Genesis 14 - The King of Righteousness

Last time in Genesis, we saw how God blessed Abram, and told him He would multiply his descendants as the dust of the earth. Abram gave Lot the first choice of the land, for which Lot chose the plain of Jordan and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Lot chose earthly riches, and Abram chose the riches of the kingdom of God.

When we pick up in Genesis 14, the two kings in the area of Babylon, the king of the area of Persia, and a king of a confederate of nations are going to war with five kings in the plain of Jordan, which included the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. These were not kings of large nations or empires, but kings over city-states. The kings of the plain served the king of Persia 12 years, and in the 13th year they rebelled. In the Bible, the number 13 is associated with rebellion.

So, in the 14th year, the king of Persia and the other three kings came down to battle with them in the area of the Dead Sea, an area in southeastern Israel. They began their invasion in the area that is today the country of Jordan, starting in what used to be Moab, then moving south to Edom and Mount. Seir, and then westward towards the plains of Jordan to battle these five kings. On their way, they wiped out four tribes of peoples, as well as the Amalekites and Amorites that live there. Archeologists have since uncovered the ruins of these civilizations, and they were completely wiped out and plundered.

Well, the five kings, watching this take place, saw this as their opportunity to join the fray and be rid of the alliance of Persia and the other three kings. However, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were beaten there and fled. At this time there were an abundance of tar pits in the area, and some of them fell into them. This is the same type of tar that was used in building the tower of Babel, as well as what Noah used to cover the ark. Apparently, when Rockefeller read this passage, he figured where there was tar there should be oil, and the rest is history. The remainder fled into the mountains to hide from these five kings.

Then the kings of Persia and those with him took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they also took Lot and all his goods. If we remember from the previous chapter, Lot had pitched his tent toward Sodom, but by this time he was living in Sodom. This was a trouble Lot could have well avoided if he hadn’t chosen to live amongst wicked people.

Then someone that escaped the battle came and told Abram the Hebrew what had happened. This is the first time we see the word Hebrew mentioned in the Bible, and was either a reference to Abram’s ancestor Eber, or the fact he had crossed the Euphrates River to come into Canaan (the root of Hebrew means passed over or passenger). Abram was still living by the Terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, who had two brothers, Eshcol and Aner. These three were allies with Abram, probably a wise move in those times.

When Abram heard this, he took 318 of his own trained servants, along with the three brothers he was allied with and their men, and pursued after them. He left Hebron and pursued them over 120 miles to Dan in the northern part of Israel, and surprise attacked them at night. He then chased them another 45 miles or so into Syria near Damascus. This is no small feat that Abram took on: First, Abram would have to have had substantial wealth to keep on 318 servants trained for battle. Second, traveling close to 170 miles was quite the march. Third, he was probably severely outnumbered, thus the reason for the surprise attack. Abram and his men were able to defeat those four kings and recover Lot, all the spoil taken, and the women and the people. So, Abram, the man that had a lapse of faith a couple of chapters ago, now showed tremendous faith and courage in going to recover his nephew, Lot. Practically speaking, this would have taken great skill and planning as well. Being a person of faith does not mean we turn off our brains or neglect the gifts God has given us, but it is our faith that takes those gifts and skills to their highest potential.

Now we get to this interesting person Melchizedek.  When Abram returned from the slaughter of the kings, Melchizedek king of Salem met him, and brought forth bread and wine. He blessed Abram and credited the Lord for Abram’s victory over the four kings. Abram then gave him tithes of all the spoil. We see here the first mention of the tithe. The tithe just means one tenth, so Abram gave him one tenth of all. A pattern we see throughout the Bible is that paying tithes to the Lord was a common practice. Abram did it, later we will see that Jacob did it, and it is later commanded under the law of Moses. Paying tithes specifically is not commanded in the New Testament, but I believe it is a good starting point for giving. Personally, when I find myself not wanting to give 10% of my income, it has meant I am holding onto my money too tightly. In the New Testament we are told to be liberal givers. The apostle Paul wrote, “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) So we are to give abundantly with a cheerful heart, and the Lord promises to bless us when we do.

There has been a lot of debate who Melchizedek is, but what we learn from Genesis 14 is that he is the king of Salem, which is the king of peace (see Isaiah 9:6). Salem is also the early name for Jerusalem. It states that Melchizedek was also priest of God most high (El Elyon). In the Old Testament, kings and priests were not allowed to share their offices. He brought out bread and wine, which should remind us of something, the communion table. It is a sign of the new Covenant in Jesus Christ.

The author of Hebrews writes, “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest Continually.” (Hebrews 7:1-3) So we see he was called the king of Righteousness, and in another place in the Bible a similar title is given to Jesus Christ. Jeremiah writes, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:6)

According to the Scriptures, Melchizedek was without father or mother, he had no beginning of days nor end of life (i.e. he was not created), but was likened to the Son of God. The only one I know who was not created and that has and will exist for all eternity is God himself. John says of Jesus, “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) Since Jesus was in the beginning with God (the Father), is himself God, and has created all things, it would seem that this Melchizedek could be none other than a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. John records a conversation that Jesus had with the Jews. “’Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” (John 8:56-58) It is quite possible this ‘day’ Abraham saw and was glad was this appearance of Melchizedek in Genesis 14. What I have covered may not answer all the questions held by those of the opposing view, but it does seem the greater part of the evidence lends itself to Melchizedek being an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ (a Christophany).

Lastly, the king of Sodom also came out to meet Abram, but he paid Melchizedek no tithe. He offered Abram all the spoil from the battle, but Abram had taken a vow not to keep anything except for the food of his trained men and the portion of the men who were confederate with him. Abram did not want anyone but the Lord receiving the glory for the battle that was won, and the material blessing that he had. He did not want the wicked king of Sodom taking any credit for the success the Lord had given him.

In application, are we willing to trust God and courageously fight for our families when necessary? Are we willing to use the gifts and abilities He has given us to aid us in this? We are in a battle like none other for the souls of our children and loved ones, maybe some of them like Lot, but we should not give up on them just like Abram didn’t. Abram had to take on substantial risk to rescue his nephew, and we may have to do the same in one way or another. The good news is God is with us in this battle, and He will ensure our ultimate victory.

In summary, we have seen the Lord’s deliverance and provision in chapter 14 as He defeated the armies of the four kings and saved Lot and all that He had by Abram’s hand. We also see the introduction of Melchizedek whose significance is not seen until much later in the Scriptures. In chapter 15 we will see the Lord confirm His covenant with Abram by an oath, and promise him a son of his own body.

 

Genesis 13 - Man's Riches or the Lord's Kingdom

In our last study, we saw how the Lord promised Abram and his descendants the land of Canaan. The Lord had told him to go there, and that He would bless him, and that in him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Then Abram took his family into Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan. We saw how Abram had his wife lie by saying that she was his sister out of fear the men of Egypt would kill him for her sake. When Pharoah found out what had happened, he rebuked Abram for what he had done, and he sent him away with much livestock, menservants, and maidservants.

In chapter 13, Abram with his family and all that he had, left Egypt to go back to the land of Canaan, stopping in the South (Negev) for a time. He was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold, much of which he had acquired in Egypt. He later moved further north to Bethel, where he had made an altar at the first, and called on the name of the Lord there. While in the land of Canaan, he was in the habit of worshiping the Lord, but there was no mention of it while in Egypt. For certain, he was in disobedience in the matter relating to his wife, but his absence of building altars to the Lord may be an indicator the entire trip was outside of God’s will for him. The Lord is able to take care of us wherever we are, so we should be careful in making decisions based on fear or upon problems we do not see a solution to. On the other hand, wanting to feed your family is a noble and righteous thing to do, so you can understand why Abram would have gone into Egypt. I think it really comes down to seeking the Lord’s will for our circumstances. Whatever the case, Abram was going back to that place of fellowship and worship with the Lord. Animal sacrifice was often made for sins, so it could be Abram was also repenting from what took place in Egypt.

Lot also went with Abram, and he was very rich as well. Their substance was so great that the land was not able to support both of them. As a result, a strife arose between their herdsman, and we are told that the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land. It could be that Abram, knowing that nonbelievers were watching this dispute, decided it would be better to part ways rather than fighting over whose land it was.

Here we see Abram take the high ground: he could have chosen the best of the land and given Lot the rest, but he gave Lot first pick. Lot, on the other hand, saw how the plain of Jordan was well watered, even as the Garden of Eden, and he chose to dwell there. It is here where we begin to gain some insight into Lot’s character. He was more concerned with seeking wealth and prosperity, and chose the cities of the plain, pitching his tent toward or as far as Sodom (he was on the outskirts of town). The Scriptures tell us here that the men of Sodom were very wicked before the Lord, so Lot chose to dwell near wickedness in order to be more well off. This will prove to be a disastrous move for Lot and his family in the long-run. He was also placing himself ahead of Abram, someone who had taken care of and been sort of a father-figure to him.

As Chuck Smith duly points out, this was probably a difficult experience for Abram. They had traveled together for several decades, and he loved Lot like a son. Now Lot and his family were leaving, and it was probably hard to watch them go. I’m sure it was made worse by the fact that Abram knew Lot was not making a good choice for himself and his family (you get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach).

I also wonder if Abram was beginning to feel like the promises the Lord gave him would never come to pass? Lot and his family were moving on to “bigger and better things,” and he was still stuck waiting. Even though he knew Lot was making a bad decision, those emotions can still be there regardless.

It was here that the Lord spoke again to Abram, probably as a means of comfort and reassurance. As we previously discussed, from the mountain peak where Abram had built his altar between Bethel and Ai, he would be able to see the entire land of Israel. He told Abram to look every direction, and as far as his eyes could see, He was going to give the land to him and his descendants, and this included the land that Lot took. This promise was to be forever. This was not a promise that would be conditioned upon their obedience, but upon the promise and faithfulness of God. The Lord promised to number Abram’s descendants as the dust of the earth, in other words, they will not be able to be numbered. The Lord told him to walk through the length and breadth of the land, for He would give it to him. Abram then moved near the Terebinth trees of Mamre, which were in Hebron. Hebron was about 20 miles or so south of Jerusalem, south of the valley of Eshcol. There he built another altar unto the Lord.

In summary, are we like Lot who was primarily concerned with earthly riches, or are we like Abram who was primarily concerned with his walk with the Lord and placing others first? We need to remember it is the Lord who gives us power to get wealth (Deut 8:18), but at the same time, we are not to set our hearts on it.  Proverbs says, “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” (23:4-5) Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim 6:6-10), “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” As we will see, Lot sold himself short: Oh, he had his riches and enjoyed them for a time, but when the Lord would bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, they would all be gone.  If we set our heart on the Lord however, He is able to give us all the earthly riches we need, and more importantly and more lasting, the riches of the Kingdom of God.

In his book “The Pursuit of God,” A.W. Tozer describes Abraham after he was told to offer up his son, Isaac, as having everything, but possessing nothing. Another way of putting it is that Abram owned lots of earthly goods, but they didn’t own him. Abram was a rich man after coming out of Egypt, but he did not set his heart on them. This is what allowed him to trust God and let Lot take his pick of where he wanted to go. In the following chapter, we will see Abram go to the rescue when Lot gets caught up in a battle between rivaling nations, as well as an introduction to an interesting character who, although does not receive a lot of ink, is a key figure throughout the rest of the Scriptures. So, your homework for next week is to read Genesis 14.

 

Genesis 12 - The Calling and Blessing of Abram

Last time in Genesis, we saw how the people, under the leadership of Nimrod, united to rebel against the Lord. Instead of spreading out and replenishing the earth as God had commanded, they settled in Shinar and created their own religious system. They set out to build a tower that reached into heaven that they intended to be a place to worship the heavenly bodies. It was because of this that the Lord confused their language and scattered them throughout the earth into the various nations. Near the end of the chapter, we saw the account slow down and focus on Abram and his family. Abram’s father, Terah, Abram and his wife, Sarai, and Abram’s nephew, Lot, left Ur of the Chaldees to go into Canaan, but they stopped prior to arriving there in Haran (a city in the southern part of modern-day Turkey near the Syrian border). Abram is considered the father of the faith, but as we will see, he will have flaws. As we will also see, God was willing to work with Abram in spite of those flaws.

In chapter 11 we are not told why they were leaving for Canaan, but we find out in chapter 12, as well as in Acts 7, that God had appeared to Abram and told him to leave his native country in Ur, his family, and his father’s house. Haran was almost a sister city to Ur, and they were bound together by the worship of the same deity, the Babylonian moon-god. So, Abram and his family left Ur of the Chaldees on the calling of God, and settled in a city that was much like the one they had left. We have no biblical evidence that Abram was participating in the idolatrous practices of Ur, but, at the very least, they were familiar to him. We don’t know why he settled in Haran for a time, but given the fact that he left after his father died seems to indicate his father was part of what was holding him back. Probably one of the strongest pulls on Christians who want to serve the Lord and do what is right, is their own families. Nothing can put pressure on you like family members who are not fully on board with serving the Lord, or maybe they are not on board at all. Jesus stated, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) It appears that Abram may have given into this pressure, at least for a time, until his father died. This is what you would call a delayed obedience. As we tell our children, delayed obedience is still disobedience. Abram was told to leave his family and his father’s house behind, so taking his father and nephew along may have been an act of disobedience as well. The Lord did not reprimand him for not going to Canaan immediately, but it may have delayed the blessings He had in store for him. His nephew, Lot, will also be a source of trouble for him later on.

In this calling that the Lord gave Abram while he was still in Ur of the Chaldees, He told him that He would bless him, make his name great, and make him into a great nation. He would be a blessing and all the families of the earth will be blessed in him. Those that blessed Abram would be blessed, and those that cursed him would be cursed. This is true of the physical descendants of Abram (the nation of Israel): A careful study of history shows that those nations and individuals who have blessed Israel have been blessed and those who have cursed them have been cursed. When the Greeks overran the land of Israel and desecrated the altar in the temple, they were soon conquered by Rome. When Rome killed Christians (many of them Jewish) and destroyed Jerusalem under Titus, Rome soon fell. Poland fell after its persecution of the Jews between the two world wars, Hitler’s Germany went down after its atrocities committed against the Jews, and Britain lost its empire when it broke its faith with the Jewish people.

This can even be seen in our own country today. Bill Koenig has written a book called “Eye to Eye” that shows the consequences of the United States trying to divide up the land of Israel. The incidences are too many and too close together to explain them away as mere coincidence. Several natural disasters in our nation happened within 24 hours of either us pressuring Israel to give up land for peace, or them withdrawing from land God has rightfully given them.

This is an important topic, because many Christians today are confused on God’s plans for the nation of Israel. Antisemitism is on the rise, even amongst conservatives. Almost all conservative politicians that I am aware of are in favor of Israel giving up land for peace, but it is a futile task since their enemies will not be happy until Israel ceases to exist.

How can we bless the Jewish people? Should we support them regardless of what they are doing? Certainly not. They are a secular nation, and in many ways just as sinful as we are in our nation. I believe we should first support them in their right to their land, both from a biblical perspective and that of international law. In chapter 12, God promised Abram the land of Canaan, and in chapter 17, He gave the land of Canaan to the Jews as an irrevocable gift. The land of Canaan consists of modern-day Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In chapter 15, the Lord gave them land that was much larger. The border starts at the Nile River and extends all the way to the Euphrates. This includes modern-day Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, part of Turkey, and all of Israel. Even under king David and Solomon, Israel never acquired this much land, but this is a promise of the Lord that will one day be fulfilled, probably during the Millennial Reign of Christ.

After WWI, Great Britain wanted to give a home land to the Jewish people as a favor to a particular Jew named Chaim Weizmann who had helped them during the war. So, they carved out land in the Middle East for the Jew that consisted of current-day Israel and Jordan under the Balfour Declaration of 1917. As a result of an Arab up-rising, Great Britain took back what is now Jordan, and gave the Jews what is now current-day Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This is approximately ½ of 1% of the land in the Middle East. All the Arab nations, as well as the Jews, agreed. It was endorsed by the League of Nations in July Of 1922. It is the last international treaty agreed upon by all the Arab countries and the Jews. So then, as a matter of Divine right and international law, the land of Canaan belongs to the Jewish people. The West Bank and Gaza Strip should immediately be given back to the nation of Israel. Israel has every right to occupy this land and defend it, and more if the opportunity arises.

Do the Scriptures say anything about dividing up the land of Israel? Consider the following passages: “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1-2) “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.’” (Zech 2:8) “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zech 12:3)

I hear many professing Christians speak against the Jewish people, accusing them of all sorts of evils ranging from controlling the world finances, being stingy and greedy, cheating non-Jews, and being Christ killers. This is on top of criticizing them for wanting to live in their own land. More recently, I have heard criticisms of Benjamin Netanyahu somehow being to blame for the Hamas attacks in attempt to secure his political office, and even connecting those in the Israeli government with Jeffrey Epstein. Although there are evil Jews just like there are evil Gentiles, many of these views have been held by antisemites for centuries. the more recent ones have been promoted by people like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, who have revealed themselves to be antisemitic. In fact, just recently, Tucker Carlson questioned former Conservative Party lawmaker Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg in an interview whether England benefitted from going to war with NAZI Germany in WWII (see here). So, although I cannot definitively state all these accusations are false, you do have to consider the source. Christians who truly engage in antisemitism are on the wrong side of the Scriptures, and may find themselves being disciplined by God. If they’re wrong, they’re wrong, and God has called out His own people numerous times for their sin. However, our calling them out should still be based on love and truth, not out of hatred for the Jew or any other people group for that matter. As for being Christ killers, the Jews delivered Him up, but the Romans were the ones who actually crucified Him. So then, both Jews and Gentiles were represented at the cross as being guilty of the blood of the Son of God. Humanity as a whole sent Jesus to the cross, and it is humanity who needs the salvation purchased for us there.

Having said all this, this passage ultimately has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the perfect Jew. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that we as Gentiles have been grafted into Israel by faith. Those who believe on Jesus Christ (Jew and Gentile) will indeed be blessed, but those who reject Him will be cursed. If we have believed on Jesus, we inherit eternal life and are heirs of all the promises of God, but to those who believe not stand condemned already and will spend eternity in Hell.

So, after Abram’s father died, Abram took his wife Sarai, Lot, and all that they owned, and made the four-hundred-mile journey into the land of Canaan. It states that Abram was 75 years old at this point. He stopped at a place named Shechem, as far as the Terebinth tree of Moreh. The Terebinth tree had several uses, but probably one of the most practical ones for tent dwellers would have been shade. In a time when air conditioning did not exist, shade would have been nice, and even necessary. Shechem sat between two mountains, and was in the middle of Canaan. It would later be associated with Jacob’s well, and in New Testament times was called Sychar, the place where Jesus met the woman at the well. The Scriptures tell us that the Canaanites, those descendants of Ham that we discussed in chapter 10, were in the land at this point.

It was here that God appeared to Abram again and told him that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. Notice, God did not speak to Him again until Abram had stepped out in faith and went to Canaan, another possible indicator he was delaying his obedience. Often times the Lord will speak to us and tell us to do something, and He waits for us to obey Him before He gives us further direction. Abram then built an altar unto the Lord who had appeared to him there. After this, he moved to a mountain east of Bethel, between Bethel and Ai. It is the highest part of the land in that area, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem. It seems that Abram was in the habit of building altars to the Lord. Worshiping and seeking the Lord was a regular part of Abram’s life. Abram had a special relationship with the Lord, and no doubt this was part of it.

Next the Scriptures state that there was a famine in the land of Canaan, and Abram went down into Egypt to live. Prior to entering into Egypt, Abram asked his wife Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister. Sarai apparently was a beautiful woman, and Abram was afraid they would kill him for her sake so that one of them could take her to wife. He was willing to have his wife lie, or as we will find out later, tell a half truth. Apparently, she was his half-sister, something that was permitted in those days. They had the same father, but not the same mother. We also have to conclude that Abram was either willing to allow his wife to commit adultery by marrying another man, or he was willing to tempt the Lord by placing his wife in a compromising situation in hopes that the Lord would bail them out. The Lord did protect her in this case, but we are not guaranteed such protection from the consequences of our own stupidity. Jesus, when He was tempted by the devil to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, responded, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Mat 4:7) Abram did all this to save his own neck. Whatever his intentions were, this was a major lapse of faith on his part.

Sure enough, once they were in Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful Sarai was, and they recommended her to Pharaoh. She was then taken into Pharaoh’s harem. The Lord then plagued Pharaoh and his household greatly, and Pharaoh eventually figured out that it was because of Sarai. He rebuked Abram for what he had done, and understandably so. He could have taken her to wife and been guilty of adultery unknowingly. It’s pretty bad when you have to be rebuked by a pagan king. Pharaoh charged all the men not to touch Abram or his wife, and sent Abram and all he had away.

It might seem as if Abram got away with this stunt, but if you notice in verse 16, Abram received livestock and men and women servants in the exchange. One of those women servants was likely a woman named Hagar, and as the story unfolds, we will see that she will be a major source of grief for Abram and Sarai.

There’s a couple of things we can come away with here: First, God does look after His people the nation of Israel, but at the end of the day, it still comes down to a personal decision, what are you going to do with Jesus? All the families of the earth will be blessed in Abram depending on what they do with the Son of God. If you receive Jesus, you will be blessed, and if you reject Him, you will be cursed. That is the only unforgiveable sin, to reject the Spirit’s witness of the Son, and refusing to place your faith in Jesus for salvation. Jesus paid for every other sin on the cross, so your faith in Him and His sacrifice takes care of everything else.

Second, we can learn from Abram’s mistakes. It doesn’t pay to be dishonest, especially when our dishonesty places others in a place of compromise or sin. This dishonesty will continue in Abram, and will also be present in his children and grandchildren. By the time we get to Jacob and Esau, we will see how big of problem this will become.

Third, God did not stop using Abram because of his failures. God would continue to use Abram, not because he was somehow good enough, but because he was a man of faith. At the end of the day, Abram still believed God and did what He said. This is an encouragement for us who have failures and weaknesses as well.

In summary, we see in this chapter God’s calling on Abram, and a reminder that this man of faith was still a man. In the next chapter we will see the Lord expound more to Abram on his plans for him and his descendants.

 

Additional Links

 

What is the land that God promised to Israel?

Middle East: War And Peace - Part 1 This is probably the best series I have heard on the whole Israeli/Palestinian conflict. It was given by Jon Courson at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa several years ago.