Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD.

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.” And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.

Last week, we saw how God came to Abraham and promised that he and Sarah would have a son of their own who would be the heir that would eventually become a might nation of people. When Abraham heard this, he laughed at the thought of him having a child at 100, but he didn’t doubt. Sarah laughed too, but she doubted, and God called her out on it. The announcement of Isaac coming at the same time next year wasn’t the only reason that they came though….

Abraham is walking with God and the two angels to see them off after they’ve refreshed themselves. The LORD rhetorically asks if He should hide what He is about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. He reiterates His promise and then expounds on why He chose Abraham. Abraham was chosen to be in covenant with God so that “he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice”, so that God’s promise will come to pass. He then tell Abraham what His plans are for both Sodom and Gomorrah. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are so vile and wicked, they have so permeated the culture and lifestyle of the people that the outcry of those sins has been heard by God. He tells Abraham that He will go down and see if they have truly done all that He has heard they have done. This doesn’t mean that God didn’t know what was going on or if the sins of the two cities were as terrible as He said they were. Instead, this only means that God’s timing was complete. The sins of the two cities had put them so far away from God that they had no way to return. This would also be true of the Amorites when Israel would get released from Egypt. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached their fulfillment and God’s time of judgment had come.

Abraham clearly knew what God was talking about and his response to God shows this. “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” This response also shows that Abraham understands the character of God and how He will not condemn the righteous for the sins of the wicked. Abraham then begins to ask God if He will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there are fifty righteous people in the cities. God says that if He finds (He already knows) fifty righteous people, He will not destroy the cities. During the entire discussion, Abraham remembers and recognizes his position in the conversation (I am but dust and ashes). Even so, he continues to whittle the number of righteous down to ten people. It may be that this is the number of people who were in Lot’s family (remember that Lot moved from the valley to the city itself).

Regardless of the reason, ten is the lowest number of righteous people that the Lord allows Abraham to reach. Despite the number of righteous in the city, the judgment has been determined. After this dialogue, God departs and Abraham returns to his tent.

God’s judgment is sure. When God decides to judge, that judgment will come to pass. God has decided to judge sin. He has determined that the just punishment for sin is an eternity of conscious torment in hell. This judgment will come to pass upon those who meet the necessary criteria. To meet the criteria, you don’t have to do anything. You and I start out at birth meeting the criteria. We are conceived in sin and it is this sin that will send us to hell. Unless something about us is changed, we will automatically receive the judgment God has planned for those who live in sin. For us to escape the wrath of God’s judgment our sins must be erased. The problem is, there is nothing that you and I can do to erase that sin. The only thing that can remove our sins and allow us to be free of God’s just judgment is our repentance and faith in Christ. Some might ask, “But, aren’t repentance and faith things we do to get saved?” No. Both repentance and faith are gifts given to us by God which allow us to be saved.

Please. If you aren’t born-again, if you haven’t repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone to save you; do so now. While you have time….

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. “I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.”

When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. Now 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. In the very same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son. All the men of his household, who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

In our last study, we saw how God re-affirmed His covenant to Abram and his descendants. He went so far as to change Abram’s name to Abraham. He then called on Abraham to circumcise everyone in his house, including the servants,  as a sign of God’s covenant with him. Anyone who was not circumcised would be seen as cut off from God’s people for breaking His covenant.

The covenant didn’t just affect Abraham though. It also affected Sarai, his wife. Just as God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, He changed Sarai’s name (which means dominative) to Sarah (which denotes a female noble). Not only did He change Sarah’s name, He promised that she would indeed bear a son to Abraham, even though she was 90 years old. Through her own son, she would become the mother of nations and kings. In response to God’s promise, Abraham fell down on his face and laughed. He asks God if it is even possible for a son to be born to a man who is 100 years old. It is important to recognize that Abraham’s laughter wasn’t due to his doubt about God but that it was in relation to the fact that he was 99 years old and would 100 by the time his son came.

Abraham then says, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” It was his desire that the son that he had through Hagar would be his descendant. But, God said “No”. This is important because the religion of Islam claims that Ishmael was the son of promise. They claim that it was Ishmael who God used to carry on the truth. Because the Bible refutes this claim, Muslims claim that the Bible has been corrupted. Regardless of what Islam says, the Bible says that Isaac is the child of promise. He clearly says that He will establish His covenant with Isaac and not Ishmael. Even so, God promises to make Ishmael a great nation and the father of 12 princes. Then, He restates the fact that the covenant will be established through Isaac.

God leaves Abraham and, immediately, Abraham obeys God’s command to circumcise himself and all of his family and servants. Every single male in Abraham’s care was circumcised. We then are reminded of the ages of both Abraham and Ishmael; Abraham is 99 years old at this time and Ishmael is 13. This will be important in the future chapters.

With this week’s study done, let me ask…are you a part of God’s covenant? The covenant that exists now is not the same as the one(s) found in the Old Testament. The new covenant began when Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, sacrificed His own, perfect life as a substitution for those who would/will believe in Him. The Bible says that for the covenant to include you, you must repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ. Turn from the lying, lusting, coveting, gossip, and other sins – the things that you know are wrong – and then put your trust completely and totally in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross alone to save you; knowing that you can’t do any amount of good works to earn salvation.

Will you do that? Will you be honest enough with yourself and your life to recognize that you’re a sinner and need someone to save you? Please…take the time to look at your life and repent of your sins. Put your faith in Christ and know that you’re born again!

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

God said further to Abraham, “Now 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 among you shall be circumcised. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. “A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. “But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

This week, we begin to look at chapter 17 of Genesis. Here, God speaks about both Abram and Sarai and makes some changes to their lives.

Last week, we saw the trouble that came from man taking things into his own hands. Sarai and Abram had been promised their own child as a descendant, but they were past child bearing age. Abram was around 86 when Sarai finally decided that he should go in to her handmaiden so that God’s promise would be fulfilled. This, however, didn’t go as Sarai had planned. When Hagar found that she was pregnant, she saw herself as more important than Sarai and despised her. Sarai got mad at this and blamed Abram. He told her to do whatever she wished to her handmaiden. Sarai was so harsh that Hagar ran away from her. Hagar ended up about 100 miles from where Abram was. She had given up hope when the angel of the Lord came to her and told her to return to her mistress. Hagar returned and obeyed Sarai and Ishmael was born.

In the first verse, we see that 13 years have passed since Ishmael was born and God appears to Abram again. When He appears, He starts with a statement of authority and a command:

I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.

God identifies Himself to Abram as El Shaddai, the Almighty. He is the all powerful and the One who is able to destroy. He then says “Walk before Me, and be blameless”. Many interpret this to mean that God expected Abram to be perfect and blameless. But, we know that this is not possible. It is impossible for sinful man to be perfect, completely spotless and utterly free from sin. Thankfully, the word doesn’t mean that. It is misinterpreted to mean this and I’m really not sure why. Instead, God calls Abram to walk before Him and he will be made blameless. By walking before God, Abram would be made complete. The same thing that God calls Abram to do, He still calls on Christians to do. As we walk according to the Spirit, and not the flesh, God works in us to make us perfect/complete and more like His Son. This process is what we refer to as sanctification. We will not be fully complete/perfect while still in our flesh, but we should see our lives moving in that direction.

God then tells Abram that He will establish His covenant with him and multiply exceedingly. At all of this, Abram falls on his face before God. God continues, promising Abram that His covenant is with him and that He will fulfill His promise to make him the father of many nations. God then changes Abram’s name (high father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). He then expands His promise, saying that He will establish His covenant with Abraham’s children. This covenant is to be an everlasting covenant. He also promises them the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. He then tells Abraham that he and his descendants shall keep God’s covenant down through the generations. The sign of this covenant is circumcision. This is to happen on the eighth day after a boy is born. Interestingly, researchers have found that this is the day that the baby has the highest level of prothrombin which helps the blood clot. This was not only for the children though. It also applied to the servants that were born in the house or bought with money. There are not only blessings that come from circumcision, but there are dangers too. Those who aren’t circumcised will be cut off from God’s people for that one has broken His covenant.

In today’s time, there are arguments as to whether circumcision is healthy or not, but it is not a requirement for becoming a Christian. Gentiles in Biblical times didn’t practice circumcision. This meant that the Jews were set apart from the world around them by the sign of the covenant. While physical circumcision is not required for someone to become a Christian, spiritual circumcision is:

You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written. indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:23-29)

When a man or woman is saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in them and He cuts away the heart of stone, giving them a heart of flesh. This circumcision shows itself in the change of attitude, action, and lifestyle that accompanies a true conversion. So only one question remains….Has your heart of stone been replaced by a heart of flesh? Have you been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit? Or, are you just copying the actions of those Christians around you? Have you truly repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ? If not, then you’re just pretending and you’re not fooling anyone. John says that it is obvious whether or not you are a child of God or a child of the devil (1 John 3:10). If you haven’t repented of your sins (lying, lusting, cheating, stealing, idolatry, gossip, coveting) please do so while you still can. The Bible says that you have one shot at this life and this is it. Once you die, it will be too late and, if you’re found in your sins, God will cast you into hell as just punishment for sinning against Him. However, if you repent of your sins (turn from them and turn to God) and you put your trust in Jesus Christ to save you; the Bible says that you’ll be saved from God’s wrath and know for sure that when you die, you’ll go to heaven. Please repent and trust Christ today!

This week, we finish up our look at Genesis 16. First, as always, we’re going to review a little.

Abram and Sarai had separated themselves from Lot due to strife between the herdsmen of Lot and their own. God had shown Abram all of the land that would be his. Abram asked God about an heir and God said that he would have a son of his own to carry on his name. God makes a covenant with Abram and expands His promise. Last week, we saw that Sarai wanted a child and gave her handmaiden to Abram in order to have a child through her. When Hagar conceived, Sarai was despised in Hagar’s sight. In response, Sarai blames Abram for what she told him to do. To show that he didn’t despise her, Abram tells Sarai to do what she will with her maid and Sarai runs her off. It is here we pick up with our study.

Hagar runs away (it doesn’t say where right away). The angel of the Lord finds her by a spring of water on the way to Shur. This was a pretty good trip for a new mother and her newborn baby. From what I can gather, the place where Hagar was found by the angel of the Lord is on the Sinai peninsula, west of Kadesh-Barnea. Abram was living in Hebron at the time. This was close to 100 miles one way. The angel of the Lord (who might be Jesus) finds her and asks her where she came from and where she is going. Hagar is honest and says that she is running away from her mistress. The angel responds to her by telling her to submit herself to Sarai’s authority, and then he tells her that he will greatly multiply her descendants so that they are too many to count. I am of the belief that when the Bible says “the angel of the Lord”, it is a reference to a pre-incarnate Christ.

The angel continues by telling Hagar about what her son will be like. He tells her that her son will be called Ishmael because the Lord has given heed to her affliction. Ishmael is to be a “wild donkey of a man” (Ishmael is the ancestor of Mohammed and the majority of Muslims) and will be against everyone and everyone will be against him. Ishmael will live to the east of all of his brothers. Hagar calls the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”. The well gains the name that Hagar has given to God. Hagar goes back to camp and bears Abram a son, which he calls Ishmael. The chapter ends with a reminder that Abram is 86 years old when Ishmael is born to him.

This will be important as we continue, but for today, we’re done. We really appreciate you for reading our blog and we thank you for that. We ask that you help us Get The Word Out about our blog, our Facebook page, and our apparel shop. If you’d like, you can help us by finding us and becoming a part of our growing community. Thanks again for you’re help and we are looking forward to next week’s study! See you then!

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

This week, we begin to look at the source of some of the biggest problems in scripture as well as today’s time. But first, let’s recap.

Abram has left his homeland, he’s traveled to a new land following the command of a God that he didn’t know. He stayed in Egypt during a famine until Pharaoh kicked him out for saying that his wife was his sister. He left Egypt with servants, animals, and money. Lot also came away with many things. As they returned to their home, a conflict broke out between the herdsmen of Lot and Abram. Space was getting tight and Abram let Lot choose where he wanted to live (even though Abram could have taken the choice due to being the older one). Lot chose the well watered valley of Sodom. When Lot departed, God spoke again to Abram and expanded on His promise. After a time, word came to Abram that Lot and his family had been captured during the war between 4 kings and 5 kings. Taking 318 men with him, Abram defeated the 4 kings and saved the 5 kings and their people. He didn’t take anything of the spoils and broke bread with Melchizedek, giving him a tenth of everything. God again speaks to Abram about His promise and tells Abram to cut animals in half, laying the halves opposite each other. Then, Abram falls asleep about evening time and has a terrible dream. In this dream, God speaks to him, telling him that what will happen to his descendants. Then, a torch and oven pass through the animal parts and God makes a covenant, swearing by Himself because there is nothing higher.

We know that Abram had his heirs on his mind because that is what he asked God about at the beginning of chapter 15 before God made the covenant with him. Here, we see the impatience of man mixed with doubt and the results of it all. God had promised Abram that Sarai would bear him a son, but nothing had happened in ten years. Abram was now 85 years old and the promise of an heir had yet to be fulfilled. Because of their desire to have children, Sarai decided that her maid Hagar should be a surrogate wife to Abram. She would bear the child that they couldn’t have and so bring about God’s promise. I think that it is intriguing to say the least at how Sarai looks at the situation. She blames God (rightly, but still blaming) for her inability to bear children. Sound familiar? “The woman You gave me caused me to eat of the fruit..” She tells Abram to go in to her maid and bear a child with her so that she might have a descendant. This is what she told Abram to do. It is also another tie in to Genesis 3. If you’ll recall, God told the woman that she would want to be in her husband’s position. She would want to call the shots and lead the family. Here, that’s exactly what she’s doing. I can only imagine how many days Abram had heard Sarai talk about how she didn’t have a child, like God had promised. I’m sure that Abram thought about it too. So, just like Adam, Abram listened to the voice of his wife, to do something other than what the Lord said. Now, I’m not saying that wives are like this or tearing them down. I’m only drawing similarities between the events of Adam and Eve’s lives and those of Abram and Sarai.

Ultimately, Abram goes in to Hagar and she conceives. The result of this union starts off on the wrong foot. Not only should Abram NOT have gone in to her because she wasn’t his wife, he shouldn’t have done so because it wasn’t something that God asked them to do. Then, when Hagar conceives, she instantly gets prideful and sees herself above her master’s wife. She no longer sees herself as Sarai’s maid. She sees herself above her actual position. And Sarai’s reaction could be the same thing that any one of us has done in the past week. Things didn’t go the way that she had hoped, so Sarai blamed everyone but herself. It was her idea for Abram to go in to Hagar, but when things go south, she blames him and says that the wrong done to her should be on him. Could it be that Sarai thought that Abram would see Hagar more favorably because she had born him a child? We don’t know, but it’s possible. Abram leaves Hagar in Sarai’s hands, where she’s always been. As the master of the pregnant maid, Sarai treats Hagar harshly and causes her to flee from them.

Now, let me ask: Where do you see yourself in this? Are you Abram? Or Sarai? Or maybe Hagar? Maybe you’ve tried to plan your life the way that you want it? You’ve come up with intricate plans of how things are going to be and then done everything that you could to assure that they would come to pass. Maybe you’ve tried to keep the peace and gone along with something that you knew was wrong just so that conflict would be avoided. Or, maybe you’re the one that was used in someone else’s plan? Regardless of where you may be in this passage, it is important that you stop, step out of what’s going on, and see yourself as God sees you. If you’ve been born again, then you are His regardless of what’s going on. You are of value to Him. If you’re not born-again, then you are not His in the specific sense. You are seen by God as a son of disobedience on whom His wrath abides. His judgment weighs on you and will be fulfilled in you unless you repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ. If you fail to do this, the Bible says that you will spend eternity in hell to satisfy the justice of God. If, however, you will recognize your sin, repent, and put your faith in Christ to save you from God’s wrath; the Bible says that you are born-again. God will give you new desires and you can have assurance that when you die, you will go to heaven; not because of what you did, but because of what Christ did.

What will you do?

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” He said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

This week, we’re going to tackle another entire chapter of Genesis. I have to say that this is one of the most interesting parts of Abram’s story to me, but your mileage may vary. Abram has just gotten through with a war against five kings. He took 318 men with him to battle in order to save Lot and the other captives. After winning the battle and defeating the kings, Abram interacts with two very different monarchs. One of them, the king of Sodom, is an earthly, hedonistic, sinful king. This man wants to give Abram all the spoils of war, but to keep the people for himself. This is likely because of the sins of Sodom, but we don’t know for sure. The other king is like an inverted image of the king of Sodom. Melchizedek is the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and is considered by some to be a pre-incarnation of Christ before His coming to earth. He praises God and breaks bread with Abram. He receives a tenth of the spoils of war and blesses Abram and God.

After returning home, Abram receives a vision from the Lord. The Lord tells Abram not to fear for He is his shield and his reward shall be great. Abram asks God about an heir because he is getting up in years. His first thought is that his servant Eliezer will be his heir, but God refutes this and expands His promise again:

And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God has now promised Abram that he will be a great nation (12:1-3), he and his descendants will possess all the land that he has walked forever (13:14-15), and that He will make his descendants great in number like the dust of the earth (13:16) and the stars of the sky (15:5) through a son of his own blood (15:4). This was incredible news to Abram because he was in his late seventies, early eighties at the time. What is amazing is what verse 6 says:

Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Why is this so amazing? Here, we see Abram believing God and this belief was credited to Abram as righteousness. There are other verses that illuminate what this really means, so lets look at a few:

For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:3-13, 19-25)

When Paul talks about Abram being righteous here, it’s in the context of being justified (saved). He is making a contrast between the works of the Law and the works of faith. He uses Abram as an example of someone who was justified by faith through believing God’s promise of forgiveness through Christ. Abram believed God would bring salvation through Christ and it was credited to him as righteousness. Paul does this again in Galatians 3 with the same purpose.

After God reiterates this promise to Abram a second time (vs. 7), Abram poses a question to God. He asks, “How will I know that I will possess the land?” It is very important to note the tone conveyed in the question. I compare it to the difference between the questions posed by Zacharias (John the Baptist’s father) and Mary (Jesus’ mother). Gabriel told both of them about the miraculous birth they would be a part of, but Zacharias doubted that it would be while Mary just wondered how it could happen. In his question, Abram takes the tone of Mary, wondering how he could possess the land that God has promised him. Instead of explaining it to him, God tells Abram to collect a three-year-old heifer, ram, female goat, as well as a young pigeon and a turtle dove. We don’t have the instructions, but we see that Abram immediately begins to cut the animals in half (lengthwise). He then lays each half down on the ground, leaving a path in between the pieces. For at least part of the day, Abram keeps the birds of prey off of the carcasses (which are now beginning to stink and rot in the heat).

Finally, as the sun goes down, Abram falls asleep. As he slumbers, terror and great darkness fall upon him. It is at this point that God speaks to him. He tells Abram about what will happen to his descendants. They are to be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years. The nation that enslaves them will then be judged and his kin will come out with many possessions. Abram will die in peace at a “good, old age”. In the 4th generation, his descendants will return to the land, “for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete”. This is an interesting statement. Abram’s descendants will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years in a foreign land so that they can be used by God to punish the Amorites for their iniquity!

Then, when it had gotten really dark, a smoking oven and a flaming torch pass between the halves of animals. The signifigance of the two symbols is agreed upon by many although there is nothing of this mentioned in the passage. Many agree that the smoking oven represents the affliction that the Israelites will face in Egypt at the hands of the Pharaoh that “didn’t know Joseph”. The torch, however, signifies the comforting light of God’s presence among His people in the midst of the affliction. He will be with them even through their trials and tribulations. These two symbols pass between the halves of the animals (possibly consuming them) to complete the covenant that God has now made with Abram. He then reiterates the promise of land and even lays out the boundaries of such (which are much larger than the Israel of today).

Just like today, God entered into a relationship with Abram. Then, it took the shedding of blood. Today, He offers a covenant to all who would come to Him through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the sins of man. His promise is true, His words will not fail, and He will uphold His promise. Are you in that covenant? Do you have that relationship with God? Have you acknowledged your sins against the Just Judge of all the universe? Have you repented of your sins? Have you put your faith in Christ alone to save you from sin and God’s wrath? If you haven’t, then the fact that you’re reading this means that you still have time. Will you let go of your sins, repent of them? Will you place your trust solely in Christ alone to save you? If you will, then you can be born again and God will see you as righteous through the sacrifice of Christ. You will be spared His wrath, and have the assurance that when you die, you will go to heaven. What’s keeping you?

And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar–four kings against five. Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.

Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people. Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself.” Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ “I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

This week, we continue our look at the book of Genesis with a study of Genesis 14. It’s a long study this week because we’re looking at the whole chapter. Because it’s been awhile since our last study, we’re going to recap (although we’d do this anyway! lol).

Abram has been called out of his homeland and has been led to a new land by God. He has traveled to Egypt due to a famine. Here, he told his wife Sarai to tell everyone that she was his sister (which technically was true). Because of this, Pharaoh decided to take her for his wife and give Abram many gifts. Before anything could happen to Sarai, Pharaoh found out (we’re not sure how) that Sarai was really Abram’s wife and forced him, Sarai, and Lot (plus all of their newly acquired gifts) out of all of Egypt. Abram moves back to Bethel and settles there. Because of the abundance of both Abram and Lot, their herdsmen begin to fight each other. Abram gives Lot a choice as to where he will live and Lot chooses the well-watered valley near Sodom and Gomorrah. After they separate, God expands the promise that He made to Abram when he left his homeland. Now, not only will Abram will be a great nation, but the land that he walks in every direction will be his. He then moves his tent to Mamre and builds an altar to the Lord.

In chapter 14, Moses begins by laying out some of the background of what is about to take place. We see that four kings (Amraphel, Tidal, Arioch, Cherdolaomer) decided to go to war with five kings (Bela, Birsha, Semeber, Bera, Shinab). The five kings had been serving Cherdolaomer, king of Elam, for twelve years and decided to rebel against him in the thirteenth year. In the next year, Cherdolaomer went out and defeated a number of tribes/groups/nations in the area. In response to this, the five kings came out to fight him and his allies. The area where they fought was full of tar pits and as the five kings fled the losing battle, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell into them. After their defeat, the kings were taken captive (most of the people fled into the hill country). Cherdolaomer also took all of the goods and food from Sodom and Gomorrah. As part of this, they took Lot and his family captive. Lot had moved from the valley to the gates of the city and now, he had moved into the city of Sodom itself.

One of the survivors finds their way to Abram and tells him about what has taken place. Abram hears about what had happened to his nephew, chooses three hundred and eighteen of his own relatives to go fight and rescue Lot. Eshcol, Aner, and Mamre also choose to go with Abram. The entire group pursues the kings as far as Dan (in Northern Israel) and sets out to defeat the kings. At night, Abram separates his men into groups and attacks them. While we don’t have the specifics of how the battle took place, we do know that Abram won. What five kings and all of their men couldn’t do, Abram and his men (which we would assume to be lesser in number) did.

After the defeat, Abram returns home with the food, the items, the people, and the possessions as well as his nephew Lot. As they get back home, the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abram in the valley of Shaveh. Here, Abram also meets Melchizedek the king of Salem. This passage is one of the few that gives us any information on Melchizedek. We find out that Melchizedek is a priest of God Most High (El Elyon). Melchizedek is mentioned one other time in the Old Testament (Psalm 110:4). The rest of the times that Melchizedek is spoken of are found in the book of Hebrews. The main passage that we’re going to look at is Hebrews 7:1-3:

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Here, we see that Melchizedek blessed Abram(Abraham) and Abram gave him a tenth of the spoils. Melchizedek is called “first of all”, the “king of righteousness”, and the king of Salem (peace). He is also said to have no father or mother, no genealogy, no beginning or end but was made “like the Son of God”. Many believe that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ. Others say that the similarities between Christ and Melchizedek are that neither of them have any given pedigree where they can trace a lineage of priesthood. Nothing of this matter is said about Melchizedek and nothing in the genealogy of Christ lends itself to this either. They were both different than the line of priests that came from Aaron.

Melchizedek blesses Abram and the God Most High, whom they both serve. He then recognizes that it was God who delivered Abram’s enemies into his hands. For all intents and purposes, Abram and his “army” should have been defeated by the four kings and their armies. And yet, they weren’t. Out of respect for Melchizedek, Abram gives him a tenth of all the spoils. After their interaction, Abram turns from the king of Salem to the king of Sodom. I don’t think that there are many more different people than the two before Abram. The king of Sodom asks Abram for the people and tells him to keep the remaining spoils. I find it odd that the king asks for the people. Some of them were likely his subjects, but others were not. Knowing the background of Sodom and what was going to happen in the near future, I can’t help but think that the request was for immoral reasons, but there is nothing in scripture to support this. Regardless of the reason for the request, Abram denies him. Instead of taking the spoils, Abram says that the only thing that will be missing from the spoils is what those that came with him had eaten as well as the shares of Eshcol, Aner, and Mamre. The reason behind this is twofold. First, Abram has sworn to God that he wouldn’t take a sandal or coin. Second, he knew the character of the king of Sodom and didn’t want to give the king the opportunity to say that it was because of him that Abram was rich.

What have you sworn to God? Have you kept that? Many hold to the view that if we have sworn something to God, that we should do everything we can to keep that oath/vow (Exodus 20:7/Leviticus 19:12/Numbers 30:2-16/Deuteronomy 23:23/Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). I would agree with that, but with one caveat. In Matthew 5, Jesus takes this law a step further:

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37)

We shouldn’t be making vows. Instead, we should be able to say “yes” or “no” and that should be enough. It should be a concrete and sound thing. It would mean that we would have to be careful even what we say. Instead of saying that we will do this or that, we should say “if the Lord wills” as it says in James:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

Please be careful what you vow, and how you look at others. Let your yes be yes and your no be no! Thank you for reading along with us this week. Please share our blog with others that we may get the truth of the gospel to others. Also, join us next week for the next part of our Genesis study.

Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. “Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

This week, we will be taking a look at a smaller passage of scripture in the life of Abram. Before we do though, let’s recap.

Abram had been called out of Ur of the Chaldees with his father Terah and some of his family. Along with him were his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They traveled to the city of Haran and there Terah died. Abram, Sarai, and Lot continue the journey to the new land following God’s leading. We don’t know exactly how well acquainted with God Abram was at this time, but he was still obedient. As Abram travels through the land of the Canaanites, he builds altars to God.

When a famine hits the land, Abram travels to Egypt. While their, he tells Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she is his sister (she was – they had different mothers) so that they don’t kill him and take her for themselves. Because of this, the Egyptians tell Pharaoh of Sarai’s beauty and Pharaoh takes her for his own. Pharaoh gives Abram many things because of Sarai but, because she is Abram’s wife, God strikes Pharaoh’s house with “great plagues”. Pharaoh seems to know that Abram and Sarai are the cause of these plagues and kicks them out of Egypt (he lets them keep all the stuff he gives them).

Abram then travels back through the Negev and on to Bethel where he had first set up his tent. As they begin to settle the land, the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot begin to fight each other because there is not enough land for both of them. Abram gives Lot a choice: he can take his pick of all of the areas he can see and Abram will go the other direction. Lot sees that the valleys around Sodom and Gomorrah are fertile so he chooses to go there. He starts out in the valleys, but eventually Lot moves closer to the city until he is living at the gates.

As an aside in the story, Moses writes that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked sinners against the Lord. We will see what this sin is in later chapters of Genesis. After Lot separated from Abram, God comes to him again and repeats his promise from chapter 12:1-3:

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”  (Genesis 12:1-3)

This isn’t quite the same promise though. God has elaborated on it. If you remember, God told Abram to leave his family and go to the land that He would show him. Until Lot and Abram separated, this wasn’t true. Now that they were separated, the Lord comes to Abram and expounds on His promise:

“Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. “Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”

Now, not only will Abram become a great nation; not only will he be a blessing; not only will all the families of the earth be blessed in him. Now, all of the land that he can see in every direction will belong to him and his descendants forever. He is also promised that his descendants will be greater in number than the dust of the earth. It is promised to him. This is especially intriguing because Abram has no children.

As the chapter (and our study) closes, we see Abram moving his tent near the oaks of Mamre and building an altar to the Lord. As we end for this week, I can’t help but think about something. God only began doing what He promised as Abram was obedient. When God first came to Abram, He promised him something. As Abram moved forward in faith, God acted. As Abram became more obedient, God began to reveal more of His purpose and plan. While God didn’t need Abram at all in order to make His will be done, He blessed Abram with the opportunity to be a part of it all. It is the same with Christians today. God certainly doesn’t need us for any reason at all to accomplish His will, and yet He allows us to be a part of it all and to work in service to Him to see others come to Christ.

Are you obedient to God? Are you living your life according to His moral standard? Are you loving the brethren with agape love? These are the characteristics of a Christian (see 1 John 3:10). Obedience is greater than sacrifice and is something that all of us should strive for every day! We appreciate you reading a long with us and hope to see you here again throughout the week!

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. “Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere–this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah–like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.

Today, we’re going to continue following Abram as he follows God. Abram has been called out of Ur of the Chaldees, away from his family. He has followed his father Terah to Haran. There, Terah died and Abram continued on his own, with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They traveled to Bethel and then south through the Negev. A severe famine caused them to move into Egypt and live there for a little while.

As they entered Egypt, Abram had told his wife that she was to tell everyone that she was his sister (which we saw is actually true) so that they wouldn’t kill him and take his wife. The Egyptians told Pharaoh of Sarai’s beauty and he took her to be his wife. Because of her beauty, Pharaoh gave Abram livestock and servants. But, God struck Pharaoh and his household with “great plagues” because of this. Pharaoh seems to know why the plagues came and Who brought them. He rebuked Abram, gave Sarai back to him, and sent them out of Egypt.

Now, Abram is rich in livestock, silver, and gold. He retraces his steps through the Negev and back to Bethel where he built the altar. As he reaches this place, Abram must have remembered calling out to God and been reminded of Who it was that had blessed and protected him. We also see that Lot has been blessed because of Abram. He too has flocks and herds and tents. This brings about a problem for nephew and uncle. The land that they are both dwelling on cannot sustain both of them. Both of them had so many possessions that it brought strife between their herdsmen as they fought for grazing land. We find out that the Canaanite and the Perizzite are dwelling in the same land. In these stressful conditions, Abram approaches Lot with a request. His desire is to be at peace with his nephew, so he asks Lot to separate from him. Abram, being the elder one, should have had the choice of land, but he instead gives that to Lot.

When Lot looks up, he sees that the valley of the Jordan is well-watered. The text says that it was as well watered as the garden of the Lord. It doesn’t say in the text, but I can’t help but wonder if this view of the valley was enhanced by Lot’s desire to increase? Just a thought. In the end, Lot moves to the valley of the Jordan. But, he doesn’t stop there. He takes his tents as far as Sodom.

Meanwhile, scripture says that Abram settled in Canaan. It is interesting that it is only now that God’s command is obeyed. You might be asking what I’m talking about. Let’s take another look at it:

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; (Genesis 12:1)

God told Abram to go forth out of his country, which he did. But, he also told him to go away from his relatives and his father’s house. This would include his nephew Lot. Now that Lot is gone, God can begin to work with him and prepare him for what’s to come.

This brings to mind something that I want to ask you. Has God commanded something of you? If so, have you obeyed completely? Or, is there still something that you need to get rid of/let go of so that He can work in you? Prayerfully ask the Lord to show you what the case may be and He will show you. Just be ready to obey…

Next week, we’ll see how God adds to His promise! Hope to see you there!

Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. “Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels. But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him. So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.

This week, we continue our look at Abram’s journey from Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan. Abram has been called out of his own land, away from his family and everything he knows to follow a God that he may or may not know much about. His father Terah had gone with him as far as the city of Haran. While they stayed in Haran, Terah died. Abram, who is now left with his wife and his nephew Lot continues on in the journey to the new land. It is God Himself who told him to continue on. And Abram obeys God. They travel from Haran to the land of Canaan and it is here where we pick up the story.

A famine has come to the land that Abram has been brought to. The famine is so bad, he travels down to Egypt in the hopes of finding food. As they approach Egypt, Abram talks to his wife about how they will act while they’re there. Part of the plan included Sarai saying that she was the sister of Abram. This was because Abram was afraid that the Egyptians would see her beauty and try to kill Abram to get her for themselves. There are a few things here to take note of. First, Abram thinks that his wife is beautiful enough that someone would kill him to get her. Sarai must have been beautiful! The second thing is that Abram tells Sarai to say that she is his sister. Sometimes when this is studied, people seem to think that Abram is lying, but he’s not. Sarai really was his sister. If we look ahead to Genesis 20:12, we see that this is the truth:

“Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife;

So, Sarai really was Abram’s half sister. They shared the same father (Terah) but not the same mother. They enter Egypt, and the scriptures say that the Egyptians noticed her beauty and felt that it she was so beautiful that they “praised her” to Pharaoh. Because Pharaoh was basically seen as a god on earth, Sarai was brought in to Pharoah’s house. Because Pharaoh thought that Sarai was Abram’s sister (without them being married), he gave Abram gifts and treated him well during their time there. But things changed very quickly for Pharaoh. It seems that in a short time after Pharaoh took Sarai for his own wife, the Lord struck his entire house with severe plagues. It is interesting to note that we don’t know how Pharaoh knew that it was because of Sarai that the plagues came (although we can assume that he would be able to make the connection through reason). We also don’t know how Pharaoh found out that Sarai was actually Abram’s wife. It may have been that God gave him the information in a dream (as he did when Abimelech did the same thing – Genesis 20:1-18), but we aren’t told.

What we do know is that however Pharaoh got the information, he knew that Sarai was Abram’s wife and he had enough morals to not keep her but to give her back to Abram. The result was that Pharaoh commanded Abram and Sarai out of his presence and told him to take her and all the things that Pharaoh had given him (servants, donkeys, camels, sheep, oxen) and leave. It is not said, but it is to be assumed that Pharaoh not only commanded Abram out of his immediate presence but also out of all of Egypt. Because of this, Abram moves out of Egypt and into the Negev, the southernmost section of what today is modern day Israel.

This is where we will leave it for this week. Abram has taken Sarai, Lot, and all of Pharaoh’s gifts and has moved into the southern area of Israel known as the Negev. We truly appreciate that you’ve been following along with us and hope that you will continue. Also, please let your friends know about our Bible study (and blog) and help us to get the Word out!