7 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 22:20-24

Genesis 22:20-24
"Rebekah's Family"

Here, we have a foreshadowing of what is to come. We are told of Abraham's brother to whom was born 6 sons and 2 grandchildren of note: Aram and Rebekah. What is the foreshadowing? This very same Rebekah would become the wife of Isaac (Gen. 24:15).

From what I can see here, our God is a God who pays attention to details. God had a woman in mind for Isaac, so He began preparing for her before Isaac was born. I find it significant, in this manner, that the details of Rebekah's family come before the marriage of Isaac, even to the point of having another part of the story in between them.

Kinda gives some extra credence to the "God has a plan for your life" statements in the Bible.

6 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 22:1-19

Genesis 22:1-19
"The Sacrifice of Isaac"

For most Christians, this is a familiar story they've heard many times, especially of they went to "Sunday School" at a church, but for everyone's sake, I'll briefly recap the story:

1. God tells Abraham to take Isaac, his only son, and make of him a sacrifice to God.
2. Abraham gathers his servants, wood, and his son.
3. Abraham leaves to a specific mountain in Moriah.
4. Abraham prepares the altar and ties Isaac down.
5. Just before Abraham sacrifices Isaac, an Angel stops him.
6. God provides a ram for the sacrifice.
7. God blesses Abraham.

Something interesting, though, is that despite God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham has faith that God will provide a different sacrifice (v. 7-8). Despite what he had been told by God, Abraham knew God well enough to have faith that another sacrifice would be provided. Think about that. How well do you have to know someone to obey an out-of-character command and have faith that good will come out of it?

As I read this passage, I begin to think that maybe this test, as it were, was not so much for God's benefit (He already knew Abraham's faith) nor for Abraham's benefit (largely, there was, however, a degree of self-realization with priorities, though), but for Isaac. During the course of this test, Abraham showed tremendous faith in God and God showed mercy, provision, protection and blessing towards Abraham and Isaac. For a young man such as Isaac, this could very easily have been a moment in which he saw God personally and learned how to respond to Him. Therefore, I am of the mind to say to every parent, and to myself as I will one day hopefully be a parent, "Wear your faith on your sleeve. Wear it honestly, but remember, your children will learn from your example. Don't hide it, though, for kids can easily see through such deceptions."

5 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 21:22-34

Genesis 21:22-34
"Abraham's Covenant with Abimelech"

Abimelech came to Abraham acknowledging God. He acknowledged God's power as displayed through Abraham's life. I think, though, that Abimelech was becoming fearful of Abraham, then because of the request he had. Abimelech asked Abraham to swear to not break agreements with Abimelech or his descendants.

Wisely, Abraham did not let that request be the only tie. Abraham made a counter-request, asking a favor of Abimelech. The two of them then settled the agreement and made a formal covenant with a witness.

Right here, we see an example for relationships whether they be family, romantic, work, or other relationships. Relationships are not meant to be all give-take, but rather give/take-give/take. Abraham turned a one-sided request into a mutual agreement. They ended up facing each other as equals, not one higher than the other due to owed obligations. In the same manner, keep your debts and obligations balanced, not one-sided.

We can even apply this to our relationship with God. We should not have a relationship of asking and asking God for stuff, but one of serving Him in response to that with which He has already blessed us: life, salvation, our possessions, etc.

4 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 21:8-21

Genesis 21:8-21
"Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away"

Sarah, essentially and to my speculations, was jealous for Isaac of Ishmael with regard to the promise from God of inheritance. She went to Abraham and asked him to throw Hagar and Ishmael out.

It was in the midst of this dilemma that God revealed two things to Abraham:

1. Isaac was the son through whom the promise would be fulfilled
2. Ishmael and his descendants would prosper by virtue of him being Abraham's son.

Therefore, with very little qualms, Abraham provisioned Hagar and Ishmael then sent them off.

God had an immediate chance to prove His word when the two ran out of food and water. Hagar had all but given up when an angel came to her bearing a message that God had heard them and that God would make a great nation from him. God then revealed water to Hagar and was present with them as Ishmael grew.

Right here we can see how God cares for the marginalized, the hungry, and the hopeless. God provided for Ishmael despite not being the child of the promise. Hagar had no food or hope and God came and restored both to her. God cared and provided for both Hagar and Ishmael even though they were not of apparent (as I can see) significant import to the greater plan of salvation.  

Why? Why didn't God leave them to die? Part of it boils down to the promise he had made to Abraham, then Abram, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and that he would make of them a great nation. While the promise was wholly fulfilled through Isaac, God kept His word even with Ishmael, making a large and impactful nation from his descendants, the Arabs. 

3 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 21:1-7

Genesis 21:1-7
"The Birth of Isaac"

Here, we see God keeping His word. Right here we have the birth of the son through whom God would fulfill His promises to Abraham. This child, Isaac, was the first step towards Abraham being the father of many nations. God has kept His word with regard to this half of the promise. The other half will only be fulfilled much later.

Nonetheless, we have here an example of God's trustworthiness. What He says He will do, He does. We can rely on God in every situation. After all, he gave a child to a 100 year old man and his not-much-younger wife as He promised, within the time period He declared (1 year [from when the messengers told Abraham]).

2 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 20:1-18

Genesis 20:1-18
"Sarah Rescued from Abimelech"

Abraham, it seems, doesn't learn. Once again, when staying in a foreign country, he and Sarah pose as siblings. In a repeat of the last time (see Gen. 12:10-20), the king, Abimelech, takes Sarah as his wife, but doesn't consummate it (God kept him from sinning, thus). Nevertheless, God came to Abimelech and confronted him of his sin adding the consequence of death if he did not make right with Abraham.

Now you're probably thinking "It wasn't Abimelech's fault!" So was Abimelech. Note that this reason (that he was unaware and married Sarah out of a clean conscience) was enough for God to keep Abimelech from further sinning (i.e. consummation of the "marriage").

Here we have a description, an account of God showing mercy as a response to sin. The sin was still punished, but the punishment was lessened due to Abraham's misinformation and Abimelech's ignorance thereof. God showed mercy to Abimelech because his sin was largely caused by another. This mercy is the first depiction of mercy by lessening the punishment of sin. Here we have a prelude, albeit incomplete, to Christ's actions. Here we see God's will to save man from sin. 16 pages into the Bible (by my Bible's pagination) we can already see God's heart.

Again, I'm not saying Abimelech received no punishment, but that God, in His mercy, kept Abimelech from greater sin and gave him the chance for reparations and restitution. Sin still had its punishment, but it was not as great a mess, thanks to God, that it could have been.

1 Jan. 2012 - Genesis 19:30-38

Genesis 19:30-38
"The Origin of Moab and Ammon"

Here we have two counts of incest which begin two races against whom Israel spent many battles waging war - Moab and Ammon.

Lot was living with his two daughters (all that remained of his family) in a cave outside of Zoar (the town to which he previously asked to be able to flee). The Bible says that Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. I'm going out on a limb, but that could be partly due to the recent fracas with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lot's daughters, however, were less than pleased with this affair, especially since their husbands-to-be were dead and there were no menfolk in the area. They then hatch a plan to get Lot smoordronk [an Afrikaans infinitive form for drunk; it was the most appropriate word on hand] and sleep with him while he was passed out. Both daughters, on consecutive nights, did this and succeeded.

Like the contrast of Lot with Abraham, in the previous passage, we can compare Lot's daughters with the descriptions of Abraham's son that had not yet come, Isaac. This comparison truly falls down to what they [Lot's daughters and Isaac] learned from their respective parents.
From Lot and Lot's lifestyle, his daughters grew up unashamed to commit depravities like incest as a response to personal fears, particularly ones related to security, in this case of the family lineage.
From Abraham, Isaac learned to rely on God's wisdom, strength and provision when faced with similar issues (though I would say being tied up on an altar is more stressful and grave than being unable to progress the family line).

Here we see, yet again, a contrast between Lot and Abraham. Where Abraham taught his son to honor and fear the Lord, Lot taught nothing, well, not directly. Indirectly, Lot taught his daughters to seek after worldly possessions and perceptions.

This brings to mind Proverbs 22:6, which says:

"Train up a child in the way he should grow
and when he is old he will not depart from it."