Verses 11-12 tells us Sarah’s reaction to God’s promise.

“Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Sarah laughed within herself at this promise. She could not believe God would literally grant this child as the result of normal sexual relations. The giggling STARTS up AGAIN…It is as if Sarah was saying within her heart and mind…ARE YOU KIDDINGGGGGGG ME?? NOW? NOW? ABRAHAM CAN BARELY SEE TO FIND HIS BED AT NIGHT AND MY MENSES STOPPED AND MY WOMB DIED YEARSSSSSSSSSSSS AGO…AND YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT I AM GOING TO GET PREGNANT NOWWWWWWW???

It may be, even after the dramatic promises of Genesis 17, Abraham and Sarah had a way of “spiritualizing” God’s promise, making it mean something other than what God intended. Here, God made it plain: Abraham and Sarah will have normal sexual relations and produce a baby.

It is strangely characteristic of us to believe God’s promise for a long, long, time, and endure & wait through MUCH discouragement along the way, until the promise is almost there, and then we find out NOW ALMIGHTY GOD WANTS US TO DO SOMETHING. When in the NATURAL…IT APPEARS…HERE IS THAT WORD AGAIN….IMPOSSIBLE.

THANK YOU JESUS, OUR GOD IS GREATER than our doubts, AMEN!
ALMIGHTY GOD HAD TOLD ABRAHAM FROM THE FIRST….ALL WILL KNOW THAT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, EVERYTHING YOU ARE, EVERYTHING YOU RECEIVE…THERE WILL BE NO DOUBT….NOT ONE THAT IS COULD ONLY BE POSSIBLE….IT COULD ONLY OCCUR FOR YOU BECAUSE OF MY BLESSING, MY FAVOR, AND MY PROVISION.

AND IF WE COULD USE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE LIFE AND WALK OF ABRAHAM IT WOULD BE FAITH. AND TO DESCRIBE IT IN THE NATURAL…THE ONE WORD WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

SO EVERYONE WHO KNEW ABRAHAM AND SARAH AND THEIR LIFE…WOULD KNOW….ALMIGHTY GOD DID THE IMPOSSIBLE AGAIN. HE IS GOING TO REAWAKEN A DEAD WOMB, REAWAKENED AND ENLIVEN THE ABILITY AND THE SPERM WITHIN ABRAHAM AND GIVE THEM A SON.

EVEN THOUGH Sarah had by ALL OUTWARD APPEARANCES AND PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND LIFE CYCLES, NEVERTHELESS…THAT THERE WAS GOOD REASON FOR Sarah to “spiritualize” the promise and laugh at its literal meaning. She had passed the age of childbearing, which literally seems to mean, “the manner of women had ceased to be with Sarah.” She had stopped menstruating and had gone through menopause…BUT NEVERTHELESS…OUR TRIUNE GOD…THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE…WAS GOING TO ONCE AGAIN DOOOOOOO THE IMPOSSIBLE.

AND EVEN KNOWING NOW for their long lives (Abraham lived to be 175 and Sarah 127), they were both well past middle age. It would take a miracle of God for them to have literal children through normal means.
AND HERE THE GIGGLING BEGINS AGAIN…Therefore Sarah laughed within herself: Significantly, this is what Sarah (and Abraham) most wanted all their lives.

Yet, they find it so hard to believe God’s promise when He says NOW HOW HE WILL GRANT IT TO THEM. IT IS ONE THING TO BELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLE WHEN GOD IS DOING IT…IT IS ANOTHER WHEN GOD SAYS…OOOOOOOO BY THE WAY…YOU AND ABRAHAM ARE GOING TO GET PREGNANT. YOU ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE.

Verses 13-15 tells us that THIS TIME God answers Sarah’s laugh.

"And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

HERE IT IS AGAIN…..ANOTHER GOTCHA!!!! ANOTHER I HEARD THAT!!!!! THIS TIME, SARAH IS NOT EVEN LAUGHING AND GIGGLING OUT LOUD, LIKE SHE AND ABRAHAM HAD BEEN UNDER THE COVERS IN GENESIS 17.…THIS TIME…ALMIGHTY GOD IS TELLING SARAH….AND YESSSSSSSSS….YOU AND I THAT HE HEARS US WHEN WE LAUGH, MUTTER, SNORT, EVENNNNNN IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS….

ANOTHER REMINDER…There was nothing hidden before the Lord. AND WE SHOULD LIVE AND THINK VERY DIFFERENTLY….REMEMBERING that God hears and knows EVERYTHING we think and say.

At the APPOINTED TIME I WILL RETURN to you: We might think God would say, “I gave you this promise twice and twice you two HAVE laughed at it…AND doubted me EVERY TIME! GOD COULD HAVE SAID….I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU TWO. I AM DONE…THAT IS IT! I AM THROUGH WASTING MY TIME, MY PROMISES, AND MY BLESSINGS ON YOU TWO. I’ll take it to someone who will appreciate it.

THINK ABOUT IT…HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU AND I THOUGHT, IF NOT DONE THE SAME THING????

BUT NOT OUR PATIENT FATHER…Instead, God responded by dealing with her unbelief, but not by taking away the promise.

THE TRIUNE GOD IS FAITHFUL.
THE TRIUNE GOD IS NOT FICKLE.
THE TRIUNE GOD IS A PROMISE MAKER & A PROMISE KEEPER.

And remember what TIMOTHY REMINDS US IN, 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Thankfully not, and God can also triumph even over our weak faith.

Hard is the same word for wonderful in Isaiah 9:6, which says, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given . . . And His name will be called Wonderful.” Jesus is our “wonderful” One, and He is NOT to hard or wonderful for God to give unto us.

The Lord said TO Abraham: Significantly, God dealt with Abraham about this, NOT Sarah herself,.

WHY?
Because Abraham WAS the head of his home. ALMIGHTY GOD WAS TELLING ABRAHAM….AND YESSSSSSS US, IF YOUR WIFE DISBELIEVES, IF YOUR CHILDREN DISBELIEVE AND DOUBT…I HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE, MAN, HUSBAND, FATHER TO CORRECT YOURSELF AND CORRECT YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR ACTIONS SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE WHAT I SAY I MEAN.

THIS STANCE…HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THEN TO NOW WITH OUR TRIUNE GOD….IF YOU ARE JESUS BELIEVING, FOLLOWING AND TRUSTING FAMILY…AND THE WIFE OR THE CHILDREN BEGIN TO DOUBT…LOOK TO YOURSELF FATHER, HUSBAND…THEY FOLLOW YOUR LEAD…IF YOU MUTTER AND SPEAK DOUBTS…OR YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK DOUBT IN ME…THEN YOUR FAMILY WILL MUTTER, WILL GIGGLE, WILL LAUGH…WILL DOUBT.

THE WORLD MAY SAY IT IS LIVE AND LET LIVE….BE FREE SPIRITS…MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS…DO NOT TRUST OR BELIEVE IN YOUR PARENTS…YOUR FATHER’S TEACHING AND WALK…AND WHAT MY WORD SAYS…THIS IS A NEW AGE…A NEW WORLD…IT IS A SELF FOCUSED WORLD…WE ARE ALL ON OUR OWN NOW…THE BIBLE IS NOT RELEVANT ANY MORE.

ALMIGHTY GOD THEN AND NOW SAYS….I CHANGE NOT!

AND THEN GOD MOVES ON….HE TELLS ABRAHAM ABOUT THE CITIES OF Sodom and Gomorrah.

Verses 16-19 tells us God decides to reveal to Abraham the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

Abraham went with them to send them on the way…As would be customary for a hospitable host in that day, Abraham will accompany his guests on their journey for a while as they depart.

Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing....Because of what God would bring from Abraham (a great and mighty nation), and because Abraham had to be a great leader (that he may command his children and his household after him), God will reveal to Abraham what He will do with Sodom and Gomorrah.

We see something very VITAL HERE…

There are those who have taught and said that God’s purpose in TELLING ABRAHAM…shows that GOD LIKES GOSSIP. THIS IS NOT THE TRUTH. ALMIGHTY GOD DECIDES TO TELL ABRAHAM not for “gossip” with Abraham about what He will do, nor is it to satisfy Abraham’s curiosity either! God wanted to do something in Abraham’s life through what He will reveal to him…and make a POINT TO ABRAHAM AND TO US…

Verses 20-21 tells us God tells Abraham He will see if Sodom and Gomorrah are worthy of judgment.

“And the Lord said, “Because the OUTCRY AGAINST Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

THIS TELLS US SOMETHING IMPORTANT…OUR TRIUNE GOD IS A HANDS ON FATHER…HE DOES NOT SIT IN HEAVEN REMOVED FROM OUR LIVES AND THE SITUATIONS HERE….AND EITHER SEND MANNA OR LIGHTNING BOLTS IN RESPONSE. HE WALKS AMONG US. HE CHECKS THE SITUATION OUT PERSONALLY!!!!


Verses 22-26 tells us Abraham asks an important question: will God destroy the righteous with the wicked?

“Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

The men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord: We NOW REALIZE THESE TWO MEAN ARE THE ACTUAL ANGELS WHO VISITED Sodom in Genesis 19. The third “man” in the party is actually the Lord Himself.

And Abraham came near…Abraham came near to the Lord. Effective intercession is a matter of drawing near to God so we can pray with His heart. WHEN WE WANT TO INTERCEDE…WE SHOULD GET CLOSER….NOT STAND AT A DISTANCE…BUT BOLDLY GET CLOSE….THROUGH PRAYER….AND BOLDLY YET HUMBLY GO STRAIGHT TO THE THRONE OF GRACE BEFORE WE INTERCEDE…JUST AS ABRAHAM DOES. ABRAHAM IS LOOKING ALMIGHTY GOD IN THE FACE…AND ABRAHAM KNOWS IT IS ALMIGHTY GOD IN THE HUMAN FORM OF JESUS CHRIST…YET HE IS EVER APPROACHABLE…THERE IS NO FEAR…THERE IS ONLY TRUST AND BELIEF AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE CAN TALK WITH, AND CONFIDE IN, AND HUMBLY AND EARNESTLY QUESTION ALMIGHTY GOD.

AGAIN WE SEE THAT OUR JESUS CHRIST IS A PATIENT, LOVING AND APPROACHABLE FATHER…AMEN!

Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?…In discussing this question, Abraham “reminded” the Lord of His own nature and principles (shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?) Abraham thought that God, as a righteous Judge could not punish the innocent the same way as the guilty.

Prayer is MOST effective because it prays knowing WHO ALMIGHTY GOD IS, and KNOWING HOW God works in a particular situation. Effective prayer does NOT see itself AS THE FOCUS OR THE IMPORTANT FOCAL POINT, NOR as a passive spectator in what God does, but acts as if it must “remind” God in prayer.

THAT IS RELATIONSHIP…AND ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES IT WHEN WE REMIND HIM OF ALL HE SAYS IN HIS WORD TO US AND REMIND HIM OF HIS PROMISES AND REMIND HIM OF HOW HE SEES…THAT IS NOT ARROGANCE, THAT IS TELLING AND SHOWING JESUS CHRIST THAT WE ARE COMING TO KNOW HIM, WE ARE EVER SEEKING HIM, HIS PROMISES AND HIS WORD…AND THAT, BROTHERS AND SISTERS PLEASES JESUS CHRIST SOOOOOOOOO VERY MUCH.

IT IS NOT ARROGANCE…IT IS LOVE….IT IS SAYING JESUS I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU, TO WANT TO PLEASE YOU, TO WANT TO DO WHAT YOU EXPECT OF ME…AMEN!

We might find it remarkable Abraham even cared about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. He HAD DEALT WITH THE GREEDY SELF SERVING KINGS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. AND HEAVEN KNOWS LOT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A SORROW, TRIAL AND PAIN TO ABRAHAM, SINCE HE DISOBEYED GOD AND BROUGHT HIS FATHER AND LOT OUT OF UR OF THE CHALDEANS WHEN HE LEFT.

SO ABRAHAM COULD HAVE JUST THROWN HIS HANDS UP, WASHED HIS HANDS OF THE ENTIRE FILTHY MESS AND SAID GOD…DO YOUR WORST. OR ABRAHAM COULD HAVE JUST SAID, Lord, get my nephew Lot out of there first,” but he did NOT. Abraham’s heart was full of sorrow and compassion, even for the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah.

If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes…THIS SHOWS ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES ABRAHAM‘S HEART OF COMPASSION…AND IS WILLING TO SPARE THESE CITIES IF 50 INNOCENT AND RIGHTEOUS CAN BE FOUND BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES. God said this because Abraham asked. When Abraham drew near to the Lord and prayed according to God’s revealed nature and will, God agreed. The Lord said that He would spare the city if there were 50 righteous there.

BUT THEN ABRAHAM THINKS ABOUT HOW AWFUL THE CITIES ARE…HOW EVIL…HOW CORRUPT…AND SAYS TO THE LORD…

WAIT A MINUTE….WAITAMINNIT…LETS RETHINK THIS LORD, OKAY….THERE MAY NOT BE EVEN 50 INNOCENT OR RIGHTEOUS LIVING IN THE TWO CITIES…SO HE BARGAINS AGAIN WITH ALMIGHTY GOD.

Verses 27-33 tells us…ABRAHAM TRIES AGAIN!

“Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place."

Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous....Now the principle is established - God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked - now it is just a matter of numbers. How many righteous people will God spare the city for?

Abraham’s intercession was effective because it was SPECIFIC. He talked about specific numbers with God, not in broad, general terms. Often our prayers are ineffective because we really don’t ask the Lord to do anything. Instead we often just toss wishes up to heaven.

HERE WE SEE AND ARE TAUGHT THROUGH ABRAHAM AND LEARN TO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE SPECIFIC WITH GOD.

Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Abraham continued his intercession with a “bold humility.” He was not proud or arrogant before the Lord, but he still continued to ask...TO STRIVE TO INTERCEDE

Abraham’s humility was demonstrated in that nowhere in his prayer did he ask “Why?” or did he demand that God explain Himself and His actions.

Suppose ten should be found there? Abraham was a skilled negotiator and he prevailed upon God to lower the number of righteous required to spare the city. First by units of five, then by units of ten, until the number settled at ten.

DO YOU NOTICE THE PERSISTENCE OF ABRAHAM’S INTERCESSION? Why didn’t he give it up at 40 or 50 and say simply “it’s in the Lord’s hands” or “the Lord will do what the Lord will do”? Because we LEARN SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE ABOUT OUR INTERCESSION….WE, LIKE ABRAHAM MUST FEEL, AND BELIEVE, at the moment of prayer, that the eternal destiny of men depends on OUR prayer.

This is the kind of heart God WANTED TO CREATE AND DRAW OUT OF ABRAHAM - a heart that cared so much for people made in the image of God that he worked hard to intercede on behalf of a city that DESERVED judgment. This was the heart a great leader of a great and mighty nation needed to have.

WE WHO HAVE READ THE BIBLE, KNOW THAT ABRAHAM’S BARGAINING, HOPE, AND INTERCESSION SEEMED HOPELESS, WORTHLESS, AND FRUITLESS…BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALMIGHTY GOD KNEW THERE WAS NOT EVEN 10 INNOCENT AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.

WHY?

BECAUSE MOST WHO WERE INNOCENT AND RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD LEFT THOSE CITIES TO SPARE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM BEING INFECTED OR CORRUPTED.

ALSO….we see this, in the future, knowing the past, that there is a sense in which all this negotiation was fruitless. We KNOW there were NOT EVEN TEN RIGHTEOUS people in the city, ONLY FOUR.

SO THE CITIES WERE destroyed.

Yet God specifically revealed the fate of these cities to Abraham to draw out of him an intercessor’s heart of love, so even before the time of Jesus Abraham could be conformed into the image of His Son as told to us in Romans 8:29 AND who is Himself an intercessor told to us in Hebrews 7:25.

SO Abraham returned to his place…SOME DEBATE AND WONDER if Abraham should not have continued the negotiations because there were only four righteous in the city. Would God have spared the city for four if Abraham had asked? Perhaps Abraham felt Lot would surely have brought six people beyond his own family to God in his time in Sodom.

BUT WE KNOW THAT ABRAHAM WAS A LEADER, A MILITARY AND SOCIAL LEADER OF MANY…so he KNEW that ALLOWING the VAST CORRUPTION, EVIL, DEMONICS, AND SELFISHNESS OF THESE PEOPLE IN SODOM AND GOMORRAH WOULD NOT CHANGE…THEY COULD NOT BE SAVED…THEY HAD NO DESIRE TO BE MORAL, HONORABLE, AND GODLY…AND ABRAHAM KNEW SINCE THEY REJECTED HIS ALMIGHTY GOD, IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE…THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY SPREAD AND BEGIN TO INFECT AND OPPRESS THE INNOCENT AND THE RIGHTEOUS OF HIS PEOPLE.

GENESIS 18 IS A WONDERFUL CHAPTER…ONCE AGAIN WE SEE THE HUMOR OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD. WE ALSO SEE AND LEARN THAT OUR TRIUNE IS A WONDERFUL, PATIENT AND HANDS ON FATHER. HE DOES NOT LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT FROM THE SAFE DISTANCE OF HIS HEAVENLY THRONE…BUT HE WALKS AMONG US…HE IS WILLING TO GET HIS HANDS AND FEET DUSTY IN ORDER TO BE A HANDS ON TEACHING, GUIDING, AND INVOLVED FATHER.

WE LEARN THAT HE IS MERCIFUL…AND THAT HE LOVES FOR US TO HUMBLY YET BOLDLY INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS. HE IS NOT OUTRAGED OR INSULTED BY OUR QUESTIONS…THAT IS RELATIONSHIP.

OUR TRIUNE GOD LOVESSSSSSSSSSS US TO SEEK HIM OUT, SEEK TO KNOW HIM, SEEK TO UNDERSTAND HIM, SEEK TO PLEASE HIM….SEEK TO OBEY HIM, AMEN?

SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FATHER…HE MISSES YOU.

BE BLESSED AND STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS!

Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

The two angels who met ABRAHAM WITH JESUS…come to Sodom.

Verses 1-3 tells Lot convinces the angelic visitors to stay with him.

“Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”

Lot was sitting IN the gate of Sodom: There has been a steady progression of COMPROMISE in Lot’s life. He went from LOOKING TOWARD Sodom in Genesis 13:10, to PITCHING HIS TENT toward Sodom in Genesis 13:12, then to LIVING IN Sodom in Genesis 14:12 and losing everything. Now Lot sits in the gate of Sodom, indicating he IS a civic leader…a FAMED MAN in Sodom…but NOT a religious leader…NOT A PROPHET…NOT A MAN OF GOD.

2 Peter 2:7-8 tells us that Lot himself was a righteous man who was grieved by the sin he saw around him in, but because of his COMPROMISE NONE OF HIS SONS IN LAWS OR EXTENDED FAMILY, BUT ONLY HE, HIMSELF, HIS WIFE, AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS SAVED. NO OTHER FAMILY AND NO OTHER FRIENDS WERE SAVED. HIS COMPROMISE, WANTING TO BE LIKED AND LOVED AND REVERED BY THE WORLD MORE THAN HE WANTED TO SHINE AND SHOW JESUS CHRIST…HIS CHOICES destroyed his testimony. HE CHANGED NO ONE IN 20+ YEARS…NOT ONE PERSON WAS CHANGED, CONVICTED, OR SAVED…THROUGH LOT’S WALK, TALK, OR HIS LIFE.

He insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house: The hospitality offered to the visitors was not unusual, but the urgency with which Lot offered it was.

THIS TELLS US THAT SOMETHING WORSE, LOT KNEW FULL WELL WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE TOWN, AND OF THE DEPRAVITY ALL THROUGH THE TOWN, BUT HE WAS CONTENT IN IT, HE DID NOT CONSIDER NOR EVEN THINK ABOUT LEAVING SUCH DEPRAVITY NOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT…

Verses 4-9 to the wickedness and depravity of the men of Sodom.

“Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.” And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.”

Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us: These citizens of Sodom clearly came to homosexually abuse and rape these two visitors. That is a shocking demonstration of depravity, but we are just as shocked at the willingness of Lot to give up his INNOCENT VIRGIN daughters to the mob as we are at the sinful desire of the mob itself.

I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish: The offer is horrible and cannot be justified. We understand it a little more when we consider the low place of women in the pre-Christian world and the very high place of any guest in your home. It was understood a guest was to be protected more than your own family.

THIS ALSO SHOWS US THAT LOT HAD NO REAL RELATIONSHIP NOR UNDERSTANDING OF ALMIGHTY GOD. HE SHOULD HAVE WARNED THOSE MOBS WHO HIS GOD WAS AND HOW DANGEROUS THEIR BEHAVIOR WAS. AND HE SHOULD HAVE STOOD AGAINST THEM, CALLED ON JESUS, AND STOOD TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY FROM ALL EVIL…BUT LOT WANTED TO STAY IN THEIR GOOD GRACES…

That we may know them carnally: The sin of the men of Sodom is plainly connected to their homosexuality. There is no doubt the Bible declares homosexual conduct is sin IN Romans 1:26-28.

The Bible condemns homosexuality in the same context as it condemns incest and bestiality IN Leviticus 18:22; 20:13. If we ignore the word of God at the point of homosexual conduct, then we have no standing to say any of the other three sins are sin.

Homosexual advocates have an interest in saying homosexuals are exactly like everyone else, except they love people of their own sex. But when the conduct of homosexuals is observed, this is not the case.

We can bring out statistics on the number of partners homosexuals have: 43% of homosexuals say they have had 500 or more sexual partners in their lifetime. Only 1% of homosexuals say they have had four or less sexual partners in their lifetime. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 77% of homosexuals say they have met sexual partners in a city park, 62% in a homosexual bar, 61% in a theater, 31% in a public restroom. Only 28% of homosexuals said they had known their partners for at least a week before participating in homosexual sex.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why males pursue and give in to homosexual desires is because they want to immerse themselves in a lifestyle of dangerous sex with no inhibitions or obstacles, and sense that sex with other men is an easier path to this. No wonder Paul connects “burning lust” and a debased mind with male homosexuality in Romans 1:27-28.

Homosexuals also have an interest in saying that up to 10% of the population is homosexual. But the most reliable statistics show only 2.3% of men in their 20’s and 30’s report ever having had a homosexual experience. Only 1.1% reported being exclusively homosexual. These low figures agree with several other recent surveys and surveys done in Britain and France.

Homosexuals also have an interest in saying they were “born that way.” All attempts thus far to prove this have been based more on wishful thinking than solid biological research, but if it is found to be POSSIBLE IN EVEN ONE CASE, so what? The Bible teaches we are ALL BORN with a predisposition to sin. It shouldn’t surprise us that some 2% of the population finds this predisposition expressed in homosexual desire.

Homosexuals also have an interest in defining themselves as “gay,” a word that used to mean “happy” or “carefree,” but it is a poor description of a lifestyle that has THE HIGHEST GLOBAL RATE of death, disease, murder, and suicide.

This one came in to sojourn, and he keeps acting like a judge: This shows Lot’s FEEBLE efforts at providing moral and spiritual leadership were rejected and mocked by the men of Sodom.

Perhaps Lot THOUGHT….HOPED…that through compromise he might REACH these men, but GENESIS 19 CLEARLY AND PLAINLY PROVES THAT THE OPPOSITE happened. They have NO respect for him whatsoever, LOT IS A YES MAN, LOT IS WISHY WASHY. HE SAYS WHAT THAT PERSON OR PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR…INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR. SO LOT’S ‘live and let live’, ‘buddy-buddy’ approach leads him to call such wicked men my brethren.

Verses 10-11 Angelic protection at the door.

“But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.”

The men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door: It must have taken great, perhaps supernatural, strength to do what the angels did at the door. Obviously, the work of striking the men blind was supernatural. Now this mob had a physical blindness appropriate to their moral blindness.

Verses 12-14 to The angels’ deliverance of Lot & The angels warn Lot & Lot warns his family.

“Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city; take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”

To his sons-in-law: Lot’s daughters were unmarried and had not known a man told to us in Genesis 19:8. These men were sons-in-law by the ancient practice of binding betrothal, not by marriage yet.

He seemed to be joking: The effect of Lot’s life of compromise is clearly seen. When he spoke with UTMOST, DIRE SERIOUSNESS to his sons-in-law about the judgment of God, they did NOT believe him…THEY DO NOT CARE. LOT IS A JOKE TO EVEN HIS FAMILY. THIS TELLS US SADLY THAT LOT DID NOTHING TO SHINE AND SHOW JESUS even in the privacy of his OWN HOME. SO NOT even they will be saved from the judgment to come.

The life of Lot shows us that it is POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SAVED SOUL IN JESUS…BECAUSE OF WHO AND WHAT JESUS IS AND WHAT JESUS PROMISES & HAVE a saved soul AND A WASTED LIFE.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT Lot will be saved, but his life will accomplish nothing, as in 1 Corinthians 3:15: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Verses 15-16 tells us The angels try to hurry Lot and his family.

“When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”

While he lingered…THIS SHOWS YOU HIS TALK DID NOT MATCH HIS WALK. I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT, TWO ANGELS COME TO GET YOU…TELL YOU ALMIGHTY GOD IS GOING TO DESTROY THE CITY….AND INSTEAD OF RUNNING OUT THE DOOR THEN AND THERE….LOT AND HIS FAMILY DELAYED…LINGERED…WHICH SHOWS US TOO MUCH of Lot’s heart was in Sodom, so he was not anxious to leave the city. This lack of urgency to do the things of God is a common sign of compromise and a backslidden condition.

They brought him out and set him outside the city….In Genesis 18 Abraham asked God to SPARE the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there were TEN righteous found there. Because there were not ten righteous people, God will NOT spare the city. But He will STILL answer THE HEART of Abraham’s prayer by BRINGING THE BACK-SLIDDEN Lot and his family out of Sodom, even if it is practically AGAINST Lot’s will.

Lot was in the worst of all possible places. He had too much of the world to be happy in the Lord, and too much of the Lord to be happy in the world.

Verses 17-22 tells of the escape from Sodom.

“So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.”

Please, no, my lords! Lot seems PATHETIC & WHIMPERING WHINING in his prayer. Notice the sad contrast from LOT’S WHINING AGAINST THE BOLD intercession of Abraham.

I cannot do anything until you arrive there…This answers the question, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? As ABRAHAM ASKS GOD IN Genesis 18:25. God, bound by His own righteousness and honor, could NOT bring this judgment on Sodom until the righteous people were delivered.


Verses 23-26 tells us God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah & the cities ARE destroyed, & Lot’s wife turned to a pillar of salt.

“The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah…TODAY, many think these cities are buried under the Dead Sea, and their complete destruction is a testament to God’s judgment and grace in delivering His righteous people.

Before this destruction the area of Sodom was unbelievably beautiful and productive, like the garden of the Lord told to us in Genesis 13:10. Yet, this great privilege and blessing did not turn their hearts toward God.

As well, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah saw more of the power, grace, and mercy of God than any of the other people of the region. They had been delivered from ruin by God’s work through Abraham. They heard the testimony from Melchizedek and saw the example of Melchizedek and Abraham.

But they learned…nothing. It changed…nothing. They basically said HEY THANKS FOR SAVING US, THANKS FOR RETURNING US TO OUR BELOVED SODOM AND GOMORRAH…BYE BYE NOW.

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt…Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt because she looked back behind, after the angels had specifically said Do not look behind you in Genesis 19:17. Some think she lingered behind and was caught up in the cataclysm somehow, but it was probably a unique judgment of God on her for the state of her heart (a love for Sodom and regret for its destruction) shown by her action of looking back.

In referring to the end times, Jesus uttered some almost cryptic words in Luke 17:32: “Remember Lot’s wife.” In other words, NO CHRISTIAN should have a heart like Lot’s wife as we see the end of the age, a heart that LOVES THE WORLD MORE THAN HIM, and will in some sense, REGRET the judgment God will bring on it.

JESUS WANTS US TO LOOK FORWARD TO our deliverance, NOT LOOK BACK…MOAN, WHIMPER, LOOK BACK AND REGRET THAT THIS WORLD, THIS LOST WORLD AND MANKIND AS WE KNOW IT IS passing away and ripe for judgment.

Verses 27-29 tells us Abraham learns of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.”

When Abraham SAW the smoke of the these cities and their destruction burning as hotly, brightly and billowing smoke cloud like a furnace, he KNEW that his request was answered. God HAD delivered Lot before the destruction came.

Verses 30-32 tells us Lot and his daughters live in a wilderness cave.

“Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. Now the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.”

FIRST SIGN THAT LOT MAY HAVE A CLUE AND CARE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ALMIGHTY GOD EXPECTS AND DEMANDS…IS THAT HE GOES TO ZOAR…LOOKS AROUND…SEES THAT IT IS NOT MUCH BETTER THAN SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND FLEES TO THE MOUNTAINS AS THE ANGELS HAD TOLD HIM TO DO FROM THE FIRST. BUT NOT BEFORE LOADING UP WITH THE WORLDLY THINGS HE AND HIS DAUGHTERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO AND WANT…

Let us make our father drink wine: Lot and his family lost everything in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even so, they quickly EITHER MADE SURE TO PACK AND TAKE THEIR ALCOHOL OR PURCHASED IT….SO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEEDED OF THIS WORLD…NAMELY ALCOHOL….THEY HAD IT ON HAND.

This shows the priorities of a compromising heart. THIS ALSO SHOWS US THAT REGARDLESS SEEING FIRE RAIN DOWN FROM HEAVEN, TURNING TWO TOWNS INTO DUST, THEY DID NOT HAVE THANKFUL AND REPENTANT HEARTS…THEY SIMPLY MOVED TO A SAFER LOCATION AND CONTINUED WITH THEIR SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED WORLDLY PREFERENCES… ALMIGHTY GOD SPARED THEM AND GOT THEM OUT OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH…BUT IT DID NOT GET THE FILTH AND FOUL OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH OUT OF THEM…THERE WAS NOT REPENTANCE IN THEM.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…ANGELS HAD TO COME GET YOU, DRAG YOU OUT OF TOWN, TELL YOU NOT TO LOOK BACK….AND YOU SEE YOUR MAMA OR YOUR SPOUSE TURNED TO A PILLAR OF SALT….I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WOULD BE SAYING THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU JESUS…AND I WOULD BE DOING SOME MAJOR OVERVIEW OF MY LIFE AND MY LIFESTYLE AND WHERE I HAD GONE WRONG…RIGHT? BUT THESE THREE SURVIVORS DID NOT…ALL THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WAS WHAT DO I NEED AND WANT…EVEN THEN.

We will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father: This is a remarkable - and seemingly desperate sin from Lot’s daughters.

Some PEOPLE…WHO HAVE NOT READ THE ENTIRE STORY WRONGLY SUGGEST….WELL POOR LOT’S DAUGHTERS THOUGHT THEY WERE ALONE IN THE WORLD…WITH ONLY THERE OLD FATHER…SO THEY WERE TRYING TO SAVE THEMSELVES AND KEEP MANKIND THRIVING, BY HAVING SEX WITH THE ONLY MAN LEFT ON EARTH!

BUT RIGHT HERE…WE SEE AND ARE TOLD THE TRUTH…THE ENTIRE WORLD had NOT perished with Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was NOT LEFT TO THESE TWO WOMEN to “repopulate” the earth.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THEY WENT TO ZOAR, AND THEY KNEW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE LEFT ON THE EARTH….THEY KNEW THAT ONLY SODOM AND GOMORRAH HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

HERE ALSO SHOWS US LOT’S DAUGHTERS HEART…IT HAD NOT CHANGED…AT ALL. Evidently they decided it was the only thing to do under the circumstances, SINCE THEY REFUSED OR WORSE DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER IN TRUSTING IN THE GOD WHO HAD SAVED THEM AND SPARED THEM…

THIS SHOWS US WHAT A LOUSY JOB AND A LOUSY CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE LOT WAS AS THE CHRISTIAN HEAD OF HIS FAMILY. NONE WAS AFFECTED BY LOT OR HIS EXAMPLE, BUT ALL OF THEM WERE WILLINGLY AND HAPPILY CONSUMED WITH CONTINUING THEIR SODOM AND GOMORRAH LIFESTYLE.

Verses 33-38 tells us Moab and Ammon are born from this incestuous relationship.

“So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, “Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.”

The firstborn went in and lay with her father: We may be uncomfortable with the idea that the Bible includes the record of such disgraceful sins. Yet, ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM SHINING A LIGHT ON SIN…AND WANTING HIS CHILDREN TO KNOW AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SIN AND WRONG IS FROM HIS OWN MOUTH…HIS OWN WORDS…HIS OWN TEACHINGS…WHY?

BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD FATHER… HE DOES NOT WANT HIS CHILDREN TO ACCEPT THE TRUTHS/DECEPTIONS OR EVER-CHANGING FICKLED MINDSETS THE WORLD GIVES…BECAUSE THEY ARE SINFUL AND WRONG…HE WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO HEAR IT, SEE IT, AND UNDERSTAND IT FROM SOMEONE WHO LOVES THEM AND ONLY WANTS THE VERY BEST FOR THEM…

JESUS KNOWS No one can escape knowledge of sin . . . BUT SIN AND WRONGS AND BAD CHOICES ARE NEVER SHOWN IN THE BIBLE NOR TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY IN THE BIBLE WITHOUT ALMIGHTY GOD GIVING US FAIR AND PATIENT WARNINGS that God hates sin and punishes it.

JUST AS WE AS PARENTS, DO NOT WALK UP TO OUR CHILD, WHO IS DOING WRONG, AND SMACK THEIR REAR END, WITHOUT FIRST PATIENTLY TELLING THEM NO! DO NOT DO THIS! NO THIS IS NOT NICE! THAT IS WRONG! PATIENTLY…CONSISTENTLY…UNCHANGINGLY STATING AND RESTATING THE TRUTH…BEFORE THE SMACK ON THE REAR END WHEN THE CHILD CONTINUES TO DO WRONG.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE SAME WAY.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME WAY.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Moab; he is THE FATHER of the Moabites . . . Ben-Ammi; he is THE FATHER of the people of Ammon: Their descendants will be enemies and obstacles for Israel, just like the descendants of Ishmael. Lot’s life ended in ruin (past, present, and future), all because of his love for the world.

SO WHAT DOES ALMIGHTY GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WANT US TO LEARN FROM GENESIS 19?

TWO MOST IMPORTANT LIFE ALTERING AND CHRISTIAN WALK TRUTHS.

AND THAT IS THAT THERE WILL BE CHRISTIANS LIKE LOT WHO WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN…EVEN THOUGH THEIR ONLY RIGHTFULLY CLAIM TO IT…IS THERE ONE MOMENT OF CHOOSING JESUS CHRIST. THEY WILL HAVE HAD AS FAR AS JESUS IS CONCERNED…AND ALMIGHTY GOD IS CONCERNED….A WASTED…WORTHLESS LIFE…BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SHINE AND SHOW JESUS AT ALL. BUT THEIR SALVATION, JUST AS LOT’S, DEPENDS ON WHO OUR JESUS CHRIST IS, WHAT JESUS CHRIST DID FOR US, AND THAT JESUS CHRIST KEEPS HIS PROMISES…EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT….EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT FAITHFUL…EVEN WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING BUT A WASTED, FRUITLESS, WORTHLESS LIFE THAT HAS NOT SHINED AND SHOWED AND DRAWN ANYONE TO JESUS CHRIST.

IN OTHER WORDS JESUS CHRIST PROMISES TO AND CAN & WILL SAVE US FROM THE LOST DEAD WORLD AND THE LAKE OF FIRE ETERNITY IF WE CALL UPON HIS NAME, IF WE REPENT AND INVITE JESUS TO BE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, BUT WE MUST EACH CHOOSE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE PAST…THE WORLD AND LIFESTYLE AS WE KNOW IT…AND CHOSE TO SHINE AND SHOW JESUS AND WALK WITH JESUS.

BECAUSE ONE SWEET DAY, WE WILL SEE, FACE TO FACE OUR JESUS, AND WILL THEN EITHER HAVE THE CHANGED LIFE, THE STRIVING TO SHINE AND SHOW TO GIVE TO OUR JESUS….OR WE WILL STAND BEFORE HIM WITH NOTHING TO SHOW AND NOTHING TO GIVE HIM AND NOTHING TO PROVE THAT WE WERE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THE LOST WORLD…AND WHAT A BITTER, MOURNFUL DAY THAT WOULD BE…

AND JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW…ALL THOSE YOU PRAY UP…LIFT TO JESUS…ASK JESUS TO SAVE…EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT WORTHY…ARE WASTED LIVES…OUR JESUS IS FAITHFUL…AND HE WILL SAVE THOSE WE ASK HIM TO SAVE….JUST AS ALMIGHTY GOD SAVED LOT AND HIS FAMILY….NOT BECAUSE OF LOT’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT BECAUSE OF ABRAHAM’S LOVE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ASKING IT OF HIS ABBA FATHER.

JESUS WANTS US TO LEARN AND TO KNOW…THIS WORLD…THIS LOST DEAD AND BLIND WORLD IS PASSING AWAY….MORE AND MORE…QUICKER AND QUICKER DAY BY DAY…IN ALL AREAS OF THIS LIFE…AND WE ARE NOT TO WAIL, MOAN, REGRET, OR LOOK BACK…OR WISH IT OTHERWISE…WE ARE TO KEEP OUR EYES, HEARTS, AND MINDS FOCUSED ON OUR DESTINATION….OUR JESUS AND NOT REGRET…BUT REJOICE…THAT EACH DAY…MINUTE BY MINUTE WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THE TIME OF OUR JESUS COMING…BECAUSE OUR JESUS IS COMING SOON…

SO LET’S GET BUSY…SHINING AND SHOWING AND THROUGH OUR WALK, OUR TALK, OUR LIVES THE LOST AND THE BLIND IN THIS WORLD WILL SEEK US OUT….WILL WANT TO KNOW WHY WE HAVE HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD….WANT TO HAVE JOY IN A JOYLESS, DESTRUCTIVE SELFISH WORLD…

WE NEED TO GIVE THEM JESUS…SO SHINE ON FOR OUR JESUS…

BE BLESSED AND STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS CHRIST!

GENESIS 20: Abraham Lies About Sarah Again & GOD rescues them AGAIN

THIS TIME IN ABRAHAM’S LIFE PERSONIFIES THE ADAGE… “THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DESTINED TO REPEAT IT.”

BIBLICALLY SPEAKING… “THOSE WHO DO NOT REMEMBER THAT ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, ARE DESTINED TO WALK IN CIRCLES UNTIL THEY DO LEARN.”

GENESIS 2O ASKS YOU AND I THIS QUESTION…
WHO DO YOU SAY YOUR GOD IS?
WHO IS YOUR ALMIGHTY GOD…IT IS PRECIOUS AND PRICELESS…THAT THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER…JESUS CHRIST WILL ASK THE SAME THING OF HIS DISCIPLES…WHO DO THEY SAY I AM? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

EACH OF US NEEDS TO SIT DOWN AND PONDER THIS AND SEARCH OUR HEARTS AND MINDS…AND ANSWER THIS ONE QUESTION…ONCE WE DO…WE WILL KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO CHANGE…WHERE WE NEED TO GROW…AND WHERE WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR WALK WITH JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.

TURN WITH ME NOW TO GENESIS 20...

Abraham’s lie, God’s protection.

Verses 1-2 tells Abraham lies in a similar manner as before.

“And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved. Perhaps he did not want to live in the hills overlooking the destroyed region any longer, and be reminded of those people and the judgment visited upon them. But then WHO COULD BLAME HIM. I WOULD NOT WANT TO LOOK AT SCORCHED EARTH EITHER…BUT MOVING AWAY FROM THE REMINDER OF WHO OUR JESUS CHRIST IS…WILL PROVE DANGEROUS TO ABRAHAM.

OUT OF SIGHT…OUT OF MIND…SADLY PROVES TRUE EVEN FOR ABRAHAM…THE VISUAL REMINDER…THE SCORCHED EARTH ONCE REMOVED FROM HIS SIGHT AND THEN HIS MIND…LEADS ABRAHAM TO TRUST IN HIMSELF INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO TRUST IN HIS FAITHFUL, POWERFUL ALMIGHTY GOD….

“She is my sister.” ABRAHAM WAS THE WEALTHIEST AND MOST GOD PROTECTED MAN ON THE PLANET…HIS PEOPLE KNEW IT, HIS ALLIES KNEW IT, AND HIS ENEMIES KNEW IT…TOO BAD ABRAHAM FORGOT IT…AGAIN!

THIS IS ALSO A REPEATED LESSON FOR YOU AND I TOO. THE BIBLE SAYS BE SLOW TO SPEAK, QUICK TO LISTEN. IF ABRAHAM HAD TAKEN A BREATH, REMEMBERED JUST WHO HIS GOD WAS AND WHAT HIS GOD COULD DO…HE WOULD NOT HAVE KNEE-JERK LIED…AGAIN.

ABRAHAM…WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN MORE QUICK TO REMEMBER HIS GOD…IF HE HAD HAD THE SCORCHED EARTH PLAINS TO LOOK AT EACH DAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VISUAL REMINDER OF JUST WHO AND WHAT HIS GOD WAS…AND REMIND HIM THAT ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE GOD WHO SEES EVERYTHING…AND HE WOULD HAVE NOT FEARED OR NEEDED TO LIE…BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THAT HIS GOD WAS ABLE…IN ALL THINGS…AT ALL TIMES…HIS GOD WAS ABLE TO PROTECT, PROVIDE, HEAL, LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN THE FLESH, THE WORLD, AND THE DEVIL HIMSELF CAME CALLING…WHISPERING FEARS, WORRIES, AND DOUBTS IN ABRAHAM’S MIND…AND ABRAHAM REACTED TO WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD…INSTEAD OF WHAT HE KNEWWWWWWW ABOUT HIS GOD.

AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES…THE WORLDLY CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND HIM WERE VALID…IN THE FLESH.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

1. GOD WAS DOING, BEFORE HIS EYES, A MIRACLE WITH HIS WIFE SARAH…SHE WAS OUTWARDLY AND INWARDLY REJUVENATING. SHE WAS ALWAYS LOVELY, BUT NOW, SHE AT AGE 90, WAS BECOMING MORE YOUTHFUL…OUTSIDE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WITHIN HERSELF…AND EVERYONE SAW THE BLOOMING TRANSFORMATION.

2. ABRAHAM WAS the richest and most influential man of the region.

3. In that day, a harem was more of a political statement than a romantic statement. THEY CONSIDERED THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF A MAN OR RULERS HAREM, AS A TESTAMENT TO HIS POWER AND HIS WEALTH.

TODAY, AMBASSADORS MAKE CONCESSIONS, GIVE EXTRAVAGANT GIFTS, MAKE BACK ROOM DEALS USING THE “ONE THING” THAT PERSON WANTS OR DESIRES.

AND MEN DATE, AND AMASS BEAUTIES TO BE SEEN WITH…THEIR ARM CANDY…BECAUSE TO OTHER MEN, A MAN CAN BE UGLY AS MUD, MUCH LESS HANDSOME. BUT WHEN THEY ARE SEEN WITH A BEVY OF BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, AROUND THEM ALWAYS…IT SPEAKS TO THE MAN’S PROWESS, SUCCESS, AND POWER.

IT DOES NOT IMPRESS JESUS CHRIST…IT NEVER HAS, BUT NOW MAN, SATAN, AND THE WORLD AREEEEEEEEE IMPRESSED AND INTRIGUED BY IT.

SO INSTEAD OF TRUSTING AND BELIEVING ALMIGHTY GOD, WHOM HE HAD SPOKEN TO TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WATCHED HIM ASCEND BACK INTO HEAVEN…INSTEAD OF TRUSTING ALMIGHTY TO PROTECT HIM AND HIS SARAH…ABRAHAM LIES AGAIN…She is my sister.

This is the same lie Abraham told back in Genesis 12:10-13. He shows that it is all too easy, for EVEN THE HIGHLY FAVORED AND BLESSED BY JESUS CHRIST to slip back into sinful habits. Abraham stumbles in a place he stumbled before. Instead of trusting God to keep his family together AS GOD HAD DONE IN THE PAST, he devised his own plan to do it. His plan will fail completely.

ABRAHAM TRUSTED IN HIMSELF…HE DID NOT NEED TO BOTHER GOD WITH THIS…HE WOULD HANDLE IT HIMSELF…ABRAHAM LISTENED TO THE WHISPERS OF SATAN…DO NOT BOTHER GOD…YOU CAN DO IT…HANDLE IT YOURSELF…SHOW GOD WHAT A GREAT MAN YOU HAVE BECOME IN HIM…AND ABRAHAM LISTENS….


Verses 3-7 tells us God threatens judgment upon Abimelech for taking Sarah.

“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT…ALMIGHTY GOD’S FIRST INTRODUCTION TO THIS KING IS NOT A POLITE INTRODUCTION…IT IS…A BONE-CHILLING ABSOLUTE. “ “Indeed you are a dead man…ignore ME and you and your people are dead!”

TALK ABOUT A FRIGHTENING THING TO HEAR FROM GOD…even in a dream. But the point had to be made to Abimelech, even though he could truly say he was acting in the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands.

SOME HAVE SAID OF THIS…GOD WAS WAYYYYY HARSH HERE…BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ABIMELECH DID NOT KNOW ALMIGHTY GOD…HE WAS BLIND, LOST, AND THOUGHT, LIKE PEOPLE TODAY, I MAKE MY OWN DESTINY…GRAB ALL THE GUSTO YOU CAN, TAKE WHAT YOU WANT AND NEED…LIVE IT UP…BECAUSE DEATH IS THE END…AND THERE IS NOTHING AFTER IT.

AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ALMIGHTY GOD COMES TO EACH PERSON DIFFERENTLY…HE READS AND KNOWS THE HEART FIRST AND FOREMOST.

IF A WONDROUS VISION, BUT A KIND GENTLE VOICE AND TONE WOULD HAVE WORKED…ALMIGHTY GOD WOULD HAVE SPOKEN IT…JUST AS HE DID WITH LITTLE SAMUEL, WHILE UNDER ELI’S TUTELAGE…BUT THE FACT THAT ALMIGHTY GOD CAME WITH YOU ARE A DEAD MAN…TELLS US THAT ABIMELECH…WAS TIGHTLY IN SATAN AND THE WORLD’S CLUTCHES…A VISION, A FANTASTIC OR NOT…WOULD HAVE THIS MAN SAYING…

BOYYYYYY…NO MORE GOAT BURGERS FOR ME, NO MORE OF THAT WINE…I HAD THE WEIRDEST DREAMS…AND HE WOULD HAVE DISMISSED IT AS ONLY THAT…INDIGESTION, DRUNKENNESS, OR FATIGUE…AMEN

GOD KNEW THIS…SO ALMIGHTY GOD KNOWING THIS MAN FEARED DEATH/IMPOTENCY…TOLD HIM…YOU ARE A DEAD MAN!

AND THERE IS ANOTHER REASON…THINK ABOUT ALMIGHTY GOD’S PLAN…HIS ETERNAL PLAN THAT HE HAD SPOKEN AND WAS TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH ISAAC.

ALMIGHTY GOD KNEW SATAN WAS TRYING ONCE AGAIN TO DESTROY AND DERAIL HIS PLANS…

AND THINK ABOUT THIS…Suppose Abimelech had taken Sarah SEXUALLY and God had not intervened? Two seeds would have been at the door to Sarah’s womb, and to this day an element of DOUBT TO ISAAC’S TRUE BLOODLINE HERITAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DEBATED…AND IT WOULD HAVE PUT A BLOT IN THE TRUTH OF THE BLOODLINE OF JESUS CHRIST WHO WOULD COME FROM ISAAC’S BLOOD.

ALMIGHTY GOD, EVEN THEN, SAW THE FUTURE, OUR FUTURE, AND THE DEBATES OVER ISRAEL’S GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO THE LAND….SO HE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF DOUBT WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER IN…SO ALMIGHTY GOD MADE SURE THERE WOULD BE NONE, AMEN?

ALMIGHTY GOD COULD HAVE TAKEN THE EASY WAY AND JUST ZAPPED ABIMELECH. BUT EVEN WITH THE LOST, THE BLIND, THE EVIL…ALMIGHTY GOD IS HONORABLE AND JUST. HE KNEW Abimelech’s heart was INNOCENT OF KNOWING HIM OR THE PURPOSE OF SARAH IN HIS PLAN, AND THAT SARAH WAS ALSO ABRAHAM’S WIFE. SO GOD KEPT him from worse sin. God’s protecting power can guide even a pagan king.

AND WE SEE SOMETHING…ONCE AGAIN ABOUT OUR TRIUNE GOD…despite Abraham’s failure to really trust God in the situation, God was not going to abandon him. He would not let Abimelech touch Sarah. That womb was going to bring forth ISAAC, the son of promise, who would eventually bring forth God’s Messiah, JESUS CHRIST. God wasn’t leaving this matter up to man!

“For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you…” Even though Abraham is in sin, he is still a prophet and man of powerful prayer. God’s mercy did not leave Abraham, even though Abraham didn’t trust God the way he should.

AND ONCE AGAIN…A GENTILE, PAGAN KING REBUKES ABRAHAM.

Verses 8-10 tells us Abraham (just like last time) suffers rebuke from a heathen king.

“So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.” Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

“You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done…” DO YOU HEAR THE WONDER, THE FEAR, AND THE CERTAINTY IN THIS PAGAN KING AS I DO? It is sad to see that Abimelech - the pagan king - is in the right, and Abraham - the man of God is in the wrong, and Abimelech tells Abraham so.

What did you have in view, that you have done this thing? This is a logical question for Abimelech to ask Abraham. Abraham certainly did not have the Lord in view when he lied and failed to trust God.

Verses 11-13 tells us Abraham’s excuse.

“And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife. But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”

AGAIN…THIS HALF TRUTH GOT ABRAHAM IN TROUBLE.
AND THIS TELLS US THAT A HALF-TRUTH MAY BE ACCEPTED AND EXCUSABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE IN MAN’S EYES…BUT NOT IN ALMIGHTY GOD.

AND ABRAHAM TRIED TO JUSTIFY THE LIE WHEN HE SAID BASICALLY, LOOK AROUND YOU, YOU ARE ALL HEATHENS, GODLESS, YOU DO NOT KNOW MY GOD, SO WHY SHOULD YOU FEAR ME AND MY GOD.

BUT ONCE AGAIN…THE REAL PROBLEM WAS FEAR OF ALMIGHTY GOD WAS NOT IN ABRAHAM…WHOM ABRAHAM HAD SEEN, WALKED WITH, EATEN WITH, TALKED WITH…If ABRAHAM HAD REALLY UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED THE LORD, HIS COMMANDMENTS, HIS PROMISES, AND HIS PROTECTION, then Abraham would have NEVER LIED, NEVER TRUSTED IN HIS OWN ABILITIES AND HIS OWN FLESHLY POWERFUL REPUTATION, & THE MUTTERING OF SATAN….

ABRAHAM WOULD HAVE TOLD THIS PAGAN/HEATHEN KING…SARAH IS MY WIFE, I SERVE THE MOST HIGH GOD, AND YOU ENDANGER YOUR LIFE AND ALL YOUR PEOPLE, IF YOU DARE TO TOUCH HER OR TRY TO TAKE HER FROM ME.

AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE….WHEN ABRAHAM SAID….“When God called me to wander from my father’s house”…ABRAHAM IS INDIRECTLY BLAMING ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE PROBLEM. Abraham claims that God sent him out on this dangerous journey upon which Abraham had to protect himself.

There is a terrible meaning in this verb “WANDER” which Abraham uses. The Hebrew word occurs exactly 50 TIMES in THE BIBLE….AND IT IS NEVER GOOD. It is used of animals going astray, of a drunken man reeling, or staggering, of sinful seduction, of a prophet’s lies causing the people to err, of the path of a lying heart. Six OTHER words are translated wander, any one of which Abraham might have used, but he used the WORST WORD available.

SO WHAT SHOULD HAVE ABRAHAM HAVE SAID?

Abraham SHOULD BEEN REPENTANT AND HUMBLE AND SAID….Forgive me, Abimelech, for dishonoring both you and my God. My selfish cowardice overwhelmed me, and I denied my God by fearing that He who called me could not take care of me. He is not as your gods of wood and stone. He is the God of glory. He is the living God, the Creator, the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. He told me He would be my shield and my exceeding great reward, and supplier of all my needs . . . In sinning against Him, I sinned against you. Forgive me, Abimelech.

DO YOU NOTICE…ALMIGHTY GOD’S PATIENCE ONCE AGAIN HERE…HERE AGAIN…IS VISUAL PROOF OF OUR TRIUNE GOD’S PATIENT, LOVING TEACHING HEART.

Verses 14-18 tells us Abimelech’s gift recompenses Sarah, and Abraham prays for him.

“Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was reproved. So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”

In showing such generosity to Abraham, Abimelech is essentially heaping coals of fire on Abraham’s head as we are reminded in Romans 12:20. Abraham SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVING GIFTS TO ABIMELECH, because he was in the wrong.

Also, it is interesting to see Abraham ACCEPTS THESE GIFTS, when he had refused gifts from a pagan king previously in Genesis 14:21-24, because he wanted no one to think a man had made him rich. Here, because of Abraham’s TOTAL COMPROMISE, he finds it hard to reclaim the same high moral ground.

I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver…We can imagine ABIMELECH HAVING BROUGHT SARAH BEFORE HIM, LOOKING HER IN THE FACE, AND WITH POLITE REBUKE AND IRONY IN HIS VOICE, he refers to Abraham as Sarah’s brother.

Thus she was reproved…The ancient Hebrew word for reproved is “yakach.” It has the idea of “set right,” so it is debatable as if Sarah was “set right” by Abimelech’s rebuke, or if she was “found to be right” because of her humble submission in this occasion. In a sense, both are true.

AND REMEMBER WOMEN HAD TO RIGHTS IN THIS DAY AND TIME…THEY WERE EXPECTED TO BOW TO THEIR FATHER, THEN THEIR HUSBAND’S EVERY COMMAND AND STATEMENT…WHETHER IT WAS THE TRUTH OR NOT.

AND WE SEE SOMETHING ELSE HERE, ALMIGHTY GOD, KNOWING THE HEARTS OF ALL, MADE SURE ABIMELECH AND THE MEN AND THE WOMEN OF HIS FAMILY/KINGDOM WERE STRUCK IMPOTENT. NOT ONE MAN IN HIS KINGDOM COULD FUNCTION SEXUALLY…AND ALL THE WOMEN’S WOMBS/BODIES WERE SUDDENLY AND INSTANTLY CLOSED AS WELL.

WHY?

IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON, FOR A POWERFUL MAN OR A POWERFUL RULER TO SEND A EUNUCH OR HIS “BEST MAN” TO BREACH AND BREAK THE MAIDEN HEAD OF A VIRGIN MEMBER OF THE HAREM OR EVEN HIS VIRGIN BRIDE. SO THIS IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL MAN WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE BOTHERED BY THE TASK OR SUFFER THE SHOW OF BLOOD UPON HIMSELF THAT THE DUTY WOULD REQUIRE.

MOST EUNUCHS COULD BECOME AROUSED AND RESPONSIVE TO STIMULI, BUT HAVING THEIR SCROTUM, THEIR SEED REMOVED, THEY COULD IN NO WAY ENDANGER THE BLOODLINE, BY IMPREGNATING ANY IN THE HAREM. THEY WERE SAFE PROXYS FOR THEIR MASTERS.

SO ALMIGHTY GOD KNOWING THEIR PRACTICES AND KNOWING THE HEARTS, KNEW THAT IF ABIMELECH COULD NOT PERFORM, HE MIGHT VERY WELL DECIDE TO SEND HIS “BEST AND TRUSTED MAN” TO TAKE SARAH’S SUPPOSED VIRGINITY FROM HER…SO ALMIGHTY GOD MADE THE ENTIRE KINGDOM IMPOTENT…NOT ONLY TO REASSURE ABIMELECH THAT IT WAS NO DREAM, BUT THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH…YOU ARE A DEAD MAN…AND THIS ALSO TELLS US THAT ABIMELECH MAY HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENED BY THE DREAM…BUT IT DID NOT STOP HIS FLESH…HE STILL PLANNED TO TAKE SARAH…OR HAVE HIS PROXY DO SO…SO ALMIGHTY GOD STRUCK EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN IN THE KINGDOM.

WHY THE WOMEN TOO?

ALMIGHTY GOD DID IT TO PROTECT THE WOMEN. IN THAT DAY AND AGE, A MAN’S MASCULINITY WAS TIED TO HIS ABILITY TO SEXUALLY PERFORM OFTEN…ON A WHIM…WITH ANY NUMBER OF WOMEN IN ONE DAY…AND IN THAT CULTURE, IF A WOMEN, ALL WHO WERE TRAINED IN THE ART OF SEDUCTION AND PLEASURE GIVING TO THEIR MASTERS, BE THEY HUSBAND OR KING, IF THAT MAN COULD NOT PERFORM, COULD NOT RESPOND, THE PROBLEM LAY WITH THE WOMAN, THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT OR BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD LIE WITH THE MAN, SO WIVES, IF THEY WERE OF HIGH RANK WERE BANISHED, AND SOME EVEN KILLED, BUT THE HAREM MEMBERS, MOST GAINED BY INTRIGUE OR AS A BARGAINING CHIP TO SETTLE DISPUTES, OR UNITE KINGDOMS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES…THEY WOULD BE PUT IN A SACK, WEIGHED DOWN WITH ROCKS, AND TIED UP AND THROWN INTO THE SEA TO DROWN, OR THEY WERE STONED TOO DEATH.

ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT WANT THESE WOMEN TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD DONE…SO HE STRUCK THEM ALL…AND THEY STAYED THAT WAY, UNTIL SARAH WAS FREED THE HAREM, RESTORED TO ABRAHAM, AND ONLY AFTER ABRAHAM PRAYED FOR THEM DID ALMIGHTY GOD RESTORE THEM TO FERTILITY AND PROWESS.

SO WHAT DOES GENESIS 20 TEACH US…TELL US…

ONCE AGAIN..THOSE THEN AND NOW WHO SAY, YEAHHHHHH YOUR BIBLE TELLS US AND SHOWS US YOUR GOD IS SO KIND AND FORGIVING AND LOVING HE DESTROYED A REGION BY FIRE, HE FLOODED THE EARTH.

WHAT THEY CONVENIENTLY FORGET IS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAD BLESSED SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND WAS PATIENT WITH THEM FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS… OVER TIME, MANKIND PERSONALLY, ONE ON ONE SAW WHAT THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB COULD DO. OVER TIME, ALMIGHTY GOD SENT PROPHET, SIGNS AND WONDERS AND WARNINGS TO MANKIND…REPENT, REPENT, REPENT….TURN TO ME….AND THEN JUST LIKE NOW…AS WITH MOST RECENTLY THE TINY BIT OF A METEOR THAT HIT RUSSIA AND THEN HOURS LATER, HIT SAN FRANCISCO…MANKIND AND THE EXPERTS ARE NOT BEING CALLED TO REPENTANCE, NOR ARE THEY SEEKING ALMIGHTY GOD….THE NEWSPAPERS IN RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE CALLING IT….JUST A BLIP….JUST A COSMIC COINCIDENCE…ONE IN A MILLION TIME THING…NOT A WARNING…NOTHING TO FEAR AND WORRY OVER…RIGHT?

SO MANKIND HAS NOT CHANGED…BUT ALMIGHTY GOD WHO WITH A THOUGHT, COULD HAVE ERASED THE EARTH FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM, OR ERASED MANKIND AS A WHOLE FROM THE EARTH…DID NOT DO SO.

INSTEAD HE IS PATIENT WITH ABRAHAM…A MAN WHO HAD SEEN AND WALKED AND TALKED AND SHARED MEALS WITH ALMIGHTY GOD…HAS SEEN ALMIGHTY GOD DO THE IMPOSSIBLE…OVER AND OVER AGAIN…ALMIGHTY GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL TO ABRAHAM EVEN WHEN ABRAHAM IS NOT FAITHFUL AND TRUSTING.

THAT IS LOVE UNSPEAKABLE.
THAT IS PATIENCE PERSONIFIED.
AND IT ALSO TELLS US ONCE AGAIN…AND SHOWS US ONCE AGAIN…MANKIND THEN AND NOW…IS NOT MOVED BY SIGNS AND WONDERS AS A WHOLE…IT IS JUSTTTTTTT AN ABERRATION…AN BLIP…A ONCE IN A LIFETIME KIND OF THING.

AND THE NEW TESTAMENT AND REVELATION TELL US THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS AND MIRACLES CAN NOT AND DO NOT ALWAYS CONVICT THE HEART, CHANGE A LIFE…ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN DO SO, AMEN?

IT SHOWS US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD DOES SEE AND DOES READ AND DOES KNOW THE VERY SECRET HEART AND THOUGHTS OF MAN…AND SO HE IS PINPOINT ACCURATE IN HIS ATTENTION GETTER.

ALMIGHTY GOD GAVE THIS PAGAN A VISION THAT SHOULD HAVE GAINED HIS FULL ATTENTION…SENT ABIMELECH TO HIS KNEES IN REPENTANCE AND CRYING OUT TO THE GOD WHO SEES…BUT IT DID NOT.

SO ALMIGHTY GOD THEN PATIENTLY GRABBED THE ENTIRE KINGDOM BY WHAT THEY REALLY VALUED MOST IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS….AND THAT WAS THEIR MANHOOD, THEIR SEXUAL PROWESS…THEIR GOD…WHICH WAS SELF.

BUT GENESIS 20 ALSO SHOWS GOD’S LOVE FOR WOMEN, HIS CARE FOR WOMEN, AND HIS DESIRE TO PROTECT WOMEN, EVEN LOST AND HEATHEN WOMEN FROM BEING PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING HE HIMSELF DID… HE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE MEN OF THE KINGDOM TO BLAME THE WOMEN, THEIR HAREMS…AND HE WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO PUNISH OR KILL THE WOMEN FOR SOMETHING HE HIMSELF HAD DONE.

AND ALMIGHTY GOD REBUKED ABRAHAM AND SARAH BY LETTING A GODLESS MAN…A GODLESS HEATHEN REBUKE THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN…AND SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED…AND SHOULD HAVE WARNED ABIMELECH AND HIS PEOPLE OF.

GENESIS 20 ONCE AGAIN TELLS US ALL, THEN AND NOW….THAT ALMIGHTY GOD DOES WHAT HE PROMISES TO DO. HE IS A PROMISE KEEPER. THE IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE FOR JESUS CHRIST, BUT IT IS EASYYYYYYYYYYYYYY TO DO.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS FAIR AND JUST.
HIS RESPONSE TO MANKIND DEPENDS ON MANKIND’S HEART.

GENESIS 20 TELLS US AND REASSURES US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD READS THE SECRET HEARTS OF ALL THINGS. HE CONTROLS BOSSES, COURTS, COPS, JUDGES, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, GOVERNMENTS, BANKS…SATAN AND EVIL MANKIND.

HE DOES KNOW HOW TO GET THEIR ATTENTION…AND HE CAN AND DOES LET THEM KNOW…YOU ARE DARING TO TOUCH MY ANOINTED…MY CHILDREN…YOU ARE IN PERIL….YOU ARE RISKING YOUR VERY LIFE…AND YOUR ETERNITY BY DARING TO DO SO.

OUR TRIUNE GOD LOVES US…WARTS AND ALL.
OUR TRIUNE GOD SEES US TO OUR VERY CORES.

JESUS CHRIST SAYS…I KNOW YOU…I LOVE YOU…I AM FAITHFUL EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT…YOU CAN TRUST IN ME…IN ALL THINGS…UNDER ANY AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARISE IN YOUR LIFE…I RULE, I REIGN, AND I CONTROL….COME TO ME…LEAN ON ME…TRUST IN ME…AND ME ALONE…I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!

BE BLESSED AND STAY BLESSED IN OUR AMAZING JESUS

Genesis 21 - The Birth of Isaac

GENESIS 21-22 ARE PROPHETIC PICTURES OR SNEAK PEEKS INTO WHO AND WHAT OUR JESUS WILL BE….ISAAC IS A PICTURE OF JESUS…AND ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS US JESUS 1000s of YEARS IN ADVANCE OF BETHLEHEM.

AND THIS BIBLE STUDY WILL SHOW YOU HOW AND WHY.


Verse 1 tells God FULFILLS His promise to Abraham and Sarah.

“And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.”

It took a long time (25 years) for this promise to come to pass, but God was FAITHFUL to His promise. God’s promises NEVER fail.

AND ONCE AGAIN…WE NEED TO REMEMBER that the promise of a son was NOT fulfilled because Abraham was perfect in his obedience, but because God WAS FAITHFUL to His Word.

Some promises of God ARE CONDITIONAL and depend on something we must do. But other promises of God ARE UNCONDITIONAL, and God will fulfill them not because of what we do, but because of WHO HE IS, AMEN!

Verse 2-7 tell us the child is named Isaac.

“For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him; whom Sarah bore to him; Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Originally, the name Isaac was meant as somewhat of a rebuke of the laughter of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17:17-19 and 18:12-15), but God had/has a humorous side too and turned a gentle rebuke into an occasion for joy.

AND DID YOU KNOW THAT ISAAC becomes a wonderful type (picture) of Jesus:

HOW?

Both were the promised sons.
Both were born after a period of delay.
Both mothers were assured by God’s omnipotence (Genesis 18:13-14; Luke 1:34; 1:37).
Both were given names rich with meaning before they were born.
Both births occurred at God’s appointed time (Genesis 21:2; Galatians 4:4).
Both births were miraculous.
Both births were accompanied by joy (Genesis 21:6; Luke 1:46-47; 2:10-11).

BUT THE JOY IS DIMMED BY CONFLICT BETWEEN ISHMAEL AND ISAAC. ISN’T IT JUST LIKE SATAN…TO STEP IN AND STRIVE TO DESTROY OUR HAPPIEST MOMENTS IN JESUS? AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE…SATAN JUST LIKE MANKIND, FOR ALL THE WORLD’S TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES…MANKIND AND SATAN AND THE WORLD AT ITS CORE…HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN, AMEN?
Verses 8-11 tells us Sarah wants Abraham to cast out BOTH Hagar and Ishmael.

“So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.”

Reliable Biblical & Historical research indicates BABIES WERE WEANED at the age of three.

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar . . . Scoffing…This conflict between the two sons was almost inevitable, even though they are some 13+ years apart. Abraham found it hard to side with Sarah when he did not want to reject his son, Ishmael.

BUT JUST AS JESUS TOLD HAGAR AT THE POOL, ISHMAEL WOULD BE A WILD MAN, FIGHTING WITH AND AGAINST EVERYONE, AND BE AN ENEMY TO EVERYONE, EVEN HIS BROTHERS THROUGHOUT TIME….AND TO THIS DAY, THAT IS TRUE OF THE ARABIC PEOPLE.

SO WE NOTICE THE BIBLE TELLS US THE CONFLICT CAME FROM ISHMAEL UNTO ISAAC. I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT, ISHMAEL IS 16 + YEARS OLD, AND ISAAC HAS JUST TURNED 3 YEARS OLD. IT TAKES A REALLY MEAN-SPIRITED, INSECURE, BULLY TO BE JEALOUS OF AND JUMP A LITTLE CHILD, AMEN?

Ishmael was the one scoffing at Isaac. Galatians 4:22-29 describes for us a spiritual application of this conflict between Isaac (the son born of the promise) and Ishmael (the son born of the flesh).

In Galatians 4, the Jewish legalists who troubled the Galatians protested they were children of Abraham and thus blessed. Paul will admit they are children of Abraham, but they are like Ishmael, not Isaac!

The legalists claimed Abraham as their father. Paul wants to know who was their mother, Hagar or Sarah? WHY?

Ishmael was born of a slave, and born according to the flesh.
Isaac was born of a freewoman, and born according to HIS promise.

Even so, the legalists promote a relationship with God based in bondage and according to the flesh. The true gospel of grace offers liberty in Christ and is a promise received by faith, AMEN?!

Even as Ishmael and his descendants have persecuted Isaac and his descendants, we should not be surprised that the modern-day people who follow God in the flesh persecute those who follow God in faith through the promise.

Verses 12-14 tells us under God’s INSTRUCTION, Abraham puts out Hagar and Ishmael.

“But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice…Perhaps Abraham did not want to give up Ishmael because he was sort of a “backup” plan. If something should happen to Isaac, there would always be Ishmael. But God wanted IT MADE CLEAR TO ABRAHAM THAT THERE WAS NO BACKUP PLAN for Abraham other than God Himself.

Abraham might have been tempted to reject Sarah’s counsel just because it was Sarah & SHE A WOMAN & A PROTECTIVE MOTHER; but he sought the Lord in the matter, did what Sarah suggested, and without feeling he was “giving in” to Sarah.

Sent her away…God’s solution was clear - get rid of the son of the flesh. There is to be NO reconciliation with the flesh, NO peaceful coexistence. The son of the flesh must simply be put away FOREVER.

The solution is the same in our own battle between trusting in the flesh and trusting in the Holy Spirit: cast out this bondwoman and her son.

LAW AND GRACE CAN NOT LIVE TOGETHER AS PRINCIPLES FOR OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE…, and there is NO question we belong to the free, not the bondwoman.

RIGHT HERE…ALMIGHTY GOD SETTLES THE PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES SOME WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS TODAY…JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW….BEING THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR ALL LOST MANKIND (JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE).

BY THE LAW, ALMIGHTY GOD NOR JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF LATER WAS NOT REFERRING TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS…BUT ALL THE RULES AND RITUALS THAT WOULD COME TO AND FROM THE LEVITES…THE RABBINICAL LAW. WE NO LONGER NEED A HUMAN INTERCESSOR (PRIEST, RABBI, PREACHER…ETC. JESUS IS OUR HIGH PRIEST…WE CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HIM. WE ARE NOT BOUND BY OLD RITUALISTIC LAWS OF THE LEVITES…THAT SAID YOU COULD DO NOTHING ON THE SABBATH…NOT EVEN GIVE AID TO A BIRTHING MOTHER, OR PULL A WRECKED MULE/CART OUT OF THE DITCH, NOR COOK, NOR EAT, NOR WEAR CERTAIN THINGS ON THE SABBATH…THEREIN LIES THE DIFFERENCE. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LAW IN AND THROUGH HIS GRACE AND SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS…AMEN?

Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba: It may have seemed ruthless of Abraham to do this, but it was exactly what God wanted, and exactly what needed to happen.

WHY?

Flesh and blood do NOT make the strongest bond God wants us to honor. There ARE circumstances where we can do nothing other than put away family for the glory of God. IN OTHER WORDS LEAVE THEM AT JESUS FEET…AND MOVE ON…IF JESUS CAN NOT TOUCH AND CHANGE THEM…NO ONE ELSE CAN OR WILL, AMEN?

AND God wants us to be ruthless with the flesh in the same manner:

GALATIANS 5:24...CONFIRMS THIS…“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Took bread and a skin of water…THIS AT FIRST GLANCE, SEEMS MEAN, CHEAP, AND MISERLY…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW WEALTHY Abraham was.

WHEN I FIRST READ THIS, I WAS THINKING, GOOD GRIEF ABRAHAM could certainly spare more provisions, even giving them a donkey or several pack animals.

BUT THEN I REALIZED TWO THINGS…

HAGAR WAS PROUD AND ARROGANT AND DISRESPECTFUL TO HER MISTRESS SARAH ALL THIS TIME. AND THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT ISHMAEL WAS A SWAGGERING, ARROGANT, BULLY AND A CONSTANT TRIAL TO ABRAHAM AND DISRESPECTFUL TO HIS FATHER ABRAHAM, AND HIS ADOPTED MOTHER SARAH…AS WELL EVERYONE ELSE.

AND HE ONLY GOT WORSE…FAR WORSE, WHEN ISAAC WHO WAS JUST A BABY WAS MISTREATED AND TORMENTED BY THE TEENAGE ISHMAEL…SO ABRAHAM HOPED IT WOULD MAKE HAGAR REPENTANT, HUMBLE, AND LEAN ON AND TRUST GOD…NOT ABRAHAM & HIS WEALTH AND PROMINENCE FOR HER EXISTENCE.

AND HE HOPED IT WOULD GROW ISHMAEL UP TO BE THE MAN ABRAHAM STAYED ON HIS FACE PRAYING FOR, HOPING FOR AND BELIEVING FOR.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY Abraham realized that without God’s help, without them turning to and trusting GOD, no matter what he gave them, OR DID FOR THEM…it would not be enough. But with God, things would turn out all right, AMEN.


Verses 15-21 tells us God preserves Ishmael and Hagar in the desert.

“And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.”

Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is…As God protects and preserves them out in the desert; He answers them by hearing the voice of the lad. God is showing special favor to Ishmael because he IS a descendant of Abraham.

AND ALMIGHTY GOD KEPT HIS PROMISE…The descendents of Ishmael became the Arabic people.

Verses 22-24 tells us Abraham makes a covenant with a Philistine king…a no-hostility treaty with Abimelech.

“And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

My first thought, when I saw Abimelech’s name, I thought, How could this be the same Abimelech of Genesis 20?
Then I began researching Biblical history and discovered it is NOT the same person.

WHY?

Because Abimelech is THE TITLE of a ruler among the Canaanites, not a specific name.

God is with you in all that you do…Abimelech noticed this because of Abraham’s integrity and because of the blessing evident in his life.

THIS PROVES TO US, THEN AND NOW…THIS VERY DAY…THAT EVEN HEATHENS (IN OTHER WORDS THE LOST), IN THIS INCIDENT, A PAGAN RULER COULD SEE AND SENSE THE GRACE AND LOVE AND FAVOR AND YESSSSSSS…THE LIGHT A TRUE CHILD OF GOD HAS…NOT SO MUCH IN WHAT HE POSSESSES, BUT IN HOW HE BEHAVES…HIS WALK AND TALK…MATCH.

Verses 25-31 tells us in return for the treaty, Abraham CLEARS UP A DISPUTE about an important well.

“Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?” And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.”

Verses 32-34 tells us Abraham calls on the name of the Lord.

“Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.”

Called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God…Even through this time of conflict in his family and among his neighbors, Abraham kept a real, live walk with God.

SATAN AND THIS WORLD CAN AND DO USE CONFLICT TO DRIVE US AWAY FROM JESUS, BUT AS WITH ABRAHAM THEN, AND US NOW TODAY, CONFLICT, TRIALS, HURTS, ILLNESSES, WORRIES, & FEARS SHOULD SEND US RUNNING TO OUR JESUS CHRIST…MAKE US PRESS IN AND GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO JESUS, AMEN?

NOW LET’S TURN TO GENESIS 22...AND SEE THE REST OF THE FULL LIKENESS OF JESUS IN ISAAC THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WANTS US TO KNOW….

Genesis 22 - Abraham Willing to Offer Isaac

God’s command to Abraham and his response.

Verses 1-2 tell us God TESTS THE FAITH of Abraham.

“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

This was not so much a test to PRODUCE faith, as it was a test to REVEAL faith. God built Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith.

THINK ABOUT IT….ALMIGHTY GOD IN A BLINK COULD HAVE POURED ALL HIS TRUTHES, HIS TESTING UPON ABRAHAM…ALL AT ONCE…BUT NO ONE…BUT FOR JESUS COULD/DID HANDLE IT & SURVIVE IT.

AND IT IS MUCH LIKE WEIGHT TRAINING…YOU TAKE A YOUNG BOY…YOU START OUT WORKING OUT WITH 2 POUND WEIGHTS AND GRADUALLY INCREASE WEIGHT AS MUSCLES GROW, GET STRONGER, & CAN HANDLE WEIGHT. YOU WOULD NOT TAKE A YOUNG BOY, PUT HIM ON A WEIGHT BENCH AND EXPECT HIM TO LIFT 300 POUNDS…FIRST TIME OUT….AND NEITHER WOULD NOR DOES OUR JESUS CHRIST….HE IS A PATIENT, SPIRTUAL FAITH AND TRUST TRAINER, AMEN?

Take now your son, your only son Isaac…DID YOU CATCH THAT? I MISSED IT AT FIRST.
Significantly, God calls Isaac your ONLY son Isaac, when in fact Abraham had another son, Ishmael. But since Ishmael was put away from Abraham’s family, then as far as God was concerned, Abraham had only ONE SON.

God tells Abraham to offer him as a burnt offering. This was not an offering that was burned alive, but one first sacrificed and then completely burnt before the Lord.

How would we react if God told us to do such a thing with OUR ONLY CHILD? Jack Smith, a columnist for the L.A. Times, discussing this Biblical incident with his readers said, “I would have told God to mind his own business.” That’s what the world always says to God…UNTIL THEY NEED HIM.

Would Jesus Christ tell someone to do this today?

SADLY AND HORRIFICALLY 1993, a man named Andrew Cate was sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of fatally shooting his 2-year-old daughter, then walking naked through his neighborhood carrying her body. Cate claimed he was acting out the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, and God would do a miracle to win his brother to Christianity. Cate believed God would miraculously stop him at the last moment before killing his daughter. The man was obviously deranged.

AND HE DID NOT KNOW HIS BIBLE…WHY?

What Abraham was TOLD TO DO BY GOD AND WHAT HE DID was something completely unique in God’s redemptive history, given for a specific purpose ONCE FOR ALL fulfilled. There is NO WAY Jesus Christ would ever direct someone to do this same thing today.

SO DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY SATAN AND THE WORLD..

Offer him there as a burnt offering…This test was especially hard because it seemed to contradict the previous promise of God. Hadn’t God promised in Isaac your seed shall be called (Genesis 21:12)?

If Isaac hadn’t had children to pass the promise on to yet, how could Abraham kill him? Wouldn’t he be killing the very promise God made to him?

Abraham had to learn the difference between trusting THE PROMISE and trusting THE PROMISER, AMEN?

We can put God’s promise before God Himself and feel it is our responsibility to bring the promise to pass, even if we have to disobey God to do it.

BUT JESUS SAYS…THE BIBLE SAYS…AND ALMIGHTY GOD is telling us to…Trust the Promiser no matter what, and the promise will be taken care of!

On one of the mountains of which I shall tell you: There was a SPECIFIC place God commanded Abraham to go, a PARTICULAR spot where this would happen. God is carefully directing EACH detail.

Your only son Isaac, whom you love: This is the FIRST MENTION of love in the Bible, and it is the love between FATHER AND SON, and connected with the idea of the sacrificial offering of the son.

Verse 3 tells us Abraham’s immediate response of faith.

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

NOTICE ABRAHAM’S FAITH GROWTH? There is not the slightest hint of hesitation on Abraham’s part. Abraham rose early in the morning to do this.

Abraham is trusting God, even when he does not understand. Sometimes we say, “I’m not going to obey or believe until I understand it all,” but that is making myself equal with God.

NOTICE…NO DEBATE THIS TIME…NO SEEKING COUNSEL FROM OTHERS…He knew what to do and employed no stalling tactics.

Abraham IS trusting, even when he does NOT feel like it…even when he does NOT UNDERSTAND. There is NOT a line in this text about how Abraham felt, not because he didn’t feel, but because he was walking by faith, not feelings nor by sight.

God had been training Abraham, bringing him to this place of great trust. In GENESIS 21, God asked Abraham to “give up” Ishmael in a less severe way. God used that, and everything else, to train up Abraham.

Saddled his donkey: Abraham PERSONALLY saddles his donkey and split the wood. Though he had plenty of servants to do this for him, Abraham did it himself because even in his old age, is a bundle of nervous energy.

Went to the place of which God had told him: In wonderful, trusting obedience, Abraham went right to the spot. Abraham does this even though it would have been if God asked Abraham to offer himself instead of Isaac.

Verses 4-8 tells us Abraham journeys to the place of sacrifice with Isaac.
“Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.”

NOTICE AND REMEMBER Abraham came to the place on the THIRD day. The region of Moriah is associated with Mount Moriah, which is modern-day Jerusalem confirmed in 2 Chronicles 3:1.

I will go yonder and worship: This is the FIRST USE of the word worship in reference to God in the Bible. The Hebrew word “shachah” simply means, “to bow down.” While Abraham and Isaac did not go to the mount to have a time of joyful praise, they did go to bow down to the Lord.

And we will come back to you…Abraham is full of faith when he speaks to the young men who are with him. He believes that we will come back.

Does this mean Abraham somehow knew this was only a test and God would not really require this of him? Not at all. Instead, Abraham’s faith is in the knowledge that should he kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead, because God HAD PROMISED Isaac would carry on the line of blessing and the covenant.

ABRAHAM REMEMBERED GOD’S PROMISE IN GENESIS 21:21...“He knew in Isaac your seed shall be called”…, and Isaac had yet to have any children. God had to let him live at least long enough to have children.

HEBREWS 11:17-19 reminds us ….“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

ABRAHAM NOW KNEW ANYTHINGGGGGG WAS POSSIBLE, but it was impossible that God would break His promise. He knew God was not a liar. He had no precedent (no one in the Bible had yet been raised from the dead), but Abraham knew God was able. God could do it!

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son: We see Isaac CARRIED THE WOOD for his own sacrifice up the hill.

He took the fire in his hand, and a knife: Abraham took the knife up the hill. He didn’t “forget” it.

The two of them went together: This literally means “the two of them went in agreement.” Isaac is doing this KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY. The phrase is repeated twice.

NOTICE at this time, Abraham DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE HOW God will provide. He is still trusting in the ability of God to raise Isaac from the dead, but he won’t stop trusting just because he doesn’t know how God will come through.

My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering: Abraham knew God would provide a sacrifice, but where?
WHERE WAS THE LAMB???? That question had been asked by all the faithful, from Isaac to Moses to David to Isaiah, all the way to the time of John the Baptist when he declares in JOHN 1:29, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Verse 9 tells us Isaac WILLINGLY LIES DOWN on the altar.

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.”
At this time, Abraham was more than 100 years old, and Isaac would have been able to get away had he CHOSEN to. Yet he submits to his father perfectly. In remembering Abraham’s faith, we should never forget Isaac’s faith.

AND MORE PARALLELING WITH JESUS…HEBREW scholars say ISAAC was in his EARLY 30’S WHEN HE WILLINGLY LAID HIMSELF UPON THE ALTAR. So was Jesus Christ. HOW PRECIOUS IS THAT?

As an obedient son, Isaac laid down on the wood, ready to be sacrificed.

Verses 10-14 tells us God’s merciful reprieve.

“And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided.”

Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son: We KNOW FROM THIS THAT Abraham was completely WILLING to plunge the knife into Isaac, because his faith was in God’s ability to raise Isaac from the dead, not in God’s desire to stop the sacrifice. Abraham didn’t think this was playacting.

SOME BIBLE DEBATERS HAVE SAID…“It’s not fair or right. God told Abraham to do something and then told him not to. If God really wanted to test Abraham, He should have made him plunge the knife into his son’s chest.”

THOSE WHO SAY THIS DO NOT KNOW OUR TRIUNE GOD OR HIS WORD, because God OFTEN takes the will for the deed with his people. When He finds them TRULY willing to make the sacrifice He demands, He often does NOT require it. This is how we can be FLESH martyrs without ever dying for Jesus. We live the life of a martyr right now..BY CHOOSING JESUS OVER THE WORLD AND ALL IT OFFERS.

You have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me…Abraham displayed his heart towards God in that he was willing to give his only son. God displays His heart towards us in the same way, by giving His only begotten Son in John 3:16.

When God asked Abraham for the ultimate demonstration of love and commitment, He asked for Abraham’s son. When the Father wanted to show us the ultimate demonstration of His love and commitment to us, He gave us His Son. We can say to the Lord, “Now I know that You love me, seeing You have not withheld Your Son, Your only Son from me.”

All the while, God STILL required a sacrifice. God didn’t call off the sacrifice. Instead, He required that there be a substitute provided by God Himself.

The naming of the place is significant. Abraham called it, The Lord Will Provide (Jehovah Jireh); In this mount, it shall be provided.

Abraham DID NOT name the place in reference to what he WENT through. He didn’t name it “trial hill” or “agony hill” or “obedience hill.” Instead, he named the hill in reference to what God DID; he named it “provision hill.” He named it knowing God would provide the ultimate sacrifice for salvation on that VERY SAME HILL someday…and HE DID EXACTLY THAT!

This event IS ALSO A PICTURE, A PROPHECY of Jesus’ rising from the dead on the third day, as 1 Corinthians 15:4 which says, “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

But where does it say in the Old Testament specifically the Messiah would rise again on the third day? It says so here, through the picture of Isaac. Isaac was “reckoned dead” by Abraham as soon as God gave the command, and Isaac was “made alive” (“risen”) three days later.

Isaac’s picture of Jesus becomes even clearer:
HOW?

Both were loved by their father.
Both offered themselves willingly.
Both carried wood up the hill of their sacrifice.
Both were sacrificed on the same hill.
Both were delivered from death on the third day.

Verses 15-19 tells us God reconfirms His promise to Abraham in light of his faith.

Then THE ANGEL OF THE LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son; blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”

HERE IS ANOTHER CAMEO APPEARANCE…THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF…

AND WHAT IS AMAZING HERE…SCIENTIFIC CALCULATIONS ESTIMATE… “the number of stars in the sky and grains of sand on the seashore”… are the same: 10 to the 25th power.

SO AGAIN…ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS HIS PEOPLE THEN AND NOW….THAT HE ALREADY PLANNED JESUS CHRIST WALK, LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND WILLING DEATH ON EARTH FOR LOST MANKIND…JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE…RIGHT HERE IN GENESIS. AND GENESIS IS ALMIGHTY GOD SPEAKING, TEACHING, SHOWING, AND PROPHESYING ALL THINGS TO COME IN THE FUTURE….1000S OF YEARS BEFORE THEY OCCUR. AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS SEEKKKKKKKKKK JESUS CHRIST AND WE WILLLLLL FIND HIM….EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

AND HAD MANKIND…THEN…ONLY CONSIDERED ISAAC, AS GOD INTENDED AS A BLUEPRINT…THEY WOULD HAVE KNOW JESUS CHRIST…WHEN HE WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM…

SO WE CAN KNOW FROM THIS…THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHYS OF WHAT JESUS WALKS US THROUGH…OR WHAT WILDERNESSES OR TRIALS WE MAY FACE…WE CAN KNOW, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT, JUST AS WITH ABRAHAM AND ISAAC….JESUS CHRIST HAS A PLAN….WHAT HE BRINGS US TO…HE WILL BRING US THROUGH BETTER…STRONGER…AND MORE BLESSED THAN WE CAN IMAGINE…

TRUST JESUS CHRIST…HE WILL NEVER FAIL US.

STAY BLESSED IN OUR AMAZING JESUS CHRIST

GENESIS 23 THE DEATH OF SARAH & GENESIS 24 THE MARRIAGE OF ISAAC & REBEKAH


Genesis 23 - Sarah Dies and Is Buried

DID YOU KNOW THAT SARAH IS THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE BIBLE WHOSE AGE AT DEATH IS RECORDED? THAT ALONE GIVES US SOME DEEP MEASURE OF UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW BELOVED AND GREAT A WOMAN SARAH WAS/IS IN THE BIBLE AND IN THE EYES OF THE TRIUNE GOD.

AND THERE IS ANOTHER REVELATION, Nowhere in the Bible are we told to look to Mary as an example of a godly woman. BUT TWICE we are told to look to Sarah as such an example in Isaiah 51:1-2 and 1 Peter 3:3-6.

I was shocked by this, but then, when you think about it, although Sarah did see and talk to and eat a meal with ALMIGHTY GOD in human form, which is JESUS CHRIST…on several occasions, she was NOT BLESSED AS MARY to have JESUS CHRIST WITH HER, DAY BY DAY FOR 33 YEARS…so SARAH’s LIFE IS MORE LIKE CHRISTIAN WOMEN TODAY….MEANING THAT SARAH, LIKE US, INDEED WALKED MORE BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT UNLIKE JESUS PRECIOUS MOTHER MARY, AMEN!

Verse 1 tell us of the death of Sarah.

“Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.”

Verse 2 tells us Abraham’s mourning.

“So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.”

Abraham came to mourn for Sarah…Abraham wasn’t afraid to mourn, though he did NOT SORROW as those without hope confirmed for us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN JESUS EYES BETWEEN MOURNING AND SORROW. SORROW IS OVER THE SHORT TERM PHYSICAL LOSS OF SOMEONE WE LOVE. IT IS RESPECT. IT IS LOVE. IT IS SHORT TERM. MOURNING, LIKE GRIEVING IS LONG TERM…AND WHAT SATAN AND THE WORLD SEEK…

WHY?

LONG TERM GRIEVING WHICH SPIRALS INTO DEEP DARK DEPRESSION IS NOT ONLY NOT FROM JESUS CHRIST, BUT THAT IT SAYS THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS PROMISES. WE DO NOT KNOW THE HOPE AND THE FUTURE AND THE ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS AND ALL THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.

IT TELLS JESUS THAT WE DO NOT SEE EARTHLY PASSING AS A REWARD…BUT AS A PUNISHMENT…A JUDGMENT. AND FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE DARKLY & FOR MONTHS OR WORSE YEARS, THEY SHOW THE WORLD THAT THEY BELIEVE EARTHLY DEATH IS GOOD BYE FOREVER, INSTEAD OF HOW JESUS WANTS US TO VIEW IT…AND THAT IS…SIMPLY SEE YOU LATER.

Verses 3-16 tells us Abraham buys land for Sarah’s burial, by haggling with the Philistines for the land of Sarah’s tomb.

“Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.” Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!” Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.” And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.”

I am a foreigner and a sojourner…Abraham did NOT feel this way because he came from Ur of the Chaldeans. It was because he RECOGNIZED HIS REAL HOME WAS HEAVEN. ABRAHAM IS JUST TRAVELING THROUGH THIS LIFE...THE WORLD ON HIS WAY HOME.

Moses KNEW the same, and commanded Israel to know it in Leviticus 25:23.
King David KNEW this truth in 1 Chronicles 29:14 and Psalm 39:12.
The disciples KNEW this.
Paul confirmed this for CHRISTIANS when he said, to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD JESUS, AMEN?

Give me property for a burial place among you…This way of negotiating the price is typical of ancient and modern practices in that culture. As a gesture of kindness, the selling party may offer to give the property in question to the buyer, until the buyer insists on paying a price.

The Canaanite, Ephron, follows the cultural customs of bargaining. First, the seller offers to give the item. Then, when that is refused, the seller suggests a price, which he claims is modest but is really very high. This is understood to be the starting point, and from there the bargaining begins.

Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land…RIGHT HERE Abraham SHOWS US HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD DO BUSINESS with the world: courteously, fairly, & prudently.

Verses 17-20 tells us Abraham buys the field and buries Sarah.

“So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.”

Were deeded to Abraham as a possession: THIS SCRIPTURE emphasizes this property WAS Abraham’s land BY DEED, not only by the promise of God. If this was the only piece of land Abraham ever owned in the land promised to him, it shows he was a real man of faith.

Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah…
THIS IS ALSO WHERE Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham.
Isaac and Rebekah were BOTH buried here.
Jacob buried Leah HERE ALSO.
Joseph buried Jacob HERE ALSO.
And this was the place Joseph told his descendants to bury him, taking his bones with them when they came into the Promised Land AND THEY DID AS JOSEPH REQUESTED.






Genesis 24 - Isaac and Rebekah marry

Abraham’s commission to his servant FOR HIS SON ISAAC.

Verses 1-4 tells us Abraham sends out a servant to seek out a bride for his son.

“Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

The oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had: This is the servant named Eliezer from Genesis 15:2, or at least he was some 60 years before this. If it was someone else, the Holy Spirit didn’t want us to know it.

Put your hand under my thigh…According to ancient custom, this describes a VERY SERIOUS OATH. Abraham is extremely concerned that Isaac not be married to a Canaanite bride.

Verses 5-9 tells us the commission clearly defined.

“And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?” But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.”

Abraham said to him…Apparently, Abraham anticipated that he might die while his servant was gone, so the instructions were made perfectly clear to cover ANY POSSIBILITY. HE TRUSTED ALMIGHTY GOD TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT HE ALSO KNEW THAT HE HAD A DUTY TO SEE HIS SON MARRIED AS ALMIGHTY GOD COMMANDED…SO HE GOT HIS EARTHLY LIFE IN ORDER TOO.

Beware that you do not take my son back there…AND THIS WAS OBEYED FOR Isaac, the son of promise, NEVER ONCE left the Promised Land.

The servant’s mission fulfilled.

Verses 10-14 tells us Eliezer’s prayer to God & his mission for ABRAHAM IS FULFILLED.

“Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’; let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

Eliezer asks God to guide through providential circumstances, which is not always a bad way to discern God’s will.

However, generally speaking, circumstances alone can be a dangerous way to discern God’s will…UNLESS WE FOLLOW WHAT ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS US…sadly we HAVE A WAY OR A STRUGGLE…THAT FLESH PART OF EACH OF US THAT WANTS US TO IGNORE circumstances which speak AGAINST what we want (or attributing them to the devil), while focusing on the circumstances that speak for what WE WANT.

But in this case, Eliezer establishes what he will look for BEFORE ANYTHING happens. He isn’t making up the rules as he goes along.

Eliezer was WISE ENOUGH to ask for a sign that was REMARKABLE, NOT COMMON, NOT SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE WOULD DO, SAY, OR OFFER, UNLESS IT IS JESUS DIRECTED.

MOST WOMEN WOULD BE QUICK TO OFFER A SIP OF WATER TO A MAN, A TRAVELER WHO ASKED IT OF THEM. THAT WAS NOT REMARKABLE AT ALL, SIMPLY COMMON COURTESY OF THE TIMES.

ELIEZER DID NOT tempt God by asking for fire to fall from heaven AS A SIGN, NOR FOR AN EARTHQUAKE, OR TO STOP THE SUN OR TIME AROUND HIM. HE WANTED THE WOMAN TO SHOW HER JESUS HEART TO HIM…THAT WAY HE WOULD KNOW HER HEART…YOU NOTICE HE DID NOT ASK GOD FOR HER TO BE A PHYSICAL BEAUTY THAT WOULD STUN HIM SPEECHLESS…ELIEZER KNEW GOD WAS MORE INTERESTED IN HER HEART APPEARANCE, BUT THAT BEAUTY OF HEART, SPIRIT, AND LOVE FOR THE LORD WOULD NEVER FADE…AMEN!

AND in praying this prayer, there is a sense in which Eliezer “stacked the deck” against finding someone. It would take a remarkable woman to volunteer for this tedious task.

WHY?

Considering that a camel may drink up to 20 gallons EACH, watering ten camels meant at least an hour of VERY HARD, TEDIOUS work. She would have to lower that heavy EARTHERN PITCHER down into the well by a rope, pull it up, carry it to the water troughs, empty it, and go back and start all over…that is FAR BEYOND common courtesy of the day.

Eliezer cares nothing about what the woman will look like. He wants a woman of character, a woman whom God has chosen.

Verse 15 tells God answers the servant’s prayer BEFORE it was finished.

“And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.”

Isaiah 65:24 speaks of this kind of gracious answer to prayer, WHEN IT REMINDS US… “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

The servant did not yet know the prayer was answered, only time would prove it.

Verses 16-21 tells us ELIEZER, though surprised, waits for complete confirmation of his prayer.

“Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.”

The young woman was VERY beautiful to behold…We generally regard the Bible as being given to understatement. SO when we read Rebekah was VERY beautiful to behold, we should understand Rebekah was REALLY A VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

ELIEZER did not think it was unspiritual to introduce himself to Rebekah; yet, he certainly did not do anything to suggest she provide water for the camels. Prayer is no substitute for action.

And drew for ALL his camels…As Rebekah began the hard work of watering all the camels, the servant did not stop her nor help her.
WHY?

He wanted a woman who would not only SAY AND OFFER TO water the camels, but who would ACTUALLY DO WHAT SHE SAID.

Perhaps Eliezer knew that for some, it is much easier to talk like a servant than to actually serve. HE HAD NOT ONLY DEALT WITH HAGAR…WHO SPOKE WELL, BUT DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH AND DID NOT HAVE A HUMBLE, THANKFUL SERVANT’S HEART…SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE she had a servant’s heart, not only a servant’s talk.

Verses 22-28 tells us ELIEZER, when HE KNEW GOD’S CHOICE & THE BRIDE HAS BEEN CHOSEN, gives her rich gifts even before the marriage to the father’s son.

“So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?” So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.” Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.”

A golden nose ring…some think it gross that Rebekah would wear a nose ring, but there was certainly nothing strange, shocking, or rebellious about it in that culture & those nose rings slid onto the nose, they did NOT HAVE TO PIERCE THE SKIN.

Being on the way, the Lord led me…It is hard to steer a parked car. If we want to be guided BY JESUS, we should be on our way. IN OTHER WORDS, ONCE THE PROMISE IS GIVEN, WE SHOULD WALK IN IT.

Verses 29-33 tells us Laban entertains ELIEZER.
“Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.” Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.” And he said, “Speak on.”

When he SAW the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists…Laban’s eyes are very much on the riches the servant brings & HE KNOWS QUALITY/CRAFTS ON SIGHT; yet, he also shows appropriate hospitality.

Verses 34-49 tells us ELIEZER tells his story and what he is there for.

“So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’ And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” and she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”; let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

Verses 50-53 tell us the family agrees to give Rebekah to Isaac. The father’s servant gives MORE gifts.

“Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.” And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.”
He ALSO GAVE precious things to her brother and to her mother: When an agreement of marriage had been made, it was customary for the bridegroom (or his representative) to give the family of the bride gifts as a dowry to demonstrate his financial ability to provide for the bride.

Verses 54-60 tells us ELIEZER intends to depart quickly; Rebekah agrees.

“And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.” But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.” And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.” So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.” Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.”

I WILL GO…One of the most remarkable things about Rebekah is her TOTAL WILLINGNESS TO LEAVE ALL SHE KNOWS AND TRUSTS to be with a bridegroom she has NEVER seen. Her words “I will go” are worthy words of faith in ALMIGHTY GOD, AMEN.

Do not hinder me & I will go…SHOWS US THEN AND NOW, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH THE WORLD, MANKIND, & SATAN…If NONE does NOT succeed in persuading the believer to abide in the world, it will seek to DELAY his exit . . . When you decide to go with the Lord, the world will applaud your devotion but will say, ‘Don’t rush. Abide a few days, at least ten, and then go.’
Verses 61-67 tells us Rebekah is brought to Isaac & they marry.

“Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed. Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

We can well imagine the conversations Rebekah and Eliezer would have on the journey. She would want to know all she could about Isaac, whom she loved without ever seeing, and he would be delighted to tell her.

YOU NOTICE Rebekah NEVER CONSIDERED telling Eliezer the best way to get her to the home of her bridegroom, SHE FOLLOWED WITHOUT QUESTION the Holy Spirit’s guidance in HER NEW life & FUTURE.

She took a veil and covered herself…
WHY?
The covering with a veil signified chastity, modesty, and submission. This is how Rebekah wants to meet her bridegroom.

Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening: This is the first mention of Isaac since he was left on top of Mount Moriah in Genesis 22:19. We see NOTHING of Isaac from the time of his “resurrection” to the time he is united with his bride.
In all this, we see the coming together of Isaac and Rebekah as a remarkable picture of the coming together of Jesus and the church.
HOW?

A father desires a bride for his son
A son was just accounted as “dead” and “raised from the dead”. A nameless servant is sent forth to get a bride for the son
The servant’s name is actually Eliezer, meaning “God of help” or “helper”
The lovely bride is divinely met, chosen, and called, and then lavished with gifts
She is entrusted to the care of the servant until she meets her bridegroom.

The way Isaac and Rebekah CAME TO EACH OTHER is also instructive.
Neither were “dating” or any such thing…NOR LOOKING.
They were serving God and seeking Him (Isaac did meditate in the field), and God brought them together. They obviously were more concerned with THE WILL OF GOD ON THEIR LIVES than with modern notions of romantic love.

HERE IS THE PRECIOUS COMPLETE PICTURE & PARALLEL OF Isaac, Rebekah, Jesus, and the Church.

BOTH Rebekah and the church:

1. BOTH CHOSEN for marriage before they knew it in Ephesians 1:3-4.
2. BOTH NECESSARY for the accomplishment of God’s eternal purpose in Ephesians 3:10-11.
3. BOTH destined TO SHARE in the glory of the son in John 17:22-23.
4. BOTH LEARN of the son through his representative.
5. BOTH MUST LEAVE all with joy to be with the son.
6. BOTH ARE loved and cared for by the son.

AND CONSIDERING BOTH Isaac and Jesus:

1. BOTH were PROMISED before their coming.
2. BOTH FINALLY appeared at the appointed time.
3. BOTH WERE conceived and born miraculously.
4. BOTH WERE given a special name before birth.
5. BOTH WERE OFFERED UP in sacrifice by the father.
6. BOTH BROUGHT BACK from the dead.
7. BOTH HEAD of a great company to bless all people.
8. BOTH PREPARED a place for their bride.
9. BOTH had a ministry of prayer while the bride comes.


ALMIGHTY GOD GIVES US A BLUEPRINT IN GENESIS 23 & 24...HOW HE SEES MEN AND WOMEN. HE LOVES US, MAN OR WOMAN, EQUALLY, SPECIALLY, THIS SHOWS US HOW HE WISHES US TO STRIVE TO BE.

NEITHER ISAAC NOR REBEKAH WERE PERFECT. THEY WERE BOTH FLAWED, MORTAL, AND HUMAN…YET…
NEVERTHELESS OUR ALMIGHTY GOD SO LOVED THEM AND WAS SO PROUD OF THEM…THAT HE WANTS US TO SEE HOW VERY MUCH HE LOVES US…PREPARES FOR EACH OF US…BLESSES US….BRINGS TO US…LONGGGGGGGG BEFORE WE WERE EVEN CONCEIVED.

WHAT THEY HAD IN ABUNDANCE WAS LOVE FOR ALMIGHTY GOD…RESPECT FOR OUR TRIUNE GOD…BELIEF AND TRUST IN OUR ALMIGHTY GOD…THOUGH THEY DID NOT AND WILL NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE WHYS, HOWS, WHENS, AND WHERES OF ANY SITUATION IN THEIR PRESENT AND FUTURE LIVES…THEY LOVE AND THEY TRUST THEIR AMAZING ABBA FATHER…

AGAIN ALMIGHTY GOD IS TELLING US…I SEE YOU. I KNOW YOU…YOU DEEPEST PARTS…AND I ADORE YOU…I WANT TO BLESS, LEAD, GUIDE, & PROTECT YOU.

TRUST IN ME…NOT THE WORLD…NOT MAN…BUT TRUST ME…I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU…I WILL NEVER WALK AWAY FROM YOU…I AM EVER FAITHFUL.

GENESIS 25 -- Abraham’s Death; Jacob and Esau Born to Isaac

Abraham’s latter life and death.

Verses 1-4 tells us Abraham marries again and has many children by Keturah.

“Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.”

AND WE SEE SOMETHING AMAZING HERE…ALMIGHTY GOD HAD PROMISED TO RESTORE HEALTH AND LIFE TO ABRAHAM’S BODY & HIS SEED IN ORDER TO PRODUCE ISAAC, THE SON OF PROMISE, BUT YOU NOTICE, IT WAS NOT TEMPORARY…EVEN VERY OLD, ALMIGHTY GOD SUSTAINED ABRAHAM’S VIGOR AND HIS SEED.

Verses 5-6 tells us that Abraham is careful to SET ISAAC APART as the child of promise.

“And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.”

Abraham gave ALL…Abraham gave NOT ONLY HIS WEALTH to Isaac BUT he GAVE THE LAND GOD HAD PROMISED HIM TO ISAAC & ABRAHAM sent HIS OTHER CHILDREN eastward, AWAY FROM Isaac his son.

Verses 7-11 tells us of Abraham’s death and burial.

“This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.”

Abraham passes from the scene, being one of the most important men of the Bible. He is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament alone. ONLY Moses is mentioned more times, 80 times in the New Testament.

BIBLE SCHOLAR CLARKE gives a good eulogy of Abraham. He says, “Above all as a man of God, he stands unrivaled; so that under the most exalted and perfect of all dispensations, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is proposed and recommended as the model and pattern according to which the faith, obedience, and perseverance of the followers of the Messiah are to be formed. Reader, while you admire the man, do not forget the God that made him so great, so good, and so useful. Even Abraham had nothing but what he had received; from the free unmerited mercy of God proceeded all his excellences; but he was a worker together with God, and therefore did not receive the grace of God in vain. Go thou, believe, love, obey, and persevere in like manner.”

Verses 12-18 tell us of the life and descendants of ISHMAEL.

“Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.”


Verses 19-26 tells us of the children of Isaac: Jacob and Esau.

“This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.” So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.”

Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife…you notice EVEN the son of promise does not come into the promise easily. It only comes through waiting and prayer. But the prayers of a husband for his wife have a special power.
Even so, it was some 20 years until they had children (Genesis 25:20; 25:26), and these were the only TWO children born to Isaac and Rebekah.

Rebekah did NOT GO TO A DOCTOR, SHE WENT TO THE MASTER PHYSICAN, she went to TALK TO the Lord…As Rebekah sought God, the Lord spoke to her regarding the sons within her womb.

In connection with God’s eternal word (as is the case with Rebekah here), God gives a unique gift to perfectly listen, a gift given only in connection with the revealing of His written, eternal word.

Two nations are in your womb…What God says is simple. She has twins within her. The twins will each father nations. One shall be greater than the other, and the younger will be greater than the older.

The truth of the unseen promise is fulfilled by something that could be seen. God’s word was true. When the time came for them to be born, there were in fact twins in Rebekah’s womb.

And the first came out red…Circumstances surrounding the birth of each child were responsible for their names. Esau refers to the hairiness of the first-born child. Jacob refers to the way the second born was holding on to the heel of his brother.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…Additionally, the idea of a “heel-catcher” meant something in that day. It had the idea of “trickster,” “con-man,” “scoundrel,” or “rascal.” It WAS NOT a compliment.

And the older shall serve the younger…YOU NOTICE God chose to go against the NORMAL WAY of the younger serving the older. In Romans 9:10-13, Paul uses this choice of Jacob over Esau before their birth as an illustration of God’s sovereign choice.

God’s CHOICE of Isaac instead of Ishmael seems more “logical” to us. Yet His choice between Jacob and Esau, regarding which one would be the heir of God’s covenant of salvation, is just as valid, though it “seems” to make less sense.

AND Paul TELLS US God’s choice was not based on the performance of Jacob or Esau. The choice was made when they were not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil.

God announced these intentions to Rebekah BEFORE the children were born (The older shall serve the younger), and repeated His verdict long after Jacob and Esau had both passed from the earth.

WHERE?

MALACHI 1:2-3 tells us, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Is it fair for God to love one and hate another, and to choose one and not choose another, before they are even born? We should regard the love and the hate God speaks of here as having to do with His purpose in choosing one to become THE HEIR OF THE COVENANT OF ABRAHAM. In that regard, God’s preference could rightly be regarded as a display of love towards Jacob and hate towards Esau.

BUT NOT HATE AS WE DEFINE IT…The real thought here is much more like “accepted” and “rejected” more than it is like our understanding of the terms “loved” and “hated.”

Our greatest error in considering the choices of God is to think God chooses for arbitrary reasons, as if He were sort of an “eeny-meeny-miny-moe” chooser.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE…We may NOT BE ABLE TO FATHOM, MUST LESS UNDERSTAND God’s reasons for choosing, and BUT WE CAN KNOW…they are reasons He alone knows and answers to, but God’s choices are NOT…capricious.

Verses 27-28 tells us the DIFFERENT characters of Jacob and Esau.

“So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

Like so many siblings in a family, Jacob and Esau were VERY different from each other in their personality and tastes. And as is sometimes the case, WRONG THOUGH IT MAY BE, ISAAC & REBEKAH had a “favorite” child.

Jacob was a MILD MAN: The Hebrew word for mild has the idea of “wholeness” instead of someone who is weak or effeminate. The Hebrew word tam (mild) is used of Job in Job 1:8: Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Verses 29-34 tells us Esau SELLS his birthright to Jacob.

“Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field: Here, each son acts consistently with his own natural inclination. Esau hunts and Jacob cooks.

Jacob KNEW that the birthright from Isaac & from Almighty God WAS VERY valuable and he wanted it. Esau, though the eldest, did NOT VALUE nor REALLY CARE ABOUT IT.

Passages like Deuteronomy 21:17 and 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 tell us the birthright involved BOTH a material and a spiritual dynamic.

DID YOU KNOW…IN THAT DAY, The son of the birthright received a DOUBLE portion of the inheritance, and he also became THE HEAD of the family and THE SPIRITUAL LEADER upon the passing of the father.

In the case of THIS FAMILY the birthright determined who would INHERIT THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM.

THAT MEANS THE covenant of a land, a nation, and the Messiah.

I am about to die…Esau’s thought isn’t that he is so hungry that he will die without food. Instead, the idea is “I will die one day anyway, so what good is this birthright to me PERSONALLY?”

Was this unfair of Jacob?
ABSOLUTELY…he is acting like a “heel-catcher.” He is being a trickster or a rascal in taking advantage of his brother.

Jacob WAS guilty of scheming in the flesh to gain something God said was already his. Yet we should remember the far greater blame is placed on Esau, who DISMISSED & DESPISED, THAT MEANS DID NOT CARE OR VALUE his birthright.

WHETHER EITHER KNEW OR REALIZED IT…this was NOT a valid transaction.

WHY?

Because Jacob was buying what was already his, and Esau was selling something that didn’t belong to him.

What birthright might WE despise?

Ephesians 1:3-14 shows us a treasury of riches ours by birthright in Jesus: every spiritual blessing, the blessing of being chosen in Jesus, adoption into God’s family, total acceptance by God in Jesus, redemption from our slavery to sin, true and total forgiveness, the riches of God’s grace, the revelation and knowledge of the mystery of God’s will, an eternal inheritance, the guarantee of the indwelling Holy Spirit right now.

Thus Esau DESPISED his birthright.
Esau’s character as a fornicator and profane person, confirmed to us in Hebrews 12:16, shows God was entirely CORRECT in choosing Jacob over Esau to carry on the birthright, even though Jacob was younger.

THE GOD WHO SEES ALL…KNEW….AND though Esau’s character was NOT the basis for God’s choosing (He chose Jacob over Esau before they were born), Esau’s character showed the ultimate wisdom of God’s choice of JACOB.


GENESIS 26-- Isaac Sins Like Abraham

THIS CHAPTER CONFIRMS THE ADAGE…THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY WILL REPEAT IT!

ISAAC MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE AS Abraham.

Verses 1-5 tells us God proclaims the covenant to Isaac.

“There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father…In HUMAN theory, it was possible for the covenant “die” with the passing of Abraham, but God was TRUE & STEADFAST to His word. The covenant God made with Abraham was not only unto Abraham, but unto ALL OF HIS DESCENDANTS also, told to us in Genesis 17:7-8. This fulfills a specific promise made in Genesis 17:19.

Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge…God says that He kept the covenant because of Abraham’s obedience. Yet a close look at Abraham’s life shows that his obedience wasn’t ALWAYS complete or constant.

SO HOW CAN GOD SAY THIS?

God can say this of Abraham because Abraham was declared righteous BY FAITH in Genesis 15:6, and as far as God is concerned, ALL HE SEES IN Abraham is the righteousness of Jesus.

HOW PRECIOUS IS THAT?

Verses 6-9 tells us Abimelech takes Rebekah because Isaac says she is his sister.

“So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’“

Right here…Isaac went from such a high spiritual experience with a face to face with ALMIGHTY GOD, A PROMISE, & A COMMAND in Genesis 26:1-5...to such BLATENT SIN because of the weakness of his own flesh, and also because of the bad example of his father.

Peter, with his confession and wrong counsel to Jesus, is a perfect example of how sin can follow upon an outpouring of God’s blessing. Well 1 Corinthians 10:12 DOES SAY AND DOES REMIND US: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

The Bible DOES NOT TEACH that we are bound by “GENERATIONAL CURSES,” but it is often the case that the SINS/FLAWS of the fathers ARE REPEATED in the children, because those sins of the flesh have been nurtured in that environment.

There was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife: When Abimelech saw this (the KJV has an interesting translation here, saying Isaac was sporting with Rebekah), he put two and two together and understood the true nature of their relationship.

Verses 10-11 tells us Isaac is rebuked by a pagan king, even as his father was.

“And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death: DO YOU NOTICE….EVEN as God protected his father, even in the midst of sinful conduct, Isaac was protected too.

THIS TELLS US AND SHOWS US….ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT CHANGE…EVEN THOUGH HIS CHOSEN…SLIP, FALTER, AND SIN…..ALMIGHTY GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL…REMAINS PROTECTIVE, AMEN?


Verses 12-14 tells us Isaac becomes wealthy, as Abraham was before him.

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.”

Then Isaac sowed in that land: Prosperity came to Isaac as the blessing upon his HARD work. He probably received enough of an inheritance from his father that he did not have to work, but did nonetheless, and God blessed it.

Verses 15-23 tells us Isaac handles disputes concerning wells with the natives, until he moves to Beersheba.

“Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” Then he went up from there to Beersheba.”

He called the name of the well Esek: The FIRST well was named “contention,” because it made others jealous. The NEXT well was named “opposition” for similar reasons. But the THIRD well was named “roominess,” because it was far enough away to not be a problem.
Then he went up from there to Beersheba…God USED the conflicts to LEAD Isaac BACK to Beersheba, where Abraham had been before. God doesn’t want us to live in contention and opposition, but they can be used by God to lead us to the place where He WANTS US to be.

Of course, none of this lessens the responsibility those who unjustly opposed Isaac had to God. God used their sinful contention against Isaac, but it was still sin.

Verses 24-25 tells us God again confirms His promise to Isaac for Abraham’s sake.

“And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

For My servant Abraham’s sake…God keeps His covenant with us for Jesus’ sake too.

Verses 26-31 tells us The natives make peace with Isaac because the Lord is with him, just as happened with Abraham.

“Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’“ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.”

Verses 32-33 tells us God’s blessing for Isaac in the form of a well.

“It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.”

We have found water: Abraham was a man of altars, and Jacob would be a man of tents. But Isaac was a man of wells, and he knew God’s constant provision. He also knew God could provide in many different ways, NOT just one.

Verses 34-35 tells us Esau marries and grieves his parents.

“When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.”

They were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah…Again, this shows Esau’s character as a fornicator and profane person as is confirmed to us in Hebrews 12:16.

So many GREAT THINGS our TRIUNE GOD has to say and show us with ISAAC, THE SON OF PROMISE.

ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.
ALMIGHTY GOD'S PROMISES NEVER DIE, FADE, AND END.
ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN.
ALMIGHTY GOD CALLED ABRAHAM, A RIGHTEOUS MAN WHO KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS ORDERS AND HIS DIRECTIONS...even though we KNOW ABRAHAM WAS HUMAN. HE WAS FLAWED, HE SLIPPED, FAILED, DISOBEYED, AND SINNED...BUT BECAUSE OF ABRAHAM'S BY FAITH COVENANT WITH HIM & THE PROMISED MESSIAH....ALMIGHTY GOD SAW ABRAHAM WAS PURE AND RIGHTEOUS.

SO TOO ARE WE PURE AND RIGHTEOUS IN ALMIGHTY GOD'S EYES BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH, BELIEF, ACCEPTANCE AND TRUST IN HIS PRECIOUS SON JESUS CHRIST!

STAY BLESSED IN OUR JESUS!

Genesis 29 - Jacob’s Marriages and Children

Jacob meets Rachel.

Verses 1-3 tells us Jacob comes to a covered well.

“So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.”

Because the Lord blessed his trip, Jacob returns to the land that his mother came from, being also the land of his grandfather Abraham.

Verses 4-10 tell us Jacob meets Rachel at the well.

“And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.” Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.”

In an age before clearly marked roads and signs, Jacob didn’t know where he was until he asked some of the locals, and he discovered he was at his destination.

Water the sheep, and go and feed them: Jacob definitely seems like he is trying to get rid of the shepherd boys, probably so he can be alone with Rachel.

Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth: Jacob also knew he had come to marry one of the daughters of Laban as Isaac commanded him to do in Genesis 28:2, so he is more than willing to show kindness (and perhaps his strength) to Laban’s daughter Rachel.

Verses 11-14 tells us Rachel arranges for her father Laban to meet Jacob.

“Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father. Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.”

Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept….WE CAN ALL IMAGINE…INITIALLY AT LEAST THAT Rachel must have been quite surprised when a man she never saw appears before weeping and greeting her with a kiss. Yet she heard of her relatives (Rebekah is her aunt) who lived in the Promised Land, and she understood Jacob is from this family.

Verses 15-20 tell us Laban’s deal with Jacob, which is Jacob offers to work for seven years as a dowry to receive Rachel in marriage.

“Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.”

What should your wages be…AT FIRST, this might sound like a nice offer, but really Laban let Jacob know if he wants to stay around, he must stay as a hired servant. Jacob was the son of a man of tremendous wealth. Certainly he was not lazy, but he wasn’t used to hard work. Servants did the hard work back home. But now Jacob IS the servant.

Jacob’s reaction in this situation will reveal much of his character. This demonstrates the principle that you never know what kind of servant you are until others treat you LIKE a servant, AMEN!?

Now Jacob loved Rachel…not only was Rachel beautiful of form and appearance, but she was also the first friendly face Jacob met in the area. It is understandable why he had a “love at first sight” attachment to Rachel.

Biblical scholars DEBATE…what the phrase “Leah’s eyes were delicate” means. Some think it means her eyes were bad, and she couldn’t see well. Others think it means her eyes were “dull,” not beautiful and full of life like her sister Rachel’s eyes.
I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter:

The offer to work for seven years was essentially a dowry. Though Jacob came from a family with great wealth, he left home penniless. Before he could take a woman in marriage he had to provide a dowry to demonstrate he was fit to support a family and to compensate for the taking of the daughter.

EVEN IN THAT DAY….Seven years was a VERY generous offer, far above a normal dowry. Jacob didn’t want to risk a refusal. When Laban saw how badly Jacob wanted Rachel, he knew he could take advantage of him….AND LABAN DID.

They seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her: We notice the great love he had for her. The seven years of labor without pay (except for room and board) seemed to pass as quickly as a few days.

AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER…In this ancient culture, Jacob was NOT allowed to spend as much time as he wanted with Rachel. There were STRICT social guidelines keeping unmarried men and women apart from each other.

AND WHAT IS PRECIOUS…IS RIGHT HERE, IN GENESIS, GOD GAVE US…GIVES US AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE.
AND WHAT IS THAT?

TRUE LOVE WAITS…. Jacob was willing to wait seven years for Rachel.

DID YOU KNOW, In 1990, it was reported that in response to the excesses of the sexual revolution, some 400 concerned single adults have joined the National Chastity Association. Member Elaine Marsh, a 35-year-old legal secretary from Orange County, described her commitment to celibacy before her marriage: “It comes from my religion, but it’s more than that,” she says. “I just feel it’s such a precious part of yourself, you don’t give it to someone when you haven’t made the commitment of marriage.” Founder Mary Meyer says the group isn’t against sex: “I love hand-holding, I love kissing, I love caressing, I love sex,” she says. “But even more than I would love to experience these things right now, I want to be able to have a relationship where I can experience them forever.”

THIS IS THE KIND OF WISDOM AND HEART JACOB HAD.

In the 1990s there was a successful campaign among teens titled “True Love Waits.” It persuaded them to take the following pledge: “Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, those I date, my future mate and my future children to be sexually pure until the day I enter a covenant marriage relationship.” One 18-year-old named Rick said he used to be one of the guys who would come into school on Monday morning and brag about his sexual exploits. His views changed when he became a Christian two years ago, and now he is happy to take the pledge. “Sex is something God made to say, ‘I love you,’” he said. “If you have sex with everybody, you can’t say I’ve saved this one thing to say, ‘I love you.’ “

VERSES 21-25 tells us Laban switches Leah for Rachel on the wedding night.

“Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her: These words are clear enough. Even though Jacob waited and the time went quickly because of love, when the time was done he was done waiting.

He took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her:

MANY HAVE ASKED…UMMMMM FAITH, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for Jacob to be fooled?

THE WEDDING CUSTOMS OF THE DAY AIDED LABAN’S TRICKERY.

According to those customs the wife was veiled until she was finally alone with her husband in the “honeymoon suite.” If it was dark by the time Jacob and his new bride were alone together (something Laban would not have difficulty arranging), it helps explain how Jacob was fooled. Jacob could NOT CLEARLY SEE HIS BRIDE AT ALL.

We assume that Leah was in agreement with this.
WHY?
She may have loved Jacob secretly.
She may have considered this her one chance to get a husband.
She may have thought this an unsought, and therefore justifiable, opportunity to steal a march on her BEAUTIFUL YOUNGER SISTER.
BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER, WHATEVER HER SECRET PERSONAL REASONS OR PREFERENCES…EVEN if she was not in agreement, she was under the absolute authority of her father.
LEAH had NO CHOICE…and NEITHER DID RACHEL.

SO THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY of the father in the home in that culture also explains why Rachel “agreed” to this.

So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah: We can Imagine how Jacob felt - and how Leah felt, and of course how poor Rachel felt. All this was because of Laban’s sin, his greed, & his trickery. Or, perhaps one should say it was because of Jacob’s sin - now the deceiver..the trickster is NOW HIMSELF deceived.

Why then have you deceived me? Significantly, Laban’s deception towards Jacob is similar to the deception Jacob put upon his father Isaac and his brother Esau. This is an example of Jacob reaping what he had sown. Jacob exchanged the younger for the older; Laban exchanged the older for the younger.

When Jacob deceived his father and cheated his brother, God did not change His plan to choose Jacob to receive the birthright. Instead, God took Jacob to the school of hard knocks to discipline him. This shows that our disobedience may not derail God’s plan for our life, but it will greatly affect how we end up experiencing it. You may spend 20 years working for someone like Laban while God teaches you a few things.

Though we can see this is God’s correction upon Jacob, it in no way justifies Laban’s deception. The fact God does work all things together for good never excuses the evil acts God USES TO works for good.

BOTTOM LINE…LABAN CHOOSE TO SIN AND DECEIVE…ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT MAKE LABAN DO SO.

Verses 26-30 tells us Laban agrees to give Rachel to Jacob in return for another seven years worth of work.

And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.”

It must not be done so in our country….LABAN‘S EXCUSE basically says, “Well, didn’t we tell you? We don’t do it this way around here. Thought you knew.” The only reason Jacob submits to this clever trick of Laban’s is because he had no other option. But Laban’s “reason” was really nothing more than an excuse.

Serve with me still another seven years: The second seven years made up Jacob’s post-graduate work in the school of hard knocks. Jacob’s “major” in the school of hard knocks was “You Reap What You Sow.”

And he served with Laban still ANOTHER seven years: Laban is a perfect picture of a DECEPTIVE MANIPULATOR, ISN‘T HE?

LABAN ends up getting EXACTLY what he wanted (both his daughters married). Yet, this will turn out badly for both himself and his daughters. Oftentimes, God judges manipulators by giving them what they in their sinful desires and methods WANT and allowing it to be loss for them.

The problems in this family can be seen immediately. Not only has Jacob married two sisters, but he also lets everyone know one is favored and loved more than the other. Ultimately, all these problems stem from Laban’s manipulative deception, and the prior sin of Jacob that brought it upon himself.

THE DEBATE STILL COMES UP WITH BIBLICAL/SECULAR SCHOLARS.
THE QUESTION, AFTER THE FACT, OF COURSE, what should Jacob have done?
Some say Jacob should have gone to Laban and told him to correct the whole mess, and simply be married to Rachel and let Leah be Laban’s problem.

Others believe that according to the standards of the culture, he could not have put Leah aside, because she was unable to marry another after having been given to Jacob.

Perhaps, he should have done the best he could in the situation, which would have been to love his two wives equally.

WHAT THEY ALL AGREE UPON IS THIS…IT IS A MESS!!!

He gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also: We don’t practice polygamy, but we do practice “serial marriage.” In our modern culture we multiply wives to ourselves; we just do it one at a time.

AND WHILE IT IS TRUE, that we as CHRISTIANS CAN NOT DO anything about our marriages that have broken up in the past, but we can do all we can before God to make sure that from now on, it is ONE PARTNER for all time…AMEN?!

VERSE 31 tells us Jacob’s first four sons born through Leah & of God’s gracious love for Leah.

“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.”
God’s compassion on Leah is touching. She is truly the innocent party in all of this mess. God can minister to a wife and meet her needs even when the husband acts in an ungodly manner.

LUTHER COMMENTS ON THIS…“Wretched Leah sits sadly in her tent with her maid and spends her time spinning and weeping. For the rest of the household, and especially Rachel, despises her because she has been scorned by her husband, who prefers Rachel and is desperately in love with Rachel alone. She is not beautiful, not pleasing. No, she is odious and hated . There the poor girl sits; no one pays any attention to her. Rachel gives herself airs before; she does not deign to look at her. ‘I am the lady of the house,’ she thinks, ‘Leah is a slave.’ These are truly carnal things in the saintly fathers and mothers, like the things that usually happen in our houses.”

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb: Isaiah 54:5 speaks to this, and reminds us, “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name. God can meet the needs a hurting wife has, needs that are neglected by the husband.”

Verse 32 tells us of the birth of Reuben.

“So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

The FIRST child born to Jacob, through Leah, is named Reuben by Leah, meaning “behold, a son.” This is her statement to Jacob and all others that the Lord had looked upon my affliction.

Reuben is the firstborn son of Jacob; he is the logical one to inherit the promise God had made to Abraham and passed on to Isaac and then to Jacob.

Jacob, even though he did not love Leah, still would have sex with her. Unfortunately, men are much more able to detach sex from love than women are. Worse yet, Leah was painfully aware of the fact Jacob did not love her, even though he was obviously having sex with her. That is a heart breaker for a woman…and Jesus SAW AND FELT LEAH’S SADNESS AND PAIN.

VERSE 33 tells us of the birth of Simeon.

“Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”

The second child born to Jacob, through Leah again, is named by Leah Simeon, meaning “hearing.” Leah hopes all will notice the Lord has heard her & favored HER.

Apparently, the birth of Reuben did NOT turn the heart of Jacob towards Leah. She is still aware he does not love her, though he is still having sex with her.

Of course, Jacob and Leah WERE married, so there was nothing sinful in sexual relationship. But this plainly shows that Jacob, like most any man in the flesh, was able and willing to have sex with someone he did NOT love.

AND HERE IN THE BEGINNING…IN GENESIS…ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS WOMEN A SIMPLE TRUTH. A SIMPLE TRUTH THAT LEAH, & SOME TO THIS DAY REFUSE TO SEE AND BELIEVE…A MAN CAN HAVE SEX WITHOUT LOVE.

Women should never think a man loves them just because they have sex. A 1993 Los Angeles Times article interviewed young men to find out their views on sex. One man named Christian (17 years old) explained how things work between men and women: “We’re just not sentimental. That’s why we’re men . . .. We like girls, we don’t love them . . . You see a girl and you just think, yeah, she’s really pretty and the first thing that comes to mind is you want to have sex.” He then explained how he seduced a girl: “You start kissing her and hugging her and little by little you start touching her.” After sex, he explained many boys dump the girls. “Girls get mad, but they don’t take it hard. They get over it.”

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US IN GENESIS…WITHOUT JESUS INTERVENTION, HIS LOVE…WOMEN DO TAKE IT HARD AND THEY DO NOT GET OVER IT, AMEN?!

This is the kind of man a woman might have sex with in the misguided effort to keep him as her boyfriend, because he has deceived her into thinking he loves her, RIGHT?

AND THE WORLD SHRUGS AND SAYS THAT’S THE WAY THINGS ARE. SO REALLY, HOW DANGEROUS CAN THIS BE?

Consider the words of a woman who caught AIDS from a Ventura man who knew he was infected but never told her: “All I wanted is someone to love me, and now I’m going to die for that. I don’t think I should have to die for that.”

NEITHER DOES ALMIGHTY GOD…THAT IS WHY RIGHT HERE, HE COUNSELS WOMEN AND MEN….TRUE LOVE WAITS, AMEN?

A RECENT survey asked the following question: “Have you ever had sex with a woman you have actively disliked?”

58% of men answered “yes.”

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE AND AM SAYING IT AGAIN, NO MATTER HOW ADVANCED MANKIND HAS BECOME MENTALLY & TECHNOLOGICALLY…WE REMAIN THE SAME…WE HAVE NOT REALLY CHANGED SINCE THE DAYS OF JACOB.

VERSE 34 tells us of the birth of Levi.

“She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.”

The THIRD child born to Jacob, again through Leah, is named Levi, meaning “attachment.” Leah still lives in the HOPE her husband Jacob will love her and become attached to her through the birth of these sons.

THREE SONS LATER…LEAH IS STILL UNLOVED AND REJECTED AND SHE STILL HOPES EVEN THOUGH SHE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED A LESSON BY NOW…AMEN?!

The pain in the heart of Leah is as evident as the hardness of Jacob’s heart, and as evident as his fleshly attitude towards his wife Leah.

VERSE 35 tell us the birth of Judah.

“And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.”

The FOURTH son born to Jacob, again through Leah, is named Judah meaning, “praise.” Apparently, Leah has stopped naming her children to reflect the pain and longing in her heart. Now she focuses on God and can praise Him, AMEN?!
To some extent, and for some period of time, Leah has allowed the Lord to meet her need, and she can now praise God! Leah knew the Lord better, driven to Him by the neglect of her husband.

Leah, though she was neglected by Jacob and despised by Rachel, had a GREAT AND WONDROUS purpose in God’s plan.

AND WHAT IS THAT?

The TWO greatest tribes came from Leah, not Rachel: Levi (the priestly tribe) and Judah (the royal tribe). And MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Messiah came FROM LEAH, the uglier sister, who was neglected and despised, but learned to look to the Lord and praise Him.

SO WHAT DOES ALMIGHTY GOD TELL US, SHOW US, & WANT TO TEACH US THROUGH GENESIS 29?

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, THAT TRUE LOVE WAITS…IT IS PATIENT…WILLING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, HONORABLE, LOVING, AND RESPECTING ABOVE THE CARNAL AND FLESHLY DRIVES OF THE BODY.

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS/SHOWS US VIVIDLY HERE THAT THE ADAGE, WHAT YOU SOW INTO THIS LIFE, YOU SHALL ALSO REAP IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS THAT HE IS NOT SUPERFICIAL. A PRETTY FACE DOES NOT TURN HIS HEAD. JUST AS HE TOLD THE PROPHET SAMUEL, WHICH HE KEPT CHOOSING THE WRONG SON TO BE ALMIGHTY GOD’S CHOICE FOR KING, BECAUSE SAMUEL DISMISSED YOUNG DAVID OVER THE STRONG, MUSCULAR, VIRILE, POPULAR (SUPERFICIALLY MORE PLEASING TO THE EYE) BROTHERS, ALMIGHTY GOD LOOKS INSTEAD TO THE HEART…HE READS THE HEART…WHERE THE TRUE BEAUTY, STRENGTH, VIRILITY, AND LOVELINESS IS SEEN AND SHOWN.

THIS CHAPTER ALSO TELLS US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD, JUST AS JESUS CHRIST IS THE HUSBAND TO THE NEGLECTED, UNLOVED, AND ABUSED SPOUSES AND CHILDREN, EVEN AS HE IS THE SPOUSE TO THE WIDOW.

ALMIGHTY GOD ALSO GIVES MANKIND, AND ESPECIALLY WOMANHOOD THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF CARNAL HUMAN NATURE…THEN AND NOW…A MAN DOES NOT HAVE TO LIKE, HE CAN DESPISE A WOMAN IN FACT, AND STILL ENJOY AND HAVE SEX WITH HER.

BUT MOST OF ALL, ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES…HE LOVES WHAT THE WORLD SAYS IS UGLY & UNLOVEABLE, AND HE RICHLY COMFORTS AND BLESSES THE PRECIOUS LOVING HEARTS, THAT ARE HIDDEN FROM MAN BENEATH A PLAIN SURFACE!

KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL, UNIQUE, AND BELOVED IN JESUS EYES ALWAYS!!!

Genesis 29 - Jacob’s Marriages and Children

Jacob meets Rachel.

Verses 1-3 tells us Jacob comes to a covered well.

“So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.”

Because the Lord blessed his trip, Jacob returns to the land that his mother came from, being also the land of his grandfather Abraham.

Verses 4-10 tell us Jacob meets Rachel at the well.

“And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.” Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Then he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.” Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.”

In an age before clearly marked roads and signs, Jacob didn’t know where he was until he asked some of the locals, and he discovered he was at his destination.

Water the sheep, and go and feed them: Jacob definitely seems like he is trying to get rid of the shepherd boys, probably so he can be alone with Rachel.

Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth: Jacob also knew he had come to marry one of the daughters of Laban as Isaac commanded him to do in Genesis 28:2, so he is more than willing to show kindness (and perhaps his strength) to Laban’s daughter Rachel.

Verses 11-14 tells us Rachel arranges for her father Laban to meet Jacob.

“Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father. Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.”

Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept….WE CAN ALL IMAGINE…INITIALLY AT LEAST THAT Rachel must have been quite surprised when a man she never saw appears before weeping and greeting her with a kiss. Yet she heard of her relatives (Rebekah is her aunt) who lived in the Promised Land, and she understood Jacob is from this family.

Verses 15-20 tell us Laban’s deal with Jacob, which is Jacob offers to work for seven years as a dowry to receive Rachel in marriage.

“Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.”

What should your wages be…AT FIRST, this might sound like a nice offer, but really Laban let Jacob know if he wants to stay around, he must stay as a hired servant. Jacob was the son of a man of tremendous wealth. Certainly he was not lazy, but he wasn’t used to hard work. Servants did the hard work back home. But now Jacob IS the servant.

Jacob’s reaction in this situation will reveal much of his character. This demonstrates the principle that you never know what kind of servant you are until others treat you LIKE a servant, AMEN!?

Now Jacob loved Rachel…not only was Rachel beautiful of form and appearance, but she was also the first friendly face Jacob met in the area. It is understandable why he had a “love at first sight” attachment to Rachel.

Biblical scholars DEBATE…what the phrase “Leah’s eyes were delicate” means. Some think it means her eyes were bad, and she couldn’t see well. Others think it means her eyes were “dull,” not beautiful and full of life like her sister Rachel’s eyes.
I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter:

The offer to work for seven years was essentially a dowry. Though Jacob came from a family with great wealth, he left home penniless. Before he could take a woman in marriage he had to provide a dowry to demonstrate he was fit to support a family and to compensate for the taking of the daughter.

EVEN IN THAT DAY….Seven years was a VERY generous offer, far above a normal dowry. Jacob didn’t want to risk a refusal. When Laban saw how badly Jacob wanted Rachel, he knew he could take advantage of him….AND LABAN DID.

They seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her: We notice the great love he had for her. The seven years of labor without pay (except for room and board) seemed to pass as quickly as a few days.

AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER…In this ancient culture, Jacob was NOT allowed to spend as much time as he wanted with Rachel. There were STRICT social guidelines keeping unmarried men and women apart from each other.

AND WHAT IS PRECIOUS…IS RIGHT HERE, IN GENESIS, GOD GAVE US…GIVES US AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE.
AND WHAT IS THAT?

TRUE LOVE WAITS…. Jacob was willing to wait seven years for Rachel.

DID YOU KNOW, In 1990, it was reported that in response to the excesses of the sexual revolution, some 400 concerned single adults have joined the National Chastity Association. Member Elaine Marsh, a 35-year-old legal secretary from Orange County, described her commitment to celibacy before her marriage: “It comes from my religion, but it’s more than that,” she says. “I just feel it’s such a precious part of yourself, you don’t give it to someone when you haven’t made the commitment of marriage.” Founder Mary Meyer says the group isn’t against sex: “I love hand-holding, I love kissing, I love caressing, I love sex,” she says. “But even more than I would love to experience these things right now, I want to be able to have a relationship where I can experience them forever.”

THIS IS THE KIND OF WISDOM AND HEART JACOB HAD.

In the 1990s there was a successful campaign among teens titled “True Love Waits.” It persuaded them to take the following pledge: “Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, those I date, my future mate and my future children to be sexually pure until the day I enter a covenant marriage relationship.” One 18-year-old named Rick said he used to be one of the guys who would come into school on Monday morning and brag about his sexual exploits. His views changed when he became a Christian two years ago, and now he is happy to take the pledge. “Sex is something God made to say, ‘I love you,’” he said. “If you have sex with everybody, you can’t say I’ve saved this one thing to say, ‘I love you.’ “

VERSES 21-25 tells us Laban switches Leah for Rachel on the wedding night.

“Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her: These words are clear enough. Even though Jacob waited and the time went quickly because of love, when the time was done he was done waiting.

He took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her:

MANY HAVE ASKED…UMMMMM FAITH, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for Jacob to be fooled?

THE WEDDING CUSTOMS OF THE DAY AIDED LABAN’S TRICKERY.

According to those customs the wife was veiled until she was finally alone with her husband in the “honeymoon suite.” If it was dark by the time Jacob and his new bride were alone together (something Laban would not have difficulty arranging), it helps explain how Jacob was fooled. Jacob could NOT CLEARLY SEE HIS BRIDE AT ALL.

We assume that Leah was in agreement with this.
WHY?
She may have loved Jacob secretly.
She may have considered this her one chance to get a husband.
She may have thought this an unsought, and therefore justifiable, opportunity to steal a march on her BEAUTIFUL YOUNGER SISTER.
BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER, WHATEVER HER SECRET PERSONAL REASONS OR PREFERENCES…EVEN if she was not in agreement, she was under the absolute authority of her father.
LEAH had NO CHOICE…and NEITHER DID RACHEL.

SO THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY of the father in the home in that culture also explains why Rachel “agreed” to this.

So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah: We can Imagine how Jacob felt - and how Leah felt, and of course how poor Rachel felt. All this was because of Laban’s sin, his greed, & his trickery. Or, perhaps one should say it was because of Jacob’s sin - now the deceiver..the trickster is NOW HIMSELF deceived.

Why then have you deceived me? Significantly, Laban’s deception towards Jacob is similar to the deception Jacob put upon his father Isaac and his brother Esau. This is an example of Jacob reaping what he had sown. Jacob exchanged the younger for the older; Laban exchanged the older for the younger.

When Jacob deceived his father and cheated his brother, God did not change His plan to choose Jacob to receive the birthright. Instead, God took Jacob to the school of hard knocks to discipline him. This shows that our disobedience may not derail God’s plan for our life, but it will greatly affect how we end up experiencing it. You may spend 20 years working for someone like Laban while God teaches you a few things.

Though we can see this is God’s correction upon Jacob, it in no way justifies Laban’s deception. The fact God does work all things together for good never excuses the evil acts God USES TO works for good.

BOTTOM LINE…LABAN CHOOSE TO SIN AND DECEIVE…ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT MAKE LABAN DO SO.

Verses 26-30 tells us Laban agrees to give Rachel to Jacob in return for another seven years worth of work.

And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.”

It must not be done so in our country….LABAN‘S EXCUSE basically says, “Well, didn’t we tell you? We don’t do it this way around here. Thought you knew.” The only reason Jacob submits to this clever trick of Laban’s is because he had no other option. But Laban’s “reason” was really nothing more than an excuse.

Serve with me still another seven years: The second seven years made up Jacob’s post-graduate work in the school of hard knocks. Jacob’s “major” in the school of hard knocks was “You Reap What You Sow.”

And he served with Laban still ANOTHER seven years: Laban is a perfect picture of a DECEPTIVE MANIPULATOR, ISN‘T HE?

LABAN ends up getting EXACTLY what he wanted (both his daughters married). Yet, this will turn out badly for both himself and his daughters. Oftentimes, God judges manipulators by giving them what they in their sinful desires and methods WANT and allowing it to be loss for them.

The problems in this family can be seen immediately. Not only has Jacob married two sisters, but he also lets everyone know one is favored and loved more than the other. Ultimately, all these problems stem from Laban’s manipulative deception, and the prior sin of Jacob that brought it upon himself.

THE DEBATE STILL COMES UP WITH BIBLICAL/SECULAR SCHOLARS.
THE QUESTION, AFTER THE FACT, OF COURSE, what should Jacob have done?
Some say Jacob should have gone to Laban and told him to correct the whole mess, and simply be married to Rachel and let Leah be Laban’s problem.

Others believe that according to the standards of the culture, he could not have put Leah aside, because she was unable to marry another after having been given to Jacob.

Perhaps, he should have done the best he could in the situation, which would have been to love his two wives equally.

WHAT THEY ALL AGREE UPON IS THIS…IT IS A MESS!!!

He gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also: We don’t practice polygamy, but we do practice “serial marriage.” In our modern culture we multiply wives to ourselves; we just do it one at a time.

AND WHILE IT IS TRUE, that we as CHRISTIANS CAN NOT DO anything about our marriages that have broken up in the past, but we can do all we can before God to make sure that from now on, it is ONE PARTNER for all time…AMEN?!

VERSE 31 tells us Jacob’s first four sons born through Leah & of God’s gracious love for Leah.

“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.”
God’s compassion on Leah is touching. She is truly the innocent party in all of this mess. God can minister to a wife and meet her needs even when the husband acts in an ungodly manner.

LUTHER COMMENTS ON THIS…“Wretched Leah sits sadly in her tent with her maid and spends her time spinning and weeping. For the rest of the household, and especially Rachel, despises her because she has been scorned by her husband, who prefers Rachel and is desperately in love with Rachel alone. She is not beautiful, not pleasing. No, she is odious and hated . There the poor girl sits; no one pays any attention to her. Rachel gives herself airs before; she does not deign to look at her. ‘I am the lady of the house,’ she thinks, ‘Leah is a slave.’ These are truly carnal things in the saintly fathers and mothers, like the things that usually happen in our houses.”

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb: Isaiah 54:5 speaks to this, and reminds us, “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name. God can meet the needs a hurting wife has, needs that are neglected by the husband.”

Verse 32 tells us of the birth of Reuben.

“So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

The FIRST child born to Jacob, through Leah, is named Reuben by Leah, meaning “behold, a son.” This is her statement to Jacob and all others that the Lord had looked upon my affliction.

Reuben is the firstborn son of Jacob; he is the logical one to inherit the promise God had made to Abraham and passed on to Isaac and then to Jacob.

Jacob, even though he did not love Leah, still would have sex with her. Unfortunately, men are much more able to detach sex from love than women are. Worse yet, Leah was painfully aware of the fact Jacob did not love her, even though he was obviously having sex with her. That is a heart breaker for a woman…and Jesus SAW AND FELT LEAH’S SADNESS AND PAIN.

VERSE 33 tells us of the birth of Simeon.

“Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”

The second child born to Jacob, through Leah again, is named by Leah Simeon, meaning “hearing.” Leah hopes all will notice the Lord has heard her & favored HER.

Apparently, the birth of Reuben did NOT turn the heart of Jacob towards Leah. She is still aware he does not love her, though he is still having sex with her.

Of course, Jacob and Leah WERE married, so there was nothing sinful in sexual relationship. But this plainly shows that Jacob, like most any man in the flesh, was able and willing to have sex with someone he did NOT love.

AND HERE IN THE BEGINNING…IN GENESIS…ALMIGHTY GOD SHOWS WOMEN A SIMPLE TRUTH. A SIMPLE TRUTH THAT LEAH, & SOME TO THIS DAY REFUSE TO SEE AND BELIEVE…A MAN CAN HAVE SEX WITHOUT LOVE.

Women should never think a man loves them just because they have sex. A 1993 Los Angeles Times article interviewed young men to find out their views on sex. One man named Christian (17 years old) explained how things work between men and women: “We’re just not sentimental. That’s why we’re men . . .. We like girls, we don’t love them . . . You see a girl and you just think, yeah, she’s really pretty and the first thing that comes to mind is you want to have sex.” He then explained how he seduced a girl: “You start kissing her and hugging her and little by little you start touching her.” After sex, he explained many boys dump the girls. “Girls get mad, but they don’t take it hard. They get over it.”

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US IN GENESIS…WITHOUT JESUS INTERVENTION, HIS LOVE…WOMEN DO TAKE IT HARD AND THEY DO NOT GET OVER IT, AMEN?!

This is the kind of man a woman might have sex with in the misguided effort to keep him as her boyfriend, because he has deceived her into thinking he loves her, RIGHT?

AND THE WORLD SHRUGS AND SAYS THAT’S THE WAY THINGS ARE. SO REALLY, HOW DANGEROUS CAN THIS BE?

Consider the words of a woman who caught AIDS from a Ventura man who knew he was infected but never told her: “All I wanted is someone to love me, and now I’m going to die for that. I don’t think I should have to die for that.”

NEITHER DOES ALMIGHTY GOD…THAT IS WHY RIGHT HERE, HE COUNSELS WOMEN AND MEN….TRUE LOVE WAITS, AMEN?

A RECENT survey asked the following question: “Have you ever had sex with a woman you have actively disliked?”

58% of men answered “yes.”

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE AND AM SAYING IT AGAIN, NO MATTER HOW ADVANCED MANKIND HAS BECOME MENTALLY & TECHNOLOGICALLY…WE REMAIN THE SAME…WE HAVE NOT REALLY CHANGED SINCE THE DAYS OF JACOB.

VERSE 34 tells us of the birth of Levi.

“She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.”

The THIRD child born to Jacob, again through Leah, is named Levi, meaning “attachment.” Leah still lives in the HOPE her husband Jacob will love her and become attached to her through the birth of these sons.

THREE SONS LATER…LEAH IS STILL UNLOVED AND REJECTED AND SHE STILL HOPES EVEN THOUGH SHE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED A LESSON BY NOW…AMEN?!

The pain in the heart of Leah is as evident as the hardness of Jacob’s heart, and as evident as his fleshly attitude towards his wife Leah.

VERSE 35 tell us the birth of Judah.

“And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.”

The FOURTH son born to Jacob, again through Leah, is named Judah meaning, “praise.” Apparently, Leah has stopped naming her children to reflect the pain and longing in her heart. Now she focuses on God and can praise Him, AMEN?!
To some extent, and for some period of time, Leah has allowed the Lord to meet her need, and she can now praise God! Leah knew the Lord better, driven to Him by the neglect of her husband.

Leah, though she was neglected by Jacob and despised by Rachel, had a GREAT AND WONDROUS purpose in God’s plan.

AND WHAT IS THAT?

The TWO greatest tribes came from Leah, not Rachel: Levi (the priestly tribe) and Judah (the royal tribe). And MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Messiah came FROM LEAH, the uglier sister, who was neglected and despised, but learned to look to the Lord and praise Him.

SO WHAT DOES ALMIGHTY GOD TELL US, SHOW US, & WANT TO TEACH US THROUGH GENESIS 29?

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS US, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, THAT TRUE LOVE WAITS…IT IS PATIENT…WILLING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, HONORABLE, LOVING, AND RESPECTING ABOVE THE CARNAL AND FLESHLY DRIVES OF THE BODY.

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS/SHOWS US VIVIDLY HERE THAT THE ADAGE, WHAT YOU SOW INTO THIS LIFE, YOU SHALL ALSO REAP IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

ALMIGHTY GOD TELLS THAT HE IS NOT SUPERFICIAL. A PRETTY FACE DOES NOT TURN HIS HEAD. JUST AS HE TOLD THE PROPHET SAMUEL, WHICH HE KEPT CHOOSING THE WRONG SON TO BE ALMIGHTY GOD’S CHOICE FOR KING, BECAUSE SAMUEL DISMISSED YOUNG DAVID OVER THE STRONG, MUSCULAR, VIRILE, POPULAR (SUPERFICIALLY MORE PLEASING TO THE EYE) BROTHERS, ALMIGHTY GOD LOOKS INSTEAD TO THE HEART…HE READS THE HEART…WHERE THE TRUE BEAUTY, STRENGTH, VIRILITY, AND LOVELINESS IS SEEN AND SHOWN.

THIS CHAPTER ALSO TELLS US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD, JUST AS JESUS CHRIST IS THE HUSBAND TO THE NEGLECTED, UNLOVED, AND ABUSED SPOUSES AND CHILDREN, EVEN AS HE IS THE SPOUSE TO THE WIDOW.

ALMIGHTY GOD ALSO GIVES MANKIND, AND ESPECIALLY WOMANHOOD THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF CARNAL HUMAN NATURE…THEN AND NOW…A MAN DOES NOT HAVE TO LIKE, HE CAN DESPISE A WOMAN IN FACT, AND STILL ENJOY AND HAVE SEX WITH HER.

BUT MOST OF ALL, ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES…HE LOVES WHAT THE WORLD SAYS IS UGLY & UNLOVEABLE, AND HE RICHLY COMFORTS AND BLESSES THE PRECIOUS LOVING HEARTS, THAT ARE HIDDEN FROM MAN BENEATH A PLAIN SURFACE!

KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL, UNIQUE, AND BELOVED IN JESUS EYES ALWAYS!!!

Genesis 30 - The Children Born to Jacob

The adage, those who do not learn from their parents or history, may doom themselves to repeat the SAME mistakes…applies here with Jacob & Rachel. Genesis 29 told us that Jacob married BOTH sisters, Leah the elder and Rachel the youngest daughter of Laban. And we know that Jacob loved Rachel, but not Leah, right?

Regardless, Jacob visits Leah enough, to produce 4 sons. 4 sons that he is NOT in attendance when they are born, and does not even bother to name them, which is his duty and right…Leah names them all.

All we know from Genesis 29 is that Rachel does not conceive at all during this time…she remains barren.

So that brings us to Genesis 30. Rachel is tired of TRYING to conceive on her own, so she, like Sarah wife of Abraham, decides to take things into her own hands…INSTEAD of hitting her knees and ASKING Almighty God for a child. Rachel gives her maid, Bilhah to Jacob in a “surrogate mother” arrangement & two sons are born to Bilhah & Jacob.

Verses 1-4 tells us Rachel, out of frustration with herself AND Jacob, gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob.

“Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!” And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.” Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.”

Give me children, or else I die! Despite Rachel’s great beauty, she also was near despair. And instead of seeking Almighty God, she blames Jacob, let’s face it, Jacob’s seed is fertile, he is creating children left and right, Amen? But Jacob turns around and points the finger at and probably puts the blames God & Rachel for her barren womb.

Conversely, we know that Leah often said, “If I ONLY HAD my sister’s beauty and the love of my husband as she does.” And, no doubt, Rachel often said, “If I ONLY HAD sons like my sister.”

ALMIGHTY GOD IS TELLING US ALL SOMETHING RIGHT HERE…ANOTHER SIMPLE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANS AND HUMAN NATURE.

Beautiful or plain, rich or poor, well loved or lonely, we ALL have our problems & our insecurities. Stop looking to how God deals with others and set your eyes on Him & seek JESUS INSTEAD FOR YOUR HEART CRIES AND YOUR ANSWERS!

Rachel envied her sister . . . Give me children, or else I die . . . Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel: The tension in this family is apparent. At least Jacob WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAW the hand of God in the matter, even though he BLAMED GOD & stated it to Rachel cruelly.

Can you imagine how vain Rachel was, knowing Jacob worked 14 years with no pay out of love for her, and knowing Jacob would not have worked one day for Leah?

Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her: Much like Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham in a surrogate-mother type arrangement in Genesis 16, Rachel gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob.

On my knees refers to the custom where the husband impregnated the surrogate while the surrogate, IN THIS CASE, BILHAH reclined on the lap of RACHEL during sexual intimacy, and how BILHAH would have then reclined on the LAP OF RACHEL as she gave birth. The custom & symbolism clearly showed the child was legally the child of RACHEL, not the surrogate BILHAH, who merely “stood in” for the wife both in conception and birth.

She gave him Bilhah her maid as wife:This does not mean that Jacob actually married Bilhah. It means Jacob did with Bilhah what a man should only do with his wife. He had sex with her AFTER being given the “NOD” from Rachel.

And I do not know about you married women out there, but me personally, I do NOT share. Thankfully, there is invitro now, and legal adoption…and even THEN, it all DEPENDS on Jesus plan and grace for us, Amen?

And thank you Jesus, I did not live during this age & thank you Jesus blessed us with children, but had He chosen NOT TO, there is no way, I would bring another woman into my home, have her lay against me, while I was face to face with MY husband while he WAS SEXUALLY INTIMATE with her and then be forced to have her lie in my lap during the birth? If this were the practice here now, my husband would be dealing with MUCH more than tears and anger, Amen?

Verses 5-6 tells us of the birth of Dan.

“And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.”
She called his name Dan: Jacob’s fifth son, born to him through Bilhah, the maid of Rachel, is named by Rachel Dan meaning, “judgment.” Because of her own envy, she viewed this child born of the flesh as a victory and a vindication for her.

Did you catch this…even with Rachel…Jacob does NOT do his duty and name his fifth son either…Rachel did.

God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son. Rachel IS WRONG IN THIS THOUGHT AND SHE IS DECEIVED into believing that GOD vindicated her. Almighty God ALLOWED Bilbah to CONCEIVE WITH JACOB, but Jesus did NOT bless it nor condone it. And those of you who KNOW your Bible, know what the FUTURE TRIBE OF DAN will do.

Verses 7-8 tell us of the birth of Naphtali.

“And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.”

She called his name Naphtali: Jacob’s sixth son, born to him through Bilhah, the maid of Rachel, is named Naphtali by Rachel, meaning “wrestle.” Relationships in this home have broken down to the point where Rachel will openly acknowledge this “baby competition” between her and her sister by naming the new baby wrestle.

DO you SEE how Satan PLAYS on the insecurities of BOTH WOMEN…PLAIN LEAH WANTS ONLY TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CARED FOR, IF NOT LOVED BY JACOB & THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THEM.

BEAUTIFUL RACHEL ONLY WANTS TO WIN AND OUT SHINE HER SISTER…WHATEVER THE COST.

AND JACOB, WELL HE IS JUMPING FROM BED TO BED, ENJOYING HIMSELF, AND TRYING TO KEEP THE “WOMEN” SATISFIED OR OFF HIS BACK.

THE PROBLEM IN THIS FAMILY…ONLY LEAH, TO THIS POINT, HAD FINALLY TURNED AND SOUGHT OUT AND DECIDED TO FOCUS ON JESUS…FOR HER WANTS, NEEDS, JOY, PEACE, AND HAPPINESS.

With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed: This seems strange. How do two sons prevail over four? Perhaps she meant it in the sense that now Leah seemed to have stopped having children.

BUT IN THE NEXT VERSES, WE SEE THAT LEAH IS A BIT COMPETITIVE HERSELF, AND USES HER OWN MAID ZILPAH, TO BE SURROGATE FOR HER WITH JACOB, SINCE SHE (LEAH) HAS STOPPED BEARING CHILDREN.

Two sons born to Zilpah, the maid of Leah.

I can almost hear, the old soap opera drama musicial intro sounding out here…And these are the DAYS OF OUR LIVES….Can’t you?

Verses 9-11...tells us of the birth of Gad.

“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.”

She took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife: Leah, who has stopped bearing children, figured she could use the same “surrogate mother” method to increase “her” number of children, so she gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob as Rachel gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob.

She called his name Gad…Jacob’s seventh son, born to him through Zilpah, the maid of Leah, is named Gad, meaning “troop” or “good fortune”; the wives of Jacob are still using their children as pawns in a power struggle within the home, Amen!

And with all the DRAMA stirring WITHIN the family & with all the people around them…we see that Satan has been VERY BUSY, AND Leah HAS apparently LOST the peace she had when her fourth son was born; she no longer has the peace “praise” brings & she is NO LONGER focusing on Jesus NOR going to Him with her hurts and cares, is she?

Verses 12-13 tells us of the birth of Asher.

“And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.”

So she called his name Asher…Jacob’s eighth son, born to him through Zilpah, the maid of Leah, is named Asher, meaning “happy”; Leah is more concerned about the status the child will bring her (all the daughters will call me blessed) than about the child himself.

This whole drama, women in competition & using their children as pawns, reminds me of seeing mothers in this day and time dress their kids up like live mannequins…to parade them around before everyone else…these LIVE mannequins are ALWAYS NEAT AS pins, they ALWAYS WEAR THE NEWEST, THE BEST, & THE LATEST FADS…and they are at times, PAWNS, SALVES TO PERSONAL INSECURITIES, and the kids SUFFER.

They are NOT REALLY CHILDREN to their parents…but POSSESSIONS. You NEVER see them playing like other kids, who come in dirty, sweaty, laughing, and excited about playing in the rain or a mud puddle, or romping with their dogs for sheer joy. NO, these children, much like LEAH AND RACHELS children for a time, most probably were MODEL children. They did not get dirty, no creases in their clothes, no scuffs on their sandals…they were trotted out to be SEEN AND NEVER HEARD…then sent away to their own caregivers until THE NEXT PARADE.

I do not know about you…but I HURT for these children. I enjoyed, and most times joined in with waterhose and water balloon fights, I played in the rain, jumped in mud puddles, raked leaves, played chase…with my children and now my grandchildren…and we all came in exhausted, laughing, and in dire need of baths…Amen?

My point, children ARE a blessing and to be TREASURED AND ENJOYED…children/grandchildren alike, if we ALLOW it, help keep us in contact with our inner child, and they may wear us out, but they KEEP us young too, & seeking the simple fun and beauty in this life…Amen?

And here we gooooooo again…
You know Satan was having a LARGE time with Leah, Rachel, Jacob, Bilhah, & Zilpah. Leah herself bears two more sons and a daughter.

Verses 14-18 tells us of the birth of Issachar.

“Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.

Reuben found mandrakes in the field.

What is the importance or value of mandrakes?

The mandrake is a root, called “love-apples” in Hebrew. They were thought (and still are among some peoples) to increase fertility in women. Because Leah had the mandrakes, she knew Jacob would have relations with her, believing there was a greater likelihood she would become pregnant.

TO THIS DAY, we don’t know if the effect of the mandrakes was something biological, or if it functioned more as a placebo. But under the guiding hand of God, the mandrakes seemed to “work” in the case of Leah and Jacob. Whatever strange agencies God may allow to be used (such as mandrakes), the real factor is His sovereign will (God listened to Leah).

You have taken away my husband.

WOW…TALK ABOUT OPEN WARFARE AND HOSTILITY. The hostility between Leah and Rachel is as obvious as it is painful, IS IT NOT?
It must have been terrible living in a home where one wife believed the other had stolen her husband from her.

BUT RIGHT HERE…WE SEE THE WISDOM OF GOD’S ORIGINAL PLAN FOR MANKIND. God’s original plan, as expressed in Genesis 2:24 tells us… “ONE man to be joined to ONE woman in a ONE-flesh relationship.”

AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT IS NOT FOLLOWED.
I fought a headache and a heartache while PREPARING this Bible study…

AND THIS IS ALL LAYING THE FOUNDATION…AND GIVING US THE INSIGHT AND THE REASONS BEHIND…THE WHY?

WHY this family has & will have a history of strife and bloodshed. The SIMPLE ANSWER…AND WARNING IS THIS…Children REFLECT the atmosphere of the home & their upbringing when they are grown.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…later in Leviticus 18:18, it becomes FORBIDDEN FOR the marrying of sisters, and this shows why, Amen?

So she called his name Issachar…Jacob’s ninth son, born to Leah, is named Issachar, meaning “reward”; Leah WRONGLY SAW THIS son as a reward from God because she was “generous” enough to offer her maid to Jacob.

Verses 19-20 tells us of the birth of Zebulun.

“Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.”

So she called his name Zebulun…Jacob’s tenth son, born to Leah, is named Zebulun, meaning “dwelling.” In the pain of her heart, LEAH STILL waits for her husband to truly love her and live with her, and she hopes the sheer quantity of sons will win his heart to her.

We see Satan still having a wonderful time tormenting everyone, and STILL LEAH has forgotten her FIRST LOVE and her TRUE PROVIDER…she and Rachel are STILL living in the flesh, just as SATAN wants it…NEITHER IS TURNING TO ALMIGHTY GOD THE TRUE AND ONLY ABSOLUTE AND UNSHAKEABLE SOURCE FOR THEIR FOR PEACE, COMFORT, LOVE, AND REASSURANCE, Amen?

Verse 21 tells us of the birth of Dinah.

“Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.”

Afterward she bore a daughter…FINALLY, after ten MALE children, Jacob becomes father to a daughter through Leah, who is named Dinah. Apparently, there was nothing symbolically significant in her name or the Bible would have told us.

The ungodly competition has, in one sense, ended. Leah and the two maids will have no more children.

But the wives fought each other as in a poker game… a game of CONSTANT ONEUPMANSHIP…WITH NEITHER BEING THE WINNER…AND UNFORTUNATELY the children being NOT only the pawns, but emotional, unintended casualties of this war, Amen?

Verse 22 tell us Rachel herself bears a son to Jacob & this SHOWS US God’s sovereignty over the womb.

“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.”

And opened her womb…The idea of God’s sovereignty over the womb is a persistent theme in the Bible.

WHERE?
God granted twins to Rebekah (Genesis 25:21).
God opens the womb of Leah (Genesis 29:31).
God closes the womb of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5).

The purposes of God in opening one and closing the other may be completely unknowable, but what we DO KNOW & CAN ALWAYS TRUST WITHOUT A DOUBT…IS THAT OUR JESUS has His purpose, AMEN?

Verses 23-24 tells us of the birth of Joseph.

“And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The Lord shall add to me another son.”

So she called his name Joseph…The eleventh son born to Jacob, through Rachel, is named Joseph, meaning “may he add”; Rachel feels she has been “vindicated” by the birth of one son, but longs for more children to continue the competition with her sister Leah.

DO YOU NOTICE…TWO THINGS…NOT MUCH IS SAID OR HEARD FROM BY JACOB VERBALLY IN THIS CHAPTER SO FAR…and sadly, NEITHER WOMAN IS THANKFUL FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NEITHER THANKS ALMIGHTY GOD FOR HIS BLESSING OF THESE CHILDREN…IT IS STILL IN LEAH AND RACHEL’S MIND…A COMPETITION…ONE UPMANSHIP HERE.

AND THINK ABOUT IT, at this point, none would think this eleventh son would end up being THE KEY son used to further God’s redemptive purpose through this family.

BUT JOSEPH IS….

Yet Isaiah 55:8-9 tell us…“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

NOW REENTERS JACOB INTO THIS DRAMA…AND WE REALIZE SOMETHING ELSE HERE…JACOB NOT ONLY HAS TO CONTEND WITH HIS WIVES, JACOB IS STILL DEALING WITH THE GREEDY, SELF-CENTERED, MANIPULATIVE LABAN AS WELL.

Verses 25-27 tells us Jacob KNOWS it is time to go back to Canaan & OF his agreement with Laban.

“And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake.”

Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country… Though Jacob was in Haran with Laban and his daughters for more than 14 years at this point, & he is NOT ALL THAT HE WILL BE WITH GOD YET, JACOB knew that he belonged in the land promised to him by God, through the covenant made with his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. After 14 years, Jacob still called the Promised Land MY country...NOT HARAN.

Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake: Laban IS STILL THINKING ABOUT HIS POCKETBOOK AND HIS SOCIAL CACHE HERE….LABAN HAS NOT CHANGED.

LABAN KNOWS Jacob has been an invaluable worker for him. Laban says this knowledge was learned by experience. Literally this means, “learned by divination.” THIS TELLS US THAT GOD WAS RIGHT TO REMOVE ABRAM FROM HARAN, THAT LAND OF UR OF THE CHALDEANS…AND THAT EVEN HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER, ABRAHAM’S RELATIVES/FAMILY STILL PRACTICE THE OCCULT & WORSHIP OTHER GODS. Laban practiced occult divination and by this he knew the source of blessing. THIS TELLS US OCCULT OR NOT, SATAN KNOWS WHO IS THE POWER AND THE RULER OF ALL THINGS…WHETHER HE WANTS TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT.

Verses 28-34 Jacob negotiates a deal with Laban to start building a flock of sheep and goats for himself.

“Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?” So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.” And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!”

The spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. Jacob will take the speckled and spotted offspring, but will separate the currently speckled or spotted animals from the rest of the flock, so the odds are set against him.

WHY?
Allowing the speckled and spotted sheep and goats to remain in the flock would increase the likelihood of more speckled and spotted offspring coming from the flock at large.

Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!” This is an agreeable deal to both parties. First, it was a foolproof way to distinguish between the flocks of Laban and Jacob. As well, Laban liked the deal because the odds were stacked in his favor. Jacob may have proposed the deal because he was FINALLY willing to BEGIN TO trust in God. And he is BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT STACKED DECK OR NOT….ALMIGHTY GOD RULES AND REIGNS AND CONTROLS ALL DECKS, AMEN?

Verses 35-36 tells us the agreement is made, and the flocks are separated.

“So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.”

Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks…Jacob now will care for the large flock of his father-in-law Laban, made up of solid-colored animals, and Jacob will receive any speckled or spotted offspring of this flock. Obviously, if there was a way Jacob could encourage these solid-colored sheep to bring forth spotted and speckled offspring, it would greatly increase his personal wealth.

He put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob…KNOWING LABAN CHEATS….So there would be no mixing of the flocks, Laban’s sons took care of all the existing speckled and spotted sheep and goats, keeping them a three-day journey from the main flock. Jacob himself would take care of the solid-colored flock of Laban, as well as their speckled and spotted offspring, which belonged to him.

Verses 37-43 tells us God blesses Jacob’s method of breeding, and he greatly increases in wealth.

“Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.”

Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees…When Jacob put these branches in the drinking troughs of the flocks it apparently increased the number of speckled and spotted offspring from the solid-colored flock Jacob managed on Laban’s behalf.

So the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s…Jacob also used selective breeding to increase the strength and vitality of his flock.

Christian breeding experts in animal husbandry…do not TO THIS DAY KNOW WHY OR HOW this method OF GREEN POPLAR, ALMOND, & CHESTNUT TREES IN THE WATER worked IN THE NATURAL. It is possible Jacob knew more about animal husbandry than we do today; but it is MORE LIKELY Jacob did the best he knew, and God blessed it, AMEN?

Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous…The ancient Hebrew says, “the man burst out exceedingly exceedingly.” God blessed Jacob, but it was not because Jacob was especially good. It was because of the promises God made to Jacob in Genesis 28:13-15 and the covenant made to Abraham.

We may fail and falter…miss the mark, but ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PROMISE MAKER AND KEEPER. ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT BREAK HIS WORD.

In the same way, blessing comes from the Lord to us, not because we are great or good, but because of the covenant God has made with us through Jesus, and promises He has given us in His word, Amen?
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE IN-FIGHTING WITHIN JACOB’S FAMILY…AND SATAN’S EVIL PLOTTING AND TORMENT, ALMIGHTY GOD GIVES US FOUR UNIQUE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR PERSONAL AND LIFETIME PROSPERITY HERE.

1. Don’t make wealth your goal told to us in Genesis 30:25-26.
2. Don’t be afraid to work for others & try to increase their wealth before or as you work to increase your own wealth told to us in Genesis 30:27.
3. Work hard, dedicating yourself to your employer’s success told to us in Genesis 30:26, 31:38-42.
4. Trust God told to us in Genesis 30:31-33.

And GENESIS 30 ALSO, ONCE AGAIN, SHOWS US THE PATIENCE OF OUR ABBA FATHER IN HIS DEALINGS WITH SWABBLING/IN THE FLESH/DOUBTING CHILDREN.

THEN AND NOW ALMIGHTY GOD WANTS THEM TO SEEK HIM, LEAN ON HIM, ASK FOR ALL THINGS FROM HIM…NOT THE WORLD, NOT SPOUSES, FAMILY OR FRIENDS…BUT HE ALSO WANTS US TO CHOOSE HIM OF OUR OWN FREE WILL…HE DID NOT CREATE US IN HIS IMAGE TO BE ROBOTS, THAT OBEY WITHOUT WILL OR THOUGHT.

ALMIGHTY GOD, JUST LIKE US, WANTS TO BE CHOSEN. WANTS TO BE WILLINGLY AND FREELY LOVED BY US.

AND AS A PATIENT FATHER, HE WILL AT TIMES ALLOW US TO CHOOSE WRONGLY, AND LET US SEE THROUGH OUR OWN WILLFULNESS…OUR OWN ACTIONS…THAT APART FROM HIM, HIS WILL AND HIS DIRECTION FOR OUR LIVES…WE, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, BRING HEARTACHE AND AN EMOTIONAL TRAIN WRECK INTO OUR LIVES.

BUT EVEN THEN, ALMIGHTY GOD HAS A PLAN. ALMIGHTY GOD IS FAITHFUL. ALMIGHTY GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY SATAN, THE WORLD, OR EVEN WE OURSELVES. HIS PLAN WILL BE COMPLETED. WHAT A BLESSING AND A RELIEF THAT IS.
OUR JESUS DOES NOT GIVE UP ON US, AMEN?

THE MAIN POINT HERE….TRUST OUR TRIUNE GOD, WHO LOVES US, HIS PLAN IS PERFECT AND HIS PLAN NEVER FAILS!

Genesis 31 - Jacob Flees From Laban to Canaan

Verses 1-2 tells us contention with Laban’s sons causes Laban to look differently at Jacob.

“Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.”

Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s: It wasn’t that Jacob had taken ANYTHING belonging to Laban. Rather, it was that JACOB’S WEALTH was increasing in proportion to Laban’s wealth.

SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER…CALLED ENVY had reared its head.
The problem wasn’t that Jacob stole, it was that Laban’s sons were filled with envy.

Envy will distort the truth. Jacob had not taken anything of Laban’s, but envy will lie.

And consider this truth, for 20+ years JACOB had basically worked for Laban for FREE. And Laban’s sons could sit back and reap the blessings of Jacob’s due diligence. Laban and his sons were getting wealthier and wealthier…without doing much of anything…now for the past 6+ years, Jacob’s sheep & goats & camels are reproducing…we could say at a MIRACULOUS rate…and Jacob’s flocks are pure, perfect, stronger, and healthier than Laban’s.

WHY?

First and foremost, Jacob had THE FAVOR OF ALMIGHTY GOD, AND secondly, ALMIGHTY GOD’S PROMISE TO BLESS AND INCREASE THE WORK OF HIS HANDS AND HIS FLOCKS.

SO NOW…it is VERY APPARENT TO LABAN’S SONS, THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, JACOB AND HIS FAMILY, AND TO LABAN HIMSELF…that the tables have been turned, AMEN?

Laban’s flocks are not dying, or decreasing, but they are NOT MULTIPLYING ANY WHERE NEAR AS FAST AS JACOB’S.

SO SILENTLY PROVES TO LABAN’S SONS and to LABAN himself…that he and his sons HAVE BEEN VERY LAZY & HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING HARD…SO INSTEAD OF ADMITTING THEIR LAZINESS AND LACK OF HARD WORK AND DUE DILIGENCE OVER THEIR FATHER LABAN’S FLOCKS…they decide to TRY AND CAST THE BLAME for their puny flocks on Jacob stealing/switching THEIR FLOCKS, AND PUTTING his weak and puny sheep and goats in their flocks, and TAKING THEIR STRONGER SHEEP AND GOATS.

WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT JACOB moved HIS FLOCKS three days AWAY from LABAN’S FLOCKS…and HIS FLOCKS were only producing what he TOLD LABAN they would…it makes this ACCUSATION all the more ridiculous.

The countenance of Laban . . . was not favorable toward him: The envy of Laban’s sons poisoned Laban’s heart against Jacob. Before, he was entirely pleased with the agreement. Laban WAS PLEASED when HE AND HE ALONE was profiting from Jacob’s labor and reaping ALL THE benefits…but now that JACOB’S HARD WORK IS PAYING OFF…miraculously…LABAN is NO LONGER HAPPY.

Envy is bad not only on its own, but also for the company it keeps: for you are still carnal.

1 Corinthians 3:3 reminds us… “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

James 3:16 warns us, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

1 Corinthians 13:4 counsels us…“Instead, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy.”

Titus 3:3 tells us God wants to deliver us from envy. “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

SOME HAVE ASKED…Is envy a small sin?

Matthew 27:18 tells us THAT ENVY put Jesus on the cross. “For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.”

SO ENVY IS A VERY DANGEROUS SIN, AMEN?

Verse 3 tells us God tells Jacob to go back home.

“Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

Even if Jacob never knew it, God prepared him for this time. First, God gave him the desire to go back home in Genesis 30:25. Then his present circumstances became unbearable. Finally, the Lord gave personal direction to Jacob. God often leads us in the same pattern.

And I will be with you…This confirmed the direction of God in Jacob’s life.

Verses 4-13 tells us Jacob explains the situation and his plan to his wives.

“So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ “

Even though Laban TRIED to cheat Jacob, God protected him all the time. We don’t have to fear what man can do to us when God is on our side, AMEN?

Psalm 118:6 reminds us of this as well, when David says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

You know that with all my might I have served your father….This shows Jacob knew his wives were aware of his righteous conduct and Laban’s unfair treatment of him.

I am the God of Bethel…God told Jacob to go back to Bethel, back to the place where he first encountered the Lord in a personal way.

This is a way of RETURNING to one’s first love and first works as Jesus encouraged and warned HIS CHURCHES in Revelation 2:4-5.

I am the God of Bethel…it is good for us to remember times and places where the Lord did great works for us, and met us in wonderful ways. As we remember them, God reminds us He is still the same God Who met our needs then and wants to meet our needs now, AMEN?

DID YOU CATCH THAT?

THE ANGEL OF GOD spoke to me in a dream: Significantly, there is much more to what the Lord said to Jacob than what was reported in Genesis 31:3. Genesis 31:3 is completely true, but there was more to it than this simple bare word from the Lord.
Not A ANGEL, OR ANGELS, BUT THE ANGEL OF GOD, CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

Verses 14-16 tells us Leah and Rachel support Jacob in his desire to move back to Canaan.

“Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

LEAH AND RACHEL’S UNITED SUPPORT IS THE FIRST KNOWN TIME THEY BOTH AGREE AND SUPPORT…ANYTHING.

AND JACOB NEEDED THEIR SUPPORT…because this is a huge undertaking, moving such a massive family so far. If not for the support of his wives, Jacob perhaps would not have done what the Lord had told him to do.

Whatever God has said to you, do it: This may be the first time in quite a while when the sisters Leah and Rachel agreed on anything, BUT THEY CAN AGREE IN UNITING AGAINST A COMMON LONG TIME FOE…their father Laban.

Verses 17-21 tells us Jacob leaves without saying goodbye.

“Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s. And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.”

STOLE AWAY…means JACOB SNEAKED AWAY FROM LABAN.

God has already TOLD JACOB to go and PROMISED him safe passage. Jacob is clearly acting in the flesh, because has no need to be afraid of Laban or to sneak away, AMEN?

FEAR AND LACK OF FAITH IN JUST WHO ALMIGHTY GOD IS AND WHAT ALMIGHTY GOD CAN DO…made it impossible for JACOB TO LEARN AND REAP the full measure of blessing ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED FOR HIM…SO JACOB sneaked away instead of departing OPENLY TRUSTING AND BELIEVING THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WOULD BE WITH HIM AND WOULD PROTECT HIM.

Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s:

Rachel took her father’s household idols (teraphim). She may have wanted them because perhaps she worshipped these idols and did not want to be without them. Perhaps she did not want her father to inquire of them, using them as tools of divination to catch them (as he may have previously done, Genesis 30:27). Or perhaps it was because such idols were often used as deeds to property and she thought this she was taking her “inheritance.”

TERAPHIM were human carvings in form and cut off at the waist as were sculpted figures, yet these were used as protections, blessings, and said to commune with “gods” to show them the future and to make decisions. Much like those cults who use a scryching mirror or a crystal ball to SEE what their SPIRIT GUIDES show and tell them.

Perhaps Rachel stole the teraphim simply to get back at her father, whom she felt had mistreated her, her husband, and her whole family. Jewish traditions say Rachel took the teraphim because she wanted to keep her father Laban from idolatry.

WHATEVER THE REASON…Rachel did not TRUST AND REALLY KNOW ALMIGHTY GOD yet either…Amen?

It was nearly 300 miles from Haran to the mountains of Gilead, but the journey was longer and tougher psychologically for Jacob than anything else. He is leaving the place of safety, where he has lived in a comfortable servitude, to go to a place where God has called him, but dangerous enemies abound (like his brother Esau, who swore to kill him).

Verses 22-24 tells us Laban pursues and catches Jacob.

“And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night: God’s speaking to Laban in a dream shows he had evil intention towards Jacob. God is protecting Jacob. And this ALSO tells us something else here, the lost, the disbelieving, and the rejecting STILL KNOW WITHOUT DOUBT…WHEN ALMIGHTY GOD VISITS THEM AND SPEAKS TO THEM, AMEN?

Verses 25-29 tells us Laban meets and confronts Jacob.

“So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
Why did you flee away secretly?

FIRST Laban TRIES to shame Jacob with kindness (“We wanted to throw you a party!”). When that didn’t work (we can only imagine the stony faces answering him), he did what most bullies do - he boasted of his ability to harm Jacob.

DO YOU SEE SATAN HAVING A LARGE TIME TWISTING LABAN AND HIS SONS AND USING THEM TO TRY TO HURT AND SHAME JACOB’S HEART, IF NOT DESTROY HIS NAME AND REPUTATION WITHIN HIS OWN PEOPLE?

Verses 30-35 Laban accuses Jacob of stealing his teraphim and searches for them.

“And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the household idols.”

Why did you steal my gods? Jacob, not knowing his beloved wife Rachel stole the household idols, proclaimed his innocence and pronounced a harsh curse on the thief, not knowing actually put a curse on his own wife.

And you notice, as I did, that LABAN TOO FAVORED RACHEL OVER LEAH…He was quick to toss LEAH AND HER MAIDS AND HER CHILDREN’S TENTS FIRST…and only after HIS IDOLS were NOT FOUND ANYWHERE…that LABAN half-heartedly searched RACHEL’S THINGS.

Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them: Rachel learned the ways of deception well from her father. She succeeded in deceiving her father about the idols.

AND RACHEL SAYING… “THE MANNER OF WOMEN IS WITH ME”…insured that LABAN would not touch her or go near her…WHY?

In that day, women were considered UNCLEAN & EVIL CONTAGIOUS during their menstrual cycle…and WERE MOST TIMES RELEGATED TO A SEPARATE “RED TENT” SET APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE…AND SET ASIDE FOR WOMEN DURING THEIR MONTHLY CYCLE, AS WELL RIGHT AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

KNOWING THIS, Rachel used HER FATHER AND HER PEOPLE’S SUPERSTITION AGAINST THEM TO INSURE THAT THEY DID NOT MAKE HER GET DOWN FROM HER CAMEL TO BOW BEFORE HER FATHER, NOR DID LABAN, HIS SONS, NOR ANY OF HIS MEN GO NEAR HER.

Verses 36-42 tells us Jacob rebukes his father-in-law Laban.

“Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”

Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban:

IN OTHER WORDS, JACOB GAVE LABAN AND HIS SONS A LONG HELD BACK SPEW-FEST OVER ALL THAT HE HAD DEALT WITH.

It isn’t hard to see these words building up in Jacob for 20 years. He has practiced this speech over and over again in his mind.

HOW MANY OF US HAVE EVER SAID, IF NOT THOUGHT, MAN OHHHHHH MANNNNNNN, ONE OF THESE DAYS I AM GOING TO TELL MY BOSS, NEIGHBOR, FAMILY MEMBER, OR FRIEND…EXACTLY WHAT I REALLLLLLLLLY THINK ABOUT THEM?

What is my trespass?

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH….IN THAT DAY, IT WAS THE CUSTOM that a shepherd could bring the torn carcass of a sheep to his owner, as evidence that he was brave enough to not let the wolf devour it or take it away, and thus the shepherd would be excused. But Jacob says he didn’t even do this, and every animal that was attacked, he made good out of his own flock.

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me.

THE GOOD NEWS….Jacob RIGHTLY saw God’s place & CONTROL in all this.

THE BAD NEWS…YOU NOTICE NO WHERE AND AT NO TIME DOES JACOB CALL ALMIGHTY GOD….MY GOD.


Verses 43-50 tells us Jacob and Laban make a covenant.

“And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us; see, God is witness between you and me!”

All that you see is mine: Laban ARROGANTLY STILL TRIES TO LAY CLAIM to all this that is already out of his hand. He says, “It is mine, but Jacob, out of the generosity of my heart, I’ll let you have it.”

May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another:

IN THIS WORLDLY MAN-MADE COVENANT…NOT AN ALMIGHTY GOD MADE AND APPROVED COVENANT… Laban expresses how suspicious he is of Jacob. The idea of Mizpah (“watch” OR “look out” ) is “If you do wrong, God will see it and may He punish!”

In effect, the pillar of Mizpah meant, ‘If you come over on my side of this line, the pact is void and I will kill you.’ The covenant breaker would need God (this depends on who and which god that person trusted and believed in and worshipped of course) to take care of him, because the other would shoot to kill.”

Down through the ages, Mizpah was NEVER meant to be a nice sentiment - despite what THE PAST AND PRESENT “Mizpah coin” and the “MIZPAH BLESSING” might say….or now CLAIM IT AS A TOKEN OF REMEMBRANCE, BLESSING AND FAVOR.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS TELLING US RIGHT HERE…A MIZPAH IS BASICALLY A THREAT AND A CURSE.

Verses 51-55 tells us a pillar of separation and a parting of their ways.

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.”

I will not pass beyond this heap to you: The best solution for Jacob’s in-law problems is for him to separate from Laban. In fact, they erect a pillar to be a barrier between them.

Right here what LABAN intended as a curse, a slam, a shaming, and a threat….Almighty God USED to KEEP LABAN, who was basically swearing an oath and a promise of threat upon his occult idols….upon JACOB…to insure that LABAN STAYED AWAY FROM JACOB for the rest of his life….AND LABAN DID.

There is wisdom in having some separation from in-laws. The Bible does say, AND REMIND US in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.”

Though the separation in Jacob’s case is indeed extreme!

Then Laban departed and returned to his place: After a proper good-bye, Laban sees his daughters and grandchildren for the last time.

AND THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE HEAR OF Laban in the Bible, and it is good that this is the end of him. Laban is of the world, and Jacob needed to be freed from this world in order to live wholeheartedly for the God of his fathers.
LABAN’S ENTIRE LIFE is a WARNING TO THOSE who ARE MORE WORLDLY, SELFISH AND SELF-SERVING, THAN LEANING IN ON, TRUSTING, AND BELIEVING IN OUR TRIUNE GOD FOR ALL THINGS…such resentment and envy of Jacob’s Triune God and the BLESSINGS he received, rather than seeking out HIS TRUE GOD AND FOLLOWING IN ALMIGHTY GOD’S COMMANDS…will only in the end…destroy.

AND THE BIBLE TELL US THAT Rachel and Leah were wrong to look to their father Laban for their portion or inheritance once they were married to Jacob. He now was their portion and inheritance.









Genesis 32 - Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

Verses 1-2 tells us Jacob hears of Esau’s approach & meets the angels of God at Mahanaim. He realizes God is with him and he has angelic protection.

“So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.”

This is God’s camp: Literally, Jacob observed he was in a double camp. He was not alone; God had a camp of angels with him at Mahanaim.

AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER SOMETHING PRECIOUS AND SPECIAL HERE…It was not as if God’s angels just SUDDENLY SHOWED UP AND JOINED Jacob. They were with him the ENTIRE time. BUT ALMIGHTY GOD ALLOWED JACOB TO SEEEEEEE THEM NOW…SO THAT Jacob WOULD KNOW God’s angels WERE with him and it provided great encouragement.

Hebrews 1:14 tells us of Angels, “Though “higher” beings than us, are ordained by God to be our servants.”

Matthew 4:11 tells us, “They minister to us even as they ministered to Jesus.”

In 2 Kings 6:15-17 tells us Elisha’s servant had his eyes opened to see the tremendous angelic host surrounding them.

But you say…SURE OLD TESTAMENT, EARLY TESTAMENT, BUT FAITH THAT WAS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO…it does NOT happen today, right?

Well BILLY GRAHAM RELATES THE TESTIMONY OF John Paton, a missionary to the New Hebrides Islands, told of how one night hostile natives surrounded his missions headquarters, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. He and his wife prayed through the entire night, and when daylight finally came, their attackers all left. A year later, the chief of the tribe became a Christian, and Paton asked the man about that night. The chief replied, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary explained only he and his wife were there. The chief insisted he had seen hundreds of big men with shining garments and swords circling the mission headquarters, so the natives were afraid to attack. That night in the New Hebrides Islands, there certainly was a “double camp”!

The angels of God met him: This wonderful revelation of God’s presence and care came after Jacob finally separated from Laban, the worldly man. Separation from the world brings greater insight to the believer.

AND YOU NOTICE THE WORDING HERE….“THE ANGELS OF GOD” …THAT MEANS MANY, THAT MEANS UNNAMED, HEAVENLY SOLDIERS/MESSENGERS OF ALMIGHTY GOD..NOT THE ANGEL OF GOD…WHICH COULD ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF…AMEN?

Verses 3-6 tells us Jacob’s message to Esau.

“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ‘ “ Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother: Jacob, seeking to reconcile with his brother (who 20 years before swore to kill him), first began by humbling himself and sending the message, “your servant Jacob.”

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants: Jacob isn’t bragging. He wants Esau TO KNOW that he is a man of wealth and that he HAS NOT come to take anything from Esau. We see Jacob trying to get inside Esau’s head and answer Esau’s concerns BEFORE he sees him face to face.

He also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him: When the messengers return, Jacob heard news that made his blood run cold. Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. Because Jacob could not bring himself to think the best of Esau (for understandable reasons), he was convinced the 400 men are an army intending to destroy him and his family.

Verses 7-8 tells us Jacob’s fear and carnal preparation.

“So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

THIS IS ANOTHER….GUESS WHO HAS COMING CALL…AND THE ANSWER IS HELLOOOOOOOOO SATAN AND HIS WHISPERING LYING, DECEIVING, AND FEAR BRINGING HORDE.

HOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN…WE ARE GOING HOME…GOING TO A CLASS REUNION…AN ALUM CELEBRATION…WE ARE AT FIRST EXCITED AND NERVOUS, WANTING TO MAKE THE BEST IMPRESSION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING FAMILY AND FRIENDS….THEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NO WHERE….THAT NASTY-TWISTED VOICE WHISPERS THROUGH OUR HEART AND MIND….REMINDING US OF LONG-FORGOTTEN SLIGHTS, HURTS, FIGHTS, CHALLENGES, AND UNSETTLED ISSUES…OR WHAT WE THINK ARE UNSETTLED PAST MISTAKES AND ISSUES…THEN THE JOY IS GONE…AND IT IS REPLACED BY FEAR, WORRY, AND DOUBT!

THIS SHOWS US THAT NO MATTER THE CHANGES IN THIS WORLD…MAN AND YET BET SATAN AND HIS SCHEMES AND TECHNIQUES HAVE NOT CHANGED ONE BIT!

SO JACOB IS GREATLY afraid and distressed…When Laban confronted Jacob with a hostile militia Jacob boldly stood up to him and spoke his mind Genesis 31:36-42.

But NOW with Esau, Jacob was afraid to meet him.

WHY?

Jacob KNEW he was in the RIGHT with Laban, but JACOB KNEW he was in the WRONG with Esau.


In THE SAME WAY TODAY, MANY CHRISTIANS, AS WELL THE LOST, ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE CRIPPLED, COWARDLY, & AFRAID OVER THEIR PASTS.

PAST SINS HAUNT US and WE HAVE difficulty believing that Jesus REALLY settled it all and that He wants us to move on and trust in Him, AMEN.

AND WE REMEMBER TOO….before Jacob left home, after his brother swore to kill him, Rebekah told Jacob until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there in Genesis 27:45.

We KNOW Rebekah NEVER SENT FOR Jacob and therefore he had every reason to believe 20+ years had not diminished his brother’s anger.

But Jacob also had every reason to believe God would protect him.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT, JACOB HAS SEEN THESE MIGHTY WARRIOR ANGELS OF GOD SURROUNDING HIS CAMP. HE SHOULD KNOW THAT NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN TOUCH HIM OR HARM HE OR HIS FAMILY.

I WOULD HOPE, HAD I BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION, HAVING ALREADY SPOKEN FACE TO FACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD AT BETHEL, HAVING HAD A DREAM WHERE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF TOLD ME WHAT TO DO, NOT TO FEAR, AND THAT HE WAS WITH ME,…AND NOW HAVING SEEN MIGHTY WARRIOR ANGELS SURROUNDING MY CAMP TOO….I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORRIED OR AFRAID.

BUT JACOB, LIKE PETER, WHO GOT OUT OF THE BOAT, WAS WALKING ON THE WATER TO JESUS, AND AS LONG AS HE KEPT HIS EYES ON JESUS…HE DID THE IMPOSSIBLE…BUT THE INSTANT HE LOOKED AT THE HURRICANE WINDS SWIRLING, AND THE LEAPING HIGH WAVES ROLLING, AND TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF JESUS…HE BEGAN TO SINK…AND FEARED DROWING, RIGHT?
AND WHAT DID JESUS SAY TO PETER THEN,…WHY DID YOU DOUBT?

SO JACOB TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE WARRIOR ANGELS, OFF THE PROMISES AND ASSURANCES OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND LOOKED AT HIS PAST…HIS CIRCUMSTANCES…AND THE INSTANT HE DID….SATAN AND HIS DEMONS SWOOPED IN WHISPERING ALL MANNER OF DARKNESS AND DOOM INTO HIS HEART AND MIND, AMEN?

WE NEED TO REMEMBER….JESUS TELLS US 365 TIMES IN THE BIBLE….FEAR NOT! FEAR NOT! FEAR NOT! I AM WITH YOU, I WILL KEEP YOU….I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU…AMEN?

SO WHAT SHOULD JACOB AND WE OURSELVES DO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS?

PRAY IT UP…FACE IT…AND THEN MOVE ON…STEP OUT.

Jacob should have said, “I don’t know if Esau is coming to me in peace or in war. I hope for peace, but if it is war, I trust God will protect me.”

He divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies…In splitting his company, Jacob used MAN’S BEST ODDS TACTICAL WISDOM to prepare for Esau’s coming. He should have trusted God could protect all he had. Jacob forgot about God’s “two camps” and tried to make his own “two camps.”

Verses 9-12 tells us Jacob’s prayer.

“Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ “

After FIRST reacting in fear and unbelief, Jacob did the right thing. He went to the Lord and prayed a good prayer, full of faith, thanksgiving, and God’s Word.

The Lord who said to me, “Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you”: Jacob’s prayer had God’s word (what God said in Genesis 31:3). He also quoted God’s promise “I will surely treat you well . . . “ (remembering what God said in Genesis 28:13-15).

THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD PRAY OVER WORRISOME AND FEARFUL CIRCUMSTANCES…instead MANY of our prayers fall short because there is none of God’s Word within them. Often there is none of God’s Word in them because there is little of God’s Word in us. Jacob remembered what the Lord had said to him.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies…His prayer had thanksgiving. Jacob understood he was not worthy of what God did for him or what he was asking God to do, but he relied on what God promised and not upon his own worthiness.

Deliver me, I pray…His prayer had faith. He boldly asked God to do something, and gave humble grounds for why the Lord should fulfill His word.

George Mueller, a great man of faith and prayer, was once asked what was the MOST IMPORTANT part of prayer. He replied: “The 15 minutes after I have said, ‘Amen.’ “

No matter how great Jacob’s prayer was, his faith will be seen in what he does after his prayer.

Verses 13-21 tells us Jacob sends many gifts to Esau.

“So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ “ So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ “ For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.”

Jacob sent such an impressive gift because he wanted to make it completely clear to Esau that he did not need or want anything from him. It also could have been a carnal attempt to buy his brother’s good favor as well.

In all likelihood, Jacob is a perfect example of the principle “when all else fails, pray.” But unfortunately….minutes AFTER PRAYING SUCH A PRECIOUS & POWERFUL PRAYER…Jacob went back to doing things his OWN WAY.

WHY DO YOU SAY THIS….THINK ABOUT IT, IF Jacob really trusted God, he would be at the head of the procession to meet Esau, not the tail.

Jacob hoped, “perhaps he will accept me,” but in Jacob’s mind, perhaps not. Jacob also thought, “Perhaps he will kill me just like he said he would.”

JACOB DID NOT THINK ABOUT HIS FACE TO FACE AND HIS WORDS STRAIGHT FROM ALMIGHTY GOD’S LIPS, DID HE?

So the present went on over BEFORE him…This gift is a good example of the way we trust in OUR OWN ability/limited mental strategies to do things and make things happen apart from trusting God. We like to sing the song:

All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

JACOB’S VERSION OF THAT SONG WOULD BE….

“I surrender all the goats. If that isn’t enough, I surrender all the sheep. If that isn’t enough, I surrender all the camels . . .”

GOD DID NOT WANT JACOB’S GOATS, SHEEP, OR HIS FAMILY….ALMIGHTY GOD IS PATIENTLY TELLING, SHOWING, AND TEACHING JACOB….I WANT YOU. I WANT YOU TO SURRENDER YOURSELF TO ME.

JACOB DOES NOT WANT TO DO THAT YET…

Verses 22-23 tells Jacob sends all his possessions over the river & then spends a night wrestling with God.

“And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.”

He took them, sent them over the brook: This is a demonstration of his faith, because Jacob left himself no retreat. If Esau wanted to attack his group, they would quickly be backed up against the river.

Sent over what he had: Jacob spends the night alone. This is his last night on the EAST SIDE of the Jordan, and he probably spent the night in prayer.

TO WHAT PURPOSE….God NEEDED AND HAD TO GET Jacob alone before He dealt with him. While all the hustle and bustle of the huge entourage was with Jacob, he could busy himself with a thousand different tasks. But once he was alone, God could command his attention...WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS.

Think of all Jacob had to pray about: thanking God, remembering all the Lord did for him, wondering how God would fulfill His work in him. This was a significant turning point in Jacob’s life and he knew it.

Verses 24-25 tells us A MAN wrestles with Jacob.

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.”

A Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day:

DID YOU CATCH THAT?

Jacob didn’t JUMP AND WRESTLE with the Man.

Instead, a Man wrestled WITH JACOB.

Jacob didn’t start out wanting anything from God.

God WANTED something FROM JACOB.

God WANTED ALL of Jacob’s proud self-reliance and fleshly scheming and came to take it, by force if necessary.

A Man wrestled with him: As the following verses show, this was no mere man. This is another “special appearance” of Jesus in the Old Testament before His incarnation in Bethlehem. This was God in human form.

JACOB WAS WRESTLING WITH JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

Until the breaking of the day: We can only imagine what this scene looked like. Perhaps sometimes it looked like a barroom brawl, and perhaps at other times it looked like an intense wrestling match.

Many have ASKED….HOW IS IT POSSIBLE that JACOB a mere man COULD HAVE LASTED TWO SECONDS MUCH LESS AN ENTIRE NIGHT AGAINST JESUS CHRIST?

THE BIBLE DOES NOT TELL US, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW, IS JACOB WAS DETERMINED TO HANG IN THERE, WIN OUT OVER GOD…EVEN THOUGH YOU AND I KNOW WE CAN NEVER WIN OUT AGAINST JESUS CHRIST AMEN?

He saw that He did not prevail against him: As the fight progressed, it seemed Jacob was pretty evenly matched againt the Man. But the match was only even in appearance. The Man could have won easily at any time, using JUST A BLINK OF HIS TRUE POWER.

SOMETIMES WE DECEIVE OURSELVES INTO BELIEVING eel man really can contend with God.

SOMETIMES IT “SEEMS” FOR A TIME….that men or women in rebellion against JESUS CHRIST might seem to do pretty well. The “match” is even in appearance only. God can turn the tide at any moment, and allows the “match” to go own for His own purposes.

It isn’t hard to imagine Jacob working so hard and feeling he is getting the best of his “opponent,” until finally the Man turns the tide in an instant. Jacob must have felt very defeated.

Verse 26 tells us Jacob’s plea to the Man.

“And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he (JACOB) said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

Let Me go, for the day breaks…Why did Jesus say this, and what did Jesus mean by this?

Our TRIUNE GOD let Jacob know this won’t go on forever. Even though Jacob clung to him desperately, Jacob has lost. A better, greater Man defeated Jacob.

This is an invaluable place for everyone to come to: where God conquers us. There is something to be said for every man doing his “wrestling” with God, and then acknowledging God’s greatness after having been defeated. We must know we serve a God who is greater than us, and we cannot conquer much of anything until He conquers us, AMEN?

I will not let You go unless You bless me…This wasn’t Jacob dictating terms to God as he did on previous occasions. God did overcome Jacob here, and we know from Hosea 12:3-5 makes it clear:
“He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us; that is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name. Jacob sought this blessing with weeping. He knew he was defeated, yet desperately wanted a blessing from this Greater One.”

Unless You bless me…According to his past, Jacob was always clever and sneaky enough so he never felt the need to trust in God alone. Now he can only rely on the blessing of God.

Jacob has been reduced to the place where all he can do is hold on to the Lord with everything he has. Jacob can’t fight anymore, but he can hold on. Not a bad place to be, AMEN?

Even when we do NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING GOING ON AROUND US, EVEN WHEN we do NOT APPRECIATE THE WILDERNESS, THE TRIALS, THE TRIBULATIONS THAT JUMP US…WE NEED TO REMEMBER…WE DO NOT NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE HOW, WHY, WHEN, OR WHERE…BECAUSE OUR JESUS, THE GOD WHO SEES ALL, KNOWS ALL, CONTROLS US….DOES, AMEN?

AND RIGHT HERE, God is answering Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32:9-12. But before Jacob could be delivered from the hand of his brother, he had to be delivered from his own self-will and self-reliance.

Jacob THOUGHT the real enemy was outside of him, namely being LABAN AND NOW ESAU. ALMIGHTY GOD WANTED JACOB TO KNOW WHO HIS REAL ENEMY WAS….AND THAT WAS his own carnal, fleshly nature, which had not been conquered by God.

Verses 27-29 tells Jacob’s name is changed, and he is a blessed man.

“So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.”

What is your name? Jacob must have felt a sense of shame, admitting his name was “Jacob,” meaning “con-man, sneaky, cheater.” Yet, this was who he was, and Jacob had to admit to it.
And he did.

We all want to name ourselves favorably. God wouldn’t allow Jacob to cover up his name. And Jacob CONFESSED JUST WHO AND WHAT HE WAS. HIS BALD HONESTY…PLEASED JESUS.

Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel…DID YOU KNOW….The name Israel is a compound of two words: sarah (meaning, “fight,” “struggle,” or “rule”) and el (meaning, “God”).

Some WRONGLY take the name Israel to mean, “He who struggles with God” or “He who rules with God.” But in Hebrew names, sometimes God is not the object of the verb but the subject.

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE NAME Daniel which means “God judges” not “he judges God.” So this principle shows us Israel means, “God rules.” HOW COOL IS THAT?

From this point on, he will be called Jacob twice as often as he is called Israel. Apparently, there was still plenty of the “old man” left in Jacob.

For you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed…

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY THIS?
Jacob prevailed in the sense that he endured through his struggle until God thoroughly conquered him. When you battle with God, you only win by losing and by not giving up until you know you have lost. This is how Jacob prevailed.

Why is it that you ask about My name?…JESUS WAS AND STILL IS A POLITE GENTLEMAN, AMEN?

I MEAN, JACOB IS STANDING THERE FACE TO FACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, JESUS CHRIST IN HUMAN FORM, AND JESUS DOES NOT SAY….WELL DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHH JACOB…HE SIMPLY refused to tell Jacob His name because He figured Jacob should already know it, and it turned out that Jacob did know exactly who this was.

And He blessed him there….Surely, this was the blessing of being defeated by God. It was the blessing of the passing of the old (Jacob) life, and the coming of a new (Israel) life. It may also have had to do with the great idea of the blessing of Abraham, and meeting Jacob’s immediate needs for security in the midst of fear. Whatever Jacob needed, God’s blessing provided at the moment.

Verses 30-32 tells us the memorials of this event.

“And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.”

Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: The first memorial is a name. Jacob named the place Peniel (“Face of God”), because he did know the name of the Man who wrestled with him. He was the same One who wrestled with Jacob all his life…JESUS CHRIST…

Jacob also understood it was only by God’s grace and mercy he escaped from this episode with his life. No man should be allowed to wrestle with God and live, but once again, we see ALMIGHTY GOD AS PATIENT, LONG-SUFFERING FATHER…WHO DOES NOT GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVE…BUT LOVES AND IS GRACIOUS.

He limped on his hip…The second memorial was a perpetual limp. Jacob would remember his being conquered by God with every step he took for the REST OF HIS LIFE. This was a small price to pay for such a great gift.


GENESIS 31 & 32 GIVE US INSIGHT INTO OUR TRIUNE GOD'S THOUGHTS...HIS WAYS...HIS DESIRES...AND HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR AND FROM US.

HE WANTS US TO TRUST HIM...AND HIM ALONE.
HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT HE EVEN KNOWS, SEES, & RULES THE SATANIC AND THE EVIL AMONG US.
HE WANTS US TO REMEMBER THAT HE CAN AND WILL TURN THE EVIL INTENTS OF MAN AND SATAN AND THE WORLD INTO GOOD FOR US.

HE WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE WANTS US BADLY ENOUGH, DILIGENTLY ENOUGH TO COME AFTER US, GET US ALONE, WRESTLE US UNTIL WE BECOME HIS AND HIS ALONE.

AND AS ALWAYS...ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PATIENT, YET DETERMINED FATHER...WHO DOES NOT GIVE UP ON US...

Genesis 33 - The Meeting of Jacob and Esau

Verses 1-2 tell us…Jacob’s CAREFUL preparations & Esau’s WARM welcome.

“Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.”

He DIVIDED the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants: These preparations were not necessarily carnal. Often the Lord leads us to do very practical things when we follow Him. But the placement of the family shows Jacob was NOT shy about showing his FAVORITISM to Rachel and Joseph.

He put the maidservants and their children in front: At least Leah got more protection than the two maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah did & their children did.

Verse 3 tells us…Jacob demonstrates his submission.

“Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.”

He crossed over BEFORE them…The BEST thing about Jacob is now, after being conquered by God, he LEADS the procession coming to meet Esau.

Bowed himself to the ground…Jacob already sent over gifts and showed he didn’t want to take anything materially from Esau. But by bowing down, he showed he is submitted to his brother and wanted NO social power over him.
Of course, if Jacob didn’t take things into his own hands more than 20 years ago this would NOT be necessary. Isaac’s promise to Jacob, Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren (Genesis 27:29) would HAVE BEEN MORE immediately fulfilled.

THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE OFTEN SIMPLY MESS THINGS UP…when we try to “help God out” in the flesh. God never needs us to sin to help Him further His plan in our life.

Verses 4-7 tells us Esau warmly greets Jacob and his family.

“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.”

Esau ran to meet him: This probably terrified Jacob. Surely, he thought his life would soon end. Instead, God was working in Esau, and he only wanted to bless Jacob.

Fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept: Esau and Jacob did NOT feel a need to “work out” the past.

The world and its MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS & Heaven knows the REALITY MEDIA PROGRAMS…counsel and URGE people to constantly DREDGE UP THE DEAD AND BURIED PAST…REHASH IT OVER AND OVER, DON’T THEY?

BUT RIGHT HERE, ALMIGHTY GOD IS SHOWING US AND TELLING UP IF WE WILL GIVE IT ALL TO HIM, PRAY IT UP, TRUST HIM, AND LEAVE IT IN HIS ALL KNOWING ALL SEEING HANDS…God will work it out…..just as HE worked in both Esau and Jacob’s hearts and there was no need to dredge it all up again. What was past was past, Amen?

Verses 8-11 tells us Esau receives Jacob’s gifts: and he took it.

“Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.”

So he urged him, and he took it: This was AS IMPORTANT to the reconciliation as Jacob’s giving the gifts. When Jacob gave such generous gifts, it was his way of saying to Esau he was sorry and when Esau accepted the gifts, it was his way of accepting Jacob and saying he was forgiven.

AND DID YOU KNOW….THAT IN THAT CULTURE OF THE TIME, you NEVER accepted a gift from an enemy, only from a friend. To accept the gift was to accept the friendship.

I have enough . . . I have enough: Both Esau and Jacob have a blessed testimony: I have enough. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).


Verses 12-17 tells us Jacob and Esau part their ways; Jacob goes to Succoth, in the Promised Land..

“Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.” And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.”

Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant…Jacob was glad to be reconciled with his brother, but didn’t want to be TOO close to him, which tells us JACOB IS STILL AFRAID OF ESAU.

Jacob journeyed to Succoth…Unfortunately, YOU NOTICE Jacob still acts like “Jacob,” because he said he will go far to the south with Esau to the area of Mount Seir. Instead, he allowed Esau to go a few days beyond him and then headed towards the north to Succoth.

Verses 18-20 tell us…Jacob comes to Shechem.

“Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.”

And he pitched his tent before the city…It is good Jacob came to the Promised Land, and he settled there. But he falls short.

WHY?
Because it seems God directed him to return to Bethel in Genesis 31:13.

Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel…Though he made an altar, it was obedience God wanted FIRST, not sacrifice. Jacob will bear bad fruit and waste time because he is in a place he shouldn’t be.





















Genesis 34 - Simeon and Levi Massacre Shechem

This chapter contains one of the MOST shameful incidents in Israel’s history.

BUT HEREIN LIES A GREAT ARGUMENT & A TRUTH FOR THE BIBLE BEING WRITTEN AND TOLD BY ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.

WHY?

When The Bible shows ALSO its leaders and heroes in such terrible, stark truth, we can know for sure that it is a book from God. Men don’t write about themselves and their ancestors like this.

AMEN? I know most of us have KNOWN a LIFE-LONG MEAN PERSON, WHOM WHILE HE OR SHE WAS LIVING, NO ONE, FAMILY INCLUDED EVER HAD A POSITIVE OR COMPLIMENTARY THING TO SAY ABOUT THEM…BUT YOU ATTEND THEIR FUNERAL OR READ THE OBITUARY, AND THOSE HEADING THE FUNERAL ALWAYS HAVE ONLY NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THAT PERSON…

WELL ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT LIE THROUGH HIS TEETH, OR GLOSS OVER THE BAD….THE BIBLE TELLS IT STRAIGHT…TRUE….GOOD OR BAD…AMEN?

SO WHAT HAPPENS?

Verses 1-4 tells us a local prince RAPES Dinah and then wants to marry her.

“Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”

DINAH…the daughter of Leah…went out to see the daughters of the land…Remember, Jacob brought his family to a place God DID NOT want them to be. It seems God directed him to return to Bethel in Genesis 31:13), and his time spent in the city of Shechem did brought MUCH SORROW, PAIN, AND HARM to his family.

WHY DID JACOB?

Jacob chose a place to live for all the wrong reasons.
He wanted to be close to the city (Genesis 33:18), though the city was ungodly.
God called him to return to Bethel.
Jacob’s poor choice of a place to live left his family open to ungodly influence.

Dinah’s desire to do this understandable but unwise. She wanted to make FEMALE FRIENDS…REMEMBER SHE IS THE ONLY GIRL, WITH 11 BROTHERS IN HER FAMILY.

BUT…it is obvious Jacob did NOT make sure she was properly supervised. To allow her to socialize unsupervised in a pagan town was a real failure on the part of BOTH Jacob and Leah.

WE SEE THIS MORE AND MORE PREVALENT TODAY. I REMEMBER THE NEW REPORTS OF LITTLE GIRLS MISSING FROM A TRAILER PARK…ONE BY ONE…AND YET, THESE PARENTS, THEIR CARE-GIVERS, AND OTHERS SPOKEN TO DURING INTERVIEWS…KNEW LITTLE GIRLS WERE GOING MISSING, THEY WERE URGED NOT TO LET THE CHILDREN PLAY OR ROAM THE PARK UNATTENDED, BUT TIME AND AGAIN, THE PEOPLE IN THE PARK, ALLOWED THEIR LITTLE GIRLS TO ROAM FREE ALL AFTERNOON AND WAY AFTER DARK…BEFORE THEY BECAME CONCERNED OR EVEN BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR THEM.

SO FAR, JACOB HAS ONLY SHOWN A SLIGHT INTEREST IN JOSEPH…AND IS PROTECTIVE OF RACHEL AND JOSEPH, BUT ALL THE OTHERS, THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPEAK HIGHLY OF HIM AS A FATHER.

And we NEED to remember, in the eyes of mankind, a lone little child, male or female, but ESPECIALLY a lone female, whether she is a child or a young adult…had NO RIGHTS and FEW IF ANY VALUE. Worse, in that culture and time, young women were considered fair game in cities of the time, in which promiscuity was not only common but, in fact, a part of the very religious system itself. Alone and/or unsupervised/protected MEANT FAIR GAME TO ANY AND ALL MEN.

AND THIS OCCURRENCE serves to illustrate the LOW, if not TOTAL LACK OF ANY standard of morals prevalent among the Canaanites. Any unattended female could be raped, and in the transactions that ensue neither father nor son feel the need of apologizing for or excusing what had been committed.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AT THIS TIME, DINAH WAS A TEENAGER. But try telling this to a teenager like Dinah! Teenagers often want it all, and they want it now. It is almost impossible for them to see the benefits of BEING SUPERVISED, OR FOR waiting for certain things until they are more mature...they TEND TO FIND A WAY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEN ARE SHATTERED WHEN THEY FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR WILLFULNESS AND IGNORING THE GUIDELINES SET BEFORE THEM FROM THEIR PARENTS.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING STUDY DONE AT STANFORD IN THE 1960’s, called the MARSHMALLOW TEST.

A researcher gives this choice to a four-year-old: “I am leaving for a few minutes to run an errand, and you can have this marshmallow while I am gone, but IF YOU WAIT until I return, you can have two marshmallows.”

AND FOLLOWING THESE “TEST CHILDREN”, 12 YEARS LATER FOUND THAT THE kids who grabbed the single marshmallow tended to be more troubled as adolescents. The one-marshmallow kids also scored an average of 210 points less on SAT tests.

THEIR RESULTS PROVED CONCLUSIVE… Learning to delay gratification is important & makes for a STRONGER, MORE STABLE, & MENTALLY ACUTE YOUNG ADULT!

Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her…Jacob’s lack of attention and protection was partially at fault in this tragedy. His own compromise made him less able to stand up to his own children and guide them as he should.

Jacob’s children KNEW AND HEARD HIM tell his brother Esau he would go south with him, but Jacob went north instead. They picked up on this and other areas of compromise and used them to justify their own compromise.

As for the young man named Shechem, his soul was strongly attracted to Dinah and he even spoke kindly to her. Yet we cannot say he loved her, because you DO NOT DISRESPECT & VIOLATE WHAT YOU LOVE.

It was a soulish love Shechem had for Dinah, not a spiritual or godly love. He loved her for what she could be and give to him, not for what he could be and give to her. His heart is shown in the words get me this young woman as a wife. It was a soulish “get me” kind of love.

It is possible for a man to be attracted to a woman and to show kindness to her for reasons having nothing or little to do with love. In their desire to connect romantically with a man, women often forget this...then and now!

Verses 5-7 tells us Jacob’s lack of outrage; the anger of Simeon and Levi.

“And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.”

Jacob held his peace until they came…Jacob shows a distinct LACK OF FATHERLY outrage here. He seemed to take the defilement of his only daughter EASILY. His refusal to do what is right in regard to his family will encourage two of his sons to do something, something ungodly in response.

When God-appointed heads do not take appropriate leadership, it creates a void, which is often filled sinfully.
The sons of Jacob . . . and the men were grieved and very angry: In this culture, the brothers had a greater responsibility to protect their sister than the father. They will “protect” Dinah’s honor in unwise and sinful ways.

Verses 8-12 tells us Hamor and Shechem seek to ARRANGE the marriage of Dinah.

“But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.” Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

I am reminded of MY SON’S OUTRAGE, AS OLDER PROTECTIVE BROTHER, WHEN AN OLDER TEENAGER, SNUCK UP BEHIND MY BABY DAUGHTER AND PINCHED HER ON THE REAR END, BEFORE SHE COULD WHIP AROUND AND CONFRONT THIS YOUNG HELLION, MY SON, GRABBED HIM, SHOVED HIM AGAINST THE NEAREST WALL, HIS HAND FISTED IN HIS SHIRT AT HIS THROAT, WHILE HIS FEET DANGLED OFF THE FLOOR…AND MY SON HELD HIM THERE GASPING AS HE TOLD HIM HE HAD BETTER NEVER TOUCH HIS SISTER LIKE THAT AGAIN, AND HE BETTER APOLOGIZE AND MEAN IT. THE KID APOLOGIZED AND NEVER CAME NEAR MY DAUGHTER AGAIN.

JACOB SHOULD HAVE TAKEN FATHER AND SON BEHIND THE NEAREST BUILDING OR TENT AND TAUGHT THEM A LESSON…HIS LACK OF FATHERLY PROTECTION AND DEFENSE…NON-ACTION…ONCE AGAIN SHOWED HIS OTHER CHILDREN THAT HE DID NOT VALUE THEM.

Make marriages with us. This was ANOTHER dangerous challenge to Jacob and his family. GOD HAD TOLD ABRAHAM DO NOT LET ISAAC MARRY A CANANNITE. JACOB WAS WARNED BY ISAAC AND TOLD THE SAME THING. HE KNEW THE DANGERS. Irresponsible intermarriage with the Canaanites could prove especially harmful for this family with such a destiny in God’s redemptive plan.

Whatever you say to me I will give…Hamor and Shechem SOUND LIKE IN THEIR OWN EARS IT WAS NO BIG DEAL THAT HIS SON RAPED A YOUNG TEENAGER & MADE WORSE TO OUR EYES THAT HAMOR SEES HIMSELF AS HONORING DINAH AND GENEROUS TO JACOB.

BUT IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND TO DINAH’S BROTHERS AS WELL…their manner of negotiating the arrangement of the marriage insulted Dinah and her family even more with a “just name your price” attitude. They acted as if money and marriage could make her disgrace go away.

Verses 13-17 tells us the counteroffer of Simeon and Levi: all the men of the city of Shechem should be circumcised.

But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”

If every male of you is circumcised…Hamor and Shechem agreed to such an extreme demand because circumcision was not only practiced among the Israelites - other ancient peoples also had the practice. Therefore they knew of the practice from the rituals of other nations.

For that would be a reproach to us: Simeon and Levi have evil intention in this plan. Yet they cover it up with spiritual words, and used Dinah as a cover for their intended evil.

They felt justified because the men of Shechem treated their sister as a prostitute, but they made MATTERS FAR WORSE by prostituting the sign of God’s covenant with ABRAHAM & HIS DESCENDANTS (CIRCUMCISION) for their own murderous purpose.

Verses 18-24 tells us Hamor and Shechem convince the men of the city to go along with the plan.

“And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.”

Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem: Despite the obvious sacrifice involved, Hamor and Shechem were pleased with this plan. Beyond the obviously deep attraction Shechem has for Dinah, they were also undoubtedly pleased to begin to marry into a family so large, wealthy, and influential.

Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? It is amazing what men will do for both women and wealth. A whole city of men submits to circumcision so they can take their daughters to us as wives and take their livestock, property, and every animal of theirs.

Verse 25 tells us Simeon and Levi destroy the city of Shechem & massacre of the men of the city of Shechem.

“Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.”

When they were in pain . . . each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males…This was not only a brutal, deceptive act, but it also disgraced God’s covenant of circumcision. Surely, with this clever act of violent deception, Simeon and Levi showed themselves to be the children of Jacob from a bitter, competitive home environment.

Came boldly…shows us the hardness of their hearts.

Verses 26-29 tell us they rescue Dinah and plunder the city.

“And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.”

They killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword…they justified this murder and theft by saying they and their sister had been disgraced, but the punishment clearly does not fit the crime.

They plundered even all that was in the houses…Simeon and Levi probably thought God blessed their murderous plans with great success.

Verses 30-31 tells us Jacob’s reaction.

“Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.” But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

You have troubled me by making me obnoxious…Sadly, Jacob is only concerned with HIMSELF. There is no concern for God’s righteousness or the death and plunder of innocents. This is Jacob, NOT Israel in action.

Should he treat our sister like a harlot?…Simeon and Levi were correct that Dinah had been treated like a harlot. Yet, their reaction was certainly ungodly.

FAR LATER IN GENESIS 49:5-7.…When Jacob was about to die, he prophesied over each of his 12 sons. This is what he said about Simeon and Levi: Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. He saw Simeon and Levi for who they were, but he rebuked them far too late & his lack of leading, loving, guiding direction when they were born, and as they grew up…influenced the men they became.

AND THE PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD through Jacob proved true. God did in fact both divide the tribes of Simeon and Levi, and scatter them among Israel.

HOW AND WHEN?

The way it happened for each tribe was different. The tribe of Simeon, because of their lack of faithfulness, was effectively dissolved as a tribe, and the tribe of Simeon was absorbed into the tribal area of Judah. The tribe of Levi was also scattered, but because of the faithfulness of this tribe during the rebellion of the golden calf in Exodus 32:26-28, the tribe was scattered as a blessing throughout the whole nation of Israel. Both were scattered, but one as a blessing and the other as curse.

Genesis 35 - Revival in Jacob’s Life...The birth of BENJAMIN...the deaths of ISAAC & RACHEL.


Verse 1 tells us God speaks to Jacob, calling him back to Bethel.

“Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

The whole Shechem incident was because Jacob went to Shechem INSTEAD of Bethel, where he was supposed to be. We often end up in much difficulty and bring much difficulty to those around us, because we do not go where God tells us to go.

DO YOU NOTICE WHAT I DID….Genesis 34 does NOT mention God once, and is one of the most sordid chapters in Israel’s history.

YET HERE IN Genesis 35...God IS MENTIONED over and over again, more than ten times, plus 11 more times in names such as Bethel and Israel.

Make an altar there to God…This turning back to the Lord will especially have a good effect on the children of Jacob. This reminds us the BEST THINGS WE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS CAN DO for OUR children is to be in God’s will themselves, Amen?

As Jacob looked back on his walk with God, the first meeting with God at Bethel must have seemed like a high point. But to his credit, Jacob refused to think the best years of his life with God were behind him. He returned to his first love - he returned to Bethel, and God blessed it.

Verses 2-4 tells us of the cleansing of Jacob’s family.

“And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.”

Purify yourselves…Jacob’s family only got right with God AFTER Jacob himself did. This again shows us the tremendous leadership role MEN HAVE within the family. A man resisting God will see the same effect in his children. A man who gets right with God will see the effect in his family also.

AND THIS ALSO TELLS US THAT Jacob’s children KEPT foreign gods because their mother did. Rachel clung to the household idols of her father in Genesis 31:19. No matter how hard we try to teach our children godly conduct they will still do what we do.

Change your garments…This was IMPORTANT because “Throughout the Bible, garments symbolize character. The inward life of the unregenerate is compared to a polluted garment.

AND Jude 1:23 gives the idea… “But others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 gives more advice…“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

And the earrings which were in their ears: Apparently, the earrings also had a pagan connection too!

THEN AND NOW…WE LEARN A LESSON HERE…IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD it IS IMPORTANT for everyone to take stock of what they may have in their home that is ungodly or occultic, and promptly get rid of those things, Amen!

Verses 5-7 tells us God’s protection of Jacob; he comes to Bethel.

“And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.”

The terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

MANKIND RIGHTLY DECIDED THE PROTECTION & FAVOR OF ALMIGHTY GOD WAS WITH JACOB & HIS FAMILY.

THE CITIES WRONGLY CONCLUDED THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF HAD ORDERED & HAD SEEN TO THE SLAYING OF THE PEOPLE OF SHECHEM.

WE KNOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAIR HAD ALMIGHTY GOD LEFT Jacob & his family to FACE the consequences of his sinful lack of leadership in the family, AMEN?

YET WHAT WE SEE HERE ONCE AGAIN IS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES…HE IS A PATIENT FATHER & HIS GRACE (grace means unearned and unmerited favor) covered Jacob even when his sin had made he and his family vulnerable.

He built an altar there and called the place El Bethel…Though Jacob had sinned, he now did what was right before God, despite the danger, trusting God’s protection. He might have justified a lack of obedience because of fear, but he CHOSE THIS TIME TO trust God instead.

BIBLICAL/SECULAR HISTORIANS OF THE TIME AGREE IN PART, WHEN THEY SAY IT WAS VERY VERY DANGEROUS for Jacob to set out to Bethel…BUT BIBLICAL SCHOLARS AGREE IT WAS FAR FAR MORE DANGEROUS FOR JACOB TO HAVE DISOBEYED ALMIGHTY GOD AGAIN.

THERE IS A LIFE LONG WORD AND MESSAGE AND TEACHING FOR US HERE WITH JACOB….AND THAT IS THIS:

The ONLY THING to save JACOB & HIS FAMILY was a radical obedience to the Lord. FORGET WHAT WE THINK, SEE, OR WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW….No matter what the circumstances look like, the safest place is do the will of JESUS, AMEN?

Verse 8 tells us of the death of Deborah, Rebekah’s beloved nurse.

“Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.”

We know NOTHING OF DEBORAH before this account; seemingly, she came with Rebekah as a companion when she came from Haran to marry Isaac. Obviously, she was a beloved member of the family, because they named the place where she was buried Allon Bachuth, which means “Oak of Weeping.”

Verses 9-15 tells us God speaks to Jacob again at Bethel.

“Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.”

DID YOU NOTICE…when Jacob finally arrived at the place God told him to go, Jacob immediately found great blessing. God appeared to him, God blessed him, and God called him by his new name (Israel).

The reminder of the new name WAS important, because Jacob had been acting like Jacob instead of Israel. Yet, God wants to set his mind on what God made him. JESUS does the same with us, reminding us who we are in OUR JESUS…OUR TRIUNE GOD. JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW AND REMEMBER JUST WHO HE IS AND HE ALSO WANTS US TO REMEMBER AND LIVE IN THE GREAT NAME HE HAS GIVEN THOSE WHO LOVE HIM…WE ARE CALLED FRIEND…JOINT-HEIRS…HIS BRIDE…HIS BELOVED, AMEN?

God appeared to Jacob again TELLS US their relationship is restored. This is an excellent example of what it means to return to your first love, as in Revelation 2:4-5: Jacob remembers to go back to Bethel. He repents by getting rid of all the idols, and he does the first works by building an altar and worshiping God as before.

The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land: God granted Jacob a precious reminder of his place in God’s great covenant, begun with his grandfather Abraham. In this, Jacob did not need to hear anything new from God. He just needed to be REMINDED of what was true, and encouraged to cling to it all.

Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him: ONCE AGAIN, ALMIGHTY GOD IN HUMAN FORM, WHICH CAN ONLY BE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF appears to Jacob. God blessed Jacob remarkably after his return to his first love. Much blessing waits for us until we do what God tells us to do.

He poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it: Appropriately, Jacob performed sacrificial acts of worship to the God who has blessed him so much.

WAITAAAAAAAAMINNNNNNIT HERE…WHAT IS THIS ABOUT POURED A DRINK OFFERING?

IT SURE IS FOUND OFTEN IN THE BIBLE!

WHERE?

Exodus 29:40-41; Leviticus 23:13, and Numbers 15:5-7 show the drink offering was made with wine poured out in sacrifice before the Lord at His altar. Paul considered the pouring out of his life before God to be like the pouring out of a drink offering at God’s altar in Philippians 2:17 & 2 Timothy 4:6.

Jacob’s heart of worship shows gratitude towards God. When we look back on life, we should never have the attitude that says, “I was robbed.”

Instead our heart should say, “God has blessed.” This will probably determine if we will be perfectly miserable or perfectly delightful as we get older.

Verse 16-17 tells us of the birth of Benjamin, the 12th son and the death of Rachel.

“Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”

There seems to be none of the contentiousness and competitiveness surrounding the birth of this last son, possibly because they are all older at this time, but more so because they are now in the Promised Land and it just is NOT as important anymore.

We don’t know how long Jacob stayed at Bethel, but it is possible this last child was conceived at this place where Jacob came back to his first love for the Lord.

Verse 18 tells us the naming of the last son.

“And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.”

She called his name Ben-Oni: Rachel named this last child - who before would have been seen as a cause for rejoicing and victory in the competition with her sister - she named this child Ben-Oni, meaning “son of my sorrow.”

Ultimately, this shows the futility of Rachel’s competition with her sister Leah. Now at the time of her final “victory,” all she found was sorrow.
But his father called him Benjamin: Jacob wisely names the child Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.”

JACOB NAMED THIS CHILD…JACOB DID NOT DO THE HEAD OF FAMILY DUTY TO NAME AND ACCEPT EACH CHILD BORN, ESPECIALLY THE SONS, BUT HE DID RIGHT BY GOD THIS TIME, AND perhaps he rightly sensed the special place God had for this child, or perhaps he simply prized Benjamin so greatly because he was the final link between him and the woman he loved most.

Benjamin: The right side was associated with greater strength and honor, because most people are right handed. Benjamin (son of my right hand) therefore has the idea of “son of my strength” or “son of my honor.”

NOW YOU KNOW MY RIGHT HAND MAN…SON…FRIEND…was coined FIRST RIGHT HERE IN GENESIS. AND THIS IDEA IS EXPRESSED AND REPEATED IN PASSAGES LIKE:

Exodus 15:6: “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.”

Psalm 16:8...David says he Lord is our strength and honor, when he says, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

Psalm 63:8 tells us God’s strength and honor are for us, when David says, “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Psalm 138:7 which tells us. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.”

AND COLOSSIANS 3:1 tells us, “Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, the position of strength and honor, and we sit there with Him! If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

Now you now KNOW ANOTHER NAME JESUS HAS FOR US…HIS RIGHT HAND!

Verse 19-20 tells us of the death and burial of Rachel.

“So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.”

Rachel’s death was in tragic fulfillment of the curse Jacob himself pronounced on the one who stole the idols of Laban in Genesis 31:32.

REMEMBER IN Genesis 30:1, Rachel pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!” As it happened, both became true. She had children and died as a result.

Jacob set a pillar on her grave…This also shows that even when we get right with God and return to our first love it DOES NOT mean life becomes a bed of roses. There are constant challenges for us to trust God.

Verses 21-22a tells us Reuben’s sin with his father’s concubine.

“Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it.”

Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine…Reuben was the firstborn. We might expect the highest conduct from him, and might expect him to most seriously receive the covenant of his fathers. Yet, here he sinned in a most offensive way against his father and entire family.

However, we don’t have to wonder about where this sinful conduct was bred. In this home so filled with strife, contention, competition, and the pursuit of the flesh, it was almost to be expected.

Did you CATCH THIS? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT JACOB CONVERSATIONALLY, AS IT WERE, BY ALMIGHTY GOD IS CALLED ISRAEL AND NOT JACOB.

Israel heard about it: WE NOW KNOW THAT THROUGH THEIR OWN SIN, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi “disqualified” themselves from the high calling of Abraham’s blessing. It will be up to the fourth son, Judah, to bring forth the Messiah.

Verses 22b-26 tells us Jacob’s 12 sons.

“Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.”

These were the sons of Jacob…It is actually a pretty messed-up family. God will use this family, but not because they are such great candidates, but because He has chosen them by His grace alone.



Verse 27 tells us Jacob visits his father Isaac one last time.

“Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.”

Jacob came to his father Isaac: More than 20 years ago, Jacob left his home thinking his father’s death was at hand. Now, quite unexpectedly, he has the opportunity to see his father one last time before his death.

We should remember our times are in God’s hands. We may expect a long or short life for others or ourselves and be quite wrong. Only God knows.

His father Isaac…There seemed to be nothing dramatic between Isaac and Jacob at this meeting. It was possible Isaac was incapacitated by old age.

Verses 28-29 tells us Jacob and Esau bury their father together.

“Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”

The sons had already been brought together by God’s hand. Now they work together again, united by the death of their father.



Genesis 36 - The Family of Esau & his separation from Jacob.

Verses 1-5 tells us the wives, sons, and daughters of Esau.

“Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.”

Verses 6-8 tells us of the separation of Jacob and Esau.

“Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.”

Their possessions were too great for them to dwell together: Esau’s cry to Isaac. “Have you only one blessing, my father?” in Genesis 27:38 proved unfounded. Because he was a descendant of Abraham God blessed Esau, and blessed him in the only way Esau REALLY cared about: materially.


Verse 9 tells us The Edomites descend from Esau.

“And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.”

Esau the father of the Edomites: Edom and the Edomites are mentioned some 130 times in the Bible. They were an important group of “neighbors” to Israel.

HOW & WHERE?

1. When the Israelites came through the wilderness to the Promised Land in the time of Moses, the Edomites refused them passage through their land in Numbers 20:21.

2. This was a source of great discouragement for the nation of Israel in Numbers 21:4.

3. Even so, God commanded special regard for the Edomites among Israel: You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother in Deuteronomy 23:7.

4. In the days of Saul, Edom was made subject to Israel in 1 Samuel 14:47.

5. David established garrisons there in 2 Samuel 8:14.

6. But later, in the days of Joram, the son of Ahab, the Edomites became independent of Israel in 2 Kings 8:16-22.

7. Several of the prophets spoke about and against Edom, including Jeremiah in Jeremiah 49:17-18 and Ezekiel in Ezekiel 25:12-14.

8. Herod the Great - the one who tried to kill the young child Jesus - was an Edomite.

9. From the time Islam conquered the Middle East, the region has been virtually unoccupied, except for a few Bedouins and military outposts. It has been brought to NOTHING, as Obadiah had prophesied (the entire book of Obadiah records an extended prophecy against Edom).

10. The Edomites in Mount Seir…also held the rock city of Petra, which can only be reached through narrow, winding gorge. Petra was so defensible that it was said that a dozen men could protect Petra against a whole army.


Verses 10-43 tells us of the descendants of Edom and the chiefs of the Edomites.

“These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah. These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah. These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs. These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom. And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna. These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah, Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir. Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place. When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.”

These were THE CHIEFS OF THE SONS of Esau: When we see the kings and chiefs among the descendants of Esau, we see more clearly what God meant when He said, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated in Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:13.

Esau was obviously a blessed man but he was hated and rejected in regard to being chosen for a critical role in God’s plan of redemption.

And the STAND OUT in this roll call….“She bore Amalek to Eliphaz”….Notable among this list is AMALEK.

From him came the Amalekites, notable enemies of Israel in Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 25:17-19; & 1 Samuel 15:1-8.

In addition, the names of the descendants of Esau DO NOT REFLECT a godly heart.

Dishon (Genesis 36:21) means “gazelle”
Alvan (Genesis 36:23) means “wicked”
Ithran (Genesis 36:26) means “advantage”
Aran (Genesis 36:28) means “mountain goat”
Baal-Hanan (Genesis 36:38) - his name embraces the false god Baal.

WHAT DOES THE TRIUNE GOD SHOW US, TELL US, & CAUTION US ABOUT IN GENESIS 35 & 36?

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE LEARN HERE…MOST IMPORTANTLY WE, AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS SEE THAT HOW WE LIVE, WHAT WE SAY VERSUS WHAT WE DO CAN, WILL, AND DOES CREATE A FIRM FOUNDATION OR A FAULTY ONE IN THOSE IN OUR LIFE.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WHEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GIVING OVER THE CARE, THE REARING, THE DISCIPLINE, THE TEACHING, THE HEALTH, AND THE PROTECTIONS OF OUR CHILDREN TO OTHERS…BE IT SCHOOLS, DAYCARE, PSYCHIATRISTS, DOCTORS, GOVERNMENT SERVICES, FACILITATORS, COPS, TO NAME A FEW…WE ARE RISKING THE VERY PRECIOUS GIFTS JESUS CHRIST IN TRUSTED US WITH TO THE LOST WORLD, SATAN, AND MANKIND…AND IT NEVER HAS A GOOD OUTCOME.

AS WITH JACOBS CHILDREN, WIVES, AND MAIDSERVANTS, HE DID WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WAS UN-INVOLVED EVEN IN THEIR BIRTHS, THEIR NAMING, THEIR REARING, AND HE IGNORED THEM, AND GAVE THEM OVER TO OTHERS TO TEACH AND RAISE…TO HIS AND THE FUTURE OF THE ISRAELITES AS WELL TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL TO COME DETRIMENT DOWN THROUGH HISTORY.

ABRAHAM AND SARAH TRIED TO HELP GOD OUT….BRING A CHILD INTO THE WORLD ON THEIR OWN, AND THAT IMPATIENCE, STUBBORN SELF-WILL & DISOBEDIENCE BROUGHT THEM HAGAR AND FROM HER, ISHMAEL, WHOSE DESCENDANTS HAVE PLAGUED ISAACS DESCENDANTS ALWAYS.

WITH ISAAC AND REBEKAH, WHO SHOWED FAVORITISM FOR THE TWINS, ESAU AND JACOB, AND THEREFORE EMNITY BETWEEN THE TWINS FROM BIRTH, IT BROUGHT FORTH ESAU’S DESCENDANTS WHO WERE NOT ONLY UNGODLY, BUT ESAU’S LOVE OF THE WORLD, TEMPORAL THINGS, UNGODLY MARRIAGE, IMMORALITY, AND IDOLATRY, BROUGHT SATANIC WORSHIP TO THE ISRAELITES, AND SUCH SATANIC IDOL WORSHIP AND LOVE OF THE LOST WORLD AND MANKIND HAS DOWN THROUGH HISTORY BROUGHT FORTH SHAME, PAIN, WARS, EVIL AND SUFFERINGS TO ALL DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, READING THROUGH THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ESAU AND JACOB, WE NOW UNDERSTAND, WHY GOD CHOSE THE YOUNGER JACOB OVER ESAU. WE NOW UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRIUNE GOD FAVORED JACOB OVER ESAU.

AND THOUGH ABRAHAM COULD NOT SEE NOR UNDERSTAND, AND ISAAC COULD NOT SEE NOR UNDERSTAND, MUCH LESS APPRECIATE THE WAITING, THE DELAYS, AND THE DIRECTIVES, NOR COMMANDS OF ALMIGHTY GOD…WE KNOW THAT OUR JESUS CHRIST COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BORN IF HE ONLY HAD THE TAINTED ISHMAEL’S BLOODLINE, NOR THE BLOODLINE OF ESAU TO COME THROUGH.

AND LOOKING DOWN THROUGH HISTORY, WE REALIZE A STARK TRUTH, AN UNSHAKEABLE TRUTH, AND A BITTER REALITY…ABOUT WHAT OUR IMPATIENCE, STUBBORNNESS, SELF-WILL, AND DISOBEDIENCE CAN CAUSE US NOT ONLY IN OUR LIVES, BUT IN THE LIVES OF OUR DESCENDANTS.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THIS?

IF ABRAHAM AND SARAH HAD OBEYED, TRUSTED, AND THEN WAITED ON ALMIGHTY GOD & HIS TIMING, THEN ISHMAEL WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN…THEN THE ARAB NATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BIRTHED, AND THE WORLD AND ESPECIALLY THE NATION OF ISRAEL WOULD NOT BE PLAGUED TO THIS DAY BY THE ARAB NATIONS.

IF ISAAC AND REBEKAH HAD NOT SHOWN FAVORITISM TOWARDS THE TWINS, AND HAD NOT TRIED TO PUSH THEIR OWN FAVORITE CHILD AND IGNORE THE OTHER, AND HAD RAISED THEM UP IN THE FEAR, RESPECT, AND ADMONITION OF ALMIGHTY GOD, THEN ESAU WOULD NOT HAVE DISOBEYED HIS PARENTS AND GONE HIS OWN WAY, AND MARRIED INTO THE WORLD, A PAGAN PEOPLE, A SATANIC FOUNDATIONAL PEOPLE, AND ESAU’S DESCENDANTS WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT SATANISM AND OCCULT WORSHIP, AND AMALEK, THE HIGH PRIEST OF SATAN HIMSELF WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN AND THE NATION OF ISRAEL & THE WORLD WOULD NOT HAVE SUCH SHAME, MURDER, DEATH, EVIL, AND GRIEVOUS IMMORTALITY PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, AND AS A CONSTANT TORMENT TO THEM AND BROUGHT DOWN THE JUDGMENT OF ALMIGHTY GOD UPON THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THAT BEING SAID…HERE IS THE PRECIOUS, PRICELESS, REASSURING NEWS…OUR TRIUNE GOD…THE GOD WHO SEES ALL…ALREADY HAD A PLAN…AND HIS PROMISES AND HIS PLANS FOR THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH WOULD COME TO PASS…NO ONE AND NOTHING…MANKIND, THE WORLD, NOR SATAN AND ALL OF HIS SLIMY PIT DWELLERS WOULD STOP GOD’S PLANS FOR ISRAEL…AS WELL THE GENTILE PEOPLE.

ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PROMISE MAKER.
JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IS A PROMISE MAKER.
ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT LIE.
JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT LIE.
ALMIGHTY GOD IS A PROMISE KEEPER,
JESUS CHRIST IS A PROMISE KEEPER.

WE CAN ALWAYS AND SHOULD ALWAYS TRUST OUR JESUS TO MAKE A WAY…REGARDLESS IF THE WORLD, MANKIND, THE EARTH, AND ALL OF HELL RISES UP AGAINST US.

WE WHO KNOW, LOVE, AND HAVE CHOSEN AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD, SAVIOR, AND FRIEND…DO NOT NEED ANYTHING NOR ANYONE ELSE TO OVERCOME…TO SUCCEED.

TRUST OUR JESUS CHRIST…HE LOVES ALL OF MANKIND. THE ISHMAELS AND THE ESAUS AND THE GENTILE NATIONS OF THIS WORLD TOO...HE DIED TO INSURE THAT ALL THREE COULD BE OFFERED, COULD ACCEPT, THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION THAT HE PAID FOR WITH HIS VERY LIFE TO INSURE IT…NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO LOVED HIM, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO HATED HIM.

JESUS CHRIST HAS A WONDROUS PLAN FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE AND TRUST HIM…

TRUST JESUS CHRIST…HIS LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL US.

Genesis 37 - Joseph Is Sold Into Slavery

Joseph’s dreams.

Verses 1-4 tells us Jacob favors Joseph.

“Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”

Joseph at the young age of 17, begins one the remarkable life stories of the Bible and all literature. “He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the one-hundred-and-ten-year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public. He was a truly great man.”

Enoch shows the walk of faith.
Noah shows the perseverance of faith.
Abraham shows the obedience of faith.
Isaac shows the power of faith.
Jacob shows the discipline of faith.
Joseph shows the triumph of faith. Joseph never complained and he never compromised.

That is why Joseph is also a remarkably powerful picture of Jesus.

Now Israel (JACOB) loved Joseph more than all his children: These chapters stand out for the insight they give us into an obviously troubled family.

From the beginning, we get the impression Joseph is sort of a pampered favorite of Jacob, who doesn’t mind tattling on his older brothers at all.

Also he made him a tunic of many colors: Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph was plain to all, including Joseph and his brothers. As an outward display of this, he gave Joseph a tunic of many colors. This signified a position of favor, princely standing, and birthright. It was a dramatic way of saying he was the son to receive the birthright.

The real idea behind the ancient Hebrew phrase for “tunic of many colors” is that it was a tunic extending all the way down to the wrists and ankles, as opposed to a shorter one. This was not what a working man wore. It was a garment of privilege and status.

They hated him and could not speak peaceably to him: Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph was an obvious source of conflict in the family. The brothers naturally hated him because the father favored him OVER THEM IN ALL THINGS AND IN ALL WAYS.

Verses 5-8 tells us Joseph’s first dream.

“Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more: At best, Joseph showed a great lack of tact. Being pampered & highly favored seems to have BLINDED JOSEPH TO WHAT HIS WORDS/DREAMS would mean TO HIS BROTHERS!‘
Surely he knew how much his brothers hated to hear this dream, which set him above his brothers.

Shall you indeed reign over us?…WE SEE THAT THE BROTHERS UNDERSTAND understand perfectly the meaning of the dream: one day Joseph would reign over them and have dominion over them.

Also relevant to this dream is the fact that it involves SHEAVES OF WHEAT. Joseph’s ultimate position of status over his brethren will have MUCH to do with food.

Verses 9-11 tells us Joseph’s second dream.

“Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers: If Joseph was unwise in telling the first dream (knowing how irritating it was to his brothers) he was even more wrong sharing this second dream, especially because it set him not only above his brothers, but also set him above his father and mother.

Joseph seems to be afflicted with the sort of pride often apparent among the favored and blessed. He is so focused on how great his dreams are for him, he doesn’t begin to consider how the dreams will sound in the ears of others.

At this point, Joseph is a contrast to Jesus. Jesus wants us to be as He was on this earth: an “others-centered” person. Joseph seems to fall short in this area, do he not?

Though Joseph WAS wrong to tell these dreams, they certainly did come true. One may receive a wonderful message from God that He does not intend them to publish to others. Joseph showed a proud lack of wisdom here…BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER HE WAS A TEENAGER…AND TEENS, THEN AND NOW, ARE PRONE TO SPEAK BEFOREEEEE THEY THINK…AMEN?

Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you? This portion of Genesis possibly isn’t in strict chronological order. Back in Genesis 35:16-20, Joseph’s mother Rachel died. This portion of Genesis seems to backtrack somewhat OR either ISRAEL (JACOB) referred to his 1st wife LEAH, as his mother now.

OR this is another transition point as is in Genesis 37:2: This is the genealogy of Jacob. This likely ends the record preserved by Jacob himself (who recounted the death of Rachel), and the next line begins the record preserved by Joseph himself. These same kinds of transitions are found in Genesis 5:1; 6:9, and 25:19.

The sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me: The idea of the stars, moon, and sun representing the family of Israel is repeated in Revelation 12:1. That passage speaks of Jesus coming from the nation of Israel TOO!

Verses 12-17 tells us Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery.

“Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.” And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ “ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.”

To feed their father’s flock in Shechem: There seems nothing strange about this errand, except Joseph’s brothers are in Shechem, a place where this family was influenced and harmed by worldly influences.

Verses 18-22 tells us Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him.

“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”; that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.”

It isn’t hard to see how unwise it was for Joseph to tell his dreams in the way he did. It only made his brothers hate him. They derisively call him “this dreamer.”

We shall see what will become of his dreams! They decide to DEFEAT Joseph’s offending dreams by attacking him. Without intending to, they put Joseph’s dreams to the ultimate test. If the dreams really WERE from God, they cannot be defeated by the hatred of the brothers.

Reuben - who at another time committed incest with his father’s concubine - took a small measure of leadership as the eldest, figuring he could save Joseph from death and rescue him later.

Reuben could have simply rose up and said, “This is wrong! We can’t do this!” He didn’t because he wanted to do right by Joseph WITHOUT alienating his brothers. His desire to be nice to EVERYONE will fail to prevent a great evil. The good Reuben wanted to do (bring him back to his father) will NOT happen.

Verses 23-28 tells us Joseph is cast into an empty cistern and sold into slavery.

“So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”

They stripped Joseph of his tunic, because THE TUNIC was the sign of the father’s SPECIAL favor. The brothers must have had a perverse pleasure as they ripped it off Joseph, and it must have been particularly painful for Joseph to have it torn off him.

Each believer in Jesus Christ is given special assurance of the Father’s favor. Certainly, many spiritual enemies want to rip from the believer the assurance of the Father’s favor, AMEN?

And they sat down to eat a meal…The HEARTLESS character of these brothers is clear - they could eat a meal with Joseph nearby in the pit & LISTENED TO HIM PLEAD WITH THEM. They could sit down and enjoy food while their hearts were bent on murdering their brother.

Later, Genesis 42:21 describes the conviction of sin they ignored at that moment. In that passage the brothers said: We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us. When Joseph was cast into the pit, he plead with his brothers, and they IGNORED his cries as they ate their meal.

This is a shocking demonstration of the DEPRAVITY of the human heart - but it isn’t the last demonstration.

For example, in 1995 Susan Smith deliberately drowned her own children and lied to the country about the children being kidnapped. We usually think someone who committed such an act would be overwhelmed by remorse, but her ability to put on a false face about such a horrific crime shows how deceitful our hearts are. AND SINCE 1995 the horrific, the depraved, the dead-hearted worldwide have GROWN TO ALMOST MONTHLY HORRIFICS.

The brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver: The account is so shocking as to be numbing. We don’t know if we should think more highly of Joseph’s brothers because they decided to spare his life or less highly of them because they figured they could get rid of him and make a few bucks at the same time. Apparently they considered that their brother was only worth twenty shekels of silver.

It was Judah who said, “After all, he’s our brother, so let’s only sell him into slavery instead of killing him.” And this was the son of Jacob who would become the ANCESTOR of the Messiah.

VERSES 29-35 tell us…the brothers COVER their sin and lie to Jacob concerning Joseph’s fate.

“Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?” So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?” And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was NOT in the pit; and he tore his clothes: Reuben tore his clothes as an expression of utter horror and mourning because his weak stand for righteousness accomplished nothing. Joseph may as well be dead, because his father who loved him so would never see him again.

We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not? This shows THE HEARTLESS CRUELTY of the sons of Israel was not directed only towards the favored son, but also towards the father who favored him. This was both a heartless way to bring the news and an unconscionable lie.

Jacob tore his clothes: This was an expression of utter horror and mourning because his loved son is gone. His grief is understandable, but his failure to see the truth of eternal life is not.

This is also a powerful illustration of the principle that if we believe something to be so, it may as well be. Joseph was not dead, but as long as Jacob BELIEVED he was, as far as Jacob was concerned, Joseph was dead.

In the same way, the Christian has in truth been set free from sin, but if Satan can persuade us we are UNDER the tyranny of sin, AND NOT REALLY SAVED…we may as well be.

Verse 36 tells us Joseph ends up in the court of a high Egyptian official.

“Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.”

Egypt was a large and thriving kingdom for at least a thousand years before Joseph came. The Egyptians were wealthy and had massive natural resources. They were educated and had no real enemies at the time. When Joseph came to Egypt, some of the pyramids already looked old and the Sphinx was already carved. But in God’s eyes, the most impressive thing about Egypt was that Joseph was now there.

Do you notice that EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS HORROR, God did NOT depart from Joseph. In some ways the story will get worse - and when it does, God will STILL BE WITH Joseph. God is working not only for Joseph himself, but also for the LARGER purposes of God’s redemptive plan.

We can thank God for His great plan.
AND WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SHOW US NOW OF GOD’S GREAT PLAN?

THINK ABOUT THIS…

If Joseph’s brothers never sell him to the Midianites, then Joseph never goes to Egypt.
If Joseph never goes to Egypt, he never is sold to Potiphar.
If he is never sold to Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife never falsely accuses him of rape.
If Potiphar’s wife never falsely accuses him of rape, then he is never put in prison.
If he is never put in prison, he never meets the baker and butler of Pharaoh.
If he never meets the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never interprets their dreams.
If he never interprets their dreams, he never gets to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.
If he never gets to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, he never is made prime minister.
If he is never made prime minister, he never wisely administrates for the severe famine coming upon the region.
If he never wisely administrates for the severe famine coming upon the region, then his family back in Canaan perishes from the famine.
If his family back in Canaan perishes from the famine, the Messiah can’t come forth from a dead family.
If the Messiah can’t come forth, then Jesus never came.
If Jesus never came, you are dead in your sins and without hope in this world.

GENESIS 37 SHOWS US THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAS A PLAN…THEN AND NOW…

A PERFECT PRESENT DAY ILLUSTRATION OF THIS…FOR GFB IS THIS…GFB NATIONAL BIBLE STUDY BEGAN STUDYING GENESIS LONG BEFORE, THE GFB INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDY BEGAN STUDYING REVELATION…RIGHT…

BUT THOSE WHO ATTENDED REVELATION 12...SEE THAT THIS STORY OF JOSEPH…AND ITS RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE TO END TIMES PROPHECY WERE REACHED AND PARALLELED EACH OTHER IN AT THE EXACT, PRECISE, AND IN PERFECT SYNCHRONICITY…AND THAT CAN ONLYYYYYY BE A JESUS THING…

SO WHEN THE UNFAIR, THE UNJUST, TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS RISE UP IN OUR LIVES…

REMEMBER JOSEPH.

JESUS HAD A WONDROUS PLAN.
JESUS PROMISED THEN AND NOW TO TURN THE EVIL INTENTS OF MAN AND SATAN INTO OUR GOOD, AMEN?

JESUS PROMISED TO MAKE A WAY.
HE PROMISED TO BLESS.
HE PROMISED TO PROTECT.
HE PROMISED TO PRESERVE JOSEPH.
…AND OUR AMAZING TRIUNE GOD DID.

STAY CLOSE TO OUR JESUS…AND TRUST HIM….HE LOVES YOU AND HE HAS A WONDROUS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE AS WELL!

Genesis 38 - Tamar and the Sin of Judah

THIS CHAPTER OPENS WITH Tamar’s widowhood and Judah’s unfairness.

Verses 1-5 tells us of Judah and his three sons.

“It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.”

Judah departed from his brothers . . . And through an UNGODLY and UNWISE marriage to a Canaanite woman Judah fathered three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.

ONCE AGAIN….GOD SHOWS US THAT HIS COVENANT COMMAND NOT TO MARRY CANNANITES HAD/HAS GOOD REASONS BEHIND IT…AMEN?

The sons of Israel (JACOB) are RAPIDLY being corrupted by their Canaanite neighbors, and what the future will bring if they continued in that land. God had a plan to bring them out.

Judah, the fourth-born son of Jacob through Leah (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were before him) had NOT yet distinguished himself as someone great among his brothers. IN FACT, JUDAH was the one who suggested they sell Joseph into slavery told to us in Genesis 37:26.

Verses 6-7 tells us of Er’s marriage to Tamar and his death.

“Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.”

We are NEVER told what Er’s wickedness was, but obviously it was UNSPEAKABLE ENOUGH AND DEPRAVED enough that God brought immediate judgment upon him. Growing up with a father from such a messed-up family and with a mother who was a Canaanite did not lead Er in a godly life.

Verses 8-10 tells us Onan’s refusal to raise up offspring for Tamar.

“And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.”

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…IN THAT DAY…According to the custom of LEVIRATE MARRIAGE (which was later codified into law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10), if a man died BEFORE providing sons to his wife, it was the DUTY of his brothers to marry her and to give her sons. The child was considered the son of the brother who died (Onan knew that the heir would not be his) because the living brother was only acting in his place.
WHY?

This was done so the dead brother’s name would be carried on. But also it was so the widow would have children to support her. Apart from this, she would likely live the rest of her life as a destitute widow.

When he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother: Onan refused to take this responsibility seriously. He was more than happy to use Tamar for his sexual gratification, but he did NOT want to give Tamar a son he had to support but would be considered to be the son of Er.

Onan pursued sex as ONLY a pleasurable experience. If he really didn’t want to father a child by Tamar, he should NEVER had sex with her at all. He refused to fulfill his obligation to his dead brother and Tamar. And ALMIGHTY GOD did NOT TOLERATE THE poor sexual usage of the widow TAMAR.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH….Many Christians have used THIS passage as a proof-text against masturbation. Indeed, masturbation has been called “onanism.” However, this does not seem to be the case here. Whatever Onan did, he was NOT masturbating. This was not a sin of masturbation, but a sin of refusing to care for his brother’s widow by giving her offspring, and of a selfish, SELF-INDULGENT MISUSE use of sex.

Verse 11tells us of Judah’s unfair dealing with Tamar.

“Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.”

CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO TWO OF HIS SONS, we can understand Judah’s hesitancy to give his last son as a husband to Tamar. God already judged two of her previous husbands. Judah essentially vowed he would not give Shelah as husband to Tamar as custom and righteousness commanded, but he would simply put her off on the issue.

Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house: This was no place for a young, childless widow to be, when there were additional brothers in her husband’s family who could fulfill the obligation they owed to their late brother. NONE of this was the fault of Tamar. All the blame belonged to the sons of Judah.

Verses 12-14 tells us Judah’s wife dies, and Tamar realizes Judah will never give his last son to fulfill the obligation to her & so Tamar bears a child by Judah.

“Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.”

She saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife: Tamar did not want to face what would be a very difficult existence in that culture or in any culture: life without any husband or children.

She was not given to him as a wife…WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IN THAT DAY AND CULTURE, Tamar didn’t have THE OPTION of just finding another man to marry. She was UNDER the headship of her father-in-law Judah, and he HAD TO GIVE her a husband. He determined whom and when she could marry.

Verses 15-18 tells us Tamar sets a trap for Judah, and he has sex with her.

“When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face: After negotiating the price, Tamar demanded a pledge of the future payment of the agreed-upon price (a young goat).

Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him: When Tamar conceived, it certainly was NOT intended by Judah, but WE KNOW IT WAS DEFINITELY planned by both Tamar and God, AMEN?

Verses 19-23 tells us Tamar disappears.

“So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

Judah sends a friend to pay Tamar, and to retrieve the pledge he left with her. Because Tamar has disappeared, he gives up the pledge, leaving it in her hands.

Verses 24-26 tells us Tamar is vindicated and Judah is reproved.

“And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are; the signet and cord, and staff.” So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.”

Please determine whose these are: Tamar, acted shrewdly and vindicated herself against the charge of harlotry. She makes the logical appeal of noting that the one who hired her is just as guilty as she.

She has been more righteous than I: however, even Judah could see through to the real issue. He WAS at fault for NOT providing for Tamar a son through his last son Shelah.

Verses 27-30 tells us Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah.

“Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

Therefore his name was called Perez . . . his name was called Zerah: Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 each list Perez as AN ancestor of Jesus the Messiah. God took the son of this ungodly situation and put him in the family line of the Messiah, despite the fact that neither Judah or Tamar were GOOD examples of godliness.

This is JUST ANOTHER glorious example of grace. God chose them DESPITE their works, not only to be in the line of the Messiah, but also to have A ROLE in God’s plan of redemption.

THIS ALSO REMINDS US…these sons of Israel were by NO means an “SHINING STAR.” They were IN AND OF THEMSELVES a VERY corrupt and problem-filled family…BUT OUR TRIUNE GOD HAD A PLAN, AMEN?




Genesis 39 - JUMPS BACK TO JOSEPH IN Potiphar’s House

Verse 1 tell us about Potiphar, an Egyptian official, buys Joseph.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.”

The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system.

An officer of Pharaoh: The ancient Hebrew word officer may be translated “eunuch.” It was a common practice in ancient times to make those HIGHEST in the royal courts eunuchs, to ENSURE they would be WHOLLY devoted to their king. Because this practice was common, the term came to be used for ALL who served in important positions in a king’s court, whether they were eunuchs or not. So we really don’t know if Potiphar was a eunuch.

Captain of the guard…means “chief of police,” or probably more precisely, Potiphar was head of Pharaoh’s “Secret Service,” his personal security force. He was a HIGHLY trusted official in the government of Egypt.

Verses 2-3 tells us and reminds us God IS with Joseph.

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.”

Joseph’s trial was probably worse than any of us have gone through. Yet God did not abandon him even in the smallest way. If God allowed Joseph to be a slave, then he would be a successful man even as a slave.

We often complain to God that He put us in a terrible or difficult place. Yet God’s will is that we trust Him to bless us and make us successful (as He measures success) WHEREVER we are.

He WAS a successful man; and he WAS in the house of his master the Egyptian: Even at this EARLY point when it seemed Joseph had NO control over circumstances - and indeed, he had NONE IN AND OF HIMSELF- God OVERRULED the evil or capricious choices of man to accomplish His eternal purpose.

And his master SAW that the Lord was with him: By his trust in God, diligent work, and blessing from God, Joseph SHOWED Potiphar that God WAS real. Our bosses should SEE the difference Jesus makes in our lives by the way we work too, AMEN?

Verses 4-6 tells us God blesses Potiphar for Joseph’s sake.

“So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

Because of God’s blessing and Joseph’s faithfulness, God MADE SURE Joseph was advanced in his position, EVEN AS WHAT THE WORD TERMED A HELPLESS, POWERLESS slave.

It would have been easy for Joseph to do what we so often do: “write off” his present position because it seemed so bad (he was a slave, after all). But Joseph believed God could bless him right where he was, so he didn’t wait for a better situation to be blessed by God.

The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake: After the same principle, blessing can be brought upon our workplace because of OUR presence of godliness.

Clearly, Joseph ROSE TO THE TOP, but it took a while to happen.

Joseph WAS ONLY 17 years old when he was sold into slavery told to us in Genesis 37:2.
Joseph WAS 30 when Pharaoh promoted him in Genesis 41:46.
Joseph HAD BEEN in prison for TWO years BEFORE that in Genesis 41:1.

So, JOSEPH was in Potiphar’s house for 11 years. It took 11 years for the FULL measure of God’s blessing to be accomplished in Joseph’s life.

11 years seems like a long time. Many think if advancement is from God, it must come quickly. Sometimes this is the case, but not normally. Normally, God allows good things to develop slowly.

DID YOU KNOW THAT HUMAN CHILDREN have the longest development time both in the womb and in childhood compared to animals. It takes many years for an acorn to become an oak; a squash grows overnight.

WHAT THIS TELLS US IS THAT JESUS CAN WORK THINGS OUT VERY QUICKLY OR HE CAN WORK THEM OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME…

WE CAN IMAGINE Joseph WAS a hard worker. When he came to Egypt, he was at a great disadvantage. He knew NOTHING of the language, culture, customs, or ways of doing business. He had to get up early and stay up late to both do his job and to learn Egyptian ways.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance: Joseph’s appearance is of SPECIAL note. The Bible only calls TWO other men beautiful: David (1 Samuel 16:12) and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25).

Verses 7-10 tells us of Joseph’s resistance to the invitation of Potiphar’s wife to temptation and its aftermath.

“And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.”

Potiphar’s wife was undeniably forward towards Joseph. If Potiphar was indeed a eunuch, it shows that his wife looked for sexual activity elsewhere.

Perhaps Potiphar WAS a eunuch, and the marriage was purely a ceremonial arrangement, so she felt free to seek sexual relationships outside the marital bond.

Of course, Joseph was an attractive man, and this had something to do with it. That he seemed “out of reach” to Potiphar’s wife surely was a factor. She would not be the first or last woman who desired to seduce a man out of a sense of challenge, AMEN?

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, in the ancient world, the code of morality for women in Egypt (even married women) was loose. Egyptian women had a reputation for immorality in the ancient world.
Lie with me…This WAS bold and strong temptation to Joseph. It reminds us that when we face strong temptations, others HAVE faced the same. Satan wants you to think your temptation is terribly unique; that no one you know could understand what you are going through.

But 1 Corinthians 10:13 REMINDS US… “But there is no temptation that has overtaken us except what is common among men.”

She spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her…tells us that SHE THREW HERSELF AT JOSEPH DAILY, TEMPTED JOSEPH DAILY…BUT THAT Joseph showed remarkable faithfulness towards God, Potiphar, and himself by resisting this temptation for so long - perhaps up to 11 years.

Joseph let his faith BE KNOWN. Potiphar (and others, presumably) KNEW Joseph was blessed because of his relationship with God in Genesis 39:3. Joseph HAD TO HAVE SAID SOMETHING about his relationship with God for this to be the case.

ANOTHER WAY JOSEPH RESISTED TEMPTATION….Joseph kept busy. You don’t advance the way he did unless you are a BUSY worker.

An old Turkish proverb says, “Men are usually tempted by the devil, but an idle man positively tempts the devil.”

AND WE NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE…Joseph was careful to NEVER be alone with his temptation. Joseph wisely even avoided being alone around Potiphar’s wife (or to be with her).

AND JOSEPH TOLD HER AND CALLED THE ACT SHE DEMANDED OF HIM, TEMPTED HIM WITH…WHAT IT WAS IN THE EYES OF GOD… Joseph called the act what it was: sin.

He referred to this sin set before him as this great wickedness and sin against God. We want to call sin by another name, make it less convicting…less harsh…more POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY CORRECT, RIGHT?

SOCIETY CALLS Hostility and temper are “self-expression.”
Pride is “self-esteem.”
Gluttony is “the good life.”
Covetousness is “trying to get ahead.”
Perversion is “an alternative lifestyle.”
Adultery is “a cry for help in a bad marriage.”

BUT Joseph KNEW how greatly his sin would affect others.

Often times we want to DENY the harmful effects our sin will have. When we look at a charred mountainside, and all there is left is ashes and ruin, we despise the careless person who started the fire. Sin is NO LESS destructive.

Joseph NEVER gave in to the illusion that he could do this and never be discovered, or somehow it wouldn’t matter.

Joseph KNEW that his sin was a sin against God.
One might justify sinning against another person who has done us wrong, but how can we sin against God?

KING DAVID…reflects this same heart in his prayer of repentance in PSALM 51:4, which says, “Against You and You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.”

Of course, David had also sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against their child, against his family, and against his people; but those were of far less consequence than his sin against God.

Joseph just said “NO!”
He refused.
Sometimes it just comes down to that.
We have to refuse and say “no” to sin, even when we feel like saying “yes.”
Knowing the fleshly inclination of men - their ability to detach sex from romance and love, and be promiscuous - this is wonderful obedience on the part of Joseph.

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Obedience is MUCH easier when we know who God is.

CHARLES SPURGEON, A GREAT HUMBLE MAN OF JESUS SAYS, “When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.”

Verses 11-12 tells us Joseph resists her brazen attempt at seduction.

“But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.”

Potiphar’s wife KNEW Joseph was avoiding her, so she made a deliberate plan to ENTRAP him. Surely, it was she who made certain none of the men of the house was inside.

FLEE FROM THE VERY TEMPTATION OF SIN….AND THAT IS JUST WHAT JOSEPH DID….he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside: Joseph resisted this tremendous moment of temptation when he ran outside. Joseph did what we are all supposed to do when faced with this kind of situation: he fled and ran.

2 Timothy 2:22 makes it VERY clear: “Flee also youthful lusts.”

If we are not actually running towards sin, we have a tendency to at least LINGER OR DELAY in its presence. But we are commanded to do the ONLY SAFE THING: run away from these lusts of the flesh, and run as fast as we can.

Joseph got him out. No one else was going to get him out. God provides a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13), but WE HAVE TO BE READY AND WILLING TO take the way out, AMEN?

He left his garment…The idea is not that he ran away naked, but that his outer garment was stripped off. Essentially, he left in his underwear.

Joseph had to know this stand for purity would cost him dearly, but he considered it worth it.

Verses 13-18 tells us Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph before Potiphar.

“And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

It must have offended and grieved Joseph to be accused under such an outrageous lie. Yet he did not seem to defend himself against this false accusation, even as Jesus was silent before His accusers told to us in Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew 27:13-14.

IN THIS CASE…SILENCE…NO DEFENSE…PROVED THE BEST DEFENSE, AMEN?

Verses 19-20 tells us Joseph is sent to prison.

“So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.”

It seems that Joseph was given a sentence of life imprisonment. This was a hard penalty, but the normal punishment for such a crime (attempted rape) by a slave upon a high official’s wife would likely BE DEATH, SO Joseph was given a merciful sentence.

Potiphar went easy on Joseph because he suspected his wife’s role in the matter. The anger aroused may have not been directed towards Joseph, but against the wife for manipulating him into a situation where, to save face, he had to dismiss the man who made the whole household run well & profited him so well too.
Verses 21-23 tells us Joseph prospers, EVEN in prison.

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.”

If God blessed Joseph in the pit, if He blessed Joseph the slave, we are not to be SURPRISED NOR AMAZED to see Him bless Joseph in prison.

THE TRIUNE GOD IS SHOWING US THROUGH JOSEPH’S LIFE…THAT NOTHING AND NO ONE, NOTTTTTTTTT MAN OR SATAN HIMSELF, AND ALL THEIR TERRIBLE PLOTS AND PLANS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WILL EVER STOP OR DERAIL GOD’S PLAN IN OURS OR JOSEPH’S LIFE.

THE TRIUNE GOD IS TELLING…Joseph succeeded because of the blessing of God:

The Lord was WITH Joseph, and he was A SUCCESSFUL man…IN Genesis 39:2.

His master saw that the Lord was WITH him and that the Lord made all he did to PROSPER in his hand…IN Genesis 39:3.

The Lord BLESSED the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was ON ALL that he had…IN Genesis 39:5.

Even after Joseph is falsely accused and thrown into prison, God still BLESSES:
But the Lord was WITH Joseph… IN Genesis 39:21.
The Lord was WITH him…IN Genesis 39:23.

The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing: As it was in the house of Potiphar, Joseph ROSE to the top, becoming the chief administrator of the prison. Through his experience in both places, God sharpened the administrative skills Joseph needed to ONE DAY SAVE HIS FAMILY BACK IN CANAAN AS WELL THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU…BUT WITHIN MY LIFE AND THOSE OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE AT PRESENT BEING ATTACKED, CHALLENGED, AND TEMPTED ON ALL SIDES…ONCE AGAIN…WITH PERFECT TIMING…AT A CRUCIAL LIFE ALTERING, CHANGING, OR DEFINING MOMENT….JESUS HAS BROUGHT TO ME THE STORY OF JOSEPH….

THAT STILL SMALL VOICE IS ONCE AGAIN SAYING TO ME…LOOK AT JOSEPH…I WAS WITH HIM, I PROTECTED HIM, I WATCHED OVER HIM, I BLESSED HIM REGARDLESS WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES LOOKED, SEEMED, OR EVEN FELT LIKE….TRUST IN ME FAITH…NOT THE WORLD, NOT IN PEOPLE…JUST TRUST ME…I LOVE YOU…I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU…

IS JESUS WHISPERING THE SAME TO YOU….IF SO, BELIEVE IT AND TRUST JESUS.
JESUS NEVERRRRRRRR FAILS!