Jan 16: Gen 12-15

Jan 16, Gen 12-15

Well we are back to Genesis again and if you want to do a quick recap, go to Study on Genesis 8-11

Genesis 12 we learn about the call (God telling you what to do) of Abram to move without knowing where to go by God’s leading. Basically he has to leave his family, country, and friends. Obeying for Abram here is 100% as there is no humans that he can lean on if things don't work out too well. God is promising to Abram some very mighty things and this includes making Abram’s name great and become a great nation so that he is a blessing to others. This is a divine blessing not only to Abram but to all his descendants, and ultimately, to us that follow God. Interesting, as we just learned in the last chapter that Abrams wife can’t have kids… but yet God promises to make him into a great nation? The power of God is unbelievable! So, at the age of 75, Abram went and obeyed God. As they were passing by some occupied land, God tells Abram that Abram’s offspring will get that land, so Abram built an altar (a place where God was or would be encountered) there. Abram doesn't want his beautiful wife to be taken and him to be killed as they entered Egypt, so he tells Sarai to say that they were brother and sister that his life may be spared. Which is half true, since in Genesis 20:12 we learn that they have the same Father, but different Mothers. Pharaoh (King of Egypt) took Sarai to his house to be one of his wives and because of this, God brought a punishment of a plague onto Pharaoh’s family. When Pharaoh realized it was because of Sarai, he brought in Abram and had him take his wife away. Why did Abram do this? He didn't believe that the Lord would have saved him and kept him safe. Instead of fearing in the Lord and trusting in Him to protect him, he schemed a plan that he thought would keep him safe. I am sure we have all made up lies, to try to protect ourselves. But we learn through Abram that not only didn't it work. But the Lord had to intervene to save. And even when we lie and sin to cover our fears, God cares for us and teaches us to trust in Him above all circumstances, other men, and our fear.  Honestly, it is a shock to think about this incident because as Christians sometimes we put our Patriarchs/Fathers of the Faith up on a pretty high pedestals.

Chapter 13 is when Abram and Lot separate because they have both acquired too much livestock, workers, and possessions to share a land, plus their hired hands were beginning to squabble. Abram wanted no strife between them, and let Lot pick which ever way he wanted to go, and acquire the land that was in the direction that he chose. Lot picked the land towards the land of Sodom (we will soon learn - not the best choice!) because it looked lush - but the people who lived in the cities close by were great sinners against the Lord. Then the Lord gives Abram another divine promise - All the land you see will be yours and your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth, basically Abrams lineage will be so large that you cant count them all. Remember - right now Sarai can(')t have kids and it(')s just the 2 of them with their servants and belongings… Sounds pretty ridiculous to think that an old guy and his old barren wife will be the Patriarchs of an entire people group, but if God says it will happen, wait and see - it will happen. Abram went towards Hebron and settled there. 

Chapter 14 starts off sounding a little confusing, with all these names of kings we don't know. But remember, the Bible is a historical accurate account of History, therefore, we are going to have a little History lesson once and a while. In a nut shell. What happened is that basically, a bunch of cities where overtaken by two kings. These two kings made the cities subject to them, and made them go to battle when they wanted and it was also custom to pay a high tax. Well, after 12 years of dealing with this, some of the kings of conquered cities got together and decided to rebel against the Overlords of the land and try to be free from them. As these small 5 cities joined together in the 13th year, to try to get out os the ruling thumb of the king they were under. But they lost the battle and where taken away as captives. Probably to be traded for slavery. But this is when Abram rescues Lot. Remember who moved right next to Sodom? That’s right - Lot did… And yet, where did they find Lot? Living in Sodom, verse 12. There was one who escaped the fighting and went to find Abram. What is also interesting about this verse 13, is that it is the first time when Abram is called the 'Hebrew.' Anyhow, Abram took a bunch of his servants and went after the kings who had taken Lot. Abram and his servants were successful with the help of the Lord and rescued all the Kings and their possessions and people, as well as returned home with Lot and his possessions. We are introduced to Melchizedek king of Salem (Mel-kiz-a-deck). Melchizedek's name means 'King of Righteousness' and King of Salem means 'King of Peace.' In the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 7:1-3, we learn that this priest that meets Abram in the desert, is in fact Jesus the Christ. Here Jesus is blessing Abram, and even brought him bread and wine. Where does bread and wine sound familiar to you? That is right, it would be the future covenant of Jesus. You see, the God of the Bible is the same today, just as He was hundreds of years ago... We know that by faith, Abram was saved. And the chapter ends with the King of Sodom trying to give Abram a 'reward' for saving all of them. But here, we see, that after Abram met Jesus, Abram couldn't take any gift from the pagan kings. Instead, trusted that all he would need, would be given to him by the Lord.  

Chapter 15. It starts of with God promising to Abram children. Abram, asks honestly to God, "I have no kids, and I am old. How is this to be, and where I will be a great name and multitudes of people will come after and through me?" God promises Abram that he will have offspring and God told him to count the stars and that would be the amount of his offspring… And Abram believed God and it was a credit to Abram that he believed - God was pleased with that. After the Lord makes this promise, Abram and the Lord make a covenant together with the slaughter of dividing up animals in a sacrifice. I know this doesn't make sense to us, as we don't do this and it might seem ancient. But blood seems to be the binding factor in an oath to the Lord. Think of the term we use, "Blood Brothers" as a promise that goes beyond time. As we will learn later, blood is used over and over again for either the glory of God, or the dishonor of Him.  After Abram completed the sacrifice to God, God put him into a deep sleep. In his dream the Lord told him that Abrams offspring would be sojourners (no permanent home, temporary - think Gipsies or nomads) in a land that they didn't own and will be servants with a tough life for 400 years. God will bring judgement on that nation and Abram shall live old and die. Notice the detail of God’s promise - He makes all things happen for a reason. Here we see, a great example of God planning out the future events. We know that what God was prophesying, was the 400 years in Egypt and the judgment is He will bring on them. So when it feels as though, no one is in control of this world or world events. Know that it was all planned out By God in advance. And that one day, He will bring all death, evil, and sin to judgement. 

To sum it all up:

• Obey at any cost. God cares for His purposes and people and plans. 
•  Even when God’s promises seem so far off and crazy - trust in what God and His Word says. 
• When we obey - God will bless us with His presence
• God does keep His promises. Even though it sounds like a crazy promise, to a child-less man. Nothing is too impossible for God. And when He says something, we will find out that He will do it. So, what has He promised you? Eternal life with Him, through His Son, Jesus the Christ. Believe it. What He says, will come to pass...