Genesis part XIII: Abraham pulls the ‘sister’ card again and Isaac is born

In case you missed it:

Part 12: Wicked cities are destroyed and Lot is saved

PART 11: Sarai’s name is changed and she is reproved for laughing

PART 10: The Promise of an Heir and Ishmael is Born

PART 9: God renews the promise and a kingly battle

PART 8: Language Confusion and Abram’s Blessing

PART 7: Noah’s Generation, a geographic history lesson

PART 6: Noah leaves the ark and God blesses him

PART 5: The wickedness of the world and the Great Flood

PART 4: The first murder and genealogy of the Patriarchs

PART 3: The Original Sin

PART 2: The making of mankind and the Sabbath

PART 1: Genesis: in the beginning

We’re allowed to feel down, to sometimes complain and rant when things seem complicated or farfetched, for we’re human after all and sometimes, our emotions can get the better of us. But at the end of the day, remember Who we belong to, and Who is willing to take our burdens away from us. 

Abraham pulls the sister card yet again

Scripture in focus: Genesis 20

Abraham is on the move once again after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah choosing to stay in Gerar (20:1). Sarah was still attractive and beautiful at the age of 90, and Abraham said that she was his sister instead of his wife and King Abimelech of Gerar took her into his harem (20:2). This is the second time that Abraham lied to a ruler about the relationship he had with Sarah. As we’ll recall in 12:10-13, he flat out lied to the Pharoah during their journey to Egypt saying that Sarah is his sister. God had to intervene in this matter during a dream to reveal Abraham’s deception to Abimelech (20:3). God kept the King from committing adultery which is a terrible sin. It must be terrible to hear God tell you in a dream “thou art but a dead man” for I know I would’ve been shaking all over! But Abimelech had not admitted Sarah in his company and ask God if He’ll destroy a righteous nation (20:4). Perhaps he heard what God had done to the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah?

20:5 clearly shows that Abimelech was deceived by both Abraham and Sarah. He inquired of Abraham first about his relationship with the beautiful woman at his side and he said that the woman is his sister. He then inquired of Sarah trusting her to speak the truth, but she went along with her husband’s plan and said that Abraham was her brother. Abimelech pleads innocent before the Lord. God knew Abimelech’s heart was right in this regard and thus, He withholds him from sinning for He knew it was not  Abimelech’s fault (20:6). God gives Abimelech a chance to do the right thing and to also let Abraham pray for him (20:7). The very next morning, Abimelech calls his servants (courtiers) and shared with them all that God told him via the dream and they were rightly afraid (20:8). 

And once again, Abraham is rebuked by a pagan king (20:9-10).

Abraham proceeds to offer up 3 reasons for his lie:

20:11 Abraham said that the fear of God was not in Gerar when in fact it was not in him for yet again, he chose not to trust God to see him through this period.

20:12 Abraham was trying to say that technically, he did not lie for Sarah was indeed his half-sister. Yet, his intention was to clearly deceive Abimelech as he did the Pharoah.

20:13 Abraham indirectly blames God for the problem (“when God caused me to wander from my father’s house”). The term ‘wander’ used here means going astray and not in a good way. This recalls when Adam blamed God for Eve causing him to eat of the forbidden tree (“The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”) Sometimes when things go bad in our lives, we tend to blame God when in fact, we’re the cause of them. God does give us warning signs, but we tend to ignore them in favor of doing things our way.

Abimelech did everything in his power to make all right again by gifting Abraham livestock and servants and restoring Sarah to him (20:14). Instead of telling him to get out of his country like Pharoah did, Abimelech encourages Abraham to “dwell where it pleaseth” (20:15). Oh, the irony in Abimelech’s voice when he refers to Abraham as Sarah’s brother! (20:16). However, Sarah was reproved (justified). Silver (coins did not exist at this time & everything was weighed) means redemption.

Abraham prayed for Abimelech and God healed everyone (20:17-18). 

Isaac is born

Scripture in focus: Genesis 21

It took 25 years for the promise to be fulfilled, but it was fulfilled because God was faithful to His promise. God’s word is true. No matter how long a promise may take to come to pass, He never fails to do what He has promised. 

The Lord visited Sarah (21:1) and she conceived (21:2). And Abraham called his name Isaac (21:3) and circumcised him when he was eight days old (21:4). Seven is the number of completion, but eight means ‘new beginnings’. Abraham was 100 years old when his son was born (21:5). It was a joyous occasion for Sarah and friends! No longer her laughter one of doubt, but one of happiness! (21:6). She is still in awe that she has borne Abraham a son in his old age (21:7). When Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a feast on the same day (21:8). A child couldn’t get far away from his/her mother until they were weaned. However, Isaac’s passage to childhood was met with ridicule by Ishmael (21:9) and it didn’t sit too well with Sarah (21:10). But Abraham loved Ishmael and Sarah’s dismissal of the only son he had for years grieved his heart (21:11).

Abraham sought God in the matter and God tells him to listen to Sarah for it was the right thing to do (21:12). God also reminds Abraham of the promise He made earlier in 17:20 regarding Ishmael; He will take care of Ishmael (21:13). Although it was hard for Abraham to do, he sent Hagar and Ishmael away knowing that God will indeed provide for them. Hagar wanders in the wilderness of Beer-sheba (an extensive desert located on the southern border of Palestine) (21:14). 

As harsh as it may sound, sometimes, we have to put our family away for the glory of God. 

The water was all drank up and gone; weary and perhaps faint, Hagar lays her son under a shrub thinking that the end had probably come for Ishmael and she couldn’t bear to watch (21:15-16). God hears Ishmael’s anguish and sends help (21:17). Hagar and Ishmael being in distress in the wilderness serve a promise: 

No matter how far we may wander – whether it’s in a desert or to the ends of the world – God would hear our cries for help.

God promises to take care of Ishmael (21:18) and He most certainly did for the descendants of Ishmael became the Arabic people. When God says He got you, there is no need to worry, for He got you. God opens Hagar’s eyes and she is directed to a well to replenish water (21:19). God protects Ishmael in the wilderness as he went from teenager to man and became skilled in the bow and arrow (archery); in short, he was a hunter (21:20). He dwelled in the wilderness of Paran (a city in Arabia Petraea) and his mother took him a wife from her native and worldly Egypt (21:21).

“God is with thee”. Indeed, others saw God’s hand of blessing in Abraham’s life (21:22) and wanted to make a treaty with Abraham (21:23). Abraham takes the oath (21:24). Abraham informs Abimelech that his servants had deprived him of a usage of a well (21:25) although it was Abraham who dug it (26:15). However, Abimelech claims innocence in the matter and even blames Abraham for not informing him sooner (21:26). Satisfied with Abimelech’s answer, Abraham makes the covenant with the king (21:27) and presents him with gifts including 7 lambs which he set by themselves (21:28).

Abimelech asked the meaning of the 7 lambs (21:29) and Abraham tells him that the gift of the animals was to prove that the well belonged to him (21:30). And the place was called Beer-sheba (21:31). Why? “Beer” signifies a well and “sheba” means seven. Therefore, “Beer-sheba” means “well of the oath”. Satisfied with the treaty, Abimelech and his chief captain, Phichol, returns home (21:32). Abraham plants a grove (a tamarisk tree) in a reminder of the treaty and calls upon the name of the true everlasting God (21:33).

And Abraham lived in the land of the Philistines many years (21:34).

Additional Notes/Recap

^ “for he is a prophet” (20:7). This is the first time the Hebrew term for “prophet” is used in Scripture. This also identifies that Abraham was recognized by God to speak on behalf of Abimelech. 

^ In the Old Testament, we met a lot of people who were typologies for Christ including Abel and Isaac. Let’s compare Isaac and Christ:

* They were promised sons.

* Both were given names before they were born. 

* Both births were miraculous

* Both births occurred at God’s appointed time (via blueletterbible.org)

Also, this symbolism: Isaac’s obedience also anticipates Christ as the only begotten Son willing to be bound on the altar of sacrifice by His Father. (via bible-studys.org)

^ The difference between Ishmael and Isaac’s blessings? Ishmael’s blessing was a worldly and fleshy one whereas Isaac’s blessing was a spiritual one. 

REFERENCES/AIDS

* The Holy Bible 

* biblestudys.org

* blueletterbible.org

*** Images and GIFs via Google Search

Advertisement

Genesis part XI: Sarai’s name is changed and she is reproved for laughing

In case you missed it:

PART 10: The Promise of an Heir and Ishmael is Born

PART 9: God renews the promise and a kingly battle

PART 8: Language Confusion and Abram’s Blessing

PART 7: Noah’s Generation, a geographic history lesson

PART 6: Noah leaves the ark and God blesses him

PART 5: The wickedness of the world and the Great Flood

PART 4: The first murder and genealogy of the Patriarchs

PART 3: The Original Sin

PART 2: The making of mankind and the Sabbath

PART 1: Genesis: in the beginning

Discussing the Bible with you is what I look forward to the most! As always, I encourage you to share what you may have learned or what touched your heart this week in the comment section below. Today, we’re going to cover chapters 17 & 18.

Sarai’s name is changed and she is blessed

Scripture in focus: Genesis 17

Abram is 99 years old when the Almighty appears to him and tells him what is expected of him (17:1). God also reminds Abram that He did not forget the covenant He made with him (17:2). Abram then falls on his face in reverence of His Majesty (17:3). Oh, to be in such glorious presence! Soon, my Lord! Soon, I shall be in such a glorious and majestic presence! 💙God reminds Abram that His covenant is with him and that he’ll be a father of many nations (17:4) so no longer was his name to be called Abram (father of many) for God changed it to Abraham (father of many nations) to reflect the meaning (17:5). God assures Abraham that he’ll have MANY descendants (17:6). God would establish an everlasting covenant with Abraham and it would extend to all of his ancestors (17:7-8). God commands Abraham to keep His covenant (17:9) and proceeds to gave Abraham something to do for the first time in regards to the covenant which is circumcision. He is also very specific about the details (17:10-14).

God also changes Sarai’s (“my” princess) name to Sarah (princess) for His promises would come through her (17:15-16). How did Abraham response? He laughs in doubt for he did not think that a man his age would be fathering a child with a wife past her childbearing age (17:17). Which is sort of funny, for his own father had him when he was 130 years old. Ishmael was now a teenager and Abraham wanted to adopt him as his heir (17:18). It shows that Abraham still wasn’t looking at the big picture. All he could see was his old age and Sarah’s barrenness before him so it was hard to grasp what he couldn’t conceive. 

Despite Abraham’s doubt, God tells him matter-of-factly that he was going to have a son and he was to name him Isaac (17:19). Ishmael shall also be blessed for God heard Abraham’s prayer (17:20). In 16:10, God had already promised Ishmael’s mother (Hagar) that He’ll multiply her descendants through her son. God repeats that the covenant is to be established with Isaac and not Ishmael (17:21) and then He ascended before Abraham’s eyes (17:22) just as Jesus did in the presence of His disciples (Luke 24:51). 

Without delay, after God left his presence, Abraham carries out God’s command of circumcision (17:23-27).

Sarah is reproved for laughing

Scripture in focus: Genesis 18

The Lord appears to Abraham once again in human form (18:1). Abraham holds up and sees three men (the pre-incarnate Christ & 2 angels) and he humbles himself before them (18:2). Abraham says to his Lord that if He judges him and finds him okay to not leave (18:3). Verses 4-5 is a picture of hospitality and shows Abraham’s willingness to serve. Sarah and Abraham prepare a meal for their visitors (18:6-8). After eating their meal, the men get down to business and enquires after Sarah (18:9). She was said to be in the tent, but she was within hearing of the conversation in which God reaffirms His promise of a son (18:10). 

Sarah and her husband are old and “it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women” meaning that she had stopped menstruating (and had probably gone through menopause) so she couldn’t see herself carrying an unborn (18:11) so she did what her husband did earlier when the Lord paid him a visit: laughed (18:12). She was in doubt about conceiving a child the natural way, but nothing’s impossible for God. Even when we’re faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

The Lord hears Sarah’s laughter and asks Abraham why did his wife laugh although He already knew why (18:13). He then poses a rhetorical question “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (18:14). Of course not!

NOTHING IS EVER TOO HARD FOR OUR WONDERFUL CREATOR! NOTHING! 

When Sarah realizes that she was in the presence of God she denies laughing, but God insists that she did in fact laugh (18:15). The men then rose up and look toward Sodom (18:16). God decides to reveal to Abraham the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (18:17-19). The cities had become polluted with sins so great that God was going to go down and judge them (18:20-21). The two angels went down to Sodom (these are actually the two men who visited Sodom in Genesis 19), but the Lord stayed with Abraham (18:22) who proceeds to intercede on behalf of the two wicked cities (18:23-26) and then bargains with God for the people (18:27-32).

During these verses, we see the character of a very prayerful and spiritual man. He prayed that Sodom might be spared if a few righteous people should be found in it. His nephew Lot was a resident of Sodom and he could’ve only asked God to save Lot, but he prayed for the righteous. His heart was full of compassion for the people of Sodom. This is the compassion that we should feel for sinners and how we should pray for them. All the while Abraham was conversing with the Lord, the Lord was ever so patient. 

The Lord then went His way and Abraham returned to his place (18:33). Unfortunately, not even 10 righteous people were found, just 4 and God had to destroy the cities as we’ll see in the next lesson.

Additional Notes/Recap

^ Relating to the appearances of the Lord to humans, it is believed that this Person was God, in the Person of Jesus Christ before His incarnation and birth at Bethlehem for NO ONE has seen God at any time but Jesus declared Him (John 1:18) and NO MAN has ever seen God in the Person of the Father (1 Timothy 6:16).

^ You may ask why God had to keep reminding Abraham of the promise He made to him. Simple. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) so we need to hear God’s promises over and over again. From Genesis to Revelation, God keeps reminding us of His beautiful promise of salvation if only we come to accept Him as Lord and Savior. 

^ Isaac means “he laughs” a reference to Abraham’s response in 17:17 and Sarah’s action in 18:12. 

REFERENCES/AIDS

* The Holy Bible 

* biblestudys.org

* blueletterbible.org

*** Images and GIFs via Google Search

Genesis part X: The promise of an heir and Ishmael is born

In case you missed it:

PART 9: God renews the promise and a kingly battle

PART 8: Language Confusion and Abram’s Blessing

PART 7: Noah’s Generation, a geographic history lesson

PART 6: Noah leaves the ark and God blesses him

PART 5: The wickedness of the world and the Great Flood

PART 4: The first murder and genealogy of the Patriarchs

PART 3: The Original Sin

PART 2: The making of mankind and the Sabbath

PART 1: Genesis: in the beginning

Happy Sabbath and welcome back to Bible Study. I trust that your week was well spent and blessed. Did you learn anything new during your study of God’s Word? If it’s something that you’ll like to share, feel free to do so in the comment section below. Open up your Bibles to Genesis 15 and let’s get down to some study of our own.

Abram yearns for an heir

Scripture in focus: Genesis 15

And after these things (Gen 14), the word (Christ) of the LORD visits Abram via a vision (15:1) to encourage him and to ease his fears after defeating a HUGE army. He might have feared an attack of retribution, but God promised that not only He is Abram’s shield, but also his reward. In response to God’s encouragement, Abram honestly opens up about being childless and thought of adopting his steward (his right-hand man) Eliezer of Damascus as his male heir (15:2). Although God has promised that he’ll be a father of many, Abram still had doubts for he was without an heir (15:3). God reminds Abram of the promise of the heir that would be his own flesh and blood and illustrates it by referencing the stars in the sky (15:4-5). 

And Abram put his trust in God (15:6). This is a fine example showing that we’re justified by faith and not works. Also cross reference Romans 4:19-24 and Galatians 3:5-7.

Abram’s faith did not lean on believing in God but believing God. 

Yes, there’s a big difference!

God makes a statement reminding puny Abram who He was (15:7). Abram wants to know how he shall inherit the land (15:8). A ceremony soon follows to mark the covenant (15:9-21). God tells Abram what animals to gather (15:9) and most of those animals became a sin sacrifice in later ceremonies. Abram heeds and he knows exactly what to do with the animals (15:10). While Abram waits for God to walk through the animal carcasses to sign the covenant, vultures paid a visit and he quickly chases them off (15:11). The sun was about to set when God put Abram to sleep (15:12) and came to him via a dream giving Abram the rundown of the hardships that would befall his descendants (15:13). This prophecy took place some 300 years later when Israel sojourned in Egypt and served the Pharaoh for 400 years. But God would judge Egypt and bring His people out with great wealth (15:14).

Abram will be buried after living a full life (15:15; 25:7).

God would give the Amorites a chance to repent before Abram’s descendants make their entrance to the land (15:16). Sadly, the Amorites did not repent. The presence of God represented by a smoking furnace and a burning lamp (God is a consuming fire!) pass through the animal pieces; God passed through by Himself (15:17) thus sealing the covenant He made with Abram (Note that Abram did not walk through the animal pieces for God signed the blood covenant for both of them. Abram cannot break a contract he did not sign and he could’ve held God accountable had He not kept His end of the bargain. He didn’t have to, though, for God can never lie).

God then quotes the specific lands Abram’s descendants will inherit (15:18-21).

Abram and Sarai tries to help God with the promise of an heir

Scripture in focus: Genesis 16

Sarai is barren and childless and instead of waiting for God to fulfill His promise, she proposes that Abram her husband of many years have a child through her Egyptian maid Hagar and Abram heeds the voice of his wife (16:1-2). This is a surrogate arrangement so the child would not be considered to be Hager’s but Sarai who lost faith and decided to help God out. Abram could’ve manned up and said no to his wife and poor Hagar gets caught in the middle of their heir scheme. How he’d think Adam messed up in the first place? He didn’t say no to Eve. Let’s go to court:

Defense: It’s been more than ten years since God made the promise regarding Abram’s descendants (16:3). The long wait discouraged them and they grew impatient. 

Verdict: Despite the lapse in time, God’s ways are not our ways and He fulfills promises in His timing, not ours. God cannot lie and if He promises you something, you don’t try to help Him no matter how gloomy things start looking. Take comfort in the promise and look ahead to the time when God would eventually bring it to pass. He always keeps His word. 

Sarai gives Abram permission to marry Hagar (16:3) and when she conceives, she feels superior to Sarai (16:4). I blame Abram for this for he should’ve reminded his wife of God’s promise. Two women cannot share one man. Marriage was intended for two to become one (2:24). When Sarai saw that she was despised by her maid, she blames Abram and demands justice to right the wrong (16:5). What does Abram do? He gently tells Sarai to deal with Hagar as she sees fit (16:6) for despite both women being his wives, Hagar was still considered lower than Sarai for she was still the help. Besides, Abram didn’t seem like he was too happy with the arrangement he made with Hagar. However, as the man, instead of taking charge of the situation, he cowardly backs away and leaves the decision making to Sarai. She must have dealt harshly with Hagar for she caused the Egyptian to flee.

An Angel appears to Hagar as she attempts to make her way back home to Egypt reaching as far as Shur (16:7). The Angel here is said to be God, in the Person of Jesus given that He spoke in the first person (16:10-12) and Hagar recognized that in seeing this Being, she had seen God and called upon His Name (16:13). This is also the first time that the Angel of the Lord appears in the Old Testament. I’ve included a little note on Angels via bible-studys.org in the recap section below.

The Angel calls Hagar by name and questions her although He already knew her predicament (16:8) and tells her to return to her mistress (16:9). God promises to multiply her descendants through her son (16:10) which He did for Ismael went on to become the father of all Arabic peoples. This also meant that Abram became the father of two groups of descendants: both Arabs and Jews are descended from Abram by two half-brothers: Ishmael and Issac. Had Abram and Sarai not tried to help God things would’ve turned out differently. 

Hagar is told to call her son Ishmael meaning “God hears” (16:11). Ishmael’s life wouldn’t be easy while dwelling in the presence of his brethren (16:12). Hagar realized that this Being was indeed God talking to her and calls Him “You Are the God Who Sees” (16:13). Hagar dedicates the well to God calling it Beer-lahai-roi (well of the living One). She goes back and bares Abram a son called Ishmael (16:15) and Abram was 80 (16:16). 

Additional Notes/Recap

^ I love that David was a man after God’s heart, but I’ll rather be Abram for a day so God can call me His friend as He did Abram. His friendship with God was beautiful, but it’s hardly talked about.

^ Some of us may look at Abram’s openness as complaining (15:3-4), but it’s better to be open with God, bearing all that is in our soul.

^ Concerning 15:9-21: 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. (blueletterbible.org).

^ Even after all that Abram and Sarai did in trying to help God, it would still be more than 13 years when the promise was eventually fulfilled.

^ Fun Fact: Ishmael is the first man in the Bible to receive his name before he was born.

^ANGEL OF THE LORD (via bible-studys.org): The Angel of the Lord, who does not appear after the birth of Christ, is often identified as the pre-incarnate Christ (see note on Exodus 3:2). In the Old Testament, an angel identified as the “angel of the Lord”, the “angel of God” (21:17), the “angel of his presence” (Isa. 63:9), and the “messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1), appeared to individuals. 

A closer look at the context of His appearances reveals that He is more than another angel, He is God. The expression usually signifies a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ and is sometimes called a “Christophany,” meaning the visible and bodily manifestation of God the Son before His incarnation.

That He is not merely another angel is evident in those appearances where He is called God. This was recognized by Hagar (16:13), Abraham (22:14), Moses (Exodus 3:14), Gideon (Judges 6:22), and Manoah (Judges 13:18, 22). The expression is also used of men, but on such occasions, is translated “the Lord’s messenger” (Hag. 1:13). 

The Angel of the Lord no longer appears to men today, since God has commissioned Christians to be His messengers to the world.

REFERENCES/AIDS

* The Holy Bible 

* biblestudys.org

* blueletterbible.org

*** Images and GIFs via Google Search