Category: Old Testament Studies

Here will be found the Books of The Old Testament in alphabetical order.

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Genesis Chapter Seventeen, The Covenant with Abraham is exercised!

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
[2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
[3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
[4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
[5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
[6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
[7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
[8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
[9] And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
[10] This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
[11] And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
[12] And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
[13] He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
[14] And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
[15] And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
[16] And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
[17] Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
[18] And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
[19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
[20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
[21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
[22] And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
[23] And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
[24] And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
[25] And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
[26] In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
[27] And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Seventeen

As we enter this chapter in the life of God’s servant Abram, we find that he has now reached the advanced age of ninety-nine years. Thirteen years have passed since the birth of Ishmael. We tend to be quick to condense the time involved in the unfolding of God’s involvement with those of whom we read in the Scriptures. It is easy to lose sight of the truth that what we read in a few minutes may contain decades, as it unfolds in real time for those who live the experiences recorded in the Scriptures. Let us not forget that these were real, individual people who experienced the unfolding of God’s purposes in their lives over the many years that transpired.

We are also often quick to assume that the interaction between God and man, which we find recorded in the Scriptures, occurs within a very short span of time. Such is not truly the case in the lives of men like Abram, who now stands before us as an aged man. He had departed Haran when he was seventy-five years old. Therefore, twenty-four years have passed by the time we arrive here. In that span of time, there have occurred only three Divine communications between Abram and God until this moment. These occurred when Abram entered Bethel, when he parted company with Lot, and once again following the battles with the eastern kings. Think on this for a moment. After each such interaction, numerous years passed, requiring Abram to walk by faith in God’s revelation and not by sight! The world that was seen and touched would often seem to be something other than the world that God had promised, and yet Abram had chosen on each occasion to place his trust in God’s revelation rather than his experiences!

Let us learn a lesson concerning the nature of faith itself from the life of this man. True faith, which prevails in the causes of God throughout our lives, cannot be founded upon the experiences we see and touch. True faith, as we are witnessing in the life of this man, depends upon the settled revelation of God that we have received, even though the circumstances around us may often appear to contradict that revelation. God reasserts His covenant relationship with Abram and his posterity to come when He appears at this moment in the life of this man. Note that there are two parts to this covenant. It is written.

” And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
[2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
[3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
[4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
[5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
[6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
[7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
[8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

(Genesis 17:1-8)

Here we have God’s portion laid out for this binding covenant. Take note of the use of the name , “ I am the Almighty God; “. The implication revealed here is that God possess the power to bring about all that He has said He would accomplish. The fact that this preceeds the remainder of His revelation unto Abram is highly significant. The name here given in Hebrew is El Shadai. This signifies the omnipotence of God above all else. Here God commits Himself unto the following.

  1. 1. God reaffirms His commitment to multiply Abram and make of him many nations
  2. 2. God promises that kings shall come out of his lineage and that He will keep HIs promises unto Abram as well as His posterity forever.
  3. 3. God changes Abram’s name from that which means “father” unto Abraham,which means father of nations as a means to seal His covenant.
  4. 4. God reaffirms the transfer of ownership of the very land upon which Abraham and his descendants are walking. All the land of Canaan belongs unto the descendants of Abraham through the promised seed.
  5. 5. God promises to be their God forever.

In every covenant arrangement there is required involvement of both parties to form a binding contract. God has comiittted Himself to his part of this covenant as described above. What of Abraham and his descendants? To seal their obligations toward God in this contract it was required of them that they do the following. It is written.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
[10] This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
[11] And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
[12] And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
[13] He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
[14] And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

(Genesis 17:9-14)

The identifying outward sign of the commitment to keep their covenant with God was to be the act of circumcision. Most particularly to this covenant was the performance of this act upon the eighth day of a newborn male child’s life. Note that provision , as well as direct requirement, for the bringing in of various classes of peoples into this covenant through the performance of circumcision upon thier becoming a member of the congregation is also given in verses twelve and thirteen. The integrity of this covenant sign was to be kept under all circumstances. Refusal to partake of it either by the stranger coming in or the parents of a newborn as proscribed here resulted in exclusion from participation in the proveleges of covenant llife which God has here established.

Take careful note that in addition to Abraham’s promised covenant blessing found here there is also instruction concerninig Sarah’s portion which she was to receive! The God of The Bible is not such that women are neglected in being allowed access unto His grace . In the scriptures it is written.

[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:24-29).

In the history of the world it will be found that everywhere people acknowledged the God of The Scriptures to be the supreme being who is to be followed and worshipped above all others, women have been elevated in status so that they are truly equal before that God. The Bible teaches that there is a position of honor which women are entitled to hold that is unique to womankind. In the world of our day there is a vile, and concerted, effort to eradicate the distinctions between the positions of honor which God has bestowed upon men and women. While the truth is that women are designed by God to fulfill that position of honor which is theirs, the world would have you believe the lie that men and women are the same in nearly all respects. God says otherwise my friend. Concerning Sarai’s portion of the covenant which is being entered into with God it is written.

“[19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
[20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
[21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.”

(Genesis 17:19-20)

She was no longer to be called Sarai, but rather now she would be Sarah. The change is that she was no longer to be known as “the contentious one” but rather now she would be recognized as “a Princess with God”. She was promised that she would indeed conceive a male child and that this would be the heir of the covenant which God promised to keep with her descendants forever. God’s covenant promises are indeed far reaching across all history and even into eternity.

As for Ishmael it is to be noted that there is a connection between his portion of God’s covenants and the prayers of his father! Look at how God acknowledged this in verse twenty of the chapter before us! Ishmael was not left unblessed. However the terms of covenant blessing for him were not the same as for Isaac. Note that, because much of the turmoil and hatred in the Middel East today can be traced back to the desire to have the possessions which were granted unto his half brother by God rather than receive his own blessing with gratitude and graciousness. It is written.

“And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.” (Verse 20)

The reference which God employs here is a link to the actual meaning of the name of Abraham’s son, Ishmael, for that name has been translated by some conservative scholars to be ,“God hears”, in the English language. You will find the names of Ishmael’s progeny to be recorded in Genesis chapter 25. God did indeed fulfill His covenant promise unto Ishmael.

As we reach the closing of this chapter it is noteworthy that when God ceased speaking unto Abraham, he immediatly undertook the task of completing his end of the covenant he had entered into with God. There was no delay in the exercise of his obedience. The age of each man did not matter. All were to be circumcised who dwelt within his household. This he did! It is written.

“But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
[22] And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
[23] And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
[24] And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
[25] And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
[26] In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
[27] And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.“

(Genesis 17:21-27)

It must be noted that the act of circumcision of the flesh did not have any meaning were it done without the commitment of the heart. Circumcision, like modern day baptism, without the circumcision of the heart, does nothing but symbolize outwardly that which has been done within the heart and soul of a man. If there is no inner commitment there is no merit in the outward sign.

As we close this chapter let us be aware that it is written.

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

(I Samuel 16:7)

May God teach us to see as He sees when we look upon those around us in our daily lives!

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Genesis Chapter Sixteen, The Birth of Ishmael!

[1] Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
[2] And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
[3] And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
[4] And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
[5] And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
[6] But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
[7] And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
[8] And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
[9] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
[10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
[11] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
[12] And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
[13] And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
[14] Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
[15] And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
[16] And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Commentary on Genesis Sixteen

After having received the promise of an heir, it was not long before Sarai, Abram’s wife, became anxious about the advancing age coming upon both herself and her husband. The promise had been given, but from a human point of view, there did not appear to be any action forthcoming! Let us learn a lesson of great value from this study in that God does not always act when we deem it prudent for Him to do so.

The Scriptures are filled abundantly with accounts of God waiting until the moment when it seems that what is in play can’t be brought to fruition by any force other than the hand of God. Many factors enter into this type of situation. Consider the next items that often play a part in such situations.

  • God desires to demonstrate His power to the world at large through what transpires.
  • There are often many diverse individuals and groups of people who are to be impacted.
  • The faith of those involved is tested through the passing of time before the action of God.
  • The circumstances through which God will demonstrate His power and wisdom must be prepared.
  • There is a direct link between prophecies given and prophesies fulfilled that must be established.

These are but a few considerations involved in a thing which God desires to bring to pass. In the case before us, the delay in fulfilling His promise of a male heir born from Abram’s loins results in Sarai’s faltering in her faith. She sets out to “help” God along in this venture by formulating a plan based upon what she can observe and what she is experiencing. It is written.

“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
[2] And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
[3] And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”

(Genesis 16:1-3)

The reference to an Egyptian handmaid being among those in the camp raises the question.”When was this one acquired?” Should you look back in the study of Genesis, you would find that there is one time that lends itself to such an acquisition. That is found in chapter 12, where we are told the following.

“And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.”

Genesis 12:16)

As we ponder this account once again it becomes clear that the presence of Hagar in the camp was a result of Abram being in the wrong place at the wrong time. God had not told him to go to Egypt. He was in fact directed unto Canaan. Even though there was famine in the land God, having so directed Him, had committed Himself to his preservation. The journey into Egypt had resulted in nothing but trouble from the outset. Sarai, through whom the line of the promised seed of the woman was to come, had been placed in imminent danger due to the falsehood which Abram concocted going into the situation. It took a direct intervention by God to protect the holy line which would ultimately result in the coming of The Messiah.

Before us now is the fruition of that first Egyptian encounter. Take note that sin does not usually cease corrupting after one isolated incident. The effects are frequently displayed and experienced for years or even lifetimes after the first incident. Now I realize that some will object to what I have said and point out that God’s grace and The Blood of Christ cleanses us from all Sin. I do believe that to be true. However, if a man gets involved in a street fight before he comes to Christ and loses an arm, when that man is born again, he does not grow a new arm in its place. Sin leaves scars, my friend, and that is what I am addressing here.

In the chapter before us, we are witnessing the origins of the continued conflict between the descendants of the sons of Hagar and the coming sons of Sarai, which we are watching on the world stage of the Middle East now in the headlines of our news media. I would point out that there is a major consideration in this, which is first encountered in the interaction between Adam and Eve in The garden of God, Eden.

God has clearly established the proper places of authority and responsibility in the formation of a home. It is the man of that home who must protect all the others who dwell therein, and it is the man of the home who bears responsibility for the decisions which he allows to be made within the established family and home. Adam listened to Eve and disobeyed God. Abram here repeats this reversal of roles by harkening unto Sarai and taking Hagar, the Egyptian. God had never instructed them to do so in this matter.

Take careful note that there is a failure on the part of both Sarai and Abram in that neither of them consulted God before undertaking this deed. No one bothered to pray about the action being considered! We read the following.

And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
[4] And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
[5] And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

(Genesis 16:3-5)

Note carefully the reaction of Sarai unto the consequences of the situation which she was,in large part, guilty of orchestrating!She blamed her husband! She even went so far as to invoke God as arbitor in this matter. So often in matters where a woman involves herself in things in which she ought not be involved is this same propensity seen. The idea seems to be,“I am guiltless because you knew better but did not stop me!” To be fair it must be stated that Abram did hold the responsibility to reign in Sarai as she attempted to set this plot in motion. All parties involved suffered unintended consequences of their sin which were hidden from thier view until they could not be avoided! Yet even in the midst of this God was there causing the evil which had been intended to be worked for good. It is written.

“[6] But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
[7] And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
[8] And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
[9] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
[10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”

(Genesis 16:6-10)

In this portion of the passage before us we find Christ is present and actively interacting with Hagaar! Jesus Christ did not come into existence when the babe of Bethlehem was born. There are several passages which speak to the eternal presence of Him. Consider the following.

  • 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” ( John 1:1-3)
  • 2.”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
    John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
  • 3..”Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
  • ( John 8:58)
  • 4. “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”
  • (Luke10:18)

These are but four such verses. Time would not allow a complete listing of the passages which speak to the eternal existence of Jesus, The Christ of The Living God. I will point out that whenever the phrase, The Angel of The Lord, occurs in The Old Testament it is speaking of Christ, The messenger of God. Note carefully the promise given unto Hagaar. Who other than God could fulfill such a promise concerning multiple generations of children yet to be born?

Let us note that the promise given here declares unto Hagaar that she is with child and then goes on to describe the character of her unborn son! It is written.

“11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
[12] And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
[13] And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
[14] Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
[15] And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
[16] And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

(Genesisd 16:11-16)

The name “Ishmael” literally means ,“God hears”. Let us take refuge in the truth that even when we seem to be forgotten or driven away from those whom we have been involved with, God still hears us when we call! It is also true that God sees and understands our current prediciment when we think we are alone. The name given to the place where Hagaar encountered God means,”The Well Of The Living One Who Sees.

As we conclude our look at this chapter in Genesis let us take away the truth that God does not need our intervention in a thing in order to fulfill His covenant unto us. Let us also seek to understand that prayerlessness is instrumental in our falling into sin. When we fail to pray before making major decisions or taking major actions we set ourselves up to act using human logic and wisdom. It is often the case that these are in contridiction to the plans of God. Brethren, let us resolve to be people of prayer and people of faith even when it seems that to do so is in contradiction with the ways and methods of the world around us.

God’s ways are higher than man’s ways, and we often cannot understand them until they are revealed to us in response to a season of prayer. Let us also resolve to not be impatient as God works, for often the timing involved in a thing is important for God to receive all of the glory involved in a matter. Note that Abram was 86 years of age when Ishmael was born. However the plan of God was not yet completed. The seed of promise was still to come. The need to exercise faith in the power, promise, and willingness of God to bring this all about was still required of Abram and Sarai. Concerninig the exercise of faith by this couple we find the following written.

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

(Hebrews 11:11-12)

May God grant unto us the grace and faith to live as people of faith and prayer so that we, in our lives might receive the full measure of abundant living which He wishes us to possess.

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Genesis Chapter Fifteen, The Everlasting Covenant Of God Unto Abram And His Descendants Concerning The Possession Of The Land

[1] After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
[7] And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
[8] And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
[9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
[10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
[11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
[12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
[13] And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
[14] And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
[15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
[17] And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
[18] In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
[19] The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
[20] And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
[21] And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Fifteen

In the days of the ancients it was customary to seal business transactions with a covenant between all parties involved. This was the equivalent to our modern day contracts and held just as much power to bind all concerned to fulfill certain obligations unto each other. In the event of a dispute the known existence of a documented , witnessed, covenant would be produced as evidence which ought to settle the matter. Before us in this chapter we see one of the most important covenants in the history of humanity set out. It is no mere covenant between one man and another. This is a covenant between Abram and God Himself.

Not only does this covenant, which God cannot break, relate to certain gifts and affirmations unto Abram, but it also extends unto his descendants down through the remainder of human history. It is important to grasp the context of this encounter between God and Abram in order to understand the content of the covenant which is to be made here. Abram had recently engaged successfully in battle with certain kings who still dwelt in the neighboring areas around him in Canaan. He had good reason to be afraid due to his status of being an alien and a stranger in that place. The fear of reprisal for his actions would certainly be understandable. So it is that we find God reassuring him from the very beginning of this meeting that there was no need for fear.

The specific relevant content for this request was set out at the first. It is important to remember that Abram had forgone what some would consider his share of a great bounty which would have been divided between the victors of this most recent campaign involving the rescue of his kinsman Lot. He had chosen the better part, which was to follow God, rather than to partake of what could be considered ill-gotten gain. So it is that we find God beginning this meeting by reassuring him of two things immediately. It is written.

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.”

(Genesis 15:1-4)

The deterrence to fear was that God Himself would defend and protect Abram. Look closely at the passage above. The symbolism of a shield in battle is protection from assault by an enemy. It is a defensive piece of battle attire. No one, nor anything, can penetrate the protection of God’s defenses! This is the first thing which becomes part of the covenant “package” if you will. God made a promise here. God will keep it. The second thing which is addressed is the rewards involved in Abram’s life. Note that God promises to be the exceeding great reward which cannot be equaled by the accumulation of all the riches in the earth. To possess God is more than sufficient for life upon this earth.

To possess the wealth of the world and not have God is never sufficient. Men always seem to crave just a wee bit more than they have and devote themselves to the pursuit of that little extra, thinking that they can attain peace and satisfaction by doing so. Jesus Himself said the following.

” Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
[26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

(Matthew 16:24-26)

The focus upon things of eternal significance ought always exceed one’s focus upon the things of this current life. All men will cross from here into eternity. Nothing which is of this earth shall do so. Yet it is, sadly, the preoccupation with accumulation of temporal things which occupies the efforts of men most often. God makes a promise unto Abram that he would never need to follow the crowd in this regard in this chapter of Genesis.

In response to these things, Abram raises a most valid question. The name Abram means “Father,” yet he had no heir born of his own bloodline. At this point in his life, most scholars place Abram’s age to be about eighty-five years old. It is only natural for one to begin thinking about the ticking clock concerning this biological matter. It is evident from the text that Abram had been considering the options before him by the mention of Eliezer of Damascus as the most probable heir to his fortune. In response to this, note God’s firm rejection of the idea, and His affirmation that there would be one born from Abram’s own loins who would indeed inherit the promises that we are looking at right now. The promise of an heir was not the totality of the agreement which God was entering into with this man however. It is written.

“And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
[7] And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
[8] And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
[9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
[10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
[11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
[12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”

(Genesis 15:6-11)

Take careful note of the manner in which God proceeded here! First off He outright denied the possibility of an heir other than one who was a biological descendant of Abram. That settled the issue for time and eternity. Then God proceeded to draw Abram’s attention to an innumerable quantity of visible reminders that He had promised that Abram would have prolific progeny. Whenever he looked up at night that reminder was there, constant and boldly reassuring, in it’s silent proclamation that God had decreed this thing with which he was concerned.

Having been given this infallible assurance Abram decided to believe God and for doing so he was accounted as righteous by God! Yet God was not yet done with this matter. There was still the matter of the land in which his servant Abram dwelt at the moment. God started this transaction, as one ought to begin such a thing, by asserting His identity and asserting His right to transact business in the matter at hand. Observe the seventh verse of this chapter where we find the following written.

“[7] And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”

(Genesis 15:7)

God’s assertions are based in His self sufficiency and in His right to do as He wills with the land being spoken of here by right of ownership due unto creation of it! Such a claim far exceeds any assertion which any human or group of humans could ever put forth. The Psalmist affirmed this right through creation, which God alone holds, when he wrote the following.

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

(Psalms 24:1).

This is also acknowledged by Moses who wrote the following.

“And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s.”

(Exodus 9:29)

Even the Apostle Paul recognizes this, when speaking unto the church at Corinth, when he states the following.

“For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:”

(I Corinthians 10: 26-28)

No matter how loud or long one may protest this truth, it cannot be denied. The covenant which God is about to enter into with Abram cannot be annulled or disavowed by any mere mortal claiming a superior right to God’s right of ownership. He may do as He chooses, or as He allows for He is Sovereign. There is much strife and severe contention in the land which God has promised unto Abram as I type this. Many are very fiercely asserting their “rights” to possess this land at the expense of Israel, whom they are set to remove from the face of the earth. Possession of that which rightfully belongs unto Israel alone is not sufficient to assuage these of whom I speak. The great conflict which we see in our midst even now is not a recent thing. As we journey through Genesis we shall see the origins of this hatred driven grudge unfold shortly.

Having determined that this covenant would be entered into, God now instructs Abram in the manner of sealing it. Abram sets out the blood sacrifices as he was told to do and then proceeds to wait upon God to move. There is a pattern here which we ought not miss. You will find as you traverse The Holy Scriptures, that all movement which involves God in the affairs of humanity originates with God. Men do not possess the ability to seek out and initiate such transactions if God does not want to be found. He is beyond our reach unless He makes Himself available. The next step[ is for we who are engaging in such an encounter to receive instruction from God and then take time to prepare according to these instructions.

Moses did not build the Tabernacle of God, which was borne during the wanderings in the wilderness, according to his whims and fancies but rather he first received the master plan from God, then began to gather the materials and people for the job as God directed him to do. The time for the onset of the work was not immediate, however, but if you read the account of the building of the tabernacle you will find that they moved when God said to do so. This is always the case in such things. God instructs us to do a thing and then causes us to wait for His own Sovereign reasons. When all is ready. When all is prepared according to His plan. Then and only then will He move.

In the account before us we see this set forth when we read the following.

 “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
[13] And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
[14] And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
[15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”

(Genesis 15:12-16)

Note that then sealing of this covenant required blood. It is ever the case that god has set out the necessity for a covering of blood when He agrees to an action. This is reinforced in the writing unto the Hebrews where we read the following.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
[7] But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
[8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
[9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
[10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
[12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

( Hebrews 9:6-15)

I would point out that our view on the necessity of a blood offering is of no consequence in such things. One does not approach God , The Creator of heaven and earth, upon terms which we might choose to dictate. We will either accept His terms or lose the benefit attached unto those terms. For reasons which we may not understand God has decided that the redemption from sin required the blood of His own Son be spilled at the set time, in the set manner, and by the set people. We cannot choose to dictate any alternative conditions for the gospel of God to be made more “acceptable” to other or ourselves as some would have you believe. The gospel is comprised of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as our substitute for the penalties attached unto our sins.

Contained within the body of this covenant is to be found the pronouncement that teh descendants of Abram would enter into a period of four hundred years of sojourning , much of which would be served as slaves. It is further stated that God intended to judge that nation which would so afflict His people and that they would return to the land of promise when the timing was right according to God. Note that this is a reference by God Himself to that period of bondage in Egypt which was to come upon them.

Note also that there is an element of grace in this toward a people known as the Amorites. These people dwelt in Canaan and were notoriously perverted. Yet God in His mercy and grace would grant them an additional four hundred years from the time of the entrance of Israel into Egypt until they were brought forth to return into Canaan in order that they might repent or continue to fill the cup of iniquity spoken of here. No one will ever be able to say to God that they did not have a chance to rectify the sin problem before Him.

In the evening, as the sun set God saw to it that Abram was deliberately incapacitated and therefore could not walk through the path between the two rows of blood offerings. Why would He do this? Usually the parties entering into such an agreement would join hands and walk in that fashion to signify that if one or the other did not keep the bargain the right to swift and total retribution was granted unto the other party involved in the covenant. This was serious business indeed!

There are two things to note in this which we see before us now. The first is that God knew that Abram could not keep any commitments that would be made in this covenant by him. As stated , in the event of default the obligation would fall unto God to exact the required retribution upon Abram and God had no desire to do this! The second component of this action is that God cannot obligate Himself by oath with any further binding agreement than that of His own character. The smoking furnace and the burning lamp which did pass through each signifies a different attribute of God’s character. It is written.

“And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
[18] In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
[19] The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
[20] And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
[21] And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

(Genesis 15: 17-21)

Note carefully the scope of the land which was given here. Israel has never possessed it all. The idea of Israel occupying the mass of property signified here would be ill tolerated by the world at large of this day due to the necessity of dispossessing the current occupants who dwell there now.

The fulfillment of this covenant, which God sealed unto Himself in this covenant, will come but it will be done in the timing of God Himself and not before.

In closing this chapter we are given a partial listing of those tribes of peoples which God had designated for destruction and removal from the land of promise. It is of value , I believe , to ponder these for in doing so one will be forced to admit that not one of these ethnicities is currently dwelling in the land promised unto Abram. Let us take from this a warning that God will judge sin and will execute the decreed sentence upon all who choose to reject His solution to the same after a period of extended grace and mercy has been used up in its entirety.

God , who is faithful and cannot lie, has decreed these things unto Abram by a blood covenant. Rest assured my friend that the things He has said He will do are as good as done from His point of view.

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Genesis Chapter Fourteen, War in The Plains of Shinar!

[1] And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
[2] That these 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, which is Zoar.
[3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
[4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
[5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
[6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
[7] And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.
[8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
[9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
[10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
[11] And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
[12] And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
[13] And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
[14] And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
[15] And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
[16] And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
[17] And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
[19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
[20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
[23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Fourteen

As we enter upon the history of the ancient world events found here, it would appear that this chapter is somewhat out of place in the Scriptural narrative . Until this point we have been observing the line of the families which will ultimately result in the earthly ministry of Jesus, The Messiah. Here we find the historical documentation of the first war recorded in the Bible. The kings which set about waging these campaigns number four. They are kings which dwell to the north of the fertile lands which are inhabited by the five cities of the plains that included Sodom and Gomorrah.

As do many of these ancient conflagrations , this one began with rebellion over an annual tribute, a tax if you will, that the subjects of Chedorlaomer had been required to deliver unto him for twelve years. In a rage of fury this king cobbles together an alliance with three other rulers who combine to form one massive army under his command. Of note to us among them there is one king in this text called Amraphel king of Shinar. In the study of Scripture, I often find that God’s people stumble over the lack of knowledge of the many names, which we find listed in a given chapter, because they seem to just be a needless record of people that we care nothing about. That is an unfortunate thing , for these names, like the names in the geneological records found throughout Scripture, are inportant in establishing the truth and accuracy of the Scriptures, as well as identifying the time frames for the existence of the individuals which are so very important in Biblical history.

One such name is Amraphel king of Shinar. For many years some scoffers doubted that this man even existed since there was , they would claim , “no extra biblical evidence” to document such existence. That claim is negated by the tracing back of the origin of this king who , by the way, just happens to be one of the most highly regarded figures in Ancient Sumerian history. The linguistics involved in such a tracing lead us to the name of The Ancient Law Giver, Ḫammurabi! It was he who codified the first set of laws into written form which today is known by those who study ancient history as the Code of Ḫammurabi!

In this chapter therefore we come face to face with the concept that Abram was in fact a contemporary of this man because we are told here that he made war against him! There is also evidence that this man , Ḫammurabi!, was in fact the Nimrod of Genesis ten. He is also therefore the central character in the famed Epic of Gilgamesh, for Nimrod and Gilgamesh are believed to be one and the same ! It all fits together if careful study is undertaken.

These things make for fascinating study in their own right, but what does this have to do with the ongoing revelation of God which is the central theme of The Scriptures? We encounter these wars because Lot, Abram’s kinsman, will be the cause of Abram being drawn into the frey as he attempts to rescue his nephew. We find Lot and his family now entrenched in the city of Sodom as we read this chapter. In setting the stage we find written the following.

“[1] And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
[2] That these 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, which is Zoar.
[3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
[4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
[5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
[6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
[7] And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.”

(Genesis 14:1-7)

The success of the kings from the north is evident as you see the listing of the many peoples which they subdued before they even got to their intended targets! The course of attack was directly down a well known route in the Ancient World called the Kings Highway. This was perhaps the most well used trade route in that part of the world. The plunder attained by this approach would have been extensive and massively valuable.

As a defense strategy, it would appear that the five cities of the plain had sought to draw the armies of the north into the murky, boggy, slime pits, which were prevelent in the area between the two armies, and slaughter them as they bogged down in the mire of that land.

It did not work.

We are told the following.

“[8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
[9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
[10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.”

(Genesis 14:8-20)

It is now told unto us why all of these things are recorded here. Among the spoils of war, which woud have been added to the vast treasure trove that was accumulated along the way , these four victorious kings took the spoils that Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain held. Among these were several people who would be either sold or made slaves of the kings who were victorious. One of these was Lot, Abram’s kinsman.

It is written.

“12] And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
[13] And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.”

( Genesis 14:12-13)

Let us remember that the only reason Lot was there was his lust and greedy desire to expand his holdings as we saw when he chose what appeared to be the best part of the land for himself to the exclusion of Abram. How gracious is the action of Abram in the following verses where we find written;

“14] And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
[15] And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
[16] And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

(Genesis 14:14-16)

Two things stand out here. The first is that Abram must have been a very wealthy man to be able to mount an army of the servants from within his own household. Also, as you read carefully the account of his involvement in this war it becomes apparent that Abram, who was in his mid eighties by most accounts , was a master strategist. He defeated the kings which five combined armies could not stop, and he did so with a vastly smaller numerical force of soldiers!

Knowing the things we have looked at is important. It grants unto us the greater abillity to grasp what we are about to observe as Abram encounters two different figures while making his way home. One of these will place a great temptation in the path of Abram. The other I believe to be God Himself who has come to commune with Abram. It is written before us.

“[17] And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
[19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
[20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.”

(Genesis 14:17-21)

Here we first meet a most mysterious character named Melchizedek. He does not show up in too many other places in the Scriptures , yet I hold Him to be of the utmost importance when read the Bible. He is mentioned in only one other Old Testament Passage which is Messianic by nature. In Psalms 110 verse four we find this written.

“The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

(Psalms 110:4)

I would suggest reading that entire Psalm to grasp this Messianic character of what is there. There is much to say in the New Testament concerninig this mystarious one which can be found in The Epistle to the Hebrews. The seventh chapter in particular speaks of Him. In that passage we discover the following things concerning Him.

  • He is called the Priest of The Most High God again (Hebrews 7:1)
  • He is called The King of Righteousnes ( Hebrews 7:2)
  • He is referred to as The King of Peace ( Hebrews 7:2)
  • Abram gave a tenth of all which he had acquired during this war.( Hebrews 7:2)
  • He was without Father or Mother (Hebrews 7:3)
  • He had no record of descent, that is He had no Geneological record, (Hebrews 7:3)
  • He had no beginning of days (Hebrews 7:3)
  • He had no end of life ( Hebrews 7:3)
  • He was not from the tribe of Levi! (Hebrews 7:9-10)

This listing is only a partial enumeration of what is spoken of this “man” whom Abram encountered. This is a Priest of The High God who appears long before the law under which the priesthood pertaining to Israel under Moses was created. Yet He is titled, and recognized by Abram to be, The Priest of The Most High God. What man could meet all of these characteristics? The obvious answer is none! This is God , in the form of a preincarnate apppearance of Jesus Christ!

Look at the passages relating to this encounter closely and you will see that Melchizedek comes forth to meet Abram bringing the elements of communnion, which were used in the last supper recorded in The New Testament Gospel Accounts , which were bread and wine! Also note that it was Melchizedek which first encountered Abram. The second encounter, with the king of Sodom, was nothing like this first meeting. To understand what was going on here it is important to grasp the following.

It was customary in the days of these events for those who had triumphed in battle to divide the spoils which had been acquired among themselves as they saw fit. This did include people taken captive as well as all else. Knowing that such was the expected custom , The king of Sodom attempted to assert his claim to a portion of the loot, but also shrewdly set forth a proposition which revealed his debauched character. It is written.

“[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
[[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
[23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

(Genesis 14:21-24)

The King of Sodom wanted the people for nefarious purposes more than he wanted the wealth which was signified by all of the gold , silver, and precious stone or other items within the booty. The filthy, debased, abuse and misuse of people in the history of the five cities of the plains is legendary. Some have said it is beyond comprehenion of the civilized mind. What is before us is something akin to that damnable practice of human trafficking which we fight in this our day. The temptation, which would have been made even more alluring by the presence of the great horde of spoils right before Abram, could very easily have caused a lesser man to cave to such a proposition.

Yet this was God’s man who but a few moments ago we found in close communion with God Himself. The disdain which Abram rightly displayed by refusing this proposition in the way he did was more than warranted. He wanted nothing to do with the Sodomites then or in the future. Recognizing that taking anything, anything at all, from this evil monarch would taint his reputation, by allowing the king of Sodom to claim that he had made Abram wealthy, was enough for Abram to vehemently refuse this offer. Let us be aware that in refusing this deal Abram was affirming his reliance upon, and faith in, The High God. It is written.

“[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
[23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

(Genesis 14:21-24)

Here is the secret of the magnificent character of Abram. He was beginning to trust The High God for all which he would receive in this life and not depend upon himself or others. This is a lesson that far too many Christians today never grow to understand as they walk through this life. As surely as Abram depended upon God for these things , we too who are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, ought to lean hard upon God who promises to meet our needs and desires through His magnificent supply!

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Genesis Chapter Thirteen, Lot Pitches His Tents Toward Sodom

[1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
[2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
[3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
[4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
[5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
[6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
[7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
[8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
[9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
[10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
[14] And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
[15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
[16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
[17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
[18] Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Thirteen

As we follow the life of this man, Abram, it becomes apparent that he is learning to worship this Great God who had called him out of the spiritual darkness which pervaded his birthplace, Ur of The Chaldees. It is easy to look at such a pillar of faith, as we now know him to have been, and lift him up in our thinking so that we fail to see his humanity. Abram was indeed a great man of faith, but he was most certainly a man just as you and I are.

He did have moments of doubt. He did have lapses in his trust in God. Yet he always found that the road to return unto God was open for him. At the beginning of this chapter, we find him walking that road which leads him back to the place of true worship of the One True God. It is written.

“And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
[2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
[3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
[4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.”

(Genesis 13:1-4)

We are given a few details concerning this man which help us to discern the true nature of his character. He was a man of massive wealth. Wealth during the time of Abram was usually accepted as the aggregate sum of those items of value which were portable. Note that we are told that he had much gold and silver. He also had great flocks and herds. He was favored with a most beautiful wife who walked beside him. By all measurements which the world would use, this was a successful man! Take care to understand that Abram was one who chose to worship God in spite of his wealth and not in order to attain more, nor preserve what he already possessed. His journey took him back from Egypt to the altar which he had built in Bethel.

Note three things concerning the events before us. First take note that in his journeyings God had told him to leave his family members behind and go to the place of promise which God had prepared for him and all of his posterity. Why is this important? The fact that we find mention of his nephew, Lot, among the people who came back from Egypt tells us that he had not followed the commands of God in their totality. He had been practicing only partial obedience up to this point. The result of such a state of events is that there was strife among family members and their households so that it became necessary to part ways.

We are never told that Lot participated in the worship of God. We are told that his presence caused trouble. So often in our lives as we try to follow God, it is the members of our own families who become the greatest hindrances to such worship. I have seen many people that I have known over the years who have been shipwrecked in their faith by means of those who you would have expected to be among their greatest supporters. When God calls one to follow Him it is, sadly, far too often the case that family finds a reason to disapprove of the response of one who heeds that call. Most usually the conflict will arise concerning the clash of that which God desires, which is eternal in nature and expectation of reward, with the desires of some member of one’s family who is bound to the view of current things, which caters to the desires of the fleshly nature of man. It might be a mother or father who resists the idea that their son or daughter has been called for service as a missionary to a foreign society.

It might be a brother or sister who becomes jealous of the attention which is lavished upon the one called of God and therefore diverted from them. Whatever the reason for their objections you may be sure that it is rooted in a low view of God’s character and nature. They do not view God as being sovereign and having the full authority to direct His servants as He sees fit. Let us learn from Abram’s failure to fully separate from his family as he had been told to do by God. Such action always results in trouble of some sort.

In the case before us that trouble manifested itself through the “range wars “ which erupted between the herdsmen of Lot’s house and Abram’s household. Take note of the gracious efforts on behalf of Abram to make peace. It is written;

“And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
[7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
[8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
[9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

(Genesis 13:6-9)

In the society of that day, it was customary for the elder relative of any family encounter to choose how matters of this nature would be settled. In this case that would be Abram, for he bien the uncle would have had the right of first choice. In order to make peace, however, and to prevent the strangers who dwelt alongside of these two households from perceiving them as weak, Abram graciously deferred the choice in this thing unto his nephew.

Lot wasted no time in taking what he thought was the best and most profitable portion of the land before them. His interest was strictly in the ability to advance his earthly status as we see by the following verses.

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

(Genesis 13:10-13)

In seeing only the allure to wealth, Lot failed to recognize the great and severe threat to the spiritual health of himself and all of his household. He placed them all adjacent to the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah without any mention of consulting with God. It is often the case that the pursuit of material wealth leads to giving God a back seat to any and all endeavors which are undertaken. Do not misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong in the possession of wealth in and of itself. When that becomes the thing which drives the direction of your life instead of the worship of God Himself your wealth has become an idol and taken the place of worship reserved only for God.

This is the status in which we see lot as he is revealed here before us. He has become an Idol worshipper. By contrast let us note that after Lot departed from Abram God once again spoke with Abram to reaffirm His covenant with Him. It is written;

“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
[15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
[16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
[17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
[18] Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

(Genesis 13:14-18)

Note that as long as Lot was present God did not converse thus with Abram. Let us mark the lesson here which is that as long as sin is tolerated within our lives, no matter what the source, God will not bless us as He would wish to do. As we go throughout the scriptures, we will have this principle affirmed repeatedly. It is not that God cannot bring about blessings and abundance in our lives. It is rather that we have chosen to allow those things and associations into our lives which cause the flow of His blessings to cease.

There are several things noted in this affirmation which are relevant to the world situation of our day, my friend. Note the following components of this covenant.

  •  1. The land which Abram saw in every direction was given by God unto him.
    • 2. It was given as a perpetual inheritance to all of Abram’s progeny forever.
    • 3. The descendants of Abram would be innumerable.
    • 4. Abram was to traverse this land in every direction
    • 5. Abram responded immediately by removing his house from where Lot and he parted unto the plains of Mamre, which was the opposite direction that Lot had taken. This is important to note for in doing this he removed his household from the influence of the sinful lifestyle of the cities of the plain.
    • 6. When Abram had done as commanded the first thing he did was make provision for the worship of God by building an altar.

Let us ask ourselves what we are prone to do when facing those circumstances in life which require a decision from us as to the course of action we will take. Do we consider God first? Or rather do we calculate the benefits that we can see and touch before thinking of Him? It is sad but true that far too often lives have been ruined and the faith of many individuals has been shipwrecked due to such actions. Let us learn to model Abram in our consideration of events and in doing so allow God to take care of the results which we face.

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Genesis Chapter Twelve. A Man Called Abram Encounters God.

[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
[4] So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
[5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
[6] And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
[8] And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
[9] And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
[10] And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
[11] And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
[12] Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
[13] Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
[14] And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
[15] The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
[16] And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
[17] And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
[18] And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
[19] Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
[20] And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Commentary On Genesis Chapter Twelve

As we enter this chapter, we find that the world was in rebellion against God once more. The different ethnicities which sprang from the three sons of Noah had dispersed but not before the religion of ancient Babylon had taken hold. In addition to this there was one that had arisen which desired to be the ruler of the human race who was called by the title, Nimrod. The situation was such that it would seem that the worship of the One True God was a rarity among humanity.

Against this background we encounter a man called Abram. It is written.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

(Genesis 12:1-3)

Embedded in these three verses which God spoke unto this man are four great promises upon which hangs the entirety of all of the following Scriptures. Look carefully and you will find the following things promised here.

  • Abram is promised a land which God will show him.
  • Abram is promised that God will make of him a great nation and cause his name to be made great in all the earth.
  • All who bless Abram and his descendants shall also be blessed while all who curse them shall themselves be cursed.
  • All of the families of the earth shall receive blessings which shall come through him.

It is well for one who would know the truths of Scripture to seek to understand in every passage how it relates to these promises. At times the issue will be the possession of the land that was promised. At other times the issue will be how the blessings which mankind has received down through the ages since these words were spoken by God have materialized. There are other instances where the direct context of a passage deals with the nations which have come from Abram. Take this to heart in your quest to understand God’s Scriptures and never forget that in all of these God is in the process of revealing Himself unto mankind.

In response to the calling of God, this man Abram, took action based upon faith and faith alone. This we are told in the epistle written unto the Hebrews. There we find the following written.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

(Hebrews 11:8-10)

Take note of several things concerning the exercise of faith by this man. First note that the action he took was not based upon familiarity of the place, nor the circumstances, into which he was venturing. He began his journey by simply believing that as he went God would supply his needs and direct him every step of the way. This is how true faith works my friend. True faith is not dependent upon human rationalization nor sight of what may be instore when we are told to do a thing by God! Lest one might be tempted to place limitations or preconditions upon obedience to God let us examine the life of Abram which he possessed at the time he was called. It is written.

“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
[5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
[6] And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
[8] And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

(Genesis 12:4-8)

This was no man in his youth without any strings attached! Abram was 75 years of age when this call was entertained. Note that he was married and had long standing family obligations and relationships. He also appears to have amassed a certain degree of wealth and possessions which would have needed his attention. This man was certainly well established in a lifestyle of his choosing when God spoke to him. Think for a moment upon the many excuses he could have responded with unto God’s calling and note that he used none of them. We know from additional Scriptures that Abram was actually in Ur of The Chaldees when God summoned him, for in the Book of Acts it is written.

” And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
[3] And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
[4] Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
[5] And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”

(Acts 7:2-5)

In his marvelous defense before the council Deacon Stephen began with the origin of his people and he clearly states that Abram dwelt in Ur. It was from this point that Abram departed yet when we see the events of Genesis twelve the place noted is Haran. The name of that place, by translation, means “crossroad “. You will note by a close examination of the events we are studying that the faith of Abram was a at first only partial obedience. Look closely and you will see the following things involved here.

  • Abram’s father and much of his extended family went out with him.
  • The entire party stopped at Haran.
  • They did not continue until Abram’s father died.
  • While in Haran they apparently conducted some business, for we are told that they had “obtained souls” and gathered substance there in verse five of this chapter.

Do not be overly critical of Abram. Remember that the prevailing religious practices of the place where he spent the first seventy-five years of life were predominantly that of pagan idol worship which would have been based upon the astrological worship of Ancient Babylon. To obey the voice of this “strange, new God ” was a tremendous act of faith upon his part, running contrary to everything he had been exposed to in his religious life. This is very important to note because this is in reality an action of repentance on the part of Abram. It is necessary to engage in such action if one truly chooses to follow God.

Far too often people attempt to compromise their commitment unto God by bringing some portion of their former religious beliefs into the experience of the new birth which thereby negates that experience entirely. Some claim that they are “Christian ” yet hold unto manmade doctrines which they claim are necessary to hold in addition to what God says. They may claim that a certain book must be adhered to because the Scriptures alone are not complete and sufficient for the task of bringing us closer to God.

Others will claim to be “Christian” but still hold that they must partake of certain rituals in order to be made clean before God. It may be the receiving of a certain sacrament, or the confession unto a priest in a private booth which they claim must be observed. In all of the cases I have noted here it is to be recognized that the origins of these binding things can be traced right back to the worship deployed by the Ancients of Babylon.

Abram left all of that behind and never returned to any such worship. His faith in God was placed solely in God and His revealed word. We are not told of anything which he added unto what God had said nor are we told of anything which he detracted from what God spoke in this encounter. The obtaining of the promises was linked solely unto his actions undertaken by faith alone. In the Scriptures it is written.

  • “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
    [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
    [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
(Romans 4:1-3)

it is also written.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
[7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
[8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
[9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

(Galatians 3:1-9)

and once more you will find.

” Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

(James 2:19-23)

Through the exercise of faith, the aforementioned promises made by God were sought as the obvious endowment which Abram was to receive. Has God kept his covenants with this man? Some would say He has not! As we examine the promises made, we find that God did indeed make of him a great nation. God did indeed bless the whole earth through the coming of Jesus, The Christ, who died and was resurrected for our sins. God also blessed the entire earth through giving all families the Scriptures, which came through the Jewish peoples but are for all men everywhere, that we would know His intention and plan for our redemption.

The name of Abraham is revered among three separate belief systems upon the earth to this day! The Jewish religion, that of Islam, and certainly that of Christianity, all hold this name in very high regard. Those who contend that God has not kept His covenants always point to the absence of the Jewish people from the vast land which was promised in this chapter. To do this it is necessary for one to believe that God must operate upon a timeline which they have established. A very important word comes into play when discussing the land which in fact belongs to Israel but is not currently occupied by them. That word is the little three letter word, “yet.“.

God’s timing is independent of ours. He does not answer to me, nor to you, concerning when He chooses to exercise certain facets of His sovereign direction of the universe which He owns by right of creation. When the necessary preparations are made and the circumstances are aligned according to His will, what He has said He will do, He does.

In the case of Abram, it was needful that God call him out of his birth environment. One might ask why this was so and that would be a legitimate question. Consider the conditions of the world of humanity at that time. Mankind had slipped into rebellion against God once more. The worship of idols and things created in place of the Creator Himself was rampant. Lest we forget, Nimrod was on a rampage intent upon world domination during this period. Something new was called for to draw mankind back unto Himself. That something new … was the calling out of Abram through whom He could execute His Master Plan.

Those who question all the historical accuracy of these events were quieted when a Bedouin shepherd boy named Muhammed ed-Dib, who was dwelling in the Bethlehem at the time, threw a rock into a cave in the hills of the Judean desert in the year of 1947. Hearing the sound of breaking pottery, he decided to investigate, and this was the earliest discovery of what are now known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among the earliest of these which the scholars were able to acquire and examine is one which contains a commentary written upon chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the book of Genesis. The events which we are reading about here were confirmed by this ancient writing which God concealed for nearly two thousand years.

The truth of the covenants made herein between God and Abram have significant ramifications for the world in which we find ourselves today. The exploration of Canaan by Abram was obviously incomplete, but it is central to the narrative of Scripture. The land of Canaan belongs unto Israel and at the appointed time Israel will dwell therein. Abram, in obedience unto God, walked throughout that land. However, as I have pointed out earlier the faith of Abram, while magnificent to ponder, was at times only a partial faith.

It is written.

“And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
[8] And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
[9] And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
[10] And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.”

(Genesis 12:6-10)

Abram DID walk to and from in the land as he was instructed. However, there came an incident that caused him to stumble a bit. There came a famine in Canaan. This must have been fairly severe, for in order to maintain the life of his herds, flocks, and his people he reasoned that it was necessary to journey in Egypt. There are two things which ought to be noted in this decision. One was that before making this choice Abram did not consult God. The second is that this man who had left all and gone into a strange land at God’s command, failed to trust the same God for the provision he needed to stay in that land.

It is a good thing to understand that Abram was very much human just as you and I are. He made mistakes and yet God was merciful and gracious unto him. What we are about to see needs to be viewed from the context of that great warfare between the serpent of Eden Satan, and The Creator and Sustainer of this universe. There is more here at stake than the immediate events which occurred. Just as Satan had tried to pervert the line of the coming Messiah before, he would attempt at this point to cause the plans for the redemption of humanity to go astray by the corrupting of that one woman who was to be the mother of Christ’s lineage, Sarai. It is written.

” And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
[12] Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
[13] Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
[14] And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
[15] The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
[16] And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
[17] And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
[18] And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
[19] Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
[20] And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.”

(Genesis 12:11-20)

The beauty of Sarai caused Abram to stumble in that he formulated a lie in which he trusted which he asked her to agree to perpetuate. Is this not the man who is renowned as the rock of faith even now all around the world? Yes, it is he, my friend. Let us not be too harsh upon him for he is human as we are. Remember also that he is in that process of learning about the faithfulness of the God whom he has trusted.

In doing what he did, Abram placed Sarai at risk. He placed Pharoah and all his house at risk. He also placed the entire design of God’s redemption at risk, in a human sense, for this woman was to be the mother of the nation through which would come the tribe of Judah out of which The Messiah was to be born. Yet God saw to it that all of this worked for the highest good of humanity. The designs of God will not be thwarted by any entity which exists. Remember this, for when it looks all is about to be lost, that is the time to expect God to show Himself in might and power.

Pharoah was not to be faulted for his actions here, for he acted in accordance with the customs of that day by bestowing upon Abram what amounted to a huge dowry for Sarai. He did not simply take her as many lesser honorable men would have done. I hold that for this reason God plagued Pharoah and his house in such manner that the cause was evident unto Pharoah.

In his discourse with Abram, once again note that Pharoah reacted with an honorable response. He could have attempted to kill Abram and Sarai and their entire party for this deception which led to the plaguing of his household. He did not, but rather dispatched them on their way while allowing them to retain all that he had bestowed upon them. This was God at work in the heart of even a heathen king. let us note that the Scriptures tell us plainly that God does do this, for it is written.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

(Proverbs 21:1)

It is vital to not lose fact of the truth that when Abram ventured down into Egypt, he acquired among other things a certain slave girl named Hagar. While not mentioned here, she will become vital in coming chapters as we watch God work and as we watch the tendency of humanity, which will be out on display by Sarai, to desire to “help God along by use of our human reasoning and logic at times. However, that is for another time my friend.

For now, let us follow Abram as he journey’s back into Canaan and continues to follow God while he patiently awaits more direction and illumination concerning the promises, faithfulness, and very character of the God which had called him out of the world of paganism.

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Genesis Chapter Eleven, One language, One Speech, One Rebellion!

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[1] And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
[2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
[3] And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
[4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
[5] And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
[6] And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
[7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
[8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
[9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
[10] These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
[11] And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
[12] And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
[13] And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
[14] And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
[15] And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
[16] And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
[17] And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
[18] And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
[19] And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
[20] And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:
[21] And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
[22] And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
[23] And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
[24] And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
[25] And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
[26] And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
[27] Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
[28] And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
[29] And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
[30] But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
[31] And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
[32] And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Eleven

The command of God unto those who went forth from the ark was the same as it had been unto Adam and Eve in the beginning of the human race. It is written.

“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

(Genesis 9:1)

To do this would mandate that a migration in all directions, radiating out from the Ark of God upon Ararat, be undertaken from the outset. So, what do we find mankind doing in the opening of chapter eleven? We are told.

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
[2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.”

(Genesis 11:1-2)

The Tigris Euphrates valley was a vast, fertile land where there was ample water and fodder for both man and beast to consume as they would. It apparently was so enticing that the whole of humanity which left the ark decided that this place was far enough for them to travel in spite of what God had said. Once again, we have mankind deciding that they would substitute what they thought ought to be good enough based upon their experiences and desires instead of fulfilling the mandate of God.

This is a demonstration of the same inward spiritual condition that crouched within the bosom of Cain when he brought unto God the fruit of the ground instead of the acceptable blood offering. Mark it down my friend, the sin nature of fallen humanity is very much alive and well in all who are born of woman upon this earth.

Far too often in our personal lives, and in the administration of the Church’s carrying out of the Great Commission, we are quick to substitute what we think ought to be done for what God has commanded. We make exceptions based upon emotional or traditional grounds rather than choosing to be in obedience to the clear dictates of God. Note the basis which was the underlying reasons for the actions we are about to see. It is written.

” And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
[4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

(Genesis 11:3-4)

Their declared intent found in verse four is in direct defiance of God’s command. All the earth was not comprised of the plain of Shinar. Note that they deliberately planned out how they would divert God’s decree. The area in the Tigris Euphrates Valley is a land which is virtually void of stone suitable for building. Neither did they find ample supplies of suitable wood for such a project. In their creative rebellion they employed the very earth and bogs around them to construct what was intended to be the greatest building project undertaken by humanity to that time.

The sophistication of the human race at that time period becomes evident when one considers the task which they undertook. The Tower of Babel was in actuality what archeologists have come to call a Ziggurat type structure. The ruins of several of these massive structures are still visible throughout that land today. This was not in any fashion to be even contemplated to be a stair way by which one might climb up to the abode of God in the heavenlies. That idea has come down to us through the ideas of artists and tellers of tales as well as those who believe this to be a fairy tale for children.

The purposes of this structure were far more complex than any such nonsense as that. First among these was the location of a common monument to which all people would be drawn. Such a huge structure standing alone upon the vast plains of that area would be visible for miles in every direction. It would be a focal point for one to use as a reminder that to the cause which built that structure belonged their allegiances. Much as the flag of a nation causes a patriotic response to rise up in the heart of one from that country, this would evoke emotions of pride and union with all who belonged to that common cause.

The second purpose, which would be just as powerful and just as deadly concerning their direct rebellion against God, was that this structure was designed to be the focal point of a nationalistic religion which would bind the souls of all men together in opposition to God. The Ziggurat was built in the form of a step pyramid with a broad base that grew narrower as one ascended up the sides. There were rampways which allowed for people to do exactly that and there were sections at certain points where those making pilgrimage could pause and rest before going on. It is interesting to note that every brick which was used in building such an edifice was stamped with the impression of the ruler’s name as a sign of approval before being used in a building project.

At the top of these structures was a temple which allegedly housed the gods which were responsible for the creation and maintenance of “The Heavens”. Inside these temples were tables where offerings, and often, sacrifices were presented unto the gods. On the floor of the temple area, in a circle, would be depicted the signs of the zodiac which was meant to honor the gods depicted by those signs. This was a crucial part of the religion of ancient Babylon which God despises. This was the meaning of the phrase, “whose top may reach unto heaven; “

Humanity was constructing a common symbol of “patriotism”. They were constructing a common place and manner of “worship.” They spoke the same “common language.” They also were all in agreement to do these things in order that they might be united as one people. History has repeatedly demonstrated that these things are the glue which hold any particular society together. These are the identifying marks of a people who comprise a unified society. Unfortunately, these are often the same marks of a people who are in rebellion against God under the guise of holding fast to their culture.

Take note that it was apparently the one called Nimrod who was responsible for the leadership of this rebellion. It is written.

“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
[9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”

(Genesis 10:8-10)

This “Nimrod” as he is designated was the first human in history to launch a campaign to conquer the entire world and subdue it under his whims and tyrannical rule. By no means will he be the last. The actual word, “Nimrod“, is a title which is derived from Hebrew wording that confers the idea of “The rebellious one.” Once more the seeds of self-aggrandizement have shown that they will bring forth fruit in every human heart left unchecked by the dictates of God, The creator. What was the reaction of God to all of this? It is written.

“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
[6] And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
[7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
[8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
[9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

(Genesis 11:5-9)

There are several things to note in the actions of God here which carry tremendous importance. First, God could have simply wiped-out humanity as He had just recently done yet He did not! Also, He could have destroyed their entire habitation which they had bult but again He did not do so. What He did do was take counsel with Himself, as in the entirety of the Trinity in decreeing what the response would be.

Note the phrase in verse seven, “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech”. Without the ability to communicate freely and clearly, the undertaking which had been begun ceased. This would also have been the beginning of every ethnicity to inhabit the earth, for people would have naturally gravitated toward those who they could understand and thereby naturally, gradually, alliances were formed upon the basis of common language. It would have been at this point that the great and diverse migrations of all ethnicities would have occurred thereby fulfilling the original mandate unto them to fill all the earth.

It is also at this point in the Biblical narrative that God begins to single out one family, and then one individual within that family through which He is going to continue the revelation of Himself through the coming Messiah. It is written.

“These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
[11] And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
[12] And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
[13] And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
[14] And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
[15] And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
[16] And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
[17] And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
[18] And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
[19] And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
[20] And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:
[21] And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
[22] And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
[23] And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
[24] And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
[25] And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
[26] And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
[27] Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
[28] And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.”

(Genesis 11:10-27)

To the casual reader of Scripture this is merely one more list of the infamous “begats” which seem so boring and without much value as one reads through the Scriptures. Nothing could be further from the truth my friend, for this listing will be the establishment of an unbroken lineage of the one called The Messiah when He appears in Human history. This lineage is the one which connects Him to God Himself through Shem, Noah, and ultimately Adam who we are told is a son of God in the writings of the gospel accounts. Take note that we are ultimately introduced to three sons of Terah out of which one will be chosen of God to continue the Revelation of Himself through Jesus the coming Messiah. God did not choose Nahor. God did not choose Haran. He did in fact choose Abram. It is of note that Abram was married to Sarai, whose name at this point translates roughly as “Contentious”. It is also of note that she was known to be barren. The reasons for noting this will unfold before us as we walk through the Scriptures, but it is of note now because the meaning of her husband’s name, Abram, is translated as “Exalted Father”

One might easily surmise that the barrenness of Sarah which was apparently known to all about them was an open wound to their souls, for in that day children were seen as a source of favor from on high. As we conclude this chapter, we are given the needful facts concerning an overview of the actions of this man Abram as he began to travel from the land of his birth. God, as He often does, gives here an overview but shortly He will show us the necessary detailed interaction between this man and Himself that continues the revelation which He intends to grant us concerning His grace, His love, and His intention to provide a way of redemption unto humanity which we cannot provide under any circumstances for ourselves.



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Genesis Chapter Ten. The Generations of The Sons of Noah

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
[2] The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
[3] And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
[4] And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
[5] By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
[6] And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
[7] And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
[8] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
[9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
[11] Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
[12] And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
[13] And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
[14] And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
[15] And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
[16] And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
[17] And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
[18] And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
[19] And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
[20] These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
[21] Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
[22] The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
[23] And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
[24] And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
[25] And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
[26] And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazar-maveth, and Jerah,
[27] And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
[28] And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
[29] And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
[30] And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
[31] These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
[32] These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Commentary on Genesis Chapter Ten

As we step across the threshold of the propagation of the peoples of the earth found in this chapter there will emerge a pattern which will be repeated throughout the Scriptures. God is developing a line of revelation which centers upon the Christ and in doing so He will single out those matters, people, and events, which touch upon that line of revelation at a given time as they intersect that line. He then sets these aside to continue upon that singular, important, line of revelation until they once more become important regarding their relationship with the revelation of The Christ.

It is far too easy to get caught up in “chasing rabbits” down the preverbal “rabbit hole” should one forget this fact. The lure to do so is strong, particularly in chapters such as this one before us. This portion of Genesis is often referred to as the Table of Nations, for in it will be found the origins of all the great kingdoms of the earth which we study through Archeological quests, and careful sifting of the records of antiquity which we have available to us today.

God begins these records by dealing with those lines, which will be temporarily split from the main themes of revelation, before continuing on with the lineage of The Christ which is to come. It is written.

“Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
[2] The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
[3] And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
[4] And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
[5] By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.”

(Genesis 10:1-5)

God begins with The Gentiles. He begins with the “sons of Japeth“. From this son of Noah came the following ethnic groups which have been traced back to him by the diligent efforts of many conservative scholars. These listings are not going to be exhaustive nor all conclusive but rather will set the general pathways back to the origins of our ancestor, whoever they may be.

From Gomer came the following groups.

  • The people who are of Gallic descent which includes the following.
    • The Germanic peoples of Western Europe.
    • The Franks and the Visigoths.
    • The Vandals.
    • The Teutonic peoples.
    • The Gauls
    • Austrians
    • Bavarians

From Magog, Tubal, and Meshech, came the following groups.

  • The Scythians
  • The Slavic peoples.
  • The Russians
  • The Bulgarians
  • The Bohemians
  • The Poles
  • The Slovaks
  • The Croatians

Out of Madai emerged the following groups.

  • Those from India
  • The Persians
  • The Medes
  • The Afghans
  • The Kurds

Emerging from Javan were the following groups.

  • The Greeks
  • The Romans
  • The French
  • The Spanish
  • The Portuguese
  • The Italians

From Tiras we find the following groups.

  • The Thracians
  • The Eastern Germanic peoples
  • The Scandinavians
  • The Angles
  • The Saxons
  • The People of The English Isles and related ethnicities.

In a broad and general sense, these are the bloodlines which emerged from Japeth, the son of Noah. Note that the intent of these listings is to convey a sense of “who” ended up going “where” after the earth was divided due to events found in the next chapter of Genesis.

In line with this let us examine the ethnic groups that emerge from the second son of Noah mentioned which is that of Ham. Let me say at the outset that there has been a rather negative teaching which has, for years, circulated among some denominations of the church concerning this group that we ought to put to rest here and now. That teaching concerns the mark set upon Cain of chapters past, and the curse of Canaan of the previous chapter.

Far too many have made this teaching the basis of blatant racism and abuse against people based upon the color of one’s skin. It is incorrect to hold to such a position and before proceeding any further into the word of God we need to put this to rest. The mark placed upon Cain was specific to Cain in order that he might be identified by those who encountered him throughout his life. It did not extend unto any other descendants which came through the sons of Noah.

Concerning the curse upon Canaan, it can be noted that the language of Chapter nine is also very specific regarding the fact that the curse was upon Canaan and those who descend from him. It is wrong to use this as a means to discriminate against those who are descended from Ham due to the association of Ham and Caanan. As you will see, Ham had other sons as well as Canaan. Having said this let us examine the sons of Ham. It is written.

“And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
[7] And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
[8] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
[9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
[11] Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
[12] And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
[13] And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
[14] And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
[15] And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
[16] And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
[17] And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
[18] And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
[19] And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
[20] These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

(Genesis 10:8-20)

The first of those to be mentioned are Cush. From him would come the following ethnic groups.

  • Those who populated Africa.
    • The Ethiopians
    • The Libyans
    • The Sudanese
    • The Kenyans
    • The Zulus
  • Embedded in the lineage of Cush, son of Ham, is a very important notation concerning a notorious figure in human history who is to be credited with the founding of one of the great kingdoms of the ancient world that will figure prominently throughout human history and the Scriptures in many ways. This one is called Nimrod and the kingdom he founded was none other than Ancient Babylon. The description of the location of this kingdom does not leave any doubt that it was the great kingdom founded in the Tigris Euphrates valley where Nimrod is said to have founded certain ancient cities which are verifiable today.

Among these is the city known as Erich in this text, which has been clearly identified as the city of Uruk located on the banks of the Euphrates River in modern day Iraq. Other prominent clues would be the founding of the cities of Babel, and Accad.

While I have listed the African people groups to be predominantly those which came of Cush, it is important to note that the time involved in the dispersal of those who left the ark was a great lengthy period. The first movement of the family of Noah was, in fact, from the mountains of Ararat down into the land of the ancient plain of a place known as Shinar. It is therefore most probable that what we read of Nimrod and his exploits occurred well before the migration into Africa took place.

Concerning those exploits it is to be understood that the “hunting” of Nimrod had nothing to do with stalking big game animals. It is held by many conservative scholars that Nimrod was a hunter of the souls of men. In past studies I have commented upon my belief that Nimrod of this passage equates to the great Gilgamesh of Ancient Babylonian record.

Both men are said to have founded the same city, that of Uruch, here called Erech. Both men were adamant about the lawless fashion in which they conducted their lives. Both men were said to have been associated with one who had survived the great flood sent by Divinity to destroy the world through means of an ark filled with animals. The link between Cush and Nimrod is obvious and that leads us back to Ham.

In the epic of Gilgamesh, which has been translated from ancient Akkadian, in the eleventh tablet it speaks of the encounter which Gilgamesh had with one called the “Utnapishtim” This was the one who had survived the great deluge in the fashion described. That name translates into the “Faraway “indicating that Gilgamesh had to travel to have this encounter. There are other comparisons that are to be made. They are too numerous to include here and would in fact be the subject of a separate series of studies. Let it suffice for me to say that both men were men who would be gods over their fellow men and in fact established the means to attempt to facilitate that goal.

The next name found on our list is that of Mizraim. This was the progenitor of those who dwelt throughout the coasts and borders of ancient Egypt. In fact, the Hebrew wording for ” Egypt” is almost a direct correlation with the name, Mizraim. In addition to this there is evidence which suggest that the people known as the Philistines, who plagued Israel for so many years are descendants of Mzram.

Now we have come that infamous grandson of Noah, Canaan. From this one emerged the following people groups noteworthy people.

  • The Jebusites
  • The Amorites
  • The Girgasites
  • The Hivites
  • The Arkites
  • The Sinites
  • The Arvadite
  • The Zemarite
  • The  Hamathite

It is insightful to realize that the first mention in Scripture of the five cities of the plain, which we shall encounter a bit further on in Genesis, is here in verse 19 of this chapter. Among these are the familiar names of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is also insightful to understand that the peoples listed here as those who originated from Canaan are the same tribes which God will displace, and then eradicate from off the face of the earth, further on in Scripture. Two names which will become very familiar as we travel through Scriptures are those of the Amorites and the Jebusites which we see above. The Jebusites are those enemies of God which held the city that we now call Jerusalem until the forces of King David took it from them. The Amorites were a mighty people that were subdued by the armies of Israel after they emerged from Egypt.

A case can be made from careful study of these portions of Scripture for a lineal descent of behavior being played out for all to see. It is often referred to as “Culture or heritage” which has been handed down for thousands of years in some cases. The right to celebrate one’s heritage is certainly legitimate, however far too often the ancient cultures contain blatant, and obvious anti God and anti-Christ references and components which are never to be condoned. There are however right and just celebrations which are certainly to be marked in order to remind one of his ancient Christian riots and heritage.

Let us now turn our attention to the third son of Noah, that of Shem. It is written.

” Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
[22] The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
[23] And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
[24] And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
[25] And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
[26] And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazar-maveth, and Jerah,
[27] And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
[28] And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
[29] And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
[30] And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
[31] These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
[32] These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.”

(Genesis 10:21-32)

From these peoples listed as the descendants of Shem one can discern that this people group occupied far less land after the migrations from the plains of Shinar occurred than either of the other two.

The mountains which were beyond the Tigris River, the Persian Gulf, The Black Sea and that land, which is called The Levant, form in part the borders of the Sons of Shem.

The tracing of the lineage of the sons of Shem leads to the discovery of leads us to the lands of the Arabs, Assyrians, and Syrians as we study Scripture. In closing this study of Thew word of God let us take note of the final words of this chapter. It is written.

“

These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
[32] These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.”

(Genesis 10:31-32)

A careful study of the contents of this chapter reveals that there are seventy nations which emerge here, exclusive of the mention of Nimrod of course. Of these seventy, fourteen are from Japeth, thirty come from the loins of Ham, and twenty-six may be traced unto Shem. Recognizing that the balance of power in the world of our day is magnificently different from that which was shown here ought to give us pause for thought and a new perspective upon the history of the ancients. It is at this point that we shall see the sad truth begin to emerge that even those who were so close to the demonstrated grace of God., as the sons of Noah were, were but sinful humans at their core. They failed to teach their progeny the things which they knew of God and what happens in the next chapter will display the result of such neglect.

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Genesis Chapter Nine. God’s Covenant Sign with Noah Is Established And Set Within The Clouds.

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
[4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
[5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
[6] Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
[7] And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
[8] And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
[9] And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
[10] And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
[11] And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
[12] And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
[13] I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
[14] And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
[15] And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
[16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
[17] And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
[18] And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
[19] These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
[20] And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
[21] And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
[22] And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
[23] And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
[24] And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
[25] And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
[26] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[27] God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[28] And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
[29] And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Commentary On Genesis Chapter Nine

As we look upon the scene before us, we find Noah, his family, and the various creatures which are now beginning to disembark from the ark of God as they enter a radically altered new world in which they shall live. The changes which are implemented are a staggering divergence from the original creation of God. Until now it would seem that man and beast lived together in relative peace without fear of one another. Until now it would seem that the basic diet of all things was vegetables and fruits which God had given in Eden, The Garden of God. Take note of the following commandment of God. It is written.

“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
[4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
[5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
[6] Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
[7] And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

(Genesis 9:1-7)

The command to multiply and fill the earth is reiterated. God’s desire for man to procreate has never altered. It is for this purpose that the institution of marriage between a man and a woman was first deployed in Eden, The Garden of God. It is noteworthy that the first institution which God ordained upon this earth, and among the societies of humanity, was that of the family. It is the family which has been the basic building block of any and all civilizations which have ever existed upon the earth. It is therefore the family unit which has always been in the crosshairs of The Evil One as he seeks to either usurp God’s place in a society or destroy that which he cannot successfully subjugate unto himself.

One has but to look at the headlines of the day to observe the malevolent attacks which he is behind that are aimed directly at the family unit. The destruction of the lines of authority in this most basic unit of human existence are obvious. Fathers are presented as something akin to the resident village idiot who bumbles his way through every situation which comes up. Mothers are presented either as cunning or quick in their ability to outsmart the man of the home. Should the thought of a woman in subjection to the authority of a husband in the home ever be presented it is wrongfully made to show that subjection equals slavery or that the result of such a position is abuse which is to be endured.

The children of our “modern” societies have been led to believe that they have the authority to declare to their parents what they will and will not do, what they will and will not tolerate from them, and what they expect to be given without the necessity of having to earn it, with impunity. None of these conditions have ever been advocated nor blessed by the God who designed the blueprint for mankind to flourish and be nurtured under His Divine care upon the earth. All of these conditions constitute a direct perversion which is the goal of the Evil One who desires to be worshipped as a god or destroy whatever does not engage in such worship.

The first command of God unto the family coming from the ark was a reiteration to be fruitful. To do so required that the blueprint for the family be followed as it was in the beginning. To facilitate the continued existence of mankind upon the face of this brave new world, other changes were wrought concerning how mankind was now to relate to the other components of God’s creation. Fear was introduced into the animal kingdom. This was fear of humanity, which apparently had not been present before. Certainly, none of the creatures which had been under the control and care of Noah and his family would have possessed fear of these people due to their close proximity and the continued feeding and grooming of them which occurred during the many months which they spent together inside the ark.

This fear was now a necessity for the continued survival of the various creatures which would roam the earth. There was no food source available for the humans due to the indescribable devastation which had been wrought upon the earth. The eating of meat was now to be allowed by God and therefore an animal without fear would be subject to easy slaughter. There is however one particular prohibition connected with this matter. No blood was to be consumed with the flesh of whatever was being eaten.

Take careful note of the fact that God holds the taking of the innocent life of a human to be particularly offensive unto Him. It is so much so that any creature who engages in the taking of human life is mandated to be killed. God does indeed hold to the exercise of capital punishment. It is the right of He who created all things to decree what is to be done in recompense for crimes against human beings and therefore to oppose this mandate is in fact to be in direct opposition to the righteous decree of God. Often, in the name of mercy those who oppose the execution of a murderer take the stand that all life is equally precious and therefore the life of the criminal ought not to be forfeited. In doing so they have frequently quoted one of the ten commandments, or rather misquoted it, so that, ” Thou shalt not commit murder” ” becomes, ” Thous shalt not take a human life.”

The great, glaring inconsistency in this position is that they quote the Law of Moses which was not even in existence when THIS mandate was given by the same God who spoke to Moses. Before us now is the basis of respect for all human life as God Himself sets it forth. Of all the creatures which were created to live upon this earth, only man is referred to as being made in the image of God.

It is this distinction from which humanity draws its dignity. While humanity now possesses a shattered, and distorted, image of The Living God it is still there and for this reason man holds intrinsic value which is not to be ignored without consequence.

Having established this key principle by which the infant society of humanity was to be governed, God now sets out to reassure those who have just come through the deluge which ended the world as they knew it before entering into the ark that He will never again employ this method of worldwide judgment upon the sins of humanity. He did not covenant to never judge the world again. He only promised that this method would not be used. Why would such a covenant be necessary at this time?

To answer this, it is necessary to place oneself in the situational context of those exiting the ark of God. The only previous rainstorm ever to be experienced upon this planet before their emergence destroyed all life. It had been an isolated event in the experience of humanity. Now, however, the deployment of something we know as the Hydrological Cycle was to be made. Rain would be formed as the vapors rose from the surface of the great seas, moved inland to form clouds, and then as the mountain ranges were encountered the water would form droplets which would fall to the earth to return to the seas via rivers and lakes.

This was now to be the normal manner in which the earth, which had been watered by a mist rising from the ground before was to be irrigated, thereby nourishing the plants and animals which it bore. What you think when you saw the sky begin to darken once more overhead if you were among the little group coming from the ark? The answer is obviously that it was about to flood again!

For this reason, God instituted the promise of the rainbow which He placed in the skies to be viewed during, and after, each rainstorm which came upon the earth from that day forward. It is written.

“And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
[9] And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
[10] And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
[11] And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
[12] And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
[13] I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
[14] And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
[15] And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
[16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. [17] And God said unto Noah, this is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

(Genesis 9:8-17)

In many of our “modern societies this symbol of the faithful, unchanging covenant of peace which was established by God with humanity has been perverted into a symbol of something dark and sinister. It has been twisted to convey the hubris of those who not only do things which God detests, but who also demand that the rest of humanity recognize their actions as acceptable and not to be the subject of objection.

The rainbow has nothing to do with the acceptance of perversions foisted upon us. It will forever represent that which is a covenant between man and God regarding the trustworthiness of God Himself. With this assurance established, mankind began to move out from the ark. It is written.

“[18] And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
[19] These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
[20] And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
[21] And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
[22] And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
[23] And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.”

(Genesis 9:18-23)

Recorded in these passages is the origin of the various roots of the three main branches of the ethnicities of humanity. Although there are today many nations, tribes and kingdoms, they may all be traced back to this point where the three sons of Noah are noted. Recorded here also is the tragic testimony to the truth that although these are those who came through the judgement of God upon the entire world, they still possessed the fallen, sinful nature of Adam. The drunkenness of Noah and the ensuing degrading events at the hand of one of his descendants leaves no doubt that sin was still very active in the world.

Here is further testimony to the truth that the choosing of Noah and his family by God for deliverance from the deluge was entirely based upon the grace of God Himself. The fact that these events are recorded in Scripture ought to serve as warning unto us that even the “best” among us is still not worthy to stand before God apart from His grace and that grace alone.

The actions of Shem and Japeth are those of men who hold a certain degree of honorable intentions. It would appear that the actions of Ham were not. Noah is without excuse in allowing himself to become intoxicated until he became incapacitated by his drunkenness. In doing this he allowed himself to be placed in a position of extreme vulnerability which was acted upon by one of his descendants. The implication is that there were acts of immorality involved which God chose not to specify but yet note in passing in the Scriptures. It is written.

“

[24] And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
[25] And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
[26] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[27] God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[28] And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
[29] And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

(Genesis 9:24-29)

The dawning awareness that he had been mistreated by Canaan while in this drunken stupor is evidenced through the severity of the pronouncement of the curses upon Canaan and his descendants. The term, “younger son”, is better translated, “Younger one”. We often speak of our grandchildren as our youngest ones even today.

Take note that we stand at a juncture where the various root cultures of the branches of humanity are being established. Soon we shall see the spreading of these into various parts of the world and note that certain ones will defile themselves before Gods to the point that they will be conquered and removed from the place which they settle in God’s own timing. Take careful note of the fact that it was Canaan which was the forebearer of a cursed race. As we move forward it will become evident that the land which Israel shall be led to conquer and possess will indeed be the land of … Canaan.

When we arrive at those portions of Scripture that deal directly with this, we shall discuss the causes for such actions in more depth but for now, note that it began here, when sin reared its head as the sons of Noah came down from the Mountains of Ararat.

As we leave this chapter in the history of humanity take note that even those who may go through tremendous, supernatural, encounters with God are still capable of actions which one would not think possible given their firsthand knowledge of God’s faithful character and His holy nature. Let us take care to make certain that we, who certainly have not walked as closely with God as did Noah, are ever aware that it is only by the grace of God that we stand before Him!

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Genesis Chapter Eight. God Remembered Noah, and Every Living Thing.

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
[2] The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
[3] And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
[4] And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
[5] And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
[6] And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
[8] Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
[12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
[13] And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
[14] And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
[15] And God spake unto Noah, saying,
[16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
[17] Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
[18] And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
[19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
[21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease

Commentary On Genesis Chapter Eight

This chapter opens with an expression of great compassion on the part of God. The opening phrase concerning God remembering Noah does not indicate in any fashion that God has the capacity to become forgetful or frail as do men sometimes. What is meant to be conveyed is the attention which God gives to the care and preservation of the man, Noah, and his family after the completion of the necessary judgement which was sent upon the earth. Other instances recorded in Scripture which are similar in their intent to convey the heart of God as He interacts with people would include the following passages.

  • “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” (Genesis 19:29)
  • “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.[25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exodus 2:23-25)
  • “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
    [3] And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
    [4] And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
    [5] And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
    [6] Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments,” (Exodus 6:2-6)
  • “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
    [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
    [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
    [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
    [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Let us remember that throughout the study of Scripture we are to look for what is revealed unto us concerning God Himself. To focus intently upon other lessor matters is a common error that people make and in doing so do not see the most important things which are before their eyes. Having said this it is to be noted that throughout the Old Testament one will come upon various items which are symbolic of The Christ as events therein unfold. The familiar term “typical”, in use today, is derived from these illustrations known as “types.”

Throughout the account of God’s flood upon the earth there are several of these to be found. The ark itself is a type of Christ, for it speaks of the salvation of those who by faith entered into the safety of God’s prepared refuge for deliverance. The invitation of God to enter in was proclaimed, as we have seen, for all men to hear and yet only those who responded in faith came aboard.

In like manner the gospel of God has been proclaimed around the world for over two thousand years inviting men to enter into the safety from the wrath of God, which is to come, by faith in Jesus Christ. As we progress through the Old Testament Scriptures, we shall repeatedly see the use of this methodology to show forth the coming of The Christ.

Known as the study of typology, this method of examining the Scriptures has been employed by many to add to the understanding of the content which is set forth therein. Not only can The Christ be found set out in this manner in The Old Testament, but in the course of examining the Scriptures The Holy Spirit of God may be ascertained here as well. In the chapter which is now before us take note of the birds which were sent out by Noah. The raven represents a connection to the dead world which was rebellious against God. The raven is known to be a carrion eater and therefore very comfortable with the company of rotting flesh. It is written.

“And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.”

(Genesis 8:6-7)

Note that the raven did not return to the safety of the ark, but rather sought to join the remnants of the world which perished. instead. Pictured in this is the truth that there remains within those of us who have been sheltered in the Ark of Christ that old Adamic nature which still would desire the things of this world. One does not lose their salvation but rather having entered into union with Christ one still finds that as long as we are upon this earth, we do possess two natures when we have been born again. To deny that we are capable of sinning against God once we have been born anew is to deny the plain teaching of Scripture. It is written.

‘For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

(Romans 7:14-25)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in reference to his struggle with the old nature as a believer who had been washed in the blood of Calvary’s lamb! It is for this reason that we find it necessary to come before The Lord in prayers of repentance, from time to time, in order to restore fellowship with Him. This is indicated by the following Scripture which were written unto believers.

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

(IJohn 1:4-10)

As I have stated, those who have been saved possess two natures. The second nature is symbolized, in this account of the ark coming to rest, by the employment of the dove which Noah sent forth after the raven. It is written.

Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

(Genesis 8:8-11)

Take note of the actions of the dove. When there was found no place suitable for the parties which had been brought safely through the waters to go forth into the new world which they would find, the dove returned to Noah thereby communicating that the timing was not right to sally forth.

Like this dove, The Holy Spirit of God will go before those who are in Christ into uncertain circumstances and discern whether or not one should go forth into a certain place or venture or even a relationship. It is the Holy Spirit who tells us that all is not right to go forth, if we would but listen. Far too often that gentle prompting of The Spirit is ignored, and the unpleasant consequences of a decision made without heed to God’s discernment, as He would reveal it unto us, is the sad result.

Seven days after the initial dispatch of the dove, Noah again sent out the bird of peace to try to discern the status of the world which awaited them. This time the dove came back and communicated that now it was safe to venture out by bringing an olive branch in its beak. When the timing is right for an endeavor in the life of a believer, there will be the witness of The Holy Spirit to affirm this to be true.

Having received affirmation of an awaiting world to be inhabited, Noah and his family did not yet rush out to a journey of discovery. We are told that they waited seven days more before taking action. It is written.

“And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
[13] And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
[14] And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
[15] And God spake unto Noah, saying,
[16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
[17] Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.”

(Genesis 8:14-17)

There is set out before us here a clear pattern by which believers ought to be able to truly discern the situations of life correctly. Do not miss the fact that the affirmation of the dove was not the deciding factor concerning the matter of when the company who had been brought through the flood were to move forward into their new habitat. Learn from the typology involved that certainty of a decision made by a believer will hinge upon the affirmation of the Spirit AS WELL as the word of God!

Verse fifteen of this chapter indicates that the word of God is necessary in conjunction with the affirmation of The Spirit before taking or delaying an action. The Spirit will never contradict the word so if you find your emotions at odds with the clear teaching of the word of God you may mark it down that whatever action you are contemplating is not directed by God. In the case of Noah God spoke audibly and directly unto Him to affirm the witness of the Spirit.

In our time the witness of God’s speaking unto us is to be acknowledged by the Scriptures which we have in the form of the sixty-six books of The Holy Bible. While some do claim to have been spoken unto in dreams, emotional revelations, or some other manner granted by God as a special revelation unto them, it is a dangerous thing with potentially eternal negative consequences to accept such a declaration without searching the teachings of Scripture for affirmation of what is being said.

Often Christians complain that knowing the will of God is difficult. In reality it is not so. God intends to reveal Himself and His will unto those who will follow Him. As one searches the Scriptures it will be discovered that the phrase. the will of God, will be found over twenty times within its pages. Consider a few of these as set forth in the following passages.

  • “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
    [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
  • “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
    [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
  • “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
    [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
    [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. ” (II Corinthians 8:3-5)
  • “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
    [6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
    [7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
    [8] Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Ephesians 6:5-8)
  • ” For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
    [3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
    [4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” (I Thessalonians 4: 2-4)
  • ” In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (Thessalonians 5:18)
  • “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
    [14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
    [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
    [16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (I Peter 2:13-16)

I have found that it is often the case that the issue is not knowing the will of God, but rather; submitting unto what God reveals as His will in a given circumstance due to conflict with what we desire and what that will commands us to undertake. Noah waited until he had the combined affirmations which we have noted here. It was not until God spoke that Noah and all other living creatures within the Ark of God took their leave.

Take note of the priorities which were immediately established by Noah. when he led all life from the ark. It is written.

“And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
[19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
[21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

(Genesis 8:18-22)

The first recorded act after all were set free from the confines of the ark was an act of worship directed unto the creator and sustainer of life. God was Noah’s first priority. Humanity was designed to have communion with our creator. He also is designed in such a manner that an object of worship will be sought out and acknowledged through actions which place that object or person above all else. That is the essence of worship.

It is evident that the humanity which inhabits the world in which we live has chosen to deny and defile the One True God, who we were designed to worship, by subordinating Him unto lessor, unholy things. The people of today are fulfilling the prophecy found in the book of Romans without even knowing or caring for the most part. It is written.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”

(Romans 1:18-26)

This text is plainly dealing with the same issues which we have seen demonstrated by those who perished in the great deluge. False worship always leads to a downward spiral. While not everyone engaged in this descends deep into immorality and debauchery it is to be noted that such does always lead to misery. God takes note of worship. It rightfully belongs unto Him and Him alone. Worshipping God is a fountain source of blessing for those who practice it. All else leads to loss even though there may appear to be temporal gain. Remember that all which we see, touch, and deal with daily in this life, is in the act of perishing over time. Only the worship of The One True God will acquire eternal benefit which cannot rust, rot, decay, nor be corrupted in some other manner.

In the case of Noah’s conduct of worship God blessed him with the following promise. It is written.

“And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

(Genesis 8:22)

My friend, as we end our examination of this chapter, I invite you to stand outside on a pleasant night and look upward at the stars. Look carefully at the various constellations which make their appearance during certain seasons of the year and move along across the sky until they are on longer visible to you. In many places upon this earth that certain rotation of these groups of stars is depended upon by farmers who plant their crops based upon when certain ones of them appear. As you gaze into the heavens, I urge you to remind yourself that what you are looking at is an affirmation of the promise from God to Noah at the end of Genesis chapter eight. I would also urge you to remember that this promise which benefits you and I today was made in response to an act of proper worship by one who walked with God.

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